MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
Chairman’s Report
It has been a sad year in that four of our members have moved onto new adventures in the big workshop in the sky. It has been a busy year with membership reaching 90 with 21 new members this year.
There has been some great group projects of putting up a shed in Cryselo Park, clearing the parking lot, and Workshop deep clean. Creating a large train model for the book exchange at the Bedford Train Station. Also the Model Train section has got underway with a lot of effort to create the storage rack and baseboards. The art group supported the MS therapy Art exhibition and ten works were displayed. The electronic group has completed their weather station. The wood store has been radically reorganised. There has been some Vinyl records session run this year too, which have generated some interesting events.
Unfortunately we have not completed the new toilet area in the Craft Area, although tireless work by a committee member has managed to get the council to survey and agreed the work. Currently we are trying to get the council to move forward on this.
Our ongoing cost of insurance and internet are our biggest yearly expenditure, and we have continued to improve safety in the workshop by improving the ventilation on the CNC and lathe.
We have invested in the model train section, CNC, the art section, and the electronic section. Not to mention all the tea, coffee, milk, biscuits. Both the Christmas and BBQ get togethers at the Kempston Hammers were well attended and raised some considerable cash for the charity. Also the Kempston Christmas light switch on last year was a success and raised money for the charity.
A ward fund donations from Cllr Caroline White (Kempston Central and East) enable us to buy a new thickness planer.
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
rN
Chairman’s Report: continued
The management committee, Trustees, and Keyholder (Openers) have worked hard throughout the year; and a big thanks goes out to them—and all the other members who have support the charity (sorting donations, chatting on the WhatApps etc.)
Cllr Steve Conway (Chair and Trustee)
Reports from specific interest groups.
Wood turning group – led Tony Mulhall
Following an expression of interest from a couple of newer members, contact was made with a local wood turning YouTuber who has offered training in woodturning on a commercial basis. The initial contact resulted in a first coaching session on a trial basis for a small group of eight members. This session resulted in the trainer taking up membership of the shed. Subsequently a group practice session and a second training session have been held. The group is very much in its early days and will likely move to an afternoon session in the new year for both practice and ongoing training sessions.
Bridge Section Report
Currently we are continuing to run Bridge training sessions with two tables on Monday afternoon at 13:30 for two hours. One table for the those who have the basics and, starting in September, a table for those just leaning how to play.
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
Specific Interest Groups
Art Group Report.
First a big thank-you to Cllr Terri Conway for running this. What started as an idea for a few taster sessions has turning into a hugely popular weekly event. Twelve members, including two ladies, routinely attend and are producing some amazing art.
Whilst this started out as just watercolour painting, this has grown to cover colour pencils, and coloured watercolour pencils (we also have acrylics and airbrush materials).
For those that cannot attend on a Wednesday, there are materials and brushes available for members who wish to give it go on other sessions.
CNC Section
The club has bought Ooznest Workbee 1000 CNC along with a yearly licence for Makerspace Vcarve programme. This allows all club members to use the CNC and software for free.
This year we have completed the dust extraction system.
To date we have run introductory courses and one to one training for about twenty four members. The majority of interested members have been through this (but it is still ongoing). We now propose to run courses for members on demand.
Quite a few projects have been completed for beginners through to advanced and include 2.5 D wall plaques, various animals, serving trays, and wall art; and recently a train station sign for the model train group.
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
Specific Interest Groups
Electronics Section
The Shed computer group was formed in early 2023 and has spent nearly all its time so far working on “The Never-Ending Project” (or so it seemed) to make, from scratch, a weather station to go on the shed roof. The project started as broad vague ideas which then went through a long trial-anderror phase where we changed our minds several times: on the hardware, software, power supply (amongst others) for the station. Eventually a design has emerged from the mists and is now undergoing further testing on the roof and in the computer room. We expect to be able to say we have a working model, producing weather data, this month.
We recently started a new project to produce a computerised form of a logging-in system to replace the paper-based attend-
ance sheet. Learning from our past mistakes, we’re making good progress and hope to present a working system before Christmas (2024, that is!)”
Also our computer systems couldn’t work without connections to the internet. Unfortunately everything these days needs to talk to servers for licences and updates; and our laptops, printer, CNC, PC, and Chromebook all cannot function without a connection to the outside world.
Members also benefit for being able to connect to our fast internet, for streaming, downloading, searching the internet, WhatApp etc. Since we are a charity, we do have to have a business internet account, and this is with BT currently, and we will look at other possible (value for money) options once we are out of contract with them.
