## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 01/04/2024 (Period start date) To 31/03/2025 (Period end date) Charity name: Rothwell Community Library Trust** ## **Charity registration number: 1178745** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity, as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote, for the benefit of the residents
of Rothwell and surrounding area, the
provision of a public library space. This to
be used for recreation and other leisure
time occupation by individuals and the
general public who have need of such
facilities by reason of their youth, age,
infirmity disablement, financial hardship or
social/economic circumstances.| ||Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit. In particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.
Para 1.17 and
1.19
Through the dedicated support, of around
35 volunteers, the following activities take
place meeting the following identified
purposes:
**Provision of a public library**
A full adult and children’s book lending
service including a “click and collect”
service during opening hours.
A dedicated children’s library area including
a range of toys.
Access to computer terminals
Help with bus pass and blue badge
application
**Activities and facilities for young people**
Weekly Rhyme Time, Stay and Play under
5s and Story Time sessions.
A weekly session for parents/carers with
children who are home educated.
Regular craft and child focussed activities in
school holidays.
A very active participation in the summer
reading challenge. A RCLT volunteer visits
all local participating schools providing an
introduction to the scheme, ahead of the
annual launch.
**Activities and facilities for adults**
Several games groups who meet to
compete at Scrabble, chess and complete
Jigsaws.
Weekly Ancestry Group.
Weekly Craft group
Weekly dementia support group meeting.
Access to computers/ quiet spaces for
reading/ study/ revision.
Monthly coffee mornings with home made
cheese scones and cakes.
Local beaders and crafters also have an
evening meeting and, amongst other
activities, help to produce knitted poppies
and ‘toppers’ which decorate the town for
specific occasions.
Regular craft fairs take place during the
year.
The library is a named dedicated warm
space during winter months with additional
drinks and food available. However, tea,
coffee, biscuits and other snacks are
available all year round.
Help with bus pass and blue badge
applications/renewals.
Various day and evening fund raising
events from fashion shows to book events
and talks.
**Outreach**
~~Visits from MIND Mental Health outreach~~| |---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees confirm that that they are
aware of the guidance and have taken it
into account when considering the range of
activities offered by the Trust. All of
activities undertaken are to meet the
charitable purposes of the Trust and benefit
the community of Rothwell and the local
area.| |---|---|---| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|No grants are made by the Trust| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|Not applicable| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The library is staffed, and run, entirely by
volunteers. In addition, the volunteers
undertake fund raising activities and, along
with the Trustees, seek to secure grants.| |Other||The lease for the building has been taken
over from the local council by the Creating
Tomorrow Multi Academy Trust which
operates several SEN schools in the area.
Pupils from the schools visit the library on
certain days each week and undertake
supervised work connected with the library
and upcoming events.| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|RCLT has continued to ensure that the
library has remained open throughout the
year but this has only been possible by the
continued support of the volunteers.
Funding was, again, secured from the local
County Council for the library to be a
designated warm space during the colder
months. The footfall has increased during
the year, for the second year running, up by
6% with active membership of the library up
by 2%. However, it is important to
remember that the library acts as a
community space for a range of activities
and therefore any increase in use, by
looking at footfall, is a better measure of
how well the charity is fulfilling its aims.
2 pieces of feedback received recently
highlight the positive impact the library has
on the local community:
Thanks from a son whose father, a local
resident, recently passed away, just after
reaching 100. His father had been a daily
visitor enjoying working on jigsaws and
chatting to other visitors. To quote from the
letter ‘Dad loved meeting people and the
sense of community he experienced at the
library was incredible.Thank you for
providing this comradeship and friendship
throughout the latter stages of Dad’s life’
Secondly, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ from a lady
and her husband who were very
appreciative for the the additional guidance
provided in completing a blue badge
application.
This year, help with blue badge applications
has increased by 229%. All renewals are
now treated as ‘fresh’ applications and the
evidence required has become more
complex, which has meant that more people
have requested help. Assisting with an
application can take up to 2 hours but it
remains a vital help for many of our local
| |~~residents~~||| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set ||Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set
Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives
Para 1.41
Other| |---|---| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The total funds of RCLT, as at the 31 March
2025, were just under £21,000 - with
£18,974 held in the CAF bank and just over
£2,000 in the original account opened with
a local Building Society.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|We have set a low reserve of £2,000 which
will be retained in the RCLT account held
with the local BS - see above. Only a low
reserve is necessary because, as RCLT is
not the leaseholder or responsible for any
utility charges, then the Charity does not
have any ongoing day to day liabilities .
