Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
Charity number: 1197935
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers | 1 |
| Trustees' report | 2 - 8 |
| Independent examiner's report | 9 |
| Statement of financial activities | 10 |
| Balance sheet | 11 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 12 - 19 |
Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Trustees
Mr J Smith Mr R Balmforth (until 1 November 2024) Mr S Keaton Mr J Thornton
Charity registered number 1197935 Principal office 55 Turney Road London Dulwich SE21 7JB Accountants Menzies LLP Chartered Accountants Magna House 18-32 London Road Staines-Upon-Thames TW18 4BP Bankers Barclays Bank, West Norwood Branch Solicitors Milbank 100 Liverpool Street London EC2M 2AT Independent Examiner Janice Matthews Menzies LLP Magna House 18-32 London Road Staines-Upon-Thames TW18 4BP
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31st March 2025.
The reference and administrative information have been set out on page 1 and forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of a directors’ report as required under company law, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.
Objectives and activities
Purposes and aims
The Southwark Community Sports Trust (“SCST”) was incorporated on 22nd February 2022.
The charity’s purposes are “To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Southwark and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.”
In accordance with these principles, the mission of the charity is to continue to provide high quality and affordable sports facilities to the people of Southwark and the surrounding area.
To pursue this mission, the charity:
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provides facilities for cricket, football, rugby and other sporting, recreational and educational pursuits for member clubs and the general community;
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manages the multi-use Dulwich Sports Ground and the Hollies Sports ground in Dulwich, south London.
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promotes the use of the Facility within the community;
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encourages the use by local schools, community groups, additional sports and sporting organisations;
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works with the English Cricket Board, the Football Foundation, the Rugby Football Union and Sport England to provide the requisite facilities for their sports,
The SCST took out a 30-year lease on the ground from the Dulwich Estate in 2019. The ground covers 39 acres in the area bounded by Turney Road, Burbage Road and Gallery Road. The grounds are used extensively by a range of sports clubs, local state schools, local and London based companies and individual users.
The Trust takes a proactive view on the provision of sport for the wider community and we take pride in the take up from a wide range of user clubs and from different parts of societies in Southwark. Lambeth and Lewisham. There has been an increase in women and girls playing sport in our facilities. The user schools and clubs draw their players over a wide range of religious and ethnic groupings in a locality with a wide disparity of wealth and well-being. Our facilities are designed to be used by able and handicapped sports players and we actively welcome new users. The trustees are aware that two of our main member clubs (Dulwich Cricket Club and Dulwich Village FC) are designated as Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC) and that their specific role is to promote wider use by the Community.
As required, the trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes. The trustees use the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Achievements and performance
The Trust occupies a substantial piece of land in the heart of Dulwich Village with two substantial pavilions and thirty-nine acres of grass.
During the winter, the grounds are used to provide: six senior football pitches, one intermediate pitch, three junior, four mini pitches, two five a side pitches together with four training grids. In addition, there is a shared training area and one senior rugby pitch.
In summer the grounds accommodated four grass cricket squares, three artificial cricket wickets and cricket nets. The main Pavilion on the Dulwich Sports Ground has twelve changing rooms, multiple toilets and shower facilities together with a large recreation area with bar and kitchen. In recent years, the SCST has been gradually improving the condition of the delipidated pavilion on the Hollies ground. In addition to the improving changing rooms and toilets within the building, the Trust has created a working gymnasium and outdoor exercise area for members.
This report describes the charity's main activities where the Trust welcomes local schools, sports clubs and organisations as members or occasional users. The following analysis looks at first summer sports, then winter sports and some of the supporting activities in the context of our charity’s purposes.
Summer sports
In a summer with so much rain and indifferent weather, the Trust managed to stage 543 cricket matches in the 2024 season slightly higher than the 2023 summer total of 537 and 2022 with 479 matches. An impressive performance by dedicated volunteers, the Sportsturf ground staff and the many cricket enthusiasts in the clubs and junior teams. The Trust sadly had to cancel over 40 matches due to weather.
