2020-12-31-accounts

Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Charity number 1185646

Annual report and financial statements for the period 7 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Report of the trustees

1 Introduction

The trustees submit their report and financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2020.
The charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) was registered on 7 October 2019.
The trustees have overall responsibility for the direction, management and control of the CIO.

2 Objects and activities

The club’s primary purpose is to encourage the sport of croquet to everyone. Croquet is particularly
suited to encourage healthy recreation for people of all physical abilities. At the same time it can be
played as a serious competitive sport. Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club is situated in a major park
area in the town, and is easily accessible to all.

Our target is to provide a welcoming social environment for casual players, and in parallel to develop
as one of the top clubs in the region for competitive croquet.

3 Transfer from unincorporated entity to charitable incorporated organisation In October 2019, approval was received to transfer the operations of Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club (an unincorporated entity) to a new CIO of the same name.

On 29 July 2020, the CIO received a donation from the old club of £20,578. This included sums received
by the old club in spring and early summer 2020.

4 Review

The CIO was set-up in October 2019 by simple transference from the old unincorporated club. The
winter period from October to March is traditionally a quiet time for all croquet clubs as the weather is
not conducive to play nor maintaining a healthy grass playing surface.  So, the winter of 2019-2020
proved to be.

Just as we were preparing for the new 2020 season, the extraordinary pandemic that hit in March
effectively nationally stopped croquet in its tracks for at least two months. Then from June onwards only
very limited, closely controlled and strictly socially-distanced play was possible.  This hit us very hard
in both our two major objectives:

to provide a good social environment whilst indulging in healthy outdoor activity, and
to actively participate in local, regional, and national competitions.

Despite these severe usage constraints, we were able to maintain our membership at around 85 people,
helped by a one-off decision by the trustees to subsidise the membership fee by 40%.  This proved a

-- 1 --

Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Charity number 1185646

Annual report and financial statements for the period 7 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Report of the trustees (continued)

good decision and over the summer we did manage to function - with almost half the membership
playing regularly.

We were able to run an almost full programme of internal competitions, under the Covid guidelines.
However, all of the regional leagues in which we actively participate were forced to cancel and only a
few of the national competitions we enter functioned.

Despite the strict Covid conditions, we held two significant events in the late summer:

The first of these was a Charity 1-ball competition, which is an annual event run at multiple clubs
to raise money for a chosen charity, this year being Macmillan Nurses.  We collected £650 at the
event and in addition raised further funds to take our total to over £860.  To quote the national
organiser: "Watford for the second year running has raised the largest amount by a single club
and furthermore this year achieved an all-time national record for the amount raised".

The second event was the hosting of the National Schools and Juniors Championships, which is
an important part of encouraging young people into the sport. Despite Covid constraints and
atrocious weather, the Croquet Association (who organise this event) declared it a great success
and have asked us to host it again in 2021 - along with the National under-25 Golf Croquet
Championships.

The other major development was finally, after many years of planning, to gain a pavilion.  This was
provided by Watford Borough Council and we are very grateful.  Sadly whilst its construction was
completed early in 2020, both Covid and lease issues prevented its occupation until December.   Fitting
out will proceed during the remainder of the winter and we earnestly hope to have full use of it for the
2021 season.  This will be a key incentive to further retaining our membership, for many of whom 2020
was a “lost year”.

Looking forward to 2021, we all remain in the shadow of Covid, with total shutdown of croquet until at
least the end of March.  However, we remain hopeful that things will steadily improve and we will be
able to have a full schedule of events.  Time will tell.

5 Finance review

This being the first period of operation, income includes the £20,578 donation from the old
unincorporated club.  Total income for the period was £22,865.

Expenditure totalled £1,414.

Net income for the period was £21,451.

-- 2 --

Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Charity number 1185646

Annual report and financial statements for the period 7 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Report of the trustees (continued)

6 Trustees

Under the constitution of the CIO, there must be at least three and no more than twelve trustees.

For simplicity, the existing elected committee became the initial trustees of the CIO.  Moreover, their
specific “club officer” roles continued within the new structure.

The trustees serving during the period were:

Janet Lewis (appointed 7 October 2019)  Chair
Andre Machell (appointed 7 October 2019) Treasurer
Linda Williams (appointed 7 October 2019)  Secretary
Simon Hathrell (appointed 7 October 2019)
Geoff Johnson (appointed 7 October 2019)
Roger Nicholls (appointed 7 October 2019)
Chris O’Brien (appointed 7 October 2019, resigned 24 June 2020)

George Skinner (appointed 7 October 2019)

The trustees plan to meet regularly, around six times a year.  This said, as a result of the pandemic they
have had more frequent meetings over the past year in order to keep pace with the ever changing
regulations governing play.

The trustees are satisfied that our governance processes are in accordance with our constitution and fully
compliant with the requirements of the Charities Commission.

This report was approved by the trustees on 15 March 2021 and signed on its behalf by

Andre Machell (Treasurer)

-- 3 --

Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Charity number 1185646

Annual report and financial statements for the period 7 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Independent examiners report to the trustees

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club, a
Charitable Incorporated Organisation, for the period ended 31 December 2020.

As the trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the
requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect, the
accounting records were not kept in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

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.

Brian Havill
Independent examiner

-- 4 --

Watford (Cassiobury) Croquet Club Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Charity number 1185646

Annual report and financial statements for the period 7 October 2019 to 31 December 2020

Statement of accounts for the period ended 31 December 2020 Donation from old unincorporated club Other donations Total donations Membership subscriptions Charity one ball event Hire charges / guest fees Tournaments Key deposits (net) Total income Charity one ball donation CA / EACF entry fees New pavilion furbishment Other non-playing equipment Trophies Refreshment expenses Other expenditure Insurance Total expenditure Surplus for the period Funds at start of period Funds at end of period Represented by Cash at bank Prepayments Total funds	£ (650) (54) (329) (60) (35) (51) (68) (167)	£ 20,578 806
		21,384 250 650 366 165 50
		22,865 (1,414)
		21,451 0
		21,451
		20,261 1,190
		21,451

In return for the significant donation, the CIO took on the potential liability of £240 should departing
members return keys and reclaim their deposit.

The accounts were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees on xx March and were signed on
its behalf by:

Janet Lewis
Chair

Andre Machell
Treasurer

-- 5 --