Offham Village Hall Management committee AGM 9[th] April 2025 Trustees report
The hall continues to be a much-loved and vibrant hub of community life, with a rich and varied programme of activities taking place every week. Our regular hirers bring such energy and enthusiasm, and it’s been especially rewarding to see the cinema club going from strength to strength, along with the ever-popular weekend parties for children.
We recently introduced a hirers’ log book following a helpful suggestion, and it’s already proving to be a great way to share feedback and keep communication flowing.
In April 2024, we made the necessary decision to raise our hire rates in response to the rising cost of upkeep, ensuring the hall remains in great condition for years to come. We’re pleased to confirm there are no further increases planned for this year, and we will review the rates again in 2026.
We’re also thrilled that the village pub continues to host events in the hall— these collaborations are a real highlight and help strengthen the wonderful sense of community that Offham is known for.
October’s Steam Rally was once again a lively and exciting time for the hall. Although the weather didn’t quite cooperate, the event still brought in excellent support, with hearty breakfasts and homemade cakes selling brilliantly— making it a successful and enjoyable fundraiser. Huge thanks go to our amazing Offham bakers for their generosity and effort. This year, we trialed a new stall format, and although it wasn’t quite the right fit, it provided us with valuable insight. In 2025, we’ll return to our tried-and-tested mix of local business stalls, bric-a-brac, and second-hand items—an approach that’s always been popular and captures the friendly, community feel of the event.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the incredible volunteers who support both the cinema club and the Steam Rally. These events simply couldn’t happen without you, and your time, energy, and spirit are what make Offham such a special place to live.
We were delighted to receive a £1,000 stipend from the Parish Council in 2024, having proudly supported the village playground project by waiving it in 2023. We’re also deeply grateful to May Day for their generous donation of £750, and
to Open House for their kind contribution of £200. Every donation makes a real and lasting impact, and we’re incredibly thankful for this continued support.
This year saw us carry out several important maintenance works, including resurfacing the main hall floor, replacing the kitchen boiler, and repairing storm damage to the roof. With the addition of drain rods and the hands-on help of our wonderful maintenance volunteers, we’ve also successfully tackled some persistent drainage issues without having to resort to much more expensive outside contractors.Thank you all for your invaluable help.
We were excited to introduce a new initiative this year: welcome events for new village residents, held at the local pub. These gatherings have been a fantastic way to meet newcomers, help them connect with one another, and share all that the hall and village have to offer. They’ve been a real success, and we look forward to hosting more in the months ahead.
We’re delighted to report that the hall is as busy, welcoming, and well-used as ever. It continues to stand at the heart of Offham’s community life—both physically and emotionally. Thanks to the dedication of a truly outstanding committee, the hall remains in excellent condition and on firm financial footing. I’m enormously proud of all we’ve achieved together, and it’s been a genuine honour to be part of such a passionate and hardworking team.
As I step down after ten incredibly fulfilling years on the committee, I do so with a deep sense of pride and gratitude. It’s been a privilege to contribute to the hall’s journey and to be part of something so meaningful within the village. I have every confidence in the new committee, whose fresh ideas and enthusiasm will continue to take the hall forward. I’ll remain a supportive presence as a volunteer and trustee and look forward to seeing what’s next.
Janette Burnard (Chair)
OFFHAM VILLAGE HALL Intome and EXPendre 2034 RECEIPTS 2024 2023 Hire Iregularl Hire Ica5uall FundraisSn8 Gross Denation offham PC Other Denalions Bank Interest Key Deposrt5 (Neti 21.063 2,406 9.232 18.394 3.829 7,795 645 25 Totsi Recelpts 34.933 31,863 PAYMeNTS Fundraisln8 ExpÈn*5 Cleaning Gas Elettricity Water Mainten4ncelSerwrcinB 8usiness Rates Insurante Bank Charges Llcences Land Registry Car Pèrk G3r3ge Doors Cinema Equipment Defibrilator General Purchèses EouipmÈnt Postage15tavonery Sundry 8roadband Gifts 3,148 5,230 3,261 -89 3,437 5,770 2,634 3,929 235 7,262 127 1,908 51 $34 6,825 132 2,023 1.0 17,466 1,868 1,947 4(K) 753 55 29 14 443 1,158 149 375 143 Totsi Expenses 24689 48,206 SuYpluslDefic 9244 -16.$43 Skned by: lan Butler Treasurer Date
4_29- ed by: TonyYoun8 FCMA FCIS Independent Examlhe I confirm that I have examined the 2024 Offham Village Hèll Ichèrity number 3028081 cceunts and found them to be in order. I did netfind èny èrea50f concem regarding Accounting Rules, Disc105ures, Incomplete Record5.
ASSETS 2024 2023 Total Current Assets at VV24 Add Receipts Less Payments 32,431.02 34.933 25.689 48,974 31.663 48,206 Totsl Curr•ntA880ts at 31112124 41,675 32.431 Represented by CurrentAccount Special Projerts Account D@potA¢coUnt Cash Debtrjrs 19.620 10.156 21.955 21.047 1.128 Total 41,675 32,431 Slgned by. lan Butler.. Treasurer Date 2-4-2fj 51Kned by. Tory Young FCl+lA Fas Independent Examlner I confirrn th4t I have ex?mined the 2024 Otham Village Hall ICharSty number 3028081 accounts and found them to be in order. I dld not find anyareas of toncÈrTr re8ardin8 Accounting Rules, Disclosure5. Incomplete Records. t-y_