Sutton Churches Tennis Club
Charity Number 1195245
Trustees’ Annual Report
for the period 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
Objectives and Activities
Our objectives
The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation and the advancement of amateur sport in particular but not exclusively by providing facilities and coaching for participation in the sport of tennis. Further, through the provision of tennis facilities, the CIO shall ensure continuity with the manner in which the former Gander Green Trust performed its object in respect of the property which it administered and whose Charity Deed stated ‘To and For the General Purposes of the Religious Work carried on at Trinity Methodist Church Sutton, Surrey (now known as Trinity URC/Methodist Church, Sutton).’
Our Activities
New member courses
Throughout the year the club holds a series of New Member Courses. These are sixweekly introductory courses for adults which are particularly suitable for those wishing to try tennis for the first time or to return to the sport after a break. The course teaches the basics of tennis and introduces the participants to other club members.
Children’s courses
There are also various courses for children from the age of three upwards to learn the basics of tennis in a fun and friendly environment. These courses help to build a child’s love for tennis and sport in general and help to improve coordination, balance and agility.
Social tennis sessions
The club holds seven club sessions each week. One session is aimed at beginners or “rusty” players, another is for those who would like to play singles and the rest are for doubles matchplay. A new session has been started for junior members to introduce them to playing social tennis. A peg-board system is used to ensure a fair and easy rotation of players and the balls are provided by the club.
Surrey LTA league tennis
The club has 5 ladies’, 5 men’s, 4 mixed and 3 veterans’ teams in the Surrey LTA leagues where matches are played against other clubs in the area. The teams cover a wide range of standards and everyone is welcome to put themselves forward.
Internal tournaments and leagues for both adults and junior members
An annual tournament is held every summer with singles competitions for ladies, men, girls and boys. There are also ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles events. All doubles events have a plate competition for first round losers to ensure every pair plays at least two matches. The events are open to all members.
Two box league competitions are held during the year for mixed doubles and singles where matches are played against other club members and trophies are awarded at the end of each season.
Cardio tennis sessions
Group based tennis sessions set to music offering a full-body cardiovascular workout. Suitable for all abilities and particularly good for those wishing to improve their fitness, though all participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.
Coaching
A wide range of group coaching courses or private lessons are available from the club’s qualified and experienced coaches.
Social activities
There are regular social activities where members and guests can socialise in a non-tennis setting. Recent events include a quiz night, bingo, bowling and the annual Christmas Dinner.
Public benefit
All Trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the Charities Commission with regard to public benefit and have adhered to the guidance throughout the year.
Achievements and Performance
Summary of main achievements
This year the club finally completed the purchase of the clay-side land from the Methodist Church, after many administrative hold-ups. This now allows us to proceed with replacing the century-old wooden pavilion. A subcommittee of volunteer members has been created to manage this project.
In the spring we had our three Macadam courts repainted which, as well as making them look much smarter and brighter, has also improved the surface grip in wet and cold conditions. We must thank our Grounds Secretary David Garrett and a band of volunteers for maintaining the all-weather clay courts with bi-annual decompacting and top-dressing. This voluntary work saves us thousands of pounds per year on the similar commercially available service and prolongs the courts’ lives. These courts are now into their thirteenth year of use and are playing as well as they did when new.
The club has acquired a new ball machine for members’ use. After researching how other tennis clubs administer and finance this offering, the Committee decided to create an “add on” subscription, whereby members can choose to pay an extra £24 per year to be allowed to use the ball machine. The aim of the subscription is both to help finance the purchase and incentivise good care to be taken of the machine by those who use it.
I'm pleased to report that SCTC achieved remarkable success in the LTA Pledgeball competition this year. Rallying the support of members to make simple pledges to save CO2 in their everyday lives, we won the June and August rounds with a total grant of £1000 towards our sustainability projects. This achievement not only reflects our club's competitive spirit but also our collective effort to make a positive impact on the environment, setting a great precedent for future events.
The highlight of the club’s Pledgeball achievements this year was our Hon Secretary being invited to Queen’s Club during the Cinch Championships for an on-court interview about the club’s sustainability efforts just before the start of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Francisco Cerundolo.
Undoubtedly, one of the most enjoyable days of the SCTC’s year was Saturday 29 June on which Danny Sapsford and his Bright Ideas for Tennis charity team came to the club and we held a Charity Fun Day. Former British Davis Cup player Danny, along with
JamesAuckland, former British No 1 doubles player, came to help us raise money to provide free coaching for children of local special needs schools. Throughout the afternoon there were tennis coaching workshops for all ages and abilities, together with many other games and activities, plus a barbecue. Rounding off the afternoon was some highly entertaining exhibition tennis featuring Danny, James and several of SCTC’s coaches. The event provided much enjoyment for all who attended (the weather was beautiful!) and over £2000 was raised.
Membership
As with last year, overall membership numbers have remained steady; in contrast to last year, though, junior numbers are slightly higher and adult numbers are slightly lower. Importantly, we are continuing to attract new members to replace non-renewers, and the majority of these members are engaging with club events such as Club Sessions, group coaching and tournaments.
New members continue to be attracted by a variety of means, such as the New Member Offer and coaching course, Cardio Tennis, and good old word-of-mouth recommendations. Perhaps the most noticeable source for new adult members over the last year or so has been the Walking Tennis sessions on Friday mornings, which has helped the Friday morning Club Session become the second most well-attended weekly session after Saturday afternoons.
Player Development Highlights
Several of our older juniors have gained permission to play in with adult events over the last year, and two of those on the coaching team deserve a special mention for working towards their Level 2 coaching qualifications. Both have shown excellent leadership skills.
Several of our adult members have taken on the role of Team Captain for the first time this year, which is an invaluable service to the team players and club, and hopefully a rewarding experience in itself. Many other members have played competitive team tennis for the first time, adding another dimension their enjoyment of the sport.
Competitions and Tournaments
The various internal competitions at the club continued to attract high numbers of entrants, from all ages and standards. For adults there are mixed doubles box leagues from January to April and September to December; the singles box leagues January to April, and the singles ladder September to December; and the annual knockout tournament running from May to July.
For younger juniors we offered “mini” tournaments in Easter and October half term. These are part of the LTA’s Team Challenge. For the older “yellow ball” juniors there is the ladder, plus junior singles and doubles box leagues. There is also a comprehensive range of age-related junior events as part of the main annual tournament, with the junior finals played on Finals Day with the adults.
Once again both adults and juniors entered the LTA’s Play Your Way to Wimbledon competition. There were Girls Singles, Boys Singles, Ladies Doubles and Mens Doubles events held on 5 May at the club, with six members going forward as winners to represent the club in the next round. This was played at the All England facility at Raynes Park and at Purley Sports Club.
As usual the Annual Tournament saw a huge number of entrants across the various singles and doubles events. Thanks to all the members who entered the tournament; the
SCTC club championships are the best we've ever heard of. No other club we’re aware of gets so many players entering, watching, helping and being a part of their tournament.
Fortunately, this year the weather was kind to us on Finals Day (after the torrential rain of last year) which was just as well as there were some very long matches!
Results for all our Annual Tournament matches, including the Plate events, can be found on the club website under the Competitions tab, and past winners of main events are listed on the online Honours Board (under the Information tag).
As usual we had an excellent turnout for the Finals Day Party.
Wilson Surrey League Teams
Each summer and winter we enter five ladies' and five men's teams in the Surrey Leagues, a ladies’ team in the midweek league (since summer 2024; previously in the Over-50s league), a men’s Over-55s team and a men’s midweek team (again, since summer 2024; previously our 2nd team in the Over-55s league) and each summer four teams in the mixed league.
The Over-50s Ladies and Over-55s Men’s 2 teams changed from the age category leagues to the Midweek leagues this summer in the hope of getting more evenly-matched opponents.
Last winter the Ladies 3 and 4 teams achieved promotion by winning their division. In the summer our Mixed 4 team achieved promotion, winning their division by a comfortable margin, and the Ladies 4 came second so should also get promoted. Well done to all the players in those teams.
You can follow all our teams’ progress throughout the year via the link on our website: from the home page click on the Competitions tag, then the Wilson Surrey Leagues links.
Many thanks to all our team captains for organising matches and players.
Social
As well as another very enjoyable Christmas Dinner and Club Awards night at the Rose & Crown, Wallington, other events included a Thameside walk near Hampton Court, a large member contingent at the 50th birthday party double celebration, a pub crawl around Carshalton, a visit to Sutton Cricket Club, the New Members Tournament and member expeditions to watch our thespian members David and Deborah in action in various plays. We also enjoyed two summer barbecue parties at the club: the usual Finals Day party and also the Charity Fun Day barbecue, which continued well into the evening.
