Objectives and activities

Significant activities and financial review

The objectives of the charitable company are stated in the Annual Report and Accounts and the activities during the year have been consistent with these objectives.

Activity

Occupancy levels continued to be high during the year and the hall was used daily by Stanwick Preschool Playgroup and for a range of other activities including dance and fitness classes, badminton and table tennis as well as educational and language lessons, family parties, blood donors, handbells, a church group and family support groups. It continued to be at the centre of whole village events such as the Christmas Fair and Stanwick Races events. Parish Council meetings were held in the hall and the Parish Council Clerk continued to have an office in the hall. 

The Trustees are pleased to report that solar panels were installed during the year which they hope will help with future running costs and lower the halls carbon footprint. The Trustees are grateful for the support they received during planning and installation which included a grant from the Big Lottery.

There was a continuing focus on ensuring the hall was in good condition and routine repairs and maintenance was carried out on a timely basis.

Financial review

Income for the year was £45,424 including an amount of £1,000 in connection with the solar installation. The grant received was for £10,000 which is being released over ten years to match the depreciation on the panels. Excluding this, hall income was slightly higher than the previous year, reflecting the increase in hire rates which were introduced in response to the significant rise in energy costs and the fact that we hadn’t increased rates for 4 years.

Fundraising income of £3,305 reflected the income from quiz and cream tea events as well as our Christmas raffle and includes ticket sales, bar and other income. Income was down on prior year due to less events and the holding of events jointly with another village organisation.  The related costs are included in expenditure.

Expenditure increased by 20% year on year, to £57,002, primarily reflecting an almost doubling in energy costs and a large increase in repairs and maintenance.  Repairs were carried out on flooring, a new boiler and we continued with decoration to keep the building looking good.  The incidence of damage during hire has also increased which is disappointing.  Other costs were, overall, not significantly different to the prior period, reflecting strong management by the Trustees and Rebecca.

Overall, we recorded a net deficit of £11,578 compared with a deficit of £5,422 in the prior year.

The Trust’s cash balance reduced year on year reflecting the increased costs, expenditure on the solar panel installation, partially offset by the grant receipt.

Green Agenda

The Trustees continue to monitor the impact of the new solar panels, and to consider other ideas as part of their focus on reducing the carbon footprint.

Future hire rates

Having increased the hire rates for the first time in 4 years, because of the impact of the huge rise in energy costs, the Trustees are planning to hold rates for 2024 and 2025.  During this time a clearer view on the impact of the solar panels will be obtained and hence the level of the ongoing cost base of the hall.

Stewardship

The Trustees continued to meet on average every month, except for the summer, and monitor hall hire activity, finances, the physical state of the hall, the green agenda, risks and other matters.

We continue to look for other volunteers to act as new trustees to help oversee the charity for the next decade! Please do volunteer and email or speak to the existing Trustees or Rebecca.

The Trustees appreciate the great support that Rebecca, the hall manager, provides not only to users but also to the Trustees in using her experience and knowledge to ensure the continuing success of the hall.

Please do monitor the website www.stanwickvillagehall.org which provides details on forthcoming and regular events.

Strategy and viability

The hall is a charity, and its income is from hire, fund raising events and donations.  The Big Lottery Fund, which provided the majority of the funding for building the hall, has a legal charge over the hall for 20 years and their focus was, and remains, to ensure the building is sustained to provide a facility to the community.  The Trustees are mindful of their responsibility to ensure the hall is available for the long term and monitor the financial position monthly and seek to maintain adequate, but not excessive, reserves.

Reserves policy

The Trustees are mindful of the need to maintain reserves to ensure the hall is available for the longer term and ensure, as far as possible, that sufficient, but not excessive, funds are accumulated and maintained to cover future property costs which are anticipated, over time, to be significant.

In accounting terms, depreciation of the building and fixtures and fittings represents a charge to reflect the wearing out and hence requirement for their future replacement.  Over the past 13 years depreciation has been cumulatively approximately £180,000 but the cash retained represents less than half of this amount. This underlines the need to continue to accumulate reserves as future costs are likely to be higher than the historic cost of items. It is anticipated that major replacement costs will increase as the hall becomes older and the Trustees are focused on the facility being available, and maintained, for the long term, and not being reliant on future funding.  Given this, it is anticipated that reserves will, in the short-term continue to increase.  The exception to this is expenditure on projects such as solar which will help in managing future expenditure. 

How you can help

In addition to hiring the hall and supporting events that take place in it, there are a number of ways in which people can help support the hall and ensure its future viability is assured. Some years ago, we introduced "pledge an hour" to encourage people to help with small jobs around the hall, at a time to suit themselves, which saves the hall money.  This would benefit from further support.

Finally, on a personal note I would like to express my appreciation for the support of the Trustees and Rebecca during these recent and ongoing challenging times.

As noted above we are keen for new trustees to come on board to help ensure the hall is available to future generations as a viable asset and a focal point for the community.

Phil Crooks

CHAIR