Annual Report for Acklington Village Hall October 2023 – September 2024
Charity details and governance
Charity Name: Acklington Village Hall Reg’d No: 522018
Address: Acklington Village Hall, The Village, Acklington, NE65 9BW Trustee names:
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Trudy Bailey (Acklington Art Group)
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Rosie Bush (Acklington WI)
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John Craig (Management Trustee)
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Eddie Critchlow (Management Trustee)
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Violet Currie (Acklington Community Team)
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Sharin Ingleby (Acklington Parish Council)
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Tessa Sayers (Management Trustee)
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Alison Sharpe (Management Trustee)
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Catherine Spruce (Acklington Church St John the Divine C of E)
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Louise Wood (Co-opted Trustee, village hall garden)
The Charity is governed by a constitution set out in a trust deed contained in the lease set up in 1967. It is an unincorporated association. Trustees fall into two groups: those nominated by a given set of not-for-profit community user groups and those elected at the AGM (‘management trustees’). Additionally, trustees may co-opt extra trustees to the board. See above for details.
The objects of the charity are as follows:
The premises shall be held upon trust for the purposes of a Village Hall for the use of the inhabitants of Acklington aforesaid and the neighbourhood (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") without distinction of sex or of political, religious or other opinions and in particular for use of meetings, lectures and classes and for other forms of recreation and leisure time occupations with the subject of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
Summary of activities in the 23-24 year, presented at the AGM, 21[st] November 2024
To begin with, I want to say the same as last year - thanks to all committee members for their engagement and participation and willingness to take on various jobs as they come up. It’s great to work as a team, both to share our views as we make decisions and to share our energy and expertise for the practical things that need doing through the year. There’s a lot to do in keeping the hall running smoothly and it wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s willing involvement.
And thanks to our users, especially the regular groups, for their continued support in using the hall, for looking after it and keeping it tidy and letting us know when there are things that need addressing – they are our eyes and ears. It’s brilliant news that the number of weekly user groups has increased over the last year and now stands at 9. This is one of the main things the hall is here for, and we’re delighted that so many different groups are using us in this way and enriching the life of the community. We’ve also hosted exhibitions, coffee mornings, fairs, concerts, dances, D-day celebrations, children’s parties and many other one-off events.
As well as a lot of minor enhancements and maintenance in the hall over the year, major projects were a new boiler, new cooker and fridge (thanks Alison), the corridor ceiling raised and new lighting and flooring installed, the Guyzance room repainted, the cladding on the ceiling varnished,
outside railings for the ramp by the Guyzance Room, new external lights and major pointing works for the stone wall to the right of the hall.
Our outside space is something that sets us apart from many other local halls and thanks are due to Tony and Louise and the efforts of ACT and local people for their work to make the garden look lovely all year round.
We were awarded a grant by the local wind farm funding body to buy new chairs and stage curtains, conditional on certain changes to our constitution which are quite complex and require legal input and Charity Commission approval. We are working on these and hope to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting next year to present the changes for approval. Then we might see some new chairs! We have also updated a number of key policies which definitely falls into the ‘boring but important’ category. Thanks to committee members for their engagement with this process.
I will end the same way as last year too - we look forward to another busy year looking after and improving this essential amenity for the village which sees so much community activity and makes Acklington a better place to live.
Public Benefit Statement
Trustees of Acklington Village Hall have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Its objects – to improve the conditions of life for residents of the Parish of Acklington through the provision of a hall where classes, activities, community events and private celebrations can be held – are charitable and all the activities of the charity trustees have been directed toward these ends, whilst fulfilling their obligations as trustees.
Financial Review
The charity treasurer has prepared accounts showing the financial performance over the year. These accounts were independently examined by Judith McAndry and no matters of concern were raised.
Income totalled £35,214, of which £25,000 was a grant received from National Lottery (used for the insulation of the ceiling of the main hall). Other income came from hall rental and interest on funds held.
Expenditure totalled £45,455, of which £29,220 was spent on the ceiling insulation work. Other expenditure was due to hall overheads and some items of capital expenditure to improve the hall facilities.
There was a net deficit of £10,241.
Funds held at the end of September 2024 totalled £27,443.
Reserves Policy
Unrestricted reserves
A reserve equivalent of between 1 to 2 years of annual expenditure will be maintained to cover any negative cash flow and emergencies (e.g. boiler/heating breakdown or damage to flooring/equipment). If accessed, efforts should be immediately put in place to restore the balance to the minimum amount.
