ASTON CANTLQW VILLAGE HALL
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024
Aston Canllow Village Hall, Bearley Road, Aston CantSow is a registered charity Ino.
5228521 govemed by a scheme devised L)y The Minister of Education under the
Charitable Costs Act 1853-1925 and revised by the Charity Commissioners in 2002.
Honorary Offlcers as at thè 31st December 2024
Ciaran Aldiidge
David Hannaford
Sally Bevan
Nick Isaac
Chair
Vice Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Elected Members:
Ciaran Aldridge
Sally Bevan
Nicklsaac
Co-opted Members:
Helen Douglas
Mark Dunsby
Representatlve members:
Local History Society
Parish Council
Porochial Church Council
Tenn55 Club
Aslon Cantlow Club
Ann Platt
- None appointed
None appointed Iminut8s circulaled for Informalionl
Anlonla Pearton
- Down Deakin
Objectlve of Ihe Vlllage Hall Charlty
The objective of the Foundation shall be the provision and mointenance of a village
hall for the use of the inhabilonts of the Parish of Aslon Cantlow ond the surrounding
district without distinction of sex or of polilical, religlous or other opinions; and in
particular for the use of meetings, leclures and classes and for all olher forms of
recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of
life of the said inhabitants.
The Commlttee and Meetlngs
2024 ho5 brought conslstency to the meeting cadence and attendees of the
Commlttee. I would Ilke to thank all Commitlee Members for their support. We have
welcomed Nick Isaac as our new treasurer. who is doing an excellent job in this role.
We also have a new Committee Member, Mark Dunsby, who has brought a wealth
of local knowledge and expertise in the building Irade, which hos been invaluable as
we look to maintain our buildings and surroundings for the benefit of the village.

Regular meetings have been held throughout 2024, generally on a bimonthly basis,
both in person and remotely.
Malntenance and Refurblshment
In 2024 there has been ongoing maintenance of the building and associated areas.
A report has been commissioned to more formally review the requirements for the hall
from a maintenance perspective. These actions will be reviewed ond budgeted for
future anticipated expenditure.
The plants around the hall continue to be maintained by Mick Walker and Helen
Douglas and the village is grateful of their contribution to keeping the village a5 an
attractive place to be. Mark Holland is also noted in his conlribution to maintaining
the hedges.
Health and Safety
There have been no significant Health and Safety issues throughout 2024.
Propertles and Tenancles
Positively all three properties are now fully let, with good, long-lerm tenanls. There ore
ongoing challenges with damp and some other associated workwilh Corner Coltage
that havé come to light since the property has been occupied. The Committee are
committed lo working with the tenants and managing agents to get these issues
rectified.
Caretaker and Cleaner
Our Caretaker Eltzabeth Leedham has continued to be a vltal part of the successful
running of the hall. I would like to thank Lizzee for her contribution.
Events
A number of local organisations continue to use the Village Hall on a regular basis.
These included the Farish Council and various fitness groups. including Yoga. which is
well attended by the community Several external organisotions also regularly book
the hall inclvdlng the Lace Maker5.
The updated website and booking process has now been published for use, feedback
has been positive and driven additional interest in polential users of the hall.
We would also like to thank Aston Cantlow Club for their Charity Fund Raising Quiz.
which was In aid of the Village Hall.
Tonnls Club
The Tennis Club continues in its efforts to attract new member5 from the villages within
the Parish. Regularsocial tennis and competitive matches for those members who are
interested are organised by the club's Committee.

