SOUTH BRENT RECREATION ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT May 2025
The Recreation Ground continues to be well used by the residents of South Brent as well as people from elsewhere. The footpath around the Field has proved very popular with the public and is well used in all weather and at all times of day including the hours of darkness.
The facilities continued to be used by Football Club and Cricket Club seemingly being able to complete all their fixtures in the past year. The Judo club continues to use the hall on a weekly basis as does the Table Tennis Club thanks to Chris Oldershaw for his efforts running this. There are Pilates Sessions and Armchair Yoga sessions held in the hall also on a weekly basis. The Cash Bingo has continued fortnightly, this is a well-attended event with over 40 players turning up. Many Thanks to Avril and her Team There has also been a Brent Babies session for young families that is run once a week in the Pavilion. There is also a Monday evenings Youth Club which is being run by Elis Norton and his volunteers from the Ivybridge Youth for Christ. They are running two sessions on a Monday evening now in the pavilion, for different age groups, both sessions are well attended with 28 during the younger session and 10 in the older session. A Licence Agreement has been drawn up with Ivybridge Youth for Christ outlining this arrangement, which will be reviewed in December 2025. The Fair Share Supermarket has started using the Pavilion on a weekly basis to distribute items of food etc, this is well supported by the public.
The Footpath around the outside of the field continues to be used by all manner of walkers and runners. There are many more dog walkers using the Field, with the continued problem of the one or two owners who do not pick up their dog’s poo. Additional signs have been posted and a stencilled notice on the footpath saying thank you for picking up your dog poo thanks to Gary Shipp who organised the stencils. The Poo Bag dispenser continues to be stocked with poo bags for public use. It should be stressed that the greater majority of dog walkers pick up the poo and put it in the bins provided, the Association would like to say a big thank you to all these people. The poo bins are well used, it seems that some older dog walkers are checking the area in their early morning walk and picking up any poo and other rubbish found, also to Bruce for taking the recycling the Association is also most grateful for all their efforts. The litter bins continue to be well used and are now being emptied by South Hams District Council being emptied weekly at a cost of £ 5 per bin, three bins are emptied.
During the year, the Association has assisted the Police in providing CCTV of Incidents that have occurred in and around the Recreation Ground. There have also been some incidents of dogs out of control and attacking other dogs, on the advice of the Police it was left to them to investigate and resolve the issues. We continue to provide a key safe to enable the Police to use the Pavilion for operational purposes.
After some neat fund raising by Anne, we managed to replace the access steps from the car park, install a ramp for disability to both access door and a footpath round the Pavilion in a Resin finished surface, also a pothole at the car park entrance was repaired. As an aid in the darker evenings, automatic lights were installed at the front and sides of the Pavilion. There has also been an outside lockable socket installed by the steps for outside use, this is particularly useful for the Pizza van that calls once a week on a Thursday evening. . Two benches and a picnic table (with wheelchair access) installed in June which was funded by a grant from the Co-Op. These were vandalised the same day but with the assistance of the local Police the young people involved were spoken to. The benches were well received, and it is hoped to install further benches this year. The Parish Council donated a Table Tennis Table and two new tennis nets for the Courts, for which the Association is most grateful.
The 5 yearly Electrical Inspection was carried out during the year, this highlighted some issues that have all now been rectified and the Pavilion has a satisfactory inspection certificate. The pads for the Defibrillator were replaced this year, although they have never been used, they only have a shelf life of two years. The Defibrillator was nearly in action in June, however although it is recorded as having been used by the Circuit, it was not required as the patient's heart had not stopped.
As ever there were always problems and repairs to be carried out, the Adventure Play Area had some repairs carried out, the popular swing assembly had extensive refurbishment to replace all the wooden posts, however after some three months in use a swivel assembly failed, resulting in it again being taken out of use. It has recently had new swivel assemblies fitted to all four swings and is now back in use. The climbing area of the Adventure Play Area is having all the Larch wooden posts removed after a failure of one post, it is hoped to arrange some sort of climbing area with the remaining Robinia posts.
The future Skate Park is now being discussed, in what to do going forward, as to what type of park would be preferred, either concrete structure or individual units that are currently in use. Whichever type of park is decided on it will be a costly project to complete.
At the request of the users, goal posts have been marked on the fence of the Courts to enable 5 a side games to be played, thanks to Gary Shipp for organising and installing the goals.
Darcey Paine has continued to be employed by the Association to cut grass verges, weed the car park and tennis courts and generally keep the area tidy. Many thanks to Darcey for all his efforts
The cleaning of the inside of the Pavilion continues to be carried out by Devon Cleaning. The windows are now cleaned monthly and the gutter cleared yearly by Dizzle Dazzle of Ivybridge.
The Association is grateful to the Parish Council in continuing to take responsibility for insuring the pavilion and outdoor equipment. Our insurance responsibility only requires us to cover the contents of the pavilion. Public Liability insurance is covered under both policies. This continues to be a great help in controlling the cost of the insurance, it is hoped the Parish Council will continue this support in the future. Sadly our insurance expert Richard passed away but we will always be grateful for his advice and expertise. The Parish Council has also made a two year grant towards the cost of employing a co-ordinator to assist in running the Association and the Recreation facility. The Association is currently advertising for a suitable candidate and hopefully the post will be filled in the near future.
There was a meeting between the Village Hall, Old School Centre and The Recreation Association hosted by the Parish Council. The discussions centred around how all the organisations can work together in various ways, the discussions are ongoing.
