Knighton Men’s Shed Charity Commission report 2021
Following on from last years annual Charity Commission report on the 19th October 2020 the Knighton Mens Shed was again forced to close due to Co-vid 19 lockdown by the Welsh Government. It remained closed until 17[th] May 2021 when it reopened under strict health and safety guidelines limiting the opening to 4 members per session only and a full risk assessment In place. Sanitisation products were provided and a thorough clean of the premises carried out by the trustees prior to re-opening.
Throughout the various lockdowns and closures the landlord of the Shed premises kindly reduced our already competitive rent to £60 per month. This meant we were financially stable for some considerable time.
On 30th October 2020 an application was made to Powys C.C. for a Co-vid 19 grant to businesses. This was successful and the Shed received a £3000 grant on 19th November 2020. A further £10,000 of grants from Powys C.C. were received during the lengthy lock downs.
In February 2021 a census was done of all memberships and it was found that of the 32 listed members only 16 wished to remain members. Because of the inability to open for most of 2020 and 2021 the Trustees decided that the annual membership fee will be suspended until April 2022 and that any new members joining will only pay a proportion of the membership fee according to their joining date.
At 7pm on Tuesday 1[st] June 2021 the AGM was held at Knighton Community Centre attended by all four trustees and 5 other members. It was at this meeting that it was decided to spend some of the grant money we had received from the County Council on some cordless power tools to reduce the amount of power cords in the Shed. Nearly £3000 was spent on this. At the same time it was decide to have a clear out at the Shed of unwanted and unused tools and give them, as a donation, to Tools for Self Reliance a charity that sends tools to Africa. On 28[th] September two Shed members delivered them to the charity in Crickhowell.
Since December 2020 the Shed has attended and sold products at two Christmas Fairs in Knighton, an open garden day at the Hymns Farm, Kinnerton (3[rd] & 4[th] June), a country fair at Knucklas (31st July), open gardens at Knill (29[th] August), and a tree and forest open weekend at Presteigne (23[rd] October). All these events have been managed by the only 3 members willing to participate. However, due to the virus, footfall at all events has been down and visitors to the Shed during opening times has also been poor. We have plenty of stock items but sales are very slow.
A qualified lathe turner has offered tuition to Shed members and this will be carried out on non shed days 9[th] & 16[th] November.
The Shed is actively involved within the local community and recently made two sturdy picnic benches for the local Community Centre café. These have been well received and well used. Currently a grant bid is being made for the cost of timber to build a number of wooden planters for the towns entry into the Wales in Bloom contest in 2022. The grant is awaited.
John Thorogood - Secretary & Trustee
Knighton Mens Shed
Notes re Statement of Receipts and Payments for the period 1[st] April 2020 to March 2021.
Receipts
1. It was agreed that, due to the inactivity during 2020, subscriptions collected in 2020/2021 would count for the year 2021/2022.
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The Shed received four grants totalling £13,000 from Powys C.C. over the period of lockdowns due to Co -vid 19.
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John Thorogood obtained further compensation from HSBC due to constant problems with on line banking. We have not changed our bank. However recently HSBC have notified us of increased charges for both depositing and paying by Cheque and also for depositing cash at the Post Office. This we have to do as there is no bank withing a 20 mile radius. Enquiries are ongoing to change banks.
Payments
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As I indicated in my notes of the 15[th] September last year, our landlord, David Duggan was very receptive to the curtailment of our activities during the lockdown and the resultant diminution of receipts. The rent was reduced from £120 to £60 per month and the April and reduced May rent standing orders were accepted as payment for electricity.
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I accrued £170.82 for electricity in last year’s accounts but this was absorbed by the agreement to offset against the April/May rents.
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Website domain hosting and mobile telephone costs are new costs.
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I obtained a small reduction in insurance premium due to the reduction in shed activity. At this time of writing John T has received a request for confirmation of current activities of the shed even though those activities have not changed since confirmation (and subsequent premium increase) in June 2017. I have queried the necessity of this enquiry but I suspect the current insurance environment is changing due to the pandemic situation. There are other insurers and brokers and I will investigate the options. However, the contract is due for renewal on the 17[th] June and we have to ensure that we maintain adequate insurance.
The recent considerations of starting woodworking tutorials would have to be assessed with regard to public liability.
Current Situation
Unlike previous accounting years, I do not have to remind members that we have to obtain or conserve funds to maintain continuance.
We have received £13,000 in grants so we have a reassurance for future expenditure and commitments.
We do not have any current major capital expenditure requirements so we need to decide what to do with our relatively satisfactory capital resource.
I cannot accept any risk element so it is likely that a term higher interest bank account is the most likely, albeit unexciting, prospect and I shall investigate further.
Note
These accounts and comments are based on the fact that we are a charitable institution rather than a trading company and therefore we rely and depend upon donations for any goods or services we may offer on an offer and acceptance basis.
John Wayman Evans,F.C.C.A (Retired)
Treasurer & Trustee
20[th] May 2021
Statement of assets at Knighton Men’s Shed
as of 31[st] March 2021
Plant and machinery Opening balance 4617.62 Purchases 0.0 Less depreciation 923.52 Net book value 3694.1 Stock in trade 500.00 Work in progress/Raw Material 400.00 Bank balance and cash at Shed 1509.23 Capital reserve 900.00 (Less creditor electricity) -12.2 Total net worth 18773.113
Knighton Men’s Shed – Statement of receipts and payments
For period 1[st] April 2020 until 31[st] March 2021
| RECEIPTS Member subs and attendance Grants HSBC Compensation Sale of goods and tools Sharpening and repairs Miscellaneous and Donations Total Receipts PAYMENTS Rent Electricity Website domain hosting Telephone Raw materials, Consumables & tools Public Liability Insurance Sundries Total Payments Net Excess Bank balance and cash at shed |
£ 214 13,000 100 1953.64 56 96.95 15420.59 |
£ 214 13,000 100 1953.64 56 96.95 15420.59 |
|---|---|---|
| 600.00 78.94 72.0 82.39 785.37 285.38 96.95 2001.03 13419.56 |
600.00 78.94 72.0 82.39 785.37 285.38 96.95 2001.03 |
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| 15091.23 |