## **The School Tennis Project Limited** ## **Directors’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023** The directors present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments and Assets and Liabilities for The School Tennis Project Limited for the year ended 31 August 2023. ## **Objectives and Activities** The charitable purpose of the The School Tennis Project Limited is the advancement of tennis amongst children and teenagers. The principal function of The School Tennis Project Limited is to support the advancement of tennis in Lisburn and the surrounding area by promoting the playing of tennis through the provision of professional tennis coaching lessons. Our management of Wallace Park Indoor Tennis Centre involves organising weekly tennis lessons throughout the academic year and holiday camps during school holidays to help children develop their skills and interest in tennis. We also organise adult classes and opportunities to play in doubles nights and social tennis events at the facility. We provide a staff presence at the tennis dome during all opening hours (Monday – Friday, 10am-10pm & Friday – Sunday, 10am-5pm) This provides security and maintenance for the dome as well as allowing us to answer telephone calls and questions from passers by about the coaching service provided. In the long term we would like to replicate the service we provide and other public tennis facilities and provide after school tennis at schools. ## **Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit** ## Public benefits The Company’s objectives are the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation (within the UK) by the provision of facilities for playing tennis and other sports. The benefit which flow from increasing participation in tennis include improved health outcomes, reduced levels of stress and anxiety, better levels of fitness, improved concentration and mental wellbeing. Studies have shown that veteran tennis players have considerably less stress related health issues than non-players. These benefits will therefore be evidenced through the number of people we have participating regularly in tennis programmes and the amount of facilities we are able to provide / improve. There is a slight risk that people could get injured playing tennis but this is more than outweighed by the health benefits of doing so. The ultimate beneficiaries of the charities work are the general public who come along and play tennis. Our programmes are aimed at all age groups and ability levels. As well as keeping people fit, playing tennis is a great way to meet new people and a sport which all communities in N. Ireland can enjoy together. In achieving increased tennis participation we will provide or improve tennis facilities at schools and public tennis facilities. While schools and councils are not the intended beneficiary they are public bodies and their benefit in improved facilities is necessary in the achievement of our aims. There is also a private benefit to the coaching staff who are paid and receive mileage remuneration for work related travel. They also receive training and gain from increased experience in coaching. However these benefits are incidental and coaching staff are necessary in achieving our aims. The amount paid for mileage is what is recommended by the Inland Revenue and the amount paid for coaching is less than the market value for coaching. The private benefit is therefore incidental and outweighed by the public benefit ## **The School Tennis Project Limited** ## **Directors’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** ## **Financial Review** - The principal source of income of The Schools Tennis Project Limited continues to be from tuition fees. - The principal expense of The Schools Tennis Project Limited is in respect of payments to tennis coaches for taking coaching lessons. - The Schools Tennis Project Limited had an excess of receipts over payments before other gains of £8,815 for the year ended 31 August 2023. - The Schools Tennis Project Limited continues to be in a healthy financial state as at 31 August 2023 with total cash funds of £43,487 - The Schools Tennis Project Limited aims to retain sufficient reserves to meet its expected future expenditure requirements as well as potential future capital projects. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Going Concern** The directors’ have reviewed the company’s planned expenditure for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the company can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023 can be signed off as a going concern. ## **Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity** The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of Board of Directors** Meetings of the shareholders are held at least once a year. The Board of Directors is elected as part of this Annual General meeting. The directors will hold their positions for a period of one year. Directors may be re-elected annually and there is no limit on the number of terms which may be served. ## **The School Tennis Project Limited** ## **Directors’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** ## _**Organisational Structure**_ The board of directors is responsible for the day to day management of the company. The board of directors is chaired by the appointed chairperson. The directors are responsible for making decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the company including deciding how company funds are to be applied. The board of directors meets at times fixed by the directors. Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson. ## **Compliance with Public Benefit** The company has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the company’s objectives, as well as providing public benefit. ## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the directors to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. The directors are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the company. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Signed on Behalf of the Directors** **Director 1** Brian Cushnie **Director 2** Ian Cairns 28 June 2024 **Date**