2025-09-30-accounts - The Horam Village Hall And Recreation Ground Charity

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period: 01 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 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 health. 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 of 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) Phase 1 project - and planning/fund raising for Stage 3, completion of the path around the second playing field. - 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 - the provision of a new Pump Track - officially opened immediately following this financial year (on 18/10/2025) - Opening of a 'Community Garden' adjacent to the allotments 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, and all-weather footway access is an extremely important ‘gem’ in the life and well-being of the village. The Gap Project Phase 1, completed during FY 2022/23; continues to have 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 third phase of the development, the continuation of the path around the second field to provide a 1 kilometre pathway. Planning and raising finance for the second phase of the project, the Pump Track, was completed, construction started on site, and at the year end, the official opening was just two weeks away in October 2025. During this year, after consultation with funding bodies and Wealden District Council, the necessary funding was agreed for phase three, the extension of the pathway into the second field of the Recreation Ground. Constuction will start and be completed during 2025/26.
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, since 2021/22 and including during 2024/25, various outward-facing events have been held such as a ‘Get-to- know- your-village Hall’.
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	The transition of banking from Barclays to CAFBank was fully-achieved during 2024/25, with a single Barclays account remaining but only to receive any income accidentally paid into historic accounts. Additionally, the recording of income and expenditure for the charity moved fully to Intuit QuickBooks. The year beginning/year end positions are recorded in the submitted accounts (in CC16a format). The opening balances, as at 01/10/2024, across all accounts, amounted to£23,558. Hall hire income (including Representative Groups’ fees) totalled £30,739; Grant Income totalled £43,730; other income totalled £3,411. ‘Normal’ running costs totalled £26,988, with ‘project’ expenditure of £23,276. The end-of-year closing balances across all accounts totalled £50,646. 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 operating reserves equivalent to some 6 months of normal 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 30/09/2025 the unrestricted funds in our accounts totalled in excess of £15,000, providing adequate buffer in line with our policy.
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 £24,865, which includes the significant income from the Pre-School. • Representative Groups’ Fees, comprising some £5,874 this financial year (including some 'catch-up' in payments, from Football Club, Tennis Club, Bowls Club, Scouts and Allotments). • Other Income: totalling £3,411 • Project grant income – some £43,730 in this year.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	We have insufficient longer-term 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 8	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		01/10/2024 - 28/02/2025
	Brian Arnott
	Paul de Bruin		01/10/2024 - 12/09/2025
	Stephen Fisher
	Lisa Stevens
	Keith Benson
	Jess Woods		17/07/2025 - 30/09/2025

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 Michael Woodhouse Position Chairman Date 13[th] May 2026

Horam Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity

305257

Receipts and payments accounts

CC16a

For the period 01/10/2024 To 30/09/2025 from

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Ground Rent	5,874	-	-	5,874	3,467
Project Grant Income	727	43,003	-	43,730	140,069
Hall Hire - Regular Users(incl. Pre-School)	23,399	-	-	23,399	22,012
Hall Hire - Other items(stage,tables etc)	776	-	-	776	-
Donations Received	-	-	-	-	3,367
CCTV Income	-	-	-	-	1,102
Solar Power Income	2,244	-	-	2,244	2,143
SundryReceipts(Lottery)	712	-	-	712	-
Bank Interest	455	-	-	455	178
QB unapplied cash correction(2023-24)	- 527	-	-	- 527	-
Damage Deposits (Excess of income over repayments - fromQB report)	690	-	-	690	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	34,349	43,003	-	77,352	172,338

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
*Sub total*	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					172,338

Insurances	1,395				1,357
Licences(memberships,software etc)	858				532
Computer expenditure	-				848
Professional Services/Support	1,510				1,620
Rates & Water	1,281				768
Cleaning (contract & materials)	6,710				6,418
Light & Heat	3,222				4,287
Grounds Maintenance	2,960				1,819
Staff costs	5,882				6,218
Telephone	329				954
Post,stationery,adverts	204				415
Maintenance repairs(& contracts),renewals	2,317				13,084
Sundry	320				81
Refuse & Recycling	-				2,230
Damage Deposits Returned	-				774
	-				-
*Sub total*	26,988				41,405

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
Project Expenditure	-				128,373
Project Expenditure - GAP Phase 1	-
Project Expenditure - Pumptrack	-				-
*Sub total*	-				128,373
CCXX R1 accounts (SS) *Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
					169,778

					2,560
					-
					20,998
					23,558

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Cash at Bank(s) Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds to nearest £	Endowment funds to nearest £
	30,919	19,727	-
		-	-
		-	-
	30,919	19,727	-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
Shares in Pavilion		15,000	-
		-	-
		-	-
Details Signature Damage Deposits repayable Details Fixtures & Fittings	Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) 6,735 - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) 690 - - - - Print Name Michael Woodhouse		Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
			13/05/2026

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

14/05/2026

Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of The Horam Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Horam Village Hall and Recreation Ground Charity for the year ended 30[th] September 2025.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
a. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
b. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
c. have not been met or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Mark Mulberry BA (Hons) FCCA CTA

Mulberry & Co Chartered Certified Accountants Eastgate House Dogflud Way Farnham GU9 7UD