Chairman’s Report
Time flies when you're having fun – and we've had two decades of it! Thanks to Jenny Vallely and a few visionary individuals who believed that the residents of Gravesend/Northfleet deserved a wonderful ‘Third Age,’ leading to Brian Edwards as Chairman, our U3A marked 20 years on 4th September 2024.
We’ve learned, laughed, and lived, forging countless lasting friendships along the way. This incredible achievement is down to the dedication and hard work of all past and present Chairs, Committee Members, Social Committee Members, Group Leaders, Newsletter Editors, Refreshment Teams, and Members – all volunteers – who have generously shared their time, enthusiasm, skills, and homes over the years.
With activities taking place every day of the week, Members can engage in academic pursuits, stay active, get creative, or enjoy a wide variety of social events and trips, both near and far. These range from visits to the Gurdwara and Houses of Parliament to holidays where all the driving and cooking are taken care of. With new groups starting almost every month, there’s always something fresh to look forward to!
Making Things Easier Thanks to technology, we’ve transitioned from time-consuming Excel spreadsheets to the Beacon IT system. This year, 83% of members renewed online, and Beacon has significantly reduced the administrative burden on our invaluable volunteers. We understand that not everyone can yet embrace this system, so we will always have printed renewal forms available at our Monthly Meetings and accept cheques when necessary. We know that most of our Members are forward-thinking and eager to keep up with the digital age. Membership We remain focused on increasing our membership, which currently stands at 2.5%, with the aim of surpassing 4% of eligible local residents. As with every year, some members did not renew for various reasons, with the most common being members moving away or becoming too unwell. We continue to seek members and group leaders support in spreading the word and encouraging new members to join our U3A.
We value your ideas and involvement as we look forward to taking our U3A into the future.
Alan Scott – Chairman
TREASURERS REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 31/12/2024
Please refer to the accounts for 2024.
The balance carried forward to 1/1/25 was £6998.94 which represents an increase of £2135.09 from the £4863.94 at the start of 2024.
Our budget for 2024, prepared in August 2023, aimed for income and expenditure to be broadly similar, to maintain the existing bank balance. However, a surplus was recorded for the following reasons:
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income was slightly above budget, largely because of an increase in Gift Aid payments (as a charity the u3a is able to claim back 25% of the membership fee from all those who pay tax and who authorise us to claim Gift Aid on their behalf.)
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expenditure was below budget due to a number of factors, but the main reason was lower than budgeted Head Office costs. Each member is charged a ‘capitation fee’ by Head Office and at the time of preparing the budget this was unknown, so a provision was made for an increase which was not implemented. Also certain contingency costs included in the budget were not required.
Because of this healthy surplus we were pleased to be able to maintain the 2024 membership subscription of £16 for the current year (2025). This is one of the lowest subscriptions in the area and we believe it represents excellent value for money. This low subscription rate has been achieved by our efforts to increase membership of our u3a and to retain members by offering a wide range of interest groups and other activities.
In accordance with u3a Guidelines, our u3a has a Reserves Policy, which aims to ensure that we have a balance of at least six month’s expenditure for the following reasons
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to give the u3a a firm financial foundation
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to cover unexpected day to day situations such as significant, unexpected cost increases
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to purchase or maintain equipment
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to ensure the continued survival of the charity in the event of a sudden drop in the level of membership
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to ensure there are sufficient funds to allow a managed closure of the charity should this become necessary.
Our current balance complies with the requirements of our Reserves Policy.
As at 31st December 2024 our Social Account showed a balance of £1847.82, an increase of £148.02. 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.
These account were independently examined and approved on 16/3/25.
After Sally Spellman’s decision to step down from the role of Independent Examiner in 2024, we are grateful to Kevin Baker for agreeing to undertake this role and thank him for his work in completing the independent assessment of the 2024 accounts.
