ANNUAL REPORT 2016
SCOPE OF REPORT
This is the report of the CSSC Tyne, Wear and Northumberland (TWN) Area
Association Committee for the period 1 January to 31 December 2016.
TWN is an Area of the CSSC without facilities. Any CSSC member who works
or lives within the NE, SR1-7 or TD12 & 15 postal districts is a member of the
TWN Area. In addition the TWN Management Committee has agreed that any
retired civil servant who worked in the Area, but lives outside the boundaries,
can choose to remain a member of TWN and any linked members who live
outside the boundaries but are linked to members of the Area can be
members of the Area, if this is the preference of the linked member.
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CONTENTS
Officers
3
Meetings
3
Area Finances
3
Sporting activities
4
Social events
7
Bottom Up subsidies
7
Corporate memberships
7
Prize draws
7
Annual membership subsidy
7
Health and Wellbeing
8
Lifelong learning
8
CSSC TWN Caravan
8
Chairman’s conclusion
9
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OFFICIALS
PRESIDENT
-
Bernie Whiting
VICE PRESIDENT
-
Alan Fisher
LIFE VICE PRESIDENT
-
John Sinnett
CHAIRMAN
-
David Wells*
VICE CHAIRMAN
-
Masood Mohammed
SECRETARY
-
Honore Blenkinsop
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
-
Dave Lee
TREASURER
-
Sheila Ramsay
ASSISTANT TREASURER
-
Joanne Lockey
PUBLICITY OFFICER
-
Allyson Pattison/Marc Hepburn
OFFICERS
* also Chairman of CSSC North East Region
MEETINGS
TWN’s AGM was held on 23rd March 2016 at the Irish Centre, Newcastle.
During the year the Management Committee (MC) met four times, the Sports & Social subCommittee (SSC) met five times and the Finance sub-committee met three times.
A successful ‘Policy and planning day’ for all MC, SSC and TWN volunteer administrators
was held in October 2016 to review the Area’s policies and to set the budget for 2017.
The Vice Chairman, and a management committee member represented the Area at the
CSSC National Annual Conference and AGM, with the Chairman representing CSSC North
East Region.
AREA FINANCES
As an ‘Area without facilities’, we receive a grant from CSSC Head Office based on the
number of CSSC members they have recorded in the TWN area. The per capita rate of
grants to Areas for 2016 was £12.75. This resulted in this area receiving a total of £63,359
(2015: £60,582). Together with reserves brought forward from the previous year, the grant
was used to subsidise various sporting and social events see Fig. 1.
A full set of accounts for the year to 31 December 2016 is available on the CSSC website.
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Fig. 1: Subsidies 2016
SPORTING ACTIVITIES - £4,649
TWN supports members taking part in local sports teams - see reports of their activities
below:
CSSC Angling
We had another a very successful year on the Shore Angling front. We sent 2 teams to the
NOSAC Sea Angling final held in Sunderland on 26th November where we WON the team
event. We took 2nd & 4th places in the individual CSSC event and also took 2nd place in the
RCSL individual event.
The region supported 3 qualifying competitions which were used to select the team for the
National CSSC Shore Angling Final in Newcastle - we finished 3rd in the team event and
took 1st and 3rd places in the individual event. This year we sent a team to Bridlington for
the Annual Inter Regional Comp v Yorkshire Region. We were defeated in the team event
but occupied 2nd and 3rd places individually.
Basketball
The club is enjoying a positive period on the court, enjoying success in 40 of at the last 50
games played collectively. This season the Tynemet Basketball League have restructured
the local leagues to 3 divisions. The Cyclones currently sit in 2nd place in Division 2 with a
record of 9 wins and 3 losses, they have 4 league games left to play.
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The Hurricanes are currently in 4th place
in Division 3 with an impressive record of 9
wins and 1 loss this season. They have
games in hand and are well placed to
make a challenge for promotion with
another 8 league games to play.
The league fixtures are due to be
completed by the end of March and there
are high hopes that both teams will
compete for silverware towards the
business end of the season.
In the cup competitions both teams were
eliminated in close semi-final ties.
Both teams will be entered into an end of
season Handicap cup competition in which
they have had success in previous years.
A number of players also played at the CSSC
National Mixed Basketball Event in Stirling in
the CSSC Team that were event Champions
and also secured both Men's and Ladies MVP
awards.
