TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
CHARITY NO: 1101562 COMPANY NO: 04543255 (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
| Contents Page |
Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 3 |
| Leadership | 4 |
| Introducing Sporting Marvels | 8 |
| Chairman’s Overview | 12 |
| Report of the Trustees | 14 |
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 44 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 45 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 46 |
| Balance Sheet | 47 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 48 |
| Overview of Income | 50 |
| Overview of Expenditure | 51 |
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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity name:
Sporting Marvels
UK Registered Charity No:
1101562
Company No:
04543255 (a company limited by guarantee)
Website:
www.sportingmarvels.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/sportingmarvels
Instagram:
Registered office:
@sportingmarvels
236 Tyntyla Road The Old Ystrad Labour Club Ystrad, Pentre Rhondda Cynon Taf CF41 7SG
Trustees for year under review: Mr Philip R Davies (Chair) Mr Carl L Brettle Mr John K Cox Mr Arthur R Thomas Dr Fiona Davies
Directors:
Mr Philip R Davies Mr Lawrie R Davies
Accountants:
Hannah Simpson FCCA HLS Accounting Limited 59 Llwyn Y Pia Road Lisvane Cardiff CF14 0SX
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LEADERSHIP FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
As a charity, Sporting Marvels is overseen by a Board of Trustees, presently made up of five individuals:
PHIL DAVIES Founder & Chairman
PHIL founded Sporting Marvels in 2002 after being called out of a lucrative off-field career in professional Rugby Union where he was the architect of the Treorchy “Dream” before going on to hold some of the biggest jobs in Welsh and British rugby. The vision to put a positive Christian role model in front of every school pupil in Rhondda was timely, with less than 0.9% of Rhondda’s population regularly attending church according to the 2001 census, and it still burns brightly in his heart to this very day. At the beginning of the 2012/13 academic year, day-to-day management passed to Phil’s son, Lawrie, who had previously served his 5-year apprenticeship as a Marvel and then as Team Leader. A law graduate and a prolific writer, Phil is just as committed to the cause as he’s ever been, helping Lawrie and the team on an unpaid and voluntary basis, the importance of which cannot be overstated.
CARL BRETTLE Trustee
CARL is a former United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) board level director SA who has extensive experience in communications and engagement strategies, having worked with national and international ministries in the UK, USA, Uganda & South Africa.
i REV. JOHN COX Trustee JOHN is an established church pastor of over 30 years standing in the Ferndale/ Maerdy area, Rhondda’s most deprived community, and has been a hugely respected pillar of the Rhondda community for over forty years.
BOB THOMAS Trustee BOB is an accountant and long-term financial partner of Sporting Marvels. His heart, knowledge and experience with regards to financial reporting and administration has helped the charity immensely.
FIONA DAVIES Trustee (not related to Phil)
Lawrie, left, pictured with the Sporting Marvels Trustees - from left - Fiona, - % Bob, John, Carl & Phil 4 it
FIONA , a financial partner of (nad » the ministry since 2003, retired as a lecturer at Cardiff University in 2013, and Lawrie asked her if she’d help the ministry with grant applications and reporting 1-2 days per week. Her big heart wouldn’t let her say no and her skills and experience brought so much to the table for several years. But a couple of years into her final retirement she was delighted to become a trustee.
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The Sporting Marvels Council of Reference pictured with Lawrie & Phil - from left - Lawrie, Rudi, Phil, Allen, Martin, Ruth & Nick.
COUNCIL OF REFERENCE
In addition to trustees meetings, Sporting Marvels also has a Council of Reference in place that meets annually. The Council is made up of successful individuals who have extensive experience in Christian ministry...
Former members of the Sporting Marvels COUNCIL OF REFERENCE
RUDI PLAUT, CBE
RUDI is a successful Cardiff businessman, and government advisor in matters of education, commerce and business. He is also an experienced church leader.
MARTIN HAWKINS
MARTIN is the European Director for KCM and is very experienced in all aspects of organisational and ministerial leadership.
ALLEN CARTER
ALLEN is the Director of Donor Development at CBN Europe, and has extensive experience across the ministry spectrum.
RON SPILLARDS (2003-2024) Former National Director of The Evangelization Society
ELFED GODDING (2004-2018) Former National Director Evangelical Alliance of Wales
JENNY HILL (2003-2018) Former Leader National Prayer Breakfast for Wales
RICHARD FLEMING (2003-2014) Managing Director TBN Europe
NICK & RUTH DAVIS
NICK is a successful businessman and qualified accountant whilst RUTH is the former Head of Nursing at USW. Both now run their own foundation impacting Wales & East Africa.
Ron Spillards went to be with the Lord in June 2024, and Sporting Marvels could not be more grateful for his trusted advice and wisdom over so many years, particularly to Founder & Chairman, Phil, during the pioneering years, 2003-2008.
GERALD WILLIAMS (2003-2009) Church Leader & BBC Sports Commentator
MARK DIJKENS (2017-2019) Regional Director CBN Europe
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SENIOR MANAGEMENT
While the Trustees oversee the charity, Sporting Marvels is run by its Senior Management Team comprising Managing Director Lawrie Davies, and Team Leaders Ian and Lauren Smith. The team are well supported by Phil’s full-time voluntary support in his Chair of Trustees role.
LAWRIE DAVIES Managing Director
Lawrie joined the ministry as an Intern at the start of cy 2007/08 and is the only person in the organisation’s history to have served in every operational role - Intern, Trainee, Primary School Marvel, Secondary School Marvel, Events Manager, Team Leader, and Managing Director. Lawrie instantly helped the organisation become more efficient in every way, and no church or ministry in Wales reaches as many young people on a weekly basis with Christianity in secular schools, than Sporting Marvels. Like his Dad, Lawrie is also a law graduate with expertise in the commercial, marketing, and communications side of sport/community sport having founded Rhondda Netball in 2016/17, which quickly became Wales’ largest female sports participation initiative.
IAN SMITH Team Leader
Ian joined the ministry as an Intern in 2010 having come through our All-Star Leadership Programme at Tonypandy Community College. He is one of the best Marvels to have ever worn the jersey, and his success earned him a promotion to Team Leader in 2014/2015. He does a fantastic job of leading and motivating the Sporting Marvels team.
LAUREN SMITH Team Leader
Lauren joined the ministry as an Intern in 2014 having also come through our All-Star Leadership Programme. Since joining, Lauren has overachieved in all of her roles and subsequently, was promoted to Team Leader at the start of the 2019/20 academic year. Both Ian and Lauren have helped create the hard-working mission culture that has been foundational to the success we’ve seen over the last few years and coming through Covid.
As a “missionary” organisation, the charity does its very best to support the efforts of all its key personnel to earn extra income around their ministry commitments, with the strategic aim of retaining our best people for longer than would otherwise be possible.
Lawrie, pictured with Sporting Marvels Team Leaders, Ian & Lauren
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f ,
“I’ve closely watched the Sporting Marvels journey of faith unfold over the years, with its many challenges and obstacles, with financial obligations and big vision to fulfil. Seeing God reveal His plan at each stage, including the transition from external missionaries from overseas to today’s home-grown team of Marvels, has been simply marvellous!” RICHARD FLEMING, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TBN EUROPE
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INTRODUCING SPORTING MARVELS
CHRISTIAAN WELMAN, left and below , THE FIRST MARVEL & TEAM LEADER WHO ARRIVED FROM SOUTH AFRICA IN SEPT 2003, SERVED SPORTING MARVELS FOR SIX YEARS, AND CHELSEA, left inset , AS A 13 YEAR-OLD ALL-STAR, AND ONE OF TODAY’S TEAM MEMBERS!
“What God is doing through you guys is awesome! You have been consistent for years now, pouring the right values, beliefs and character into the young people of Rhondda; sowing seed into well prepared soil. A great transformation has taken place! I remember my first assembly at Tonypandy where I told the story of Moses and realised that they didn’t know who Moses was! They hadn’t grown up with Bible stories the way kids did in South Africa, helping prepare me for when I gave my life to Christ at age 21. It was tough ploughing up that ground. But today?!?!? I remember six years later, shortly after returning to South Africa, getting an email from Chelsea. She wrote these words straight into my heart: “I now know why you came to Rhondda because today, I committed my life to Jesus!” I cried that day I can tell you!! Today in Rhondda, kids know the Bible, they have fabulous role models, and they have hope for the future! It’s awesome and when I read the kids’ stories and appreciation for the work of Sporting Marvels, it fills my heart with joy!! The transformation you have believed for is happening! Keep going!!”
CHRISTIAAN WELMAN, FIRST MARVEL, WRITING IN 2018
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Sporting Marvels is a Christian charity (No. 1101562) that works in partnership with primary/junior and secondary schools in the Rhondda Valleys of South Wales, one of the most deprived regions in the UK. According to the latest Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (2019), 29% of Rhondda areas fall into the most deprived 10% of areas in Wales, and over 90% of Rhondda areas are higher than the Welsh average in terms of deprivation. Rhondda scores particularly poorly on indicators relating to income, employment, health and education, which leads to many young people having low aspirations and expectations for their own future. With many people leading unhealthy and/or unproductive lifestyles and lacking motivation to change these, the adult role models available to young people are often a negative rather than a positive influence. Within Rhondda, the percentage of population regularly attending church is less than 0.9% (according to the most recent census that recorded this data at a local level).
