2025-02-28-accounts - Darwen Masters Swimming Club

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 March 2024 Period start date To 28 February 2025 Period end date

Charity name: DARWEN MASTERS SWIMMING CLUB

Charity registration number: 1200203

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The key aims of Darwen Masters Swimming Club are the advancing of health or saving lives and health educaton or sickness preventon. It exists for the promoton of community partcipaton in healthy recreaton, primarily but not exclusively, for the beneft of the inhabitants of Darwen, Blackburn and the surrounding areas by the provision of facilites for swimming and associated actvites.
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	Provision of swimming sessions at an indoor pool, delivered by a coach qualifed to Swim England standards. • Sessions are tailored, dependant on the abilites and ftness of the partcipants. • As a result, members improve their overall health, ftness and wellbeing. • Members are encouraged partcipate in compettve swimming events for adults indoors and in open water, in line with the ethos and values of Swim England • The charity has run on a not-for-proft basis. Charity specifc events that generate a surplus revenue, enable donatons to local/natonal charites.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The charity was granted charitable status with the Charity Commission in 2022. The membership voted to incorporate as a charitable organisaton to refect its values and the club consttuton. These include treatng everyone equally and with due respect for diference of individuals. The club caters for any local adult members of the public (local to Blackburn with Darwen) and its neighbouring communites. It provides opportunites for adults to improve their health ftness and wellbeing in an area of the country with relatvely very poor health outcomes.

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

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Historically, events that were organised by the charity, included compettons which produced a small fnancial surplus. These led to donatons to local/natonal health related charites (i.e., local hospice, Alzheimer’s Society, Macmillan Nurses) as determined by the commitee and the wider membership (as per the consttuton). Since 2020 there have been no additonal events to date.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	The charity is run on a not-for-proft basis and the outcomes for members are beter health and wellbeing. Thus, the charity contributes to the health and wellbeing of the community overall and reduced demands on the NHS.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The commitee and trustees form the main volunteer body.
Other

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	The club has maintained “Stronger Afliaton” status as a Masters Swimming Club within Swim England (SE) the natonal body, meetng all the required regulatory frameworks including risk assessments, coaching standards, Safeguarding and general welfare. • In the year 2024-25 more than 100 coached pool sessions were delivered. • Over tme membership tends varies according to personal circumstances and the 39 years it has been within the range 35 – 58. In 2024-25 it stabilised at around 48. Virtually all swimmers being regular atendees. • As a result, members reported their own improvements and maintenance in health, ftness and wellbeing. • High quality coaching has enthused members and 16 entered Swim England’s local and regional compettve swimming events and 15 members swam in open waters regularly

at events across the north and south of England and in Wales.
• Continued prudent management of resources and increased membership has brought greater financial stability. Reserves are in place and well are managed.

Additional information (optional)

Additional information (optional)	Additional information (optional)	Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Increased participation in the number of members competing.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	The club has maintained is reserves
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The club consolidated its fnancial positon in line with the two-year plan agreed at the 2023 AGM. • In the year to 28 February 2025, the charity made a loss of £1,279.45p. This was a reducton from the previous year, it represented positve progress with the two- year recovery plan agreed by all members. • Costs for 2025-26 were forecast to rise so at the AGM in November 2024 the membership agreed new membership subscriptons, annual fees and a gif aid scheme was agreed with HMRC.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Whilst the charity exists on a not-for-proft basis – for the beneft of the community it serves, the commitee has steered a deliberate course to sustainability, including setng aside reserves which refect advice for the charity sector (3-6 months operatonal costs).
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£6139.29 of reserves are in place and well managed.(Policy available on request)
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	Potental fnancial risks remain managing the balance between outgoings (mostly pool hire/coaching) and increasing membership (balance of the number of members and capacity of the pool). These moved towards a balance by the end of the reportng year. •The commitee had consistently used atendance data, the fnancial accounts and forecasts to inform decisions at regular meetngs. •Monitoring procedures are in place to minimise and mitgate uncertaintes. •There were no issues about the charity contnuing as agoing concern.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

• Membership subscriptions. The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted


A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Rising costs, particularly the inflation of pool-hire charges. Potential loss of memberships through personal financial circumstances leads to reduced income could make the club unviable.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed,royal charter)	Para 1.25	Consttuton agreed with Swim England NW (duefor review 2026)
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisaton (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 commitee (Trustees) are elected by the wider membership, in accordance with the consttuton. The ofcers and the commitee are the de facto Trustees

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
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The charity operates through a consttuton which is endorsed and regulated by Swim England NW.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	Swim England NW is the relevant natonal body for swimming.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Darwen Master Swimming Club
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1200203
Charity’s principal address	C/o 41 Sandringham Drive Brinscall Chorley PR6 8SU

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 (ifany)
Geof Dodd	Trustee	From 30 August 2022	The wider membership
Gerard Johnson	Trustee	From 30 August 2022	The wider membership
Kevin Massey	Welfare Ofcer	From 30 August 2022	The wider membership
John Holland	Chairman	From 8 November 2023	The wider membership
Keith Eagle	Treasurer	From 8 November 2023	The wider membership
Lee Blackburn	Secretary	From 8 November 2023	The wider membership
Tracey Yates	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership
Johnathan Cooney	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership
Anthony Gotweiss	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership
David Henry	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership
Harry Hayden	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership
Craig Blackburn	Trustee	From 13 January 2024	The wider membership

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

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity

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

Details of arrangements for N/A 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 Name Address adviser

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) Kevin Massey Full name(s) Kevin Massey

Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc)

Date

31 August 2025

TREASURER’S ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25

Darwen Master Swimming Club Profit and Loss Account for the year ended


		2023-24		2023-24

14,658.00		10,652.00
0.00		0.00
418.50		471.05
661.00		378.50
144.00		0.00
0.00		0.00
139.29		0.00
0.00	16,020.79	0.00	11,501.55


12,189.00		7,922.50
2,362.50		2,448.75
1,725.60		1,583.95
677.00		554.00
0.00		0.00
0.00		0.00
346.14	17,300.24	411.05	12,920.25


	(1,279.45)		(1,418.70)

The club agreed at the AGM in November 2023 to adopt a strategy to take action to return to breakeven over a two-year period. The 2024-25 year being the first of these two years, and as such a loss was expected
Overall, the club operated at a loss of £1,279.45 in the year
Further action was agreed at the AGM in November 2024 that would achieve a breakeven position across the 2025-26 year. The actions are:
a. A £1/month increase to the monthly subscription
b. The introduction of an annual £25 membership fee
c. Reclaim of 25% Gift Aid on the annual fee
The club started the year with 48 members and ended it with 47. With 10 leavers and 9 joiners in the year. To support this level of swimming, pool hire was at seven lanes for most of the year.
Income in the year increased by £4,501.24.
a. The sustained higher level of membership across the year combined with the £4/month subscription increase resulted in an additional £4,006 of subscriptions
b. Donations of £144 were received from the Xmas party
c. The deposit account holds £6,000, and received interest of £139.29 during the year
The three key expenses remain; pool hire, coaching fees and Swim England affiliation fees.
Expenses increased by £4,361.9 from the previous year. Pool hire cost increase of £4,266.50 accounted for most of this reflecting the sustained higher level of lane hire and a 5% rental increase.
The legacy donation of £500 designated for the development of the club was used during the year to train additional coaches and part fund a banner
Reserves at year end are at five months of operating costs and remained within the Charity Commission guidelines of “up to six months operating costs”. However, to retain this position the actions agreed at the AGM must be implemented
The club fulfilled its responsibilities to the Charity Commission and published audited accounts within the scheduled time limit.

Darwen Master Swimming Club Balance Sheet at year end 28 February 2025

2024-25	2024-25	2023-24 9,267.41 0.00	2023-24 9,267.41 505.40
7,482.56
0.00
	7,482.56	5.40 500.00


0.00
0.00
	0.00	10,180.71 (1,418.70)


	7,482.56		8,762.01


8,762.01
(1,279.45)
	7,482.56		8,762.01

The accounts were independently examined and verified by

Mrs B Hoyle……B Hoyle……………………………..

Dated………5 September 2025……………………………………