2024-09-30-accounts - Oxford Amateur Rowing Club

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] October 2023 To 30[th] September 2024

Charity name: Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)

Charity registration number: 1196716

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation, in particular through the provision of facilities, encouragement and instruction in the sport of rowing and sculling for the public benefit of the residents of Oxford and the surrounding areas.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	We continue to provide a structured and inclusive flexible rowing program to members, which is well received. It is a pleasure to watch the membership grow and their skills and fitness improve. This year we have increased community engagement with a public fundraising event in Oxford’s Westgate shopping centre. This gave good exposure to the community to a rowing boat and the opportunity to try a rowing machine.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings.

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	This year we provided three learn to row courses benefitting members of the community with access to experience rowing. Many course participants subsequently joined as members and continue to benefit from the structured training, coaching, and the facilities offered by OARC. The racing program continues to allow members to compete at all levels through the year — from novices rowing at their first regatta to Men winning trophies at Henley Town and Visitors regatta, and strong showing at Henley Women’s and Masters’ Regattas. The programmes offered by OARC improve the health and fitness of members of the community in a supportive, caring, and inclusive environment. This allows them to gain confidence and build the skill of rowing. This year, we sadly received notice that the landlord of our boathouse intended to sell, and required us to vacate our home for over 20 years. We immediately set up a Boat House Task Force to investigate accommodation options and raise funds to secure the club’s future on the River Thames. We were hugely successful in our fundraising efforts, and are very grateful to our members and the general public for their generosity. We vacated the boathouse in May 2024. Moving a rowing club and storing a portion of the fleet has been a serious challenge and much of the club pulled together to make it happen. This resulted in a temporary residence over the summer of 2024 in the University College boat house, and subsequently with a much reduced fleet operating a limited service and fleet from City of Oxford Boat Club carpark. As of summer 2024, many promising discussions are ongoing and we are confident that the club will soon be able to continue to operate by leasing land from Oxford County Council on the Isis stretch of the Thames.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set

In light of the surprise termination of the clubs tenancy and the subsequent


		requirement to move the club, a plan
		has been drawn up by the committee to
		establish ourselves in a new location. In
		order to support this, a Boat House Task
		Force was set up, various
		accommodation plans were formulated,
		and costed. Following this, intense
		fundraising efforts were undertaken,
		with the target of raising the funds
		required for the club to continue
		operating from facilities that we
		ourselves control in order to secure the
		long-term future of the club.
		In aid of this goal, new asset
		acquisitions were paused, though
		maintenance and upkeep are continued.
		Long term goals of replacing aging craft
		including Men’s second VIII and a new
		Women’s IV remain, but are paused.
Performance of fundraising	Para 1.41	The fundraising targets we set were
activities against objectives		ambitious and led by the requirement to
set		establish the club at a new location.
		These have been met and exceeded,
		which means we are able to continue to
		support our members (including those
		experiencing financial hardship) in the
		unique supportive and inclusive
		environment of OARC, whilst we
		establish a plan for the new location.
Investment performance	Para 1.41	N/A
against objectives
Other		N/A

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	OARC’s financial position drastically improved throughout this year as a direct result of our fundraising efforts to rehome the club. We closed this year with around £122,500 in reserves (up from~£34,000 in Oct 2023).
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Most of these reserves are earmarked for establishing a new home for the club, and some of these reserves are indeed**restricted funds. **
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£122,451.67
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	There is no financial uncertainty about the future of the charity.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	We raised roughly £102,500 in donations, mainly from our own members, as well as from members of the public (including GiftAid). This represents a significant increase compared to previous years. Our regular income from memberships, contributions towards training and competition costs, and our learn to row course remained fairly stable at just over £36,000.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	Our reserves are held with two separate financial institutions in order to ensure full cover by the FSCS. We expect to require access to these funds at short notice, and have therefore not locked these up in long-term investments or bonds, but in savings accounts with modest returns.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	N/A
Other		The charity's activities continue to be supported by a substantial number of volunteers who devote their time to helping others. These volunteers are both from within the club’s membership and from the wider community. The charity, its members, and the trustees are most grateful to all who volunteer their time.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	CIO Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	The Trustees are elected to their post by the members of the club in accordance with the provisions in the CIO’s Constitution.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Trustees are appointed ex-officio through their election as club President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Departing officers are responsible for training those who are elected into their roles (with support from other officers of the Executive Committee, where necessary)
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The charity is run by an elected Executive Committee which includes the trustees.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	The charity is affiliated with British Rowing in order to provide additional rowing services and opportunities to compete.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (until Oct 2023)
Other name the charity uses	OARC, Accies, Oxford Academicals Rowing Club (until Oct 2023)
Registered charity number	1196716
Charity’s principal address	13 Earl Street OXFORD OX2 0JA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Nicholas Silvester	Chairman of trustees, President
Jonathan Miles	Secretary	Until Oct 23rd2023
Natalie Burrows	Secretary	From Oct 23rd2023
Dr Sebastiaan van Schaik	Treasurer