Joyce Bell
Treasurer
Income and Expenditure 2024 - Main Bank Account
| Bank Balance bf from 31-12-23 | |
|---|---|
| Current Bank Account | 5082.91 |
| Less 2024 subscrip�ons pd in 2023 | 15.58 |
| Less 2023 prin�ng invoice (paid 2024) | 205.92 |
| Plus Cash in Hand | 2.44 Total £4,863.85 |
| Income | |
| Subscrip�ons 2024 bf from 2023 | 15.58 |
| Subscrip�ons 2024 | 9551.24 |
| Gi� Aid refunded | 1654.94 |
| Group theatre | 4633.00 |
| Error – paid into main account | 26.50 |
| Total Income £15,881.26 |
|
| Expenditure | |
| Beacon | 548.00 |
| Equipment | 208.76 |
| Expenses | 188.98 |
| Gi�s | 100.00 |
| Hall Hire | 2370.00 |
| Prin�ng | 1300.76 |
| Refreshments | 695.61 |
| Speakers | 1105.00 |
| TAT Capita�on | 2140.00 |
| TAM Postage | 279.56 |
| Group theatre | 4633.00 |
| Training | 50.00 |
| u3a Picnic | 100.00 |
| Error – transferred to social account | 26.50 Total Expenditure £13,746.17 |
| Net surplus for Yr £2,135.09 |
|
| Balance bf | 4863.85 |
| Plus surplus 2024 | 2135.09 |
| Balance c/f 2024 £6,998.94 |
|
| Bank balance c/f to 2025 | |
| Current bank account 31/12/24 | 7063.34 |
| Less 2025 subscrip�ons | 16.00 |
| Less 2024 prin�ng invoice (paid 2025) | 50.84 |
| Cash in hand | 2.44 Balance c/f 2024 £6,998.94 |
Income and Expenditure 2024 - Social Bank Account
Bank Balance bf from 31-12-23
| Bank Balance bf from 31-12-23 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Social Bank Account 31/112/23 | 1576.30 | |
| Less 2024 trips income | 151.00 | |
| Plus 2024 trips expenditure | 274.50 | |
| Total | £1,699.80 | |
| Income from Ac�vi�es | 23504.61 | |
| Plus 2024 trips income (recd 2023) | 151.00 | |
| Less Brick Lane income (2025 trip) | 2913.59 | |
| 2024 income | 20742.02 | |
| Expenditure on Ac�vi�es | 22562.00 | |
| Plus 224 exp (paid 2023) | 274.50 | |
| Less Brick Lane expn (2025 trip) | 2242.5 | |
| 2024 expenditure | 20594.00 | |
| Less Brick Lane Balance | ||
| Net Surplus for Yr | £148.02 | |
| Balance b/f | 1699.80 | |
| plus surplus 2023 | Balance c/f 2023 | 148.02 £1,847.82 |
| Bank balance cf to 2025 | ||
| Social bank account at 31/12/24 | 2518.91 | |
| Less 2025 trips income | 2913.59 | |
| Plus 2024 trips expenditure | 2242.50 |
Total £1,847.82
| Completed Trip Summaries 2024 | Completed Trip Summaries 2024 | Completed Trip Summaries 2024 | Completed Trip Summaries 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip | Inc | Exp | Balance |
| Orchard – Beau�ful Noise | 270.90 | 274.50 | -3.60 |
| Crayford Dogs 1 | 446.18 | 450.00 | -3.82 |
| Murder Mystery | 1123.02 | 1120.00 | 3.02 |
| Cobham Hall | 384.25 | 382.80 | 1.45 |
| Gads Hill* | 265.00 | 266.00 | -1.00 |
| Guildford Spike | 1886.00 | 1821.20 | 64.80 |
| Call the Midwife | 549.56 | 514.50 | 35.06 |
| Ken�sh Lady | 560.24 | 570.00 | -9.76 |
| Weston super Mare | 13563.95 | 13584.00 | -20.05 |
| Crayford Dogs 2 | 609.43 | 598.50 | 10.93 |
| Bartellas Christmas meal | 715.27 | 690.00 | 25.27 |
| Barn Dance Cancelled | 119.49 | 120.00 | -0.51 |
| Sum uptests | 5.88 | 6.00 | -0.12 |
| Adjustment- March | £33.85 | £33.85 | |
| Adjustment - August | £12.50 | £12.50 | |
| Totals | 20545.52 | 20397.5 | 148.02 |
| Summary | |||
| Main Acct | Social Acct | Total | |
| Balances b/f 31/12/23 Income Expenditure Balances c/f 01/01/25 |
4,863.85 | 1,699.80 | 6,563.65 |
| 15,881.26 | 20,742.02 | 36,623.28 | |
| 13,746.17 | 20,594.00 | 34,340.17 | |
| 6,998.94 | 1,847.82 | 8,846.76 |
repo rus ees on my examinatson o U3A forthe year ended 81 IIYIL e accounts o Gravesend, Northfleet and Distrirt Responslbllities and basls of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the ACVI. I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under sectTon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Att.- or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connectTon with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies lif any): Address: Date: