DEWSBURY & DISTRICT THIRD AGE
TRUSTEES’ REPORT 2024/25
We have had another successful year and 2025 finds us celebrating our 40[th] anniversary. Things have changed in society and our environment in that time but joining a class to meet like-minded people, learn a new skill or sport and have fun is still appreciated. Although we have welcomed many new members, sadly, an equivalent number is no longer able to attend classes and our membership remains below 500.
We have had one new class this year: “Psychology in Everyday Life” led by Nick Tanna. This class has been held monthly between October and April and has been enjoyed and appreciated by those who attended. After 30 years as an art tutor, Beryl Conroy has retired. Sue Lewis is now the class tutor. Sadly, Eileen Byrne, leader of the Monday Table Tennis group died after a short illness. Chris Royle-Evatt is taking the lead. Matthew Baldwin has retired as leader of the Wednesday Table Tennis class and Jack Bretherick is taking over the class. Charlotte Thornton is now the tutor for the “Exercise for over 50s” class. The Discussion class did not take place this year but will return in October 2025. We thank these people and all our other volunteers for their enthusiasm and dedication. We continue to look for more volunteer tutors.
We have not held an annual exhibition this last financial year as it has been moved to September 2025 to fit in better with our anniversary celebrations.
We started our anniversary year with two concerts at the end of the spring term. The “Singing for Pleasure” choir held its own concert on the last day of term and the following day we had a larger event, attracting people from outside our class members and almost filling Dewsbury Minster. Taking part were the following classes: “Play Guitar (and Sing) for Fun”; “Play the Ukulele”; “Scottish Country Dancing”; “Singing for Pleasure” choir and “Yorkshire Dialect”.
Some of our classes become involved within the community in addition to weekly classes. For example, the Patchwork class has been busy as usual, making quilts for various charities. “A whole group project making nine patch lap quilts which were given to some care homes, also larger quilts given to other charities. We also made a double quilt together which we gave to a lady
who was in need”. “Busy Needles” handicraft group members tell me “every autumn we make knitted or crocheted decorations to make Batley Community Centre, where we meet, more festive in the run up to Christmas.” Members of our music classes continue to go out entertaining community groups, as do the Scottish Dancing class members. Members of the Yorkshire Dialect group competed in the Mrs Sunderland spoken word competitions in Huddersfield and had a number of placings. Two or three members of the Yorkshire Dialect class had an information stall at the monthly events at Oakwell Hall, Birstall during the summer, which proved very popular, although visitors were often too young to join the class.
Financial Report
We continue to be financially sound with sufficient funds to cover unexpected situations. Our most significant threat is the number of free classes that are now available throughout the area, which may explain why we are competing for new members. Given the current economic situation where people are struggling financially, we feel that we can maintain our fees at the current rate but are likely to have to look at increasing them for 2026/2027 to keep on top of the increase in room hire charges. Our venues are still recovering from the losses incurred during the pandemic, as well as the increase in energy costs.
Hi Stephanie.
Following our meeting yesterday, I wish to confirm your accounts are a true representation of the Dewsbury & District Third Age financial performance in year ending March 2025.
I have confirmed that the opening and closing bank balances in your accounts match back to the appropriate bank statements
Opening Bank & cash balance. £23,321.71 (incls unpresented cheque of 24.30)
Closing Bank & cash balance £26342.78
An increase in funds of £3021.07
This is represented by the following
Trading Surplus of £2454.59
Interest on Building Society. £542.18
Unpresented cheque (2023) not cleared £24.30
Overall surplus £3021.07 - matches movement in bank balances.
Regards
Kevin McConnell. ACMA (retired)
13[th] May 2025