2025-06-30-accounts - Blackburn Community Sports Club

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

BLACKBURN COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Registered Charity 1118089 Principal address 24 Hawkshaw Bank Road Blackburn Lancashire BB1 8JS Trustees Greg Worswick – Acting Chairman and Secretary Sanam Saleh – Treasurer Stephanie Worswick

Structure, Governance and Management

The Trust is an unincorporated association, governed by a constitution. Trustees are appointed and reelected at the Annual General Meeting.

Objectives and Activities

The Charity operates for the benefit of the public generally, and in particular the inhabitants of Blackburn and its surrounding areas:

To promote community participation in healthy recreation, in particular by providing facilities for playing football and other sports capable of improving health (“facilities” in this clause means land, buildings, equipment and organising sporting activities);
To provide and assist in providing facilities for sport, recreation or other leisure activities for the community in the interests of social welfare and in order to improve the quality and conditions of life;
To advance the education of children and young people.

We currently have approximately 150 young people taking part in weekly coaching sessions and football matches. This includes teams for able-bodied young people, children and adults with additional needs, a Saturday morning coaching club (Junior Kickers) for children too young to play competitively, and a women’s football team.

Our football offer is delivered by FA-qualified, committed coaches and volunteers who provide young people with a safe environment to play and enjoy sport. In addition, we provide weekly badminton sessions for adults in our sports hall, catering for a wide range of ages and abilities. Furthermore, we continue to provide Boccia sessions for young people with additional needs, who train weekly and take part in competitive games across the North West of England.

Achievement and Performance

We have continued to provide our members with a high-quality sporting experience thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteer workforce. While participation numbers have reduced slightly this year, with a small number of teams folding, we remain proud of the positive experiences we continue to offer to our members and their families.

The prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in Blackburn with Darwen remains above the national average, and we recognise the important role we play in supporting young people to adopt healthy lifestyles through team sports and a strong sense of belonging.

Our inclusive culture continues to be a key strength, and we have maintained strong partnerships within the local community. We are pleased to see increasing diversity across our playing members, as well as among our coaches and committee members, particularly with greater representation from the South Asian community. As a grassroots club, we believe it is essential to reflect the community we serve, and we remain proud to do so.

BLACKBURN COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

___________

We continue to work in partnership with QEGS Free School, Blackburn, and St Bede’s High School, Blackburn. The support of these organisations, who provide our playing facilities, remains critical to our sustainability. We are also grateful for the continued financial support of our sponsors, including Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors, Winfield’s, and Blackburn Round Table, which enables us to provide high-quality coaching and playing kit.

Our committee continues to engage with Blackburn with Darwen Council regarding the repair of our mini soccer pitches, known as the Gary Hamer Memorial Ground. These pitches were damaged in 2019 following works associated with a local housing development. Despite ongoing dialogue, assessments, and previous assurances, responsibility for the repairs remains unresolved. The club will continue to advocate for a resolution to ensure the long-term sustainability of our facilities.

However, we continue to face a number of challenges. Rising costs associated with the hire of sporting facilities, kit, and equipment are placing increasing pressure on the club’s finances. In addition, we have seen a reduction in the number of volunteers available to coach and support teams. Despite this, demand remains strong, with many children keen to join teams where spaces are available. Addressing these challenges will be a key priority in the coming year.

Financial Review

A formal reserves policy was agreed at a meeting of the executive committee:

Reserves are maintained at a level that ensures that 2.5 months of Blackburn Community Sports Club’s core activity could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. For the current year, this is estimated to equate to £10,677, based on essential running costs comprising hire of training facilities, insurance fees, pitch and other maintenance, league/referee/competition/pitch hire fees, and courses.
A proportion of reserves is maintained in a readily realisable form.

The Trustees have agreed to monitor the above policy throughout the year and formally review it annually as part of the annual accounts preparation.

There are no funds materially in deficit.

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees on

Greg Worswick CHAIRMAN

Sanam Saleh TREASURER

BLACKBURN COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Unrestricted funds £ 43 796 0 0 240 959	2024 Restricted funds Designated funds Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ 43 796 56 536 0 1 253 0 680 240 3 580 959 1 274 2025	2024 Restricted funds Designated funds Total funds Total funds £ £ £ £ 43 796 56 536 0 1 253 0 680 240 3 580 959 1 274 2025

44 995 10 050 9 180 201 5 103 0 27 001 4 417 185 453 2 613 305 0 456 706	0	0 44 995 63 323 10 050 8 069 9 180 3 912 201 2 303 5 103 8 979 0 751 27 001 49 518 4 417 508 185 494 453 2 412 2 613 3 468 305 780 0 0 456 243 706 4 350
60 670 -15 675 83 344	0 0	0 60 670 85 787 0 -15 675 -22 464 83 344 105 808
67 669	0	0 67 669 83 344

BLACKBURN COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Designated	Total
	funds	funds	funds	funds
	£	£	£	£
Cash Funds
Bank account	67 669	0	0	67 669
	Fund to which the asset /	Fund to which the asset /	Cost
	liabilty belongs
Assets retained by Charity for own use
Mini pitch development	Unrestricted		29 329

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on

GREG WORSWICK

SANAM SALEH

BLACKBURN COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS

____________

I report to the trustees/members on my examination of the accounts of Blackburn Community Sports Club (Charity no 1118089) (“the club”) for the year ended 30 June 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of the report

As the trustees/members of the club, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the club’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the club as required by the 2011 Act; or
the accounts do not accord those records.

I 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.

Dean Rodgers 18 Tootle Drive Longridge PR3 3UH