THE FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON LIBRARY ANNUAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[s] ~~[t] M~~ ARCH 2022
Registered Charity number 1179939
Public Address – 19 Bagley Wood Road, Kennington, Oxford, OX1 5LY
The year to 31st March 2022 has seen a reduction of Covid-19 restrictions and The Friends of Kennington Library have been able to gradually return to something like normal activities during the period. Kennington Library was open throughout with several restrictions, including reduced opening hours, at the start of the period. Full opening of the library resumed in September 2021.
The Friends were successful in a request to Oxfordshire County Council for a change in library opening hours. The change consisted of cutting the last hour of Friday opening and adding 30 minutes to both the Monday and Wednesday opening times, thus maintaining the same total opening hours. The change was implemented early in 2022 and has led to a more logical and consistent set of opening times.
The 2020/2021 AGM was held online via Zoom, with Friends attending virtually. This year’s AGM will be held in person at 7.30pm on 23rd June 2022 at St Swithun’s Church Hall.
Charitable Purposes and Public Benefit
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 contribution to general education. The Friends of Kennington Library (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.
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 organising fundraising activities and its regular free events which are open to all. In accordance with our constitution two Trustees who have served longest stand down in rotation at the next Annual General Meeting of Members, although they may stand for immediate re-election if they so wish.
FOKL's trustee representatives have reviewed the New Partnership Working Agreement between OCC and FOKL, which sets out the obligations of the two parties for a period of two years commencing on 1st April 2022, and additionally the Outreach Agreement for the same period, and will recommend that trustees duly approve the continuation of the library service in Kennington as set out therein.
At the 2021 AGM Pamela Allen, who has left the area, stood down as Trustee and Chair of the Friends after many years of service. The Trustees are very grateful to Pamela for her service. At the same meeting John Argyle was elected as a Trustee and was subsequently appointed as Chair. The 2022 AGM will be held in person at 7:30pm at St Swithun’s Church Hall on Thursday 23[rd] June at which two Trustees will stand down in rotation. Members will receive documentation in early June including a proxy voting form and the Trustees very much hope that members will take advantage of this should they be unable to attend the AGM in person.
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 several more during the year and some have retired or are having a rest from volunteering. 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-19. 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 10 active volunteers who help to cover six one hour and a half sessions in the library each week. The Trustees are actively seeking new volunteers and in particular one or more to act as Digital Helper.
Two fund raising events were held in November 2021. The first of these was an expanded author talk with the President of the Friends, Korky Paul and Richard O. Smith, who gave a most entertaining talk about their book Oxford Zz to Aa . The second was an evening event where Ray Foulk and his daughter Caroline talked about their book Picasso’s Revenge . Though numbers at these events had to be limited in line with Covid-19 restrictions both were very successful and enjoyed by all who attended.
The very popular author talks were held throughout the period. Up until the removal of Covid-19 restrictions these were held online using Zoom, but from September 2021 we were able to resume face to face talks in the Village Centre. Starting from February 2022 these talks have been moved to the large Main Hall at the Village Centre which has allowed a larger audience whilst still maintaining social distancing. The ever-popular FOKL Best Reads of the year event was held in December 2021.
Children’s events at the library, such as Rhyme Time and Story Time have resumed following the removal of Covid-19 restrictions. Outreach activities have resumed, with children from St Swithun’s School visiting the library, outside of normal opening hours, in class groups.
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 2022 the charity generated a substantially increased surplus of income over expenditure compared with the previous year and thereby increased its financial reserves. Since Library opening was restricted for part of the year as a consequence of Covid-19 safety requirements, the surplus arose because Oxfordshire County Council kindly waived settlement of contractual salary contributions amounting to c£4,000 for the year under review and the first instalment will now fall due in April 2022 in respect of the six month period ending on 31[st] March 2023.
It is reassuring to note that regular income from Members’ subscriptions which underpin the sustainability of the charity’s operations have increased over last year, largely as a result of the resumption of Small World Nursery children visits to the library with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. We are most grateful for members’ continuing support as well as that of our sponsors and Friends in these exceptional times. Successful fundraising events have also contributed some 60% of the increased reserves.
The surplus of income over expenditure in the year to 31[st] March 2022 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 2022.
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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 2022.
FOKL Trustees
John Argyle (Chair), Helen Hurrell (Secretary), Hugh Fleming (Treasurer), Jenny Forder, David Miles, Sylvia Vetta
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 Receipts and payments accounts For Ihe wlod CC16a To 1st 31st Marth 2022 Section A Receipts and payments UnTe8triet•d R•strlel•d lund• nd• Endont fun Total fund¥ Last y•Ar A1 R•c•l t• Membernttip Fufjdralsl Events Donat15. Grants& fj1ftd recovered Bank Intwe81 Mi&c6IU8newg 1.650 479 AR) (••• t•bl•}. Total rK•lpts 2.966 A3Pa rnfjnts S8ry Coni¢ouuon8 Hlre of Hall ano FundNrffj MI11$nO0U$ Borl( cha Computer EouirxnÈ Onlkna Itel & ENnM* 193 119 Z02 Sub lot 273 A4 A$8et and Investment urchag•• 0 14bl• Sub totsi 1.027 1.027 Net 0frne•lpwpaentr) A5 Tran#feTr between funds A6 Cash funds last yoar Cash funds Ilts yv•r¢nd 2,693 23.17 23.170 20.108 CCXX R1 ac£ounts ISSI
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrnstrfrcted Re$trtcted End0%l funds lunds lJel=3iJries B1 Cash funds Total eash fiMKts 23,170 Endowment fund¥ towr•te lund• fund# Deta116 BJ In¥1Me as80ts D•tail• Currtrrt u• on•t 84 Assets retaln•d for th• charity's own Dgt8118 B6 Llablllti Sv4ned by or* ortwo trusleu on beh8lf of 811 trustees Swabjre Print Nar Date of roval Hugh CCXX R2 •Grnts ISSI