Taunton Canoe Club – Trustees Report January 2026
## **TRUSTEES REPORT 2024-25 Formal Report to the Charities Commission**
This report to the Charities Commission was prepared by the Club’s Trustees (named below) for the period 1[st] July 2024 to 30[th] June 2025. This report will be circulated to members with 2024/25 accounts for approval at the Club’s AGM in February 2026.
## **CHARITY NAME, REGISTRATION NUMBER, ADDRESS AND TRUSTEE NAMES**
Taunton Canoe Club is a “Charitable Incorporated Organisation” (CIO). Our Charity number is 1208692. We were registered with the Charities Commission on 17[th] June 2024.
The CIO trustees are Martin Elston, Russell Blackmore, Simon Dawes and Michael Southway. The Club’s registered address is Flat 2, 10 HILARY ROAD, TAUNTON, TA1 5BH
## **STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT, AND HOW TRUSTEES ARE RECRUITED**
The CIO Trustees meet annually and as required. Trustees are appointed by a decision of members at the Club AGM. At the pending AGM, one trustee must retire, and we have an opportunity to appoint up to five trustees. Any club member is welcome to nominate themselves, at least fourteen days before the AGM, as a CIO Trustee.
Club Management Committee: The CIO Trustees delegate power to a management committee to coordinate the operational management of the Club.
The Management Committee are responsible for ensuring club operations comply with policy and best practice. The CIO Trustees appoint the key management committee roles: Club Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Equipment Officer, Safety Officer, Welfare Officer and invite the management committee to fill other key roles necessary for effective management.
Our AGM provides the formal opportunity to approve members of the management committee for 2026. Committee membership is open to all Club members. Members wishing to put their names forward to serve on the management committee or challenge the nominations proposed should submit their names in writing to the Club Secretary at least one week before the AGM. The Club management committee meets quarterly. Meetings take place face-to-face and virtually. Trustees are invited to attend the monthly committee meetings, to ensure the club is being run effectively and that all parts of the club’s interest groups are being supported.
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Taunton Canoe Club – Trustees Report January 2026
The trustees can report that they are satisfied that the club is being run well, and that sufficient funding is in place to support its operation for the next operating year.
The proposed 2026 management committee are Martin Elston (Chair), Russell Blackmore (Treasurer), Leonie Merrifield (Secretary and Welfare Officer), Steve Chattell (Equipment Officer), Liz Murnaghan (Safety Officer), Clive Merrifield (Event Safety), Craig Chandler and Ian Sedgbeer.
## **ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES**
The Club’s charitable objective is ‘the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Taunton and the surrounding area by the provision of facilities for paddlesports including canoeing and kayaking’.
## **Priorities in 2024/25**
Our main priorities in 2024/25 were
- Completing the process of renewing the lease with Somerset Council
- Providing clarity on Club usage and future demands, as part of the Taunton Council local area development plan for the river and surrounding
- improving the use of the weekly pool session
## **Achievements**
We are pleased to report that:
- The heads of terms for the lease renewal have been agreed with the council. We are currently just waiting for the final draft to be overseen by our solicitors before we can sign for another 30 years.
- A members’ handbook was compiled that explains the organisation and arrangements to new and current members.
- 5 members being coached for the Sea Kayak award (3[rd] /4[th] August)
- Clubhouse hired to Somerset Adventurers for paddle sport courses
- Katie Shattock competing in the U23 World Championship Slalom Cross Event in Liptovsky, Slovakia
- TCC members attended canoe slalom events at Symonds Yat, Llandysul, Sheppterton, Lee Valley
- Liz Murnaghan winning two silver medals for GB outrigger canoe association v6 sprints Paddlesports Ladies 2
## **Priorities for 2025/26**
Our main priorities for next year are
- Complete the lease renewal.
