## **WHICKHAM VOLUNTEER LIBRARY ASSOCIATION**
## **2025 - 2026** ANNUAL REPORT
## **WHICKHAM VOLUNTEER LIBRARY ASSOCIATION**
**9 St Mary’s Green, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4DN website: www.whickhamlibrary.com email: whickhamlibrary@gateshead.gov.uk Telephone: 0191 4336424**
**CHARITY NUMBER: 1178050**
## **CHAIR’S INTRODUCTION**
I am delighted to say that Whickham Library continues to thrive and develop. Our most visible achievement of this year has been transforming our Community Room from a storage area with a large table into a very smart meeting room, with cupboards concealing everything we need to store.
Alongside volunteer working groups re-decorating the corridor and kitchen, and replacing the kitchen units, this all makes the library much more attractive. We are hoping this will enhance our income, by creating the opportunity to rent out our meeting space to local businesses and groups.
We are all very excited to have been awarded a grant from the Pride in Place initiative, which will enable us to proceed with long hoped-for plans to modernise the main library space. By moving the current island-style reception from the centre of the library entrance, and by replacing fixed bookshelves, which protrude into the room, with mobile units, we will be able to create a large space in which we can host much bigger events for the community. This is planned for completion by the end of 2026.
We continue with our magnificent band of volunteers, who allow us to remain open Monday to Saturday. The fact that they are, in the main, the same volunteers that have been with the library since we began in 2017 is a testament to their dedication, though we have welcomed some new volunteers this year.
Our aim to become an incredibly important resource for our local community is being fulfilled, and we take much pride in this. Free access to books, computers and information remains our core purpose, but we are becoming much more.
## **ALLAN SHORT Chair of the Trustees**
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**Our Values Community Focused – Accessible – Welcoming – Sustainable**
## **Our Mission Statement**
**We are dedicated to providing, maintaining and enhancing a quality library service and resources for our community, ensuring a safe and inclusive space for all who visit.**
## **Our Vision**
**To continue to grow the library as a community hub, and develop our services to meet our community’s needs.**
## **OUR PEOPLE**
## **Trustees**
Allan Short, Chair Andy Summerson Peter Craig, Vice Chair Anne Messere Denise Bennett, Secretary Jeff Bowe (resigned December 2025) Alison Richardson, Vice Secretary Angela Todd David Johnson, Treasurer Tina Dunn (joined March 2026) Jane Campion Laura Bennett (joined March 2026)
While one of our trustee group was obliged to resign this year due to other demands on his time, we have gained two new trustees, one with legal expertise, and the other a qualified youth worker, both of whom will be invaluable for our future plans for our library.
## **Volunteer Team**
Our volunteer group’s dedication, enthusiasm, and connection to the community have been key to sustaining our services and ensuring the library remains a welcoming and vibrant space for all.
In 2025 we undertook a volunteer survey, an opportunity to review the operation of the library, and to receive suggestions for further improvements. Overall, our volunteers were very positive about their experience, proud to be part of something of such value to our community, and constructive in ideas for how we could progress.
## **Working Groups**
**Activities** (Jane Campion, Anne Messere, Eileen Bone, Alison Richardson, Angela Todd) organising and facilitating all activities associated with the library, including social events.
**Buildings and future planning** (Allan Short, Alison Richardson, Denise Bennett, Eileen Bone, Andy Summerson, David Richardson) responsible for any issues relating to the library building or equipment including health and safety.
**Safeguarding** (Alison Richardson, Peter Craig) developing safeguarding policy and practice.
**Membership** (Eileen Bone, Alison Richardson) organising the daily rotas and developing practices for the induction of new volunteers.
**Finance and fund-raising** (Allan Short, David Johnson, Jane Campion, Denise Bennett, Alison Richardson, Eileen Bone) responsible for ensuring WVLA’s finances are on track for maintaining and improving the library as well as looking at funding opportunities and ensuring any criteria for grants are fulfilled.
**Governance** (Allan Short, David Johnson, Denise Bennett, Angela Todd, Alison Richardson) responsible for assisting the trustee group to ensure that the trustee board fulfils its legal, ethical and functional responsibilities.
