## **THE THOMAS POOLE LIBRARY, NETHER STOWEY** ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025 |**Registered charity**|The Thomas Poole Library Nether Stowey| |---|---| |**name**|| |**Charity registration**|1181213| |**Constitution**|Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Association model.| ||Established by constitution dated 21stOctober 2018, amended| ||15thDecember 2018. Approved by the Charity Commission and| ||registered on 17thDecember 2018| |**Operational address**|The Thomas Poole Library Nether Stowey| ||Castle Street| ||Nether Stowey| ||Bridgwater| ||Somerset| ||TA5 1LN| |**Trustees**|Susan Aubrey| ||Catherine Christie| ||Tricia Griffiths-Gough (co-opted March 2025)| ||Norma Frood (resigned August 2025)| ||John Hartoch (co-opted September 2025)| ||Helen Heslop (co-opted February 2025)| ||Chris Pearson (resigned June 2025)| ||Nigel Phillips| ||Eliza Sackett| ||Terence Sackett| |**Bankers**|Co-operative Bank| ||1, Balloon Street| ||Manchester| ||M60 4EP| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Trustee Board manages the affairs of the CIO. In September 2025 the governance structure was updated. There are now three committees that report to the Trustee Board: The Finance, Fundraising and Risk Committee chaired by the Treasurer The Management and Operations Committee chaired by the Trustees Board Chair The Nominations and Governance Committee chaired by the Trustee responsible for Governance The operations of the library are run by the Management and Operations Committee, which consists of the following Trustees and Officers: Nigel Phillips Chair Eliza Sackett Secretary Tricia Griffiths-Gough Treasurer Catherine Christie Nominations and Governance Tony Edney Health & Safety (co-opted) Page | 1 |John Hartoch|Events| |---|---| |Helen Heslop|Strategy and financial planning| |Ruth Pickard|Children, young people| |Terence Sackett|Design, marketing and publicity| |Lynn Scales|Volunteers Leader| |Ron Scales|Building maintenance (co-opted)| |Bill Streeter|Chess Club| |Sian Stafford|Centre Manager. Employed by SC/TPLNS| |Kevin Ferriday|Parish Council representative| |Open|Fundraising leader| |Open|Membership Secretary| ## **Objects** 1. For the public benefit, the provision of a library in Nether Stowey, Somerset and a library service for the village and surrounding parishes. 2. For the residents of Nether Stowey and the surrounding area, to promote the library for recreation and/or other leisure-time occupation of people who need these facilities because of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship, or social and economic circumstances; and for the public at large in the interests of the community, and with the object of improving the condition of life of the residents. 3. To advance the education of the public in the history and heritage of the area, particularly in the lives of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the local benefactor Thomas Poole, and in the local environment. ## **Public Benefit** In planning activities for the period covered by this Report the Trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. ## **THE THOMAS POOLE LIBRARY 2024-2025** We began this year by welcoming our new Chair, Nigel Phillips. Two Trustees, Norma Frood and Chris Pearson, and two members of the Management Committee, Eric Coates and Jo Davison, have resigned. The Trustees are very grateful to them for all they have done. Three new Trustees, Tricia Griffiths-Gough, John Hartoch and Helen Heslop, and two new members of the Management Committee, Tony Edney and Ron Scales, have been co-opted. The lively and intensive meetings held at the end of last year resulted in a decision that TPLNS should do more to further its ambition to welcome more people to the library and become a community hub for Nether Stowey and its surrounding villages. This year we have formulated a funded Three-Year Business Plan to achieve this, with the main objective to turn the non-fiction room into a community and exhibition room with a café. Page | 2 The first step was to move the books out of the future exhibition room and re-arrange all the shelves