2020-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 31 December 2019 Period start date To 31 December 2020 Period end date

Charity name: Southampton Canoe Club

Charity registration number: 1171807

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	‘The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Southampton and persons living in and around Hampshire by the provision of facilities for kayaking and canoeing’.
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	Open to the Community- Although it was a challenging year, as we all know, in the early and middle of 2020 when we were able to operate we offered FREE of CHARGE Kayaking Taster sessions, as usual. Membership numbers 2019-2020 Sport Development - Weight Gym - We've seen our plans for an in-house Gym become a reality, many thanks to our fitness coach for getting it all together and to our grants officer for her fundraising efforts, not just for the Gym but for all the otherprojects too.

Circuits and Ergos - Our fitness coach also provided us with our COVID-19 lockdown circuits sessions and a thank you goes to various coaches for setting up and leading the online zoom sessions, we had all got used to participating on. The winter season saw us getting back into some of our more normal off the water activities to maintain fitness strength & conditioning for all who wished to participate. Talent Club- The Talent Club thrived during the year. Sadly though, along with all the other Junior athletes in the country, their efforts were not able to be put to competitive use , but they kept up the training so that they would be 'good to go' when racing recommenced. Congratulations go to one of our female younger paddlers who was selected by British Canoeing for the role of "She Paddles Club Champion" Coaches - We saw an expansion in our coaching team with various newcomers having gone through Racing Discipline Specific training modules during the last year. Coaching Sessions - Our Saturday sessions, have been slightly adjusted to provide a clearer four step incremental structure for newcomers to the sport to learn and progress. It is gratifying to note the slowly increasing number of women and girls within the membership. Race Events - Marathon - Having successfully organised the Hasler Finals at Hamble the year before we had hoped to organise our annual Hasler Marathon race event at Bitterne Park in Southampton in 2020. However, the pandemic had other ideas. Race Events - White Water race - We did though manage to organise and run our first 'white-water' race at the weir at Woodmill in February 2020 and we have aspirations to run a second white water race; a 'head of the river' race and a sprint regatta in coming years. Race Events - Sprint - No sprint competitions took place in 2020, however the possible reduction of UK Sport funding has caused British Canoeing to re look at the whole British Sprint structure. Our Race Captain represented the club in this process at two, three hour meetings a week for 2 months as part of the Task and Finish groups that made suggestions to go forward to the British Canoeing Board.

		The report will bring major change to Sprint racing and will have some likely knock on effects into marathon, we suspect they will move to a Local, Regional and National format for regattas, and look to have combined Marathon and Sprint Junior Training days. The South Cerney regatta scheduled for September was unfortunately cancelled however one of our athletes did get to race their as part of a Talent day earlier in the month. The Sprint Racing Committee have nominated the Royal Paddling Challenge as a 5km and 10km National Championship. Welfare Officer - Safeguarding training updates - underway - agreed at coaches meeting that all coaches would undertake an on-line training session before new guidelines come into force in September. Key Tasks: Create index of policies and guidance: - complete Policies and guidance in place:- new policies written for review Create a coaches role descriptor :- to go to coaches meeting Changes to Action Plan:- No changes required Liaison with other Clubs in the Area- Southampton Canoe Club have continued to develop their links with Poole Harbour Canoe Club, Hamble Canoe Club and Hamble Sea Scouts by organising local race events, when possible to do so, which attract their membership to the sport of marathon kayak racing and equally promotes the presence of both their club and ours to all participants in so doing.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In planning our activities for the year 2020 we kept in mind the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. The main activities as described earlier are :- 1. We have offered 'Open to the community' FREE of CHARGE Taster sessions when able to do so, as limited by the COVID-19 rules and regulations. 2. Provision of an Amateur Sport Development programme supported by trained coaches for all ages and abilities, has remained possible for those able to take part in sessions. 3. Whilst we had wished to offer a racing calendar of events for both localpeople andparticipants from

