2023-04-05-accounts

MEDIEVAL COMBAT SPORTS ASSOCIATION GREAT BRITAIN

(formally – Historical Medieval Battle – Great Britain)

Charity number: 1194258

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement

For year ending 5 April 2023

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name and number (CIO – Association)

MEDIEVAL COMBAT SPORTS ASSOCIATION - GREAT BRITAIN (also known as MCSA-GB) Charity Number: 1194258

Principle address

Unit 14, Hanson Close Industrial Estate, Hanson Close, Middleton, Manchester M24 2HD

email: [e-mail]

Objectives

The advancement of the amateur sport of Medieval combat for the public benefit by the promotion and provision of facilities for public participation so as to improve the physical health of participants.

Summary of activities

The aim of Medieval Combat Sports Association – Great Britain is to give every member the opportunity to train and participate at the highest level in a professional and positive environment and is committed to creating opportunities for our members to develop and participate in the sport, at all levels. To achieve this, we will identify new opportunities and ways to progress and improve current practices and procedures for the good of the sport and every member on a national and international level.

Our development plan aims to:

• Ensure a duty of care to all members

• Ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.

• Ensure the future success and sustainability of the sport

• Increase membership and participation

• Create sustainable opportunities for competition at appropriate levels

• Increase awareness of the sport’s development through acknowledgment of current

• initiatives and programmes from all sports partners in the UK

• Ensure that all members are aware of, understand, and work towards the aims and

• objectives of the sport.

• Ensure that the Trustees, General and Executive Councils work towards developing and moving the sport forward in all areas, and that these objectives and progress is reviewed annually.

Goals:

● Promote and develop the practice of medieval combat in armour and soft kit, in all categories included in official HMB events.

● To create and maintain channels of communication amongst members, sporting associations and professional bodies, government, and the business community.

● To liaise with international bodies such as Historical Medieval Battle International Association (referred to from here on as HMBIA) and Buhurt League (referred to from here on as BL)

● Organise medieval combat events according to the unified international rules of the HMBIA

● Prepare the UK team for the HMBIA championships and implement its participation in these championships following a fair elimination process according to HMB rules.

● Support clubs in participating or organising BL events and ranking system. To endeavour to establish funding in support of the organisation to achieve its sporting objectives.

At an EGM of the Trustees on 4 December 2022, upon recommendation from the Management Committee, the name of the association was formally changed from Historical Medieval Battle Association - Great Britain (HMBA-GB) to Medieval Combat Sports Association – Great Britian (MCSA-GB). This reflects the dissolution of the International Sport governing body, HMBIA, as a result of the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the International Events organisation now being undertaken by the recently formed Buhurt League. The name also more appropriate reflects it is a combat sport based on a Medieval authenticity on areas such as armour and weapons.

The association held their AGM on 18 January 2023. One Trustee resigned and two new Trustee were approved, one filling the unfilled vacant position that had reminded unfilled since inception of the association. Barney Barnes was appointed as the association President and Danny George the Treasure for 2023. The national team captains for men and women were appointed for the forthcoming 2023 season.

During the year the committee continued to develop and review the associations policies, with an emphasis on inclusion and diversity.

A UK Buhurt league was created by the association to give more UK based competition opportunities for clubs, to enable more locally based events, allowing wider participation for members than European based league events. In addition, the association started to develop a number of members to become trained marshal, increasing the professional level of marshalling at UK league and non-league events.

The President and deputy continued to work with the new organisers of the Buhurt League during the 2022 year. Events started to resume within Europe and the rest of the world under the previous banner of the Buhurt League, but no longer under the management of HMBIA. A number of clubs attended events within Europe.

The Trustees held their AGM on the 12 March 2023. Trustees upon appointment are provide with the two Charity Commission documents in relation to its Guidance on public benefit.

All posts with the association are undertaken by unpaid volunteers.

