## **NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST**
**Charity No 269218**
**ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED**
**31[st] DECEMBER 2023**
**B A Taxation Services 113 Shakespeare Tower Barbican London EC2Y 8DR**
## **NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST**
**Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023**
- **Trustees’ Report**
- **Statement of Income and Expenditure**
- **Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
- **Breakdown of Fundraising Income, Grants, and Special Project Expenditure**
- **Independent Examiner’s Report**
## NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST
Frewen Close, Main Street, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6RA Registered Charity Number 269218
## Report of the Trustees for the financial year ended 31 December 2023
The land on which Northiam village hall now stands was purchased by the community in 1971 from two local landowners/farmers. A Trust was established at that time to hold the land, to build the hall, and then to manage the site on behalf of the village. Construction of buildings started in 1975, funded by the sale of the land on which the six Frewen Close bungalows now stand. By 2000, the original building had been extended to provide additional meeting rooms and storage space, and the whole facility is now believed to be one of the largest village halls in East Sussex.
The buildings and surrounding land are now held in trust by the Charity Commission’s Official Custodian, on behalf of the local community. A management committee (Northiam Village Hall Trust) has responsibility for the day-to-day running of the hall, governed by the Trust Deed established in 1971. This set the original goal of providing a village hall for use by the community, with the ongoing objective of improving the conditions of life for Northiam residents. The Trust is a registered charity, regulated by the Charities Commission, and answerable to the local community each year at an Annual General Meeting. Trustees are appointed each year at the AGM, either elected by the community or nominated by local groups that use the hall. At the 2023 AGM the following 12 Trustees were appointed: Keith Whiting (Chair); Christine Palmer (Secretary); Sylvia Wickens (Bookings Secretary); Bernie Bone (Treasurer); Margaret Davies; John Fenton; Sarah Giles; John Palmer; Richard and Sandra Robinson; Pete Sargent, and Sue Schlesinger.
The Trust generates its income from rentals paid by hall users, supplemented by donations and fund-raising activities. Day-to-day running costs absorb most of the income but, where there is a surplus, this is used to make improvements to the hall. Where appropriate, grants from other bodies are accessed by the Trust, but all monies raised, whatever the source, are used in maintaining or improving the village hall and its facilities.
For the financial year ended 31 Dec 2023 our income from hiring the halls was £16,695, up from £15,312 in 2022, although still short of our pre-pandemic income in 2019 of £19,914. Other regular income of £2,629 and fund-raising income of £4,325 gave us total “trading” income of £23,649, (£22,230 in 2022). Day to day running costs of £13,174 were an increase over 2022 (£11,844), mostly reflecting higher energy, cleaning and maintenance costs. Our overall “trading surplus” for 2023 was £10,475, very similar to the £10,386 in 2022.
Improvements to the hall and the facilities it provides are funded through a combination of our trading surplus, along with the cash resources built up over previous years. To enhance these funds, where appropriate, we seek grant assistance from third parties.
Using all these sources, we have continued our programme of steady improvement to the hall facilities. During 2023 the following projects have been undertaken, at a cost of £23,109:
- A. With financial assistance from third parties:
- We have completed the refurbishment of the back-stage committee room. This major project was started in 2022, and involved creation of a new external entrance and accessibility ramp, reinstating a toilet facility, upgrading the electrics and heating, replacing the flooring and providing new table and chairs. This space – now renamed the Paddock Room - is back in use as a meeting room, and is also used for consultations and health treatments. The project was funded by Rother District Council and the National Lottery Community Fund, with assistance from Northiam Parish Council.
- The main hall acoustics had been long recognised as poor, with particular criticism following a concert in February and cinema event in May. After taking expert advice we arranged for ceiling-hung acoustic panels to be installed, and the improvement in sound quality has been significant. The Chalk Cliff Trust provided 50% of the cost.
- Following an energy efficiency survey commissioned by Rother District Council as part of a nationwide programme funded by the UK Government, we had cavity wall insulation installed. The survey estimated that this should cut our energy usage by up to 20%, and should help to defray some of the cost increase we will face when our present fixed-price gas contract finishes in January 2025. The installation costs will be met by the Government programme via Rother DC.
- The village hall trust provided the resources, organised and underwrote the costs of the village Coronation party held in May. After the event the costs were covered by Rother District Council, NISA, and Northiam Parish Council.
- B. Funded solely from village hall resources:
- CCTV. To improve the security of the buildings, but also including the village library and the car park, we have upgraded the CCTV cameras to give full coverage over the whole site.
- WiFi. Hall users have commented that the WiFi is not reliable. We are part way through an improvement scheme that is intended to make it more robust.
- To make more efficient use of the car park we have “white lined” the whole area. We are delighted to see that, for the most part, users are parking within the newly designated bays.
- Permanent installation of a digital projector, now ceiling mounted.
- Replacement of time-expired gate and chestnut railing fence in the paddock area.