In simple terms, 11,946 people played a game of cricket over 23 weeks. An average of 520 active players all supported by umpires, scorers, match managers and spectators. The Trustees feel that there can be no larger or better utilised publicly accessible cricket ground in the South of England. The spread of participation was analysed as:
| Weekend Club Games | 159 |
|---|---|
| Last Man Stands matches | 159 |
| Weekday matches | 88 |
| Junior matches | 137 |
| 543 |
Senior cricket is played on weekend afternoons and often in the week. These fixtures require prepared grass wickets and involve Surrey Championship league matches, Kent League fixture, the Kent Sri Lankan league, long established friendly cricket, local cup matches and inter-organisation games played by men and women. More than half (259) of the 543 total games were played on prepared grass wickets demonstrating the productivity and hard work of the match preparation volunteers and the contractor, Sportsturf. Weekend cricket is dominated by the member clubs as shown in the table below.
| Weekend use by member clubs | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dulwich Cricket Club | 43 | 40 | 56 |
| Ploughmans Cricket Club | 42 | 37 | 37 |
| South Bank Cricket Club | 29 | 26 | 27 |
| Barbados Overseas Cricket Assoc. | 22 | 19 | 10 |
| Kent United | 8 | 6 |
One of the major users, Dulwich CC dropped in numbers mainly due to the opening of the Griffin sports ground in Dulwich Village and the lower number of Sunday matches. The shortfall was met by the introduction of BOCA Shield and Kent United playing in the Sri Lankan Sunday league. The quality of their cricket matching some of the higher-level fixtures on Saturdays. Both Ploughmans and South Bank CC were staunch supporters of the Trust facilities.
The remaining games were played on artificial turf pitches driven by Last Man Stands mid-week cricket leagues and the block booking on Saturday and Sunday mornings by Dulwich Cricket Club with their extensive numbers of junior teams of boys and girls predominantly aged between 8-13 years old. The demand was considerably aided by the introduction of a fifth artificial wicket sponsored by Cedars School.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Although opportunities for casual user clubs are limited at weekends, the Trust was able to offer ten different small clubs to play at the Trust. Those bookings reflected the large number of local clubs who do not have their own home grounds. Mid-week cricket enables a variety of different user clubs to use the Trust facilities. The Trust is very pleased to be working with Last Man Stands which is an entry level game supported by the English Cricket Board (ECB). The evening games are played in a variety of settings using astro turf pitches across the UK and other cricket playing nations. The leagues are designed to attract clubs, workplaces and groups of friends to enter eight a side teams to play social cricket. The Trust is in its fourth season of working with Last Man Stands. We have increased usage to four evenings per week holding 159 matches in 2024 – a total of 33 more games than last year. Put another way, over 2,554 player opportunities to play social cricket. The status of the Trust grounds is such that teams wish to play on Turney Road and the regional finals are hosted at the Trust.
Cricket played on midweek summer evenings on grass wickets has become a major feature for local teams, city companies and school parent teams. In 2024, 88 games were played on grass wickets from June to early August. Apart from junior clubs, Twenty four different teams played mid-week games at the Trust offering the opportunity to play cricket to many diverse groups within our local community. These games attract local residents, local clubs and City based company teams. Tilberg Regents CC have expanded considerably since moving to Dulwich playing 12 home games whilst a selfgenerated Stockbrokers Cup produced fourteen matches in a competitive format. Such games attract spectators and the love for cricket is widely shared on the field and in the bar afterwards.
Midweek evenings are boosted by training sessions in the three lane outdoor nets by the member clubs led by South Bank CC and Ploughmans CC. Each weekly session involves over twenty and sometimes thirty cricketers. Local clubs can book the nets alongside daily use by schools. The nets facility offers the opportunity for one-to- one sessions run by a variety of ECB recognised coaches at weekends and in evenings. The busy nature of the ground is further boosted by the football clubs and some junior coaching programmes for boys and girls during the later summer months.
Senior cricket depends upon recruitment from junior teams. Dulwich Cricket Club has the seventh largest junior section in England. The junior section of Dulwich CC depends upon the Trust to complete their heavy programme of fixtures at weekend and midweek evenings. Dulwich played over 137 organised and structured junior matches in 2024. The Trust is proud to be providing so many entry routes for local boys and girls. 137 matches represents 3,014 opportunities to play cricket.
The summer months allow local companies to hold sports days and team building exercises, the Trust was able to include three such events in the summer of 2024.
