Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] June 2022 Period start date To 31[st] May 2023 Period end date Charity name: POLYTECHNIC FOOTBALL CLUB
Charity registration number: 1127155
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To organise or provide or assist in the organisation or provision of facilities for the community participation in the healthy recreation of playing football. To further such other charitable purposes as are charitable under the laws of England and Wales as the executive committee may from time to time decide. All trustees and club officials give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Arranging weekly training and weekend match facilities for 10 teams for about 200 members to participate. Maintaining membership of various governing league bodies, attending league AGMs and general compliance. Fund raising through annual member donation, fund raisers and other charitable donations, plus weekly match day fee levies in order to meet the costs of hiring training and playing facilities. The club operate an open policy on all 18+ male adults wishing to participate in football and a growing membership from all walks of life and a wide catchment. The club remain very active in promoting veterans football operating two such sides and have been instrumental in the formation and operation of the West London Veterans Football League which now has over 40 teams competing. Our Veterans section has expanded to cater for those Veterans who are unable to play competitive football and we now hold |
| regular casual games for them to participate in so they can continue to have an active involvement in our football club and to provide physical and mental support. Having previously investigated the viability of adding both women’s football and youth football into the Polytechnic Football Club it was concluded that other clubs which specialise in youth football already cater for such a need and we should concentrate in the 18+ segment which is generally poorly provided for. However we have recruited a number of 16 and 17 year olds and have set up a system which complies with Child Safeguarding provisions including training a Welfare Officer and having relevant team managers and coaches DBS approved. With the new development of an under- utilised part of the ground referred to later in this report the club are reviewing whether this will enable us to expand into women’s football. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | All trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The charity aim to generate a small surplus each financial year while still giving discounts to students, unwaged and under 25’s which is an important part of the charitable work we undertake. The number of members in these categories varies each year which makes it difficult to budget for and consequently sometimes leads to a small loss being incurred. The charity aims to establish and maintain a reserve fund to cover this as well as at least one year’s pitch hire costs which we have to pay in advance. At the end of our 2022/23 financial year reserves were £41,296, which met this objective. Pitch hire costs rise each season and it remains a constant challenge for the club to balance its books without having to dip into the reserve fund originally supported |
by a generous donation from a former member and subsequently other voluntary member donations. The retention of the club’s FA Accredited Adult Club (formerly Charter Standard) status generates a discount on league membership fees and subsidised First Aid training and coaching courses. The club further subsidises this training to all members prepared to use the skills gained for the benefit of club and wider community. A number of members actively provide unpaid coaching services within youth football locally . Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The club runs 9 open age league teams who participate in the Southern Amateur League and 2 vets teams and continues to create additional voluntary roles such as welfare officer, registration officer, results officer media and communications officer to spread workload generated by the club. In recent seasons we have appointed a dedicated match day officer to meet and greet referees and officials which is carried out by a former playing member. The ongoing voluntary work of former players who have ceased playing is an important part of our community inclusive policy. Apart from running two Veterans teams to encourage older members who have come to the end of their open age playing career to continue to remain active through participation in weekly fixtures, over the last five seasons we have introduced a past players section termed ‘1875 Club’ so that they can maintain links with the club through participation to support the 1st team at home matches and at social events. |
Having worked closely with the University Trust on their development of the riverside part of the ground which was under-utilised we now have access on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays to use for Training and Matches respectively on the new 3G astroturf pitches. It is primarily for the use of the trust’s beneficiaries, the students of the university but it also provides the club with a state of the art training facility for its teams and additional pitches for Saturday football to enable the club to expand its open age teams and into women’s football in the community as well as expanding its veterans football. The club’s primary focus remains being financially viable to promote playing and training opportunities across a wide cross section of players. Subsidised membership subscriptions for young players under 25 and those assessed to require financial support. We have successfully retained FA Accredited Adult Club status for which the club received £100 voucher for training equipment and a £250 discount on our league registration fees which is currently set at £475. It has also enabled us to train a number of people in emergency first aid and help us identify those with coaching qualifications within the club and should provide them with access to various training courses. The club continues to seek volunteers to train as first aiders as each team should have one and in addition we have an arrangement with a local sports clinic who provide us with physio treatment and first aid on match days.