2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 31/03/2025 Period end date

Charity name: Desborough Library and Community Hub

Charity registration number: 1179015

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	1) The provision of a public library. 2) To promote for the benefit of the residents of Desborough and surrounding area or communities the provision of a public library for recreation and or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, 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 object of improving the condition of life of the said residents. 3) To advance the education of the public in Desborough and surrounding areas by operating and managing a lending library.

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	Desborough Library and Community Hub (DLCH) has taken over the running of Desborough Library and has a dedicated body of 30 volunteers of which 20 have been trained in Library operations. Along with a part time staff member covering the Library duties The core services of book lending and computer terminals giving internet access, bus pass and blue badge applications and renewals are available by appointment during all opening times. This meets the first and third objectives. There are sessions for children, toddlers and babies such as Story Stomp, Rhyme Time, Baby Time, Playtime at the Library, some sessions are followed by themed crafts, many of which are run by volunteers. There is a scrabble club, fiction addiction ( book club), regular coffee mornings, craft sessions, fitness classes, fund raisers for other local charities. The Library provides a welcoming and safe environment for the elderly and for people with anxiety and mental health issues. During the Winter months we took part in the Warm Space initiative by proving free teas & coffees with biscuits and Hot Soup and bread rolls. There is Service Desk hosted within the Library at which residents can get help regarding services provided by the local authority including housing, rents, litter, refuse collection, anti-social behaviour, environmental health. A small meeting room is utilised by • theCitizens Advice Bureau, • Mind mental health charity hold weekly drop in sessions, • a Credit Union have meeting appointments • Accommodation Concern have weekly visits and appointments with local residents.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees recognise the guidance given by the Charity Commission on public benefit and conclude that by providing a free book lending library service and free Universal Children’s Services for under 5s open to all the residents of Desborough and the surrounding area the requirement is being met.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference

Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	NA
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	NA
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	DLCH has retained a dedicated group of volunteers whose contribution allows the Library to remain open for longer and on more days allowing it to run as a Community Managed Library. The group is active in many ways within the Library by providing support to the paid staff member across the range of services offered. There are usually 3 people on duty at any one time and often more during busy times. The weekly contribution from volunteers has increased due to demand at around 100 person hours.
Other

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	DLCH considers that the continuation of the free public library service in Desborough is an achievement. On average we are having 750 visitors per week to the Library for the book lending service and the range of community activities that are hosted within the Community Hub. We continue to have a strong working relationship with the Library Community Support Officers who are most supportive of DLCH. The senior officers and portfolio holder for Libraries are also extremely positive and helpful in support of DLCH running the Library.

Additional information (optional)

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Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 DLCH’s objectives for this year were to continue to provide a free to all Library lending service and provide an expanded range of community activities. We also continue to upgrade and renew the fabric of the building with replacement of windows in the children’s area and upgrades to the furniture. Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41 Our fundraising activities continue to provide sufficient income to meet our needs. We have seen an upturn in visitor numbers and our activities are well supported by the community. Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 DLCH has a £40,000 savings bank account for its reserves Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	2023/24 2023/24 Income £82,960 £78,758 Payments £59,846 £58,973 Cash at Year End (inc savings) £129,191 £106,078 Restricted Funds £15,854 £5,498 Unrestricted Funds £113,337 £100,580
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The current reserves policy is to maintain sufficient cash flow for known commitments, and the replacement of certain assets
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£42,000 in savings account
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None

Additional information (optional)

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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 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
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 trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees are selected from the membership and appointed by the existing trustees. (1) Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of four years or less by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. (2) In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

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Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

	Charity name Desborough Library and Community Hub Other name the charity uses D’Hub, DLCH and DHUB Registered charity number 1179015 Charity’s principal address Library, High Street, Desborough, Northamptonshire. NN14 2QS

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	Shelagh Hodder
	Linda Valerie Burnham
	John Ralph Holmes	Chair
	Teresa Lesley Beech
	Paula Jane Holmes	Secretary
	Lesley Ann Draycott
	Fiona Toovey
	Susan Atkinson

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

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets 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 members (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) JOHN RALPH HOLMES PAULA JANE HOLMES Position (eg CHAIR TREASURER AND TRUSTEE Secretary, Chair, etc)

