2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Hitchin Bridge Club Charity registration number:1140362

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	For the public benefit (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.
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	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 competitions and invites and welcomes members not living locally to participate in online sessions. Members are encouraged to train as directors by attending courses run by the EBU, the fees of which are paid for by the Club.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	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 is an affiliated member of the English Bridge Union (the governing body of the sport) and its local county association the Hertfordshire Bridge Association. The club supports and implements their policies and guidance

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
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The club has many volunteers without whom the club would not be so organised and run as well as it does. All unpaid and much valued. Many members raise small donations to club funds through Easy FundRaising.
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	During 2024 John Colley and Martin Stickland attended the EBU Directors Course and are now running regular club sessions. Social events arranged by the club increased during 2024 with the Anniversary Pairs competition at a local golf club, the reintroduction of a New Years Party and a wine/cheese evening for the Combridge Salver competition, Numbers playing increased and these events offer an opportunity for socialising and playing with members from other sessions whom they would not normally meet. 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 ( 2024 Mudlarks Hertford)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.

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 against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The club’s financial position is sound. The Club pays for members to qualify as directors and in the light of the club’s reserves the trustees have decided to subsidise some social events.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	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. During 2024 a small industrial unit came on the market for rent and seemed to hold potential for the club, but agreement could not be reached with the owner. It now seems likely that the club will have to reconsider what options are available and look to adding/extending accommodation to existing community buildings or sharing rental property with other similar groups.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£150000
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	Not applicable
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Not applicable
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	none

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	All the club’s funds come from annual membership fees, many of which are gift aided, payment for lessons, participation in regular bridge sessions and competitions.
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	Association Model Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO (converted from a charitable company 27th May 2020)
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	All trustees are elected for a 3-year term. Each year one third of the trustees retires but they can offer themselves for re-election when their term expires. By rotation at the 2024 AGM Robert and Pauline Girvan stood down from the trustee board. Pauline decided not to stand for re-election. Mary Malcolm was proposed by the trustees as a new trustee and she together with Robert Girvan elected unopposed. Pauline was awarded life membership of the club.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Hitchin Bridge Club
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1140362

Charity’s principal address	Dane House
	23 West Hill
	Hitchin SG5 2HZ

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 (ifany)
	Margaret Elsie Eddleston	Chairman
	Richard Astley Jones	Secretary
	Robert John Girvan	Treasurer
	Roger Adrian Perrott
	Ealine Duff
	Christopher Rice
	Mary Alexandra Malcolm

– 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) Margaret Elsie Eddleston Position (eg Secretary, Chairman Chair, etc) Date 25[th] May 2025

Table 1

♠ ♣ ♥ ♦	Hitchin Bridge Club	Hitchin Bridge Club	Hitchin Bridge Club	♠ ♣ ♥ ♦
	Charitable Incorporated Organisation
	Year ended 31 December 2024
				31/12/23
General Receipts	Members’ subscriptions		£ 1,864.50	£ 2,090.00
	Gift aid tax refund		£ 559.44	£ 532.56
	Table money		£ 24,709.66	£ 27,142.86
	Deposit account interest - Redwood		£ 2530.63	£ 2,617.19
	Deposit account interest - CC bank		£ 2380.14	£ 1,748.99
	Deposit account interest - UTB		£ 71.67
	Deposit account interest - Lloyds		£ 28.51
	Hire of prepared boards		£ 510.00	£ 510.00
			£ 32,654.55	£ 34,642
Fundraising Receipts
	Easyfundraising/Amazon commission		£ 30.13	£ 128
	Sales of surplus equipment		£ 0.00	£ 45
	Other gifts and donations		£ 20.00	£ 43
Bridge School	Beginners course	£ 4,338.00
	Teacher’s fees	£ 2,895.00	£ 1,443.00	£ 1,189
	Improvers course	£ 1,110.00
	teacher’s fees	£ 873.00	£ 237.00	£ 300
			£ 34,384.68	£ 36,345
Children in need SIMS donation			£ 496.60	£ 410
Cancer SIMS donation			£ 200.00
HBA Lukyn donation			£ 180.00
Anniversary pairs	Receipts	£ 1728.00
	Expenses	£ 1720.00	£ (8.00)	£231
Expenses
	fees to BBO	£ 1,038.55		£ 1,372
	Fees to Realbridge	£ 437.04		£ 435
	EBU P2P	£ 4,518.42		£ 4,166
	Director fees	£ 6,933.43		£ 6,620
	Rent	£ 9,864.00		£ 9,406
	HBA/EBU/EBUTA (entry fees etc)	£ 0.00		£ 172
	Prizes	£ 348.95		£ 500
	Website/Scorebridge/internet	£ 142.80		£ 139
	Insurance	£ 74.70		£ 75
	Consumables, printing etc	£ 238.99		£ 330
	EBU annual fee	£ 29.00		£ 28
	Surveyor	£ 900.00
	Refreshments	£ 393.20		£ 644
	Director training	£ 288.00		£ 327
	Wessex Youth Bridge	£ 160.00
	New year/Combridge parties	£ 561.90		£ 115

