Fownhope New Memorial Hall
Registered Charity No: 520951
Trustees Annual Report 2024 - 2025
Charity Address
Fownhope New Memorial Hall FOWNHOPE HR1 4PG
Contact Address
Ian Quayle Chairman Fownhope New Memorial Hall Garden House FOWNHOPE Herefordshire HR1 4PB
Trustees during the period covered by this report
Ian Quayle (Chairman) Bryn Caless (Vice-Chairman) Teresa Plummer (Treasurer) Jackie Pawsey (Secretary) Mark Flannagan (Building Officer) Suzanne Parr (Booking Secretary) Samantha Clough (Trustee) Morrison Sellar (Trustee)
Governance
The Charity is governed by a Foundation document originally dated 1987. Some of the administrative provisions of this were amended by resolution of a General Meeting held on 8[th ] September 2009. These changes provide for eight Trustees, including six honorary Executive Officers, who are elected annually. The Trustees are advised by a Users’ Committee, representing all regular non-profit making users of Fownhope New Memorial Hall, which meets four times a year.
Financial Review
The Charity holds a level of reserves considered by the Trustees as adequate to cover contingencies, including loss of income arising from a major disruption. In addition, reserves are designated to cover the schedule of repairs, maintenance and improvement work envisaged for the following year. Financial statements for the year to 31[st ] January 2025 are appended to this report.
Objectives
The Charity’s objectives are as set out in the Foundation document:
“The object of the Foundation shall be the provision and maintenance of a village hall for the use of the inhabitants of Fownhope and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called
Fownhope New Memorial Hall Charity Reg No 520961
Report to Charity Commission 2025
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"the area of benefit") without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for meetings, lectures and classes and for other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.”
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Report to Charity Commission 2025
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Summary of Activities During the Financial Year to 31[st] January 2025
Energy management
Early in the year, we applied for a grant from the National Lottery Community fund to allow us to improve two aspects of our energy management. The application was successful and we received the grant of nearly £20k at the end of July.
In August, new fan convectors were installed in the Lechmere Hall to replace the old ones originally installed when the Hall was built in 1987. These are more efficient and have variable speed fans which allow them to run more quietly than the old ones.
The grant also covered the purchase and installation of a Tesla electrical storage battery with a capacity of 13.5kWh and a maximum input and output of 5kW. This is charged from our solar PV panels and has sufficient capacity that evening events can be powered entirely from the sunlight received during the day.
These improvements will significantly reduce our energy consumption and hence reduce costs.
Fibre broadband
As part of this whole upgrade, the Hall also now have a full fibre broadband connection, which is free for all Hall users. This allows us to remotely monitor the power flow between the solar panels, the battery and the Hall. And this, in turn, allows us to monitor when the Hall is occupied just by looking at the power consumption.
Policy reviews
Our Vice-Chairman has taken the lead on reviewing our policies and during the year we reviewed our Health & Safety and our Environmental policies and also the Declaration of Interest that all Trustees sign after appointment, which is based around the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
The grounds
Our Vice-Chairman has begun a two-year project to improve the grounds surrounding the Hall, with some serious horticulture.
Web site
Our original google web site has been transferred to the Fownhope village web site, under the aegis of Fownhope Parish Council.
Our own web address is fnmh.co.uk and this redirects to our section of the village web site.
Booking system and accounts
Our Hallmaster online booking diary is available on the new web site. We have now been using Hallmaster for three years and our online bookkeeping and accounting system, Liberty Accounts, for nearly as long. The systems work together, in that Hallmaster generates our invoices which are then imported into Liberty Accounts. When a Hall user pays an invoice, this is set against the relevant invoice.
Having these online systems integrated means that it is difficult to make errors, reconciliation with our bank statements is quick and easy, and it is also simple to catch any late payers. Liberty Accounts provides a detailed report on this and can also generate customer statements. Although there is a monthly cost to using these systems, I feel they are more than worth it in streamlining our administration and avoiding serious errors.
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Flicks in the Sticks
Flicks in the Sticks is still running successfully and is making a significant contribution to our income. It is also well established as an important monthly social event that brings people in our village together.
Conclusion
This has been a very busy but successful year and the Trustees have done a terrific job with some great teamwork. I must thank Dr Bryn Caless who has been a tower of strength as our ViceChairman and also hosted a very enjoyable social event for the hard-working Trustees at his home.
Finally, I would once again like to give heartfelt thanks to all the people who have supported the Hall in so many ways over the past twelve months:
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The users who have used the Hall and worked with our keysafe system.
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The team of Trustees who have worked so well together throughout the year: Bryn, Sue, Morrison, Teresa, Jackie, Samantha and Mark.
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Margret Rolls who has managed our noticeboard so efficiently and Eric Heathman who has given us Health & Safety advice
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Alex Champ who kindly and meticulously examined our accounts for us
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And last, but not least, our long-serving caretaking and cleaning team of Mike and Rose.
Ian Quayle Chairman of Trustees 1[st] September 2025
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Report to Charity Commission 2025
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Registered Charity Number: 520951
Fownhope New Memorial Hall
Financial Statements
For the year ended 31[st] January 2025
Page Income Expenditure Account Balance Sheet In our opinlon the financial statements In the following pages reflect a true and accurate record of the financial affairs of Fownhope New Memorial Hall for the flnanclal year endlng 31" January 2025. A Champ (Examlner) Date 3 March 2025 T Plummer (Treasurer) Date l Quayle {Chairman) Date 3, March 2025
FOWNHOPE NEW MEMORIAL HALL Income & Expense - Detail February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025
Income
| Income and Endowments | |
|---|---|
| Donations | 240 |
| Grants | 19,690 |
| Income from Charitable Activities | 17,302 |
| Investment Income | 514 |
| Other Incoming Resources | 131 |
| PV Feed-in Tariff | 2,640 |
| Total Income | 40,516 |
| Expenses | |
| Expenditure | |
| Charitable Activities | 38,815 |
| Expenditure on Raising Funds | 826 |
| Total Expenses | 39,642 |
| Operating Profit/(Loss) | 875 |
| Total Other Income/(Expenses) | 0 |
| Net Profit/(Loss) | 875 |
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FOWNHOPE NEW MEMORIAL HALL Charity Commission for England and Wales, No. 520951 Balance Sheet - Comparative
As at January 31, 2025
| 31 Jan 2025 | 31 Jan 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | ||
| Debtors | 1,450 | 1,792 |
| Other Current Assets | 1,379 | 1,334 |
| Cash At Bank And In Hand | 29,538 | 28,166 |
| Creditors | ||
| Other Creditors | -200 | |
| Net Assets | 32,166 | 31,292 |
| Funds & Reserves | ||
| Restricted Funds | 1,200 | 1,000 |
| Unrestricted General Funds | 30,966 | 30,292 |
| Funds Provided | 32,166 | 31,292 |
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