THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH RIFLE CLUB
CLUB ROW, BISLEY CAMP, BROOKWOOD, SURREY GU24 0NY REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 216504
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
1[st] January 2020 to 31[st] December 2020
The British Commonwealth Rifle Club (Charity No: 216504)
Objectives and Activities
The objects of the Club are to promote interest and skill in rifle shooting within the Commonwealth, including by assisting teams and individuals from the Commonwealth competing at prize meetings of the National Rifle Association and the National Small-bore Rifle Association, the better to enable them to take part when required in the defence of their Countries and the Commonwealth.
Main Activities
In typical years the Club holds various events:
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A two-day annual prize meeting in early July which generates most of the Club’s profit for the year.
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A team match in mid-July where club teams compete against teams from the various visiting Commonwealth countries.
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A Club Championship and other trophies which are based on scores made in the National Rifle Association’s Imperial Meeting.
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A reception to welcome all our overseas visitors during the National Rifle Association’s Imperial Meeting.
These events are timed to give our Commonwealth visitors the opportunity for appropriate ‘warm-up’ practice before the start of the National Rifle Association’s Imperial Meeting.
The Club house is made available to our visitors from the Commonwealth to use as a base and to provide secure equipment storage.
This year the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in postponement of the annual prize meeting and the Club Championship (shot concurrently with the NRA’s Imperial Meeting events), and cancellation of all the other events. The trustees decided that the Club house should remain closed until regulations (and social responsibility) permit.
In planning our activities for the year, we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. The events we organise are all focused on our Commonwealth visitors, directly: by providing opportunities for competition to aid performance, or indirectly: by raising funds to provide that support.
Grants & Grant Policy
The charity has not previously made grants and has no current plans to do so.
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British Commonwealth Rifle Club Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Contributions made by Volunteers
The Club is run entirely by volunteers and would like to thank all those who give their time on behalf of the Club’s activities as it is recognised that it could not function without their support. Whilst every contribution is important, it would be wrong not to recognise that of David Rose for his intense efforts (yet again) to bring in entries for the Prize Meeting.
Achievements and Performance
Summary of Main Achievements
During the first UK lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic, we would normally have been planning our events to be held in July. Following the National Rifle Association’s lead, we postponed them but continued to replan as and when restrictions changed. Fortuitously we were able run a prize meeting with reduced capacity at the end of August under the social distancing protocols the NRA had put in place. The entries sold out within 24 hours and approximately 150 competitors enjoyed a very successful prize meeting. Yet again, this was the premier Club event outside the National Rifle Association’s Imperial Meeting and provided a valuable warmup for that event.
Sadly, there were no competitors from overseas due to the travel restrictions.
Unsurprisingly we had to cancel the Overseas Teams match – this is usually hosted by the Club to provide our overseas visitors with valuable match practice in preparation for the international matches during the Imperial meeting.
Achievements against main objectives
As planned, further discussions regarding the lease renewal have taken place. We are pursuing a strategy of retaining the Club house; our assumption is that the annual lease costs will increase but we are actively seeking alternative sources of income and have already identified firm requirement from third parties for usage of the building outside our needs.
A major part of the building repair work necessary is scheduled for the winter (including replacement of the corrugated steel roof sheets, various decayed timbers and damaged brickwork).
Given that we had almost no expectation of running any events this year, it was extraordinary that we managed to stage the Open Prize Meeting with a maximum entry.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set
The Charity does not explicitly run fundraising activities. It does turn a modest excess of income over expenditure from the annual prize meeting, as entries were restricted this year the surplus was smaller than in 2019.
Investment performance against objectives
The Club does not have substantial funds. The club funds are held in a COIF account and our bank account.
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British Commonwealth Rifle Club Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period
Income from the annual prize meeting was much reduced due to the limit on entries and social distancing protocols required. The income from third party usage of the club was also much reduced appropriate level of profit that allows the club to fulfil its charitable objectives and maintain an appropriate level of reserves.
Policy and Justification for holding reserves
Reserves need to be maintained to protect against reduced entries or profit from the Open Prize Meeting as annual subscription income does not cover the full running costs of the Club. This revenue is not guaranteed and can be impacted by many external factors outside the Club’s control (e.g. COVID-19).
