HGS U3A Trustees Annual Report 2021
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
HGS UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE REGISTERED CHARITY NO.1182530 FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2021
Members of the Executive Committee of Hampstead Garden Suburb U3A (HGS U3A), all being Trustees of HGS U3A, present their report and the accounts in respect of the financial year ended 31 May 2021.
Status
HGS U3A is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”), registered as a charity by the Charity Commission for England and Wales with registration number 1182530. Its registered address for correspondence is Fellowship House, 136a Willifield Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 6YD and its website address is: https://hgsu3a.uk/. It operates under a Constitution approved by the Charity Commission.
Executive Committee
HGS U3A is managed by its Executive Committee. During the year, the composition of the committee changed several times, partly due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
On 5 March 2020, Professor Margaret Harris accepted co-option as Trustee and Vice Chair.
On 30 March 2020, Betti Blatman resigned as Trustee and CIO Secretary.
Professor Harris resigned as Trustee and Vice Chair on 20 June 2020 but agreed to continue to support the Executive Committee as a delegate to the London Network of u3as, as well as analysing a membership survey.
In accordance with the Constitution, two trustees, Jack Berkovi and David Powers, stood down at the last Annual General Meeting, held on 14 July 2020. Both, having served only two years since their initial election at HGS U3A’s inaugural AGM on 17 July 2018, were eligible to stand for re-election and agreed to do so.
The AGM elected the following to the Executive Committee after a formal nomination process:
Chair – Jack Berkovi CIO Secretary – Wendy Fishman Webmaster – David Powers
All agreed to stand for a period of up to three years.
Wendy Fishman subsequently resigned as Trustee and CIO Secretary on 5 October 2020.
On 30 December 2020, Richard Abramson and Alan Lee were co-opted as Trustees to serve as Vice Chair and Beacon Administrator respectively.
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On 14 January 2021, Mayah Weinberg was co-opted as Trustee and CIO Secretary.
On 26 May 2021, the Chair of HGS U3A, Jack Berkovi, died.
As of 31 May 2021, the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees comprised:
Chair — vacant Vice Chair & Groups Organiser and Co-ordinator – Daphne Berkovi Vice Chair – Richard Abramson Treasurer – Arjun Matthai CIO Secretary — Mayah Weinberg Membership Secretary – Margaret Bendor New Groups Organiser – Eleanor Levy Webmaster – David Powers Beacon Administrator — Alan Lee
The co-opted Trustees, Richard Abramson, Alan Lee, and Mayah Weinberg, are required under the Constitution to retire at the end of the next AGM, scheduled for 29 July 2021. Two of them, Richard Abramson and Mayah Weinberg, have agreed to stand for election at the AGM. Alan Lee has decided to withdraw as Trustee but will continue to support the Executive Committee as Beacon Administrator.
The Executive Committee owes deep gratitude to our founding Chair, Jack Berkovi, for his extraordinary contribution to HGS U3A. He worked tirelessly to establish the u3a, building it up from nothing within a few years and helping maintain its activities through the difficult period of the coronavirus pandemic and successive lockdowns. The remaining Trustees extend their deepest condolences to his widow, Daphne Berkovi, who also put huge efforts into ensuring the success of HGS U3A. Daphne has subsequently decided to step down from her u3a roles. We thank her for her immense contribution.
Advisers to the Board of Trustees
Michael Berg (Zoom Administrator) Roger Cookson (New Groups adviser) Margaret Harris (one of our two members on the London Region Committee) Neng Chong (IT adviser and trainer) Hazel Finn (Newsletter Compiler) Joan Mushin (Volunteers Officer) Lisa Wolfson (Liaison Officer for Middlesex University)
Public benefit
The public benefit role of HGS U3A is the advancement of education, and in giving effect to that role the Executive Committee have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
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Objects
The objects of HGS U3A, in accordance with its Constitution, are:
‘The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full time work, by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and development.’
HGS U3A meets these objects and provides public benefit by enabling members to share their knowledge and experience and thereby continue to learn, in particular through establishing Interest Groups and convening other meetings of members
Although there is no geographical restriction on its membership, as its name implies most of the members of HGS U3A live in Hampstead Garden Suburb and the adjoining areas. The Interest Groups form its core, reflecting the knowledge, skills and experience of its members. Some groups are led by experts (for example languages, yoga) and others are based on equal participation. Until the Covid-19 (“CV”) outbreak, the majority of Groups met in members’ home, which provided a relaxed and friendly atmosphere; other Groups met in hired facilities (for example the Free Church Hall for table tennis) or outdoors (for example Thames walks). In addition, HGS U3A organises regular topical talks inviting high profile, unpaid, external speakers. The situation regarding hired facilities will be kept under review until it is safe for members to use them.
The Executive Committee complies with the new General Data Protection Regulation. HGS U3A has established policies and procedures in line with this regulation and other legal requirements.
Interest Groups
Currently around 50 interest groups continue to meet virtually on Zoom and other online platforms.
