## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period** Period start date Period end date Day 01 Month 01 Year 2021 Day 31 Month 12 Year 2021 **From To** ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Hitchin Bridge Club **Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1140362 Dane House 23 West Hill Hitchin **Postcode SG5 2HZ** ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** **TAR** March **2012** 1 |
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|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any) **| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Margaret Elsie
Eddleston|Chairman||| ||Richard Astley
Jones|Secretary||| ||Robert John Girvan|Treasurer||| ||Roger Adrian
Perrott|||| ||Christopher Rice|||| ||Pauline Girvan|||| ||Elaine Duff|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**|||| ||**Name**||**Dates acted if not for wholeyear**|| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of adviser Name Address** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** **Section B Structure, governance and management** **TAR** March **2012** 2 **Description of the charity’s trusts** Association Model Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (converted from a Charitable How the charity is constituted Company on 27th May 2020). (eg. trust, association, company) All trustees are elected for a 3 year term. Each year one third of the Trustee selection methods trustees retires but they can offer themselves for re-election when their (eg. appointed by, elected by) term expires. **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include The Club is an affiliated member of the English Bridge Union (the additional information, where governing body of the sport) and of its County Association the relevant, about: Hertfordshire Bridge Association. The club supports and implements their policies. • policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; - the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; - • relationship with any related parties; - • trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. ## **Section C Objectives and activities** **TAR** March **2012** 3 ## For the public benefit ## **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document** - (a) the advancement of amateur sport by promoting the game of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Hitchin and the surrounding area. - (b) the provision of facilities for the learning, teaching, and playing of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Hitchin and the surrounding area with the object of improving conditions of life. The Trustees have had regard to these objects when performing their duties. None of the Trustees receive any remuneration for acting in that capacity. The Club organises several weekly sessions of duplicate bridge aimed at all levels of experience, runs annual teaching courses for people wishing to learn to play, refresher workshops for members wanting to improve their skills and has lunchtime classes for primary age children in 2 local schools. **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)** Open competitions are organised to bring in players from outside the local area and the club encourages members to participate in club, county, and national competitions. Members are encouraged to train as teachers or directors by attending courses run by the EBU, the fees of which are paid for by the Club. The club provides a round robin email partner finding service. The Club promotes the sport and the classes for beginners by taking part in community open days and has a regular yearly gazebo in the market square. The Club has a website, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. The club is a member of the Hitchin Forum. The club arranges social events for members, There is a 50% discount for members on benefits or in full time education on all charges for playing, attending lessons, or participating in competitions. Every year the Club supports Children in Need and the Herts Bridge Association’s annual local charity, collects stamps for the Orkney Lifeboats and donates its used packs of cards to local and overseas charities. In planning all its activities, the Trustees have considered the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Some of the normal activities and events were affected and cancelled for part of 2021 due to the continuing restrictions caused by Covid 19. **TAR** March **2012** 4 Covid19 continued to affect the activities of the club in 2021 with many sessions still being held online using both BBO and Real Bridge platforms. Covid has also influenced membership with numbers dropping from approx. 