Building maintenance and dilapidation costs are also unpredictable (as the winter storms proved), so adequate reserves need to be maintained to perform immediate emergency repairs as well as longer term reparations.
The Club house is leased on a 21 year full repairing basis which ends in late December 2024 and requires that the building is brought back to a similar state to the start of the lease. The professional survey we commissioned has revealed that extensive work is required to achieve this. Consequently, reserves are being accumulated now to ensure that the Club can meet those repair costs out of the reserves rather than having to put out an emergency call for donations or increase subscriptions significantly.
Reserves held
£40,020
Principal Sources of Funds
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The annual Open prize meeting is the primary source of income and contributed a slightly reduced surplus of £5,242 this year.
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Building hire to 3[rd] parties was much reduced generating only £475.
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Annual membership subscription income of £1,785 was down from 2019, probably due to the reduction in entries to the Open prize meeting (membership is a condition of entry).
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Donations tend to vary year on year, with 2020 rather lower than 2019 from the usual sources. However, the club did receive a COVID-19 grant from the government via Guildford Borough Council of £10,000.
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Overall income excluding the grant from Guildford Borough Council of £10,000, was down by £10,200 but net surplus was up by £3,800.
Investment Policy and Objectives
The Club has a cautious attitude to investment both to protect and provide timely access to reserves.
Principal Risks facing the Charity
The Club house is leased on a 21 year full repairing basis which ends in late December 2024 and, on the basis that some repairs to the building will be required whether we renew the lease or not (due to the combined impact of storms and building construction), the trustees have decided that early action gives us the best chance to manage this and mitigate any issues arising.
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British Commonwealth Rifle Club Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
A working group has been formed that is in ongoing discussion with our landlord (the National Rifle Association) regarding options for renewal or another approach. Although these are at an early stage, both parties have a broadly similar vision and are mindful that a win-win is the most desirable outcome
Structure, Governance and Management
Description of charity’s trusts:
The charity is constituted as an unincorporated association and is governed by its rules which were amended in 2018 at the Annual General Meeting.
Trustee Selection Methods
The number of Club officials, committee and trustees, their respective roles and any conditions regarding election and tenure are set out in the Club constitution (which may only be changed at a General Meeting of the members).
Fundamentally, no-one has the right to appoint any of the charity trustees – all members of the committee are elected annually by the membership for limited terms and those elected become the charity trustees.
The Club rules regarding officials are as shown below:
Officials and Committee Officials
18.
(a) The officials of the Club shall consist of a Patron, President, Vice-Presidents not exceeding 20 in number, a Captain, Vice-Captain, Honorary Secretary, and Honorary Treasurer.
(b) The Committee shall have power to invite any person to accept office as Patron of the Club for such period as the Committee see fit.
(c) The President, Vice-Presidents, Captain, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Independent
Examiner shall retire at each Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for re-election.
(d) The Vice-Captain shall be appointed by the Captain from amongst the members of the Committee. (e) No official (other than the Patron, President and Vice-Presidents) shall be eligible for election or appointment to the same office for more than three successive years.
19.
Vice-Presidents shall, while holding that office, be exempted from payment of the annual subscription.
Committee
20.
The Committee shall consist of the Captain, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and eight members of the Club elected at the Annual General Meeting. The officials and members of the Committee shall take office on the 1st January in the year after their election and retire on the ensuing 31st December.
None of the eight members of the Club elected to the Committee shall be eligible to be re-elected as an ordinary member of the Committee for more than three successive years.
Election of officials, Etc.
21.
(a) Nominations to the offices of Captain, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and to the Committee shall be notified to the Honorary Secretary not later than noon of the third day before that appointed for the Annual General Meeting. Any member may propose himself for a specified office by notifying the Honorary Secretary that he is willing to serve if elected. As soon as possible after the closing of nominations, the
Honorary Secretary shall post a list of the names of the members proposed for the various offices and in any case where the number proposed exceeds the vacancies a ballot will be taken at the Annual General Meeting.
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British Commonwealth Rifle Club Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
(b) Any member desiring to propose for election as President, Vice-President or Honorary Independent Examiner any person other than the retiring holder of each office respectively shall give notice as aforesaid to the Honorary Secretary.
