Chair’s Report March 2026
General
I am pleased to be able to report another successful year for the HWMH.
This success is due to several factors, including:
The hard work of our team of volunteers, including the Committee and other ‘friends’ of the hall, who give their time willingly.
The local community who support our events.
Our Cleaner and Caretaker who take care of the hall and our clients.
Bookings
There were 867 bookings for the period July to December 2025 compared with 894 for the same period the previous year. The number of hours the hall was in use for these bookings were similar at approximately 2,700 hours.
Events and celebrations included:
Assistance with the annual Scarecrow event in September.
Music night in January 2026 which raised nearly £1,000 for the hall coffers. Bingo and Race nights.
The Beatniks music night.
Hall Refurbishment 2025/26
The thermostat control system for the main heating system is now fully functional, allowing remote control of the hall temperature to suit our client’s needs.
The installation of a new electric hot water system which feeds the washbasins in the toilets at the front of the hall has been completed. The cost of the system was £2,200, but thanks to a grant from EHDC to assist Village Halls in reducing their carbon footprint, we were able to claim all this cost back.
The new online bookings system is working well, enabling potential hirers to book events independently without having to contact the booking secretary. It also allows live access to the hall calendar for availability. Billing has also been simplified.
The installation of a ramp from the PC car park to the rear hall door has also been completed. This allows those with limited mobility to more easily access the Committee Room and the Post Office.
Several carpet tiles were replaced in the Committee room, following spillages of coffee etc. The client responsible has now moved their weekly event to the main hall.
Refurbishment projects for 2026: Replace facia boards at the front of the hall. Tarmac hall car park. (May be too expensive)
Finances
Our financial position at the end of 2025 was ( 2024 in italics ):
Current Account £974 £1,036 Deposit account £9,022 £4,013 Petty Cash £72 £144
Conclusions
None of the above could have been achieved without the continuing support of the Hall Committee. I thank you all for your time, dedication and assistance.
I look forward to working with you all during 2026.
Chris Poole (Chair HWMH Committee)
High Wych Memorial Hall Accounts for 2025
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Income Expenditure Net
Subject Topic Ref. Budget Forecast Actual Topic REF. Budget Forecast Actual Budget Forecast Actual
Hire of Hall Hire of Hall - Regulars HH01 17,000.00 17,562.88 17,562.88 17,000.00 17,562.88 17,562.88
Hire of Hall - Others HH02 7,000.00 6,835.00 6,835.00 7,000.00 6,835.00 6,835.00
Hire Expenses HH51 0.00 388.00 388.00 0.00 -388.00 -388.00
24,000.00 24,397.88 24,397.88 0.00 388.00 388.00 24,000.00 24,009.88 24,009.88
Fund Raising Fund Raising Events FR01 4,000.00 3,276.24 3,276.24 Fund Raising Expenses FR51 1,750.00 976.80 976.80 2,250.00 2,299.44 2,299.44
200 Club Subscriptions FR02 1,500.00 1,540.00 1,540.00 200 Club Prizes FR52 1,300.00 1,300.00 1,300.00 200.00 240.00 240.00
200 Club Expenses FR53 50.00 48.56 48.56 -50.00 -48.56 -48.56
200 Club Prepayments FR24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
East Herts Lottery FR03 156.00 210.50 210.50 156.00 210.50 210.50
5,656.00 5,026.74 5,026.74 3,100.00 2,325.36 2,325.36 2,556.00 2,701.38 2,701.38
Miscellaneous Income Donations Received MI01 0.00 20.00 20.00 Donations Given MI51 0.00 0.00 0.00
& Expenditure Bank Interest MI02 50.00 72.16 72.16 Postage MI52 0.00 3.60 3.60
Clothing Bank MI03 150.00 198.00 198.00 Stationery MI53 150.00 120.00 120.00
Bookings Telephone MI54 72.00 72.00 72.00
Licences/Subscriptions MI55 331.00 295.25 295.25
Commemoration Wreath MI58 20.00 20.00 20.00
Miscellaneous MI59 50.00 0.03 0.03
200.00 290.16 290.16 623.00 510.88 510.88 -423.00 -220.72 -220.72
Services Gas SV51 4,000.00 3,432.32 3,432.32
Electricity SV52 3,500.00 2,426.67 2,426.67
Water SV53 300.00 394.97 394.97
Broadband SV54 360.00 412.88 412.88
Booking System SV55 120.00 120.00 120.00
Website Hosting SV56 300.00 180.00 180.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 8,580.00 6,966.84 6,966.84 -8,580.00 -6,966.84 -6,966.84
Insurance Hall Insurance HI51 1,100.00 1,328.54 1,328.54
0.00 0.00 0.00 1,100.00 1,328.54 1,328.54 -1,100.00 -1,328.54 -1,328.54
Advertising The Link (HWPCC) AD51 40.00 40.00 40.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 -40.00 -40.00 -40.00
Hall Maintenance Cleaning Materials/Supplies HM52 650.00 1,281.37 1,281.37
Windows/Gutters Cleaning HM53 550.00 250.00 250.00
Caretaker Services HM54 8,640.00 8,272.07 8,272.07
Trade Refuse Collection HM55 1,500.00 1,176.89 1,176.89
Retained Security Deposits HM06 0.00 100.00 100.00 Gardening(inc Trees) HM56 100.00 49.42 49.42
Refundable Security Deposit HM07 0.00 0.00 0.00 Repairs HM57 500.00 1,842.08 1,842.08
Grant for Upgrades HM08 0.00 0.00 0.00 Upgrades HM58 500.00 121.95 121.95
Grants - Other HM09 1,000.00 0.00 0.00 Miscellaneous HM59 250.00 240.85 240.85
1,000.00 100.00 100.00 12,690.00 13,234.63 13,234.63 -11,690.00 -13,134.63 -13,134.63
Equipment Servicing Gas Appliances ES51 100.00 150.00 150.00
Fire Extinguishers ES52 250.00 112.20 112.20
Electrical Appliances ES53 150.00 0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 262.20 262.20 -500.00 -262.20 -262.20
Reserves Brought Forward RE01 0.00 0.00 0.00 Future Upgrade Reserve RE51 0.00 0.00 0.00
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Totals 30,856.00 29,814.78 29,814.78 26,633.00 25,056.45 25,056.45 4,223.00 4,758.33 4,758.33
Balances 01/01/2025 Current Account 1,036.18 Deposit Account 4,013.19 Petty Cash 144.65 Total 5,194.02
Current Current Account 973.91 Deposit Account 9,022.18 Petty Cash 72.26 Total 10,068.35
Forecast 9,952.35
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as at 27/08/2026 15:00
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truste1 members of High W¥¢h MeffNial Hall On accounts for the year onded 31 Derner 2025 Charity no Ilf any 302395 Sat out on pages I report to the truslees on my examination of the acwunts of the above charty (Ihe Trusfi for the year ended 3111212024. Responslbllltles and As the charty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of r•port of the accounts In accordance wtth the requirements of the Charitles Acl 2011 Ilhe Acri. I rewrt in respect of my examinat of the Trust's accounts caffied out under seclion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable DIre¢ln$ gwen by the Charity Commlssion under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. I have Complet my examination. I have no concerns and have come across no matters in connection wilh the examination to vthich attention sIuj be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be hed. Independent examlnor's 81atsment Slgned: Date: 1110412026 Name: Gloria Bames Rèlevant profossional quallficatlon(s) or body (if any): Address: Chaseways, Okl Mead Road, Henham, CM22 6JQ Section B Disclosure Onty complete if the examiner needs lo hwJhlighl matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of charity aCnts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018