## **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 2025**_ Charity Registration No: 520753 **CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION** ## _**OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE 2024/2025**_ Chairman Pauline Swann Vice Chairman Geoff Graham Treasurer Laszlo Szomoru ## _**MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE**_ Pauline Swann Geoff Graham Jean Martin Gary Saunders Laszlo Szomoru ## _**STAFF**_ Centre Manager Julie Dryden-Smith Assistant Centre Manager Lisa Graham Finance Officer Derek Smith 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**_ Alison Holmes _**CHESTER-LE-STREET COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION**_ ## **USER GROUPS** |Scottish Country Dancing|Monday morning|Weekly| |---|---|---| |Exercise for 40+|Monday afternoon|Weekly| |Helen West Theatre Dance School|Monday evening|Weekly| |Yoga|Monday evening|Weekly| |Bridge Club|Monday evening|Weekly| |Karate|Monday evening|Weekly| |Fitsteps|Tuesday morning|Weekly| |Helen West Theatre Dance School|Tuesday evening|Weekly| |Line Dancing NE|Tuesday evening|Weekly| |Zumba with Jana|Wednesday morning|Weekly| |Yoga with Jana|Wednesday morning|Weekly| |Friendly Art Group|Wednesday morning|Weekly| |DanceFit with Ruth|Wednesday morning|Weekly| |Pilates with Jana|Wednesday evening|Weekly| |Group A|Wednesday evening|Weekly| |Al-Anon|Wednesday evening|Weekly| |Karate|Wednesday evening|Weekly| |Thursday Morning Art Group|Thursday morning|Weekly| |Hartbeeps|Thursday morning|Term Time Only| |Exercise for 50+|Thursday afternoon|Weekly| |Bridge Club|Thursday evening|Weekly| |Group A|Thursday evening|Weekly| |FitSteps|Thursday evening|Weekly| |Broadway meets Motown Dance|Friday afternoon|Weekly| |Helen West Theatre Dance School|Friday evening|Weekly| |Chester-le-Street Theatre Group|Friday evening|Weekly| |Matchbox Theatre|Friday evening|Weekly| |Euphoria Dance|Saturday morning|Weekly| |Joyce Jeffrey Theatre Dance School|Saturday afternoon|Weekly| |Chester-le-Street Theatre Group|Sunday afternoon|Weekly| |Spin Off Sax|Sunday afternoon|Weekly| |North East Concert Band|Sunday evening|Weekly| |Group A|Sunday evening|Weekly| ## **PRIVATE GROUPS** |NODA|Various| |---|---| |Durham County Council|Various| |Polling Station|Various| |Gateshead College|Various| |Social Services|Various| |Victim Support|Various| |NHS – Wellbeing for Life|Various| |Triage Training|Various| |Karbon Homes|Various| |Uplift Associates|Various| |Skillz 2 Success|Various| |Medtronic|Various| |Keys’s Group|Various| |PCP|Various| |Razzamataz|Various| Plus 5 weeks of drama/revues/concerts during the year **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT** I am delighted to report that our Community Association has continued to flourish throughout the year. The centre 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. The on-going saga with Durham County Council and its desire to persuade Chester-le-Street Community Association to take on the trusteeship of the community centre continues. Sufficed to say progress is limited. On behalf of the Trustees, I wish to express thanks to the Centre Manager and her team for their continued commitment to the community centre, especially during some difficult times over the last year, to ensure our users enjoy a positive and productive experience while using the facilities. On a personal note, I want to thank my fellow Trustees for their continued commitment to the Community Association and to me as Chair, as I step down and a new chapter can now begin for the Association. Pauline Swann ## **MANAGER’S REPORT 2024/2025** Welcome to our 2026 AGM which gives us the opportunity to reflect on 2024/2025. I am delighted to report another successful year for the centre. My grateful thanks to the Management Trustees for their hard work and support during the year and a special thank you to our Chair Pauline Swann who has decided to step down from her role. Pauline has been extremely supportive and helpful in her time as chair, and I would like to thank her for this from all the staff and trustees. As always, my thanks to the loyal staff of the community centre and particularly Lisa Graham who has taken on the role of Assistant Centre Manager this year. All the community centre staff work diligently and flexibly to accommodate the needs