Woodlands Village Hall Dorset Registered Charity No. 1201931 www.woodlandsvillagehalldorset.org.uk
Trustees Annual Report 2025
Objectives and Activities
To run a village hall and to promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Woodlands and neighbouring area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and they have taken it into account when making decisions to which the guidance is relevant.
Achievements and Performance
Events
The charity has run six free community events this year including: Spring Festival, VE Day Afternoon Tea, Open Morning, Charity Clothes Swap, Vintage Craft Fair and Festive Fun. These events have attracted a diverse audience from within our area of benefit and beyond and have:
-
Promoted social interaction, inclusion and community cohesion;
-
Offered affordable leisure activities to families and residents;
-
Promoted environmental sustainability and awareness and provided opportunities for people to learn new skills;
-
Created a festive atmosphere, fostering a sense of community and bringing joy to residents during the holiday season through shared celebration;
-
Facilitated a clothing exchange, allowing participants to acquire items without financial burden, while also promoting sustainable practices;
-
Supported the charity’s commitment to enhance the social welfare of the community.
Partnerships
The charity continues to partner with our local churches, a local performing arts company and Artsreach to offer community events, social evenings, fund raising events and ticketed performances including pantomimes, live music and children’s shows.
-
Join the Company (JTC) is a performing arts school based in Cranborne offering drama workshops for all ages and abilities and has delivered three productions during the year achieving near record attendance with over 500 tickets sold over 10 performances. JTC also runs a weekly drama class for adults with additional needs at the hall. The charity supports this group with access to free on site storage for props and costumes and significantly reduced hiring fees.
-
Artsreach is a registered charity which aims to make a positive difference to the lives of people living in rural Dorset, addressing rural and social isolation; developing skills and supporting health and wellbeing by providing the opportunity to participate in and engage with cultural activity in the heart of rural communities. We have hosted four Artsreach performances this year selling over 200 tickets.
-
The charity hosts regular fund raising social evenings for the Woodlands Methodist Church at no charge.
-
The charity works with Woodlands Church of the Ascension to run various community events and hosts social fund raising activities at no charge.
1
Woodlands Village Hall Dorset Registered Charity No. 1201931
www.woodlandsvillagehalldorset.org.uk
Lettings
The charity has continued to host a wide range of regular groups. The village hall’s regular hirers include the following local community groups:
- Art class, sewing group, electric instrument group, ukulele group, guitar practice, folk dancing, puppy training classes, drama classes, respite care sessions and performance workshops for adults with additional needs.
Individual hires continue to increase in number and diversity and include:
-
Child and adult birthday parties, family get togethers, wedding reception, skittles evenings, quiz and bingo events run by our local churches, Macmillan coffee morning, first aid courses, local pony club meeting, antiques fair, healing day retreat, baby shower, willow weaving workshop, yoga classes, drum making classes. In 2025 the charity hosted 71 individual hires – an increase of 11 over last year.
-
Hires by residents of our community increased from 14 to 18.
Hall improvements
The trustees have continued to invest funds raised from lettings, grants and donations in the charity’s premises and facilities to enable it to improve the scope and relevance of its offerings and contribute to the overall quality, safety, and sustainability of the village hall. These investments not only enhance the facility itself but also improve the experience of community members participating in various events and activities:
-
Installation of emergency lighting test switches
-
Deep clean of kitchen and crockery
-
Full clean of all 70 fabric chairs
-
Enhanced the kerb appeal and front aspect of the hall by:
-
Commissioning two painted logos on the hall’s exterior
-
Re-painting of the road side façade
-
Installing oak sleepers to support the bank on the road side of the hall
-
Replacing faded signage
-
Installed heaters in the men’s and women’s toilets
-
Purchased a coffee machine and matching mugs for use by hirers
-
Raised and widened the concrete footpath from the carpark to the shed
-
Created a community no dig vegetable patch
-
Replaced three blown windows
-
Installed new toilet seats in all WCs
-
Polished the parquet floor
-
Installed short oak posts between the car park and the garden to improve the visual appeal and to prevent parking on the garden
-
Installed several bird boxes
2
Woodlands Village Hall Dorset Registered Charity No. 1201931
www.woodlandsvillagehalldorset.org.uk
Financial Review
As at the end of December 2025 the charity has funds of £13,244, income of £23,276 and expenditure of £22,605. The charity’s underlying surplus is £6,360.
