Goxhill Bowling Club Trustees’ Annual Report for the year to 31 October 2023
Charity registration number 1195169
Trustees (currently & for whole period unless shown otherwise) Irene EM Ballam Trustee from 09/11/2022 Peter Cox Harold S Dixon Christine M Ellis John Guggiari Anthony W Hebblewhite Address Goxhill Bowling Green Manor Lane, Goxhill, North Lincolnshire DN19 7LB Telephone 01469-530363 Website https://goxhill-bowls-club.weebly.com/ Banker Barclays Bank plc
The Trustees submit their annual report and financial statements covering the accounting year to 31 October 2023. Goxhill Bowling Club (‘the Club’) is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Objects
The objects of Goxhill Bowling Club CIO (‘the Charity’) are the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation by the inhabitants of Goxhill and the neighbouring area through providing a green and other facilities for bowling.
Review of activities during the period
The Club became a charitable incorporated organization primarily to make it a legal entity and enable a lease to be held in the Charity’s name. To date occupation of the site at Manor Lane has been by ‘custom and practice’ since the 1950s, rather than anything formally documented, meaning that the existing tenancy is legally fragile. Whilst the Club/Charity’s landlord, the registered charity Goxhill Memorial Hall & Recreation Ground, continues to support the letting of a long-term lease, the legal process has been delayed by matters that they are currently discussing with the Charity Commission.
With the Charity’s finances in a good state the Trustees took the decision to undertake major renovation of the interior of the pavilion. This had not been addressed beyond basic painting and decorating since the pavilion was built over 25 years ago. Through applications for grants and matched funding from our own financial reserves, we refitted the kitchen, installed hot water heaters to all sinks, improved disabled access, fitted non-slip flooring throughout, repainted and retiled, as well as a variety of other improvements and updates. We are especially grateful for grants and donations from Blakemore Foundation (£1,000), Rugby Group Benevolent Fund (£500), Wren Kitchens (£500) and the Community fund of North Lincolnshire Council (£1,390 reimbursed in 2023/24), as well as several general donations.
The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity’s reserves at the end of the year remain sufficient to cover anticipated legal fees when the lease is enacted, replacement of older machinery, routine maintenance of the buildings/equipment and a cushion against the unexpected. The Trustees will continue to monitor reserve levels to ensure that funding streams are sufficient for the Charity’s future needs and will seek grants where possible for any major new plans.
In common with many other local bowls clubs, we have found it difficult to stretch our recruitment pool beyond those who are retired from full-time work. At the close of the 2023
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Goxhill Bowling Club
season the average age for our full membership was almost exactly 70 years. Whilst several newcomers who tried out the sport on a casual basis seem likely to progress to become full members in 2024, we expect the average age to remain similar as our existing players age another year. Work commitments that clash with evening league matches remain a problem for younger bowlers and this has been an issue for a couple of our earlier recruits as well as a barrier to recruitment from the working-age population. We see our policy of loaning bowls equipment and providing coaching at no cost to potential new members as integral to any recruitment success and this will continue.
Weekly Tuesday afternoon bowls drives ran throughout the summer season and were open for anyone to attend on a pay-as-you-go basis. As well as being a pleasant and sociable way for new bowlers to learn and develop, these provide a shop window for us and an opportunity for bowlers who play on our green to form a positive view of the Club and its facilities. Whilst less well-supported than the previous year, these bowls drives contributed over £400 to our funds. We hope that making our green available as a neutral ground for cup finals and the like also helps to generate interest in both the sport and our Club, perhaps encouraging some spectators to try their hand at bowling.
We continue with our policy of investing in our bowling green in the firm belief that a good quality green is part of making bowling enjoyable for both newcomers and experienced players. Alongside that expenditure we are fortunate to have a ‘Green Team’ of volunteers who generously commit to the numerous tasks necessary to keep the green, and the Manor Lane site generally, at their best. Without their input we would struggle to finance a bought-in commercial service.
We realize that most bowlers, new and old, want to play regularly; limited opportunities can mean they switch clubs or, worse still, give up bowling completely to be lost to the sport. This was an issue for some members in 2023 so we will be making extra efforts to be equitable in the coming year. We will compete in: Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Bowling Association’s Premier Division; Scunthorpe & District Bowls League’s First Division; North Lincolnshire Bowls Triples Leagues’ Mixed Second Division; and the Barnetby & District Bowling League. On the competitive front as a club, we achieved a first, second and third place in three of those leagues plus one cup success, all of which have helped maintain our Club’s sporting profile and hopefully will encourage those serious about their bowling to stay with us.
