CUMBRIA FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
Treasurer’s Report to the Trustees December 2023
-
1) Membership at the year-end was 1049 compared with 1129 at this date in 2022, continuing the national industry slump trend.
-
2) The renewal sequence for 2024 has begun very slowly with only 26 members renewing by 31 December, the subscription rate increases may have a regressive effect on membership in 2024.
-
3) The society has reported a deficit of £31,223.37 for the year ended 31 December 2023. This is accounted for by the installation costs to date amounting to £38,909.87 of the new website following John Steel’s retirement. Necessary, but arguably exorbitant for the limited benefits illustrated to date.
-
4) Our capital has thus reduced from £92,174.36 at 1 January 2023 to £60,743.49 at COB 31 December 2023, of which £4,377.50 relates to prepaid subscriptions for 2024-2027.
-
5) Effectively therefore, considering 3) and 4) above, our funding reduces to a little over £56K subject to 2024 renewal income.
-
6) Movement of funds between the bank accounts benefitted the society this year to the tune of over £1,000.00 in interest received following the increased relief available.
-
7) Publication sales are correspondingly down on last year, £2,192.51 for the year compared with £2,578.95 last year.
-
8) At the end of 2023 we said goodbye to PayPal as our Merchant Bankers with the introduction of Stripe. I share John Steels view that Stripe is not strictly in accord with GDPR.
-
9) Income and expenditure of the Conferences equated comfortably at around £12,400.00 after costs of the speakers were included. The conferences are proving to be of great interest to the membership, several members of neighbouring LFHHS have now aligned themselves to our society activities following research I helped them with. mutual benefits!
-
10) Generally, overheads cost controls have been well controlled this year.
-
11) With the membership decline, Gift Aid donations are affected similarly despite efforts to publicise benefits that the society could gain. HMRC claim of £1731.36 received for 2022.
-
12) Covid 19 put paid to the activities of our joint branch with LFHHS in London, the branch never restarted meetings because of the loss of officers and members. As long as I have been Treasurer for CFHS I have regularly made contributions to LFHHS equal to 50% of the branch costs. Accordingly, now that the London branch banking arrangements have been closed, I have agreed with LFHHS management that 50% of the closing balance could also be returned to CFHS. An amount of £452.92 has thus been recovered and credited to our bank.
-
13) We have continued to invest with CAF Shawbrook Bank, interest returned of £1,762.50 leaving £30K currently invested at 3.2%.
-
14) I intend to submit the accounts to our Independent Examiner imminently.
-
15) My duties as Treasurer to CFHS are at an end, I have enjoyed particularly the good spirit amongst officers and members since I took over in 2010. I have pleasure in handing over to Mrs Heppell and wish her and the society the very best of luck in the forthcoming years.
Sincerely,
Ian White 13 January 2024
Cumbria Family History Society Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet 2023
| Detail | Notes | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Income | ||||||
| Subscriptions Received in 2023 | 11,886.72 | 10,700.50 | 13,090.50 | |||
| Donations | 10.50 | 280.00 | 370.00 | |||
| Publications | 2,192.51 | 2,578.95 | 3,065.91 | |||
| Gift Aid for 2022 | 1 | 1,731.36 | 1,928.43 | 2,233.53 | ||
| Bank Interest Received | 1,020.74 | 268.66 | 143.29 | |||
| Conferences | 12,422.80 | 12,765.50 | 8,964.50 | |||
| CFHS/LFHHS London Branch Return of JV Funds | 2 | 442.92 | ||||
| 29,707.55 | 28,522.04 | 27,867.73 | ||||
| Expenditure | ||||||
| Newsletter Printing | -3,354.70 | -3,189.00 | -3,004.00 | |||
| Newsletter Distribution Costs | -2,718.41 | -2,791.56 | -2,641.60 | |||
| Conferences | -11,800.60 | -12,605.60 | -9,012.75 | |||
| Conference Speakers Costs | -600.00 | -628.00 | -411.00 | |||
| Postages | -226.56 | -396.08 | -457.40 | |||
| Officers Expenses | -1,080.37 | -1,203.61 | -1,059.18 | |||
| Bank and Credit Charges | -458.75 | -563.85 | -378.72 | |||
| Printingand Equipment | -275.78 | -326.68 | -249.94 | |||
| Stationery | -217.20 | -434.19 | -446.41 | |||
| Insurance | -308.00 | -422.98 | -415.41 | |||
| Affiliations and London Group | -452.98 | -445.14 | -425.88 | |||
| Website | -38,909.87 | -275.41 | -316.54 | |||
| Advertising | -60.00 | |||||
| London Branch | 2 | -168.60 | ||||
| Assets | -359.10 | -37.99 | -40.00 | |||
| -60,930.92 | -23,380.09 | 36,876.63 | ||||
| Surplus/Deficit for the year | -£31,223.37 | £5,202.14 | £9,013.90 | |||
| Membership | 1049 | 1129 | 1171 | |||
| Funding Represnted as: | ||||||
OpeningBalances at 01/01/2023 |
||||||
| HSBC Charitable Bank Account | 33,349.16 | 28,415.18 | 19,757.98 | |||
| HSBC Business MoneyManager | 27,393.24 | 27,343.08 | 27,340.38 | |||
| CAF Shawbrook Bank | 31,432.46 | 31,213.96 | 31,213.96 | |||
| 92,174.86 | 86,972.22 | 78,312.32 | ||||
| Add Surplus/Deficit | -31,223.37 | 5,202.14 | 9,013.90 | |||
| Accruals and Prepayments | -208.00 | 0.00 | -354.00 | |||
| Total Funds | £60,743.49 | £92,174.36 | £86,972.22 | |||
| ClosingBalances at 31/12/23 | ||||||
| HSBC Charitable Bank Account | 659.55 | 33,349.16 | 28,415.18 | |||
| HSBC Business MoneyManager | 3 | 30,083.94 | 27,393.24 | 27,343.08 | ||
| CAF Fixed Saver at Shawbrook Bank | 30,000.00 | 31,432.46 | 31,213.96 | |||
| Total Funds | £60,743.49 | £92,174.86 | £86,972.22 | |||
| Notes | ||||||
| 1 Gift Aid income relates toprioryear | ||||||
| 2 CFHS/LFHHS London Branch Return of Funds | ||||||
| 3 Prepaid Subscriptions included for upto 4years | £4,377.50 | £5,215.50 | £6,112.00 | |||
| Ian White,Treasurer | ||||||
| Friday,5 January2024 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to th• trust••sl members of On accounts forth9 ar 8ndod ¥t DEL£rtfbE R Zo23 Chwlty 01 any) charity llhe Trusfi for the year ended 31 tz 2013 RosFn¥1bl1ItloS ¥j As the thtylntstees cl th&Tnrt a reSF¥j forlhe Fwaration 2011 life Acri. under sedion 145 (sfthe 2011 P£t and in ¢rt my ex2minati(m. I have the appl¥xble trliS given by tho Ctrwity Commiss)n undeF $tion 145(5Xb) ofth8 P Indopend¢nt the A(t wilh the eXaminatiC to vthich attention skJkJ te c¥der to enable a prcper uerStatJ1rPj ofthe acwjnts to be reacW. Signed: Nanw: Ralevant profe¥sional qualificationlsl or body any).. IER October 2018