
## **Dartington Recreation Association** 

Annual report 1.4.21 – 31.3.22 

Type of governing document: Constitution 

How the charity is constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) 

Trustee selection method: by election (appointed trustees) and nomination by affiliate clubs (nominated trustees) 

## **Summary of charity objects** 

To provide or assist in the provision of land and facilities for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Dartington and the surrounding area, and of such other area or areas as the trustees may from time to time resolve to invite, for recreation, sport, education or other leisure time occupation of groups and individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants. 

## **Summary of main activities** 

The charity has made significant progress towards establishing Meadowbrook as a hub for recreation and sport for all who live, learn, work and play in Dartington. Building on the success of the play park installed in 2020, the charity has breathed new life into the community centre and added to the facilities by building an open-access, two-loop, rustic bike track. The charity has welcomed back clubs and activities paused during the worst of COVID and established relationships with new organisations. 


**Summary of main achievements** 

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A long time in the planning, the bike track project was completed this year thanks to the amazing efforts of a small group of volunteers. Funding from South Hams District Council (Section 106) and British Cycling has transformed a neglected parcel of woodland into an exciting, two loop track. The outer loop is suitable for younger riders and three wheel trikes; the inner loop is a pump track suitable for riders seeking more challenge. It has been constructed around the established trees making it a genuinely rustic track. The track is unsupervised and open 24/7. It has been phenomenally popular from the moment it was completed! Located at the end of the cycle track connecting Totnes & Dartington and on the cycle route linking Dartington to the nearby Steiner School, the track is safely accessible to hundreds of children and young people. 

In March 2021 the Meadowbrook Social Club, long-term tenants of the Community Centre, took the difficult decision to permanently close.  After 40 years as a major asset to the community, this came as a serious blow. It meant that responsibility for the Community Centre reverted to the Charity. The building was empty and unused for the majority of 2020 as a result of COVID. It was in a very poor state of repair. Concerned that the building could become a significant drain on the Charity’s reserves, the Trustees were keen to find users of the space that would not only provide amenities for the parish but also contribute to the running costs of the building. 

A local chef and entrepreneur took on part of the downstairs space to open a pizza take away, and the remaining downstairs space was taken on by local, community-owned brewery, New Lion, to run a tap room. From tentative beginnings and the uncertainties of COVID, the two organisations have gone from strength to strength not only providing wonderful new amenities for the village but also enabling other organisations to flourish. The occupation of the ground floor has enabled the reopening of the upstairs rooms for sports clubs, parties and events. This includes Aikaido, ballet, Kung Foo, dive club and drama. The snooker room, which contains a full size snooker table, has also been re-opened and is available to anyone to book and use. Bookings are managed on-line which has made the facilities more accessible to more people. Pop up caterers are invited on site at the weekend to provide a more varied food offering. 

The community brewery offers a rich, diverse and evolving programme of events including book club, board games nights, jamming sessions, live music, DJ nights and quiz nights. 

Clubs affiliated to the charity were all hit hard by COVID. The Dartington Swimming Pool club had two seasons affected by COVID restrictions - a problem compounded by the shortage of qualified life guards post COVID. The Totnes Sub Aqua Club had a much restricted programme of diving but has come through the pandemic and is growing its membership. The Meadowbrook Athletic Football Club has suffered a decline in members and has agreed to merge with Totnes & Dartington Football Club. 

The charity is fortunate to have strong relationships with the three schools that neighbour Meadowbrook (Bidwell Special School, River Dart Academy and Dartington Primary School),  the Dartington Parish Council, the Dartington Hall Trust and affiliated clubs. The ways these organisations work together is well illustrated by coordinated fund raising to install a defibrillator in Spring 2022. The school raised £251, the council granted £1500 and the remainder was made up by 

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donations from all the clubs and organisations connected to the DRA. The DRA was delighted to have the support of Jay’s Aim, a local charity working tirelessly to reduce the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people in the south west, with the installation of the defibrillator and training of local people to use it. 

The trustees are proud of the charity’s achievements in 2021/22 and confident that they are making major strides towards becoming a hub for recreation and sport for the village. 

In 2022/23 the trustees will focus on: (1) establishing sustainable post COVID income for the charity; (2) further strengthening the governance of the charity; (3) planning for the re-development of the community centre and swimming pool. 

## **Charity’s policy on reserves** 

The charity retains £20,000 as a reserve. This is sufficient to cover the running costs of the charity for a year. 

## **Financial review** 

The charity received £93,632.66 in the period 1.4.21 – 31.3.22. 

This included: Grant from Dartington Parish Council  towards defibrillator £1500 Grant from Dartington Parisk Council  towards Colins Bridge repairs £943.20 4 grants from South Hams District Council Covid rate relief grant 2 £8000 Covid leisure grant £2667 S106 grant for community centre £2775.94 S106 grant towards bike track £11,387 Grant from British Cycling £18,320 towards bike track 

The remaining funds came from a range of sources including contributions from clubs and payment for use of the car park. 

In the same period, the charity expended £92202.24. This comprised installation of bike track, and ongoing maintenance and repairs of the facilities, 

At the financial year end, the charity held a balance of £58,685.72. 

