Preston Village Hall CIO Annual Report November 2024 – November 2025
I want to start my report by thanking all of the Trustees for their support, goodwill and commitment. I would like to thank Karen Wright for her positivity and hard work as Treasurer in controlling the finances, seeking the best deals from our suppliers and in producing our audited accounts and Mandy Kemp who keeps the day to day account management so efficiently. I would like to thank Kath Marsden for her excellent management of the hall bookings and her role as key-holder, Mona Hodgetts who takes the minutes of our meetings and Colin Cross for his support as Vice Chair. I would also like to thank everyone who helps with keeping the hall functioning efficiently on a day-to-day basis.
Trustees and Management Committee
The current trustees are
Colin Cross was elected as Vice Chairman Karen Wright has continued in the role of Treasurer.
Kath Marsden has continued to act as the keyholder and booking secretary for the hall.
Susan Marsden Garrett keeps the community informed of events through Facebook and other social media. Mona Hodgetts currently acts as minutes secretary.
Josie Leicester Janet Jeffrie Peter Smith Jan Cross Jill Matthews
In the meeting following the last AGM, I was re-elected as Chair.
I have formally resigned as Chair, effective from after this AGM, A new Chair will be appointed at the next ordinary meeting following the AGM.
Mona Hodgetts wishes to step down as minutes secretary due to her new time-consuming role as grandmother. A new minutes secretary will be appointed at the next ordinary meeting following the AGM.
I have received no further resignations, so I propose that the current trustees continue in their roles. Can I ask for a seconder? ………………..
Election of new Trustees
Ione Marsden has expressed interest in becoming a trustee. I propose that she is duly elected. Can I ask for a seconder?……………………………..
We would like to recruit more trustees from the wider “area of benefit” i.e. Stourmouth and the surrounding hamlets and more trustees representing users of the facilities. If anyone here today would like to become a trustee, please let us know at the end of this meeting. Please let me know of name your contact details and other information so I can register you as a trustee with the Charity Commissioners
Auditor
This year the accounts to 31 March 2025 were audited by Steve Booth at Rosemary Bookkeeping Ltd.
Aims and Objects
The objects of the CIO are to establish and run a village hall and to promote, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Preston Kent and its neighbourhood ,the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the
public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
How we have achieved our objectives
Our main income comes from the hire of the hall. Residents can take part in yoga and chair yoga sessions on three different days, either morning or evening sessions are offered. Unfortunately the new Pilates class has folded. The Art Class has recently been transformed into a more social Arts & Crafts afternoon club on a Monday afternoon and uptake has been very good. We are pleased to see that Preston Tots,a weekly toddler playgroup is doing well and seems to attract parents from the parish and the wider community. The hall continues to be booked regularly by village clubs and societies. These include the Short Mat Bowls Club, the Table Tennis Club, with weekly slots. Monthly bookings are made by the Preston Parish Council, the Preston, Elmstone and Stourmouth Horticultural Society, a local band for a practice session and The Tuesday Club books occasionally. There are a pleasing number of weekend bookings for children’s birthday parties.
Community Fund Raising Events
Although we have not been able to commit to large community events, we continue to raise funds to contribute towards the maintenance of the current hall and the project towards achieving a new village hall/ community centre. The monthly Big Breakfast is well supported and provides residents with an opportunity to meet up and chat. The team of Breakfast Beauties does a great job by cooking and serving the breakfasts and the event runs like a well-oiled machine. Regular events such as the Preston Christmas Craft Fair, the Spring and Autumn Walks with tea and cakes and the Bingo Evenings are popular providing useful income and are established as part of the village tradition. The Horticultural Society has taken over the running of the Annual Plant Sale.
It would be great if we could recruit volunteers, who would be prepared to organise community events or run small social activities in the hall, particularly in the afternoons. A recent suggestion has been an afternoon chess club for example.
This year saw the first Preston Summerfest event. This was an extremely successful event raising funds for various local charities. The hall was used fully at the weekend event, being transformed into a disco.
Other Fund Raising
We signed up to Dover District Council’s Lotto last year. For every £1 ticket purchased on line, the hall receives 50p and a further 10p goes towards grants to deserving causes. The hall has received financial aid through this mechanism. To date we have raised £in excess of since we joined. Funds have also been awarded to some of the clubs and societies through grants from DDC.
Crystal Evans has organised a very successful Art Exhibitions in aid of charity with local artists displaying and selling their work. Crystal has donated significant sums to the Preston Village Hall from the commission raised.
Applications for smaller grants supporting community social amenities have been successful. Kent County Council awarded £1000 for a Community grant. We used the funds to provide 100 x £10 breakfast vouchers to residents. A granta from Dover District Council enabled the purchase of 3 airfryers which are available for use by people who hire the hall. We intend to follow this path in the coming year.
Maintenance
The outside drains have been regularly cleared to get rid of the puddle which appears every time it rains! Parts of the outside of the hall have been painted and smarten up the entrance. Other minor works have been undertaken but we are waiting to see what progress is made towards the new Village Hall development before committing to any significant expenditure.
The New Village Hall Project
Last year, The Preston Parish Council were in discussions which could have enabled the purchase of the Preston Garden Centre and Coppers restaurant, with a view to converting these premises as a new community centre. Unfortunately this fell through, and we are now awaiting the outcome of the 6 acres planning application, before we can plan any realistic new build plans.
Jill Matthews 11 December 2025
Preston with Elmstone Village Hall
Period From: 1st April 2024 To: 31st March 2025
Income and Expenditure Account
| Income Hire Charges Interest received Other Income & Donations Utility Refund Gross Profit / -Loss Expenditure Cleaning & Repairs Equipment Purchases Wages & Honorariums Utilities Insurance PPL/PRS Music Licence Legal & Professional fees Fundraising Event Costs Printing, Postage & Stationary Telephone & internet Total Expenditure Total Profit (Loss) |
£ 8,862.77 1,192.44 4,784.92 4,626.41 19,466.54 3,678.20 1,589.19 420.30 3,421.23 1,254.84 0.00 0.00 2,254.63 36.05 259.06 12,913.50 6,553.04 |
|---|---|
I have prepared the above Income & Expenditure Account from the bank statements, and records provided by the treasurer.
Steve Booth
Rosemary Bookkeeping East Kent