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
=ms | = BEDFORDNe Specific Interest Groups
Train Section
We have rekindled the model railway group within our shed. Please feel free to join in at our sessions, currently Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon, though we do work on specific elements during
other shed times. All are welcome, come along and grab a tea, play trains and reminisce about those childhood train sets we had, in fact you can even run some of the original stuff with us! Several years ago the group built a superb N gauge layout which we still operate.
At the present time we have fourteen core members taking part with support from five other members who are offering their specific skills. There is something for everyone to join in with including woodwork, painting, electrical, scenery and modelling. No experience necessary as we are growing and learning from each other as we go.
Currently, we are building a modular layouts, which can be added to or even reduced in size to suit different situations. Individuals can build their own modules (provided they follow some set rules and use the track jig to ensure that all the boards line up).
Recently the committee approved the purchase of a large amount of OO (Hornby/Peco) stock and model railway items, these are now being put to good use.
MenInSheds: Nov 2023—Nov 2024 Report
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer’s report for November 2023 to November 2024
Key points
The Cafbank account has been working well and has accrued a small amount of interest
An account with the Redwood Bank has been opened and £10,000 has been deposited in a 95 day notice variable high interest account. £4,000.00 has also been deposited in an instant access CafBank Gold variable high interest account paying much better interest than the current account.
The Shed has received a total of £733.17 in donations, the majority came from members or as a result of members actions – repairs etc. The 2023 Christmas raffle raised £178 and the Quakers donated £117.17
The Paypal account has £78.42 to fund eBay sales of tools
There are two ring fenced funds within the accounts, £1,800 for the shed reserve, sufficient to cover foreseeable liabilities if the shed was ever to be wound up and the Craft Centre refurbishment fund, which currently stands at £13,723.16.
The Craft Centre refurbishment fund is made up from a fixed, maximum amount from shed funds of £4,000.00, an increase of £1,000.00 during this reporting year, as well as donations, grants funds and shed tool sales.
The craft centre fund will be applied to the provision of an accessible toilet and refreshment area as soon as Bedford council approval is given for the required works.
Shed income has exceeded expenditure for the year by £1,080.93
Funds that are not committed and therefore are available for expenditure at the beginning of the year beginning 01 December 2024 amount to £3,521.21
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023— Nov 2024 Report Treasurer’s Report
Financial status at end of year 2023/24 (31st November 2024)
| Income | Expenditure | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 976.6 | 1019.68 | |
| Bank | 5,903.09 | 4,779.08 | |
| Transfer cash to high interest | -14,000 | ||
| Total | 6,879.69 | 5,798.76 | 1,080.93 |
| Funds at start of year |
Funds at end of year |
Difference | |
| Cash | 43.95 | 0.87 | |
| Bank | 17,841.07 | 18,965.08 | |
| Total | 17,885.02 | 18,965.95 | 1,080.93 |
| Shed income was £1,026.84 more than expenditure |
| Current funds to carry over from 23/24 | £18,965.95 |
|---|---|
| Redwood 95 day account | £10,000.00 |
| Cafbank gold high interest account | £ 4,000.00 |
| Cafbank current | £ 4,965.08 |
| Petty cash | £ 0.87 |
| Committed funds craft centre refurb | £13,723.16 |
| Committed funds Shed reserve | £ 1,800.00 |
| Paypal account | £ 78.42 |
| Funds available for expenditure at the beginning of the year | Funds available for expenditure at the beginning of the year £3,521.21 |
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—
Nov 2024 Report
Treasurer’s Report: the numbers
Allocated funding at end of 2023/24 year
| balance 01.12.24 |
donations during23/24 1,000.00 0.00 |
expenditure during23/24 |
balance at 30.11.24 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIS craft centre reserve | 3,000.00 | 0.00 | 4,000.00 | |
| Connolly Foundation Grant |
1,865.61 | 0 | 1,865.51 | |
| Bedford and Luton Community Foundation (BL&CF) |
2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | 0 | 2,000.00 2,417.20 |
| Discretionary Bedford Councillor Ward Funds |
2,417.20 | 2,417.20 | 0 | |
| Joe Green Fundraising | 2,101.95 | 0 | 0 | 2,101.95 |
| Shed tool sales | 893.50 496.00 | 893.50 496.00 | 51.00 | 1,338.50 |
| Craft centre refurbishment available funds |
13723.16 | |||
| Shed Reserve | 1,800.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,800.00 |
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—
Nov 2024 Report
Treasurer’s Report: Income during 2024 and projections for 2025
| Cost centre ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Amount dur- ing 2022 -23 |
Amount during 2023-24 ~~ee~~ |
Projection for 2024-25 ~~ee~~ |
Comments ~~ee~~ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
1,059.17 ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
733.17 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
500.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Donations ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Grants ~~a ~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
7,917.20 ~~a~~ |
500.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
