Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 31/03/2025 Period end date
Charity name: University Of The Third Age Leeds
Charity registration number: 518366
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The charity’s object is the advancement of education, and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full-time work, by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Leeds and the surrounding areas. |
| 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. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The charity is a mutual self-help organisation which holds fortnightly general meetings, open to all members, with invited speakers or occasional quiz and similar activities. Speaker topics are selected to inform and to entertain: these may be local history or local matters of interest, or life experience stories, but also new developments e.g. university PhD students explaining their research subjects The charity has 53 Activity Groups for specific interests, variously covering arts and literature, music, languages, sports and fitness, et al. Alongside its educational aims U3A Leeds aims to promote the concepts of social interaction, social inclusion and wellbeing. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees are all aware of the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance and have reviewed the draft of this report in light of that guidance |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | The charity’s Finance policy states that small grants may be made to assist the startup of new Activity Groups within the charity, or to support a specific and unusual event within an Activity Group or the charity as a whole. The charity does not make grants to or for any outside purpose or organisation. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | All trustees, all leaders of Activity groups, and all other helpers within the charity are volunteers and members of the charity. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 charity’s ongoing success is demonstrated by its rising membership numbers, its increasing turnout at general meetings, its increasing number of activity groups, and the positive comments made to committee members by attendees at events. As a mutual self-help organisation, it provides life-long learning, recreational and social activities to people no longer in full-time work, usually retired. It enables people to get out of their homes and meet new people, make friends, and stretch their brains: helping combat loneliness and social isolation. |
The charity is careful to ensure that all public venues used have disabled access .
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | As stated, our membership is growing, as are our activities. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We made a modest surplus during the year due to increased activity |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our Finance Policy is “to keep a level of reserves that will cover 6 months of regular operating activity”. A legacy from a deceased member is held in a separate fund to be used for the benefit of all members. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £10,000 |
| 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 | Not applicable |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Membership fees |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Our legacy and any surplus funds are invested with CCLA. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The main risk facing the charity is a lack of volunteers willing to take on Trustee roles. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution: latest version adopted 20/09/2022 |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated association |
| 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 | Trustees are appointed or re- appointed annually at AGM; there is also provision for co-opted Trustees to be added by the committee between AGMs. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | The charity supplies new Trustees with - Trustee Induction document - Trustee Code of Conduct document - Constitution - Directs them to the websites of the Charity Commission and the Third Age Trust (our parent organisation) - Other policy documents as and when required - Provides access to, and instruction for, the membership database - Any or all verbal or email conversations required to help them familiarise themselves with the charity and their role - |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity is part of the Third Age Trust network and abides by its rules and regulations The charity is part of the Third Age Trust’s ‘Yorkshire and The Humber’ regional network The charity is part of a less formal local network of u3as,CYGnet |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | As above |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | UniversityOf The Third Age Leeds |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | U3a Leeds,or Leeds u3a |
| Registered charity number | 518366 |
| Charity’s principal address | Moor Allerton Sports and Social Club Stonegate Road Leeds LS17 6EL |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Powell | Chair | |||
| Gary Thurston | Vice - Chair | |||
| Liz Frood | Secretary | |||
| Linda Greenland | Treasurer | |||
| Jo Turner | ||||
| Suzanne Higginbotham |
||||
| John Thurston | ||||
| Jenny Bannister | To 11 December 2024 | |||
| Max Dudley | ||||
| Philip Dimsdale | To 30 September 2024 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name Not applicable
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | **Dates acted if not for whole year ** | |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Not applicable |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Not applicable |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
E. K. Frood | J C Powell |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth K. Frood | JANET CHRISTINE POWELL | |
Secretary |
Chair | |
| 17.12.25 19.12.2025 |
||
| 17.12.25 |
The University of the Third Age Leeds
Registered Charity No: 518366
Accounts for the year ended 31[st ] March 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The University of the Third Age Leeds (Registered charity no 518366)
Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements.
concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stephen McGrail
38a Buckstone Oval, Leeds LS17 5HG
Date: 31[st] July 2025
University of the Third Age Leeds
Income & Expenditure account for the Year ended 31 March 2025
| General Fund Income Subscriptions Attendance Interest received Educational visit Christmas Lunch Group Income Expenditure Room hire (general meetings) Speakers fees Refreshments U3a Magazine Christmas lunch Affiliation- Third Age Trust Educational Trip Postage, printing & Stationery Telephone, web hosting & IT Beacon System Admin & Committee Group Expenses Miscellaneous Bank Charges Surplus |
2025 £ 8886 3270 1350 700 900 20548 35654 1197 1085 401 1535 878 2740 700 152 495 708 373 20768 70 -36 31066 4588 |
2024 £ 8379 3545 1249 0 1237 19057 |
|---|---|---|
| 33467 1040 1122 618 1469 1214 2616 0 196 245 658 440 19352 633 264 |
||
| 29867 | ||
| 3600 |
Signed : L. Greenland Date: 31st May 2025
University of the Third Age Leeds
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| Fixed Assets (Note 1) Cost Balance at 1 April Additions Disposals Balance at 31 March Depreciation Balance at 1 April Charge for the year Eliminated on disposals Balance at 31 March Net Book Value at 31 March Current Assets Prepaid - Deposit Bus Deposit Fund Cash at Bank Cash held by Group Administrators Cash in hand Less Current Liabilities Third Age Trust Room hire MASSC Sundry Creditors Subscriptions in advance Net Current Assets Total Assets Represented by General Fund Balance at 1 April Surplus for year Balance at 31 March Ernest Smith Legacy Fund Balance at 1 April Transfer to General Fund Balance at 31 March |
2025 £ 4376 4376 27857 15409 2762 |
2025 £ 4,376 4,376 - 50 46,028 4,822 41,256 41,256 18,399 22,857 41,256 |
2024 £ 4,376 0 |
2024 £ 4,376 4,376 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4189.00 187.00 |
||||
| 27857 8446 2,556 - |
||||
| - 38,859 2,191 36,668 |
||||
| - 0 50 4772 |
- 225 82 1,884 |
|||
| 13,811 4588 |
10,211 3,600 |
|||
| 36,668 | ||||
| 13,811 22,857 |
||||
| 22,857 | 22,857 - |
|||
| 36,668 |