2024-12-31-accounts - Leighton Buzzard Athletic Club

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2024 To 31 December 2024

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 have adopted the general committee's annual report as a true and accurate reflection of the charity's activities during 2024. This report is included as an appendix at the end of this Annual Return.

Additional information (optional)

Additional information (optional)	Additional information (optional)	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 2024 the club generated a surplus of payments over receipts of £2,578, an increase from £1,843 the previous year. The club experienced a drop in affiliation fees due to the loss of the junior section. Although associated costs such as venue hire also dropped as a result. The surplus from the club's Leighton 10 race increased from £1,362 in 2023 to £2,700 in 2024, providing valuable funds for the club. At 31 December 2024 the club held cash funds of £19,066, which provides strong cover of 1.79x against the annual payments.
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	£19,066
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 adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
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)
1	Richard Inchley	Chair
2	James Cusack
3	Nick Clay
4	Roger Seldon	Treasurer
5	Peter Mackrell
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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)

Full name(s)	Richard Anthony Inchley	Roger Alan Seddon

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	Chair	Treasurer

Date	12/09/25

APPENDIX – 2024 General Committee Report for the AGM on Wednesday 26th February 2025

Membership

Membership
Year	Total	Junior	Senior
2021/22	211	98	113
2022/23	206	94	112
2023/24	158	57	101
2024/25	96	6	90

Membership overall has been impacted by the loss of the junior section in two ways: 1. Overall reduction in membership

2. Loss of some members who were parents or helpers with the junior section

Senior membership remains reasonably stable but has dropped as per point 2 above but also some long-term members moving away from the town, and moreover the just general turnover of members who join the club for a brief period and then move on. The post covid ‘bounce’ we experienced a few years ago has gone.
We hope to grow the junior section in the next 12-24 months. Senior membership should remain relatively stable. The committee generally feels any large-scale growth would have to come from ‘beginner runners’ which we currently not well resourced to cater for.

Finances and membership fees

As we will be reported the club finances are in a very healthy position with a significant surplus. I’ll highlight some ideas in my report, but we’ll also take questions on that post the Treasurers update.

Subject to final conformation with the committee. Membership fees will once again absorb the £1 increase in EA fee, and will likely cut the Senior membership fee by a further £2-4 to give back some of the surplus.

I’d like to thank Pete Mackrell and our Treasurer Roger Seldon for putting the account together.

Training and coaching courses

A big thank you to our run leaders / coaches who have helped on our mid-week training or have led a Sunday long run. Attendance at training has been up and down through year. There is a regular core training group on a Thursday but attendance on Tuesdays and Wednesday does fluctuate, although the ‘on tour’ runs appear universally popular. We also added monthly track sessions at Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes.

Picking up and theme that I’ll come to in relation to events I would encourage everyone along to training as often as them can make it. It appears that in recent years people’s lives have perhaps taken a busier turn, and with flexible working arrangement as well people are perhaps having in turn more flexibility when they run.

Wednesday nights are social runs and as far as possible are open to all. The nights are planned on the base of a core route with an extension at the end if you want to run further (which may vary on trial routes). There is not a fast or slow group just a choice of distance.

People run at their own pace, there is wide variety of paces so looping must always apply and be conducted well to keep the group together. The aim should be a social experience so mix in and speak with others and ensure nobody is left too running alone.

We’re always looking for more people to help on any of our club nights. We have at times struggled this year on some nights due to people’s availability due to injuries etc so we could always use extra help.

We have two people in myself and currently Neil Green undertaking or have undertaken the LiRF course, and I will continue to push this with our run leaders. This is important in terms of ensuring the quality for what we offer, making use of our surplus and thereby investing back into our members and sport. Facilities, equipment and kit

Leighton 10 (L10)

The Leighton 10 was once again a great success this year building strong momentum on the previous year. The planning and organisation went off smoothly, as did the day itself. We had total entries of 242 and 205 people took part on the day (it was 156 for both 2023 and 2022).

Total takings from the event were £4, 374 and profit back to the club was £2,700

Our thanks go to Ian Grimshaw as Race Director and his hard-working Leighton10 Committee for putting on a wonderful event. I’m sure we’ll see the event continue to grow in 2025, and the event is in safe hands.

Junior section

In 2025 we had small group of at various time 3-4 juniors regular attend training with me on a Thursday night. In particular, Amy and Nathan and George Perkins have regular attended training also turned up for most of the CCCL showing great commitment to the club.

In 2026 Neil Green will look to complete the LiRF qualification and join me in building up the junior section. This will likely move to Tuesday nights. The club is committed to reestablishing our junior section however small it may be. This is a core part of what we do and set out in our charitable goals. This will be a gradual process. Training will be offered to ages groups 12+ and initially training numbers will be limited with the focus on endurance running.

We will look to engage with parents but if there is anyone within the club who would be interested in helping out it would allow us to offer a more robust training program. When you are reliant on one or two individuals it’s very easy for training etc to get cancelled so if you have helped before or would like to be part of rebuilding the junior section please let me know.

Events and Racing

Each year our Club Captain develops a fantastic calendar of events across our various championship – road, off road, cross country and track and field. Which we once again have in place for 2025.

