## **CHURT VILLAGE HALL**
## **Annual Report 2025**
**Charity Name:** Churt Village Hall
## **Charity number:** 305006
**Report for financial year:** 1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025
**Principal address:** Crossways, Churt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2JA
## **Trustees at the date of this report:**
## **Holding trustees:**
Geoffrey John Langton Brain Chair Rev Richard Bodle Trustee Terence Arthur Cole Trustee **Manging trustees:** Michael Robert George Cook Chair of Management Committee Peter Bolt Trustee Christopher James Deacon Trustee Julia Deacon Trustee (resigned 13 January 2026) Philip Peter Kirby Trustee (resigned 28 August 2025) John Richard Newberry Trustee (appointed 6 November 2025) Sarah Margaret Overington Trustee (appointed 12 May 2026) Lucie Jean Pinnell Trustee Vivienne Frances Raeside Trustee Carmen Joyce Sharp Trustee (appointed 17 March 2026)
## **Governance**
The charity was established in 1928 with charitable objectives to operate a Village Hall for use as reading and recreation rooms. The governing document is the Deed of Conveyance dated 18 May 1928. The Charity is constituted as an unincorporated association.
The Holding Trustees hold the title to the Hall as custodians but are not involved in day-to-day management. The routine operation of the Hall is delegated to a management committee consisting of the seven Managing Trustees.
Manging trustees are formally elected by the Annual General Meeting, which is held every year in November and is open to all Churt residents. New trustees may be co-opted during the year, subject to confirmation at the AGM.
## **Charitable activities**
Churt Village Hall is run and maintained to provide a focus for the local community to meet its social and recreational needs. A variety of activities are undertaken, principally by and for the benefit of members of the village, however the Hall is open to, and embraces, wider usage from the surrounding populace and elsewhere.
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when managing the hall and determining how best to utilise funds raised.
## **Annual review 2025**
Whilst 2025 has not been without its issues, it has been very successful both in terms of our growing relationship with Dottie Tots nursery that provides the Hall with a good baseline income and use of the Hall by a range or local organisations, residents and private Hall hirers.
Whilst we have spent a significant amount of money on maintaining, repairing and developing the facilities at the Hall, and on significantly increased electricity and gas costs, we have still managed to generate a small surplus to add to our funds.
In addition to income from users of the Hall, the Village Hall Committee, comprising Chris Deacon (Treasurer), Julia Deacon (Secretary), Lucie White (Maintenance), Viv Raeside (DTs liaison and Events Coordinator), Peter Bolt (Hall Bookings), and myself, has been active during 2025 adding to the Hall’s income through three well supported activities comprising the Village Quiz, Churt Fete Raffle and the soon to be held Queen Tribute Band – Flash - all of which provided
not only good funds for the Hall but perhaps as importantly, fun activities for Churt residents and the surrounding community.
Further, we have recently re-launched the Village Hall Lottery (formerly called the 90 Club) as the ‘Hall for All’ Lottery. Unfortunately, the original lottery that was founded in 2018 has suffered dwindling membership in the past seven years, in part due to members passing on. The ‘rules’ of the lottery will be essentially the same as before and we have an ambitious target to secure 100 members by Christmas 2025. Recruitment since November 1st has risen to some 50+ members, so we are ‘on the way’ to our target. If we achieve the target, this will add ~£3,000 to the Hall funds each year.
So, all in all, it has been a very good year for Churt Village Hall where we have supported the community and raised a good level of surplus funds despite the fact that we have continued to offer reduced rates to charities and our community, provided the Hall free for the PC Village Cheer pre-Christmas event and are pleased to mark our central position in Churt with the Christmas tree and lights.
The funds raised have, in part, been used to maintain and upgrade the Hall. We have replaced some of the kitchen equipment, fixed a significant leak in the plumbing system, refurbished the Hall floor, replaced a number of wooden windowsills, and replaced the old curtains with blinds. Further, we are in the process of planning a number of upgrades in 2026 including provision of a modern audio-visual (AV) system, upgrading the toilet facilities and replacing the old blue plastic chairs with something a bit more modern and comfortable. These upgrades will eat into the reserves we have accumulated but will provide a significantly enhanced Hall for the Churt Community. And, we will be seeking some grant funding to offset the costs of these upgrades, where possible.
Finally, as a result of the leak we experienced in the early Autumn, Richard Newberry (RICS Building Surveyor and Beacon Hill resident) undertook an examination of the fabric of the Hall, FOC. So, huge thanks to Richard. And Richard has also agreed to join the Hall committee and with his knowledge of buildings will, I am sure, be an invaluable contributor to the good running of the Hall. The good news is that whilst Richard identified several minor issues that require resolution, he found no major issues.
