WELTON VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL Annual Report 2021
Welton Village Memorial Hall [ The Hall ] is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation [ CIO ], a form of charity which is overseen by the Charity Commission for England & Wales. Our Charity number is 1180894 and the Hall is situated at 33-35 Cowgate, Welton, Brough HU15 1ND and is run by the Trustees who are all unpaid volunteers.
The aims of The Hall is the provision and maintenance of a village hall for the benefit of the inhabitants of the parish of Welton without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for meetings, lectures and classes and for other forms of recreation and leisure time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
The origins of the charity go back to the end of World War 2 when the local villagers were able to use money collected for a war memorial to acquire the Estate Manager’s house and Estate Hall from the Harrison-Broadley estate which was being sold off having owned most of the land locally for decades. Soon after the Welton Memorial Club [ The Club ] was created, as a means of generating a surplus which could be used to maintain the building, which dated back to at least 1890. The two entities eventually developed and became separately managed entities. In 1985 The Hall became a Registered Charity and then in 2018 the CIO was set up and, on 28 February 2020, all assets and liabilities were transferred from the old charity to the CIO. The Club had become a private members club and, subsequently, a private limited company but it still rents its premises from The Hall.
The Hall continues to be a unique facility for the use of locals. The premises are rented to a variety of dance, drama, keep-fit and other activities for both children and adults on a regular basis as well as a venue for all sorts of celebrations, plays, cinema showings and meetings. Providing these facilities is how we meet our charitable purpose and benefit the public and together with the Charity Commission guidance is how the Trustees decide on how to develop the Hall.
WELTON VILLAGE MEMORIAL HALL Annual Report 2021 continued
2021 Achievements
The year to 31 May 2021 was a difficult one for everyone. Although the Hall could not be used as normal for much of that period we were able to complete the first phase of our redevelopment which was an extension into the carpark which provides a new suite of toilet facilities and step free access. We also installed a much improved and eco-friendly heating system, wifi and LED lighting. We were particularly fortunate to get a grant from Welton Parish Council for the heating system. At the same time we were able to prepare for phase 2 which involved a new kitchen which did not impinge on the main Hall and refurbished toilets at the front. We were finally able to secure funding for most of this work from FCC Communities Foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
We also were proud to be involved in supporting two new ventures. Welton Community Cinema, started by Brendon Swallow was incorporated into the hall activities but unfortunately could not operate as planned. We also agreed to rent part of the building for The Lucky Duck café, providing a different sort of facility.
Subsequently we have resurfaced and relit the carpark and plan to modify the space at the back of the stage to create a new meeting room.
Financial Results
This unusual financial year was dominated by substantial expenditure on refurbishment and also significant one-off income. There was a net deficit of £76,000 due to £136,000 spent on refurbishment [£105,000 on the extension, £23,000 on the heating system, and £8,000 on other improvements]. Against this we had exceptional income of £55,000 including a grant from Welton Parish Council which paid for the new heating units and grants for supporting organisations affected by the Covid lockdown.
Our regular income was less than we would have expected in a normal year but we were able to reduce some expenditure and ended with a surplus on normal activities of £5,000.
The net result was that The Hall had cash reserves of £45,000 at the year end, well above our target. This relatively high level is needed to allow the Trustees to respond to any major repairs needed on this Grade 2 listed building that is over 130 years old.
Trustees
The Trustees are all unpaid. Five may be nominated by Welton Parish Council [ WPC ], one may be nominated by St Helen’s Church, and five are appointed the Trustees as a whole. Trustees meet regularly, usually around 10 times a year but some business is done using email.
The Trustees are always keen to add to the team who try to make sure that the Hall is operating smoothly through using their skills and experience whether they become a Trustee or not. Especially useful would be anyone with social media, IT or marketing skills. Please contact any of the Trustees if you would like to contribute
Below is a list of Trustees and Officers
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| Name | Position | Period | How appointed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Jibson | Chair | Full year | WPC |
| Mike Thane | Vice-Chair | Full year | WPC |
| Derek Fairweather | Full year | WPC | |
| Alan Henry | Full year | Appointed | |
| Dave Russell | Treasurer | Full year | Appointed |
| Dave Smith | Full year | Appointed | |
| Elaine Skinn | Appointed 07/01/2020 | WPC | |
| LucyKhan | Appointed 06/10/2020 | Appointed | |
| Eileen Tucker | Secretary | Fullyear | Officer |
| Colin James | Caretaker | Fullyear | Employee |
Since 31 May 2021 Annika McIntyre has agreed to become a Trustee.
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