# **WESTON SUPER MARE PILOT GIG CLUB CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1198444** **Annual Report and Financial Statement for the Period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023** pg. 1 ## Weston super Mare Pilot Gig Club Trustees Annual Report The aim of the Weston super Mare Pilot Gig Club, CIO (WSMPGC) is to provide the opportunity, equipment, training, and support for the communities in Weston super Mare and surrounding areas to take part in the active sport of Gig rowing for recreation, competitive sport, and the benefit of their health. WSMPGC is in its formative year and is managed and operated by the initial trustees and organising groups made up mostly of original members. All the background work, that makes the club work, is done on a voluntary basis. All members are encouraged to help in whatever way they can for the benefit of all, thus embracing an inclusive community spirit. The original development of WSMPGC was intended to be through an affiliation agreement with Weston Bay Yacht Club (WBYC). It was proposed that WSMPGC would pay an annually agreed sum for the use of the club facilities. The sum being based on our membership numbers and was to include social membership of WBYC for all WSMPGC members. This was an aspiration of the WBYC management committee at the time. However, due to changes in the WBYC management, and subsequent differences, this type of arrangement has proven not to be possible to date. Whilst both parties continue to explore options, this uncertainty has highlighted the need for our own premises and to be a stand-alone organisation. Although these negotiations have been time consuming, we have in the meantime been developing our organisational structure. For such a young organisation, we are on the way to achieving a good financial standing to enable us to purchase our own gig and equipment. We are working with the Executive member of North Somerset Council as we continue to explore opportunities to secure a permanent base and storage for our gigs and equipment. pg. 2 This will enable the organisation to move forward in achieving our vision, and purpose, to expand our membership and rowing activity for the local communities. ## Our Early Achievements During the first year the initial rowing members, with the help and assistance of the other local Gig Clubs, have developed systems and procedures to operate over 60 rowing sessions, in the 10-month period to 31 March 2023. During this time, we have filled 384 seats, and a significant proportion of our membership have become experienced rowers having worked their way through from absolute beginners to fully competent. Many new members have developed a desire to take part in competitive rowing and we have successfully competed in local regattas. Our pilot gig “Walter Hicks” is on loan from the Cornish Pilot Gig Association. We’ve fully crewed this on many of the tidal opportunities available, however, we’ve have had to cancel some rowing sessions due to insufficient numbers and on 15 rowing sessions, where we’ve had to cancel planned sessions due to a lack of a Coxswain. As a club, we have trained our initial members and can now support new and novice rowers. We are actively working on attracting new members. Our neighbouring clubs have been fantastic in assisting our development, especially providing Coxswain for our rows. The coxswains have been instrumental in designing a training programme and have coached all our current members to competent novice level. Our more experienced members are now stepping up and learning the skills to become coxswain for our rowing sessions, which reduces our demand on our neighbouring clubs. We anticipate, that in our 2nd year of development, as membership numbers grow, there will be fewer cancellations due to availability of coxswain and rowers. We have developed links with Voluntary Action North Somerset (VANS) to recruit volunteers and engage with support groups, particularly older, less active and people in the community. In addition, we are working with Broad Oak Academy, a local secondary school. To encourage young and to engage with rowing and the environment to improve mental and physical wellbeing. pg. 3 ## Development Plan Changes Our development plan has now changed to reflect the change from affiliation to the yacht club to the search for our own base to store our equipment and operate our rowing activity. Work is already underway with this in consultation with North Somerset Council, who are very supportive of our vision and aims, and are actively searching for suitable beach location for us to operate. At the same time, as Gig rowing is a very versatile and mobile sport, various temporary storage and launching options are being used to ensure activity continues. pg. 4 ## Financial Report ## **Weston Super Mare Pilot Gig Club** Receipts and payments for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 **2022/23 £ Receipts** Donations 487 Events 924 Social Events (Self Funded) 849 Membership 4,662 **Total Receipts 6,922 Payments** Boats - Equipment & Maintenance 1,348 Shore - Equipment & Maintenance 217 Gig Hire 1,000 Insurance 651 Permits & Licences 165 Social Events (Self-Funded) 849 WBYC Fees 270 **Total** Payments **4,500 Net Surplus / (Deficit) 2,422** pg. 5 ## **Weston Super Mare Pilot Gig Club** Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the period ending 31 March 2023 **£ £ Assets (insurance purposes)** Storage Cabinets 60 Emergency Equipment 614 Electric Outboard Motor 100 Rowing Boat Tender 162 Trolley 217 **-------------------** 1,153 **Bank Balance at 31 March 2023** 2,422 **Total Assets 3,275 Liabilities --------------------** 0 pg. 6 ## **Weston Super Mare Pilot Gig Club** ## **Notes in relation to the accounts** Given that our annual turnover is less than £25,000 there is no requirement to have these accounts independently examined. ## **Income** Most of the income for the year has come from membership fees. Fundraising income has come from a regatta which was well supported by our neighbouring gig clubs. Donations continue to be made through Just Giving. ## **Expenditure** As a newly formed gig club the majority of our expenditure has been on hiring our boat, Walter Hicks, from the CPGCA for the year. Miscellaneous equipment has been bought, including a tender, motor and safety equipment and is included in general assets. **The attached Annual Report and Accounts, have been approved by Club Trustees** **Mr G Lane Trustee** **For and on behalf of the Trustees** **Date 1 June 2023** pg. 7