## **Trustees Annual Report for the period**
**From 1 April 2025 To 31 March 2026 Charity name: Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club CIO Charity registration number: 1195249**
## **Objectives and Activities**
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SORP
reference
Summary of the purposes of the Para 1.17 The objectives of the Club are the promotion of
charity as set out in its governing community participation in healthy recreation for the
document benefit of the inhabitants of Bristol and South
Gloucestershire, by the provision and maintenance
of facilities and coaching for playing tennis for
players of all ages and abilities.
Summary of the main activities in Para 1.17 The club provides a fully inclusive, affordable, tennis
and 1.19
relation to those purposes for the programme to the local community, regardless of
public benefit5, in particular, the age, gender, physical ability or personal
activities, projects or services circumstances.
identified in the accounts.
The Club has a responsibility to maintain the 4
outdoor all weather courts with floodlights.
The Club has a management committee of
volunteers, but professional coaches are sourced to
provide an extensive coaching programme. The Club
is affiliated to the LTA and by so doing maintains an
audited standard of governance and compliance with
safeguarding and welfare policies.
The Club has tried to extend the playing
opportunities to all ages and abilities, keeping
charges affordable, with reduced prices for groups,
and offering discounts to families, & over 50 s. The
local brain injured residents are offered a completely
free course during the summer months. There is a
trial membership offer to enable anyone to try before
committing, and a Pay & Play system is available.
The club supports the local university student tennis
players by discounting the courts at certain times.
There are holiday camps for juniors who benefit from
some activities while their parents work.
Statement confirming whether the Para 1.18 All trustees are volunteers and receive no
trustees have had regard to the remuneration or other benefits. The Trustees ensure
guidance issued by the Charity that all decisions made are in line with the Charities
Commission on public benefit Commission s public benefit guidance.
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The Club aims to promote and encourage the local community to get involved in tennis, by making decisions that reflect the objectives of the club. The main aim is to get as many people playing tennis as possible, at either a reduced rate cost or at a cost that is fair and competitive within the local area.
## **Achievements and Performance**
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SORP
reference
There have been tennis and social activities
available at the club, throughout twelve months of
Summary of the main the year. These were well attended by the
achievements of the charity, participants.
Para 1.20
identifying the difference the
charity s work has made to the The tennis programme included coaching, which
circumstances of its beneficiaries was provided by a number of self-employed
and any wider benefits to society coaches, with the coaches providing their services
as a whole. directly to the players and paying the club for the use
of the courts.
Tennis players of a higher standard played
competitive tennis both in internal club competition
and local and county leagues.
The Club, having targeted more opportunities for
Juniors to play competitively, fell short of appropriate
adult team captains to help, so will continue to
improve this area. Teams were encouraged to
compete in their relevant age groups, both in
females, males and mixed teams.
The club secured local support to offer provision to
pre-school children with an opportunity to try tennis,
free of charge, within a local indoor sports hall, with
a coach. This was a great way to introduce the sport
in a fun, relaxed environment.
The Juniors were included in an awards event to
receive their certificates and prizes, and socialised
with their friends.
The club entered six men s teams, and three
women s teams in the county leagues, with all those
wishing to take part included. The lower teams
offered experience to everyone who enjoyed the
competitive element and to those wishing to learn
the etiquette of match play, and was enjoyed by all.
Veteran s teams enabled the older players to enjoy
some competitive matches.
The Club was able to set up more club competitions,
and match play, with as many as possible striving to
win the club trophies, which were awarded to the
winners and runners up on finals day. As many Club
members as possible supported the finals day, and
cheered on their favourites.
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Our adult beginners have continued to attend as a regular group, with more becoming confident enough to join the main social tennis groups. This group had lacked opportunity within the club. Walking Tennis sessions have remained a standby for anyone who has been unable to play conventional tennis. It fluctuated in numbers, but there was always a slot available during a social group, with the lead contact able to assist. The success of that group has been immeasurable, growing confidence and self-esteem to a point when the individual simply moves into normal pace tennis. Overall, the club fulfils its remit to offer provision to the local community, of a fully inclusive, affordable, tennis programme.
