The Downton Memorlal Centre (Registered charity, number 1183511) Financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 Paga Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities Notes to the accounts 9-11 capLUS
The Downton Memorial Centre Trustees, annual report for the year ended 31 December 2024 Full name The Downton Memorial Centre CIO Organ18atlon type Charitsble incorporated organisation Reglstered charlty number 1183511 Principal addrass Downton Memorial Hall, The Memorial Hall, The Borough, Downton, Salisbury, SP5 3NB Truste08 Susan Kirsten Parsons, Chair David Philip Mace, Treasurer Hilary Mace, Booking Secretary Jeremy Parsons Lesley Giles Andrew Philip Smith Independent examiner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street. Nottingham, NG15GL Governance and managemont The charity is operated under Ihe rules of its CIO Foundation constitution adopted 21 May 2019. Trustees are nominated by local organisations or trustees and appointed by the Irustees. Initially there were 3 'first trustees, from the previous unincorporated charity {Downton Memorial Hall, Charity No. 305507). Other trustees up to a maximum of 23 in number Can be nominated by local organisalions. The trustees can also appoint up to 4 local residents as new trustees. ObJ•ctlves and actlvltles The provision and maintenance of Ihe Downton Memorial Centre for use of inhabilants of the parish of Downton in the county of Wilts and its immediate vicinity without distinction of sex or political or religious or other opinions, including use for.. a) physical and mental training and recreation, and b) intellectual development through the medium of reading and recreation rooms library lectures, classes, recreations.
The Downton Memorial Centre Summary of the main activitles undertaken for the public benefit The main activities of the Trustees are concerned with the operation of the Downton Memorial Centre to achieve the aims of the charity e.g. maintaining the fabric and servi$ of the building. taking bookings for the hire of rooms and other facilities at the ntre, managing the clèaning arrangements for the building, collecting hire fees and rent, and managing the finances of the charity, fundraising for items to improve the premises for the public benefit, and advertising in Ihe local press, and the village website, to promote the facilities of the charrty. The activities of the charty enable its local community to have easy access to rooms with good facilities, in a safe, clean, heated environment, and at a very reasonable cost. The rooms and other facilities of the Downton Memorial Centre are hired by local residents, organisalions, and other parts of the community. for a wide variety of different activities, in line wilh the aims of the charity, which include-. physical exercise and development classes, recreational activities. intellectual lectures etc. and development, and entertainment in the form of film, theatre, musical performances and children's parties etc. The trustees wish to put on record their grateful thanks to the volunteers who help with the running of the Downton Memorial Centre, the fund-raising events and the improvements Ihal Continue to be made to its facilities. Publlc benèflt statement The Trustees Gonfirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard lo Ihe Charity Commission's general guidan on public benefil, 'Charltles and Publlc Beneflv. Summary of the maln achlevements durlng the porlod The Downton Memorial Centre CIO (DMCI energy conlract came to the end of its term in April 2023. At that point the DMC'S gas and electricity rates became approximately and a half times higher than on its previous contract. In March 2023, and in anticipation of the large increase in energy costs, the Trustees reviewed the fees which it charged for ils principal Sour of income (i.e. the room hire fees) and, after taking everything into account, raised each of the hourly room hire rates by 10 % effective from May 2023 room bookings onwards. Thanks mostly to increased occupancy rates, DMC'S hire fee income continued lo grow in 2024 when compared to the last few years and is currently well in excess of the pre-covid pandemic levels of 2019, as can be seen in the table below.. 2019 £21,566 2020 £10,913 2021 £8,553 -600/0 2022 £17,955 -170 2023 £25,552 +18% 2024 £31,165 +45% Hire Fees 'kn change over 2019
