Norfolk County Bridge Centre

proposal Suzanne Gill, Chairman & NCBA

Management Committee

Presentation to NCBA Affiliated Clubs

28th August 2015

Aims for the meeting

• To review the Prospectus

• To present an initial Business Plan

• To gather the views of the Clubs and answer any questions raised

• To clarify what is needed for the decision at the AGM on 18th October

Key points in the prospectus

• Norfolk Bridge will flourish when it has its own premises where clubs can play and meet one another; teachers can offer courses to new players of all ages; and social events can be held

• To fund the lease of premises and ensure sustainability, NCBA will need to obtain charitable status for its public benefit and educational purposes

Becoming a charitable trust means …

1. New structure for NCBA • Board of Trustees • CEO / charity officers • New constitution

2. Application to Charities Commission

• Deal with queries; may take 6 months

3. EBU clubs converting to Trusts

• Hitchin, Bath, Oxford, York

• Hampshire & Isle of Wight

4. Financial benefits

• Include 80% relief from business rates; reduced VAT on utility bills; gift aid on subscriptions and donations

The benefits of our own premises

• Fully resourced, attractive and dedicated facility

• Guaranteed venue for clubs

• Dedicated bridge education centre

• Greater range of activities possible for all ages of players

• Improve the profile of Norfolk Bridge

INITIAL BUSINESS PLAN

To lease 2,500 sq. feet with car-parking for 60 cars …

Some assumptions and some possibilities

1. Current situation • 22 affiliated clubs; 16 non-affiliated

• Evidence of substantial demand for bridge education

• Unknown number of active/lapsed players

2. Income and expenditure • NCBA - £34k reserves; <£2k surplus

(2015)

• Clubs – income from membership and table money to cover costs of venue hire, etc.

• Income being generated from bridge teaching and expenditure on venue hire, equipment, etc.

3. Leasing premises (S. 4 initial business plan)

• At £14 p/sqft = £35k p.a. + running costs

• At £17 p/sqft = £42,500 p.a. + running costs

4. Meeting the costs (S.5 initial business plan)

• Income generation assumptions

• 21 sessions a week; 40-50 weeks a year

• Extra County bridge sessions

• 9 sessions to bridge teachers/classes

• 6 + sessions taken by clubs

Two illustrative income generation options

1. ‘Status Quo’• Session hire £50 for all users

• Table money to remain at average £2. (40p approx. for PTP) of that a 50p charge to NCBA for equipment, etc.

• Extra county bridge sessions

Total income = £42,540 p.a.

2. ‘Mixed Funding’ • Session hire £70 for bridge

education classes

• Session hire for affiliated clubs £50

• Increase equipment fee £1

• Extra county bridge sessions

Total income = £60,940 p.a.

EXAMPLE - Option 1 ‘Status Quo’ [cannot include running costs as no building has been identified yet]

This would be based on a session hire charge of £50, averaging current range of club payments for venue hire. There would be no distinction between education charges and club charges.   [£50 x 15s x 40w = £30,000 p.a.]  Table money, excluding pay-to-play remains at its average current level i.e. £2.00. Assume the 6 affiliated clubs taking space each week will bring an average of 8 tables each session [= 192 players per week] 50 weeks with a 50p charge going to NCBA for equipment, usage, etc.  [£0.5 x 192 people x 50w = £4,800 p.a.]  Total income without county bridge sessions = £34,800 Table money from, say, 3 weekly extra county sessions, assuming to start with 6 tables @ £ 2.15 (exPTP) [£2.15 x 72 x 50w = £7,740]  

Total income = £42,540 a year.

EXAMPLE - Option 2 ‘MIXED FUNDING’[cannot include running costs as no building has been identified yet]

Charge Bridge Education teachers £70 per session. [£70 x 9s x 40w = £25,200 p.a.] Charge affiliated clubs £50 per session. [£50 x 6s x 50w = £15,000 p.a.]  Increase equipment fee to £1 a session. [£1 x 192 people x 50w = £9,600 p.a.]   Income generated: £49,600 p.a.

 

Plus Table money from, say, 3 sessions of county bridge assuming to start with 6 tables for 50 weeks at £3.15 per person (exPTP).

[£3.15 x 72 people x 50w = £11,340]

 Total income = £60,940 a year.

FOR DISCUSSION…

1. How could this proposal benefit the development of bridge in Norfolk?

2. How could your club benefit from this proposal?

3. Are there specific questions you would like answered before your club decides if its members wants to support or reject the proposal at the AGM on the 18th October?

NEXT STEPS

1. The Management Committee will respond to all specific questions by email asap

2. Each Club needs to consider and discuss the proposal with all its members

3. Each Club needs to make a decision so that the representative can vote on the proposal at the AGM on 18th October

4. Please ensure that your Club’s view are represented at the vote