## **Trustees’ annual report for the period** ## **From: 22 August 2023 to: 31 December 2024 Charity name: Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre Charity registration number:** 1204436 ## **Objectives and activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |**Summary of the purposes**
**of the charity as set out in**
**its governing document**|Para 1.17|To advance the education of the public in
Wallasey, Wirral and the surrounding area
or communities, by operating and managing
a community lending library.
To promote for the benefit of the residents of
Wallasey, Wirral and the surrounding area
or communities, the provision of a public
library for recreation and/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 condition of life of
the said residents.| |**Summary of the main**
**activities in relation to**
**those purposes for the**
**public benefit, in**
**particular, the activities,**
**projects or services**
**identified in the accounts.**|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The charity has acquired the lease to the
former Wallasey Village Library from Wirral
Borough Council and, throughout the period
of this report, worked to reopen the building,
including a new community space and café,
toilets. Work to reopen the library was
almost complete by the end of this report
period.| |**Statement confirming**
**whether the trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit**|Para 1.18|This report includes how the charity has
carried out our charity’s purposes for the
public benefit.
This requirement is set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
(see Annex A Charities (Accounts and
Reports) Regulations 2008).| |**Policy on grant making**|Para 1.38|The charity does not make grants to other
charities or organisation. All funds raised are
for the benefit of the charity alone.| |---|---|---| |**Policy on social**
**investment including**
**program related**
**investment**|Para 1.38|The charity did not borrow money, for social
investment or other purposes during the
period.| |**Contribution made by**
**volunteers**|Para 1.38|The charity is volunteer-led and relies fully
on the goodwill and support of our
volunteers, whether those who act as
trustees and/or part of the Management
Team or those who contribute their time to
ensuring the building is open and available
to meet the needs of the local community.
The contribution from volunteers throughout
the period of the report was substantial and
critical to the foundation of the charity and
successful transfer of the asset from the
Council to the charity.
Post completion of the building works,
several volunteer parties were held to bring
the building into use.
We were grateful for the continued active
support of the Friends of Wallasey Village
Library.
A Volunteer Handbook was produced and
adopted for day-to-day use.
Specific volunteer roles created for the
purpose of meeting of our objectives
included:
-
Volunteer Co-ordinator
-
Library Team Leader
-
Library Volunteers| ## **Achievements and performance** |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|The closure of Wallasey Village Library in
October 2022 by Wirral Council was a
significant blow to the local community.
In response, and with the support of the
Friends of Wallasey Village Library,
Councillor Ian Lewis initiated the creation of
a group to seek to re-open it.
Throughout the period of this report, suitable
trustees and volunteers were recruited; the
asset transfer of the building negotiated and
completed; a business plan created, and
funds raised.
During the period, the building was
remodelled, creating new café and
community space.
We were delighted to partner with ‘Baked’ to
provide a café within the building, drawing in
new visitors to the library and community
space.
Donations of books were sought and much
of the work within the library was to
catalogue and process more than 5,000
books.
The success was recognised at the official
re-opening of the library in December 2024
by renowned local author, Ramsey Campbell
and around 100 guests from the local
community.
The opening attracted coverage from the
local media including the BBC.
As anticipation and awareness grew, so did
the numbers of people volunteering to
support the charity. Many were volunteering
for the first time, due to recent retirement or
loss of partners.
This helped us to implement our plans to re-
open the building quickly, following
completion of the lease, and to receive
donations of books for use in the library and
community space.| |---|---|---| ## **Financial review** |**Financial review**||| |---|---|---| |**Review of the charity’s**
**financial position at the**
**end of the period**|Para 1.21|This was the first period since the charity
was formed and, as such, most of the
financial activity was geared towards
bringing the building back into use.
By the end of the period, with most works
completed, the charity had £8,754 in funds,
with £5,704 committed to completion of the
works.| |**Statement explaining the**
**policy for holding reserves**
**stating why they are held**|Para 1.22|The charity did not adopt a dedicated policy
for reserves during the period with all funds
dedicated towards the re-opening of the
building.| |**Amount of reserves held**|Para 1.22|£5,704 was held for completion of the
building works and £2,579 was raised for re-
opening the library.| |**Reasons for holding zero**
**reserves**|Para 1.22|Not applicable| |**Details of fund materially**
**in deficit**|Para 1.24|None| |**Explanation of any**
**uncertainties about the**
**charity continuing as a**
**going concern**|Para 1.23|Not applicable – as a new charity, we were
grateful for the support and goodwill of the
community.| |**The charity’s principal**
**sources of funds**
**(including any fundraising)**|Para 1.47|The principal sources of funds were grants
received from Wirral Council (£33,575
towards building works; £22,000 towards
running costs) and the Lonsdale Trust
(£21,300).
Following the opening of the community
room in October 2024, funds began to be
received for room hire and donations for
surplus books.| |**Investment policy and**
**objectives including any**
**social investment policy**
**adopted**|Para 1.46|Not applicable – the charity does not make
material investments.| |**A description of the**
**principal risks facing the**
**charity**|Para 1.46|The main financial risks to the charity came
from higher than forecast energy costs and
the impact this would have on our cashflow.
Other risks were mitigated via insurance and
commitment to increase fundraising in the
event of one or more income streams
reducing.| ## **Structure, governance and management** |**Type of governing**
**document:**|Para 1.25|Constitution – adopted in July 2023 and
amended in August 2023 – by the founding
trustees (Sarah Jones, Ian Lewis, Raymond
Lyons and Nadina McShane).| |---|---|---| |**How is the charity**
**constituted?**|Para 1.25|Following advice and guidance from the
Wirral CVS, the charity was established as a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’)
in August 2023.| |**Trustee selection methods**
**including details of any**
**constitutional provisions**
**e.g. election to post or**
**name of any person or**
**body entitled to appoint**
**one or more trustees**|Para 1.25|The four founding trustees undertook a
public recruitment exercise and interviews
were held throughout 2023.
