2024-10-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 Nov 2023 Period start date To 31 Oct 2024 Period end date

Charity name: The Friends of South Petherton Library

Charity registration number: 1186429

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	For the public benefit, the provision and maintenance of a library in South Petherton. To promote for the residents the provision of a public library for recreation and /or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the condition of life of the said residents.
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	To campaign actively for the Parish Council to maintain funding for a Community Library. To strive constantly to enhance the services available for residents from the Library. To play a leading role in the acquisition of a Community Hub, to include a larger library better able to meet residents’ needs.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	It is confirmed that all Trustees have signed as having read, understood and given due regard to the Guidance on Public Benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	FOSPL policy is to fund service enhancements up to 66% of annual income averaged over a 3 year period.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38

Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Our 25 volunteers are essential to the successful enhanced operation of the library. Their patience and resilience have been sorely tested by the Unitary Authority’s introduction of a new Library Management System; this new system was inadequately tested and proven prior to introduction, resulting in a hugely frustrating 6 months + where access to the operating system was often either denied or corrupt.
Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	FOSPL has maintained its leading role in the identification and satisfaction of Community needs. Whilst the size and lack of facilities of the current premises makes full participation in the “Warm Space” initiative impossible, the Library has been welcoming with a monthly “coffee and chat” meeting, has been a collection point for the Coat Exchange and more recently has assisted residents in applying for Pension Credit following the loss of the Winter Fuel Allowance. The benefits of such initiatives were recognised by the Parish Council who agreed to extend the lease on the current building for a further 2

		years. For the past 12 months FOSPL Trustees have been key members of the team negotiating with the Methodist Church for the purchase of their redundant building to satisfy the need for a Community Hub. Negotiations are now at a critical stage. The option of declaring it a “Building of Community Importance” remains, albeit matching the Developer’s bid would be challenging but possible. Somerset’s Library Service continues to commend the efforts of the Community Library and its volunteers, especially given the trying circumstances created by the new Management System. As before the Volunteers are the driving force behind the Plant, Produce and Book sales that continue to generate the bulk of new funds.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Donations and the proceeds of the Plant, Produce and Book sales have been the major source of income, supplemented by Authors’ visits, a Laminating service and the sale of cards produced by a local Artist for the benefit of FOSPL. The Village Map, previously produced biennially and a source of significant funds, has not been feasible due to the turbulence in the village retail outlets and businesses.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	With the aim of outfitting a new Library within the Community Hub, FOSPL has continued to build its Reserves which now stand at £3033, an increase of only £33 over the past 12 months which reflects the reduced opportunities to generate income.
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Income for this FY was £2728, against financial position at the end £2507 last year. Expenditure was £2699 of the period against £1946 last year. Major items of expenditure were £634 for Fast Track books, £640 for a Cleaner (previously done by volunteers but increased Library usage demanded a regular service) and £240 for a Thermal camera to loan to residents to identify their home’s heat losses. The Charity’s finances remain healthy with £ 3865

		carried forward.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves are held in part to smooth annual variations in Income and Expenditure, but principally in anticipation of the eventual acquisition of a Community Hub. The failure of the purchase of the Methodist Church would necessitate a complete rethink of the Charity’s aims and Reserves policy.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£ 3033
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 Parish Council’s contracts for the Library premises (with a private Landlord) and Library Services [with Somerset County] expire 31 March 2026. It was envisaged that it would be possible to move into new, larger premises by that date, and the Trustees remain hopeful. Meanwhile Somerset is facing huge financial difficulties such that any contract for future Library Services is likely to be much less generous, to the point of meeting only the minimum statutory service across the County, placing all Community Libraries at significant risk – and threatening FOSPL’s own viability.

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	Plant, Produce and Book sales; Supporters’ donations; a Laminating service; sale of cards; Authors’ visits; Clubs use of the Library [Rummikub, Lego, Stitch & Sew, Book Clubs].
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	The objective of our savings/ Reserves is to safeguard funds raised until such time as a Community Hub becomes available, whereupon these will be used to establish improved Library services in the new venue.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The building lease and Library Management contracts both expire in 2026. The renewal of the latter is threatened by the Somerset Unitary Authority’s desperate financial state. If the new terms are draconian then the Parish Council’s support and FOSPL’s viability are at severe risk.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Foundation Model Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation established 1 July 2019.
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	Election by existing Trustees; re- election of Trustees on completion of term. Efforts to recruit additional, younger Trustees are proving difficult.

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	No new Trustees have been recruited this year. Charity Commission updated guides have been distributed to all Trustees.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The Trustees meet on a monthly basis to address the FOSPL agenda alongside the larger Library Management Group. FOSPL meets with Somerset Libraries quarterly, and also attends Somerset sponsored group meetings of Somerset Community Libraries.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Friends of South Petherton Library
Other name the charity uses	FOSPL
Registered charity number	1186429
Charity’s principal address	44 Compton Road, South Petherton, Somerset TA135EN

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Peter Kidner	Chair
	Mark Freeman	Vice Chair
	Anne Brown	Treasurer
	Biddy Martin	Lead on Community Hub
	Marion Parr	Lead on Local Information Centre
	Anne Tole	Lead on IT
	Michael Callaghan	Health & Safety	1/11/23-20/07/24

– 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 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

N/A

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Mark Freeman Signature(s) Peter Kidner Mark Freeman Full name(s) Peter Kidner Position (eg Secretary, Chair Vice Chair Chair, etc) Date 25 Nov 2024

FOSPL Accounts 1/11/23 to31/10/24

Income From		2022/23	2022/23	2023/24
Donatons		2404.01		1865.43
Charitable Receipts		102.25		830.98
Savings Account interest		1.58		32.36
Total Income (b)		2507.84		2728.77
Expenditure on:
Raising Funds		260		278.17
Charitable Actvites		1686.61		2420.97
Total Expenditure	(c)	1946.61		2699.14
Net Income/Expenditure (b-c)		561.23		29.63
Total Funds Carried Fwd (a+b-c)		3836.25	(a)	3865.88
Funds held:Lloyds	Current Account £831.94; Savings Account £3033.94.
Total £3865.88	Plus £5 Cash Float
A.M. Brown	AMBrown		P.J. Kidner	PJKidner
11/25/2024			11/25/2024
FOSPL Treasurer			FOSPL Deputy Treasurer

Notes on Accounts:

Appendix A summary

Cash donations total £1633.07 Total donations £1633.07 plus Direct to bank £232.36. Total £1865.43 Total Income (Donations + Receipts) £1865.43 + £830.98 + £32.36 Interest. Total £2728.77

Expenditure Raising Funds £278.17 Charitable Activities £2420.97 Total expenditure £2699.14