2024-09-30-accounts - Cornwall Croquet Club

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Chair & Trustee Report for the 2024 AGM

It has been a busy year for the committee. We felt the loss of our very able and hard-working secretary Debbie. We wish her well on her new life in Surrey. She has been keeping up with her croquet you will be pleased to hear. No secretary has meant more work for the Chair, Treasurer and Jan who has volunteered to be minute secretary. Debbie was also covering the Tournament Secretary Role and this work has fallen in the main to Rhona and the Chair. David Richardson has agreed to take on the role in 2025.

Last year we had a high handicap and a handicap golf croquet team in the league matches. The handicap team got off to a good start with a home win against the league leaders Bude but fared less well in the ensuing matches. We still enjoyed hosting home games and playing on different lawns in away games. We have found our lawns to be of the highest standard. In 2025 we will just have a handicap team as we do not have enough people wanting to play in the high handicap matches and no captain.

Sadly we were unable to play in SW Federation AC matches this year due to depleted numbers of members playing Association Croquet. This is a very sad decline in our successful standing in the Federation as witnessed on the Clubhouse walls. Rod will be leading on recruiting people to play AC.

Club matches and tournaments have been great fun and for new members are a super way to try playing in a competition.

Membership numbers have been steady with new members joining but others leaving due to ill health or moving away. The Committee are wanting a recruitment drive in 2025, as well as Open Days and have a go Sundays a small sub group of the committee will be set up to look at how we give all visitors a positive experience of the Club and croquet. The Outdoor Centre are interested in working with us and we are hoping to take part in Croquet England’s Next Generation project.

Grounds

Our lawns and outfield are amazing and that is thanks to Rhona who works tirelessly, and Richard and Bev and everyone on the mowing rota. Thank you.

During the year we have received many positive comments about our lawns and this is due to the hard work put in by a very small group of member volunteers. The condition of the lawns is just a part of the grounds team responsibility. Nobody could have missed the long hours Richard and Bev spent on the outfield, particularly the area between the gates and lawn 1. Now this has been achieved it will require cutting every few weeks to keep it looking shipshape and, to support the work being done, more and better machinery has been provided.

The other very noticeable improvements are the northern boundary of lawn 3 and the western and northern boundaries of lawn 1. This brings us to the area between lawn 1 and the drive where several Sumac trees were starting to send out new growth in all directions. These have all been dug up and work has started on smoothing out the land in the area in preparation for seeding.

Landscaping is an important aspect of club grounds and the loss of attractive specimens has left a relatively bare area where the Sumacs were. Fortunately, the Woodland Trust has given us some saplings of native trees – Silver Birch, Wild Cherry and Rowan – which we will be planting as soon as the land is ready. Maybe a tree each? Help will be very welcome

for this as well as many of the other jobs that need to be done. There is usually something which anyone can help with, often regardless of physical fitness.

As you know, we have always tried to keep lawns available during the winter months, but this cannot be allowed to stop necessary work for next season. With the colder and shorter days there is still work to be done, so commencing tomorrow (Monday 18[th] November) lawn 2 will be closed and you are asked to use, preferably, lawn 3 and when there are more than 8 players, lawn 1 as well. As time goes on and planned tasks are completed the closed lawn will be changed, so please keep an eye on the club noticeboard and the lawn booking site for when this will be.

Many thanks to all those who have come to help on our working parties and in particular Richard, Bev, Sue, Julie, Cathy, Denise and David.

Insurance

In this economic climate the Club’s insurance cover saw an increase in its renewal costs of some 32%. In addition, the club also purchased two new mowers, which had to be added to the policy.

Going forward it has to be taken into account that additional costs will be incurred due to the purchase of the club. This will include extra cover on the mower shed, main clubhouse/ toilets, paddock, stables, all gates, railings and car park. These are presently insured by the Landlords.

Recently Chris and I carried out an inventory of all the club’s assets. These will have to be discussed at committee level when completion of the purchase takes place. We as a Club will look into all aspects of reducing our cost for 2025/6.

When we are the owners of the grounds there will be a number of repairs that will need to be carried out on the buildings e.g. the roof, windows and doors of the clubhouse which are in a sorry state.

A big thank you to Bill who has had to manage not only the normal finances but also changing the accounts for the CIO, and managing the very welcome influx of funds for the purchase.

Thank you to all members for their contribution to the running of the Club, cleaning, supply purchase, groundworks, caring for visitors and each other, Every action no matter how small helps the Club to be what it is, a friendly welcoming place to learn and play croquet.

Felicity

Chair Cornwall Croquet Club and on behalf of the Trustees

K•ornwaii rOqueT knIUD LIU Capital income and expenditure 2024 Financial year 19 Mar 2024 to 30 Sept8mber 2024 Grants and donations Councillor$ Parish and Town councils Cornwall Council Sl Agnes direct Croquet England Other grants Crowdfunding First erowdfijnder Second Crowdfunder Match funding Other member donations Fundraising events Bingo night Rock and Roll (paid lo crowdftjnderl Coffee moming art sale Club $o¢ial events Gift Aid received Club funds Contribution from club funds Capital release for mower purchase Bank Int8rast rocelved Tolal = £7.150.00 £900.00 £1.750.00 £3.000.00 £500.00 £0.00 £1.000.00 Total = £24,982. 11 £3,234.28 £11,747.83 £10.000 00 £10,303.38 £1.C63.85 Totsl = £650.00 £0.00 £413.85 £450.00 £2.025.00 £2.000.00 Nett= £5,000.00 -£3.OCKJ.00 £314.19 £48.288 53 £10 000 DO £58.288.53 -£366.00 £57.922.53 TOTAL plus Croquet England loan Ilo be fepaiol ess property purchase fees NETT CASH INCOME Banks Closing balance on Capital Account Closing balance on Resop48 Account TOTAL (which balancos) £171 85 £57,750.68 £57,922.53 hecked and agreed Date See notes overleaf

NOTES This is a slatemenl of the "capital. income and expenditure of the new CIO. It is primarily concerned with fundraising for the prospective purchase of the club's grounds. 11 is separated from and in addition to the operating accounts of the dub. It covers the initial, transitional year, prior lo the transfer of the membership into the CIO. There are of course no comparative figures for 2023. NEXT YEAR Assuming the purchase is successful, these accounts will have a different format next year. They will, in particular, need to encompass costs entailed by the ownership of the grounds and buildings, as well as accounting for the club's loans and other liabilities. The first six months of the next financial year may possibty shape up like this.. Cash brought fOard Gift aid claimed Enom)ous donation Grant from Croquet England Purchase of grounds £57.922 53 £3.385.05 £13.000.00 £5.000 00 -£65 000.00 £14.307_58 £2.500.00 £4.341.00 £o.cNJ 6.000.00 -£2.000.00 £13,148 58 Dec 31* "Rent payment by Club Gift aid to be claimed l??) Further granl from Croquet England Repairs to clubhouse elc Countless other expenses Mar310