Dulwich & District u3a: trustees’ annual report for year ended 31 March 2023 Our chair since 2020, Angela Brown, moved away in 2022 and stood down at the Annual General Meeting in May. In the absence of any candidate for the post, the
trustees at their next meeting appointed David Beamish to the role, with Tim
Pagan as Vice-Chair. At the AGM Richard Elliott was re-elected as Secretary and Ruth Colvin as Treasurer. Other trustees who stood down at the AGM were Neil Abrahams (Vice-Chair), Helen Graham and Sandra Tait. Newly elected, in addition to Tim Pagan, were Julia Bairstow, Karen Chessell and Christine Hensby.
Continuing as trustees were Keith Ball, Jane Coupe, Caroline Knapp, Helen Robertson, Anne Sharpley and Maggie Smith. Maggie stood down in summer 2022.
During 2021–22, there had been a gradual return to normality following the lockdown and other restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person monthly meetings had resumed in late 2021, with the option of following a live stream on Zoom continuing until July 2022, apart from in April 2022, when we held a social gathering for members at the Francis Peek Centre in Dulwich Park. Since October 2022, meetings have been “in person” only, with numbers attending increasing but not yet up to pre-pandemic levels.
September 2022 saw the 40th anniversary of u3a, and was marked on 21 September by a performance by our ukulele groups in Dulwich Park of 40 songs from 40 years. The London Region of u3as arranged for members from most of their u3as to walk, between them, all sections of the Capital Ring and London LOOP, and on 16 September members of Dulwich & District u3a walked section 4 of the Capital Ring, from Crystal Palace Station to Streatham Common Station.
Most of our interest groups are now fully operational again. Quite a few are continuing to use Zoom as well. A new Directory of interest groups was produced and circulated to members in December 2022.
For in-person meetings, Rosebery Lodge continues to be a valuable facility, and we are grateful to Southwark Council for allowing us to use it and to Diana McInnes for overseeing access to it.
At the end of March 2023, our membership stood at 719, and there were some 90 interest groups. We have survived the pandemic very successfully and continue to be a thriving organisation. Efforts to increase the diversity of our membership are continuing, but understandably word of mouth seems to be the most usual source of new members. Our financial position remains strong, and the trustees have decided to maintain the level of subscription at £15 (lower than the previous subscriptions of £20 in 2019 and £25 before that).
April 2023
Sheet1 Dulwlch & District U3A Summary of Accounts Incom• and Expendltura 1•t Aprll- 31 Mar¢h 2022123 2021122 Income Membership Membership Next Year memTshiP Ovorpaynwits Savings Interest EhnalK)n$ Contra$ fry grou Gift Aid 10133 145 Yo 31 212 138 40 Total 10729 Expondituro Enhancements fcf groups & PrLze8 Sofvare licenceB On meetsng expenses Postage & statnery Pdnbng & d15thtty)n Publiaty Room hSro Rosthry Lodge expensey SubscriPtn l¢apltaltonl Sundnes TAN m4azlnes 35 79 1411 37T 70 150 2918 95 1091 317 2620 45 1863 27¢ 451 152 24 Totsl 113&8 Net Income 437 Fundj brought loard Funds carr forwafd 18271 17834 17508 18271 8•l•nc• Sh••t Curr8nl ac£ounl- Llcyds Current 8e¢ount- Barclay8 Oewsrt account- Lloyds Deposil account- B#*$ Petty Cash 2977 8190 14522 closed 1(1131 Totsl 17834