Victoria Park Buckfastleigh ## **Victoria Park Buckfastleigh AGM November 2021** ## **Chair’s Report** This is our 7[th] year of running Victoria Park and Pool for our community and the first one back after the Covid19 lockdown. It was a concerning start to the year coming out off lockdown and making decisions about if and how we should open the pool. Over the closed period we had a lot of work done on the site from replacing the pool side shelter roof, to mending the leaking drains and giving everywhere a clean lick of paint ready for the chance to reopen. ## **The Pool** We opened the pool this year with a new timetable and new procedures in place to keep everyone safe. We decided to introduce new one-hour slots but not to go with a booking system, instead capping the number of swimmers into the pool and running the one-hour sessions on a first come basis. As always, the community got behind the pool and took all the changes in their stride and although we didn’t quite match the figures of 2019 we still managed a total of 6,653 swimmers through the door, making it a great summer season back after lockdown. Alongside the changes in the timetable, we also changed how we supported local children’s swimming, creating a TQ11 pass and free sessions for the children to attend everyday throughout the summer. We also gave local children a reduced rate to the normal sessions that we run meaning that all the children in the town were able to access the pool over summer should they wish to. These sessions where greatly received and we gave out a total off 281 passes to the local community which were used a total of 1623 times through out the summer. Along side this we still ran our “It’s Your Pool Too” campaign and gave away £1748 pounds worth of tickets to families / individuals from the local community who would have otherwise struggled to afford to swim on a regular basis. We owe a massive thank to Buckfastleigh Town Council who continue to provide us with significant grant funding which makes this possible. The move to one hour slots this year, made it easier for us to timetable some new session such a quieter session for children with Special Educational Needs and a parent and tot session which where both much appreciated and well attended. It seems that > Victoria Park Buckfastleigh is a registered charity established in 1887 for “The use and enjoyment by the inhabitants of Buckfastleigh and neighbourhood and the public generally of the trust premises for the purpose of recreation and health.” It comprises of a heated open air swimming pool, skate park, children’s playground and the “Bungalow” community building. The charity’s trustee is “Victoria Park Buckfastleigh” which is a company limited by guarantee. Directors of the company are all volunteers and are appointed according to the relevant charity and company law in accordance with our articles of association. Victoria Park, Suite 7 The Business Centre, 33 Chapel Street, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0AB Registered Charity No: 200624, Ltd Co No: 09490008 ## Victoria Park Buckfastleigh the challenges that COVID brought with it forced us to change how we were opening the pool to the public and in doing so allowed us to build more flexibility into our timetable and increase the type of session we are able to put on. We are currently thinking about the idea of taking the one-hour sessions forwards to next year along with the benefits they bring with them. With the restrictions lifting we were able to have the chance to run the Halloween haunted changing rooms and the team got to work decorating the female side of the changing rooms for the spooky event. Once again the weather was good to us and the Halloween changing rooms where a success with a 155 people happily attending the event and some leaving a little scarred. We have also started our cold water swimming which is running on a Sunday morning 9:30 to 10:30 and has been very popular with around 20 people attending each session from beginners to experienced cold water swimmers. We aim to run these sessions up until Christmas, at which point we will assess and see if there is capacity and demand to run them through to February and potentially an ice gala. ## **The Park** This year we commissioned the creation of a new Hope Garden in an area of the park which was overrun with brambles. A local gardener, Charlie Scullion worked up the design and with help from a local Veteran’s Charity, and turned it in to a quiet space for though and relaxation. The area has been cleverly planted with seasonal flowers and plants to give bright colours and smells throughout the year, plus during the summer if you look closely