NCS AGM September 2022
Chairman’s Report
Our AGM this year occurs at a time of significant sadness for us all, the passing of our sovereign, Queen Elizabeth 11 is a notable point in our countries history so I would like to begin with a minute’s silence.
Long Live King Charles 111
I would ask that we conduct ourselves in a manner fit for this time of mourning.
Last year at our AGM we were just starting to consider reopening the Shed following the Corona virus Pandemic. This we did in October 2021 on a limited basis gradually returning, over a period. From that time the Shed has got back to its previous busy routine.
Mending and making began again and the workshop returned to its usual hive of convivial social enterprise.
In November we were visited by Stuart Timmiss, Executive Director of Place Economy and Environment, West Northants Council. A result of which we were able to visit potential buildings owned by WNC which we might occupy.
2022 started with such promise of new surrounding and opportunities, manty people put in a lot of work to prepare a business plan for submission to WNC advocating that we make use of Walker House, Moulton Park.
Whilst this has not moved forward as yet, nor has it been declined. As we speak WNC is examining a submission regarding voluntary and community use of council property. We will continue to campaign to influence councillors and MPs that our charity could make good use of this empty property.
That said we must continue to research and evaluate all opportunities just as we did with the Ironstone Railway Trust
property on East Hunsbury. Trustees and members responded promptly to meet and engage with NIRT members in order to properly discuss their offer and to look at all the difficulties present.
Whilst we were not able to come to any agreement going forward this option still sits as an opportunity if NIRT should alter its views on the lease.
So whilst we may have hoped that a move was imminent at the beginning of the year we should not loose sight of the work we have put in place to continue the progress of our Shed.
I know that our charity holds a place in the minds of key people within West Northants Council, and has been noticed within the Voluntary Sector, particularly those involved with Social Prescription, Age UK and Northamptonshire Carers Association. Officers from each have taken time to write to SNC in support of our objectives.
As some of us seek to drive the charity forward, others are tackling jobs large and small in the workshop. Both as important as each offer. People continue to be industrious in collecting and sorting old tools and items donated to us, or creating artifacts for sale at Fairs and Fetes. Both bringing money into our charity so that we can grow and expand when the time is right.
Membership of has continued at around 40 members until recently when the Trustees felt we could allow that number to grow to 50. In June we elected more Stewards to accommodate this.
We have produced many useful and interesting projects for the community and for members. Applications for membership are however regularly turned down because the Shed’s space is limited. Our landlords, Spencer Contact, have been generous in helping us to use the space to good effect and we have
partnered with them on many successful projects. I will mention these again later.
Last summer we grew our presence at the Moulton Allotment when our own shed appeared, and our presence there grows each year (no pun intended). Moulton allotment goes from strength to strength with new raised beds, a lovely wildlife pond (small but perfectly formed), and pathways between the vegetable beds. We have a beautiful new gate thank you to Derek Thorndike and a sign on the shed (trespassers will be composted), thank you to Bill. We have had a good crop of raspberries, blackberries, Swiss chard and courgettes.
Kevin is the driving force there; he knows everything gets involved bringing our members along with him.
The coffee morning at plot 21 is well attended by those referred by Moulton Surgery, and our own NCS members.
There is an opportunity for this to expand and for NCS to be more involved. We have offered us the plot which sits behind Plot 21, so back-to-back with it. The idea is that we would add a shed and paving to create a patio. There are trees and a parking area at the far end. Paving will be supplied by Jan, a shed has been offered by Noel for free.
The cost to us is £14 plot fee, and physical effort to lay slabs and erect the shed.
We would need a member to run the session each week, this would need to be on a rota. Kevin, Christine, Alan and I attend regularly and could each take a turn to coordinate, make drinks and collect monies (for biscuits, tea, coffee and milk).
This is a place to meet, chat, arrange other activities, exchange vegetables, mix, mingle and attract new members.
Some of the attendees are people referred via Moulton Surgery we need to be clear how referrals are made and be aware of any risks.
The visitors from Little Houghton attended and enjoyed it. They may well attend every week and bring others with them.