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Annual member donations of £31,347 including gift aid and weekly match day levies collected from participating players of £37,375. Additional revenues came from fundraising raffles, and development grants. Income generated to pay for pitch hire/training facility costs, after match meals which are a requirement of our league, referees’ fees, FA and league affiliation fees and other costs in organising and providing facilities to enable amateur sport in the form of football to be played by a growing number of adults particularly in the veteran’s (40+) age group and encourage younger players from their former local youth clubs to continue to be involved with active sport beyond the age of 18 which is not provided by local youth clubs. The club have sustained a reserve fund through donations made following the death of former members. The reserve fund totalled £41,296 last year. The Club made an operating loss of £4,125 in 2022/23. We chose to reduce playing costs for our members due to the curtailment of previous seasons caused by Covid 19. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The policy is for the reserve fund to assist day to day cashflow requirements as the club do not have any bank overdraft facility and to meet unforeseen costs but mainly to cover the pitch and facility hire costs, half of which are due in advance at the start of each season. It is necessary to block book the pitches we require for our eleven teams, half playing at home each week and the training facilities, to secure them for the season. The facility owners require us to pay for these in advance. This does achieve a discount on the weekly pitch hire costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £41,296 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the |
Para 1.23 |
charity continuing as a going concern
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution adopted 25th September 2008 (as amended 10th December 2008) |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Association 200+ members |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. Election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Elected by members at AGM. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | All new trustees from 2015 AGM onwards are referred to any current Charity Commission publications on the role of trustees. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Full member of the Football Association (club formation 1875), the Amateur Football Alliance, and leagues including Southern Amateur League and West London Veterans Football League. Attendance and officer participation at various league meetings and AGMs. Club was instrumental in formation of West London Veterans Football League in 2010 as a founder member also represented by trustee as league treasurer. Club successfully retained FA Accredited Adult Club (formerly Charter Standard) status which enables regular first aid training for members through the AFA and attendance of subsidised FA approved coaching courses. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Club set up link with local youth football club Fulham United (age group 5-18) to enable players aged 18+ to continue to play football for a local community club. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | POLYTECHNIC FOOTBALL CLUB |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1127155 |
| Charity’s principal address | UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER SPORTSGROUND CAVENDISH ROAD LONDON W4 3UH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B MADIGAN | CHAIRMAN | |||
| C MONGUL | SECRETARY | |||
| K JOHNSTON | TREASURER | |||
| T BARBOUR | FIXTURE SECRETARY |
|||
| A HUTCHINGS | ||||
| G BROWN | ||||
| L SPEAR | ||||
| P BAMFORTH | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) BARRY MADIGAN ~~a~~ Position (eg Secretary, CHAIRMAN Chair, etc) ~~ee~~ Date 25th March 2024 ~~|~~
POLY F.C. POLYTECHNIC FOOTBALL CLUB lEstatL$he0 18751 FA Charter Standard Adult Club hnicf uk Accounts for y•ar ended 31•1 May 2023 1875 C 3.140.85 523.41 2,340.0) EquipftK•nt S•i•i 983.64 CoKhir 855. 153.LX) End ol S•a•on 2,504.10 198.CKI Equ & Firw P•ba 4,099.35 374.C 4.454.25 111.47 Mtch L•vhtt 37.375.98 15.00 23.753.13 12.179.02 2,9xrAI Ph11 315.1 3.450.00 Scrntch C•rd• & L••t M•n Standh 42.801.21 Tttw In¢tyh• 1.¢)39.00 6,890 00 Troph 4412&•2 44,12&02 Ownwig B•i•n £43,422.82 -£4.126.82 £41.298.80 Du• ta lh• n•bJr• ofth• c. rt * n¢X po•thkn to chock th IN tYK#)iM Ir¥j p•ythl• hav• b••n r•c•W. p•hl Ind •ccount•a I. SubJ•a to th• rpwrv•UM. the •r£oJnts •r• In [d•nce recorts tM provthd •nd eXpl•[t IAr K•lth John•ton (Tm•ur•r) August 2023 IAr Jlffl C¢>nroy (Honornry Aud AUgt 2023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru8teesl members of ÉC 31 Mt+y 2023 On aGGount¥ for th• year •nded Charlty no (if any) S•1 out on pago• I report to the trustees my examination of the accounts of the atrt)ve (knrTty (Ihe Trusf) for thè y8ar ended ResponslbllIll and As the tharity trustees of the Trust, you are re8p¢x)slble for the preparatlon ba•1• of r•port of the accounts in accordance the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Atf). I rewt in resped of my examinats'on of the Tnjsl's arLounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have follo1 the apPIable Dir8ctions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(SXb) of the AL. I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention ') in connection with the examination gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accwnting rec¢xds were not kept In a(%LYd8nc wlth s8Ctlon 130 the Act the actthnts do acc(d ¥ith th8 accounting record8 Independent examlnerfs statement I have no c<¥ncwns and have ccme across no other matter8 in connecti th examination to thich attents'on should be drawn in order to enable pro r understandin of the accounts to be reached. In brnckets rf they do not appty. Sign•d: Dats: 2023 Nam•: Relevant professlon81 quallflcatlon($) or body (If any): 11(L£S Scth iofl (luJ)T Fls£G EAd( fFoLJ Address: DA IER October 2018