2024-12-31-accounts - The Nottingham Bridge Club

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/02/24 To 31/12/24

Charity name: The Nottingham Bridge Club

Charity registration number: 1170537

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	1) The advancement of amateur sport by promoting the game of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Nottingham and the surrounding area. 2) The provision of facilities for the learning, teaching and playing of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Nottingham 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	In planning our activities for the year, the trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustees’ meetings. Our focus can be broken down into the following categories: • Provide regular sessions at which bridge can be played thus promoting the game of bridge • Make the club as welcoming and friendly as possible to attract more players. The club provides a destination for bridge players of all abilities, many of whom are elderly. The club therefore is a place in the community for social interaction, as well as allowing for the mental stimulation (and associated medical benefits) that bridge has been shown to provide. • Encourage new players through the provision of lessons and other educational initiatives.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Confirmed

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Additional information (optional)

	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 CIO is entirely run by volunteers – both those serving as trustees and a large number of people whose contribution perhaps goes under the radar. The contribution of all volunteers is greatly appreciated – without their time and effort the CIO would not be able to function and certainly would not be the success it is.
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	Face-to-face Play We continue to provide face-to-face drives each week. A total of 254 players took part in at least one session, compared with 242 last year. We held two teams of four sessions and one individual session. Online Play There was, again, a slight decline in players taking part in our weekly online drive: 59 this year compared with 65 last year. However, the online drive continues to be viable. This year, we only entered four teams for the county’s team of eight competition. For some members, online play has little attraction. For team captains, there is considerable work in finding dates where both sides can field teams. This experience seems not just confined to our club, as the County Association has had to extend the competition to clubs outside the county.

Teaching Andrew Scott has continued his beginners courses, with a full subscription to his two classes. In addition, Andrew Scott, Dave Nattrass and Ian Dovey have all provided teaching sessions during the year, returning the fees charged to the club. The Club provides its facilities free-of-charge for teaching and we acknowledge with thanks the corresponding generosity of our teachers.

An essential part of our player development is our Wednesday evening supervised play sessions. We are indebted to our enthusiastic and dedicated team who have made these sessions such a success – often with ten tables in the evening. These were originally intended as a transition for beginners moving from Andrew Scott’s lessons to regular drives. However, they have proved to have wider appeal. Players include those who have attended beginners classes elsewhere and those returning to bridge after a long period away from the game. During the year, the team has been introducing Wednesday evening players into our other drives. Financial Position

Following agreement at the 2024 AGM, accounts have been prepared in a Receipts and Payments format. Income and expenditure are quite closely in line with that of 2023 with two notable exceptions.

Planned work on building maintenance and decoration did not take place, so the repairs and renewals figure is much lower than would otherwise have been the case. An initial expenditure of £8,000 had been approved by the trustees.

We are in discussion with Nottingham City Council over an invoice for use of the car park, amounting to £5,137.50 at the end of the year. This includes payments during the pandemic, which we had understood to have been waived, and for 2024 when we were unable to secure the car park because the Council failed to repair a damaged gate.

Our surplus in 2024 was £13,800 which coincidentally would have covered the planned £8,000 expenditure on the building

and, should it be necessary, the Council demand for the car park. The available funds at the end fo 2024 were £56,800. As well as the building wok mentioned above, we are aware of the need to bring the three flats up to EPC C. The club has continued to be generous in the free provision of refreshments to members at special events. We also passed on table fees from all five of our face-to-face drives in support of the Children in Need simultaneous pairs competitions. Social We continue to enjoy the benefits of the excellent refreshments provided by our catering team. Our bar operates to provide a social setting for our members rather than a revenue stream. Paul Goodwin is responsive to requests for new drinks to be available and couples this with careful and creative pricing to ensure a good turnover of stock, while generating a suitable cash surplus.

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	No going concern issues. Due to the ongoing rental income from the flats above the bridge-playing premises (supported by reserves), the CIO has sufficient funds to cover its costs.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	As well as holding reserves as a bulwark against disruption to play, as during the covid pandemic, we anticipate appreciable expenditure in maintenance of the building and redecoration. Reserves are also maintained as a safeguard against tenants who fall into arrears and any necessary refurbishment. The trustees expect that expenditure will be required in the coming years to improve the energy efficiency ratings of the flats.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	At the end of 2024, there was £56,800 of available funds.
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)

Additional information (optional)	Additional information (optional)	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	The main sources of income are rental income for the flats on the top floors of the CIO’s premises and the nominal table money payable for each session.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	Where the CIO has surplus funds, there is an investment policy which allows for these funds to be invested on a short term basis, but at minimal/no risk.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Bridge has a reducing following in the country and the trustees are mindful of the need to always be seeking to attract new entrants to the game.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
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	Election by members

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
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Nottingham Bridge Club
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1170537
Charity’s principal address	401 Mansfield Road Nottingham NG5 2DP

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Andrew Scott	President
David Dunford	Chairman
Jean McKee	Secretary
Phil Gross	Treasurer
Gerard McCormack
Stefka Samus
Susanna Hollins
Marc Gaudart
David Treharne
Paul Goodwin
Wilfrid Fenwick		To July2024
Margaret Litchfield
Sheilagh Resnick

– 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) Andrew Scott Full name(s) David Harold Dunford

Position (eg Secretary, Chairman Chair, etc)

Date

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees

THE NOTTINGHAM BRIDGE CLUB

On accounts for the year 31 December 2024 Charity no 1170537 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-1 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024

Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 23 January 2024 Name: David Beaumont Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:

THE NOTTINGHAM BRIDGE CLUB – Registered Charity 1170537 Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

Receipts and Payments

Receipts	2,024	*2,023*	Payments	2,024	*2,023*
Flats (gross)	18,480	18,480	Flats (expenses)	3,565	2,643
Bank interest	264	156	Bank/Square charges	197	192
CiN donations	300	51	CiN	650	709
Bar	2,736	2,981	Bar	2,169	2,335
Subscriptions	2,550	2,450	Utilities/Waste	6,199	6,185
Face to face	13,163	12,398	EBU	3,511	3,294
BBO	2,259	2,634	Car Park	868	3,472
Gift Aid	313	333	Insurance	1,894	1,628
Other (Note B)	1,200	987	Cleaning	4,493	4,290
Cashless prepaid	2,155	2,176	Repairs/Renewals	1,655	11,207
			Sundries	4,413	4,606
			See Note A		455
Total Receipts	43,420	42,645	Total Expenditure	29,614	41,017

Statement of Assets & Liabilities

	2,024	*2,023*
Bank accounts at 1 Jan	45,166	43,521
Cash at 1 Jan	39	56
Plus uncashed/cleared cheques	0	38
Less cashless prepayments	2,155	2,176
Surplus/(deficit)	13,806	1,628
Cash at 31 Dec	39	39
Bank accounts at 31 Dec	58,972	45,166
Available funds at 31 Dec	56,818	43,067
Bar stock	642	797
Other assets: 401 Mansfield Road & contents
Note A: Purchase of additional tablets
Note B 2024:
- Room hire £200
- Teaching £802.50
- Donation £197.50

Note: There is an outstanding demand of £5,137.50 for the car park, which is being contested.