The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025.
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 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).
The objects of the charity (listed below) are for the benefit of the public and, in particular, of County Durham and its surrounding areas:
To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for the playing of cricket and other sports capable of improving health (“facilities” in this clause 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 the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving conditions of life;
To advance the education of children and young people through such means as the trustees think fit in accordance with the law of charity;
For the general purposes of such charitable bodies or for such other exclusively charitable purposes in each case as the trustees may from time to time decide.
Relating directly to the objects of the charity, the strategic focus areas provide a framework around which operational delivery is shaped. The work of the charity falls three main categories which are:
Education and Training
Health and Wellbeing
Community Cohesion
The charity supports communities to live happier and healthier lifestyles, while inspiring people to fulfil their potential using the game of cricket. Working alongside Durham Cricket and the Durham Cricket Board we aim to use the inspiring setting of Emirates Riverside to raise the aspirations of people in the North East. It operates in the community to deliver a range of health, education, community cohesion and cricket development projects, programmes and events, to thousands of people across the year.
The trustees have have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
The foundations work is focussed around two key objectives: to ensure recreational cricket in the region thrives, and we design and run programmes around the real needs of the community, investing in people’s futures and creating opportunities that go beyond the game.
Through our initiatives we reach and impact the lives of thousands of people within the region through the power of cricket.
We delivered in 191 schools with nearly 24,000 children taking part.
We had 530 junior teams, incorporating 4500 children playing within our leagues.
We have 101 cricket clubs incorporating over 5000 adult players.
Over 700 participants took part in our community programmes such as
Our street cricket hubs
Our Wicketz Programme
Our disability hubs
Our Visually Impaired cricket team
Our Walking cricket hubs
Our craft classes
Using Sport England’s Social Value calculator, we generated £57,756,400 worth of Social Value.
During the year a deficit of £132,901 was generated (2024: £550,158 surplus). The balance sheet shows total funds carried forward of £417,847 (2024: £551,382) of which £417,847 (2024: £550,748) relates to unrestricted funds and £634 (2024: £634) and relates to restricted funds.
For further details please see the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and supporting notes.
Despite a difficult couple of years, the Foundation merged with the Durham Cricket Board on June 1, 2024 and has added financial strength to it’s operations as a result of the merger. For the coming 12 months, the focus is on the delivering programs for which funding has already been secured, whilst evaluating new opportunities given the additional resources of the combined organisation. Additional sources of funding will hopefully be achieved to increase the number of programmes available for delivery. Consequently, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
The purpose of this Reserves Policy is to ensure that Durham Cricket Foundation maintains adequate financial reserves to safeguard its sustainability, support strategic objectives, and manage financial risks. This policy provides a framework for establishing, maintaining, and using reserves in a transparent and responsible manner.
The Board aims to maintain reserves equivalent to not less than three months and no greater than 6 months of normal operating expenditure.
In determining the appropriate level of reserves, the Board will consider:
The Foundation’s risk profile and income stability
Forecasted expenditure and cash flow requirements
Existing financial commitments
Future strategic plans
The target range will be reviewed annually as part of the budgeting and business planning process.
At the year end, free reserves (total funds less restricted funds and designated funds and fixed assets) are in surplus by £396,129 (2024: deficit £549,058).
Risk Management
The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
A regular review of the risks the charity may face
The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the review
The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
Changes to the economic climate are identified in the risk assessment as a threat to future funding. Ensuring proper procedures are in place with regard to working with young people is a further risk area.
The risk register is review bi-monthly firstly by the Audit and Risk Committee, then ratified by the board.
Governing document
Durham County Cricket Foundation is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital and a Registered Charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. (Charity number: 1127721; Company number: 06756096). It was incorporated on 24th November 2008 and commenced trading on 1st October 2009.
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 process for appointing trustees is set out in the Articles of Association.
