Bamford with Thornhill Recreation Ground CIO Annual Report 2024-25
Period: 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 Charity registra;on number: 1185738
Trustees
Trustees as of 31st March 2025
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Senara Foster (Secretary)
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Richard Gower
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Denry Leighton
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Joseph Monck
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Joshua Ollerenshaw
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Malcolm Sowerby
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David Watson (Treasurer/Chair)
Address: The Secretary, 2 The Beeches, Ashopton Road, Bamford, Hope Valley, Derbyshire S33 0DB
Structure, Management, and Trustee Recruitment
The CIO's business is managed through a bi-monthly mee;ng of its Trustees. From ;me to ;me the Trustees call on volunteer support from the local community concerning the upkeep of the recrea;on ground.
Trustees are drawn from the local community, preferably from within the Bamford with Thornhill parish, which comprises the area of benefit. Trustee applicants are expected to have a history of suppor;ng the management of the recrea;on ground, its ac;vi;es and upkeep.
Objectives, Activities and Public Benefit
The purpose of the CIO is as set out in the cons;tu;on:
The object of the Charity shall be to provide a recrea;on ground for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parishes of Bamford and Thornhill and the surrounding area, or for the public at large, for recrea;on or other leisure ;me occupa;on, with the object of improving the condi;on of life of the said inhabitants.
This objec;ve con;nues to guide our work and decision-making. Our focus remains on maintaining and improving the Recrea;on Ground so that it serves as a safe, accessible, and enjoyable facility for the community.
Overview of the Year
2024-25 has been a year of adjustment for the CIO following the sad death of our longstanding Treasurer, Sue Becke`, just before the start of the financial year.
Despite this challenging start, the Charity has con;nued to make progress in delivering its objec;ves.
Facilities and Grounds Management
Key improvements to the Recrea;on Ground during the year include:
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Play Equipment Upgrade – Installa;on of a second swing frame, designed with metal foo;ngs and Grasslok surfacing, providing a more durable and maintainable solu;on. Users have received this enhancement very well.
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Ground Surface Strategy – Following the successful introduc;on of GrassLok under the new swing frame, we are exploring its wider use as a cost-effec;ve alterna;ve to bark chipping.
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Safety and Access Improvements – Removal of a dangerous tree and restora;on of the original access under the railway bridge, increasing both safety and flexibility of access for events and maintenance.
The football team has returned to playing on the pitch. The trustees are working closely with the team to manage pitch use responsibly and ensure compa;bility with other events and users.
Community Events and Activities
The Recrea;on Ground con;nues to serve as a focal point for local events. This year, the CIO supported or hosted:
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The Beast of Bamford Fell Race and Christmas Market, both of which raised funds for the ground, while providing an enjoyable community occasion. A big thanks to all who helped make this a reality.
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Bamfest and Bamford Carnival are well-a`ended events that raise funds for the local school and create memorable community experiences.
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Assistance to the Hathersage Hurtle fundraiser by providing parking facili;es at short no;ce.
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Hosted the Midlands Lotus Owners’ Club Picnic, in aid of Rainbows Hospices.
We also con;nue to offer the Recrea;on Ground free of charge for school ac;vi;es and the local children’s Summer sports clubs, in line with our charitable objec;ves.
Financial Support and Acknowledgements
The trustees are grateful for the financial contribu;ons received during the year, including support from the BSDT, Friends of Bamford Play Park, and individual donors. We also acknowledge the invaluable assistance of volunteers, without whom the Charity could not deliver its objec;ves.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, the CIO has been approached by community groups interested in introducing a pump track and an outdoor table tennis area. These proposals will be considered in the coming year, ensuring they align with the Charity’s objec;ves and the needs of the wider community. We also need to examine the longer-term maintenance required for the pavilion and its infrastructure, which may be costly.
We also intend to con;nue strengthening our working rela;onship with the football team to enable us to co-exist reasonably on the Recrea;on Ground.
Conclusion
The trustees remain commi`ed to ensuring that the Bamford with Thornhill Recrea;on Ground con;nues to provide significant benefit to the community. We thank all those who have contributed their ;me, exper;se, and financial support during the year.
Financial Review
Please refer to the separate income and expenditure account spreadsheet for complete details. Of note:
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Against an annual income of £16,692, the CIO incurred a net expenditure of £18,553. Although we con;nue to spend more than we bring in, we had a significant income of £5,000 from one October event and Friends of Bamford Play Park & Recrea;on Ground.
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The CIO made an excep;onal investment of £12,063 to install a second swing frame and surface. This cost was par;ally offset by £6,509 in dona;ons from Bamford Play Park and other village organisa;ons.
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Ground hire and caravan rallies remain resilient with revenue increasing 61.6% year-onyear to £8,279. Although these values may not remain sustainable, they indicate a demand for events, allowing us to set a fair price that keeps the ground more viable.
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Grounds & pavilion maintenance, electricity and insurance account for most of our regular outgoings.
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Excep;onal Calor Gas expenditure is from a bulk refill of the tank in October 2023. The previous refill was before 2014, so this is an infrequent cost.
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Although expenditure exceeded income, the CIO carries healthy cash balances into the new financial year.
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Examining year-on-year income and expenditure since 2013 shows an average increase of 13.7% each year (compound annual growth rate). These costs are predominantly on the pavilion and play area, such as: play bark chipping refreshes, play fort repairs, toilet block repairs and replacement, car park extension, new play area fencing and swing frames.
Income
Expenditure
£30,000.00
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£22,500.00
£15,000.00
£7,500.00
£0.00
2013-14 2015-16 2017-18 2019-20 2021-22 2023-24
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However, income rarely exceeds expenditure, with expenditure outstripping income by £30,000 since 2013-14, which is a longer-term concern. Note that the 2020-21 income spike was a one-off grant made during the COVID period. To address this, the CIO has fairly increased event prices and used lower maintenance play area surfaces, such as grasslok, when replacing the swing frames. Fundraising has significantly improved thanks to the Friends of Bamford Playpark and the Beast of the Bamford fell race. Gratefully, we also con;nue to receive dona;ons from local chari;es such as the Bamford Sheepdog Trials, Bamford Carnival and Poor’s Allotment. Overall, the CIO needs an income of circa £18,000 per year to sustainably fund repairs and ini;a;ves, and event pricing must stay in step with broader infla;on.