There are no employees so the £2,000 will
be there just as a cushion in case of
donations/grant shortfalls - to allow the
children's holiday activities to continue.
These are the only activities that require
funding. All the other activities are either
self-funding or covered by grants.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£2,000| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46eq|1. Continued involvement of the Academy
Trust, as leaseholder of the library building
and providing additional support. If the
Academy withdraw from the partnership
then it would be unlikely that the Library
could remain open.
2. Retaining sufficient numbers of
Volunteers - both to carry out the role of
Trustees and to be the ‘workforce’ in
| |~~running the library~~||| Other ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s

||| |---|---|---| |~~t~~
~~t~~
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|CIO Foundation Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
|Para 1.25|Apart from the initial Trustees, the
appointment for Trustees is for four years or
less. Trustees are selected based on their
interest, skills and knowledge - required for
the effective administration of RCLT.| |~~trustees~~||| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|RCLT have an agreed Trustee induction
pack.| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|There were 6 current Trustees at the
beginning of the year. Two trustees
resigned during the year and three new
trustees were appointed. There remains a
mix of Trustees, who are also active
volunteers in the library and those who are
not. This mix continues to ensure that there
is a balance giving a ‘line of sight’ across
the Volunteer activities together with a
‘challenge’ element from those not directly
involved in the running of the library. This
increases the robustness of the Trustees
Governance ability. Separately, there is a
Volunteer Committee which undertakes the
organisation of the volunteers and is
responsible for dealing with the induction of
new volunteers including completion of the
necessary DRB checks and GDPR training.| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|As mentioned under ‘Objectives and
Activities’, a local Academy Trust formally
took over the lease of the library building
from the County Council when the
Community Library was set up. The RCLT
volunteers are still responsible for the
running of the library and the local activities
but the partnership with the Academy Trust
has ensured that the library has a secure
longer term future. The Academy is using
the library to give work experience for some
of its students which are supervised by an
Academy employee.| Other ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Rothwell Community Library Trust| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1178745| |Charity’s principal address|Market Hill
Rothwell
Northamptonshire
NN14 6EP| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** ||**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee**
**(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9|Kate Ley|Chair|01/04/2024-
05/01/2025|| ||Maureen Hill||01/04/2024 -
05/01/2025|| ||Mark West|||| ||Victoria Bell|Chair||| ||Christine
Gordon-Smith|Treasurer||| ||Dawn Young|||| ||Lin Ray||18/04/2024 -
31/03/2025|| ||Chrys Vere||18/04/2024 -
31/03/2025|| ||Dennis Lloyd||18/04/2024 -
31/03/2025|| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved ## **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**||**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|| |---|---|---|---| |**None**|||| ||||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff mem bers (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s)** Victoria Bell Christine Gordon-Smith **Position (eg** Chair Treasurer **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 3/07/2025 ## **Rothwell Community Library Trust Annual Accounts** ## **Year ended 31 March 2025** |**Rothwell Community Library Trust Annual Accounts**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**|**Rothwell Community Library Trust Annual Accounts**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**|**Rothwell Community Library Trust Annual Accounts**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**|**Rothwell Community Library Trust Annual Accounts**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**| |---|---|---|---| ||||| |**Balance brought forward as at 1 April 2024**||**£7,053.81**|| ||||| |**Plus**
**Unrestricted receipts**
EON credits
£1,444.43
Interest received
£30.00
Insurance reimbursed (NNC)
£282.72
Event receipts
£2,125.24
DonaDons
£1,873.07
Friends of Rothwell Library
£11,000.00
Payment recDfcaDon
£279.00|||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||**£17,034.46**||| ||||| |**Restricted receipts**
Warm Space (WS) -NNC
£2,000.00|||| ||**£2,000.00**||| ||**£19,034.46**|**£19,034.46**|| |||**£26,088.27**|| ||||| ||||| |**Less**
**Unrestricted expenses**
Monthly bank fees
£60.00
Window cleaner
£360.00
PrinDng costs
£200.00
Gardening costs
£506.49
Insurance cost
£448.94
Event expenses
£589.66
Children acDviDes
£410.09
Non capital equipment
£832.35
Bufet expenses
£155.00
Twinkl subscripDon
£119.88
Incorrect payment
£279.00|||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||**£3,961.41**||| ||||| |**Restricted expenses**
WS - various
£3,152.66|||| ||**£3,152.66**||| ||**£7,114.07**|**£7,114.07**|| ||||| ||||| |**Balance carried forward as at 31 March 2025**||**£18,974.24**||