ChildTen's Playground
The Village Hall Committee continues to be solew responsible for the maintenance of
the grounds and equipment in the playground.
The Committee are continuing its maintenance programme.
The annual costs of gr055 Cutting. hedge and tree maintenance are our main regular
outgoing Isee Flnance report for details) and does eat into our income.
The users of the playground come from bolh Aston Cantlow and adjoining villages.
Villagers and other users are reminded that this facility is maintained entirely by the
Village Hall Committee. with financial help from the Parish council as recorded and
bolstered as and when wa can with fundratsing activities.
There are other items in the park which will require replacement In the future and this
will be considered going foward.
Partsh Coun¢ll Emergency Equlpment and Plan
The Parlsh Council has re5pon5ibility forthe5e matters but al the request of the Council
various ilems of equipment including blankets are stored in the Hall.
Commlttee Members 2024.
I would Ilke to thank all members of the Committee for their hard work during the past
year.
Claran Aldrldge - Chalrman
For and on behalt of the Management Commltlee - Aprll 2025

ACVH TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE 2024 FINANCIAL YEAR
The Village Hall ended 2024 in a satisfactory financial position after running a surplus of
£6,483 in the year.
Overall income for the year of £42,431 was substantially up on 2023. Booking fees were
c£IOk higher due to the BBC filming at the Hall, an event unlikely to repeat. Other bookings
were at similar levels to 2023 with parish lettings up and external ones down. The rental
properties were fully occupied throughout the year causing rentsl income to increase to
c£24k. The Parish Council made a donation towards the playground grass cutting and fund
raising rai*d £339.
Without the Investment in the playground that took place in 2022 and 2023, expenditure
fell back to £35,947 for the year. This remained above'normal" levels due to c£14k spend
on the rental properties, completing the planned refurbishment started in 2023. Other
additional costs were tree clearance work following a storm, work on a new website and
compensation paid for cancelled bookings due to filming. However, elettricity costs went
down due to the reclaim of overcharged VAT in prior years and lower contratt prices. We
continued to benefit from Charity Mandatory relief of 800/0 on business rates and the
Hospitality and Leisure Relief Scheme, which together saved us around £3,000 on Councll
Tax in the year. These schemes have been contlnued for 2025 but are not guaranteed in
perpetuity.
The Village Hall's cash balance at the end of the year was up from £12,659 to £29,143,
split between an instsnt access saver account and the current account. The increase was
driven by the c£6k surplus in the year plus a withdrawal of £10,000 from the COIF
Accumulation Fund. It is intended that the cash balance will be used for a signlficant
programme of refurbishment in the Hall itself, ongoing expenditure in the rentsl properties
and a planned maintenance programme on the outside of all the buildings. The latter was
created by a survey commissioned for the Hall. Despite the £IOk withdrawal, the
Accumulation Fund held with the Charlties Commlssion was valued at £188,153 at the
yearend, almost the same as last year.
At the end of the financial year, we had minimal liabilities, and £887 of outstsnding hire
charge payments due to us, all of which have now been paid.
The Village Hall is therefore in a good financial state and so should be able to continue to
operate and maintsin the Village Hall, playground and rental properties as planned over
the coming year. However, without the BBC booking, it will be more challenging to
generate a surplus, so, particularly with the maintenance spend planned, it is likely that
there will be some reduction in reserdes during 2025. The purpose of the work on the Hall
is to generate additional bookings to help re-balance the accounts in future.
I wish to thank all of the committee members and also the Parish and Distritt Councils for
their support in the past year and look forward to the challenges of the coming one.
Nick Isaac - Aston Cantlow Village Hall Treasurer - March 2025

