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COFRESTR PRESENOLDEB CELF AERON
ArrENDANCE REGISTER AERON ARTS
Annual General Meeting
2pm Saturday 11 January 2025 @ RAY Ceredigion SA46 OBN
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Aeron Arts
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Draft Minutes of the AGM held on Saturday 11th January 2025
1. Attendance and apologies
Present..
Sian Slewart {Chair)
Gill Byme
Natalie Chapman
Megan Tomlins
In attendance:
Helen Cotterill
Alice Skellon
Apologles were received from Kaz Trinder
2. Chalr's Welcome and Annual Report
Sian welcomed Iruslees and other attendees to Aeron Arts, first AGM. The main
purpose of the meeting was to approve the Annual Accounts for the time period
from the establishment of the charity in Febwary 2023 to 31 March 2024.
2.1. Change lo the status of the CIO
Sian informed attendees that a change in status of the charity had been approved
by the Charity Commission at the beginning of the month. Aeron Arts had initially
been registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ICIOI under the
Association model. This model is used for charities with a membership, including
voting members other than the trustees. Whilst this was the original intention for
Aeron Arts, in practice. th8 age of session attendees and drop-in nature of the
sessions with changing attendees meant that this not really practicable.
Following agreement by all trustees in August 2024, a request was submitted to
the Charity Commission lo transfer to the Foundation model. This means that the
only voting members are now the Irustees Ihemselves.
2.2. Overview of the first year's activities from the former Chair
Natalie explained Ihat Aeron Arts was established following a multi-agency
meeting which highlighted the need for more youth provision. The charity was
therefore set up to provide free creative arts and music sessions for all children
and young people, particulady targeting those who were vulnerable or
disadvantaged. Sessions commenced in November 2023.
She was proud of the charity's achievements in its first year and the growing
demand for places showed Ihat the need continues to grow. She stood down as
Chair in the summer to concentrale on her role as a session provider and lo allow
an independent Chair to be appointed.
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2.3. To receive a foDNard look from the Chair elect.
Sian started by paying tribute to Natalie, Gill and Megan as the founders ofAeron
Arts without whom this much needed charity would not exist. It was due to
Natalie's creative vision and Gill's organisational support that it succeeded in its
first year.
She reminded attendees that she had been appointed Chair elect by the trustees
in September 2024 following Natslie's resignation. Her priority was to make the
charity sustainable and her work to date had been focussing on establishing
govemance procedures and on fundraising. Both these items were covered in
more detail later on the agenda.
3. Treasurer's Report
3.1. Financial oveNiew and Annual Accounts
Gill presented the draft accounts lo the meeting. Awards forAII funding had been
received in June 2023 and sessions commenced in November. Problems in
accessing the account which look the bank months lo resolve meant that the only
costs showing at this point were bank charges, some of which subsequently
reimbursed. Costs were being incurred bul sessions providers had to wait until
April 2024 for payment. These payments will be ￿flected in the next set of
accounts.
The accounts w8re approved for submission to the Charity Commission.
ACTIONS AGREED:
Glll lo submil annual accounts lo the Charity Commission before 3111125
Gill to amend arrangements with the Charity Commission for sian to take on
the role as formal contact after that point.
3.2. Financial Management Procedures
Sian reminded truslees that these procedures had been ag￿ed at the meeting of
18 December 2024. She explained that they set out legal duties of trustees,
finanGial requirements and financial controls. She highlighted that a 2-stag8
payments authorisation process was being introduced and insurance cover was
also being put in place.
ACTION AGREED..
Glll to finalise insurance arrangements.
3.3. Asset Register.
It was noted that an asset register had been developed as part of the above
procedure. It would be maintained by the Treasurer who would need to be
notif18d of any equipment donated to the charity to record these along with any
equipment purchased.
