Trustees Annual Report for the year ended on 31st March 2023
The trustees are pleased to present this annual report of Halifax Bridge Club CIO (referenced later as ‘HBC’ or ‘the club’) that was registered as charity number 1185172 on 4th September 2019. The registered office is at 44 Prescott Street, HALIFAX, HX1 2QW.
This report covers the period 01 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Objectives
The club maintains premises for the purposes of providing bridge playing opportunities for its beneficiaries. Encouragement and facilities are made available to attract all those who want to engage in the sport of bridge. Membership is open and visitors are welcome.
The objects of the CIO are.
• The advancement of amateur sport by promoting the game of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Halifax and the surrounding area.
• The provision of facilities for the learning, teaching, and playing of bridge for the benefit of the residents of Halifax and the surrounding area with the object of improving conditions of life.
The Club is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity. It considers it a fundamental principle that anyone wishing to participate in duplicate bridge, whether as player, official or in any other capacity, should be able to do so in a safe and welcoming environment, and not be subject to less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, race, ability, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, geographical location, religious or political belief or social class than any other person.
Achievements
The club has provided 6906 player sessions for its members this year. This is down on the 8000 player sessions provided last year, but this was to be expected as we came out of covid, and people could return to doing other things.
The club would like to thank Alice Zao, Joan Eastwood, Grant Ward, and David Longworth, who individually stepped down as trustees during the year, for all their experience and hard work.
44 Prescott Street Clubhouse
The hall, stairs, and bar have been painted, and the garden is well tended. The 4 Dyson air purifiers are used every session and hand gel remains available to help reduce the spread of infections during play.
F2F
Tuesday afternoon sessions continue to be our best attended session which now regularly produce 7+ tables, our heartfelt thanks go to Grant for these loved sessions. Wednesday evenings are increasing slowly. After several criticisms of the trustees from members about lack of attendance at F2F we have tried to remedy this by introducing other session. We have tried to provide sessions on Monday and Thursday evenings over the last year, but many sessions saw two or fewer tables so unfortunately these had to be stopped. Monday evening teams on the 1st and 3rd weeks have continued all year although the trustees are disappointed by their low numbers too.
Since the new Year we have started a new session on Thursday mornings which now regularly have 3 full table. This session is relaxed and friendly giving those returning to Bridge a chance to remember their learning and for newer members to practice their skills with advice and encouragement being given by TDs and players alike.
Online Bridge
Online bridge players continue to enjoy playing at Halifax Bridge Club with many members preferring this method of playing bridge. Sessions are held every Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays and most Sundays and we could maybe re-introduce a RealBridge session.
Current position
We will continue to offer our members a choice of both F2F and Online, and our future program will be determined by member take-up. It seems that many members prefer online and only come to the clubhouse for competitions or special events this remains a concern for the trustees.
Complaints/Appeals
The motto for all players is always to be kind and tolerant towards their partners, opponents, and TDs.
Overall, there have been few official complaints or disputes. And we are pleased to report that these have been resolved quickly and efficiently.
Beginners
Lessons for beginners started at the beginning of February 2023 and are delivered via videos that beginners can watch online at home in their own time and a play session at the club on a Tuesday evening using hands that go with that week’s video, it is hoped that Tuesday evening will continue later as an improver’s session.
We are planning to run another beginner’s course starting in the autumn along the lines of the one that is already running, and we will be advertising for this purpose in the Adult Learning brochure this September.
We have 4 members who are waiting for EBED to organise a teacher training course in Yorkshire so that our club can teach more beginners in the future.
We would like to thank all those who have assisted with the play sessions and those interested in the ‘Bridge Teacher Training Course’.
Local Bridge Clubs Cooperation
There were 2 joint bridge sessions amongst club members of Shelley, Huddersfield, Brighouse, and Halifax, the first beginning in Huddersfield in July filling 11 tables and the second held in October at Halifax filling 10 tables.
Financial Report.
The club is financially strong with £117,613 in its bank accounts as of 31 March 2023 and premises valued around £150,000. The club has a deficit this year of £8237, this is made up of a deficit from F2F sessions of £3050, a surplus from Online sessions of £1801, spending on decorating £3550, extending the front steps £1410, buying a backup Duplimating machine £1537, and servicing and repairing our original Duplimating machine £491. We need to increase income from players to meet the cost of maintaining the clubhouse. The trustees propose that we meet these costs from player fees rather than wholly from savings.
