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2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2023 To 31 December 2023

Charity name: LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB

Charity registration number: 1193091

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 To promote community participation in
healthy recreation within Leighton
Buzzard and the surrounding area by
providing facilities and events for
athletics.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 The club holds a range of weekly training
sessions to improve athletic ability and
general fitness.
Opportunities are provided for members
to compete in competitions across a
range of athletics disciplines.
The club organises the Leighton 10 road
race, which is popular with the local
community, providing a challenging
target for local runners to train for.
The club welcomes all people, regardless
of ability, background, faith, gender,
sexuality or personal circumstances.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 The trustees have read and accept the
guidance around public benefit, and
ensure this is central to the objectives of
the charity.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38
Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 The trustees have delegated the running
of the charity to the general committee,
which meets regularly throughout the
year and helps deliver the charity's
objectives. The trustees are grateful for
the ongoing work of the general
committee and the club continues to
provide significant benefits to the local
community through its activities and
events.
The trustees are particularly grateful for
the work carried out in 2023 by the
general committee and the Leighton 10
sub-committee.
The trustees have adopted the general
committee's annual report as a true and
accurate reflection of the charity's
activities during 2023. This report is
included as an appendix at the end of this
Annual Return.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 During the year ended 31 December 2023
the club generated a surplus of receipts
over payments of £1,843, an increase of
£1,157 from the amount of £686 the
previous year. The main cause of the
increase was a much-improved surplus
from the club's Leighton 10 race of £1,362
(2022: £121).
As at 31 December 2023 the club held
cash funds of £16,488, which provides
cover of 1.62x against the annual
payments.
The financial performance over the year
was pleasing. The strong level of
reserves will enable the charity to pursue
its goals, in particular the re-
establishment of the junior section.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The club aims to hold unrestricted
reserves equivalent to at least one year's
worth of expenses, to cover cashflow and
any unanticipated expenditure.
Additionally, the club regularly considers
the need to build up restricted reserves to
cover equipment maintenance or
replacement, or to undertake any capital
expenditure projects that could enhance
the club's offering. At present, no
restricted reserves are deemed
necessary.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £16,488
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A – reserves held
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A – no deficit
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 None. The Trustees consider the charity
to be a going concern.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted		 Para 1.46
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
trusts:		 None
Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)		 Para 1.25 Constitution of a CIO with voting
members other than its charity trustees
How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)		 Para 1.25 CIO
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 The club members or the charity trustees
may at any time decide to appoint a new
charity trustee, either in place of a trustee
who has retired, or as an additional
trustee, provided that the limit on the
number of trustees would not as a result
be exceeded.
At every annual general meeting, one-
third of the charity trustees shall retire
from office, and can seek reappointment.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures Para 1.51 adopted for the induction and training of trustees The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 structure and any wider network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Leighton Buzzard Athletic Club
Other name the charity uses N/A- none
Registered charitynumber 1193091
Charity’s principal address N/A – The club does not have its own HQ; training is
provided in public areas and on a purpose-built facility
on the land of Vandyke Upper School in Leighton
Buzzard.

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
whole year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Richard Inchley Chair
2 James Cusack
3 Nick Clay
4 Roger Seldon Treasurer
5 Peter Mackrell Appointed 28/02/2023
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets
held in this capacity		 None
Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects		 N/A - None
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets		 N/A - None

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A – no exemptions

Other optional information

None

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s) Richard Anthony Inchley Roger Alan Seldon Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair Treasurer etc) Date 28/04/2024

APPENDIX - Trustee Report for AGM 2023/24 – Chairman’s Report

Membership

Year Total Junior Senior
2021/22 211 98 113
2022/23 206 94 112
2023/24 158 57 101

Finances and membership fees

As we will be reported the club finances are in a healthy position and as ever we’ll be looking at several ways to ensure any surplus is reinvested back in the club. Significant investment this year will be needed on coaching for juniors and run leading for seniors.

Subject to further discussion at the committee we are highly unlikely to propose any increase in membership fees for next year. Membership fees will likely be frozen once again, and the inevitable EA membership fee increase absorbed once again.

I’d like to thank Pete Mackrell and our Treasurer Roger Seldon for putting the account together. I must highlight Roger in particular who has had a hellish time with Barclays this past 6 months or more. Resulting in our account being closed and us unable to make payments, through no fault of our own for several months. He spent many a long hour on the phone and even covered some member expenses himself while it was resolved, really going above and beyond.

Training and coaching

We have successfully added new members to the Tuesday and Wednesday run leaders group and laid down a clear structure on how we want these evenings to run. This has taken account of member feedback to ensure they remain as accessible as they can be for our members. Thursday nights continue to run smoothly and there a regular group who take part in speed training no matter the weather.

We have also begun monthly, long social runs on a Sunday.

We’re always looking for more people to help on any of our club nights.