For 23/24 this would be a reserve fund of £16235.
Deslgnated reserves Unrestricfrd funds in excess of unrestricted reserves detakled above a held in a designated fund as an Hall Enhancement Fund to cover the long-tern] maintenance and improvement of the Hall. Custodian Trustee The charity does not hold any funds as a custodian trustee but the hall which it owns is held by custodian trustee Acklington Parish Council. This annual report was approved by trustces on 24 July 2025. Signed below on behalf of trustees. Trustee I Name: 4uSOThJ 8*k£fg Signature: Date.. sJii£S Trustee 2 Nanie: i Ess4 Signature: Date., 9-517 115
522018
Acklington Village Hall
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 01/10/2023 30/09/2024 To from ~~ee ee ee~~
Section A Receipts and payments
| National | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds |
Lottery Community |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||||
| fund | ||||||||||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||||
| Donations,Legacies | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | |||||||
| Grants | £0 | £25,000 | £0 | £25,000 | £700 | |||||||
| Fundraising | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £460 | |||||||
| Interest | £404 | £0 | £0 | £404 | £218 | |||||||
| Hire of Hall and equipment- Groups | £5,836 | £0 | £0 | £5,836 | £5,327 | |||||||
| Hire of Hall and equipment- Private | £3,150 | £0 | £0 | £3,150 | £1,505 | |||||||
| Hire of Hall - Elections/Parish Council | Hire of Hall - Elections/Parish Council | £825 | £0 | £825 | ||||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for | (Gross income for | |||||||||||
| AR) | AR) £10,214 |
£25,000 | £0 | £35,214 | £8,211 | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). £0 # £0 # £0 £0 # £0 £0 # £0 # £0 £0 # £0 Sub total - - - - - ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
||||||||||||
| Total receipts | £10,214 | £25,000 | £0 | £35,214 | £8,211 | |||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||||
| Gas & Electricity | £3,062 | £0 | £0 | £3,062 | £3,723 | |||||||
| Water | £329 | £0 | £0 | £329 | £328 | |||||||
| Insurance and Licenses | £1,329 | £0 | £1,329 | £881 | ||||||||
| General Maintenance | £5,672 | £0 | £5,672 | £5,102 | ||||||||
| Grass Cutting | £555 | £0 | £555 | £535 | ||||||||
| Window Cleaning | £146 | £0 | £146 | £120 | ||||||||
| Misc | £228 | £0 | £0 | £228 | £426 | |||||||
| NNVHC | £89 | £0 | £0 | £89 | £40 | |||||||
| Cleaning | £990 | £0 | £0 | £990 | £468 | |||||||
| Hall Booking System | £120 | £0 | £0 | £120 | £120 | |||||||
| Ground Rent/Garden | £415 | £0 | £0 | £415 | £327 | |||||||
| Misc petty cash | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 | £76 | |||||||
| Boiler replacement | £3,300 | £0 | £3,300 | |||||||||
| Work on Insulation in Main Hall | £0 | £29,220 | £29,220 | |||||||||
| Sub total | £16,235 | £29,220 | £0 | £45,455 | £12,145 | |||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - Sub total - - Total payments £16,235 £29,220 ~~———~~ |
- - - £0 |
- - - £45,455 |
- £12,145 |
|||||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
(£6,021) (£4,220) £0 (£10,241) (£3,935) (£4,220) £4,220 £0 £0 - £37,684 # £0 £0 £37,684 - £27,443 £0 £0 £27,443 ~~—— |
~~ |
~~ee~~ Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
B1 Cash funds
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Endowment | Endowment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | funds | funds | funds | |||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| Current account balance 30/9/24 | £1,708 | - | - | - | - | |||
| Savings account balance 30/9/24 | £25,736 | - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Total cash funds | Total cash funds | £27,443 | - | - | - | - | ||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) 1 |
(agree balances with receipts and payments | OK | OK | OK | 30/10/2024 |
(agree balances with receipts and payments 1account(s)) OK
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examlner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Acklington Village Hall On accounts for the year ended 30. September 2024 Charlty no (if any) 522018 Set out on pages I report to the tnjstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 3010912024. Responsibllitles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with secllon 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not 8ppIy. Date: 111212025 Independent examinerfs statement Signed: Name: Judith McAndry Relevant professional qualificatlon(s) or body (if any): NIA Address: Old Joiners Shop, Guyzance Village Guyzance Morpeth NE65 9AQ IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). NIA Give here brlef details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER October 2018