Registered Charity No 1182852
To Year End 31/08/2021 Trustees’ Annual Report –
Charity Details
Charity Name Thorley U3A Charity Registration Number 1182852 Address c/o The Chairman Thorley U3A Meadow Cottage Butlers Hall Lane Thorley Bishop’s Stortford CM23 4BL
Trustees – Officers
Carmen Konopka Chair (elected 4th January 2021) Jenni Kemp Vice Chair Sue Warren Vice Chair (elected 4th January 2021) Duncan Palmer Business Secretary Ken Blethyn Treasurer
Trustees – Non-Officers
Anne Willett Membership Secretary Rosemary Hoskins Groups Co-ordinator John Bailey Assistant Treasurer Diana Austin Committee Member (elected 4th January 2021)
Advisers
Nick Ambrose Web Support (Non Trustee) David Aitken Website (Non Trustee)
Others who served as Trustees for part of the financial year:
Linda Ketteridge Chair (Retired 4th January 2021)
Document Date
13th October 2021
Page 1
Registered Charity No 1182852
Governance
The governing document of the charity is its constitution adopted on 4th March 2013, as amended at an Emergency General Meeting on 9th April 2018.
Thorley U3A is an un-incorporated charitable organisation with a financial turnover of between £25,001 and £250,000. As such, the charity is required to file a Charity Commission Annual Return.
The Return comprises an online form, a PDF copy of accounts (independent examination required), and the Trustees’ Annual Report. These items are due to be filed within ten months of the charity’s financial year-end of 31st August.
Trustees are nominated and elected by members, usually for a period of three years. Appointment of new Trustees takes place at the AGM in January. The Trustees manage the charity by way of monthly committee meetings which all members are welcome to attend.
Thorley U3A is a member of the Third Age Trust.
Financial Review
Principal sources of funds are membership subscriptions and payments by members for the activities in which they participate.
The Trustees constantly review the level of reserve funds and will adjust membership fees according to our financial expectations. Our aim is to maintain a level of funding approximating to between 6-9 months' annual income in reserves.
As there was both a reduction in our activities and reduced costs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided to give our members a subscription holiday from 1st September-31st December 2020. Subscriptions for the remainder of the financial year to 31st August 2021were not payable until 1st January 2021 and were then at a reduced rate of £8.00. It has been decided that subscriptions for our next financial year (to 31st August 2022) will return to normal at £15.00 per member.
Accounts for the year to 31st August 2021 have been approved by the charity's independent examiner and are appended to this report.
Document Date
13th October 2021
Page 2
Registered Charity No 1182852
Public Benefit Statement
In carrying out their duties, the Trustees have had full regard to the guidance issued by the Charities Commission on public benefit and that of the Third Age Trust.
Objectives and Activities
Objects
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 personal development, for those residing in Thorley, Bishop’s Stortford and its surrounding locality.
Activities for achieving objects
-
Held monthly meetings available to the entire membership at which invited people delivered talks on topical and educational subjects. This was via Zoom during Covid-19 restrictions.
-
Introduced ad hoc ‘Wednesday Workshops’ on Zoom, available to all members. Many of these were presented by members, with topics as diverse as Lasting Powers of Attorney, Wine, Scams, Hearing and European Boating. Also introduced a ‘Thursday Elevenses’ virtual coffee morning available to all members.
-
Operated more than 40 Interest Groups, covering topics such as art, customs & cultures, languages, gardening, bridge, history, photography, walking, singing, pilates, etc. Many of these groups continued their activities on Zoom, Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms during the Covid restrictions, while those that meet outdoors (such as Walkers, Strollers and Garden Groups) were able to continue in-person at times. Almost all went back to normal following the lifting of restrictions.
-
Continued the creation of a programme of some 40 self-guided walks in the locality. The walks are all tried and tested and are available to everyone on our website. They include detailed instructions, maps created by our members and photographs.
-
Covid restrictions meant there was only one face-to-face event open to all members during this year – a gathering in July at the Henry Moore Foundation, an outdoor sculpture park. A postponed coach trip to Wales for 50 members finally took place in July. And in mid-August there was a lunch for all Group Leaders and Volunteers to kick-start face-to-face meetings and activities.
-
Developed guidelines and user-friendly risk assessments to promote safer meetings.
-
Continued to develop the website and issue monthly news Update emails to promote the organisation's activities and provide access to members' news and Interest Group activities.
-
Ongoing programme to maintain and expand the activities offered.
The operation of Thorley U3A relies upon the dedicated contributions made by members on a voluntary basis.
Document Date
13th October 2021
Page 3
Registered Charity No 1182852
Achievements and Performance
-
Provided a University of the Third Age for approximately 550 retired and semi-retired residents of Thorley, Bishop's Stortford, and the surrounding locality.
