UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (MERTON BRANCH)

Registered charity 291074 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

University of the Third Age

Objects

THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE EDUCATION OF OLDER PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE RETIRED FROM FULL TIME WORK, BY ALL MEANS INCLUDING ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT.

Area of benefit: MERTON AND SURROUNDING AREA

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£31k

Latest spending

£27k

Registered

1985

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of approximately £39,891 at the end of the year, which the trustees describe as equating to approximately three years of unfunded expenses. This position is characterized as 'very healthy' following surpluses during the pandemic years. The charity's business model relies on interest groups being self-financing, with central costs covered by low-rate member subscriptions.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: approximately three years of unfunded expenses (held: £40k)

“As the charity's accounting is on a receipts and payments basis, the above bank balances equate to the charity's reserves and amount to approximately three years of unfunded expenses.”

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Risk management
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures

Trustees · trustee networks

Jane Fisherchair
Clare Marguerite Gray
Diane Hofkins
Linda Thomas
Michael Dawson
PAUL EVANS
Ruth Cooke
Susan Tickner
Suzanne Shawcross

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Merton

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£31k	£27k
31/12/2024	£30k	£28k
31/12/2023	£29k	£26k
31/12/2022	£23k	£22k
31/12/2021	£16k	£12k

Common questions

Is UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE (MERTON BRANCH) financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity held unrestricted reserves of approximately £39,891 at the end of the year, which the trustees describe as equating to approximately three years of unfunded expenses. This position is characterized as 'very healthy' following surpluses during the pandemic years. The charity's business model relies on interest groups being self-financing, with central costs covered by low-rate member subscriptions. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.