Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01/04/24 to 31/03/2025
Summary of the purposes of the Charity as set out in its governing document
For the public benefit, the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill heath, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage, primarily but not exclusively in Audlem and its local area, by providing grants to charities, or other organisations working to provide support and relief to those in need and whose purposes are in line with those of Audlem Charity Shop.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the particular beneft, in particular, the activities, projects or services identifed in the accounts.
The Charity distributes funds raised from the sale of donated goods in the form of grants to charities who provide support and relief of local people.
Statement confrming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public beneft.
The Trustees have paid due regard, in all their activities, to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Summary of the main achievements of the Charity, identifying the diference the Charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its benefciaries and any wider benefts to society as a whole.
There are currently 42 volunteers who participate in the running of the Charity’s fund-raising activities. Their work and the work of the trustees, has resulted in grants totalling £55000 being made to 6 local charities who all provide help and assistance, where needed, to local residents
Summary of the year 2024 /2025
As a Grant Making Charity, all our Trustees hold office until they resign. Unfortunately, one of our Trustees, Anne Pearson, decided to offer her resignation. Anne has been a committee member for over 10 years and a volunteer for longer, her loss will be felt but she will still be available to volunteer. We decided as a committee not to replace Anne as a Trustee but will allow Helen, Chair, to have the casting vote on matters which are difficult to resolve.
After many wet Saturdays over the previous few months, which resulted in loss of revenue, we decided to bolster our funds by holding a Quiz Night in the local Village Hall. Volunteers provided the food, questions and local businesses were contacted to ask if they would provide prizes. It was held in May and raised a total of £2,255.50 after costs were deducted. Although it proved to be very successful, the amount of work was immense and may be difficult to replicate in the future. It was felt that it could possibly be scaled down with refreshments still being catered for but on a much smaller scale.
We were very fortunate to receive a donation from an anonymous volunteer of £500. This allowed us to purchase another 4 gazeboes which will provide more shelter for the stock and volunteers during times of bad weather.
Having benefitted from more gazeboes, it was felt that a new layout should be implemented. This would allow easier access for the customers to freely walk around in a significant manner so that we could show stock in more advantageous parts.
A local business which was closing due to retirement gave us an opportunity to purchase their shop fittings. They also donated surplus stock to us which they were unable to sell. The fittings have allowed better use for use to show off our goods for sale in a more advantageous manner. The lighting in the shop is poor and we used this as an opportunity to revise it, making it brighter and also safer for customers.
This new layout has increased sales by approx..17%
The average weekly sales were £1,159. Eleven times the weekly takings were over £1400 with the best Saturday being £1664
In October we were approached by Cheshire Buddy’s, an organisation which supports children and young people with disabilities. The committee felt that they met our criteria and would be a suitable beneficiary for a grant.
We opened for 42 weeks this year, closed for 7 weeks, 4 for bad weather and 3 for Christmas.
The cold weather that we endured in the early months of the year meant that we needed to revise our policies for safeguarding our volunteers especially volunteers who stay all day without a break. These were revised and implemented.
Currently we have 42 volunteers which include 5 men who help set up and put away the site for us.
We are able to donate £55,000 to our 6 chosen charities. We have kept £5,000 in reserve for any unforeseen problems which may arise.
We raised £1489.04p at a local auction, £900 via eBay, £734 from an online market place, £669.28p from book sales, £697 from selling rags and £21 from Vinted. Also monies from donations, tombola and the quiz raised a further £3545.
Being able to accept card payments means that now we collect nearly one third of our total payments for sales which may or may not have been lost if the customer was unable to pay cash.
In May 2025 we were able to hold our AGM where we presented cheques, totalling £55,000 to our 6 chosen charities. This was the most money we have given to our chosen charities since the shop started in 1970.
These grants enable these charities to support their causes and provide much needed extra support in areas where they are lacking. Notably Cheshire Buddy,s was able to provide additional wood working workshops for disabled young persons.
Although the Charity started to thrive during and after the COVID19 pandemic we have now proven that our Charity is going from strength to strength and after a very successful year we can now build a strong following and be rewarded in the year and years to come.
AUDLEM CHARITY SHOP
ACCOUNTS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD ENDING 31 MARCH 2024
INCOME
EXPENDITURE
| Opening Balance - Santander Current Account Shop Sales - Cash Shop Sales - Card Books Rags Aucton Ebay Vintage Online Donatons Miscellaneous |
£ 57,405.60 Grants 31,989.00 Rent and Lease Renewal Charges 10,969.13 Electricity 719.66 Water and Utlity Charges 1,296.25 Shop Insurance / B&C 2,490.99 Repairs 2,170.00 Fire Extnguisher Service 724.00 Shop Consumables/Misc/Pety Cash 630.00 Buildings Insurance 1,395.00 Closing Balances - Santander Current Account 75.00 109,864.63 |
£ 44,500.00 3,499.92 594.37 257.58 294.00 258.18 119.82 1028.23 428.01 58,884.52 |
|---|---|---|
| 109,864.63 |
Signature Of Treasurer:
C M Harker 4/5/2024
Signature of Chairperson: H Beardshall 4/5/2024
AUDLEM CHARITY SHOP
ACCOUNTS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
INCOME
EXPENDITURE
£
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Opening Balance - Santander Current Account Shop Sales - Cash Shop Sales - Card Books Rags Aucton Ebay Vintage Online Donatons & Tombola Jewellery Sales Quiz Miscellaneous |
58,884.52 31,559.20 22,659.85 669.28 697.00 1,489.04 900.00 21.00 734.00 1,137.50 152.00 2,255.50 0.00 |
| 121,158.89 |
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Grants | 53,500.00 |
| Rent and Lease Renewal Charges | 3,499.92 |
| Electricity | 658.97 |
| Water and Utlity Charges | 282.60 |
| Shop Insurance / B&C | 294.00 |
| Repairs | 0 |
| Fire Extnguisher Service | 48.12 |
| Shop Consumables/Misc | 1574.17 |
| Buildings Insurance | 301.68 |
| Closing Balances - Santander Current Account | 60,666.93 |
| Pety Cash | 80.00 |
| Quiz | 252.50 |
121,158.89
Signature Of Treasurer:
C M Harker 4/22/2025
Signature of Chairperson:
H Beardshall 4/22/2025
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R8port to the trusteesl membors of £41oP On accounts for the year ended Charity no (If any) Set on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the unts of the above charity ('th8 Tmst") for the year 8nded O_4 2) Ro3ponslbilltl•s and As Ihe charity trustees of the Trust, you are reSnsIble for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('th8 Ad.). I report in resped d my examinatim of the Tru8t'$ aoxunts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the ap¢9b1e Dire(aions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Ad. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention (other than that disdos&J below "l in connedion with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respeGi.' a(£(ntIng records vffie not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Ad or the xcounts do not axord th the accounting record¥ Independent examiner's Statement I have no concems and have Come across no other matters in conne¢Xion with the examination to which attention should b8 drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the woffls in the brnckets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body (If any): /A. Address: zl£A, CiJZcJ4
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of cOnM (see CC32, Independent examination of charity attounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brfef detalls of any itoms that the examinor wlshos to dlsclose. IER October 2018