IN THE HEART OF BLEDLOW Trustees, Annual Report For the year ending 31 October 2025 1. Charity Details Registered Charity Name: Bledlow Village Hall Registered Charity Number: 300232 Description.. Unincorporated charitable trust Address: Chinnor Road, Bledlow, Princes Risborough HP27 9QF Trustees during the year to 31 October 2025: Jessica Bryant (chair until 1 December 2025) James Neville Wiseman-clarke (chair from 1 December 2025) Carol Belinda Sloots-majumdar (trustee from 19 October 2025) The hall is volunteer-run by a management committee, with the trustees overseeing the hall's operation and governance. 2. Structure, Governance and Management Governing document: Bledlow Village Hall is governed by its constitution, known as "The First Schedule., originally adopted in 1931 and amended from time to time, most recently on 10 September 2020. Trustee recruitment and appointment: Trustees are appointed by a majority of the existing trustees, and with the approval of the current chair of the management committee, for a five-year term. Trustees may offer to stand for re-election for one further five-year term, afler which they must retire from office. There are no policies or procedures in place for the induction and training of trustees. Organisational structure: The management committee oversees the following in respect of the hall: bookings and use. maintenance, upkeep and improvements" financial stewardship. and Health & Safety compliance. Page l of3 Operational tasks may be delegated to volunteers or contractors (e.g., cleaning, routine repairs, grounds maintenance). 3. Objectives and Activities Charitable purpose: To allow the hall to be used and enjoyed for.. physical and mental recreation., spiritual, social, moral and intellectual development., and any other purpose at the management committee's discretion, for the benefit of the inhabitants of the ecclesiastical parish of Bledlow with Saunderton and Horsenden and its immediate vicinity without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious creed or political or other opinions. Use of the hall includes.. classes and educational activities, including use by Bledlow Pre-school., regular hirings by local groups {e.g. the Women's Institute, dance classes, clubs, societies and parish council meetings)., community events., private hire for family gatherings and celebrations., and hosting of local polling station activities Public benefit ststement: The trustees confirm they have complied with the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. Bledlow Village Hall provides an affordable, accessible, and inclusive space for local residents, clubs, societies, and service providers. 4. Achievements and Performance During the year, Bledlow Village Hall continued to be a valued community hub, including being the location of the local pre-school. Notable achievements include: completing the renovation of the hall's playground, which is open to the general public. and the Chiltern Rangers holding a Children's Art Show in September in the garden of the Village Hall. 5. Financial Review Overall financial position: Page 2 of 3 Total income for the year was £41,066, from hall hire fees, fundraising activities, grants. donations and investments and interest. Total expenditure was £13,899, covering utilities, insurance, maintenance, professional costs and other operational costs. Reserves policy: The trustees aim to hold a reserve of £30,000 in its bank accounts to safeguard against unexpected costs such as urgent repairs, with the balance of the hall's funds invested in an investment account. At year end, total reseNes held in bank accounts and the hall's investment account stood at £96,988 (with a liability (deposit owed) of £310). Going concern ststoment: The trustees consider that the charity's financial position remains stable and that Bledlow Village Hall is a going concern for the foreseeable future. 6. Plans for Future Periods Future plans include continuing routine maintenance and pursuing larger improvements such as upgrading the kitchen. The management committee is currently in the process of developing a 5 year plan of works. The management committee has also implemented an on-line booking system and is in the process of refining the booking process. 7. Reference and Administrative Information Bankers: TSB Independent Examiner: Sarah Moore Insurers: Ansvar 8. Approval of the Trustees, Report The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity trustees.. Signature.. Full Name: James Neville Wiseman-clarke Position: Chair Date: 7 May 2026 Page 3 of 3 ## **Notes to the Accounts for the 12-month period from 1[st] Nov 2024 to 31[st] Oct 2025** ## **Income** - **The total income for the 12-month reporting period was £41,066 (See Income and expenditure table).** - This was comprised of - Income from Hire of the Hall of £24,511 (after return of deposits and cancellations). A further £80 was received for hire of the car park and tables; - £255 from fundraising activities; - £14,224 from Grants (Buck Community Award paid after completion of the Playground works); and - £1,995 from investment dividends and interest. - Of the income from the Hall, £19,277 (79%) was from groups considered under ‘Regular Hire and Hire from Organisations” and in scope of PPL & PRS (Performing Rights Society)/ (Phonographic Performance Limited) payments. ## **Expenses** - **Total net expenses for the 12-months were £13,899 (See Detailed (net) Expenditure table),** comprising - Operational expenses of £11,318; - Insurance and Subs of £1,595; - Professional Costs of £315; and - Fundraising costs of £670 (reflecting fund raising income received in the previous reporting year but reimbursed during the current period (due to a cancelled event)). ## **Surplus of Income over Expenditure** - **A surplus of income over expenditure was recorded of £27,167 (See Income and expenditure table).