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 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).
As a registered charity, Sports Aid Eastern, has a wide-ranging trust deed which allows it to perform a number of different charitable functions. These are primarily within the fields of education, disability and social welfare.
The main objectives are:
- To further the education of young people through the medium of sport.
- To encourage those with social and physical disadvantages to improve their lives through sport.
- To enable those living in poverty to take advantage of the opportunities offered by sport.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are found in note 1 to the accounts 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.
2024 has been a year of change for SportsAid Eastern Region. The departure of the Chairman and our long-standing administrator, Sally Peck left a considerable hiatus. The Executive Director and Chair used these first few months to consider the areas of operation, the synergies between lunch clubs and bring forward modernised and effective working practices. The employment of Alba Consulting has allowed us to run monthly management accounts using QuickBooks and to run each club as its own profit and loss centre. This has enabled us to consider introducing consistencies in some areas and to closely monitor the expenditure over fundraising income.
The middle five months of 2024 were blighted by the transfer of the banking arrangement to the new management team which limited our ability to make grants. We were particularly cautious in committing funds when we had no sight of the bank balances. Once this was completed, we were able to restart our grant making and speaker bookings to support the lunches in the region. This was an extremely frustrating period and the support of our dinner organisers, and our Executive Director was exemplary.
Sponsorship is an area we have given greater consideration and through our increased knowledge of the profitability of each lunch club we are embarking on a more focused approach to attracting and supporting our sponsors in each of the settings.
Our website www.sportsaideastern.org.uk has over 5,000 active users with just short of 11,000 page views in 2024. Page traffic came from a variety of search engines, but the majority were direct to the site using the organisation web address. The greatest number of views came from the Milton Keynes page with Northampton and South Bucks also attracting strong traffic. This highlights the impact of the charity, promoting forthcoming events, showcasing the athletes we support, the sponsors who support us, and importantly a mechanism to make donations directly. Our donations area in the year ended July 31, 2024 received £383 direct donations.
The strategic framework was refreshed in 2022 and will receive a further review in this financial year to ensure that it is relevant and dynamic to achieve our vision for the region.
Athlete | Amount | Sport | Region |
Amelia Kemp | 1,000.00 | Cricket | Beds |
Millie Hurrell | 1,000.00 | Rowing | Ely |
Abigail Roper | 1,000.00 | Gymnast | Ipswich |
Jude Gunner | 1,000.00 | Para Swimmer | Ipswich |
Stan Chevous | 1,000.00 | Athletics | Ipswich |
Hetty Bartlett | 1,000.00 | Para Athletics | Ipswich |
Charlie Harvey | 1,000.00 | Rugby | Ipswich |
Joe Fortnum-Adams | 1,000.00 | Para Table Tennis | Ipswich |
Mickey Ayling | 1,000.00 | Athletics | Ipswich |
Kofi Asare | 1,000.00 | Basketball | Milton Keynes |
Zar N Torley | 1,000.00 | Taekwondo | Milton Keynes |
Arthur Ay res | 1,000.00 | Ice Hockey | Milton Keynes |
Josie Groves | 1,000.00 | Cricket | Milton Keynes |
Archie Bromley | 2,000.00 | Archery | Northampton |
I mogen Dodds | 2,000.00 | Para Swimming | Northampton |
Isabelle Kaye | 2,000.00 | Netball | Northampton |
Rose Webb | 2,000.00 | Para Swimming | Northampton |
Savannah Wootton | 2,000.00 | Gymnastics | Northampton |
I sabelle Cameron | 500.00 | Swimming | Peterborough |
Brandon Ballard | 1,000.00 | Para Athletics | Peterborough |
Jesse Chraniuk | 1,000.00 | Judo | South Bucks |
Raissa Vickery | 1,000.00 | Shooting | St Albans |
Olivia Howeson | 1,000.00 | Skiing | St Albans |
Phoebe Gill | 1,000.00 | Athletics | St Albans |
Sponsors
We have continued to work on developing new relationships to create greater sponsorship income for the charity and whilst there have been some changes, we are proud to demonstrate high retention rates amongst our supporters.
We were pleased to confirm both MHA (for their second year) and Brioche Pasquier as regional sponsors, underwriting some of the central costs. We also thank our many lunch club sponsors as well as the many business’ who give their support in non-monetary ways, without whom we would not be able to operate.
