NIDD VALLEY DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS SOCIETY (DFAS)
Known as Arts Society Nidd Valley
A Member Society of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts
Societies (known as The Arts Society)
Registered Charity Number 513176
ANNUAL REPORT Incorporating the Chairfs Report
1° August 2023 to 31" July 2024
Committee: The foll<)winE were elected at the AGM in Ortober 2023
"Denotes Trustees confirmed during a review April/May2023
Officers and Committee Members:
Ms Mary Banks •
Dr Tom Houghton.
Vacancy
Mrs Beulah Chatten
Mrs Lindsay Mitchell*
Chair
Treasurer
Hon Secretary
Programme
Membership &
Communications
Outings
Committee Members:
Mrs Janet Brearley"
President
Mrs Pamela Nitholson (Fl￿Trder Chairnian)
Bankers:
Charities Aid Foundation {CAF},
25 ￿n85 Hill Avenue. lfjngs Hill. West Mallin& Kent.
ME19 4JQ
Honorary Independent Examiner:
Mr Peter Gamble5
Website . theartssocietyniddvalley.org.uk
Email . niddvalley@theartssocwety.org

Governance
Nidd Valley DFAS operates as a member society of The Arts Society and is governed by the Nidd
Valley Decorative and Fine Arts Society Constitution ond Rules as amended in 2023. (register
updated by the Charity Commission on 27 March 2024).
Objerts: as stated in the Constitution ond Rules
5 a member of The Arts Society, the Society shall have as its objects-
the promotion and advancement of the education of the public in the cultivation.
appreciation and study of the decorative and fine arts:
b. b. the conservation and preservation of the artistic heritage of the United Kingdorn
and other countries for the benefit of the public. and
c. the advancement of the arts, culture and heritage, in particular. but without
imitation, the decorative and fine arts.
We have engaged in a range of attwtties, identtfied below. that directly or indirectly support these
objerts. As well as updating the Constttution 2023, we have updated our poli￿S to ensure we are
compliant with the standards set by the Charity Commission.
Links with the Community
We are committed to the principle of public benefft, and to this end we publicise our existen￿ and
programme through the local libraries and other public places as well as through our members.
Membership is open to everyone over 18, as detailed in the Constitution {sertion 4). Non-members
are welcome to attend as guests, up to a maximum of norrnal￿ 3 lectures a year. We are able to
offer a Community grant of £250 to local causes to extend involvement in the Arts. Last year we
financed a ceramic painting workshop to offer respite for some Harrogate Young Carers.
welcome ideas of good causes to support in this way.
Committee
We have a small, dedicated team who devote a lot of time to making the Societythe best we can be.
(The position of Honorary Secretary remains unfilled. having become vacant at the AGM in 2023. As
an interim measure, Mary Banks fulfils that role in addition to being Chair.) The Committee is elected
annually in accordance with the Constitution {Sections 5 and 61. Currently all elected members of
the Committee are also Trustees. We are grateful for the help of our regular volunteers who help us
with the various activities on lecture evenings - Kate Duffy. Anne Quan, Sue Welch. Angela Tippey.
Sue Richardson and Mark Wilkinson= we couldn't do It without you. We would also like to thank our
members who hosted lecturers
Barry Mortimer, Joanna Pierce and Charles & Charlotte Monck;
both hosts and lerturers had an enjoyable experience. As always. we welcome support and
involvement, both on the committee and helping behind the scenes.
Membership
We have had a broadly steady membership of 127 individuals over the year. and our {challengingl
target is to maintain that figure. We always lose some members at the end of the membership year
as individuals review their invofvement and their plans for the year ahead. Word of mouth is
generally the most successful way of finding new members although we have also had success
through our efforts to publicise our activities more widely particularly in libraries and through a

