Earl Stonham Village Hall Annual Report – 202021
Along with all other similar establishments, it has been a very chequered year, with hardly any bookings and all our normal events cancelled. As I write this in April however, it does look like there might be light at the end of the tunnel with limited re-opening possible from mid-May. Of course it remains to be seen how long it takes for everyone to feel confident about meeting face to face again but you can rest assured that the hall committee will do all that is necessary to provide a safe environment for all our users.
As they say, every cloud has a silver lining and in the case of the hall, the forced closure and availability of both Covid business continuity grants and a capital grant from Mis Suffolk District Council, together with the money we have raised through fundraising provided the necessary funding to proceed with the long awaited refurbishment of the main hall. A huge amount of the work was done by volunteers and the savings made by not having to pay specialists and getting much better prices on materials, meant that we ended up being able to do far more work than originally planned.
The original scope of work was all completed as planned, including the new roof, air source heat pump heating, new suspended ceiling and lighting, the new beech semi sprung floor, new audio video system and curtains including blackout blinds. In addition to these main items, we also managed to complete the following:
Improved under-stage storage
Timber cladding of the external gable end wall
A new PA system
New padded chairs
Plaster-boarding the rear corridor ceiling
New entrance mats and stage carpet - thanks to a donation from the Stonham Theatre Guild
The other major improvement has been to the car park entrance. Even with the additional items above, we still had some of the original funding left over and with the Parish Council and Earl Stonham Trust contributing to the work, as well as funding from our District Councillor locality budget, this gave us sufficient funds to rebuild 100sq m of the drive and improve areas of the main car park itself. This also allowed us to move the recycling bins nearer the entrance which has freed up car park space.
We have managed to keep the village quiz nights running on Zoom and thanks to David Wicks and John Jones for their quiz-master help. Hopefully before too long we will be able to return to face to face quizzes in the hall.
Tony Turner Chairman - Earl Stonham Village Hall Management Committee
Never content to rest on our laurels, the committee are now planning on tackling the ‘wild’ area behind the hall. This has been an eyesore for a long time and we want to make it into a useful and restful area that can be used by villagers. We plan to put up a fence along the ditch as this is very deep and a risk to children, clear the rest of the area and remove all the rubble and rubbish and then plant some attractive trees, plant a grass area and provide seating. As always, a project like this works best with village involvement and help so if you have any ideas or suggestions, can help with any of the work or even with loaning some of the necessary equipment, the committee would really like to hear from you!
IndepeRdent Examiner's report to the Trustees of Earl Stonham Village Hall I report on the financial statements of the trust for the year ended 31, March 2021. This report is made solely to the charity's trust¢es. as a body. in accordanc¢ with Section 145 of the Charities Act 201 l. My work has been undertaken so that I miLJht state to the charity's trustees those malt¢rs l am required to state to them in Ihis report and for no other purpos¢. To ihe fullest extent permitled by law. I do not accept or assume responsibilii}' to an)'one other than the charity and the Lharity"S trustees as a body, for my work. for this report, or for the opinions I have forn]ed. Respe¢tive responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Charity's trustees) are responsibl¢ for the preparation of financial statemenls. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144(1) of the Charities Act 2011 (the '201 l Act.) and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied mysLlf thal the charity is not subject to audit and is eligyible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to.. examine the financial statements under Section 145 of the 2011 Act; follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b)A of the 2011 Act; and state where particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of Ihe financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration ot any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair vicw, and the report is Itmit¢d lo those matters Set out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention- a} which gives me r¢asonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements- to keep accounting record% in accordance with the2011 Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met- or b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drdwn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. J.M.Jones. FCA Ilines Fam] Earl Stonham Stowmarket Suffolk IP14 5HQ 31" March 2022