Trustees Current Will Fitzgerald Margarent Cushen Louise Morpeth Mandy Burton 

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Jan Maddick 

Resigned Jinty Balch ( May 22) Peggy Prout (March 22) Alan Blake (August 22) Lynne Williams (July 22) 

This report was approved by the trustees on 27th  September 2022. 

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DARTINGTON RECREATION ASSOCIATION
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2022
Charlty no. 1168817
RECEIPTS
2022
Total
5691
31448
845
2021
Total
5848
892
1217
55
1325
276
Gen8rn1
Des¥Jnaled
Rest17cled
ReiYI'. DarbNJlon Trust Car Park
Olher rents
5691
31448
Affiliated Club Rants
BAnk Account interèst
Coppicing
Mi5cellan99u¥ Inwmg
Grants.. Dartington Pxrish Cwn(xUSHDC 2015
Grdnis SHDC S1¢
659
2443
659
2443
14163
16000
2667
14163
46679
20658
SHDC Covid grant P8vilionslMg8dowbrook rate
SHDC Covid leisurg grant
Fund Raising
Funding Ap￿ICa￿.0ns Awards for all
Funding Appll¢aUons Post code Lottery
Fundlng Applicaknon British Cyding
Donations
16000
2667
9850
20000
18320
18320
385
246
408
122
Insurdnce
246
9671
317
98
Electricity Income
Water and $6werag6 Income
Pod Grass eul
P8villon8 Repair toilet
Repairs sink fund
TOTAL RECEIPTS
122
66
850
117800
233
233
233
93633
S6652
36747
PA YPAENTS
Field Grass Cutting & otherfield maintena[￿8
Play Park Grass cajtting
Bins & cleaning
mèad0wb￿ok gas and electriThty
Meadovrtjrook rates
2961
2961
580
1585
12011
1592
3254
5482
11476
1750
900
423
1585
12011
1592
3254
General Maintenance
1011
3292
437
52
89
118
71
665
136
4044
87
95
4297
8686
Rapairs M8adcMbrook Building
Repairs Pavillions Buildings fire extinguishers
Swimming Pod Sèwerage Rates
Swimming Po￿= Water Rates
Pavillions Foolball Season Water Rates
11476
122
95
116
122
95
116
50
18
Pavillions Football Sèason Sawèrydgè R8tgS
E18Ctricity Swimming Pool
Electricity Pavillions
Rate Relièf grant donalK)ll to Po
Rale Relief Covid grant donationlo Sub Aqua
Insuronce M8Adovk>mok Conlants
18
Insuranc8
1717
1717
Insurance Payout repairs Pa￿l￿)nS
Insurance repairs Pavilions Covid gr8nl
,1 i ill
983

Offic8 Admi
553
538
Coppicing Expenses
New Play Park Fencing & Play Bark
Fun Day expenses
Bik& Track Expènsès
Awards for all
37113
5017
37113
5017
2982
Play Park payments post (xde Lottery
Play Park
Kompan (post code Lottery)
Gran'%S SHDC S106 Kompan
Play Park Benches frorn 2019 PC grant
Miscellaneous
3962
3￿2
3708
18000
46679
840
273
30
100737
4979
73
50073
4979
73
92202
Pool gra55 Cuts
TOTAL PAYMENTS
42130
Excèss of Ir￿Me over Expenditure
Adlustmonl
6580
-79
233
4383
1430
-79
17063
Bank and cash balar￿5 al start of yaar
33886
8868
57334
40271
Bank and cash balarths at end of year
40387
14813
3485
58685
57334
DARTINGTON RECREATION ASSOCIATION CIMrty•xlllU17
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIE5 AT 315t MARCH 2022
General
Destgnated
Restrict8d
2022
2021
Assets
Bank & CAxh B*laJJces
8srclay8 Curr8nt
Barclays Saver less ¢ovid grant
Covid Grant remalnder
23672
14813
3485
41970
14806
5261
12388
14998
1500
386
1744
PC (*8nl Ipremous restrthl fvndsl
Match fu￿1ng savers account
Users Repairs Account
1909
1909
COIF Chariti8s Deposit Fund
Cash in hand
20838
219
40387
14813
3485
58685
57334
Llabllllles
Ind8pendent Examin8r
330
330
330
Note..
The trustees confim, in acLX)rdance wlh the Charitabte
Incorporatad Organis81ions (Generall ReguJatk)ns 2012.
that at Ihe y8ar 8nd th8 CIO did not have any outstanding
guarantees to third parties nor any debls Secu￿ C￿ Ihe
assets of tho CIO.

Independent Examinerfs Report to the
Trustees of Dartington Recreation Associatlon ao
arity no. 1168817
I report to the tm5tees on my examination of the accounts of Dartlngton Recreation Association CIO
for the year ended 31" March 2022.
Responslbllitles ond bosis ofreport
As the charlty trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with
the requirements of the chartties Act 20111.the ACY'I.
I report in respect of my examination of the Charitys accounts carried out under sectlon 145 of the
2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable D1￿ctionS given by
the Charity Commission under 5ettion 14515llbl of the Act.
Independent exomlnerf5 5totement
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 charity as required by section 130 of the Act,. or
The accounts do not accord wtth those record5.
I have no concems and have come across no other matter5 in connection with the examination to
which attention should be drawn in thls report in order to enable a proper understanding of the
account
e reached.
I P Borre
Barretts
Chartered Accountants
22 Union Street
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ12 2JS
FC
24th ortober 2022