Ebchester Boat Club
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1187183
Trustees’ Annual Report November 2021 - October 2022
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
The Genesis of Ebchester Boat Club
The first boat was kept at Ebchester, under some trees, in 1872. By 1876 others began to take up the sport and soon the Ebchester Amateur Rowing Club was formed under the presidency of Mr. Bullerwell, a school master from nearby Hamsterley Colliery. A boathouse was quickly built and the winner of the first proper handicap, in 1878, was Mr. William Hardy of Whickham. By 1899 a newer boathouse was opened by Mr. Joseph Brown, a village tradesman.
The Great War interrupted activities, with no less than 59 members serving ‘King and Country’. The 1916 and 1917 accounts show sizeable donations to the ‘Ebchester Knitting Party’ who provided clothing for the armed forces. Following the war the club continued to thrive, with several regattas being held each summer, and in 1922 a new pleasure boat was brought into operation
The Second World War drastically reduced the number of events at Ebchester Rowing Club. Many men of the East Lancashire Regiment were stationed in the Consett area and the Regiment hired Club boats when practising the erection of pontoons on the river at Ebchester.
The first season after the 1939-45 war was probably the most hectic in the club’s history. Five regattas were held and many new younger members joined the club. At least four regattas were held in each of the following years. Entries for the 1957 regatta were, according to the local paper, the best ever - scullers from Durham, Chester-le-Street, Tynemouth and Hexham all took part. However, the all-wooden boathouse, having served the Club well for almost 60 years was in very poor condition. Members organised an appeal, contacting both local firms and individuals. Response was excellent and the ‘ do-it-yourself ’ building soon got underway with members doing most of the work. The new boathouse was completed in time for the 1960 season during which a dressing room was included on the first floor.
Regrettably, in the mid-sixties, changing social habits began to affect the interest in and activities of the Club. The decline continued into the 1970s and the Club was dissolved on 12 March 1974.
In 1981 the 5[th] Tyne Sea Scouts began to use the boathouse and since then the river has been used regularly for canoeing and kayaking.
2011 saw the formation of the Ebchester Boathouse Development Partnership, which aims to build a new boathouse and bring rowing back to the River Derwent. Regrettably, the boathouse has not yet been re-built but rowing did return to the river in 2015 and gradually became more regular.
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
Ebchester Boat Club
At a meeting held on 7 March 2019 it was agreed to form the Ebchester Boat Club (EBC), a multi water-sport club based at Ebchester, with additional activities to be held on the Derwent Reservoir. The primary aim of the club would be the development and participation of water sports for the benefit of the community. The club would be affiliated to both British Canoeing and British Rowing.
Ebchester Boat Club was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 2 January 2020. The Club’s financial year runs from 1 November to 31 October. This third report is in respect of the period from 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022. The object of the Trust as set out in its governing document is:
To promote community participation in healthy recreation for the public benefit in Ebchester and the surrounding area by the provision of facilities for rowing, paddling and other water sports capable of promoting physical health and fitness (“facilities” means land, buildings, equipment and organising sporting activities).
Activities
Rowing
Over the winter season of 2021 to the spring of 2022 the club underwent a quiet period to allow the current members the opportunity to hone their skills and get back up the level they were rowing pre-covid. The club started to branch out and form close working relationships with other local clubs, not only to allow our rowers to learn how to use larger ‘sweep’ style boats, but also to give others from outside Ebchester the chance to get used to rowing a fine single scull, which according to most is an art form in itself.
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
In 2022 the club underwent some changes in personnel with our long-standing coach stepping down to focus on her studies. She has been a stalwart of the club since it reopened and will be missed by everyone here and we wish her well with her studies. Due to the change-over we were unable to run learn-to-row courses, but this gave us plenty of time to plan future events and get our existing members back up and fully running postcovid, which has been no easy feat. Feedback from the members is that they have enjoyed the opportunity to try new things and would like this to continue, alongside having as many sessions at both Ebchester and Derwent Reservoir as possible.
