The Saffron Walden Community Shed
Annual Report 2022
2022 was a difficult year for the Saffron Walden Community Shed. After the long period of restrictions due to the Covid pandemic, we were just beginning to make plans to start developing our work again, when early in the year we were told that the site on which our workshop was located was up for sale and that we would have to vacate our premises. Following a lengthy search, we were delighted to be offered a large brick-built Victorian barn, previously used as a granary, situated on a nearby farm. It had not been used as a granary for many years and the possibility of turning it into a suitable workshop looked to be quite a challenge. However, nothing daunted, our more-able members set-to to carry out the necessary construction
work to convert it into workspaces where we could continue with our work.
In the early part of the year, we also took the opportunity to apply to become a registered Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and this we achieved, with the appointment of six Trustees, on 11 May 2022.
During the summer months we began the removal from our previous workshop of all our machinery, tools, benches, shelving etc., and the large quantity of second-hand timber we had acquired. The
trustees also began the task of raising the funds required for the conversion. Work began in September in the new barn, installing lighting and the necessary power supply for our machines, along with the construction of our first workroom. After much hard graft, this was finally finished in December, just in time for a celebratory Christmas Lunch.
During the period we have been closed, we have received significant interest from those wishing to join us as well as requests from local charities to make or mend items for them, confirming the need for this valuable facility in our community, which both meets the needs of those who might be socially isolated and providing a resource to local charities and organisations. 2023 will see the completion of the building work and we plan to be fully operational again by the end of May 2023 and with the extra space our new facility will give us, we hope to increase the range of activities that we can offer and increase our membership numbers considerably.
The Trustees
Saffron Walden Community Shed
Saffron Walden Community Shed
Accounts 11th May 2022 to 31st December 2022
Opening Balance £4,161.98
Income Unrestricted Donations £2,169.19 Annual Subs £210.00 Attendance Fees £1,115.42 Total £3,494.61 Income restricted ECF Grant £0.00 New Workshop Fund £11,500.00 Total £11,500.00 Total Income £14,994.61 Expenditure Unrestricted £996.50 Expenditure Restricted ECF Grant £704.83 New workshop Fund £4,316.47 Total £5,021.30 Total Expenditure £6,017.80 Closing Balance £13,138.79