2024-12-31-accounts - U3A University Of The Third Age, Cheltenham Branch

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2024 Period start date To 31 December 2024 Period end date

Charity name: Cheltenham U3A

Charity registration number: 299146

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To advance the education of older people no longer in full time employment in Cheltenham & the surrounding locality and the provision of facilities for leisure time and recreational activi- ties, with the object of improving the conditions of life for such people in the interest of their so- cial welfare
Summary of the main activi- ties in relation to those pur- poses for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The guiding principle of the u3a is to pro- mote lifelong learning. We have in excess of 140 interest groups, some meeting weekly, others fortnightly or monthly. We hold monthly Members Meetings with speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds. Day trips and short holidays are also organised. Members can participate in other learning opportunities offered by the Cotswold Link (a group of u3as in Herefordshire, Worces- tershire and Gloucestershire) as well as the Third Age Trust. Some of these are in per- son and some on line. A bimonthly magazine is sent to all mem- bers with information about groups and other u3a activities, in addition to some orig- inal articles.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Com- mission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Public Benefit Statement We confirm that we have complied with our duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising our powers and duties

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference

Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment All the officers and group leaders are volunPara 1.38 teers. Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its ben- eficiaries and any wider ben- efits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	We continue to grow in popularity in the Cheltenham area, now servicing more than 1940 members with over 140 special inter- est groups. We promote the u3a by dis- tributing flyers, the use of social media, word of mouth and an annual Open Day to promote our group opportunities.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Para 1.41 Achievements against objectives set

Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s finan- cial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The accounts are drawn up on an income and expenses basis
Statement explaining the pol- icy for holding reserves stat- ing why they are held	Para 1.22	We maintain reserves at a level of 125% of the Third Age Trust Capitation fee. No reserves are designated for a specific purpose
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£10900
Reasons for holding zero re- serves	Para 1.22	n/a
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	none
Explanation of any uncertain- ties about the charity contin- uing as a going concern	Para 1.23	none

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)		The Charity’s principal source of funding is an annual membership fee paid by all mem- bers, fees for Members' Monthly Meetings and gift aid.
	The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The Charity’s principal source of funding is an annual membership fee paid by all mem- bers, fees for Members' Monthly Meetings and gift aid.

Investment policy and objec- tives including any social in- vestment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other		The funds were predominantly used to pro- vide bimonthly magazines (currently being taken mainly online), publicity and to pay for fees for the Third Age Trust which oversees all the u3as. We also have to manage our website and cover administrative expenses.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity consti- tuted? (e.g unincorporated associa- tion, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated Association
Trustee selection methods including details of any con- stitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Charity members elect trustees at the An- nual General Meeting. Trustees then elect the officers

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures Para 1.51 adopted for the induction and training of trustees

The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 structure and any wider network with which the charity works

Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties

The AGM in March 24 approved a change Other to the Constitution to enable committee members to occupy positions longer than 3 years when there is difficulty filling vacancies.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Cheltenham U3A
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	299146
Charity’s principal address	Rossett, Balcarras Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 8QG

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name


Trustee Name	Ofce	Dates acted if not for whole year
Janet Ropner	Chair

Rick Ruter	Vice Chair	From March 2023
Ian Donaldson	Membership Secretary	From April 2023
Denis Raingold	Groups Co-ordinator
Stephanie Molineux	Treasurer
Ken Inglis	Business Secretary
Anna Salkeld	Minutes Secretary
Steve Orme	Access, Equality and Inclusivity
Margaret Garvey	Speakers Secretary

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Roderic Keith Griffiths

Position (eg Sec- Chair (since April 2025) retary, Chair, etc)

Date 31 July 2025

CHELTENHAM U3A ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO DECEMBER 2024 (RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS BASIS) Dec-23 Dec-24 RECEIPTS Membership Direct group and events Gift Aid Open Meetings and Open Dav Donations TAT grant Sundry income Interest £23,199 £52,564 £4,479 £4,487 £2,000 £5,000 £196 £249 £28,445 £14,114 £4,255 £4,862 £3 £0 £280 £224 £92,174 £52,183 PAYMENTS TAT capitation fees Direct group and events TAT licences TAT news AGM expenses Cheltenham Festival Equipment GL meeting Inspection New Member meetinES Newsletters Open Meetings and Open Dav Paypal Publicity Website & database Sundry expenses £6,480 £66,216 £1,703 £4,871 £288 £6,000 £85 £0 £360 £7,040 £13,015 £1,802 £4,777 £363 £0 £949 £231 £540 £633 £13,644 £3,353 £405 £0 £10,610 £3,571 £0 £0 £514 £296 £2,400 £273 £814 £104,848 £46,385 EXCESSIIDEFICITI OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS 1£12,6741 £5,798 Excess of income over expenditure Balance b/fwd 1£12,6741 £41,136 £5,798 £28,462 Balance c/fwd £28,462 £34,260 BANK AND CASH BALANCES Bank current account Bank deposit accounts Paypal £26,722 £0 £1,740 £24,086 £10,174 £0 £28,462 £34,260

To the Trustees of the Cheltenham Unlversity of The Third Age (the Charity) I repoit on the attached accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 De¢enibei' 2024, which I have initialed foi. identifjcation purposes only. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Charity's Tilistees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's Tru8lees consider that an audit is not i'equii'ed foi. this year ut)dei- section 144(2) of the Cliai'ities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that ali independent examination is needed. It is niy responsibility to.. exainine the accounts under sectton 145 of Ihe 2011 Act; follow the proccdui'es laid down in the genei'al Dii-ections given by tjie Charity Coillniission uiidei. section 145{5)(b) of the 201 l Act; aiid to state whether paiticulai. matters Iiave ¢ome to my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was cairied out in 8ccoi'dan¢e willi the genei'al Dti'ections given by the Charity Coinmissioii. An ¥xamindtion inLludes a i'eview of the accoullting i'ecoi'ds kept by the Charity and & Comparison of the accounts presented with tliose recoi'ds. It also includes considei'ation of any unusual items oi. disclosures in the accoiints and seeking explanations from you as Trnstees concerning any such mattel's. Tlie procedures uiideilaken do not provide all the evidence that would be i'equii'ed in an alldit and consequently iio opinion is given as to wliether tlie accounts pi'esent a 'true and fail. view, and the iepoi't is limited to those niatters set oiit in th¢ slal¢m¢nt below. Independent examiner's statement In connectioii with iny examination, no inatter lias come to my attention.. (l ) whicli gives me i-easoiiable cause to believe that in any niatei'ial respect the requirements-. to Iceep accounting records in accordaiice with section 130 of the 201 l Act. and to pi'epare accounts which accoid with the accounting recoi'ds and comply with the accounting i'eqiiirements of the 2011 Act have not been Inet. oi. (2) to whicli, in iny opinion, attention should bc drawn in ol'der to enable a proper understan the accounts lo be reaclied. 2.02.loxC Signature ¢ou L4Dale Piofessional designation{s) Addi'ess..