Victoria Park, Buckfastleigh
AGM 12 June 2025
Chair’s Report 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
2024 marked the 10th year of our team running Victoria Park and Buckfastleigh Open Air Pool on behalf of our community.
We are very lucky to have a long standing, professional and highly experienced team of lifeguards to start the season, joined by a few new recruits and we started the 2024 season with a positive mentality and ready to drive the pool forward.
This year didn’t start with a bang, with a wet May and June suppressing the amount of customers we would normally expect to receive.
However, the following months’ proved to be more successful, and by the end of the Summer Season, we had made up what we had lost, and ticket sales were on a par with 2023 season.
What has become apparent is that the general economic situation is still very far from being stable. This has been reflected in reduced bookings from local schools, who are feeling the pinch of reduced budgets.
The promised reduction in gas and electricity prices has not been realised and we are still paying nearly two-and-a-half times what we were paying during the 2022-2023 season.
Due to the lack of grants we were unable to o�er as many free swims as in previous years. However, this season saw the opening of the little children's play area which was fully refurbished in 2024 with grateful thanks to the Valencia Communities Fund. It has a wheelchair accessible roundabout, adventure tower with a slide, a swing for toddlers, a basket swing, an in-ground trampoline, climbing equipment, and sound flowers.
For local children and their families, Victoria Park remains the centre of the town’s Hello Summer! activities and events which will continue into 2025.
Our cold-water swimming ran from October to the end of February and brought 650 swimmers from across the southwest. This also provided revenue for local businesses.
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
Overall, we provided around 7.500 swims duringthe year. and we were still able to offer the local and concession rates. In Octoberwe ran ourvery popular Halloween Changing Rooms of Doom free spooky experience. Over 250 children and theirfamilies from all over the local area came to have their wits scared out of them. Manythanks to lan and Gemima. and allthe volunteers for their hard vrfork and creativity, it was a great success. We also continued ourvery successful Night Swims with Bat Walk, and Stary Nights evenings. with the help and support of 'D8rtmoor Skies. As ever, we are incrediblygratefulto all our supporters. donors. volunteers. and staff that help keep this vital and much loved facility open forthe community. We are especially gratefulforthe financial support from Buckfastleigh Town Council which means we can keep the charitysolvent through these particularly challengingtimes. Signed: Philip Northcott Chair of Victoria Park, Buck18Stlelgh Date: 12" June 2025 BU¢u8srlOj i88rnOsiexc&•Yry0s¥atilQ8hooi 7887forTrtss88try0tythe1Thhabtirtts Or$tIe18end n81810OoLI8ndth0tslI¢8PnWsllyoIthe tTusrpTrmiSesfDflbepust OfOn8htr•l1h..ItC{npfi$eso1a h8at6d openairsrfmmingm)C sk8f&perL chdM1•utsyrLIthe.8UwOw-cÉMUnrtylIth Th6 Chari tFuse is-Wctori8 Buck&st1e-wh1chISdeornpOnYUmlr&Oby8varJne. Direcrorsolthe COM9YOrE 811 voluntsersand8eppolnred8cet)rtI1rt8loth8 relwantcharity&ndcomp8nyt8winoccord8nce LVffhour8fftc18$ 0f85sociarn. ctOn8 P&th. Suitp 7The8usirtess C8ntrtr. Chal&7reer. 1¥$11e(Otr. JQII tU8Rwsr&fydch8rtyNo.' 2CW4. LtdCoNo.'
Balance Sheet Vlcloria Park, Buclrfastleigh As at 31 March 2025 Unrnslrfcted Restricted 31aT-2$ Funds Funds Account Current Assets Cash at bank and In hand Victoria Part( - SIn'n9 Fund Vlctoria Parf< - Trading Total Cash at bank and In hand Petty Cash111 Float Total Current A88et• 20,133.06 12.157.83 32,290.89 550.CI) 32,840.89 20,133.06 12,157.83 32.290.89 550.00 32,840.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Credltors". amounts falling due wlthln one year Accounts Payable 352.26 PAYE 216.66 Pensions Payable 58.35 Rounding 10.11) Totsl Crodltors: amounts falllng due wlthln I 627.16 352.26 216.66 58.35 (0.11) 627.16 Net Current Assets Llabllltles 32 213.73 32,213.73 0.00 Totsl Assets less Current Llabllltles 32 213.73 32 213.73 0.00 Nat Assets 32 13.73 32 213.73 0.00 Capital and Reserves Curr8nl Year Earnings Retsined Eamings Total Capltal and Reser¥o8 {8.110.80) (8,110.80) 40.324.53 40,324.53 32213.73 32,213.73 0.00 ChkiA+ge•ZSofvJ .. Pb? L4P No¢LTFICOIT SUWen .. 12 /06120ZS
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 2025, 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:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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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
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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:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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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
Date.........19 May 2025.......
Profit and Loss Victoria Park, Buckfastleigh For the year ended 31 March 2025 count 2025 2024 Turnover Bungalow Rent Fixèd Grants and FundiNJ Int9r85t Income Tid(8t Sales & PorA Rental Training Income Tu¢k & Shop M&rchandlw Sale8 Total Turnover 1,662.(M) 1.662.00 24.5(M).Th) 24,025.L 447.10 528.36 39,504.13 40.391.94 2.619.rA) 2.405.04 3.399.91 2,719.53 72.132.14 71.731.87 Cost of Sales Cost of Goods Sold (Tuck) Dirèct Wages Lifeguard Training Co818 Penslons Costs Pool Equipment Pool SeNic8 & Chemica18 Water Rates Total Cost of Sal 1,447.85 918.3S 45,677.43 54.441.91 1.261.95 875.IXI 588.31 366.98 289.29 2,563.58 3.729.80 901.26 1.017.32 52.583.13 61,857.78 Gro•8 Profit 19 540.01 9 874. Admlnlstratlve Costs Adv8rtt3ing & Markèbng Audil & Accountsncy f¢os Bank Fees Consulting G•neral Expenses Insuronca IT Software aThJ Con8umable8 L¢gal EXn$&9 Light, Power. Heating Park Maintenanc• Postsge. Freight & tsrièr Prinhng & Stationery Repairs & Maintenanc4 Staff Training Subs¢ription$ Telephone & Intemel Waste Dlsposal Total AdmIn5stratI C••ts 0.00 251.50 4.059.10 3.699.40 7Cl.81 678.88 3,380.00 2.282.45 789.73 749.33 2,553.05 2.217.80 586.39 742. 1,179.12 2.467 98 21,792.41 31.884. S,(KJ7.91 812.80 0.00 24. 176.47 1(V3.38 1,946.80 654.88 220.00 425.20 160.00 154.C 411.28 3%.85 1,331.40 861.16 44374A7 48,414.31 ratln Profft 725A6 Other In¢ome Ad-hoc Grants BuCkfaStlgh Town Council- Errgy Grant Donatsons and sponsorship5 Total Othgr In¢om• 5.OLKJ.(M) 21.955.(K) 7.475.(Y) 15.OCfj.00 4.139.66 8.999.47 16.614.06 45.954A7 Profit on Ordlna Actlvttl•s 7 414.25 S4eJen.. ILlo&12oz¥