Hardwick Sports & Social Club Report for Annual Parish Meeting
Legal name & status: Hardwick Sports & Social Club Ltd – IPS 29242R
Hardwick Sports and Social Club Limited (the Club) was registered as a limited company under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 on 25th June 2001 and operates under approved registered Club rules.
The Club operates as a co-operative for the benefit of its members. The Club rules do not allow any distribution of profits, or assets on a winding up to be made to the members.
The Club complies with the legal requirements of the IPS registration, publishes annual accounts presented to and approved by its members and makes an annual return to the Financial Services Conduct Authority.
Lease:
The Club occupies the Pavilion under the terms of a 10 year lease from Hardwick Parish Council, negotiated with and signed by both parties on 15th May 2014. We previously held a lease under which a peppercorn rent of £1 per annum was payable but we now pay rent assessed at a commercial market value with an agreed rent review and break clauses.
Additionally the Club now meets the running costs of the Pavilion (including dressing rooms & toilets) and demise as defined within the lease and registered plan.
Licences:
The Club is licensed to sell alcohol and has a Club Registration Certificate which permits sale of alcohol within the club until to 2am on special occasions and other events as determined by the management committee.
The Club is licensed for the preparation and sale of food and the Club Manager and other members of staff are trained and hold the appropriate food preparation & hygiene certificates.
The Club holds all necessary licences for TV & music broadcast including a public performance & copyright licences issued by the Performing Rights Society for public broadcast of music (live & recorded), digital, recorded and satellite TV which is displayed in the Club on multiple Plasma displays.
Any profits generated in the operation of the licensed premises are re-invested in the Club for the benefit of its members.
Management
The Club is run by its officers and management committee who are elected annually by the membership holders.
The Committee meets on the third Monday of each month.
Membership:
As a licensed premises operating under a Club Registration Certificate and as an IPS, it is a requirement that persons over 18 become a member to comply. In order to become a club member an individual must be proposed and seconded by existing Club members, new member pay a subscription fee currently £10 per annum (£5 renewal before the 28th of February) or alternatively Life membership is available on payment of £75.
Applications for membership are considered each calendar month at the meeting of the Management Committee.
Most of our members live in Hardwick with an increasing number coming from adjoining villages as a result of attending events and other activities held within the premises .
The Club encourages as wide a membership as is possible and the members living outside of a 5 mile radius of the Club usually have familial links to Hardwick and the proximate villages.
As at the time of preparation of this report 13/05/2016 the Club membership system is undergoing modernisation. In the past year there has been a small decline overall, however the new system will enable to club to widen its membership ability, make application smoother, and this is likely to increase by year end 2016 as members associated with the Cricket & Football Clubs rejoin as their new seasons get underway.
Activities
The Club supports sporting and other activities in the village including making financial contributions to local community activities and charities nominated by members and approved by the management committee.
In the past year we have contributed to:
Hardwick Football Club
Hardwick Harriers Football club
Hardwick & Caldecote Cricket Club – providing new cricket balls
Hardwick Doctors car service – providing a donation to purchase aids to get in and out of cars
Macmillan Cancer care – supporting and donating to a charity evening which raised over £1500
Ongoing donation boxes for guide dogs for the blind and the lifeboat association
Donation to Santa’s chosen charity after the children’s Christmas party
The Club opens 5pm each evening Mon – Thursday, 4pm on Fridays and from midday at weekends.
HSSC has a Cribbage team, 2 x 9 ball Pool teams, a Darts Team and the Hardwick Friendship Club has a free let and meets every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm.
The Women’s institute also ran a darts team from the premises.
The County Darts team bases itself from HSSC starting this year.
The Club currently has one computer with fast internet and Wi-Fi access provided by South Cambridgeshire District Council and managed by Hardwick Parish Council. The computers are used extensively by members, members’ children and other villagers.
Following donation a playstation has been installed along with a selection of toys for all ages.
Improvements 2015/2016
The Club has had extensive refurbishment internally over the past year with full redecoration and new furniture.
This has greatly updated the environment making it a smart and pleasurable venue.
Recent improvements have been made to the covered entrance area by the Parish Council and we are in the process of replenishing the planters and purchasing hanging baskets for the exterior.
Staff
Jerry Burford was appointed as Club Manager in 2014 which has proved a success. Jerry works alongside myself and the committee and is a popular member of the community. Our staff are all local residents who are friendly and welcome and serve our members and their guests.
Recent staff changes have meant we have said goodbye temporarily to Rachel Rason who is travelling to India to volunteer teach. The club has supported this venture with a £500 donation.
We believe that HSSC provides a warm welcome to its members and everyone who attends.
We pride ourselves on the diverse age groups that use the facilities and the rapport between ourselves and external groups.
For all of us, it’s great to see on any given day of the week, our members socialising, chatting with friends, reading the newspaper, playing indoor sports or just enjoying a drink watching the television.
Which they can now request in a special Hardwick Sports and Social Club glass!!
We hope this is also the opinion of The Parish Council and its members.
Janie Ward – Club Secretary
On behalf of Hardwick Sports & Social Club Management Committee
13th May 2016