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 2025 To 31[st] December 2025
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) 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 schools, 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
Early in the season a training course for coaches was held where several Nottingham members became club level coaches.
Remedial work on the newly laid East Lawns has been ongoing during 2025, but they will be available for the 2026 season.
The lack of the five East lawns limited the number of lawns available for members to play on. The committee kept the two lawns at Lenton giving members six lawns to play on. Inter club and Federation matches that should have been held at Nottingham were held at the opposition’s clubs, as many CqE tournaments that could be moved to other clubs were and corporate visits were turned down except for Experian. This ensured members had many playing hours.
Work with year 6 from the Lanes School continued not on lawns at the club but at a local tennis club due to the expense of getting 90 children to the club. This involved a lot of volunteer effort getting equipment to the tennis club and coaching 90 children. Ian Draper is in talks with the headmistress for the 2026 season.
We also had in early May year 3 from several schools visit the club for a taster session. Great fun was had by all, and they will revisit in May 2026.
Work began on achieving CqE Gold Mark Accreditation and hopefully we will achieve it in 2026.
Members enjoyed play in social events with alternate stroke doubles being held regularly. Tuesdays became a roll up and play day used by many members.
We are pleased to announce that one of our junior squad played for England, alongside student member Jack Good, in the U21 Championships held in Florida during April. Our junior member also represented England in the European U21 Championships giving him experience of international play.
We hosted several CqE events as usual.
Club members have been competing for and have won the following national and regional trophies: -
Nottingham . Euan Burridge
- Short Croquet Interclub - GC European Champion
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Omied Hallam - AC Opens Championships singles plate James Death - AC Mens Championship James Death - AC Doubles Championship Jenny Clarke - AC Women’s Championship Jack Good - The Ascot Cup Mike Hedge - Treasurers Tankard Rick Harding - Trevor Williams Cup Tim Ash - The Peel Memorial Handicap Singles for Men. Sarah Butler - The Peel Memorial Handicap Singles for Women. Lorna and Tom Dewar - The Peel Memorial Mixed Handicap Doubles Declan MacPhee - U18 Schools Clubs and Junior Championship Alfie Baldwin - U14 Schools Clubs and Junior Championship Millie Draper - U11 Schools Clubs and Junior Championship
Members have received the following awards and qualifications from CqE.
CqE Diploma Cathy Turski Ellen Gee Merit awards AC Gold Euan Burridge Clive Goode Mike Hedge AC Siler Andy Sherwood AC Bronze Peggy Dellar Bruce Scriver Roger Steeper GC Diamond James Death Club Level coach Sarah Butler Andrew Beaumont Tom Dewar Andy Dixon Bruce Scriver Roger Steeper
U18 Licensed coach Sarah Butler
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Nottingham Croquet Club accounts
----------- 2025 ------------------- 2024 ---------
| £ | £ | £ |
£ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | ||||||
| Subscriptions | 27,908 | 27,188 | ||||
| Green Fees (incl CE events and visitor groups) | 4,399 | 9,867 | ||||
| Tournaments - |
Entry Fees | 5,151 | 6,624 | |||
| 82% | ||||||
| Levies, prizes, trophies | (942) | 4,210 | gross |
(1,126) | 5,497_83%_ | |
| Catering - |
Income | 4,935 | 6,017 | |||
| 54% | ||||||
| Costs | (2,280) | 2,655 | gross |
(2,320) | 3,697_61%_ | |
| Bar & teas - |
Takings | 2,580 | 3,726 | |||
| 26% | ||||||
| Purchases | (1,922) | 658 | gross |
(1,930) | 1,796_48%_ | |
| Non-project grants, | donations & sponsorship | 650 | 1,711 | |||
| Bank interest | 2,009 | 2,021 | ||||
| Other income | 18 | 72 | ||||
| Normal income | £42,507 | £51,850 | ||||
| Expenditure | ||||||
