Committee Chair's Report for 2026 CFCT AGM

Good evening everyone and welcome to the Cartmel Fell Community Trust AGM.

Thank you all for taking the time to attend this evening and for your continued support of the Parish Hall and the Trust. The Hall remains at the heart of our community, and it is only through the efforts of volunteers, committee members and local residents that we are able to keep it thriving.

Over the past year we have held a number of successful events.

Our Bonfire Night was once again a tremendous success. The event was extremely well supported and, in fact, was oversubscribed. It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the evening and supporting the Hall. Events such as this not only bring the community together but also generate valuable income for the ongoing upkeep of the building.

Our Quiz Night was also very well attended, with many local residents coming along to enjoy a fun and sociable evening. It is always encouraging to see the Hall being used in this way and bringing people together.

This year we moved the Spring Show slightly later in the month in the hope of attracting more entries in the garden produce classes. Although show entries were up on last year, unfortunately, the experiment did not quite work as we had hoped. The produce was not yet at its best, and there were a number of competing events taking place at the same time, which undoubtedly affected visitor numbers. Going forward, we may wish to consider returning the Show to the beginning of May, whilst also reviewing the classes offered. There may be scope to increase the number of handicraft and photography classes, whilst simplifying and reducing the garden produce section to better reflect what is realistically available at that time of year.

One of the highlights of the year has been the launch of Cake & Company. Held every other month, it provides an opportunity for people to come together over tea, coffee and homemade cakes and, perhaps most importantly, enjoy a good old-fashioned chat. It has been extremely well received and attendance has steadily grown. I would like to give special thanks to Linda, my partner in crime, whose help and enthusiasm have been invaluable in getting this initiative off the ground and making it such a success.

And finally, the car parking donation box has been a great addition to Hall funds – we hoped to raise a modest amount and have been pleasantly surprised at the amounts collected so far.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting projects and events planned.

The idea of producing a Cartmel Fell Recipe Book featuring favourite teatime treats was very warmly received at the Spring Show, and we hope to develop this over the coming months with a view to having the book available for sale at Bonfire Night and in time for Christmas.

We also look forward to another successful Bonfire Night later in the year and to continuing with Cake & Company, which has become such a valued addition to the Hall's programme of events.

On the building side, we are hopeful that the next phase of the Hall renovations will begin shortly. This will include replacement windows and a new door and entrance to the Supper Room. Once these improvements have been completed, we can begin to consider the next stage of redecoration and further enhancements to the Hall.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Committee for their support and hard work throughout the year. Particular thanks must go to Martin for his excellent work as Secretary and to Julie for her diligent management of the finances as Treasurer.

Like all voluntary organisations, we rely on committee members contributing their time, skills and energy wherever they can. As we move forward, it would be wonderful to see everyone continuing to play an active role in helping to share the workload and support the many projects and events we undertake. The more people who are able to contribute, even in small ways, the more we can achieve as a team.

Thank you once again to everyone who has supported the Trust, attended events, volunteered their time and helped to make the Parish Hall such an important part of community life.

I look forward to another productive and successful year ahead.

Helen Todd, Cartmel Fell Community Trust Committee Chair