Gravesend, Northfleet & District U3A Annual Report 2023
Chairman’s Report
2023 was again a very successful year for our u3a and we thank all Group Leaders and Committees for your leadership and encouragement for our Members. Over 80% of our groups had spaces, with many new groups starting. Our Social Committee held a full programme of varied, interesting, and well- supported events, both local and further afield.
Our Editors continue to produce an excellent monthly newsletter, which is of use to all members and sent via email to most members. Our monthly CPC meeting continues to have a wide and varied range of excellent speakers, with numbers at meetings continuing to increase. Only around 25% of Members are attending the monthly meeting, though the CPC has seating for over 50%. In addition, we have negotiated extra parking at North Kent College.
We completed our first full year using the Beacon u3a Membership system, with most Members joining or renewing on-line, (thereby drastically reducing administration time as well as Members’ postage costs), viewing the calendar of events and also joining groups with just one click. Some Members are still accessing information using our Newsletter, but the Committee is always available to assist with IT skills. Potential members are also viewinglimited Beacon information about our Groups and trips via our website.
We formed a working partnership with Gravesham Borough Council (GBC) and its initiative “Getting Gravesham Moving”. The Council provided a grant for 25 free halfyear Memberships, part-funded the Tai-Chi group and is supporting advertising our u3a via their publicity department. We also presented to local charities, GBC and NHS to encourage a reduction in social isolation, increase mobility and aid Mental Health and Wellbeing for local residents. Some GP’s are now showing a presentation of our u3a on surgery TV screens.
To survive and thrive we need a steady stream of new Members to bring fresh ideas and skills, start up new groups, arrange different activities, volunteer for Committee posts etc. Group Leaders were asked to hand out leaflets at group meetings to actively distribute to family, friends, and neighbours to encourage them to join our u3a. We are also using Social Media including Facebook to increase awareness. This all keeps our u3a vibrant and successful for the benefit of all our Members.
Treasurer’s Report
Please refer to the accounts for 2023.
The balance carried forward to 1/1/24 was £4863.85, which represents a decrease of £315.80 from the £5179.65 at the start of 2023. This decrease was planned for, with the intention to reduce our reserves to approximately £4500 by the end of 2023, a more appropriate level.
Despite inflation resulting in price increases for printing, hall hire, etc., this has been mitigated by our drive to attract new members, so that we finished the year slightly ahead of our projected target.
We were able to obtain a grant of £200 from GBC which was used to provide free trial memberships to help promote health and mental wellbeing via u3a membership.
As at 31st December 2023 our Social Account showed a balance of £1699.80, an increase of £92.75. Our aim is to break even on social activities but there are inevitably ‘winners and losers’ depending on the level of take-up, particularly where coach travel is involved. It is helpful to have a sizeable float in this account, as on some trips, significant sums have to be paid in advance which, without the reserves, could leave the account temporarily without funds.
The membership fee for 2024 is £16, a £1 increase on the 2023 rate. This is still one of the lowest membership fees in the country and represents very good value for money. Maintaining this low membership fee is dependent on high levels of membership and recruitment of new members as inevitably a proportion of members will not renew their membership for a variety of reasons.
These account were independently examined and approved on14th February 2024.
Sally Spellman has been our independent examiner for the past three years, but has decided to step down from this role. We are very grateful to her for her assistance.
