ASHBOURNE & DISTRICT U3A
Reg. Charity No 1190748
TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Introducton
Ashbourne & District u3a (AU3A) was established in 2018 and is registered with the Charity Commission (Reg’d No 1190748). It is a ‘local’ charity operating in the Ashbourne & District area of Derbyshire & Staffordshire and a part of the u3a movement in the UK.
Founded in 1982, the u3a movement encourages people no longer in full-time work to come together and enjoy learning in subjects of interest to them or undertake personal development through such activities as arts & crafts and recreational sports, pastimes & other activities. Its guiding principles are to promote informal interest and recreational groups covering a wide range of topics and activities as chosen by their members. There is no minimum age but there is a focus on people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family. The u3a movement is self-funded and members do not work towards qualifications but learn or undertake activities purely for pleasure.
The Third Age Trust (which is itself a registered charity with Reg’d No 288007) is the body which leads the u3a movement in the UK. More information about the u3a movement and the Third Age Trust can be found at htps://www.u3a.org.uk. As at the present date, there are over u3a 400,000 members across over 1000 local u3as.
AU3A is one such local u3a. It is affiliated to the Third Age Trust but is a separate, independent charity.
Consttuton, trustees and correspondence address
AU3A’s constitution follows the model form of constitution for local u3as agreed between the Third Age Trust and the Charity Commission. It sets out the purposes of AU3A and contains provisions for the appointment of AU3A’s trustees and their term of office, annual general meetings and general management and administration.
The trustees of the AU3A are appointed by election of the members at its annual general meeting or (for interim vacancies) co-opted in accordance with the terms of its constitution.
During the year ended 31[st] December 2023 the following persons acted as the trustees of AU3A:
| S M Crawley (Chair) | J Dodd (appointed 31/3/2023) |
|---|---|
| P A Faulkner (Vice Chair) | S E Hall |
| S Edmonds (Treasurer) | M Hall (appointed 5/9/2023) |
| A Keizer (Secretary) | M Lund |
| K Barclay | J C Watson |
| P Boura | A Walden |
AU3A TAR 2023 Page 1
With the exception of K Barclay, M Lund and A Walden (who have retired as trustees), as at the date of this Report, the above-named persons have continued as the trustees of AU3A, together with A P Cree and M E Hoof (who were elected as trustees on 5/4/2024).
The correspondence address of AU3A is:
High Croft, Hall Lane Middle Mayfield ASHBOURNE Derbyshire DE6 2JU
AU3A has a website at htps://ashbourne.u3asite.uk .
Objects of AU3A
The objects of AU3A are set out in its constitution as follows: the advancement of education and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full-time work by all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Ashbourne and its and the villages and settlements on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border.
There are no qualifications required to become a member and there are no limitations on membership. The annual cost of membership is modest (currently £13 per annum). A portion of this membership fee is passed to the Third Age Trust for the provision of such matters as insurance cover, IT support and other ‘central’ services.
AU3A has over 550 members and more than 40 groups covering a wide range of interests and activities including: Art - Painting for Pleasure, Art Appreciation, Board Games, Book Group, Bridge, Canasta, Chatter, Chess, Choir, Cinebowl, Creative Writing, Current Affairs, Family History, French, German, German Conversation, Guitar, Jigsaw Exchange, Mindfulness, Quiz, Recreational Painting, Supper Club, Ukele, Weekend Lunch Group, Craft, Disco & Social, Gardens, Golf, Landscape & Heritage, Line Dancing, Natural History, Pentaque x 2, Photography, Qigong, Science & Engineering, Theatre Visits, Travel, Wine Appreciation, Yoga, Badminton, Cycling, Hiking, Pickleball, Strollers, Table Tennis, Walking.
As is evident from this list of interest groups, the activities organised under the auspices of AU3A relate to subject learning in the arts, languages, nature and science, to crafts & other skills, and to recreational sports and pastimes. There is a significant social element to the activities which, in the opinion of the Trustees, is an important aspect to membership of AU3A.
Apart from excursions associated with any particular interest groups, the majority of the activities organised by AU3A members take place in and around Ashbourne in the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border area, either at hired venues, public facilities or members’ own homes. A monthly general meeting (i.e. not connected to any particular interest group) takes place which all members may attend.
AU3A TAR 2023 Page
2
Having regard to the activities undertaken through AU3A, its area of activity and the size and makeup of its membership (and the unrestricted access thereto), the trustees of AU3A consider that AU3A fulfils the requirement of public benefit to maintain its charitable status.
Chair’s Report: achievements and performance
Set out below is the report made by AU3A’s Chair to its recent AGM (April 2024):
“Ashbourne & District u3a continues to be good health and to grow strongly. On 2nd August 2023 Yvonne Peterson became our 500th member, and here’s what she said about it:
‘I only recently joined u3a and was informed today that I was the 500th member, I'm delighted! From the many activities on offer I chose Pickleball. Never played before, everyone has been friendly, helpful, and encouraging. This is just what I needed as I was so nervous. u3a makes a difference in people's lives, promoting health and wellbeing. I wish I'd joined years ago!’
