2023-03-31-accounts

BARTON ST DAVID VILLAGE HALL AND PLAYING FIELD CHARITY

Registered Charity No 304475

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

AND ACCOUNTS

For the year ended

31[st] MARCH 2023

The Village Hall, Barton St David

BARTON ST DAVID VILLAGE HALL AND PLAYING FIELD CHARITY Registered Charity No 304475 ANNUAL REPORT 2022 – 2023

The Barton St David Village Hall and Playing Field Charity manages the Village Hall, Playing Field and Diamond Jubilee Wood. The Village Hall and the land on which it is situated was purchased in 1953. The Playing Field was purchased by the Parish Council from Somerset County Council in 1977 to provide community faciliTes for the village. The three-acre field on which the Diamond Jubilee Wood is situated was donated to the village in 2013.

Management of the Barton St David Village Hall and Playing Field Charity is provided by a commi>ee made up of Trustees.

Names of Trustees for the year 2022/2023

Chair - Sam Landrigan Vice Chair - Peter Farrant Treasurer - Claire Gosden Secretary - Sue Forbes Bookings Secretary - Nicky Wheeler RepresenMng the Parish Council - Dave Rowley RepresenMng the Parochial Church Council - Val Southwell-Sander RepresenMng the Tennis Club - Nicky Wheeler RepresenMng the Carnival Commi>ee - Sam Landrigan RepresenMng the Scouts - Vacancy RepresenMng the Pre-School - Chris Calcu> Elected - Lena Oliver Elected – Barry Hooks Co-opted February 2023 - Elaine Balcombe

In October 2022, the Village Hall Commi>ee lost one of its most acMve and commi>ed Trustees. The death of Penny Robinson leaves the village without one of its strongest advocates.

The Village Hall, originally the village school built in 1864, provides a single large room with a food preparaMon area, equipment storage rooms and toilets.

A separate building at the rear provides extra storage and changing rooms with showers and toilets for use in conjuncMon with the playing field. Within the field is an all-weather tennis court, a children’s playground and some adult exercise equipment. The field can be set up for cricket, football and croquet.

The Village Hall and Playing Field are available for hire - [e-mail]

The Diamond Jubilee Wood is reached via a path that runs up the side of the Churchyard.

The Commi>ee is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the Village Hall, Playing Field and Diamond Jubilee Wood. The costs are met from the proceeds of the Carnival, hall and playing field hire charges, tennis club membership fees and social events. Expenses incurred by the Diamond Jubilee Wood are covered by a generous annual donaMon.

There are several ways communicaTon is encouraged within the village:

Village Website – www.bartonstdavid.org.uk

A Newsle>er is published six Mmes a year. The Editor can be contacted on - bartonstdavid.newsle>[e-mail]

An email distribuMon list gets informaMon around the village quickly. Email Nicky to be put on the list - [e-mail].

We are also on Facebook - www.facebook.com/BSDVH.

This past year has very much been focused on prioriMsing the upgrades that we feel the village hall and playing field need to be an a>racMve venue to hire and a safe outdoor space to hold community events.

shortly.

geang onto the playing field.

A new container for storage, which will be shared by the Carnival and the Scouts, is being posiMoned behind the village hall.

With all the above expense in mind, our Treasurer applied for and obtained several grants. We are in receipt of £5,000 from a Local Charitable Trust, £300 from Higos Insurance Services Ltd and £9,000 from the Lo>ery Fund. The Parish Council has generously donated a further £3,000. The Scouts have also raised £1,000 to go towards the cost of purchasing the storage container.

With the rise in the cost of living, we have been carefully monitoring the village hall gas and electricity costs. We have had to slightly increase the charges to our hirers but sMll subsidise them.

The Carnival is our biggest and most significant fund raising event of the year. A dedicated committee meets every month through the year to plan the event. Individual members take responsibility for particular aspects and draw on the expertise of other villagers to ensure each year’s event retains important traditions but also introduces fresh new initiatives. The 2022 Carnival celebrated the emergence from the dark days of the pandemic by providing an occasion for all to enjoy.

Our tree warden reports that the Diamond Jubilee Wood was planted nearly ten years ago (Nov 2013) with eight hundred native trees and shrubs provided by the Woodland Trust; it continues to flourish. It was decided earlier in the year to upgrade the top hedge, which was mainly bramble, so eighty metres of native hedge were planted with spiral guards and mulched to

suppress weed growth. We had an expert from Reimagining the Levels (Somerset Tree Planting Group) to have a look and make suggestions. He suggested, to encourage more biodiversity in the main body of woodland, we needed to plant a range of different native shrubs. Previously planted shrubs included hawthorn, hazel, dogwood and dogrose. To broaden the range of species, eighty shrubs have now been planted either side of the main tree plantings including spindle, wayfaring, alder buckthorn, common buckthorn, guelder rose, honeysuckle, holly and elder. With the recent rains, we are hoping these will establish well and encourage further biodiversity. A big 'thank you' must go to the Reimagining the Levels team and a group of volunteers from the village who planted the shrubs earlier in March.

The village turned out in numbers for the late Queen’s PlaMnum Jubilee Barton Picnic on the 5[th] June 2022. Aker the Loyal Toast we were entertained by the Benefice Choir and there were races and craks to keep the children busy. Barton St David PlaMnum Jubilee mugs were available to purchase and a poster with the signatures of all the villagers who came to the picnic is now displayed in the village hall.

iniMaMve.

The following are short reports from the organisations that regularly use the village hall and playing field.

Barton St David Pre-School. We very much appreciate the support and commitment of Barton St. David Village Hall Committee over the years, which has provided the Pre-School with the opportunity to assist children and families across the local area.

This year we have enjoyed another exciting and successful year with the village hall hosting our activities in a safe, clean and well organised manner. The additional maintenance, deep cleaning and decoration of the hall have been especially welcome.

It has been a good year for the Barton St David Scout Group . We meet on Monday and Tuesday evenings at Barton St David Hall. There are three sections: Beavers (6-8 years); Cubs (8 - 10.5 years) and Scouts (10.5 - 14 years old). In partnership with the East Somerset Scout District, we run an Explorer Unit (14-18 years).

This year we owe a special vote of thanks to the Hall and its committee. I attended a committee meeting in the spring of 2022 almost in despair about the parlous state of our tents and the lack of suitable storage to keep tents in top class condition. That meeting was so supportive in an immediate promise to help with container storage that it provided the morale boost and impetus for a major fundraising campaign for new tents, camping equipment and a contribution towards the shared container.

All manner of activities take place in the hall including science workshops, navigation skills, beaver sleepovers, first aid, pioneering, crafts, money skills, leadership activities and more. So, in summary, we are forging forwards and truly looking forward to a positive future.

Six Pilates classes on a Monday afternoon, a Wednesday evening and a Friday morning cater for over sixty local adult members of the community. Participants includes people from the surrounding local villages as well as Street, Somerton and Lydford. The introduction of a seated class for people with mobility issues or underlying health conditions has been a great addition to the programme, allowing Lena to cater to a wider group and offer options for people who may

have injuries, be recovering from surgery or looking for a gentler class and encourages people to continue to exercise.

2022 to 2023 has been a year of consolidation for the History Club . Thanks to the efforts of our Members and Steering Group, the support of the Village Hall Committee and Booking Secretary, we have managed to hold meetings every month throughout the year with the exception of the high summer months (which themselves featured the Carnival and a guided tour of Wells Cathedral). Our speakers have covered a really diverse range of topics, one highlight being our first Robinson Memorial Lecture delivered in October by the well-known Historian and writer Ian Mortimer with an attendance of over 60 people. (Reports of all our meetings are posted on the Village Website). Our membership has since grown to over 40, a sign, we believe, of the value to the community of this opportunity for a chance to learn and socialise in a friendly relaxed environment.

Village Hall Table Tennis sessions began after the summer holidays on September 2nd 2022 and ran until March 31st 2023 when we stopped for the Easter break. There was no play during the week 13th-17th February as the hall was being redecorated. During our 27 week period we had several new players join us and at one stage another table would have been useful. However, not all the 20 players we have listed come at once! We have a number of competitive players but we all laugh a lot, allowing us to have plenty of fun whilst exercising.

This has been a good year for Keinton Mandeville and District WI which has members in Barton St David, Keinton Mandeville, West Pennard, Lottisham and Baltonsborough. We have used several venues in recent years but I am delighted to report that members say that they ‘feel at home’ in Barton’s village hall and it is always warm and comfortable. Other users of the hall keep it clean and welcoming. The ease of parking is welcomed as are all the extra facilities that the hall offers such as disabled access, good external lighting, wifi and audio visual provision. Some may take these things for granted but our WI knows that it is not the case elsewhere where dark exteriors, cold and damp interiors and difficult kitchen facilities are more the norm.

This year in the hall, our meetings have included Deaf Awareness, Service Dogs UK, Zorba dancing, crafts, parties, photo treasure hunt, settling in the Wild West as well as debate on national issues in helping set the National WI Resolution for 2023-24. (Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife was the winner).

We would dearly like more new members but although we are active, lively and innovative we struggle with a perception of the normal WI member being rather sedentary and into jam, baking and knitting!

The Barton St David Tennis Club (chaired by Duncan Forbes) is run by Nicky Wheeler (Bookings) and Rosalie Odgers (Treasurer and Membership). The membership numbers of the Club have remained steady this year with 25 subscripMons in total: 18 family (residing in Barton), 6 family (residing outside the village), and 1 individual member.

Family membership costs £45.00 pa for residents of the village, and £50.00 pa for families living outside the village. Individual membership is £30.00 pa for members within the village. Junior members are charged at £12.00 pa (within the village) and £15.00pa (outside the village). The court is available to non members at an hourly charge.

paid to the Village Hall.

Cary Valley Croquet Club play at Barton every Wednesday and Saturday during the season. When they host a visiting team, they hire the hall for the afternoon as well and their activity justifies the effort of maintaining two courts.