Since its creation, the Southwark Community Sports Trust has established a reputation for good playing surfaces, excellent facilities and an accessible approach to staging cricket.
Winter sports
The trust financial year includes the 2024-2025 football and rugby seasons which were considerably affected by an incredibly wet winter. Total games played in December, January and February were less than a third of games played across the first three months of the season. The weather did not only take a toll on the footballers’ and rugby players’ morale but it hit the Trust’s income levels as clubs only pay when they play.
Rugby Union is still recovering from the impact of COVID-19. The Trust continued to support King’s College Hospital RFC as the club sought to return to playing two competitive teams. This year KCH were able to play a total of twelve matches, with others cancelled due to rain. The Trust moved the rugby pitch to a purpose designed pitch on the Hollies. This seems to have been well received. The aim is now to include some new member clubs for the 25/26 season, including juniors rugby, in order to make the best use of the pitch.
Football and footballers seem keen to play at every opportunity. The Trust offer excellent pitches and good dressing rooms with a very popular bar. In 2024/25 there were 527 organised football matches. This is compared to 380 in 2023/24, which was also affected heavily by wet weather. The increase is likely due to better weather conditions than the previous year. It is also thought that the continued efforts of the Trust to improve drainage around the ground is having an impact on availability of playing surfaces.
Within the season, there were 503 weekend games and 24 weekday games. Additionally, there was a total of 11 midweek bookings by organisers of football camps and academies, who book multiple pitches for all or part of a day.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
In the 2023/24, season 77% of weekend games involved junior footballers whilst this season it was 64% of weekend fixtures. For all football matches (weekends and midweek) the split of age groups was 69% junior and 31% senior matches. It is clearly reflecting the aims of the charity that local young people gain access to our facilities and the participation numbers show that aim being achieved.
Junior football takes place on Saturday mornings and over most Sundays, totalling 324 games. A huge amount of time is devoted to junior football participation. While the percentage of junior football reduced compared to senior football, the number of games played remained largely unchanged. The Trust has encouraged adult spaces to be used by adult teams in order to make best use of facilities and remain sustainable.Major users Dulwich Village FC and Dulwich Hamlet Junior FC who played 128 and 100 junior matches respectively for both girls’ and boys’ junior teams. It is pleasing to see that among juniors around 13% of the matches are being booked explicitly for girl’s football. Other prominent junior football clubs included AFC Brixton, AFC Lions, AFC Naasa. A feature of Saturday mornings is the block booking with the Lambeth and Southwark Primary Schools league. Schools in this league booked 50 matches throughout the season.
Senior football on Saturday afternoons was dominated by South Bank CUACO FC who ran eight teams in playing 97 games with Grantonians FC a one team club, playing 8 matches. The Trust has been successful in attracting more adult clubs on Sundays. New additions for this season included Southbank CUACO Vets FC and RAM FC, The Trust was delighted to welcome South London Laces FC who are a female and non-binary club who had two home sides and played 18 matches over the course of the season.
The trust is working with the Amateur Football Association to provide pitches and support in the launch of a new female football league. The league got off to a slow start this year and it is a shared intention to continue to support this project in the coming seasons.
Weekday football is perceived as an opportunity to showcase Trust facilities to local schools-and colleges. Despite the weather in the second half of the season, Charter School, St Francis Xavier College and the Ark All Saints Academy School shared twenty-four matches. Kings College London Students Union continued to play regularly at the Trust with the University of the Arts football club.
School and club matches are only part of the football usage as weekday evening training sessions are organised by member clubs. Over the year, the Trust hosted football academy training camps and schools training activities, for organisations including Girls United and Dulwich Freestylers. It is a significant consideration to note the number of players and football clubs based in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham travelling to play at our Turney Road facilities.
Financial review
In the year ending 31st March 2025, the financial position of the charity is very sound with a strong balance sheet and good financial revenue performance.
Charitable activity revenues for the second year since registration remained high, recorded as £184,472 for 2024/5 showing a small increase from £183,278 in the first year of operation as a charity, the small investment income almost doubled to £6,921 due to a change in savings account and higher interest rates.