The trustees have agreed a reserves policy of £7,000. The policy, which explains the reasons for holding reserves, is published on the charity’s website.
For 2025 the charity’s accounting period has changed from 01Nov – 31Oct to 01Jan-31Dec to align with the calendar year.
The trustees have no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is a CIO, and its governing document is a CIO constitution.
The members of the CIO are its trustees and are appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
The charity is run by a management committee comprising of three trustees and four non voting associates.
| Name | Trustee? | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Iain Salmon | Y | Events,Maintenance |
| Janet Scammell | Y | Secretary,Treasurer,Events |
| LucyAndrews | N | Health & Safety,Safeguarding,Events |
| Lynn Holden | N | Events,Marketing |
| Mark Jones | N | Maintenance,Health & Safety,Website |
| Rupert Andrews | Y | Chair,Lettings,Data Protection,Vice Treasurer |
| Vicki Wilson | N |
New trustees are inducted into the charity by the chair and complete the Trustee Eligibility Declaration. They are given a copy of the Charity Commission’s Trustee Welcome Pack, the charity’s annual report and are made aware of the charity’s policies, procedures and financial reports. All committee members also receive safeguarding training.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Rupert Andrews Full Name: Rupert Andrews Position: Chairman
3
1201931
Woodlands Village Hall Dorset
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period 01/11/2024 31/12/2025 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 14,556 2,950 1,222 20 304 981 - 72 68 20,173 - - - 20,173 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 14,556 2,950 1,222 20 304 981 - 72 68 20,173 - - - 20,173 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lettings | 14,556 | 10,499 | |||
| Deposits | 2,950 | 2,450 | |||
| Ticketed events | 1,222 | 783 | |||
| MarketingSales | 20 | - | |||
| Donations | 304 | 393 | |||
| Event income | 981 | 468 | |||
| Grants | - | 100 | |||
| Other | 72 | 215 | |||
| Bank Interest | 68 | 31 | |||
| **Sub total ** | 20,173 | 14,939 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||
| Total receipts | |||||
| 20,173 | - | - | 20,173 | 14,939 |
A3 Payments
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 2,632 | - | - | 2,632 | 2,418 | ||||||
| Internet and telephone | 615 | - | - | 615 | 487 | ||||||
| Facilities maintenance | 4,019 | - | - | 4,019 | 4,075 | ||||||
| Refurbishment | 5,215 | - | 5,215 | 4,882 | |||||||
| Insurance | 1,080 | - | - | 1,080 | 885 | ||||||
| Licences and subscriptions | 159 | - | - | 159 | 340 | ||||||
| Marketing | 10 | - | - | 10 | 97 | ||||||
| Event expenses | 1,171 | - | - | 1,171 | 843 | ||||||
| Artsreach Remittance | 276 | - | - | 276 | - | ||||||
| Trustee expenses | 102 | - | - | 102 | 76 | ||||||
| Professional fees | 888 | - | - | 888 | 1,407 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | 658 | - | - | 658 | 182 | ||||||
| Deposit refunds | 2,610 | - | - | 2,610 | 1,925 | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 19,435 | - | - | 19,435 | 17,618 | ||||||
| A4 Asset and investment | |||||||||||
| purchases,(see table) | |||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Total payments | 19,435 | - | - | 19,435 | 17,618 | ||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 738 | - | - | 738 | - 2,679 | ||||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 12,506 | - | - | 12,506 | 15,185 | ||||||
| Cash funds this year end | 13,244 | - | - | 13,244 | 12,506 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Lloyds Bank - Charity Account Lloyds Bank - Reserves Account Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,145 | - | - | ||||
| 7,099 | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 13,244 | - | - | ||||
| OK | ||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| When due (optional) |
||||||
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of Print Name approval