1,000.00 ~~ee ~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Donations ~~ee~~ |
| Material sales ~~a ee~~ ~~a~~ |
204.06 ~~a~~ ~~ee~~ |
83.60 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
100.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Charity Activities ~~ee~~ |
| tool sales ~~a ee~~ ~~a~~ |
483.50 ~~ee~~ |
486.00 ~~ee~~ |
500.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Charity Activities ~~ee~~ |
| Joining fee ~~a ee~~ ~~a~~ |
260.00 ~~ee~~ |
150.00 ~~ee~~ |
150.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Donations ~~ee~~ |
| Membership ~~a ee~~ |
2,689.24 ~~ee~~ |
3,356.00 ~~ee~~ |
3,600.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Donations ~~ee~~ |
| Interest on cur- rent account ~~a ee~~ ~~a~~ |
28.83 ~~ee~~ |
37.42 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
12.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Interest ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Member pay- ments for BBQ and Xmas buffet ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
232.00 ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
597.50 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
500.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
Other activities ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Products sold ~~a ~~ ~~a~~ |
nil ~~a~~ |
172.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
300.00 ~~ee ~~ ~~ee~~ |
Other activities ~~ee~~ |
| Cash transfer be- tween accounts ~~a~~ ~~po~~ |
~~a~~ ~~ee~~ |
764.00 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ |
| TOTAL ~~po~~ |
~~ee~~ | 6879.69 ~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ | ~~ee~~ |
Transfers between cash float and bank account will show as both income and expenditure on the cash and bank account ledgers, depending on the direction of the transfer– they will balance out overall.
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—
Nov 2024 Report
Treasurer’s Report: Expenditure during 2024 and
projections for 2025
|Cost centre
~~|~~
~~se~~
~~|~~|Amount
during 2022
-23
|
~~|~~|Amount dur-
ing 2023 -234
|
~~|~~|Projection for
2024-25|Comments|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Admin
~~se~~
~~|~~
~~ae~~|906.34
~~|~~
~~ee~~|1005.96
~~|~~
~~ee~~|1,200.00
~~ee~~|IT services, insurance and
stationary
~~ee~~|
|Refreshments
~~se~~
~~|~~
~~ae~~
~~a~~|266.19
~~|~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|301.30
~~|~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|350.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Tea, coffee etc
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Xmas event /
BBQ
~~ae ~~
~~a~~|280.96
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|500.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|500.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Materials
~~a~~
~~ee~~|744.87
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|425.95
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|500.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Including machine spares,
NB equipment for craft cen-
tre activities and materials
accounted for separately
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Tools /spares
~~ee~~|3,996.55
~~ee~~|432.92
~~ee~~|500.00
~~ee~~|Replacement tools/machines
~~ee~~|
|Craft centre ren-
ovation
~~ee~~
~~||~~|0.00
~~ee~~
~~||~~|51.00
~~ee ~~
~~||~~
~~|~~|14,000.00
~~ee~~
~~||~~
~~|~~|Awaiting council approval to
start the work
~~ee~~
~~||~~
~~|~~|
|Shed infrastruc-
ture update
~~a~~|374.78
~~a~~
~~a ee~~|0.00
~~a~~
~~ee~~|250.00
~~ee~~|Maintenance and improve-
ment to workshop facilities
~~ee~~|
|Art group
~~a~~||210.98|250.00||
|Bridge group
~~a~~
~~ae~~
~~ae~~|
~~a~~
~~ee~~
|20.40
~~a~~
~~ee~~
|50.00
~~ee~~
|
~~ee~~|
|Electronics
group
~~ae~~
~~ae~~
~~a~~|
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|232.28
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|250.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Model railways
group
~~ae ~~
~~ae~~
~~a~~|
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|501.40
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|250.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|CNC Group
~~ae ~~
~~a~~
~~ae~~|
~~ee ~~
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~|242.04
~~ee ~~
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~|200.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Wood turning
group
~~ae~~
~~a~~|
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|450.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|500.00
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|New sharpening station and
tools
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Assets
~~ae~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|649.98
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|1000
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|Thicknesser and extractor /
cleaner
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Refunds to
members
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|10
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|
|Transfer to high
interest account
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|14000
~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|Cash transfers
~~ee~~
~~a~~|~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~Ca~~|764
~~ee~~
~~a~~|~~ee~~
~~a~~|~~a~~|
|TOTAL
~~a~~|~~a~~
~~Ca~~|19798.76
~~a~~|~~a~~|~~a~~|
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—
Nov 2024 Report
Note: Transfers between cash float and bank account will show as both income and expenditure on the cash and bank account ledgers, depending on the direction of the transfer– they will balance out overall.