With all the above in mind, Sporting Marvels was birthed as a vision on 5th July 2002 by Founder & Chairman Phil Davies, with its operational beginning point coming in September 2003 with
DEPRIVATION (RHONDDA)[*]
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* Data from - latest (2019) survey
eee www.gov.wales/welsh-index-multiple-deprivation
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NEGATIVE ROLE MODELS (RCT)
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* Data from www.publichealthwalesobservatory.wales.nhs.uk/phof** - latest (2020) surveys
“All the Marvels know how much I value the impact they have on young people throughout the Rhondda because I’ve seen, first hand, the positive influence they’ve had on my own children!!” MICHELLE HUTCHINGS, HEADTEACHER, PARTNER PRIMARY SCHOOL
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the start of our secondary school work when South African, Christiaan Welman (see page 8), arrived in Rhondda as the first Marvel. The primary/junior school element of our operational strategy started in May 2005. The focal point of our work in primary/junior schools has become our RE, PSE & PE focused “Mighty Marvels Programme”, whilst the development of our “All-Star Leadership Programme” paved the way for greater success at secondary school level. In addition, September 2016 saw the start of the Sporting Marvels “Training Programme” for school-leavers; this was the formalisation of our old Internship process aimed at creating long-term sustainability in respect of personnel.
The key operational goal of Sporting Marvels is to put a positive Christian role model in front of every school pupil, aged 10-18, in Rhondda, every day, forever, and to positively influence the choices young people make. By making the Christian message and its key values and principles relevant to today’s generation, we play an active role in empowering them to raise their aspirations, give back to their community, and achieve in life.
The catalysts for our influencing process are the ‘Marvels’, our agents of transformation, and today’s team are all products of the work of Sporting Marvels. Once influenced by former Marvels, they’ve all since become Marvels themselves (or are Marvels in training), and now they’re in front of children who sit where they once sat... as key influencers to the next generation! They are wonderful role models and the children absolutely love them, while Headteachers, staff and parents massively appreciate their work and the positive influence they have on Rhondda’s young people.
Ugo (the 5th Marvel, Nigeria) and Sarah (25th Marvel, USA) surrounded by their class , September 2008 :
Kate (the 3rd Marvel) - USA - pictured at Boot Camp 2006 with a 14 year-old Chelsea who became a Marvel in 2010, remains a key part of the team today, and also heads Dream Centre Wales Church!!
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Lotan (the 6th Marvel) - Malawi -
at a Sporting Marvels Adventure
Day in June 2007 ©
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The early Marvels were all from overseas - from left: Eric (USA), Danielle (South Africa), Lotan (Malawi), Christiaan (South Africa), Ugo (Nigeria), Kate (USA), Elroy (South Africa) - pictured, above, in Oct 2005.
The team pictured with their cars, June 2006
The late and legendary Elroy Duckitt (the 4th Marvel) - South Africa - pictured with a 13 year-old Jody Barnes who became a long serving Marvel, and today, plays a key role at DCW Church and supports the development of local netball through Rhondda Netball.
In January 2020, Christiaan Welman, the first Marvel, visited us in Rhondda, and spent a week with 2019/20’s home-grown team of Marvels, main pic . Inset right , he’s pictured with Sporting Marvels Managing Director, Lawrie.
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CHAIRMAN’S OVERVIEW FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
and inflation, we’ve had to make tough calls on people and had to work hard to empower our marvellous team of Marvels to be part of costeffective and innovative solutions that enhance their lives, all without putting too much pressure on our fundraising efforts which have had to be successful against a difficult backdrop over the last few years. Even so, expenditure still went up!!
After a brilliant but challenging “Comeback from Covid” during 2021/22, I was hopeful the years that followed would have far fewer challenges for the charity and our team of Marvels to have to work through. But unfortunately, the post-Covid consequences many economists prophesied would come as a result of the world’s financial and societal response to the pandemic, have created a whole host of challenges for the charity to grapple with on a day-to-day basis, and the year under review, 2023/24, despite being the best financial year in our history in terms of income, was no different!
Of course, the economic challenges of the year under review were not all post-Covid dominoes, because the Net Zero ambitions of the Conservative & Labour (July 2024) Governments also meant Gas & Electricity prices, which spiked after the Ukraine War, only came back down slightly from the peak - and the UK, somehow, has the most expensive electricity prices in Europe! Inflation was yet again the main issue though, and this was painful for households as well as businesses and charities. It’s clearly impacted our donor base over the last few years, as demonstrated by the sharp decline in individual donations during 2022/23 (despite several years of consecutive growth before this particular year), even though - thanks mainly to one sizeable donation - we saw a recovery on this front during the year under review, 2023/24.
They arrived in the form of huge price rises due to inflation, a big spike in interest rates that squeezed mortgage holders not on fixed deals, and significant wage increase pressures that were far easier for the public sector to contend with than those of us in the third sector. Western Governments have the benefit of plugging fiscal holes with immense borrowing that seemingly, only get serviced rather than repaid. As such, a 10% annual increase in staff wages/minimum wage gets issued in the UK, and the public sector meets the costs without the imminent threat of insolvency as a result of overspending. Incredibly, UK borrowing will comfortably pass £130 billion across the 2024/25 financial year so that the Government can meet its costs, with annual debt interest/servicing costs on the UK’s £3.139 trillion public sector debt (which is currently growing at £5,100+ per second) also set to pass £100 billion during the year.
Charities like Sporting Marvels that run multifunctional premises as part of their operation and community outreaches have had to be particularly adaptable, and many pubs in Rhondda now only open on specific evenings due to the costs of paying staff and utilities on non-peak days. Rhondda has also said goodbye to two of its four largest employers during 2023 & 2024, both manufacturers whose margins were too slim to overcome the increases to the minimum/living wage brackets, gas and electricity, and raw materials.
On the ground in the third sector, these national shifts create extreme pressure on so many fronts, because borrowing in perpetuity isn’t an option. In our case, knowing how tough it is/ would be to immediately grow income by 2030% to keep up with rising costs, wages, FT: ; be} Founder & Chairman, Phil, pictured with some SE yw of the kids at a Mighty Marvels Graduation!! a | a4 : or »)
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So, whilst the year under review was our best ever in terms of income, there were plenty of challenges to grapple with! We can only thank God, our wonderful team of positive Christian role models, and all our magnificent partners and financial supporters for getting us through another challenging year that still saw us increase our reach and influence in line with our operational vision and action plan. However, it’ll be important for us to have a strong 2024/25 financially speaking right across the income spectrum even as things are set to get even harder, because yet again, costs are going to go up following Labour’s first budget, October 2024. There’ll be another big jump in the minimum/living wage, with a particularly big jump for younger workers which hugely impacts our charity, and an Employer National Insurance Contributions hike as a kicker, and already, there’s nothing but doom and gloom in the press regarding UK growth forecasts.
treasures greatly, and the Marvels’ unique and professional approach to doing this has garnered a lot of positive feedback and interest from around the UK.
From a personnel perspective, the trustees are pleased that Sporting Marvels took further steps in its effort to equip young people for a future in church-based youth work, teaching with an RE focus, and/or working with young people in a general capacity. Adding credible qualifications - such as the Level 4 in Education & Training (HLTA) - to our personnel development processes has helped us equip our team to be successful professionals as well as missionaries driving Sporting Marvels forward. S- ~~ ee =e
The operational success of 2023/24, which saw us add one partner primary school, was made possible by God’s grace and the continued support of our financial partners, and the trustees would like to thank everyone that plays a key part in the Sporting Marvels vision.
The trustees were extremely delighted with the successful addition of Penyrenglyn Primary during the year under review, and the Headteacher appraisal was a joy to read. The consistent excellent feedback received from Headteachers, parents and pupils regarding our team of Marvels, and the difference they make in the community, has clearly played a huge part in this success. Like 2022/23, many Headteachers and pupils commented on what a massive difference the Marvels had made to so many young lives during a climate of heightened anxiety, after years of instability in the social and educational lives of young people, and the trustees were blown away once again with the extra efforts the team made throughout the year under review.
The trustees and Senior Management Team consider it vital for the Marvels to maintain ferociously high standards to remain a key part of primary and secondary school life, and everyone is delighted that this was achieved over the course of the year under review. The opportunity to teach young people about Jesus, Christianity and the Bible in schools in a respectful and powerful way, is one the charity
Despite it being a separate charity, the trustees were also very pleased with the resilience shown by Dream Centre Wales (see pages 28 - 31), our youth-focused partner church - during the year under review. The church was established out of the work of Sporting Marvels and is led by a Leadership Team of five current and former Marvels, and is supported by numerous volunteers. Sunday services averaged just over 40 throughout the year under review to August 2024, and the trustees are excited to see what’s in store for 2024/25, with a more intensive small group structure aimed at improving the church’s discipleship activities, top of the list.
ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
Philip R Davies Chair of Trustees & Director 24 March 2025 =
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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
“I always used to feel left out but not with Sporting Marvels! They always involve me and make me feel special. Without SM in my life, I wouldn’t feel included or so happy. I am so thankful to you.
FAHMIDA, MIGHTY MARVELS PUPIL 2023/24
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
The trustees present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2024.
are held regularly to discuss risks to the charity and to propose strategies to mitigate future risks.
APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
Sporting Marvels was incorporated as a notfor-profit company limited by guarantee on 24 September 2002. Charitable status was granted on 15 January 2004. The charitable company operates under the provisions of the memorandum and articles of association incorporated 24 September 2002, as amended 30 September 2003 and 7 January 2004. The trustees oversee the charitable company while the day-to-day management and operation is carried out by the Managing Director and Team Leaders. Trustee meetings
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of Sporting Marvels, as well as the requirement for trustees to share the same Christian ethos of the organisation.
OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY
The primary objective of Sporting Marvels is to make the church and Christianity in general, and Jesus Christ in particular, relevant to the younger generation in the Rhondda Valleys through the medium of sport and education.
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PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities. The trustees are satisfied that the charity meets the public benefit requirement through its programmes and activities. Specifically:
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Rosenberg Tests and health and fitness assessments carried out at the beginning and end of the year on the Mighty Marvels Programme show that the programme has a tangible beneficial effect on primary school children’s health & wellbeing, selfconfidence, self-esteem, and fitness.
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Feedback from primary school Headteachers, parents and pupils confirms the positive effect the Mighty Marvels Programme has on pupil behaviour, confidence, aspirations, and knowledge of Christianity through RE and broader personal and social issues through PSE.
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Feedback from secondary school Headteachers testifies to the benefits of the AllStar Leadership Programme, and the support Sporting Marvels personnel bring to schools both from an in-school and extra-curricular perspective. Numerous staff have praised the Marvels’ ability to be intermediaries between staff and pupils, while commenting on the positive impact they have upon pupils’ attitudes and aspirations.
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Multi-platform feedback from parents and pupils also shows the effectiveness of Sporting Marvels’ events in providing healthy out-of-school activities which bring Rhondda’s different communities together. The number of current and former All-Star Leaders who now support the work of other charities in the community is incredible. This is particularly evident from a female perspective in respect of the charity, Rhondda Netball. There are also current and former All-Star Leaders supporting the charitable work of Valleys Kids and The Fern Partnership, and this is testament to the developmental work Sporting Marvels is doing with young leaders in its partner secondary schools.
A small sample of the incredible feedback we have had from the local community - much of this received during the year under review - evidencing the benefit of Sporting Marvels, can be viewed on the next two pages...
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Kid Journal Feedback
Harley, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: The Marvels have shown us how to face our fears. I used to fear spiders, clowns, and sharks, but after the lesson about fears, I’m not scared of them anymore.
Lilly, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: SM has changed me so much!!! I used to suffer from terrible social anxiety around people. I used to be so frightened. But now it’s gone.
Lacey, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: SM has taught us all about Jesus and he is such an amazing person!
Lailaah, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I’m very grateful you created SM because I never got to talk about God. I used to think about it a lot but no one ever seemed to want to talk about it. Now, because of the Marvels, it’s much easier to talk to my friends about God.
Braidie, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I didn’t used to like myself very much but the Marvels have shown me different. I am going to miss being a Mighty Marvel kid. It’s been the best time ever!
Lydia, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: Without SM I wouldn’t have the foggiest idea about Christianity because no one else talks about it even though it’s obviously very important!
Name withheld, MM Pupil 2023/24: I love Sporting Marvels. I’ve been through quite a lot this year and Naomi, Garland and Regan have really helped me with stuff. They’ve inspired me so much I want to be a Marvel when I’m older.
Poppy May, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love SM because… I used to feel sad and fearful to join activities but SM changed me. They were there for me. They helped me and
Romany, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love SM because they teach us to be respectful and kind to others. I loved the David and Goliath lesson. It showed me that anything is possible if God is on your side!
Bonnie, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love Taylar and Nuggs. They make me feel exhilarated and they’re always so positive, energetic, and trustworthy.
Sienna, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I used to feel a bit lonely but the amazing SM team changed all that for me. They are so encouraging and such a wonderful part of my life.
Jake, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love SM because… it’s taught me brilliant things like respect and good manners matter, how to be a good friend, how important choices are.
Ava-Beau, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love SM because…they impact my life so positively and make me believe that I have a voice. They make every lesson fun, without question, SM is the very best thing on Earth!!
Lewis, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: My Mum is Michelle Hutchings and my whole family loves SM!
guided me. They’re super comforting and kind. What SM does is amazing but how they do it is really incredible!
Name withheld, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: The Marvels are super-kind and are really good to me. They’ve helped me get through some really tough times. I don’t want to go too far into it, but there was a lot of family problems going on and Connah and Krystal have helped me stay focused.
Lilly-Anne, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: I love SM because… everyone says that my behaviour has got so much better and that I am more respectful. I know that’s because of SM!
Esme, Mighty Marvels Pupil 2023/24: The Marvels make us so much more confident. Now I can even read out loud to the class. I would never have done that before!
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Headteacher Feedback
Miss Phillips, Partner School Headteacher: The Mighty Marvels Programme encourages the children to develop their confidence and helps them to feel a part of something very special. The Marvels have an outstanding attitude, and they’re superb with those children with additional needs. Interaction with the Marvels definitely benefits our pupils - mentally, physically and emotionally!
Ms Morris, Partner School Headteacher: The team at our school have been superb, building fantastic relationships with our pupils, and with staff too! They are constantly enthusiastic, very professional, and consistently go above and beyond to support our school! They help our pupils learn vital well-being, personal and social skills, and engage every child. Pupils, staff and parents, all love the end-of-year video and, at Nantgwyn, we very much appreciate the way Sporting Marvels supports our sports days and immersive sessions. Without them, some of these things would be impossible!!
Mrs Gould, Partner School Headteacher: Year 6 really love Liss and Kieran who, like every Marvel, have an excellent rapport with all our pupils. They ensure that everyone is engaged and they deal with certain behaviours of some pupils - even the most challenging - in a very positive way. They are highly inspirational role models and a vital part of the YGG Bronllwyn team! Diolch yn fawr!!
Mr Howells, Partner School Headteacher: The Marvels’ unique way of engaging every child is fantastic to see, as are the caring, encouraging and loving relationships they develop with our pupils. The children (and staff!) so look forward to seeing them, it’s hard to imagine life without Sporting Marvels – the Marvels are a vital part of our Bodringallt family!!
Mr A. Williams, Partner School Headteacher: Taylar and Liam are a pleasure to have in our school! They are superb role models who exude positive energy; they inspire the children, lift their confidence and encourage them to work hard in life and to have a positive attitude. - They support so much in school and their excellent end-of-year wabeenenDavies video is so well-received that there isn’t a dry eye in the house! NicholaThankLealyou all Thank you all! Casey
Mr Ashcroft, Partner School Headteacher: The lessons inspire the children, and they enjoy learning about the Bible stories in such a fun way! The Marvels are fantastic and so reliable! I trust them 100% to teach the class in a professional manner. They are always organised, enthusiastic, and give our children confidence to believe in themselves. We all love the end-of-year video and especially appreciate the Marvels’ attendance at the school Prom because without them, it would be a total flop!!
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ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
The following pages highlight the charity’s three key programmes: the Mighty Marvels Programme, the All-Star Leadership Programme and the Training Programme. These pages are followed by details of our extracurricular out-of-school Events Programme that supports our key programmes. Lastly pages 28-33 highlight the achievements and performance of our partner youth-focused church, Dream Centre Wales, and our partner charity, Heart For Africa, which helps us impact the lives of orphans in the Arusha region of Tanzania.
MIGHTY MARVELS PROGRAMME Ly
At primary/junior school level, the charity runs the Mighty Marvels Programme for Year 6, with some younger pupils also joining the programme in smaller schools. The programme was, for many years, fully National Curriculum compliant (Key Stage 2), covering the entire National Curriculum across RE, PSE & PE. However, since the introduction of the New Curriculum for Wales individual school curriculums now vary whilst maintaining consistency across much broader educational objectives. Lessons are two hours per week in each class, consisting of a one-hour classroom lesson (RE & PSE) and a one-hour sports lesson (PE). The classroom curriculum covers three modules per year, with three separate modules every other year to ensure no child repeats all of the same content if they are in a ‘top class’ being taught by Sporting Marvels for two years. Year 1 covers The Life of David, The Life of Jesus and The Life of the Church, followed by Year
2, which covers Old Testament Heroes, New Testament Heroes and The Life of a Christian. Our partnership with CBN/Superbook allows Sporting Marvels to utilise the world’s best Bible animation images (see images scattered throughout this report) in our Mighty Marvels Journals and other teaching materials. The sports lessons cover six different
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90%
SPORTING MARVELS PARTNER SCHOOLS AS
80%
A PERCENTAGE OF ALL RHONDDA SCHOOLS
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50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
2003/042005/062007/082009/10 2011/12 2013/142015/16 2017/182019/202021/222023/24
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modules throughout an academic year with focus on health & fitness, invasion games and striking games. All lessons are designed to be fun and engaging whilst teaching important values and principles, and improving pupils’ self-confidence, self-esteem and achievement, preparing the youngsters for their transition to secondary school and for the handover to the Sporting Marvels workers there if applicable. Our PE lessons are essential in building meaningful relationships with the children we work with, and help to improve our platform of influence and establish our Marvels as genuine role models in their lives given the importance of sport in Rhondda’s culture. As previously outlined, the operational goal of Sporting Marvels is to put a positive Christian role model in front of every school pupil aged 10-18 in Rhondda, and we are delighted to be able to say that the year under review saw us in partnership with over 85% of all Rhondda schools (not including the Tonyrefail Community School cluster closer to the M4 corridor), see graph, left. This was made possible with the addition of one new primary school to our Mighty Marvels Programme roster: Penyrenglyn Primary, and we hope the continued success of our schools work will put us in a position of strength to keep progressing according to our operational action plan.
