Wilts Squash Chairman Annual Report 2024-25
Wiltshire Squash continues to operate well but it is still a challenging environment although we are gradually returning to pre-COVID levels of participation across all areas of activity. We were able to run both Winter and Summer leagues and team numbers have increased so that we could return to two divisions. A full report on the leagues has been provided by the League Sec outlining the issues, outcomes, results and plans for the forthcoming season. We are trying to encourage more teams from more clubs to participate and are looking at innovate ways of achieving this.
The announcement that Squash will finally be an Olympic sport in 2028 continues to generate a lot of welcome publicity and we will continue to exploit that to promote squash participation across the county.
County Competitions have again been run at a number of different age groups and entrant numbers have increased and they were all successful and competitive events. We also want to participate in Inter- County and National Competitions to increase the profile of Wilts Squash nationally. Our priority is to recover participation numbers for teams, individuals and competitions across all age groups, juniors and women. We are also looking to encourage racketball numbers too.
I would like to pass on my thanks to Dean and John Watkins in particular and the Wessex Club for their ongoing tremendous support in organising and hosting the various County competitions.
A separate update has been provided on Junior squash participation and our efforts to improve access and participation in this key area which remains challenging. Josh Watkins has made great progress in initiating new junior coaching sessions that we will look to build on as we strive to promote junior squash across the county.
We are also considering future coaching options to ensure a development and improvement pathway exists for all levels of squash participation across the County.
We will continue to review future options on the funding models for hosting visiting teams after some issues have been raised on the various options currently available and we will be looking at how these options are being received throughout the Winter and Summer seasons.
The cost Cost of team entries will also be reviewed for the coming season.
ES membership models for clubs and individuals had been under review nationally and has now been formally adopted so we will be monitoring these developments and the potential impact this may have on different club models within the County and will communicate these issues with Clubs.
Committee Membership
All Ctee posts remain filled and I am grateful for the current Committee for all their support and efforts over the last year which has been another challenging period. I recognise that
time and effort is still a key issue with volunteers on the Committee balancing their many various commitments. There is an ES governance review underway too and we are currently considering the impact of these proposed changes and any transitional considerations that may be required. After serving as Chair for the last 5 years it is now time for me to stand down and pass on the role in order to allow Wilts Squash to continue to progress.
We are planning on updating the Website and hosting environment to integrate Communications, Sporty HQ integration, costs, matches, results, fixtures and matches. We are also reviewing our Media and Comms strategy and any data and governance challenges. The future strategy and constitution needs to be reviewed and updated to reflect current challenges.
CIO Governance
We are continuing to meet our mandatory requirements for governance and accountability as a CIO. There is also an ES transition plan for all Counties to achieve CIO status so we have already achieved that aim which is a good position to be in.
Finances
There is a separate report from Treasurer which details our accounts for the FY. We remain financially stable and healthy but need a long term sustainable plan for growth across the County. We received a healthy contribution from SRF after those funds were distributed to individual counties. Funding priorities and opportunities now need to be identified. We have the money but now need to be able to spend it effectively to promote Squash participation across the County.
England Squash
As Chair, I represent Wilts on ES meetings and forums. CIO transition has been a key topic and I attend and represent Wilts Squash.
Summary
The last few years have been a very challenging time and we are now working with ES to support bounce back activities to try and improve participation levels that have dropped significantly after COVID. We have an experienced Committee with funding available and a core number of teams and players across the County. We now need to use this strong base to build a strategy to support growth in participation and improve quality across all age groups and locations across the full breadth of what is a large geographical County area.
The inclusion of Squash as an Olympic sport provides a fantastic opportunity to reignite interest at all levels and we will work with ES to use this time to promote new initiatives and programmes to build on the increased profile that Squash will hopefully now attract.
Nick Hartley Chairman Wiltshire Squash November 2025
Wiltshire Squash Accounts Summary – 2024/25
The following commentary relates to the Wiltshire Squash accounts for the 2024/25 financial year. The accounts have been prepared using the receipts and payments template prescribed by the Charity Commission and are shown at appendix 1.