The club plays an active role in supporting the
officiating of games and is also the most active
club in the league with regards to filling referee
responsibilities. We also hope to train
additional table officials to enable us to
continue to support the infrastructure of the
league.
The club continues to grow and now has 27 registered players between the 2 teams. There
has been a noticeable rise in interest from potential new players which is enabling this
growth.
Cricket
The 1st XI had another reasonable season, with some good performances but a lack of
consistency prevented them pushing for a higher position in Division 1 and a 2nd half dip in
form found them ending in the lower half of the division, albeit without any risk of relegation.
The 2nd XI had a much improved season, with some exceptional performances allowing us
to beat teams much higher in our division. A recruitment campaign encouraged a number of
new people to play and this was reflected in the team’s performance and ability to put out a
side every week bar one.
The Midweek team had another very successful season, finishing 3rd in our first season in
Division 1 of the North East Midweek League. This is a tough division with some high quality
opposition so 3rd place was an extremely good result for the team.
As ever, the new season is starting with new challenges, with changes of captains for the 1st
& Midweek teams and the loss of a number of players to age, injury and moves from the
area. We’re again trying to recruit and plan to put out 3 teams again. A major
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Northumberland league merger and re-structure is possible for the 2018 season, so it’s
important that our 1st & 2nd XI do well this season to position themselves in the right division
in the new league in 2018.
Over 40s Football
The 2015/16 season was a bit of a non-event in terms of competing in the cup and the
league.
We ended up mid table for much of the season
we didn’t have a
dedicated goalkeeper,
plus there were key
injuries elsewhere.
We were also beaten in
the early round of our
Divisional Cup, having
got to the final in the
previous year.
2016/17 started off inconsistently, we are currently in mid table but we have games in hand
on all of those above us. If we win them we could be in contention for promotion – but we
need to win them!!
Team numbers are still very healthy and we have now got TWO dedicated goalkeepers!, As
ever we continue to receive great support from CSSC TWN, so a huge thank you to them.
If anyone wants to know more about the team contact [email protected].
CSSC Volleyball
Brighton Beach 2016 - Due to most of
our men being selected to represent
the RCSL National side in the CSSC
tournament, we were only able to
enter 2 mixed teams (no mens or
ladies teams). However, we
accounted ourselves very well and out
of 19 teams we finished 4th and 10th
respectively, with our 4th place team
only narrowly losing to the eventual
winners (RCSL National Mixed) in the
semi-final 21-15.
Loughborough 2016 – Despite losing half our usual TWN team to the RCSL National side in
this competition, we were still able to field a full men’s and ladies’ team including 3 new TWN
members who had never played volleyball before. This is one of the toughest tournaments
in the volleyball calendar, and although both teams didn't qualify for the cup competition on
the second day, we did play some really good, entertaining volleyball. Our new players
enjoyed the 2 days of volleyball and one of them has now joined the NESLC Volleyball club
and will be a regular at future CSSC volleyball competitions.
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SOCIAL EVENTS - £15,518
During 2016, the Area subsidised a variety of social events for our members, their families
and friends. These events were organised by members of the Committee, the Sports &
Social sub-Committee and other CSSC members from the Area and included, for example,
football matches, International cricket, theatre trips, concerts and Mystery Beer Trips. 1585
members received an average subsidy of £8.39 to attend these events.
BOTTOM UP APPLICATIONS (BU’s) - £23,816
The BU initiative provides subsidies to members who participate in events organised and
administered by another member. If certain conditions are satisfied, the Area’s Sports and
Social Committee will agree a subsidy for each of the CSSC TWN members taking part.
January–November 2016: 154 social and 40 sport BU applications were received,
considered and processed. £15,274 was paid to Heads of Parties as subsidies for the 1548
members taking part in their events – an average of £9.87 per member participant. Events
included theatre and restaurant trips, adventure weekends and golf, to name but a few.
December 2016: 87 applications were received. A total of £8,542 was paid to 818 members,
meaning each member received an average subsidy of £10.44 for their event. Events mainly
comprised eating out and festive functions, and also included some city breaks.
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP - £1,526
TWN buys a corporate membership of Matfen Hall Aquavitae Spa and offers members the
chance to visit the spa at vastly reduced rates (£10 for a day pass and £35 for a spa
package including back massage and afternoon tea). Guests are also welcome. Corporate
membership to the spa and leisure facilities is available five days per week (Monday to
Friday). The Area also buys ‘Spa at Ramside’ Twilight Packages at a corporate rate to
offer to members.
