Wreningham Village Hall Chairman’s report 2025
This year the committee has focussed on improving the hall facilities to improve safety and hygiene, building on the excellent kitchen installed last year, thanks to the efforts of the previous committee.
We have replaced the glass washer, and sourced new glasses. A floor polisher has been purchased which enabled Nick and Keith to refurbish the hall floor which now looks so much better. A new ice-maker was necessary due to the age and degradation of the old machine. Refurbishing this was tried, but was not successful.
We also bought a second (second-hand) iPad and Zettle reader to assist the staff on busier evenings, and the iPad has been set up with a stock recording system. This has enabled Keith, our bar manager, with Nick’s assistance, to keep a closer eye on what sells, allowing the stock value to reduce from £4,000 to £2,500 worth. This has also reduced wastage significantly. Keith and Nick have carried out extensive research on local breweries and have chosen varied local beers which we hope you have enjoyed. The cellar has been inspected by Greene King and following their advice on cleaning products, is now considered to be in top-rated condition. We are trying to source ‘local’ products, from beers to crisps, via wine, now bought from Nethergate, thanks to Janet’s investigations.
We are grateful to the catering team (Helen W and Pat) for organising bi-monthly ‘foodie’ nights, for Janet organising cocktail nights, with Nick stepping in when needed, and to the Events Group, who organised the Beating the Bounds. The Beer festival is in the 25/26 year! A particular highlight of this year was the VE day celebration, enjoyed by 100 villagers, and funded by South Norfolk Council.
We must also thank Mick and Sue who look after the website – and it’s excellent! They have introduced a ticket booking system which is working well. Alongside this they edit the Mardle and liaise with the printers. They are also very good at reminding us of what needs to be done, which is genuinely helpful, and I very much appreciate that. I suspect we drive them a bit mad sometimes.
Running the hall has been challenging however. Keith took over as bar manager in November and has done a superb job. He did this alongside cleaning, as we were unable to find a new cleaner until May, when happily, Julian began working for us. As no-one volunteered to be our treasurer, we were obliged to employ an accountant. He is a village resident and has been a tremendous help. In order to keep his charges down, I have been doing the day-to-day bookkeeping alongside chairing the committee, but this is not ideal.
So to the committee:
With mixed feelings we will be saying goodbye to Jennie, who has been offered a promotion, which is brilliant, but means she will be moving to Cumbria. She will be missed for her good humour and hard work. Jennie’s regular duties include looking after HallMaster, the booking system and liaising with hirers.
I would like to thank Andrea, Heather and Janet for their contributions – much needed – and Nick who has looked after the maintenance of the hall. This has been a major task but not only is the hygiene of the bar massively improved, we also now have weekly fire alarm tests, meaning that we comply with all legal requirements and with our licencing agreements.
I will now move onto the Treasurer’s report: we can take questions and comments after that.
Treasurer’s Report
It has not been a good year financially. Our lettings income is down, as are bar sales. Although the cost of stock purchases has increased due to wholesalers prices, our margins have improved from 30% to 40% due to reduced wastage.
Bar wages have increased as Keith is salaried. John Knight kindly refused a wage, but he is the first bar manager to do that. It is entirely appropriate that Keith is paid. Minimum wage increased in April and will increase again in April 2026. Admin expenses have also increased because we now pay Knight Accountancy for bookkeeping tasks and payroll. Equipment expenditure has been high this year but these are many one-off costs.
We have to increase income and also reduce costs. The only cost that we can see a way of reducing is the electricity bill, around £8,000 pa. We would very much like to install solar panels and have investigated the cost of this. We would need grants to cover the cost and would also need Parish Council approval. If you have an opinion on this, please let the Parish Council know.
Overall, we can manage on our reserves for just over a year, if the 25/26 year continues like this. We need to improve our finances otherwise the hall will need to close. More lettings, more bar sales, lower costs. There is only so much the committee can do. Please consider offering your help – can you reduce our admin costs by taking on the treasurer role – or just the bookkeeping side? Can you encourage your friends and neighbours to come down more, or to hire the hall for parties etc? We now only open on a Thursday evening, as there was little support for a Friday club night. We would like to cut staff costs by having a team of volunteer bar staff for smaller events, such as foodie nights and to give Nick and Keith a break from Thursday nights. Could you help behind the bar sometimes?
It is YOUR hall and we need you.
Wrenlngham Vlllage Hall Income and Expenditure For the year endod 30th September 2025 Inctyne 8ankldewt Imerest Bar Tak18$ General C4)nètlth)s 31951 411 lets 041 19.037 Mardle Atherts ParlshC4undl.8errfral VillaEe Events crther IKO Elertvldty refvnd Tthl IrKm• EXpendIre ank Charges AdThMn/Athert1/mlje Par- Purthoses 517 20.662 28.783 Bar.Wa8QS 033 11761 419 aeathitvA-Wa8e5 Electrititv 4,316 7.524 9,010 InSran L107 Szeitle Fee5 UnrS1 PrfDrrrlr8 8ht5 Mainteal L457 1410 Adn[stlIve Eyr Village Events Rate$/water vates Telep TV 1567 163 EqUIprt ISU 128 Waste (¥dIng 1 64161 Surp1 ryer Exputh <757 Grants andithr bxome COMMnI Fund for kltth2n Tmal (ktter IMThi• £x*ptlonal item-kltthen relurb 15,128 115
Wreningham Vlllage Hall Balance Sheet For the year ended 30th September 2025 2025 2014 Reserves OpèniNd Balan/Re$eWe 35,362 38,247 Net Income (Expendlturel -16,944 -2,885 aosing Balan/ReserVe 18,418 35,362 Represented by Bardays CurrentAccount COIF Oeposltalc HSBcCurrentAccftt Petty tash and cash on hand Totsl cash Net recelpts due- lettings Less amounts owin 8.489 14.241 19,448 13,627 888 566 34.530 1,072 -240 417 23,147 149 4,878 18,418 35,362 Note&. The vllage hallfabrkls In5uredfor the Sum of £605,845 The vllage hallcortents are itsured for the sum of £88,803 The HSBCa(¢ounthas bÈéndased. Waste recY¢N daims are lJeir¥ mède. An aMual8rouNI rentof £1 is due Istjanuary fty eath ralendar year. The nextpaymentls due January 2031. z15
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of IHPtrvIfvLIv*i H4LL On accounts for the year •ndod Charlty no Ilf any) 2¥&qql Sot out on pagos I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the al)ove charity ("the Trust.) for the year ended >) Rosponslbllltlos and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the 8ccounts in accordance the requirem8nts of th8 Chariti8s Act 2011 (Ihe ACV,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts cartted txrt under section 145 of the 2011 Act afKI in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Direclions glven by the Charity Commlssion under sectton 145(5)(b) of the ACL I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matsrial matters have come to my attention in nneCtIOn with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting recorils Independent oxamlnerfs 8tatom•nt I have no concerns and have come across no other rnatter8 in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. ' Pleas8 delete the words in th8 brackets if they do not apply. signed: 2026 Name:. Relevant profosslonal qualfflcation(8} or body {If any): Address: cRscr I/oRuic ft15 515 IER Oclober 2018