HUNSDON VILLAGE HALL ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24 Reg Charity No 302408
Object of our charity
-The provision and maintenance of the village hall
- for use by the inhabitants of Hunsdon and neighbourhood
-to include, meetings, classes, recreation & leisure time events – with the object of improving life for residents
The village hall is a listed building in the centre of the community. It is run as a Registered Charity by Trustees regulated by the Charity Commission. The building consists of the hall and stage, a kitchen and modern annex comprising a consulting room, meeting room and storage. The Charity also owns the 2 adjoining cottages which are investment properties let out on tenancy.
The Charity will be 100 years old in 2027 but the buildings are much older reputed to be the oldest Village Hall building in England with its origins in the 15[th] century. Such a fine old building is something to be very proud of but it does require constant renovation, repair and improvement to keep it fit for purpose for present and future generations- a key responsibility of the Trustees
Trustees
As always, we welcome new trustees to help run the charity and manage the village hall There were 18 Trustees of which 5 were elected officers, up to 10 (currently 7) appointees of named village organisations, 1 from the Parish Council and 2 can be co-opted. New organisations who are willing to provide trustees are welcomed and can be added to the list and we are always keen to invite interested residents to join us as trustees to help run this leading institution in Hunsdon.
Trustees are subject to re-election/appointment at each AGM. We meet about 4-6 times a year.
The trustees in full for 2024/25 were:
Jackie Carthy, Secretary Diane Dangell, Treasurer Angela Felstead Bookings John Felstead and Mike Newman Buildings and Maintenance Managers Frank O’Shea Chair Claire Ricketts co-opted Mike Carter co-opted Kate Ma (Gardening Club) Lynn Barnett (Ducklings/Toddlers) Julian Maule/ Christel Wilkinson (Badminton) Rev Mark Dunstan (Parochial Church Council) Malcolm Slater (History Society) Karen Osterley (Scouting) and Liz Chapman (Quintessence)
The role of the trustees is vital to the continued success of the VH. They are the main Management Committee which sets and ratifies policy and makes the main decisions about priorities and expenditure. They are the epitome of volunteers; they don’t have to do this but they do because they are dedicated to running their organisations. We thank them for the time and trouble they take to do this.
Business Executive Team
The day-to-day management of the charity is carried out by the business executive team, consisting of the Treasurer, Bookings Officer, and Buildings and Maintenance Managers and Chair and they form the nucleus of the VH management. They put in an enormous amount of their time for free; they have had a couple of very busy years for which owe them a great debt of gratitude.
Future Volunteers
As always thinking ahead about who succeeds our Business team is a key policy that we like any organisation have to grapple with. It’s probably the most difficult thing we have to do and as always it relies on volunteers to come forward and to dip their toe into the water and to learn the job- in fact we have to face the future and think how the VH will be run in the not too distant future if we do not have a continued line of volunteers, for we will have to employ people to do the day to day administration which will pose a major change in our finances. We do need help, we do need support and we do need people to come forward for the future
Use of the Hall
We continue to advertise on our website www.hunsdonvillagehall.org, Facebook, our
Notice Boards, on Hunsdon Community Hub and elsewhere. Both the hall and the meeting room are open for hire to all residents, activities and groups with preferential rates for Hunsdon organisations and regular users. They are also available for private functions, wedding receptions, business meetings and classes.
It is a key part of our role to keep the premises clean, safe and attractive to prospective users and hirers with up-to-date facilities.
The two cottages are let on residential tenancies via managing agents; they produce a good income but require careful maintenance. We also let out part of the premises to the Much Hadham Health Centre to provide a local surgery and prescription service for Hunsdon residents.
Premises .
We manage the premises carefully; and have this year comprehensively reviewed our Health & Safety, Fire Safety, Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Environmental Sustainability and Data Protection policies, Licensing and other legal requirements, as well as maintenance and development needs.
In particular, we focus on local community needs and good management of the premises. We maintain an ongoing log of tasks & projects and implement them dependant on priority and funds availability.
