We started to experience the effects of COVID-19 pandemic as we ended the financial year and we hope we, like all those affected, come through the challenges stronger. The Trustees continued to maintain their policy for continued reduction in the number of licensees with arrears, the greater part of the arrears owed by a small number of licensees also continue to reduce significantly. We have decided to leave in place a more rigorous debt management policy which was introduced by employing the services of a solicitor. The levels of charges have been left unchanged and still remains at previous years’ amounts of Licensees fees at a reasonable level of 4%. Electricity recharges remained unchanged since two years ago.
The business units have been fully occupied since three years ago which means the income generated has been satisfactory. We continue to support a wide range of local businesses and trades in the workshops, from music studios to soft furnishing and upholstery, hair dressing and beauty salon and barber shop. DRCA continues to fulfill its charitable aims and objectives by providing subsidies to the charitable, voluntary, community and faith based organisations who have premises at DRCA. Direct subsidy this financial year is calculated at £71,959.44, based on the reduced fees charged to the charities for their premises, and special rates charged to community groups and faith groups booking the halls and community spaces.
DRCA continue to build relationships with other organisations in Wandsworth. We are now members of Wandsworth Voluntary Sector development agency and Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce Business Forum and have been able to access their resources including governance support and training for trustees and staff.
We continue to fund raise in order to provide activities for children and families. Creating Access Art Club has been running for over five years. It is run by a qualified and experienced teacher who teaches at both primary and secondary level. It provides art activities for children from reception to lower key stage 3. A range of materials are available for the children to experience.
We would like to thank Pat Taylor, who is local resident and director of Creating Access Art Club and also a member of DRCA management team, for her continued support and hard work in making these activities such a success. Our community Halls are also used for a variety of activities from yoga sessions to children’s art classes, ballet dance classes.
A special thanks to long serving and dedicated volunteer, John Mendoza, for his in administrative and especially in spreadsheets and data management, who continues to contribute one day a week of his time to DRCA. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 25 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
Please click HERE for our Annual Accounts 31 March 2020
B G Barnes – Chair