Membership has continued to rise, and as of 22nd February totals more than 570. We’ve grown by almost 20% in each of the past 2 years. With new members come new ideas, and several new groups have resulted recently – Board Games, Yoga, Book group, Pickleball, Golf, Guitar, Wine Appreciation, Supper Club , Weekend Lunch, Mindfulness … that may not be the full list, I apologise to any I’ve omitted. Our Monthly Open Meetings are also going well. The 2 most recent had attendances of well over 100, which is at or around an all-time high. These meetings are an important focus for existing members but also for new and prospective members to come along to find out more about us. But they come at a cost, this year’s room and tech costs have risen more than 30%. Rising membership is a result of our promotional strategy, but it’s awareness rather than recruitment that we target. 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. Not all of them will need u3a in their life, but if they do, they need to know that we’re here and what we do. No
We continue to use the local paper, distribute leaflets in a variety of places around the town, and have an annual exhibition in the library each September. All are important, but it’s social media that is the main driver of growth, primarily Facebook. People of our target age group comprise more than a fifth of Facebook users, so that’s why Facebook is so crucial to our communication plan. It’s also totally free, a huge plus. Our Facebook posts aim to attract viewers who, as a result, find out a bit more about u3a. We post our weekly ‘What’s On’ calendar as well as publicising group activities and events. A good post, one that readers really engage with, can get up to 3 thousand views in a week. Lovely photos are a big draw, they attract viewers which means they may dip into the post and find out a bit more about u3a. We thank all members who take part in providing photos or being in them. Here are a few recent posts to give you a flavour of what we do: 500th member Yvonne and Sheila 2023 Library exhibition, masterminded by John Rawson.
We’ve just been notified that nominations for 2 of our committee for the Ashbourne Mayor’s Award for 2024 have been successful. Mavis Lund and Tony Walden must retire this
AU3A TAR 2023 Page
3
year after a decade’s service. Mavis has volunteered to carry on her IT work for us, but just won’t be on the committee. And many of you will know Tony as the leader of our very successful Science and Engineering group, which he will continue with after the AGM. Congratulations to both of these modest, likeable and hard-working members. We thank you and hope you will continue enjoying u3a for many years to come.
So that’s a brief summary of 2023/24. With luck 2024/25 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 new groups for 2024, 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.”
Accountng, income & expenditure and reserves
The accounts of AU3A in each financial year ending on 31[st] December are prepared on a receipts & payments basis (i.e. non-accrual basis) and receipts and payments pass through bank accounts in AU3A’s name.
In the year ended 31[st] December 2023, the total income of AU3A was £39,273 (2022: £30,429) and its expenditure was £37,194 (2022: £31,420). The bulk of this income and expenditure related to membership fees and the activities of AU3A’s interest groups.
As at 31[st] December 2023, the accumulated assets of AU3A comprised approximately £9,859 held as cash at bank (2022: £7,780). AU3A does not otherwise hold significant reserves of unspent income.
The accounts of AU3A for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 have been subject to independent examination by professional accountants and no matters of concern have been reported thereon.
AU3A does not hold any funds as a custodian trustee.
Report prepared by A P Cree, Trustee
10[th] July 2024
AU3A TAR 2023 Page
4
Ashbourne & District U3A
Statement of Accounts: all accounts
Printed 22nd January 2024 16:50
Income & Expenditure, 1st January - 31st December
| Start year | 2023 | 2022 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | In | Out | In | Out | ||
| -Account Transfers | £21.01 | £21.01 | £1,096.70 | £1,096.70 | ||
| Audit (accounts) | £480.00 | £456.00 | ||||
| Committee/Leaders Meeting | £405.00 | £410.50 | ||||
| Donations | £21.80 | £16.50 | £140.00 | £295.00 | ||
| Expenses Membership | £103.26 | £11.00 | ||||
| Expenses Newsletter | £190.05 | £205.20 | ||||
| Expenses Stamps | £213.07 | £198.00 | ||||
| Expenses Stationery | £160.19 | £105.73 | ||||
| Grants Received | £175.00 | £375.00 | ||||
| Group Art Appreciation | £182.00 | £192.00 | £116.50 | £146.00 | ||
| Group Art Learn to Paint | £1,543.17 | £1,620.92 | £930.00 | £843.64 | ||
| Group Badminton | £2,202.00 | £2,138.53 | £1,284.00 | £1,257.99 | ||
| Group Canasta | £949.00 | £923.08 | £728.00 | £730.12 | ||
| Group Choir | £1,087.50 | £712.47 | £1,543.71 | £1,691.00 | ||
| Group Craft | £284.00 | £298.92 | £187.60 | £172.50 | ||
| Group Creative Writing | £174.50 | £217.90 | ||||
| Group Current Affairs | £378.00 | £354.96 | £223.00 | £216.00 | ||
| Group Disco Dancing | £175.00 | £195.00 | £395.00 | £364.00 | ||
| Group Family History | £90.00 | £74.00 | £42.50 | £46.00 | ||
| Group French | £148.00 | £100.00 | ||||
| Group Garden | £5,061.50 | £4,964.25 | £3,646.49 | £3,518.49 | ||
| Group German Beginners | £4.00 | |||||
| Group German Intermediate | £524.00 | £453.50 | £347.00 | £419.00 | ||
| Group Landscape & Herit. | £1,515.85 | £1,392.45 | £1,643.00 | £1,712.00 | ||
| Group Line Dancing | £624.00 | £624.00 | £599.00 | £597.98 | ||
| Group Music Appreciation | £50.61 | £50.61 | ||||
| Group Photography | £393.00 | £395.00 | £394.00 | £364.50 | ||
| Group Pickleball | £1,285.00 | £1,140.20 | ||||
| Group Qigong | £539.00 | £451.00 | £864.00 | £893.00 | ||
| Group Science & Eng | £2,637.15 | £2,358.80 | £1,213.90 | £1,324.50 | ||
| Group Strollers | £82.00 | £80.00 | £76.50 | £60.00 | ||
| Group Table Tennis | £2,532.00 | £2,125.70 | £2,187.00 | £2,173.69 | ||
| Group Theatre | £6,819.00 | £6,898.00 | £4,191.00 | £4,038.00 | ||
| Group Ukulele | £12.00 | £322.00 | £320.00 | |||
| Group Walking | £778.40 | £778.40 | ||||
| Group Wine Appreciation | £661.58 | £525.35 | ||||
| Group Yoga | £442.00 | £315.00 | ||||
| Groups Support | £14.50 | £14.50 | ||||
| Membership | £6,268.70 | £482.20 | £6,367.50 | £14.00 | ||
| Monthly Meeting | £1,420.65 | £713.00 | ||||
| Monthly Meeting Drinks | £740.75 | £344.00 | ||||
| Monthly Meeting Hall Hire | £1,176.00 | £952.00 | ||||
| Monthly Meeting Speakers | £550.85 | £633.00 | ||||
| Monthly Meeting Xtras Dec | £21.00 | £48.00 | ||||
| Promotions | £140.40 | £1,232.75 | ||||
| Services/Gifts | £123.93 | |||||
| Special Events | £990.00 | £1,035.50 | ||||
| Sundries | £285.40 | |||||
| TAM | £356.40 | £771.16 | £594.18 | |||
| TAT Beacon | £488.00 | £416.00 | ||||
| TAT Capitation | £1,792.00 | £1,524.00 | ||||
| u3a Derbyshire Net | £5.00 | £16.00 | ||||
| Zoom Licence Fee | £25.00 | £42.58 | £143.88 |
Sub-totals £39,272.81 £37,194.15 Brought forward £7,780.46
£30,429.91 £8,770.14
£31,419.59
Sub-totals £39,272.81 Brought forward £7,780.46 |
£37,194.15 £30,429.91 £8,770.14 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Total Balance Sheet Current Float Newsletter Expenses Group Current Groups year end Balance Total |
£9,859.12 £5,477.56 £2,714.92 £1,666.64 £9,859.12 |
£7,780.46 £5,184.43 £21.01 £1,636.59 £938.43 |
| £7,780.46 |
Indep•ndont Examlnafs Roport to tho Tru8t•88 of Ashbourn• & Dl8trlct UnlvernSty of th• Thlrd A I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023. Reiponslbllltlos and basls of Toport As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparallon of the accounts in accOan¢0 wlth th8 requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe Acl.). I report in respect of my examination of the charity'$ accounts cathed out under section 145 of th8 Act arKI In carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions glven by the Charfty Cornm1son under section 145{SXb} of the Acl. Ind•p•ndent oxamln•rfs stsl¢rn•nl I havo completed my examination. I confiTh that no malerlal matte15 have come to my attention h) connrfti with the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material re$pecL accountiryJ records were I1 kept in respect of th8 charity as requlrnd by sedlon 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord wth those records: or the accounts do not ¢omply wth the applicable requlrements concemlng the fo and content of accA)unts set out in the Charitles (Accounts and ReFKsrts) Regulations 2008 other than any requiremgnt that the accounts give a 'true and fair view, which is not a matter cOndered as part of an independent examlnation. I hBV8 no ¢oncems and have com8 across no other matters in connection th the examination to which attentlon should b8 drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslandiTrJ of the accounls lo be reached. Signed: Date: PKF Smith Cts)per Limited, 7 Complon Street, Ashboume. Derfoyshire. DE6 1 BX