THE FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON LIBRARY ANNUAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31[st ] MARCH 2021
Registered Charity number 1179939
Public Address – 19 Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, Oxford, OX1 5LY
The year to 31[st] March 2021 has of course been an extraordinary one during which we have all been forced to reduce our activities and The Friends of Kennington Library have been limited in what we could do since our library was only open under strict Covid regulations between 14[th] October 2020 and 23[rd] December 2020. Thankfully it is re-opening, but still under the same Covid safe conditions, on Wednesday 14[th] April. The 2019/2020 AGM was held on line and this year’s will similarly be on line on Thursday 27th May at 7.30pm. To attend this meeting, members should email: secretary@friendsofkenningtonlibrary.org.uk no later than 6pm on Tuesday 25th May and will then be sent the Zoom link. It is hoped many Friends will be able to attend virtually.
Charitable Purposes and Public Benefit
The charitable purpose of The Friends of Kennington Library (FOKL) is the advancement of education for the public benefit by supporting the operation and maintenance of a public library in Kennington, Oxford, for the benefit of local residents. It is widely accepted that reading has a major impact on general education. FOKL exists to support the provision of library services in Kennington.
Charitable Activities
FOKL organises events throughout the year for all age groups; some are held regularly each month (e.g. story time and rhyme time for the younger age groups and author talks for the more mature reader). It also organises larger events periodically to attract the widest audience. These events cover a range of topics ranging from presentation of children's stories with audience participation to group discussion and practice of calligraphic and ideographic scripts.
Structure and Organisation
FOKL’s operations are managed by its six trustees who are listed below and who meet regularly throughout the year to review progress towards meeting its financial targets, its partnership arrangements with Oxfordshire County Council and any related policies as well as considering and organising fundraising activities and its regular free events which are open to all. Two trustees who have served longest automatically have to stand down at the AGM, although they may stand for immediate re-election if they so wish. This Trustee rotation process is repeated each year.
As in previous years, the rota of those working alongside the library staff has been covered by regular volunteers. The enthusiastic group of volunteers has been joined by four more during the year. Some of the original group were advised not to volunteer when the library re-opened because of increased risk to their health posed by Covid. As the situation improves and vaccine courses are completed, the Trustees are very pleased to welcome them back. Those who volunteered during the period when the library was open
were keen to help and to adapt to the new requirements and arrangements. The Trustees are very grateful to all those who give so willingly of their time and talents in support of the library. We currently have 15 active volunteers.
Once again, in accordance with our constitution, 2 Trustees will stand down at the AGM. One will be eligible and standing for re-election, however, a second Trustee, Pamela Allen, who has served as Chairman is standing down, having moved to Herefordshire. It is planned to elect a Trustee in her stead. In addition to this report, the audited accounts and the AGM Notice, there is a proxy voting form. The Trustees very much hope that members will take advantage of this should they be unable to attend the AGM on line.
Whilst it has not been possible to hold any fund raising events this year, we have been very grateful to our members for their continuing support via subscriptions. As will be seen later in this report, although income has inevitably been reduced, Oxfordshire County Council has reduced its charges to FOKL in order to reflect the periods during which Kennington Library has been closed.
Charges for room rental in the Village Centre have been non-existent since none of the usual activities such as Rhyme Time, Story Time, Summer Reading Challenge events and author talks has been able to take place live. From September 2020, the programme of author talks has been given online in the usual slot of the first Wednesday of each month at 11am. These have been greatly enjoyed by a good many; following some problems with sound quality on the platform being used, the Trustees decided to purchase a Zoom licence which has proved successful. The Trustees thank John Argyle, one of the volunteers, who has hosted all the online events on behalf of FOKL.
Financial Report
The accounts have been prepared on a strict cash basis as in previous years and reviewed by our Independent Examiner, a copy of whose report to the Trustees is in the Treasurer’s file available for inspection. In the year ended 31[st] March 2021 the charity generated an increased surplus of income over expenditure compared with the previous year and thereby increased its financial reserves which are healthy. Since the Library was closed for the vast majority of the year as a consequence of lockdowns and Covid-19 safety requirements, the surplus arose because Oxfordshire County Council deferred settlement of contractual salary contributions amounting to c£4,000 per year until the Library can open again in 2021.
It is gratifying to note that regular income from Members’ subscriptions which underpin the sustainability of the charity’s operations remained at a level consistent with previous years, the shortfall being substantially represented by the absence of bulk membership fees from one source resulting from the prolonged closure. We are most grateful for members’ continuing support as well as that of our sponsors and Friends in these exceptional times.
The surplus of income over expenditure in the year to 31[st] March 2021 has been added to reserves.
Notes to the accounts,
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The Charity has not given any guarantees and there are accordingly no potential outstanding liabilities in this regard as at 31[st] March 2021.
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The Charity has no outstanding debts secured by an express charge on any of its assets as at 31[st] March 2021.
FOKL Trustees
Pamela Allen (Chair), Helen Hurrell (Secretary), Hugh Fleming (Treasurer), Jenny Forder, David Miles, Sylvia Vetta
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES TlY& Frtends of Kennlrtglon Ubrary 1179939 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perlod from To 1st ri12020 31st Marth 2021 Section A Receipts and payments Unrèstrlctsd Restfleted funds fund¥ to the noaro01 £ tolh• n•4ro•t£ toth• trest È toth•n••ret£ Endowfflent funds Total funds Lastyoar toth• nMr•t£ A1 Recel ts M8mber$hlp Subscriptions Fundrak4hg Events Donaiions, Grants & Sponwrnhlp Gift Ad recovered BBnk kntorp5t 2,22S 1.639 1h29 479 818 479 816 AR) s75 l••e table 6,$76 A3Pa Salary Conithiion8 14ire ¢1 Ha11 and Funth3M*IJ Mls¢dlan80usexpwths B8nkcharges Computer EqUinl 3.928 656 210 193 193 6$2 Sub total 273 273 A4 Asset and Investmont urchases see tatA8 Sub totsi Net of recthpts/(payments) A5 Trnnsfers betwoen funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 2,693 1693 127 20.108 17.415
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period unstrICted Restrict8d nds End0wmt funds Categorles Details 31 Cash funds 20JM2 Tofal cash fimds 20,108 ¥1) Unrestrlcted funds Regtrlcted funds Endowm•nt funds Detalls tonairmtt tonear4s¢£ Cwr•rt w•lu• De¢ai18 B3 Inv0Stmont as80ts Detslls 84 Assets r•talned forth• rvs own u du• Details BS Llabllttlès Svjned tyone Or1 In*& on behalf of all the Iruslees Signature Print Name D8t8 of roval CCXX R2 accourbts ISSI Cfffj5rd021