David Pratt – 17 July 2023 ## **Annual Report 31st December 2022** ANNUAL REPORT 2022 1 ## **Contents** |**Contents**|| |---|---| |Annual Report 31st December 2022|1| |Contents|2| |Report|3| |Objectives and Activities|3| |Achievements and Performance|3| |Covid -19 Impact|5| |Financial Review|5| |Reserves|6| |Plans and Projects for Future|6| |Structure, Governance & Management|7| |Reference and Administration|8| |Financial Activities|9| ANNUAL REPORT 2022 2 ## **Report** ## Objectives and Activities The objectives of the Charity are: A) To promote the craft of woodturning for the public benefit and in doing so raise the appreciation of the creativity, skill and heritage of woodturning. B) To advance the education of the public in the craft and skill of woodturning. The Objectives were supported by regular meetings where members were shown better practices in woodturning by Demonstrations from experienced and professional wood turners, discussion and training. The charity was assisted by the AWGB (Association of Woodturners Great Britain) who is the leading UK body. The AWGB provided advice, guidance, a grant and long term loan of equipment to assist the club to commence operations. Fund raising activities were undertaken through out the year and included, membership fees, donations, raffle, commission from sale of equipment and goods. ## Achievements and Performance Wherry Woodturners have enjoyed an exciting first year from the early meetings of the five founding members (David Pratt, Peter Stanley, Simon Crutchley, Barry Prigmore and Paul Phillips) who met in one of the members workshops during September 2021 to the first formal meeting in February 2022 considerable achievements were made. Initially a drive for new members was the challenge with an initial target of 15. Early meetings were conducted on Zoom as Covid was still rampant and face to face meeting impossible, by January we had over 20 members waiting for an in person meeting. During November the original five members formed the founding committee and we engaged with AWGB (Association of Woodturners of Great Britain) as we are all members they assisted with advice, guidance, governance and ANNUAL REPORT 2022 3 encouragement to form a CIO. The Charity Commission provided advice and guidance as we were a new emerging Charity. We completed our Governance documents and agreed the Constitution and were a registered Charity by 26th November 2021. We gained 12 members and became affiliated to the AWGB by 3rd December. We developed our social media presence with a website and Facebook page which were active by January, this encouraged new members and was quickly reaching over 500 people across the world in the woodturning community. We held our first meeting in February 2021 with over twenty people attending, a demonstration by a club member; the club was born and started to grow. By December membership had reached 35 with an age range spanning from 13 to 88 years old with a diverse mix of abilities and skills. January we received a two grants from AWGB the first a financial grant to support the engagement of a professional demonstrator to show enhanced skills and the second the supply of equipment that included a Lathe, Tools and basic PPE face guards. We engaged 3 professional woodturners during the year to share their skills and support the demonstrations of skills by club members. In March after the interest shown by new members we planned our first training events for members and potential new members which were held in June and July. In response to the needs of members we invested in audio visual equipment to enhance the viewing of demonstrations with a sound system and 65” smart television. We reached out to three organisations to provide partnership and support The Wherry Maud Trust (a registered Charity) who maintain and sail one of the two remaining trading Wherry’s in Norfolk (https://wherrymaudtrust.org). The Trust provided reclaimed wood from the Wherry for our turners to make components that could be sold potentially providing funds. Norwich Woodturners (www.norwichwoodturners.co.uk) and Waveney and District Woodturners (www.wavenyanddistrictwoodturners.co.uk). Norwich woodturners loaned a lathe to help the club provide skills training, all three clubs worked together to promote woodturning in the region opening club evenings and demonstrations to all members. ANNUAL REPORT 2022 4 During the year the Charities Trustees supported the charity by loaning equipment for its continued success. ## Covid -19 Impact Covid made a significant impact. The Charity was started as a result of Covid to provide an environment where like minded people could meet to share experiences and develop their woodturning skills and importantly be in a risk free, welcoming and friendly environment. During 2021 woodturning clubs like many other organisations suffered a loss of membership as meetings shifted to online events, people became insular and often lonely. It also was recognised that people were commencing hobbies including woodturning with little knowledge or ability, there was not a risk free environment readily available for people to meet and develop their skills. As a group we recognised that Covid would slowly end and the Charity was formed to respond to this need for people of all ages and abilities to enhance their skills or just to “taste” a new hobby. We meet in a Village Hall and were one of the first organisations to re-engage in face to face meetings in February 2021, providing an environment where people could meet safely, subject to the necessity of social distancing etc., members were encouraged to bring their own mugs for a brew and if unwell not to attend. We needed to be take care as some of our members were vulnerable. ## Financial Review In the first year of operation the Trustees were cautious balancing income and expenditure to ensure reviews did not move in to the Red. With careful planning acquisitions were made to cover equipment, provide professional demonstrators. We received two financial grants during the year from the AWGB one to support demonstrations and the second to cover the cost of insurance. The growing number of members gave the opportunity to make sales of equipment and wood which was either donated or acquired for resale the ANNUAL REPORT 2022 5 income ensured the finances were managed without the need for financial loans. Two trustees made support and equipment available for the setup and the initial running of the charity. This support will which will become available to the Charity to acquire as the finances become stable and after agreement of the board of trustees and the volunteer committee. ## Reserves At the end of the first year the available cash was £1003. This provided an excellent foundation to plan the year ahead and we plan to consolidate reserves as the Charity becomes more financially stable. ## Plans and Projects for Future The future is very encouraging with a growing membership our plans are during the next two years to provide members with; - Provide up to 10 demonstration experiences per year - Open a Training Academy to provide 10+ additional meetings to enable members and visitors to try new skills - Commence an annual full day event with a professional woodturner and open the event to other members of the AWGB and clubs - Seek additional grant funding to provide - Additional Lathe - Additional Audio visual equipment - Equipment that can be used during training sessions and members can utilise for a fee in their own workshops The above plans will be funded through normal income with the addition of available grant funding. ANNUAL REPORT 2022 6 ## Structure, Governance & Management ## Governing Document The Charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its constitution. ## Trustees The Trustees are chosen on the basis of merit and their ability to make contribution to the charity in terms of skills, knowledge and experience. None of the Trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All Trustees are provided with the charities governing document, the relevant guidance from the Charity Commission on the role of trustees and the latest Annual Accounts and Trustees Annual report ## Organisational Structure The Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring that the charity fulfils its objectives. The Board reviews Wherry Woodturners strategic direction and the best use of the available resources to meet its objectives. The Board normally meets a minimum of twice a year as required to ensure the strategic management of the charity. Further more the Trustees are supported by a team of volunteers who operated as a working committee to support the aims of the charity to deliver its objectives. ## Related Parties Wherry Woodturners is an affiliated Club to the AWGB that enables access to training, information, and guidance on governance and best practice. ANNUAL REPORT 2022 7 ## Reference and Administration |Name of Charity|Wherry Woodturners| |---|---| |Charity Registration Number|1196790| |Principle Address|49 Panxworth Road
South Walsham
Norfolk
NR13 6DX| |Meeting Location|South Walsham Village Hall
School Road
South Walsham
Norfolk
NR13 6DZ| ## Trustees The trustees serving this year and since the year-end were as follows David Pratt Peter Stanley Simon Crutchly The trustees report was approved by the board of trustees Mr David Pratt, Chair of Trustees ANNUAL REPORT 2022 8 ## Financial Activities Statement of Financial Activities Including Income and Expenditure Account for period ended 31st December 2022 ||**£**|**£**| |---|---|---| |**Income**||| |**Membership**|2406|| |**Grants**|405.00|| |**Donations**|50.00|| |**Equipment Sales**|1011.69|3872.69| |||| |**Expenditure**||| |**AWGB**|352.00|| |**Insurance**|168.49|| |**Demonstrators**|350|| |**Venue**|390|| |**Equipment**|1379.17|| |**Admin Expenses**|229.06|2868.72| |||| |**Surplus / Loss**||1003.97| |||| ANNUAL REPORT 2022 9 ## Balance Sheet ||**£**| |---|---| |**Fixed Assets**|0.00| |**Current Assets**|1161.96| |**Cash at Bank**|1003.97| |**Creditors Falling Due within one year**|0.00| |**Net Assets / (Liabilities)**|2165.93| |**Capital and Reserves**|2165.93| Notes to the Financial Statements for period ended 31st December 2022 ## **Assets** Assets and equipment loaned to support our growth include: ## **Lathes** Axminster AW 350 on permanent loan from AWGB Axminster AW305 On Loan from Peter Stanley Record 305 Lathe On Loan from Norwich Woodturners Axminster AW 305 Purchased ## **Dust Extraction** Record power Extractor ## **Sharpening System** Sorby ProEdge ## **Audio Visual** Lenovo Laptop On Loan 65” Smart TV and Audio system ANNUAL REPORT 2022 10