Stutton Community Association (Charity Number 1188188) was first registered as a charity on 26 February 2020. This represented the culmination of a decision by both Stutton Community Hall and Stutton Community Council charities to disband and transfer their assets into the new charity.
It was recognised that there were benefits in pooling our resources and combining our efforts and in doing so create a larger more proactive charity. Importantly the constitutions of the charities stretched back into the 60’s and were no longer fit for purpose. The new charity would also offer a new structure, an incorporated charitable organisation. In the past the trustees of the old charity could become financially liable for the activities of the charity. Good governance and insurance minimises that risk, but under the CIO that financial risk is reduced. We saw that this was an impediment to attracting new trustees and was necessary if we were to achieve our aim to undertake major works to upgrade our hall.
Annual Report Ending 30 September 2022
The objects of Stutton Community Association are broadly to promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Stutton the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
Delivering Social and Recreational Opportunities
In meeting our overall charity’s aims our principal focus is the provision of and maintenance of an accessible Stutton Community Hall. This provides a vital community hub where a range of groups and individuals can engage in a wide range of activities.
Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in providing and promoting a valuable community facility for the village and wider community - to reduce isolation; encourage social inclusion and provide opportunities for improving health and well being for all ages.
Activities to promote health and well being at the hall have included: Pilates classes; Weekly Strength and Balance classes for older people and those with disabilities, regular dance classes for children, weekly Carpet Bowls, and a Saturday morning Boot Camp.
Social events to reduce isolation and promote friendships and informal networks have included: Monthly Coffee Mornings; Suffolk Sight meetings (formerly East Suffolk Blind) that bring people across the local area to Stutton. Two Art Groups meet weekly and a playgroup brings parents, grandparents and young children together. Other than these regular activities, the hall is regularly booked for parties and especially children’s parties.
The community hall is also the location where Monthly Parish Council meetings are held along with the Annual Parish Meeting where groups and societies from the village along with interest members of the public attend.
Our aim has to been to set hire fees that are affordable to the various groups and individuals that hire the hall and to cover our costs of maintaining the building. Our charges
were set in 2006 and have not been increased. In this financial year fees for hiring the hall raised £9,370.
Forty solar panels on the hall roof feed all the in electricity generated in to the community shop, which lies alongside the hall. Income from the electricity generated goes to the community hall. This contributed £1651 covering the period November 2020 to March 2022.
The expenses incurred in running the community hall totalled £7,028. This includes electricity costs, cleaning, water and business rates, waste disposal, fire safety, repairs and insurance. Hall income net of expenses showed an operating surplus of £4,268.
As a charity we also aim to put on events and activities to add to the social and leisure landscape of the village. In addition the events can provide additional sources of income.
The events this year included a spring Bank Holiday Car Boot Sale, 2 Quiz Nights, a Jubilee Dance to Swing Machine, a 16 piece band. This went down really well and they have been rebooked for an event in 2023.
In July we held our first Village Fete. We worked alongside Stutton Primary School PTFA. Opened by Griff Rhys Jones, the event was a real success – especially the BBQ, Bar and Teas and Cakes who were under siege until supplies ran out.
In July the annual open air concert featuring the Puffins Ensemble again was well attended with up to 200 people picnicking in the garden of David and Janet Lock.
Our charity also organises Father Christmas and his helpers deliver presents on Christmas morning. This raised £144 which was given to a local food bank charity.
We run monthly film nights, showing a wide range of newly released films.
A Community Draw has been reintroduced. Over 360 residents have joined the draw and can win monthly prizes. This generated £1246 income for the charity.
These activities, including the community draw raised £5835
Communicating what we do
As part of the Community Draw residents receive a letter setting out broadly what we do and our plans. It is an important way of telling people in the village about the charity and our plans. Roundabout, our village newsletter, is another vital way of spreading the news about our activities. This is produced bi-monthly and always includes articles about our charity.
We spent £138 on printing costs relating to the Village Welcome Pack that is given to new residents which provides detailed information about the village including our charity.
The village web site stuttonvillage.net includes information about our events and details about the hall. Posters and Facebook are other methods used to promote our events.
Our Accounts
Overall the total income for the year totalled £27,693 and Expenditure £14,230. Detailed accounts for the year are attached. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Charity Commission requirements and have been independently verified.
Improving the Community Hall
We had made steps to bring about changes to the Community Hall.
We installed two electric car charging points. Suffolk County Council promoted this at a cost of around £6,000.
A container was put in the hall’s grounds to provide a much needed store to enable a room and shed to be emptied in preparation for future building work.