Group Leaders and Facilitators are key to the success of the whole U3A and our thanks go to them all. The Groups Organiser and Chair keep them all informed on a regular basis through the Groups Update bulletin.
Membership
The total membership of HGS U3A at 31 May 2021 was 447, including 12 Honorary Members. On enrolment members receive a Membership Card.
Volunteers
We are all volunteers running our U3A.
External Relationships
We are involved with a number of organisations – firstly two delegates (Daphne Berkovi our former Vice Chair and Margaret Harris) have attended virtual U3A London Regional Meetings and other related events throughout the year that were arranged by the advisory body to all U3As in the UK, The Third Age Trust – and secondly David Powers is an adviser and member of the national Beacon project tasked with updating the data base system.
We also network and partner with any organisations where there can be mutual benefit such as a reciprocal partnership with Middlesex University; members of HGS U3A have assisted
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students with career mentoring and research and in return academic staff of the university have given a series of lectures to our members.
Beacon Database
HGS U3A manages the membership database, Beacon, through its Beacon Administrator. It is used for group e-mailings, reporting membership statistics and recording subscriptions including Gift Aided subscriptions.
Charity status and Gift Aid
HGS U3A became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 19 March 2019 and from that date is able to claim Gift Aid from HMRC on subscriptions that have been Gift Aided to HGS U3A by its UK tax paying members.
The contact with the Charity Commission and HMRC continues to be our Treasurer, Arjun Matthai.
Accounts
Please refer to the Treasurer’s Report.
Mr Ravi Patel was confirmed at the 2020 AGM as the Independent Examiner of our Financial Accounts and the Executive Committee recommends that he continues as the Independent Examiner during the coming Financial Year.
Subscriptions
The new Financial Year will be a year of transition to a new normal with a likely mixture of physical, virtual and hybrid group meetings. The Executive Committee recommends no change to the annual subscriptions for existing members of £25 for an individual member and £40 for two members living at the same address for members who pay by bank transfer/BACs. A small premium of £2 will be charged for payments made by cheque. These subscription rates will also apply to new members.
Our Thanks
HGS U3A is a voluntary organisation that is run by and for its members. The Executive Committee are grateful to all the Advisers, the Group Leaders and Facilitators and other members who have contributed so much time, energy and expertise in organising, maintaining and developing HGS U3A’s activities. This has led to an active, vibrant and successful organisation despite Covid restrictions.
This report was approved for distribution to our members by the Executive Committee on 8 July 2021.
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| Financial Accounts for the year to 31 May 2021 | Financial Accounts for the year to 31 May 2021 | Financial Accounts for the year to 31 May 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME Subscription by Cheques & Cash 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2021 Subscription by Bank Transfers 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2021 Subscriptions by Other 1 June 2020 - 31 May 2021 Less Rebates Total Subscriptions Subscriptions Accrued & Cfd to Subscrptn Year 2020-21 ending 31 Aug 2021 Deferred Subscription Income from 2019-2020 Released from Reserves Bfd Gift Aid & Donations Bridge Supplies Topical & Other Talks: Teas & Coffee Collections Theatre Tickets Collections Yoga Receipts Table Tennis Collections & Insurance Claim Excursion Receipts First Aid Collections Sundry BACS & Cheques Total Income Reversal of 31 May 2020 Expenses Payable Expenses & Costs Paid Less Expenses already accounted for in Y-E 31/5/20 Financial Accounts Expenses Payable Total Expenditure Cum Surplus for period to 31 May 2021 |
£ EXPENSES 1876 8431 Subscription Paid to 3rd Age Trust 0 Magazine Subscription Paid to 3rd Age Trust 0 Beacon Fee Paid to 3rd Age Trust 10307 -2017 Total Payments to 3rd Age Trust 4332 3739 Hall Hire - 0 0 0 0 1006 0 0 0 17368 Other Costs & Expenses (see analysis) 0 5984 Expenses & Costs Paid 0 0 5984 11384 |
Alyth Fellowship House Free Church + Free Church Hall Golders Green Library Unitarian Church Quakers Hall Total Hall Hire Costs |
£ 1542 1273 528 3342 0 0 400 0 0 0 400 2242 5984 |
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| ASSETS Fixed Assets(Details in Fixed Asset Register) Current Assets Cash in Bank Float Prepaid Subscription to 3rd Age Trust Prepaid Magazine Subscription to 3rd Age Trust Prepaid Beacon Fee to 3rd Age Trust Total |
£ 222 25582 27 1269 760 372 |
LIABILITIES Reserves at 31 May 2020 Release of 31 May 2020 Deferred Subscription Income Deferred Subscription Income Cumulative Surplus to 31 May 2021 Reserves at 31 May 2021 Current Liabilities Invoices Payable & Sundry Creditors Total |
£ 19,164 -4,332 2,017 11,384 |
|||
| 28,232 0 |
||||||
| 28232 | 28,232 |