contact in the local paper. We held a New Members Party in March, gtving newcomers an
opportunity to meet other members and the committee. We aspire to provide a great learning and
social experience that will please existing members and attract new people throughout the
communty.
Communications
The monthly newsletter goes to every member so members can keep up-to-date with whavs
happenin& and our website provides an up-to-date view of what is on offer (ideal for potential
members to look at and to find a membership fomil. For the coming year we have updated the look
and feel of our trifold which publicises our activities with the kind help of the staff in Arts Society
Head Office. We hope that this updates our look and appeal as well as reducing our costs in
production. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our communications, we would be
very pleased to hear them.
Lecture Programme
Our 2023-24 lecture programme provided us with ten varied and interesting lectures covering a wide
range of The Arts. From our research it was concluded that there continues to be a preference for
Zoom delivery over the winter months of January and February, which gives member5 the option to
watch at home or come along to Christchurch IHGI 4SWI to watch together. Particularly popular
lectures this year were Roger Mendham, who provided us with the opportuntty to examine in depth
some of the most stunning and iconic photographs taken over recent times. and Julia Marwood who
introduced us to The Glasgow Boys. with many fascinating details about the artists, technique and
approach. We finished our year with the return, by popular request, of Clyde Binfield who amused
and entertained us, and widened our knowledge of three of the most unusual created places-
Portmeirion. Poundbury and Bekonscot.
Outings
We have enjoyed some memorable outings duringthe last twelve months. We began with a four day
trip to North Wales in September, with visits to Portmeirion village and Bodnant Garden5 a5 two of
the highlights. In late November, a group of members spent a lovely day at Burton Constable.
looking around a country house at Christmas. In the spring we travelled to Welbeck Abbey to visit
the Harley Galleries which display some of the Duke of Portland's collection of art and artefacts,
returning via Goldsborough House, where the owner treated us to a detailed history of the property,
accompanied by tea and scones! We made a return visit in June to the Auckland Project in Bishop
Auckland. to view the impressive newly opened Faith Museum and changing exhibitions in the
Spanish Gallery, the Bishops. Palace and the mine￿ Museum. All our visits and trips are well
attended and much enjoyed.
Publicity
So many people are not aware of the existence of the Arts Society- there is value in promoting
ourselves to new audiences in the community, and encouraging people to come along as a guest and
try us out. Our members have done a great job
we had over 90 guest attendances during the
year, and we hope that some of them will convert to fvll membership. Twice a year we use
promotional space in Harrogate library to display materials and encourage interest. Our colourful
trifolds have proved to be an excellent marketing tool, and you should be seeing them in libraries
and on noticeboards in different venues. (Let us know rf we are missing somewhere useful, or,
better still, keep some spare trifolds to pin up on noticeboards as you pass by.}

Finance
Financially, we finished the year in a much stronger positlon than previously, having achieved a
surplus of £4.095. This is great news. Our annual subscription of £60 provides great value for
money- it increased from £50 to £60 at the start of the year under review. Our activtties such as the
book sale, raffle and refreshments have provided a good environment to socialise and make friends,
as well as raising some extra income. However, in recent years the Society has experienced reducing
membership numbers. and efforts are betng made to reverse this trend. In the meantime, reserves
in excess of 50% of annual expenditure are being maintained to secure the continuation of the
Society over the next few years. The Income and Expenditure Account. Balance Sheet and more
detailed Report of the Treasurer on the financial year is included in these papers for the AGM.
This next year
Fingers crossed that we maintain a good level of membership. We are looking forward to an
enjoyable year of lectures. events and socialising. We enjoy your company- we hope you enjoy ours.
and the company of your fellow membersl
The Annual Report 2023/24 has been compiled by Mary Banks Ichairnrusteel and the Trustees
th
{Members of the Committee). It was agreed by a meeting of the Trustees on 10 September 2024.
Signed by Mary Banks on behalf of the Trustees.......................................-.............