ASTON CANTLOW VILLAGE HALL FOUNDATION
Accounts for the year to 31st De¢ember 2024
Registered Charity no 522825
General
2023
Re*ipts & Payment Accounts
Income Receipts
General
2024
Grants & Donations
Parish Council
Grant
Sundry Donations
Grass cutting donation
1,¢)00
375
1,375
97
997
Sub Total
Trading Acaivilies
Hall Lettings
(includes Tennis club groun(J Tenlall
Hall Lettings
Village users
4,033
2,489
External users
Car parking
Deposits
Events
For Pl8yground
Sundries
Sub Total
12.884
85
3,934
13
Fund raising
339
1,321
Misc & refunds
17,341
7,757
Invèstment Incomè
Rents
Other
8ank Intsrest
24,025
19,454
195
Tre8suf8T
Deposit ac
Sub Total
68
24.093
42,431
19.649
28,781
Total Ro¢•lpts
Dlrect Charitable Expènditure
Council Tax
Insur8nce
Walor Rates
Electricity
Repoirs & M8int6nance (excl renlol prop81
Grounds I car park Maintenance
Playground Igra¥$ cutting & repairs)
EquipmenVFumishingslSupplles IlnGI Playground equipment)
Cleaning costs
Caretaking cos18
Wo$le Collection
Subscrlpllons
Pety expen$o8
Ev8n15
Mls¢- Inc window cleaning
Building works
Profossional Ch8rge3
157
3,979
161
3,670
778
4,316
5,617
2,650
5,705
630
995
23,082
1,560
3,000
160
363
1,560
3,000
263
429
83
500
189
128
756
22,064
239
43,705
Sub Totsl
Olhor Expenditure
Other Events
Independent Examiners Fee
Repairs & mainl Réntal propertles
13,833
5,066
Sub Totsl
13,883
5,116
Totsl Payments
35,947
48,821
Net Recai
19
ments
for th8 Year
6,483
-20,039
Rèallgalion of Accumulation units ftom COIF
Cash and Bank BalanGe¥ as a131 Dec
Cash and Bank 8alanos as at 31 Dec
10,OCN)
2023
12.659
2022
32,699
2024
29,143
2023
12,659
Pagelof 2

ASTON CAFThLOW VILLAGE HALL FOUNDATION
Stslemenl of Assets and Liabilittes at 31st December 2024
General
2024
General
2023
Monetary Assets
Bank &Cash 8alan¢es
Lloyds Bank Business Instsnt Access AJC
Lloyds Bank Treasurers ￿C
Cash
20,088
9,055
20
12,605
Totsl Cash & Bank Balance$
29,143
12.659
other CU￿nt Assets
Hire Charges Reeelvable
Autumn faif proceeds & ramble
887
454
335
Current Llabllltles
MISG Creditorn
Final payment for playground equipment instslled & completed.
Non Mon9tary A8$0ts
Permanent Endowment
Land and buildings used by the Include The Village Hall, Corner Cott¥gg
and the 2 Hall Flats, Childpns Playground, 2 Tennis Courts and Car Park
(Freehold Title ves18d in the Official Custodian for Charili&sl
2023
General
76107
£188.746
Other A¥88ts.'
2024
General
72196
£188,153
Sha￿s in Ch8Tilies Officlal Investment Fund
No of Shares hold
Valuallon of shares per 8tslem¢nl
Equlpment and Fufnllure in the Hall, Playground equipment
The reG8ipI8 and paymènts 8¢¢ount and thè slatsmenl of assets and Ilabililes have been prepared under
seGlion 133 of Ihe Charities Act 2011
PwJe2of2

Independent Examiner's report to the c.ommittee of
ASTON CANTLOW VILLAGE HALL II"OIJNDATION
I report un the a¢Gounts of the TTUSt for the year ended 31 Sl December 2024, which are set out on
Pages I to 2.
Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner.
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. and the trustees consider that an
audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act). and that an
independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to..
examine the a￿OUntS (under section 145 of the Charities Act '
to follow procedures laid down in the General Direction$ given by the Charity Commission (under
section 145(5)(b) of the Charities AGt.' and
, to state whether particular matters have Gome to my attention.
BASIS of independent exgminer'5 Statement.
My examination was carried out in ac¢ordancc with the General Dir¢¢tions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination in¢lude8 a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a
comparison of the a¢¢ounts presented with those records. It a150 includes consideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do noi provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and
consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent examlner's statement.
In the course of my examination. no matter has ￿rne to my attention..
(l ) which gives rne reasonable ¢ause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustecs have not met th¢
requirements to ensure that..
proper accounting records are kept ( in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act). and
accounts arc prepared whi¢h agree with thc accounting records and ¢omply with the
accounting requirements of the Charities Act. or
(2) io which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
ac¢ounts to be reached.
Signed
T F Clarke
59 Carol Avenue
Bromsgrove
Worcs B618RW
10th March 2025