## **CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** Newcastle Road, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, DH3 3TS Tel: 0191 3884752 Email: clscommunitycentre@gmail.com ## **ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024** Charity Registration No: 520753 **CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** ## **OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 2023/2024** Chairman Pauline Swann Vice Chairman Geoff Graham Treasurer Laszlo Szomoru ## **MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE** Pauline Swann Geoff Graham Jean Martin Gary Saunders Laszlo Szomoru ## **STAFF** Manager Julie Dryden-Smith Finance Officer Derek Smith Office Support Lisa Graham Housekeeper Gary Eglinton Housekeeper Dawn Raine Housekeeper Janet Balfour Housekeeper Bobby Hirst Housekeeper Ella Quigley Fire Safety Officer Julie Dryden-Smith/Gary Eglinton Health & Safety Officer Julie Dryden-Smith ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Terry Cain ## **CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** ## **USER GROUPS** Scottish Country Dancing Craft Club Exercise for 40+ Helen West Theatre Dance School Yoga Bridge Club Karate Fitsteps Helen West Theatre Dance School Group A Chester-le-Street Theatre Group Zumba with Jana Yoga with Jana Friendly Art Group DanceFit with Ruth Pilates with Jana Group A Al-Anon Karate Thursday Morning Art Group Hartbeeps Exercise for 50+ Bridge Club Group A FitSteps Chester-le-Street Theatre Group Broadway meets Motown Dance Helen West Theatre Dance School Chester-le-Street Theatre Group Matchbox Theatre Euphoria Dance Joyce Jeffrey Theatre Dance School Chester-le-Street Theatre Group Spin Off Sax North East Concert Band Group A Monday morning Weekly Monday morning Weekly Monday afternoon Weekly Monday evening Weekly Monday evening Weekly Monday evening Weekly Monday evening Weekly Tuesday morning Weekly Tuesday evening Weekly Tuesday evening Weekly Tuesday evening Weekly Wednesday morning Weekly Wednesday morning Weekly Wednesday morning Weekly Wednesday morning Weekly Wednesday evening Weekly Wednesday evening Weekly Wednesday evening Weekly Wednesday evening Weekly Thursday morning Weekly Thursday morning Term Time Only Thursday afternoon Weekly Thursday evening Weekly Thursday evening Weekly Thursday evening Weekly Thursday evening Weekly Friday afternoon Weekly Friday evening Weekly Friday evening Weekly Friday evening Weekly Saturday morning Weekly Saturday afternoon Weekly Sunday afternoon Weekly Sunday afternoon Weekly Sunday evening Weekly Sunday evening Weekly ## **PRIVATE GROUPS** |NODA|Various| |---|---| |Durham County Council|Various| |Penshaw View Training|Various| |Polling Station|Various| |Gateshead College|Various| |Social Services|Various| |Victim Support|Various| |NHS – Wellbeing for Life|Various| |Triage Training|Various| |Karbon Homes|Various| |Creative Allsorts/Reece Sibbald Productions|Various| |SORA Training|Various| |Orange Box Training|Various| |Communicators Ltd|Various| |KFA|Various| Plus 5 weeks of drama/revues/concerts during the year **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT** Since taking the Chair of the Community Association at the 2024 AGM I am delighted to report that, in broad terms, our community centre has continued to flourish. It has remained very busy with our regular users along with a broadening range of other users who find our community centre a welcoming place for their activities. I am sure more details will emerge on this topic in the Centre Managers Report which will follow in a few moments. There are two main issues which require acknowledgement in this report: - Firstly, the establishment of Chester-le-Street Community Centre as a Limited Liability Company (by Guarantee). Following a series of administrative missed steps not of our making, the process was finally completed in late 2024. The advantages of this status will now become available to the Directors as we move forward. I am sure the Finance Officer, who led on this initiative, will be able to respond to any questions which may arise during the meeting. - Secondly the on-going saga with Durham County Council and its desire to persuade Chester-leStreet Community Centre to change its status and take on a lease arrangement which would result in the removal of DCC from their trusteeship of the Community Centre. Following another meeting a number of commitments were made by DCC representatives but as is becoming the norm with DCC time has passed with no substantial progress being made. In conclusion, and on behalf of the Trustees/Directors I wish to express thanks to the Centre Manager and her team for their continued commitment to the centre to ensure our users enjoy a positive and productive experience while using the facilities. On a personal note I would like to thank my fellow trustees for their continued commitment to the Community Association. Pauline Swann ## **MANAGER’S REPORT 2023/2024** Welcome to our 2025 AGM and I am delighted to report another successful year for Chester-le-Street Community Centre. My grateful thanks to the Management Trustees for their hard work and support throughout the year and I believe I should now address them as “Directors”. As always, my thanks to the loyal staff of the CC who all work diligently and flexibly to accommodate the needs of the centre. We have had some staff changes this year as June Donald has left us, but we have welcomed new staff members Bobby Hirst and Ella Quigley. The centre continues to thrive, and we remain open 7 days per week from 9 am – 9 pm with only a few exceptions. The bookings continue