and the book stock in the main room. This was a mammoth task, but the main room looks all the better for it, and our colleagues in the Somerset Library Service very much approve. We have installed a Community Café in the exhibition room, complete with a coffee machine providing freshly-ground coffee and hot drinks and new café tables and chairs. This is already proving popular. We are in negotiations with National Landscapes (NL – what was AONB), who would like to rent the office as their national office and to create a permanent exhibition about their work in the exhibition room. In May 2025 we received a grant from HPC. Part of this grant will pay for an exhibition on our local landscapes, climate change, local history, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his friend Thomas Poole. We will be starting work on this exhibition in the autumn. We are most grateful to Nether Stowey Parish Council, who are applying to Somerset-Association of Local Councils (SALC) for a grant to pay for an oral history project, a valuable add-on to this exhibition. We also hope to have ever-changing displays about local activities, clubs and societies in this room. An eight-page full-colour brochure, designed by Terence Sackett, has been delivered to every house in Nether Stowey and Over Stowey and distributed to the neighbouring villages. It gives full information about the library and its activities, and we hope that it will encourage more people to visit the library and become library members. Smart new signage (also designed by Terence), consistent with our ‘house style’, has been installed inside and outside the library, including a banner at the street entrance. The aim is to make the library unmissable! A mini-Arts Festival has been arranged, and will take place in November: four events will cover painting, music and literature, including an exhibition of work by local artists, readings by local poets, and performances by folk musicians. We are arranging a similar mini-festival about the environment to take place next spring. Thomas Poole was an untiring philanthropist. He benefited the village in so many ways, including setting up the Savings Bank and the Women’s Friendly Society – and, of course, building the pioneering free school in 1813, which now houses the library. We are asking residents of our community to help us carry on Tom Poole’s work for this community by becoming Patrons of the library, and we are most grateful to those Patrons who have already donated to this project. As always, we are grateful for the support of our membership. At 31 March 2025 there were 73 paid-up members of the CIO. This year the Trustees have been concentrating on governance and management. This ensures that by defining the tasks we have to perform, and by creating a structure of committees and groups responsible for each task, a firm framework will exist to support the many exciting projects we are busy with now or preparing for the future. ## **Library Performance** TPLNS is entirely managed and run by volunteers. Opening hours: 18 hours per week. Page | 3 Volunteer hours for library operations: volunteers gave a total of 2949 hours of their time, both within the library and elsewhere (up from 2893 hours last year). The time spent by Trustees in contributing to the management of TPLNS is not accounted for in these figures. Community Library Partnership meetings: two have been held with Somerset Library Service representatives to review performance, and TPLNS has received quarterly performance statistics. SLS is totally satisfied with our performance. Meetings: seven meetings of the Trustees were held, six of the Management Committee, and four of the Volunteers. ## **Activities** Evening Talks **:** ten were given. Regular weekly/monthly/annual activities **:** ● Children’s activities, including weekly Storytime for toddlers, weekly Story Reading to a class from the village school, a children’s book group, and reading and craft activities for children at half-terms and in the holidays, and the summer Reading Challenge - Adult book group - Knit and Natter - Chess Club - Dungeons and