THE SCULLERY
TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2023 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Objectives and activities
The Scullery is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ("CIO") dedicated to the development of junior sculling at all levels in the United Kingdom.
The object of The Scullery is the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the public by the provision of opportunities for the sport of sculling and the provision of grants to educational establishments offering the sport option of rowing and to rowing clubs.
The Trustees believe that encouraging young people to take part in regular physical exercise is beneficial for them and for society as a whole. Sculling is thriving in clubs and schools but the event calendar does not yet meet the increasing demand for sculling. Efforts are therefore focused on providing more and better opportunities for racing, either by running events or by supporting others that do.
Achievements and performance
546 crews were accepted for the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head ("OJSH") at Dorney: a total of 1,432 boys and 1,451 girls. Racing conditions were reasonable despite a freshening northwesterly breeze. The quality of sculling in the J15 to J18 divisions was high as ever, with several “B” crews recording fast times. Lack of training time on the water for the J14 crews (due to a wet winter and dangerous streams) inevitably affected performance. The Committee had taken the difficult decision to discourage spectators due to lack of tarmac parking space for trailers and cars. Atmosphere on the bank was consequently somewhat subdued.
651 crews entered the Junior Sculling Regatta ("JSR"). 492 were accepted on the basis of average British Rowing PRI scores (a total of 758 boys and 779 girls) and 452 raced. The water at Dorney was calm and the northeasterly wind was very light. The cold and drizzle unfortunately made racing a test of competitors’ character as well as their skills and fitness. Time trials in the morning felt appropriate for the wintry weather but were not especially exciting for spectators or officials. The selection of crews according to time trial results produced excellent multilane competition in the afternoon. The standard of sculling was high in every division and many races were too close to call until the sprint along the red buoys to the finish line.
The Trustees are grateful to the management team at Dorney Lake for their help and guidance, and to the many volunteers on whom the Scullery relies. Approximately 150 officials and other volunteers are needed to run the OJSH and JSR, including 24 young people on the JSR stakeboats.
Grants
The Scullery paid grants of £11,749 in 2024. This included support of £10,000 for eight coaches following the British Rowing Performance Coach Development Programme.
Three grant applications, one for an unspecified amount, were under consideration at 30 September.
Safeguarding and risk
In relation to risk, the Trustees' principal concern is the safety of competitors at the events. The events are managed in accordance with the relevant British Rowing guidelines on water safety and child protection.
The financial risk of cancelling an event due to bad weather is not insured. The Committee would cancel the event before competitors travelled if it deemed the forecast conditions to be unsafe. It would refund a proportion of entry fees if the Trustees deemed appropriate.
Trustees are expected to manage competitors’ and volunteers’ personal data with appropriate care.
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THE SCULLERY
Financial review
The accounts for the period are set out on pages 3 and 4. Financial performance in the reporting period was strong. It followed the usual pattern: profits from the OJSH were sufficient to cover the cost of grants and underwrite the JSR.
The Trustees aim to maintain reserves approximately equal to 50% of annual expenditure so that short term fluctuations in financial performance do not impair charitable activities. The net assets of the Scullery at the year end amounted to £88,633 this being 83% of expenditure in 2024.
Barclays Bank belatedly started to convert the current account mandate from that of an unincorporated association to that of a CIO in October 2023. The Trustees transferred £30,000 to a fixed term deposit with Charity Bank in November 2023.
The Scullery incurred administration and governance costs of £683 during the year. This included hosting a supper for volunteers, a new initiative that improved engagement as intended.
Trustees and membership
The Scullery is an association model CIO. It has a written constitution that provides for its members to elect Trustees at general meetings and those Trustees to manage the affairs of the CIO. Trustees are expected to have hands-on involvement in the activities of The Scullery.
Eight Trustees served for all or part of the year:
Laura Lion (Chair) Retired 11 January 2024 Chris Morrell (President) Retired 11 January 2024 Russell Peacock Chris Williams (Secretary) Di Graham Mike Hendry Will New Ed Green elected 11 January 2024
Laura Lion and Chris Morrell both continued to serve on the OJSH and JSR Committees, Laura as Chair.
