## BRAINTREE RECREATION CIO
## TRUSTEES’ REPORT
## **2021-22**
## **Registered Charity No: 1193648**
## **Principal Address**
Braintree & Bocking Recreation Grounds
John Ray Street
Braintree
Essex CM7 9DZ
## **Names of trustees & committee**
Mr S Dedman – Trustee
Mr S R Thompson – Trustee
Mrs D Farquhar – Trustee
Mr P McQuillan – Trustee
Mr J S Farquhar – Trustee (Appointed 25/04/2022)
## **Professional Advisor's**
## **Legal Advisor's:**
Holmes & Hills Solicitors – Dale Chambers, Bocking End, Braintree, CM7 6AJ
## **Bankers:**
TBA – Not yet appointed
## **Independent Examiner:**
Paul Short BA(Hons) FCA CF, Lambert Chapman LLP, Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors, 3 Warners Mill, Silks way, Braintree, Essex CM7 3GB
## **Governing Document**
CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 24 Feb 2021
## **Management and governance arrangements**
For good governance and accountability, a minimum of three trustees are required. Where there is a requirement for new trustees, these would be identified and appointed by resolution at a meeting of trustees at which there is a majority of the Trustees present The trustees annually review the risks that the charity faces. The CIO is currently only shadowing the Braintree & Bocking Recreation Ground Trust until transfer of assets to the CIO can be completed **.**
## **Aims and Purposes**
To provide public recreation opportunity for the resort and recreation of adults, children and youths. through the provision of buildings, facilities and open space” The trustees of Braintree Recreation CIO seek to follow the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and work with all Local organisations and groups who wish to make use of the facilities. The trustees strive to ensure maximum availability of the facilities and grounds to the widest possible section of general public in the Braintree area. In our activities we aim to promote the advancement of amateur sport and that of community and general health through the provision of recreational space and facilities. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
## **Summary of the main activities during the year**
The CIO has been established in order to continue the work of the Braintree and Bocking Recreation Ground Trust (BBRG). The BBRG Trustees after much deliberation, concluded that a different vehicle was required to hold the assets invested in the Trust and to take forward the aims and purposes that it had ben set up to achieve and further develop the organisation. It was there conclusion that a CIO was the most suitable vehicle for this purpose.
The intent of the CIO in this initial period is to establish the organisation structure, policies and strategies, prior to importing the assets of the BBRG Trust.
Our first year has been an uncertain year with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing This has presented significant time issues in a lot of our personal and work lives restricting
the amount of time spent on projects and hampering the setup work considerably. We felt that from the start communication and transparency with the public were essential and have established and publicised our social media, email and website which are already proving popular as we engage with more and more people who use the grounds. We are hopeful that this will aid in find more volunteers to help us move forward, something I believe is needed for the organisation to achieve its full potential. Work on policies and strategy is still ongoing, something that we had planned to have completed within this first year.
As key members of the team are also the Trustees of the BBRG Trust we have been able to shadow the operations of the Trust which will be beneficial when the final hand over is completed.
The largest task that remains undone is the identification and preparation of the Trust assets to a level that we are confident in how we transfer them to the CIO. To achieve this we will require external legal advice and assistance.
## **Statement on the charity's policy on reserves**
Until the assets are transferred from the BBRG trust to the CIO all finance remains with the BBRG Trust who's Trustees’ have reviewed the policy on reserve and in the current financial year the aim, is to maintain a reserve balance of unrestricted funds of no less than £10,000. This is to ensure adequate provision for unforeseen expenditure. As at 05 April 2022, the charity had reserves of £58,317 which will allow it to continue for the foreseeable future and maintain the provision for unseen expenditure. The CIO concur with this policy
## **Accounts**
As explained above all finance currently resides in the BBRG Trust and has been reported to the Charity Commission under their charity registration number 301262. To date no funds have passed to the CIO.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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20/03/2023
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Mr Robert Thompson – Trustee