269 to 210 members. Fortunately, by October f2f bridge was able to resume in the church hall on Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings with sessions intended for all levels of experience and catering for both working and retired members. Numbers attending are less than pre Covid but it is hoped that with time and growing confidence this will improve. Other sessions remain online and in addition, a member continues to run an occasional zoom morning game for small groups of players who want to continue learning and improving. She also regularly phones members particularly those living alone for a friendly chat and to check on their wellbeing. Our online session to raise funds for the Letchworth Garden House Hospice ended with the return to f2f but not before it had raised a further £4600 bringing the total raised during bridge in lockdown to £8400. Holding 2 Sims heats for Children in Need in November also raised £169. One of the most pleasing aspects of the return to f2f bridge was the reintroduction of our yearly beginner’s course. The demand when these started in October was amazing with over 30 players joining the course. The way bridge is played has been changed by the pandemic and the club believes that for the foreseeable future it will hold sessions both f2f and online. This has the advantage of being able to play with members, previous partners, friends, and relatives who live in all parts of the country. The cashless payments system introduced in 2020 has bedded in well with only a few initial teething problems. This has reduced cash handling, counting, banking and is more hygienic than receiving payments in cash. The reserves policy of the Trustees has for many years been to build up the financial reserves with the long-term intention of owning/building or renting dedicated premises for the club. However, the approach to NHDC in 2020 about the possibility of leasing a piece of land (underused recreational land adjacent to the Cadwell Lane football pitch) on which the club could construct a permanent home proved wishful thinking and that project has been completely abandoned. Whilst the pandemic has changed bridge it has also changed the retail and office sectors of the economy as well. Over time new and different opportunities may present themselves making it sensible for the club to revisit the principle of dedicated or shared facilities again in the future. **TAR** March **2012** 5 ## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. The church still intends to rebuild the Scout Hut on part of the current car park site. Their plans have changed, and they now propose to construct a smaller modular building which will link to the present kitchen and toilets. There will also be alterations to the main hall to provide more flexible space and a revamp of the small committee rooms. This should free up availability in the main hall and offer the club opportunities for more f2f sessions when demand warrants it. The club will cooperate closely with the church on their plans and has offered to try to find a solution to the difficulties in respect of car parking availability. ## Section D Achievements and performance **TAR** March **2012** 6 Section D Achievements and performance **TAR** March **2012** 7 ## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** Section D Achievements and performance **TAR** March **2012** 8 TAR Mar¢h 2012 **Section E Financial review** See comments above. ## **Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves** **Details of any funds materially in deficit** None ## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: - the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); All of the Club’s funds come from annual membership subscriptions, many of which are gift aided, payment for lessons, participation in regular bridge sessions and competitions. Some members make additional donations. Some members raise small sums for the Club through Easy Fundraising and Amazon Smile when buying personal goods online. - how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; - investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. ## **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **TAR** March **2012** 10 **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** Margaret Elsie Eddleston **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** Chairman **Date** 22[nd] May 2022 **TAR** March **2012** 11 |♣ ♦
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**_Hitchin Bridge Club_**
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**|♣ ♦
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**_Hitchin Bridge Club_**
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**|♣ ♦
♥ ♠
**_Hitchin Bridge Club_**
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**|♣ ♦
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**_year ended 31 December 2021_**|||| |
**Takings**|||_31/12/2020_| |members' subscriptions||£
1,090.00|_£ 1,462.50_| |gift aid tax refund||£
526.21|_£_
_619.00_| |table money||£
10,243.52|_£ 6,987.50_| |direct fees for RealBridge/“free” BBO sessions||£
