Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Annual Report for the period From 1[st] April 2022 To 31[st] March 2023
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, children’s 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: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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 |
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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 |
In March 2022 we restarted all our groups and activities after the COVID pandemic. Confidence among our service users started to improve and by the end of March 2023 footfall numbers had increased by 65% and are now exceeding pre- pandemic levels. The library had 19,898 visits between April 2022 and March 2023 The various groups and activities supported by the Friends are all well attended and are going some way to mitigating the loneliness and isolation experienced by some of our residents. Stratton Advice Point has been very busy this year with a campaign to improve take-up of Pension Credit and other under-claimed benefits. The advice point has successfully claimed in the region of £200,000 in welfare benefits for service users during 2022-23. The advice point liaises with the Social Prescribers and Community Navigators to provide benefits advice and support to their service users. We restarted our Tea and Tech digital drop-in sessions in spring and we liaise closely with the Digital Inclusion Officer at Swindon Borough Council. This is an important service as there are very few places in Swindon running digital inclusion sessions for residents. The Friends are also members of the Digital Inclusion Forum within Libraries Connected organisation. We have been trialling a Home Delivery Book Service for local residents who are housebound and have difficulty accessing the library. This is proving more resource intensive than anticipated and we have not rolled it out more widely yet. The Stratton History team has had a busy year with extracts of sales, advertisements, news items, photos and maps from online sources. Two displays were shown at the Stratton Jubilee Festival in the summer of 2022. A new history service was offered to library users in 2023 to provide assistance with Family History research, with eight users having been assisted to date. Since November 2022 we have been running a self service mini ‘café’ for library users, providing hot drinks and biscuits. This is free to users and has supported the library’s registration as a Warm Space over the winter months. We held two successful Coffee mornings in September 2022 and February 2023 which raised £750 and £351 for Macmillan Cancer Support and the Swindon Carer’s Centre respectively. |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
Our thanks go to all the staff, the volunteers and Stratton St Margaret Parish Council who have supported the Library so wonderfully over the last year.
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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 are providing a home delivery book 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 We work closely with the Live Well team within Swindon Borough Council, particularly the Food Partnership Officer, Social Prescribers and Community Navigators Objective 2 - To encourage community engagement and cohesion The Friends maintain a Facebook business page and an up to date website 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. The art department at Kingsdown School provides art work for display in the library We are active members of the Swindon Trustee Network, Swindon Connecting People Network, the Swindon Seniors Forum, and Swindon History Forum. Objective 3 - To improve economic growth, employment, training and skills Active members of the On-line Centres Network and the Good Thing Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Network, Libraries Connected - Digital Inclusion Forum We run weekly Digital Drop-in sessions and are active members of the Get Connected Swindon Forum run by Swindon Borough Council We have purchased additional learning resources such as children’s reference books in line with the national curriculum We have purchased self-help and well-being books for |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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 are providing a home delivery book 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 We work closely with the Live Well team within Swindon Borough Council, particularly the Food Partnership Officer, Social Prescribers and Community Navigators Objective 2 - To encourage community engagement and cohesion The Friends maintain a Facebook business page and an up to date website 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. The art department at Kingsdown School provides art work for display in the library We are active members of the Swindon Trustee Network, Swindon Connecting People Network, the Swindon Seniors Forum, and Swindon History Forum. Objective 3 - To improve economic growth, employment, training and skills Active members of the On-line Centres Network and the Good Thing Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Network, Libraries Connected - Digital Inclusion Forum We run weekly Digital Drop-in sessions and are active members of the Get Connected Swindon Forum run by Swindon Borough Council We have purchased additional learning resources such as children’s reference books in line with the national curriculum We have purchased self-help and well-being books for |
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Friends of Beechcroft Library Annual Report 2021-2022 Charity registration number: 1188953
| adults. Objective 4 - To reduce the cost impact on the Parish of running the community library We work very closely with Stratton St Margaret Parish Council to support the excellent work done by the council in running the library As a registered charity we are in a strong position to apply for grants to support the work of the library. |
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|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
Formal fundraising objectives were not defined other than ensuring that the objectives described in the previous section were supported financially where necessary. Our income raised this year totalled £3096 and our total expenditure was £2250. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 |
Not applicable |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| SORP Ref. |
||
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
Our income for 2022-23 totalled £3,096, comprised of: A generous grant of £1820 from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council £1,157 in donations £119 from the sale of books and cakes We have spent £2250 on purchases for the library, including new books and equipment. Our net worth as at 31 March 2023 was £2603, (£2392 in the Co-op Bank and £211 in cash). Please see the Annual Financial Report for full details. |
| 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 which was £193 in 2022-23. |
| 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. |
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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:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
We have received £1820 in grants this year from Stratton St Margaret Parish Council We have received £1157 in donations |
|---|---|---|
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 |
There are few risks facing the Friends charity and they are all categorised as low, the highest risks are: Over-reliance on a few individuals Maintaining community support Activities where safeguarding risks may arise Dependency on key income sources |
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 |
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 is 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. We are not affiliated to any wider 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 | Charity name | Charity name | Friends of Beechcroft Library | Friends of Beechcroft Library | 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 9 10 |
|||||
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
||
| LesleyHemingway | Chair | ||||
| Richard Hemingway | Treasurer | ||||
| Indra Robson | |||||
| Lynette Dodson | |||||
| GregBrowne | Secretary | ||||
| Clive Carter | |||||
| Linda O’Kane | DeputyChair | ||||
| Nigel Chalk | DeputyTreasurer | ||||
| Anne Chalk |
| Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved | Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved | 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 held in this capacity |
Not applicable | |
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Not applicable | |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Not applicable |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
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