Charity number: 1194258
MEDIEVAL COMBAT SPORTS ASSOCIATION GREAT BRITAIN
Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement
For year ending 5 April 2024
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: info@mcsagb.co.uk
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:
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Ensure a duty of care to all members
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Ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment.
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Ensure the future success and sustainability of the sport
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Increase membership and participation
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Create sustainable opportunities for competition at appropriate levels
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Increase awareness of the sport’s development through acknowledgment of current
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initiatives and programmes from all sports partners in the UK
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Ensure that all members are aware of, understand, and work towards the aims and
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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 buhurt events 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 Buhurt Intnernational (referred to from here on as BI) and International Medieval Combat Federation (referred to from here on as IMCF)
● Organise medieval combat events according to the unified international rules of BI/IMCF
● Prepare the UK team for the BI/IMCF championships and implement its participation in these championships following a fair elimination process according to the relevant rules.
● Support clubs in participating or organising events and ranking system. To endeavor to establish funding in support of the organisation to achieve its sporting objectives.
The Trustees held their AGM on the 10 December 2023. Trustees upon appointment are provide with the two Charity Commission documents in relation to its Guidance on public benefit, which was re-circulated to all trustees in January 2024.
The association held their AGM on 12 January 2024. One Trustee resigned and two new Trustee were approved, with Jasmine Ironbridge becoming the new trustee replacing Gavin Stewart, and Christoper Lamsdell being re-elected on rotation as per the constitution. Danny George was appointed as the association President, Glen Burden as the Treasure, and Jonathan Norden the Secretary for 2024. The national team captains for men and women were appointed for the forthcoming 2024 season, and amendments were made to the associations rule 5 & 18, and a new rule 19 created. The main rule changes being the creation of regional male and female Captain roles for England, Scotland & Wales, and a rule in relation to regional fighters’ selection process. The associations policies are reviewed and re-vised with an emphasis on inclusion and diversity.
A UK Buhurt league continued a new season in 2023, with some ongoing reviews, which created the additional Grass Roots league for newcomers to the sport to enable them to compete at an equal competitive level, in addition to a Premier league for the more experienced members. In addition, during 2023 the induvial duals league was finalised and had it first year in operation. A proposal was also put forward to members to create a Four Nation championship, which work on is still ongoing.
The President and deputy continued to work with the new organisers of the other sport international governing bodies. Unfortunately, after the April Buhurt League Cup in the Czech Republic, the Buhurt League, became unbale to continue to function. As a result of this a new body, Buhurt International was set up, during which the association officers took an active part in support it through its initial inception period.
In January 2024, the association was recognised as the representative body for England, Scotland & Wales, by International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF), a parallel body to Buhurt International. Buhurt International focusing on league competition events, and IMCF on one off international tournament event.
All posts with the association are undertaken by unpaid volunteers.
During the reporting period the association had one new club join it, Knyaz UK.
Achievements and Performance
The sport has continued to regain momentum following COVID and the effects of the Russia/Ukraine war that saw the dissolution of the International Russian based Governing body. The league restarted under the guidance Buhurt League, which unfortunately after April was unable to continue functioning, but was quickly replaced by the formation of a new body, Buhurt International, in which the association played a key role in its early formation.
During 2023 the UK Buhurt League had its second season, with association worked with clubs that cumulated with the Heritage Shield in October where the association made several awards and prizes to those taking part in the sport during the year. Events continue to be made open to the public and to make the event more accessible to a wider audience the events were streamed on You Tube. The association continues to utilise social media to make the sport more accessible to all.
In April 2023 a Buhurt League Cup took place in the Czech Republic, an international event arranged to reinstate more international competitive competition. The association had several club’s attend.
The associations national captains held several national training days during the year. There has yet to be a return to the previous international Country team based competitive event.
The number of trained and qualified marshal continued in 2023, increasing further the number available to support UK based competitions.
Several clubs held ‘new members’ taster events, engaged with outreach through in some area’s 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.
Financial Review
The income for the year amounted to £4,723.56, double that from previous year. During 2023/2024 financial period, the charity income exceeded the expenditure by £2,569.99 at the end of the financial year, with balance position of £3,769.28.
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 is in the process of setting up a new bank account, which should facilitate in the next financial year it’s application for Gift Aid.
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. The currently surplus can be used in future years to further promote the sport domestically and support the national team attending the Buhurt International World Championships to be held in Hungary in 2025 in line with the development aim of ensuring the future success and sustainability of the sport.
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 that the objective of aid with continued strong growth and support in the next financial year. There are no salaries drawn by any of the Committee members.
Trustees
Christopher Lamsdell Lewis Thompson Karen Cunningham Mary George Joanne Booth Gavin James Grant Stewart to 12/1/24 Jasmine Ironbourne from 12/1/24
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 info@mcsagb.co.uk. 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:
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(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;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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
Signature(s) Full name(s) Christopher Lamsdell Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair
Date 04/01/2025
| Apr-23 | May-23 | Jun-23 | Jul-23 | Aug-23 | Sep-23 | Oct-23 | Nov-23 | Dec-23 | Jan-24 | Feb-24 | **Mar-24 ** | YTD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Subscriptions | 93.06 | 595.12 | 1,980.82 | 95.52 | 431.26 | 30.00 | 318.40 | 254.72 | 349.60 | 416.18 | 191.04 | 4,755.72 | |
| Club fees | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Fund raising | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Sponsorship | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Grants | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Bank Interest | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Total Income | 93.06 | 595.12 | 1,980.82 | 95.52 | 0.00 | 431.26 | 30.00 | 318.40 | 254.72 | 349.60 | 416.18 | 191.04 | 4,755.72 |
| Gross Profit 93.06 595.12 1980.82 95.52 0 431.26 30 318.4 254.72 349.6 416.18 191.04 4755.72 |
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| Membership Fees | |||||||||||||
| Insurances | 1,726.61 | 1,726.61 | |||||||||||
| Utilities | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Web/Adverstising | 35.95 | 39.55 | 75.50 | ||||||||||
| Printing/Stationery | 105.00 | 70.50 | 71.86 | 136.26 | 383.62 | ||||||||
| Expenses | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Sustenance | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Petty Cash | 0.00 | ||||||||||||
| Total Expenses | 35.95 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 105.00 | 0.00 | 70.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 71.86 | 175.81 | 1,726.61 | 2,185.73 |
| Net Profit/(Loss) 57.11 595.12 1,980.82 (9.48) 0.00 360.76 30.00 318.40 254.72 277.74 240.37 (1,535.57) 2,569.99 |
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| Adjustments Personal Expenses 0 Personal Money Deposited 0 Loans received 0 Loan Repayments 0 Asset Purchases 0 Tax Payments (Income, Payroll, Sales) 0 |
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| True Net Profit/(Loss) 57.11 595.12 1,980.82 (9.48) 0.00 360.76 30.00 318.40 254.72 277.74 240.37 (1,535.57) 2,569.99 |