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2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period Trustees’ Annual Report for the period Trustees’ Annual Report for the period Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From April 2023
 Period start date To March 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Buckby Library & Hub
Charity registration number: 1185196
Objectives and Activities
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the Para 1.17 Our charitable object focuses on the provision of
charity as set out in its governing educational community resources and activities to
document advance education, and to provide facilities for
recreation and leisure in the interests of social
welfare and improving conditions of life for local
residents. We aim to provide a safe, warm and
welcoming public amenity for the people of the
Long Buckby area offering: library services,
community activities and events for adults and
children; and sizeable indoor and outdoor social
spaces for individuals and groups to meet.
Summary of the main activities in
relation to those purposes for the		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 We provide a range of library services along with
social, cultural and developmental activities for
public benefit, in particular, the children and adults. We run book clubs, arts and
activities, projects or services crafts sessions, social groups – including a
identified in the accounts. neurodiversity self-help group and a social group
targeted on isolated or vulnerable adults. We host
musical, theatrical, and educational events
(including talks), show films monthly, and host art
exhibitions. We also compile, edit and distribute an
on-line and paper newsletter for the whole
community. Finally we offer a refreshments facility
for our visitors and provided a Warm Welcoming
Space through the autumn and winter.
Statement confirming whether Para 1.18 Our trustees have regard to the guidance on public
the trustees have had regard to benefit. Buckby Library & Hub is an amenity open
the guidance issued by the to the wider public, however our primary customers
Charity Commission on public are library users, children and their parents and
benefit carers, elderly people and others who might be
vulnerable to social isolation. In summer 2023 we
installed a fully wheelchair (and disability scooter)
accessible toilet (and exit to our garden) and
enhanced ourbaby-changefacilities.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		 where relevant about:
SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 N/A
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 N/A
Contribution made by volunteers Para 1.38 Buckby Library & Hub retains a pool of around fifty
volunteers. Our volunteers invest around 500 hours
per month. Volunteer effort is split across: front-line
library and refreshments service delivery;
facilitating arts & crafts for adults and children,
reading and social groups including rhyme-times;
planning and delivering fundraising and community
benefit events; grounds maintenance; and CIO
administration - including financial delivery and
oversight, and preparing grant applications. In
2023-24 we have been working on a learning and
development plan for our volunteers identifying and
supporting those willing to take on more
organizational and coordination responsibilities in
support of the trustees and management group.
Other In the summer of 2023, we were awarded a
National Lottery grant to provide a 70% contribution
to the salary of our part-time manager until mid-
2027. Having established numerous operational
systems and processes to ensure the effective day-
to-day operations of Buckby Library & Hub, the
manager is now focussing on individual and
collective volunteer capacity development so that –
in time - she can focus more on income generation,
and community benefit activities and events.

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 main achievements in 2023-24 have been:
i) The installation of our wheelchair accessible
toilet (also offering improved baby-change
facilities) and the widening of our rear exit to allow
wheelchair access to our courtyard garden (and a
second fully accessible emergency exit);
ii) the successful award of the National Lottery
grant to help fund the part-time manager’s salary
for four years;
iii) the acquisition of grant-funded blackout blinds
and curtains allowing us to extend our film
programme, which is a useful fundraiser;
iv) The delivery of two extremely well-attended
craft, produce and information fayres – one run in
collaboration with the local communitycentre.

In addition, Buckby Library & Hub has exceeded most of its Community Managed Library Service Level Agreement targets with West Northants Council, and achieved 45,000 visits. We have continued to increase the number of activities and events on offer – including the introduction of a very well-subscribed neurodiversity self-help group meeting on Thursday evenings. We have continued to provide an array of “community benefit” activities such as Rhymetimes, term-time “Stay and Play” sessions and a variety of holiday activities and shows for children. We continue to host numerous craft, walking, social, and reading groups, and produce six editions per year of the local village newsletter. We also continue to host drop-in sessions with the local GPs surgery, the parish council and the West Northants Council customer services team. The local police Beat Bus continues to visit our car park, as do the Northants Association for the Blind, the local mobile vaccination van, and the Age UK donations collection van.

