NWFW/AGM/P1/26
AGM 2026 TRUSTEES REPORT
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025
[Approved at the AGM held on 11[th] March 2026]
OBJECTIVES
Neuro Walking Football Worcestershire is a registered charity with the following objects:
“ Objects
-
1) The objects of the CIO are:
-
For the public benefit, to promote and protect the physical and mental health of adults with Parkinson's or other Neurological Conditions, primarily by playing walking football and other associated activities.
-
For the public benefit, to relieve the needs of those with Parkinson's or other Neurological Conditions and their families/carers through providing opportunities to access mutual support/advice and share experiences.
-
2) The main area of activity of the CIO is Worcestershire.
-
3) Nothing in this Constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for purposes which are not charitable in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.”
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The charity is a walking football club for people (both men and women) living with Parkinson’s Disease or other neurological conditions. The background to the establishment of the Club is explained in the Report of the Trustees for the Calendar Year 2024. The club was registered as a CIO on 10[th] June 2024. The club is also registered with HMRC for Gift Aid and with Malvern Hills District Council for Small Society Lotteries. The club plays using the team name Movers and Shakers FC, a name which it adopted early in 2022.
The club is affiliated to the Worcestershire Football Association (the main benefits of which are club and officers liability and players personal injury insurance) and is also affiliated to the Walking Football Association (which also provides a modest level of personal injury insurance).
The club meets weekly at Claines Lane in Worcester for training. At the request of members play has been extended from one hour to an hour and a half. This is followed by a networking hour where members and their carers, spouses or partners can exchange information, experiences or advice. The club arranges periodic friendly matches with other impairment walking football teams in the region.
1 Trustees Report for the AGM 2026 NWFW/P1/26
Since its establishment in 2022 the club has sent a team annually to the Cure Parkinson’s Cup at St Georges Park and The Peoples Ford Walking Football Festival in Glasgow. In 2025 it also participated in the Ray Kennedy Cup. The Club also has occasional games (home or away) with other local walking football clubs for players with impairments. The Club also hosted an informal tournament of its own with other local clubs in memoriam of a player who had died.
In organising its activities, the trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative neurological condition which impacts significantly on the wellbeing of those living with this condition. It affects movement and balance and can have a wide range of other symptoms. Medical treatments impact only on symptoms, but exercise is the only modality which can influence the progression of the disease and have a greater impact on quality of life. Players report the importance of regular play and fellowship in maintaining wellbeing. Parkinson’s is also frequently associated with depression because of the impact of the condition on ordinary activities and the isolation which it can engender. The club provides an environment which can counter isolation and encourage positive thinking.
NHS provision for Parkinson’s Disease is variable and often poor. The ability to exchange experiences and receive advice from professionals through the Club’s networking activities is extremely valuable and has a positive impact on members quality of life. It is likely also to have a positive impact upon the demand for publicly funded provision.
The Club took part in 2023 in a research project by Robert Gordon University which aimed to assess the Club’s impact. It had been hoped that the report of this project would be published in 2025. Regrettably that has not been the case owing to internal changes at the university and it now appears unlikely that the project will result in any publication.
One of the Club’s values is inclusivity. Membership does not depend upon experience or ability and the Club currently has members whose previous experience of playing football ranges from none at all to playing at professional or semi-professional level. This can present issues relating to the safety of play and this is something to which the Club has a special regard. The players are observed by the coach and the Club physio/welfare officer during play and the welfare of members is reviewed at each committee meeting.
In order to strengthen the relationship between members and between spouses and partners, social events are organised, some of which are also used for fundraising. These events do not involve the use of charity funds.
The club does not measure success by its competitive achievements. Nonetheless it is gratifying that at The People’s Ford Walking Football Festival in Glasgow in November 2025, the team fielded by the Club achieved third place, an improvement on its fourth place the previous year.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT and MANAGEMENT
The CIO is managed by a committee of trustees who are appointed at the AGM or between general meetings by the committee in accordance with the CIO Constitution. The trustees at the date of the AGM were Simon Forrest (chairman), Chris Pearce (Secretary and Treasurer), Jo Eastough (Welfare Officer), Helen Ayling, Robert Pearce and Christopher Marshall. During the course of 2025 the trustees co-opted Mike Palmer, the Club’s Coach, to the committee of trustees. These trustees remained in office until the AGM in March 2026.
