The Saffron Walden Community Shed
Annual Report 2023
By the beginning of 2023 we had been in our new home, the Old Granary Barn, for three months and construction on the interior had been non-stop. All the work on the barn, which had been kindly loaned to us by Audley End Estate, has been carried out entirely by the members. By the middle of the year, we had completed all the major work, having built three rooms within the
barn; one is a small workshop for hand tool work, the second is a tea and training room (left), and the third is dedicated to woodturning, an activity that has proved very popular among our members. The remainder of the barn houses our large pieces of machinery along with specially constructed benches and storage areas. The whole barn is now completely rewired and fully certified with lighting and heating installed.
With the help of a grant from the Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund we were able to purchase a CNC router system together with a computer, internet access and a television screen which has proved most useful for our training sessions. The CNC router (right) is an intricate cutting device which enables us to extend our areas of interest for members as well as providing us with the ability to produce high-quality commissions.
By mid-year we were able to reopen our new facility and begin to accept new members as well as take on projects to support our local community. The extra space that our new premises affords us has allowed us to increase our storage of second-hand wood and we continue to use as much recycled timber for as many of our projects as possible.
An enjoyable day was spent in August at the local museum craft day where we demonstrated the use of the pole lathe, showed some of our heritage tools and helped children to make their own bug boxes.
Our year ended with the construction of a substantial nativity scene (right), commissioned by the local Baptist Church and which will stand outside their church during the Christmas period.
The Trustees
Saffron Walden Community Shed
Saffron Walden Community Shed
Accounts 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023
Opening Balance £13,138.79 Income Unrestricted Donations £3,128.94 Annual Subs £60.00 Attendance Fees £3,330.16 Total £6,519.10 Income restricted UDC UKSPF £6,599.00 New Workshop Fund £5,780.00 Total £12,379.00 Total Income £18,898.10 Expenditure Unrestricted £3,872.51 Expenditure Restricted UDC UKSPF £6,599.00 New workshop Fund £9,241.26 Total £15,840.26 Total Expenditure £19,712.77 Closing Balance £12,324.12