**Trustees’ Annual Report for the period: 01 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 Charity name: The Horam Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity Charity Registration no.: 305257** ## **Objectives and Activities:** ||**SORP**
**Para.**
**ref.**|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|1.17|The Object of the Charity is the provision and maintenance of
a village hall and recreation ground for the use of the
inhabitants of the Parish of Horam without distinction of
political, religious or other options, including use for meetings,
lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and
leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the
conditions of life for the said inhabitants.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|1.17 & 1.19|The Charity exists to maintain the land and building entrusted
to it, for the sole benefit of the people of Horam and its
surrounding areas.
It comprises a large airy hall, committee room, kitchen, toilet
facilities and storage cupboards. It has an extensive range of
use, from small committee meetings, a term-time weekday
pre-school, through to large meetings and wedding
receptions.
The hall has open views over the adjacent land forming the
recreation ground which also has an extensive children’s
playground, and a skate-park – these latter facilities are
provided and owned by Horam Parish Council.
The organisations associated to the Charity, through their
presence on and use of the recreation ground and buildings,
provide a comprehensive opportunity for youth and all ages to
use the facilities for education, recreation, and pursuit of
heath.
As a particular example, the Football Club (accredited by
Football England) uses the majority of the available ground in
season at weekends, providing football matches/training for
under-sixes to under-eighteens, boys and girls, with some
300+ children on the books.
The Village Hall and Recreation Ground is recognised by the
whole village (of 2,500+ residents) as being on immense
value and worth to the inhabitants.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit|Para 1.18|The Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit has
been fully regarded in the day-to-day function and
management of the facilities comprising The Horam Village
Hall and Recreation Ground.| ## **Additional information:** |**Additional information:**||| |---|---|---| |||| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Whilst the Trustees would specifically discuss the merit of any
grant-making need or proposal, the normal practice is that the
Charity does not make grants of any kind to other Charitable
bodies.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|In principle, the Charity does not consider social investment
opportunities as part of its normal remit. However, the
Charity would be willing to consider making contributions of
this nature, subject to strict criteria, but only where such
arose due to stipulations of a grant-making body which may
be giving direct financial support to the Charity for one of its
project proposals.| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All members of the Committee of Management (the Trustees)
are volunteers, giving of their time tirelessly to support the
work of the charity, and are not recompensed in any way for
their efforts. Further tasks are undertaken by part-time staff,
who are paid; these staff are not Trustees of the Charity. The
staff include a Secretary/Fund-Raiser, a Bookings Secretary,
a handyman/caretaker.
There are also occasional ‘events’ which are run by both
Trustees and Community Teams/volunteers, such as an
Annual Horam Fun Day. Many of the regular (weekly) users
of the facilities are ‘community-oriented’ groups, such as the
Heathfield Choral Society.
Historically, maintenance of the village hall facilities was
funded from a proportion of the fees arising from the hiring of
the hall, meaning there was, inevitably, constraint on this
maintenance activity. Recent years, however, have seen a
marked increase in fund-raising through grant applications to
fund-distributing trusts.
This has allowed the trustees to consider more robust
improvements to the facilities over the past few years, with
projects including:
-
Completion of refurbishment and equipping of the
Hall’s kitchen
-
Purchase of a modular staging facility
-
The GAP (Get Active Pathway) project - a ‘figure-
of-eight’ one kilometre Agri-Flex (recycled rubber)
pathway planned eventually for the two fields
comprising the Recreation Ground. Work in this
financial year included the letting of a contract and
completion of construction of Phase 1 of the
pathway
-
Provision of seating around the GAP project
-
Replacement of all external doors and windows
-
Completion of an extensive upgrade in the CCTV
provisions at the site| ## **Achievements and Performance** |||| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|The open air facility of the recreation ground continued to be
used as a major place of exercise and pleasure for those
seeking to maintain their own well-being. The recreation
ground, with the Village Hall, children’s playground, skate
park, Scouts Hall, Bowls Club, Tennis Club, children’s football
club, is an extremely important ‘gem’ in the life and well-being
of the village.
The Gap Project Phase 1 was completed right at the end of
the financial year 2022/23; it was officially ‘opened’ by our
local MP Nus Ghani on 10/10/23, and has already made a
huge impact on the use of the facilities, transforming the
Recreation Ground’s desirability and use, and turning it into a
truly all-year available opportunity for recreation, fitness and
well-being.