Income and Expenditure 2023 - Main Bank Account
| Bank Balance bf from 31-12-22 | |
|---|---|
| Current Bank Account | 10426.09 |
| Less 2023 subscrip�ons pd in 2022 | 4773.29 |
| less Gi� Aid on 2023 subscrip�ons | 475.59 |
| Plus Cash in Hand | 2.44 |
| Total £5,179.65 |
|
| Income | |
| Subscrip�ons 2023 bf from 2022 | 4773.29 |
| Subscrip�ons 2023 | 2736.84 |
| Gi� Aid refunded | 1177.12 |
| Group theatre | 2248.00 |
| Prin�ng | 47.24 |
| Grant | 200.00 |
| Expenditure | Total Income £11,182.49 |
| Beacon | 448.00 |
| Expenses | 245.71 |
| Gi�s | 143.27 |
| Hall Hire | 2226.00 |
| Prin�ng | 1583.97 |
| Refreshments | 615.07 |
| Speakers | 1424.10 |
| Subscrip�ons 2023 Refunds (duplicate) | 15.00 |
| TAT Capita�on (Third Age Trust 1/4/23-31/3/24 | 1760.00 |
| TAT Postage | 789.17 |
| Group theatre | 2248.00 Total Expenditure £11,498.29 |
| Net surplus for Yr -£315.80 |
|
| Balance bf | 5179.65 |
| Less defcit 2023 | -315.80 |
| Balance c/f 2023 £4,863.85 |
|
| Bank balance c/f to 2023 | |
| Current bank account 31/12/22 | 5082.91 |
| Less 2024 subscrip�ons | 15.58 |
| Plus 2023 prin�ng invoice (paid 2024) | 205.92 |
| Cash in hand | 2.44 |
| Balance c/f 2023 £4,863.85 |
Income and Expenditure 2023 - Social Bank Account
| Bank Balance bf from 31-12-22 Social Bank Account Less balance of Crossness Total Income from Ac�vi�es Less 2024 trips income 2023 income Expenditure on Ac�vi�es 2024 trips expenditure 2023 expenditure Net Surplus for Yr Balance b/f plus surplus 2023 Balance c/f 2023 Bank balance cf to 2024 Social bank account at 31/12/23 Less 2024 trips income Plus 2024 trips expenditure Total |
2514.85 907.80 £1,607.05 14851.45_inc theatre transferred to Main_ 151.00 14700.45 14882.20_inc theatre transferred to Main_ 274.50 14607.70 £92.75 1607.05 92.75 £1,699.80 1576.30 151.00 274.50 £1,699.80 |
|---|---|
| Completed Trip Summaries 2023 | Completed Trip Summaries 2023 | Completed Trip Summaries 2023 | Completed Trip Summaries 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip | Inc | Exp | Balance |
| Greenwich/Crossness | 1902.37 | 1852.00 | £50.37 |
| Orchard - La Boheme | 765.61 | 837.00 | -£71.39 |
| Kelvedon Nuclear Bunk. | 142.59 | 125.00 | £17.59 |
| MedwayRiver Trip | 1423.59 | 1431.00 | -£7.41 |
| Amberley | 1295.39 | 1363.50 | -£68.11 |
| Whitstable | 1015.47 | 961.00 | £54.47 |
| Cobham Hall | 604.77 | 607.20 | -£2.43 |
| Murder Mystery | 1290.84 | 1232.00 | £58.84 |
| Ambassador Cruise | 3234.82 | 3174.00 | £60.82 |
| Moulin Rouge* | 1170 | 1170 | 0 |
| Theatre trips* | 1855 | 1855 | 0 |
| Totals | £14,700.45 | £14,607.70 | £92.75 |
Not social commi�ee ac�vity Summary*
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Main Acct Social Acct Total
Balances b/f 31/12/22 5,179.65 1,607.05 6,786.70
Income 11,182.49 14,700.45 25,882.94
Expenditure 11,498.29 14,607.70 26,105.99
Balances c/f 01/01/24 4,863.85 1,699.80 6,563.65
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Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Gravesend. Northfleet and District U3A I report to the trustees on my examinatlon of the accounts of Gravesend, Northfleet and Distrkt U3Aforthe year ended Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparatton of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charlties Act 2011 ('the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under 5ettion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commisston under sectfon 145{5)Ib} of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination gNin8 me cause to believe that in any material respect: l. accounting records were not kept in respert of the Trust a5 required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report In order to enable a proper understandSng of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies lif any): Address: Date: