## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From April 2024 Period start date To March 2025 Period end date** **Charity name: Buckby Library & Hub** ## **Charity registration number: 1185196** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of the
charity as set out in its governing
document|Para 1.17|Our charitable object focuses on the provision of
educational community resources and activities to
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
public benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17
and 1.19|We provide a range of library services along with
social, cultural and developmental activities for
children and adults. We run book clubs, arts and crafts
sessions, social groups – including a, now online,
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 for 10 months in the year,
and host art exhibitions. In this period, we have also
introduced a number of health and wellness sessions
relating to both physical and mental wellbeing. We
also compile, edit and distribute an on-line and paper
newsletter for the whole community (2000+ copies), as
well as a monthly e-newsletter to signed-up
subscribers. Finally, we offer a refreshments facility for
our visitors and provided a Warm Welcoming Space
through the autumn and winter.| |Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Our trustees have regard to the guidance on public
benefit. Buckby Library & Hub is an amenity open to
the wider public, however our primary customers are
library users, children and their parents and carers,
elderly people and others who might be vulnerable to
social isolation. We have installed a hearing loop
system, a fully wheelchair (and disability scooter)
accessible toilet (and exit to our garden), and
enhanced our baby-change facilities.| ## **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 - 600
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 2024
we have refined and systematized our volunteer
recruitment, induction and development processes
and have supported several volunteers take on
more organizational and coordination
responsibilities. In December 2024 our volunteers
were nominated for the Kings Award for Voluntary
Service (and have subsequently been shortlisted)
| |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 in 2024/25 has focussed more on
developing individual and collective volunteer
capacity development. In the first quarter of 2025
she has started to assume greater responsibility for
the organisation and delivery of 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 2024-25 have been:
i) Successful succession planning among our
volunteer and trustee cadres – replacing very
active and committed volunteers, who had taken
on specialist roles, with equally able and committed
successors, and recruiting two new trustees to
replace those stepping down.
ii) A mammoth fundraising effort to raise the money
needed to enclose the external porch area of the
library to create more usable space, reduce heat
loss and thus our energy consumption and costs,
and to create an additional barrier to reduce the
riskofchildren running out onto a busyroad.| iii) The further evolution and expansion of our income-generation activities by introducing a “Friends” scheme to attract both one-off and regular donations, extending our film season to ten months (from eight), and holding a Promises Auction in September 2024 that raised £2700. iv) In 2024/25 we made a concerted effort to bring more young people into BL&H. We expanded the number of volunteering and work experience opportunities for young people – including those of school age. We also relocated the young adult book section to create a 'cozy corner' for them and asked our Duke of Edinburgh Award student volunteers to draw up a list of new books, which we ordered. We trialled early evening opening one day a week but found that there was little demand so stopped after a few months. Ultimately, we did manage to increase the number of new 16/17-yearold members - although the numbers remain small. v) In June 2024 we hosted an inaugural Chatty Café morning at BL&H, subsequently signing up as a member of the national scheme. This fortnightly opportunity for informal chat and companionship for people who might otherwise be socially isolated has been implemented, facilitated and publicised by a discrete team of BL&H volunteers. The scheme has proved immensely popular – to the extent that we will move to a weekly event from the start of 2026. We have continued to increase the number of activities and events on offer at BL&H with many having a focus on wellbeing – including weekly Wellness Sessions, a pelvic health support group, and physical and mental health integrated services drop-in sessions. We also continued 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 SNVB Community Connect van and the local mobile vaccination van. We have continued to provide an array of “community benefit” activities such as Rhyme times, 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. In 2024/25 we have had a total of over 1000 attendances in our knitting and sewing groups; 300 in our art groups, over 800 at Rhyme times, and nearly 700 walkers meeting at the library. Our fundraising events have included a number of musical and dramatic performances by e.g.James Hornsby, the Cut-a-Caper Band, and our local ukulele band, as well as a late-summer and spring fayres, and a number of talks. We had a Halloween-themed week during October half-term with events and activities for both adults and children. |**Additional information (optional)**
Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements|**Additional information (optional)**
Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements|whererelevant about:|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 (48,000 in 2024-25). We are
pleased and relieved to have recruited two new
trustees and to see a strong pipeline of new
volunteers joining the team and taking on technical
and organisational roles.| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set|Para 1.41||We were delighted by the support given to BL&H
by local individuals and businesses who
contributed “lots” to our highly successful Promises
Auction, and the success of our fundraising
campaign to raise funds to enclose our porch area.
We especially appreciate the additional financial
support for the porch project provided by Long
Buckby Parish Council. We launched our Friends
in summer 2024 scheme, which has been growing
slowly but steadily – and we are finding that just
talking with our customers about the scheme can
generate sizeable one-offdonations.| |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 unrestricted reserves are set to ensure that we
are able to operate core activity for a minimum 12
months.
