Friends of Whitburn Library Registered Charity Number 1174421 Annual Report & Financial Statement 2024-2025 Friends of Whitburn Library Legal and Administrative information
| Name: | Friends of Whitburn Library |
|---|---|
| Charity number: | 1174421 |
| Trustees | J Warren (Chair) |
| H Larcombe (Treasurer) | |
| J Lucas (Secretary) | |
| A Stonehouse | |
| A Bowman | |
| Governing Document: | The charity operates under its governance |
| document as a Charitable incorporated | |
| Organisaton, registered 30th August 2017 | |
| Address: | Hedworth Terrace |
| Whitburn | |
| Tyne and Wear | |
| SR6 7EN | |
| Bank: | Reliance Bank Ltd |
| Faith House | |
| 23-24 Lovat Lane | |
| London | |
| EC3R 8EB |
Friends of Whitburn Library
Trustees Report
Friends of Whitburn Library completed its 8[th] year of operation as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 31[st] August 2025 and is governed by the constitution dated 30th August 2017.
1. Objectives and activities
- 1.1 The objectives of the CIO are;
i) To advance the education of the public in Whitburn by the running and management of a community library for the benefit of the said residents and within which to educate the public about the history and heritage of Whitburn through educational displays and other such means as the trustees deem fit;
ii)To promote for the benefit of the residents of Whitburn and its environs the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the objective of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
- 1.2 The activities of the CIO are focused in the area of;
i) Education and training
ii)Arts/culture/heritage/science
iii)Recreation
iv)The advancement of health and reduction of social isolation
v)Provides opportunities to support the vulnerable and those with a disability.
vi)Economic/comm unity development/ employment
vii) Other charitable purposes
1.3 Who the charity helps
i) Children and young people
ii) Elderly and/or vulnerable people
iii) People with disabilities
iv) The public
1.4 How the charity helps
i) Provides buildings/facilities and spaces
ii) Provides services
iii) Provides advocacy/advice/information
iv) Provides an increasing range of recreational activities
2. Main achievements during the year
2.1 The library continues to operate under the management of the trustees and is well supported by volunteers who provide a range of support for the community. Recruitment of both trustees and volunteers remain strong. The trustees meet monthly to review the success of the library and plan its development.
2.2 Volunteers operate on a rota basis to welcome visitors who require books or other library services, some provide specialist support e.g. IT expertise.
Others arrange activities for groups who meet regularly or raise funds through activities such as coffee mornings. Without our volunteers the library would not be such a vibrant and welcoming place and it would not be possible to operate on a day-to-day basis.
2.3 The community managed library continues to receive support from the local council in the form of new stock (books), access to the library management software and inter-library
loans service, with support and advice from its employees.
2.4 ln order to fund activities, resources, running costs and maintenance of the building our volunteers and trustees work hard to raise funds. This is done through donations, fundraising events/activities and through grant applications.
2.5 The library has continued to provide services in the form of book borrowing, advice,
access to computers and printing facilities.
2.6 After the receipt of a June King Foundation Grant we were able to replace a number of the older book shelving units. The new units are easier to move to provide space when the library is being used for other activities.
2.7 Volunteers have continued to provide support for extra activities. These are,
i) Reading groups
ii) Pilates classes
iii) Knitting groups
iv) A creative writing group
v) A regular music night
vi) Monthly talks on a wide range of subjects by local experts.
vii) Wine tasting
viii) Local secondary school children were based in the library to help support the
completion of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme
ix) Arts and craft sessions were available to younger children during school holidays
x) Daytime Disco Dance events
2.8 New fundraising activities have been added.
i) The local community institute began holding a weekly coffee morning in the library. These have been very successful and well supported.
