The Henfield Shed
Trustees Annual Report for 2020
The year started well with the workshop being open three mornings each week and attendance regularly filling up all the spaces available. The trustees had been in discussion about the prospect of opening a further session in the week, providing that a supervisor could be found for the additional morning. Work flow was steady and we had been asked to make wheelbarrows for the forthcoming Henfield Gardens and Arts weekend, a project which was enthusiastically embraced by members fulfilling commissions from members of the public.
Two months into the year and we were faced with the threat of the quickly spreading coronavirus, which in turn led the Government to impose a national lockdown. This forced us to close our workshop doors on 20th March after only 35 sessions - and not to admit members even for social gatherings.
Our thanks go to Peter Gumbrell, who devised a series of quizzes to help us occupy the time and keep our brains working. Others kept us amused with interesting U- tube clips and a variety of jokes. Still others took smaller projects home to complete in their own workshops, so as to continue to fulfil the requests of our donors.
Pete Tiplady ensured that the de humidifier in the workshop was regularly emptied, and the place remained secure. Pete Gumbrell and Bryan Sheldon made sure that machinery and equipment were maintained in good condition. They also ensured all the equipment was PAT tested and fully audited. As we understood more the needs for social distancing in working environments, they reorganised the shed workspaces, and devised and put into place clear policies and procedures for Covid safe working, ready for when we would be allowed to operate again.
During the lockdown, the trustees met on Zoom from time to time to discuss issues concerning the shed. These included refreshing our knowledge on alternative locations from which to operate in the event that we were not able to reopen in our current premises. We decided that in view of the disruption to members this year, we would halve the annual membership for 2021 to £10. Our website was also refreshed and brought up to date, and we thank Richard Lelliott for his support in doing this.
Our membership numbers have held up well despite all the disruption. As we commenced operating again in 2021, membership stands at 26, with four people interested in joining, once government regulations permit us to have them fully inducted and appropriately trained to use the equipment.
Fortunately, our finances held up well during the lockdown. A trickle of funds came from members completing projects at home. Our insurance company extended the period of cover of our policy and we applied for and obtained a Covid-19 support grant of £10,000 from the government. We ended the year with £23,609.06 in our bank account.
We were not able to open again until 12th April 2021. By then the trustees were satisfied that we had a Covid save environment into which to welcome members and also sound procedures to ensure that everyone was kept safe.
West Sussex County Council granted us £1,000 towards the provision of two gazebos and workstations to enable us to open additional workspace outside and these, along with setting up two work stations in the storage area, enabled us to provide a capacity of up to 6 people working at the shed at any one time.
We are sad to record the death of Janet Jones, wife of Gerry, who passed away on 11th June. We extend our very heartfelt condolences to Gerry and his family on their very sad loss.
It has been a quiet year for the shed and for everyone a difficult and frustrating one. That the Henfield Shed has survived so well and now continues to operate is a tribute to its members and their support. For that we, the trustees, thank every one of you.
Now that lockdown rules are set to ease, we look forward to resuming our comradeship, involvement with each other and the community and to returning to the busy environment so loved by everyone.
July 2021
The Henfield Shed Balan Sheet As at 31 December 2020 2020 2019 Bank accounts Curfent account Resefft A¢XIn1 Shed 2 3.766 20.IX 10,(JJO 23.7E 11,464 Net assets 23.766 11.484 Beneficiaries Income account Nel Profit 11.464 12.302 6.578 4,886 23.766 11,464 Totsl funds 23,766 11,484 P8ge1of1