During the reporting period the association had four new clubs join it, the Glasgow Sword Breakers (Scotland), The Infernal Unicorns (Scotland), Knights Tower (England) in 2022 and MC Wales – Draig (Wales) January 2023.

Achievements and Performance

The sport has taken time to rebound from the effects of COVID, during which period clubs were unable to train, and through the upheaval created to the sport as a result of the Russian-Ukraine war, the dissolution of HMBIA and a slow restart of event throughout Europe and further afield in a newly managed Buhurt League.

During 2022/23 the association worked with clubs that resulted in the first three GB based Buhurt league events taking place - Castleton Cup, Mercia Challenge and Heritage Cup. Events were made open to the public and to make the event more accessible to a wider audience the events were streamed on You Tube.

The associations national captains held several national training days during the year. There were no international events organised for 2022, again as a result of the breakup of HMBIA, but a new event is due to take place in April 2023 in the Czech Republic, for which the National captains will work with clubs and members towards selecting and prepare teams of fighters to represent us at the international event.

The association worked with the head marshal to continue to increase the number of trained and quailed GB based marshals, to continue to support GB based events with good, trained marshals.

A number of clubs held ‘new members’ taster events, engaged with outreach through in some areas schools or other non-sporting events to bring the sport to a wider audience base in an effort to make more people aware of the sport and potentially recruit new members.

The association is pleased to report that one of the UK female clubs, Swords of Cygnus achieved first place in the World ranking league tables at the end of 2022, with Hellions from Armoured Combat Gloucester achieve fourth place, a great result for both women’s teams and the clubs.

A new LGBTQ+ Representative was appointed during the reporting period.

Financial Review

The income for the year amounted to £2085.61, of which £2084.60 was from membership fees, making this the charities principal source of funding in 2022/23. After the insurance fee of £1604.83, together with £880.91 for end of season league prizes and awards, and some other expenses the total outgoings were £2695.05, leaving an end of year overspend of £609.44. But this set against last years surplus of £1808.73, leaves a 2022/23 surplus of £1199.29, which are held to be utilised for the benefit of the association members.

The association obtained appropriate events insurance on behalf of the members clubs that will cover them for any sport event competition they organise, in accordance with association policy requirements. The association still has to finalise during the next financial year it’s application for Gift Aid, and if approved will claim for this on this reporting period’s paid membership fees retrospectively. The association will continue looking for additional areas from which income can be generated in an effort to support current and future members.

The Treasurer and Trustees are aware that at this stage finances of the association are reliant on membership fees, but with the highest outgoing purely the insurance fees that are currently costing the association 80% of the income generated, there are no immediate concerns on the associations viability. There was additional expenditure this year from the end of season awards and prizes, as a sum had been set aside for the previous year that had been unused, being brought forward in last year’s surplus, and was utilised as additional funds towards prizes and awards, in what was in effect the end of the first full UK league season run by the association.

Trustees

Christopher Lamsdell Lewis Thompson Karen Cunningham Gavin James Grant Stewart Jake Coles to 4/12/2022 Mary George from 4/12/2022 Joanne Booth from 4/12/2022

Structure

The charities’ structure is set out in its CIO Association constitution and within the association’s rules and can be obtained upon request though [e-mail]. The rules regarding the structure of the management committee and appointment of trustees are set out fully in these documents. But in summary the number of charity trustees and their appointment are as follows:

• (a) There must be at least three charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees or appoint a new charity trustee;

• (b) The maximum number of charity trustees is six. The charity trustees may not appoint any charity trustee if as a result the number of charity trustees would exceed the maximum;

• (c) At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire;

• (d) The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot;

• (e) The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting; any vacancies not filled at the annual general meeting may be filled as stated in the below para;

• (f) The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with the rules (Retirement and removal of charity trustees), or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit specified does not exceed the number of permitted charity trustees;

• (g) A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the above. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

----- Start of picture text -----
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Christopher Lamsdell
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc) Chair
Date
23.2.2024
----- End of picture text -----

MEDIEVAL COMBAT SPORTS ASSOCIATION

GREAT BRITAIN UK registered charity No. 1194258

YEAR IN SUMMARY

The second financial year for Medieval Combat Sports Association – Great Britain has been one in which the charity has supported the growth of the sport.