Finance Overview
For the year 2024/25, finances continued their healthy pattern; in summary, income was £68,208 and Expenses were £ 43924 which breakdown like this:
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INCOME 24/25- £68208
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Hire Charges 43% Rents 43.5% Grants and other 13.5%
Expenses 24/25-£43924
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Utilities & Insurance 25.25% Cleaning and Repairs 20.3% Licences Admin and Subs 2.7%
Bank Int & Chrgs 5.65 Property Works & Mtce 46.1%
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The whole building cost about £20,000 this year in basic running expenses but on top of that are exceptional expenditure for major maintenance and improvements. A major programme of energy saving works was started in the year but only partially completed and will be carried forward to this year. We obtained some small grants, totalling over £6000 towards these. Being a listed building often means higher costs in repair and maintenance.
It remails essential to provide up to date facilities to generate income from users and to keep the building sound and in good shape for present and future generations. With good management annual income should meet the annual expenses but there will inevitably be major items which have to be provided out of reserves.
We finished the year with a healthy surplus even after repaying an extra £15,000 off our bank loan. This was taken out in 2010 when the trustees borrowed £100,000 to pay for renovation and much needed replacement of the dilapidated structur ~~e a~~ t the rear of the premises. This is now houses a separate ~~the~~ meeting room, GP consultation room, accessible toilets, storage and gardens. We have got the loan down to £19, 400 and should be able to pay it all off in the next 2 years, saving substantial interest payments.
Reserves Policy
We have a reserves policy to retain at least one year’s costs, averaging £50,000 pa. In fact we are someway above that as at the year end but the major works in the pipeline will eat into reserves this year.
Thanks
We thank all our users and the people whose hard work and time makes the Village Hall what it is.
So a final thank you to all our volunteers who run our local clubs and classes for the benefit of the community and last but by no means least, all our management committee and business team who have had a very busy year and without whom the hall would not function. Special thanks go John Felstead who has had an exceptionally demanding year on major projects. As always, we are indebted to Diane Dangell, our treasurer who keeps the books straight and looks after our insurance and contracts and Angela Felstead for looking after all our bookings and making sure the hall is fit and ready for our hirers
Frank O’Shea Chair July 2025
| Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Desigrrated | Restricted | Endowment | Thisyear | Last year | ||
| Receipts | |||||||
| Dctnationsandlegac:ies | |||||||
| CG - COVID grants | |||||||
| D-Donations | 160 | tbt.l | 690 | ||||
| F-Fundraising | '1,466 | ||||||
| GR - Grarrt Received | 6,746 | 6,746 | |||||
| RF - Relerral inconte | 300 | 300 | 150 | ||||
| DonationsanC!e0actesrolzrls | 7,206 | 7,206 | 2,306 | ||||
| It'tcomefrontchari tab!eaclivilies | |||||||
| l-l''/O-Hirecharge;frcri- viila:je | s,509 | 5.s09 | 6,1 16 | ||||
| organrSaiOnS | |||||||
| It't<:ontefromc haritabl eactivities | 5,509 | 5,509 | 6,106 | ||||
| Tolals | |||||||
| Other tradingactivities | |||||||
| CR - Cottage rentai | 22,113 | 22,113 | 22,143 | ||||
| FEH-Furniture and equipment hire | 344 | :\44 | 690 | ||||
| HD -Flirefronr doclor | 7,655 | 7,655 | 7,548 | ||||
| HP-Fiirefronr private sources (oneoff) | /,933 | )olc| | 1C,883 | 9,2C7 | |||
| HR - Regular hire {rornprrvate | 12,A17 | ll,4 t t |
7,817 | ||||
| organ isalrons | |||||||
| Othertradingactivitit,'s'lolaIs | 50,464 | 2 949 | JJ.1lI.) | 17,4)5 | |||
| Othc:r income: | |||||||
| 106-Section 106ircome | |||||||
| Bl-Bonds rec€ va,j | |||||||
| INT-Credit lnterest | '2,C79 | 2,O79 | 1,786 | ||||
| LS-uanc Saie | |||||||
| PC - lncomerromParish Council | |||||||
| ather inconteTotals | 2,479 | 2.079 | 1,786 | ||||
| Receipts Grandtotals | 6s,25E | 2.949 | 68,208 | s7,605 | |||
| Payments | |||||||
| Raisrng funds FUND - Cost of furdratsrng |
i.262 | ||||||
| Raistng funclsI olttls | 1,252 | ||||||
| Expenditure ancharitableactivities CL - Cleaning CM - Cottage rrraintenance INS-lnsuranceforhall and cottages |
5,445 987 4,688 |
5,445 987 4,688 |
5,650 t,Jt1 4,5C9 |
||||
| LA-Leltrng agenc';fees | 967 | ||||||
| LIC - Licences | |||||||
| REP - Repairs | 3,172 | 3,472 | 2,',269 |
| Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urrr951,-1a,oO | Designated | Restricte(i | Endowrnent | Thisyear | Lastyear | ||
| SUB - Subscriotror spaicl | 1,113 | i,113 | 2,187 | ||||
| U-Utriities | 6,405 | 6,405 | 8,243 | ||||
| VFIM- Vrllage l-iall Maintenance | 19,265 | 19,265 | 23,6C5 | ||||
| Expenditurc.oncharita bIe aclivttiesTotztls |
.11,379 | 41,379 | 49,747 | ||||
| Other expenditLtre | |||||||
| ADIVIN -Adrnin | 64 | 64 | |||||
| BANK-Bank charqes | 77 | 77 | 75 | ||||
| BO-Bonds refunded | |||||||
| EXBC-Extraordinary item - building | |||||||
| costs | |||||||
| MORT -lt"4ortgagernterestpaid | 2,403 | 2,403 | 3,'146 | ||||
| Cther€xpenditLtreTctaIs | 2,545 | 2,545 | 3,22i | ||||
| Payments Grand totals | .13,924 | 43,92a | 54,231 |
| Asat | Asai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3110312025 | 311AU202.:' | |||
| Fixed assets | ||||
| CON. Contents of villagehall | 22 004.00 | 22,00000 | ||
| HVH: Hall andcottarges | 34522()7.88 | 3452.20788 | ||
| Total Fixed assets | 3,474,207.88 | 3,474,20788 | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Zi.Current Account | 6 012.78 | 4,40482 | ||
| 22.Depositaccourt | ||||
| z-3Loan account | ||||
| 24Savings account | 73.351.49 | 71,42235 | ||
| Total Current assets | 79.364.27 | 75,827 .17 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| OLlOverdraft (loan accou:rt)for current year | 10 554.11 | 8,15064 | ||
| OL2Overdraft(loarraccount) | forfutureyear | 8857.53 | 32,00817 | |
| Toral Liabilities | 19 411.64 | 40,158.81 | ||
| NetAssetsurplus(deficit) | 3,534.160.51 | 3,509,876.24 | ||
| Reserves | ||||
| Excessi(deficit) to date | 24.21\4.27 | 3,37426 | ||
| Z0'l :Staaing balances | 35C9B-i6.24 | 3.506,50198 | ||
| ZO2:O:her gains/(lossesI | ||||
| 203:Gains/(losses, on revalo1fixed assets | ||||
| TotalReserves | 3.534.160.51 | 3,509,876.2.1 | ||
| RePresentedbYFunds | ||||
| Urrrestricted | 3 531084.16 | 3,509,87624 | ||
| Desgn;rted | 3076.35 | |||
| Res:ricteo | ||||
| Eldow:rent | ||||
| Totai | 3'534.160.5'1 | 3,509,87624 |
| Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Desigrrated | Restricted | Endowment | Thisyear | Last year | ||
| Receipts | |||||||
| Dctnationsandlegac:ies | |||||||
| CG - COVID grants | |||||||
| D-Donations | 160 | tbt.l | 690 | ||||
| F-Fundraising | '1,466 | ||||||
| GR - Grarrt Received | 6,746 | 6,746 | |||||
| RF - Relerral inconte | 300 | 300 | 150 | ||||