** - **Excluding income from Grants, Donations, and Investments, and Income/Costs from Fundraising, the Operating surplus was £11,363.** Note, to match reporting for previous years, Operational Costs are reported as net figures and both income and expenditure are adjusted to account for a payment of £933 received from residents of Ridgeway Meads (which neighbours the hall) as a contribution towards tree works (i.e., total operation expenses of £12,251 are reported as £11,318 and the payment of £933 is not reported as income). In the Detailed (net) Expenditure table, this adjustment is reflected in the figure for Grounds Maintenance reported as £3,201 (from £4,134.00 - £ 933). ## **Income and Expenses for 2024/2025 relative to previous years** - **Hall rental income rose by 34% from £18,331 in 2023/24 to £24,511 for 2024/25 (See Income and expenditure table).** This was primarily from increased use by ‘Regular Hire and Hire from Organisations’ groups. Income from ‘Private and Domestic Hire’ rose by 11% from the previous year (£5,234 for 2024/25 vs £4,697 for 2023/24). - Operational costs were 37% higher for 2024/25 relative to 2023/24, although were generally consistent with other previous years (See Detailed (net) Expenditure table). A significant part of the increase from 2023/24 was from Grounds Maintenance and money spent on tree work (£2,244 of the total Ground Maintenance costs of £4,134, of which £933 was covered by Ridgeway Meads). - Costs of all utilities increased from the previous year (Electricity (+19%), Water (+22%), Oil (+7%), Wet Waste (inc. Sanitary) (+58%)). - Council Tax rose by 200%. - No costs were incurred for Capital Expenditure in the current reporting year. ## **Current, Savings and Investment Accounts** - **Total net assets increased by 48% from £65,527 to £96,678** (See Statement of Assets & Liabilities), reflecting the surplus of income over expenditure of £27,167, made up of operating surplus, interest, and investment growth within the M&G Charifund Investment Account. - Investment returns included interest of £787 (TSB Savings Account), M&G dividends of £1,208 paid as cash, and investment growth of £3,985 - No shares within the M&G Charifund were sold for planned improvements or capital expenditure. ## **Movements of money between accounts and closing comments** - **Overall, 2024/2025 has been a very positive financial year. The operational surplus and increased reserves place the hall in a strong financial position.** - Given the surplus in the current finances, the Hall’s Committee may consider whether M&G Charifund dividends should be reinvested rather than taken as income. This would require a switch to a different Charifund product. - Throughout the year, money was moved from the low interest Current Account to the higher returning Savings Account (see Statement of Assets & Liabilities). - In September 2025, the Committee recommended to retain approximately £30,000 within the Current/Savings accounts as a buffer for ongoing operational expenses, and any future (unexpected) repairs, maintenance and/or capital expenditure. Money within the Savings Account is accessible within seven working days. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustee8 Bledlow Village Hall On accounts lorthe year ended 31 October 2025 Charity no lif any) 300232 Set out on pages "•memc*r io oag• numts•rB of a0diiffjn814heetsi I report to the trustees on my eXaMinat￿n of the accounts of the above charty llhe Trust") for the year ended 31110 12025. Responsibilitlos and basis of report As the charity's Irustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in ￿)rdance wtth the requirements of the Chartties Act 2011 (Ihe Act"). I report in respect of my eXaMinat￿n of the Trust'8 accounts carried out under sect*)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examlnation, I have followed all the appluble Directions given by the Charity Commission under sectKm 145{51{bl of the Act. Independent I have oynpleted my examinatw)n. I confim that rto material matters have examlnerfs slatemeni come to my aftentKJn in COnnect￿n wrth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kepl in accordance with section 130 of the Chartties Acl,. or the accounts nol accord wth the accounling records.. or the accounts did not comply wrth the applicable requirements conceming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Chanties {Accounts and Repcfftsl Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Yrue and fairf Y￿W which is nol a matter consmlered as part of an independent examinati¢)n. I have no ￿nCem$ and have come across no other matters in ¢onnection wilh the eXaMinat￿n to which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: D2G Namo: Sarah Mcore Relevant professional qualifi¢ationls) or body (rf anyl: Chartered Ac￿untant