## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date Day 01 Month 01 Year 2023 Day 31 Month 12 Year 2023 **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**
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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||||
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||**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**||||
||**Name**||**Dates acted if not for wholeyear**||
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## **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**
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**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. By rotation at the 2023 AGM Margaret Eddleston, Christopher Rice and **Additional governance issues** Roger Perrott stood down from the trustee board but offered themselves **(Optional information)** for re-election and were returned unopposed. 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**
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## 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 a local school.
The club encourages members to participate in club, county, and national **Summary of the main activities** competitions and invites and welcomes members not living locally to **undertaken for the public** participate in online sessions. **benefit in relation to these objects (include within this** Members are encouraged to train as directors by attending courses run **section the statutory** by the EBU, the fees of which are paid for by the Club. **declaration that trustees have** During 2023 2 members – Christopher Rice and Mark Savage attended **had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity** the EBU Directors Course and are now running regular club sessions. **Commission on public benefit)** The club provides a round robin email partner finding service and has an online host rota where members can offer their availability.
The Club has a website, Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts. The club is a member of the Hitchin Forum.
Social events arranged by the club resumed in 2023 with the Anniversary Pairs competition at a local golf club.
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 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.
**TAR**
March **2012**
4
Over the last 12 months numbers at most club sessions have held steady or slightly increased but it is taking time for players to come back to f2f bridge after getting used to playing most of their bridge online.
The Trustees would like more members to try the Tuesday evening Real Bridge session. This is not only a friendly event and the nearest thing online to a f2f game but it gives players a chance to partner members who have moved away from the area.
Our Anniversary Pairs held at the Graveley Golf Club was very popular and it seems that there is a greater demand for more social bridge events which attract members from all our normal duplicate sessions. The trustees will address this in 2024 by re starting the New Years Party and introducing a new social format for the Combridge Trophy.
For members who are still hesitant about playing f2f we continue to hold 2 online sessions – Real Bridge on Tuesday evenings and BBO on Friday afternoons.
Online sessions offer the additional benefit of making it possible to keep in regular contact with members who have moved out of the area.
IN 2023 we held 2 Children in Need Sims Pairs and contributed £410 to that charity. The club heats for the HBA charity (Open Door St Albans) raised £168.
Our beginner’s class which started in October 2022 ended the year with 24 students who will hopefully go on the join the club when the course ends.
Members are now back in one local school with a lunchtime class for years 5 and 6.
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 to give the club more flexibility and opportunities to expand and greater security of tenure.
Regrettably it has proved impossible to work in partnership with the local authority and it seems very unlikely this will change.
Whilst the pandemic has changed bridge it has also changed the retail and office sectors of the economy. 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. The club will explore all and every possibility that arises.
The church still intends to rebuild the Scout Hut on part of the current car park site. Their plans have changed, and it is now proposed to construct a smaller modular building which will link to the present kitchen and toilets. Progress is slow but the small committee rooms have now been redecorated. It is also proposed to make some alterations to the main hall although these plans have yet to be finalised.
**TAR**
March **2012**
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## **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;
When the new scout hut is completed, it will form the home not only for the uniform groups but for Feed Up Warm Up, the Hitchin Pantry and the local foodbank.
This should free up availability in the main hall and offer the club opportunities for more f2f sessions when demand warrants it. The club and the church have an excellent working relationship which is mutually beneficial.
- contribution made by volunteers.