## **THE YEAR IN REVIEW**
We are proud that we have enabled our library to remain open as a library, but increasingly we are also becoming a community space. Local organisations and residents appreciate that the library is able to host their activities, whether support groups, crafting meet ups, advice clinics, or one of multiple other types of projects. This growing role has strengthened our connection with the wider community. Throughout the year, our spaces have supported learning, wellbeing, and social interaction, helping to reduce isolation and encourage creativity.
## **Fundraising and Events**
The library has continued to thrive through a series of well-attended and engaging events. We are able to provide and host these occasions because of the hard work and enthusiasm of our activities group and other volunteers.
Our Easter Fair was a great success, well attended by families and residents enjoying children’s crafts, cake sale and other stalls, tombola, raffle, and Name the Lamb. This fair gave an opportunity for people of all ages to experience the library as a busy community space.
In June we took part in the Chase Park Community Fair, a highlight of our village year, We generated great interest with our Human Fruit Machine, a new venture that we’re bound to repeat at the next Community Fair.
Our now-traditional annual grand fund raiser was a Race Night, held at Whickham Golf Club. A fun-packed night, with races, quizzes and games.
2025 concluded with a Christmas Fair, as usual an enjoyable festive occasion. Featuring our children’s crafts, seasonal stalls and refreshments, the fair was attended by lots of local residents, creating a warm atmosphere much appreciated by our volunteers, who appreciate seeing the library buzzing with activity.
As part of Gateshead Central Library’s Centenary celebrations, we held a well-attended evening of folk music and poetry themed around local history, provided by local folk duo Miggins Fiddle, and poet Harry Gallagher.
The library operated as a donation point for Tech4Communites, a project developed by the Digital Poverty Alliance as a means of redistributing unwanted laptops, tablets and mobile phones to local residents in “digital poverty”. We had a very positive response, and were able to pass on a significant number of devices for refurbishment and donation.
A highly successful fundraising Coffee Morning was hosted by Fellside Methodist Church. We provided cake, and they provided the space. So many people turned up to support us, and it was a welcome opportunity to advertise all that our library has to offer.
Outside the library, weather permitting, we hold regular book sales. As well as raising funds, these are an ideal opportunity to connect with local shoppers on our high street, raising awareness of what their library has to offer them.
Each of these events has contributed to forging links with our local community. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year.
## **Children’s Activities**
Over the past year, the library has delivered a variety of events for our younger users.
Three Rhyme Time sessions per week continue to be popular with families with young children. These are interactive sessions aimed at introducing babies and toddlers to songs, rhymes, and simple stories, supporting early language development while providing a welcoming space for parents and carers to connect.
Free craft sessions at our seasonal fairs encourage children to explore their creativity through themed activities in a fun and relaxed environment, and contribute to to the library’s role as a community hub during festive periods.
The library helps local schools celebrate World Book Day, promoting a love of reading for pleasure. Library volunteers dress as children’s book characters, and join with the children in reading stories aloud.
## **Regular Groups Meeting in the Library**
The library hosts a range of regular groups, covering a variety of interests and needs. The diversity of these highlights the library’s role as a multifunctional community space. From creative and educational activities to essential advisory services, these groups contribute significantly to community wellbeing, inclusion, and engagement.
_Wednesday Afternoon Films:_ Each week the library hosts a film show in the Library Lounge, much looked forward to by regular attendees.
_Knit’n’Natter_ : a long-standing group of regulars, providing a space for individuals interested in knitting and needlecrafts. The sessions promote creativity while also offering an opportunity for social engagement and peer support.
_U3A (University of the Third Age):_ Several U3A groups meet in our community rooms. These include three book clubs, gardening, genealogy, theatre, knitting, and a monthly coffee meeting.
_Library Book Group:_ this group, run by a library volunteer, meets monthly to discuss a selected book.
_Art Club:_ a long-standing group, which meets weekly.
_Quilting Club:_ brings together community members interested in quilting and textile crafts.
_Wednesday Crafts:_ open to a broad audience and includes a variety of creative activities such as sewing, card-making, painting, and seasonal crafts.
_Citizens Advice Bureau:_ the library hosts twice-monthly advice sessions by the Citizens Advice Bureau, providing free vital support services to the community. This service plays a key role in supporting the wellbeing of local residents.
_Health Watch:_ visits the library monthly to obtain feedback from the community regarding health provision.
_Warm Welcome:_ Whickham Library has been designated a Warm Welcome space since the programme’s inception. Members of the community can come in at any time to find company, have free refreshments, read the newspapers in a warm, welcoming place.