Otherwise notice shall not be required for elections to the offices of President, Vice-President or Honorary Independent Examiner.
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees
The Charity Commission’s own trustee guidance is used as the starting point, with further reference to the guidance and best practice information available from organisations such as the NRA or NCVO.
Peer support is provided by the other trustees (of whom approximately half are also current or former trustees of other charities).
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works
The committee are the Trustees. The Club is affiliated to the National Rifle Association. The Club has links to rifle shooting governing bodies throughout the Commonwealth with vice presidents of the club appointed (by members vote at the AGM) from all relevant Commonwealth countries.
Relationships with related parties
The National Rifle Association is the Club’s landlord.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | British Commonwealth Rifle Club |
|---|---|
| Registered charity number | 216504 |
| Charity’s principal address | The British Commonwealth Rifle Club, Bisley Camp, Brookwood, Woking, SurreyGU24 0NY |
Name of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon Belither | Captain | ||
| 2 | John Warburton | Vice-Captain | ||
| 3 | Stephen Penrose | Secretary | ||
| 4 | Will Steward | Treasurer | ||
| 5 | HenryAwin | Committee member | ||
| 6 | Sarah Bunch | Committee member | ||
| 7 | Seth Dowley | Committee member | ||
| 8 | James Watson | Committee member | ||
| 9 | David Rose | Committee member |
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for wholeyear |
|---|---|
| CM Brooks | |
| GMLN Gilpin |
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British Commonwealth Rifle Club Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Simon Belither
James Andrew Watson
Full name(s) Position Date 20[th] September 2021
Club Captain and Chairman of Trustees
20[th] September 2021
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The British Commonwealth Rifle Club
| Income & expenditure for the year ended 31st December 2020 Income Competitions – Income Subscriptions Collected Locker Rents Interest received Facilities and teas income Grant income Gift Aid Donations - Building Maintenance Fund 305 - Hospitality Fund 20 - Total donations Ammunition sale Total income Expenditure Competitions – expense Catering Rent, Services, Insurance, etc Upkeep of Clubhouse and Garden Affiliation Fees Administration and Sundries Total expenditure Surplus / (deficit) Distributed between Surplus / (deficit) in the General Reserve Fund Transfer to / (from) the Building Maintenance Fund Transfer to / (from) the Hospitality Fund Transfer to / (from) the Milton Tucker Memorial Fund Total transfers to club funds 2 |
28,218 1,785 25 26 475 10,000 547 20 325 - 40,854 22,976 - 4,014 5,506 354 - 32,850 8,004 3,184 4,800 20 - 8,004 020 2 |
35,092 2,138 25 55 3,000 - 567 150 41,027 29,452 1,560 4,944 478 335 34 36,804 4,223 4,135 68 20 - 4,223 019 |
Balance sheet Assets Cash at bank and in hand: - Charity Deposit Account - Other bank accounts - Cash in hand - Total cash Prepayments and Accrued income Debtors Stock Total assets Liabilities Accounts payable / creditors Accruals Net assets Distributed between General Reserve Fund brought forward General Reserve Fund surplus for the year General Reserve Fund The Doug Cornish Prize Fund Building Maintenance Fund Hospitality Fund Milton Tucker Memorial Fund Freddie Payne Memorial Fund Life Members Fund Total of club funds |
9,739 24,402 364 34,505 3,812 - 2,226 40,542 (522) - 40,021 27,335 3,184 30,520 100 8,824 130 124 142 180 40,020 (0) 31st December 2020 |
9,713 14,802 154 24,669 5,337 215 2,301 32,522 (505) - 32,017 23,201 4,135 27,335 100 4,025 110 124 142 180 32,016 (0) 31st December 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The British Commonwealth Rifle Club is registered with the Charity Commission as a charity under the Charities Act 2011, with registration number 216504.
Report of the Independent Examiner:
I have been presented with accounting records for the Charity and I am satisfied that these accounts have been prepared from them. There are no matters arising therefrom which I wish to bring to the attention of the membership. Paul AE Charlton, Hon.Independent Examiner, July 1, 2021