CANVEY THAMESIDE u3a
TRUSTEES REPORT 2023- 2024
This report is for the 2024 AGM
Board of Trustees (Executive Officers)
Diane Smith: Chairman and Social Events Organiser Frances Barbour: Treasurer David Sutton: Secretary Jeanette Parminter: Vice Chairman and Speaker Bookings Co-ordinator
Board of Trustees (Trustees)
Linda Bose: Groups Co-ordinator Margaret Routledge: Membership Secretary
I ntroduction
The purpose of this report is to provide our members with an overview of our activities and achievements since my last report in August 2023.
The Charitable Purpose of our u3a
The charitable purpose our u3a remains ‘’The advancement of Education, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full-time work. This is achieved by various means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development on Canvey Island and its surrounding locality’’.
How we carry out our Charitable purpose
We currently have 12 active interest groups and would welcome suggestions from our members for additional subjects. Some groups are very well supported but others are less so and their long-term viability is in doubt because of cost factors or lack of interest. The involvement in any group creates opportunities for learning and the application of new skills, physical activity or simply social interaction.
Our two Keep Fit sessions have proven to be very popular but unfortunately the Art Group has had to close because of a lack of numbers. The Social, Family and Local History Group meets monthly and is well supported and the Cinema Group meet when a suitable film is showing.
The Theatre Group have been to a number of shows in London and is well supported, the Dining Group, also well supported, meet regularly and have been to a variety of local restaurants and cafes.
All u3a Groups require the involvement of its members to run interest groups and to promote the ethos of the u3a movement but unfortunately, except for a notable few committed convenors, our members seem reluctant to get involved despite repeated requests for them to do so.
Becoming a group convenor does not have to be an onerous task, and help is available if you are thinking of becoming one, so if you have an interest or skill that you think may be of interest to other members, please discuss it with Linda, our Groups Co-ordinator.
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Friday Member’s meetings are well supported with an average of 100 in attendance with guest speakers presenting a range of different subjects that we hope were of interest to those attending. Excursions, which usually have an educational theme, have continued with visits to Cambridge, Layer Marney Tower Christmas Fayre, Hever Castle, Bury St Edmunds, and Oxford.
Membership and Subscriptions
Our overall membership is limited by the permitted capacity of our main meeting place, St. Nicholas’s hall which is 250. We currently have 185 members which is down from 197 at this time last year and the Trustees continue to promote new membership with the aim of achieving our capacity. The fee for membership is used to pay our subscription to National u3a, for all insurances and licences we need to operate and the provision of the national magazine, Third Age Matters, which is posted to the homes of those members who wish to receive it. The fees also pay for hiring venues, speakers, equipment, the production of our local news magazine, monthly refreshments and numerous other expenses.
The Trustees and particularly Frances our Treasurer, continue to manage our finances diligently and because of this we have been able to keep subscriptions at the same rate as the previous two years.
National u3a
Canvey Thameside u3a is part of the ever popular national and international u3a movement. There are over 1000 u3a groups in the UK and more than 50 in Essex. Our links with the national organisation and regional groups are important as we are not an isolated unit and get regularly updated advice on how to run our u3a legally. Members can receive the quarterly magazine which helps to keep them updated with the wider u3a community. We are involved in the Essex Association of u3a’s and get regular information from them about what is happening within the movement in Essex.
Friday Meetings and Group Meeting Venues
Our monthly meetings take place at St. Nicholas church hall and are the key monthly event which is central in keeping the group active. We are ever grateful to everyone at the Church for the support they continue to give us, including the storage space they provide.
Other venues used for group meetings include the Jubilee Hall at Waterside Farm, the Café/Bar at Sandy Bay, the Community Room at Morrisons and several private homes.
In Conclusion.
After many years of service to our u3a Jan Dowdall stood down as membership secretary, newsletter editor and website co-ordinator with her service being recognised with a presentation at the 2023 AGM. Margaret Routledge has taken over as Membership Secretary and during the year Christine and Andrew Vinton took on the production of the newsletter and latterly the maintenance of our website.
