Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall Annual Report 2024 Churchill Close, Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 4BQ (Registered Charity Number 301186)
In accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed (1965)
the “Sturminster Marshall Memorial Village Hall is for the use of the inhabitants of Sturminster Marshall and the local neighbourhood without distinction of sex, political, religious or other opinions for use of meetings lectures and classes and for other forms of recreation and leisure time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants ”.
The Memorial Village Hall was built in 1997 on land in trust to the Parish Council and leased to the Village Hall Managing Trustees. It has some useful facilities including two halls, a lounge and kitchen. The Managing Trustees work to achieve our stated objectives by aiming to provide inclusive and meaningful programmes of activity and by offering opportunities for leisure, recreation and education.
During the year the Trustees received a post-dated notification that the Chair and Secretary were (intending to retire at the Annual General Meeting in 2025. An advertising programme commenced to recruit more volunteers.
The Memorial Hall is well used with 12/13 groups involved each week with activities for all ages, providing for example arts and crafts, bridge, yoga, badminton, bowls and kick boxing. The New Life Church meet in the Memorial Hall on Sundays. Activities available for children and young people are “tea and Toddlers”, brownies, guides and a youth club, plus a strong youth football club. About two years ago, the demand for alternative and additional facilities for young people was identified, working with Dorset Youth Association (DYA) a small youth club was opened on a Monday evening. This decision resulted in the hall funding two paid qualified youth workers leading a team of local volunteers, whilst reasonably successful, it has been a drain on funds, with negligible income in return. There is a clear need, looking at population figures and usage, the Managing Trustees will now need to evaluate the financial implications of continuing the current level of support from Dorset Youth
Built in 1997, The Memorial Hall is approaching 30 years old and as such continues to require ongoing repair and maintenance. It is important, to continue to meet our objectives, that the building is well maintained and serviceable for the future, to attract users. This has been the focus for the Trustees and continues to be for the forthcoming year. Reserves ate depleted because during the last year, over £5000 has been spent on critical repairs, including to the roof, improved lighting and heating repairs, as evidenced within the accounts and Treasurer’s report. These essential repairs have depleted our reserves but the continued need to maintain and improve the fabric of the building remains.
Financial Position
Income: There were significant improvements in both casual and regular bookings. Income was boosted by 3 elections. Artsreach events were popular but were not the kind that generated high alcohol sales as in some previous years.
Expenditure : Expenditures were significantly increased. As the building is showing its age extra maintenance was required, and also the front door was damaged by vandalism. Vandalism and AntiSocial Behaviour is followed up with the Police in cooperation with the Parish Council, but despite CCTV evidence the behaviour of a small number of identified people has not modified and probably
will continue to be a drain on our finances.
| will continue to be a drain on our finances. | will continue to be a drain on our finances. |
|---|---|
| Extraordinary Expenditures: Item Amount |
|
| Repairs to door | £932.46 |
| Replaced Lightingin Main Hall | £2,616.00 |
| CCTV upgrade | £823.25 |
| heatingrepairs | £930.00 |
| Total in 2024: | £5,301.71 |
Youth Club
The Hall re-started a Youth Club with the support of the Parish Council and Dorset Youth Association. Some grants have been received but we have to pay the qualified youth leaders. Costs have been reduced by merging age groups. We gained grants of £1,402.29 but had to pay fees of £4931.19, making a subsidy from Hall funds of £3,528.90
Current Financial Position and Outlook for the Future:
| Position as at 30 May 2025: | Position as at 30 May 2025: |
|---|---|
| PettyCash | £245.01 |
| Current Account | £3,319.35 |
| Savings Account | £4,166.70 |
| Net Available Cash Funds | £7,731.06 |
Our funds have been depleted by the extraordinary expenses, and repairs to the roof to prevent leaks (£5,200 in Feb 2025). The kitchen needs urgent refurbishment - tiles are falling off, the cabinets are worn, a dishwasher will be added
Grant applications are being pursued owards refurbishments and continued youth work.
A further grant application has been made to Dorset Council for the Youth Club. Other sources of funds also need to be pursued.
The Accounts have been independently verified by Mr Stephenson. No matters raised.
