WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
Trustees report for the year ending 30th Sept 2024
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 bowls during the summer season and carpet bowls and table tennis during the winter closed season. The clubhouse is available for use by others by arrangement.
Achievements and Performance
A programme of league matches, friendly matches, internal competitions and invitation tournaments have been played during the summer season. This year the Club won the North Northumberland League Title for the first time since 2012. There have been issues with our own and other clubs achieving the number of players needed for friendly matches as numbers of experienced bowlers has not yet recovered after Covid. Despite this problem 11 friendly matches were played and only 3 cancelled, 2 of these by opposing clubs.
Carpet Bowling has been held regularly each week in the clubhouse throughout the closed winter season. The Club has also hired full length indoor bowling rinks twice per week at a local leisure centre for members to use at cost price to the Club. These activities are particularly well attended and allow members to continue to meet socially for healthy exercise when lawn bowling is not possible. A table tennis table is also available for members to use.
Financial Review
The bank balance as at 30th September 2024 stood at £20,509 and cash in hand was £520. Annually the club has made a small surplus of £227 without achieving any grant income. Annual membership fees were increased by £15 to £85 by vote of the members at the Annual General Meeting in October 2023. 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 actively sought.
Plans for future periods
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WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
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, carpet 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. Planning permission has been achieved, after costly expenditure, from Northumberland County Council. The Council agreed that this permission would become permanent when work started on the upgrade and Building Control accepted that installation of a lower suspended and insulated ceiling would constitute the start of the work. The lowered ceiling was installed but Building Control then informed the Club that rules have changed and the planning permission now has only a guaranteed life of three years. We have been assured by our architect that this will be almost certainly extended for another three years when it is due to expire However, we are taking advice on what other work could be commenced which would make the planning permission permanent.
The charity has some funds to contribute to the cost of clubhouse renewal but substantial grant funding will be needed to meet the total cost.
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 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 30.09.2024 - 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.
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
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Wooler Bowling and Sports Club
Accounts for the Year Ending 30th September 2024
| 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 Surplus for Year Closing Bank Balance |
£ | £ |
|---|---|---|
| 3,545 671 1,638 407 595 399 0 |
7255 7,028 |
|
| 420 2,831 1,345 1,400 835 197 0 |
||
| 7,028 | ||
| 20,802 227 |
||
| 21,029 |
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: 12[th] March 2025