Date 11th. May 2025

	Desborough Library and Community Hub	Desborough Library and Community Hub	Desborough Library and Community Hub	Desborough Library and Community Hub	Desborough Library and Community Hub	1179015	1179015		CC16a
	Receipts and payments accounts
	For the period from		1 Apr 2024		To		31 Mar 2025
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
Individual Donations	0		1,809		0		1,809		3,309
HMRC Gift Aid	477		0		0		477		859
NNC Grants - Warm Space	2,000		0		0		2,000		0
Small Grants	100		0		0		100		6,099
Public Toilet Extension Project	0		10,000				10,000
Rent (Desborough Town Council)	9,576		0		0		9,576		9,576
Fundraising Online	127		0		0		127		230
Fundraising Events	19,393		0		0		19,393		17,855
Other Income	1,310		0		0		1,310		1,351
Shop Sales	14,845		0		0		14,845		13,190
Room Hire	19,070		0		0		19,070		19,106
Library income	2,252		0		0		2,252		2,183
Sub total(Gross income for AR)	69,150		11,809		0		80,959		73,758
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
Savings Account	2,001		0		0		2,001		40,000
	0		0		0		0		0
Sub total	2,001		0		0		2,001		40,000
Total receipts	71,151		11,809		0		82,960		113,758
A3 Payments
Shop Sales	1,679		0		0		1,679		1,619
Fundraising Events	3,689		0		0		3,689		4,489
Payroll, Pension and Training	25,370		0		0		25,370		23,907
Payments to Crafters	384		0		0		384		417
Payments for Goods and Services	2,166		0		0		2,166		4,924
Utilities, Insurance and Other Costs	25,105		0		0		25,105		23,192
Public Toilet Extension Project	0		1,453		0		1,453		0
	0		0		0		0		0
	0		0		0		0		0
Sub total	58,393		1,453		0		59,846		58,548
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
Savings Account	0		0		0		0		40,000
	0		0		0		0		0
Sub total	0		0		0		0		40,000
Total payments	58,393		1,453		0		59,846		98,548
Net of receipts/(payments)	12,758		10,356		0		23,114		15,210
A5 Transfers between funds	0		0		0		0		0
A6 Cash funds last year end	104,640		1,437		0		106,077		76,083
Cash funds this year end	117,398		11,793		0		129,191		91,293
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories	Details				Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Endowment funds
					to nearest £		to nearest £		to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	General Cash Funds				117,398		0		0
	Public Toilet Project				0		11,793		0
					0		0		0
	Total cash funds				117,398		11,793		0
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))				OK				OK
					Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Endowment funds
	Details				to nearest £		to nearest £		to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	N/A				0		0		0
					0		0		0
					0		0		0
					0		0		0
					0		0		0
					0		0		0
	Details				Fund to which asset belongs		Cost (optional)		Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets	Savings Account						0		42,001
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
	Details				Fund to which asset belongs		Cost (optional)		Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	Library Building				0		360,000		0
	Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings				50000		0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
							0		0
	Details				Fund to which liability relates		Amount due (optional)		When due (optional)
B5 Liabilities							0
							0
							0
							0
							0
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Signature				Print Name				Date of approval
					JOHN HOLMES				11th. May 2025
					PAULA HOLMES				11th. May 2025

I CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 Charity no (If any) 1179015 set out on pages I report to the trustees C￿ my examination of th8 accounts of the above Charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended Responslblllllos and basis of report As the charivs trustees. you are responsilje for the preparation of Ihe accounts in acLordance the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Aci"). I report in respecl of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under secb'on 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5Xb) of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement uHdert￿8rnIp￿￿ by beinga ero I have c¢Jfflpl8ted my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in oJnn8Cth)n with the examination (gth8FJ d￿lO￿l¢h gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accountlng records were not kept In a￿OrdanCe with section 130 of the Charities Act: or the accounts did not aco)rd wth the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply the applicable reqU1￿MentS conceming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter onsid8red as part of an independent examinatKsn. I have no concems and have come acmss no other matters in connection with the examination to ￿1¢h attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandirHJ of the acojunts to be reathed. . Please delete the words in th8 brackets rfthey do not appty. Slgned: 28th May 2025 Name: vlu ￿ Pascan Tias Able Accountinq Relevant pmfossional qualltlcatlon(s) or body Independent IER Oct 2018

(If any): Address: 14 Leys Avenue Destyorough NN14 2PY Section B Disclosure OH￿Y complete if the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinalion of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that tho examlner wlshes to dlsclose. NIA IER Oct 2018