Additional information (optional)

Additional information (optional) Additional information (optional)
Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements whererelevant about:
Achievements against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 The trustees are extremely happy to see Buckby
Library & Hub continue to flourish as a well-
supported community hub, attracting a large
number of visits. We are particularly pleased that
the project to install the wheelchair accessible loo
has been successfully implemented and that we
have secured multi-year funding towards the part-
time manager position.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set		 Para 1.41 Fundraising has again exceeded expectations and
the award of a multi-year National Lottery grant has
been a major boon. Towards the end of 2023-24
we embarked on a new fundraising effort to fund
the enclosure of our front porch area to provide
more space and betterenergy efficiency.
Investment performance against
objectives		 Para 1.41
Other
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial
position at the end of the period		 Para 1.21 We continue to build upon the positive delivery of
previous years by successfully maintaining and
increasing our activities and events.
Together with our fundraising events, donations
from external organisations and individuals have
continued to be significant, highlighting the depth
of support we receive locally.
These, combined with day to day income, have
ensured that we can designate funds to contribute
towards our manager’s salary and finance specific
projects that will ensure our long term
sustainability.
We continue to maintain a level of free reserves to
ensure our reserves policy is met.
Free reserves are calculated by deducting fixed
assets from the unrestricted reserves held at the
year-end.
Statement explaining the policy
for holding reserves stating why
they are held		 Para 1.22 Our target reserve levels are set to ensure twelve
months’ of core activity.
Our restricted reserves relate to the final monies
due in 2024/25 for the WC project, a grant for the
2024/25 Porch project and salary costs.
Our designated reserves relate to our commitment
towards salary costs and our next building project
which is to enclose the front porch area.
We will continue to seek grant income to support
improvements to the building and maintain
activities and services which benefit our
community. We continue to explore and undertake
new initiatives to assure our long-term
sustainability.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 We have the following reserves:
Unrestricted Reserves of £16,875
Restricted Reserves of £6,909
Designated Reserves of £21,050
Total £44,834
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties
about the charity continuing as a
going concern		 Para 1.23
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements
The charity’s principal sources of
funds (including any fundraising)		 Para 1.47
Investment policy and objectives
including any social investment
policy adopted		 Para 1.46
Our main risks are the inability to:
• Retain and recruit sufficient volunteers to
A description of the principal Para 1.46 manage, raise funds for, and deliver services in
risks facing the charity the library and hub, and ensuring we have
adequate numbers, professional skills and
competencies at trustee level to operate the
CIO effectively;
• Recruit capable and committed new trustees as
our remaining trustees move into their final
terms.
• Raise sufficient funds from income-generating
activities and grant-bids to keep the library
operational, build our long-term sustainability,
and continue to fund the part-time manager role
beyond the lifespan of the National Lottery
Grant; and
• Ensure that the library building and grounds are
well-maintained and a pleasant, welcoming and
safeplace for everyone to visit.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts: N/A
Type of governing document
(trust deed,royalcharter)		 Para 1.25 Constitution (signed 20th September 2019)
How is the charity constituted?
(e.g unincorporated association,
CIO)		 Para 1.25 Buckby Library & Hub is constituted as a Charitable
Incorporated Organisation (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 Trustee recruitment is through open competition.
We advertise vacancies on local social media and
noticeboards, and in local newsletters, as well as
explore local networks with the aim of
strengthening our skills base and building greater
diversity in the board. We have also used national
“trusteewebsites”to advertiseroles.

Additional information (optional)

Additional information (optional) Additional information (optional)
Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements whererelevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted
for the induction and training of
trustees		 Para 1.51 All trustees have approved and/or subscribed to the
following policies and procedures:
•
Value for Money
•
Financial Policies and Procedures
•
Privacy and Data Protection
•
Approach to Donors and Donations
•
Conflict of Interest
•
Child and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding
•
Equality and Diversity
•
Complaints, Comments and Compliments
•
Building Security
•
Visitor Conduct
•
Volunteer Grievance
•
Disciplinary
•
Whistleblowing (Aug 2023)
•
Health and Safety Statement
•
Appointment of Trustees
•
Food Safety Principles and Procedures
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider network
with which the charity works		 Para 1.51 Buckby Library & Hub had six trustees in place
during 2023-24. We lost one trustee at the end of
the period.
The Board of Trustees routinely convenes four
times a year to approve annual plans, reports,
budgets and accounts, but trustees also meet more
routinely with the addition of other participants –
including the manager - as the Management
Group. This group supports the manager to deliver
day to day operations and services and leads on
other elements of administration along with
decisions on income-generation activities and
events in accordance with the trustees’ agreed
priorities, policies and procedures. The
Management Group works with working groups or
task teams that take responsibility for specific areas
of work e.g. library infrastructure projects and
fundraising events.
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51 We continue to work closely with the West
Northants libraries and information service,
especially the Community-Managed Library Co-
ordinators.
We are a member of the Northamptonshire
voluntary network of community-managed libraries
known as the 21 GLN group, and in 2023-24
became member of the National Community
Libraries Network, for whom we have been a case
study. We are also currently a member of the
National Council of Voluntary Organisations.
We report monthly to Long Buckby Parish Council
who took on the library building lease on our behalf
from August 2020, and who have additionally
contributed e.g. to our wheelchair accessible toilet
project.
We remain in touch with local churches (especially
in the context of the Warm Spaces initiative), the
local doctors’ surgery, and the local police
community support network, We regularly provide
“van” space for the Northamptonshire Association
for the Blind, the local mobile Vaccinations Team,
and Age UK.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Buckby Library & Hub
Other name the charityuses
Registered charity number 1185196
Charity’s principal address Station Road, Long Buckby, Northampton NN6 7QB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9		 Trustee name Office (if any) Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (if any)		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (if any)
Bridget Arregger Chair
Joanna Watson Treasurer i i
Jane Rintoul Secretary
Hazel Johnson
Maria Summerscale
John Peachey
Shabnam Khademian

