Low Bentham Victoria Institute and Public Hall
AGM 22[nd] June 2021
Chairpersons Report
Last year I posed the question” what were the challenges in front of us due to Covid -19 and the impact it would have on our community building”?
The Victoria Institute did have challenge’s to overcome with the introduction of Government Tier systems in the winter of 2020, this created issues surrounding the interpretation and definition of the rules. Terms like support bubbles , rule of six , selfisolate, new vocabulary to get used to! Each organisation had to interpret the guidance for their group. With full support from this committee, the hall users and the wider community, we were able to deal with these difficulties successfully.
Thankfully we have been able to access government funding, which has helped us considerably and puts us in a firmer position.
Whilst the Institute was in local restrictions we took the opportunity to invest in the general up keep. This included having the entrance area and stairs painted and the completion of LED lighting in the main hall. The purchase and installation of a new dishwasher and replacing the external wooden safety hand rails for the mobility ramp. The ongoing conservatory was delayed due to changes in the structural planning and obtaining a supplier for the steel work.
The community garden is bright and blooming, this is due to Michael Marshall’s time and effort and to John and Joan Lawson who volunteered to cut the grass. Their hard work has received favourable comments from various members of the public. With the introduction of the vaccination programme, this gave us all hope of gradually resuming regular activities. We had a look at the reopening process and which groups could return and when! All this was surrounded by government direction. All of our regular users were keen to come back!
The CLC have made a welcome return, this has been a tremendous team effort and I have to thank the BOPT team and most importantly Andrea, Vanessa and their volunteers for their positive approach to working with the new normal
Added to this we have been joined by additional new user groups! The unity and the commitment of this committee was an important factor in attracting and making the hall open and accessible in welcoming these new groups.
Since welcoming Sandra to the post of treasurer, she has played a leading role in remodelling the financial systems and policies, ably assisted by Lin and Julie on the staffing subcommittee. We now have in place employment contracts and are registered with HMRC. This process was an arduous task and I would like to thank them for their time and work.
The future is looking rosy for the Victoria Institute, I’m proud to say the V.I are offering a lifeline for older residents, social spaces for youngsters and a place to pop in and have a coffee and chat. There is so much more this place can offer, training events, film nights and thanks must go to Cornerstones for installing the projector and screen, these are but a few examples. We have gained two new committee members Lynne and Liz but had to say goodbye to Frances. We are always ready to welcome new members to the committee and strengthen our links with the community. Thank you to everyone who has supported us throughout this unprecedented time.
This new normal path will continue and I will leave you with this proverb “Where there is a will there is a way”
June 21
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I CHARITY COMMISSION I FOR ELAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinor s Report Report to the trus member¥ of On accounts for the year ended Charity 110 {If any) 37T Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examinats'on of the accounts of the at8 charity (Ihe Trusf) for ts year erKled 3 1 _0 3 . Zpz J AS the charitys trustees, you are responsit4e for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirnents of the Chanties Act 2011 {'Ihe Ad,) I report in respect of my ex8min8tion of the Trust'5 accounts carried out under sethon 145 of the 2011 A¢t aThd in carying OLrt my examination, I have followed all Ihe applicable Dir8ction5 given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)Ib) of the Ad. Rosponstbiliti•s and ba$l$ ol report Independont •xamln•rf$ gtatgment to Do18te I l rf not appIabl9. I have ¢ornpleted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attents'on in connection with the examination {other than that diso1088d below") whtch gives me cause to believe that In, any material resFecl: the accounting records were not kept in accordanc8 with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord wtth the accounting records., or the aGGounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Rèports) Regulation8 2008 Olfir than any requirement that the account$ give a Irue and fail view vthich is not a matter considered as part of an independent ex8min81ion. I have no concems and have Come acr088 no other matters in connection with the examination to whl¢h attention should bè drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to te rèached. ' P18ase dèlete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. 19.0S.g&LI Slgned: Name: R01evant profi>$$lonal quallfJcatlonl$) or body IER Oct 2018