Settle District U3A - Charity Number 1095635
Annual Report 2023/24
(From 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2024)
Our aims
Settle District U3A is a charity with a membership and a committee of trustees. Our aims are to:
- engage with people no longer in full time employment and
- provide the facilities for learning, leisure and recreational time for those
people.
Our website contains more information about our activities: settle.u3asite.uk
Committee
The committee of trustees manages the affairs of Settle District U3A on behalf of its membership. The committee is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.
Committee members during the year were:
- Chair: Robert Jackson
- Vice Chair: vacant
- Secretary: Lis Cribb
- Treasurer: Barbara Herring
- Membership Secretary: Kathy Parker
- Group Co-ordinator: Jeanne Hine
- Newsletter Editor: Sarah Lister
- Publicity: vacant
- Programme Organiser: Chris Barnes
- Equipment Officer: Colin Ashwell
- Committee Members: Sue Ashwell, Les Chandler
New Committee Members co-opted during 2024: We welcomed Iain Burke,
Alie Bird, Denise Fenner.
The committee has been supported in year by:
- Webmaster - Richard Hine
- Beacon Master - Keith Waterson
In common with the majority of u3as across the country Settle District U3A is affiliated to the Third Age Trust. The Trust monitors the health of individual u3as against ten criteria relating to membership numbers, financial performance, administration, communication with members, and the number of interest groups. In the latest assessment, for 2023-24 Settle District u3a was on target to meet all ten criteria.
This year the Third Age Trust has elected a new Chair Allan Walmsley (who had been the Vice-Chair). The new CEO is Iain Cassidy. It has also proposed to set up two groups to run the u3a, one to deal with finance and governance, and the other to look at broader issues. This will be decided at their next AGM in October.
Membership and communication with members
Membership stood at 444 at the end of June, slightly more than at the same stage last year. Following Signing Up Day in August, the current number at 1 October is 472, with 68 new members since 1 July.
Many meetings - including general monthly meetings, committee meetings and even the Annual General Meeting - have been made available both face to face and via teleconferencing. In the case of some monthly meetings this has continued to provide several challenges, reflecting the different presentation methods employed by speakers. But with some members still unable to get to meetings in person the committee has decided to continue with Zoom meetings for the foreseeable future. The seating in the room has been adjusted so the equipment is placed nearer to the wifi which seems to have improved the situation a little.
Maintaining good communication with members continues to be a high priority. Monthly newsletters are e-mailed to all members and for members who have no access to e-mail copies are distributed at monthly meetings. Settle District u3a also maintains a presence on social media maintaining both a Facebook and a Twitter account.
This year, various opportunities were offered to pay membership fees in advance of the Signing Up Day and this facility was taken up by nearly half of members, which eased the queues on the day.
The ‘Christmas Social’ continues to be extremely popular with members, and Victoria Hall was packed to the rafters for the 2023 edition. A varied and entertaining show included performances from the Play Reading, Great Lives and Birdwatching Groups, Line Dancing and Singing for Pleasure.
2023 events included the Walking Cricket Match against Ilkley. The Yorkshire Haka performed by Settle unfortunately proved not to be frightening enough to win the match. We also fielded a walking football team and beat Craven 1-0, although they did give us several players and a fighting chance!
The Treasure Hunt to celebrate U3A Day, was held on the coldest, windiest, wettest day of the summer (choose any two of three) which affected the numbers of participants.
Training sessions were held for group leaders, and a follow up first aid course.
We pay tribute to those who have made, and continue to make, Settle District u3a the vibrant organisation it is: the founder members and previous committee members who have given so much to get us to where we are today; the current committee members; the group leaders; the volunteers who provide refreshments at u3a events; the other volunteers who keep everything ticking over; and, of course, the members of Settle District u3a themselves, all of whom make it all worthwhile. Space prevents the naming of individuals of course but you know who you are! We are all very grateful for your efforts.
Outside of regular activities the committee has continued to look for other ways of supporting members, for example by promoting events and activities provided by other community groups where it’s clear they will be of interest to members.
Accounting and finance
The accounts for the year 30 June 2024 show that payments exceeded receipts by £2,079. Cash and bank balances at the end of June were £7,930. During the year the existing Skipton Building Society account was transferred to their latest Community Account to maximise the interest we will receive. Equipment purchased during the year are itemised in Note 2 to the accounts.
Interest groups
The u3a continues to support a large number of interest groups covering: art and literature - including painting, drama, music and dance; the sciences; languages; philosophy; and sport - including badminton, table tennis and walking cricket; as well as leisure activities such as Card-making, Garden- visiting, Bridge, Scrabble, and Birdwatching, Film Appreciation and Craft.. Family history and ’Great Lives’ remain very popular and the Walking Groups are also well supported. Geology has started up once again. Rummikub has made an appearance and is proving to be popular. There is also a monthly Open Mic session at the Craven Heifer, Stainforth.
The committee is always keen to support the interest groups in every way possible and this year has demonstrated this commitment by procuring for group leaders the equipment and materials they need to keep their groups running smoothly. These included computer cases, equipment for the netball and sport groups, first aid kits, supports for display boards and a microphone.
As ever our thanks go to all our group leaders, who work tirelessly to provide members with such a varied and fulfilling programme of activities. We are also grateful to our various venue providers that support our work. This includes St John’s Methodist Church, the Catholic Church, Friends Meeting House, Limestone View and the Swimming Pool.
WestNet
Settle District u3a remains an active member of WestNet, the network of local u3as including Bradford and Ilkley. All members of WestNet u3as are able to join groups and attend events within the WestNet agreement. Craven u3a has officially withdrawn from WestNet because of its pricing structure but remains in close contact and committee members from the four u3as meet regularly to share ideas and discuss common problems.
The social events and activities arranged by the WestNet u3as provide their memberships with the opportunity to meet with each other and share experiences.
Community liaison
Throughout the year Settle District u3a maintained its long-standing relationship with the ‘Settle Community Hub’ and our thanks go once again to the Hub and its staff for supporting u3a members.
Settle District u3a also maintains close links with other local organisations. The committee continues to support Settle ‘Cobra’ and works closely with local community groups such as the local branch of Age UK.
We are also grateful to The Place, 11 Commercial Yard, Duke Street, Settle BD24 9RH who have kindly agreed to be our postbox and receive our mail. This is a more convenient and central location for members to leave post for any of the committee. Post will be collected once a week, so if any communication is urgent, email is always favourite.
Looking ahead
FINANCE The Annual Budget set for next year includes receipts of £13,390 and payments of £15,852, and a reduction in cash balances to £5,468. The Committee is recommending that action be taken to increase income from July 2025.
We received a £600 Locality Grant from North Yorkshire County Council in July to help pay for court white lining at St John’s Church hall.
2024-25 promises to be another good year as Settle District u3a goes from strength to strength. We aim to expand the number of interest groups available, encouraging members to share their experience and interests. We also need to get more members involved in the running of the u3a, either by helping at meetings and other events or by contributing specialist expertise in areas such as marketing, recruitment and retention. It is also hoped that members will step up to shadow trustees nearing the end of their time on the committee by shadowing specific roles. From November 2024 a Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Group Co-ordinator, and Publicity Officer will need to be appointed at the AGM.
Grateful thanks must be given to those members of the committee who will be standing down. Jeanne has devoted 6 years to her role as Group Co- ordinator, and Barbara numerous years as both Secretary and, of late,Treasurer. We are also losing Les, who has been Chair, Secretary and general fount of all knowledge to the committee!
| L Cribb Secretary | 30 September 2024 |