WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
Trustees Report for the year ending 30th Sept 2025
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 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 authorises an application of the property of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for the purposes which are not charitable in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity provides facilities for members and visitors to play lawn green bowls in the summer season (April to September) and Carpet Bowls and Table Tennis in the clubhouse during the winter months (October to March). Additionally, the Club has a block booking of two bowling rinks on Monday and Friday mornings each week at Berwick-Upon-Tweed Leisure Centre to play full length indoor bowls during the winter months (October to March). All these activities are well supported by the members and allow them to continue to meet socially for healthy exercise when outdoor lawn bowling is not possible.
The Club is affiliated to Bowls Northumberland and Bowls England. On 30[th] September 2025 the Club had 64 members, of which 52 were full playing members.
The charity makes the clubhouse available for use by local community groups and others by arrangement.
Achievements and Performance
A programme of internal competitions, friendly games and league matches were played throughout the 2025 summer season, plus two open tournaments, which attracted players from all over Northumberland and beyond. Our Club won the North Northumberland Fours League for the second year in succession in 2025. Our Club’s three fours took also first, third and fourth places at the North Northumberland League Finals Day. Our fifteen internal competitions and eleven friendly games were well supported by our members. Only one friendly game was cancelled by a visiting club because they could not raise a team.
In addition to all the above, the Club holds three social bowling sessions per week during the outdoor season and members can individually use the green at any time when maintenance is not taking place. Visitors are also welcome to use the green for a small green fee, by arrangement and at two advertised open days held each outdoor season.
Financial Review
The bank balance as at the end of our financial year to 30th September 2025 stood at £22,452 and cash in hand was £1,585. Income for the financial year was £28,395 and expenditure £25,387, resulting in surplus income for the year of £3,008. Members fundraising activities raised £3,670 during the year and a generous donation of £3,000 was received from a member, without which the Club would have been in a break-even position at year-end.
Grants of £9,068 from Barmoor Windfarm and £2,500 from Sport England were received during the financial year. The former was used for the purchase of a new mower for the bowling green which, together with diligent use of the Club’s green-iron, improved the bowling surface noticeably. The latter, together with required matched funding, raised by Club members and others via a Crowdfunder Appeal, enabled the Club to install an insulated suspended ceiling with LED lighting in the main hall of the clubhouse. This greatly improved heat retention for indoor winter activities and reduced electricity bills.
Version Final
1
WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
Because of the donation and grants received outlined above, the income and expenditure for the financial year was unusually high for the Club and unlikely to be repeated in the short to medium term.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that report accurately the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that finances are adequately and securely managed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and consequently for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Accounts are prepared on a monthly basis and reviewed by Trustees and the management committee at committee meetings held on average eight times a year. 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 and signed by a suitably qualified independent person and their statement included with the submitted accounts.
Reserve Policy and Financial Position
The charities financial position remains healthy but must be seen in the context of an urgent need for an overdue replacement of the clubhouse toilets, kitchen and women’s changing room, mostly built in the 1920s. This cannot be achieved without significant external funding in the region of at least £110k. This funding continues to be actively sought, though in a very difficult general economic climate which severely restricts grant opportunities.
Plans for Future Periods
Planning Permission was granted by Northumberland County Council (NCC) in June 2023 for replacement of the oldest section of the clubhouse, the fabric of which continues to deteriorate, despite frequent “running repairs”. There is a need for larger women’s changing room, improved toilet facilities, including a disabled toilet, better ventilation and a larger kitchen. This replacement will make the clubhouse more suitable for use by other community organisations and for members’ indoor activities. The clubhouse has always been available for use by community groups and the Club is committed to improving the facilities it is able to offer to the local community.
Planning permission was achieved after significant expenditure by the Club and NCC Building Control has agreed permanent permission will be granted when some approved initial work has been commenced. This work must be carried out before the original planning permission expires in June 2026. The Club have agreed with NCC Building Control on the initial work required.
Although the Trustees have been advised by our architect that planning permission is likely to be extended for another three years when it is due to expire, this will only be certain if initial work is carried out and approved by NCC Building Control.
The charity are holding some funds in reserve to contribute to the cost of replacing the oldest section of the clubhouse, but substantial grant funding will be needed to achieve the total cost.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is managed by the Trustees. At the Annual general Meeting (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 management committee which meets regularly which 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 annual Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement 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; specifically the receipt and application of resources for that period.
Version Final
2
WOOLER BOWLING AND SPORTS CLUB
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 30.09.2025 - Jacqui Donnelly, John Guthrie, Victoria Symons and Richard Henthorn, 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
The Trustees thank the Club Management Committee and many of our members for their significant fundraising efforts and voluntary contributions towards maintaining the bowling green, its precincts and the clubhouse, which saves the charity considerable expenditure. Lastly, our thanks go to our match secretaries for organising and managing league matches, friendly games, internal competitions and open tournaments.
The Trustees declare they have approved the Trustees’ report above,
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
R Henthorn
Richard Henthorn Secretary and Treasurer
Version Final
3
Wooler Bowling and Sports Club
Accounts for the Year Ending 30th September 2025
| 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 & Fixtures Purchases Surplus for Year Opening Bank Balance Surplus for Year Closing Bank Balance |
£ | £ |
|---|---|---|
| 4,142 3,670 2,337 5,958 183 537 11,568 |
28,395 25,387 |
|
| 685 3,514 670 2,863 3,678 446 13,531 |
||
| 3,008 | ||
| 21,029 3,008 |
||
| 24,037 |
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 a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Mr R Turnbull Address: 3 Clockhouse, Middleton, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7LG Date: 11[th] February 2026
Wooler Bowling and Sports Club
Accounts for the Year Ending 30th September 2025
| 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 & Fixtures Purchases Surplus for Year Opening Bank Balance Surplus for Year Closing Bank Balance |
£ | £ |
|---|---|---|
| 4,142 3,670 2,337 5,958 183 537 11,568 |
28,395 25,387 |
|
| 685 3,514 670 2,863 3,678 446 13,531 |
||
| 3,008 | ||
| 21,029 3,008 |
||
| 24,037 |
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 a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Mr R Turnbull Address: 3 Clockhouse, Middleton, Belford, Northumberland NE70 7LG Date: 11[th] February 2026