The Trustees would like to thank the Village Hall Management Committee and other Hall helpers, who do an enormous amount to ensure the Hall continues to provide an excellent facility for the residents of Churt and its surrounds.
## **Financial review 2025**
## **Overview:**
Total income in the financial year 2024-25 was approximately the same as the previous year. Total costs, however, were considerably increased, because of increases in energy prices and higher ‘Repairs and Maintenance’ and ‘Hall Improvement’ costs. Nevertheless, a comfortable surplus was achieved, of £8,226.
The charity’s financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2025 are attached, along with the Independent Examiner’s report.
## **Income:**
Total income was £41,403 for the financial year, approximately the same as last year. Dottie Tots Nursery contributed £28,530 of that total, following an increase in the hourly rate and an increase in hours. The increased income from Dottie Tots compensated for reductions in income from ‘Clubs and Activities’ and ‘Private Functions’. Commercial income was reduced from 2023–24 because there were no elections this year.
Fundraising maintained last year’s excellent contribution. Fundraising income overall was somewhat reduced, mainly because this year’s ‘tribute act’ event has slipped into 2025-26. Otherwise, income from fundraising events was again excellent. At the end of the financial year, the VH Lottery had 29 paid-up members, a total which is expected to increase significantly in 2025-26.
The level of donations was back to a more normal level this year, including small donations from several kind donors, and by way of Lottery prizes donated back to the hall.
This year’s accounts include interest on investments of £363 from a Lloyds fixed term deposit account, at an interest rate of 3.6%, which matured on 3 February 2025. Further such investments have not been made this year,
however, because of uncertainty about the scale of maintenance and hall improvement costs which were going to be required.
## **Expenditure:**
Total expenditure was £33,177 for the year, a considerable increase from last year because of unusually high ‘Hall Improvement’ costs (principally new hall blinds) and ‘Repair & Maintenance’ costs (primarily dormer window repair), plus increased energy costs.
As indicated in last year’s annual report, our advantageous fixed price energy contracts finally came to an end on 30 September 2024. New fixed price contracts are now in place, but as expected, energy costs have increased by a factor of between two and three times. A further fixed price contract has now been entered into from 1 October 2026, to lock in more advantageous prices, with electricity rates reduced by 8 % and gas by 31 % v/s our current contracts.
Historically, we have been paying the charity VAT rate of 5 % on our energy bills, but this year, SSE and HMRC have begun applying what appear to be more rigorous rules on entitlement for that reduced rate, which could result in the application of 20 % VAT and a Climate Change Levy. Currently we are still paying the 5 % VAT rate, but there is a chance that we could become liable to the higher rate, particularly for gas, if we are deemed to no longer be ‘de minimis’ users. We have therefore provided an additional £1,134 on the balance sheet for potential back-billing of additional VAT/CCL costs for 202425.
## **Financial position:**
The hall has a strong balance sheet. The overall financial position at the end of the financial year 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 is satisfactory, with net assets of £64,020. Net income for the financial year was £8,226.
Because of the continuing general increase in costs, hire fees were increased at the beginning of September 2025 by 4 % for all hirers, which this year included community organisations.
## **Reserves policy and reserves:**
During the financial year 2024-25, the hall operated a reserves policy of retaining one year’s operating costs. The previous year, in the light of steadily increasing costs and the increase in our contracted energy prices, the Operating Reserve was increased to £22,000. At the end of October 2025, this left free reserves of £42,020.
In addition to the above, and in the light of the fact that our building is nearly 100 years old and inevitably requires frequent, and sometimes urgent, maintenance, we have now adopted an additional Maintenance Reserve of £15,000, giving a total policy reserve for 2025-26 of £37,000.