1

	Advertising	£ 15.00		£ 15
	Sundry	£ 202.98	£ 26,146.96	£ 114
			£ 7,369.12	£ 11,246

2

Hitchin Brid e Club g

Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Year ended 31 December 2024

ASSETS Restricted Funds Note 2 EBED Schools bridge grant Unrestricted funds Note 3 Bank current account (Lloyds) Bank current account No 2 (Lloyds) Deposit a/c {Lloyds)	31/12/23 £ 0.00 £ 70 £ 564.55 £ 6,181 £ 1,481.27 £ 11,323 £ 20,028.51	31/12/23 £ 0.00 £ 70 £ 564.55 £ 6,181 £ 1,481.27 £ 11,323 £ 20,028.51
Savings a/c (Redwood Bank)	£ 62,347.01 £ 79,816
Savings a/cs (CC Bank) Savings a/c (United Trust Bank) Debtors unpaid table money Fixed assets Note 1 Current liabilities Creditors Prepaid table money Realbridge fees (November/December) EBU P2P fees (November/December) EBU BBO fees (November/ December) Directing fees (December) Unpaid teacher’s fees CIN expenses Represented by Restricted funds Balance unrestricted funds Opening balance Increase for year Closing balance	£ 64,817.85 £ 52,438 £ 10,071.67 £ 1,703.30 £ 3,460
	£ 161,014.16 £ 153,288 £ 2,324.10 £ 1388 £ 47.28 £ 26 £ 278.32 £ 300 £ 55.44 £ 116 £ 480.00 £ 440 £ 0.00 £ 600 £ 41.40
	£ 157,787.62	£ 150,419
	£ 0.00 £ 0.00 £ 70 £ 150,418.50 £ 139,102 £ 7,369.12 £ 11,246
	£ 157,787.62	£ 150,419

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. One possible site was explored this year, without success.

1

Ind•pendwt examinerfs stat•menl I hbve completed my examinèb"¢)n of Hiichln Bri¢Jge Club Accounts for the year pnding 31 December 2024. 1 confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connecD"on with Ihe examinatson giNina rne cause lo bclicve th?t in uny material re5pecl- 1. accountlrg records were not kept in res¢*ct of the CILtb as reqtsired by seclion 730 olthe Charit￿5 Acl 2011", or 2. accounts do not accryd %4ryth those record5. I have no concems and have comc across Th) other fnattets in connecoon Wilh the examination to which attenlion sh￿Id LE drawn in this tewrt in order to enatAe a proper understanding of thè accounis to be reached. SvJned: Name.. M8rk savage Add￿$$. 21, Cromwcjl Way. Pirton. Herts SG5 3RD Date.. g March 2025