Ellel Village Hall Trust
Annual report and financial statements
for the year ended
31st March 2025
Ellel Village Hall Trust
Contents
For the year ended 31 March 2025
| For the year ended 31 March 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Pages (s) | |
| Members of the board and professional advisers | 2 |
| Trustees’ Report | 3 to 6 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 7 |
| Statement of financial activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 10 to 14 |
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Ellel Village Hall Trust
Members of the board and professional advisers
Charity name Ellel Village Hall Trust Charity number 225547 Principal office Ellel Village Hall Main Road Galgate Lancaster LA2 0LQ Trustees Mr D Ford Mrs J K Moore Mrs L J Yates Fitzsimons Mr D S Whitaker, Chair Mr N Wilson Ms A Walker Bankers NatWest PO Box 17 68 Church Street LANCASTER LA1 1LN Solicitors Oglethorpe Sturton and Gillibrand 16 Castle Park LANCASTER LA1 1YG
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Ellel Village Hall Trust
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31[st] March 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charities Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and reporting by Charities published in 2005.
The Trustees
The Trustees who served the Charity during the period were as follows:
Mrs H R Helme, Chairman, Resigned 30 September 2025 Mr S Booth Esq, Resigned 30 September 2025 Mr D Ford Mrs J K Moore Mrs L J Yates Fitzsimons Mr D S Whitaker Mr N Wilson Ms A Walker
Structure, governance and management
The Trust was established in 1919 and substantially revised under a new Trust Deed in 2004, to provide a village hall for local residents.
New trustees are normally appointed or elected each year and serve for one year. The Trust Scheme provides for a minimum of seven trustees, four to be elected. The Trust Committee can increase the number of scheduled organisations, with no maximum prescribed.
Full Trustee meetings are normally held month or so, with a formal agenda and minutes, to discuss all matters relating to the management of the Trust and its finances, and the operation of the village hall, which is its prime responsibility. Sub-committees and ad hoc meetings are held at least weekly in practice.
All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Trustees are required to disclose any relevant interests at the inception of meetings and to withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
Risk management
The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed and have reviewed those risks and established systems and procedures to manage those risks.
The Trustees consider the major risk to the operation of the charity would be any unforeseen imbalance in our cash flow and a temporary inability to meet our costs. We have taken steps to mitigate this risk by:
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closely monitoring actual costs and income against our annual budget each month
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reducing employment costs by using voluntary services whenever possible
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actively marketing our services at competitive but cost-effective rates, bearing in mind our overall duty to the community and the need for tight credit control in our booking system
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obtaining comprehensive cover against insurable risks
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close involvement of the trustees and their advisers in support of the hall coordinator
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aiming to maintain adequate reserve funds through the forecasting process
Objectives and activities
Under the Governing Scheme the object of the Trust is “the provision and maintenance of a village hall for use by the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for meetings, lectures and classes, and other forms of recreation and leisuretime occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants. ”
The area of benefit is “Galgate and Ellel in the parish of Ellel, Lancashire, and the neighbourhood thereof”. Benefit to the residents is therefore paramount in the trust’s objectives and all future planning activities. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives.
Achievements and performance
Since the opening of the new hall in 2013 the hall has become well established in the area and is focused on meeting the requirements of the local community and wider area.
Achievements in 2025 include:
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Secured funding and hosted a family Halloween party – free entry and food for those who attended
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Secured funding and hosted a family pantomime– free entry and food for those who attended
Financial Review
Hall rental income was £52,088 ( 2024: £50,348 ). There is also a total of £10,665 in deposits being held for future bookings. This income is not yet recognised in the turnover. We have paid a total of £22,681 in wages costs to staff we have employed from the local community. The hall was in an excellent financial position at the end of the year with surplus funds to add to the reserves ready for the next maintenance programme.
Investment policy and performance
Surplus funds are held with NatWest Bank:
Deposit account which currently provides an interest rate of 1.06% and a 95 Day Notice account which currently provides an interest rate of 3.25%
Reserves policy
The Trustees’ aim to maintain free reserves in unrestricted funds at a level to cover three months of unrestricted charitable expenditure, the 2025 requirement is £11,200 which is covered by cash reserves of £43,190. The Trustees are satisfied with this position.
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The balance held as restricted funds at the year end was £660,660 (2024: £660,660).
