Many of our equestrian disciplines and organisations operate through a club environment. Please visit the relevant Member Body website for specific information on their structures and activities. However whether you are involved in running a Pony Club, Riding Club, Vaulting or Horseball Club we hope the general information published here will benefit you and your members.
Community Amateur Sports Club scheme (CASC)
All sports clubs play a valuable role in the community. The CASC scheme recognises this important role by distinguishing between clubs and businesses for rates and tax purposes, ensuring money is kept in sports clubs. Both property and non-property owning clubs can significantly benefit from the scheme. The key benefits of CASC registration include:
- 80% mandatory business rate relief. Local authorities can offer up to 100% relief to clubs at their discretion.
- The ability to raise funds from individuals under Gift Aid. A registered CASC can reclaim up to £28 in tax for every £100 donated, though at the moment this does not apply to all types of donations.
- CASCs are exempt from Corporation Tax on profits derived from trading activities if their trading income is under £30,000 pa.
- Profits derived from property income are also exempt for CASCs if gross property income is under £20,000 pa, of particular relevance following the abolition of the nil rate band.
- CASCs whose income does not exceed these thresholds will no longer be required to complete an annual Corporation Tax return.
Relief on business rates alone are estimated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to be worth £2,000 per year. Whilst this only benefits facility owning clubs, non-facility owning clubs can still significantly benefit from Gift Aid and exemption from Corporation Tax.
We plan to publish case studies in due course that demonstrate how equestrian clubs have benefited from the CASC scheme. More information can be found at www.cascinfo.co.uk.
Sport England's Promoting Sport Toolkit
Sport England has developed a range of online tools designed to help clubs promote themselves. Although very general there is a lot of information and guidance that equestrian clubs should find useful including:
- General 'how to' guides
- Guides on promotional techniques
- How to use technology to promote sport
- How to use the media to promote sport
Sports Marketing Network
By sharing best practice across all sports the Sports Marketing Network aims to help sports clubs and organisations to make themselves more 'vibrant, viable and visible' through publishing newsletters, running workshops and organising seminars.
