WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
Trustees report for the year ending 30th Sept 2023
Charity details: Registered charity number 1188472 Address: The Green, 4 Weetwood Road, Wooler, NE71 6AE
Objectives and activities
To promote community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of, principally but not exclusively, the residents of North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders by the provision of facilities to participate in the sport of bowling and such other sports capable of promoting physical health and fitness as the trustees shall from time to time determine. (For the purposes of this clause "facilities" means land, buildings, equipment, and organising sporting activities). Nothing in the constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not charitable in accordance with section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
The charity provides facilities for members and visitors to play lawn green bowls in the summer season and Carpet Bowls and Table tennis in the winter closed season. The clubhouse is available for use by others by arrangement.
Achievements and Performance
The club currently has 58 fully paid up members and there are several regular visitors who play amongst themselves and pay visitor fees. Since Covid there has been a considerable reduction in friendly games, mainly due to cancellation by other clubs who can no longer get the numbers to make matches feasible. This has resulted in a reduction in the income generated by these home based games.
The North Northumberland Bowls League recommenced and the club performed reasonably well finishing 3rd in the rinks competition and 2nd in the triples.
During the season the club held social bowling sessions, at least, three times a week, 11 internal competitions, 15 league matches, 7 friendly matches, two open invitations competitions and provided the venue for the North Northumberland League Finals Day competition.
In the Northumberland County Competitions our members: Victoria Symonds won the County Ladies 4 bowl singles, Maggie Peart and Jacqui Donnelly won County Senior Ladies Pairs, Brian Davidson and Jacqui Donnelly won County Mixed Pairs. Ladies from the club represented both Northumberland and Wooler at Royal Leamington Spa National Championships.
Carpet Bowling and Table Tennis has been held regularly each week in the clubhouse throughout the closed winter season. Carpet bowls is particularly well attended. This allows members to continue to meet socially for healthy exercise when lawn bowling is not possible.
A generous donation from Cynthia and Larry Rackley has provided a contribution to the costs for the new Rackley Pavilion installed on the greenside providing viewing and changing facilities. This is an attractive addition to the premises and eases the burden on the delipidating part if the clubhouse. Cynthia Rackley has been appointed as the Safeguarding Officer and has completed the certificated training course.
Financial Review
The bank balance as at 30th September 2023 stood at £20,081 and cash in hand was £721. Annually the club runs at close to break-even but is predicted to start running at a loss (due to reduced income from less activity post Covid) without increasing member’s fees and generating additional income.
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WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that report accurately the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the finances are adequately and securely managed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Accounts are prepared on a monthly basis and submitted to trustees and management committee for inspection at each committee meeting (generally monthly in season, less frequently in the closed season). One trustee with accounting knowledge is the nominated Treasurer with special responsibility for overseeing the accounting processes and procedures. The annual final accounts are inspected by a suitably qualified independent person and their statement included with the submitted accounts.
Reserve Policy and Financial Position
This financial position appears healthy but it must be seen in the context of a remaining urgent need for a substantial upgrade for the clubhouse toilets, kitchen and women’s changing room. This cannot be achieved without significant (£110K) external funding which is being sought.
Plans for future periods
Planning Permission has now been granted for the upgrade the clubhouse, the fabric of the oldest part of which has deteriorated badly. There is a need for larger changing rooms, better toilet facilities including a disabled toilet, better ventilation and a larger kitchen area. The upgrade will make the clubhouse more suitable for use by other community organisations, indoor bowling, table tennis and other indoor activities. The clubhouse has always been available for use by community groups and the club is dedicated to improving the facilities it is able to provide for the local community.
The next stage is to gain Building Control approval from Northumberland County Council so that work may proceed. This process has begun.
The charity will have some funds to contribute to the cost of clubhouse renewal but grant funding is needed to meet the total cost. Advice from funding sources is that there is little possibility of getting the amount from one or two funders. The focus needs to be on getting several smaller amounts to make up the total necessary.
The charity is publicising the use of the clubhouse by other local groups as a way if gaining some income.
Structure, governance and management
The Charity is managed by the Trustees. At the AGM each year the members elect a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Trustees may be nominated for election by any member and are elected or otherwise at the AGM. There is a committee which meets regularly; it includes the Trustees and other elected members to manage the day to day affairs of the club.
The trustees have regard for the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. They are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and the Charity Commission requirements. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity, of the incoming resources and application of resources for that period.
Reference and administrative details
Charity details: The Wooler Bowling and Sports Club. Registered charity number 1188472 Address: The Green, 4 Weetwood Road, Wooler, NE71 6AE
Trustees at 30.09.2023 - Jacqui Donnelly, John Guthrie, Victoria Symons, Richard Henthorn, Maurice Ward, all elected 11.3.2020 and Brian Davidson Co-opted 19.1.2021
Governing Document: The Charity Commission standard Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees dated 11th March 2020.
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WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
Exemptions from disclosure
None
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others
None
Employees and Volunteers
My thanks also go to the Trustees; for their support, advice and voluntary work over the past year. The Trustees also thank the many member volunteers for their significant contribution to maintaining the bowling green, its precincts and the clubhouse which saves the charity considerable expenditure. Lastly, our thanks go to the match secretaries for organising and managing league matches, friendly matches, internal competitions and invitation tournaments. The Trustees declare they have approved the trustees’ report above,
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Maurice Ward Chair of Trustees
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Wooler Bowling and Sports Club
Accounts for the Year Ending 30th September 2023
| Income Subscriptions Received Fund raising Competitions Donations Other Income Sale of Stock items Grants Expenditure Subscriptions Paid Overheads Planning Application Expenses Competitions Property Repairs & Renewals Purchase of Stock items Equipment Purchases Surplus for Year Opening Bank Balance Deficit for Year Closing Bank Balance |
£ | £ |
|---|---|---|
| 3,075 599 2,558 3,269 269 223 0 |
9,993 24,060 |
|
| 496 2,825 3,873 1,972 5,825 88 8,981 |
||
| 14,844 | ||
| 34,869 (14,067) |
||
| 20,802 |
Examiner’s Report:
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that any material in respect :
- accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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 in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Mr R Turnbull Address: 3 Clockhouse, Middleton, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7LG Date: 1[st] May 2024