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
Paddling
Following on from a covid-induced lack of paddling at Ebchester, we certainly made up for it this year. It was evident that lockdown had increased the appetite for water-based activities and many groups were keen to get involved. An increased number of Scout certificated coaches helped us to run sessions for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Leaders from Gateshead, Blaydon, Chopwell Consett, Blackhill and Annfield Plain to name but a few. Based on the Scout Association paddle sports activity syllabus, the sessions supported kayak and canoe skills alongside general water safety. Whilst we didn’t manage to develop our wish to provide public sessions, the increased number of coaches and particularly guidance from a senior coach helped us to plan for this development towards the end of the year. Furthermore, as is necessary every year, we cleared debris from the river keeping it flowing and ensuring that the weir is clear of potentially damaging debris.
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
Public Benefit
In carrying out these activities, the Trustees have taken into account the Charity Commission’s Guidance on the public benefit requirement (PB1, PB2 & PB3) and have complied with their duty to have due regard to this guidance when exercising their powers and duties.
Achievements and Performance
The Club for much of the season underwent a period of consolodation following the restrictions imposed during the Coronavirus pandemic. Development of rowing activities has been limited by a change of personel, but preparations for next season are well in hand. A resurgance of public interest in water-borne activities led to the development of paddle sport acivities, including kayak and canoeing skills and general water safety. The scouting movement in particular benefitted from this activity. Coaching skills have been developed in preparation for public sessions in the coming season.
Financial Review
The Club’s receipts amounted to £4,206: comprising grants amounting to £1,000, membership fees and an insurance claim. The total expenditure of the Club was £6,295, leaving a balance of £3,378 represented by cash in the bank. The Club is grateful to Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd. for the grant that enabled the Club to purchase bouyancy aids. A balance of £2,878 remains in general funds
A copy of the annual accounts is attached to this report as Appendix A
Reserves policy
The Club has no employees and the costs of winding up the Trust would be nominal. The only need for reserves at present is to cover essential running costs and emergency expenditure for which the trustees consider it prudent to maintain a general reserve representing approximately eight months’ running costs (this year set at £1,500).
Structure, Government and Management
Government
The Club’s governing document is its Constitution, based on the Charity Commission’s ‘foundation’ model CIO Constitution.
The Club is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its only members are the trustees. The governing document provides that apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
The Club has no employees. There are eight volunteers who have registered to help us.
The Trustees would like to thank the volunteers for their valuable contribution to the work of the Club
The Club has agreed policies relating to:
Financial Controls Health & Safety Safeguarding
Structure and Management
Board of Trustees
Club Management
Rowing
Paddling
Reference and Administrative
The name of the charity is Ebchester Boat Club. It uses no other name.
The charity is registered in England and Wales (Charity number 1187183). The address of the principal office of the charity is 19 Springhouse Lane, Ebchester, DH8 0QF. The trustees were:
Iain Alexander Knox (Chairman) Cathy Graham Kate Johnson (nee Hastie) Brenda Beveridge Geoff Marshall
Approved by the Trustees 26 August 2023
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Full Name: Iain Knox Position: Chairman
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Report 2021 - 2022
Ebchester Boat Club
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1187183
Appendix A
Accounts for the period 1 November 2021 - 31 October 2022
Income
Expenditure
| Brought forward Grants Memberships Course Fees Sundry Insurance Claim Interest Income / Expenditure |
2021 - 22 2020-21 1000 4,900 946 1,371 180 35 50 2,225 0 0 0 £4,206 £6,501 -£2,089 £3,404 Afliation Equipment Insurance Repairs Training Travel |
2021 -22 2020 - 21 790 653 2,800 901 1,583 558 1,122 177 754 54 |
|---|---|---|
| £6,295 £3,097 |
||
Balances
Assets
| Current Account Cash in Hand Liabilities Creditors Debtors Grants Pending Net Worth |
31/10/2022 31/10/2021 3,378 5,494 £3,378 £5,494 -2,375 860 860 £4,238 £6,447 31/10/2022 31/10/2021 Fixed Assets 0 0 Equipment 25,000 26,000 £25,000 £26,000 Reserves General Fund 2,878 3,928 Restricted Reserves 500 1,666 £3,378 £5,494 |
|---|---|
Grant Income
| Banks Community Fund Barbour Foundation Arnold Clark |
2021-22 2020-21 4,400 500 1,000 £1,000 £4,900 |
|---|---|
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Ebchester Boat Club
Annual Accounts 2021 - 2022