‘ 13 Four Border Abbeys u3a he.nella Scottish Charity $C0335226
Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 and Report for the year ended 31°' March 2026
Objects
The Charity’s object is the advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full time work, by all means including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development in Kelso and the surrounding area.
Charitable Status
The name of the Charity is the Four Border Abbeys University of the Third Age, (u3a) and it is recognised under the Scottish and Taxation Legislation. It is a member of The Third Age Trust, Registered Charity number 288007
Committee Members
| Chairman | Jerry Strachn | |
|---|---|---|
| Vice Chairman | Lesli Millar | |
| Secretary | Claire Bowen | Resigned February 2024 |
| Linda Haysay | Joined February 2024 | |
| Treasurer | Rosie Alexander | |
| Members | Roy Sandbach | Joined October2025 |
| Alex Grimes | ||
| Pam Davidson | ||
| Tania Bridges | Joined September 2025 | |
| Marilyn Bridger | Joined November2025 | |
| Heather Huntley | ||
| David Savory | Resigned March 2025 | |
| MargaretCampbellResignedNovember2025 |
1
FOUR BORDER ABBEYS U3A: AGM 5S.3.2026
Chair’s Report
| am happy to report on a very successful year.
When | became Chair three years ago, our membership stood at 330 members. It is now nearly 460, and we are the largest rural u3a in Scotland. We currently run over 45 Groups, and regularly have over 80 attendees at our Open Meetings. At a time when some u3as are struggling, | am delighted to report that the Four Border Abbeys is going from strength to strength.
Your Committee has worked hard behind the scenes to make improvements for the good of our u3a: supporting new and existing groups, streamlining the membership process, upgrading our website, introducing Gift Aid, increasing the number of online payments, upgrading policies and maintaining an interesting and varied programme of speakers.
Perhaps most of all, we have worked hard to make sure that we are a welcoming, friendly and encouraging organization, supportive of our members and Group Leaders.
Our group leaders are the core of our u3a, and a key reason for the health of the branch. Their expertise and commitment, often over many years, is hugely valued by our members. | would like to thank them for all they do.
Our Webmaster, Gillian Oakley is a great support to us all and has spent countless hours making sure that our public digital face is in the best possible shape. Thank you Gillian.
John Alexander also does excellent work behind the scenes giving expert help with our IT system; this year particularly in streamlining our membership process. Thank you John.
Your Committee have been superb to work with. They are wise, imaginative, prudent and extremely dedicated. Thank you Lesli, Rosie, Linda, Alex, Roy, Pamela, Tania and Marilyn; I’ve never had such a good experience with a committee.
As you know | am stepping down as Chair today after my three-year term. | would like to rejoin the Committee at some point in the future, but rotation of such positions is very healthy and allows fresh ideas to blossom. Thank you to all members for the tremendous support you have given — this is a great organisation and a flourishing one.
Jerry Strachan 4° March 2026
Treasurers report for AGM held on 5" March 2026
This is my last year as Treasurer and| will be standing down at the end of this meeting.
2025 was another good year for our u3a with another increase in members. Again, your generosity in allowing us to claim Gift Aid from HMRC gave us extra income of over £700, for which we are very grateful. This money helps with our running costs.
We ended the year in a strong financial position of having £6,687 in the bank. This is slightly. up on previous years but we do need to purchase a new laptop and possibly a new printer in 2026 and we anticipate our costs will rise.
We have over 40 groups which are active and because we have healthy bank balances, we are able to subsidise each group to the value of £50 each year.
We introduced on-line joining for membership renewals and new members which proved very successful, with over 1/3 of our members renewing this way. My thanks again go to Alex, our membership secretary for making the whole process ot membership renewals easier. Also, my thanks to Richard Tice for verifying the accounts.
From last July we have to pay bank charges to maintain our accounts with the Bank of Scotland and if as many as possible can continue to pay membership fees via bank transfers as it keeps our costs down. We know that this may not suit everyone, but we will endeavour to assist all our members, when the bank in Kelso closes in June.
Lastly my thanks to Jerry and the rest of the committee, who have been very supportive and a pleasure to work with over the last 3 years.
Good news is | wish to let you know that our membership fees for 2006 will stay the same amount as last year.
Please may | ask you to accept the accounts for 2025.
Rosie Alexander Treasurer 5'* March 2026.
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APPENDIX 3
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Independent examiner’s report onthe accounts»
Report to the Charity name
trustees/members of FOUR(77,90 BORDERAa : KMABBREYSNove USA.12
Registered charity SC
number
On the accounts of the Period start date Period end date
charity for the period Day Month Year Day Month Year
A.
A Ol 90925, to Bi. WR 9038.os
Set out on out on on pages (nibersctbernibersctberber additionaltoto include sheets)thth
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Set out on out on on pages (nibersctbernibersctberber additionaltoto include sheets)thth Respective the charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance responsibilities Of with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the trustees and examiner Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees , considerdoes not thatapply.theIt auditis myrequirementresponsibilityoftoRegulation examine the10(1)accounts(d) of theas Accountsrequired underRegulationssection 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts examiner’s statement Regulations. 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 seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner's _ In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that statement disclosed on the attached page*]
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and
-
- — to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met, or
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2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
Signed: un Beim1g of the accounts to be reached.
Name: Vda “hce Date: 1 ++ /2)2m
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
Address:(if any): Seana_ _———Wa haecet men No '
ke RESON NS
See Troe ane Hooter
*Please delete the words in the bracketsBERGE if they dovA not NON apply. VANOHUAMoAeNeaahIS BM opty, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the
following page.
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**OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures.