Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Annual Report for the period From 1[st] April 2021 To 31[st] March 2022
Organisation name: Friends of Beechcroft Library
Charity registration number: 1188953
Objectives and Activities
This annual report has been created following guidance contained in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) issued by the Charity Commission.
| SORP Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Purposes as defined in the Constitution agreed in April 2020: The advancement of education for the public benefit in particular by the provision of library facilities and services for learning, for information, advice and other related library provision for the benefit of the residents and the wider community in Stratton St Margaret and the surrounding areas. |
| 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 |
The main activities undertaken to achieve the aims are: Working with the Library Staff and Stratton Parish to develop the library as a community hub Meeting with Library staff and Parish to agree objectives, approach and activities Promoting the Library via social media, posters, displays, developing a community network Raising funds to support activities, purchasing craft materials, reference books, notice boards, Refreshments Running events and activities such as Basic IT skills, social groups and clubs, childrens’ story time, developing/ displaying Stratton History Archive material, organising regular events |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees assess each of their activities with regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP Ref. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | The Friends do not currently give grants to individuals or other organisations |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The Friends do not currently undertake any social investments |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | There are no employees, all the Trustees are volunteers. Library Volunteers are engaged by the Parish rather than the Friends but are supported and encouraged by the Friends. Their contribution is vital in enabling the Library and the Friends to undertake the numerous activities and groups which take place (when not under COVID restrictions) |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Achievements and Performance
| SORP Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Unfortunately the Library was closed to groups and activities due to the coronavirus pandemic from the start of our reporting year until September 2021. Groups and activities restarted in September 2021 but unfortunately had to be temporarily suspended again due to Omicron in December 2021 and January 2022. In February 2022 we restarted all our groups and activities. Confidence among our service users started to improve and by the end of March 2022 attendance was increasing towards pre-pandemic levels. We held two successful Coffee mornings in September and March which raised £550 and £300 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the British Liver Trust respectively. We have been working with the Parish Council to develop a Home Delivery Book Service for local residents who are housebound and have difficulty accessing the library. This will run as a pilot scheme initially for 3 months to assess demand and the resources required to roll the service out more widely Our thanks go to all the staff, the volunteers and Stratton St Margaret Parish Council who have supported the Library over the last year in very difficult circumstances. |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP Ref. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We aim to provide opportunities to improve health and well-being, to develop community engagement, and to improve skills and training. Objective 1 - To improve health and well being The Friends encourage and support volunteers of all ages and abilities alongside the library staff We work closely with Stratton Advice Point to provide a local Welfare benefits service We have been developing a pilot home delivery service for local housebound residents. We run groups such as Friendship, art, Lego, chess, scrabble, etc to provide users with the opportunities to socialise and reduce isolation Objective 2 - To encourage community engagement and cohesion The Friends maintain a Facebook business page to improve our visibility, engage with residents and widen the reach of the library. We support Wiltshire Building Records Archivist to develop an archive of local historical material. We are developing links with other local organisations such as churches and schools. We are active members of the Swindon Trustee Network, the Swindon Connecting People Network and The Swindon Seniors Forum. We have recruited additional Trustees this year with links to other local organisations in order to strengthen our community links. Objective 3 - To improve economic growth, employment, training and skills We are members of the On-line Centres Network which aims to improve digital inclusion. We are members of the Good Thing Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Network We run weekly Digital Drop-in sessions We have purchased additional learning resources such as children’s reference books to tie in with the national curriculum We have purchased self-help and well-being books for adults. Objective 4 - To reduce the cost impact on the Parish of running the community library As a registered charity we are in a strong position to apply for grants to support the work of the library. |
| Performance of fundraising | Para 1.41 | Our fundraising exceeded our objectives this year |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
| activities against objectives set |
due to the generous grant from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council. We applied for £500 and were awarded £1000. We also received £361 in donations during the year. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| SORP Ref. | ||
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | During the year to 31st March 2022, we have received grant of £1000 from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council and donations totalling £361. We have spent £1086.22 on purchases for the library, including new books and equipment. Our net worth as at 31 March 2022 was £1756.59, (£1753.85 in the Co-op Bank and £2.92 in cash). |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our Reserves Policy states that we will only hold reserve funds if we have formal financial commitments.. As we now have Public Liability Insurance premiums going forward we will ensure that we have sufficient funds to cover the premium. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Sufficient to cover Public Liability Insurance Premium (currently £165) |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | We are dependent on the continued existence of Beechcroft Library. There is little chance that the Library would close in the near future as it is a popular resource for the parish. |
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 | We have received £1000 in grants this year from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council We have received £361 in donations |
|---|---|---|
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | There was a possibility that the library would relocate away from Beechcroft Rd resulting in a fall in visitors, which in turn could lead to questions about its viability. The Parish Council have now decided that the Library will remain in its current location, due largely to the feedback from users. We experienced a decline in library use due to the impact of the pandemic. However, since February we have seen an increase in attendance as service users recover their confidence Over-reliance on a few individuals. Additional trustees have been recruited to mitigate this risk. |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Structure, Governance and Management
| SORP Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document | Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation following the Foundation model |
| 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 | The existing Trustees can select new Trustees as required following the procedure described in the next section. |
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 |
Recruitment of Trustees for the Friends should be in line with the guidance given below: There is a written job description / person specification for the post If a trustee wishes to volunteer for the Library they should complete a Parish Council volunteer application form and the Parish Recruitment policies be followed A suitable induction programme is provided The applicant has been given a copy of the Safeguarding Policy and knows how to report concerns. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a written constitution. Not affiliated to any wider network although we attend meetings of the Swindon Trustee Network |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | We work closely with Stratton St Margaret Parish Council who run Beechcroft Library |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Friends of Beechcroft Library |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1188953 |
| Charity’s principal address | 188 Beechcroft Road, Swindon, SN2 7QQ |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LesleyHemingway | Chair | |||
| Richard Hemingway | Treasurer | |||
| Indra Robson | Secretary | |||
| Lynette Dodson | ||||
| GregBrowne | ||||
| Clive Carter | ||||
| Linda O’Kane | From Oct 2021 | |||
| Katie Gould | Until Jan 2022 | |||
| Nigel Chalk | From Feb 2022 | |||
| Anne Chalk | From Feb 2022 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year N/A
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets Not applicable held in this capacity Name and objects of the Not applicable charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Not applicable safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
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Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
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