The Downton Memorial Centre Notable uses of the building in 2024, which also demonstrates the diversity of uses. included: The Robin Hood stage production, which was a very popular show, and a su¢¢essful fund-raising event for the Projector & Screen Fund. Slimming World; Child Health Clinic; New Life Church., Little Buds la weekly class for new mums); Ballet Tutoring Tai Chi Colour Wheel (weekly art classes) Pilates Willow Weaving Community Choir The ¢harlty'8 pollcy on reserves The Trustees policy on reserves is to maintain unrestricted cash reserves which are approximately equal to.. six month's hire fee income {£16,0001. plus a cash reserve for em8rgency maintenance to the premises and facilities 1£8,0001, plus the Projector & Screen Fund {£3,425), plus the Flat Roof Fund (£2,000). This makes a total of approximately £29.425. The total unrestricted reserves at the 2024 year-end stood at £31,915. This appears to be a strong financial position. However, some of these unrestricled reserves will need to be earmarked for other future maintenance work {see next section) once those works have been fully identrfied and quantified. This planning work started in 2024 and will continue during 2025. Flnanclal rovlew The charity has Iwo principal Sources of income, namely.. al the hire fees charged for the use of its facilrties and b) the pre-school rent. The increasing level of room bookings in 2024 resulted in a healthy growlh in the income from room hi fees. Following the termination of the Downton Community Preschool's tenancy at the end of 2023, the trustees. with the active support of Wiltshire Council's Early Years team, and aftef taking independent professional advice on the rental market value of the premises, ran a competitive Invilation to Tender process in the first quarter of 2024. The winning Candidate for the tenancy was Giant Steps, who already operate a successful nursery at The Trafalgar School in Downton. Giant Steps slarted operating their new preschool, at the Downton Memorial Centre, in June 2024 and are pleased wilh the number of children who attend the preschool.
The Downton Memorial Centre The hiatus between one tenant ceasing it5 operation and another starting up has resulted in a reduced level of rental income during 2024 compared with 2023, but the outlook for ntaI income in 2025 is now much more positive than it seemed possible in 2023. As at the end of 2024 some1005e ends remain to be sorted out during 2025 betrween Downton Community Preschool and the Downton Memorial Centr8. Financlal r18k8 Unexpected, unplanned mainlenance costs. The completion of the Memorial Hall Extension Project by Downton Parish Council {DPC} in late 2018 resulted in a new lease being agreed be88n DPC and the Ihen Trustees of the Downlon Memorial Centre CIO (DMCI. In this new lease the full responsibility for maintaining the building transfers from DPC to DMC once DPC completed certain remedial works on the building, the most slgnificant of these being the replacement of roofs and guttering. Those works have been in progress from 2019 onwards and were completed in 2024. It is expected that the newly replaced flat roofs, as is normally the case with flat roofs, will need to be redone in aboul 20 years, time. The Trustees have earmarked some of the reserves for a 'Flat Roof Fund, with the intention of growing this fund each year so that sufficient funds will be available lo replace the flat roofs when needed. Similarly, other Maintenan items which have a significant potential cost will be identified, quantified and, where appropriate, reserves will be eaTmarked and grown over time lo enable the Trustees to pay for such future maintenance as and when the time arises. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees.. Signed Susan Kirsten Parsons, Trustee Dale £ d L 102'.i
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Downton Memorial Centre for the year ended 31 December 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the acwunts of The Downton Memorial Centre (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024. Re8pon8lbllltles and basis of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'l. I port in resped of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ibl of the Act. Independent examlner's statemont I have completed my examination. I confimi that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving m8 cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act.. or 2. the accounls do not accord with those records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed John O'Brien Msc, FAIA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus Date 3011012025
The Downton Memorial Centre Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 December 2024 2023 Total Funds 2024 Total Funds Unrglcted R•tet•d Funds Fundg Recolpts Grarts & donations Fundraising events Rental income Sas & hire fees Bank interest Utility, repair & maintenance recharges Key deposits Damage deposits Total re¢•lpts 778 1858 5514 25591 1171 2232 100 200 37242 30 1553 3050 30154 1315 3254 25 125 39506 30 1553 3050 30154 1315 3254 25 125 39506 Payments AdbErtisiThJlProrrntional Can1r0 Equipment Fundraisiro costs knsurarKe Key & damage deposlls refunded Legal & professional fees Membership fees Music Licence Office & general admin expenses Repairs & maintsnance Supplies Utilities Website Total payments 45 6238 231 763 726 45 6258 822 812 754 275 2004 50 154 312 28751 41 7499 1325 49102 45 6258 822 812 754 275 2004 50 139 216 7248 312 28751 41 7499 1325 49102 8686 567 24909 12333 29178 41511 Net recelptsl(paymentsl Cash funds at stsrt ofthis period Cash funds atend of this period 195961 40410 30814 19596) 41511 31915 1101 1101