As ever, we rely on the efforts of members to sustain and develop the Shed. None receive any payment. I want to thank the Team Members, Stewards, Trustees and other appointed members who work with the rest of us to keep the show on the road and grow the Shed’s facilities and membership.
In particular our Shed Team voted in in July need special mention…..
Alan Goodacre - Sales & Donations Team Leader.
Responsible for - Arranging sales and donations of tools and materials
donated to the Shed.
Bill Gill - Events Team Leader.
Responsible for arranging for stalls at local events for sales/publicity etc.
Derek Thorndike - Quartermaster.
Responsible for the orderly storage of tools, materials, and donated
items.
Keith Westhead - Clerk, Shed Team.
Responsible for Shed Team correspondence/records etc, including
inquiries. More about Keith later…….
Kevin Line - Safety Officer.
Responsible for overall H&S within Shed, H&S Reports, H&S Training,
etc.
Teresa Leadbetter - Welfare Officer
Responsible for assisting with the general welfare of our Shed members
The list of work and activities is endless and grows each year, however it’s the people like those I have mentioned above that make this happen and make the Shed what it is.
Linzi outlined it beautifully at a recent Trustees meeting, the Shed is a community, a social community, one that looks after its members like family, looks out for each other, our values are kindness and togetherness.
Whatever building or place we convene in these values will remain, however I know the guys would like a bigger workshop so they can fit in all their machines and toys.
I remain committed to making that happen.
Philip Osborne
Acting Chair of Northampton Community Sheds.
| UnrestrictedRestricted | 2022 | 202t | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and Paymentsaccount | Notes | total | total | |
| E | t | f | ||
| Receipts | ||||
| Grant-West NorthamptonshireCouncil | 1,625.00 | |||
| LocalGiving | 274.74 | 274.74 | 234.75 | |
| Donations& membersubsrciptions | 2,996.90 | 2,896.90 | ||
| Rentrefunded for2O2O | 900.00 | |||
| Totalreceiptsfor the year | 3,L7L.64 | 3,171.64 | 2,759.75 | |
| Payments | ||||
| Rent | 4,034.00 | 4,034.00 | 720.00 | |
| lnsurance | 44s.38 | It45.38 | 221.38 | |
| Telephones | 128.88 | 128.88 | 128.88 | |
| LocalGivingmembershipfee | 96.00 | 96.00 | ||
| Professional fees inclwebsitecosts | 420.OO | 420.OO | 75.00 | |
| Organisedtrips | 90.00 | 90.00 | ||
| Moulton Allotments rental | 14.0; | |||
| Overpaidmember subscription | 70.00 | |||
| Total payments for the year | 5,214.26- | 5,2L4.26 | L,229.26 | |
| NetReceipts/(Payments) | -2,042.62 | -2,042.62 | 1,530.49 | |
| Cashfundsat 01.09.21 | 22,589.89 | 22,589.89 | 21,059.40 | |
| Cashfunds at 01.09.22 | 20,547.27 | 20,547.27 | 22,589.89 |
| UnrestrictedRestricted | UnrestrictedRestricted | 2022 | 202t | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement ofAssetsand Liabilities | total | total | |||
| f | € | f | |||
| Assets | |||||
| Cashfunds | |||||
| Current Account | 20,547.27 | 20547.2722,589.89 | |||
| 20.547.27 | 20,547.27 | 22,s89.89 | |||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Professional fees(1.Scullion) | -220.00 | ||||
| -220.OO | |||||
| Opening | Closing | ||||
| Balance | lncoming | Outgoing | Balance | ||
| 01.09.21 | ResourcesResources | Transfers | 0L.09.22 | ||
| CharityFunds | f | ff | f | f | |
| UnrestrictedFunds | |||||
| GeneralReserve | 13,957.89 | 3,17L.645,274.26 | 11,9t5.27 | ||
| Designated Fund -newpremises | 8,632.00 | 8,632.00 | |||
| 22,589.89 | 3,171.64 | s,214.26 | 20,547.27 |