Pen Selwood Community Association Annual Report 2024 Charity reg no 1186930
The main purpose of our charity is very wide and is described in our governing document as “ to further such exclusively charitable purposes, which are charitable under the law of England and Wales, as the trustees from time to time determine.” This gives us a lot of scope but we must still act within the boundaries set out by the Charity Commission. In truth most of our activities are aimed at fundraising to maintain village amenities, at present: the Bryan Young Community Field and Village Hall. We also have a long tradition of making grants to local and national charities, chosen at the Annual General meeting. As a community association, we strive to meet these fundraising aims by organising/ facilitating activities and services for the residents of Pen that we hope are enjoyable and help to sustain the positive community spirit of our village.
This year our main fundraising was done through a wide variety of activities across the year: “John Peel’s Shed” an entertaining, professional performance in conjunction with Take Art, which is a charity that helps brings performance art into rural locations. Artificial Intelligence - what the Heck is it? A talk about how it was developed and where it is heading. The Tough 10k road race and subsidiary races for U16 ’s that start and end in the village and utilise our wonderful scenery. A summer picnic on the Community Field in June followed in August by our 69th annual fete, where the weather returned to its kinder self and and a record breaking total was raised. An Ian & Ian Quiz night with a tie for 1st place which led to a nail biting tie-break…Closing out the year gave us a murder mystery night with home grown amateur thespian talent posing the clues and evidence and a far less talented group of amateur sleuths (the audience) failing to catch the villain. Lastly we had a return performance by the Stanchester Quire with seasonal songs and readings from the South West. All through the year we have the fortnightly Black Bin cafe and monthly Pen Pub night which form a solid backbone to our other “one off” events. It is timely to remind ourselves that this is your community association and not all events need to be initiated or driven by the PCA committee, the AI talk this year was just one such event. We provide the infrastructure e.g. the hall, field, insurance for the community to make best use of.
All of the above only happen because of the volunteers who help to make them and the villagers (often including friends and family), who attend them. We are very grateful for all your inputs. It is your association so please do carry on. So as well as fostering community spirit, we grossed an amazing £13,384 and a more detailed breakdown of this, the expenses and the grants given from it are shown in our annual accounts, which follow this presentation.
We made significant additions to our assets this year. We bought and installed a shipping container offering much needed additional, secure, dry storage into which we placed 2 new marquee style tents, 1 bought by the PCA and 1 kindly donated. Other things are also being stored and our thanks go to those people who have for years stored bulky items in their sheds/garages/lofts for a number of years until now. It also provides more suitable storage for the amazing quality of “white
elephant” goods as they accumulate for the fete. On a more virtual level, we have agreed to host a new group the “Friends of Moldrams’”, volunteers who are aiming to support and upgrade the nature reserve, co-ordinated by Elizabeth Carter. They will use our banking facility (though accounted for separately). The structure of the PCA will allow them to apply for grants, fundraise etc. If anyone wants to volunteer who hasn’t already made themselves known do contact Elizabeth.
As a committee we have continued to try and progress the more strategic objective that was set out when the PCA was first established back in 2019 - to consolidate the individual charities holding the Community field and Village Hall and any other future assets the village might acquire. This streamlines the management, accounting and reporting requirements and gives greater flexibility to maintenance of the assets according to need. So where are we? The Bryan young community Field trust merged with the PCA on December 31st 2022. At last year’s AGM I reported that all the necessary paperwork and evidence of transfer of ownership of the Community Field had been submitted to The Land Registry in early January 24. By the end of 24 (this accounting period) it had not been completed by them. In 2022 we also agreed with the Village Hall Trustees to merge the Hall with the PCA. The process became more complicated as we were advised to seek an extension of the VH lease before merging, in order to help secure grants and to avoid complications with the Charity Commission. Unfortunately despite great efforts and for reasons none of us are able to fathom the solicitors working (?) for the diocesan seem unable to move beyond glacial speed. An example being that we were informed the new lease was finally ready to sign in November 24. As I write this (mid Feb 25) it has not emerged from the solicitors’ for the signing to take place. All I can say at this stage is that we shall aim (again) to complete the merger, with a new lease, by June 25. My thanks go to Linda Coates who has the unenviable task of being the Diocesan/Parochial Church Council liaison with the Solicitors and has tried her best to move things along and has the scars to show for it, though the PCA trustees have shared her pain.
In mentioning the Trustees it is my opportunity to name and thank them for all their efforts. Meena Ransome our Treasurer, Andrew Jenkins, Parish Council rep and lead for the Community Field, Penny Varnes Chair of the Village Hall Committee and Susan Appleton , Secretary. My thanks also to Rosemary Price who sits on the committee as the PCC rep.I would like to take the opportunity to say that Andrew has led on the Community Field for many, many, years and would dearly love to step down. If anyone here could consider taking this on, or knows someone who might, do please talk to Andrew or me. Your village needs you!
jane Ashman 15/2/25
PEN SELWOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
PCA Accounts
Receipt and Payments Accounts for the 12 months ending 31 December 2024
Receipts Fete £9145 CoOp Deposit Account Interest £235 Donations £550 Fun Run Float Repayment £250 Fun Run £1049 Take Art Tickets £496 Fundraising £360 Total Receipts £12085 Expenses Misc. (Inc. Container + Tent Purchase) £3049 Fete Expenses £2325 Hall Top Up £900 Fun Run Float Payment £250 Projector Purchase £100 Take Art £375 Field: Grasscutting £960 HEW £204 Inspections £287 Repairs £1324 Total Expenses £9774 Grants Church £3250 National & Local Charities: Alzheimers £200 Motor Neurone £200 Air Ambulance £400 MSF £400 Balsam Centre £400 Total Grants £4850
PCA Accounts Receipt and Payments Accounts for the 12 months ending 31 December 2024
Allocated for Donations to Village Allocated for Donations to Local Charity Allocated for Donations to National Charity
Total payments £14624
Balance -£2539 Reserves brought forward £5459 Field Reserves brought Forward -£766 £2046 (designated R&R) Reserves at the end of period £4200
Net Assets
Co-Op Current A/C £3032 CoOp Deposit A/C £33484 Fete Cash £2295 Total Assets Held by PCA £38811
Less Held For Village Trust
Hall £37016
PCA Net Assets £1795 Unrestricted reserves at end of period £1795
Approved and Signed by Jane Ashman Meena Ransome Chair Treasurer