Future fees
In early 2020 when covid first hit we reduced table money and suspended membership subscription so that members could play more without it costing them more while they were locked down, and we maintained table money at a low-level last year because of the cost-of-living crisis. In 2016 table money was £3.00 for members, and £4.00 for non-members, and membership subscription was £10. If we restore table money to its 2016 level of £3.00 for members, and £4.00 for non-members and increase membership subscription to £20, that will represent a £10 increase in 8 years, which the trustees believe is not unreasonable.
We propose:
-
Table money be restored to its 2016 level of £3.00 for members, and £4.00 for nonmembers from 1 April 2024.
-
Subscriptions be increased to £20.00 p.a. from 1 April 2024.
Savings
Reserves remain with the NatWest bank and Calderdale Credit Union, but trustees are currently looking for a savings account with a more favourable interest rate.
Financial Administration
Because turnover is below £25,000, we are exempt from formal examination of our accounts. Finances are monitored by the Treasurer and Chair, and by monthly reports to the Trustees, members can see the financial reports below. We migrated to free accounting software provided by NatWest (FreeAgent), and player attendance is now monitored using our BridgeWebs Attendance software.
Halifax Bridge Club C.I.O. - Profit & Loss comparison between Accounting Year 2021/22 and Accounting Year 2022/23 Although this Profit & Loss is a comparison between 2021/22 and 2022/23 there can be no true comparison when in 2021/22 the club was either in lockdown or coming out of lockdown and received £9,000 in Grants.
| % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 | Difference | change | |
| Turnover | 24649 | 13714 | -10935 | -44% |
| Table Money | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Grants | 9000 | 0 | -9000 | -100% |
| Tea, Coffee, etc Income | 0 | 528 | 528 | |
| Charitable donations received | 10 | 0 | -10 | -100% |
| Sunday F2F Teams of 8 Income | 0 | 240 | 240 | |
| Membership Subscriptions | 0 | 1590 | 1590 | |
| Players' fees | 15639 | 11356 | -4283 | -27% |
| add Other Income | 79 | 417 | 338 | 429% |
| Interest Received | 79 | 417 | 338 | 429% |
| less Cost of Sales | 8710 | 7183 | -1526 | -18% |
| EBU UMS | 3152 | 3363 | 211 | 7% |
| BBO | 5385 | 3701 | -1683 | -31% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RealBridge | 173 | 119 | -54 | -31% |
| less Administration Expenses | 5603 | 15184 | 9581 | 171% |
| EBED Affiliation fee | 45 | 45 | 0 | 0% |
| Gas | 527 | 545 | 18 | 3% |
| Electricity | -1430 | 894 | 2323 | 163% |
| Water | 201 | 207 | 6 | 3% |
| EBU Affiliation fee | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0% |
| Covid Related Consumables | 221 | 0 | -221 | -100% |
| Covid Related Equipment | 2400 | 0 | -2400 | -100% |
| Calderdale B.I.D. Precept | 216 | 90 | -126 | -58% |
| Calderdale Rates | 63 | 123 | 60 | 96% |
| Cards and Flowers etc | 50 | 31 | -19 | -39% |
| Prizes | 145 | 0 | -145 | -100% |
| Sunday Online Teams of 4 Costs | 205 | 30 | -175 | -85% |
| Sign Write Honour Boards/Engrave Trophies | 0 | 384 | 384 | |
| Cleaner | 0 | 1418 | 1418 | |
| Pianola | 150 | 150 | 0 | 0% |
| BridgeWebs | 97 | 133 | 36 | 37% |
| Fire Equipment Maintenance | 0 | 333 | 333 | |
| Fire & Security Alarm Maintenance | 0 | 72 | 72 | |
| Decorating | 0 | 3550 | 3550 | |
| Extend Front Steps | 0 | 1410 | 1410 | |
| BridgeTab Licence | 64 | 111 | 47 | 74% |
| Microsoft Licence | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0% |
| Zoom | 144 | 144 | 0 | 0% |
| Competition Wine Prizes | 0 | 112 | 112 | |
| Tues Aft Prizes | 0 | 47 | 47 | |
| Tues Aft Jubilee Party | 0 | 50 | 50 | |