## **Working with Young People**
Thanks to a grant from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Violence Reduction Unit the library was able to run a six-week pilot of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. One of our volunteers, a qualified youth worker herself, assisted by a youth worker from a local organisation, led a group of young people through many adventures. This pilot was so successful with the young people that the library has decided to continue this using our own resources.
## **Keeping in Touch**
Maintaining communication with library users is essential to ensuring that the community remains informed and engaged in what the library has to offer.
Our e-newsletter has an increasing number of subscribers choosing to receive regular updates. The newsletter provides information about library activities, and highlights upcoming events, new initiatives, and any seasonal or one-off activities being planned.
The library has a Facebook page and Instagram account. We share updates, photos from recent events, reminders about upcoming events, and this provides an opportunity for users to engage with the library by sharing posts, helping to extend our reach within the wider community.
## **FUTURE PLANS AND CHALLENGES**
The loss of a significant income stream, previously generated through room rental from the Barclays Bank Local programme, has acted as a catalyst for renewed focus within the library. We are actively seeking ways to strengthen our role as a community hub. This includes enhancing the quality and appeal of our existing spaces, with the aim of promoting them more effectively as rentable venues for local businesses, charities, and community organisations.
In early 2026 an important opportunity arose to apply for funding from Gateshead Council through the Pride in Place programme, a government-backed initiative designed to support communities in improving their local environments and facilities. We were delighted to be successful in our application. This funding now enables us to move forward with longstanding plans to redevelop the main library space, creating a more welcoming, accessible, and flexible environment. A key priority within this project is to expand and improve the availability of spaces for community groups to meet and collaborate. While this represents the most ambitious project undertaken by the WVLA to date, we are confident in our capacity to deliver lasting improvements, contributing to one of our central aims, that of sustainability, to ensure that the library remains available as a community resource.
Alongside this major development, we remain committed to evolving our existing services and introducing new resources where possible. We continue to explore innovative ways to meet the changing needs of our users, ensuring that the library remains relevant and responsive to the community it serves.
At the same time, we recognise the challenges inherent in these aims. Securing funding remains increasingly competitive, as many organisations are seeking support in a climate of growing demand. In addition, we must continue to adapt to technological developments and respond to shifting expectations around public services. These factors require careful consideration and strategic planning as we move forward.
Despite these challenges, we are determined to preserve the sustainability and growth of our service. This confidence is grounded in the ongoing dedication of our trustees and volunteers, as well as the continued support of our local community. Looking ahead, we remain firmly committed to strengthening our community focus while maintaining access to books, information, welcoming spaces, and a diverse range of resources for all our users.
## **ANNUAL ACCOUNTS**
## **Treasurer’s Remarks**
For the year ended 31st March 2026 the charity recorded a surplus of £15,652 which in part reflects the reduction in our energy consumption following the installation of new lighting and energy efficiency measures taken in the previous financial year.
Our fundraising team have risen to the challenge of trying to replace the lost income from Barclays Bank who closed their community banking hub in the second half of 2025; further initiatives are being planned which include room hire and the expansion of our “Friends of Whickham Library”.
As you will see in other areas of this report we have refurbished, from our own funds, the kitchen area and meeting room at the rear of the building.
Our unrestricted reserves policy remains at 50% of our anticipated expenditure in any given year.
Post balance sheet we are in the early stages of planning the update of the library having received a grant from Pride in Place, which is a government initiative to help support local facilities.
