1 ## **COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT (TAR) 2023** Cotehele Quay Gig Club (CQGC) is a charity registered in 2020. Its **purpose** is to ‘To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities to participate in the sport of Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing, both recreationally and competitively. (For the purposes of this clause “facilities” means land, buildings, equipment, access to coaching and organising sporting activities). Its **mission** is ‘To enable as many people as possible to access Cornish Pilot Gig Rowing at the highest level and to improve the health, fitness and social interaction of all its members’. Its **vision is** ‘To be recognised as Devon and Cornwall’s foremost inclusive rowing club with a wide community membership of competitive and recreational rowers’. The club seeks to uphold the following **values** in relation to all its work, to be **inclusive, dynamic, professional** and **welcoming.** ## **Financial Summary** The club account start balance for 2023 was **£7809.13** Income for January – December 2023 was **£** . **£38,357.20.** Expenditure for the same period was **£31,793.04.** The club account balance at end of year was **£7,064** 2023 income and expenditure records have been reconciled against the Bank statements and will be independently checked prior to submission to the Charities Commission in accordance with Charity Commission rules. Notes: - Membership subscriptions covered 60% of expenditure and 56% of income (excluding £5000.00 donation). - £537.71 donation from Cornwall Council gratefully received in February 2023. - £100.00 donation from Premium Foods (Ambrosia) gratefully received in March 2023'. - £250.00 donation from Burcombe Haulage gratefully received in October 2023. - £5000.00 donation from Samworth Brothers gratefully received in November 2023. - £283.66 ‘Easy Fundraising’ donations - An Income and Expenditure Forecast has been generated and provides clarity on the expected financial wellbeing of the club for 2024 and beyond. Treasurers Comment: - Membership subscriptions were not increased during 2023. The income and expenditure forecast for 2024 indicates that an increase in membership fees during 2024 is not COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 2 necessary. Dependency on active fundraising through club events and donations will continue to be pivotal in maintaining club financial wellbeing. ## **Trustees** Nigel Cooper – Club Secretary Colin Peters – Club Captain Dave Bolton – Gig Captain Health & Safety Officer – Gordon Peters Coryn Peters – Recreational Officer Rita Hoile – Fundraising Officer Sheila Snellgrove – Chair The following were co-opted by the committee in 2023 as follows; Maria Stoneman – (co-opted March 2023, resigned August 2023) – Juniors Officer Nicola Mathieson (co-opted August 2023) – Juniors Officer Steve Leonard-Williams (co-opted August 2023) – Welfare Officer Marilyn Downes (co-opted March 2023) – Membership Secretary ## **Changes to Trustees** The following trustees retired during 2023 as follows; Steve Brooks (resigned August 2023). Sophie Chinn (resigned March 2023). ## **Overview of Year** 2023 has been a very successful year for Cotehele Quay Gig Club. Following on from two years of Covid disruption, 2023 has seen a full year of activity and increases in club membership. Prior to Covid , in 2019, our membership was 147. A number of members left during the Covid Years and our Membership dropped to an average of 127. However in March 2022 it started to pick up and by the end of the year our number totalled 140 . Since then we have gone from strength to strength and our total membership for 2023 was 166 and we have taken the unprecedented decision to close our books to new members while we undertake a review. Without further infrastructure we have reached capacity in terms of boats, oars, storage etc. Our current membership is made up of 71 Competitive Rowers ( 28 Men and 43 Ladies), 82 Recreational rowers. ( 26 Men and 56 Ladies) and 13 Juniors( 8 Boys and 4 Girls). COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 3 The club is very proud of its successes in competition gig racing and 2023 has seen its best ever results since inception of the club in 2010. At the World Pilot Gig Championships Ladies A came 11[th] , Ladies B 58[th] , LSVA 10[th] , LSVB 22[nd] , Men’s A came 16[th] , Men’s B 49[th] , Men’s SV 24[th.] This has been the result of increased professionalism and training, implementation and monitoring of robust training modules for all competitive rowers and a review of selections that has kept competitive rowers on their toes throughout the winter season. A more concentrated and ambitious ethos has resulted with competitive rowers taking more personal responsibility for their fitness. The club is also very proud of its inclusive ethos, welcoming people of all ages and abilities to enjoy gig rowing on the River Tamar and beyond. An excellent series of cox training events has increased our ability to be confident on the water and to spot, point out and remedy errors in rowing technique. This training was extended to both competitive and recreational rowers and has had the knock on effect of encouraging more aspiration and better rowing right across the club. Over 2023 Cotehele Quay Gig Club has consolidated its access and use of the Cotehele Quay Loft for use both as a training location and a social space. This has saved costs to the club by avoiding the purchase of facilities at other locations. The first years lease was on a trial basis to enable the National Trust (NT) to identify any issues with our use of their space. There was a caveat included in the agreement that the Loft would not be in active use after 8.00pm. At year end both CQGC and the NT are happy with how the Loft has been used and the NT has granted the club another one year licence. Provided care and respect to the premises are maintained the National Trust will be adding the Loft to our general lease for the boat shed, oar shed and yard when the current lease renews in 2025. Much time has been spent working with the Cornish Pilot Gig Association (CPGA) as they consolidate the revised organisation format, supporting their required changes as applicable to the member clubs and recognising their function as the overarching authority for Cornish Pilot Gig Racing. We are hopeful that the benefits of these changes will become more apparent during 2024. The routine Club Committee meetings have continued through the year (with the exception of August, a holiday month) These meeting have been effective and lead the progress of the club in all areas of its activity. The Agenda and Minutes are published on the website and all members are welcomed to meetings should they have something they wish to raise with committee. The protocol is to inform the Club Secretary secretary@cqgc.org.uk and time in the agenda is immediately allocated for this purpose. All members are actively encouraged to participate in the club and be part of shaping its future. ## **Compettve Rowing** The year began with an enjoyable, highly competitive regatta hosted by Caradon at Saltash. Races were all very close, and Ladies A (LA), Ladies B (LB) and the juniors all achieved 1st place. This, combined with good performances by Men’s B (MB) and Ladies Vets (LV), gave Cotehele Quay a well-earned 2nd place in the regatta and further cemented our lead at the top of the Tamar League table. Unfortunately the Rame winter regatta was cancelled due to a lack of organisers and participants within their club. They have not participated in any League activities this year. Late February saw the club holding our own Winter League regatta at Cotehele Quay. It was well attended by all sides of the club and an army of volunteers once again helped to make the day a huge success. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 4 Wins by the Ladies vets, U 16s and Ladies As helped us to take the top spot at the regatta as well as in the League over all. This is likely to be the last of the Tamar League regattas for the foreseeable future as several clubs, including our own, have decided to no longer take part in the league. The club had noticed the reduced interest in participation in the Tamar League events by other clubs and we were also considering if it was the best use of “time on the water” during the period of training leading up to the Scillies. Consideration of an independent Cotehele Quay Gig Club (CQGC) winter regatta outside of the Tamar League is under consideration as the event had always been very enjoyable and provided significant income for the club. March saw our A and B crews competing with a strong field at the gruelling 3 Rivers Race, and club sea training for Scillies began in earnest at Cattewater using both Edgecumbe (a plastic boat) and Zeus (our oldest wooden boat). Special thanks should go out to the people who made this possible, especially our towers, and to everyone who played a part in the smoothness of the whole operation. In the middle of the month we attended a great days racing at Helford Mini Scillies, and once again some spicy conditions and racing against some top clubs put us all through our paces. Results were mixed, but it was a great preparation for what was to come at The Scillies World Championships. Months of training, both at the quay and at Cattewater, finally paid dividends with the best performance in the club history. Mens A 16[th] , Mens B 49[th] , Mens SV 24[th] , Ladies A 11[th] , Ladies B 58[th] , LSVA 10[th] , LSVB 22[nd] . Huge congratulations should go to all of the crews taking part for the immense effort they put into their preparation and to the backroom teams that provided training plans, personal fitness regimes, transportation and everything else that makes a successful club. After such a successful Scillies campaign in 2023, many competitive members took the opportunity to reintroduce themselves to families and loved ones and spend a little time away from rowing. Sadly the first regatta on our summer calendar in Falmouth was cancelled because of bad weather, but the club went on to be represented and do well at the always popular Rock, Looe and Charlestown events. Luckily we had made the decision not to attend Goran which was also subsequently cancelled at the last minute. 2023 will be remembered as the summer that never was. However getting competitive rowers to sign up for regattas did prove to be a bit of a challenge throughout the Summer, and for a while it remained to be seen if we would be able to field a single Men’s crew at the Newquay Championships in September. Men’s and Ladies Training groups were formed from all the previous squads, which seems to be easier to manage and did succeed in getting those who wished to row out on the water. We also welcomed three new ladies to the competitive group ; all of whom were experienced rowers; and some of the older 16 year olds started training with the adult section. Three squads of mainly Recreational rowers signed up for the 2023 Great River Race in London and extra slots were arranged to enable additional training to take place. July started well and the club attended Charlestown Regatta for the first time and then sent two crews to the Brixham Vets Championships a week later. Both Ladies and Men enjoyed a good days racing on a sunny Saturday, but were up against many crews at least 10 years their junior who had more recently rowed in their club A and B crews at the World Championships. Then the weather changed again. First Newquay U 16s and then the Rame regatta were lost to bad weather. A brief interlude of sunshine enabled our mixed Vets and Super vets to take part in COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 5 the Mixed Championships at Caradon although we were not able to raise enough people to fill crews for the Mixed Open or the U16, but none the less the Vets crew made it through to the semi finals where they fell to the swords of the top crews that were in their group. Our racing Summer finished well with a highly successful Intraclub Regatta at the Quay closely followed by a hard days racing at Fowey. Rough sea conditions meant that the course was shortened but our crews put in good performances and the Ladies in particular came first in all of their races. September then kicked off with an outstanding performance at the Ladies Newquay Championships by our two Ladies crews: Ladies Bs powered through their second round repechage and put up a sterling performance in their quarter final whilst the Ladies As continued to show their class by finishing well in the semi-finals giving them an overall position of 8th. This is the best result we have ever achieved. The month continued to be busy with our 3 crews heading up to London to take part in the London Great River Race with a great showing by all; and a Men’s crew competed admirably in the Newquay Championships. As they were our only crew, they were classed as an A crew by the CPGA so were pitted against some very stiff competition in their group. After a hiatus of 3 years, the club took part in the Swanage Supervets Championship on a bright, sunny day at the end of September. Both Men’s and Ladies crews did well although the ladies hopes were sadly scuppered by a clash with another boat at the first buoy in their final. The racing season came to an end on Saturday ( 14th Oct ) with our own Tamar Challenge, a 9 mile race from Saltash to Cotehele Quay. This year saw a field of 20 boats from all parts of the South West taking part in sunny but breezy conditions and the race was eventually won by the Men’s B crew from Yealm Gig Club who also had the fastest time; thereby winning them both trophies. Our own LA came in 4th ( 6th fastest ) LB 6th ( 14th fastest ) and Men’s V came in 10th (5th fastest ). The event could not take place without an army of helpers and this year was no exception so well done to everyone that was involved in continuing to make the Tamar Challenge one of the most popular events on the CPGA calendar. The selection process for Scillies 24 started throughout this period with ergo and strength tests as well as selection rows presided over by our fantastic team of selectors. This is an unenviable task, but one that they manage to fulfil with a great deal of expertise and professionalism. The clubs Scillies squads were announced at the end of November and the six crews immediately started their training regimes, with every squad now following the club training plan. Squad Leaders are collecting training information to feed back to the Selectors and final selections will be made at the end of February 2024. Two Ladies Competitive crews entered the Dorset Indoor Rowing Championships and came 2nd and 3rd in the Ladies team event and received a glowing write up in Gig rower ( see link below ) htps://www.gigrower.co.uk/2023/11/30/gig-rowers-vs-dorset-indoor-rowing-championships/ The club is continuing to grow in both numbers and stature within the Gig Rowing Community, and we have welcomed a number of new members to the club throughout the year. Several of our junior members have made the transition to the senior ranks, and two of them are currently in training to go to their first Scillies Championships in May 2024. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 6 ## **Junior Rowing** The Junior Rowing team has had a successful year this year despite a number of Regattas that they were entered in being cancelled. The team did exceptionally well at the Looe Regatta, coming first overall. One of the squad members was chosen to represent Cornwall in the County Championships and achieved 2 gold medals. The numbers in the team have shrunk, however. This has been due to several factors – several older members chose to leave the club to concentrate on their A level/ college work; several of our older members have now turned 16 and have been selected to represent the club as adults in the Isles of Scilly World Championships in 2024 and are busy training for this event. There has been a change of Junior Rowing officers this Year with an interim officer in place between March and August. A new officer was co-opted in August and is now working very successfully with support from the Weekday Junior Rowing Co-Ordinator. The junior rowing takes time and effort to manage and coordinate and this sharing of workload is proving to be more manageable. The coordinator liaises with the Junior members and their parents to put together squads each week depending on their availability and the officer liaises with coxes and rowing aides to put a rota in place each month to make sure that the Junior squad can train in their allocated slots on the schedule. She also attends the club committee meetings representing the juniors. This division of tasks works very well and allows for the smooth running of the Junior Squad. Members from both competitive and recreational areas of the club have been very supportive of juniors and regularly provide help and support to get juniors out on the river every Saturday. There is positive recognition that Junior rowing development is essential if the club is to thrive into the future. The juniors were invited to vote for a juniors captain but declined the offer on the grounds that they preferred everyone to have the same standing, they did not like the idea of a pecking order. The committee would like to see more juniors taking leadership roles in the club and will consider how this might be achieved in future. Contact has been made with a number of local Secondary schools in order to raise the profile of the club and to attract new junior members. A proposed method of doing this is to for Club members to visit the schools with Ergos and a montage of footage of teams racing in events. This can be followed up by taster sessions at the Quay and a Junior Learn to Row course if enough interest is raised. The schools contacted are – Launceston College, Tavistock College, Callington College and Mount Kelly College. ## **Recreatonal Rowing** It has been a very successful year for recreational rowers and we welcomed 26 new rowers to our squad throughout 2023. (we now number 83!) The rec’s put out boats at every opportunity weather permitting and allow all to row as often as they want to when we can. We have 3 new coxes 1 trained and 2 in training. 20 rowers entered the London Great River Race in September, training regularly through the summer months. All enjoyed the experience, gaining in confidence and skill as a result. There has been a desire within the recreational rowers to take their rowing more seriously and to row with better technique and fitness. Coxes have come forward and have had a training session to COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 7 help improve their coxing and coaching ability. In 2024 this ‘intermediate’ squad will be taken forward with a development course on offer for those who need to improve their rowing ability. Recreational rowers have been using the loft on a regular basis for drinks after their rows and recently to use the rowing machines booking an evening slot. The Loft is an important social space for club members as well as a welcome shelter from the elements. Plans for the future include rowing with different clubs, taking longer rows up and down the river and development of the intermediate squad. ## **Duty of Care to Injured Rowers** A new policy has been written to ensure there is a duty of care to injured rowers, it is called Rowing and Your Health and was written by Steve Brooks. The club has a responsibility to protect and support injured rowers and for taking responsibility for rowers welfare. This includes deciding when individuals should not row. Committed and passionate rowers will always attempt to carry on rowing with an injury but this is not always advisable or desirable and can cause lasting damage. A clear policy has been put in place, outlining the steps by which a rower will be required to rest, and helping everyone to understand what is expected of them. Safety Officer’s Report ## **Health & Safety** During the year First Aid training has been delivered to 30 members with a course designed specifically for rowing. All life jackets have been inspected and tested and replacements to gas bottles made as required. All flares have been replaced and updated, to be carried in gigs when taking part in open sea training. Our Health & Safety Officer carried out Coxes theory and practical training, resulting in two new qualified river coxes. Safety Bags were upgraded by including an emergency blanket in each one (as a result of knowledge gained in the first aid training course). The National Trust gave instruction to members as to the safe installation of the yard flood defence system (to be cascaded out in the New Year.) During the Tamar Challenge regatta two visiting rowers required first aid, one as a result of a fall at Saltash, the other as a result of bleeding blisters. Following advice from professionals, all our large first aid boxes will be replaced and upgraded early in 2024. ## **Welfare** Steve Brooks, Welfare Officer until August 2023, wrote a **Rowing and Your Health Policy** which is now part of CQGC policy and practice. Steve Leonard-Williams, our new Welfare Officer is in the process of reviewing and updating the status of DBS checks for those helping regularly with the junior rowing. Our thanks to Steve Brooks for his contribution to the club as a rower, cox, tower & as part of the maintenance and repair team. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 8 ## **Maintenance & Purchase of Club Kit** A maintenance subcommittee was formed in 2022 to set out a maintenance schedule for all club kit and to determine what work can be carried out in house and what will require outside support. 5 skilled members of the club have been working on repairs and purchases throughout the year; Dave Bolton, Steve Brooks (sadly left the area in August s2023), Steve Leonard-Williams, Nigel Cooper and Colin Peters have worked collaboratively, sharing their knowledge and expertise, to mend and paint oars, fill cracks in plastic boats and maintain all kit in good order. As a result our kit has never been in better shape and our thanks go out to these members for their great contribution to the club. In 2022 it was agreed that the committee would look at further capital purchases to update boats with funds in part secured through the sale of Zeus and Teylu. Teylu was sold and Govenek was successfully purchased. The committee then sought a sale of Zeus but to date this has not been achieved although there have been several clubs who have expressed an interest. However, careful analysis of funds revealed that a new boat could be purchased if Patrick Bird would agree to scheduled payments over the year. This was achieved and the club now has 3 plastic gigs and 3 wooden gigs. The newest wooden gig, Gallos was collected from Patrick Bird in London and delivered to the quay on Thursday 7th February 2023. Our two beautiful new wooden gigs, Govenek and Gallos, were shipped over to the Isles of Scilly in time for the World Gig Championships and, as the boats were light, new and beautifully designed, had a significant impact on results at this headline racing event. The existing gig covers have been adjusted to have Velcro flaps to tie in with the new gigs so that tie down boards fit across seats 2 & 5 and attach to loops on the trailers. We are in the process of purchasing two sets of bespoke oar carriers that fit them to allow 2 sets of oars to be carried without clashing with sides & seats. Spare wheels have been purchased for all trailers plus an emergency tool box for towers. A set of blue oars was purchased in 2023 made and designed by a new provider but have not been well-used by rowers, the design makes them heavy to manipulate. We have purchased a set of pre loved oars from St Mary’s Gig Club, the silvers, which were designed by Patrick Bird, and are excellent. We have ordered a new set of oars to be made by Andrew Nancarrow to be delivered in May 2024 with options for another set shortly after if the first set are suitable. Three new heavy duty gazebos have been purchased during the year, one for our regatta events on the quay providing shelter for catering and two gazebos for away regattas. A sample set of Oar blade & handle protection covers are in the process of being made for ensuring the safe transportation of key equipment to regattas and events. ## **The Lof - Social/Gymnasium Space** Funds to develop the new Loft- Social Space were sought early in the year through Sport England but unfortunately our bid for funding was turned back. The committee was asked to consider how any funding will add value to services currently available in our community and how we can work collaboratively with other groups to maximise the impact of our work. Because the space is not exclusively our own and the National Trust can use it for their own purposes given adequate notice it limits our ability to collaborate on a regular basis but does not prevent us from delivering one-off training to local groups. This is an issue that the committee will discuss going forward. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 9 The bid included resources for mugs, fridge, coffee machine, vacuum cleaner, chairs, floor coverings, shelving, kitchen unit, double electric hob, microwave, boot cleaner, pin boards and free weights. Thankfully members came forward with donations of items to ensure that tea and coffee could be made and there is a small fridge on loan. Later in the year we achieved a £5,000 donation from Samworth Brothers for the development of the Loft and a new set of oars for juniors for which we are very grateful. We are now in the process of purchasing equipment that will be robust and practical, ensuring that flooring, in particular, can endure mud, wellington boots and water. It will act as an important dry refuge space to accommodate injured rowers during regattas taking place on the quay. ## **Fundraising** In total **£6,2260.71** was raised during the year as follows; Community Chest (Cornwall Council) - £537.71 CQGC Winter Regatta Tombola - £120 Ambrosia Grant - £100 Burcombe Grant - £250 Autumn Quiz/Raffle - £253 Samworth Brothers Grant - £5000 The Bonus Ball also achieved £586.26. Due to the drop off in interest a campaign was launched in 2023 to encourage more members to participate. However this was not successful and the Bonus Ball was disbanded in December 2023. A new scheme, One Lottery has been introduced and there are currently 8 members participating. We hope to achieve greater participation in this scheme as the year progresses. ## **End of Season Celebraton & Awards Evening** An end of season celebration and awards evening took place on Friday 17[th] November 2023. This event was held at The Rifle Volunteer, St Ann’s Chapel and was a sell-out event. The evening included food and a live band which was hugely enjoyed by all who attended. Thanks go to Jane Fitzsimons, Wendy Maclean, Becky Prudden and Emily Bolton for organising. Awards were presented as follows; Most improved male junior – Rowan Carney Most improved female junior – Georgina Roberts Best junior overall – Jacob Long Most improved recreational male – Mark Bowen Most improved recreational female –Sharon Court COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 10 Most improved competitive male – Simon Pither Most improved competitive female – Claire Bissell Cox of the year – Coryn Peters Outstanding Contribution to the Club – Liv Martin There was special mention of Liv Martin, an intelligent, resourceful, diligent and organised individual who has made it her mission to improve both her own rowing and that of the whole club over many years. Her analysis of races and her ability to constructively support people to improve is remarkable. Her research through British Rowing together with her personal knowledge of fitness has enabled club results to get better and better. She contributes to the club at every level as a cox, rower, selector, training coach and strategist. ## **1, 3 and 5 Year Plans.** In 2020 the committee canvassed its members to see how they wished the club to develop and to find out what their priorities were. There was excellent, constructive response from members with large numbers participating in this process. As a result we were able to create a strategy for the following three years in the form of a business plan which has been followed closely. The 3 areas of need which were articulated through this process; better training equipment, a club association space, a process of development enabling the club to be in the top 12 at the World Pilot Gig Championships have all been met. As a result, at the end of 2023, the committee once again sought direction from the members as to the development of a 3 year business plan to take us up to the end of 2026. The committee received excellent responses and suggestions from members and the committee is in the final phases of producing a new plan based on their recommendations to take us on the next part of our journey. Key areas for development for the period 2024 – 2026 are; - a) Juniors – a recruitment programme focusing on 11+ young people to develop the next wave of championship rowers and to develop the skills of young people e.g. supporting young people to learn to cox and coach, supporting young people to be part of the managing committee, investigation into qualifications or relevant sports administration courses i.e. seeing our training as part of a bigger picture and connecting to those services/stepping stones. It is hoped that this will include an annual regatta based at Cotehele Quay that is specifically for Juniors. - b) Competitive Rowers – having reached 11[th] at the World Pilot Gig Championships there is recognition that we now need sustainable growth i.e. we avoid the temptation to move too fast and ensure the momentum and commitment by members can be sustained. The energy and commitment now required of A club rowers is intense and we must ensure that members remain part of the club. The committee recognise the need to support selectors in their difficult job of allocating members to squads and, with increasing competition, to move members between squads when the need arises. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 11 - c) Recreational Rowers – the implementation of a development and intermediate programme of training to enable recreational rowers to increase their knowledge and skill on the water. Recreational rowers will then be able to row with recreational squads who are more aligned in terms of strength, commitment and ability. After completing courses recreational rowers will be able to apply to become competitive rowers if appropriate and desired. - d) Coxing and Coaching – a rolling programme of coxing and coaching courses for members to increase the pool of competent coxes and coaches across the whole club. Where this cannot be achieved internally funds will be set aside to buy external support. A development programme will be implemented for the rower, cox, race cox and coach. It is understood that individuals can be great coaches but not great race coxes and vice versa. This could free people up for larger events where people could have coached a crew but not need to race cox them. - e) Maintenance & Purchase of Kit – to continue to repair and upgrade kit as required and to raise enough funds to purchase 2 new sets of oars in 2024 and a new plastic boat in 2025. - f) Environmental Sustainability – to appoint a member of the club to the position of Environmental Officer, ensuring that the club meets its obligations to reduce waste and use recycled materials whenever possible. - g) Website – the club website needs updating. A figure will be set aside to enable the purchase of a skilled external expert to deliver this for the club. ## **Cornish Pilot Gig Associaton (CPGA)** Gig rowing is becoming ever more popular with clubs both inside and outside Cornwall. The CPGA became a CIO in 2021 and this year they have also taken over responsibility for the World Pilot Gig Championships. In order to compete in the World Gig Championships all members must join the CPGA at a cost of £25. This is expensive for some of our members and a **Hardship Fund** was written and approved by CQGC trustees in 2022 in order to ensure that everyone can participate in the sport, despite socio-economic circumstances. This means that club members can have their monthly subs and membership to CPGA paid for in full by the Hardship Fund through a simple and easy to understand process. GigRower is a part of the CPGA. GigRower membership is an individual membership scheme delivered by the CPGA. Anyone can become a member including; club members, supporters and all who love the sport. Participants in CPGA endorsed championships will be required to be a GigRower member and present their member registration number at championship events. The clubs of the CPGA voted to introduce an individual membership scheme at the Annual General Meeting in 2022. The aim is to develop new and existing events, provide courses and improve safety, welfare and junior provision. The CPGA introduced a new membership platform in 2022. This platform is a way for the club to administer club membership, a central store for documents e.g. PAI (any club that has signed up to COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 12 this via the CPGA has the documents there), constitutions, as well as a source for entering crews into championships, to name a few of the benefits. Obviously this platform has a great deal of personal info via club members, so it is important to limit the number of people who have access. The person / people are approved by committee and it is important to make sure that if those people change that the access is removed. The current administrators with access to the platform are Nigel Cooper and Colin Peters. ## **Looking Forward** The committee is currently re-writing its **Diversity, Equalities & Inclusion Policy.** It aims to outline commitment from **Cotehele Quay Gig Club** to ensuring equality of opportunity and equal treatment for members, volunteers and trustees in terms of good practice and guidance on anti-discriminatory practice. The policy applies specifically to discrimination and equality of opportunity in respect of ‘protected characteristics’ as defined in the Equalities Act 2010: Age, Disability ,Race, Sex, Religion or cultural beliefs, Gender reassignment, Marital status and civil partnership, Sexual orientation, Pregnancy and maternity. The policy will apply across the range of policies and practice, including those relating to Discipline, Grievance, Harassment and Complaints. **Cotehele Quay Gig Club** values its members, volunteers and trustees and expects them to be treated in a respectful manner. Accordingly, all have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect. The **Chair of Trustees** is responsible for providing advice and guidance on equality and diversity issues, and to ensure the Policy document is kept up to date. The **Club Selection Policy** has been amended during 2023 learning from the experience of squad injuries and members of squads withdrawing from competition. This caused problems for selectors as the committee had asked for all members wishing to attend the World Gig Championships to be enabled to do so. This meant that there were no reserves to take places when injuries or withdrawals occurred. In future there will be reserves and reselections will be based on off and on water training delivery so that all members fulfil their obligations in this respect. Squad leaders will be expected to keep a record of all of this work and report it back to selectors on a monthly basis. This data will inform reselections. It is unfair on people who train assiduously when others do not deliver the work needed to progress. It is considered that this process will provide the information required to make informed decisions about final crews for the World Gig Championships in 2024. The club has a presence on X (formerly Twitter with 625 followers), Instagram (486 