- Increase new membership activities and numbers
- Increase instructor numbers
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Taunton Canoe Club – Trustees Report January 2026
- Consider the layout and support to the buildings use, to ensure its space and facilities adequately meet the needs for current and future member events and growth
- Addition of defibrillator for both the club site (for public access when the club is in use) and to support club events and trips/expeditions.
- CPR training and defibrillator training for all interested Club members
- Update outdoor safety training for those members currently certificated
## **Activity Report**
The club meets weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings throughout the year. Tuesday evening sessions are primarily for adult members wishing to paddle in peer led groups on the adjacent River Tone.
Youth paddlers are encouraged to paddle on Wednesday evenings, when sessions are supervised by coaches and assistants. Our youth paddlers range from 8years to 18years. The coaches encourage members to experience a range of disciplines such as slalom, racing, sea kayaking, river running and canoe polo. Hence, the club holds a selection of entry level boats and kit for a range of disciplines.
There is a weekly pool session every Thursday evening. The session is mainly organised for canoe polo, but once in every 4 weeks, a coaching and rolling session is offered. This is an ideal opportunity for members to practice rolls and rescues etc.
During canoe polo, teams play friendly matches of mixed ability teams.
The management committee regularly review the pool use and make organisational changes if necessary.
Every month, there is a friendly competition organised for Tuesday and Wednesday paddlers. In winter, there is a series of 2km time trials and in summer, a mini slalom series is held.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING PUBLIC BENEFITS**
In 2024/25 there have been a variety of extra paddling activities organised by volunteering members. Trips:
- Litter picks carried out by youth paddlers as part of the Big Paddle Cleanup Campaign
- Winters Farm, Exmoor – a fun weekend of family paddling with camping and bbq. A small lake, big enough to set up a slalom course and a canoe polo pitch. The pond was cleaned by members of the TCC team
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Taunton Canoe Club – Trustees Report January 2026
- Youth members enjoyed a dedicated youth canoe polo evening on Wednesdays on the river and were joined by a youth team from Queens College
- A few members went to Nepal and spent a week paddling the Karnali river
- Jurassic Coast paddle led by Nigel
- Various peer paddles organised by Somerset Sea Monkeys
- Wye Trip peer paddle
- Shetland Sea Kayaking peer trip
- South Devon Sea Kayaking trips
- Southwest Sea Kayak meet at St Just, Cornwall
## Competitions:
- Katie Shattock competed for GB in U23 World Championship Slalom Cross event in Liptovsky, Slovakia
- Liz Murnaghan participated in National Marathon Championships
- A polo team entered the Bude RNLI Fundraising Competition – Exeter University players helped us to submit a full team
- TCC won the Pete Collins Trophy back from Wellington KC
- TCC members competed in various slalom events at Symonds Yat, Llandysul, Shepperton and Lee Valley
## Training:
- Nigel Woodall delivered sea kayak award to 5 aspiring sea kayak members over a weekend from Charmouth.
- Beginners course with 5 new club members
## **Public Benefit**
Trustees have full regard for the charity commission guidance on public benefit.
Our membership is inclusive and open to all members of the public. There is a concessionary membership rate that the committee can agree to offer to anyone that finds the financial cost of membership a barrier to joining the club.
Our pricing structure has a reduced membership fee for additional family members (£95 to £55). The aim is to make family membership affordable.
The cost of membership is kept as low as possible. Increases in membership are only considered when costs are expected to rise.
Several litter picks were arranged to look after the environment we regularly use. Details were added to the PaddleUK, Big Paddle Cleanup Campaign.
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Taunton Canoe Club – Trustees Report January 2026
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The review is based on the annual accounts to 30[th] June 2025.
The total income for the year was £11,215
The main source of income came from membership fees - £4221. Member numbers were similar to the year before. 58 members at the year end.
Income from the pool fees totalled £4158. This was a £689 loss against the pool hire charges. The committee consider this an acceptable loss and that an element of every membership fee should guarantee that there is always a pool session available.
There is an additional income of £975 from Building Hire. Somerset Adventures use the clubhouse to deliver courses. Several members took the opportunity to benefit from reduced fees and reduced travel that is offered.
The main spend in the year was Clarke Willmott solicitors for the new lease agreement at £2230. Building & Equipment Insurance was significantly reduced from £1792 to £699. The energy spend was £350. A large saving was made on our energy costs after changing provider.
The total cost for running the club for the period was £10,089.06
For the period, income over expenditure was £1125.63
The club has £22,055.36 carried forward to 2025/2026.
The club ended the year with £6,119.70 in an interest savings account with Lloyds Bank and £10,618.35 in a higher interest 1 Year Bond.
## **FUNDS HELD AS A CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE**
There are no funds currently held by a custodian trustee.
Mike Southway Trustee
Simon Dawes Trustee
5
|POSTAGE AND STATIONERY
SWIMMING POOL HIRE
RENT FOR BOAT HOUSE SITE
RATES FOR BOAT HOUSE
TELEPHONE BILL
WATER RATES
ELECTRICITY BILLS
BUILDING & EQUIPMENT INSURANCE
CANOE ENGLAND CLUB AFFILIATION
DOMAIN RENEWAL
TOILET ROLLS
TEA, MILK BISCUITS, COFFEE AND DRINKING CHOCOLATE
MOUSE TRAPS AND POISON
CSAR FIRE LIMITED - FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT
TROPHY ENGRAVING
WINTERS FARM HIRE FEE
FUEL FOR POLO BOAT PICK UP LONDON
SUMUP FEES
MEMBER MOJO MEMBERSHIP
CHARCOAL - WINTERS FARM
AGM SUNDRIES
LLANDYSUL ACCOMMODATION & FOOD
SAFETY LIGHT BATTERIES
XMAS DO - CHRISTMAS BUFFET
CLARKE WILLMOTT - NEW LEASE AGREEMENT
WICKES - MOUSE POISON
BUDE LIFEBOAT DAY - CANOE POLO TOURNAMENT
CANOE POLO SW LEAGUE FEES
CLUB FASHION ITEMS - TEE SHIRTS ETC
KEEP CLEAR SIGNS
EGM EXPENCES|OUT
2024 / 2025
10.94
###
537.31
-
61.92
185.35
350.04
698.72
202.40
31.18
-
12.55
-
-
137.55
-
-
74.31
95.00
12.00
-
-
10.49
500.00
###
32.00
60.00
-
-
-
-
###|2023 / 2024
73.89
###
230.84
-
61.92
223.43
891.25
###
231.00
-
7.49
13.40
26.46
360.00
13.95
150.00
100.00
88.18
75.00
-
9.19
599.75
-
-
-
-
60.00
450.00
641.56
7.18
6.90
###|
|---|---|---|
|TAUNTON CANOE CLUB ACCOUNTS
MEMBERSHIP FEES FULLY PAID CASH
MEMBERSHIP FEES FULLY PAID DIRECT DEBIT
MEMBERSHIP FEES DIRECT DEBIT
USE OF SWIMMING POOL - CASH
USE OF SWIMMING POOL - DIRECT DEBIT
EASY FUND RAISING
TASTER OPEN SESSIONS
BUILDING SOCIETY INTEREST 2023 & 2024
LLOYDS BANK CONTINGENCY SAVINGS ACCOUNT INTEREST
LLOYDS BANK CONTINGENCY DEPOSIT ACCOUNT INTEREST
BEGINNERS COURSE
WINTERS FARM SLALOM / WEEKEND
BUDE LIFE BOAT DAY - CANOE POLO - RETURNED DEPOSITS
LLANDYSUL WEEKEND
DONATIONS FOR GIFT AID CLAIMS
XMAS DO
SALE OF FASHION ITEMS
HIRE OF BUILDING
POLO LEAGUE FEES
TOTAL
LESS EXPENDITURE
INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE
TRANSFERRED FROM LLOYDS BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT
LESS CONTINGENCY SAVINGS ACCOUNT LLOYDS BANK
LLOYDS BANK SAVINGS BOND CAPITAL AND INTEREST ON MATURITY
LESS CONTINGENCY DEPOSIT ACCOUNT LLOYDS BANK
NET INCOME AFTER TRANSFERS
LESS TRANSFER TO FUNDS LISTED BELOW
LESS INTREST TRANSFERRED TO CONTINGENCY SAVINGS FUNDS
PLUS TRANSFER FROM FUND BELOW
PLUS BROUGHT FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS PERIOD
INCOME BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR
BREAKDOWN OF CARRIED FORWARD BALANCE.