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ALL-STAR LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
In the secondary schools we partner with, we are primarily based in the PE/Health & Wellbeing faculty even though we also have scope to support RE, PSE and Welsh Baccalaureate.
Our All-Star Leadership Programme enables us to work closely with many of the most influential youngsters in each age/peer group, coaching, mentoring and developing them on their journey through secondary school. Years 7-9 are foundational years where the Marvels build up confidence and self-esteem, all whilst developing pupils’ raw skills and competencies in a leadership context. In Year 10, those who remain committed, start the intensive leadership development stage which runs until they leave school. Over the years, we’ve developed this programme in partnership with secondary schools so that it sees us facilitate the development of pupils identified as ‘more able and talented’ pupils in a PE/sporting context, and this has resulted in our programmes being
the primary delivery mechanism for schools looking to fulfil this obligation in their PE/Health & Wellbeing faculties.
Although we work with pupils throughout the school day in secondary schools, much of our interaction with the young people who are part of our All-Star Leadership Programme takes place outside of curriculum time; at events, lunch time, after-school clubs etc. Everything we do is totally transparent from an educational and parental point of view, and each pupil we work with has copies of our brochures and In Focus magazine. Parents of All-Star pupils continue to be among our most vocal supporters, and the interest among 15/16 year-olds in undertaking work experience with us and joining our Training Programme in the future, continues to be at a high level even though we now grapple with the rising costs of employing young/untrained people.
This programme also has the added dynamic of taking sixth-formers to Tanzania, East Africa. These trips give pupils the opportunity to experience what life is like in one of the poorest parts of the world. By engaging with orphanages, schools and church communities they then play a small part in projects aimed at having a sustainable impact on those in need. This is done in partnership with Heart for Africa (UK Reg’d Charity No. 1173027) which was set up in May 2017 to make an ongoing difference to lives in Tanzania - see pages 32 & 33.
The All-Star Leadership Programme - once completed by the All-Star - makes a staggering difference, and we know it’s helped many in their next steps whether that be in continued education, sport, job interviews, or other community leadership opportunities.
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“I’m so grateful and proud to be a part of the All-Stars”
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AUTUMN, ALL-STAR LEADER, 2023/24
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“The Sporting Marvels team are people of influence within the local community, and our school! The All-Star Programme gives pupils an identity, purpose, focus and a sense of belonging. It provides pupils with the skills we want at Ysgol Nantgwyn.” 13
LAURA MORRIS, HEADTEACHER, PARTNER SECONDARY SCHOOL
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TRAINING PROGRAMME
Our Training Programme for school-leavers was formally launched in September 2016 after a number of successful years improving how the charity develops people. Whilst preparing young people for Christian schools ministry and/or mission work, the programme enables participants to acquire teaching qualifications (QCF Levels 3 & 4), sports coaching awards (UKCC Levels 1 & 2), and experience in
preparing and leading classroom RE and PSE lessons and children’s events, including developing video resources.
The programme takes a minimum of two
QUALIFICATIONS
Year 1:
-
DBS Check
-
First Aid at Work
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Safeguarding Children & Young People Level 2
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Education Workforce Council Membership
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Level 3 in Teaching & Learning (TA)
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G UKCC Level 1 Sports Coaching Year 2:
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| OE Mental Health Children & Adolescents
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G G UKCC Level 2 Sports Coaching Year 3:
-
|
-
G Level 4 Education & Training (HLTA)
years to achieve Level 4 status, but as enrolment on the Level 4 in Education & Training is subject to application, most trainees will complete our Training Programme over three years. Many trainees have progressed successfully through the programme to full Marvel status.
We are encouraging sixth formers with a possible interest in becoming Marvels to join us for work experience while still at school/college, as their timetables allow,
Optional:
Level 2/3 Instructing Exercise & Fitness Level 2/3 Fitness Instructing
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Level 3 Personal Training
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Level 3 Children’s Care Learning & Development Level 1 Netball Umpiring
Level 3 Health & Social Care (Children & Young People)
BA (HONS) Primary Education Studies BSC (HONS) Psychology LLB (HONS) Law
Right ... ONCE INFLUENCED, NOW INFLUENCING!! While the first Marvels were all from overseas (see pages 10 & 11), the impact of Sporting Marvels created a new generation of positive Christian role models; from influenced to influencers! Our photo-combo, left ... showcases 16 of them... From top left .. 1 SMITHY 2 CHELSEA 3 JODY 4 COUCHY 5 SAM 6 NAOMI 7 LAUREN 8 DEANNA
9 TAYLAR 10 HIEDI 11 LUCY 12 CONNAH 13 LIAM 14 KRYSTAL 15 KIERAN 16 LISS
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and this resulted in one of our outstanding AllStars starting their training in September 2024. We hope this work experience pathway will increase potential trainees’ understanding of our work and what is expected of them as a Marvel, decreasing the likelihood of new starters dropping out of the programme. The programme is still attracting substantial interest among those we work with in the 15/16 age group, and their parents, and we are confident that through our Training Programme we will be able to grow and maintain our team at a size that will allow us to achieve our aim of reaching every Rhondda school.
When a pupil with high academic ability shows interest in Sporting Marvels, some parents have previously been concerned as they would prefer their child to go to university. However, we’ve always believed that it is possible to do both (as Managing
Director Lawrie Davies did, gaining a Law degree while working as a Marvel), and the charity is fully supportive of any Marvels who want to extend their learning and improve their qualifications. In 2020 we liaised with local educational institutions to find parttime degrees that could fit around a Marvel’s timetable, as well as investigating suitable Open University courses. The trustees are delighted that 4+ Marvels and former Marvels have already successfully completed the first few years of their Open University degrees - see page 40 for more information on this.
The aim for each of our Marvels undertaking a part-time degree, is to complete their studies within 6 years. We believe this will become an attractive option for some of our All-Stars (and their parents) to consider, not least because they will avoid the high level of debt incurred by being a full-time student.
CASE STUDY: Elicia Jones
As reported for 2021/22, Elicia joined Sporting Marvels in September 2021 after her official start was delayed due to the Covid pandemic. She was one of the most dedicated and driven All-Star Leaders the team had ever worked with, and she’s taken every opportunity that’s been given to her over the past 4 years.
Each year Elicia has progressed, going from Intern to Trainee to Marvel, and then to Senior Marvel. She currently leads in 8 of our partner primary schools (approximately 240 children) as part of our Mighty Marvels Programme. At the end of each academic year the team have feedback from their schools and Elicia has had excellent appraisals from all her Headteachers. “Elicia works superbly with all our children at Ynyshir Primary. She’s particularly great with
our children that have additional learning needs, her supportive and understanding nature makes her a natural when leading in the classroom. Elicia is fantastic at building relationships, she has excellent behaviour management, always organised and very reliable.” Miss Philips, Headteacher, Ynyshir Primary School.”
As well as being highly qualified, Elicia has grown in confidence and maturity, and she often leads weekly Mighty Marvels Programme meetings and when asked by our Team Leaders. Alongside her qualifications, she has also completed Year 3 of her part-time Open University Degree BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary). 2024/25 will see Elicia take on more responsibility in the Mighty Marvels Programme whilst she continues to make progress with her degree.
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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & EVENTS PROGRAMME
After an impressive 2022/23, the Marvels had high hopes and expectations for the year under review, 2023/24. As always Head-2-Head starts the year for the Marvels, and incredibly 350+ young people attended over the 2 days. When last year’s All-Star Christmas Party drew to a close, the team were on a dizzy, recordbreaking high, after over 80% of the All-Star Programme attended! A year on, they were experiencing that very same record-breaking feeling - as a whopping 260 young people filled Tonypandy’s NUM Workingmen’s Club! To end the academic year on a high, SummerCamp 2024 was the biggest residential in Sporting Marvels history, with over 300 SummerCamp spaces sold out in less than a week, seven months before the event!!
Our out-of-school events see hundreds of children engage with us and they are a great catalyst in establishing closer relationships with the children we teach. We’re all about positively influencing through relationships and the events help us to build a platform for influence that lasts. The huge participation numbers represent the esteem in which the
charity is held in the community, as no other initiative in Rhondda Cynon Taf attracted more young people to events than Sporting Marvels during the year under review. Along with our out-of-school events, weekly All-Star After-School Clubs continued to thrive at Ysgol Nantgwyn, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda and Porth Community School.
Our annual ‘Adventure Day’ at Ysgol Nantgwyn took place for their Year 4, 5 & 6 pupils during July 2024 after Ysgol Nantgwyn staff requested it for the fifth consecutive year (not including the Covid-affected summer of 2020). And, for the first time ever, we were able to run an Adventure Day for Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda to use for their Year 6 transition day. Teachers at the school were blown away with the organisation and professionalism of the team, and it was a huge success. As such, it’s likely this will become an annual event for the school. During the year under review, Headteacher feedback in our end-of-year appraisals showed once again how much our partner schools (and their pupils) appreciate all the efforts we made throughout the year inside and outside of curriculum time.