Finally, I am stepping down as Club Captain after six years in the role. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the club I have been involved with all my life, but with a family to support I really ought to put more of my time and energy into my business and providing properly for them. I hope to continue contributing on the Committee as an ordinary member and support Kirsty in her role as the new Club Captain.
Financial Review for the period 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024
Financial position at the end of the period
The club had been negotiating for some time to purchase the freehold of the land on the wooden clubhouse side of the club from the Methodist Church. A price of £60,001 was agreed and the purchase was eventually completed on 29 July 2024.
Total receipts (gross income) for the period were £65,237 and total payments were £90,299 including the payment of £60,001 for the land. Overall cash and bank account balances reduced by £25,062.
Membership subscriptions increased by 4.6% from £48,732 last year to £50,986. The fundraising total of £2,894 includes £2,328 raised for the charity fund which will be used to provide free tennis lessons to local youngsters with special educational needs and a £500 prize from the LTA Pledgeball competition which will be used for sustainability projects at the club.
Repairs and maintenance expenditure was lower than last year at £10,177. The largest items related to maintenance of the hard courts; cleaning and painting which totalled £6,054. This was charged against the Repairs Reserve Fund.
The professional fees amount of £2,748 was the final payment of solicitor’s fees (including the seller’s). £7,275 was paid on account last year.
Reserves
At 30 September 2024 the club’s reserves totalled £300,346.
| Cash and bank accounts | 214,871 |
|---|---|
| Fixed assets | 102,609 |
| Stock and debtors | 5,506 |
| less: Liabilities | (22,640) |
| ----------- | |
| 300,346 | |
| ----------- |
This was an increase of £32,605 on the position at 30 September 2023.
Cash and bank accounts decreased by £25,062 from £239,933 to £214,871. Other assets and liabilities increased by £57,667 which included the land purchase of £60,001.
As well as the general undesignated fund, the club has a designated repairs reserve fund, a charity fund and a sustainability projects fund. The repairs reserve fund is money set aside to pay for future maintenance work such as court resurfacing, repainting and floodlight maintenance that is essential to keep the club’s facilities in good condition. The charity fund of £2,328 is money that has been raised to provide free tennis lessons for local children with special educational needs and the sustainability projects fund of £500 is the result of a prize from the LTA Pledgeball competition which will be used for sustainability projects at the club.
£10,713 was added to the repairs reserve during the period and £6,054 of expenditure was charged against the reserve leaving a balance of £78,131 at the end set aside for planned future maintenance. The expenditure of £6,054 was for painting the hard courts.
This left the total undesignated funds balance in the general fund at £214,728.
During the year the club purchased the freehold of the land on the wooden clubhouse side of the site. Now that the tenure is secure, the next major project will be to replace the wooden clubhouse itself. A subcommittee has been formed to oversee this task.
Structure, Governance and Management
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The charity’s constitution is it’s governing document.
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The charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) based on the Charity Commission’s association model.