– 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 held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for 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)
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
Date
Jane Rintoul


Secretary
18thNovember 2024
18thNovember 2024

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024 FOR BUCKBY LIBRARY & HUB

1

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

CONTENTS
Administrative Details
Trustees Annual Report
Statement of Financial Activities
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Financial Statements		 Page

2
3
6
7
8

2

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

TRUSTEES Bridget Arregger Jane Rintoul Secretary Jo Watson Treasurer Hazel Johnson Maria Summerscale Shabnam Khademian Resigned 31[st] March 2024 John Peachey

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1185196

ADDRESS Station Road Long Buckby Northamptonshire NN6 7QB

3

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Responsibilities of the Trustees

The charities trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose at any time a true and fair view of the charities financial position. The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity maintains an adequate system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance to prevent fraud and other irregularities. The trustees consider that an external examination of the accounts is required in accordance with the Charity Commission CC32 guidance as the turnover is in excess of £25,000. This has been conducted by Rhoda Thomas Bookkeeping Services who has stated “I can confirm that I have found no anomalies, and I am confident in the balances and the information provided.”

Governance

Buckby Library & Hub was registered with the Charity Commission on 5th September 2019. The objects of the charity are to: provide a library facility and service and other educational community resources and activities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Long Buckby and surrounding areas without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political religious or any other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the residents.

The trustees believe that the activities described in this report do deliver in accordance with our charitable objectives.

Finance

Our strategic objectives continue to be to maintain financial sustainability via traditional library services, an expanding social hub, increased events and a venue for hire. We are in receipt of a four year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to contribute towards seventy percent of the cost of our part-time Manager.

Our ongoing highly successful fundraising activities have enabled us to designate funds to finance the remaining thirty percent of the salary cost.

We have continued throughout the year to fundraise for our Porch Project which we hope to complete in 2024/25.

Reserves Policy

Our target reserve levels are set at a level to ensure twelve months’ of core activity. Trustees will continue to monitor and manage spend across the organisation. We will continue to seek grant income to support improvements to the building and the activities and services which benefit our community. We will explore and undertake new initiatives to assure our longterm sustainability

Free reserves are calculated by deducting fixed assets from the unrestricted reserves held at the year-end.

The trustees require that:

4

Buckby Library & Hub

Main Achievements during the Year

We continue to build upon the positive delivery of previous years by successfully maintaining and increasing our activities and events. Hub activities continue to be well supported and are thriving. We continue to welcome volunteer initiatives for new fundraising events and activities, for example two craft, produce and information fayres, one of which was held in collaboration with the local community centre.

Our project to deliver a fully accessible toilet and wheelchair access to our courtyard garden was successfully completed in August and has received very positive feedback. We also replaced old blinds with blackout curtains and blinds so that we could extend our film season and also hold other summer evening events, thus extending income potential.

We continue to highlight our community presence via our website, social media and local newsletters which are regularly updated with news of our activities and also provide an important local resource for village updates, learning opportunities and welfare support. Our bi-monthly Buckby Buzz newsletter has increased in size, underlining its importance within our community.

We further support our community by hosting drop-in sessions with the local GPs surgery, the parish council and the West Northants Council customer services team within the library. Our car park host the local police Beat Bus, the Northants Association for the Blind vehicle, the local mobile vaccination unit, and the Age UK donations collection van.

We are grateful for the following grants and donation received during the year:

We are grateful to Long Buckby Parish Council for the £2,268 contribution towards the accessible WC project. We are also grateful to Watford Parish Council for their £250 donation which we have designated to the Porch Project.