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HLL-STHR HEAD2 HLL-STHR ., PARr¥ W4yEB f4AY . 27
CHURCH YOUTH WORK: DCW CHURCH PARTNERSHIP
The mission statement of Dream Centre Wales (DCW), our partner youth-focused church, is “Taking Jesus to today’s generation” . While the church aims to be welcoming to all, it specifically aims to change the way young people see church, in the belief that change has to start with the younger generation before negative attitudes become entrenched, and before they make mistakes that could negatively affect the rest of their lives. DCW aims to show the benefits of a positive Christian lifestyle and to create a social community around church with people supporting and encouraging one another.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, Sunday attendance was the highest it had been since the church was established in 2015/16, at an average of over 60. Depth of engagement and numbers in the church’s small group ‘Crews’ were also at an all-time high. However, the church was unable to hold Sunday services during 2020/21 and 2021/22 due to the weekly venue DCW used being closed for hire. In February/March 2022, after Omicron had come and gone, Chelsea Davies (DCW’s Senior Leader at the time), got in contact with Coleg y Cymoedd about a return (for the third time during the pandemic), but it was clear they didn’t want DCW to return in the near future. Caution surrounding Covid was still the main reason, but they also said they had a “long-term refurb” planned with new learning arrangements coming soon. Having already explored a number of other potential venues/dead-ends since September 2021,
THE OLD LABOUR CLUB HALL HAS BEEN RENOVATED TO A FUNCTIONAL HALL THAT CAN HOLD 125+ PERSON CAPACITY.
28 ~~_——~~
DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, ATTENDANCE AT SUNDAY SERVICES AVERAGED 41 PER WEEK, AND THE TRUSTEES WERE THRILLED TO SEE DCW REBUILD A YOUNG CONGREGATION.
the church wasn’t really sure what to do next. But after the last Coleg y Cymoedd rebuff, DCW (and by extension, Sporting Marvels) had a real answer to prayer. Sporting Marvels signed a 25-year lease on new premises, an old Labour club, which has a hall with a 125 + person capacity. Sporting Marvels’ lease started on 3rd May 2022 and DCW officially signed its own 25- year “sub-lease” which had the effect of saving DCW money on what it previously paid Coleg y Cymoedd, whilst also slightly increasing Sporting Marvels’ “Office Sharing Income”.
THE GIRLS ATTENDED ‘THE BLESSING TOUR’ @ BATH OCTOBER 2024. / \
During the year under review, Chelsea and the Marvels, around their normal day-to-day activities, continued to make great efforts to make the weekly Sunday Service a success. Attendance at Sunday services averaged 41 per week, and the trustees were thrilled to see DCW rebuild a young congregation.
In November a core group of DCW girls attended a “Worship Night” with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes in Bath. Both are well-known worship leaders with international profiles and millions of YouTube views.The DCW girls were grateful to be able to spend time with each other and enjoy such a special worship night.
During summer 2024, DCW took a total of 35 teenagers and young men (all aged between 15 -31) to Ambassadors’ annual National Christian Football Festival in Shropshire. Ambassadors are a Christian charity that use football as an outreach tool, and DCW has attended the National Christian Football Festival every year since 2018. It’s a real highlight for the boys who attend each year.
29 ~~ee: i~~
CHURCH IS NOT A PLACE YOU GO TO - IT’S A FAMILY YOU BELONG TO! 4: to ead v] J
30
~~12~~
TAKING JESUS TO TODAY’S GENERATION - THIS IS WHAT DCW IS ALL ABOUT!
31
~~153~~
ORPHANAGES & SCHOOLS OUTREACH: HEART FOR AFRICA PARTNERSHIP
Heart for Africa was created in 2017 as a charity that could impact those most in need in the Arusha area of Tanzania, outside of Sporting Marvels’ biennial All-Star trips. Through these trips, Sporting Marvels has developed longstanding links with orphanages, schools, churches and communities, and the team felt a strong desire to provide them with more sustained support without placing a financial burden on Sporting Marvels. Lawrie Davies (Managing Director of Sporting Marvels) is Chair of Trustees, while Sporting Marvels Team Leaders Lauren Smith and Ian Smith, and Sporting Marvels’ trustee Fiona Davies, are also trustees. Heart for Africa’s team of five Community Coordinators in Arusha identify needs and act as a link between Heart for Africa and its beneficiaries, also helping to organise Sporting Marvels trips and being part of Sporting Marvels’ prayer partner network. Heart for Africa’s work focuses on education, supporting orphans and other children/young people in need to attend school/ college, and on prevention or relief of poverty, by providing grants, items and services to individuals and communities in need.
Over the year in review, Heart for Africa’s project ‘Empowering Women in Muriet’, in partnership with Moriah Women’s Group, enabled an additional 7 women to be supported in their small business ventures. Moriah Women’s Group is now registered as an official microfinance organisation.
In February 2024, Sporting Marvels was able to resume All-Star Trips to Tanzania. A group of 15, including the 4 trustees of Heart for Africa, 8 Marvels, and 3 current or former All-Stars,
spent 9 days in and around Arusha. 7 of the group were first-time trip participants.
The itinerary included visits to 7 orphanages, 2 schools and 2 churches (including the ‘official’ opening of the church/community hall funded by Heart for Africa), as well as organising a sports day for 2 schools. The team donated gifts of goats, chickens, clothes, sports equipment, food, toys and money – thanks to the support of Sporting Marvels partner schools, Rhondda Netball, and the Rhondda community, more gifts were given than on any previous trip. Feedback from new participants indicated that the trip had a great impact on them, especially realising how fortunate they were compared to those they met in Tanzania.
During summer 2024, Sporting Marvels once again ran the school activity, ‘A Mile for Africa’, linked to the Mighty Marvels lesson featuring Heart for Africa. Money raised was for the purchase of a cow for Matonyok Orphanage, one of the larger orphanages visited on the February trip – at the time of writing, with sufficient money raised, the orphanage principal is looking for a suitable cow. Most partner primary schools got involved, with several individual pupils raising significant amounts of money. These pupils, and the highest fundraising school, were recognised at the Mighty Marvels Graduation event.
Heart for Africa receives a small monthly donation from Sporting Marvels and DCW Church. An increasing number of young people associated with Sporting Marvels and DCW Church also donate regularly to Heart for Africa.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
The trustees are delighted to report that total income for the year under review was £276,904 which represented a 17.5% growth from 2022/23. However, expenditure was £267,004 (£264,010 without factoring depreciation) which, even though this was slightly reduced from 2022/23 as a result of further cost-saving moves during 2023/24, and considering the level of operational growth was only small, paints a picture of how much more finance is now needed at this operational size compared to what would have been needed pre-Covid, pre-inflation and pre-huge minimum/living wage increases.
The trustees were particularly pleased with the rebound to pre-pandemic levels in terms of individual donations, even though this was mainly because of one large donation without which, the charity would have seen income in this area decrease slightly from 2022/23. However, the year under review once again
| (PER HOUR) MINIMUM LIVING WAGE |
(PER HOUR) MINIMUM LIVING WAGE |
|
|---|---|---|
| AGE 21 and over: | AGE 18-20: | |
| 2018/19- £7.38 | 2018/19- £5.90 | |
| 2024/25- £12.21 (April 2025) = 65.44% increase! |
2024/25- £10.00 (April 2025) = 69.49% increase!! |
took place under a cloud of rising costs and high interest rates, and it was also another year of painful inflation which didn’t ease until a few months into 2024. Add to this the high price of Gas & Electricity from October 2022 onwards, and it’s clear the challenging economic climate continues to have an impact on the charity’s individual donors.
The trustees are grateful for the efforts of the Managing Director who, with far less experienced off-field support than in previous years, had to lead the charity’s fundraising efforts during the year under review, in extremely challenging
circumstances, with rising costs/prices proving equally challenging when it came to controlling expenditure. Despite the context, income from Christian Trusts & Foundations was up slightly, and the trustees are pleased that the charity continued to show resilience in a challenging economic climate that has now seen off two of Rhondda’s four largest employers and several other prominent small businesses.
The year under review also saw income received from partner schools remain steady, totalling £10,000. This was a pleasant surprise given the pressures on school budgets as Headteachers battled to meet pay increases out of other non-staff related cuts, given that these pay increases weren’t entirely funded with additional settlements from the Government. It certainly demonstrates how valued Sporting Marvels is by its partner schools.
In respect of income from hiring-out our leased premises, this was down slightly from 2022/23 as the charity simply could not justify the risk associated with heating the premises for small bookings.
Total expenditure for the year under review without factoring exceptional expenditure, was £246,920 which represented a decrease of £4,686 compared with the previous year’s expenditure without factoring that year’s exceptional expenditure and depreciation figure. This small savings was despite reducing the team size slightly from 2022/23 with less spending committed to our Training Programme, and was ultimately achieved by asking current staff members to carry more responsibilities whilst we adhered to requisite pay increases for staff that we had to implement because of minimum/living wage increases.
Despite the challenges of rising costs right across the board, the trustees were pleased there was no growth in expenditure during the year under review despite the charity adding an additional partner primary school and still committing some resources to capital work required on its leased premises. The main financial disappointment for the trustees and Senior Management Team, was that the significant increase in donations (and the associated Gift Aid increase) was mainly due to one large donation. Were it not for this generous donation, the charity would have made an operational loss, which would have led to unwanted cuts for 2024/25, starting September 2024.
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Most of the charity’s exceptional expenditure (£20,084) was in relation to the charity playing an active role in several team members’ car and car insurance situations during the pandemic, and the contracts not expiring until midway through the year under review. With borrowing costs soaring, second-hand car costs rising, and supply-chain issues, the charity was able to secure extremely good deals on several business leases which the Senior Management Team felt were necessary to take on during 2020/21. This ensured team members on flexi-furlough when schools weren’t closed, continued to work to keep the charity going, rather than attempting to save too much money by going through the pandemic without a car, which would have damaged the charitable operation beyond repair. During the year under review, costs in this area totalled £9,974 but associated income was £4,895. The trustees feel the £5,079 loss was ultimately the result of a necessary investment, as it not only supported some of our team through a challenging time, but it ensured we were not placed in difficult situations with schools/team members in respect of the constant lockdowns/ varying levels of restrictions which lasted into the first half of 2021/22. However, the trustees are also pleased that the loss in this area across 2024/25 is set to be smaller again, with the further losses coming to a complete stop upon the return of the charity’s last leased vehicle, December 2024.