The Downton Memorial Centre ststement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2024 2023 2024 Cash assets Bank accounts Cash in hand Note 41511 31737 178 31915 41511 Other monetary assets Debtors Prepayments 5411 856 6267 2212 1603 3815 A888ts retalned for tho charlty$ <y•m uae General equipment. Llabllltl•8 Creditors Advanced receipts - Sales & hire fee8 Refundable deposits held 12558) {775) 625 (3958) 12698) 14531 625 137761 These financial s tew*nts are accepted on behalf of the charty by.. Signed David Philip Ma¢ Dated 11 rustee
The Downton Memorial Centre Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 1. Recelpts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and Cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. 2. Funds analysls Opening Recelpts {paynts) Transfers Closing balance balan¢ft Restrlcted funds Projector & Screen 1101 1101 1101 1101 Unrestrlctsd fvnds General fuTr Projector & Screen Flat Roof furKI 37691 2719 38765 741 148362) (20001 26094 1740) 2720 2000 30814 2000 40410 39506 49102 Projèctor & Screan Fund In 2019 the Trustees started to raise funds lo enable the Downton Mémorlal Hall to have its own projector and screen. During the Covid pandemic, in 2020 through to 2022, it was impractiC81 to try to run any significant fundraising events. However, several successful fund-raising events have been held by the trustees since then which this year included the popular'Robin Hood, panto. As at the end of 2024 the Projector & Screen Fund, consisting of the total of grants received, and of Ihe net profrts made on Ihe fund- raising events since 2019, stood at £3,820. The projector and SCen is planned to be installed in 2025. Flat Roof Fund The total cost of re-felting the flat roofs in 2023124 was approximately £36,000. As is normal with flat roofs. the current fett is expected to last for about 20 years. Funds therefore need to be set aside each year over the nexl 20 years to ensure, after allowing for the impact of interest and inflation, that the Downton Memorial Centre CIO has sufficient reserves to pay for the re-felting of the flat roofs when they next need doing.
The Downton Memorial Centre 3. Debtors and prepayments Debtors - sale & hire f88S Debtors - utilities Debtors - utility, repair & Maintenan recharges Debtors - bank interest due Prepayments - equipment Prepayments - repair & maintenance Prepayments - insurance 1854 219 42 97 740 760 103 3815 4. Crgdltors, refundable depo8lt8 and advance receipts Creditors - legal & professional fees - IE fee Creditors - cleaning Cfedilors - utilities Advance receipts - sales & hire fees Refundable key & damage deposlts 528 455 1715 453 625 3776 5. Preml•o8 The land and buildings are owned by Downton Parish Council and leased to The Downlon Memorial Centre CIO at a peppercorn rent of £10 per annum for a term of 900 years beginning on 24 June 2018. Part of the CIO'S land and buildings, which are purpose designed for earty years. educational provision, have been sublet by Ihe CIO lo Giant Steps (Yexleyl Limited (Company no. 070508421 with effect from 121h April 2024. 8. Trustees, remunoratlon Trustees received no expenses. remuneration or benefits in this period. 7. Relatèd party transactlons The trustee David Mace is also a Parish CoLbn¢illor, and the trustee Susan Parsons is also an Officer, at Downlon Parish Council. Downton Parish Council hired rooms during this period for a total amount of £788. The trustee Hilary Mace is also a committee member of the Downton Green Group. The Downton Green Group hired rooms from The Downton Memorial Centre during this period for a total amount of £44. The trustees Susan and Jeremy Parsons are also committee members of The Downton Society. The Downlon Society hired rooms from The Downton Memorial Cenlre during this period for a total amount of £17. 10
The Downton Memorial Centre 8. Glossary of ternis Advance receipts: These are amounts r8ceived by the organisalion in the accounting period, for use in a future period. Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charty. but not paid during the accounting period. Debtors: These are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period. Prepayments: Thèse are senfices that the organisation has paid for in advance, but not used during the accounting period. Restricted fund8: These are funds given to the charty, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but Still within the general objects of the charity.