Once selected, each applicant confirmed
their eligibility for appointment using the
Charity Commission’s guidance.
Trustees were appointed for various terms
(between one and four years) to enable
continuity of business and mitigating risks
from mass-retirement.| |**Policies and procedures**
**adopted for the induction**
**and training of trustees**|Para 1.51|A Safeguarding Policy was adopted in
October 2024.
Trustees were inducted throughout the
period with additional training offered by the
Wirral CVS and the Community Managed
Libraries Network.| |**The charity’s**
**organisational structure**
**and any wider network**
**with which the charity**
**works**|Para 1.51|The Charity’s full Board of Trustees meets
not less than twice yearly, with functions
delegated to:
-
Finance Subcommitee for the
purposes of finance, compliance
reporting and fundraising
-
Management Team of five trustees
who ensure day-to-day and urgent
decisions are taken.
The Charity is a member of the Community
Managed Libraries Network and seeks
guidance, and support, when needed.| |**Relationship with any**
**related parties**|Para 1.51|The Charity maintains good relations with
Wirral Council and the local community. With
the exception of the lease on the building,
and a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with
Baked, the Charity has no formal
agreements in place with external
organisations.| ## **Reference and administrative details** |Charity name|**Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre**| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|**None although can be shortened to‘WVLCC’**| |Registered charity number|**1204436**| |Charity’s principal address|**St George’s Road, Wallasey Village CH45 3NE**| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |**Name:**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if**
**not for the**
**whole year:**|**Name of person**
**(or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee**
**(if any):**| |---|---|---|---| |Wendy Alderton|Chair, Finance
Subcommittee;
Management Team||| |Christopher Stephen Byrne|||| |Lisa Duggan|||| |Sarah Elizabeth Jones|Management Team||Founder| |Ian Lewis|Chair of Trustees,
Management Team||Founder| |Raymond John Lyons|Management Team||Founder| |Nadina McShane||August 2023 -
August 2024|Founder| |Veronica Jane Pugh|||| |Susan Simpson|Management Team||| |Eleanor Sarah Sturgess|||| |Stephenie Walsh|||| |William (‘Bill’) Wyllie|||| The Charity did not appoint any Corporate Trustees during the period and no trustees hold title to property belonging to the charity or act as custodian trustees on behalf of others. There were no serious incidents during the period that should have been reported to the Commission but were not. We are grateful for the services of Dr. J. K. Ashford, BA (Econ.) PHD FCMA for agreeing to be appointed as Verifier for the accounts and to Mr C Parkinson for taking on the role of Secretary to the Board in a nonvoting capacity. ## **Declarations** **The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors: Signature(s): Full name(s): Ian Lewis Position: Chair of Trustees Date: 28 October 2025 Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre (CIO Charity number 1204436) ## Accounts for the period ended 31st December 2024 |Receipts
Donations and Grants
Service Charge (Baked)
Reimbursed energy costs (Baked)
Book sales
Room Hire
Total receipts:
Payments
Building works, Repairs, Equipment
Fittings
IT
Library
Energy
Publicity and postage
Safety, security and compliance
Insurance
Miscellaneous
Total Payments
Excess Receipts over Payments
FUNDS HELD:
WBC Capital
WBC Revenue Support (Year One)
Library Fund
Unrestricted
TOTAL:
Signed
Date Printed|Totals
£33,575.00
£22,000.00
£2,129.59
£22,950.00
£80,654.59
£2,500.00
£2,500.00
£226.54
£226.54
£2,385.00
£2,385.00
£450.00
£450.00
WBC
Capital
Grants
Revenue
Support
(WBC)
Library
Fund
General
Fund| |---|---| ||£33,575.00 £22,000.00
£4,514.59
£26,126.54
£86,216.13| ||£33,575.00
£5,299.21
£21,118.22
£59,992.43
£1,150.00
£1,150.00
£310.60
£310.60
£1,934.75
£1,934.75
£7,032.04
£7,032.04
£1,158.20
£1,158.20
£756.32
£2,705.74
£3,462.06
£1,998.02
£240.00
£2,238.02
£59.99
£123.18
£183.17| ||£33,575.00 £16,295.58
£1,934.75
£25,655.94
£77,461.27| ||£0.00
£5,704.42
£2,579.84
£470.60
£8,754.86| ||£0.00
£0.00
£5,704.42
£5,704.42
£2,579.84
£2,579.84
£470.60
£470.60| ||£0.00
£5,704.42
£2,579.84
£470.60
£8,754.86| ||5thMay 2025| Inde ndent ExamIne￿$ re ort Ilase Vill Lib & Commun entre CIO charl number 1204436 This report is on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31. De￿rntr￿r 2024, which are set out on page 1. Responslbllltlos and basls of report As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the a¢counts in accordance with th8 requir8m8nts of th8 Chariti88 Act 2011 {'the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the charity'8 accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under secb'on 145(51(b} of the Acl. Ind•pnd•nt •xamln•V8 8tat6mant I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attention Sn connertion with the examln3tion glvlng me cause to believe that In any materlal respect: accoUn￿n8 records were not kept In respect of the charlty as requlred by sertlon 130 of the Act,. or the accounts do not accord wlth those records. I have no concerns and have come across rko other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatton to which attention should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understandln8 of the accounts to be reached. Slgnod Name.. Relevant professional ualifi¢ation or bod Address. Date. Dr J K Ashford BA(Econ) PhD FCMA 9 Seaft)rth Drive Wirral CH46 OTD 5°Ma 2025 8aJ8don CC32 2017