Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 April 2023 Period start date To 31 March 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Earls Barton Library & Community Centre
Charity registration number:1184350
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Provision of a public library plus related community activities for recreation and/or other leisure time occupations for the benefit of the residents of Earls Barton and the surrounding area. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
In addition to being a volunteer-run library facility for the benefit of Earls Barton and the surrounding villages, our community centre continues to generate income through its many additional activities, We run a film club twice monthly and hold monthly coffee mornings. We received a significant portion of our income through the hire of the community space to a variety of organisations – eg. Northants Adult Education, local ukelele/mah-jong groups, art group, yoga group and our local u3a branch. We have streaming equipment to facilitate Earls Barton Talks Books, a series of author events, which can also be used by hirers of the library. We have internal and external CCTV to help improve the safety of our volunteers and library users. Externally, we have an INPOST automated parcel machine, which is extremely well used. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public |
Para 1.18 | Our trustees have been issued with all guidance notes as issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. This information is revised annually. |
benefit
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not Applicable. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not Applicable. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | We have 39 active volunteers who are fully involved in the day to day running of this Community Managed Library. These are supported by a strong management team drawn from the volunteers and a variety of small sub- committees which take responsibility for different aspects of our work. |
| Other | Not applicable | |
| Achievements and Performance | ||
| SORP reference | ||
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Our most significant achievement of the year has been the upgrade of our existing W.C and the refurbishment of a vacated storage area, to provide a confidential and hireable office space. This was part funded through a local development Section 106 Grant. Although the WC is not fully compliant as a disabled facility due to its size, it is fully accessible for a wheelchair and also provides baby changing facilities We offer our premises to a local ‘junk- food’ project on a weekly free of charge basis and we are a collection point for the local Food Bank. |
We run a popular recycling centre and support other collection schemes throughout the year. Twice a week we provide our library to a local, retired teacher, who gives English lessons to Ukrainian refugees who are resident in our village and the surrounding areas. The lessons are free of charge, and we make no charge for the use of the library. We also provide him with any resources required. We ran and facilitated an extremely successful Summer Reading Challenge which involves visiting several local schools to promote the project. We run various children’s events throughout the year. Once a week, we offer free IT Training and support for anyone struggling with phones/tablets and laptops. The library is used weekly by a Music Teacher who has been tutoring a 7-yearold autistic girl – also a local mother is being helped to read and write here,, every week. The new office facility is being used monthly by our local PCSO who holds a surgery on a Saturday.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
Although we are a Community Managed Library, we are acknowledged as part of the statutory provision for the county, which means that we must meet certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as laid down by the library service. We have, for the third year running, met all of these, successfully increasing: - - Our footfall - Book borrowing - General use of the library |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | As above. Our film clubs and coffee mornings have been enhanced by our investment and thus attendance at these has increased significantly with donations to match, |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable. |
Other
Not applicable
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | For this year, we are showing a loss of £13,848.33 on income of £23,040.23. This is due to the strategic decision of the trustees to allow us to spend £18,924 on the old storage area refurbishment/w.c. upgrade from our reserves, as mentioned above. Taking this exceptional item out of the equation, a surplus of £5,076 was made which we consider to have been an excellent result Our reserves stand at £19,980 and we have a further and final allocation of Section 106 monies due, amounting to £6,200 approximately. Our financial position is strong, and we remain cash generative. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Charity’s policy for reserves is that these will be reinvested to improve and enhance our amenities. This year we have undertaken our major project already referred to and additionally have: - - Installed internal and external CCTV - Upgraded our streaming capability During the next 12 months, we aim to have air conditioning and more effective heating installed. A quote has been accepted and we await the sign off by the local Unitary Authority. We are currently also, undertaking a feasibility study for the external redecoration of the library and refurbishment of the entrance canopy. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £19,980 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The charity is properly constituted, well supported by Earls Barton Parish Council, and has no issues about continuing as a going concern |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Any revenue raised by library services, remain with the Charity. Our main income streams are generated through hiring of space and related activities. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | We look to protect our reserves by switching funds to interest bearing accounts. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Our principal risk is our reliance on the continued health and welfare of our Senior Managers. This has been highlighted twice during the 12-month period and included the tragic loss of one of these. Another risk is our ability to continue to recruit and retain volunteers. Additionally, we rely on the services provided by the Unitary Authority who run the library service across both North and West Northamptonshire. A planned disaggregation of this service causes some concern. |
| Other | Not applicable |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
Not applicable | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | We try to have a mix of trustees from different elements of the local community i.e. Teacher and Governor of local school, Parish Councillors, Library Volunteers, Local Magazine Editor, Financial and Health & Safety Experts. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
Trustees’ induction documents sent to all trustees |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Not applicable |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Earls Barton Parish Council are the formal leaseholders under a 25-year lease. We continue to work with them in at all times. |
| Other | Not applicable |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Earls Barton Library & Community Centre |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1184350 |
| Charity’s principal address | Earls Barton Library & Community Centre 27 Broad Street Earls Barton Northamptonshire NN6 0ND |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geoff Adams | Chairman | |||
| Robert Watts | Treasurer | |||
| Carolyn Palôt-Watts | Secretary | |||
| Pollyanna Hadman | ||||
| Peter Morrall | ||||
| Claire Poole | ||||
| Iona Flanagan | ||||
| Stephen Watkins | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets NIL held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Carolyn Lesley Palôt-Watts
Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc)
Date
24 July 2024
EARLS BARTON LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT - 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
| INCOME | EXPENDITURE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actvites (Ukulele, M-J, Knit & Natter, Scrabble) | £2,479.75 | Sundry Purchases (cash + non-cash payments) | £5,164.67 | |||
| Sales (Cards, Books, Shop, Jigsaws) | £1,200.88 | CCTV Equipment (£438.75 + £571.96 + £226.50) | £1,237.21 | |||
| Fines | £359.95 | EBTB Author Costs (cash and non-cash) | £545.75 | |||
| Printng/Copying | £183.45 | Service Contracts | £6,947.63 | |||
| General Donatons | £1,849.29 | Walker Fire UK Limited | £133.50 | |||
| Friends Donatons | £86.00 | Saxon Blinds | £0.00 | |||
| £6,159.32 | Scorpion Security | £84.00 | ||||
| Other Income Lines | Wellingborough Doors | £205.20 | ||||
| Author Events | £1,056.60 | Virgin Media | £561.60 | |||
| CofeeMornings/Craf events | £1,375.00 | £984.30 | ||||
| Film Club | £1,612.00 | Cleaning | £1,224.00 | |||
| Quiz Night | £561.00 | Design and Printng - (£231+ £223.20+ £212) | £666.20 | |||
| Book Sales - Zift/World of Books | £421.77 | Licences (MPLC & PPL/PRS and Zoom) | £748.45 | |||
| Amazon Smile | £7.49 | Bank Charges | £101.08 | |||
| Sumup Card Reader Charges | £54.83 | |||||
| Room Hire | £8,506.75 | Secton 106 expenditure (held over from last year). | £7,238.07 | |||
| Cooperatve Community Grant | £2,401.02 | Planned Project Expenditure (Int. Room/WC upgrade) | £18,924.00 | |||
| Bank Interest Received | £305.45 | Sub-total | £36,888.56 | |||
| Final balance of Secton 106 Funding | £633.83 | Surplus/Loss Carried down | -£13,848.33 | |||
| £23,040.23 | £23,040.23 | |||||
| Bank Balance - 1 April 2023 | £1,106.79 | Bank Balance -31 March 2024 | £794.38 | |||
| Business Money Manager Account - 1 April 23 | £24,344.93 | Business Money Manager Account - 31 | March 2024 | £10,623.96 | ||
| CAF 60 Day Notce Account. Shawbrook Bank 1 | April 23 | £8,000.00 | CAF 60 Day Notce A/c. Shawbrook Bank - 31 March 2024 | £8,038.42 | ||
| Cash held at 1 April 2023 | £377.17 | Cash held at 31 March 2024 | £523.80 | |||
| Surplus/Loss brought down | -£13,848.33 | |||||
| £19,980.56 | £19,980.56 | |||||
| BOB WATTS | ||||||
| ………………………………….................................... Treasurer |
DAVID GRIFFITHS …......................................................... |
DATE 5-Apr-24 DATE