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

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)	Nicholas Paul Silvester	Dr Sebastiaan Johannes van Schaik

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	Chair	Treasurer

Date	25th of July, 2025

Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)

Receipts and payments accounts

Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)	Oxford Amateur Rowing Club (previously: Oxford Academicals Rowing Club)

Receipts and payments accounts

	For the period from	Period start date	to	Period end date
		01 October 2023		30 September 2024

Section A Receipts and payments
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds		Total funds	Last year
	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £		to the nearest £	to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Membership subscriptions	18,187.00	-	-		18,187.00	20,429
Learn to Row	7,410.00	-	-		7,410.00	7,298
Member charges - training & competition costs	10,635.33	-	-		10,635.33	10,318
Member charges - private boat registration¹	-	-	-		-	215
Member charges - purchase of club kit	207.50	-	-		207.50	69
Member charges - misc social events²	2,233.00	-	-		2,233.00	360
Member charges - other	-	-	-		-	-
Fundraising - donations (unrestricted)⁵	26,176.93	-	-		26,176.93	5,265
Fundraising - donations (restricted)⁵	-	76,300.61	-		76,300.61	-
Fundraising - grants	500.00	-	-		500.00	1,855
Fundraising - summer party	1,160.00	-	-		1,160.00	1,728
Fundraising - Christmas party	3,214.50	-	-		3,214.50	3,767
Fundraising - raffles	2,248.64	-	-		2,248.64	2,275
Bank interest	565.71	-	-		565.71	198
Charges to 3rd parties: trailering	-	-	-		-	68
Charges to 3rd parties: insurance claims	-	-	-		-	834
Charges to 3rd parties: misc	74.40	-	-		74.40	-
Refund of race entry fees	1,123.42	-	-		1,123.42	697
*Sub total* (Gross income for AR)	73,736.43	76,300.61	-		150,037.04	55,376

A2 Asset and investment sales
Sale of fixed assets - boats	-	-	-		-	2,200
Sale of fixed assets - pars	-	-	-		-	-
Sale of fixed assets - boat parts	-	-	-		-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-		-	2,200

*Total receipts*	73,736.43	76,300.61	-		150,037.04	57,576


A3 Payments
Operating costs - racking	5,391.84	-	-	5,391.84	7,973
Operating costs - British Rowing affiliation	1,040.00	-	-	1,040.00	686
Operating costs - boat registration fees (EA)	939.90	-	-	939.90	891
Operating costs - insurance	2,708.61	-	-	2,708.61	2,775
Operating costs - website	-	-	-	-	50
Operating costs - meetings & venue hire	434.00	-	-	434.00	169
Operating costs - equipment hire	-	-	-	-	350
Operating costs - advertising costs	-	-	-	-	-
Operating costs - bank fees³	194.32	-	-	194.32	-
Operating costs - rehoming the club (non-assets)⁴	-	24,447.87	-	24,447.87	-
Training/competition - coaching fees	10,461.00	-	-	10,461.00	7,474
Training/competition - regatta entries	5,295.00	-	-	5,295.00	5,334
Training/competition - facility hire & training camp	1,624.70	-	-	1,624.70	965
Training/competition - trailer/towing/boating expenses	1,082.15	-	-	1,082.15	1,136
Training/competition - misc expenses	64.00	-	-	64.00	776
Cost of fundraising - summer party	630.59	-	-	630.59	904
Cost of fundraising - Christmas party	3,214.00	-	-	3,214.00	3,394
Cost of fundraising - other venue hire²	667.00	-	-	667.00	-
Cost of fundraising - misc	240.00	-	-	240.00	-
Maintenance/repair - consumables	46.59	-	-	46.59	432
Maintenance/repair - parts	693.58	-	-	693.58	4,518
Maintenance/repair - ancillaries	-	-	-	-	-
Maintenance/repair - repair works	165.00	-	-	165.00	5,587
Maintenance/repair - trailer	139.63	-	-	139.63	286
Club kit purchase	322.30	-	-	322.30	-
Prizes, gifts and rewards	30.00	-	-	30.00	341
Expenses for misc social events²	1,026.15	-	-	1,026.15	320
Refund - Learn to Row	150.00	-	-	150.00	300
Refund - summer / Christmas party	20.00	-	-	20.00	-
Refund - member's squad account balance	320.00	-	-	320.00	73
Refund - membership subscriptions	146.00	-	-	146.00	240
*Sub total*	37,046.36	24,447.87	-	61,494.23	44,973


A4 Asset and investment purchases
Purchase of fixed assets - Boats	-	-	-	-	16,400
Purchase of fixed assets - Oars	-	-	-	-	-
Purchase of fixed assets - Coxing/rowing electronics	-	-	-	-	849
Purchase of fixed assets - Trailer	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	-	-	-	-	17,249

*Total payments*	37,046.36	24,447.87	-	61,494.23	62,222

*Net of receipts/(payments)*	36,690.07	51,852.74	-	88,542.81	- 4,646
A5 Transfers between funds	-	-	-	-	-
A6 Cash funds last year end	33,908.86	-	-	33,908.86	38,555
*Cash funds this year end*	70,598.93	51,852.74	-	122,451.67	33,909


Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories	Details	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	Metro: current account (23-05-80 48141234)	5,490.78	-	-
	Metro: misc savings (23-05-80 48141218)	20,108.15	41,340.46	-
	Metro: misc boathouse savings (23-05-80 53054048)	-	10,512.28	-
	Metro: misc restricted savings (23-05-80 53054129)	-	-	-
	Co-operative bank: community direct account	-	-	-
	Co-operative bank: community 35d notice savings	45,000.00	-	-
	*Total cash funds*	70,598.93	51,852.74	-
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	OK	OK	OK
		Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	Members' negative squad balances (owed to the club)	3,681.76	-	-

		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets	N/A	-	-	-

		Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the club’s own use	Boats	Unrestricted	-	89,700.00
	Oars and sculls	Unrestricted	-	4,500.00
	Trailer	Unrestricted	-	2,500.00
	Other equipment	Unrestricted	-	3,600.00

		Fund to which liability relates	Amount due (optional)	When due (optional)
B5 Liabilities	Members' positive squad balances (credit)	Unrestricted	1,757.03

Signed by the Treasurer on behalf of all the Trustees	Signature	Print Name		Date of approval
		Sebastiaan van Schaik

Notes

1) Private boat registration for members was charged to members' squad balances this year. It therefore doesn't separately appear as income on these accounts, but is included in payments towards members' squad balances.

2) This year we celebrated Accies' 20th anniversary, for which people bought tickets
3) This includes transaction fees charged by GoCardless (for payment links) and Square (for card payments)

4) Some of the expenses we've incurred on re-homing the club might be recoupable (e.g. a shipping container and a temporary structure), but there is substantial uncertainty on this front. We therefore don't consider them to be assets with value.

5) This year we raised a significant amount of funds through a combination of different fundraising campaigns and donations. Some of these donations are 'restricted funds', which is a concept in charity law that forces a charity to reserve funds for a particular purpose. Other funds are 'unrestricted', and can be spent on anything we like.

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Oxford Amateur Rowing Club On accounts for the year Charity no 30 September 2024 1196716 ended (if any) Set out on pages 9-13 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY 30/09/2024 .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives 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.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Date: 24-07-2025 Name: Roi Amir Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 348A Woodstock Road Oxford, UK OX28BZ

October 2018

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

IER