Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: Period start date 1 August 2021 To: Period end date 31 July 2022 Charity name: WORCESTER AREA GROUP U3A Charity registration number: 702588
Objectives and Activities
SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The advancement of education and, in particular, the education of older people and those who are retired from full-time work by all means, including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Worcester and its surrounding locality. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Education and transfer of skills occurs through shared learning, actively involving members to improve their quality of life and wellbeing. Members may join a variety of interest groups, generally meeting fortnightly, offering a range of subjects facilitated by volunteers who give their time freely. Worcester Area Group U3A also supports trips and events organised by interest groups for the benefit of members. Meetings open to all members are regularly held with speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Members may also participate in other learning opportunities offered by Third Age Trust, West Midlands U3A region, and Cotswold U3A Link network. A members’ newsletter is published regularly throughout the year and circulated to members either in paper copy or by email. Information for members and the public is available from the Worcester Area Group U3A website. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have regard of the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in meeting the charitable Object of Worcester Area Group U3A to the benefit of members and in publicising its activities to the wider |
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Commission on public benefit
public of those no longer in full-time employment.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | With the end of the national COVID-19 lockdowns, in-person activities were able to resume in September 2021. Worcester Area Group U3A continues to serve the wider community and during 2021-2022, attracted 118 new members, including 23 Guest members mostly from neighbouring U3As. This was an improvement on the previous year (25 new members), although well below the level seen before the pandemic (2018-2019 226 new members). Although most indoor meetings were suspended in January and February 2022 due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, 84 groups covering a full range of activities were able to meet over the year (2020- 2021 35 groups). Given the continuing pandemic, the programme of two-weekly presentation meetings alternated between meeting in- person and online. Online meetings have been well-attended and serve members who are not able to attend in-person meetings. With the lifting of travel restrictions, members’ trips and walking holidays were able to restart and remain popular. |
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To broaden the community served, concessionary membership has been made available for the 2022-2023 year.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Accounts are prepared on the basis of Receipts and Payments. Membership subscriptions, reduced in the 2020-2021 financial year, were increased to near pre-pandemic levels in line with the expected level of activity. Total income for the year increased from £28,045 to £47,264 reflecting both increased membership subscriptions and payments for trips and travel arranged by Worcester Area Group U3A. Worcester Area Group U3A recorded a net deficit of £947 for the year. Unrestricted funds at 31 July 2021 amounted to £50,614. We regularly update our financial forecasts and are confident in being able to deal with the expected increase in costs resulting from the inflationary situation and still support the start-up costs of new group activities. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The General Reserves Policy is set at an amount equivalent to 3 months’ General Fund expenditure, excluding Third Age Trust and Independent Examiner fees, both of which are provided for in full. General |
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| Reserves exclude Trips & Events and Coxon legacy funds. Reserves are held to meet: day-to-day commitments in the face of unexpected fluctuations in income and expenditure; fees due retrospectively to Third Age Trust; and, costs incurred in the event of the dissolution of Worcester Area Group U3A Events and trips are expected to be self- financing and a contingency of £500 is held within the Events and Trips fund to cover unexpected shortfalls. |
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|---|---|---|
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Excluding £ 21,545 held in the Coxon Legacy fund and £2,374 in the Events & Trips fund, General funds amounted to £26,695 at the end of July 2022. The Trustees have prepared the budget for 2022-2023 based on maintaining a minimum General fund in line with the General reserve policy. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | n/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | n/a |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
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Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Worcester Area Group U3A is an unincorporated association. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | At the Annual General Meeting members elect four honorary officers: a Chairman, a Vice-chairman or Vice-chairmen, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who hold office from the conclusion of that meeting. A President may also be elected if the creation of such a post has been agreed at a General Meeting. The Executive Committee consists of between 5 and 14 members: 4 honorary officers, and between 1 and 10 members elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees may in addition appoint not more than 2 co-opted members who have full voting rights and tenure until the next Annual General Meeting. Vacancies on the Executive Committee of Trustees which arise through resignation or termination during the year can be filled from the membership and such an appointee completes the term of service of the member he or she is replacing and is eligible for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
