Nottingham Croquet Club, University Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2PS Charity registration number: 1205537
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statement for the period
From 1[st] January 2024 To 31[st] December 2024
Objectives and Activities
Our objectives as defined in our constitution are
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1) The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Nottingham and the surrounding area by the provision of facilities to participate in the sport of Croquet.
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2) The advancement of the amateur sport of Croquet for the public benefit by the provision of facilities to participate in the sport of Croquet.
To fulfil our objectives as defined in our constitution we:
Provide facilities to support croquet:
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a) We hold a long-term lease on premises within Nottingham’s Highfields Park including nine croquet lawns, and two fine, stone-built (Grade II listed) pavilions.
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b) Our lease provides for the landlord to maintain the lawns, and the club supplements this with some extra funding for particular purposes.
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c) We have arranged temporary access to two further good quality lawns and a pavilion on Lenton Recreation Ground while five of our lawns are under renovation
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d) We have a stock of sufficient tournament-class lawn equipment for simultaneous play on all our nine lawns.
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e) We have a generous stock of high-quality mallets for guests or members who do not possess their own.
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f) The pavilions are well equipped for secure equipment storage, socialising, catering, hospitality for all manner of groups, coaching events, meetings etc.
Activities to support croquet at a local level.
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a) Holding Open days and advertise them.
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b) Offering free taster sessions to the public.
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c) Recruiting new members.
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d) Coaching at all levels starting with beginners’ courses.
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e) Holding Croquet England courses for coaches and referees.
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f) Participating in inter-club play and competitions.
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g) Running a Junior Club.
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h) Offering free “Hoops for health” sessions for groups with limited access to sport.
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i) Hosting social events for community groups.
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j) Hosting corporate events.
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k) Outreach to schools.
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l) Invite girl guides and scout groups for free play sessions.
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m) Ability to be contacted by anyone via the website.
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Activities to support croquet at a regional level.
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a) Nottingham Croquet Club is a member of the Federation of East Midlands Croquet clubs (FEMCC) playing an active part by attending FEMCC meetings.
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b) We encourage members to volunteer as officers of the FEMCC. Currently the treasurer, coaching officer and handicap officer are all members of Nottingham Croquet Club.
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c) We enter teams in several FEMCC League matches.
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d) We permit use of our facilities for FEMCC courses.
Activities to support Croquet at a National level.
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a) Nottingham Croquet Club is an affiliate club of the sport’s governing body, Croquet England (CqE).
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b) All playing members of Nottingham Croquet Club have standard CqE membership paid for by the club unless a junior has opted out from becoming a member.
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c) Nottingham hosts many CqE tournaments and championships with members participating by playing or volunteering to help run them.
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d) Nottingham enters inter-club tournaments organised by CqE.
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e) Ten members sit on various CqE committees, some on more than one.
Activities to support Croquet at an International level.
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a) Nottingham Croquet Club periodically hosts World Croquet Federation (WCF) events, with members participating by playing or volunteering to help run them.
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b) Several members have held WCF committee roles.
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c) Members travel worldwide to play in WCF events.
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d) We sometimes make our facilities available to support WCF teams and events.
Public Benefit
In managing the CIO, the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission regarding public benefit (PB1). In particular, our membership fees are more affordable than comparable sports and clubs, we allow payment by instalments and have reduced rates for benefits recipients, juniors and students; we hold free open days, offer free taster sessions, and free Hoops 4 Health events for disadvantaged groups, and free visits for junior groups such as scouts and guides. Spectating is always free to the public when play is on. Membership and all forms of participation are available irrespective of protected characteristics and we strive to become ever more reflective of the diversity of our catchment area. Croquet is a non-contact and non-energetic sport, making it accessible to a wider range of the community than many sports, while also providing modest exercise, the possibility of developing high skill levels, cognitive challenge, social opportunities and – being played in pleasant parkland surroundings – probably benefits to mental well-being.
Volunteers
Nottingham Croquet Club is run totally by volunteers producing a well-run club for which the committee thanks everyone involved. There is always a need for more volunteers. The main areas for volunteers are:
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Officers and trustees of the club
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Tournament secretary, social secretary, membership secretary
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Professional support – legal, architectural, project management.
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Liaison with landlord (Nottingham City Council).
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Lawns management.
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Communications and publicity, including website and social media.
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Site, pavilion and equipment maintenance.
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Pavilion management – cleaning and supplies.
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Coaching.
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Handicapping.
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Juniors and Schools programs.
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Safeguarding.
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Lawn booking.
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Catering – Providing lunches and afternoon teas for tournaments and events.
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Corporate and social booking.
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Bar management.
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Librarian.
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Clothing supplies.
Achievements and Performance
The assets and liabilities, including the lease, of the former Unincorporated Association were transferred to the Charitable Incorporated Organisation, which has been recognised for Gift Aid by HMRC.