The Charity’s focus in this particular area continued on raising
awareness of and finance for the planned children’s Pump
Track, and an extension of the pathway into the second field
of the Recreation Ground.| |**Additional information**||| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para
1.41|The Trustees remain more than satisfied with what has been
achieved in the running, maintenance and improvement of
the Village Hall and its surrounding Recreation Ground.| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|The Trustees have been, perhaps, a little reticent in the past
about being responsible for running ‘fund-raising activities’ in
support of the Charity, primarily due to the nature of the
Charity and its function.
Notably, however, since 2021/22, including during 2023/24,
various outward-facing events have been held such as a
‘Get-to-know- your-village Hall’ was held.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para
1.41|Not applicable.| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |||| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|During the course of the 2023/24 financial year, the decision
to move the charity’s banking from Barclays to Charities Aid
Foundation (CAFBank) was implemented. This process
meant a gradual transition away from Barclays to CAFBank, a
process which will finally be completed during the 2024/25
year.
Additionally, the recording of income and expenditure for the
charity moved from Excel spreadsheets to Quick Books.
The year beginning/year end positions are recorded in the
submitted accounts (in CC16a format).
The opening balances, as at 01/10/2023, stood at £14.845 in
the Charity’s current account, and £6,150 in the reserve
account (both Barclays accounts, CAFBank accounts not yet
in operation at year opening).
Hall hire income (including Representative Groups’ fees)
totalled £25,480; Grant Income totalled £140,070; other
income totalled £6,790.
‘Normal’ running costs totalled £41,405, with ‘project’
expenditure of £128,375.
The end-of-year position was £18,910 in the Charity’s current
accounts (B: £7,220 & CAF: £11,690), with £4,650 in the
reserve accounts (B: £10 & CAF: £4,640).
Overall, the picture is of a satisfactory stable year.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The policy for holding reserves is the ‘usual prudence’ one of
having sufficient funds secured so that the Charity can
continue to run, covering its costs, for a sufficient length of
time to enable income/expenditure streams to be adjusted or
restored.
We are currently holding reserves equivalent to some 4
months of operating costs, which the Trustees are content to
continue, keeping a watchful eye for any pressure that might
necessitate a smaller reserve.| |Amount of reserves held|Para
1.22|At year-end 30/09/2024: £4,650 (B: £10 & CAF: £4,640) .| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para
1.22|Not applicable| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para
1.24|Not applicable| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are none.| ## **Additional information** |**Additional information**||| |---|---|---| |||| |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|There are four main sources of funds, as follows:
•
Hall hire income – this is the income primarily
associated with the ‘existence’ of the Charity, its
raison d’être – approximately £22,010, which includes
the significant income from the Pre-School.
•
Representative Groups’ Fees, comprising some
£3,470 (from Football Club, Tennis Club, Bowls Club,
Scouts and Allotments).
•
Other Income: totalling £6,790
•
Project grant income – some £140,070 in this year.| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|We have insufficient longer-term held funds to either warrant
or enable any concept of an ‘investment policy’.
In principle, the Charity does not consider social investment
opportunities as part of its normal remit.| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Currently, as an unincorporated organisation, the level of risk,
particularly to the Trustees, is considerable, albeit that
extensive insurances are in place. However, should those
insurances be called upon in any significant fashion,
downstream increases in insurance premiums are considered
a risk.
Possible future changes of an inflationary nature need to be
identified early enough to offset those effects on our stability
by balanced but prudent hire-cost increases, and effective
marketing of the facilities.
The Trustees frequently rehearse possible risks to the
Charity’s well-being, in order to make sufficient remedial
decisions.| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |||| |---|---|---| |Description of charity’s trusts:||Original trusts established for Village Hall (1951), and for
Recreation ground (1948).| |Type of governing document|Para
1.25|Original Constitution dated 10 June 1993 – amended by a
Resolution passed on 26 November 2019| |How is the charity
constituted?|Para
1.25|Unincorporated Trust| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled to
appoint one or more trustees|Para 1.25|Elected by open public election, at the Annual Meeting held in
November each year| |**Additional information**||| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|Comprehensive manual of relevant documents and operating
methods handed to new Trustees upon election. ‘Loose’
system of mentoring for those entirely new to Charity
oversight and management.| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The Constitution limits the number of Trustees to seven.
