COMMUNITY GROUP REPORTS
as presented to the Annual Parish Meeting, May 2026
Brill Sports and Social Club
Purpose
The Objects of the Club are to promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Brill and the wider community, the provision of amateur sport, the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupations for individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or social or economic circumstances and in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving life for said inhabitants and the public at large.
Achievements
Taken from Chairman’s report to BSSC AGM:
As always, I’d like to kick off on behalf of all our members to thank your Club Committee for all their support and efforts over the last 12 months. As I say each year this support is vital and without which the Club wouldn’t be able to run in its current format, so thank-you Ryan, Michelle, Kim, Sarah, Mike, Jon and Jules.
We’ve provided handouts of our financial performances, I can take any questions on this shortly, but I wanted to start with some high-level insight which I hope provides some helpful context and understanding in how your club operates.
The Clubs overall turnover for the last 3 years was £114K in 2023, £165K in 2024 (this included our football foundation maintenance equipement grant) and last year in 2025 it was £135.5K. Business threshold for VAT payment qualification was increased in the Autumn 2025 budget from the previous £85,000 to £90,000 so the Club continues to pay VAT under the flat rate scheme at 6.5% on our trading income.
I guess on one hand our turnover trading figures do sound positive, and many of you will know they are a step-change on past years. However, this is much needed as the Clubs basic standing operating costs before we even open to customers are in the region of £20,000. This would include things like ground lease rent, water, waste, heat, light, required licences (Sky, tv, music, premise), broadband, building insurance, financial support services, and building equipment certification. Please note this excludes the cost of purchasing our drink stock, sundries and consumables.
When the Club actual opens, we then need to pay our steward, other bar staff helpers, cleaning staff, together with our bank and card machine fees and annually this costs us around another £30,000. I know when I first got involved four years ago and before we were VAT registered, the Club needed to trade approximately between £80k+ for it to just break even. Today this is more likely to be in excess of £120k+. This for me highlights the importance of both existing & new members, support from our aligned sporting sections and our calendar of events which can’t be underestimated in underpinning the club’s on-going security existence and its ability to re-invest in its infrastructure and support our aligned supporting sections.
Over the last three years the Club has made significant investments, our ground maintenance equipment, new sheds, a brand new deck area, our new commercial BBQ, a new CCTV system. Last year we spent significant money on the playing field and refurbished the Ladies & Gents toilets (thank-you Mike and Robbie) and in 2026 we have a “not yet agreed” expenditure shopping list which includes replacement of our downstairs bar chairs, new outside furniture, new bar glasswasher and back bar fridges. The latter have now been purchased and installed with grateful financial support from the Houghton family in memory of our good friend Ted. Also, we are exploring the possibility of exchanging our ageing cash till which could be potentially replaced by an EPOS / new cash register equipment. Finally in 2025 we made c£2,700K of charitable and sporting section donations including £475 to Action Medical research, £300 to Give as you live, £500 Donation to BFC, £500 Donation to BCC, £100 to Cancer UK and £811.35 to BUYFC.
This incremental expenditure can only be funded by events and with this in mind it our key traditional annual event is the Festival and, as 2027 will see the 60th anniversary of the founding of Brill Sports and Social Club, our aim is to commemorate this amazing milestone by holding a Celebration Festival with a refreshed organisational format which recognises its growth and success over recent years. Our 2025 event was again very successful, but it’s not getting any easier to organise so hopefully we can recruit the additional - and hopefully younger - organisers and helpers to deliver a top-class Festival in 2027.
As we have already announced for this year, whilst we are working on the 2027 Festival, the Club committee has decided to still hold a Brill Club village event this year. This will be a one-day event, scheduled to be held on Sunday 30th August, with drinks, food, music and family fun and we look forward to confirming the exact details nearer the date.
Jon and the Festival team have started work on Festival 2027 and I know would welcome any ideas and suggestions from individuals, families or groups to make this the best Brill Festival yet. So anybody who is just itching to get involved please get in touch with Jon Vaile or Jo at the Club.
Finally, some thank-you’s in no particular order from all members and myself:
• Communications – Elaine • The 2025 Festival Team – Jon, Maddison, Jules, Michelle, Mike, Jo • The Maintenance Team – Mike & Robbie • Our Club Steward - Jo • Our Club Cleaner – India • Our Bar helpers – Cleo, Jon, Mike, India, Chelle, Paddy, Sarah and anyone else I have forgotten to mention – apologies for this • Our Event Cooks – Mark, Andy, Terry and Carol • Our Monthly Open Mic Organiser - Trent • Our Xmas Tree collector – Jon • Our Sporting sections leads – Chris, Lee, Phil, Jeff, Mike, Jon, Dave, Jamie, Steve again apologies for anyone else I should have mentioned • Quiz Masters – too many to mention but thank-you all • Meat Draw – Jon • Statutory Accounts - Gareth.
Challenges
Extended delays and decision making for previous S137 grant application and production of playing field MoU between BPC and BSSC.
Support from BPC
We would appreciate a more pro-active community based focus in support of village organisations, whilst conducting interactions and decision making in a more timely fashion.
Brill Community Cinema
Elaine Vaile (secretary)
Purpose
Screening films and National Theatre Live performances from September through April each year
Achievements
17 screenings in the 25/26 season, including 3 NTL productions. Equipment upgrade and improved storage in new comms cupboard in the Memorial Hall
Challenges
Some problems with equipment failure, overcome by acquiring a new BluRay player
Support from BPC
Please promote Community Cinema events.
