2023-07-31-accounts

HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB FELLOWSHIP

(Registered Charity No. 207948)

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31[st] July 2023

The Trustees are pleased to present their Annual Report & Accounts which have been unanimously agreed by them and the Management Committee at the Annual Meeting on 8[th] November 2023.

Object & Activities	Page 2
Governance & Management Structure	Page 3
Management & Trustees	Page 4
Chairman’s Review	Page 5
Financial Review and Reserves Policy	Page 6
Contact & Information	Page 7
Independent Examiner’s Report	Page 7
Statements of Accounts	Page 7,8
Trustees’ Declaration	Page 9

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Object

Hampstead Garden Suburb Fellowship is a charity (founded in 1910) to promote the physical, social, cultural and educational wellbeing of Hampstead Garden Suburb residents over the age of 60.

Activities

In order to fulfil directly and indirectly its charitable object, Fellowship conducts a wide range of activities and welfare support most of which is based in the community centre building of Fellowship House at 136A Willifield Way, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London NW11 6YD

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Governance and Management Structure

Fellowship is run according to the provisions laid down in its Constitution by a Management Committee of at least eight local unpaid volunteers who choose from their number between three and five Trustees. One member of the Management Committee is appointed by the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association, a body one of whose purposes is to promote the general welfare of all Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents regardless of age (i.e. about 5,000 households). As well as overseeing the activities of Fellowship, the Management Committee is responsible for the management of the buildings and land leased from The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust. Cleaning and caretaking services are provided by a professional team. To finance its charitable activities, Fellowship derives income mainly from letting income, subscriptions from Club members, donations from residents and bequests. After examination by an Independent Examiner, the accounts of Fellowship are lodged annually with the Charity Commission and published on the website.

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Management & Trustees

Management Committee

Andrew Botterill (Chair) Neil Smith (Hon Treasurer) Jill Purdie (Hon Secretary, Activities and Newsletter) Lorna Jones (Transport, Welfare) Sally Botterill (Weekly Talks and Art Gallery) Elisabeth Kocen (Lettings) Margaret Lancaster (Fellowship Club Membership Secretary) Helen Leiser (HGS Residents Association Representative – resigned 30/11/22) Marie-Christine O’Callaghan (HGS Residents Association Representative – from 1/2/23) Irene Colomb Louise Scheuer

Trustees

Andrew Botterill Jill Purdie Neil Smith

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Review of the Year

It has been a satisfactory year for Fellowship and the local community has been well served by it.

Fellowship House continues to be filled every day from morning til evening. Autumn and summer concerts at greatly subsidised prices have been sold out and the weekly Tuesday talks are always very well attended. The Art Gallery has back to back monthly shows which are free for visitors and for the exhibiting local artists. Membership of the Fellowship Club is provided free of charge to members of The Orchard, a nearby sheltered housing facility for older residents.

Thus in line with its charitable brief, Fellowship has continued to prioritise services for the community. The investment in and maintenance of its property continues. There is a virtuous circle here: an attractive and efficient facility together with the provision of a wide range of stimulating activities ensures a continuing demand which in turn provides income to cover upkeep of the building and funds for welfare grants and charitable donations if reserves allow. This year we have managed to increase our welfare spending and charitable donations by two thirds to a record £35,000. This level should not be taken as a guide for the future as it is wholly dependent on the level of our reserves.

Hampstead Garden Suburb demographics have of course changed in recent decades. It is no longer possible or necessary to field an army of Fellowship volunteers to lend a helping hand to the poor and needy as was the case up until the 1960s. The whole Fellowship operation is now run by a very small volunteer Management Committee. Increased efforts are nevertheless being made to discover individuals in need and to help in a way which we can, namely the provision of welfare grants. In this respect we have also had to widen our net slightly to include charities working partly beyond the Suburb boundaries (eg Age UK Barnet and Food Bank Aid). We are also proud to have been able to increase substantially our giving to Toynbee Hall. Our Constitution makes specific reference to our historic link with the East London charity and to our ability to support it.

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Financial Review of the Year

Income for the year totalled £70,083, an increase of £21,037 (43%) over the previous year. This increase arose largely through higher donations received for the use of Fellowship House and a gift from the estate of the late Mary Fraser. This in turn enabled a substantial increase to be made in the level of charitable donations from £13,200 last year to £29,250 this year: donations made included those to Toynbee Hall (£9,000), Food Bank Aid (£9,000), Age UK Barnet (£4,000), North London Hospice (£3,000) and the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal (£2,000 net). The costs for the year of running the building and grounds was £26,986 compared with £22,770 in the previous year, an increase of 19%. The net result for the year was a small surplus.

Fixed assets purchased were various kitchen equipment upgrades and an A frame for the grand piano representing continued investment in the building.

Fellowship’s reserves policy, which is set out below, remains unchanged. Reserves built up in recent years through careful financial stewardship remain robust with the result that meaningful charitable and welfare grant spending can be maintained in addition to meeting the costs of upkeep of Fellowship House including taking care of all maintenance tasks.

Reserves policy

The Trustees aim to maintain free reserves at a level which equates to approximately three years of non-discretionary running expenses plus an amount to allow for planned or unplanned capital expenditure on the buildings and grounds. The Trustees consider this to be a prudent approach in the current economic environment.

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Contact and Information

For detailed information about Hampstead Garden Suburb Fellowship and its activities, visit our website : www.fellowshiphouse.co.uk and any questions should be directed by email to [e-mail]

Independent Examiner’s Report

I have examined the Income and Expenditure account and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of HGS Fellowship and have obtained all the information and explanations that I considered necessary. In my opinion HGS Fellowship has kept proper books and the Income and Expenditure account and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are in agreement therewith.

Peter Blackstaffe FCA

Hampstead Garden Suburb Fellowship Statement of Accounts Year ended 31 July 2023

2021/22 £ 10,332 690 3,178 30,824 1,850 186 1,986 49,046 22,770 8,103 13,200 1,290 1,546 46,909	Income Donations collected by Residents Association Gift Aid Members subs and proceeds from teas and croquet Donations for use of Fellowship House Other donations (includes members) Income from investments Miscellaneous Total income Expenditure Upkeep of Fellowship House, garden and croquet lawn Welfare work Charitable donations Autumn and Spring music series (net) Printing, stationery, postage, miscellaneous Total expenditure	2022/23 £ 10,384 1,409 6,015 37,889 9,329 2,452 2,605
		70,083
		26,986 6,285 29,250 3,260 856
		66,637

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2,137 (186) 85,285 (1,693) 85,543 67,094 72,928 - 221,766 25,832 (1,551) 386,069 85,543 290,526 10,000 386,069	Income greater than Expenditure Income from investments retained within Investment Fund General fund brought forward Fixed assets purchased General fund carried forward Statement of Assets and Liabilities Monetary assets Cash at bank Charities Official Investment Fund deposit fund Debtors Other non-monetary assets held for own use Fellowship House premises, at cost less depreciation Fellowship House furnishings and equipment, at cost less depreciation Total assets held Less creditors Total net assets Representing General Fund Investment Fund Building Sinking Fund Total unrestricted funds	64,264 75,081 3,599	3,446 (2,452) 85,543 (2,195)
			84,342
			142,944 237,994
		216,619 21,375
		84,342 283,374 10,000
			380,938 (3,222)
			377,716
			377,716
			377,716

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Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the foregoing Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees

Andrew Botterill

Position: Chair

Date: 8[th] November 2023

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