Facilities, equipment and kit

Leighton 10 (L10)

The Leighton 10 was a great success this year. The planning and organisation went off smoothly, as did the day itself. We saw an increase in entries this year and the event made £1362.14 back to club.

Our thanks go to Ian Grimshaw as Race Director and his hard-working Leighton10 Committee for putting on a wonderful event. Hopefully we can build on that in 2024.

Junior section

The big news in the junior section was the stepping down our long-standing team of Warren Rose, David Killick and Nick Clay. The club once again extends our thanks to their many of years of dedicated service to our junior section.

Unfortunately, this did impact heavily on junior training and events. Although we completed a full track and field season, full athletics training ended on 31 August. Warren kindly has kept an endurance run group going which has enabled a small / hardy group to continue training through the XC season. Warren will step down in August.

The club is committed to reestablishing our junior section. This is a core part of what we do and set out in our charitable goals. However, this will be a slow and gradual process, as it takes time to train coaches. So, the plan is to build back gradually. I plan to take over the endurance group that runs on Thursday from April. Training will be offered to ages groups 12+ and initially training numbers will be limited. We will then look to recruit and train more people over the next few years. The focus may initially be running but we do hope we can get back to providing field event training over time.

This will be an immense challenge but by going back to basics we can continue to offer a training and opportunities to compete to the young people of the town.

Events and Racing

Once again, our Club Captains developed a fantastic calendar of events for the past 12 months across our various championship – road, off road, cross country and track and field.

In 2023/24 we will continue to actively encourage participation by promoting our various championships particularly to new members who may be less aware of what’s involved.

Cross Country

The club maintained a respectable mid-table position in the Chiltern XC League this year. We were 8[th] overall, and in the men’s section, and 9[th] overall for the ladies. This is down a couple of places on last year but still a solid set of results. It was a challenging year with a host of injuries and general unavailability meaning we rarely had all our strongest runners available at each event. It remains true though that when we do then the club is capable of challenging further up the table, possibly even pushing for a top 3 or 4 finish.

Road

The road series saw a disappointing drop off in attendance after a good year in 2023. Participation was lower for both men and women but in the latter case for a couple of the events we struggled to even to get 3 people attend.

The committee will discuss this at future meetings to see how greater participation can be encouraged.

Off Road / Trail

The off-road series is home to some great and challenging events. Participation has been good this year with the relays being particularly well attended again. It was pleasing once again to pick up trophies at both Greensands and the MK relay.

Track and field

From a senior perspective this remains a challenge for participation. The juniors completed a full season before the coaches stepped down. The committee will review plans for track and field in the coming months.

Draft committee priorities for the next year

In no particular order:

I’d finish by saying that anything we as club want to do or achieve is reliant on people coming forward to help. So, I extend my sincere gratitude to anyone and everyone who has helped in the last 12 months. I would add though that both the club’s and committee’s resources are finite, so if we are to develop new areas then we need new people to come forward and help. Not just with issues or ideas but also some willingness to help implement them.

James Lowe

Club Chairman (General Committee)

LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB 1193091 1193091 1193091 CC16a
For the period
from		 01/01/23 To 31/12/23
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
6,194
3,449
1,610
240
500
8
32
-
12,033
-
-
-
12,033
2,728
2,087
2,088
815
310
265
812
276
440
369
10,190
-
-
-
10,190
1,843
-
14,645
16,488		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
to the nearest £
6,194
3,449
1,610
240
500
8
32
-
12,033
-
-
-
12,033
2,728
2,087
2,088
815
310
265
812
276
440
369
10,190
-
-
-
10,190

1,843		 Last year
to the nearest £
Membershipfees 6,194 8,491
Race entries 3,449 3,893
Social functions 1,610 1,080
Club kit 240 1,337
Grants & donations 500 500
Other income 8 50
Interest 32 4
- -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 12,033 15,355
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
- -
Sub total - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
15,355

Affiliation fees		 2,728 3,343
Race events 2,087 3,772
Social functions 2,088 1,401
Competition fees and transport 815 2,025
Club kit 310 2,122
Coaching/welfare courses 265 -
Medals and engraving 812 572
Equipment 276 85
Venue hire 440 915
Other costs 369 434
**Sub total ** 10,190 14,669
A4 Asset and investment
purchases (see table)
, -
-
**Sub total ** - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
14,669
1,843 - -
1,843		 686
- - - - -
14,645 - - 14,645 13,959
16,488 - - 16,488 14,645

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

28/04/2024

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
Notes to the accounts
B5 Liabilities
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B3 Investment assets
B2 Other monetary assets
B1 Cash funds
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)		 Details
Details
Details
Details
Current account
Savings account
Paypal account
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
10,195
-
6,293
16,488
OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
liability relates		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
The CIO has not provided any guarantees.
The CIO has not entered into any debt arrangements during the period, and does not have
any debt outstanding
Signature
2		 Print Name
Richard AnthonyInchley
Roger Alan Seldon		 Date of
approval
28/04/24
28/04/24
28/04/2024

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)