Upton St Leonards Village Hall
Annual Report for the period 1[st] February 2024 to 31[st] January 2025
Upton St. Leonards Village Hall is sited at Bondend Road, Upton St. Leonards adjacent to the Birchall Memorial Institute and is a central feature of the village. The hall was founded after WW1 as a gift to the village by the Birchall family, which then resided at Bowden Hall, in memory of the family members who died in the conflict. It is an unincorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission (No 214415)
At the 1[st] March 2025 the Trustees were: Keith L Pearson Elected Member & Chairman Stewart Tedaldi Elected Member & Vice Chairman Michael Stratford Elected Member Parish Council Nominee Sarah DesForges Elected member Ann Pearson Elected member & Bookings Officer Carol Evans Elected member James Browne Elected Member Michelle King Elected member Chris Patterson Elected Member Roy Thorogood Elected Member
2024 has come and gone and the Upton St Leonards Village Hall continues to thrive and provide a venue for the Community to use for various events, despite the fact that all our costs have increased particularly those utilities that we have to use to exist. That is why it is so important that attention to such things as turning lights off when not used, ensuring that the front door is closed in cold weather and ensuring that the heating thermostats are in the correct position at maximum 18 degrees, and off when there are spells of warmer weather. We are looking at this issue for a better solution at present. It is also essential that all regular users do remember to sweep the floors after use and if tables are used they must be wiped down before returning them to the stores
However having said that, in the main, we don’t have too many major problems at the moment.
The year saw a refurbishment of the main hall floor which was last done to that degree in 2016.The total cost of this being over £5000. Unfortunately, we also had a failure of a part of the boiler in the annex that had to be replaced at a cost of £900 these together with a number of smaller maintenance issues meant that the accounts for the year show a small surplus of £494.
The Playgroup came to the Committee with a request to utilise part of the rea land to create a trim trail for the children. It appears that Ofsted are pushing for more outside activities in order to ensure young children get more exercise. The works required were all funded by grants and the Playgroup themselves. It meant reducing the growth of bushes and trees on the left rear of the building and the opinion is that it enhances the appearance of the whole area and reduces our need for maintenance in the long run.
Following the Fire Risk Assessment there will be a full alarm system installed which will of course be quite expensive, but necessary.
During the course of the year a large sum of money was invested in a Bond with Lloyds Bank at a good interest rate which will provide a worthwhile income, better than being achieved through NS&I which was the facility previously used. This also is kept as the reserve fund for an eventual need for a re-roofing of the building.
Finally we give our wholehearted thanks to Mike Stratford who after many years as a Trustee some of which as Chairman, during which time he oversaw the building of the annex, he finally hung up his boots so to speak. The Village Hall and the residents of Upton owe you a huge thank you Mike for all that time spent for the benefit of others
One last thing was that we installed a plaque recognising those who have made significant donations to Hall funds as individuals. We are also one Trustee short at present so please let us know if you are interested in helping.
My thanks also to all Trustees for their commitment.
Keith L Pearson Chairman, USL Village Hall Management Committee
UPTON ST LEONARDS VILLAGE HALL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR TO 31.01.25
| INCOME Misc Income Grants & Donations Regular Users Casual Users Fund Raising Transfers Jubilee EXPENDITURE Honorarium Misc. Admin Fund Raising Utilities Maintenance Refurbishment Insurance Jubilee Bank Charges Transfers TOTAL Excess Income over Expenditure SOCIAL COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS 2024/25 Spring Show £688.48 158.52 £ Junior Quiz Quiz Nights Firework Night Village Day Race Night 79.99 £ Tea Towels/Notelets TOTALS £688.48 £238.51 Income over Expenditure £449.97 |
2024/25 2023/24 £751.64 £101.14 £0.00 £30.00 £26,818.52 £24,245.25 £4,502.00 £3,582.70 £735.00 £745.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 __ __ £32,807.16 £28,704.09 __ __ £450.00 £225.00 £673.00 £279.20 £79.99 £0.00 £4,074.86 £7,588.16 £18,504.58 £11,749.92 £6,821.60 £1,300.00 £1,709.12 £1,718.05 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £564.00 £32,313.15 £23,424.33 __ __ £494.01 £5,279.76 __ __ 2023/24 £656.67 126.67 £ £65.00 £721.67 £126.67 £595.00 |
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UPTON St. LEONARDS VILLAGE HALL
AUDITOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31.01.2025
I have examined the Village Hall’s accounting records and consider them to be adequate for the purpose of accurately recording the financial transactions throughout the year under review. I have also examined the records and supporting documents, vouchers and invoices provided and can confirm that, in my view, the accounts they have prepared represent a true and fair view of the Village Hall’s financial activities during the year and the state of its financial affairs as at 31st January 2025.
Recommendations: - 1. None.
Matthew Pearse ACMA
1[st] June 2025