Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 5 April 2022
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document
‘To promote the voluntary sector for the benefit of the public in particular but not exclusively by the provision of accommodation, advice, information and support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations principally but not exclusively in the local government areas of Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent and their environs so as to enable them to pursue or contribute to any charitable purpose.’
The Friends are also mindful of their strategic aims (included within the business plan):
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To encourage and attract public engagement
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To increase activity within and around the Guildhall
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To promote community/public agency/commercial use of the building to ensure viability
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To promote the history of the Guildhall
Summary of activities in relation to purpose
The building was eventually re-opened to the public in November 2021 following the closure due to Covid and also a refit both of the Reception area and the conversion of four open ‘hot desks’ into two offices/interview rooms paid for by the government ‘Town Deal’. Letting out of the interview rooms continues to be the domain of the leaseholder, Support Staffordshire, but the Friends continue to have responsibility for the Reception area alone. This is now a much more versatile space and is being maximised to the full. It has been used for a public planning consultation, as a refreshment area linked to external events, for a Christmas charity stall event and for small exhibitions and the intention is to continue with a diverse range of activities. A number of support organisations are also hiring table space on weekdays to promote their organisation.
The level of public engagement and activity has been increasing steadily since re-opening and it is rapidly becoming a ‘one-stop shop’, an information and advice centre for the public as a whole but primarily for the older generation who find the digitisation of Council services in particular both during and following Covid difficult to cope with. It would be pertinent to add this activity to the list of strategic aims listed above (To provide an information and advice service for the general public) and a) to see if any specific funding pertinent to this task can be obtained and b) to make some adjustment to the charitable objective to highlight this direct involvement with the general public. (N.B. An additional clause was approved by the Charity Commission in September for approval at the 2022 AGM: ‘provision of advice and information to members of the public’.
Organisational structure and trustees
The 2021 AGM was held in the Guildhall in November.
The trustees appointed to serve going forward were as follows:
| Hilary Jones | Appointed May 2018 |
|---|---|
| Cllr Ruth Wright | Appointed May 2018 |
| Chris Malkin | Appointed May 2018 |
| Trevor Miles | Appointed May 2018 * (1) |
| Gill Johnson | Appointed November 2018 |
| Keith Greatbatch | Appointed November 2018 * (1) |
| Alec Wright | Appointed September 2019 |
| David Noble | Appointed September 2019 |
| Anne Becket | Appointed November 2021 |
| Jeremy Lefroy | Appointed November 2021 |
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(1) They had indicated their willingness to stand down but were willing to re-stand and were re-elected.
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(2) Salwa El-Rehab Booth had indicated her intention to resign.
Charity name: Friends of the Guildhall, Newcastle under Lyme
Charity no: 1185531
Registered address: The Guildhall, High Street, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs, ST5 1PW
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