DAY TO DAY ACCOUNT
BUILDING ACCOUNT (SEE APPENDIX 1)
EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT (SEE APPENDIX 2)
U18 COMPETITION FUND (SEE APPENDIX 3)
COACHING FUND (SEE APPENDIX 4)
CONTINGENCY SAVINGS ACCOUNT- LLOYDS BANK
CONTINGENCY DEPOSIT ACCOUNT - LLOYDS BANK
BALANCE MADE UP OF; SANTANDER
LLOYDS BANK
CASH
SAVINGS ACCOUNT - LLOYDS BANK
DEPOSIT ACCOUNT - LLOYDS BANK|IN
2024 / 2025
97.50
3,082.50
1,041.04
92.50
4,065.80
188.39
112.00
38.31
61.05
268.35
625.00
11.00
52.50
-
-
503.75
-
975.00
-
11,214.69
10,089.06
1,125.63
-
-
10,350.96
-10,350.00
1,126.59
- 551.42
-329.40
245.77
-
3,176.54
3,422.31
3,422.31
200.00
1,000.00
200.00
495.00
6,119.70
10,618.35
22,055.36
2,793.77
2,496.10
27.44
6,119.70
10,618.35
22,055.36|2023 / 2024
99.50
4,093.00
1,068.29
127.00
4,343.50
128.94
-
-
58.65
-
-
150.92
58.98
600.00
-
-
590.68
1,050.00
375.00
12,744.46
10,998.62
1,745.84
1,000.00
- 7,000.00
-
-10,000.00
-14,254.16
- 1,993.71
-58.65
-16,306.52
2,036.00
17,447.06
3,176.54
3,176.54
200.00
1,000.00
200.00
515.00
6,058.65
10,000.00
21,150.19
2,755.46
2,222.52
113.56
6,058.65
10,000.00
21,150.19|
|---|---|---|
|MEMBERS AT YEAR END
DIFFERENCE
2024 / 2025
FULLY PAID CASH
1
DIRECT DEBIT FULLY PAID
44
DIRECT DEBIT MONTHLY
13
58
BUILDING ACCOUNT (APPENDIX 1)
BROUGHT FORWARD
TRANSFERRED FROM MAIN ACCOUNT
TOTAL
GRUNDFOS SHOWER PUMP 3.0 BAR
ELECTRICAL SPARES
GUTTER FITTINGS
CJG FIRE AND SECURITY CHECK & REPORT
LUXSA LIFGTING LTD - TUBE STARTERS * 10
DOOR CATCHES AND HANDLE - SCREWFIX
SAFETY SIGNS
TOTAL
INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE
EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT (APPENDIX 2)
BROUGHT FORWARD
SALE OF 3 KAYAKS
SALE OF POLO BOATS FROM LONDON
TAUNTON TOWN COUNCIL GRANT
TRANSFERRED FROM MAIN ACCOUNT
TOTAL
3 * SMALL POLO DECKS - PEAK PADDLE SPORTS
4 * SMALL HI VIZ VESTS
4 * L.E.D. LIGHTS
GARDEN WASTE BAGS * 2 - (POLO NETS & BALLS)
POLO BOATS FROM LONDON
YOUTH LIGHTS
POLO BOAT REPAIR MATERIAL - VINYL WAREHOUSE
POLO BOAT REPAIR MATERIAL - EAST COAST FIBREGLASS SUPPLIES
POLO BLADES *5 CARBON SHAFTS * 2 GRIPS & HEATSHRINK * 5
4 * STANDARD DECKS * 6 * CENTRE HELMETS - PEAK UK
8 * RIM KINETIC PADDLES & POSTAGE - UP AND UNDER
C1 PADDLE
EPOXY GLUE FOR PADDLE SHAFTS - SCREWFIX
INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE
U18 COMPETITION ACCOUNT (APPENDIX 3)
BROUGHT FORWARD
TRANSFERRED FROM MAIN ACCOUNT
TOTAL
LLANDSUL SLALOM C1 & C2
FROME SLALOM C1 & C2
INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE|2023 / 2024 2022 / 2023 2021 / 2022
1
1
1
51
51
44
12
15
14
64
67
59
2024 / 2025