## **Declarations:**
All funds are unrestricted. There are no funds held by the charity that are materially in deficit. There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:**
## **Signature**
## **Full name**
Christopher James Deacon
## **Position**
Treasurer
## **Date**
26 August 2026
## **Profit and Loss**
## **Churt Village Hall**
## **For the year ended 31 October 2025**
|**Profit and Loss**
**Churt Village Hall**
**For the year ended 31 October 2025**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|**2023**|
|**Trading Income**||||
|Interest Income|363|205|-|
|Other Revenue - Donations|960|2,652|700|
|Other Revenue - Fundraising Activities|3,796|5,999|5,162|
|Other Revenue - Grants|-|1,000|6,086|
|Other Revenue - Lottery Subscriptions|1,655|1,785|1,800|
|Sales - Clubs & Activities|2,758|3,290|4,238|
|Sales - Commercial|771|1,512|864|
|Sales - Nursery School|28,530|21,563|2,225|
|Sales - Private Functions|1,446|2,153|3,512|
|Sales - Storage Space|1,125|1,125|1,125|
|**Total Trading Income**|**41,403**|**41,283**|**25,712**|
|**Gross Profit**|**41,403**|**41,283**|**25,712**|
|**Operating Expenses**||||
|Advertising & Website|277|277|234|
|AGM & Christmas Tree|85|114|95|
|Bad Debt Expense|-|212|712|
|Cleaning|3,662|2,897|1,960|
|Electricity|3,153|1,716|843|
|Fundraising Costs|973|2,204|1,355|
|Gas|5,857|2,053|1,604|
|General Expenses|192|56|786|
|Hall Improvement Costs|5,020|173|11,191|
|Hallmaster Subscription|294|270|253|
|Hygiene Services|-|-|115|
|Insurance|1,498|1,300|1,211|
|Lottery Costs|920|920|920|
|Performing Rights|404|404|254|
|Premises licence|180|180|70|
|Rates|242|81|77|
|Refuse Collection|1,212|1,017|1,142|
|Repairs & Maintenance|7,292|2,983|3,428|
|Telephone & Internet|556|505|578|
|Water|997|446|237|
|Xero Subscription|364|327|304|
|**Total Operating Expenses**|**33,177**|**18,135**|**27,370**|
|**Net Profit**|**8,226**|**23,148**|**(1,658)**|
25 Nov 2025 Page 1 of 2
Committee Report Churt Village Hall
## **Balance Sheet**
## **Churt Village Hall As at 31 October 2025**
|**Balance Sheet**
**Churt Village Hall**
**As at 31 October 2025**|**Balance Sheet**
**Churt Village Hall**
**As at 31 October 2025**|
|---|---|
|**31 OCT 2025**
**31 OCT 2024**
**31 OCT 2023**||
|**Assets**||
||**Bank**|
||Churt Village Hall
53,296
37,269
27,975|
||Churt Village Hall Lottery
1,371
1,021
980|
||Lloyds Fixed Term Deposit
-
10,000
-|
||Skipton Deposit Account
3,576
3,576
3,371|
||**Total Bank**
**58,243**
**51,866**
**32,326**
**Current Assets**|
||Accounts Receivable
8,917
5,772
1,771|
||Prepayments
340
421
297|
||**Total Current Assets**
**9,257**
**6,193**
**2,069**|
|**Total Assets**
**67,500**
**58,059**
**34,395**
**Liabilities**||
||**Current Liabilities**|
||Accounts Payable
332
456
156|
||Accruals
1,145
894
341|
||Gas VAT Provision
1,134
-
-|
||Income in Advance
-
-
382|
||Lottery Income in Advance
870
915
870|
||Rounding
(1)
-
-|
||**Total Current Liabilities**
**3,480**
**2,265**
**1,748**|
||**Total Liabilities**
**3,480**
**2,265**
**1,748**|
|**Net Assets**
**64,020**
**55,794**
**32,646**
**Equity**||
|Current Year Earnings
8,226
23,148
(1,658)||
|Retained Earnings
55,794
32,646
34,305||
|**Total Equity**
**64,020**
**55,794**
**32,646**||
25 Nov 2025 Page 2 of 2
Committee Report Churt Village Hall
Mr Chris Deacon
Treasurer, Churt Village Hall
Sprlng Valley
Churt Road
Churt
GUIO 2QU
Inda
ant axamlTherfs
to the Irustees ol (Jwrt Vll
I report to the trusteos on my examination of the accou of Churt Willa89 Hall for tho ar
ended 31st Ortober 2025.
As the thartty trustee5 of Churt Vllla8e Hèll are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts
In ac¢ordan wlth the requlrements of the Charltle5 kt 20111Ihe Actr).
I report In respect of my examinatlpn of Churt Willage Hall's actounts carried under sertlon 145
of the 2011 Act arKI In carrylng out my examination I have followed all the appllcable Dlrectlons
8lven by the Charlty Commlsslon under sertlon 14515)Ib) of the ACL
I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrn) that no rnaterlal matters have come to my attentlon In
connectton wlth the exarnlnatlon 8lvln8 me cause to belleve that In any materlal respert:
l. accountlng recor¢ts were not kept In respect of the tharlty as requlred ty seLtlon 130 of the
A¢. or
2. the accounts do not accord wlth those records. or
3. th• accounts do not comply with th• applicabl• r•quir•ments conc•min8 the forn? and
content of accounts set in the charIt IAccourrts and Reports) Re8ulations 2C#J8 other
than any requiremert that the 8iv2 a and fairvle* whkh ts r#)t a matter
considered as part ot an independent examlnatS0n.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connectlon with the examlnatlon to
whlch attentlon should be drawn in thls report In order to enable a wper understsndlng of the
accounts to be reathed.
Slgne
Name: Vanessa Evans
Address: 8 Greenhaw. Chirt rrry GUIO 2PE
Date: 18th Au8USt 2026