## **Financial Review**
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Review of the charity s financial Para 1.21 Nearly 70% of the club s income comes from
position at the end of the period membership fees, with a further 16% from court fees
paid by the coaching team. The club had excess
expenditure of £30,392 for the year due to starting
work on the long-term project to build a new club
house. Key points to note are that the club:
Made an operating surplus of £23,955 for the
year
Spent £2,736 cleaning the tennis courts in
Autumn 2025
Spent £34,230 on architect, quantity surveyor,
mechanical and electrical design and other
professional fees required to implement the
club house building project .
Incurred costs of £17,382 in vegetation
clearance and installing the first section of
fencing alongside the new access path.
The club had designated funds brought forward of
£30,000 in respect of the build costs plus £20,000 for
professional fees, with the additional £1,612 costs
incurred in 2026 being covered by the operating
surplus.
The club has successfully applied for grant income
to assist with funding the cost of a new clubhouse,
access path and fencing, with the first receipt due
early in the 2026-27 financial year.
The Trustees took the view that £20,00 of the
operating surplus should be added to the Building
fund and a further £5,000 to the Professional Fees
fund.
Projections for the Sinking Fund show the need for
around £130,000 by 2032 in order to pay for the
repainting and, ultimately, resurfacing of the courts
and the Trustees increased the sum added to the
Sinking Fund for 2026 to £10,500 (from £7,200 in
previous years).
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Statement explaining the policy Para 1.22 DFTC is focused on ensuring that the club has
for holding reserves stating why sufficient funds available for the future and the
they are held reserves policy has been produced to manage the
club s resources in a more effective way, to help
secure the financial position of the club for the future.
Initially these reserves were funded via the transfer
of the reserves of the unincorporated club, and are
held in a deposit account.
The charity s reserves are held in six, unrestricted,
funds:
1. Operations Reserve Fund: The target
minimum operating reserve is equal to 6
months of the average recurring operating
costs (excluding tennis activity costs).
2. Sinking Fund: In line with recommendations
from the LTA the club holds a Sinking Fund
for the maintenance, refurbishment and
ultimate replacement of the courts and
floodlights
3. Lease Deposit: The landowner, Frenchay
Cricket Club, requires the club to hold £5,000
in a designated fund in case of the club s
dissolution
4. New Build Project Fund: The club plans to
build a new clubroom and a reserve is
required to fund the projected shortfall
between the project cost and funding. The
original £50,000 in this reserve has been
used in meeting project costs and new
transfers from the operating surplus are
required.
5. Professional Fees Fund: funds are required
to cover the preparatory professional fees
incurred before the new build commences.
6. New Build Fundraising: The club has
undertaken fundraising specifically for the
purpose of acquiring items to furnish the new
clubroom. The funds raised are held in this
designated fund.
The Trustees elected a Finance Committee, which
includes two trustees and the club treasurer, to
produce a Reserve Policy in order to explain the high
cash/asset position of the club.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £124,844
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 N/A
reserves
Details of fund materially in deficit Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties Para 1.23 None
about the charity continuing as a
going concern
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## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Description of charity s trusts: N/A Type of governing document Para 1.25 Constitution formally adopted by the members in April 2022 How is the charity constituted? Para 1.25 CIO by Association Trustee selection methods including Para 1.25 Any interested persons who support the objectives details of any constitutional of the Club. provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
## **Reference and Administrative details**
Charity name Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club Other name the charity uses N/A Registered charity number 1195249 Charity s principal address Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club Bob Stone Memorial Ground Common Mead Lane, Hambrook, Bristol. BS16 1QQ
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**Name of person (or body) Dates acted if not for whole Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint year trustee (if any)** 1 Penelope White Chair 2 Lesley St Leger 3 Martin Laws Resigned: 9 Sept 2025 4 Lorraine Bright Resigned: 10 Sept 2025 5 Milo George Appointed: 28 April 2025 Acted: 28 April 2025 to 3 6[Tong Qiaio ] March 2026 Acted: 28 April 2025 to 7 7[Lasithangi Vithana ] March 2026
## **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)** Penelope White **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc) Date**
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**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club CIO **On accounts for the year** 31[st] March 2026 **Charity no** 1195249 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 7 and 8
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ( the Trust ) for the year ended 31 March 2026.
**Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the **basis 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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters **examiner's statement** have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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: Signed: Name:** Mrs Anna K Green **Relevant professional** ACA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 74 Longford, Yate, Bristol, BS37 4JW
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**CIO Registration Number: 1195249**
## _**Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club: Receipts and Payments account**_
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For the year ended: 31 March 2026 31 March 2025
INCOME
Adult Membership £ 22,571.00 £ 19,407.00
Junior Membership £ 5,988.00 £ 5,228.00
Student Membership £ 600.00 £ 450.00
Trial Membership £ 960.00 £ 895.00
Total Membership £ 30,119.00 £ 25,980.00
Social Events £ 1,633.90 £ 2,227.15
Grants £ 508.99 £ 1,500.00
Building Project Grants £ - £ -
Fund Raising £ 1,297.68 £ 772.60
Interest received £ 348.60 £ 565.88
Court Hire £ 9,295.00 £ 11,626.00
Total Other Income £ 13,084.17 £ 16,691.63
Total Income £ 43,203.17 £ 42,671.63
EXPENDITURE
Rent £ 1,500.00 £ 1,500.00
Water £ - £ -
Electricity £ 2,844.10 £ 3,381.00
Insurance £ 548.65 £ 971.91
FCC Affiliation Fees £ - £ -
LTA & Avon Tennis £ 1,120.00 £ 1,205.00
Total running costs £ 6,012.75 £ 7,057.91
Social Events £ 1,625.97 £ 2,140.04
Court Hire £ 1,304.00 £ 793.96
Equipment & Balls £ 1,780.83 £ 6,684.28
Communication and IT £ 511.69 £ 554.23
Maintenance £ 5,583.48 £ 7,220.75
Building project £ 51,612.32 £ 3,804.00
Legal £ - £ 2,667.60
Marketing £ - £ 150.00
Accountancy £ 250.00 £ 500.00
Bank charges £ 840.38 £ 755.53
Club administrator £ 3,300.00 £ 3,300.00
Club Misc. £ 774.33 £ 354.91
Total Other Costs £67,583.00 £ 28,925.30
Total Expenditure £ 73,595.75 £ 35,983.21
Total excess
£ (30,392.58) £ 6,688.42
expenditure
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_**Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club: Statement of assets at the end of the year**_
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31 March 2026 31 March 2025
Funds
Funds last year end £ 155,237.15 £ 148,548.73
Total excess expenditure :£ (30,392.58) £ 6,688.42
Funds this year end £ 124,844.57 £ 155,237.15
Assets
Cash funds
Cash in Bank £ - £ 1.91
Build Account £ 8,387.68 £ 40,000.00
Membership Account £ 64,815.41 £ 63,942.36
Deposit Account £ 51,641.48 £ 51,292.88
Total cash funds £ 124,844.57 £ 155,237.15
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Funds
31 March 2025 Movement Transfer 31 March 2026
Operating surplus £ 21,821.15 £ 23,955.74 £( 37,112.32 ) £ 8,664.57
Operations Reserve Fund £ 12,000.00 £ - £ 12,000.00
Sinking Fund £ 59,616.00 £( 2,736.00 ) £ 10,500.00 £ 67,380.00
Lease Deposit £ 5,000.00 £ - £ 5,000.00
New Build Project Fund £ 30,000.00 £( 17,382.14 ) £ 7,382.14 £ 20,000.00
Professional Fees Fund £ 20,000.00 £( 34,230.18 ) £ 19,230.18 £ 5,000.00
New Build Fundraising £ 6,800.00 £ - £ 6,800.00
£ 155,237.15 £( 30,392.58 ) £ - £ 124,844.57
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All funds are unrestricted. The Sinking, New Build Fundraising and Lease Deposit Funds are designated funds.
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature Print Name Penelope White Approval date
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