The Charity is an entirely independent body.| ## **Reference and Administrative details** ||| |---|---| |Charity name|The Horam Village Hall & Recreation Ground Charity| |Other name the charity uses|None| |Registered charity number|305257| |Charity’s principal address|Horam Village Hall
A267 Horam Road
Horam
Heathfield
East Sussex TN21 0JE| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |1
2
3
4
5
6
7|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person**
**(or body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if any)**| ||Michael
Woodhouse|Chairman||| ||Phil Williams|||| ||Brian Arnott|||| ||Paul de Bruin|||| ||Stephen Fisher|||| ||Lisa Stevens|||| |||||| ||Keith Benson|||| ## **Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved** **Director name** None ## **Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity** |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |None||| ## **Other information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature Full name** Phillip John Williams **Position** Treasurer **Date** 28[th] July 2025 CHARITY COMMISSION raffl 7Jillagp H¢l111-1 rt P-i.rc 11! n K.Iround Charity FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and paym•nt¥ accounts CC16a For th• p•rlod from To 0111012023 3010912024 SectiJn A Receipts and payments Unrestrlcted fund$ to the néar•st R8strlct8d funds Endowment funds Total funds Last y￿r to Ihe noar•$t £ to the noar•sl £ to the noarngt £ to the neayest £ A1 R¢¢81 pts Regular users Pre-school users Ground rent Donations received CCTV income Solar income Sundry receipts Pro ct grant income Bank interest 1.102 2.143 279 734 140.069 178 178 tota ross Income or A2 Asset and investment Sales, soo tablel- Total recelpts A3Pa 6nts Rates & water Insurance t&heat 768 1.357 1.357 4.287 6,218 1.819 954 415 532 13,084 2,230 6.418 848 81 1.620 1.316 980 5,483 1918 823 Wa Garden u Tele one Post, stat & advert Licences Re airs & renewals Refuse & re¢ Cleanin Com ter ex Sund Accountsnc Consultanc Le ofessional Dama ede sits relumed 8,218 1.819 954 415 532 13,084 2230 6A18 ee 7,301 1,607 1,136 633 81 1,620 346 2,663 774 7T4 Sub tot•1 41,405 A4 Asset and investment urchases see tablg Pro rant ex nditure 128.373 12J,373 Sub lotsl Total p4ym8nts 169.778 Net of rnceipts/(paym8nts) AS Transfers botwe6n funds A6 Cash funds last year ond Cash funds this y•ar ond CCXX R1 accounts ISS) 2910712025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the p8riod Unrestrlcted funds Restrlcted funds Endowment funds to nearest £ Categoriés Details to noargst £ 23.558 to nearost £ B1 Ca8h funds roto1 ¢•sh funds (agree balan¢es vAth receipts and payments account(511 23,558 Unregtrlctod funds Restrfcted funds Endowmant funds to neawest £ Details to n•arnst £ to nearest £ 82 Other monetary assgts Fund t¢ whieh assét Dètails Shares in new pavilion Cost (optional} Current value o tlonal B3 Investment assets 15,000 Fund to which a¥sot belon Details Fixtures & fittings P￿payments Cost Ioptlonall Current valuo tional B4 Assats r•taingd for the charfty's own use 8,419 265 Fund lo whlch Ilability relatos 2.309.00 Amount due tional When due o tlonal Dotails Creditors B5 Llabilities Slgned by one or trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signatur Print Name Dale of approval Phillip John Wllllams 2410712025 CCXX R2 accounts {SSI 2910712025 HORAM VILLAGE HALL AND RECREAnON GROUND CHARITY REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 305257 Indopondent oxamin¢rs's report to the tNstso5 of Horam Vlllaga Hall •nd R•cr•ation Ground I f6POrt lo Ihe Iru$tee5 on my e¥Amination of the accounts of Horam Village Hall and Recreation Ground for the year ended 30 September 2024. R•sponslbllltle¥ and basls of r•port A8 the charily trustèes of the Association you are responsible for the preparatlon of Ihg accounts in accordance wlh the rsgquiremenl8 of the Charities AGt 20111.tha Act'l. I report in respèct of my examinalion of the Asso¢iation'$ accounts carried out undgr section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carying out my gxamination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission undgr section 14515Mbl of the Act. Independent examlnorfs slatemént I havg completod my examin81ion. I can confirm that no material matters havg come to my attention in conneclion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any ma19rial rnspecl= 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Association as required by section 130 of the Act., or 2. Ihe accounts do not accord with those records; 3. th6 acwL¢nts do nol comply wilh the applicable requirements concgming the form and content of accounts set out In the Charitie8 (Accounls and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requiremgnt Ihat thè accounts glve a 'lnJe and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an indgpendont examination I have no concems and have come a¢ros$ fto other matters in conngction with the examination to vthich atlgntion should be dravm in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be Teachad Slgned by Mr Paul A Sevem FCA {Indepondont Examin•r} 30-34 North Strèèt Hailsham East Su55ex BN27 1DW Dale.. Q4171 LS Page 3