Having completed its work, the winding up committee appointed by the special general meeting held in June 2023 declared the Unincorporated Association to be dissolved on 28th February, 2025.
Early in the season the Federation held a training course for potential coaches where several Nottingham members became club-level coaches. Another course was held to train people specifically to coach juniors; these members are DBS checked and did the NSPCC course on safeguarding resulting in several Croquet England (CqE) licenced U18 coaches. Ian Vincent held a referee course resulting in two members becoming a GC referee.
In January 2024 a SGM was held where the membership voted to relay the East lawns. We are grateful to Alex McIntyre for managing the work and to Nigel Akers and Beatrice McGlen for fundraising. The work started as planned at the end of July and was completed in September, but unfortunately there was some damage due to ill-timed flooding following exceptional rainfall before the seed had germinated. Remedial work is ongoing, and it is therefore unlikely that the new lawns will be available until 2026. The committee secured the use of two unused bowling greens and a pavilion at the nearby Lenton Recreation ground making six lawns available for members and guests to use.
Year 6 from the Lanes School attended during the summer term. A grant provided enough equipment to cater for 30 juniors at a time. The Lanes school hopes to become a croquet academy and will create a croquet lawn within their grounds. We welcome them back this season.
We are pleased to announce that one of our Junior squad has been chosen to represent England, alongside student member Jack Good, in the U21 Championships to be held in Florida during April. We hope they enjoy the experience and wish them luck. Euan Burridge and Jack Good were selected to play for the England team in the Openshaw Shield, the World Golf Croquet Team Championship.
Members enjoyed play in social events with alternate stroke doubles being held regularly.
We hosted several CqE events as usual.
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Club members have been competing for and have won the following national and regional trophies: -
Nottingham - GC Interclub Nottingham - AC Mary Rose Nottingham A - FEMCC Division 2 GC league Nottingham C - FEMCC 30 min GC League Nottingham - FEMCC Short Croquet Nottingham - Short Croquet Interclub James Death - AC Opens James Death - AC Open Doubles James Death - AC Men’s Championships James Death - GC English National Doubles Jenny Clarke - AC Women’s Championship Jenny Clarke - GC Women’s Championship Jenny & Chris Clarke - AC Mixed Doubles Sophie McGlen - AC Selectors Weekend Sarah Butler - AC Peels Ladies Singles Andrew Beaumont - AC Peels Men’s Singles Nicky Newbery & Mike Hedge - AC Peels Mixed Doubles Jack Good - GC National Championship Jack Good - GC First Eight
Members have received the following awards and qualifications from CqE.
CqE medal for outstanding service to croquet
Beatrice McGlen Ian Burridge Apps Memorial Jack Good (most improved male AC player) Spiers Trophy Jack Good (most improved male AC player) CqE Diploma Viv Staley Club Level coach Nigel Akers Ian Draper Tan Gani Mick Owens Kate Packham David Park Veronica Savill
U18 Licensed coach Nigel Akers Martin Beacon Ian Draper Jan Draper Ellen Gee Beatrice McGlen Mick Owens Veronica Savill
Grade 3 Association Coach Chris Clarke Jenny Clarke GC Referee David Park Phil Morgan
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Nottingham Croquet Club accounts
----------- 2024 ------------------- 2023 ---------
| £ | £ | £ |
£ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||||||
| Subscriptions | 27,188 | 25,523 | |||||
| Green Fees (incl CE events and visitor groups) | 9,867 | 10,773 | |||||
| Tournaments - |
Entry Fees | 6,624 | 6,312 | ||||
| (1,126 | 83% | 84 | |||||
| Levies, prizes, trophies | ) | 5,497 | gross |
(1,032) | 5,280 | % | |
| Catering - |
Income | 6,017 | 7,828 | ||||
| (2,320 | 61% | 54 | |||||
| Costs | ) | 3,697 | gross |
(3,627) | 4,200 | % | |
| Bar & teas - |
Takings | 3,726 | 5,043 | ||||
| (1,930 | 48% | 43 | |||||
| Purchases | ) | 1,796 | gross |
(2,879) | 2,164 | % | |
| Non-project grants, | donations & sponsorship | 1,711 | 2,502 | ||||
| Bank interest | 2,021 | 1,057 | |||||
| Other income | 72 | 423 | |||||
| Normal income | £51,850 | £ 51,923 | |||||
| Expenditure | |||||||
| Rent & rates | 19,599 | 17,750 | |||||
| Pavilion & kitchen | 4,533 | 4,924 | |||||
| Energy | 2,261 | 3,750 | |||||
| Equipment | 6,086 | 1,591 | |||||
| Club & match fees | 3,069 | 3,009 | |||||
| Lawns | 752 | 3,553 | |||||
| Insurance | 690 | 631 | |||||
| Gratuities | 750 | 750 | |||||
| Broadband & phone | 330 | 923 | |||||
| Coaching | 508 | 259 | |||||
| Trophies | 817 | 698 | |||||
| Publicity | 449 | 1,465 | |||||
| Other expenses | 2,420 | 651 | |||||
| Irrigation sinking fund | 2,691 | 3,575 | |||||
| Normal expenditure | £44,954 | £ 43,530 | |||||
| Excess of normal income over expenditure | £ 6,896 | £ 8,394 |
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Nottingham Croquet Club accounts
| ----------- 2024 ----------- |
----------- 2024 ----------- |
