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2025-10-31-accounts

SIED DYNION/ABERGELE MENS SHED

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statement

For the Period 1[st] October 2024– 30[th] September 2025

Charity Registraton Number 1197478

STATEMENT OF CHARITY PURPOSE AND ACTIVITIES

  1. Abergele Men`s Shed(AMS) is an Association Model Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) originally established on 31[st] January 2022 as a Foundation Model CIO and subsequently changed to an Association Model in accordance with Charity Commission guidance.

  2. The objective of the CIO is “ to promote social inclusion for the public benefit of men living in the Abergele area, in particular but not exclusively, older men by preventing them from becoming socially excluded assisting them to integrate into society through the provision of premises in which men can meet jointly or individually to undertake and share creative, social and recreational activities”.

  3. AMS is entirely a voluntary organisation comprising members and Trustees (who are also members and volunteers). Volunteers undertake to provide support for beneficiaries in the community, whilst at the time providing the volunteers with a sense of purpose, social interaction, team work, physical and mental activity that aims to combat isolation

  4. In March 2024 AMS relocated to the Church Hall at Berllan, Pensarn. Previously, they operated from rented premises at Worsley Wear retail outlet on the Tayna Industrial Estate in Abergele, which has subsequently closed.

  5. The ethos for the work undertaken it to upcycle and recycle where ever possible. No charges are made for the services provided but instead donations are requested to contribute to running costs

  6. The Charity does not wish to compete with local business. It focuses on repair and upcycling services that can benefit the community in a cost effective and noncompetitive manner.

  7. Some services are in the form of commissions from external organisations who want to provide a benefit to the community or members of their organisation. Donations are accepted for commissions in lieu of payment and where possible, recycled material is used.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANC E

  1. The number of volunteers peaked in the previous period 2022-2023 at 35. Difficulty has been experienced in retaining membership at this number due to relocation and suitability of premises. Membership for the 2024-2025 period peaked at 32 volunteers with some new members attending regularly. Approximately half the membership are regular attendees

  2. When the premises at the Church Hall, Berllan, Pensarn was originally obtained in March 2023, it was not in a usable condition. It had been previously been used for illegal activities i.e. cultivation of cannabis, which had been investigated by the Police. There

was also no electricity supply to the premises as it had been cut-off by the Utility Company. Confirmation was obtained from the Police that their investigations were complete and they had no objection to AMS using the premises.

  1. Considerable time and effort has been invested by the volunteers to make the premises useable for their purposes. The paraphernalia left by previous occupants has been removed and scrapped. The electricity supply was restored in January 2025 and electrical safety improvements and lighting improvements completed by a contracted electrician. Tool racking and workbenches have been installed and the walls of the main meeting area have been painted.

  2. Unfortunately, in November 2024, progress was hampered, due to a break in at the Church Hall. A considerable amount of AMS power tools was stolen. Investigations have been progressed by the Police, but sadly to date no prosecutions have been made to date. A small number of tools were recovered by the Police and returned to AMS.

GOVERNANCE

  1. During the period there were five Trustees who also form the Management Sub Committee responsible for the day-to-day operation of the charity.

  2. Doug Jackson (Chairman) Appointed 13[th] January 2022

  3. Mike Bird (Treasurer) Appointed 13[th] January 2022

  4. Gareth Boyes (Secretary) Appointed 13[th] January 2022

  5. Kevin Moors

  6. Appointed 12[th] November 2024

  7. Paul Watson Appointed 12[th] November 2024

Sam Rowlands (MS), one of our long-standing Trustees, resigned due to increased responsibilities at the Senedd in Cardiff.

  1. The Trustees met on 4 occasions at roughly 3 month intervals during the period.

  2. None of the Trustees received any payment or expenses during the period.

  3. The following policies are available

  4. Safeguarding Policy

  5. Health and Safety Statement

  6. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

  7. Bilingual Policy

  8. Volunteer Statement

  9. Volunteer Information Statement

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

  1. Registered Charity Number 1197478 (England and Wales)

  2. Registered Office: 4 Primrose Hill Cottages, St. George, Abergele LL22 9BT

  3. Phone 01745 824479

  4. Website htps://abergelemensshed.wales

  5. Bankers

Barclays Bank, Rhyl 68/70 High Street Rhyl, Clwyd LL18 1EU

FINANCIAL REVEIW

Capital Assets

  1. AMS owned a derelict building at Back 35 Market Street, Abergele, acquired from Crown Estates in 2019. AMS intended to seek grant aid from the National Lottery to renovate the building as a permanent base for AMS and a community hub for Abergele. Plans were approved and the building had planning consent for it to be refurbished to a community hub

  2. Following a grant award of approximately £500,000 from the National Lottery, the Trustees held an Extraordinary Meeting to discuss the outcome of receiving sealed tender bids, which unfortunately were in excess of the grant award. The Trustees concluded that the financial risk to proceed with the project was too great. A letter was sent to the National Lottery on 29/04/2024, informing them that the Trustees had decided to abort the project due to increased financial risk.