Our restricted reserves and designated Reserves
relate to our commitment towards salary costs and
towards the porch project which relate to final
monies due in 2025/26
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|At the end of March 2025, we had the following
Reserves
Unrestricted Reserves of £16,635
Restricted Reserves of £32,139
Designated Reserves £31,046
**Total £79,820**| |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 where relevant about: 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|| |---|---|---| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Our main risks are the inability to:
•
Retain and recruit sufficient volunteers to
manage, raise funds for, and deliver services in
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
safe placeforeveryone tovisit.| |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)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant 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 four trustees in place for
the larger part of 2024-25. Two trustees stepped
down during the year and one at the end of the
period and two new trustees were brought in at the
end of March 2025.
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
taskteams that takeresponsibilityforspecific 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
and porch enclosure projects.
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 the local community policingteam.| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Buckby Library & Hub| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |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|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Bridget Arregger|Chair|Until July2024|| ||Joanna Watson|Treasurer|Until March 2025|| ||Jane Rintoul|Secretary||| ||Hazel Johnson|||| ||Maria Summerscale||Until May2024|| ||John Peachey|||| 7 Sir (Robin) Richard Tilt 8 Daniel Rayner 9 |Sir(Robin)Richard Tilt||From March 2025|| |---|---|---|---| |Daniel Rayner|Treasurer|From March 2025|| ||||| 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|| ||02/12/2025|| ||02/12/2025|| REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL ￿ATEmENTs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr MARCH 2025 FOR BUCKBY LIBRARY & HUB Buckby Librdry & Hub Finandal Statements for the year ended 31st Marth 2025 CONTENTS Administratlve Details Trustees Annual Report Statement of Flnanclal Activltles Balance Sheet, Notes to the Flnanclal Statements Buckby Library & Hub Financial Statements forthe year ended 31¥t March 2025 ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAIIS TRUSTEES Bridget Arregger lane Rintoul Daniel Rayner Hazel johnson lohn Peachey Maria Summerscale Slr Richard Tilt Jo Watson Chair- Resigned 3rd July 2024 Secretary Treasurer- appointed 12th March 2025 Resigned 6th May 2024 Appointed 12th March 2025 Treasurer Resigned 12th March 2025 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1185196 ADDRESS Station Road Long Buckby Northamptonshire NN6 7QB Buckby Library & Hub Fln2ncial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025 TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT Responsibllldes of the Trustees The charities trustees are responsible for keeplng proper accounting records which disclose at any time a true and falr vlew 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 a5 the turnover is in excess of £25,000. This has been conducted by Rhoda Thomas Bookkeeplng Services who has stated "I can confim) that I have found no anomalies. and l am confid¢nl in the balances and the inforniation 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 ofthe inhabitants of Long Buckbyand Surrounding areas without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political religtous or any other opinions, by associating together the said inhabitants and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common ¢ffortto advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation leisure time occupatlon 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. Flnance 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 receiptof a fouryeargrant from the National Lottery Community Fund to contribute towards seventy percent ofthe cost of our part-time Manager, Our ongoing highly successful fundraising activities have enabled us to designate funds to finance the remainingthirty percentofthe salary cost. We have continued throughout the year to fundralse for our Porch ProjecL Reserves Pollcy Our target reserve leve15 are set at a level to ensure twelve month5, 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 facilities when needed and the activities and services which benefitour community. We will explore and undertake new initiatives to assure our long-term sustainability The trustees require that: A proportion of reserves are kept in a readily realisable form This policy and the level of reserves is reviewed annually Buckby Library & Hub Maln Achievements duringthe Year We continue to build upon the positive delivery of previous years by successfully maintaining and increasing ouractivities 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 the verysuccessful Promises Evening, We continue to highlight our community presence vla ourwebsite, social media and local newsletters which are regularly updated wlth news of our activities and also provide ah importantlocal resource for village updates, learning opportunities and welfare support. Our bi-monthly Buckby Buzz newsletter continues to flourish, underlining its importance within our community. We furthersupport our communityby hosting drop-in sessions with the local GP surgery, a neurodiversity 5elf-help group and new bi-weekly wellness sessions within the library, Our car park hosts regular