Chair’s Report 2022-2023
This past 12 months has been characterised by consolidation and growth for Ashbourne & District u3a. We’re in good health and continue to grow strongly.
Our monthly open meetings are getting back to the numbers they used to attract pre-pandemic and continue to be an important focus for existing members as well as for new and prospective members to come along to find out more about us.
Our membership has increased from 415 last March to 489 as of 10th March 2023. That’s quite some change and is likely to be a result of people beginning to be more confident to engage in social activities again as the pandemic continues to decline in its effect on everyday life, and the committee’s continued focus on building awareness of u3a in and around Ashbourne.
Our aim is to ensure that local people in or about to enter their 3rd age are aware that there is a u3a in Ashbourne, that they know something about what we offer and how to get in touch. The 3rd age isn’t defined by age so much as a stage of life: it’s when family and / or work no longer occupy every waking hour of the day.
We continue to use the local paper to publicise what we do to a wider audience locally.
Our social media presence has continued to grow on Facebook where we feature our various groups and what’s going on. The post on the right is typical of how we use it.
We also distribute leaflets in a variety of places around the town – in the leisure centre, estate agents, the library, supermarket notice boards, etc.
Notable events during the year included planting a tree in the park to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee, very poignant given Her Majesty’s death just a few months later.
Garden Group continues to care for the tree and the flower bed in the park using a small budget for bulbs and plants to keep it looking good - thank you to them for doing this.
The most significant county-wide activity was a 17-stage circular Baton Relay, taking in all of Derbyshire’s u3as.
Ashbourne, represented by members of the Walking and Hiking groups, took over the baton from Belper and handed it on to Wirksworth the following day. Worth saying that our walkers had some of the worst weather of the entire relay, but they made it in style.
It was the 40[th] anniversary of u3a in the UK in September 2022.
Derbyshire u3as got together to undertake a programme of publicity and shared events throughout the year to mark it. There was an article in Derbyshire Life, and activities including a series of ‘Walks and Talks’, one of which was by our own Geoff Cole in Ashbourne.
So that’s a brief summary of 2022/23. With luck 2023/24 should continue on the current trajectory. I hope you continue to enjoy u3a and that our various meetings and groups continue to thrive. Already we have ideas for 3 new groups for 2023, all suggested by members.
U3a is a co-operative organisation run by its members for its members. The committee and group leaders contribute their time and effort for free, and we thank them all for it.
Sheila Crawley, Chair
Ashbourne & District U3A Statement of Accounts: all accounts
Printed 21st October 2023 16:10
Income & Expenditure, 1st January - 31st December
| Start year Category -Account Transfers Audit (accounts) Committee/Leaders Meeting Donations Expenses Membership Expenses Newsletter Expenses Stamps Expenses Stationery Grants Received Group Art Appreciation Group Art Learn to Paint Group Badminton Group Canasta Group Choir Group Craft Group Creative Writing Group Current Affairs Group Disco Dancing Group Family History Group Garden Group German Beginners Group German Intermediate Group Landscape & Herit. Group Line Dancing Group Music Appreciation Group Photography Group Qigong Group Science & Eng Group Strollers Group Table Tennis Group Theatre Group Ukulele Group Walking Membership Monthly Meeting Monthly Meeting Drinks Monthly Meeting Hall Hire Monthly Meeting Speakers Monthly Meeting Xtras Dec Promotions Services/Gifts Sundries TAM TAT Beacon TAT Capitation u3a Derbyshire Net Zoom Licence Fee Sub-totals Brought forward |
2022 In £1,096.70 £140.00 £175.00 £116.50 £930.00 £1,284.00 £728.00 £1,543.71 £187.60 £174.50 £223.00 £395.00 £42.50 £3,646.49 £347.00 £1,643.00 £599.00 £50.61 £394.00 £864.00 £1,213.90 £76.50 £2,187.00 £4,191.00 £322.00 £778.40 £6,367.50 £713.00 £30,429.91 £8,770.14 |
Out £1,096.70 £456.00 £410.50 £295.00 £11.00 £205.20 £198.00 £105.73 £375.00 £146.00 £843.64 £1,257.99 £730.12 £1,691.00 £172.50 £217.90 £216.00 £364.00 £46.00 £3,518.49 £4.00 £419.00 £1,712.00 £597.98 £50.61 £364.50 £893.00 £1,324.50 £60.00 £2,173.69 £4,038.00 £320.00 £778.40 £14.00 £344.00 £952.00 £633.00 £48.00 £1,232.75 £123.93 £285.40 £594.18 £416.00 £1,524.00 £16.00 £143.88 |
|---|---|---|
| £31,419.59 |
Total
£7,780.46
| Balance Sheet Current Float Newsletter Expenses Group Current Groups year end Balance Total |
£5,184.43 £21.01 £1,636.59 £938.43 |
|---|---|
| £7,780.46 |
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Ashbourne & District University of the Third Age
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 27 February 2023
B J Montgomery FCA
PKF Smith Cooper Limited, 7 Compton Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1BX