The overall income to the Trust was supplemented by grant funding from the Football Foundation for ground improvement and from the ECB to part-fund an electric roller; These grants are highlighted by expenditure increases to fund the ground improvement and the full cost of an electric roller.
Expenditure rose year-on-year from £179,516 to £195,681. The detail of expenditure is shown in note 7. The charge for utilities was partially offset by a rebate due to the change to charitable status with underlying charge being some £3,500 higher than the prior year. Overall utility provision was marginally reduced in 2025 as the Ukraine war continued to affect energy tariffs.
A similar level of ground maintenance cost was spent in 2025 with a reduced expenditure on the Pavilion from £13,795 to £7,005 in 2025. Increased costs of administration were primarily a reflection of an increase in depreciation / amortisation charges on current year fixed asset additions and retrospective depreciation against Leasehold improvements. The balance sheet shows a small increase in cash and equipment. Debtors and creditors remain in line with the previous year and the scale of the charity’s operation.
The primary purpose of the charity is the provision of sporting activity with income growing to £184,472. The growth is not uniform across all sports revenues - rugby activity still remains depressed whilst football and cricket income grew.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Charity operates a large sports ground with associated buildings and infrastructure. The facilities are well managed with a managed investment plan of repair and renovation. The grounds are used by a wide membership of local sports clubs and schools. The facilities are much in demand so that if member clubs wane, then others will take up the slack. With a wide client base, the Trust can offer opportunities to many different groups around the Dulwich area. The Trust has a thirty-year lease. There are no uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
As a sports facility, we face periods of climatic uncertainty and sometime extreme conditions. Excessive rain or perhaps drought can affect the income generating activities. So far, the Trust has managed to deal with seasonal weather extremes. Investment in drainage schemes has become a part of the annual expenditure. Cricket is using more artificial surfaces, perhaps in the future winter sports may need to follow.
Sports facilities in Dulwich are well supported within the local community with demand exceeding our capacity. The Trust is perceived as a high- quality venue with strong support from the governing bodies. Member clubs are pleased to play at our grounds. However, the challenge for the Trust is to lure volunteers from tightly stretched sports clubs to help manage the grounds and facilities.
The trustees would like to see more paid management in the next few years as volunteer effort is better focused at strategic level. However, to achieve more paid management, the revenue position of the Trust must continue to improve. The volunteers managing and providing sport have done very well to maximise the usage of the facilities. The trustees have affirmed to the Operational Board that the next steps should include a focus on non-sporting income generation. Such activities may involve investment in facilities to provide income growth. The gym is an example where investment was followed by growth of use and income.
The Operational board has been asked to consider how charitable giving and sponsorship may help provide robust and regular fund-raising streams of income.
Reserves policy and going concern
Over the past ten years, the Trust has sought to build up cash reserves to meet contingencies – failure of roof, heating or boilers failing and such associated equipment, although the maintenance for major machinery for ground management is borne by the contractor.
To demonstrate the continuing robustness of the Trust, the trustees have spent some time considering the risks and have implemented a policy on the management and allocation of the reserves. As the attached accounts show the Trust has a substantial amount of money held at the bank.
For the future years, the trustees have reserved £261,000 in total as funds reserved for contingencies. The breakdown is:
• £170,000 has been set aside as contingency for failure of income or a national pandemic or problem. The Trust was able to survive long spells of inactivity during the COVID-19 lockdowns but not without use of reserve funds. The Trust wishes to be better prepared in future years.
• £19,000 has been designated as contingency against bad debt.
• £40,000 is designated to meet any shortfalls upon funding to the Football Foundation grant.
• £32,000 has been designated for the repair of the car park and roadway.
This leaves a balance of £51,324 as free reserves, after removing fixed assets.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Plans for the future
The Trustees are acutely aware that of the need to maintain the standard of the playing facilities for the playing of sport on our grounds and at the same time generate sufficient income to support the annual expenditure. The continuing growth of the Trust demonstrates the contribution and strength of the volunteers managing the facility backed up by sound financial management,
Within the report, the Trustees have noted the long term need to recruit paid management time to support the voluntary efforts of a small number of people. Additional revenue is key to meeting the requirement to develop a sustainable and affordable management team for the future. The operational board has started to initiate fund raising for capital projects with aspirations for more sponsorship or regular donation income. .