--------- 2023 --------- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project one-offs | £ | £ |
£ £ | |
| Income | Crowdfunding | 3,668 | ||
| Sport England | 6,000 | |||
| Member pledges | 24,875 | |||
| Gift Aid | 6,758 | |||
| £41,301 | ||||
| Expenditure | Levelling project | 62,123 | ||
| Lenton running costs | 3,930 | |||
| £66,053 |
Net cost of project one-offs
£24,752
| Balance Sheet 31 December | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bank balances | 83,576 | 98,742 |
| Cash held by treasurer | 184 | 101 |
| Rent in advance | 5,000 | 4,500 |
| Other assets | 1,492 | 1,155 |
| Payables | (120) | (200) |
| Ball replacement fund | (3,500) | (2,500) |
| Irrigation sinking fund | (22,855) | (20,164) |
| Net Assets 31 December | £63,778 | £ 81,634 |
| Net Assets previous 31 December | 81,634 | 73,240 |
| Surplus from normal operations | 6,896 | 8,394 |
| Net cost of project one-offs | (24,752) | - |
| Net Assets 31 December | £63,778 | £ 81,634 |
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Treasurer's Report
by John Davis
2024 has been a successful but quite complicated year for the club. We have maintained club
membership at r 200, following substantial increases in membership over recent years and we have converted from a CASC to a CIO which necessitated running two sets of bank accounts until September as well as some extra costs linked to the legal requirements of the change (about £1700). We also embarked on improving lawns 1-5, the work starting at the end of July after we held the Annual Tournament in July. Again, these accounts are presented with a number of notes to explain some of the exceptional items. The accounts show a positive income on normal activities benefitting from a reduction in energy and phone (WiFi) costs from new suppliers. Our aim is to have reserves equivalent to at least 18 months operation of the club and we have managed to maintain that position in 2024. As last year I am very grateful to Roger Berkeley for his continued support and advice.
Notes
1) Lawns costs are now listed separately from equipment.
2) As forecast last year, energy and broadband costs are lower in 2024 than 2023.
3) The East Lawns Improvement costs and fund raising are listed separately. We are yet to receive promised grants from CqE (£5000) and FCC (£20000). When these are received we will, thanks to the tremendous generosity of several club members (about £31500), breakeven on the project leaving club funds available for future projects and the club Centenary. The costs of improving the lawns and the facilities at Lenton have been included in these project costs.
4) The donation from Action Funder (£1408 for the defibrillator) was received in 2023 but the defibrillator was paid for in 2024 (£2779). This needs to be taken into account when comparing the normal activity accounts for the two years.
Examiner's Report
by Peter Death
I report on my examination of the Club Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The Treasurer is responsible for the preparation of the Accounts on behalf of the Committee. It is my responsibility to examine the Accounts and to state whether any matters of concern have come to my attention. My examination has included a review of the accounting records kept by the Treasurer and a comparison of these Accounts with those records.
In my opinion appropriate accounting records have been kept; the Accounts agree with the underlying accounting records; and no matter of concern has come to my attention.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Nottingham Croquet Club a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered as a Charity in England and Wales by the Charity Commission on 2nd November 2023 with number - 1205537, with this constitution ( https://nottinghamcroquet.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2024/01/NCC_CIO_Constitution_v1.3_dated.pdf ) and rules ( - https://nottinghamcroquet.org.uk/wp content/uploads/2024/02/cio_rules_v1.0.pdf ) enacted under it.
The President, Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and at least one Committee Member are elected annually at the A.G.M. All members other than juniors, guardians, social and temporary members of the Club are eligible for election to any of these posts, except that committee members who have retired by rotation are not eligible for re-election for one year. Nominations, proposed and seconded by two members and with the agreement of the person nominated, should reach the Hon Secretary two weeks before the AGM.
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Dr I. G. Vincent President. Dr R. Edlin-White Chairman Mr E.J. Davis Treasurer Mrs M.E. Gee Hon Secretary Mrs V. Savill Trustee re-elected 24[th] March, 2024 Mr J. Filsak Trustee re-appointed 3[rd] April, 2024 Mr O. Hallam Trustee re-elected 24[th] March, 2024 Dr W. Gee Trustee re-elected 24th March, 2024 Mr R. Watson Trustee re-elected 24th March, 2024, retired 13th January, 2025
Exemptions from disclosure
None.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) M.E. Gee
Full name(s) Margaret Ellen Gee
Position (e.g. Secretary, Hon Secretary Chair, etc)
Date 25th February 2025
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