We are also very grateful for the immense support we receive from local individuals and businesses both financially and in kind. Where sizable donations are received we always endeavour to designate these to specific projects. During this year we have been able to designate over £5,000 towards the Porch Project.

We are very grateful to our dedicated team of volunteers who assist across our entire range of activities.

Approved by the board of trustees on 13[th] November 2023 and signed on its behalf by

Hazel Johnson, Trustee

5

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

Notes 2024 2023
£ £
INCOME
Donations and Grants
- Grants 2 10,255 2,000
- Individual Donations 3 5,591 3,080
- External Organisation Support 3 923 12,212
- Other 3 1,154
 864
Charitable Activities
- Grants 4
 7,918 0
- Hub Activities 4 11,499
 8,536
Other Trading Activities 5 15,828
 14,746
Other 5 552
 125
Total Income 53,720
 41,563
EXPENDITURE
Charitable Activities 6 37,011
 28,432
Other Trading Activities 7 45,186
 5,346
Total Expenditure 82,197
33,778
NET INCOME (28,477) 7,785
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds b/f 73,311
 65,526
Total net income for the year (28,477) 7,785
Total funds c/f 44,834
 73,311

6

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

BALANCE SHEET
Notes
FIXED ASSETS
8
CURRENT ASSETS
Prepayments
9
Cash at Bank and in hand
Total Current Assets
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors and Accruals
10
Total Current Liabilities
NET ASSETS

REPRESENTED BY
Restricted Funds
Designated Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 2024
£
5,279

1,156
41,083

42,239

2,684

2,684
44,834

6,909
21,050
16,875
44,834		 2023
£
5,561
750
67,780
74,091
780
780
73,311
36,903
17,730
18,678
44,834 73,311

7

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

NOTES

1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charities SORP [FRS 102] Accounting and Reporting by Charities.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Grants and Funding

All grants received are subject to agreements and some which limit the specific manner in which they can be spent. The accounts disclose the receipt of grants from the relevant bodies, the manner in which the grants have been expended and the balance of any monies unspent at the accounting date.

2. Grants Received

The National Lottery 10,255

  1. Donations
Donations
Library Cash Donations Box

Individual Donors

External Organisational Fundraising

Gift Aid receivable on donations

 991
5,591
923
163
7,668
7,668

4. Income from Charitable Activities

Income from Charitable Activities
Grants
Library Services

Children’s Activities
Community Newsletter
Groups

Other
 7,918
1,206
1,509
3,384
2,662
2,738
19,417
19,417

5. Income from Other Trading Activities

Income from Other Trading Activities
Refreshments 6,800
Events 8,300
Car Park Hires 46
Retail Sales 683
Other 552

8

16,381

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

6. Expenditure on Charitable Activities
Salary Costs

Newspapers, newsletter & publications

Books

Website, Wifi & Telephone

Licences

Utilities

Repairs & Renewals

Cleaning & Refuse

Insurance, Fire & Security

Other


7. Expenditure on Other Activities
Refreshments

Events & Activities

Retail (art, cards, jewellery)

Accessible WC Project

 13,058
4,610
429
1,184
428
4,242
5,953
3,289
502
3,316
37,011
2,486
3,866
554
38,280
45,186

8. Staff and Trustee Costs

The charity employed one member of staff during the year on a part-time basis. Trustees were not remunerated by the charity.

Total expenses of £0 were reimbursed to trustees during the year.

9. Tangible Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are included at cost. Items are capitalised if their cost or, if gifted their donated value, is over £500. Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation over their expected useful economic life.

Fixtures and Fittings
Cost as at 1 April 2023

Additions

Cost as at 31 March 2024

Depreciation as at 1 April 2023

Charge for the year

Depreciation as at 31 March 2024

Net Book Value as at 31 March 2024

Prepayments and Accrued Income
Prepayments

 8,463
1,790
10,253
2,902
2,072
4,974
5,279
1,156

10. Prepayments and Accrued Income

9

  1. Accruals

Accrual relates to reimbursement of costs

2,684

Buckby Library & Hub

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2024

  1. Restricted Reserves Grants b/f 36,903 Grants received 18,173 Grants used 48,167 Restricted Reserves c/f 6,909

  2. Designated Reserves Designated Reserves b/f 17,730 Received, allocated 10,454 Funds used 7,134 Designated Reserves c/f 21,050

10

10[th] December 2024

Dear Jo,

I can confirm that I have reviewed the library accounts, and the bank statements provided.

I can confirm that I have found no anomalies, and I am confident in the balances and the information provided.

Kind Regards

Rhoda Thomas