-|_£_
_249.00_| |BBO fees returned by EBU||£
20,055.53|_£ 16,298.64_| |supervised play sessions||£
-|_£_
_308.00_| |bank payment reversed (compensation)||£
-|_£_
_27.69_| |deposit account interest||£
624.30|_£ 1,479.31_| |hire of tables & prepared boards||£
150.00|_£_
_180.00_| |||**£ 32,689.56**|_£ 27,611.64_| |**Fundraising**|||| |easyfundraising.com receipt|£
42.69||_£_
_114.71_| |Surplus sales|£
30.01||| |other gifts and donations|£
146.50|£
219.20|_£ 2,103.50_| |**Anniversary Pairs** (Free session - expenses only)|||_-£_
_112.56_| |**Rising Stars**|||_£_
_205.62_| |**School**
pupils' fees (beginners & refreshers)|£ 2,040.00||| |teachers' fees|£ 1,400.01|£
639.99|_£_
_580.00_| |**Refresher Course**||£
-|_£_
_640.00_| |**Workshops**||£
-|_£_
_46.00_| |||**£ 33,548.75**|**_£ 31,188.91_**| |**Children in Need**
donation|£
169.00||_£_
_407.78_| |**General Expenses**|||| |rent|£
490.00||_£ 4,055.00_| |Hospice donation|£ 4,600.00||_£ 3,800.00_| |Fees to BBO|£ 1,491.41||_£_
_150.22_| |Fees to Realbridge|£
511.88||_£_
_28.00_| |Director fees|£ 7,744.00||_£ 5,420.00_| |insurance|£
74.70||_£_
_74.70_| |bridge consumables, printing etc|£
303.79||_£_
_178.51_| |EBU annual fee|£
27.00||_£_
_-_| |EBU P2P|£ 6,549.84||_£ 5,210.46_| |HBA/EBU/EBUTA(entry fees, etc)|£
132.00||_£_
_201.00_| |Prizes|£
200.00||_£_
_167.81_| |web site/scorebridge/internet|£
139.20||_£_
_97.20_| |dealing machine/computer maintenance|£
-||_£_
_550.00_| |refreshments|£
-||_£_
_291.16_| |advertising|£
15.00||_£_
_15.00_| |January party|£
-||_£_
_228.84_| |sundry|£
204.86|£ 22,652.68|_£_
_108.80_| |**Surplus for period**||**£ 10,896.07**|**_£ 10,204.43_**| 1 ♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ ♥ ♠ _**Charitable Incorporated Organisation Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021**_ ## ♣ ♦ ## _**Hitchin Bridge Club**_ |♣ ♦
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**_Hitchin Bridge Club_**
♣ ♦
♥ ♠
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**
**_Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021_**|♣ ♦
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**_Hitchin Bridge Club_**
♣ ♦
♥ ♠
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**
**_Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021_**| |---|---| ||| |**ASSETS**|_31/12/2020_| |**RESTRICTED FUNDS**|| |**Note 2**
EBED schools bridge grant|£
70.32 _£_
_70.32_| |**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**|| |Current bank account (Lloyds)|£
7,681.23 _£_
_11,490.68_| |Current bank account no 2 (Lloyds)|£
6,232.50 _£_
_0.00_| |Savings bank account (Redwood Bank)|£
85,279.19 _£_
_85,003.32_| |Savings bank account (CC Bank)|£
30,402.68 _£_
_20,054.25_| ||| |**DEBTORS**|| |**Note 3**
Unpaid table money|£
1801.50 _£_
_52.00_| |Unpaid BBO fees|_£_
_2,602.77_| ||| |**FIXED ASSETS**|| |**note 1**|| ||| ||**£**
**131,467.42**_£_
_119,273.34_| |**CURRENT LIABILITIES**|| |**Note 3**
Prepaid table money|£
682.50| |creditors (December Pay to Play)|£
373.56_£_
_1,312.08_| |Realbridge fees|£
98.88_£_
_21.60_| |BBO fees|£
435.20_£_
_25.00_| |Teaching fees|£
466.55| |Directing fees|£
600.00| |closing balance|**£**
**128,810.73****_£_**
**_117,914.66_**| ||| ||| |**Represented by**|| |**Restricted funds (note 2)**|£
70.32_£_
_70.32_| ||| |**Unrestricted funds**|| |Opening balance|£
117,844.34_£_
_107639.91_| |Increase for this year|£
10,896.07_£_
_10204.43_| |Closing balance|**£**
**128,740.41****_£_**
**_117844.34_**| ||| |**Total funds**|| ||**£**
**128,810.73** **_£_**
**_117914.66_**| ||| |**NOTES**|| |**1** Assets include Dealer 4 dealing machine, printer, Bridgemate server and handsets, 6 traditional
tables, filing cabinet, bidding boxes, cloths, sets of duplicate playing boards, etc, all depreciated to
Nil. The 24 “new” tables are kept in the church hall, and made freely available to other hall users.
The new Lenovo laptop has been treated as a current asset.|| |**2** The restricted grant from EBED for Bridge in schools in 2017 has an unspent balance of £70.32.|| |**3** Some members paid in advance for playing sessions. Others pay in arrears for sessions paid in the
previous month. These figures come from the new Bridgeweb’s attendance module.|| 1 Independent èxaminer's Statemenl I have completed rny examination of Hilchin Bridge Club Account5 for the year ending 31 December 2021. 1 conliirn that no malerial tnatters have come lo my attention in collnection with Ihe examination giving me cause to believe that in any materi21 r6specl'. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Club as regul￿d by section 130 ol the Chaiities Act 2011", or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no olher matters in connection with the exafninalion to which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of the accounts lo be reached. Signed". Name.. Mark Savage Address.. 21. Cromwell Way. Pirton, Herts SG5 3RD Dale.. 26 Febreuary 2022