## Section D Achievements and performance
**TAR**
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance
**TAR**
March **2012**
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## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
Section D Achievements and performance
**TAR**
March **2012**
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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 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 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**
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**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)** Margaret Elsie Eddleston **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** Chairman **Date** 5[th] May 2024
**TAR**
March **2012**
11
Table 1
|♠
♣
♥
♦
**Hitchin Bridge Club**
♠
♣
♥
♦
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**|♠
♣
♥
♦
**Hitchin Bridge Club**
♠
♣
♥
♦
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**|♠
♣
♥
♦
**Hitchin Bridge Club**
♠
♣
♥
♦
**_Charitable Incorporated Organisation_**
**Year ended 31 December 2023**|
|---|---|---|
|**General Receipts**
Members’ subscriptions
Gift aid tax refund
Table money
Deposit account interest - Redwood
Deposit account interest - C & C
Hire of prepared boards
**Fundraising Receipts**
Easyfundraising/Amazon commission
Sales of surplus equipment
Other gifts and donations
**Bridge School**
Beginners course
Teacher’s fees
Refresher course
teacher’s fees
**Children in need donation**
**Anniversary pairs**
Receipts
Expenses
**Expenses**
fees to BBO
Fees to Realbridge
EBU P2P
Director fees
Assisted play - teacher’s fee
Rent
HBA/EBU/EBUTA (entry fees etc)
HBA Marjory Lukyn donation
Prizes
Website/Scorebridge/internet
Insurance
Consumables, printing etc
EBU annual fee
Refreshments
Ukraine donation
Director training
Advertising
Sundry|£
3,492.50
£
2,304.00|_31/12/22_
£
2,090.00_£_
_2,240_
£
532.56_£_
_515_
£
27,142.86_£ 25,404_
£
2,617.19_£_
_1,920_
£
1,748.99_£_
_436_
£
510.00_£_
_490_|
|||£
34,641.60_£ 31,005_
£
127.51_£_
_115_
£
45.30_£_
_17_
£
42.50_£_
_287_
£
1,188.50_£_
_1,419_
£
300.00_£_
_483_|
||£
900.00
£
600.00||
||£
1,360.00
£
1,590.80|£
36,345.41_£ 33,326_
£
410.00_£_
_507_
£
230.80
_£_
_3,733_
_£_
_497_
_£_
_4,235_
_£_
_5,740_
_£_
_352_
_£_
_6,694_
_£_
_116_
_£_
_139_
_£_
_75_
_£_
_145_
_£_
_27_
_£_
_262_
_£_
_162_
_£_
_250_
_£_
_15_
£
24,343.42_£_
_17_|
||£
1,371.55
£
435.36
£
4,166.00
£
6,620.00
£
-
£
9,406.00
£
4.00
£
168.00
£
500.00
£
139.20
£
74.70
£
330.00
£
28.00
£
644.46
£
-
£
327.36
£
15.00
£
113.79||
|||£
11,361.19_£ 10,360_|
1
## **Hitchin Brid e Club g** _**Charitable Incorporated Organisation**_ **Year ended 31 December 2023**
|**ASSETS**
**Restricted Funds**
**Note 2**
EBED Schools bridge grant
**Unrestricted funds**
**Note 3**
Bank current account (Lloyds)
Bank current account No 2 (Lloyds)
Savings account (Redwood Bank)
Savings Bank (CC Bank)
**Debtors**
unpaid table money
Prepaid new year party expenses
**Fixed assets**
**Note 1**
**Current liabilities**
**Creditors**
Prepaid table money
Realbridge fees (November/December)
EBU P2P fees (December)
EBU BBO fees (December)
Directing fees (December)
Unpaid Teacher’s fee
**Represented by**
**Restricted funds**
**unrestricted funds** Opening balance
Increase for year|_31/12/22_
£
70.32_£_
_70_
£
6,180.63_£_
_3,049_
£
11,322.51_£_
_9,164_
£
79,816.38_£_
_87,199_
£
52,437.71_£_
_40,689_|_31/12/22_
£
70.32_£_
_70_
£
6,180.63_£_
_3,049_
£
11,322.51_£_
_9,164_
£
79,816.38_£_
_87,199_
£
52,437.71_£_
_40,689_|
|---|---|---|
||£
149,827.55_£_
_140171_
£
3,460.40_£_
_1,538_
£
115.00_£_
_186_
£
-_£_
_0_||
||£
153,402.95_£_
_141,895_
£
1,387.60_£_
_1740_
£
25.92_£_
_78_
£
299.52_£_
_645_
£
116.41_£_
_260_
£
440.00
£
600.00||
||**£**
**150,533.50**|**_£_**
**_139,172_**|
||£
70.32_£_
_70_
£
139,101.99_£_
_128,740_
£
11,361.19_£_
_10,362_||
||**£**
**150,533.50**|**_£_**
**_139,172_**|
**Notes** 1 Assets include a Dealer 4 dealing machine, printer, laptop, Bridgemate server and handsets, 3 traditional tables (now for sale), filing cabinet, bidding boxes, sets of duplicate playing boards, tablecloths etc, all depreciated to nil. Also 24 tables kept in the Our Lady Church Hall and made freely available to other hall users.
2 The restricted grant from EBED for Bridge in schools was made in 2017.
3 The unrestricted capital funds shown in the accounts are intended to be applied by the club to obtain greater security of tenure by acquiring a dedicated building/space from which to conduct and expand their activities. It remains the policy of the trustees to build up and retain reserves for this purpose when appropriate and possible, to continue to search for any suitable property to buy/share or lease and to explore opportunities to work with other community groups with similar needs and aspirations.
1
Independent examinerfs statement
I have completed my examination of Hitchin Bridge Club Accounts for the year
ending 31 December 2023.1 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:
1 . accounting records were not kept In respect of the Club as required by section 130
of the Charities Act 2011. or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to which atlention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a
proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Mark Savage
Address: 21, Cromwell Way. Pirton. Herts SG5 3RD
Date: 10 February 2024