Over the past two years we have drawn up plans to upgrade the hall and consulted on them. The village’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was in the course of preparation recognised the Community Hall was of vital importance in maintaining a sustainable and active village life. Drawn out of Public Consultation the plan included a specific Community Action no. 15: Improving provision and access to community facilities
“Village organisations will seek opportunities to improve provision and access to community facilities, in particular to update the Community Hall”
On 27 September we secured planning approval for a major upgrade to the community hall. And work was started on preparing grant applications to build an extension to create a second and independent smaller activity space. Architect fees in this period amounted to £1610
Grant Giving
Under the Community Council grants were given to a number of groups to promote social / leisure activities. This activity is included in the aims of Stutton Community Association and a policy was introduced to guide the process of awarding grants. Grants would be given only for projects that would promote the charities objectives. A grant, previously made by the Community Council was given to meet the costs of hall hire for village crafting group. This amounted to £480 in the year
Management
The charity is managed by 5 Trustees who are elected at the Annual General Meeting and who work with other volunteers through a managing committee.
| Trustees | Committee Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Chair William Hewlett | Lisa Taylor(Treasurer) | Alistair Parker |
| Vice-Chair Rosie Stuart Thompson | Adrian and Sarah Gray | AndyWoollard |
| Nick Pavitt | Amanda Mapes | Colin Reilly |
| Ian Flower | Derek Chartres | Fran Flower |
| Roberta Garrad | David Stuart Thompson |
Stutton Community Assoc Income & Expenditure Account Year ended 30 September 2022
| Note Income Hire of hall Elec from solar panels D Donations Power cut compensation Book sales Funding re Cinema Eq Fundraising & Events - Summer Fete Jubilee Swing Band PC Jubilee contribution Puffins concert Prize draw Quiz nights Car boot sales Christmas carols and Santa Car Park - Comm shop rent Stalls etc in car park Parking donations Electric car charging Car park repairs contribution Expenditure Electricity Insurance Water rates Business rates Cleaning & consumables Waste collection A General repairs Fire safety Printing and stationery Sundry expenses B Music licence Architect fees Car park expenses - Electric car bay costs C Car park repairs Payments for events - Share of fete to Stutton PTA Jubilee Swing Band Summer Fete Prize draw winnings and costs Jubilee Fete Donation to FIND Puffins exps Grants made by Comm Council - Craft Group F Neighbourhood plan Surplus/Deficit for period Reserves bf From Stutton Comm Hall From Stutton Comm Council Reserves cf Represented by Cash float Co-op bank account Money Held for Stutton Presents |
Total Funds 9,370 1,651 288 190 86 5,000 3,643 1,763 500 1,741 1,730 369 272 144 100 450 29 17 350 27,693 2,190 1,444 368 84 1,776 12 794 222 43 329 139 1,610 260 - 1,477 1,241 688 484 228 144 65 480 152 14,230 13,463 15,060 - 3,826 32,348 232 34,841 (2,726) 32,348 |
General Fund 9,370 1,651 288 190 86 - 3,643 1,763 500 1,741 1,730 369 272 144 100 450 29 17 - 22,343 2,190 1,444 368 84 1,776 12 794 222 43 329 139 1,610 260 - 1,477 1,241 688 484 228 144 65 - - 13,599 8,744 15,060 - 2,846 26,650 |
Car Park - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 350 350 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 350 - - - 350 |
May to Sept | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pledged Donations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 480 152 632 (632) - - 980 348 Note E |
Cinema Eq - - - - - 5,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,000 - - - 5,000 Restricted Funds |
2021 Total Funds 2,208 - - - 19 - - - - 1,077 - - - - 25 370 - - 350 |
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| 4,049 | ||||||
| 528 9 59 43 470 116 302 0 69 66 141 900 - 1,380 208 - - - - - - - - - |
||||||
| 4,291 | ||||||
| (243) - 15,302 - |
||||||
| 15,060 | ||||||
| 928 | ||||||
| 14,132 | ||||||
| 15,060 | ||||||
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteegl members of On accounts for the year ended Charlty no {if any) Sot out on pages I report to th8 trustees on my examlnallon ofthe accounts olthe abov• charity {kne Twsfi for the year end8d3r>141kn R•sponslbllltles and As th8 tharity trustees of the Trust. you are ro$[SIble for the preparallon ba&1$ of roport of the a¢u)unts in a¢cc*dan¢e wth the wuirements of th8 Charflies Act 20111lhe kr). I report in resp8Ct of my gxamination of the Trust'8 accounts carried out und8r sethon 145 of the 2011 Acl 8nd in c8rrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commt$8ion under sèctlon 14515)Ib) of tho Act. I h8vo complèted my examination. I cx)nfim that no m8tsTial matt8rs have come to my attention (other than that disdosed below'} in connection wth the ex8mln8tson which gNes m& cause to beli6vo that in, any ma18rial r8specl." 8ccounUng recwd8 wwe not kept In att(dence with section 130 of the Act or the acctsunts do not accord wlth accountlng records I havo no concgms and have come 8ty0ss no other matters in connectlon with thè examinalion lo which 8ttentson should bg drawn in order to 8nabla a roper undelandIng of the accounts lo be reached. se delet& the words in Ihe br8cknfs rflhey do not apply. Indopendant examlnor's 8tat8mont Slgned: Date: Name: Relevant prof8S8lonal qualillcatlon(s} or body (If any): Address: IER October 2018