The Trustees are grateful to all the volunteers who help in the Charity and Club’s success with their enthusiasm and dedication. As well as the aforementioned Green Team, that includes everyone who helps through fundraising, running gala days & competitions, team selections & match arrangements and all the many administrative tasks necessary for the Charity and Club to achieve its objectives.
Management and responsibilities
The Trustees collectively administer the charity. The Trustees, who must be Members of the charity, are elected at its Annual General Meeting with one-third of them retiring at each AGM but eligible for re-election. Further Trustees to fill vacancies may be co-opted by the Trustees during the year until a maximum of nine trustees in post has been reached. Names of the current Trustees, and all trustees serving during the year reported, are shown on page 1.
The Trustees recognize their collective responsibility for keeping proper accounting records and preparing financial statements each year. The appended financial statements have been prepared on a cash basis and independently reviewed, with the resulting report included as part of these financial statements.
Approved by the Trustees on 31 / 01 / 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
John Guggiari
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Goxhill Bowling Club CIO (registered charity no. 1195169) for the year ending 31 October 2023 2022r23 2021r22 Receipts Fundras¥ Note 190. 45 87.31 490. 00 RefrKhnnts 366.75 422.C#) 408.CIJ 1.110.(M) g)o.c 1.854.23 Pavikn J,$42. 75 Club Men&r Fees SukcTins Match fer. Cryjnty entiie= Toumanxnt & Gre Fees 1.610.Crt) 1.526.(K) 170.CIJ 1,456, 1,376. 212.20 156.L ChJb 268.C 132.0) 153. Cb 8 Leawe dinner. ClJb=h'rts Surthl recei( 1.(K18.10 90.9) 0.20 (2.) &q5. 45 177.50 .213.78 Pats Club Men&r fees League rtration fees Match travel Countr/ entiE= YS & 365. 1.426.30 170.IXI 327. 50 1,149.00 21?20 173.clj 74.L Cb EThJraviThJ Repays & Mairtenar Mower. & green eqUiFrnt St*inkler=Aem SheL- R&M Pavib)n (Jhef R&M New fixed Green Maintenance Fertihzer & =eed Petrd & (il Contract 2rv 225.IJ) 750.84 16.20 7.506.62 116.56 2,100. 77 364, 99 411.50 1,073. 17 217.61 1,254. A? 182.49 326.99 449.C(I 213. 94 343. $2 271. 64 Water
Goxhill Bowling Club CIO (re(Jistered cliarity I. 1195169) for the year ending 31 October 2023 2022123 2021f22 Donations GMH In memorium Other Administrative Post & stats"onery Club shirts stock Club & League dinners Lease legol fees Sundry peyments 21)J.00 15().00 25.(Yi 35.(Kl 58.60 47.78 6n.34 211.(Jll 961.45 1.122.95 620.00 41.43 138.78 15.803.69 11).812.63 Net surplus IdefKii) lfcaSh & bank balanS clf cash & bank balancès comprising Retumable de$Its Cash TH Cash JG Bardays Bank (5.589.911 10,710.95 5.121.04 12.885.97) 13,596.92 iiJ.7111.95 {150.00> 138.33 8.33 5,124_38 5,121.04 (6c).(Ai) 903. 65 225. 75 9.641.55 10. 710.95 Notes l - Primarily S.Short Art Class but also HCBA meeb"ngs. 2 - Athertszing boerds at £50 per season. 3 - Blakemore Foundation. Rugby Grtyjp Benevolent Fund. Wren Kitehens and R.Beaton Accounlancy plus a number of smal[ donabons from iThJIvUaIs. 4 - No entry fees Charged for 2021122. 5- Hedge trimmef & ceiling fans for paviln. 6 - Close season scarfyinglrenovation by Ashby Grass Car•. 7 - Fixed rale contract with EDF untsl August 2024. 8- Public liabilty & contents insuran. 9- Oonation towards their insuronce of the pavilion building.
(registered drity no. 1195169) Stateiiieiit of Assets & Liabilities as at 31 Iktober 2023 C•sh lunds 314)rt-23 31-(t-22 124.38 9.61J.SS 146.66 I150.)> 5.121.04 1.129. (6amJ iana95 Buildings 13%320 133J 2.5 gd {dJ 149,160 149,IA7 Maintenance equipment Atrg Roydle Iw¥thr 1.112 1.112 330 17.170 16.785 2&1JY) 416 416 1.160 1.160 (3 sets) 9SO 165 Stk c4 n•w & (x16) 241 31.817 27.793 198,147 193,738 T>w•l Cost fty L&•d