Steve Gerry Treasurer 2 June 2025
Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall – comparing 2023 and 2024 income
2024
| 2023 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Total | Income | |
| Artsreach Net Income | £424.43 | Artsreach Net Income | -£64.52 |
| Grants: | |||
| Youth Project | £5,000.00 | Grants:Youth Project | £1,402.29 |
| Parish Council Annual Grant | £700.00 | Parish Council Annual Grant | £1,000.00 |
| Subtotal | £5,700.00 | Subtotal | £2,402.29 |
| Hiring Casual: | |||
| Badminton Extra | £36.00 | ||
| Meetings | £957.00 | Badminton Extra | £318.00 |
| Parties | £926.00 | Meetings | £950.25 |
| Subtotal Casual Hiring | £1,919.00 | Parties and events | £2,152.00 |
| Hiring Regular: | Dorset Council: Elections | £579.50 | |
| Brownies | £630.00 | Dorset Council: HolidayActivities | £301.00 |
| Badminton Evening | £324.00 | Subtotal Casual Hiring | £4,300.75 |
| Badminton Morning | £738.00 | Hiring Regular: | |
| Badminton U3A | £528.00 | Brownies | £780.52 |
| BeadingClub | £204.00 | Badminton FridayEvening | £709.00 |
| Bridge | £1,410.00 | Badminton Morning | £818.25 |
| Bridge U3A | £516.00 | Badminton U3A | £600.00 |
| Craft Club | £720.00 | BeadingClub | £590.00 |
| Cubs and Scouts | £378.00 | Bridge | £1,210.00 |
| Gourmet Kitchen | £180.00 | Craft Club | £813.00 |
| Guides | £210.00 | Guides | £225.00 |
| MobyMicks | £480.00 | Koru Therapy | £295.50 |
| New Life Bible Church | £1,018.00 | MobyMicks Fish & Chips | £423.00 |
| SMFC | £1,675.00 | New Life Bible Church | £362.00 |
| SOUL Kickboxing | £1,207.00 | SM Football Club | £2,123.60 |
| Short Mat Bowls | £1,632.00 | SOUL Kickboxing | £2,314.00 |
| Short Tennis | £1,350.00 | Short Mat Bowls | £2,217.00 |
| Parish Council | £584.00 | Short Tennis | £1,554.75 |
| Tea and Toddlers | £613.00 | Parish Council | £385.00 |
| WI WalkingNetball | £24.00 | Pilates | £52.50 |
| Yoga | £470.08 | Tea and Toddlers | £122.50 |
| Subtotal Regular Hiring | £14,891.08 | WI WalkingNetball | £0.00 |
| Miscellaneous Income: | Yoga | £966.28 | |
| Asyet unexplained | £525.60 | Subtotal Regular Hiring | £16,561.90 |
| FundraisingActivities | £0.00 | ||
| Card reader income not Artsrea | £148.47 | Miscellaneous Income: | |
| Interest from Savings Account | £46.32 | Unexplained | £2,563.00 |
| Subtotal Misc Income | £720.39 | FundraisingActivities | £0.00 |
| Card reader income not Artsreach | £51.14 | ||
| Total Income: | £23,654.90 | Interest from Savings Account | £64.09 |
| Subtotal Misc Income | £2,678.23 | ||
| Total Income: | £25,878.65 |
1
Sturminster Marshall Memorial Hall – comparing Expenditure 2023 and 2024: 2023 2024
| Expenditure: | Expenditure: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overheads: Alarms and Security £408.60 BookingClerk £1,800.00 Broadband £928.20 BuildingMaintenance £1,952.04 CleaningContractors £5,790.00 CleaningMaterials £153.33 Electricity £2,666.18 Gas £4,110.70 |
Overheads: | ||
| Alarms and Security | £1,335.05 | ||
| BookingClerk | £1,800.00 | ||
| Broadband | £770.37 | ||
| BuildingMaintenance | £5,111.19 | ||
| CleaningContractors | £7,047.00 | ||
| CleaningMaterials | £542.96 | ||
| Electricity | £3,165.29 | ||
| Gas | £3,021.08 | ||
| Grounds Maintenance Insurance |
£1,008.00 £1,928.72 |
||
| Grounds Maintenance | £50.00 | ||
| Insurance | £2,336.59 | ||
| Licences Rates and Parish Council Rent Water Website Hosting Subtotal Overheads |
£238.80 £181.20 £890.00 £86.24 £22,142.01 |
||
| Licences | £732.40 | ||
| Rates and Parish Council Rent | £0.00 | ||
| Water | £1,084.50 | ||
| Website Hosting | £100.64 | ||
| Capital and Equipment:Clock £34.00 Subtotal £34.00 Youth Club Project: |
Subtotal Overheads | £27,097.07 | |
| Youth Club Project: | |||
| Payment to Dorset Youth Assn £4,392.60 Total Expenditure: £26,568.61 Total Income – Expenditure: -£2,913.71 |
|||
| Payment to Dorset Youth Assn | £4,931.19 | ||
| Total Expenditure: | £32,028.26 | ||
| Total Income – Expenditure: | -£6,149.61 |
Notes:
Artsreach: Appears to be a deficit due to £348.89 paid in January for an event in 2023. When this is removed the figure for events in 2024 gives a positive contribution of £422.57 to Hall funds. Unexplained Income: A large number of cheques and significant amount of cash were banked early in 2024 by the previous Treasurer. The sources of these funds were not recorded, and the funds should probably have been recorded in the 2023 accounts, and would have meant we almost broke even in 2023.
Expenditure: Grounds Maintenance was reduced by use of volunteer labour. The increase in expenditure is largely explained by extraordinary items:
Extraordinary Expenditures:
| Item Amount |
Item Amount |
|---|---|
| Repairs to door | £932.46 |
| Replaced Lightingin Main Hall | £2,616.00 |
| CCTV upgrade | £823.25 |
| heatingrepairs | £930.00 |
| Total in 2024: | £5,301.71 |
2
REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF STURMINSTER MARSHALL MEMORIAL HALL I have reviewed the available spreadsheet records and Bank Statements of the Trustees for the year ended 31" December 2024. l am satisfied that true and coThect infomiation is being presented of the income and expenditure position in accordance with the records. Signature . nd Date 2 June 2025 Robert Stephenson Independent Examiner