  3. Subsequently 35 Market Street Abergele was put on sale with a local Estate Agent.

  4. In April 2025, 35 Market Street was sold for £27,500, from which selling fee approximating £2500 were deducted

GRANTS

  1. Currently there are no grants in force supporting the work of AMS.

TAXATION

  1. The Charity has a VAT Exemption Certificate from HMRC which was awarded in the period Oct 22- Sept 23. This allows for VAT to be reclaimed over the past four years on eligible items of expenditure

  2. The charity is eligible for discretionary council tax/rate relief for the premises it occupies. When AMS was located at Worsley Wear (up to March 2024) the rental negotiated was inclusive of rates and utility costs.

26 Conclusion

  1. Berllan Church Hall continues to be a suitable meeting place for Abergele Mens Shed within the local area of Abergele and Pensarn. The imminent focus is for Abergele Mens shed to purchase the Church Hall from the landlord, which has been offered to the Mens Shed for £85,000. The Mens Shed are currently in the process of approaching the National Lottery to help fund the purchase of the building.

  2. The tables detailed in sections 32-37, show a summary of AMS accounts which clearly shows that expenditure is in excess of income.

  3. The sale of the capital asset known as 35 Market Street, previously owned by AMS, has boosted AMS funds by £24,965 and leaves AMS in a better financial position. It is intended that this capital sum realised will be used for improvements to the Berllan Church Hall, after it has been purchased from the landlord.

32. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR PERIOD 1st October 2024 – 30 th Sept 2025

33 Financial Summary

FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Oct 23– Sept 24		 Income
for period		 Expenditure
for period
01/10/2024 Starting balance in bank £6,886.92
Total income for year from donations etc £4,391.44
Insurance claim compensation for theft of tools worth
£9,500		 £1,260
Total Income banked for period 5651.44
Fixed Costs e.g. rent, insurance, utilities etc 9,332.82
Other Operational Costs 2,122.82

Total Expenditure Oct 24-Sept 25		 11,455.64
Bank Balance at 30/09/2025 not including sale of
capital asset–35 Market Street		 £1,062.72
Sale of Capital Asset–35 Market Street £24965
Bank Balance at 30/09/2025, including Sale of
capital Asset- 35 Market St		 26027.72

34 Income Breakdown

INCOME BREAKDOWN This Year
MembershipFees £35
Christmas Dinner Money collected from members £297.50
Tea Kitty £634.91
Project Donations £3,070.11
Easy Funding £50.96
Electricity Refund (Billing Error) £302.96
Insurance compensation for tool theft £1,260

TOTAL		 £5,651.44

35 Fixed Operating Costs

FIXED OPERATIONAL COSTS This Year
Rent £7,600
Zurich Insurance £208
Firemaster Service £110.64
Electricity £621.46
Security £792.72
TOTAL £9,332.82

36 Other Operational Costs

OTHER OPERATIONAL COSTS This Year
Transport/Fuel/Repairs £241.99
Christmas Dinner £360
Tools £358.75
Materials £945.44
Marketing £169
Waste Disposal £47.64

TOTAL		 £2,122.82

37 Total Expenditure

TOTAL EXPENDITURE This Year
Fixed Costs £9,332.82
Other Costs 2,122.82
TOTAL £11,455.64

38 The Finances of Abergele Men`s Shed continues to be a concern with rental costs currently £600/month being the overriding expense. Income from donations is approximately £4400, against expenditure of approximately £11,500.

  1. The intended ownership of the Berllan Church Hall by Abergele Men`s Shed, will considerably reduce the fixed costs, to costs purely associated with insurance, utility costs and building maintenance costs. This is expected to leave the finances in a healthier condition. Other measures have been taken to increase income eg annual subscription fees have been increased from £5/year to £25/year.

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