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2025-03-31-accounts

SOUTH RUISLIP COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Registered Charity 303088

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Held on Friday 30[th] May 2025. At

SOUTH RUISLIP COMMUNITY CENTRE DEANE PARK, LONG DRIVE, SOUTH RUISLIP HA4 0HS

Present: Taekwondo: Sally Coster, Brian Robinson, Luke Robinson, Meri Balkanska, Anh Le, Laura Zadic, Olga Zadic, Harry Nguyen, Zak Weisenburger, Kathryn Coleman, Hannah Coleman, Olivis Reeve, Nathan John, Ben White, Meeta Patel, Anjana Parthasarathy; Midunaa Pavthasarathy, Sabs Banerjee, Esme Besffazo Barsoam, Kainuut Bitri, Leonard Bishop, Xavier Bishop, Kristina Mere, John Moran, Keavy McKim, Luke McKim, Kishan Pandya. Aikido: Richrad Watkins, Andrzej Wochna.

Fitness Pilates: Meeta Patel.

Baby Sensory: Anita Carstens.

Shahjalal: Mizanur Rahman, Sareh Ahmed.

1. Apologies: Emma Boffo, Pop Pilates. Absen t: Jesus Loves Gospel

2. Welcome by the Chair

The Chair welcomed everyone there. He explained that the Association is a registered charity and is run by its members. Each group has a minimum of one and maximum of two representatives on the Members’ Council, who are responsible for the ongoing running of the premises. There are 6 meetings a year, including this AGM. Every group must be represented and it is not a great time commitment. If everyone does their bit, there is less pressure on just a few people. There is no one else to run the place. It is up to all of us. There is no us and them, only us. It has been encouraging to see more groups contributing to the smooth running of the Association.

1 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of 31st May 2024.

No matters arising, the minutes were proposed by Luke Robinson, seconded by Richard Watkins and approved by the whole meeting as a true record.

4 Chair’s Report

Read by Brian Robinson

Deane Park Hall is the home for many local community activities here in South Ruislip and we are happy and proud of that. The number of people who come in here is hundreds each week.

In Taekwondo, I try to give our students a little background of how this place is run. So for the benefit of any new members or anyone who hasn’t been to one of these meetings before:

There is a charity called South Ruislip Community Association (SRCA) and it runs this building. The Association is run by a council made up of Trustees. These Trustees come from the regular groups who use the hall for their activities. We meet six times a year (including this AGM) and all business relating to keeping Deane Park Hall in order for us to use is dealt with.

The land here is not protected land, so it could be built on (although even Green Belt Land no longer seems totally safe anymore). However, we have always been here to fight any negative plans for our park and Community Centre.

Our structure is clearly laid out in our Constitution and, consequently, the users’ Council is essential to the running of our home here. No Members’ Council equals no Community Association and no AGM (Annual General Meeting), same outcome.

My thanks go to the people who make up the Council. Particular thanks tothe Vice Chair over the last year: Richard Watkins and our Treasurer: Mizanur Rahman.

To run a property and organisation like this involves a lot of work behind the scenes. Not just the days you or your group come here, but every day. The jobs range from cleaning to accounting.

Quite rightly much appreciation is shown to those who keep us all running. I used to hear talk as if there is a fulltime staff. I heard reference to “they” or “them”. I don’t here that very often anymore. Sally with the help of Luke shoulder this responsibility. With my help they do their best to cater for all of the activities here. Weekday and weekends. This means being here on a Sunday night at 11.00pm to clean up ready for regular user groups to come in, in the morning. This involves chasing the London Borough of Hillingdon and contractors when toilets and drains get blocked etc.

Without this input WE would have to do ALL that, otherwise the Centre would close down. Without these jobs being done for us, other people at this meeting, or from the groups, would have to manage the bookings, do the accounts, clean the toilets and be here at 11.0-0pm on Saturday night to see parties out. Then clean up ready for the same again on Sunday.

So, please show your appreciation throughout the year and NOW.

All of us doing a little with sweeping the floors after use, emptying a bin, cleaning as sink, mopping a messy floor. We are not helping someone do their job they are helping us do our jobs.

Engaging new ans younger members. If our Association is to continue and thrive into the future we must engage our younger members. The future of the Association will pass to them. We actively encourage younger members to participate in running the hall now. This will hopefully encourage a feeling of responsibility and ownership.

Luke, who has been caretaker for many years, was once a four year old Taekwondo student, who was brought to these meetings by his parents.

During last year

We currently have 7 grouops:

During the year, we have had two groups leave:

We do have seven time slots available for additional groups. So if anyone knows of groups looking for a home, please let Sally know.

The variety of groups is wide. This benefits the local community by offering choice. 2024-25

During 2024-25

Every year brings its own challenges. This year again, rocketing prices and inflation are a big issue for us. As mentioned by our accountant when he prepared our annual accounts. That all said, we are constantly being encouraged to worry about: the environment, global warming or the new ice age, the economy, new pandemics, crime immigration, wars etc. The list goes on.

But worrying about what you can’t influence is not good and does no good. So, let’s focus on influencing what we can influence. We can influence what we have here, our community centre, our families and our friends.

The future.

Maintenance

This is currently done on a responsive basis to keep costs as low as possible. This will continue to be influenced by funding, and availability of contractors. Usually myself, Luke and Sally deal with most things.

User groups.

I hope all our groups continue to prosper. Please remember that there are many users here and it is vital that we all do our bit to make things work. As I mentions every year there is no “They or Them” it is just us. I ask every member please clean up after your group’s use, respect the Association’s property and equipment. We are all busy but please remember to use our centre in the right spirit so it can all run with as little effort and disruption as possible. To close

Please remember we owe our thanks to the people who came before us and gave us this great place to do what we do. It is our responsibility to make sure future generations can continue to benefit as we do, no matter what happens around us. And by so doing make what is around us better.

The role of Chair at SRCA varies from year to year. 2024/25 has been a day to day one in many respects. With myself, Luke and Sally managing on a daily basis.

The challenge over the last year has been the constant maintenance associated with an ild building and keeping rising costs under control.

Who knows what the future will bring but we are still here. A big WELL DONE to allthe group leaders.

From me: a BIG Thank You to all who support SRCA and the role of Chairman throughout the year. I look forward to being able to rely on your support to meet whatever the coming year throws our way.

Soon we will be enjoying the refreshments. These were supplied by Sally and prepared by Meri. Grateful thanks to them.

5 Administrative Secretary’s Report Read by Sally Coster

As you know, we had to increase our rent after last year’s accountant’s report. Having done so we, sadly, lost 2 groups. So we were kind of back to square one. However, the good news is that we now have one new group. I have been regularly talking to people to see if we can get another few groups to join us. I’d be grateful for any support from the membership here. If you have any ideas of people who might be interested in setting up regular classes, please let me know.

We now have better energy and telephone contracts and no longer have a photo copier. So savings have been made.

The good news is that we have developed a strong community spirit, which makes me think of the spirit of the first members who set up this Association way back in 1948. Our situation is being improved by regular users. Grateful thanks go to the following people: Shahjalal who have carried our several odd jobs around the building, improving the environment for all of us.

I noticed a massive increase in birthday parties for one year olds, which have had a very positive impact for us. When I asked Anita from Baby Sensory, it turns out she has been strongly recommending this venue to her parents for their baby’s party. So,. thanks to Baby Sensory.

Emma has regularly designed and produced posters showing all the groups here. Recently, she has designed two banners to hang on the fence to advertise hall hire for regular groups as well as weekend parties.

We have had financial donations from Taekwondo.

Our chairman himself is currently supplying paper and printing for the hall.

Big thanks to all our groups for hiring this hall and looking after it so well during your use. Thank you to everyone as everyone is doing their bit.

I am looking forward to a stronger and growing community during the next year.

6 Annual Report from the Trustees. .

Baby Sensory

Baby Sensory are award winning developmental classes for babies from birth – 14 months. Classes run weekly during term time with ad hoc weekend sessions throughout the year. Classes also run in South Harrow and Greenford.

Classes have been running at Deane Park Hall for 8 years.. At a time when Children’s Centres and services for parents are being cut, classes like Baby Sensory offer a lifeline and support for these families.

Once again thank you to Sally and the team at SRCA for the continued support and for all the hard work they do in keeping the venue operating smoothly. The hall lends it self perfectly for my classes. I am grateful the hall has remained committed to serving the local community by allowing groups like mine to run there.

Thank you

Anita Carstens

Baby Sensory South Harrow Ltd

Bugeisha Aikido

Bugeisha Aikido membership numbers are down a little but we have a stable core of dedicated members studying the many aspects of our martial art and enjoying the training. We are also attending monthly weekend courses at our parent dojo and others. New members are always welcome.

Richard Watkins

Jesus Loves Gospel

We have been going around 2 years now, a lot more people are coming. The hall is very convenient for us.

Aaron Vasan

Menofit & Pilates

MenoFit, fitness for menopausal women

I have a regular bunch of ladies now who all work at their own level and work on getting and staying fit, healthy, toned and strong. It's so important especially as we age to 'use it or lose it. Menopause can bring a whole host of symptoms and doing full on hard sessions beyond 30 minutes can be detrimental to an already stressed body. So in MenoFit we still do a higher energy component, but then usually follow it with a lower impact toning section, for example abs and glutes.