## **DAVID JOHNSON Treasurer**
Whld(ham Volunteer Llbrary Assoclatlon
tst April 2025 to 31st March 2026
Note
Re¢eipts
Donations
brary Income
Grants
Other IrTrcome
Room Hlre
Intwe$t
Mlsc
1928.36
19319.00
3300.C4J
3744.77
8221.26
2765.85
1537.00
40816.24
Expenditure
Runnin8 costs
Olfice & Gener•1 Expenditure
Governance
16735.19
8076.sl
352.39
25164.09
Excess of IrKomeover expendlture
IS652.15
Whltkham Volunteer Llbrary A5s0clatlon
1st Aprll 2025 to 31st Maich 2026
Runnlni Costs
Eltttrl¢
fjas
Smart M¢ter
Website
Recharge ttsGhd MBC
Cleanlns Costs
Ucences
M•inten•nce
3780.09
2701.10
48.00
587.38
1751.27
5960.18
1399.16
508.01 16735.19
OffKe& qen4rJl expenses
News Papers
Wash Roorn
Pew cash
Misc expenditure
Coffee, Tei,biscvits etr
apltol expendlture
Grant expedlture
130.34
1571.07
320.67
164.38
1503.17
3786.88
6.() 8076.51
Governance
In$urance
A¢countan(v
352.39
25164.09
Whlckham Volunteer Llbrary Assodation
IrtAprfl 20Z5 to 31st Mar¢h 2026
Balan¢e Sheet
i*im5
Re¢elpts
Donations
Libr4ryTaklTr65
Grants
Other Income
Room Hlre
Interest
1928.%
19319.r
3wJ.ri)
3744.n
8121.26
1765.85
1537.(
40816.24
1592?.9)
6X?J.10
Expendlture
Runnln8 COStS
OFh¢e & General Empendlture
Govemance
16735.19
8076.51
352.39
25164.09
IQS74n7
49&5b.71
Exce$59f Income over In¢om•
15652,15
12W*
8alanco Brou8ht Forward
74998.13
Income
4CQ1&24
Expenditure
25164.09
15652,15
650,28
749Wts
Curr•nt Attount
Epworth cash Fund
Cash
9701.24
70.11
28.82
650.2B
.01
74191 Jl
Whlckham Volunteer Llbrary Assoclatlon
1st Aprll 2025 to 31st Marth 2026
Notwtoth• •c¢wt)ts
Don•tlon$
IKlud•s GIftAlded don•thon54nd Just Glvl
Intem•
Inelud•5 8Dc* ulÈs4Trd other don•t*d Items
Grart5
InElude5. Warm Welwrne. Pollct Jndcrlme tommls51oner
vouth Inltl•tlve•nd Gate5he•d MBC Zlrf)thAnnlvws•ry
Otherln¢crfne
l¥%lud¢s Fn0 A•15th& Rev11 boo*5 •nd trboy book leS
R¢xffi hlre
lTrdude$. B•r¢lays eank, Counclllorw4fd meetln8S,
Whlckham Carnera Club and Whtckharn U3A
Mlsc.
In¢ludes, GfftAld recl•lm for Z024-2025
Expendlttw
Indudes. Motton pitture. Muslt and lottery
M15C.
MI1n$ Nddleevent, Bank Charg•5, depositfor quiz Tr*ht
Coffee.Tea & Bi5C
Warm Wdcome supplie5
Capital Expendtiure
Aefurbishrnentofthe kitchen and rear meetingrryJm.
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Rèport
Report to the trusteesl
mombgrs of
fijhickham Volunteer LIary Associats'cr¢
On accounts forth• y•ar
ended
3111 Marth 2026
Charity no
Ilf any)
1178050
Set out on yg01
I reFQrt lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the ab)¥e
chaiity {Yho Trust") forthe year ended 31103 12026.
R•8pons1blllll and As the Charity trustees of the Trust, you are re$p)nwble for the preparation
ba¥1¥ of rnport of the accounts In accordance with tho requlroments of the Chariti08 Act
2011 (h8 Act").
I reFQrt in respect of my examlnallon of the Trusfs )unt9 rArded out
undor 8ection 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the aFvlicable Directions given by the Charity Commi5sFon
under section 145ISXbl of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material mattern hav
corrts lo my attention {other than that disdosed bell.) in connection wtrth
th6 exafflinatn whith givas mo Cause to believe that in, any matorial
re8pect.'
accounting reo)rd$ were not kopl In accordance with 8e¢tion 130 of
the Act or
the unt8 do not &cord with the actounling record8
Indopondont
examlner's statement
I have no con(xm8 have come acro no other matters In conrrttion
with tho examination to which attention shkj drawn in order lo enable
proper under5tandlng of the accounts lo te reached.
' Plegs6 delete the wo$ in lh• br8ckets ifthey do not apply.
Slgn•d:
zé
Namo:
R•hvant profos•lonal
quallllcatlonlsl or body
lof any):
Addv••s:
TO
£13
FJ
IER
October 2018
9 St Mary’s Green, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4DN 0191 4336424 whickhamlibrary@gateshead.gov.uk
www.whickhamlibrary.com
@WhickhamVolunteerLibrary Charity Registration Number: 1178050