ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
for
Gnosall Library, Environment and Nurture Hub Charity Registration 1175263
ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
Contents
Vision .............................................................................................................. 3 Mission ............................................................................................................ 3 Contracts ......................................................................................................... 3 Community Library Service ................................................................................. 4 Comments from SCC ......................................................................................... 4 Websites .......................................................................................................... 4 Policy & Standards ............................................................................................ 4 Record of Achievement ...................................................................................... 5 Financial Record ................................................................................................ 5 Trustees .......................................................................................................... 5
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
I am pleased to present the 2024-2025 Annual Report.
We were established in 2016 as a constituted group, our main aim has been to provide a community Library service for the village of Gnosall, Staffordshire. We started operating as a library on 20[th] February 2019 and the official opening was 4[th] April 2019.
Opening Times from January 2023 as follows: -
| Monday | 04:00pm - 06:30pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00am - 12:30pm |
| Wednesday | 03:00pm - 05:30pm |
| Thursday | 02:00pm – 04:00pm |
| Friday | 02:00pm – 04:00pm |
| Saturday | 10:00am - 12:30pm |
Vision
GLEAN Hub’s goal is still to create a vibrant community library and information service that is valued and well-used by the people of Gnosall.
GLEAN Hub achieved this by:
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Operating at times which are convenient for potential users. (We opened when many other library and institutions didn’t).
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Being situated at a central and accessible village location (the Grosvenor Centre site).
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Providing an efficient lending or reference service - for books, other printed materials/information.
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Developing a range of activities to engage all age-groups and promote a love of reading, literature, culture and the valuing of information.
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Supporting library users in the use of information technology and reference materials.
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Creating a welcoming environment where people can meet and enjoy the company of friends and local residents.
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Providing an appropriate and suitable environment for silent study or related work.
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Working positively with other groups.
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Encouraging a sense of community and inclusion.
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Promoting innovation and talent in Creative Writing.
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Helping the elderly/physically impaired to enjoy the library by providing home delivery.
Mission
GLEAN Hub aims to work within the framework of a wider Gnosall CIO, to include other related community projects as well as the Community Library.
Contracts
We have tri-party contracts in place. A contract between Staffordshire County Council (SCC) and Gnosall Parish Council (GPC) for SCC to lease the library building. A contract between SCC and GLEAN Hub where GLEAN Hub sublet the building from SCC. A
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
contract between GPC and GLEAN Hub for the use of other facilities such as the adjoining building for our events, maintenance etc. These contracts were renewed 21st February 2024, when the current agreements expire.
Community Library Service
The service we provide is the same as a public library. All Library stock is provided by SCC (Staffordshire County Council) public library service and we use its library computer management systems to operate. The community library does not however, have any paid staff, only unpaid volunteers operating on a monthly roster system. Each session is manned by a minimum of two library volunteers. There is a web-based Library system, implemented in May 2022 which issues reminders to volunteers on rota and has been very successful.
Comments from SCC
Gnosall might be one of the smallest CMLs, but they have a committed Trustee Group managing the library and a strong group of volunteers. A new volunteer has taken on the coordination of the rota this year, and 4 volunteers are part of a stock team, who work hard to manage the stock in a small space.
The Trustees and volunteers are always looking at ways of developing the library service. This year they have increased their hugely popular Baby Bounce and Rhyme sessions from fortnightly to weekly and have introduced a new Board Games Cafe. The library also offers Family History Sessions, a Reading Café and a Writers’ Circle, providing social and creative activities for local people.
To promote the library to the community, they produce articles for local magazines and take part in community events, such as the local carnival.
This has contributed to an 8% increase in visits to the library and a 7% increase in issues, compared to the previous year.
Websites
We continue with our existing website www.gleanhub.org representing the charity, as - before, and still promote the library via another website www.gnosall library.org.uk which better explains its purpose to the public. We have a link back to the www.gleanhub.org site within the homepage.
Policy & Standards
All policies can be found on our website www.gleanhub.org which include: -
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SCC’s Policies a. Acceptable Use Policy
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b. Information Security Policy
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GLEAN Hub’s policies.
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a. Financial Controls Policy
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b. Health & Safety Policy
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c. Event Groups Policy
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d. Fire Evacuation Procedure
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e. Vulnerable Adults Policy
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f. Invacuation Procedure
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g. Paper Shredder Safety Policy
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ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025
At all times we endeavour to provide the highest level of service to both our customers and attending volunteers.
Record of Achievement
This year our customer base has increased steadily. We have also been successful in retaining our volunteers with a wealth of experience.