Following a review of the foundation’s skills matrix, new trustees are either headhunted by the board, or positions are advertised. Once a suitable trustee is identified, the nominations Committee shall make written recommendations to the Board as to the identity of candidates they would recommend are appointed as Trustees, and shall give reasons for such recommendations. The Nominations Committee may not recommend any person for appointment unless that person has indicated their willingness to be appointed as a Trustee.
The Board shall consider the recommendations made by the Nominations Committee, but need not accept those recommendations. All Appointed Trustees shall be appointed by resolution of the Board.
New trustees undertake an induction which includes a full briefing on the finances of the charity, an overview of the structure of cricket within Durham and the opportunity to visit one of the projects that is funded by the charity.
Staff are seconded to the charity by Durham Cricket CIC who also provide support services.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Durham County Cricket Foundation 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
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; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity 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 charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Durham County Cricket Foundation (the charity) for the year ended 30 September 2025.
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.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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.
Durham County Cricket Foundation is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground, Riverside, Chester-le-Street, Co.Durham, DH3 3QR.
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. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The Foundation entered the period with enough reserves and support to meet it’s obligations for the current programmes. With a feasibility study underway and potential funding opportunities arising from this, they have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Funds held by the charity are either:
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Designated funds – those unrestricted funds allocated for a specific project or purpose by the trustees.
Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Surplus funds held are deposited with the Co-operative Bank to earn interest prior to utilisation by the charitable company.
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Income received in advance of provision of services is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.
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 under charitable activities and includes direct costs which are attributable to specific activities (note 3) and governance costs which are associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity (note 5). Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, these costs are apportioned across cost categories based on an estimate of the proportion of time spent on those activities.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
Tangible fixed assets are held at historic purchase cost less accumulated depreciation. Cost includes the original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use.
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.
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.
In preparing these financial statements the trustees do not consider there were any significant areas of judgement that were required in applying the charity's accounting policies as set out above.
Grants received
Charitable expenditure 1
Charitable expenditure 1
Direct programme costs
Insurance
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
Expenses of £nil (2024: £nil) were reimbursed to the trustees during the year.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
In the prior year up until June 2024 staff costs were recharged by Durham Cricket CIC as staff were seconded to the charity. Since then the charity has setup its own payroll.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.
The restricted funds relate to grants given for specific programmes within the work of the Foundation and are for the following purposes:
Liontrust:
Funding specifically for the Kenya Volunteer project, Let’s Be Women North East and various school engagement programmes.
Active Minds & Active Bodies:
Funding received from Community Foundation and National Lottery for the delivery of Active Bodies / Active Minds project which supports vulnerable and at-risk older people in Chester le Street.
Active Ageing Programme:
Funding received from Karbon Homes and FAF for the delivery of the active aging programme.
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.
Funds have been designated as follows:
Capital Reserve: this reserve has been specifically created to fund future capital spend, including projected investment in CRM systems and replacement of essential IT equipment. The reserve will be released in line with the depreciation or write down in the capital items purchased.
Contingency Fund: represents ring fencing of monies to allow the orderly completion of program activity in the event of the wind up of the Foundation. This is in line with the Foundation’s Reserves policy as set out in the Trustees Report
The charitable company does not have a share capital and is limited by guarantee. Each member of the charitable company undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of it being wound up
Durham Cricket CIC supplied staffing and other services to Durham County Cricket Foundation to the value of £64,187 (2024: £41,859) during the year, of which £5,415 (2024: £nil) remained outstanding at the end of the year.
Durham County Cricket Foundation supplied staffing and other services to Durham Cricket CIC to the value of £16,616 (2024: £5,363) during the year, of which £8,571 (2024: £nil) remained outstanding at the end of the year.
Although Durham County Cricket Foundation is structurally and financially independent from Durham Cricket CIC, the support of Durham Cricket CIC is important to the continuing efficient operation of the Foundation. The Articles of Association of the Foundation state that up to two individuals from Durham Cricket CIC may be trustees.