2 Trustees Report for the AGM 2026 NWFW/P1/26
Chris Pearce and Robert Pearce are connected persons as are Simon Forrest and Joanna Eastough. Joanna Eastough has a contract for the provision of specialist physiotherapy services to the Club. This contract is in writing, is reviewed annually, and complies with Charity Commission guidance relating to payments to trustees or connected persons. None of the trustees claimed expenses in 2025 for attendance at meetings, but some trustees received reimbursement for payments made to third parties to acquire goods or services on behalf of the Club. In making decisions the trustees have regard to Charity Commission guidance.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The club’s main expenses are pitch and community room hire, physiotherapist services, and the cost of travel to major tournaments. The extension of playing time has had a significant impact on the Club’s expenses increasing the cost of facilities hire and professional fees. The Club’s fund raising activities raised less money in 2025 than in 2024 and subscription income dropped over the course of the year as some players were obliged to leave the Club because of the worsening of their condition. The Club’s greatest financial risk is that it might be unable to recruit new members to replace those leaving.
The club’s policy continues to be to keep subscriptions at the lowest level compatible with sound financial management: meeting current and anticipated future costs and establishing a reserve sufficient to meet between six- and twelve-months anticipated expenditure. Because the Club has established a sufficient reserve no increase in subscriptions is planned for the first part of 2026, but the Club is aware that this decision will need to be reviewed during the course of the year as actual income and expenditure becomes apparent.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Neuro Walking Football Worcestershire is registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration no: 1208593. Address: Flat 18, Crellin House, 33 Priory Road, Malvern, WR14 3DR.
3 Trustees Report for the AGM 2026 NWFW/P1/26
NWFW/AGM/P2/26
FINANCIAL OUTCOME 2025 AND BUDGET 2026
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts: | |||
| Membershipfees | 8836 | 8836 | |
| Donations(Gift Aided) | 150 | 150 | |
| Donations(Not Gift Aided) | 500 | 500 | |
| Fundraising | 100 | 100 | |
| Contribution to activities | 569 | 569 | |
| Total | 9086 | 1069 | 10155 |
| Payments: | |||
| Afiliation fees: | |||
| Worcestershire FA | -250 | -250 | |
| WalkingFA | -80 | -80 | |
| Facilities hire | -2827 | -2827 | |
| Professional fees and expenses: | |||
| Physio | -3075 | -3075 | |
| Referee | 0 | 0 | |
| Training | -105 | -105 | |
| Equipment and kit | -469 | -515 | -984 |
| Ofice costs | -67 | -67 | |
| Refreshments | -403 | -403 | |
| Attendance at Tournaments: | |||
| Cure Parkinson's Cup | -659 | -659 | |
| Glasgow Festival | -1995 | -1995 | |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Xmas dinner | -254 | -407 | -661 |
| Gift for Louise | -140 | -140 | |
| Other | -66 | -7 | -73 |
| Total | -10250 | -1069 | -11319 |
NWFW/AGM/P2/26
FINANCIAL OUTCOME 2025 AND BUDGET 2026
| TOTAL BALANCE OF RECEIPT & PAYMENTS -1164 0 -1164 BANK BALANCE as at 31st December 2025 8466.89 CASH as at 31st December 2025 40.48 TOTAL CLUB FUNDS as at 31st December 2025 8507.37 215.00 of whichDESIGNATED BURSARY FUND |
TOTAL BALANCE OF RECEIPT & PAYMENTS -1164 0 -1164 BANK BALANCE as at 31st December 2025 8466.89 CASH as at 31st December 2025 40.48 TOTAL CLUB FUNDS as at 31st December 2025 8507.37 215.00 of whichDESIGNATED BURSARY FUND |
-1164 | 0 | -1164 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BANK BALANCE as at 31st December 2025 | 8466.89 | |||
| CASH as at 31st December 2025 | 40.48 | |||
| TOTAL CLUB FUNDS as at 31st December 202 | 5 | 8507.37 | ||
| of whichDESIGNATED BURSARY FUND | 215.00 |