Men In Sheds Bedford (Charity Commission: 1174339) Annual Report 1[st ] December 2022 – 30[th ] November 2023
Chair of Trustee’s report for Men In Sheds Bedford 1[st] December 2022 to 30[th] November 2023
We have had a successful year growing our membership, and we are well within our five-year business plan for membership numbers. Christmas lunch 2022 was a huge hit with the membership, where we held a pizza and other food party in the craft area. We invited members’ significant others to the party as well, which produced a very positive atmosphere. The event was slightly lossmaking, although the recycled tool sale broadly covered this; however, it focused the committee more on making sure that future events did cover the cost. Our communication to members is moving more to WhatsApp, where we have a main group and several specific WhatsApp groups for different interests (Wordle, Watercolour class, Bridge Class, CNC group, keyholder group, management committee). However, we continue with email, and a newsletter every few months.
We were very successful at the Kempston Mayor’s Christmas light switch on, November 26[th] 2023. In return for proving a supporting structure for Santa Grotto and building a stage for the mayor to stand on, we were able to attend with our gazebo for free. Members contributed quite a lot of objects for sale at the event, with several members putting in considerable effort into making objects. Overall, we made over two hundred pounds of profit. As well as informing the community of our charity and distributing our publicity leaflets.
Our major purchase for the year was our new CNC machine (an Ooznest workerbee). This has involved not only the assembly of the machine but also building a custom table for it, and a complete reorganization of the workshop area.
Tied in with the CNC project was a refresh on our two laptops (with new hardware fitted) and the purchase of a state-of-the-art tower PC system (which is for CNC design, photo editing, and movies editing). We also finished this off with a ASUS touchscreen Chromebook for CNC machine control and as a teaching aid to introduce members to Chromebook technology (as used by schools and colleges). In addition, the tower PC has been used by the electronic subgroup for coding up the Arduinos for their scratch-built weather station project.
Another expenditure was the contactless payment machine (Square), and this was used for the Christmas light event and collection for the Christmas party 2023. Obviously, this gives us far more flexibility in collecting funds from members and people at events.
We have successfully built a very large Trug for the community, which generated a sizable donation. One member created a book sharing unit for a local charity, and that too generated a generous donation.
We have been continuing our learning bridge sessions (mini bridge) on a Monday afternoon for several months, and this has a loyal following, although numbers are not high. In addition, we have started up learning Watercolour sessions (on a Wednesday morning). After an initial trial, these proved to be very popular, and the charity has supported this with the purchase of paints, brushes, pallets, and paper. This group has been growing quite a bit over the last few months.
The final phase of refurbishing the new Craft area continues to be the refurbishment of the toilet, and creating a section for tea, coffee, and light refreshments. We were successful in getting several local building firms to quote for the work. Unfortunately, it being an election year for the Bedford Council and Bedford Mayor, followed by a change of control from Liberal to Conservative, the council staff were understandably very busy. Fortunately, we have made some good contacts and are currently making progress with the council surveyors for this work.
Overall, our financial situation continues to be positive, and we have continued with our low cost of membership (£4 per month) for over seventy members, along with supporting five members who, for various reasons, currently do not pay. This income is more than enough to cover our current fixed costs. Currently we are still holding some £14000 back for refurbishment of the Craft Area.
Cllr Stephen Conway B.Sc (hons) Chair of Trustees
Men In Sheds Bedford (Charity Commission: 1174339) Annual Report 1[st ] December 2022 – 30[th ] November 2023
Treasurer’s report for Men In Sheds Bedford
1[st] December 2022 to 30[th] November 2023
Key points:
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Cafbank account now operating effectively, and the Barclays bank account is now closed.
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Cafbank provides online banking requiring dual authorization for payments, and this has been working well with four trustee authorizers.
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Three trustees, plus the Treasurer (also trustee), have access to statements and to view the day-to-day transactions.
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The Chair and the Treasurer have access to a debit card limit set at £250 (which is the minimum available).
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The account has a monthly fee and also pays a small amount of interest.
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The shed has received a total of £7917.20 in grants from Bedford and Luton Community Foundation (BL&CF) and Discretionary Bedford Councillor Ward Funds. These grants will help support refurbishment needs in the craft Centre together with expanding our members engagement and creativity ambitions. Specific engagement projects include upgrading our IT equipment to develop our creative media ambitions and the introduction of a dedicated CNC router facility for the workshop.
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The workshop has been reorganized and new electrical infrastructure installed to support the reorganized workshop and the CNC Router
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The PayPal account has £78.42 to fund eBay sales of tools.
