Registered Charity No. 1183856 **Trustees’ Annual Report 5th April 2024 – 4th April 2025** ## **Blunham Village Hall** ## **Names of Trustees Who Served During the Year** - **Robin Boothby** – Treasurer - **Michelle Grice** - **Phil Rose** - **Nigel Aldis** - **Lindsay Rose** - **Dee Bartholomew** - **Shell Eves** ## **Post Year- End Changes** After the year end, Shell Eves resigned as a trustee on 1[st] December 2025. The trustees wish to record their thanks for her contribution. Lee Harrison was appointed as trustee on 10[th] December 2025. As of 30[th] January 2025, the position of Chair is vacant. The trustees are collectively managing the charity’s activities and governance responsibilities while seeking a suitable candidate to fill the role. The trustees remain committed to ensuring the e�ective running of the charity in accordance with its objectives and governing document. ## **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) - Dee Bartholomew (Marketing & Social Media Coordinator) - Nigel Aldis (Blunham Parish Council Liaison) - Independent Examiner: Dr Roy Tipping ## **Governance** Blunham Village Hall was originally established by a Trust Deed & Lease dated 20 July 1928. The trustees now manage the site under a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission on 12 June 2019. ## **Appointment of Trustees** The CIO Constitution governs the appointment and responsibilities of trustees. - Minimum number of trustees: **three** - Maximum number of trustees: **twelve** ## **Hiring Agreement** Use of the Hall is subject to a Hiring Agreement signed at the time of booking. It sets out the conditions of hire and the responsibilities of both parties. ## **Licences** The Hall holds a Premises Licence permitting regulated entertainment, including plays, live music, recorded music, and film exhibition. In 2017 the trustees applied to disapply the mandatory licensing requirement for the sale of alcohol. Hirers planning to sell alcohol must now obtain a Temporary Event Notice (TENs) from the local authority. The Hall is also: - Registered for Small Society Lotteries - Licensed by the Performing Right Society (PRS) for live and recorded music. - ## **Risk Management** ## **Insurance** The trustees recognise their legal obligation to protect the building, its users, and contractors through appropriate insurance. The Hall is insured with Covea Insurance plc, including: - Buildings & accidental damage: **£635,328** - Contents: **£53,595** - Public liability: **£5,000,000** - Employers’ liability: **£10,000,000** - Business interruption (24 months): **£22,606** - Trustees’ indemnity: **£500,000** - Property owners’ liability: **£5,000,000** - Legal expenses: **£100,000** (via DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Ltd) ## **Building Issues** - by qualified personnel - Routine checks conducted by committee volunteers ## **Objectives of the Charity** - To provide and maintain a village hall for use by the inhabitants of Blunham, without distinction as to political, religious, or other opinions. - To o�er facilities for meetings, lectures, classes, recreation, and leisure activities, with the aim of improving the conditions of life for inhabitants The trustees consider these objects to be consistent with the Charity Commission’s Public Benefit guidance and have pursued them throughout the year. ## **Principal Activities in Pursuit of Objectives** - Regular activities including St Edmunds Fellowship, Gardening Club, Pilates, and Boot Camp - Weekly volunteer-run Monday Co�ee Morning - Parish Council bi-monthly meetings - Meetings by Blunham Young Farmers and Blunham Angling Club - Monthly Blunham Community Cinema screenings - Private hire events including children’s parties, wedding receptions, funeral teas, social functions, and fundraising events ## **Reserves Policy** fundraising. The Reserves Policy ensures funds are available to meet: - Unforeseen operational costs - Emergency repairs (e.g., boiler failure) - Loss of income - Replacement or refurbishment of contents - Planned commitments requiring matched funding. The trustees aim to maintain: - Minimum reserves to cover **6 months** of core expenditure (approx. £5,000), plus. - A bu�er up to **2 years** of projected expenditure The reserves level is reviewed annually based on prevailing conditions. ## **Volunteers’ E�ort** Approximately **4 hours per week** are given for routine tasks including bookings, extra cleaning, and maintenance. Trustees also contribute time for meetings and fundraising events. The trustees express sincere gratitude to all volunteers whose dedication ensures the Hall remains a valuable community asset. Additional volunteer support is always welcomed and can be o�ered without joining the committee. ## **2024–2025 Achievements** - Continued strong demand from regular hirers, including four weekly Pilates/Bootcamp sessions. - Successful fundraising events including a Quiz Night and a Luncheon, raising over **£1,000.** - Active participation in the Blunham Working Group to promote village-wide initiatives. - ## **Future Plans** The trustees note ongoing di�iculties in recruiting new trustees and volunteers. Despite recent e�orts, key vacancies remain unfilled, presenting a potential risk to the charity’s ability to operate e�ectively. the trustees will consider initiating the process to wind up the CIO in accordance with its constitution and Charity Commission guidance. ## **Whilst the trustees sincerely hope to continue operating as normal, they remain committed to ensuring that, whatever the outcome, all assets will be applied for charitable purposes consistent with the charity’s objects.** the trustees’ commitment to responsible governance and transparency. The Committee is also determined to maintain a full programme of community events and is exploring options including the return of regular luncheons, a Vegan Supper, the popular Quiz Night, and a Village Talent Show. ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:** **Signature:** R Boothby **Full Name:** Robin Boothby **Position:** Treasurer **Date:** 13[th] December 2025 Receipts & Payments Account for the Year Ended 4th April 2025 IAII Unrestricted Fur¢ds1 YE 414125 YE 414124 Regular hall Hire Ad Hoc Hall Hire Coffee morning Cinema Club Events Bar 4.348.75 2,664.00 1,035.00 744.30 1,157.50 47.41 4,408.90 2,645.40 962.40 778.37 1,348.87 otal Income 9.996.96 10,143.94 ments Gas Electricity Water Insurance Cleaning Stat Inspect & Boiler Serv Maintenance - Internal Maintenance - External Maintenance One off Annual Memberships Litenses 1,587.71 618.87 290.15 1,096.61 2,893.82 245.55 692.76 374.59 1,913.52 1,520.22 605.38 324.59 958.37 2,445.00 145.20 381.10 302.00 35.00 339.20 170.02 234.00 184.90 elecoms Sundries 18.00 1,531.37 Total Payments 10,302.50 8,605.43 Net of ReceiptsllPaymentsl Cash funds Last year end Cash fund5 this year end -305.54 17,529.19 17.223.65 1,538.51 15,990.68 17,529.19 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Cash Funds Bar Stock5 17,223.65 160.12 17,529.19 198.03 Total Net Assets 17,383.77 17.727.22 Signed on behalf of the Trustees Signature Print Name R J Boothby Date of Approval CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of BLUNHAM VILLAGE HALL On accounts for the year ended 4" APRIL 2025 Charity no (if any) 118385 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {'the Trust'l for the year ended 4 April 2024 Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 {"the Act") 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 Commission under section 145{5}Ib) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below "} in conneclion with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect". accounting records were not kept in accordance wrth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not a¢¢ord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statemènt I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply Signed: Dats: 28111125 Name: Dr Roy Tipping Relevant professional qualification(sl or body lif any): Address: 60 Barford Road Blunham Bedford MK44 3ND IER Oetobor 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charrty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brlef detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018