Village Croquet games are played every Tuesday weather permitting. We have six regular village players but there are often eight or more on a fine afternoon.

efforts to provide an a>racMve village facility for the benefit of the Barton community.

Susan Forbes Secretary

On behalf of Barton St David Village Hall and Playing Field Committee

Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

Statement of Assets (As Insured)

Village Hall Buildings 1,199,544 Contents 38,680 Playground Equipment 54,750 Mowers 16,600 Marquees 7,590 Carnival Storage Container 4,162 Playing Field and Jubilee Wood - Outdoor Gym Equipment 5,826 March 2023 Receipts: £ Private Hall Hire 1,387.00 Tennis Club 450.00 Pre-School 1,603.00 Scouts, Beavers & Cubs 752.00 Table Tennis 360.00 History Club 105.00 Pilates/Silvercise 1,704.00 Croquet Club 1,187.00 Total Hall Hire Receipts Carnival 9,334.81 Village Croquet 417.00 (Wine Tasting) Total Fundraising Receipts Donations - General Barton St David PC Donation - Playgound equipment Utility Meters EDF PV Feed Sundry Deposit Interest Total General Fund Receipts	March 2022 £ £ 600.00 850.00 - - 190.00 60.00 336.00 1,529.20 7,548.00 6,810.52 253.00 9,751.81 2,133.82 3,000.00 1,034.50 2,039.18 272.00 362.75 26,142.06	£ 3,565.20 7,063.52 1,011.00 3,765.00 811.00 2,068.10 21.02 8.70 18,313.54

March 2023 Payments: £ Gas 722.04 Electricity 114.70 Hall Water 432.57 Waste & Recycling Collection 702.26 Broadband 373.92 Maintenance 1,661.26 Cleaning 2,025.50 Total Hall Costs Field Maintenance Insurance, Memb & Subs Sundry Newsletter Printing Carnival 4,984.50 Total Fundraising Costs Play Equipment 9,609.78 Total Exceptional Items Total General Fund Payments General (Unrestricted) Fund Balance: General Fund Balance b/f 1st April Excess of Receipts over Payments Less Transferred to Restricted Fund General Fund at 31st March	March 2022 £ £ 559.10 510.00 400.58 673.37 557.84 484.10 1,462.85 6,032.25 2,860.21 2,484.32 764.98 400.00 4,243.55 4,984.50 557.28 9,609.78 27,136.04 27,025.42 993.98 - 5,000.00 - 21,031.44	£ 4,647.84 1,149.77 2,323.20 462.37 301.00 4,243.55 557.28 13,685.01
		22,396.89 4,628.53 - 27,025.42

March 2023

March 2022

Jubilee Wood (Restricted) Fund

Restricted Fund Balance b/f 1st April Total Receipts 1,000.00 Total Payments 807.18 Restricted Fund at 31st March New Playground Maintenance (Restricted) Fund Restricted Fund Balance b/f 1st April Less Payments Restricted Fund at 31st March Total Charity Funds at 31st March 2023 Unrestricted: General Funds Restricted: Jubilee Wood Fund Restricted: Playground Maintenance Exceptional Reserves Fund Total Charity Funds Represented by Cash Balance Main Bank Account Deposit Account Carnival Committee Account	859.02 1,000.00 943.00 192.82 1,051.84 2,284.72 - 2,284.72 21,031.44 1,051.84 2,284.72 10,000.00 34,368.00 177.50 11,867.12 20,823.38 1,500.00 34,368.00	802.02 57.00 859.02
		2,449.12 164.40 2,284.72
		27,025.42 859.02 2,284.72 5,000.00
		35,169.16
		189.00 13,019.53 20,460.63 1,500.00
		35,169.16

Mrs E C Gosden (Treasurer)

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of The Barton St David Village Hall and Playing Field Charity l on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023. whlch are set out on the pages I to 3 of Flnancial Statements. The charity's trustees are responsible for ￿ weparation of the acctyjnts. The charl￿$ trustees consider that an audit is not required for thls year under section 144(21 of the Charltie5 Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examI￿tIon is needed. It Is rry rEsponslblllty to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directi￿$ given by the Charlty Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act: and to stste whether particular mattets have come to nry attentlon. My examination was carrled OLrt in accordance wlth the general Directions glven by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting reccKtts kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It a150 includes conslderation of any unusual items or disclosure5 in the accounts, and seeking eXplanati￿S from you as trustees concerning any s￿h matters. The procedures undertaken do not provrde all the ewdence that would be required in an audit and c(￿$equentI¥ no opinlon 15 given as to whether the accounts present a 'true fair view. and the rew>rt is limited to those mattets set out in the ststement below. In connectlon with my examinathn, no matter has come to me atlention: 111 Which glves me TeasonalAe cause to believe that In any materlal respect t requirement.. to keep accountFn8 records accordance wth section 130 of the 2011 Act.. and to p￿pare accounts which accord wth thè accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met. or {21 to vthich, in my opinron. attentton shcwjld be drawn in order to enable a twper UrKleTSta￿In8 of the a¢¢ounts to be Teached. Helen Hashml ACA 35 Irving Road Keinton Marwjerville Somerset TAII 6ET