The year has seen some wonderful team and individual performances, too many to list. From a club perspective the Greensands Ridge Relay was a particular highlight where we took home 3 of the 4 team trophies.

We have seen several vets club records broken, and had people competing in the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA.

At the CCCL we finished in a respectable mid-table position. With some strong performances at some events which shows the clubs full potential. At others we have struggled to get a strong team out or even a full team out for ladies which no doubt impacted on how far up the table we finished.

To pick up a theme we are seeing a noticeable trend over the last two year of diminishing attendance generally across all disciplines. There may well be a variety of reasons for this, and I stress this is not a moan but more a desire to ensure we don’t lose something that makes us the club we are.

Speaking personally and quiet apart from my legs being made of biscuits – I’ve found it very hard to balance work, life and competing much to my own frustration. I’m sure I’m not alone in that, and there may be other reasons such as people not being aware of the events, what the various series awards are for etc. However, all that is speculative so I would say to all members that the committee is open to receiving feedback on the events we choose. We want to know what would encourage you along or what barriers you face. Equally, if this is simply pressures of life, then I don’t create an issue where none exits. So, if we can do something differently then please let us know.

In the next 12 months I encourage our members once again to familiarise themselves with what events are being held and look to participate. We’ve never been a club that says we ‘expect’ people to compete but taking parts at events together, is a big part of what being part of a club is about. It promotes a social and supportive aspect to the club giving you another opportunity to meet up, run, and compete as necessary. None more so that at Cross country events where we really need that team spirit across the club to keep motivating our runners as they tackle the mud and hills. I want to make a special mention to the likes of Carl and Northy for being really troopers in terms of delivering and setting up the gazebo.

A Golden Year – 2026 – 50[th] years of LBAC

In 2026 the club will be 50 years old which is a fantastic milestone. Over the next 12 months the committee will work on plans for how to mark this achievement. We would welcome ideas and involvement from our members so we can make it a special year. Early ideas discuss but nothing finalised have included:

Bringing back the Round Leighton Buzzard Relay but opening it up to a teams from local clubs
A commentative technical t-shirt or similar for our members
Introducing a junior event at the L10 e.g. junior mile or similar

With the clubs healthy financial position, we do hope we can invest some the surplus into plans for 2026.

Club priorities for the next year

In no particular order:

Look to have a new intake of junior members for the first time in 18 months. Building the section in small sustainable way.
Invest in coaching courses for those that are keen to develop their skills and support the club so we can enhance the quality of what we offer.
Ensure the Leighton 10 continues to grow and be successful event for the local area.
Actively encourage and look for ways to boost attendance at training and events.
Put in place plans for our 50[th] Birthday year in 2026

I’d like to put on record my thanks to all the committee for their support in the next 12 months, and as we stay together for the next year as well. Thank you to everyone that has helped out with the club behind the scenes and events, we cannot do anything unless we work together. The committee is always here to listen to ideas both for social and running events so don’t shy in coming forward.

Following the Chairman’s report Members discussed ways to spend the Club’s surplus budget, including the upkeep of facilities at Vandyke School, fundraising for a nominated charity, hiring transport to events, and subsidising social events. The Committee undertook to discuss these ideas at the next Committee meeting. The purpose and value of the Club’s charity status was discussed and James Lowe outlined the role and expectations of Run Leaders.

James Lowe Club Chairman (General Committee)

	LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB	LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB	LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB	LEIGHTON BUZZARD ATHLETIC CLUB	CC16a
	For the period from	01/01/24	To

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted funds to the nearest £		to the nearest £ Restricted funds	to the nearest £ Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Membershipfees	3,740	- - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - -	3,740 7,657 1,120 240 500 - - -	6,194 3,449 1,610 240 500 8 32 -
Race entries	7,657
Social functions	1,120
Club kit	240
Grants & donations	500
Other income	-
Interest	-
	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	13,257	-	-	13,257	12,033

		- -	- -	- -	-
		-	-	-	-

		-	-	13,257	12,033

Affiliation fees	1,843	- - - - - - - - - -	- - - - - - - - - -	1,843 4,857 1,120 1,474 273 190 537 42 - 343	2,728 2,087 2,088 815 310 265 812 276 440 369
Race events	4,857
Social functions	1,120
Competition fees and transport	1,474
Club kit	273
Coaching/welfare courses	190
Medals and engraving	537
Equipment	42
Venue hire	-
Other costs	343
*Sub total*	10,679	-	-	10,679	10,190

		- -	- -	- -
		-	-	-	-

		-	-	10,679	10,190

	2,578	-	-	2,578	1,843
	-	- -	- -	- 16,488	- 14,645
	16,488
	19,066	-	-	19,066	16,488

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

14/09/2025

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

Details Current account Savings account Details Details Details Details Paypal account *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ Unrestricted funds	to nearest £ Restricted funds	to nearest £ Endowment funds
	15,277	-	-
	-	-	-
	3,789	-	-
	19,066	-	-
			OK
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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

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

Signature	Print Name Richard AnthonyInchley Roger Alan Seldon	Date of approval
	Richard AnthonyInchley	12/09/25
	Roger Alan Seldon	12/09/25

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

14/09/2025