followers 46.3% female, 43.7% male) and Facebook 896 followers ( 57.4% female, 42.6% male) and there has been good coverage of events with stories and pictures throughout the year. This has not yet cascaded out to Junior rowers and this is a goal for 2024 with encouragement to create a presence on Tik Tok. Updating the club website is a priority for 2024 as it is the main conduit to advertise the club and attract new members. Our thanks to Jane Fitzsimons, Emily Bolton and Lindsay Turpin for their great work in profiling the club in 2023. The committee recognise the need for a long-term **Financial Plan** for the club to cover all club COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 13 expected, forward and planned expenditure to include the routine maintenance and replacement of the club’s equipment. This will enable us to forecast deficits and to plan fundraising campaigns accordingly. The committee has agreed that it would be extremely beneficial if all members not only row, but have an assigned second task as well. This is because the club is increasing in membership and, as success grows, so does demand on equipment, resourcing and people’s time. If the burden on a small group of individuals continues it will result in burn out and key people will leave the club. In order to avoid this we would like all members to sign up to agreed tasks in advance each year. This will also help us to plan events more efficiently. This will be discussed at the AGM scheduled for 7[th] February 2024 where a decision will be made. Sheila Snellgrove – Chair, Cotehele Quay Gig Club. COTEHELE QUAY GIG CLUB TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of COTkHtLi (IWAY qlq c On accounts for the year,, ended | Charity no (if any) Set out on pages dud8 I report to the twstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust") for the year ended Responsibilities and As the chanty trustees of Ihe Trust. you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Acr). I report in respect of my examinab.on of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by ihe Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect. accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of theAct or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no GOn￿rnS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in order to enable a prO￿r understanding of the accounts to be reached Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: | Date: | Relevant professional j qualificationls) or body I {if anyl: AJ[4 _ IER October 2018 Address: 4 tso£G C•Ju 14) @-rCX Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of chaiity accounts.. directions and guidan for examiners). Glve here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018 CoteheleQuay E4gClJbAc¢ouDts 2023 2023 In(•me TS stsrt Balance £7.803. 5,160.44 £5,094.18 £5,457.21 £5,215.5S £S,160.18 E6.95'106 f9.751 18 E5.316 74 E5.407 50 £7,828.96 £￿,8￿.4$ b5 Adrnln f.Q.00 £0.00 Éo.00 £0.00 Equlpm•nt £0 £0 £tt £& £0. £0. £0. £0. £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 Events £Q.DO É772.77 £0.00 £000 £75 EO.L fO.00 £453.45 £0. £M.10 £384.OD £ts.th) Klttrdar EO. £665.th) £252.60 £880.50 £97 QO BoroJ& 143.99 E89.99 £61.99 £46.99 E55.99 Oth•r 44.00 £365.36 £695.00 Monthl TDtsI Janu¥Y Febwèry Mèrch o. £0.00 £66L71 £0.00 £0.00 £70.48 £o.oty £0.00 56.15 EO.Oa E5O3.00 É5.066.67 10.(y) £5,16044 ,094 18 E5.457 Zl £1916 33 £L679.33 £4.471.16 £2,658.92 £3.790.32 £2.167.80 £1.984.33 £4.064.83 £2,330.93 £1,758.83 E4.055.43 E7.503. £LS72.33 £0. £O.fh) £0. £u. £o.rK) £0.00 £0.00 Éo.oll £O.OD £5,760.18 £6,957.Q6 £L462 £1945.QO £1513.00 £1 S92.00 EO.00 £O.DO £0. £0.00 EO. EO. EO, É372.(Kl £1.727. E290.50 AuAvSt September October r4ovember Decernber EL49.50 £17.33 £30.33 th) 542.ts) til4.￿) £5.407.50 £7.828 96 £13.89D,48 £14.E67.29 £1.901.00 £i,s?o.00 EO. £85.00 knroJ*lTOt*l £19025.32 £0. £o.ou 471.32 E2 8IH.IQ £752.26 £6 358.01 57.20 2Q21 Eywdtturt 5ul)i EO. fO.(h) £0. Adml £60.92 ment Events É680.00 KItOrd¢r £0.00 £15 60 £0. EL714.36 £0. £D.ts) £D.ts) Éo. Othèr Morthl Totil ElJ.00 £o.w E32,00 £2 864.22 £o.w £0.00 £1.140. E25.00 É50.OD ÈO.OD £57.50 £149. £o.(M) £O.(w) £0.00 £000 ch £390.QO É220.QQ £655.00 £481.00 £1 129.50 £4 313.0 EO.00 EO.00 É170.00 É14.99 £o.uo £119.f £2.325.89 £4.031. £1.fi23.20 E787.45 £776.39 £8th). 193.05 Ma £0.00 £0.00 £o.th) £000 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 Éo. E48.(hl Éo. £95.20 £62.40 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £184.23 £0, £268,7L Eo.(y) £0. £0. £o.fy) £80.00 £o.(w) £o.(w) £0.00 L636.40 £146.80 F49.00 £000 tembor October NovErnbei DÈcemb?F £w.ii £756.38 EU.OU F.O.UD 10.00 E382.08 Eo. £￿1,60 £1.633.97 £314.93 £40 QO Annu￿ TotDI £0.00 £9 012.04 £15￿.1/ £2 31&14 £16U.(A) £2 412.01 £1 53L.80 £Jl,793.04 2013 Annual Adm £0. mtnt Events K￿order Bofiys B)11 Othe £5.350.86 £2.412.IM £2,9X82 MI￿¥ £oth) MOnthlyTDt41 f.6.358.Dl £J £6,358.Tr1 ÉQ.DD £L9,015.32 E9 012.04 49012.04 £15,086.27 -É15,U86.27 £L274.15 El60.00 £31 IY3.ty1 £501.g6 £592.2S 1,531. TsBA¢co￿￿lon¢e tstl•nuJry ZOZ3'. TSBAcruuM bIlan￿ 315t December ZO23'. £7.803.13 E14867.29 Start Balante Add Incom £?.80*13 £38,857.2Q expewes ch)Setsa￿r £31,793.04 É14