Treasurer’s Report: Expenditure on Special Interest Groups
As the numbers of special interest groups grow and will continue to grow, budgets and reporting lines have been established to manage expenditure. During 2023/24 funding has been made available to support the following special interest groups in the craft centre and also the workshop. Each group has had spending on consumables and some on capital items.
The groups and relevant expenditures are:
Bridge £ 20.40 Art £210.98 Electronics £232.28
Includes new components
Model railway £501.40
Includes a purchase of pre-owned rolling stock, track, accessories etc
CNC £242.04
Includes a new Camvac dust extraction unit
Wood turning £450.00
Includes a new Camvac dust extraction unit
MenInSheds: Bedford Nov 2023—
Nov 2024 Report
Treasurer’s Report: Expenditure on Special Interest Groups
Expenditure on Assets
The shed has invested in:
Two Camvac extraction units for the CNC machine and the wood lathe £692.04 A new thicknesser £510.00 Vacuum cleaner/dust extractor £139.98
Expenditure on tools and spares
The shed has purchased:
Hand saw sharpening equipment £158.05 Dress press plate (for a repair) £ 64.45 Grinding wheel (wood turning) £ 33.58 Thicknesser blades £ 25.50 Chop saw blades £ 39.98 Belt sander spares £109.63
Breakdown of Income for charity commission report
| Cash Donation and Grants | 1233.17 |
|---|---|
| Member donations from purchase of donated tools and materials |
569.6 |
| member donations for member events | 597.5 |
| membership | 3506 |
| donations from sales of items made by members | 172 |
| bank interest | 37.42 |
| TOTAL | 6115.69 |
MenInSheds: Bedford 2023-2024 Annual Report
Appendix
These are the current elected positions for 2024-2025 for Men In Shed Bedford Elected Officers to the Management Committee
| Name ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ |
Role ~~nD~~ |
Nominated ~~nn~~ |
Seconded ~~(OO~~ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Conway ~~es~~ ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
Chair ~~nD ~~ |
Geza Feremczi ~~nn~~ ~~(~~ |
Daniel Skidmore ~~(OO~~ |
| Warwick Holden ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
Secretary | Ray Dixon ~~(~~ |
Jim Gunther |
| TonyMulhall ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Treasurer ~~Cs~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ |
Colin Mayston ~~(~~ ~~Cs~~ ~~(~~ |
Fraser Young ~~Cs~~ |
| Stephen Clare ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Management Committee ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ |
Neil Russell ~~(~~ ~~(~~ |
Clive Richens |
| Ken Baddley ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Management Committee ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ |
Larry Healy ~~(~~ ~~(~~ |
Jim Gunther |
| Fraser Young ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Management Committee ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ ~~nD I~~ |
Salvatore Spinelli ~~(~~ ~~I~~ |
Jim Gunther |
| Roy Hutchings ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
Management Committee ~~nD I~~ |
Peter Bowtell ~~I~~ |
Steve Conway |
| ~~a ~~ | ~~nD I~~ ~~(~~ |
~~I~~ ~~(~~ |
~~(~~ |
| ~~a~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~Gn~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~Gn~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~Gn~~ |
| ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~(~~ |
|
| ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ ~~es~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ ~~es~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~(~~ ~~es~~ |
~~es~~ |
| ~~a~~ ~~es~~ |
~~Ge~~ ~~(~~ ~~es~~ |
~~(~~ ~~es~~ |
~~es~~ |
Ex officio Trustees and election of two trustee (note: Elected Trustees stand for three years)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Stephen Clare | Elected 2022 |
| Ken Baddley | Elected 2022 |
| Chair | Ex officio trustee |
| Secretary | Ex officio trustee |
| Treasurer | Ex officio trustee |