Improving the grounds and facilities of the SCST has been a significant responsibility since the launch of the Trust twelve years ago. The Trust does not have the capital resources for major renovation schemes nor the opportunity to set aside the revenue generating playing surfaces for years of improvement work. During 2024, the SCST embarked upon a series of small-scale drainage and water flow schemes. The early work has started to show some benefit, and more work is planned in a phased and affordable manner.
The Trust has restarted the ground improvement project with grant funding from the Football Foundation (FF). The sevenyear programme required both the FF and the Trust to jointly fund materials and works. The improvement grant enables the Trust to make regular hollow tining and to introduce additional sand, fertilser and seed to the grounds. The Trust receives advice from the Football Foundation on the success of the work.
The SCST manages two pavilions. The main Pavilion was refurbished in 2020 and requires a continued maintenance programme. The Hollies Pavilion has a small multi-user members gym and training space which has proved to be very popular. With the co-operation of enthusiastic fitness coaches, the indoor facilities have been expanded and improved. The use of the facility continues to help the Trust income generation and meet a local need. All age groups use the facilities.
The sports of cricket, rugby and football are weather dependent. Artificial surfaces offer a more robust option. Cricket has benefited from the use of astro turf wickets. The Trust board is now looking to provide an artificial football surface. There are only certain parts of the ground where planning permission would even be considered. The board has begun to explore possibilities for such a facility which would be heavily used by member clubs, local schools and other teams. The Football Foundation promotes capital funding schemes which may be helpful for such a large fund-raising activity. The Board will need to set aside considerable volunteer time to manage such a complex project.
No charitable venture can continue to thrive without a pool of young and enthusiastic volunteers. The new management board is seeking to widen the scope of volunteer participation from the winter sports clubs and to harness the local goodwill of the neighbours. The trustees continue to place emphasis on succession and continuity. The new group of Board members hold the key to future developments and robust growth.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 0A733710-32CE-4E2D-9838-14ED24D62501
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Structure, governance and management
The Southwark Community Sports Trust was formed as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2010 as the organisation to take over the lease of the Dulwich Sports Ground from London South Bank University. Although formed quickly, a founding principle was that the Trust would need volunteer management to ensure financial survival. As the Trust has grown and changed, volunteers are at the heart of the management and use of the facilities. In 2019, the CIC secured a new thirty-year lease for all the ground from the Dulwich Estate providing a secure base for further growth.
The Southwark Community Sports Trust transitioned to become a registered charity (CIO) on 3 February 2022. The Trust commenced trading on 1st April 2022, and the CIO is now continuing as a very successful sports provider. Alongside the creation of the CIO, the Southwark Community Sports Ground company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association. The trading company manages the non-sporting activities including the bar within the Pavilion, the lease with the Children’s Nursery, the flat within the pavilion and the telephone mast. The company trading performance is listed at Companies House.
From the earliest days, the Trust welcomed local schools, sports clubs and organisations as members. The founding member clubs were expected to provide resources and volunteers to manage the facilities in return for priority access. The newly established charity required the trustees to initiate organisational changes to meet the requirements of charitable status. An operational board was established in 2023 to manage the day-to-day operation of the Trust. Each executive member of the Board takes specific working roles. Member clubs are represented in the summer and winter user groups. The original founder-member clubs were offered opportunities to become partners with opportunities to join the board to provide the management of the facilities.
The Operational management board was designed to meet the challenges of managing a modern sports charity and is tasked to work closely with the trustees. The changes were designed to bring in a more inclusive and managerially focused team. In its second year, the Trustees acknowledge the prominent contributions to the work of the Operational board by volunteers from Dulwich Cricket Club, Ploughmans Cricket Club, South Bank Cricket Club and South Bank CUACO Football Club.
The challenge remains to sustain the level and experience of volunteering and to continue to seek involvement from the member clubs.
Appointment of trustees
The initial appointment of the SCST trustees was made on 16th February 2022. They are also directors under company law, who served during the period and up to the date of this report. The list of the four trustees is as follows:
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John Smith
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Jon Thornton
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Sean Keaton
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R Balmforth (until 1 November 2024)
As the accounts show the trustees received no remuneration nor any expenses.
Related parties and relationships with other organisations
The Trust has a subsidiary by control which is the Southwark Community Sports Ground. The charity owed the company £33,985 at the year end. The company has agreed to pay any profits to the charity and this year that amounted to £32,310.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................ Mr J Smith Chair, Southwark Community Sports Trust
Date: 12-Nov-2025
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS' REPORT
Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Southwark Community Sports Trust ('the Charity')
I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity'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 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.
Signed: Dated: 13-Nov-2025 Janice Matthews FCA
Menzies LLP
Chartered Accountants Magna House 18-32 London Road Staines-Upon-Thames TW18 4BP
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Note Income from: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Investments 5 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 6 Total expenditure Net income Transfers between funds 13 Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward |
Restricted funds 2025 £ 24,222 - - 24,222 18,252 18,252 5,970 (5,970) - - - - |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 43,096 184,472 6,921 234,489 177,429 177,429 57,060 5,970 63,030 340,251 63,030 403,281 |
Total funds 2025 £ 67,318 184,472 6,921 258,711 195,681 195,681 63,030 - 63,030 340,251 63,030 403,281 |
Total funds 2024 £ 32,310 183,278 3,390 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 218,978 | ||||
| 179,516 | ||||
| 179,516 | ||||
| 39,462 - |
||||
| 39,462 | ||||
| 300,789 39,462 |
||||
| 340,251 |
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 12 to 19 form part of these financial statements.
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 10 Current assets Debtors 11 Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 13 Total funds |
7,304 383,142 390,446 (78,122) |
2025 £ 90,957 90,957 312,324 403,281 403,281 403,281 403,281 |
3,829 353,388 357,217 (96,185) |
2024 £ 79,219 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79,219 261,032 |
||||
| 340,251 | ||||
| 340,251 | ||||
| 340,251 | ||||
| 340,251 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
Mr J Smith
Chair, Southwark Community Sports Trust
Date: 12-Nov-2025
The notes on pages 12 to 19 form part of these financial statements.
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. General information
Southwark Community Sports Trust is a charity and registered in England and Wales. The address of the principle office is disclosed on the information on page.
2. Accounting policies
2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Southwark Community Sports Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
Prior year comparatives shown relates to the previous entity Southwark Community Sports Trust CIC. These figures have been added as a memo for understanding and transparency purposes only.
2.2 Going concern
We confirmed that, having considered our expectations and intentions for the next twelve months and the availability of funds, the charity is a going concern.
2.3 Income
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.
2.4 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
2. Accounting policies (continued)
2.4 Expenditure (continued)
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
2.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets costing £NIL or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
| Leasehold property | - | 20% Straight line |
|---|---|---|
| Plant and machinery | - | 25% Reducing balance |
| Fixtures and fittings | - | 25% Reducing balance |
3. Income from donations and legacies
| Donations Grants Total 2024 |
Restricted funds 2025 £ - 24,222 24,222 - |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 42,563 533 43,096 32,310 |
Total funds 2025 £ 42,563 24,755 67,318 32,310 |
Total funds 2024 £ 32,310 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32,310 | ||||
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
4. Income from charitable activities
| Football Rugby Cricket Other income Total 2024 |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 66,157 2,110 91,656 24,549 184,472 183,278 |
Total funds 2025 £ 66,157 2,110 91,656 24,549 184,472 183,278 |
Total funds 2024 £ 67,375 8,950 86,385 20,568 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 183,278 | |||
Total 2024
5. Investment income
| Interest Total 2024 |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 6,921 3,390 |
Total funds 2025 £ 6,921 3,390 |
Total funds 2024 £ 3,390 |
|---|---|---|---|
6. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
Summary by fund type
| Charitable activities Total 2024 |
Restricted funds 2025 £ 18,252 - |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 177,429 179,516 |
Total 2025 £ 195,681 179,516 |
Total 2024 £ 179,516 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
7. Analysis of expenditure by activities
| Support costs 2025 £ Charitable activities 195,681 Total 2024 179,516 Analysis of support costs Activities 2025 £ Ground maintenance 94,450 Utilities 10,448 Pavilion expenditure 7,005 Administration 31,016 Other expenditure 52,762 195,681 Total 2024 179,516 Independent examiner's remuneration Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner for the independent examination of the Charity's annual accounts (excluding VAT) Fees payable to the Charity's independent examiner in respect of: All other services not included above |
Total funds 2025 £ 195,681 179,516 Total funds 2025 £ 94,450 10,448 7,005 31,016 52,762 195,681 179,516 2025 £ 2,400 2,200 |
Total funds 2024 £ 179,516 Total funds 2024 £ 112,816 11,953 13,795 6,568 34,384 |
|---|---|---|
| 179,516 | ||
| 2024 £ 2,200 2,000 |
8. Independent examiner's remuneration
9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024 - £NIL) .
