MHBC is now (1st Feb 2024) registered as a "Charitable Incorporated Organisation" (CIO). This page provides some background information and contains answers to questions raised by members..

Q: What is a Charitable Organisation?
Broadly speaking, a Charitable Organisation is one which operates on a non-profit making basis for public benefit. Its definition is considerably wider than what many people think of as "a charity". Many Bridge clubs, as well as organisation like the Scouts, Countryside Alliance, Vegetarian Society, and private schools are registered. Locally, Harborough Theatre and Harborough Cinema are CIOs, not to mention most village halls. It confers a range of financial advantages and potential; opportunities not available to non-registered organisations.

Q: Why MHBC?
Our current premises are an ideal location, but very expensive. Over our two evenings we barely break even which means our finances are quite fragile.  Any drop in numbers, increase in rent, or need for replacement equipment would leave us in a precarious position. Many face-to-face bridge clubs have closed since Covid. As a CIO we get a 30% discount on the rental charge, which gives us a much better chance of survival.

Our teaching program is proving very successful, but it is a huge strain as we are reliant on members to set up, deliver, provide logistics (pre-dealt hands, tables, display equipment etc), manage and support in many ways. It is a prolonged and regular requirement. The financial benefits from being CIO enable us to more easily support and continue this training, for example accessing paid-for help with outside trainers, or moving the venue to our existing location to ease the logistics, and purchase audio-visual equipment needed. In turn this opens up the possibility of running other practice and training sessions for members

In the longer term, if the club does become larger with multiple playing, practice and training sessions, as a CIO there are many organisations that would help us with funding to purchase or take on a lease for our own premises. 

Q: In what respect is what MHBC does "charitable"?
The EBU definition, agreed by the Charity Commission is that bridge is charitable as a mind sport in much the same way as other amateur sport is charitable:

"By providing facilities, opportunities to find partners, regular and frequent playing sessions, and competitions, the organisation enables people to play duplicate contract bridge, a mind sport that has been shown to have significant health and social benefits. As a partnership game of incomplete information it requires deductive, analytical, reasoning and cooperative skills. Bridge has been shown to improve physical and mental health by deferring aging and dementia, and combats social isolation and loneliness by providing a social environment regardless of age, gender, physical ability or background." 

Q: How does it affect members?
On the surface, not at all. If the club ever got itself into a financial mess then you would have no personal liability (you are liable at the moment, although you perhaps don't realise that!). The flip-side to that members no longer own a share of the clubs assets, they now belong to the CIO.

Q: How does it affect the running of the club?
The committee members have become "trustees", with the responsibility to manage the CIO and (importantly) to report to the Charities Commission each year with a set of accounts. This does mean a little additional work from the trustees to manage the finances, but being regularly monitored by a third party would help keep us on the right track.

We have also had to adopt a new and more detailed constitution that meets the needs of the Charities Commission. Although this look alarmingly long and complex, it is essentially the same as we already had.

Q: What are the disadvantages?
1. As a CIO we have clearly defined activities, so we can not easily change from being a bridge club to being, for the sake of argument, a bridge and cooking club.
2. As a member you no longer own a share of the club's assets.

Other questions.
If you have any questions, points to raise, or other things you feel should be posted here, please contact me by email, WhatsApp, phone - or in person. I will try to summarise it and post it here

Many thanks for taking the time to read this page. 
David North, Chairman. 07899 064230, davidnorth99@hotmail.com