The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the period ended 30 June 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 Trust's governing document, 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).
The charitable purposes of the company are the promotion of community participation in healthy recreation by the provision of facilities and opportunities for the playing of amateur sport, in particular, but not limited to rugby football union. The site in question is the former Avery/GEC Sports ground at 79 Sandon Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8DT.
In furtherance of its charitable objectives, the charity is working with its partner, Bournville Rugby Football Club, who now run and operate the completed development.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the trust should undertake.
The facility opened in September 2018 and is run by Bournville Rugby Football Club under licence in tandem with its operating arm, Avery Fields Sports & Events Limited.
A five-year partnering agreement with University College Birmingham (UCB) using the site for three days a week during term time came to an end in June 2024 and has been extended for one year. The facility also continues to attract use by other rugby union clubs, American Football and soccer teams. In addition, Bournville Rugby Football Club continues to partner with Engage Community to provide coaching in schools, in the community and at Avery Fields.
The Trust’s professional team submitted a revised application to Birmingham City Council’s planning department to discharge the remaining planning condition which relates to drainage. A decision is expected in January 2025.
The following grants were secured, on behalf of the Trust, by the rugby club's provider (Community Group) of in-school coaching, sports camps and community sports provision. All grants were gifted to Bournville Rugby Football Club or Avery Fields Sports & Events Ltd, who commissioned Community Group to deliver the grant requirements.
Barclays Football Foundation: £500
Sport England: £8,375
Wooden Spoon: £24,829
Albert Gubay:£16,000
National Lottery: £9,510
The total income for the year was £176,446 made up of grants, donations and a payment by UCB. An interest free loan facility of £2.0M continues with a private company, whose owner is connected to the Trust. The loan currently stands at £1,868,720. A legally binding agreement to document this commitment will be entered into.
Gift aid claimed on donations received amounted to £255.
Costs for the year total £76,757. The majority of costs, being £59,990 for business support grants given to Avery Fields Sports & Events Limited.
The surplus at the year-end was £99,689 with total funds carried forward of £3,031,051. Restricted funds carried forward of £2,505,361 represent monies brought forward from Persimmon Homes that were expended on the development of Avery Fields and donations made in relation to charitable activities undertaken. The Trustees have elected to hold the site at Sandon Road at its fair market value and £2,492,945 is held within Restricted funds as a non-distributable fund.
Unrestricted funds of £525,689 represent donations received less costs incurred during the year.
During the previous year, the Trustees changed the Charity's accounting policy for the recognition of its tangible fixed assets. The site at Sandon Road was previously held as a tangible fixed asset under cost less accumulated depreciation. This treatment was reviewed and consequently the site at Sandon Road is now held at fair value as a programme related investment. The site has been subject to a valuation by a former Chartered Surveyor, who is a Trustee of the Charity and is held at a fair value of £4,828,097 within the financial statements.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the trust is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
It is the policy of the Trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the Trust’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the period.
However at the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have assessed the trusts situation and the £1,886,307 creditor shown on the balance sheet. The large creditor has arisen due to part of the development being funded by a company controlled by one of the Trustees.
The scope is to add two additional changing rooms to the Clubhouse building at the ground floor at a later date. There is also potential to add a 200 seater-stand and changing room below along the side of the artificial pitch. This would clearly be subject to planning and securing grant funding and/or working with a strategic partner. The feasibility of adding floodlighting to one of the grass pitches is to be investigated.
The company was formed on 7 December 2016 in England and Wales as a private company limited by guarantee. The memorandum and articles of association govern the company.
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:
Mr A C Blacklaws
Mr D G Clegg
Mr T M Lang
The current Trustees comprise a retired Chartered Surveyor, and two practicing Solicitors.
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 Articles of Association require that there are at least three Trustees at all times, they must be aged 18 or over and must be a member. As at the year end, there were three members, being the Trustees.
The company is managed by its board of Trustees who meet regularly and deal with operational matters on a day-to-day basis. A formal Trustees' Meeting is held annually.
Custodian trustee
The charity holds the freehold interest in the land following completion of agreed works.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Avery Fields Community Foundation (Formerly Avery Fields Community Sports Trust) for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Trust will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees consider that the objectives of the charity meet the tests for public benefit and when exercising their powers and duties. The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the relevant guidance published by the Charity Commission.
A risk assessment policy is in place which is robust and recognises the need to protect the charity.
The Trustees have considered the various risks which might affect the business and have taken appropriate and reasonable steps to address those risks. Following completion of the main building contract and subsequent additional drainage works, full responsibility for the management of the clubhouse and pitches now rests solely with Bournville Rugby Club. Internal controls are in place to reduce the likelihood of loss through fraud or the misuse of funds and bookkeeping services are outsourced.
Reserves policy
The level of reserves held within restricted funds relates to capital expenditure incurred on construction of the sports ground. The level of restricted funds is expected to reduce by future depreciation charged which has been determined based on the useful economic life of the assets. Following repayment of the outstanding loan, the intention is to build up an unrestricted reserve fund to cover the future development and improvement of facilities.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
We report to the Trustees on our examination of the financial statements of Avery Fields Community Foundation (Formerly Avery Fields Community Sports Trust) (the Trust) for the period ended 30 June 2024.
Having satisfied ourselves that the financial statements of the Trust are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, We report in respect of our examination of the Trust’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
We have completed our examination. We confirm that no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust 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).
We 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 period.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the period. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Avery Fields Community Foundation is a private company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 79 Sandon Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8DT. The company and charity number is given on the legal and administrative information page.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Trust's governing document, 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 Trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The Trust 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 Trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified by the revaluation of programme related investments. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have assessed the trusts situation and the have a reasonable expectation that the trust has adequate resources and working capital 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 Trust 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.
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the trust to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the trust in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries, it includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of indirect nature necessary to support them.
Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Amortisation 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:
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The assets residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
Programme related investments, which are tangible assets held to further the Charity's charitable purposes, were initially held a cost, which includes the purchase price and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently they are measured at fair value at the reporting date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in the Statement of financial activities under restricted or un-restricted funds.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks.
The Trust 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 Trust's balance sheet when the Trust 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.
The trust is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities, as described in note 9.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at transaction price.
In the application of the Trust’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.
There are no significant judgements (apart from those involving estimates) which have had an effect on the accounts recognised in the financial statements.
Grants
Gift Aid reclaimed
Total
Other income is comprised of branding and rental income for use of the ground's facilities.
Expenditure
Expenditure
Repairs and maintenance
Legal and professional fees
Sundry expenses
Business support grant
Bank charges
Professional services and fees
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiners of £1,000 (2022 - £1,000) for independent examination fees.
No trustee expenses have been incurred and none of the trustees claimed any expenses from the trust during the year (2022 - None).
The average number of persons, including trustees, employed during the year was 3 (2022 - 3).
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
The programme related investment has been subject to a valuation by a former Chartered Surveyor, who is a Trustee of the Charity. The Trustees are of the opinion that this valuation is a reasonable estimate of the market value of the site at Sandon Road at 30 June 2024.
Included within other creditors is £1,868,720 (2022: £1,973,720) due to related parties. Further details surrounding this are disclosed in note 17 to these financial statements.
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.
During the year, advances of £nil (2022: £nil) were made from Tansoo Investments Ltd, a company owned by Mr A C Blacklaws. Repayments of £105,000 (2022: £50,000) were made during the year. As at 30 June 2024, £1,868,720 (2022: £1,973,720) was included in other creditors in respect of amounts due to Tansoo Investments Ltd. The loan carries no interest and will be repaid as funding allows.