Dragons - Patient Participation Group - Book sales – held regularly, plus a book table in the library and stalls at village events - Somerset and Exmoor Coast Trail: trail passports can be obtained and stamped at the library - The Women’s Walk (held in memory of Thomas Poole) – help with planning and catering, plus storage of the archive and the banner - Participation in many village events, including the Walking Festival (Stowey Walking), Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership walks, Stowey Green Spaces, Party in the Park (book stall) - Monthly drop-in IT sessions for those who need help - The library is used by village organisations for meetings and AGMs (including Stowey Green Spaces, Stowey Walking, the Allotment Association) - Ancestry research facilities available - Displays, including natural history, local history, arts and crafts, children’s art. There are also regular library displays in the community cabinet and the old village gaol - Annual plant sale Other events: ● Events for children included a visit from the RSPCA and special activities for World Book Day. - Poole Day: tea at Poole House and a talk in the library on Tom Poole and the Poet Laureate Robert Southey given by Professor Lynda Pratt and Dr Ian Packer. ● The library shared a promotional stall (with Stowey Walking and Stowey Green Spaces) at the Christmas Fair in the Church Centre. Page | 4 ● The library is now at the ‘recommended’ stage for listing on SW Heritage’s Local Heritage List of buildings, structures and places which have cultural significance in Somerset. It is also now on the Somerset Historic Environment Record. ● The library has been nominated for the King’s Award for Volunteers. ● The Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme (a collaboration with Natural Landscapes) has been leasing an office in the library since November 2021. TPLNS is delighted to host QLPS, who are doing so much to enhance this area. ● The Coleridge Collection is housed in the library. This collection of old, rare, valuable, and more modern scholarly books by and about Samuel Taylor Coleridge and his circle is owned by the Friends of Coleridge. TPLNS is privileged to host this collection, and very pleased that the books can be seen and used by the public. ● Sian Stafford has joined the Quantock Messenger editors’ group and edits this village magazine every two months. ## **Maintenance work** The following work is planned to be completed by the end of this year: - Painting exterior of windows and cupola - Felling tree and repairing tarmac lifted by its roots - Lining ceiling of the Book Shed ## **Website and social media** TPLNS’s website, and its Facebook and Instagram accounts, are updated regularly. The social media team also post on Stowey News Facebook. ## **Grants and Financial Aid** We are most grateful to the following for their generous support: Somerset Council Waiving of remaining 20% Council Tax (discretionary relief) after 80% charity relief Somerset Council Revenue grant of £5,000 for the financial year 2024-2025 Nether Stowey Parish Council £500 Cannington Parish Council £100 Over Stowey Parish Council £300 Spaxton Parish Council £250 Page | 5 National Lottery Community Fund £18,000 to cover one year of employment costs of the library’s Centre Manager Somerset Community Fund: Warm Safe Spaces grant £3,000 Energy Grant £2,500 to cover winter fuel costs Patrons of the Thomas Poole Library Four patrons donated a total of £1,500 (three included in the financial year ending 31 March 2025, and one in June 2025) After the end of the financial year (31 March 2025), the following grants and donations were received: Books for Life Charity £400 HPC Community Fund £36,000, to cover the Centre Manager’s salary for a year and to create an exhibition on the local environment and local history Anonymous donor £250 to buy reference books for children ## **Acknowledgements** The Trustees express their sincere thanks to the officers and members who make up the Management and Operations Committee, to the Centre Manager, and to the Volunteers for their committed service in carrying out daily librarian duties and tasks behind the scenes. The work carried out by all of them ensures that The Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey continues its invaluable role as a public library and a community asset, and maintains its Community Library Partnership with the Somerset Library Service. ## **Signed** ## **For and on behalf of the Trustees** ## **30 October 2025** Page | 6 T￿T1￿M0$Pool¢ UbiaryNetherSt Re0stered Cha￿tyNth 1181213 Receimsand Pa￿nents accountsforihe5earfrcAnAwlltst3)2410March 3tstXJ25 Income SomersetCoumGrani SCF Grant HoysingGrant Heiptoiwinter Grant EnergyGrant NationalLotteryGra¥rt OtherGrants Iw.Ix) 25(KJ.( 18000.(M) 1050.(N) 29550. TotslGranEs 260[￿1. Mermbeiship&sbs Wednesdaytsiks Booksèles Lilxarytsking5 HatkHlie in¢ludlngQLP ￿ntal Coffee shop Patronsandotherdonations Other T0talRe*nuefromO￿r8tiOns 33&CKI 925.75 74&2) 770. s5￿. 375.C i(w.(KJ 1586.W2 15294.07 641. IW.56 806&C6 Totsiincome Expendiiwe ice5and Uknlttie$ Routine Malntenance Specialmaintenance Secondrnentcosts Purchaseolcoffee machine C¥Jnsummabies Outreach costs Media Other .39￿62 -1463.57 .￿1.67 -250118 .2874.(¥J -377.31 .38&74 -347.xs -824.16 YrA3lEVnd￿e .31247.82 Net loutgo1￿1 IncomI￿re9)￿ceS Resources B/FfromPY 44682.31 ResourcesCIFto next￿ar 58278.56 4468Z31 Pagell The Thomas Poole Ubrary Nether Stty* Registered U￿rIty No. 1181213 ststemert ofAssetsand LlabllHles asat31Mareh2025 Ca$h* Bank Co-opeiative Bank CommunityDirectPIus account 3119.80 InstantAccess SaMng5 Account $3W.19 5827&56 415T2.51 44682ai Total Notes tothe Accwnts al Gr During the year the library received funding from the National Lottery to fvnd employee costs, the annual grdnt from Somerset County Council to support library operations, an energy grant and help for winter grant to helpfund the designated warm space and various donations from local parishes. bl 81￿k sale5 The library has a second- hand book shop on the premises and thls Isthe income from selling donated second- hand book c) LlbraryTakh Library takings indude late fees and b￿k OFderfEes. d) Hall l Ri>om Hlre In the year ended 311312025. the lilyary receNed 24 morths of room rental from the Quantocks Landscape Partnership as thell as income from ho￿ing PCC eleLtion& Room Hlre QLP r￿M hire PCC eLect(Ob Total 512.crfj 951ZOO e} Coffee Shop The library has purchased a coffee mathine and is offering tea and coffee for donatKJns. Page12 Patrons and Donations A patron scheme has been developed and there **re 3 patrons at the end of the year. g} Other income Other income indudes bank interest on the dewsit account and revenue from car parking. h) Servlces and ubliiies Ener 1650.95 I4￿16 286.01 493.50 3912.62 Water Insurance Total i) Outreath OLrtreach costs include the costs of public ta0￿ and public relation activiiies (eg Website) Page13 JI Reser¥esand Golng CaKern The library has a clearty documented reseNes wlicy and ensu￿$ that the￿ is a designated fund that indudes all commttted spend, two years of annual overheads and an e￿ptIonal maintenance budget. The librnry has a 3 year financial pkn that supw>rts its going con￿rn assessment with a healthy level of free reser4es. Cash ba1anceat31l￿2025 £58278.56 HPC scc £5,{￿.00 NationalLotteryfunthng24125 HPC Secondment12 FF￿nthS HPC Media centre £9.200.C £aooo.crf) £14,IAI).(K) Tot•lrestslrted fund1￿ U52lJO. Designatsd reser%es One year 0￿rhead$ Committed secondment¢l)SL8 Maintenance budget £￿.c(lo. £18,IXN).IW) £10.￿.{￿) Page14 k) Fixed Assets The librnry keeps and asset registrr. All assets are fulty expensed upon purchase and so are r*ot capitalised on the balance sheet. The main add￿On to the asset ￿lsterS in the year ended 311312025 was a coffee machine for £2874. The below assets are shown below at original cost. DispWstands Dtshwasher Coidlessvacuum Copier Bookstsnds I Bookiack Copser Gazebo Shel*ing Bookstands 2 Coffee Machine Tthal 130.00 279.00 37.00 72.00 178.00 158.(X) 46. 142.(X) 2874.