The Trustees expect Russell Peacock and Chris Williams to retire at the 2025 AGM. Both have completed three consecutive terms of office, and also gave many years of service to The Scullery prior to its incorporation as a CIO. They will not be eligible for re-election.
Membership is open to anyone who actively supports or contributes to junior sculling in the UK. There is no fee but members undertake to exercise their rights in good faith to further the purposes of The Scullery.
Plans for the future
A committee of Trustees and volunteers has started planning for the OJSH and JSR in 2025.
The Trustees expect to award grants to clubs and schools in 2024 at a broadly similar level to 2023 and 2024 and hope to continue targeted support for British Rowing coaching development.
Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have had regard to the guidance on Public Benefit published by the Charity Commission in September 2013 when exercising any powers or undertaking any duties to which that guidance is relevant.
Approved by the Trustees on 16 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Chris Williams Secretary
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THE SCULLERY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2023 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
| Receipts Oarsport Junior Sculling Head - entry fees - other income Junior Sculling Regata - entry fees - other income Payments Oarsport Junior Sculling Head - costs Junior Sculling Regata - costs Grants Administraton and Governance Cash at bank at start of year Net receipts Cash at bank at year end Assets Cash funds Assets retained for the charity's use Liabilites Creditors STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES on 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 |
Notes (1) (2) (3) (4) |
Unrestricted Funds 49,704 46,620 9,215 12,468 36,504 33,984 14,892 12,200 110,315 105,272 43,375 39,129 50,398 42,938 11,749 6,500 682 1,073 106,204 89,640 84,172 68,540 4,111 15,632 88,283 84,172 Unrestricted Funds 88,283 84,172 5,250 2,500 93,533 86,672 4,900 18,800 2024 £ 2023 £ 2024 £ 2023 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 49,704 46,620 9,215 12,468 36,504 33,984 14,892 12,200 110,315 105,272 43,375 39,129 50,398 42,938 11,749 6,500 682 1,073 106,204 89,640 84,172 68,540 4,111 15,632 88,283 84,172 Unrestricted Funds 88,283 84,172 5,250 2,500 93,533 86,672 4,900 18,800 2024 £ 2023 £ 2024 £ 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86,672 | |||
| 18,800 |
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THE SCULLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2023 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
| ES TO THE ACCOUNTS he year from 1 OCTOBER 2023 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| (1) The costs of running the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head were as follows: | ||
| Hire of lake, parking and liter | 20,062 | 17,634 |
| Tentage and toilets, etc | 10,036 | 11,080 |
| Safety, tming, marshalling and medals | 12,427 | 11,201 |
| Other | 1,240 | 1,214 |
| Timing diferences | -390 | -2,000 |
| 43,375 | 39,129 | |
| (2) The costs of running the Junior Sculling Regata were as | follows: | |
| Hire of lake, parking and liter | 18,715 | 16,561 |
| Tentage and toilets, etc | 8,460 | 6,880 |
| Safety, tming, marshalling and medals | 16,693 | 15,743 |
| Other | 5,390 | 5,141 |
| Timing diferences | 1,140 | -1,387 |
| 50,398 | 42,938 | |
| (3) Assets were valued as follows: | ||
| Cash in current account | 58,283 | 84,172 |
| Cash on deposit | 30,000 | - |
| Trophies (retrieved 2022) | 2,400 | 2,400 |
| Medals (purchased 2024 for use in 2025) | 2,850 | - |
| IT equipment (cost £300 in 2022) | - | 100 |
| 93,533 | 86,672 | |
| (4) Creditors were estmated as follows: | ||
| Suppliers invoices awaited | 3,900 | 5,650 |
| Grants awarded but not paid | 1,000 | 12,600 |
| Independent Examiner fees | - | 550 |
| 4,900 | 18,800 |
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THE SCULLERY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SCULLERY (REGISTERED CHARITY NO 1176663) ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ending 30 September 2024 which are set out on pages 3 and 4.
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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with
the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section
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130 of the Act; or
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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 attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Paul Lincoln
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