2025-09-30-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1st October 2024 Period start date To 30th September 2025 Period end date

Charity name: Hurst Bowling Club

Charity registration number: 1198978

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 for the benefit of the inhabitants of Hurst and the surrounding areas by the provision of facilities for playing bowls. (Facilities means land, buildings, equipment and organising sporting activities).
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	The Club continues to make available the necessary facilities for the community to participate in Lawn Bowls, thereby supporting its charitable objectives. There has been an increase in membership, resulting in more individuals having the opportunity to benefit from involvement in healthy sporting activities. A comprehensive programme of activities has been delivered throughout the year. This includes the organisation of more than eighty matches against other clubs, as well as internal competitions. In addition, the Club enables members to take part in county matches and competitions. Alongside formal matches, the Club arranges other activities that allow both members and guests to gather, participate in bowls, and enjoy social interaction. The Club hosts a weekly bowls and social event in partnership with The Link Visiting Scheme, a registered charity dedicated to preventing loneliness and isolation among elderly people. This collaboration provides social and

		sporting engagement for participants. Engagement with young people is demonstrated by hosting visits from the local Cub Scout group, offering them the chance to experience the sport of bowls. The Club also opens its facilities to the broader local community, inviting individuals to try bowls. For example, members of a wedding party at St Nicholas Church were able to enjoy a game before the ceremony, with guidance and support from Club volunteers. The Club actively seeks to foster community spirit through collaboration with other local groups. It has developed a partnership with the New Hurst Village Society, which will be organising a fundraising Race Night in conjunction with the Club. Additionally, Club members have arranged a Quiz Night, both events designed to encourage social interaction and strengthen community ties.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission Guidance and consider that the activities listed above demonstrate that the organisation meets the need to provide a public benefit.

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	During the bowling season, the Club has arranged and facilitated over 80 competitive matches against other bowling clubs, as well as a number of internal competitions and providing access to county competitions. These matches have provided the beneficiaries with exercise and social contact with existing and new friends. Additionally, our partnership with The Link Visiting Scheme has provided potentially isolated and lonely people with similar opportunities of outdoor exercise and much needed social contact. During the bowling season there have

been 21 weekly sessions held. Not all of the Link members are able to play bowls, but they still enjoy a cup of tea, a slice of cake and the company of others. The Club has been nominated for a Kings Award for Voluntary Service for this initiative. In these ways, along with our support for younger people, demonstrated by the Cub Scout visits, the Trustees believe that the Club has benefited not only its direct members, but also a wider range of beneficiaries from the surrounding area. The club also takes an active role in community events, such as providing marshals to assist the running of the Wokingham Half Marathon around the village of Hurst and participating in the annual Hurst Village Show. A project to replace the clubhouse, which is over 100 years old and in a poor state of repair is underway, with demolition of the old clubhouse commencing in October 2025. Club volunteers have overseen a design process resulting in local authority planning permission being granted and a building contractor being appointed. Members have raised approximately two thirds of the required finance for this project and grants have been received from a number of charitable trusts. Work continues, in a challenging fundraising environment, to raise the remainder of the funds. This is an important project as without an improved clubhouse the club will find it difficult to maintain its activities.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Income £134,900 Expenditure £29,808 Surplus £105,092 Income includes £114,826 received specifically for the clubhouse development. Of this, £18,055 was expended during the year on preliminary works. The large surplus for the year is due to fundraising for the new clubhouse building project.

		The surplus is made up of £96,771 earmarked for the clubhouse project and £8,321 from normal club operations.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	During the year the club held reserves for two purposes, to facilitate the planning and building of a new clubhouse and for the purchase and maintenance of essential greenkeeping equipment and machinery.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	At year end the reserves stand at Restricted/Designated Funds - New Clubhouse £191,935 - Equipment & machinery £13,000 Unrestricted Funds - Operating funds £13,878 Balance Sheet Total Funds £218,813
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	Not applicable
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Not applicable
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	There are no immediate concerns about the club continuing as a going concern. Future uncertainties would include a drop in member numbers and thus income, a significant rise in costs and a failure to raise the remainder of the funds for a new clubhouse.

Structure, Governance and Management

Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Charity Commission ‘Association’ Model Constitution.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation
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	All Trustees are elected to the post by the Membership. One third of Trustees retire at the end of the year and are eligible for re-election. The Trustees are empowered to co-opt a Trustee if deemed appropriate, so long as this does not breach the maximum allowed in the Constitution.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Hurst Bowling Club
Other name the charity uses	N/A
Registered charity number	1198978
Charity’s principal address	Hurst Bowling Club Rear of the Castle Inn Church Hill Hurst Reading Berkshire RG10 0SJ

Exemptions from Disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

There are no exemptions from disclosure.

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

There are no funds held on behalf of others.

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates Acted if not for whole year	Name of person(or body) entitled to appoint Trustee (if any)
David Edward Main	Chairman	Whole year	Membership
Michael John Rees	Trustee	Whole year	Membership
David Henry Ashley	Trustee	Whole year	Membership
Eric Bowes	Trustee	Whole year	Membership
John Hargreaves Reddihough	Secretary	Whole year	Membership

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INCON 3.797 187 3.￿1 1424 114.826 31. 134.WX) 4.217 1.897 761 2.177 781 2.￿1 128 Ti(¥*Me6 194 .565 43.622 18.055 112.2841 1(6. 8.322 16.2321 .n2 Li￿LITIEs 113.T21 105. 218.813 12.284 113.721 13.878 191.9XS 13.(KK 218.813 76.)SJ 13.IMX) 113.r21 i.e67 18. 189.151 .515 147 218.813 ID) 113.721 113.n1 218.813 ID& Ckbb &3..

' CHARITY COMMISSION Independent examinerfs rnport on the FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts Section A IndePe￿ftt Examins Report Hurst BcAlir¥J CkA) 1198978 •nded (rf any) I retK¥t to th8 In￿ on eXa￿kn of lh8 accounts of the atr)v8 tr￿rity Tnj￿) frff the erKknJ XI 109 12025. Responsibilities and basis of r•port As Ihe trusteas, you are resFonsble l(x the preparation of the llhe Acr). I reFK¥t in resFed of my eX￿)ynat￿n of the Trust's a(uKints carried ￿t un(kn 145 of the 2011 Act * in crying out rny examination. I have all tr18 app1K£b￿ Dweclx)ns given by the Charity Comiss unthr $￿tK)n 1495Xb) of the Act. Independent trhe dwrty's grEw excegjgj £250,IMI arxl l am qualified to examkn)ets statsmert undertake the exarrinath)n by being a 41￿11fied membw of [Insert narre of a￿￿￿ble Isted L¥yJy]l. Delete { l rfnot applicable. I have (XW rry exarrinatTh. l l￿fim) that no material matters have come to rny attent￿n in connectK)n wrth thg examination (other than that of the Chanties ￿ or the accounts did not a(£ord wrth the accounting records; the accounts dKI rmjt ojmply the apPl￿abkn reqwrements concemry the form and O￿tent of xcounts set in the Charities (A(x£Jnts and Rem) Regulati(￿S 2CQ8 other Ihan any requirement that the accounts give a Irue avMI farf view vhlich is not a matter Signed: Name: Valerie Brthiru Relevant pn>lessional qu¥fftalionls> or body FCA IER Oct 2018

01 any): Addros$: 9 o￿tr￿, Low Ey ReaJ)g RG6 3DX Section 8 Disclosure Only Ix)mplele if the examiner needs to h￿hlIght mater￿1 matters of con(Hn gU￿anCe kn examiners). Give horo brief details of any itoms that the disclose. IER Oct 2018