(K> 5202. Page15 Independent Examiners ReoM)rt to the Trustees of the Thon)as PIM)le Llbrary Netherstowey I rep)rt on the aLYounts of the Thonw Poole library Nether Stowey for the yearApril 1st 2024 to March 315t 2025, which are set out in the attached page& The Chariws trustees are resEM)nsible for the pw)aration of the accounts. The ChaT1￿S tr￿stee8 (y)nsider that the audtt rwwirernert of sthin 44 of the Clwities Act 2011 9the Chariti£8 act) does not appty and that an independent exan)n￿on is neede4t It is my r￿￿11)llitytO. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act To follow the pr(kn laid down in the general Directio￿8 gtven by the Clwity comm￿10n {under section 145ts)(b) of the 2011 Cbarities Act). and to state whether particular llwtter5 have (x)rne to my attentio Basis of independent exami￿￿8 report My examination was ￿rlled out in accordan￿ with the General Directio￿$ given by the Charity Commissioners."kn examination includ&s a review of the accounting recoriLs kept by the charity and a compaEison of tbe accounts presentedwith th(K8e records. It also includes consideration of any unusual iterns or disclosures in the aC￿llnts 2nd seelung exp]2nations from the Tn]stees concerning anysueh matters. The prom Hlre In the year ended 311312025. the lilyary receNed 24 morths of room rental from the Quantocks Landscape Partnership as thell as income from ho￿ing PCC eleLtion& Room Hlre QLP r￿M hire PCC eLect(Ob Total 512.crfj 951ZOO e} Coffee Shop The library has purchased a coffee mathine and is offering tea and coffee for donatKJns. Page12 Patrons and Donations A patron scheme has been developed and there **re 3 patrons at the end of the year. g} Other income Other income indudes bank interest on the dewsit account and revenue from car parking. h) Servlces and ubliiies Ener 1650.95 I4￿16 286.01 493.50 3912.62 Water Insurance Total i) Outreath OLrtreach costs include the costs of public ta0￿ and public relation activiiies (eg Website) Page13 JI Reser¥esand Golng CaKern The library has a clearty documented reseNes wlicy and ensu￿$ that the￿ is a designated fund that indudes all commttted spend, two years of annual overheads and an e￿ptIonal maintenance budget. The librnry has a 3 year financial pkn that supw>rts its going con￿rn assessment with a healthy level of free reser4es. Cash ba1anceat31l￿2025 £58278.56 HPC scc £5,{￿.00 NationalLotteryfunthng24125 HPC Secondment12 FF￿nthS HPC Media centre £9.200.C £aooo.crf) £14,IAI).(K) Tot•lrestslrted fund1￿ U52lJO. Designatsd reser%es One year 0￿rhead$ Committed secondment¢l)SL8 Maintenance budget £￿.c(lo. £18,IXN).IW) £10.￿.{￿) Page14 k) Fixed Assets The librnry keeps and asset registrr. All assets are fulty expensed upon purchase and so are r*ot capitalised on the balance sheet. The main add￿On to the asset ￿lsterS in the year ended 311312025 was a coffee machine for £2874. The below assets are shown below at original cost. DispWstands Dtshwasher Coidlessvacuum Copier Bookstsnds I Bookiack Copser Gazebo Shel*ing Bookstands 2 Coffee Machine Tthal 130.00 279.00 37.00 72.00 178.00 158.(X) 46. 142.(X) 2874.(K> 5202. Page15 Independent Examiners ReoM)rt to the Trustees of the Thon)as PIM)le Llbrary Netherstowey I rep)rt on the aLYounts of the Thonw Poole library Nether Stowey for the yearApril 1st 2024 to March 315t 2025, which are set out in the attached page& The Chariws trustees are resEM)nsible for the pw)aration of the accounts. The ChaT1￿S tr￿stee8 (y)nsider that the audtt rwwirernert of sthin 44 of the Clwities Act 2011 9the Chariti£8 act) does not appty and that an independent exan)n￿on is neede4t It is my r￿￿11)llitytO. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act To follow the pr(kn laid down in the general Directio￿8 gtven by the Clwity comm￿10n {under section 145ts)(b) of the 2011 Cbarities Act). and to state whether particular llwtter5 have (x)rne to my attentio Basis of independent exami￿￿8 report My examination was ￿rlled out in accordan￿ with the General Directio￿$ given by the Charity Commissioners."kn examination includ&s a review of the accounting recoriLs kept by the charity and a compaEison of tbe accounts presentedwith th(K8e records. It also includes consideration of any unusual iterns or disclosures in the aC￿llnts 2nd seelung exp]2nations from the Tn]stees concerning anysueh matters. The pr