Finally, despite the challenges noted above, our work continues with the generosity of some long-term supporters such as The Phillips Trust, whom the trustees as extremely grateful for their continued support. Our sincere thanks also go to BP Collins LLP who operate the lunch club running in South Bucks; Ellisons who operate the Ipswich lunch club and long-standing supporters Rayner Essex LLP who coordinate the St. Albans lunch club.
The year ended 31 July 2024 and spanning a 12-month period was the twenty fifth accounting year of the operation since the charity was re-formed in the latter part of 1999.
The charity was able to make 24 (2023 - 50) awards totalling £28,500 (2023 - £54,500) which equates to an average of £1,188 per award (2023 - £1,090). The number of disabled athletes supported was 6 representing 25% (2023 - 26%) of the total awards made.
In addition to these grants a further 72 (2023 - 69) awards totalling £72,000 (2023 - £77,300), an average of £1,000 per award (2023 - £1,120), were made to athletes in Sports Aid Eastern but paid nationally by the Sports Aid Trust and from national sponsors, making an aggregate award level during the year of £100,500 (2023 - £131,800) in the region. All qualifying athletes, nominated by their sport’s National Governing Body, in the region were granted awards from either regional or national funds.
Administrative expenses were £31,694 (2023 - £24,678) equivalent to £2,642 per month (2023 - £2,057).
The Fund balances at 31 July 2024 were £113,126 (2023 – £99,218) which shows an increase of £13,908 over the year. This balance includes unrestricted funds of £58,615 (2023 - £31,195) part of which will be retained as a reserve in line with the adopted policy with the remainder available for distribution as awards.
No staff were employed by the Charity during the year. The charity’s Regional Director (Jane Horridge) and the charity’s Regional bookkeeper (Carole Bailey) provided services on a part time consultancy basis and were remunerated partly through the charity’s unrestricted funds.
The current policy is to distribute awards in the financial year that funds are raised or as soon as practical thereafter. Levels of fundraising are difficult to predict from year to year but the trustees consider that maintaining reserves equivalent to 18 months projected administrative expenses is an appropriate level and this indicator is currently being achieved. The policy will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis in the light of current circumstances.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. .
Support funding
The trustees are particularly grateful for the £14,400 of funding received from the SportsAid Trust which provides an invaluable contribution towards the administration of the region.
The team
Mark Ormerod resigned on January 11, 2024 and was replaced by Melanie Beck as chair of trustees Thanks go to Mark for his years of service to Sports Aid Eastern. Additional trustees joining the team in January were Simon Deans and Sally Purbrick.
The trustees continue to welcome the valuable support that has been received from the SportsAid national team and during the year. The interaction with the national team continues on a very positive basis and a variety of initiatives have been discussed at formal trustee meetings, along with more informal regular conversations which has greatly assisted relationships, raised the profile of SportsAid regionally, and provided a conduit for information and ideas to be exchanged.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The year ahead
The focus for the financial year 2024/25 will be on establishing further foundations for growth with the ambition of increasing our fundraising, by establishing of new events.
A date is to be agreed for a lunch club in Norwich. A local business has committed to establishing and organizing a club in Norwich, and is currently working on getting a sponsor group together on our behalf.
We are also in discussions with venues for an evening event in Milton Keynes
Finally, we are looking to establish a network of more sponsors across all the lunch clubs. Particular focus is the Peterborough lunch club which has struggled to recover from the COVID period.
In order to further spread the word about our work, and encourage more businesses and individuals to support our fundraising efforts we are looking to invest in using some marketing specialists to increase our social media reach. Their aim would be to increase lunch club attendance and attract more sponsors, whilst offering our existing sponsors greater ROI in return for their loyalty. An increase in marketing effort however will be dependent upon the continuation of HQ funding which has not yet been confirmed for the calendar year 2025.
In addition, we have held positive sponsor meetings where they have agreed both an increase in their sponsorship rates as well as the pricing for seats at the lunches which will provide some additional income in 2025.
Our strategy remains to do everything we can to support and improve our existing structure of lunch clubs and Foundations whilst looking for new partners and particularly for any new support funding that can cover our ongoing administrative and operational costs. We are working on producing an updated strategic plan which will be completed by the end of this financial year and provide guiding principles for us moving forward.
As ever, we are looking to achieve this with the overriding objective to make as many awards as possible. It is also our intention to increase the value of awards to reflect the increasing costs athletes are incurring as a result of the worsening economic conditions experienced recently and predicted to continue.