enough you may be able to grab the odd wild strawberry or two before the birds. Along with the park the Hope Garden was judged in the Britain in Bloom competition this year and both the park and the hope garden received a gold level award for excellence. ## **Coming Up** We will be heating the pool and opening up for swimmers over the Christmas period. Details will be announced soon. Along with the Christmas opening are thoughts are looking towards further maintenance at the pool over the winter months. ## **Thanks** Yet again we are incredibly grateful for the financial support from Buckfastleigh Town Council in this trying time and would also like to thank all the continuing support and understanding from the community. > Victoria Park Buckfastleigh is a registered charity established in 1887 for “The use and enjoyment by the inhabitants of Buckfastleigh and neighbourhood and the public generally of the trust premises for the purpose of recreation and health.” It comprises of a heated open air swimming pool, skate park, children’s playground and the “Bungalow” community building. The charity’s trustee is “Victoria Park Buckfastleigh” which is a company limited by guarantee. Directors of the company are all volunteers and are appointed according to the relevant charity and company law in accordance with our articles of association. Victoria Park, Suite 7 The Business Centre, 33 Chapel Street, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0AB Registered Charity No: 200624, Ltd Co No: 09490008 Victoria Park Buckfastleigh We would also like to thank our exceptional team of staff, volunteers and trustees who have, once again, worked so hard to keep the pool and park operating to such a professional standard and the community for supporting us throughout. Signed: Pam Barrett - Chair of Victoria Park Buckfastleigh Date: 5 November 2021 > Victoria Park Buckfastleigh is a registered charity established in 1887 for “The use and enjoyment by the inhabitants of Buckfastleigh and neighbourhood and the public generally of the trust premises for the purpose of recreation and health.” It comprises of a heated open air swimming pool, skate park, children’s playground and the “Bungalow” community building. The charity’s trustee is “Victoria Park Buckfastleigh” which is a company limited by guarantee. Directors of the company are all volunteers and are appointed according to the relevant charity and company law in accordance with our articles of association. Victoria Park, Suite 7 The Business Centre, 33 Chapel Street, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0AB Registered Charity No: 200624, Ltd Co No: 09490008 Profit and Loss Victoria Park, Buckfastleigh For the yearended 31 March 2021 Turnover BungaiowReM rtxed Grantsand F￿￿hnl Interestthco 1,662.(*J 20,850.fy1 10.9) Pool Rental 121X).UJI 550.42 Trket54 Ti3lthIwl￿omÈ TotsiTurM¥or 2Lb).fL) 23.L1192 Costol Sales re(tWa8es EmpioywNI PPE&Cleanlr 29XC 58 SouthviestW*ter 2.040.50 229.80 Swjrnfix IPtyDI Ch¢mkalsl Totalcostolsths 31.6￿22 Gr￿$ Profit Admln5stratl¥• Costs AudK&AccountsKyf*es Cleanln8 Con5ultln8 General Exp Hellos¢JmrMrExp•*l￿rn IThs￿ra¢￿e 4Wk40 117.27 2K40 227.b) ii.nNJ 1,610.03 n& ITH•rdware IT SOftWa￿ar￿ Cowmabies lJ64.62 Li8h( PrIAw.Me￿rt1 Posta8eb F￿ght￿(ra#1Ir Pdntyn8•StatM)r Rep&rs& M*ntenarKe ststsTwaining StsIIXmasGffts 12.95 11023.27 455.yj 950.fy) gJbxrtption5 L40.OJ Teiephort&lrternet 35m*65 Operating Profit 14IS74.15 other Income Profft•fvJ LLXS S2.L31. hocGvants D0r5ath)rtsar￿ 5WJW5Nps HMACJRS Grant 23A51.94 Totsl¢)II*rl￿ry￿e Profrton Ordinaryktivities BeforeTaxation Profit after Taxation 32.70Y.SS JL709.55 Signed.. Pam B8rr8tt- Chalr ofvlthia Pafk Bu¢kl8sllwgh Dats.. Slgned: Philip Northcott - Treasurer of Vthrla Park Buckfasuelgh Date: oÉ/i 1/20 ZI **Lee Accounting (SW) Limited 19b Golvers Hill Road, Kingsteignton Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3BP** Telephone Mobile 01626 324994 07828624717 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Victoria Park, Buckfastleigh** I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages... ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required by an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts represent a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below . ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act; have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Hania Lee Signed........................................................ Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 19b Golvers Hill Road Kingsteignton Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 3BP 8 November 2021 Date................................................................