- Election Hustings, held in April in preparation for the May elections to Northiam Parish Council.
2024 will see further upgrades and improvements throughout the facility. The exterior of the building will need redecorating, and in the medium term we will need to provide resources to replace the gas boilers.
January 2024
Keith Whiting Chair, Northiam Village Hall Trust
Bernard Bone Treasurer, Northiam Village Hall Trust
## **NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST**
**Registered Charity No: 269218**
## **STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|INCOME
Lettings
Donations
Fund Raising
Fund Raising - Special Projects
Miscellaneous
Grants re: Special Projects
Government Grants
Bank Interest
Maintenance Petty Cash not longer required
EXPENDITURE
Insurance
Repairs, Renewals and Maintenance
Cleaning
Equipment
Administration
Rates
Heat and Light
Water
Fund raising expenses
Expenditure on special projects
Loan repayment
Miscellaneous
**(DEFICIT)/SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR**
Cash funds brought forward 1.1.23
Cash funds carried forward 31.12.23|**2023**
**£**
16,695
40
4,285
_-_
2,443
16,125
-
186
100
39,874
1,242
3,727
2,220
3,588
1,181
57
2,909
418
942
23,109
600
479
40,471
(597)
19,833
19,236|**2022**
**£**
15,312
650
3,674
-
2,565
10,000
2,667
30
-|
|---|---|---|
|||34,897|
|||1,146
3,036
1,931
407
1,100
-
2,212
832
818
20,466
600
770|
|||33,317|
|||1,580
18,253|
|||19,833|
**Registered Charity No: 269218**
## **NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2023**
|**ASSETS**
Cash at bank
Cash in hand
**LIABILITIES**
Loan from Don Hanson Charitable Foundation|**2023**
**£**
19,076
160
19,236
1,200|**2022**
**£**
19,773
60|
|---|---|---|
|||19,833|
|||1,800|
The Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities were approved by the Trustees.
_Name_ ………………………………..
_Date_ ……………………………….. 23rd January 2024
## **NORTHIAM VILLAGE HALL TRUST**
## **Registered Charity No: 269218**
## **BREAKDOWN OF FUNDRAISING INCOME 2023**
|**2023**
**£**
Jumble Sales
1,411
Boot Sale
353
Coffee Mornings/Other
1,984
Cinema
505
Amazon Smile
32
4,285
**BREAKDOWN OF GRANTS RE: SPECIAL PROJECTS**
**2023**
**£**
Committee Room reinstatement
10,356
Acoustics Installation
3,000
Coronation party
1,769
Shell Community Kindness Programme
1,000
16,125
**BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURE: SPECIAL PROJECTS**
**2023**
Heating & access system control
1,741
Paddock Room reinstatement
7,888
Coronation Party
1,530
Local Election hustings
281
Acoustics
6,360
Cavity Wall insulation
3,009
CCTV enhancement
1,400
White lining: car park
900
Reinstatement of sound system
-
Shed replacement
-
Jenkins Room floor replacement
-
Committee Room reinstatement
-
Rear path reinstatement
-
Replacement of chestnut fencing
-
23,109|**2022**
**£**
1,582
467
842
750
33|
|---|---|
||3,674|
||**2022**
**£**
**-**
**-**
-
-|
||-|
||**2022**
1,398
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
828
1,158
2,019
12,708
1,637
718|
||20,466|
Independent Examiner'8 Report on the Unaudited Finsn¢ial
Statements to the Trustee8 of Northiam Village Hall Tnist
Charity No: 269218
I report on the financial slalements for the year ended 31° December 2023 set out on
the following pages.
Respective respo••ibilitiu of Trryst•¢J and Independent Examin¢r
The charity's trustees nSider that an audit is not required for this Y (under section
144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), and that an independent examination is
It is my res)nsIbl]ity to:
Examine the coUnts (under section 145 of the Act),
To follow the procedures laid do in the General Directions giv¢n by the
Charity Commission (under section 145(5Xb) of the Act), and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basts of IndepeDdeDt ex•miner's ststement
My examitmtion was conducted in accordance with Genernl Directions given by the
Charity Commission. An examination includ¢s a review of the acwunting records
kept by the charity and 8 ¢omparAson of the accounts presented with those re¢ords. It
also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the aounts, and
seeking explanations from the tnLStees ncerning any such matters. The procedures
und¢rtakcn do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audil and
consequently I do not expr an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examinatio no matter has com¢ to my attention
(l) which gives nx Teasonable eause to believe that. in ony matw1 respecl
the tnteeS have not met th¢ requirements to ensure that:
proper accountin8 records kept (in acconlance with section 130
of the Act)" and
IoUnts are prepared which agree with the aCcoting
requitements of the 2011 Act; or
(2) to which, in my opinioo attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of th¢ accounts to be r¢a¢h¢d.
B A Antrobus Bsc (Open) FCA CTA
113 Shakespeare Tower
Barbi¢an
London EC2Y 8DR