to be varied, we cater for private training, NHS wellbeing, private parties and holiday clubs in addition to our regular groups. We also host 4 theatre productions a year. Julie Dryden-Smith **FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2023/2024** The results for the year ended 30 September 2024 show a small deficit of £395. Room hire charges produced a very healthy increase on the previous year of 23%. A small part of this was as a consequence of room hire charges being increased in April 2023, but the major factor was a large rise in the number of room bookings. A secondary impact of the additional footfall was the large increase in profitability of Jean’s Kitchen. The margin increased from £6,609 in 2022-23 to £13,670 in 2023-24, a percentage rise of 106%. Staff costs increased by 22.5%. This was partially due to a 6% increase in rates due to living wage increases, but the major factor was the increase in room hire bookings necessitating more staff hours. Utility costs showed a sharp increase from £4,035 in 2022-23 to £17,146 in 2023-24. The main reason for this was a long running dispute with our former energy supplier, SSE, who overcharged us. By the time this was resolved there were a lot of charges which related to the previous year. Also, we moved to new contracts during the year at higher rates. It is expected that in 2024-25 utility costs will reduce to in the region of £8,000. Going forward, the Association looks to be on an encouraging financial footing with a surplus anticipated for 2024-25. Reserves continue to be strong at £85,463. L Szomoru ## **SCALE OF CHARGES FROM 1ST JANUARY 2024** **ALL CHARGES ARE FOR A PERIOD OF UPTO 3 HOURS (ADDITIONAL HOURS WILL BE CHARGE PRO RATA)** **Room Members Groups Private** 1 £22.50 By arrangement 2 £28.00 By arrangement 3 £22.50 By arrangement 4 £22.50 By arrangement Hall £40.00 By arrangement ## **ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES FROM 1ST JANUARY 2019** Senior (Ages 18 and over) £10.00 Juniors (Ages 5 – 18) £5.00 Under 5’s Free All memberships are due January 1[st] and must be paid by January 31[st] to secure membership. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of group members must be forwarded to the CC Office by January 31[st] each year. ## **Member Groups** Shall be such groups as may be formed within the Association among the individual members for the Furtherance of a common activity. ## **MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME** ## **Improvements Completed:** - New chiller cabinet purchased for ‘Jean’s Kitchen’. - Room 1 has had a damp treatment and re-decoration completed. - Damage to roof in ‘Storm Eowyn’ awaiting repair. - Electrical inspection report completed by Gary Saunders (FOC). - General repairs and maintenance have been completed by Geoff Graham Trustee/Director (FOC). ## **Future Improvements to Consider:** - New fire alarm and door entry system. - Air conditioning in Hall and Jean Curry Room. - Full refurbishment of all toilets. - Repair/replace front automatic door. - New carpets throughout the building. - Non-urgent work to lift. - External facia work remodelling. - Roof maintenance and possible solar panels. ## To Achieve these Aims - Apply for grant funding - Apply to The Coalfields Regeneration Trust - Apply for funding – private sector - Fund raising efforts within the Association - Sponsorship within private sector ## Success Criteria - Access for a wider programme of activities - More pleasing/ecological environment - Greater public awareness profile - Continued provision of facilities for users - Greater public awareness profile - Increased % of booked space ## **WIDER USE OF THE ASSOCIATION** ## **Our present policy for publicity is:** - “Programme of Activities” booklets published regularly. - Brochure holders for booklets in Lounge. - Use of Chester-le-Live booklet (delivered throughout the district). - Internet use – our own website (www.clscommcentre.com). - Facebook page – Chester-le-Street Community Centre. - Facebook – Chester-le-Street Noticeboard. - Live on DCC preferred room booking system. - Notice board in foyer. **TO INCREASE INCOME** ## **Aims:** We aim to ensure that income is sufficient to meet present/future requirements. ## **To Achieve this Aim:** - To regularly review all charges and keep annual increases to a moderate amount. - Extra usage will generate more income. - A permanent book, CD and DVD stall is in the lounge to raise further income. - Proceeds from donated books/jigsaws and cakes. - EasyFundraising ## **Success Criteria:** - Provide financial stability. - Continuation of present programme of on-going improvements and maintenance. - Increase in Private bookings. - Increase in Corporate bookings. Tan9th *#•* 19.843 -17.¢M1 T•l•l kn Fts•dA•••l C•*t •1 h Tvkl kn C••th At b•Nk •nd lo Iw •7A4• VATC •7A4• y Paulk* (Chalmw).. **CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** ## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024** |**Distribution account**|**Total**| |---|---| |Income
Grants & donations
Jeans Kitchen
Membership
Room Hire
Sales
**Total for Income**
Cost of Sales
Jeans Kitchen costs
**Total for Cost of Sales**
**Gross Profit**
Expenses
Advertising/Promotional
Computer Costs
Depreciation
Insurances
I.T.
Office/General Administrative Expenses
Other Professional Services
Phone Costs
PPL/PRS
Repair and maintenance
Utilities
Wages
**Total for Expenses**
**Net Operating Income**
**Net Income**|770
18,051
1,699
74,056
716| ||**95,293**
4,381| ||**4,381**| ||**90,911**
38
57
6,560
967
701
2,043
28
330
303
2,459
17,146
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