The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31st December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charities governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.
The main objective of the charity is to provide educational and recreational facilities for the village and surrounding areas. The main activity of the charity is that of operation of a village hall.
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commissions Guidance on public benefit.
The charity's objectives and ongoing activity since the hall opened has been to provide a facility for recreation, education and leisure for all the people of the Dunston parish. The charity's objectives continue to be met as demonstrated by the variety of regular users and other individual bookings.
Reserves policy
Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and other expenditure. The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves as at 31st December 2024 would be £30,000. The charity holds accumulated funds of £99,991 at 31st December 2024 including the village hall property of £67,581. This is considered adequate resources to continue to maintain the village hall facility.
Last year we were able to go ahead with the air conditioning and ventilation installation, as planned and we are very pleased with the results.
We have regular bookings on 3 evenings a week along with regular whole day booking once a month, as well as one off children's parties.
We have no plans for any significant capital expenditure or repairs in the coming year.
Governing document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 7th December 2011. It was registered as a charity on 25th April 2016. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed by its Articles of Association.
Trustees of the charity
The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purposes of charity law. The trustees who have served during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Mr JW Richardson
Mrs DM Stubbs
Mr JK Bagnall (Appointed 26 February 2024)
Mr GH Pliva (Resigned 31 October 2024)
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
Election and appointment of trustees take place at the Annual General Meeting.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable against fraud and error. Risks, both operational and financial, are regularly reviewed by the trustees. The major risks to which the charity is exposes, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems established to manage those risks.
The attached financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity's governing document, and the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in 2019. The trustees continue to raise income from charitable activities. The principal source of funding in this financial year was income from hire fees received for the use of the hall.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Dunston Village Hall Limited for the purpose of company law are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The report was approved on behalf of the board by:
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Dunston Village Hall Limited is a private charity, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The charity's registered number and registered office can be found on page 1.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.
These accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis, as the Trustees believe that there are no material uncertainties relates to events or conditions, that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the company to continue as a going concern. They have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for twelve months from authorising these financial statements, when reaching this conclusion.
Income receivable by the charitable company falls within the charitable company's activities, including donated services. Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
For legacies, entilement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that the probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably, and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as contingent asset and disclosed if material.
Income from government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Interest is included in the financial statements when probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with SORP (FRS 102).
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and comprises costs incurred by the charity in delivery of its activities and services. The charity is not registered for VAT so expenditure is shown inclusive of VAT. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out of resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Cast at band and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
The trust only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Debtors and Creditors receivable/payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable and payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as at the reporting date and the amounts reported for turnover and expenses during the period. The nature of estimating means that actual outcomes could differ from the original estimates.
The principal accounts policies and the judgements and estimates that have the most significant effect on amounts recognized in the financial statements are as detailed below.
Ultimate Controlling Party
In the opinion of the Trustees, because of the way the charity is constituted, there is no single ultimate controlling party. The charity is effectively controlled by the board, as a body.
The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration or employee benefit during the year (2023: Nil).
The trustees did not have any expenses reimbursed during the year (2023: Nil).
The average number of employees and trustees during the year was as follows:
The number of directors (trustees) to whom retirement benefits were accruing was nil (2023: Nil).
No employees/trustees received employee benefits excluding employer pension costs of more than £60,000.
No Corporation Tax liability arises in respect of the year since the company has been accepted as a charity within section 467 Corporation and income taxes Act 2010. The exemptions afforded by S466(2) are available as all income and gains are applied to charitable purposes.