During the year ended 31 March 2025, no Trustee expenses have been incurred (2024 - £NIL) .
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
10. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost or valuation At 1 April 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 |
Leasehold property £ 21,665 - 21,665 4,333 4,333 8,666 12,999 17,332 |
Plant and machinery £ 251,316 42,085 293,401 191,773 25,706 217,479 75,922 59,543 |
Fixtures and fittings £ 11,772 - 11,772 9,428 308 9,736 2,036 2,344 |
Total £ 284,753 42,085 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 326,838 | ||||
| 205,534 30,347 |
||||
| 235,881 | ||||
| 90,957 | ||||
| 79,219 |
11. Debtors
| Due within one year Other debtors |
2025 £ 7,304 7,304 |
2024 £ 3,829 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,829 |
12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Amounts owed to group undertakings Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 33,985 18,106 26,031 78,122 |
2024 £ 33,985 22,179 40,021 |
|---|---|---|
| 96,185 |
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
13. Statement of funds Statement of funds - current year
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Contingency Fund Debt Fund Football Foundation Car Park Repairs General funds General Funds Total Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Surrey Foundation Football Foundation Total of funds |
Balance at 1 April 2024 £ 125,000 19,000 36,000 30,000 210,000 130,251 340,251 - - - 340,251 |
Income £ - - - - - 234,489 234,489 5,970 18,252 24,222 258,711 |
Expenditure £ - - - - - (177,429) (177,429) - (18,252) (18,252) (195,681) |
Transfers in/out £ 45,000 - 4,000 2,000 51,000 (45,030) 5,970 (5,970) - (5,970) - |
Balance at 31 March 2025 £ 170,000 19,000 40,000 32,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 261,000 | |||||
| 142,281 | |||||
| 403,281 | |||||
| - - |
|||||
| - | |||||
| 403,281 |
Surrey Foundation: A grant of £5,970 was awarded to support the purchase of an electric roller. Football Foundation: A grant of £18,252 was provided to fund ground improvement works.
Statement of funds - prior year
| Balance at | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Transfers | 31 March | |||
| 1 April 2023 | Income | Expenditure | in/out | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| Designated funds | |||||
| Contingency Fund | - | - | - | 125,000 | 125,000 |
| Debt Fund | - | - | - | 19,000 | 19,000 |
| Football Foundation | - | - | - | 36,000 | 36,000 |
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
13. Statement of funds (continued)
Statement of funds - prior year (continued)
| Balance at 1 April 2023 £ Income £ Car Park Repairs - - - - General funds General Funds - all funds 300,789 218,978 Total Unrestricted funds 300,789 218,978 14. Analysis of net assets between funds Analysis of net assets between funds - current year |
Expenditure £ - - (179,516) (179,516) |
Transfers in/out £ 30,000 210,000 (210,000) - |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 210,000 | |||
| 130,251 | |||
| 340,251 | |||
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Total Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year Tangible fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Total |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 90,957 390,446 (78,122) 403,281 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 79,219 357,217 (96,185) 340,251 |
Total funds 2025 £ 90,957 390,446 (78,122) |
|---|---|---|
| 403,281 Total funds 2024 £ 79,219 357,217 (96,185) |
||
| 340,251 |
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
15. Related party transactions
The charity has a subsidary by control which is Southwark Community Sports Ground Ltd. The charity owed the company £33,985 (2024: £33,985) at the year end. The company has agreed to pay any profits up to the charity and in this year that amounted to £40,406.
The results of Southwark Community Sports Ground Ltd have not been consolidated in the accounts of Southwark Community Sports Trust due to the charity taking the exemptions to not produce consolidated accounts available to smaller charities.
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