The area holds a number of corporate cards for Alnwick Garden with each card entitling 4
adults free admission to the Alnwick Garden (castle entrance fee is extra) and free parking this is a fantastic saving. Up to 4 children per adult are also allowed in free of charge.
PRIZE DRAWS - £5,490
TWN purchases tickets for locally based sporting teams and events and offer tickets as free
Prize Draws to members who register an interest. A total of 2419 members are in the prize
draws (individual numbers per prize draw in brackets below). We currently purchase two
tickets per game for most Newcastle United FC games (467) and have season tickets for
Sunderland AFC (225), Newcastle Falcons (320), Newcastle Eagles (210) and Durham
County Cricket Club (312). We also have a membership pass for Newcastle & Sedgefield
races (367) and hold a monthly draw for entry for two members and their guests at Matfen
Hall Aquavitae spa (518).
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SUBSIDY SCHEME- £1,422
TWN offered a subsidy to any CSSC TWN members joining Friends of Tyneside Cinema,
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), National Art Pass, Historic Housing Association (HHA),
Beamish, Centre for Life or the National Trust. 99 members took advantage of this scheme.
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HEALTH and WELLBEING - £1,422
TWN received 96 applications from members, each of whom received a subsidy of £15
towards their health and wellbeing activities (e.g. tennis, badminton, gym membership).
Individuals could apply for more than one subsidy per year.
LIFELONG LEARNING- £186
14 applications were received during 2016 resulting in £186 being paid to members who
embarked on courses such as Cooking, Self-defence, Navigation and Hills skills, Vehicle
maintenance, and Art lessons to name but a few. Individuals were able to apply for more
than one course per year and can claim a subsidy of up to £15.
CARAVAN UPDATE
The TWN Willerby Aspen Elegance six berth caravan is sited on the multi award winning
Seafield Caravan Park in Seahouses. The caravan is available for CSSC members to hire
for full or split weeks.
When determining weekly hire prices, TWN takes into consideration loan payments to
national CSSC (who granted us the money to purchase the caravan), repairs and
maintenance costs; whilst ensuring they are at least £100 below those set by Seafield for its
other hire caravans.
The area maintains a separate account for the caravan. Total income for the year was
£14,586; total expenditure was £13,999. This resulted in a surplus £587 which is included in
reserves for ongoing repairs and maintenance and the eventual replacement of the caravan.
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CHAIRMAN’S CONCLUSION
Another busy year serving our members!
CSSC TWN has over five and a half thousand members and around 40 volunteers. So
where else can I start than by thanking each and every one of these volunteers for doing
what they do?
THANK YOU!
We receive a grant of around £63,000. Our goal is to spend this on a range of activities to
keep members active and obtain best value from their membership. The fact we have such a
large membership and that it is increasing is, I think, a sign that we are doing something
right. I hope you agree, but if not, please let me know!
As the Annual Report shows, 2016 was another busy year and I won’t repeat what is already
shown in this report. I hope you enjoyed some, or many of our events and offers.
Congratulations if you won a prize draw and better luck next year if you didn’t!
Keep active and keep enjoying all CSSC has to offer!
If you have an interest in what CSSC TWN does and any spare capacity to help, please give
your contact details to any of the officials or committee members at the AGM.
Regards
David Wells
Chairman
CSSC TWN
Did you know….
CSSC has many offers such as cashback on pre-loaded cards at major retailers (including
supermarkets), discounts with major businesses nationally, free Tastecard membership,
reduced price cinema tickets and many more. For example, our Chairman receives over
£300 per year cash back simply through loading his shopping card. Not a bad return for a
£47.40 per membership fee!
CSSC also has a ‘member get member’ incentive. For every new recruit that a member
signs up, the member will receive a £10 shopping voucher. As well as the Civil Service, new
members can come from any part of the public sector, e.g. teachers, police, local authority
employees, the health service etc. In addition, up to three family or friends can become
‘linked’ members.
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Please tell non-members about the benefits of being a
CSSC TWN member
More members = more grant money!
More grant money = more membership benefits!
More membership benefits = more volunteer
organisers & helpers needed to run them!
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