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Other
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name WORCESTER AREA GROUP U3A Other name the charity uses Worcester U3A Registered charity number 702588 Charity’s principal address 3 Lion Court Worcester WR1 1UT
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for **whole year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denis COMPTON | Until 23 March 2022 | |||
| Brian CULLIS | Until 14 December 2022 |
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| Patricia CURRIE | ||||
| Beryl CURTIS | From 23 March 2022 | |||
| Pat DAVIS | From 21 July2022 | |||
| Adrian DITCHBURN | ||||
| Claire LUCAS | ||||
| Fern O’BRIEN | From 26 May2022 | |||
| Richard OSLER | Secretary & Vice- chair (Vice-chair until 23 March 2022) |
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| Jean ROBB | Treasurer | |||
| Ruth SAUNDERS | Until 23 March 2022 | |||
| Christine SHEPPARD | ||||
| Stephen THORNEYCROFT |
Vice-Chair | From 23 March 2022 | ||
| Pamela VERNON | Until 23 February2022 | |||
| Laurence WALE | Chair | |||
| Maitland WESTBROOK | Vice-chair | From 23 March 2022 Until 17 August 2022 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name
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Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity Name and objects of the n/a charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for n/a safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Laurence Wale Richard Osler Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc)[Chair ] Date
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Worcester Area Group u3a Registered Charity No. 702588
Statement of Financial Activities 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2022
| INCOME Annual Subscriptions Cash held by Interest Groups B/F Gift Aid Interest Group receipts Interest Received Other Income Refreshments sales Trips & Walking Tours Total Income GENERAL EXPENDITURE Equipment Groups - Licences Hire of Rooms - groups Hire of Rooms - Main Meeting Hire of Rooms - non groups Interest Group payments Refreshments Purchased Speaker Fees Third Age Trust Trips & Walking Tours Total General Expenditure ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES Beacon System Costs & Third Age Magazine Independent Examination Miscellaneous Expenses PayPal Commission Postage & Telephone Printing and Stationery Publicity Total Administration Expenses TOTAL NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
General Fund Coxon Legacy Fund Events Fund Total Previous Year 2021-22 2021-22 2021-22 2021-22 2020-21 £:p £:p £:p £:p £:p 25,736.00 0.00 0.00 25,736.00 12,354.00 0.00 0.00 1,157.18 1,157.18 0.00 1,829.60 0.00 0.00 1,829.60 5,002.05 0.00 0.00 585.20 585.20 0.00 3.78 2.24 0.00 6.02 5.73 275.82 0.00 0.00 275.82 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 24.50 0.00 0.00 17,673.90 17,673.90 10,659.00 |
|---|---|
| 27,845.20 2.24 19,416.28 47,263.72 28,045.28 |
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| 79.30 48.47 0.00 127.77 617.54 869.32 0.00 0.00 869.32 2,276.38 19,205.95 359.75 0.00 19,565.70 1,273.70 387.51 117.88 0.00 505.39 62.39 211.75 0.00 0.00 211.75 19.03 0.00 0.00 689.86 689.86 0.00 160.42 0.00 0.00 160.42 0.00 929.60 225.00 0.00 1,154.60 990.00 3,328.00 0.00 0.00 3,328.00 2,891.50 0.00 0.00 17,354.76 17,354.76 10,646.00 |
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| 25,171.85 751.10 18,044.62 43,967.57 18,776.54 |
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| 2,537.94 0.00 0.00 2,537.94 2,269.36 150.00 0.00 0.00 150.00 150.00 437.83 0.00 0.00 437.83 215.81 376.92 0.00 0.00 376.92 233.61 229.54 0.00 0.00 229.54 425.62 459.57 0.00 0.00 459.57 407.84 51.49 0.00 0.00 51.49 92.98 |
|
| 4,243.29 0.00 0.00 4,243.29 3,795.22 |
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| (1,569.94) (748.86) 1,371.66 (947.14) 5,473.52 28,264.54 22,294.13 1,002.19 51,560.86 46,087.34 |
|
| 26,694.60 21,545.27 2,373.85 50,613.72 51,560.86 |
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Worcester Area Group u3a Registered Charity No. 702588
Balance as at 31[st] July 2022
| CURRENT ASSETS Payments in Advance Deposit Account - General Funds Deposit Account - Coxon Legacy PayPal and Current account Cash at Bank - Events Account Cash at Bank - General Account Cash in Hand - Groups' Monies Total Assets CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors TOTAL NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY Unrestricted General Fund Coxon Legacy Fund (Designated) Events Fund (Designated) Total Funds |
Total Funds as at 31/07/2022 £:p 0.00 24,424.74 21,545.27 271.55 1,725.31 1,998.31 648.54 50,613.72 0.00 50,613.72 26,694.60 21,545.27 2,373.85 50,613.72 |
Total Funds as at 31/07/2021 £:p 0.00 26,020.96 22,294.13 56.97 1,002.19 2,186.61 0.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 51,560.86 | ||
| 0.00 | ||
| 51,560.86 | ||
| 28,264.54 22,294.13 1,002.19 |
||
| 51,560.86 |
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Independent Examiner's Report to the members/trustees of the University of the Third Age Worcester Area Group Charity Number 0702588
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st July 2022.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention (other than those disclosed below)
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which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
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to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Grahame Lucas 26[th] October 2022
120, Laugherne Road, St Johns Worcester. WR2 5LT