Plans for the future
In March 2025 the hall was informed that a regular long-standing booking was to be cancelled as of mid-April 2025. This booking brought in £9,360 in hall hire a year. Shortly after this the hall then received cancellation of another long-term booking (£1,560 per year). The next 12 months will be spent reviewing all costs and attempting to bring in extra income to ensure the hall remains financially viable. One measure we have decided to progress is to purchase 2[nd] hand softplay equipment to generate more income from our kids’ party bookings.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these statements the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the method and principals of the Charities SORP;
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Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity.
Approved by the Trustees on 30[th] September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Mr D S Whitaker
Chair
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Ellel Village Hall Trust
I report on the financial statements of Ellel Village Hall Trust for the year ended 31 March 2025, set out on pages 8 to 14.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and auditor
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether 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 the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, 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 accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Helen Barratt FCA
Hillside, Wallace Lane, Forton, Lancashire, PR3 0BA
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30 September 2025
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31[st] March 2025
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | 2025 |
2024 |
||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Incoming resources | |||||
| Incoming resources from generated | |||||
| funds: | |||||
| Voluntary income: | |||||
| Grants | - | 1,525 | 1,525 | 15,200 | |
| Donations | 303 | 832 | 1,135 | 120 | |
| Activities for generating funds: | |||||
| Investment income | 2 | 862 | - | 862 | 317 |
| Incoming resources from charitable | 3 | 56,231 | - | 56,231 | 55,712 |
| activities | |||||
| --------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- | ||
| Total incoming resources | 57,396 | 2,357 | 59,753 | 71,349 | |
| Resources expended | |||||
| Charitable activities | 4 | 44,537 | 2,357 | 46,894 | 72,348 |
| Governance costs | 5 | 3,879 | - | 3,879 | 4,879 |
| --------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- | ||
| Total resources expended | 48,416 | 2,357 | 50,773 | 77,227 | |
| Net incoming resources | 8,980 | - | 8,980 | (5,878) | |
| --------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- | ||
| Reconciliation of Funds | 12 | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 31,441 | 660,660 | 692,101 | 692,101 | |
| --------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 40,421 | 660,660 | 701,801 | 692,101 | |
| --------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- |
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Ellel Village Hall Trust Balance sheet as at 31[st] March 2025
| Note | Total Funds | Total Funds | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets – restricted funds | 8 | 662,045 | 662,045 | ||
| Tangible assets – unrestricted funds | 9 | 4,473 | 7,614 | ||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| 666,518 | 669,659 | ||||
| Current assets | |||||
| Stock | 100 | 100 | |||
| Accrued income | 10 | 160 | 125 | ||
| Prepayments | 2,673 | 2,422 | |||
| Trade debtors | 4,322 | 9,835 | |||
| Cash at bank | 43,190 | 27,501 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| 50,445 | 39,983 | ||||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due | 11 | (15,882) | (17,541) | ||
| within one year | |||||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| Net current assets | 34,563 | 22,442 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| Net assets | 701,081 | 692,101 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| The funds of the charity: | 12 | ||||
| Restricted income funds | 660,660 | 660,660 | |||
| Unrestricted income funds | 40,421 | 31,441 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| 701,081 | 692,101 | ||||
| --------- | --------- |
Approved by the trustees on 30 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Mr D S Whitaker Chair
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Ellel Village Hall Trust Notes to the accounts
1) Accounting policies
a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005)’, issued in March 2005, applicable accounting Standards and the Charities Act 2011.
b) Funds structure
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or trust deed. Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 12.
- c) Incoming resource
All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of the incoming resources can be measured with sufficient reliability.
d) Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
- e) Irrecoverable VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.
f) Allocation of overhead and support costs
Overhead and support costs are minimal and of an administrative nature only. Support and overhead costs are allocated to governance.
g) Costs of generating funds
The costs of generating funds relate to print and publication costs for local community promotions.
h) Charitable activities
Costs of charitable activities relate to expenses incurred in the running and maintenance of the hall and providing community activities. Charitable activities include staffing costs.
i) Governance costs
Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to statutory audit and legal fees together with overhead and support costs.
j) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
All assets are capitalised and valued at historic cost. Depreciation is charged on furniture, fixtures, fittings and equipment which is written off on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life of four years. Depreciation on solar panels is written off on a straightline basis over their estimated useful life of ten years.
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1) Accounting policies (continued)
k) Stock
Stock held comprise cleaning materials. It is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
l) Realised gains and losses
All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.
2) Investment income
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Interest on cash deposits | 862 | 317 |
| --------- | ---------- | |
| ncoming resources from charitable activities | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Hire of the village hall | 52,088 | 50,348 |
| Solar panel income | 1,884 | 2,082 |
| Sale of refreshments | 2,259 | 3,282 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| 56,231 | 55,712 | |
| --------- | --------- |
3) Incoming resources from charitable activities
4) Analysis of charitable activities expenditure
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds £ | funds £ | £ | £ | |
| Running costs of the village hall: | ||||
| Utilities and rates | 8,873 | - | 8,873 | 9,247 |
| Other running costs | 7,868 | - | 7,868 | 32,144 |
| Provision of facilities | 65 | - | 65 | 2,559 |
| Staff costs | 22,181 | 500 | 22,681 | 23,107 |
| Community Engagement | 616 | 1,857 | 2,473 | |
| Advertising and web costs | 485 | - | 485 | 284 |
| Depreciation of fixed assets | 4,449 | - | 4,449 | 5,007 |
| --------- | --------- | --------- | --------- | |
| 44,537 | 2,357 | 46,894 | 72,348 | |
| --------- | --------- | --------- | --------- |
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5) Analysis of governance costs
| nalysis of governance costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Administration costs | 3,574 | 4,539 |
| Professional fees | 305 | 340 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| 3,879 | 4,879 | |
| --------- | --------- |
6) Analysis of staff costs
Staff costs relate to the management of the hall and are charged to charitable activities. The trustees receive no remuneration for their services and other staffing services are provided on a voluntary basis by the local community as required.
7) Auditor’s remuneration
No audit fees were payable in the year.
8) Tangible fixed assets- restricted funds
| Equipment | Furniture | Fixtures & | Buildings | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | Fittings £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 12,978 | 9,628 | 7,134 | 662,045 | 691,785 |
| Additions | - | - | - | - | - |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 12,978 | 9,628 | 7,134 | 662,045 | 691,785 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 12,978 | 9,628 | 7,134 | - | 29,740 |
| Charge for the year | - | - | - | - | - |
| Released on disposal | - | - | - | - | - |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 12,978 | 9,628 | 7,134 | - | 29,740 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| Net book value | |||||
| At 31 March 2025 | - | - | - | 662,045 | 662,045 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | --------- | |
| At 1 April 2024 | - | - | - | 662,045 | 662,045 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- |
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9) Tangible fixed assets- unrestricted funds
| Equipment | Furniture | Fixtures & | Buildings |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | Fittings £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 17,929 | 252 | 5,656 | 340 | 24,177 |
| Additions | 334 | - | 974 | - | 1,308 |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 18,263 | 252 | 6,630 | 340 | 25,485 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 April 2024 | 11,291 | 252 | 5,020 | - | 16,563 |
| Charge for the year | 3,683 | - | 766 | - | 4,449 |
| Released on disposal | - | - | - | - | - |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 14,974 | 252 | 5,786 | - | 21,012 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| Net book value | |||||
| At 31 March 2025 | 3,289 | - | 844 | 340 | 4,473 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| At 1 April 2024 | 6,638 | - | 636 | 340 | 7,614 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------- | |
| 10) Analysis of accrued income | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Solar panel income | 160 | 125 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| 11) Analysis of current liabilities | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Finance lease | - | 3,305 | |||
| Trade creditors | 2,722 | 1,607 | |||
| Deferred income | 10,665 | 10,143 | |||
| Accruals | 2,495 | 2,486 | |||
| --------- | --------- | ||||
| 15,882 | 17,541 | ||||
| --------- | --------- |
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12) Analysis of charitable funds
| Analysis of fund movements | Balance | Incoming | Resources | Transfers | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at the start | resources | expended | at the end | ||
| of the year | of the year | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| a) Restricted fund: Building | 660,660 | 2,357 | (2,357) | - | 660,660 |
| b) Unrestricted fund | 31,441 | 57,396 | (48,416) | - | 40,421 |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | |
| 692,101 | 59,753 | (50,773) | - | 701,081 | |
| ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- |
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a) The Building appeal (restricted fund) was established in 2010 to raise funds to replace the Ellel Village Hall with a new, modern facility based in the centre of the community playing fields.
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b) The unrestricted funds are available to be spent for any of the purposes of the charity.
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