IN
200.00
359.99
559.99
OUT
359.99
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
359.99
200.00
2024 / 2025
IN
1000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
191.43
1191.43
OUT
157.50
13.95
19.98
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
191.43
1000.00
2024 / 2025
IN
200.00
200.00
OUT
0.00
0.00
0.00
200.00|2020 / 2021
1
42
13
56
2023 / 2024
200.00
385.64|
|---|---|---|
|||585.64|
|||0.00
78.06
24.65
242.00
9.00
21.36
10.57|
|||385.64|
||||
|||200.00|
|||2023 / 2024
1000.00
75.00
1030.00
750.00
1591.67|
|||4446.67|
|||0.00
0.00
0.00
14.97
1000.00
10.99
108.28
170.27
700.00
442.40
929.81
40.00
29.95
0.00|
|||3446.67|
||||
|||1000.00|
|||2023 / 2024
200.00
16.40|
|||216.40|
|||7.00
9.40|
|||16.40|
||||
|||200.00|
|COACHING FUND ACCOUNT (APPENDIX 4)
BROUGHT FORWARD
DONATION PETE COLLLINS TRUST
TRANSFERRED FROM MAIN ACCOUNT
TOTAL
SAFEGUARDING REFRESHER COURSE - CRAIG CHANDLER
SAFEGUARDING REFRESHER COURSE - LEONIE MERRIFIELD
PSRC COURSE - STEVE CHATTELL
DONATION TO PETE COLLINS TRUST
2 DAY FIRST AID COURSE - LEONIE MERRIFIELD
INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE|2024 / 2025
IN
£515.00
£0.00
£0.00
£515.00
OUT
£10.00
£10.00
£0.00
£0.00
£0.00
£20.00
£495.00|2023 / 2024
£650.00
£135.00|
|---|---|---|
|||£785.00|
|||£0.00
£0.00
£70.00
£70.00
£130.00|
|||£270.00|
||||
|||£515.00|
|2024/2025||CASH||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|DATE|ITEM/REASON||IN|OUT|BALANCE|
|7/1/2024|BROUGHT FORWARD||113.56||113.56|
|7/4/2024|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||121.06|
|7/4/2024|USE OF SWIMMING POOL BARRY SEDGBEER||10.00||131.06|
|7/16/2024|RENT FOR BOAT HOUSE SITE PERIOD 2|||57.71|73.35|
|8/1/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||80.85|
|8/18/2024|COPIER PAPER A4 500 SHEETS||-|5.49|75.36|
|8/22/2024|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||82.86|
|10/8/2024|RENT FOR BOAT HOUSE SITE PERIOD 3|||57.71|25.15|
|31/102025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||32.65|
|###|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||40.15|
|###|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||47.65|
|1/23/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||55.15|
|2/20/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||62.65|
|3/20/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||70.15|
|4/6/2025|RENT FOR BOAT HOUSE SITE PERIOD 1|||57.71|12.44|
|4/18/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||19.94|
|5/29/2025|USE OF SWIMMING POOL R BLACKMORE||7.50||27.44|
||TOTALS||206.06|178.62|27.44|