2.9 Community services
i) Local councillor surgeries
ii) Cuppa with a copper. The opportunity to have informal chats with the local community police officers
3. Risks
3.1 The trustees are aware of the challenges that we face with financial and operational risks which include but are not limited to;
i) Developing sustainable income streams to meet the costs associated with opening and operating an ageing building.
ii) Planning for the replacement of a building which is not environmentally friendly and will come to the end of its useful life within the terms of the lease.
iii) The identification and access to funding/grants to support the introduction of activities and provide capital improvements to the building.
iv) The trustees are aware of the need to plan for the future by considering the role of community libraries, adaption their roster of activities, and considering the future of the building. We continued with a review process in FY 24/25 which had initially began in July of 2024 and will continue to take this forward.
In 24/25 we were able to recruit new trustees to the board which has helped to facilitate these discussions.
v) The trustees are glad to report that disputes between volunteers declined dramatically in 24/25. We are confident that our procedures for managing disputes and complaints are robust. However, we are not complacent and will review these processes and procedures regularly.
vi) Succession planning for trustees and volunteers. Whilst fast turnover of trustees is not desirable, it is also important that trustees don’t feel compelled to serve very lengthy terms of office.
3.2 The trustees are confident that these challenges will be met with the continuing support of volunteers and the wider community.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees Dr Jonathan Warren
Signed
Notes
No Trustees or persons connected to the charity received any renumeration during the year The charity has no employees.
There are no debtors/creditors at the end of the accounting year.
Friends of Whitburn Library 1174421 Recei ts and a ments accounts p p y For the period 02/09/2024 01/09/2025 To from ~~ee ee ee~~
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||
| Grants | 1,274.00 | - | - | 1,274.00 | 32,960.00 | ||||
| Donations | 960.89 | - | - | 960.89 | 799.32 | ||||
| FundraisingActivities | 8,827.50 | - | - | 8,827.50 | 9,392.05 | ||||
| Refreshment and Product Sales Fundraising |
675.64 | - | - | 675.64 | 1,688.00 | ||||
| Room Hire | 1,375.00 | - | - | 1,375.00 | 482.50 | ||||
| Photocopying/Misc | 748.80 | - | - | 748.80 | 859.50 | ||||
| Banking | 161.38 | - | - | 161.38 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
(Gross income for AR)14,023.21 |
- | - | 14,023.21 | 46,181.37 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 14,023.21 - - 14,023.21 46,181.37 ~~——————~~ |
||||||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||
| Facilities Improvements and Maintenance | ||||||||||
| 2,890.79 | - | - | 2,890.79 | 27,854.64 | ||||||
| Costs of Fundraising Activities | 1,708.71 | - | - | 1,708.71 | 2,307.83 | |||||
| Legal/Accountancy Fees | 120.00 | - | - | 120.00 | ||||||
| Photocopying/Stationery/Misc | 255.04 | - | - | 255.04 | 477.93 | |||||
| Building/Cleaning/Security Costs | 1,662.22 | - | - | 1,662.22 | 1,206.98 | |||||
| Utilities | 4,376.37 | - | - | 4,376.37 | 8,512.47 | |||||
| Insurance | 1,115.31 | - | - | 1,115.31 | 524.40 | |||||
| IT | 1,739.14 | - | - | 1,739.14 | 2,499.38 | |||||
| Bank Charges | 78.92 | - | - | 78.92 | 100.72 | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 13,946.50 | - | - | 13,946.50 | 43,484.35 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total payments 13,946.50 - - 13,946.50 43,484.35 ~~——————~~ |
||||||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) 76.71 - - 76.71 2,697.02 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 29,980.02 - - 29,980 27,283.00 Cash funds this year end 30,056.73 - - 30,056.73 29,980.02 ~~=====~~ |
2,697.02 - 27,283.00 29,980.02 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
11/03/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds CCXX R2 accounts (SS) |
Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Cash at Bank Signature ~~2~~ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 30,057 - - - - - 30,057 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| ~~2~~ | ~~11/03/2026~~ |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
~~11/03/2026~~
~~2~~
CCXX R3 accounts ISS} 1110312026