The other exceptional expenditure of £7,116 was in relation to the charity’s leased premises - The Old Ystrad Labour Club (which went out of business 17th April 2022) - on a favourable 25-year lease from 1st May 2022 onwards. The building is in need of ongoing refurbishments, and though the trustees and Senior Management Team are aiming for these costs to be covered by capital grants in the future, or by the long-term hire of certain parts of the premises, the charity had to spend some money on essential refurbishments during the year under review. Ultimately, the trustees are pleased that income from hiring out the charity’s leased premises, far exceeds the associated leasing/utilities costs.
The trustees are pleased that its premises not only benefits the Sporting Marvels mission, but also the Dream Centre Wales Church mission, since this charity signed a 25-year sub-lease
as part of Sporting Marvels striking the deal in the first place. In the years before 2022/23, the charity was successful in generating income by hiring out certain parts of its old premises, mostly for other charitable/community activities, and the trustees are optimistic that more success will be possible on this front, mainly thanks to the 125+ person capacity main hall in the current premises. However, the trustees recognise the challenges the Managing Director has in respect of energy costs, and there is collective recognition that capital grants and time will be needed in order to see a high level of financial success from the move.
Although the trustees would prefer that the charity had an even stronger balance sheet going into 2024/25, they were pleased with the balance in the charity bank accounts at the end of the year under review, with pledged/ committed income adding to this to cover around six months of operational activity. This compared positively against the reserves policy, and this was without factoring the remaining Covid Bounce Back Loan balance - £25,000+ as of 31 August 2024 - which continues to sit untouched in the charity’s main unrestricted account. Monthly repayments against this loan will take place for another seven years, and payments are made from the loan balance itself.
Upon financial review of the year under review and the information to hand regarding the first half of 2024/25, the trustees consider that the charity is able to continue to operate as a going concern.
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FUNDRAISING
The aims of Sporting Marvels are realised by raising funds from individuals, trusts, foundations, churches, partner schools, events, and other activities, and principally using these funds to empower our positive Christian role models to impact school and community life. As such, fundraising is a key element of our operations. The day-to-day fundraising processes such as making funding applications are primarily undertaken by our Managing Director, and these function in line with the overall financial strategy. The Managing Director has oversight of all fundraising efforts and commits time to key applications and relationship-building with potential donors, whilst our Founder & Chairman also commits substantial amounts of time to the charity’s fundraising activities on a voluntary basis. With £27,230 of direct fundraising costs against a total income of £276,904 during the year under review, the trustees are of the opinion that the charity was once again very efficient on the fundraising front. Fundraising was particularly challenging during the year under review, and the trustees are grateful to every supporter who helped the charity fight through the period amidst huge economic unrest, from the ongoing Ukraine War, to countless Government and economic issues, specifically regarding rising costs and inflation. This made fundraising all the more difficult for the charity.
The trustees are hopeful that 2024/25 will see inflation beaten and things return to a more settled place from an economic perspective.
STAFF REMUNERATION
Staff remuneration is reviewed each year and the Managing Director makes recommendations to trustees based on the charity’s targets and accompanying financial strategy.
The charity continues to operate with a missionary heart and aims to preserve this with personnel support packages. To ensure this does not have a negative effect on the retention of key staff members, the trustees support all efforts the charity’s personnel make to supplement their income from other work, as long as this does not interfere with their Sporting Marvels roles.
During the year under review, the highest paid staff member’s support package fell within the: > £24,000 - £28,999 band.
No trustees were paid.
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RELATED PARTIES
Founder & Chairman, Phil Davies, is the father of Managing Director, Lawrie Davies, and as such, is not party to any discussions or decisionmaking surrounding his remuneration.
The trustees consider the charities Dream Centre Wales & Rhondda Netball to be related parties due to the involvement of a number of Sporting Marvels personnel in these charities. Office costs for the period, including space, gas, electricity, water, phones, internet, software, paper and other office materials, office-based printing etc, were shared with these charities where Lawrie Davies has significant influence. As the longest established entity and the leaseholder of The Old Ystrad Labour, Sporting Marvels acted as the primary account holder for all the various costs, and income was received from these two related parties via their sub-leases. These arrangements had the effect of saving all three charities thousands of pounds across the year, providing significant all-round benefit. As Dream Centre Wales also benefited from donated personnel time from Sporting Marvels, the trustees consider Dream Centre Wales to be a significant beneficiary of the charity.
The trustees also consider Heart for Africa to be a related party due to the involvement of Sporting Marvels personnel in setting up and running this charity. As this charity runs a small UK-based operation which manages a Tanzania-based operation, Sporting Marvels
donated office space as well as printer use and stationery where required. There was no way to quantify the exact value of this, but the trustees do not estimate this to be over £750 for the year under review.
DONATED SERVICES
Founder & Chairman, Phil Davies, continued to give a full-time commitment to the charity for no remuneration during the year under review. The value of this cannot be overstated and his heart to do this after so many years is one of the key reasons the charity is able to keep certain core costs to a minimum.
“I love SM because…it’s like one big family where everyone looks after each Sy other and that, makes life much better” INDIE, MIGHTY MARVELS PUPIL, 2023/24
37
es of the Government’s responses over the years since, the original plan was extended by a number of years. Normality returned during 2021/22, and other than the Omicron scare, Covid had a smaller impact on operations through 2021/22. The following year, 2022/23, was free from Covid restrictions, as was the year under review, 2023/24.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The charity had originally developed a clear Operational Action Plan through to the end of the 2023/24 academic year. This was revised during the year under review, and has been extended to cover up to 2028/29. This Operational Action Plan defines the charity’s plans for growth, in terms of partner schools and personnel, for each accounting period. Due to the pandemic and the consequenc-
The immediate plan for 2024/25 is to continue to succeed in respect of school and Headteacher feedback, impressing with the team’s professionalism and willingness to adapt to new learning arrangements, all whilst building and growing the team sustainably to accomplish the charity’s goals according to its Operational Action Plan.
The trustees are also hopeful income will \j;:sa continue to rise according to the much highCN ee er costs that are now associated with employing more than a handful of people in any charity or SME. The minimum/living wage is set to go up again in April 2025, and this is _ after steep rises over preceding years that ‘4 ratcheted up the pressure during a period where double digit inflation was the norm. And, this is without the added concern of Em‘ AD ployer National Insurance Contributions going up. The area of most concern is the cost of paying a young person that has recently completed their “apprenticeship” year, who then still requires one more year of training, f development and investment in order to be- generations to come.” come a leader capable of overseeing at least 4+ partner schools without a drop off in the level of Headteacher feedback.
“I think everyone should do Sporting Marvels, I hope that it continues for generations to come.” ELISE, MIGHTY MARVELS PUPIL, 2023/24
2024/25 IN FOCUS
During 2024/25, the charity is mostly aiming to consolidate after three consecutive years of growth following the pandemic. The charity will also be aiming to further improve the team’s efficiency, with the aim of keeping total annual costs as low as possible, despite recent increases, in order to negotiate the financial challenges many homes, businesses and charities are currently experiencing as a result of inflation and specifically, the rising minimum/living wage brackets and upcoming Employer NICs hike.
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THIS UPSTAIRS ROOM, ONCE CARPETED, WILL PROVIDE THE MARVELS WITH A . - >» ¥ SMALLER - AND MUCH CHEAPER TO HEAT - MEETING SPACE FOR THE TEAM.
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NEW BUILDING
Securing a 25-year lease on a new building that is over twice the size of our former office base on Gelli Ind Est, for a fraction more per month than the charity was paying, was a huge coup for the charity back in 2022. The size of the building does present a challenge in terms of finance, as external capital grants will be needed in order to see the building serve Sporting Marvels and the sub-lease holders effectively. During the year under review, 2023/24, sub-
THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE CORRIDOR WALKWAY TO DCW’S CHURCH ROOM/UPSTAIRS OFFICES.
ANOTHER GREAT SPACE WAITING TO BE TRANSFORMED, ONCE PROFESSIONAL QUOTES HAVE BEEN PRESENTED .
lease holder DCW Church once again contributed significantly to the makeover of the main areas used for church activities. The front of the building was improved, the corridor underwent a transformation, and work started on additional office space for the Marvels. We’re still waiting on “professionally” presented quotes for the old bar downstairs space that we’d like to see converted to a youth/ kids room, but we’re still determining our next course of action on the refurb front. Well-presented quotes from professional tradesmen are essential to us because we can’t apply for anything without them. Several tradesmen have promised they would deliver, but zero have come through as yet with something at a realistic price. The trustees are very pleased though that the building is proving to be a great asset to the charity and DCW Church.