| DonationsanC!e0actesrolzrls | 7,206 | 7,206 | 2,306 | ||||
| It'tcomefrontchari tab!eaclivilies | |||||||
| l-l''/O-Hirecharge;frcri- viila:je | s,509 | 5.s09 | 6,1 16 | ||||
| organrSaiOnS | |||||||
| It't<:ontefromc haritabl eactivities | 5,509 | 5,509 | 6,106 | ||||
| Tolals | |||||||
| Other tradingactivities | |||||||
| CR - Cottage rentai | 22,113 | 22,113 | 22,143 | ||||
| FEH-Furniture and equipment hire | 344 | :\44 | 690 | ||||
| HD -Flirefronr doclor | 7,655 | 7,655 | 7,548 | ||||
| HP-Fiirefronr private sources (oneoff) | /,933 | )olc| | 1C,883 | 9,2C7 | |||
| HR - Regular hire {rornprrvate | 12,A17 | ll,4 t t |
7,817 | ||||
| organ isalrons | |||||||
| Othertradingactivitit,'s'lolaIs | 50,464 | 2 949 | JJ.1lI.) | 17,4)5 | |||
| Othc:r income: | |||||||
| 106-Section 106ircome | |||||||
| Bl-Bonds rec€ va,j | |||||||
| INT-Credit lnterest | '2,C79 | 2,O79 | 1,786 | ||||
| LS-uanc Saie | |||||||
| PC - lncomerromParish Council | |||||||
| ather inconteTotals | 2,479 | 2.079 | 1,786 | ||||
| Receipts Grandtotals | 6s,25E | 2.949 | 68,208 | s7,605 | |||
| Payments | |||||||
| Raisrng funds FUND - Cost of furdratsrng |
i.262 | ||||||
| Raistng funclsI olttls | 1,252 | ||||||
| Expenditure ancharitableactivities CL - Cleaning CM - Cottage rrraintenance INS-lnsuranceforhall and cottages |
5,445 987 4,688 |
5,445 987 4,688 |
5,650 t,Jt1 4,5C9 |
||||
| LA-Leltrng agenc';fees | 967 | ||||||
| LIC - Licences | |||||||
| REP - Repairs | 3,172 | 3,472 | 2,',269 |
| Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urrr951,-1a,oO | Designated | Restricte(i | Endowrnent | Thisyear | Lastyear | ||
| SUB - Subscriotror spaicl | 1,113 | i,113 | 2,187 | ||||
| U-Utriities | 6,405 | 6,405 | 8,243 | ||||
| VFIM- Vrllage l-iall Maintenance | 19,265 | 19,265 | 23,6C5 | ||||
| Expenditurc.oncharita bIe aclivttiesTotztls |
.11,379 | 41,379 | 49,747 | ||||
| Other expenditLtre | |||||||
| ADIVIN -Adrnin | 64 | 64 | |||||
| BANK-Bank charqes | 77 | 77 | 75 | ||||
| BO-Bonds refunded | |||||||
| EXBC-Extraordinary item - building | |||||||
| costs | |||||||
| MORT -lt"4ortgagernterestpaid | 2,403 | 2,403 | 3,'146 | ||||
| Cther€xpenditLtreTctaIs | 2,545 | 2,545 | 3,22i | ||||
| Payments Grand totals | .13,924 | 43,92a | 54,231 |
| Asat | Asai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3110312025 | 311AU202.:' | |||
| Fixed assets | ||||
| CON. Contents of villagehall | 22 004.00 | 22,00000 | ||
| HVH: Hall andcottarges | 34522()7.88 | 3452.20788 | ||
| Total Fixed assets | 3,474,207.88 | 3,474,20788 | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Zi.Current Account | 6 012.78 | 4,40482 | ||
| 22.Depositaccourt | ||||
| z-3Loan account | ||||
| 24Savings account | 73.351.49 | 71,42235 | ||
| Total Current assets | 79.364.27 | 75,827 .17 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||
| OLlOverdraft (loan accou:rt)for current year | 10 554.11 | 8,15064 | ||
| OL2Overdraft(loarraccount) | forfutureyear | 8857.53 | 32,00817 | |
| Toral Liabilities | 19 411.64 | 40,158.81 | ||
| NetAssetsurplus(deficit) | 3,534.160.51 | 3,509,876.24 | ||
| Reserves | ||||
| Excessi(deficit) to date | 24.21\4.27 | 3,37426 | ||
| Z0'l :Staaing balances | 35C9B-i6.24 | 3.506,50198 | ||
| ZO2:O:her gains/(lossesI | ||||
| 203:Gains/(losses, on revalo1fixed assets | ||||
| TotalReserves | 3.534.160.51 | 3,509,876.2.1 | ||
| RePresentedbYFunds | ||||
| Urrrestricted | 3 531084.16 | 3,509,87624 | ||
| Desgn;rted | 3076.35 | |||
| Res:ricteo | ||||
| Eldow:rent | ||||
| Totai | 3'534.160.5'1 | 3,509,87624 |