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There are two ring-fenced funds within the accounts, £1800 for the shed reserve, sufficient to cover foreseeable liabilities if the shed was ever to be wound up, and the Craft Centre refurbishment fund.
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The Craft Centre refurbishment fund is made up from a fixed maximum amount from shed funds (£3000) donations, grants funds and shed tool sales.
Financial Report.
| Financial Report. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Expenditure | Difference | |
| Cash | 909.54 | 252 | |
| Bank | 11921.1 | 6185.51 | |
| Total | 12830.64 | 6437.51 | 6363.13 |
| Funds at start of year |
Funds at end of year | Difference | |
| Cash | 140.69 | 3.23 | |
| Bank | 11232.68 | 17762.97 | |
| Total | 12867.77 | 117766.20 | 6393.13 |
| Shed expenditure £6313.13 less than income. |
Likely expenditure flows for 2023/24
Average monthly income will be around £440 average monthly expenditure will be around £220, however there will be peaks and troughs in both incomes, subject to receipt of fund from tool sales and donations and expenditure as larger bills like insurance or replacement tools/machines become due. We have limited funds for increased expenditure in any area without grant funding to cover those costs or raising more funds from other shed activities. We have committed funds currently amounting to £1800 shed reserve and around £12200 for craft Centre structural renovations.
Men In Sheds Bedford (Charity Commission: 1174339) Annual Report 1[st ] December 2022 – 30[th ] November 2023
Treasurer’s Report: the numbers
Current funds to carry over from 22/23: £17776 Committed funds craft Centre refurb: £12200 Committed funds craft Centre refurb: £1800 Funds available for expenditure at the beginning of the year: £3576 (Figures have been rounded for clarity)
Allocated funding at end of 2022/23 year
| balance 01.12.23 |
donations during 22/23 |
expenditure during 22/23 |
balance at 30.11.23 |
Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIS craft Centre reserve |
3000.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3000.00 | |
| Connolly Foundation Grant |
1865.61 | 0.00 | 0 | 1865.51 | |
| Bedford and Luton Community Foundation (BL&CF) |
0 | 2000.00 | 0 | 2000.00 | |
| Discretionary Bedford Councillor Ward Funds |
0 | 2417.20 | 0 | 2417.20 | |
| Joe Green Fundraising |
0.00 | 0 | 0 | 2101.95 | |
| Shed tool sales | 410.00 | 413.0 | 0.00 | 888.50 | |
| 12208.16 | Craft Centre refurbishment availablefunds |
||||
| Bedford and Luton Community Foundation (BL&CF) membership engagement initiatives |
0 | 3500 | 3829.33 | 0.00 | Purchase of new PC, CNC Router with Chromebook and associated. £329.33 balance from Shedfunds |
| ShedReserve | 1800.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1800.00 |
Men In Sheds Bedford (Charity Commission: 1174339) Annual Report 1[st ] December 2022 – 30[th ] November 2023
Income during 2023 and projections for 2024
| Cost Centre | Amount during 2021-22 |
Amount during 2022 -23 |
Projection for 2023-24 |
Comments on 2023/24 figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations |
2949.50 | 1001.17 | 1000.00 |
Does not include grant income |
| Material sales |
63.00 | 123.06 | 100.00 | Wood sales |
| tool sales |
410.00 | 523.50 | 500 | Tool sales |
| Joining fee |
100.00 | 200.00 | 100 | 10 new members during2023/24 |
| Membership |
2541.00 | 2612.00 | 3360 | 70 members for 2023 |
| Interest on current account |
0.87 | 28.80 | 30.00 | |
| total | 6064.37 | 4288.53 |
7090.00 |
Expenditure during 2023 and projections for 2024
| Cost centre | Amount during 2021-22 |
Amount during 2022 -23 |
Projection for 2023- 24 |
Comments on 202/24 figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admin |
880.95 | 870.70 | 1000 | It services, insurance, and stationery |
| Refreshments |
229.79 | 502.10 | 400 | Tea, coffee etc. Pizzas etc. for membershipevents |
| Materials |
166.05 | 599.99 | 150 | Including machine spares, equipment for craft Centre activities and materials |
| Tools /machines |
2579.52 | 3876.57 | 500.00 | Replacement tools/machines |
| Craft Centre renovation |
3552.58 | 0 | 14,000 |
Awaiting council approval to start the work |
| Shed infrastructure update |
0 | 375.18 | 500 | Maintenance and improvement to workshopfacilities |
| total | 7588.89 | 6224.54 | 16,550 |
Tony Mulhall
Trustee Treasurer