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Trustees are selected in accordance with the constitution.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name – Sutton Churches Tennis Club Registered charity number – 1195245 Address – 99 Gander Green Lane, Sutton, SM1 2ES
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
(Dates are shown where trustees acted for part of the period) Richard Garrett (Captain) Carolyn Graham (Vice Captain) Carolyn Jones (Secretary) Tony Farrell (Treasurer) Dominique Delhalle (Membership Secretary) David Garrett (Grounds Secretary) Jacqueline Halls (Social Secretary) Helen Parnell Joan Sillery Kirsty Garrett Nasir Sulery Gerald Barry Jeffrey Rogers appointed 15/11/2023 Gill Nolan appointed 15/11/2023 Ross Gorbert resigned 15/11/2023 Prashant Kumar resigned 15/11/2023
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Signature Full name Kirsty Garrett Anthony Farrell Position Captain Treasurer Date 21 March 2025 21 March 2025
Sutton Churches Tennis Club
1195245
CC16a
Receipts and pay
| For the period from |
01/10/23 | To | 30/09/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
Section A Receipts and payments
| Undesignated funds |
Designated Repairs Rsrve |
Designated Funds-Other |
Total funds | Previous 12 Months |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||||
| A1 Receipts | |||||||||||
| Members subscriptions | 50,986 | - | - | 50,986 | 48,732 | ||||||
| Income from floodlights | 3,985 | - | - | 3,985 | 4,063 | ||||||
| Sponsorship | 1,040 | - | - | 1,040 | 1,560 | ||||||
| Visitor fees | 1,914 | - | - | 1,914 | 774 | ||||||
| Court hire fees | 360 | - | - | 360 | 120 | ||||||
| Fund raising | 2,894 | - | - | 2,894 | 121 | ||||||
| Sale of tennis balls | 245 | - | - | 245 | 110 | ||||||
| Teas | 293 | - | - | 293 | 206 | ||||||
| Tournament | 72 | - | 72 | - | |||||||
| Interest received | 3,448 | - | - | 3,448 | 2,830 | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 65,237 |
- | - | 65,237 | 58,516 | ||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, | |||||||||||
| (see table). | |||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Total receipts | 65,237 | - | - | 65,237 | 58,516 | ||||||
| A3 Payments | |||||||||||
| Rates | 481 | - | - | 481 | 454 | ||||||
| Water & Sewerage | 725 | - | - | 725 | 477 | ||||||
| Electricity | 2,638 | - | - | 2,638 | 2,169 | ||||||
| Building insurance | 1,325 | - | - | 1,325 | 1,190 | ||||||
| Repairs & Maintenance | 4,123 | 6,054 | - | 10,177 | 18,482 | ||||||
| Cleaning | 2,356 | - | - | 2,356 | 2,499 | ||||||
| Tennis balls | 1,974 | - | - | 1,974 | 2,564 | ||||||
| Coaching | 3,650 | - | - | 3,650 | 2,725 | ||||||
| LTA fees | 1,770 | - | - | 1,770 | 1,615 | ||||||
| Music licences | 401 | - | - | 401 | 377 | ||||||
| Professional Fees | 2,748 | - | - | 2,748 | 9,003 | ||||||
| Account charges | 403 | - | - | 403 | 370 | ||||||
| Phone | 72 | - | - | 72 | 72 | ||||||
| Social Events | 533 | - | - | 533 | (261) | ||||||
| Sundries | 1,045 | - | - | 1,045 | 498 | ||||||
| Sub total | 24,244 | 6,054 | - | 30,298 | 42,234 | ||||||
| A4 Asset and investment | |||||||||||
| purchases, (see table) | |||||||||||
| Land purchase | 60,001 | - | - | 60,001 | - | ||||||
| Sub total | 60,001 | - | - | 60,001 | - | ||||||
| Total payments | 84,245 | 6,054 | - | 90,299 | 42,234 | ||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | (19,008) | (6,054) | - | (25,062) | 16,282 | ||||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | (13,541) | 10,713 | 2,828 | - | - | ||||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 161,802 | 78,131 | - | 239,933 | 223,651 | ||||||
| Cash funds this year end | 129,253 | 82,790 | 2,828 | 214,871 | 239,933 |
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds Note: The other designated funds are - Charity Fund £2,328 Sustainability Projects Fund £500 B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Bank savings accounts Bank current account Stripe account Groundsman’s petty cash float Details Details Details Land Clay courts Clay court lights Stock Debtors & prepayments Details Advanced subscription income Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ Undesignated funds |
to nearest £ Undesignated funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125,025 | 82,790 | ||
| 3,929 | - | ||
| 44 | - | ||
| 255 | - | ||
| 129,253 | 82,790 | ||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Undesignated funds |
|||
| - | - | ||
| - | - | ||
| - | - | ||
| - | - | ||
| Fund to which asset belongs |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Fund to which asset belongs |
|||
| Undesignated funds | |||
| Undesignated funds | |||
| Undesignated funds | |||
| Undesignated funds | |||
| Undesignated funds | |||
| Fund to which liability relates |
|||
| Undesignated funds | 22,640 | ||
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the Sutton Churches Tennis Club Trustees/Members of
On accounts for the period 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 Charity no 1195245
Set out on pages 3-4
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the period from 01/10/2023 to 30/09/2024
Responsibilities and basis As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the of report preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 8 April 2025 Signed: Name: Peter Stewart Relevant professional N/a qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 1 Greville Park Avenue Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2QS
October 2018
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IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
October 2018
-2-
IER