of the centre. We have had no staff changes but do now employ the services of Calvin Smith who has kept the building in a great state of repair, inside and out, with numerous maintenance and decoration requirements. The centre continues to open 7 days a week 9 am – 9 pm but lately we do have some gaps in our daytime bookings due to a decrease in ‘NHS Wellbeing for Life’ and private training bookings. However, our evening and weekend bookings are busier than ever. Lisa has contacted local businesses and colleges advising them of our facilities so we are hopeful this situation will improve. I am also delighted to inform you that following an unexpected food hygiene visit we can now proudly display a ‘5 Star Food Hygiene Rating’ as ‘Jean’s Kitchen’ remains a valuable income source. Finally, the community centre staff and I are privileged to share this wonderful building with our many generations of users. Julie Dryden-Smith **FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2024/2025** The activities for the year ended 30 September 2025 produced a surplus of £572. This is in line with our aims of delivering a balanced budget. This is the first year the accounts have been produced on an accruals basis , in line with recommended accounting practice. Room hire charges again showed healthy growth of 10.4% on the previous year. This was a result of a mix of increased charges from April 2025 and a higher level of activity. Jean’s Kitchen continues to perform well, contributing a margin of £11,591. As for expenditure, repairs and maintenance costs increased from £2,459 to £6,938. This year’s cost is more in line with an expected level, last year’s cost being unusually low. Whilst utility costs have decreased from £17,146 to £12,638, the trend is very definitely on an upward trajectory. 2024 costs were unusually high due to a long running dispute with our previous supplier SSE. Wages costs increased by 7.4%. Minimum wage increased by 6.7% during the year, therefore there was a minimal increase in labour hours. Given that room rental income increased by 10.4%, this demonstrates highly efficient cost control by the Centre Manager. Reserves continue to be strong at £86,036,and can be considered sufficient to meet the Association needs. L Szomoru **SCALE OF CHARGES FROM 1ST APRIL 2025** ## **MEMBERS HIRE** |**Room**|**3 Hrs**|**1 Hr**| |---|---|---| |**Room 1**|**£25.00**|**£10.00**| |**Room 2 (Jean Curry Room)**|**£31.00**|**£12.00**| |**Room 3**|**£25.00**|**£10.00**| |**Room 4**|**£25.00**|**£10.00**| |**Bill Stephenson Hall**|**£44.00**|**£16.50**| ## **- NON MEMBERS HIRE** |**Room**|**1Hr**| |---|---| |**Room 1**|**£16.50**| |**Room 2 (Jean Curry Room)**|**£22.00**| |**Room 3**|**£16.50**| |**Room 4**|**£16.50**| |**Hall (Bill Stephenson Hall)**|**£27.50**| ## **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:** - Roof damage repaired and costs covered by DCC Insurance (CC paid the excess). - Doorbell fitted outside of building to comply with ‘Lone Worker Policy’ (FOC by Gary Saunders). - Radiator valves replaced as required. - Asbestos area in entrance foyer repaired. - Fire alarm checked. Awaiting quotes for required updates. - Ceiling collapse repaired and redecorated. - Fuse box relocated in Boiler House (FOC by Gary Saunders). - Repair to brick wall in staff parking bay (paid for by Insurance). - Redecoration throughout building. - Repair to hot water boiler in kitchen. ## **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. - 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. Ch•st•r L• Str6•t Communlty Assoclatlon B•lanc• Sh••t 48 at 30 S•pl•M1￿ 2025 A• ot 20 S4p. 2025 Tol•l 4Q+X7 12.971 S¥1￿1 by Chairy)enon Dale 14 b 2bJb.. Che8t8r Le Street Community As$oGiation FIr￿ncIal Actlvltles Y Ortvhr. 202&90 5•M*i*•r. 2tr26 Totsl Grnrts & dr￿trE￿ 1TI 2& l￿b￿r￿Pap L445 F1,774 B ￿SIB 12.40$ 215 T￿J* 1.351 410 PrfnHn3. ar4Y 177 t2tsY e>.11yr Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Chester Le Street Community Association I r¢port to the tr￿sterd I have M concerns and have c4)me •cm&s Th) othcr mattcts in ￿n￿￿tion with the examinalion lo which attention should bc drawn in thi8 reiK)rt in order lo enable a ￿0Per und￿￿n8 of the accounLq to be reaclK4L si￿*d. A Yame of Indepetsde￿t Eumln¢r: A Li£0 Flo Lmrs Date: IDd¢peDdent Addres1: 20 C>AI NEWFieL