-
Provided educational and informative talks for members attending monthly meetings.
-
Provided Interest Groups for members covering a wide range of educational and associated activities.
-
Provided news and information to all members about Thorley U3A and the wider U3A movement's activities.
-
Enabled members, some of whom are isolated people, to make new friends and acquaintances and to participate more fully in the local community.
-
Membership as of 31st August 2021 is 542.
Document Date
13th October 2021
Page 4
u3a Retered No 1182852 Declaration Th¢ trustees decla they have apyoved th¢ tru&ee5' rep( atovc. SAed behalf of th¢ ¢hatitg trustees Signaturc.. Camlen References: Send Annual On-line return Charity RertiThg and Acwuntin8 Essentials 13th October 2021 Page 5
Thorley U3A Account5 Income and Expenditure sheet tst September 2020to 41st Ausust2021 Income Expenditure AdvertIn8{Newsle1[erI BooksaS Donations Gift aid IHMRCI Member subscriptions Newsletter sales Admin expenses Affiliition Fee Hert5 U3A Auditfee5 Beacon 5ub5Criptn Defibril&tor mainienance GrL¥tp costs H311 hirech3rEe5 Ma8aEir ThirdAgeTiust MembershipThird Trust Mis¢eltsneouS l4ews1etterptintH¥ RÈlreshmentCOSL5 ftefund on mÈmbershsp sb5cPl1s Speakers lee5 ZrKJm IKence fee5 187.25 15.(Y) 3t&Th) 523.fy) 157.62 441.09 14.(h) .24 26.50 1,ts851 4,277. I34. 75.(K) 61.IKI 185.19 Totsi money pald In durin8 the ye3r 202Q- 21 5.432.01 Totsl mDney pawj wt dvriTh8theyear2020- 21 5,826.40 Loss 394.39 profft 5,826.40 5,826.40 Accumulated profit blfwd Clfwd subs 2021.22 ProfiLILos5 forthtryear 6.069.28 4,215.(X) 394.39 Bank- 3761 9089.89 Total 9.889.89 9.889.89 Bank- 3778 6,029.13 BaDk- 3778 6.029.J3 15,919.02 Totsl moneyavailable 15,919.02 The above financial statement has been prepared from the ordS kept by theTrt35uretand Ihe rlPt5preSented to me. I have tarrled out an examination of the accoufjts have refe¢ satislaitoryexp13nation50n all matter taised. I find the above account a true and correct record of the club'5flnanal p05itio Auditor. Date=
Thorley U3AAccouDts SDCial Account Incomeand ExpeltUre sheet tst5ewember2D2019315tPw2D21 Inccthe rtgroup Thorky U3AchoSr Cuttures 2nd Custornsgrwp Fami hrytrOup Gardenin8 8ri)u¥ I GardeTrinE 8roup 2 H1510ry8roup Phorography 8rwp Tableienni5 group I IwÈdnÈsdtyl Tabletennis¥roup2 ITuesdayl Tableienni54roup3 IThursdtyl He110 Dolty- 23rd Sep ISPI Tutankhamurn Exhibmon-30th Mar ILHI North WalesTrip- 29thlun IMBI Balanceon Cornpleted TrfpslEventslLHI Balanceon Completed Trfp51EventslMBI Balancèon Completed TrfpslEvents1SPI MtellaneouS Arte9 Thorltyu3Athoir IA6 645. Farnity h)rywup Garthnirgwp I Ga¥denSr¥roup2 Hryp Pknowaphy8roup TabJeiennts8roup I (we> Tabktennts erwp ZITuesthv} Tabnts 3lThur5(1ry} Ddty-23rd5epl5PI Ttstsnkharnurn ExhlMth- 3rth KtsrlLHI North WaSTrfp-29thJun IMBI Balante Dn CompletedTrWE¥entslLHI Balance Dn COMptEd Trlpsl£vents IMBI BalarttÈ OnComd TrI[lEVents Isp} so L¥) 18350 also 24.1 .rnsAXJ 16A)J Total money In durfni the¥ear2020-21 2L&Y5.L7 PaKI(¥rtdutvtspar2020.21 20321.14 L564.03 21J85 17 21.885.17 Accumulat profft blfwd Profrtlthssftttheyear 5,llA.90 L564.03 72S3 Total 6,6n.93 6.67293 The3bovefinanci315tatetnent has been prepared from the rwés kept tytheTrea5urerao the rece45 presempdtomè. I haye carried out3n ex3mination of the accounts and have recefvedsatisfact0ryeWanaty50nall t4oed. l flnd the aboveaccounta ttueand torrect rtcord ofthÈckth's finanoalpositbjn