On behalf of the Officers and Trustees I would like to thank those members whose continued help is invaluable in running this u3a, particularly those of you who are Group Convenors and those who help us at our Friday members meetings.
Dave Sutton, Secretary,
For and on behalf of the Officers and Trustees of Canvey Thameside u3a. August 2024.
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Canvey Thameside U3A Receipts & Payments for the Year ended 31[st] July 2024
| Receipts | 2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Fees | £3855.00 | £3795.00 | |
| Day Trips | £10120.00 | £6950.00 | |
| Rafes | £1099.00 | £1141.00 | |
| Theatre Group | £11589.00 | £8960.00 | |
| Dining Group | £2075.00 | £2224.05 | |
| Quiz Night | £237.00 | ||
| £28738.00 | 0 | ||
| Payment | |||
| s | |||
| U3A Subs | £1151.68 | ||
| Hall Hire | £594.00 | £567.00 | |
| Speakers | £699.28 | £746.08 | |
| Computer Expenses | £665.72 | £466.86 | |
| Newsletters & Printing | £1085.00 | £1278.00 | |
| Rafe Prizes | £289.45 | £172.44 | |
| Food & Drink | £320.72 | £100.94 | |
| Sundry Expenses | £35.97 | £157.46 | |
| Quiz Night | 0 | £183.43 | |
| Day Trips | £7257.75 | £5877.80 | |
| Theatre Group | £10154.00 | £8135.00 | |
| Dining Group | £2067.00 | £2224.05 | |
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Surplus for the Year | £4417.43 | £2019.54 | |
| Balance Sheet as of 31stJuly 2024 | |||
| Cash at Bank | £13472.70 | 9041.29 | |
| Cash in Hand | £48.77 | £62.75 | |
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Representing | |||
| Balance at | 9thAugust 2023 | £9104.04 | £7084.50 |
| Surplus for | Year | £4417.43 | £2019.54 |
| 0 | 0 |
Prepared by Frances Barbour – Treasurer
I have audited the records maintained by the Treasurer and confirm the above statements of account are in agreement therewith. Paul Bancroft
Canvey Thameside U3A Receipts & Payments for the Year ended 31[st] July 2024
| Receipts | 2023-2024 | 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Fees | £3855.00 | £3795.00 | |
| Day Trips | £10120.00 | £6950.00 | |
| Rafes | £1099.00 | £1141.00 | |
| Theatre Group | £11589.00 | £8960.00 | |
| Dining Group | £2075.00 | £2224.05 | |
| Quiz Night | £237.00 | ||
| £28738.00 | 0 | ||
| Payment | |||
| s | |||
| U3A Subs | £1151.68 | ||
| Hall Hire | £594.00 | £567.00 | |
| Speakers | £699.28 | £746.08 | |
| Computer Expenses | £665.72 | £466.86 | |
| Newsletters & Printing | £1085.00 | £1278.00 | |
| Rafe Prizes | £289.45 | £172.44 | |
| Food & Drink | £320.72 | £100.94 | |
| Sundry Expenses | £35.97 | £157.46 | |
| Quiz Night | 0 | £183.43 | |
| Day Trips | £7257.75 | £5877.80 | |
| Theatre Group | £10154.00 | £8135.00 | |
| Dining Group | £2067.00 | £2224.05 | |
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Surplus for the Year | £4417.43 | £2019.54 | |
| Balance Sheet as of 31stJuly 2024 | |||
| Cash at Bank | £13472.70 | 9041.29 | |
| Cash in Hand | £48.77 | £62.75 | |
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Representing | |||
| Balance at | 9thAugust 2023 | £9104.04 | £7084.50 |
| Surplus for | Year | £4417.43 | £2019.54 |
| 0 | 0 |
Prepared by Frances Barbour – Treasurer
I have audited the records maintained by the Treasurer and confirm the above statements of account are in agreement therewith. Paul Bancroft