Wiltshire Squash recorded a loss of £754 on income of £1,335 for the 2024/25 financial year. The loss represents a continued modest use of reserves into supporting and growing the game within the county as we invest previous grant receipts.
Income increased slightly from £1,179 to £1,335 which is in line with on-going underlying activity. Our main regular sources of income remained tournament fees (£788) and league fees (£390) along with the England Squash rebate of £157.
Expenses of £2,089 were incurred. The main expenditure heads are court and trophy fees for tournaments (£949), admin (£609) as we continue with Sporty HQ membership and intercounty entry fees and expenses (£306). The remaining expenditure (£225) related to funding the start of a modest squash coaching programme that will continue into the current year.
Wiltshire squash had a balance of £18,078 at the year-end. The plan for 2025-26 continues to be for league fees and the England squash rebate to generate receipts to enable intercounty competition with tournaments largely breaking even. This leaves funds to invest in squash development opportunities whether that be bringing people back to the game, investing in facilities or investing in coaching opportunities to develop new squash players.
It is proposed that for 2025/26, fees remain at their current level of £75 per team for Winter League and £25 per club for Summer League.
A summary of income/expenditure is shown overleaf. The committee is asked to authorise the accounts for submission to the Charity Commission and to agree the fee proposals for 2025/26.
Ben Taylor Wilts Squash Treasurer
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 157 390 788 - - - 1,335 306 949 609 225 - 2,089 (754) - 18832 18,078 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 157 390 788 - - - 1,335 306 949 609 225 - 2,089 (754) - 18,832 18,078 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England Squash rebate | 157 | 173 | ||
| League Fees | 390 | 275 | ||
| Events | 788 | 731 | ||
| Coaching | - | - | ||
| Grants | - | - | ||
| Miscellaneous | - | - | ||
| Total receipts | 1,335 | 1,179 | ||
| A3 Payments | ||||
| Inter county | 306 | 718 | ||
| Events | 949 | 563 | ||
| Admin | 609 | 600 | ||
| Coaching | 225 | 222 | ||
| Grants | - | 3,848 | ||
| Total payments | 2,089 | 5,951 | ||
| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||
| (754) | - | (754) | (4,772) | |
| - | - | - | - | |
| 18832 | - | 18,832 | 23,604 | |
| 18,078 | - | 18,078 | 18,832 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricte Restricted Categories Details d funds funds to nearest £ to nearest £ Senior Treasurer account 15,766 - Wiltshire Juniors account 2,312 - - Total cash funds 18,078
B1 Cash funds
Wiltshire Squash No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 4/1/2024 3/31/2025 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds
| Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted |
Restricted | Endowment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts England Squash rebate 157 League Fees 390 Events 788 Coaching - Grants - Miscellaneous - - - 1,335 - - Sub total - Total receipts 1,335 A3 Payments Inter county 306 Events 949 Admin 609 Coaching 225 Grants - Development Officer - - - - Sub total 2,089 - - Sub total - Total payments 2,089 Net of receipts/(payments) - 754 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 18,832 Cash funds this year end 18,078 funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases,(see table) |
to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - funds |
to the nearest £ funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 157 390 788 - - - - - 1,335 - - - 1,335 306 949 609 225 - - - - - 2,089 - - - 2,089 - 754 - 18,832 18,078 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - |
157 | 173 | ||
| 390 | 275 | |||
| 788 | 731 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| 1,335 | 1,179 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | 1,335 | 1,179 | ||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
306 | 718 | ||
| 949 | 563 | |||
| 609 | 600 | |||
| 225 | 222 | |||
| - | 3,848 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| 2,089 | 5,951 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| - | - | |||
| - | 2,089 | 5,951 | ||
| - | - - - - |
- 754 | - 4,772 | |
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 18,832 | 23,604 | ||
| - | 18,078 | 18,832 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Senior Treasurer account PayPal Account Junior Bank account Details Details Details Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ 15,766 - - - 2,312 - 18,078 - OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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