| Tues Aft Xmas Party | 0 | 50 | 50 | |
| Sunday F2F Teams of 8 Costs | 0 | 288 | 288 | |
| Coronation Party | 0 | 50 | 50 | |
| Burns Night | 0 | 29 | 29 | |
| Intuit Accounting Software | 293 | 0 | -293 | -100% |
| Adobe | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0% |
| Repairs and Maintenance | 616 | 264 | -353 | -57% |
| Housekeeping Consumables | 67 | 42 | -25 | -37% |
| Tea, Coffee, etc Costs | 476 | 424 | -52 | -11% |
| Playing Cards | 0 | 250 | 250 | |
| Defibrillator Battery & Pad | 0 | 305 | 305 | |
| Second Duplimating Machine Purchase | 0 | 1537 | 1537 | |
| First Duplimating Machine Servicing and Repair | 0 | 491 | 491 | |
| Computer Hardware | 16 | 376 | 360 | 2251% |
| Broadband/Wi-Fi | 232 | 342 | 110 | 47% |
| Mobile Phone | 55 | 55 | 0 | 0% |
| Stationery | 13 | 49 | 37 | 293% |
| Charitable Donations | 40 | 53 | 13 | 32% |
| Bank/Finance Charges | 4 | 8 | 4 | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | 264 | 264 | 0 | 0% |
| Use Of Home | 348 | 348 | 0 | 0% |
| Operating Profit | 10415 | -8237 | -18651 | -179% |
| less Drawings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| less Profit & Loss journal entries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Retained Profit this period: | 10415 | -8237 | -18651 | -179% |
| Retained Profit brought forward: | 265434 | 275849 | 10415 | 4% |
| Distributable Reserves / Retained Profit carried forward: | 275849 | 267613 | -8237 | -3% |
Halifax Bridge Club C.I.O. - Balance Sheet as of 31 March 2023
| Capital Assets | |
|---|---|
| Other Capital Asset Brought Forward | 150000 |
| Net Book Value (Building and Contents) | 150000 |
| Current Assets | 117613 |
| Bank Account: HALIFAX BRIDGE CLUB | 7106 |
| Bank Account: HALIFAX BRIDGE CLUB (x9788) | 10046 |
| Bank Account: HALIFAX BRIDGE CLUB (x9796) | 50472 |
| Bank Account: Calderdale Credit Union | 49988 |
| Net Current Assets | 117613 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | 267613 | |
| Owner's Equity: | ||
| Retained Profit | 267613 | |
| Total Owner's Equity | 267613 |
Payments to Trustees Required for Report to Charity Commissioners
All payments agreed and supported by receipts and/or committee meetings
Stephen Cordingley
| 08-Apr-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
|---|---|---|
| 06-May-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 08-Jun-22 | EBED Affiliation fee | 45 |
| 08-Jun-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 04-Jul-22 | Sainsburys Tea, Coffee, etc Costs | 74 |
| 06-Jul-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 05-Aug-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 09-Sep-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 10-Oct-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 07-Nov-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 06-Dec-22 | Tablet Batteries | 41.85 |
| 06-Dec-22 | Broadband/Wi-Fi | 28.52 |
| 16-Dec-22 | Tablet Battery | 9.95 |
| 10-Jan-23 Broadband/Wi-Fi 06-Feb-23 Broadband/Wi-Fi 09-Feb-23 Sainsburys Tea, Coffee, etc Costs 27-Feb-23 Defibrillator Battery & Pad 07-Mar-23 Broadband/Wi-Fi 13-Mar-23 F2F Sunday Team Travel Richard Wood 25-May-22 Repairs and Maintenance Steph Binns 21-Jun-22 Cards and Flowers 05-Oct-22 Cards and Flowers 12-Oct-22 Cards and Flowers 01-Feb-23 Cards and Flowers |
28.52 28.52 33.95 304.8 28.52 15 |
|---|---|
| 866.8 | |
| 211.2 | |
| 211.2 | |
| 14.65 3.99 5.99 5.99 |
|
| 30.62 |
Closing Statement
The club Officers and Trustees work entirely on a voluntary basis. There are no employees. The club is affiliated to The English Bridge Union (EBU) and participates in the Yorkshire Contract Bridge Association (YCBA). All activities at the club take place under the jurisdiction of the national body.