Post COVID, the charity has been able to review and support community sports events in greater depth than the previous year. Whilst this has increased the charity’s direct expenditure in support of the sports growth, further fundraising opportunities should be reviewed to allow additional funds to continue the support of our member clubs.

During 2022/2023 financial period, the charity expenditure exceeded the income by (£609.44) at the end of the financial year. This was due to additional spending and costs not budgeted for the 2021/2022 FY. These costs came from medals/awards trophies and associated event expenditure due to a directly organised event held by MCSA-GB. We also saw a slight increase in year-on-year premiums for the NGB insurance which were well within permissible limits.

Additional strain was added to charity expenditure due to the economic circumstances worldwide, with increasing inflation, energy prices and supply costs making certain elements of charity work more costly.

Despite this additional expenditure, the charity finished the financial year with a healthy closing surplus position balance of £1,199.29. The charity has no current fixed assets or outstanding liabilities.

The management team and trustees will continue to be vigilant with review of charity position and activities to ensure minimal follow-on impact from the current economic climate and aid with continued strong growth and support in the next financial year.

Daniel George Treasurer

MEDIEVAL COMBAT SPORTS ASSOCIATION - GREAT BRITAIN

FY 22/23 Accounts P&L

	Profit and Loss Statement MCSA GB	Profit and Loss Statement MCSA GB	Month1 Month2 Month3 Month4 Month5 Month6 Month7 Month8 Month9 Month10 Month11 Month12 April May June July August September October November December January February March	Month1 Month2 Month3 Month4 Month5 Month6 Month7 Month8 Month9 Month10 Month11 Month12 April May June July August September October November December January February March	Month1 Month2 Month3 Month4 Month5 Month6 Month7 Month8 Month9 Month10 Month11 Month12 April May June July August September October November December January February March
	In	come
		MembershipSubscriptions	0.00 146.90 88.14 323.18 88.14 425.08 117.52 0.00 307.56 99.14 220.18 268.76	2,084.60
		Club Fees	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Fund Raising	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Sponsorship	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Grants	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Other	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00	1.01
		Bank Interest Received	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 146.90 88.14 323.18 88.14 425.08 118.52 0.00 307.56 99.15 220.18 268.76	0.00 2,085.61
		Total Income
		Gross Profit	0.00 146.90 88.14 323.18 88.14 425.08 118.52 0.00 307.56 99.15 220.18 268.76	2,085.61
	Expenses
		MembershipFees	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Insurances	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 39.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,604.83	1,644.03
		Utilities	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Web/Advertising	0.00 0.00 0.00 62.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 71.86 35.95	170.11
		Printingand Stationery	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		Expenses	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 480.91 400.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	880.91
		Sustenance	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00	0.00
		PettyCash	0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 62.30 0.00 520.11 400.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 71.86 1,640.78	0.00 2,695.05
		Total Expenses
		Net Profit/(Loss)	0.00 146.90 88.14 260.88 88.14 (95.03) (281.48) 0.00 307.56 99.15 148.32 (1,372.02)	(609.44)
		(Gross Profit less Expenses)
		ADJUSTMENTS	April May June July August September October November December January February March Total YTD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
		Personal Expenses		0.00
		Personal MoneyDeposited		0.00
		Loans Received		0.00
		Loan Repayments		0.00
		Asset Purchases		0.00
		Tax Payments(Income,Payroll,Sales Tax)		0.00
		True Net Profit/(Loss)	0.00 146.90 88.14 260.88 88.14 (95.03) (281.48) 0.00 307.56 99.15 148.32 (1,372.02)	(609.44)