visits from the local police Beat Bus, the Northants Association For the Blind vehlcle, the NHS moblle vaccinatlon unlt, and the Age UK donations collection van. In Augustwe launched a Friends Scheme to encourage regular donations from our community with a primary purpose to ralse funds to finance our manager posltlon when the current grant funding concludes, We successfully completed the fundralslng for our prolectto enclose our front porch area which will provide extra secure space for buggies and mobility scooters, book displays and help to keep the main body of the library warmer. The project was completed in May 2025. We are grateful for the following grants received during the year,. The National Lottery Community Fund £10,255 towards the Managersdlary Northamptonshire Community Foundation Rural Communitie5 Nveds Fund £10,000 towards the Porch Project Buckby FeastTrust£2,151,40 for new chalrs and towards the Porch Project > Maud Elkington Charitable Trust £1,500 towards the Porch Project William joseph Haynes Trust£2,000 towards the Porch Prolect The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust£ll,000 towards the Porch Project We are grateful to East Haddon, Ravensthorpe, Watford and Whilton Parish Councils for their donations received during the year and for the pledged funding from Long Buckby Parish Council. These, together with grants, an Amazon donation and monies from reserves, have been designated to the Porch ProjecL We are also verygrateful for the immense support we receive from local individuals and businesses both financially and in kind. Where sizable donations are received we endeavour to designate these to specific projects or our manager position. We are very grateful to our dedicated team of volunteers who assist us across our entire range of activities. Approved by the board of trustees on 23Td July 2025 and signed on its behalfby Buckby Library & Hub Flnancial Statements for the year ended 31sr March 20ZS Notes 2025 2023 INCOME Donations and Grants Grants Indlvldual Donations External Organlsatlon Support Other Charitable Activitie5 Grants Hub Actlvltles Other Tradin8 Artlvities Other 10,255 6,163 3,350 1.331 10,255 5,591 923 1.154 26,651 12,295 19,175 7.918 11.499 15,828 552 Total Income 79,220 53,720 EXPENDITURE Charitable Attlvities OtherTrading Activities 36,139 8.095 37.011 45,186 Totsl Expendlture 44,234 82.197 NEf INCOME 34,986 (28,477) RECONCIUATION OF FUNDS Total funds blf Totsl net Income for the year Total funds c/f 44,834 34,986 79.820 73,311 (28.477) 44,834 Buckby Llbrary & Hub Flnancial Statements for the year ended 315t March 2025 BAiANCE SHEEr Not•s 2025 2024 FIXED ASSErs 3,002 5.279 CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments Cash at Bank and In hand 334 78,080 1,156 41,083 Total Current Ass•ts 78,414 42,239 CURRENT UABILrriES Credltors and Accruals io 1,596 2,684 Total Current Llabllltles 1,596 ASSErs 79￿20 44034 REPRESENTED BY Restrlrted Funds Designated Funds Unrestricted Funds 32,139 31,046 16,635 6,909 21,050 16,875 79,820 44,834 Buckby Library & Hub Financlal Ststements forthe year ended 31* March 2025 NOT&S l. Accounting Policies The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wlth the charities SORP [FRS 1021 Accountlng and Reporttng by Charlties. Fund Accounting Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustee5. Restrlcted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrletions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted and designated purpose5. Grants and Funding All grants received are subjectto agreements and some which limit the specific manner ID which they can be spent. The accounts disclose the receipt of grants from the relevant bodles, the manner in which the grants have been expended and the balance ofany monies unspentatthe accounting date. Z. Grants Received The National Lottery 10,255 3. Donailons General and Gasds Donations Individual Donors & Friends Scheme External Organisational Fundraising Gift Aid receivable on donation5 904 6,163 3,350 427 10844 4. Income from CharItable Aciivldes Grants Library Services Children's Activities Community Newsletter Art Exhibilions Groups Book Sales Other 26.651 1,511 1,198 3,013 1.309 2,648 1.878 738 38,946 5. Income from Other Trading Activities Refreshments Events Retail Sales Other 6,278 11,527 433 937 19,175 Buckby Library & Hub Finandal Ststements forthe year ended 31$t March 2025 6. Expenditure on Charftable Actlvitles Salary Costs Newspapers, newsletter & publications Website, Wifi & Telephone Licences Utilities Repairs & Renewa15 Furniture & Equipment Cleaning & Refuse Art Exhibitions Insurance, Fire & Security Children's Activities Other 13,356 4,955 1,963 410 4,379 1,623 1,722 3,040 693 717 262 3,019 36,139 7. Expenditure on Other Acdvities Refreshments Events & Activities Retail (cards, jewellery) Porch Projert Other 2.239 3,051 176 2,340 289 8,095 8. Staff and Tn￿e 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 relmbursed to trustees durlng the year. 9. Tangible Ffixed 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. Flthres and Fittln C05ta5 at l April 2024 Additions Cost as at 31 March 2025 10,252 10,252 Depreciation a5 at l April 2024 Charge for the year Depreciation as at 31 March 2025 4.974 2.276 7.250 Net Bookvalue as at 31 March 2025 3,002 10. Prepayments Prepayments 334 Buckby Llbrary & Hub Financial Statements forthe year ended 31st March 2025 11.A¢m￿lS & Income In Advance Income in Advance Accruals 175 1,421 1,596 12. Restritted Reserves Grants b/f Grants received Grants used Restricted Reserves clf 6,909 39,156 13,926 31139 l& Designated Reserves Designated Reserves b/f Received, allocated Funds used Designated Reserve5 c/f 21,050 12,785 2.789 31,046 Rhoda Thomas Bool