Blunham Village Hall
Registered Charity No. 1183856
Trustees’ Annual Report
1 March 2021 – 4 April 2022
Names of Trustees who served during the year
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Robin Boothby Treasurer
Michelle Grice Chair
Beverley Boothby
Nigel Aldis
Lindsay Rose
Phil Rose
Shell Eves
Dee Bartholomew
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Sources of advice and support
Barclays Bank plc, Leicester LE87 2BB Norris & Fisher Insurance Brokers Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, Cardington Blunham Parish Council Phil Rose (Maintenance), Shell Eves (Bookings Secretary) Independent Examiner: Dr Roy Tipping
Governance
Blunham Village Hall was established as a charity by a Trust Deed & Lease date 20 July 1928.
Appointment of Trustees
The Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation governs the
appointment of trustees and the management of the charity.
There must be at least three charity trustees. The maximum number of charity
trustees is 12.
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Hiring Agreement
Use of the village hall is subject to a Hiring Agreement which must be signed by the hirer when booking. The hiring agreement sets out the conditions of hire and identifies the respective responsibilities of each party to the agreement.
Licences
The hall has a Premises Licence that permits the provision of regulated entertainment including the performance of plays and live music: the exhibition of films and the playing of recorded music. In 2017 the Trustees undertook the exercise to disapply from the mandatory licensing procedures for the sale of alcohol and hirers who plan to sell alcohol at their events must now apply for a TENS license through the Council.
The hall is registered with the local authority for small society lotteries. The hall is licensed by the Performing Right Society for live and recorded music.
We usually obtain our film licenses from Filmbank Media.
Risk Management
Insurance
The Trustees recognise that they are under a legal obligation to protect the building, its users and contractors through adequate and appropriate insurance. The village hall is insured with respect to property damage (buildings insurance) by Ansvar Insurance who are part of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (£443,252 cover). It is insured with the same company with respect to contents (£33,092) cinema equipment (£5,202) public liability (£5,000,000) employers’ liability (£10,000,000) property owners liability (£5,000,000) Trustees Indemnity (£500,000) and legal expenses (£100,000).
The excess under the policy is just £100, increasing to £250 for Hirers’
Liability/Trustees’ Indemnity, £1000 in respect of subsidence and £2500 for Storm orlood.
Building Issues
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Gas appliances and portable electrical appliances and firefighting appliances are tested by qualified personnel annually.
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Volunteers from the Committee carry out other regular maintenance
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checks.
Objectives of the Charity
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The provision and maintenance of a village hall for use by the inhabitants of the Parish of Blunham without distinction of political, religious or other opinions
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Use of the village hall for meetings, lectures and classes or other forms of recreation and leisure time occupation and with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants
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The Trustees consider these objectives to be consistent with Charity Commission guidance on providing for the public benefit and these objectives have been pursued in the activities of the charity this year.
Principal Activities in pursuit of Objectives
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The hall is in use most days of the week for a variety of activities including St Edmunds Fellowship, Gardening Club, Pilates and Street Dance.
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Volunteers run a successful coffee morning every Monday
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The Parish Council hold their bi-monthly meetings in the Hall
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Blunham Community Cinema holds regular screenings on the last Friday of every month where members of the community have the opportunity to view a recent film at a modest price whilst being able to chat to friends before the performance and enjoy refreshments including ice creams during an interval.
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The hall is available for hire for private functions including children’s parties, wedding receptions, funeral teas, village social functions and occasional fund raising fayres.
Funding Strategy
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It is the strategy of the Trustees to manage the revenue budget on a self-financing basis. Fundraising activities and the contributions made by users of the hall aim to achieve this.
Volunteers’ Effort
Management costs are minimised through the use of volunteers for regular maintenance and supplementary cleaning of the hall. On average 4 hours of volunteer time are given each week to cover routine tasks such as bookings management, additional cleaning and maintenance. In addition, trustees give time each month for meetings and organising and running fund raising events. Without the tireless efforts of the small band of Trustees and volunteers there would not be a village hall. The Trustees would like to recognise, with gratitude, the support given in time, effort and donations over the past year to ensure the hall is fit for purpose and used for the benefit of the community.
The Committee would welcome offers of help from any resident and this could be undertaken ex-committee if desired.
2021 -2022 Achievements
The Hall fully re-opened in this year and saw a return of Gardening Club and the Community Cinema as well as new regular hirers offering Baby Ballet, Street Dance and Pilates classes.
Future Plans
The Chair is part of the Village Committee looking to implement a full programme of events around the Platinum Jubilee in June of 2022.
The Bookings Coordinator has continued the work with interested regular hirers in order to offer a range of activities to the Community.
The Committee is committed to offering a full programme of events and have scheduled a Family Fun Day and Luncheon for the autumn as well as a return of the very successful Race Night for later in the year. There are also discussions around
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a Family Bingo Afternoon and a Quiz Night in the new year.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
M Grice
Full name(s) Michelle Grice Position Chairman
Date: 01 November 2022
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BLUNHAM VILLAGE HALL Receipts & Payments Account for the Year Ended 4th Aprll 2022 IAII Unrestricted Funds) Last year Recel ts Regular hall Hire Ad Hoc Hall Hire Coffee morning Inc Cinema Club Cost Cinema Club 1,806.75 1,084.50 721.00 1,900.21 1,721.85 178.36 2,613.00 8.000.00 68.00 Donations Grants Misc 10,000.00 otal Income 14,471.61 10,000.00 Pa ments Gas Electricity Water Insurance Cleaning Stat Inspect & 80iler Serv Maintenance - Internal Maintenance - External Maintenance One off Annual Memberships Licenses Sundries 1,095.18 1,131.00 189.00 900.75 1,680.00 514.10 665.87 1,055.53 132.00 1,058.76 357.00 150.96 252.08 593.33 483.61 7,775.00 35.00 50.64 3S.00 20.00 55.00 Total Payments 14,447.61 3.782.20 Profit/lLos51 24.00 6.217.80 Statement of Assets & Llabllities Opening Bank Balance Excess Of Income over Expenditure 17,893.81 24.00 11,676.01 6.217.80 Closing Bank Balance 17,917.81 17,893.81 Signed by one Trustee on on behalf of all the Trustees Signature Print Name R l Boothby
CHARITY COMMISSION j Independent examiner's FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees1 members of BLUNHAM VILLAGE HALL On accounts for the year 41h APRIL 2022 ended Charity no (if any) 1183856 Set out on pages i I report to Ihe trustees on my examination of the acLounts of the above charity I'the Trust'l for the year ended 4th April 2022 Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparation basls of roport of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the A¢t"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Comrnission under section 14515){bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the aoUntIng records Independent examiner's ststement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 71111122 Name: Dr Roy Tipping Relevant professional j qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 60 Barford Road Blunham Bedford. MK44 3ND Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concern (see GC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. None IER October 2018