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OPEN UNIVERSITY PART-TIME DEGREES
Through the Open University, Marvels Lauren, Liss & Kieran will once again juggle their 2024/25 commitments with another part-time year on each of their degrees (see below). During Covid there was a greater push towards remote learning, and this enabled our Marvels to enrol onto a degree whilst serving Sporting Marvels full-time. The ‘joining Sporting Marvels instead of going to uni’ issue was, for a very long time, one of the biggest obstacles to some potentially great Christian role models of the future, feeling unable to come aboard. It was just too much for their parents, who, as much as they loved us, didn’t see Sporting Marvels as a credible path to a solid long-term financial future/career. This effort through
The Open University has gone a long way to changing that perception, because the parttime degree route is now providing short-term and long-term opportunities, particularly for those from deprived families for whom the grant/loan ratio is more favourable. The trustees hope that part-time degrees will ensure our best young people serve the charity for at least another six years after they’ve completed their training with us over their initial two or three years. This should ensure the period of time Sporting Marvels benefits from those it trains and invests in to become Senior Marvels, is much longer, creating significant operational benefit.
==> picture [508 x 111] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
| aag r \yy ; _ - Year 3 |
| —<
BA (HONS)
\ r, \sr . Childhood & -y
Youth Studies
Year 4 Year 4
. .— la y ° sang:
BA (HONS) BSc (HONS)
Education Studies rw oer” y ; / [o) \Mi ' gING Psychology SIE,
(Primary)
----- End of picture text -----
CASE STUDY: KIERAN GARLAND
Kieran joined the team for the start of the 2019/20 academic year, which was cut short by Covid. This meant his first few years were challenging, but he worked hard and took every opportunity he could, and he soon became very popular with the children. Now a qualified Level 4 HLTA and Senior Marvel, Kieran is now not only a natural with our Mighty Marvel children, but also when it comes to staff and our 12-18 All-Stars & All-Star Leaders. In September 2022 Kieran enrolled on a part-time degree through The Open University studying Childhood & Youth Studies, and this will benefit him in his current role at Sporting Marvels working with so many young people. It’s also given him a pathway so that he can continue helping children and young people long into his future. He’s an incredible asset to the team, and the trustees are delighted with his personal development and his growing maturity and leadership capabilities.
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NEW CURRICULUM FOR WALES
The trustees are very happy with the continued progress that the Senior Management Team have made to evolve the Mighty Marvels Programme with the new Curriculum for Wales in mind. The change was implemented in schools from September 2022 though guidance for the 2008 curriculum will continue to be used for some learners until all schools and settings are using the Curriculum for Wales with all their learners from the 2026/27 academic year.
The team attended several meetings at partner schools throughout 2022/23 and the year under review to better shape what Sporting Marvels does around the new discretion schools have been given to teach their pupils. The Mighty Marvels team plan to incorporate further changes to our primary school curriculum for 2024/25. The Senior Management Team are confident that any changes will not have the effect of diminishing what the charity seeks to achieve from a teaching point of view, so long as the Marvels continue to be marked as excellent by our partner schools, since RVE (Religion, Values & Ethics), previously known as RE (Religious Education), is mandatory for all learners in Wales from ages 3-16 (see below from the gov.wales website). Our partner Headteachers have been delighted with our Mighty Marvels Programme during the year under review, and you can see a small selection of feedback from some of our 2023/24 Headteachers, right ... more feedback can also be found on page 16.
Headteacher Feedback
Miss Gregory, Partner School Headteacher: Our pupils really love the Mighty Marvels lessons, which put health and wellbeing at the forefront of their minds. Lessons are well prepared and delivered, and having Level 3 TA and Level 4 HLTA qualified workers is a great benefit to the school! Thank you, Sporting Marvels!!
Ms Dober, Partner School Headteacher: Our Pupils thoroughly enjoy the sessions, the Mighty Marvels Programme helps our school with the aim of creating healthy and confident individuals. The Marvels themselves are specialists when teaching Physical Education, and the children love learning with Liam & Liss.
Miss Roberts, Partner School Headteacher: The Marvels are excellent role models, very professional and always well-prepared. They teach the children important morals, key life lessons, and important messages from the Bible in a uniquely engaging and lively way! The children enjoy the lessons and love the Marvels very much. Diolch yn fawr!
Mrs Anstee, Partner School Headteacher: The Mighty Marvels lessons are always innovative and creative and give our children the opportunity to see people who have religious belief in a more positive way. Big ‘thank you’ Sporting Marvels for your efforts, your time, and for encouraging our children to always push their boundaries and be the best they can be!”
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RISK ASSESSMENT
The trustees are aware of factors both within CP| and outside the charity’s control that are relevant to the achievement of its objectives in10 - cluding relationships with employees, key part9 ners and funders, and have a risk management strategy in place which comprises 8 7 = » A review of the risks at each trustee meeting. > The establishment of systems and proce5 dures to mitigate those risks identified. 4 » The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the = charity should those risks materialise.
PRINCIPAL RISKS & UNCERTAINTIES Lo
Thankfully, during the year under review, there were no lockdowns as experienced during 2019/20 & 2020/21. However, if further lockdowns or periods of restrictions were ever to be announced again, particularly if this was without accompanying support as with the furlough/ SEISS schemes, this could have a negative effect on the charity financially speaking. The trustees would hope that if the Government does implement lockdowns ever again, it will also reimplement the furlough/flexi-furlough and SEISS schemes in order to support charities and businesses whose income streams are harmed as a result. However, it appears our Government’s ability to borrow at anywhere near the level it borrowed in its response to Covid, has all but disappeared during recent years of borrowing at high interest rates. Attempting to do so despite our current level of debt would essentially create nightmare economic conditions, even worse than those experienced since the pandemic, and these have been difficult to contend with. As such, another pandemic would be an
existential threat to Sporting Marvels and most other SMEs.
There are continuing concerns regarding the ongoing price of gas and electricity. With inflation mostly irreversible and Net Zero a key focus of the UK’s main political parties, it appears prices won’t return to pre-Ukraine War levels. From the charity’s perspective, this will require ongoing adaptations, with income generating plans for our HQ significantly affected, especially during the winter months. The charity will simply do its best to ensure these utilities are only used for essential activities whilst attempting to pass on higher rental costs to community groups that seek to use the premises.
Sporting Marvels relies on income affected by the economic climate and Government spending policies. Fluctuations in these spending patterns may adversely affect the level of funding available to supporters of the charity. In consideration of this risk, and knowing how inflation and the
cost of living have become prominent concerns since 2021/22 having negatively impacted individual donations, we will continue to seek support from a wide range of sources to minimise the impact from this risk.
=4 » The trustees have identified the individual donor base to be made up mostly of people aged 60+ and new : donors aren’t of a young age. The charity has not found it easy to engage new younger donors, and while this may be a reflection of the giving trends of
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modern-day young people, it is important that the trustees and Senior Management Team are able to be innovative in attracting new support.
After raising the required income to keep the charity in a position to not only sustain its operations, but grow its reach and influence for 2023/24, developing people and personnel sustainability is the next toughest challenge we face. This was the reason for creating our Training Programme. Marvels are encouraged to identify potential future Marvels during their time on the All-Star Leadership Programme and make them aware of the Training Programme as an option when they leave school. However, well-paid apprenticeships for school leavers are more popular than ever in the Valleys, since some secondary schools have become age 3-16 schools, which creates a natural change in environment after Year 11. It will be important for the Senior Management Team to continue to mitigate against the increased competition in creative ways, but annual minimum/living wage hikes, especially for young workers, are making it difficult to invest both in real terms because of the sheer cost, and also with the type of certainty in terms of getting the right return on investment which the charity had pre-Covid but has struggled with since.
In an area as deprived as the Rhondda Valleys, keeping costs to a minimum is imperative to the charity’s success. The Managing Director has devoted a lot of time over the last few years to creating an efficient operation without sacrificing the quality of provision which is so important in maintaining Sporting Marvels’ reputation. On top of this, several personnel are self-employed so they can earn extra money from doing work with other charities or businesses around their ministry commitments. It is
possible that in the future Sporting Marvels will need to commit more resources to keeping its best people suitably motivated as most of them could earn more money outside of serving the charity. However, the Christian cause is already the main driving force for all key personnel, so we hope to be able to continue to monitor and manage this risk effectively moving forward.
CHILD PROTECTION & SAFEGUARDING
Sporting Marvels takes Child Protection/Safeguarding very seriously. We review and modify our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy annually at the start of every new academic year, and the team reports all problems and concerns to relevant staff members on a weekly basis, with any urgent concerns reported and addressed on an immediate basis.
The most important aspect of our policy is to ensure that all our personnel possess an upto-date, enhanced DBS check and acquire a “Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2” certificate.
This ensures that all personnel in contact with children are fully trained to handle the same kind of child protection issues as a fully qualified teacher. Beyond this, all Senior Marvels are also required to undertake a Child & Adolescent Mental Health qualification to ensure they have an even greater level of understanding when it comes to identifying potential issues. Due to the position of influence our Marvels have in the lives of young people, it is important our team follow our policies and procedures so as not to put themselves, young people, and the charity, at risk, and we have an outstanding record on this front spanning 20+ years.
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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the movement in funds of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
Prepare the finance statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity legislation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies.
ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
Philip R Davies - Chair of Trustees & Director Approved by the trustees on 7 February 2025
44 ~~o_o~~
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SPORTING MARVELS
Sporting Marvels Ltd
Independent Examiner’s Report for the Year Ended 31 August 2024
We report to the trustees on our examination of the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2024.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
We report in respect of our examination of the company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out our examination, we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no material matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination which gives us cause to believe that in, any material respect:
· the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
· the financial statements did not accord with the accounting records; or
· the financial statements did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Hannah Simpson FCCA HLS Accounting Limited 59 Llwyn Y Pia Road
Lisvane Cardiff CF14 OSX
5 February 2025
45
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
| Year Ended | Year ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31.8.24 | 31.8.23 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||
| Charitable income | 276,904 | 235,713 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||
| Direct charitable expenditure | 267,004 | 269,995 | |
| MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | 3 | 9,900 | (34,282) |
| Transfer - Contingency fund | - | - | |
| NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS FOR THE PERIOD | 9,900 ~~a~~ |
(34,282) ~~————~~ |
“I love SM because… I used to feel sad and fearful to join activities but SM changed me. They were there for me. They helped me and guided me. They’re super comforting and kind. What SM does is amazing but how they do it is really incredible!” POPPY-MAY, MIGHTY MARVELS PUPIL, 2023/24
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BALANCE SHEET - 31 AUGUST 2024
| g | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||||
| Tangible assets | 6 | 4,659 | 5,000 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
| Debtors | 8 | - | - | ||||
| Cash at bank | 67,852 | 68,871 | |||||
| Cash at bank – restricted fund | 6,689 | 2,030 | |||||
| 74,541 | 70,893 | ||||||
| CREDITORS | |||||||
| Amounts falling due within oneyear | 9 | 9,663 | 10,808 | ||||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 64,878 | 60,085 | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||||||
| LIABILITIES | 69,537 | 65,085 | |||||
| CREDITORS | |||||||
| Amounts falling due after one year | |||||||
| Covid Bounce Back Bank Loan repayable over 10 years | Covid Bounce Back Bank Loan repayable over 10 years | (25,441) | (30,889) | ||||
| 44,096 | 34,196 | ||||||
| NET ASSETS | |||||||
| RESERVES | |||||||
| General reserves | 10 | 37,407 | 32,166 | ||||
| Restricted reserves | 10 | 6,689 | 2,030 | ||||
| 44,096 | 34,196 |
The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 August 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledges their responsibilities for:
-
(a) ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
-
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: i / | ny (| |
P R Davies - Chair of Trustees & Director
7 February 2025
47
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
1. STATUTORY INFORMATION
Sporting Marvels Ltd is a charity and private company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. The company’s registered number and registered office address can be found on the Charity Information page.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 1A “Small Entities” of Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Funds
The layout of the financial statements follows the statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting for Charities”. This layout introduced terms “Restricted” and “Unrestricted” funds. Restricted funds are those received for specific purposes. The trustees are of the opinion that all funds received are unrestricted funds, and are available to meet all of the company’s aims and objectives.
Reserves:
Fund balances consist mainly of unrestricted funds are available to meet all of the company’s aims and objectives. The trustees aim that unrestricted funds not committed or invested in fixed assets (free reserves) held by the charity should equate to between 3 to 6 months of resources expended. At this level the trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in the level of funding. At the end of the year under review, reserves did not quite meet this minimum target as far as banked income was concerned. However, when factoring committed income at the start of the next period, the target was met.
Fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rate in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life: Fixtures, Vehicles, Computers etc - at varying rates on cost.
3. INCOMING RESOURCES
The incoming resources and expenditure of the charity are attributable to the principal aims and activities of the charity.
4. NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
The net movement in funds is stated after charging:
| Year Ended | Year ended | |
|---|---|---|
| 31.8.24 | 31.8.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation and loss on disposals - owned assets | **2,994 ** | 2,423 |
| Trustees' emoluments and other benefits etc | - | - |
5. TAXATION
Analysis of the tax charge
No liability to UK corporation tax arose on ordinary activities for the year ended 31 August 2024, or for the year ended 31 August 2023, due to the charitable nature of the activities undertaken.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Plant and | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| machinery | |||||
| etc | |||||
| £ | |||||
| COST | |||||
| At 1 September 2023 | 53,944 | ||||
| Additions | 2,653 | ||||
| Disposals | - | ||||
| At 31 August 2024 | 56,597 | ||||
| DEPRECIATION | |||||
| At 1 September 2023 | 48,944 | ||||
| Charge for year | 2,994 | ||||
| Eliminated on disposal | - | ||||
| At 31 August 2024 | 51,938 | ||||
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||||
| At 31 August 2024 | 4,659 | ||||
| At 31 August 2023 | 5,000 | ||||
| 7. | EMPLOYEES | ||||
| The average monthly number of employees during the year were 9. | The average monthly number of employees during the year were 9. | ||||
| 8. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | |||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Other debtors - prepayments | - | - | |||
| - | - | ||||
| 9. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Trade creditors | Trade creditors | - | 190 | ||
| Taxation and social security | 345 | 568 | |||
| Other creditors | 2,448 | 4,050 | |||
| Covid Bounce Back Bank Loan repayable over 10 years | 6,870 | 6,000 | |||
| 9,663 | 10,808 | ||||
| 10. | RESERVES | ||||
| General | Restricted | ||||
| reserves | reserves | Totals | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| At 1 September 2023 | 32,166 | 2,030 | 34,196 | ||
| Movement for the period | 5,241 | 5,241 | |||
| Movement for the period – restricted funds | - | 4,659 | 4,659 | ||
| At 31 August 2024 | 37,407 | 6,689 | 44,096 |
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OVERVIEW OF INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
Year ending
Categories
31 Aug 2024
£
Trusts & Foundations (unrestricted) 88,000
Trusts & Foundations (restricted) 0
£ 100,000 Individuals (unrestricted) 77,071
Individuals (restricted) 8,030
Organisations, Churches & Ministries 34,653
£ 90,000 Hiring-out Leased Premises 34,684
Gift Aid * 19,438
£ 80,000 School Donations & Sponsorship 10,000
Sundry Receipts 133
Events ** 0
£ 70,000
£272,009
£ 60,000
Exceptional Income
£ 50,000 Car & Car Insurance Hire *** 4,895
£ 40,000
Total
£ 30,000
£276,904
£ 20,000
£ 10,000
Trusts & Individuals Hiring-out Organisations, Gift Aid Partner School Individuals Sundry Events Car & Car
Foundations (unrestricted) Leased Churches & Donations (restricted) Receipts Insurance
(unrestricted) Premises Ministries Hire
Higher than previous year due to the first Gift Aid submission during the year
under review also covering donations made at the back end of the previous
accounting period, Year Ending 31 August 2023.
Due to Sporting Marvels running some of the largest young people events in
Wales with school-age children, the huge volume of money in/money out made
it necessary for the charity to enter into a partnership with an external events
organisation several years ago. This partnership has been an unmitigated
success, with Sporting Marvels events no longer having to be subsidised by the
charity at over £10,000+ per year. The partnership has also saved the charity
thousands in respect of bookkeeping, management and accounting costs.
[l] *** [n.]
[Exceptional income that directly off-set exceptional expenditure of the ]
same type (see adjacent page) with a total loss of only £5,079 in this area
in total for the year under review. This is fully explained in the Financial
Review on pages 34 & 35, and given the existential threat that was posed
by Covid restrictions, the trustees were delighted with the overall gain the
charity made when it came to sustaining its operation and personnel during
and immediately after the pandemic as a result of action taken regarding
income/expenditure in this area.
----- End of picture text -----*
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----- Start of picture text -----
OVERVIEW OF EXPENDITURE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2024
Year ending
Categories
31 Aug 2024
£
Mighty Marvels Programme 100,229
All-Star Leadership Programme 64,320
Training Programme 21,360
£ 100,000 All Fundraising Activities & Costs 27,230
Leased Premises/HQ 8,800
Utilities * 8,649
£ 90,000 Events & Bible Giveaway ** 5,360
Accountancy, Bookkeeping & Financial Support 4,500
£ 80,000 Church Youth Work & Mission 2,980
East Africa Schools & Orphanages Work 1,200
Key Person Life Insurance 1,256
£ 70,000
Covid Bounce Back Loan Interest & Bank Charges 1,036
£ 60,000 £246,920
Exceptional Expenditure £
£ 50,000
Car Leases & Car Insurance *** 9,974
Capital Work on New Building * 7,116
£ 40,000
Other Expenditure £
£ 30,000
Depreciation of Tangible Fixed Assets 2,994
(Computer Equipment)
£ 20,000 £267,004
£ 10,000
Lh
Mighty All-Star All Training Leased Utilities Events & Accountancy Church East Africa Key Covid Car Leases Capital Work Depreciation
Marvels Leadership Fundraising Programme Premises/ Bible Book- Youth Work Schools & Person Life Bounce & Car on New of Tangible
Programme Programme Activities & HQ Giveaway keeping & & Mission Orphanages Insurance Back Loan Insurance Building Fixed Assets
Costs Financial Work Interest & for Hiring (Computer
Support Bank Charges Equipment)
*----- End of picture text -----
-
These costs were initially expected to come down more during the year under review than they did, but the new higher prices became the norm. More detail on this can be found in our Financial Review on pages 34 & 35.
-
** Almost exclusively our annual Bible Giveaway with our Events Programme now only subsidised at a very small level purely due to specific SummerCamp residential requirements important to the charity’s Team Leaders. However, nearly £3,000 of this year’s (2023/24) costs were paid in September 2024, which will be accounted for in the next period, Year Ending 31 August 2025.
-
*** [The outworking of this essential financial/strategic move that helped the charity ] survive through Covid, is nearly complete. Losses in this area will be even lower before expiring completely during the Year Ending 31 August 2025. More detail on this can be found in our Financial Review on pages 34 & 35.
-
**** [Essential building refurbishment works during the year under review. More ] detail on this can be found in our Financial Review on pages 34 & 35.
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