Public benefit
The trustees are fully aware of the responsibility of the Charity to meet the obligations of Public Benefit under the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.
In the opinion of the trustees the objectives of the charity, stated earlier in this report give a clear identification of the benefits to the public from the work and funds distributed by Sports Aid Eastern. The trustees are also of the opinion that the awards made follow a robust and published evaluation policy that ensures the correct and equitable distribution of charitable funds. These are in no way unreasonably restricted.
Grant making policy
We work in direct conjunction with the national grants committee. There has been a great deal more transparency with all the NGB's over the basis of their selection procedure. This has proved invaluable at a local level when reviewing awards.
In the case of restricted funds these decisions are made in consultation with our partners.
Sports Aid Eastern is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee of its members; Chris Baillieu and Tim Lawler, governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association and is also a registered charity (Charity Registration No. 1070957).
Sports Aid Eastern is operating under a licence from The Sports Aid Trust (Charity Registration No. 1111612). The region shares common objectives with the national charity but are specifically focussed on particular areas of England.
The members of the charity undertake to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the charity's assets, should the charity be wound up.
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:
The trustees are appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association, paragraphs 29 to 36 inclusive.
The charity's induction process for new trustees is as advised by the Charity Commission and there is no formal training programme. Trustees will generally have a sporting background and advice on charity issues is available to them from the Charity Commission and from experienced trustees within the SportsAid group of charities.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company and are required to reveal any conflicts of interest which they may be aware of. None were tabled during the year.
The trustees are fully aware of the responsibility of the Charity to meet the obligations of Public Benefit under the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.
In the opinion of the trustees the objectives of the charity, stated earlier in this this report give a clear identification of the benefits to the public from the work and funds distributed by Sports Aid Eastern.
The trustees are also of the opinion that the awards made follow a robust and published evaluation policy that ensures the correct and equitable distribution of charitable funds. These are in no way unreasonably restricted.
The trustees are particularly grateful for the £14,400 of funding received from Sports Aid Head Office which provides an invaluable contribution towards the administration of the region.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Sports Aid Eastern (the charity) for the year ended 31 July 2024.
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.
Fundraising: costs of lunches and fundraising
Grants and their administration costs
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Fundraising: costs of lunches and fundraising
Grants and their administration costs
Sports Aid Eastern is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Pinnacle, C/O Mercer & Hole, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BP, England.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities published on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015) and the Companies Act 2006.
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 £.
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 as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.
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.
Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred and include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered.
Award payments are decided by an awards committee and are accounted for when the offer is conveyed to the recipient.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks.
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.
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.
Activities for generating funds
Grants and their administration costs
The grants payable noted above represent 24 individual grants (2023: 50 grants).
Administrative expenses
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) were reimbursed expenses or received remuneration during the year.
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
Charitable Trusts
The Phillips Charitable Trust - Sports Aid has benefited from a donation from this trust made at the discretion of the trustees to help and support aspiring young sports people from the county of Northamptonshire. The awards were all made in consultation with the Trust.
Local Authorities
A number of Local Authorities have funds set aside for assisting aspiring young athletes, both able-bodied
and disabled, who merit financial help. Sports Aid has experience and expertise in this area and is consequently ideally placed to assist with the delivery of such schemes. Awards are made in consultation with the relevant Local Authority.
Rotary Clubs
Rotary Clubs, support charitable organisations that benefit their local community. Sports Aid Eastern, as the charity for sport, is able to provide the ideal vehicle for Rotary Clubs to support young talented athletes within their community. Awards are made in consultation with the local Rotary Club from applications endorsed by the sport's governing bodies.
Foundations
- The Peterborough Sports Aid Foundation was formed in 2004. The Foundation harnesses the support of the business and sporting community of Peterborough for the aims and objectives of Sports Aid. Awards are jointly agreed between the committee of the Foundation and the grants committee of Sports Aid Eastern.
- Suffolk Sports Aid Foundation was launched in December 2007 and has continued very successfully in 2017-18. Awards are jointly agreed with the committee of the Foundation and the grants committee of Sports Aid Eastern.
During the year, Sports Aid Trust head office supported Sports Aid Eastern with a £14,500 donation covering the period 1 January to 31 December 2024. £8,458 of this is included in income for the year, and £6,042 has been deferred to the next financial year.
During the previous year Sports Aid Trust head office paid expenses directly on behalf of Sports Aid Eastern totalling £14,400.