## **Chair’s Report year ending 31 March 2024** ## **Charitable status** The charity was first constituted by Deed of Declaration of Trust in 1923 and by a Scheme made /;by the Secretary of State for Education and Science in May 1965. ## **Charity Objects** Digswell Village Hall exists to provide a facility that is a Hall for the local area and its inhabitants, without distinction of sex or sexuality or of political, religious or other opinions and for use for meetings, lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure time occupations with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants. ## **Statement on public benefit** In deciding which activities, the charity should undertake during the year, the Trustees have paid due regard to The Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The Trustees consider that the objects for which the Trust was registered as a charity, and the activities during the year, are for the public benefit. In particular, the Trustees consider that the range of activities that Digswell Village Hall is used for regularly provides benefits for people of many ages and interests thus providing activities to enhance lives. Hirers include a range of exercise-based classes aimed at the young and not so young; creative, dance, singing and drama groups; specific interest groups; local societies and public bodies as well as a wide range of one-off events and celebrations. From the Digswell Players youth group, Expressions to the Dementia Friendly Café, we are able to host a great range of activities that benefit the local public. ## **Serious Incidents** There have been no serious incidents to report. ## **Activities and Achievements** The Trustees remain very aware of their responsibilities for keeping the Hall in good repair and to keep facilities up to date. This has continued this year with regular maintenance and repairs carried out by local contractors as well as by Trustees and friends of the Hall. With no paid staff this relies on Trustees being very aware of issues as they arise and having excellent relationships with local companies who can be called upon to respond to works needed. We are grateful to Zahid Ali, our cleaning contractor, for his excellent work in keeping the village hall clean and tidy. His attention to detail and reliability is greatly appreciated. The Trustees aim to keep local resident user charges as low as possible to enable equality of access at a time when many are facing increasing costs. However, the Hall, like many other premises, is facing rising overhead costs, particularly in its energy charges. Two years ago, it was agreed to improve the insulation of the Hall as the first step in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. This was carried out during the 2022-23 financial year with major work being contracted for the insulation of the roof. The insulation has had an impact on the amount of energy needed to keep the Hall at an acceptable temperature for hirers. During this reporting financial year, a second step was agreed to address the rising energy outgoings by investigating the potential savings of adding solar panels to the Hall whilst also helping to reduce the Hall’s environmental impact in the local area. Quotes from reputable solar panel providers were sought and it was agreed to use Eco Greenenergy Solutions Ltd (a Company identified by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in partnership with the Solar Together ‘Organisation Group Buying Scheme’). We had raised around £10,000 through fundraising events but were unsuccessful in seeking grant support from several local and national bodies. Hertfordshire Community Foundation did research on our behalf to see if there were any other grants we could apply for, but they also drew a blank. Fortunately, we were able to go ahead with the installation during August 2023 at a cost of £15,500 with minimal disruption to hirers with funds coming from reserves and a successful local fundraising drive that raised around £3,700 from our supportive residents. The Trustees would like to record their grateful thanks to all those who have supported the installation. The solar panels combined with our recently added roof insulation are already helping to reduce our energy consumption; especially as we also installed a battery that allows us to use stored energy from the day to provide electricity for our evening activities. Digswell Village Hall was built in 1923 and celebrated its centenary in April 2023. During the day there were displays of local history provided by Alan Sparshott and a local school art competition with prizes organized by Sharon Palmer. Refreshments were provided by the Digswell Women’s Institute organised by trustee Kate Stabler. In the evening there was a 1920’s themed film night showing ‘The Roaring Twenties’ with a fish and chip supper attended by around 60 residents. During the interval trustee Peter Holt showed a local film archive that was very interesting to all attending. My thanks to trustee Claire Westlake who oversaw the Centenary Celebration and to Pam Rendell who obtained an external banner to advertise the event and arranged the internal evening decoration of the Hall. As we enter our second century as a local charitable organisation, we plan to continue to improve and preserve both the inside and outside of the Hall with further work, as funds allow. We are pleased that the Hall continues to be available to provide our local community with a low-cost space, suitable for a wide range of activities. Our aim is to ensure that the hall is a welcoming and comfortable place for the community to enjoy. As Chair I would like to personally thank my fellow Trustees who do a wonderful job and for the work they continue to do to support this important community facility: Claire Westlake, Kate Stabler, Peter Holt, Joanne Grant, John Strawbridge, Pam Rendell and David White (new trustee from October 2023). Each one has played an important role as part of the team, using their expertise and time as appropriate to take the lead or contribute to the activities that are needed to keep the Hall running. Their ongoing commitment is particularly significant; we are always keen to recruit new Trustees, and anyone interested can be assured of a welcoming team to join. Recruitment remains an ever-important matter for this charity, and for many other charities. I also wish to thank both Sharon Palmer and Ruth Kearns who both resigned from their trustee roles in October 2023. Trustees take their responsibilities seriously in relation to the constitution, the hire agreement, and policies such as Safeguarding, Privacy and Equality and Diversity that have all been given due consideration during the year and updated. A less visible but essential ongoing task is the management of bookings which has continued to work efficiently both for bookings and invoicing. I would also like to thank all those who continue to book the Hall, particularly the regular hirers whose loyalty to the Hall is greatly appreciated. Bookings across the week remain strong and varied, with excellent usage given that the Hall can only accept one booking at a time. I would like to thank Jo Grant for her management of the Hall’s finances and day-to-day budgeting as well as her diligence, transparency and accountability. She has provided the brief report below. We, along with our fellow trustees, are very grateful to Charles Rendell for providing us with the Independent Examination of the Accounts. ## **Finances and reserves policy** The income in this financial year is £25,748 (2022-23: £25,036). The Trustees have an agreed policy to keep £7,000 in reserves to enable it to cope with unexpected costs which might reasonably be associated with a building that is over 100 years old. Reserves at the end of this year are at £26,234 (2022-23: £32,663). The additional money will be used for funding essential work to keep the Hall running and major works. It is the Trustees intention to use funds as available to keep the Hall in good shape and able to work to benefit the community, whilst taking account of environmental concerns. ## **Responsibilities of the Trustees regarding the accounts** Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. In addition, they are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Shaun Reason Chairman July 2024 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Rèport to the trust&•$ VIL￿4￿ On accounts for the year ended li M,r4iLL H 2oL4 Charity no lif anyl 3¢LlÉ71 Set out on pag¢$ I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts ol the above charity l-the Trust") for the year ended Respon5ibilrtie5 and basis ol report A5 the charity's Iruslees. you are responsible for the preparation ol the accounts in accordance with ltte requiremen15 01 the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act"). I report in respect ol my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out tny examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl ol the Act. Independent tThe charity's gross income èxceeded £250,000 and l am qualified lo examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable lisled bodyll Delele I l if nol applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my allention in ￿nnectIOn with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which give5 me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordan¢e with section 130 of the Charities Act., or thè a¢counls did not a¢cord with the accounting records,. or Ihe accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlenl ol accounts sel out in the Charities IAc¢ounis and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement Ihal the accounts give a 'lrue and fair. view whi¢h is not a mattel considered as part of an independent exarrinalion. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the exarninalion to which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper ullderslanding of the accounts to be reached. Plèasè Oelele the words in the brackels if Ihey do not apply. Signed: i - S Date- Name.. Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body ER Oct 2018 Ilf any): Addres$'. Sectton B Disclosure Only complete Il tho ex8miner needs to highlight material mallers ol concern Isee CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examinersl. Give here brief details of any items that the axarniner wishès to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018 IKome Expenditure A