Anne Nicholls has continued to apply for various grants particularly for the entrance steps to the Pavilion, footpath seats and gym equipment also the repairs to the Adventure Area and Skate Park and any other items that require grant funding. Although this last year has been particularly difficult to obtain. Jo Creed was sponsored to run the recent London Marathon in support of the Recreation Association and managed to raise over £ 2,500, many thanks to Jo for her efforts.
The Monthly lottery continues with some 40 members, many thanks to Geraldine who now organises and runs the lottery. We thank her also for all the odd jobs where she has given us help.
Many thanks to all the committee members for turning up at the meetings. A big thank you must go to Anne Nicholls for all her work not only as the Treasurer but in getting most of the events and other things organised at the Recreation Field.
Finally, although sometimes it seems we are banging our heads against a brick wall in running the facilities at Palstone Park in these difficult times, we must not forget that this is as good a Recreation Field as anywhere in South Devon, if not Devon, and for which we should still be rightly proud.
Treasurer’s note of thanks to our Chairman: We are indebted to Peter who quietly attends to all manner of jobs that keep the Rec running smoothly. There seems to have been no end of tasks that he has needed to meet with contractors or spent time fixing items. Apart from being an outstanding Chairman, his knowledge and long standing contribution make the Rec what it is today so THANK YOU PETER
SOUTH BRENT RECREATION ASSOCIATION - REGISTERED CHARITY NO 1101112 STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025 2025 2024 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS GENERAL Income Rental Grants Received Youth C%ub ,Net Bank Inlerest 11411 6760 15 13 11426 6773 ,Expenditure Fbeld Mainienance Skate Park Uaintep,ance Youth Club Expenses General Running Ccsls Wages Heat Light Poi'i'er VV2Ler Rates Insurance Cleaning & I,lainlenance Repairs & Rene¥vals Telephone and Eroadband Print Post Stationery Data Proteclion Accountancy 4121 354 5112 1458 152 3g5 3606 3905 589 3ci1 35 240 8i7 237 3Q5 3238 2060 556 309 240 1?216 13039 379(J IDLDD) .GRANTS & FUNDRAISING Income Fundraising 3425 2076 3425 2076 Expenses Funcraisin9 183 220 183 220 1856 3242 Surplusl(Deft¢it) - Unrestrlcted Funds 14dAI .144101 RESTRICTED FUNDS Income ults Games Refurbishment Hall Hire Entrance RefLirbishrrent Benches & Seating Outdoor GIM 3291 16000 1868 5300 24591 1868 Expenditure Multi Games RefLirbishTnent H311 Hire EnLrance Refurbisliment Benches & Seating Outdoor Gs'm 3296 5878 1866 3872 8706 7168 Surplusl[Delicit) - Restricted Funds 15886
SOUTH BRENT RECREATION ASSOCIATION . REGISTERED CHARITY NO1101112 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 JANUARY 2025 2025 2024 ASSETS Debtors 100 100 Bank and Cash Curre*t Instant Access l Lottery 30 Day Notice sle Parkl8ingo Youtb. Club Youth Club Savings Vice Presidents Club Grant Cash in Han 5173 1221 30 5806 1062 79 1122 164 21 37 5292 22 164 170 ', 9936 32 29,342 13605 LIABILITIES Creditors Net Funds 29042 13705 NET FUNOS REPRESENTED BY 2025 2024 Unrestricted Funds Opening Balance Surplus (De',icit) In Year Tr8nsfers to Restricted Funds 10837 . (5481 19860 (44101 IAR4 2 10290 10837 Restricted Funds Summary Opentng Balance Grant Funding Received Expenditure in Year Surplus (Oeficit) In Year Transfers from Restricled Funds 2868 3555 1868 15886 (3) 4t)13 18751 2868 Total 29042 13705
Restricted Funds Represented By Kitchen Refurbishment Opening Balance Add Grant Funding Received in Year Less Expend',ture in Year 1000 1000 1000 1000 Multigames Refurbishment Opening B31ance Add Grant Funding Received in Year Less Expend¢ture in Year Transfer from Resitricted Funds, 329ri) 3296 HaEI Hire Opening Balance Add Grant Funding Received in Year Less Expendilure in Year Transfer from Unrostricted Funds 32Ql 2330 Entranco Refurbishment Opening Balance Add Grant Funding Received in Year Less Expenditure in Year- Tran.sfer IroTrp Unrestricted Fund s 16000 (587A 10122 BenGhes & Seating Opening Balance Add Grant Funding Received in Year. Less Expenditure in Year Transfef from Unrestr4cled Funds 1868 1868 .{18¥6) 1868 Outdoor Gym Qpening Balance Add Grant Funding Received in Year Less ExpenditJre in Year Transfer from Uftrestricted Funds 2555 5300 (387£) 1317 5300 18751 2868 . Approved By: Clairman ,.Laif Secretary Date."
SOUTH BRENT RECREATION ASSOCIATION- REGISTERED CHARITY NO 1101112 YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 GRANT FUNDING The following grants were received irs the year: Hall Hire Outdoor Gym Hall Hire Hall Hire Entrance Refurbishment Buckfast Abbey South Brent Parish Council 500.00 5300.00 791.00 2000.00 16000.00 . Awards 4 All 24591.00 See Restricted Funds 2 EXPENDITURE FROM GRANT FUNDING 962.00 5878.00 1866.00 Hall Hire Entrance Refurbishment Benches & Seating 8706.00 3 DEBTORS I ACCRUALS None advised
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