Nidd Valley Decorative and Fine Arts Society
(Operating as Arts Society Nidd Valley. Registered Charyty No. 513176)
Report on the Accounts For The Year Ending 31st Juty 2tr24
This report relates to the Income and Expenditure Account for the year to 31 st July 2024 and the
Balance Sh￿t at 31 st July 2024 which have b￿n distributed with the papers for this AGM. The
accounts have been examined and sign￿1 off by Mr Peter Gambles (Independent Financial
Examiner).
The Income and Expenditure Account identifies that in the 2023-2024 financial year the Society
achieved £27.784.64 in income and spent £23.690.99. This resulted in a surplus for the year of
£4,093.65. Again this year, the Society has run a riumber of succvssful outings which
collectively have generated surpluses. Also successful has b￿n efforts to raise income from
activities including voluntary donations from visitors, raffles, t)ooks sales and refreshments. The
lecture held in January was particularty successful with 29 visitors participating in the zoom
option.
The Balance Sheet identifies the assets we are holding (e.g. deposits at CAF Bank, Patricia Faye
Memorial Fund} and the amount. As identified in the line 'Net Assets. our assets have increased
from £9,922.29 at 31 st July 2023 to £14.015.94 at 31st July 2024. the increase being explained by
the surplus identified in the Income and Expenditure Account. Members will also note that there
are a couple of adjustments to the accounts identified in the balance sheet. We paid deposits for
the Scotland holiday and the￿ was a payment for the forthcoming Mount Grace outing
(£1 ,577.45) and the Society achieved payments from participants in forthcoming outings
(£16.960.60). These OLrtings take place in the 2024-2025 financial year so to make the accounts
meaningful the payments have been transferred to the accounts for that year. Similarly, we
achieved membership subscriptions (£1.810.00) ahead of the new year so again it was
appropriate to transfer the income to the 2024-2025 financial year.
Overall. financially like last year, it was a successfvl end to the year. The surplus has enabled the
society to further build up its reserves. This is necessary because as expenditure increases so
should reserves. The Commtttee is particularly mindful that the Society is continuing to suffer
from reducing membership numbers and over the next few years if this continues it is likely to
depend on its reserves to SUPFX)rt its continuing existence. In addition. the surplus has enabled
the Society to keep subscription levels for 2024-2025 at the same level as for the previous year
and also embark on an ambitious programme of outings for 2024-2025 including a special interest
day to be held at Goldsborough Hall in December.
Thank you to all members for the contributions made to boosting our income whether it be buying
a raffle ticket, buying a book. bringing a visttor. or participating in our outings, etc. As mentioned
above. membership is one of our current significant challenges and we need to continue our
efforts to attract new members. To be successful, this needs input from members of the
Committee but also from the membership as a whole.
Dr Tom Houghton
Treasurer
Nidd Valley Decorative and Fine Arts Society
August 2024

Nidd Valley Decorati￿ and Fine Arts Society Income and Expen(￿lUre Acc¢wnt For The Year To 31st Juty 2024
Income
¢wnt Inte￿t
26.W2
15.94
105AO
126.60
124.&8
Communty Grn
250.Crt)
Gift R￿0
1%4.52
1.12921
702.rMI
671.(K)
7.740.IX)
6,965.05
Ms8c8llan￿S c￿lL
50.(K)
Outings Income
16,686.(X)
10,723.(
34650
untary
320.00
469.LK)
27.784.64
2.151.￿)
2￿78.52
27.00
81.
87.00
17.52
20.67
1fh%.39
11055
Ccrnunty Go
250.
Equiptrwt
0.00
InsUra￿e
175_OD
3.977.39
3.455.14
30.00
Outings Exp&ThlitiN8
14,342.75
9.318.75
24.05
Printing and sta￿(￿
131.07
321.
Raffie Exp8n(*bJre
Fkrt)m H
32.88
1&7.80
120825
100.
T8thn￿￿ Supwt
625.00
570.00
94.39
rplus w Dpficit Ffx lkne Y
4.1)33.65
2A61.05
(SulFth￿l
Iwusl

25m
157TAS
¢10.
18.171.LY

Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of...
Nidd Valley Deco&7tive & Fine Arts Society
Thts Report is for the period ended 31 Juty 2024
tive res
nsibilitses of Tntstees and Examiner
The charity trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The chanty's
trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities
Act 2011 (the Charities Act)) and that an independent exarnination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:_
Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions gNen by the Charity
Commission (under Sectson 145(5)(b) of the Chanty Act), and
to state whether particular matters have ￿me to my attention.
Basis of Inde
ndent Examinefs Re
My examination was carried out with general Directsons given by the Charty Commission.
An examination includes a ￿leW 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 disdosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees
con￿mIng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not wovth all the eV￿ence
that would be required by an audi¢ and cortsequently no opinion as to whether the accounts
present a true and fail view and the report is limrted to those matters set out in the
statement below.
In connectton with my examination, no matter has c£•me to my attention (other than that
disdosed belo￿}
1. which gives me reasonable ￿use to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
-to keep accounting records in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Act,
.to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and compty with the
accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been mec.
2. to vthich, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
3. 1 have not obtsined independent vertfication of investsnentlbank balances.
Name: Peter Gambles
Releva
Professi
I qualification or body: Retired Registered Insuran￿ Broker
Address
1 Hombeam Crescent, Harrogate, HG2 8QA
Date: 7 August 2024