Fitness Pilates has also grown steadily over the last few months and still remains a good way of doing a workout without being left sweaty and exhausted at the end. Going a bit further than a more traditional Pilates class, we work to strengthen the whole body, adding in balance work plus plenty of mobility and flexibility/stretching. This session is also streamed online at the same time and both are recorded so member’s can catch up any time it suits them.

Emma Boffo

Pop Pilates

POP Pilates is a fitness class where traditional Pilates moves are put to pop music, creating a more upbeat session. It is open to all abilities as we offer a range of options for each move that we do.

This has been running every Tuesday since September 2024. Uptake was slow to begin with, however since January the class has been doing well, and maintains a steady number of roughly 10 members each week.

Kassia Rogers.

Shahjalal.

Thank you for inviting our committee to the AGM. We are very pleased with the South Ruislip Community Association and our time with you thus far has been excellent. The services available to us at the centre are well suited to our needs. We have a great relationship with the South Ruislip Community Association, and we hope this continues in the future. The Shahjalal Community Centre is satisfied with the SRCA and have no issues. We are confident that this will continue in the future. We wish the committee all the best and they have our full support.

Many Thanks,

Feroz Miah

General Secretary.

Titan Academy

Titan Taekwondo is based at Deane Park Hall. We are rebuilding classes in Watford and several students are training in both venues. Titan runs an after school club in John Lyons School, Harrow.

We receive support from the Jack Petchey foundation. This helps provide various equipment and motivation for students. We are very thankful for that support. The Titan Taekwondo group thinks of Deane Park Hall as our home. We have always been at the heart of the Association, and plan to continue in the same manner. Last year’s drop in income has been met with Titan’s usual proactive approach and we have made donations to the charity: both financial and in equipment.

Titan trains all comers from ages 5 years to adult: those who come for a regular activity and those are keen to progress to black belt and beyond, those who want to train to compete and those aiming to become stunt performers, joining the British Stunt Register. We have 5 general gradings and 2 black belt gradings every year, enabling students to progress whenever they are ready .

Numbers attending classes at Deane Park Hall have increased, and student involvement in all aspects has increased. Most students train in several classes each week. We encourage all of our students at all levels and ages to take responsibility for the training hall, tidying and sweeping and supporting the running of their club and the hall. We are very proud that we now have a very strong representation of black belts in the club. All our students help to support the day to day running of the community centre. We strongly encourage all our students to contribute to the Association by attending this Annual General Meeting every year. The catering for this AGM has been provided by Titan’s student, Meri. Our thanks to her.

We enjoy meeting other groups who use the hall and love the friendly atmosphere created by you all.

Our thanks to those who make the running of Deane Park Hall possible. Luke Robinson.

7 Audit Statement of Accounts: (Hon Treasurers Report) (As attached)

(Read by Brian Robinson). Report from the accountant: “The accounts are now more stable but we need to keep a watching brief to ensure that the Association improves its situation.”

Proposed by Meri Balkanska, Seconded by Luke Robinson and approved by all.

1 Election of Independent Examiner

Richard Braysher has agreed to audit the accounts for the coming year. He audited the accounts for 2024. Nominated by Mizanur Rahman, seconded by Richard Watkins. It was agreed by all attending that Richard Braysher would audit the accounts.

2 Election of Honorary Treasurer

Mizanur Rahman was nominated to act as Honorary Treasurer again this year. He was proposed by Richard Watkins and seconded by Brian Robinson There being no other nominations, Mizanur Rahman was elected for the next year

3 Election of Members’ Representatives of Members’ Council (Trustees)

Most of the present representatives of the Members’ Council are all willing to stand again:-

The Members Representatives of the Members Council are as follows:

BRIAN ROBINSON CHAIR (TAEKWONDO) RICHARD WATKINS VICE CHAIR (AIKIDO) LUKE ROBINSON TAEKWONDO EMMA BOFFO PILATES/MENOFIT MIZANUR RAHMAN SHAHJALAL ANITA CARSTENS BABY SENSORY RAJADYRAI ASANTHARAJ JESUS LOVES GOSPEL KASSIA ROGERS POP PILATES

These were elected “en bloc” and approved by all.

Proposer for Chair was Meri Balkanska, seconded by Lenny Bishop.

The Members’ Council decided there was no proposal for Chair other than Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson was pleased to stand for another year.

Proposer for Vice Chair was Luke Robinson, seconded by Mizanur Rahman. The Members’ Council decided there was no proposal for Vice Chair other than Mr Watkins. Mr Watkins was pleased to stand for the coming year.

1 Announcement of Associations Chair and Vice Chair

Chair: Brian Robinson voted in by all of the Members’ Council Vice Chair: Richard Watkins voted in by all of the Members’ Council.

2 Any Other Business

There was no Any Other Business.

The date for the next Council meeting was set for Monday 28[th] July at 7.30pm

The meeting closed at 7.40pm and was followed by a pleasant social evening.