4. Service Update
4.1. Awards for All Funding
Gill explained that as sessions had started later than expected, the funders had
agreed to extend the grant until the end of December 2024. An evaluation report
was required and once this was signed off an application could be submitted for
£20,000 over a 2-year period. This would need to demonstrate additionality ralher
than simply a continuation of existing activty- Natalie proposed that this should
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be the engagement of the young people with the community. The input of young
people also needed to be evidenced in the bid.
ACTIONS AGREED..
Gill to complete the fomial evaluation template
Gill & Natalie to develop an engagement process for current attendees.
4.2. Recent funding bids.
The Charity had been successful in their funding application to the Police &
Crime Commissioner's Pmceeds of Crime Grant. receiving £2.660 to cover
sessions in February and March 2025.
A number of other funding requests had also agreed:
Charitable grant from the Masonic lodge: £2.500
Aberaeron Town Council.. £500 for food and materials
Donation from New Quay Fish factory.. £500
Aberaeron Rotary club: £300
Further potential funding source had been identified at the December m88ting
and individual trustees had been tasked as the leads for submitting the bids
required.
5. Governance Issues
5.1. In-year changes of trustees
The following changes were formally noted..
Resignation of Kirstie Edwards11910712024)
Appointment of Sian Stewart as Chair elect (10109120241.
5.2. Appointment of trustees
Gill, Megan and Kaz confirmed that they were prepared to continue in their role
as trustees. Nalalie wished to stand down with immediate effect lo concentrat8
on her role as session provider. Her resignation was accepted.
The folk)wing additional appointments were agreed
Gillian Boyd=
(Proposed by Sian, seconded by Gill)
Alice Skellon.. {Proposed by Gill. seconded by Natalie)
William Stewart (Proposed by Natalie. seconded by Megan)
5.3. Election of officials
Chalr
Sian Stewart's appointrnent was formally
ratified
Gill Byrne's appointment was ratified
Megan had infonned the Chair in advance of
Ihe meeting that she wished to stand down due
to health reasons.
William {Billy) Stewart was appointed.
Secretsry
Treasurer
ACTIONS AGREED:
Gill lo send Sian fomi for completion by new trustees for the Charity commission
Slan to issue this to trustees along with an induction pack
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Gill lo forward papernork to Charity Commission updating trustee details
Gill lo add the Treasurer to the bank account, sel up the 2-stage payment
process and hand over all documentation as appropriate.
5.4. Policies and prO￿dureS
It was noted thal the following polices had been agreed and adopted at the
trustees, meeting on 18th December 2024:
Code of Conduct
Bullying and Harassment
Complaints
Environmental Sustainability
Equality and Diversity
Recruitment and Selection
Safeguarding
Welsh Language
Whistleblowing.
Given that all sessions were hosted in the RAY Ceredigion offices it was
confirmed their accommodation related policies would be used by Aeron Arts.
These included their Health and Safety Policy, Fire Evacuation Procedure and
Accident reporting arrangements.
Sian said Ihat she would be meeling wilh all team members to take them through
the policies to ensure that they were aware of the reQui￿rnents arising from Ihese.
5.5.Safeguarding Lead
Gill was confirmed as Safeguardlng Lead. It was noted that all trustees were
required lo undertake Safeguarding Level 1 training. Gill, Nalalie. Megan and
Alice confirmed that they already had Level 2 or above.
ACTIONS AGREED..
sian to liaise with Ceredigion Council regarding safeguarding training for
herself. Billy and Gilly
Sian, Billy & Gilly to undertake online training session
Slan to confimi that all team memb8rs have the appropriate level of training.
5.6. Lead for formal complaints
It was confirmed that as set out in the Complaints Procedure the Chair would
take on the role of complaints lead.
ACTION AGREED.
Slan to update Complaints policy to indude her contact details.
5.7. Signatories for cheques.
It was agreed to remove Natalie as a signatory, Gill and Megan would continue in
this role and that Sian and Billy would be added.
ACTION AGREED:
Glll to update details of signatories on the bank account.
6. Any Other Business
There was no other business.
C r£ CAYf<
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