The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
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)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The Charity's objects are specifically restricted to the following , for the public benefit:
The advancement of amateur sport including providing facilities for playing football, rugby league or other amateur sports promoting health as the Trustees shall determine.
The promotion of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Spenborough district of Kirklees and the surrounding area in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
The advancement of health.
The advancement of education and training,in particular in amateur sports and health.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
During 2024, East Bierley Community Sports Association (EBCSA) continued to provide and maintain high-quality facilities for the local community and its member clubs. The Association successfully supported regular use of the grounds and changing rooms by football and rugby league teams, as well as community groups and event organisers.
Key achievements during the year included:
Sustained community use of the East Bierley Playing Fields for both junior and senior sporting fixtures.
Completion of major improvement works supported through the Sport England grant, allowing further investment into the site’s facilities.
Enhanced collaboration with local authorities, funding bodies, and local sports clubs to improve site access, maintenance, and long-term sustainability.
Growth in community engagement, with the facilities used not only for sport but also for health, recreation, and social activities.
Strengthened governance, with the appointment of a new trustee (Mr C C Marsden) bringing additional experience in youth sport and community partnerships.
The Trustees are pleased to report that despite rising costs of utilities, maintenance, and financing, the Association has maintained its core activities and continued to deliver against its charitable objectives.
The financial year ended 31 December 2024 saw a significant increase in total income to £180,465 (2023: £90,194), primarily due to restricted grant funding from Garfield Weston and Sport England (£120,878). Total expenditure was £100,421 (2023: £97,811), resulting in a net surplus of £80,044 (2023: deficit £7,617).
At the year end, the Association held total funds of £83,274, of which £116,779 were restricted and £33,505 were unrestricted (deficit). The unrestricted deficit reflects the Trustees’ continued use of general reserves to maintain operations while longer-term funding and income-generating opportunities are developed.
Cash at bank increased from £111,822 to £211,105, primarily due to the timing of grant receipts. The Association continues to meet its commitments on long-term borrowing, which stood at £221,961 at year end.
The Trustees continue to monitor cash flow closely and maintain the policy of holding reserves equivalent to three to six months of expenditure where possible. 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 Charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. Although this level was not achieved during the year, reflecting investment into facilities and increased operational costs, efforts will continue in 2025 to rebuild unrestricted reserves.
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 Trustees remain focused on the continued development and sustainability of the East Bierley site. Priorities for the forthcoming year include:
Further improvement of facilities, including enhancements to pitches, changing areas, and accessibility.
Securing additional external funding and sponsorships to strengthen the Association’s financial position and support capital projects.
Developing new income streams, such as community events, facility hire, and partnerships with local organisations.
Progressing long-term site development plans in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Sport England, the local authority, and member clubs.
Ensuring environmental sustainability, with consideration for energy efficiency and responsible land management.
The Trustees are confident that these plans will ensure the site continues to provide lasting benefit to the community and support the advancement of amateur sport, health, and wellbeing in East Bierley and surrounding areas.
The Charity is a company limited by guarantee , incorporated on 24 February 2016 and registered as a charity on 14 December 2016 .
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 charity's preference is that all trustees have an interest, as well as the skills required to offer and assist the charity's development. There is no specific policy in place for inducting new trustees into the charity but is something which will be considered moving forward as it grows.
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 directors as a board agree and deliver the strategy and policies of the charity. The key objectives are to manage the site and its facilities and to also ensure that it is able to meet all its liabilities from a running cost perspective.
The organisational structure is detailed as follows:
Members
The liability of members is limited to £1 – this means that if the Charity dissolved each member would only have to provide £1 towards the cost of any liabilities (Article 3).
Members must be organisations (Article 6.4). However, the articles of the Charity state that if a member is an unincorporated organisation it needs to nominate a representative to act on its behalf (Article 6.3).
The current members of the Charity are:
Birkenshaw Blue Dogs Rugby League Club – open age (acting by Steve Housecroft)
Birkenshaw Blue Dogs Rugby League Club – juniors (acting by Andrew Redmond and Bolu Fagborun)
Gomersal & Cleckheaton Football Club - open age (acting by Nathan Page )
Gomersal & Cleckheaton Football Club - juniors (acting by Chris Marsden)
The Charity also has two independent trustees who have the same voting power as the member clubs and these include:
Independent (acting Andrew Walker)
Independent (acting Simon Armitage)
(Article 6.2)
The members can appoint trustees. The Articles of the Charity say that each member can appoint at least 2 trustees who are themselves members, or are members of a current member (Article 8.3).
New members must be approved by a special resolution of the Charity (i.e. with the approval of 75% of the current members (article 6.4)). It is worth a quick line as to what constitutes a special resolution – this is passed if 75% or more of members voting at a general meeting approve the matter.
Trustees (article 8)
The trustees have control of the Charity, its property and funds. Trustees (other than independents (see below)) are appointed by members as referred to above and are removed in accordance with Article 8.5. There is to be a minimum of 5 trustees. Currently the Charity has 8.
The trustees can appoint the secretary, chairman, treasurer and can delegate their functions to committees. Each committee must be made up of at least one trustee. I refer to these board appointments later in the note.
The trustees have the responsibility of keeping the accounts and annual returns.
The trustee board must have at least two (subject to a maximum of three) independent trustees who are not also members. This is to ensure fairness and help in managing conflicts. Such trustees are appointed by the other trustees in accordance with Article 8.2. They are removed in accordance with Article 8.5.
The charity recognises that it has a responsibility to provide guidance and assist new trustees in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities. This is done in accordance with Charity Commission guidance.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of East Bierley Community Sports Association (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 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. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
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 Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
East Bierley Community Sports Association is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 20 Owl Lane, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF12 7RQ.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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.
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.
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.
Charitable Expenditure
Charitable Expenditure
Charitable events costs
Kitchen supplies
Advertising
Repairs and maintenance
Light and heat
Insurance
Legal and professional fees
Accountancy fees
Bank charges and interest
Sundries
Loan interest
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
No remuneration was paid to key management personnel.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.
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).