2022-12-31-accounts

West Radnor Community Haven

Treasurers Report for the accounts to 31-12-2022.

This is our second year, and the first full year, we have been in operation.

Covid has gradually abated from a major problem to a (hopefully) diminishing but non the less serious problem.

The methods used to try to control Covid seems to have had unfortunate consequences. It appears that more and more people have become persuaded that it is risky, if not dangerous, to meet strangers in group meetings.

It is difficult to tell just how much this reluctance to meet has impacted on the availability to rent venues. But is true to say that it has not become any easier. During this year we have lost three venues. Whilst it is true that in some instances health paid a part, the lack of people using these facilities is probably the main cause of them no longer being viable.

Even shopping has played its part, with the widespread availability of home delivery, leaving many with no reason to leave home at all.

It is to be hoped that time will see changes in this, particularly as Les and I set up the ‘Haven’ to try to help the alone and lonely to have some reason to join in group meetings, and by doing so help to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

It is astonishing to think that ‘back in the day’ was only 2020, when Les and I recognised that there was a serious problem here and set out to try to address this by the provision of places to meet and simply converse or pursue a hobby with likeminded people. It is frightening to think how many more people could have joined this group and the likely knock-on effect to their mental and physical wellbeing.

This was of course the main objective of the ‘Haven’ before Covid struck, and seems even more relevant today, but no less difficult.

We have had to abandon our attempts to have four separate venues spread around North Radnor and move to two local locations. The first will be Crossgates at which we will now meet three Wednesdays a month. This is in no small part due to their flexibility in providing us with accommodation when other venues became unavailable at short notice. The current wording of their constitution requires that users of their premises are required to attend regular meetings as user members to provide input into their decision making. Both Les and I are happy to do this, whilst avoiding the occasional conflict of interests, between us as Trustees of the Haven and as user members of Crossgates, that may occur from time to time.

By moving to three weekly meetings, against once a month, in one location it will be interesting to see if this has any effect on attendance rates or recruitment.

We are continuing to have a monthly meeting at Builth even though we have been put on notice that the venue could become unavailable due to lack of users overall.

We have also had guest speakers on a number of occasions, with little noticeable effect on attendance. It will be interesting to see if using Crossgates as our main venue will change this, so at this time we will continue with this experiment.

The library has continued to grow, although somewhat slower than last year. We know have some 360 available. Being at Crossgates three times a month could bring up the usage by our members. And as ever we welcome fresh donations of Jigsaws, of whatever age and subject, but preferably complete.

Apart from the seasonality of demand we found last year (less demand in the summer months) we have been made aware that computer awareness is a major inhibitor of library use. Whilst we intend to continue with our online facility, we have been exploring the use of a paper-based system to run alongside it. Currently we are debating whether a purely pictorial view with limited wording (but higher production cost) or an expanded wording with no pictures (and lower production cost) would give the best user result for those that either don’t have or can’t use a computer to access our online library. Members views on this would be welcomed.

We have tried, with limited success (maybe because of clashing with other craft fairs running on the same dates) to run Christmas or Craft fairs. The last one was held at Crossgates and whether because of the ample parking, or the largest number of stall holders, or our greater experience, or all three, we attracted the highest attendance yet, as well as. It is our intention to continue with a spring, autumn, and winter event for the future. All to be held at Crossgates.

Although our expenditure this year was significantly higher than the previous year, this was largely related to grant money being made available in the previous year but not spent until this year. For both our venues we have yet to receive rental costings, but informed estimates put this at around £85.00 per month. Given that both venues will be moving to a monthly charge basis this gives us some leeway in building up our reserves for other expenditure.

For the future we still harbour the aspiration of creating a ‘Makers Space’ where light hobby craft work could be carried out. Given the nature of the work we see being undertaken; light woodwork, painting, or jewellery making for instance, it is our view that few if any venues would wish to accommodate, let alone deal with the noise and mess resulting from these activities. They are likely to require more than one day a week access for the hobbyist, with provision for incomplete work to be stored. So mixed use could be difficult. We need to build up our reserves significantly if we are to make this happen.

Les has reminded me that under charity regulations we will both need to stand down as trustees at the end of this financial year, and not be re-elected. There is therefore a need for our replacements to be found before then. We would both

be available to mentor our replacements if anyone wishes to take up our roles, please let us know.

Signed

7-2-2023 D Gregory Treasurer

West Rador Community Haven Registered Charity Number 1192686

2021

Accounts for the year to 31-12-2022

3301	Grants : 5 Magic Little grant	500
89	Christmas Fair	134
699	Donations and annual membe	352.01
	Projects	3.94
4089	Monies generated during year		989.95
	Payments made during year
	Rent	232
	Mobile payment costs	35.41
	Tool & maintanace	416.38
	Insurance	266.2
	Trailer towing costs	74.4
	Petty Cash	17.17
	PP&S	63.09
	Grant 1	45
	Grant 3	1121.74
	Magic little Grant	514.23
	Total payments made		2785.62
	Payments less receipts			1795.67
4089	Net Cash surplus/defcit for the	year		1795.67

Represented by

-263 Accrual

3187 Cash at Lloyds Bankopening 3187.37 Closing 1200.31 1987.06 1165 Cash at Barclays Baopening 1165.29 4089 Closing 1356.68 -191.39 1795.67

Notes to 2022 accounts

1. All expenditure has been treated as an immediate expense, with no taken of the period it may cover

2. We have followed our previous year principle in atributioning expen clearly defined against a grant as expenditure against that grant and non grant atributeable expenditure is sepereatle shown.

Signed

David Gregory Treasurer

D account Iditure only