Brownlow Community Centre Chairman's Report November 2023
This has been a year in which we have consolidated our recovery from Covid, increased our importance as a Community Centre and further strengthened our balance sheet.
Bookings have increased steadily. The local room hire market has been disrupted by the extended closure of the Civic Centre, and as a result there has been a considerable increase in the demand for our space. Daytime hiring of the main hall as well as regular evening use is now a regular occurrence. The Clayton Room is booked out almost every day and evening. The Headmaster's Office which this time last year was so damp and smelly that it was unlettable, is now hired out on every day of the week and has become an essential part of the Social Services infrastructure of the town. There are currently talks in progress to add a regular Lloyds Banking facility, The Citizens' Advice Bureau and a regular NHS clinic to the services to be provided from The Headmaster's Office.
The main hall has been used twice as a vaccination centre by the local GPs, on one occasion providing vaccinations to 1600 people in one day.
Little Bears achieved an Outstanding Ofsted Inspection Report. I congratulate them on this Outstanding achievement. This, and the increase in housing stock in the town, has led to an increase in demand for their services They have asked for an increase in floor space in order to expand. The plan to accommodate this, is to upgrade The Old Staff Room into a roomhirable space, in order to release The Clayton Room to Little Bears.
We have identified a gap in the local market for rentable storage space . The tin shed is now occupied by Trevanions Fine Art auctioneers. The air raid shelters to the West of the shed have been made waterproof and secure and cleared of rubbish. They have been divided into four rentable storage units. Marketing these has been delayed by several months by an abortive intervention by the local authority who saw this as an opportunity to change our rates-free status. After talks with the authority, they have agreed that providing storage facilities will in no way affect our rates payable. Success, yes, but the delay caused cannot be unpicked. They will go back on the rental market in January.
Succession Planning remains our greatest and most urgent challenge. A volunteer recruitment stand at the most recent vaccination day yielded about ten expressions of interest but ironically, we haven't had time to follow up on this as yet. We have reached out to local guidance services for help in planning our succession.
Our enormously successful grant funding officer, Terrie, retired due to ill health during the year. Filling the role has proved difficult but we now have a new officer in this essential post. Thank you Terrie, your diligence and success in obtaining grants has made many of our recent capital projects possible.
I'm very sad that our treasurer, Wendy, has had to stand down from her role due to personal circumstances. Thank you Wendy for your major contribution not just as Treasurer but in many different roles over the years.
It's been a busy, sometimes frantic year, but one in which great progress has been made.
Chris Smith
Chair, Nov 2023
Profit and Loss
Brownlow Community Centre For the year ended 31 August 2023
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | |||
| Clayton Room Bookings | 8,665.50 | 4,165.50 | 209.28 |
| Hall Bookings | 2,418.50 | 4,234.25 | 312.00 |
| Little Bears Hall | 4,545.00 | 2,019.50 | 2,227.58 |
| Little Bears Staff Room | - | - | 148.00 |
| Other Revenue | 160.00 | 29,667.00 | 27,431.00 |
| Regular Hall Bookings | 3,939.75 | 1,840.50 | 933.00 |
| Rent | 17,701.00 | 13,249.00 | 15,034.40 |
| Small Meeting Room Bookings | 1,941.50 | 40.00 | 22.72 |
| Total Turnover | 39,371.25 | 55,215.75 | 46,317.98 |
| Gross Profit | 39,371.25 | 55,215.75 | 46,317.98 |
| Administrative Costs | |||
| Advertising & Marketing | 60.00 | 114.00 | - |
| Audit & Accountancy fees | 450.91 | 452.86 | 328.32 |
| Bank Fees | (73.04) | (71.43) | (17.12) |
| Bins | 907.45 | 717.22 | 683.97 |
| Caretaker | 5,434.08 | 4,722.44 | 4,118.01 |
| Cleaning | 1,086.72 | 952.19 | 915.09 |
| Cleaning Items | 1,688.98 | 1,099.58 | 806.46 |
| Fund Raising Expenses | 101.93 | 165.00 | - |
| Fund Raising Items Bought | 428.79 | - | - |
| General Expenses | 806.48 | 317.90 | 53.35 |
| Health & Safety, First Aid | 63.54 | 127.68 | 418.39 |
| Insurance | 1,955.36 | 1,882.78 | 1,407.79 |
| IT Software and Consumables | - | 68.08 | 28.78 |
| Legal Expenses | 500.00 | - | 180.00 |
| Light, Power, Heating | 9,663.45 | 9,493.39 | 8,329.74 |
| Printing & Stationery | 95.21 | 196.03 | 41.20 |
| Project Costs | 18,340.50 | 53,840.09 | 3,108.00 |
| Repairs & Maintenance | 12,404.34 | 6,761.24 | 2,245.04 |
| Subscriptions | 235.00 | 268.00 | - |
| Telephone & Internet | 349.98 | 39.76 | - |
| Total Administrative Costs | 54,499.68 | 81,146.81 | 22,647.02 |
| Operating Profit | (15,128.43) | (25,931.06) | 23,670.96 |
| Other Income | |||
| FUND RAISING | 991.84 | 1,456.51 | 5,259.26 |
| Grants For Projects | 2,110.00 | - | - |
| Total Other Income | 3,101.84 | 1,456.51 | 5,259.26 |
Profit and Loss Brownlow Community Centre
15 Nov 2023 Page 1 of 2
Profit and Loss
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation | (12,026.59) | (24,474.55) | 28,930.22 |
| Profit after Taxation | (12,026.59) | (24,474.55) | 28,930.22 |
Profit and Loss Brownlow Community Centre
15 Nov 2023 Page 2 of 2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlnèrfs Report Report to the trusteesl member$ of SLoJJNJLObQ Co NMUNI II Y C ifkfi L@1 3110811083 On accounts for the year ended Charity no lif any) Set out on pages I repcirt lo the trustees on my examination of Ihe accour)Is of the above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's Iruslees. you are responsible for the preparalion of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Acl'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5llbl of the Act Independent examiner's statement aPp6al Delete I l if not applicable I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause lo believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not cornply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlenl of accounts sel out in the Charities IAccounls and Reports} Regulations 2008 other than any requiremenl that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair view which is not a matter considered a5 part of an independent examination. I have no COnrnS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackels if they do not apply. Signed= Date.. Ib Iii l?Oa4 Name: Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body AT IER Oct 2018
(if any): Address: SHooPsHIL&, £YIL 90K Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlighl material mallers of concern (see CC32, Independenl examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018