Brill United Youth Football Club
Purpose
Organising youth football for children in Brill and the surrounding area
Achievements
This has been an incredible year of growth for BUYFC, transforming from a single squad into three highly successful teams. This rapid expansion is a testament to the hard work of the players, coaches, and the fantastic support from the village at large. Building on this competitive momentum, BUYFC is also investing heavily in the next generation of talent. The club has proudly introduced the new "Future Stars" group, alongside dedicated training sessions for the Under 8s, which take place every Saturday morning to give the youngest players a fun, structured introduction to the game.
Support from BPC
Money received this year was used for equipment, training for coaches, renting facilities in winter for training, and various other costs the club incurs to operate.
We are likely to request further funds to use for equipment, operating costs, and coaches training.
Please continue to maintain the playing fields and support players, and parents and carers.
Windmil Players
2026 is Windmill Players 15th year! We’ve had a bad time over the past few years - Covid, cast members moving on, performances cancelled for various reasons - but we’re happy to report that we’re now working on a new project! This will be performed Friday November 27th and Saturday 28th in Brill Memorial Hall.
Age Concern Bernwode
Purpose
Giving lifts to medical appointments.
Achievements
Forty volunteer drivers took 33 different clients and covered 84 lifts/168 journeys, destinations ranging from High Wycombe, Oxford, Aylesbury, Amersham, Banbury, even Abingdon (April 2025 to March 2026).
Challenges (overcome!)
After a concerted effort we recruited nine new volunteer drivers.
Support from BPC
Please support our fund raising event; our Coffee morning in the Sports and Social Club on Saturday July 25th, 10am to 12noon.
Brill Foodbank Collection
Purpose
We work with North Bucks Food Drive to organise monthly collections to support Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse, a charity which provides furniture, household goods, children’s clothing, child and baby equipment and emergency food parcels, free of charge, to those in crisis situations and financial hardship.
Please leave donations in the yellow boxes in the bus shelter on The Square by 9am on the first Saturday in every month. See posters on community notice boards for more information.
The future
Brill Foodbank and All Saints Church have agreed to work in partnership to develop Brill's monthly contributions to the Aylesbury Vineyard Food Bank. A prominent drop-off point will be identified in the Church, which is open seven days a week These contributions will be added to the yellow crates in the Brill bus shelter, ready for collection by 9am the first Saturday of each month. We hope that advertising our joint approach with improved signage both in the church and around the village will help increase both the contributions and our community commitment.
Brill Touch Rugby
Purpose
Weekly game of Touch Rugby, Saturday mornings 10.30am to noon (and occasional Wednesday nights in the Summer).
Achievements
The club is now moving into its 16th year and remains a longstanding, inclusive and well-supported part of village life. Brill Touch Rugby encourages old and young to play together and enjoy the benefits of exercise, friendship and sport; there has been a noticeable uptick in younger local players joining regularly.
Saturday morning touch has become a dependable fixture in the village calendar: the group plays every week, come wind, rain or shine. That commitment is balanced by a responsible approach to protecting the playing field. Every year the club transfers to the Astro at Ashfold during January, February and half of March to allow the field to recover during the wettest period.
The club is fully inclusive and welcomes players of every background and ability level. People with no experience play alongside those who have played rugby for years; ages have ranged from 7 to 70; and we have always welcomed both men and women, with a number of female regulars taking part over the years.
The annual touch tournament remains the highlight of the year. In 2026 the player numbers were over 60 with 120+ in total for the day, bringing clear economic benefit locally: it is understood to represent the second biggest takings of the year for the Sports and Social Club and one of the biggest for The Pheasant.
Brill United Reformed Church
Achievements
We have good news to share. On April 18th 2026 a new Minister – the Reverend Robert Sheard - was appointed to serve the Wheatley and Bernwode Forest Pastorate (Brill, Marsh Gibbon, Twyford, Banbury).
The church continues to hold regular evening services (usually two per month). We are very lucky to receive support from both the Bernwode Forest Group of Churches and with All Saints through our Local Ecumenical Partnership
Both the monthly coffee mornings and the bookshop are running successfully with a team of volunteers. The chapel also supports the Bernwode Rural Shed by providing a space for teas/coffees weekly on a Wednesday morning. It is open to all.
The members of the church remain keen to address the difficult access to the church building. Architectural plans have been drawn up (which were on display in the church) for a revised entrance from the public footpath into a newly designed porch and for the existing toilet to be altered to provide easier access. Sadly, the cost estimates from the Quantity Surveyor are very significantly higher than anticipated, so we have had to place the project on hold for the time being.
The serving Elders at Brill are: Dorothy Marriott; Bridget Micklem (Treasurer); Sue Horton (Secretary)
The Bernwode News
Purpose
Bringing people together by providing news of local events. It is primarily a church magazine and also a general community information source.
Achievements
Continuing to provide news from eleven Bernwode villages with regular features and advertising space.
Challenges
We need more advertisers - some of our readers don't use computers and rely on adverts in our magazine. Advertising in our magazine is an ideal way to reach them.
Support from BPC
We are grateful that you keep our name in your dispatches - please continue doing so.
Brill Cricket Club
Purpose
A cricket club representing Brill village for use by boys, girls and grown-ups.
Achievements
The Saturday XI had a mid table finish last season in the Cherwell League. The major success last year was the junior cricket, with 70 five to eleven year olds enthusiastically joining in on Friday evenings, and the Under 11s, who topped their league in their first season of competitive cricket.
Challenges
We’ll continue to encourage the youngsters and support the main Saturday team.
Support from BPC
No money received so far from BPC but we may apply in the coming 12 months. Funds would be used to improve facilities for junior and adult cricket.
Support from the local community is always welcome, so any promotion from the Parish Council to encourage more attendees would be wonderful