further afield - to allow them to use the skills they have learnt in a competitive environment, this was limited by the COVID-19 rules and as such very few events were possible during this period. 4. Continuing to develop links with other clubs to offer an outlet for the development of kayaking together with their own activities, has also been difficult due to the COVID-19 limitations. All the above activities benefit all ages and abilities in developing their self confidence and social skills, whilst maintaining their health and mental well being by actively participating in a sports activity with other like-minded participants.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Southampton Canoe Club does not offer grants to individuals or other organisations - and this facility is not promoted by the Club.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	Southampton Canoe Club uses its charitable funds to pay to maintain the training of its volunteer coaches to run the Monthly Taster sessions for the general public at NO CHARGE to all those that attend and it does not pass this training cost onto attendees. We are also developing our portfolio of available coaches by training new coaches as and when persons show the aptitude to do so. Our funds also extend to maintaining our fleet of kayaks, paddles and buoyancy aids which are used by all new-comers for the early years of their involvement at no extra cost until such time as they wish to buy their own equipment.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	All the Coaches, Administrators and Officers of the Club offer their time freely and at no cost to Southampton Canoe Club. This enables the Club to offer their facilities and coaching at the lowest possible costs for all those who wish to become full members of the club.

	Other		The Trustees wish to recognise the contribution of its Volunteer Coaches and Committee Members in continuing to meet the Charities Objectives. Although membership tends to fluctuate year on year the volunteers continue to develop new ideas and coaching methods which has meant that we have been able to again extend our membership to over 100 in this last financial year. We have also been able to maintain interest in training through the winter evenings by operating ERGO machine and Circuit Training sessions twice a week which has been open to all club members to attend free of charge as part of their membership. These events during lock- down were run via video conferencing methods when necessary and maintained a connection with the club for many participants at that time. The development of a weight-training gym has meant that our aspiring young Talent Club members as well as other club members have been able to weight train at our own site, and this has already been well attended.

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	We continue to work together with Active Nation at the Woodmill Activity centre site and we are continuing to explore a way to have a more permanent structure on site which we can call our own - this remains in the early development stage but still is an ongoing project for the next few years. The main aims of the Club are to not only get more people active but to develop those people into talented athletes in the field of kayaking. In order to measure our achievement in this area we are always keen to demonstrate this by their singular achievements across the year. To this end we usually outline the notable accomplishments which have been well earned by members. However, due to the lack of organised events that were allowed during the Pandemic lockdown, there is little to talk about in this respect for 2020. Indeed the Devizes to Westminster Race was cancelled again too.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Maintaining a real connection with our members through the pandemic lockdown turned out to be our highest objective for 2020. A big thankyou goes out to all the coaches and volunteers and contributors who ran and took part in virtual training sessions and Quiz nights on ZOOM to entertain the membership during the months of lockdown.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Our funding officer has not been quiet and has been successful in gaining funding from various commercial enterprises, to support the club and we thank her for her continued sterling efforts in this regard. Funding achievements - Grants received - a. sponsorship for kit for Juniors b. help with New Gym setup c. for new pontoons d. for new novice K1 boat Funding Aims for 2021- The coming year could be trickier as grants available will be focused on those suffering significant hardship from Covid. Our membership numbers are down significantly so we will need to work hard at recruiting and retaining members which will be our main source of income, plus continue to spot funding opportunities for new projects.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	The funding gained assisted in completing our objective of creating an in-house gym situated in a shipping container on site and this we have fitted out as well with solar-powered lighting and gym equipment.
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Below is a copy of our unaudited end of year accounts statement for 2020.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We do not hold any reserves
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	None
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	The Club operates with the funds that are available and continues to function with a positive bank balance.
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	Not applicable

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
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	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation ( 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	Appointed by Election by the Members of the CIO

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		Southampton Canoe Club Trustees have delegated the day to day administration of the Club to a Club Committee, it's structure is as follows:- Committee- Chairperson Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer Officers- Welfare Officer Admin Officer Head Coach Grants/ Funding Officer Website Manager Quartermaster Junior Representative/s Race Captain This committee has 6 meetings per year. In addition the Committee have delegated the management of the Coaching team to a sub- committee run and managed by the Head Coach and this also has 6 meetings per year.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51		The Club's Coaches operate strictly under the rules and governance of the National Governing Body of British Canoeing and the Committee also ensures that its Coaches attend regular update seminars and training events.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charityname	SouthamptonCanoe Club
Other name the charity uses
Registered charitynumber	1171807
Charity’s principal address	Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre Woodmill Lane Southampton S018 2 JR

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(if any)
	Steve Rance	Head Coach
	PhilipAmey	Admin Officer
	James Hinves	Coach
	Neil McLeod	Coach

– 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 Not applicable Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the Not applicable assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and Not applicable 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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Philip Amey
	Administration Officer
	15/10/2021
	15/10/2021