WOODLEY COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2023
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
The Woodley Carnival continues to be one of the main community events for Woodley , each year I am blown away by the engagement and support provided by residents, clubs and businesses, who create the atmosphere which sees thousands return annually to Woodford Park.
The committee ensures community is at the core of every decision we make , ensuring we are a platform for Woodley to come together to celebrate and engage with each other . This is most evident in our Arena, ever popular and at the heart of our field, with dance, singing, cheerleading and martial arts groups performing and cheering on each other.
In addition, though the 80 stalls on the field and displays from community groups, we present an opportunity to promote great causes, increase engagement, discover new members and raise funds .
Remaining accessible to as many in the community as possible, is at the forefront of our constitution. Much thought is taken to ensure fiscal viability of the carnival, balancing with it the aim to provide the lowest possible prices, ensuring we have plenty of attractions on the field and ways for the community to engage.
Huge gratitude is therefore owed to our sponsors , who make it possible to provide free attractions on our filed, light and sound our stage and finish our event off with the fantastic firework finale.
A highlight for this year was meeting with uSports who not only wanted to sponsor the Carnival but resurrect the Carnival football competition. Organising and funding the event, uSports brought schools from Woodley and beyond together for a boys and girls football tournament , providing a community event and wonderful memories for the children and parents who attended.
The Carnival is an independent charity which is not subsidised or funded from local taxes , with its income derived from Carnival Day. Residents volunteered time to help make Carnival happen , including roles which the committee would otherwise need to pay for. My heartfelt thanks go to all these individuals, without who the Carnival could not happen.
Our Evening Concert continues to be a great addition to our Afternoon Carnival with a fantastic turnout. Seeing whole families from grandchildren to grandparents gather on the field for Woodley’s biggest party is exactly the community atmosphere we hope to provide. The local bands put on a fantastic show, and I thoroughly enjoyed singing and dancing along.
We received many positive comments from members of the public who took time to thank Committee members and volunteers for putting on such a brilliant and enjoyable community event. My personal thanks to the committee and their families who give generously of their time . Together we are a unified and strong body, working tirelessly to provide a well organised event .
As we look to 2025, I am focused on ensuring the continued growth of our event does not jeopardise the core offering our event provides; a family friendly community festival, with the Woodley community at its heart, well organised and accessible to as many in the community as possible.
Matthew Jacobs, Chair
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TREASURERS ANNUAL REPORT
Report on the Accounts to 31[st] July 2024
I am pleased to report that we made a surplus for the year of £16,737.93
Comments
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An income of £79566.23 was generated from this year’s event against £63,851.04 in 2023 and £70,571.02 in 2022.
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Gate income was extremely strong at £38,550.46 higher than the extraordinary £32,499.75 taken in 2022. This was driven equally by good attendance, reflecting the excellent weather conditions, and our much needed and arguably overdue after 10 years, increased gate pricing. It should be noted that very little push back to the increased pricing was received.
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This year’s Carnival cost £63,624.77 against £57,128.50 in 2023 (11% increase). Our fencing supplier failed leading to a lost deposit of £2k and a further £2.2K premium for fencing from another supplier at short notice, Add to this the £1k additional security resource and £1.1K on the new stage branding, the £6.4K cost increase is fully accounted for. This means, excluding the above, there was a 0% cost increase, quite an achievement considering the inflation levels in 2024.
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Our reserve and current account currently jointly hold £117,087, £17k more than last year, Whilst a healthy and improved position, as presented at the last committee meeting 2 years of costs, with inflation, and a10% contingency would be ideal and this would require a balance £143K, £26k higher than we currently have. (Note 2 years because 1 year to cover cashflow for the current carnival and an additional year to fund a carnival in the event of a poor year.)
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In line with Constitution clause 7.3, remaining surplus £16737.93 will be used for the purpose of organising, managing, promoting or otherwise supporting the Carnival and associated events and activities.
The accounts will be independently examined and submitted to the them Charities Commission as required.
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| Woodley Carnival Committee 2024 Profit and Loss Account Income Other Income - Interest Direct Event Costs Gross profit/(loss) Other Charges Surplus/(loss) Surplus/(loss) |
(V1.0 - for Audit) 2024 £ 79,566.23 796.47 (63,624.77) 16,737.93 - 16,737.93 16,737.93 |
2023 £ 63,851.04 393.82 (57,128.05) |
|---|---|---|
| 7,116.81 - |
||
| 7,116.81 | ||
| 7,116.81 | ||
| Woodley Carnival Committee 2024 | (V1.0 - for Audit) 116,202.96 - |
2024 £ 115,679.95 |
103,108.83 - |
2023 £ 98,942.02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103,108.83 4,166.81 |
||||
| 115,679.95 | 98,942.02 | |||
| 115,679.95 | 98,942.02 | |||
| 115,679.95 | 98,942.02 | |||
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Woodley Carnival Committee On accounts for the year Charity no (if any) 291732 ended[31][st][ July 2024]
Set out on pages 2-5
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2024. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 01/10/2024 Name: Paul Maddock Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Oak Tax Ltd 63 Redwood Avenue, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 4DS
Oct 2018
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IER