Financial Record
We still have sufficient funding for at least 24 months’ operation but there is no sign of any major funding opportunities open to us for the foreseeable future although we continue to attract small amounts of funding from local groups.
Full Accounts attached.
Trustees
(As at 01/04/2025) Robert Alker (Chairman) Cllr Patricia Alker (Health & Safety) Alec Willis (Finance) Janet Carr Robert Hidderley (Secretary/Vice Chair) Gaye Courtney
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Gnosall Library 20204-2025
Visits
229 228
195
190
184
178 176
168
160
157
136
131
MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY DECEMBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER SEPTEMBER AUGUST JULY JUNE MAY APRIL
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Annual return GLEAN finances 2024-25
| Bank accounts total March 2024 | £3,071.34 |
|---|---|
| Income | |
| Library takings | £310.00 |
| Awards | £395.00 |
| Takings from catering | £240.00 |
| Payment in kind SCC unit rental | £3,900.00 |
| Payment in kind GPC use of facities | £1,100.00 |
| Total | £5,945.00 |
| Expenses | |
| Domain Renewal | -£22.00 |
| Insurance | -£369.66 |
| DBS checks | -£21.50 |
| Library furnishings | -£203.00 |
| Health and Safety advice | -£350.00 |
| Refreshment expenses | -£398.45 |
| Baby Bounce | -£85.36 |
| SCC expenses | -£3,900.00 |
| Use of facilities | -£1,100.00 |
| Total | -£6,449.97 |
| Income minus expenditure | -£504.97 |
| Total in accounts March 31 2025 | £2,566.37 |
Gnosall Library Accounts 2024 to 2025 Trust account
| Cheque No/ | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | Date received | Transfer in | Amount | Paid in | In total | Paid Out | Out total | Total in acount |
| Carried forward (current Account) | 01/04/2024 | £2,876.76 | £2,876.76 | |||||
| Library takings (17/05/24-25/07/24) | 17/05/2024 | £90.00 cash | £90.00 | |||||
| Cheque for Baby Bounce use from GRID | 07/08/2024 | 100676 | £200.00 | £200.00 | ||||
| Library takings (24/8/24-9/10/24) | 09/10/2024 | £85.00 cash | £85.00 | |||||
| Donation from Gnosall Runners | 30/10/2024 | £100.00 cash | £100.00 | |||||
| Cash from Christmas Meal & raffle | 05/12/2024 | £240.00 cash | £240.00 | |||||
| Library takings | 24/01/2025 | £45.00 cash | £45.00 | |||||
| Donation | 29/01/2025 | £50.00 | £50.00 | |||||
| Cash from Burton (Reading Group) | 17/02/2025 | £45.00 | £45.00 | |||||
| Library takings (17/02/25-19/03/25) | 17/02/2025 | £90.00 | £90.00 | |||||
| Income to date | £945.00 | |||||||
| Expenditure | ||||||||
| Domain renewal | 01/04/2024 | 100069 | -£22.00 | £22.00 | ||||
| Community Library's meeting refreshments | 01/04/2024 | 100070 | -£16.60 | £16.60 | ||||
| Parish Council for storage cupboard | 02/07/2024 | 100072 | -£203.00 | £203.00 | ||||
| Health and Safety payment to Staffs. C.C. | 18/07/2024 | 100073 | -£350.00 | £350.00 | ||||
| Refreshments for volunteer's meeting | 22/08/2024 | 100071 | -£9.85 | £9.85 | ||||
| Baby Bounce (from ring-fenced donation) | 27/09/2024 | 100074 | -£47.41 | £47.41 | ||||
| Deposit for Xmas Meal | 24/10/2024 | 100075 | -£50.00 | £50.00 | ||||
| Public Liability Insurance | 06/11/2024 | 100076 | -£369.66 | £369.66 | ||||
| Balance of Xmas Meal | 04/12/2024 | 100077 | -£322.00 | £322.00 | ||||
| Baby Bounce (from ring-fenced donation) | 19/12/2024 | 100078 | -£37.95 | £37.95 | ||||
| M Smigelska (DBS Check) | 25/02/2025 | 100079 | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||||
| Magdalena Woznicka (DBS check) | 27/03/2025 | 100080 | -£21.50 | £21.50 |
| Expenditure to date | -£1,449.97 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Net profit/loss to date | -£504.97 | ||
| Balance in Current Account | 31/03/2024 | £2,371.79 | |
| Community Account | 31/03/2024 | £194.58 | |
| TOTAL | £2,566.37 |