| Rent & rates | 19,469 | 19,599 | ||||
| Pavilion & kitchen | 2,559 | 4,533 | ||||
| Energy | 2,435 | 2,261 | ||||
| Equipment | 1,070 | 6,086 | ||||
| Club & match fees | 3,005 | 3,069 | ||||
| Lawns | 5,113 | 752 | ||||
| Insurance | 698 | 690 | ||||
| Gratuities | 750 | 750 | ||||
| Broadband & phone | 367 | 330 | ||||
| Coaching | 406 | 508 | ||||
| Trophies | 794 | 817 | ||||
| Publicity | 536 | 449 | ||||
| Other expenses | 266 | 2,420 | ||||
| Irrigation sinking fund | 2,548 | 2,691 | ||||
| Normal expenditure | £40,016 | £44,954 | ||||
| Excess of normal income over expenditure | £2,491 | £6,896 |
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Nottingham Croquet Club Accounts
| ----------- 2025 ----------- | ----------- 2025 ----------- | --------- 2024 | --------- 2024 | --------- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project one-offs | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income Crowdfunding |
- | 3,668 | |||
| FCC and CqE | 25,471 | 6,000 | |||
| Member pledges | - | 24,875 | |||
| Gift Aid | - | 6,758 | |||
| £25,471 | £ 41,301 | ||||
| Expenditure Levelling project |
9,864 | 62,123 | |||
| Lenton running costs | 2,720 | 3,930 | |||
| £12,584 | £ 66,053 | ||||
| - | |||||
| Net cost of project one-offs | £12,887 | £ 24,752 | |||
| Balance Sheet 31 December | |||||
| Bank balances | 102,988 | 83,576 | |||
| Cash held by treasurer | 4 | 184 | |||
| Rent in advance | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||
| Other assets | 1,187 | 1,492 | |||
| Payables | (120) | (120) | |||
| Ball replacement fund | (4,500) | (3,500) | |||
| Irrigation sinking fund | (25,403) | (22,855) | |||
| Net Assets 31 December | £79,156 | £ 63,778 | |||
| Net Assets previous 31 December | 63,778 | 81,634 | |||
| Surplus from normal operations | 2,491 | 6,896 | |||
| Net cost of project one-offs | 12,887 | (24,752) | |||
| Net Assets 31 December | £79,156 | £ 63,778 |
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Treasurer's Report
by John Davis
2025 has been a successful year for the club. We have maintained club membership at about 200, following substantial increases in membership over recent years. We completed work on improving lawns 1-5, the work having starting at the end of July 2024. The lawns were not available for play for the whole season which led to reductions in tournament and corporate hosting income. We continued to have access to the lawns at Lenton which created additional expenses for the club. 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 despite the reduced income. 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 2025. As last year I am very grateful to Roger Berkeley for his continued support and advice.
Notes
1) Energy and broadband costs have risen with inflation but are still lower than 2023.
2) The East Lawns Improvement costs and fund raising are listed separately. We have now received the grants from CqE (£5000) and FCC (£20000). As most of the costs were incurred in 2024, 2025 project costs show a positive balance of £12,887 compared to a negative balance of £24,752 last year. This means we had to use £12,000 of club funds. This is roughly matched by the operating surplus over the two years and leaves 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.
Examiner's Report
by Peter Death
I report on my examination of the Club Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025.
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. Mr O. Hallam Chairman elected 29[th] March 2025 Mr E.J. Davis Treasurer Mrs M.E. Gee Hon Secretary Mr J. Filsak Trustee re-appointed 29[th] March 2025 Dr R. Edlin-White Trustee appointed 29[th] March 2025 Mr. A. McIntyre Trustee appointed 29[th] March 2025 Mrs V. Staley Trustee appointed 29[th] March 2025 Dr W. Gee Trustee re-elected 29[th] March 2025 Dr A.C Peterson Trustee elected 29[th] March 2025 Mrs L. Dewar Trustee elected 29[th] March 2025 Mr B. Scriver Trustee elected 29[th] March 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
Hon Secretary
Position (e.g. Secretary, Chair, etc)
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Date 1st February 2026