Treasurer’s Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2016

Subscriptions are up this year as membership increases and we continue to receive generous donations from members. We also received £288 from Friends of DMESG.

Fundraising events this year included a Sponsored Cycle ride which raised £420, while stalls at Wimborne and Highcliffe raised £411. Quiz nights raised £853. Other fundraising raised £424. Thanks to everyone who helped organise these events and to those who supported them.

A grant from the Valentine Trust of £5,000 was received to help fund the Benefits Advice service. We also received donations of £400 from Wimborne Minster Town Council, £432 from Waitrose, £250 from Asda, £1,488 from Barclays Bank and £200 from IEC Ltd.

Vindelis Masonic Lodge, Loyal Hand-in Hand Lodge, Casterbridge Male Voice Choir, Wool Surgery and Dorchester Camera Club collectively donated £1,360.

NHS Dorset CCG continues to finance the costs of the Self-Care Co-ordinator.

As a small employer, we are exempt from employers NHI contributions, and through Gift Aid we were able to claim £1,163 from the Inland Revenue.

There is currently £19,546 in non-restricted reserves in the Group’s Accounts. This sum is insufficient to continue the Benefits Service, which, regrettably, is running down and will discontinue in June 2017.

Ian Jones, Honorary Treasurer

If any member is a tax payer, and has not signed a gift aid form, would they please do so, as this is a very helpful and easy source of funding for us, with no extra cost to you.