THE SCULLERY
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2024 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
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 Charity Commission reference number is 1176663.
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.
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 opportunities for racing. Grants and bursaries provide further support.
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.
Achievements and performance
572 crews were accepted for the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head ("OJSH") at Dorney: a total of 1,549 boys and 1,502 girls. Over 90 clubs and schools entered, around 70% from the south-east and 30% from further afield. The weather on the day was unseasonably warm and the racing conditions were excellent. The quality of sculling was high as ever, with the fastest open and womens quads covering the 3600m course in less than 12 minutes and around 13 minutes, respectively. The Committee had again strongly discouraged spectators due to the expectation of poor ground conditions: Dorney was not planned with winter events in mind. This inevitably affected the atmosphere on the bank but did not unduly concern the crews on the water. 473 entries were accepted for the Junior Sculling Regatta ("JSR"), the crews comprising in total 734 boys and 789 girls. 436 crews raced in the time trials, others having scratched, with the fastest in each division progressing to multilane races. The wind unfortunately strengthened and veered to an easterly in the afternoon causing significant delays in aligning and starting crews. Most B and C finals were cancelled, which was frustrating for all involved but allowed racing to finish almost on time.
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 and Bursaries
The Scullery paid project grants of £4,550 to clubs and schools in 2025. Awards totalling £2,500 were outstanding at the year end as projects were incomplete.
The Scullery paid bursaries of £1,250 to support individual sculling coaches in 2025. All were participants in the British Rowing Coach Development Programme.
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 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. The OJSH was profitable and the JSR was better than breakeven.
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 £110,328 this being 111% of expenditure in 2025.
Cash is held in a Barclays Bank current account and Charity Bank deposit accounts.
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:
Russell Peacock Retired 16 January 2025 Chris Williams Retired 16 January 2025 Will New Mike Hendry Di Graham Ed Green Jono Cheesman Elected 16 January 2025 Jill Cobbett Elected 16 January 2025 Four officers served throughout the year: Chris Morrell President Laura Lion Chairman Les Scrine Treasurer Chris Williams Secretary
Four officers served throughout the year:
The Trustees expect Will New and Mike Hendry to retire at the AGM in January 2026. Both will be eligible for re-election but Will New is not expected to stand.
Membership is open to anyone who 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 2026.
The Trustees expect to award project grants to clubs and schools in 2026 at a somewhat higher level than in 2025. They will continue to award bursaries to support participants in the British Rowing Coach Development Programme with a view to increasing the number and seniority of female coaches in junior sculling.
The possibility of another event for younger scullers was discussed with Dorney Lake but no suitable date was available. The Trustees continue to explore means by which The Scullery could further support junior sculling.
Approved by the Trustees on 21 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Chris Williams Secretary
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THE SCULLERY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2024 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| Receipts Oarsport Junior Sculling Head - entry fees - other income Junior Sculling Regatta - entry fees - other income Bank interest Payments Oarsport Junior Sculling Head - costs Junior Sculling Regatta - costs Grants Administration 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 Liabilities Creditors STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES on 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 |
Notes (1) (2) (3) (4) |
51,528 13,814 39,060 15,022 1,940 121,364 45,422 47,262 5,800 835 99,319 88,283 22,045 110,328 110,328 2,638 112,966 4,345 2025 £ 2025 £ |
49,704 9,215 36,504 14,892 - 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110,315 | |||
| 43,375 50,398 11,749 682 |
|||
| 106,204 | |||
| 84,172 4,111 |
|||
| 88,283 | |||
| 88,283 5,250 2024 £ |
|||
| 93,533 | |||
| 4,900 |
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THE SCULLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS for the year from 1 OCTOBER 2024 to 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| (1) The costs of running the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head were as follows: Hire of lake, parking and litter 21,672 Tentage and toilets, etc 11,504 Safety, timing, marshalling and medals 12,833 Other 1,123 Timing differences -1,710 45,422 (2) The costs of running the Junior Sculling Regatta were as follows: Hire of lake, parking and litter 19,907 Tentage and toilets, etc 10,336 Safety, timing, marshalling and medals 13,854 Other 6,150 Timing differences -2,985 47,262 (3) Assets were valued as follows: Cash in current account 24,908 Cash in deposit accounts 85,420 Trophies (retrieved 2022) 2,400 Medals (purchased 2024 for use in 2025) - IT equipment (cost £358 in 2025) 238 112,966 (4) Liabilities were valued as follows: JSR supplier invoices awaited 1,845 Grants awarded but not paid 2,500 4,345 2025 £ |
20,062 10,036 12,427 1,240 -390 2024 £ |
|---|---|
| 43,375 | |
| 18,715 8,460 16,693 5,390 1,140 |
|
| 50,398 | |
| 58,283 30,000 2,400 2,850 - |
|
| 93,533 | |
| 3,900 1,000 |
|
| 4,900 |
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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 2025
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ending 30 September 2025 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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