The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's articles of association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for playing rugby union football (and other sports) ('facilities' means land, buildings, equipment and organising sporting activities);
To provide and assist in providing facilities for sport, recreation or other leisure time occupation of such persons who have need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life; to advance the education of children and young people through such mean as the directors think fit in accordance with the law of charity.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all to enjoy playing and participating in sport (in particular rugby union football) and there has been no change in these during the year.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
During the 2023/24 season, Congleton Rugby Union Football Club enjoyed something of a resurgence in fortunes on and off the pitch, most notably with: a reinvigorated and burgeoning Minis & Juniors section. It has been great to see the numbers growing, along with an increase in the numbers of committed and diligent coaching staff, all wrapped up within a great Sunday morning product that sees players and parents alike keen to take part. Great credit is due to Simon Jones, overall Director of the M&J Section. For the senior section, the Club continued to field two full teams,(though resources were thinly stretched at times) who acquitted themselves well over the course of the season.
The bar is another notable success this year. With a new licensee in place and a growing number of willing volunteers, the clubhouse has been able to leverage its new status as a public (rather than members only) bar. Although prices were moderately increased during the season (to offset the nationwide trend of rising costs), this appeared to have little impact in takings. In fact, with effective marketing of both the World Cup and the Six Nations' Tournaments, the bar enjoyed one of its most successful years. And how brilliant to see the club house full to the rafters with members of the public and club for many of those great games.
The focus for the club going into the 2024/25 season will be:
Driving recruitment in the senior section (whilst continuing to build on the M&J foundations); with so many new houses in town, there must be an untapped pool of talent ready to be fished
Completing phase 3 of the Club's redevelopment (the area between the clubhouse and the changing rooms), with refreshed and improved toilet facilities a priority
Continuing to mature the club's strategy to become the best little rugby club in our area and taking a more active and visible role in the community.
The reserves policy of the charity is to maintain unrestricted free funds of the charity, at a sufficient level which enables the charity to be able to operate. The Charity's funds are currently kept on deposit to be readily available at short notice.
During the year under review the club has principally been funded by grants, donations, membership subscriptions and Gift Aid tax repayment claims.
The Club continues to benefit from its charity status with an extension to the previous 3 year donation to fund the recruitment and employment of a Mini & Junior Director. The extension provides additional funding to enable the recruitment and employment of a club-wide Director of Rugby. Based on current expectations, sufficient funding is in place to finance both positions for the next 3 years.
Following the successful conversion of the Club into a Charity in 2014, the trustees have continued to benefit from Gift Aid tax relief. During the current period to May 2024 Gift Aid tax repayments of £1,208 (31 May 2023 £4,782) were received by the Charity.
The Financial results for the year are shown in the statement of financial activities on pages 5 to 20. As at 31 May 2024 total cash reserves were £181,952 (31 May 2023 £225,154) The Trustees will continue to monitor the reserves held by the charity.
The reserves (currently held in the United Trust Bank) are held primarily for the refurbishment of the toilet block and outside area – known as the Phase 3 project . It is estimated that the cost of this would be in the region of £50,000.
There are other projects under planning, such as the repair of the external walls of the building.
Any funds left over from this are for contingency events.
Restricted funds
Restricted funds are for Club development and maintenance comprising:-
M & J Special Interest
A three year donation agreement secured by the Club in 2019 to finance the costs of recruitment and employment of a coach for the Mini and Junior section.
Making club house safer project
A Rugby Football Foundation capital grant to make our clubhouse safer in 2018.
The Club operates a Small Society Lottery called the 200 Club. All profits raised from this are for Club development although these funds are not included in these accounts as Restricted funds.
The charity is controlled by its Articles of Association along with its club rules, it constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The formal governing document is the Articles of Association adopted on 16 May 2016.
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 3 March 2014.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Trustees are nominated by existing members using the forms available on the club website and are elected in the AGM. Vacant positions are advertised on the website, via social media and by word of mouth.
In accordance with the Articles of Association of Congleton RUFC all members of
Congleton CRUFC are Voting members. Members have one vote each. Any Voting Member may nominate
another member to be a Trustee. In accordance with Clause 20 of the Articles of Association, retiring
Trustees are eligible for re-election as Trustees.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Congleton Rugby Union Football Club Ltd (the charity) for the year ended 31 May 2024.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Congleton Rugby Union Football Club Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Bank House, Market Square, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1ET, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The carrying value of land included in land and buildings comprises:
The property owned in Park Street Congleton shown under Freehold Land and Buildings were revalued on 22 April 2014 at £150,000 by independent chartered surveyors Timothy A Brown Congleton.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
These are restricted funds which are material to the charity's activities.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
These financial statements are separate charity financial statements for If You're Gonna Be A Bear Be A Grizzly Ltd.
Details of the charity's subsidiaries at 31 May 2024 are as follows:
The charity's wholly owned subsidiary If You're Gonna Be A Bear Be A Grizzly Limited was formed in 2021 to operate the bar in Park Street Congleton. If You're Gonna Be A Bear Be A Grizzly Limited has a licence from the charity to operate these facilities and pays all of its profits to the charity by gift aid. The charity owns the entire share capital of 100 Ordinary £1 shares A Summary of the trading results are shown below: