DHST AGM 2023-2024 Agenda

1. APOLOGIES
2. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
3. CHAIR’S REPORT
4. TREASURER’S REPORT
5. SECRETARY’S REPORT
6. POLLS AND RESOLUTIONS
7. ELECTION OF NEW BOARD – RESULTS
8. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Apologies for absence

Minutes of last AGM (29^th June 2023) for approval

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Chair's Report 2023-24

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Tim Scott

Thank you to…

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All our members, Volunteers and 100 Club members, especially all who have:

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• Volunteered in the mega container
• Volunteered on match days
• Sold programmes 50/50 tickets
• Bought from the DHST shop
• Helped out in any way

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DHST Vision

Dulwich Hamlet FC will in all respects be a beacon of�quality - a viable, inclusive, sustainable and flourishing football club at the heart of its local community, protected for it by its structure, ownership and values, and providing a great match day experience. It will have a secure long-term�home in East Dulwich whose facilities act as a welcoming hub for the local community and will exert positive cultural influence within football.

The 2023/24 Trust Board

DHST Mission 2024-26

The Society’s objects are to benefit the community by:

• Being the democratic and representative voice of the supporters of the Club and strengthening the bonds between the Club and the communities which it serves.
• Achieving the greatest possible supporter and community influence in the running and ownership of the Club.
• Promoting responsible and constructive community engagement by present and future members of the communities served by the Club and encouraging the Club to do the same.
• Operating democratically, fairly, sustainably, transparently and with financial responsibility and encouraging the Club to do the same.
• Being a positive, inclusive and representative organisation, open and accessible to all supporters of the Club.

To this end:

• Membership of the Society is open to all meeting the stated criteria.
• The Society is committed to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of age, income, disability, gender identification, ethnicity, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity or sexual orientation.
• The Society is also committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.

DHST Objectives to the end of 2026

1. We will ensure that the Trust is ready and resourced to take on increased ownership if the opportunity arises �[Mid 2025 target - relationship with club]�2. We will improve our understanding of fans by increasing the level and quality of fan to Trust engagement.�[End 2025 target - engagement with fans]�3. We will help the Club to attract a more diverse audience by seeking out and listening to marginalised voices�[End 2025 target - Community]�4. We will significantly improve our understanding of our members & use that knowledge to help us better communicate the benefits of Trust membership. �[Mid 2025 target - The Trust's membership]�5. We will ensure clarity around the Trust’s funding objectives, in connection with our aim of increasing our stake in DHFC �[End 2024 target - Finances] 

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DHST Objectives to the end of 2026 (cont)

6. We will issue more frequent and better targeted social media postings to ensure members are aware of what the Trust is doing and of our current priorities

[End 2024 target - Communications]�7. We will help the Club to secure and progress a new stadium in East Dulwich, representing the fanbase in its design .�[Mid 2026 target - The Club's Home]�8. We will strengthen Dulwich Hamlet’s reputation as a positive cultural influence on the national football community.�[Mid 2026 target - The Club's Influence]�9. We will investigate & implement sustainable practices for the Club.�[Mid 2025 target - Ethics]

10. We will engage effectively with and support fans of all DHFC teams.

[Mid 2025 target - Holistic DHFC]

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2023-2024 Highlights

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• Nick Igoe replaced Mel Hughes to join Mark Scoltock as our TNCBDs (Brit Saylor and Liam Hickey also announced)
• Purchased an additional Defibrillator for the club
• Sponsored Women’s and Men’s Player of the Month
• Xmas Party!!!
• Dog Calendar - £500 donated to charity
• Nominated for the FSA Non-League Community Award
• DHST Member Survey

Working with the Club

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• Merchandise profits continue to be shared with the Club
• No further investments made in 2023 as no shares offered for sale
• Current shareholding: 33.49% (218k shares)
• Supported Wrap up London
• Supported the DHFC PRIDE event
• Trust and Club continue to work closely together including involvement in respective board meetings
• Supporting the DHFC Commercial team regarding sponsorship partners
• Ongoing support through the planning process for the New Stadium
• We continue to growing our pool of helpful volunteers, for match days as well as other Club tasks.

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Visibility of the club within the football community

• Continue to directly engage with the development of the Football Governance Bill (Independent Regulator of English Football) via the FSA

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• Continue to represent Dulwich Hamlet and The National Game in the Structured Dialogue meetings with the FA

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• PRIDE participation – Supporting the Club in our first PRIDE attendance

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Membership

• Membership was 504 for the 23/24 Season.

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• Our record was 637 during the 20/21 season

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• The 23/24 season saw the highest ever number of retained members (66%)

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• This coincided with the lowest % of new members joining

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• 34% of 2023/24 members have been a member for 5+ years.

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Membership Survey

Survey run in April/May 2024

• In total we had 62 responses.
• Removing those that were non-members this was a 11% response rate based on 2023/24 membership.
• 45% of responders attend both men’s and women’s matches.
• The main reason for joining the trust was support for the club the second keeping up to date.

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Planning for 2024/25

The survey included a question about what respondents would like to see focused on in the coming season.

• 52% of respondents want the trust to invest more in the club in 2024/25
• 42% want more communication about what the trust is doing
• 37% want us to work on sustainability activity

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Pride

• The club was invited to take part in this year's parade - we believe we’re the first UK non-league club to take part
• DHST contributed £1000 toward preparations, and several of us joined a working group with the club
• We’ll take a group of Hamlet supporters with us, both LGBTQ+ and allies, plus some players, a small number of sponsors and other relevant guests. The Club and Trust invited people to register their interest, and we promoted it across our socials
• A bus and sound system have kindly been supplied for the day
• Trust and Club collaborated to design and produce “The Pride of South London" banners for the bus and placards for the supporters, representing our values and some of the different LGBTQ+ flags
• We hosted a sign-making session last week for participants, to ensure we held space for self-expression
• Participants will all receive an exclusive Pride 2024 Hamlet jersey and scarf, funded in part by the Trust's contribution
• We’ll set off at 4pm from Park Lane and encourage DHFC supporters - both LGBTQ+ fans and allies - to come to the parade and cheer us on!
• Particular thanks to Clare for very speedy and comprehensive project management which made this possible!

Communications

• We have sent 6 regular newsletters since the start of last season – plus special mail-outs on single issue topics. These are averaging an open rate of around 75% - so people are engaging well with our news and views.​

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• We produced programme notes for each and every home game for the men’s and women’s teams last season. These feature updates, news about our work and how to get involved in the Trust. ​�​
• We have run 11 articles in SE Magazines (SE21, 22 & 23), with news and previews of monthly fixtures. These have a circulation of around 15,000 people.​

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• Social media - increased activity across all channels. 18% Instagram growth. 15% Twitter growth.

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• The Hamlet Free Press - Distributed at all home games and in the Board Room

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The Women’s Game

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• We hosted a Kick Off Party for the first home game of the season and helped fund flyers to promote the game. An attendance of 563 and lots of new faces.
• Profits from rainbow merch donated to Switchboard.

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• Established links with Baller FC; Bend it like Peckham; Set Piece Social, who are attending Pride with us.

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• Design and cost share of Champions scarf.

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• Continuing strong collab with fan base / Pepper Army

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Looking ahead

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• New Club Board committees and structure
• New Stadium
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• The future of the club
• Continued improvement to match day
• Environment and sustainability

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And…

Altona 2025

Centenary of the first meeting

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Volunteers Needed!

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Outgoing Board Members

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Thanks to:

• James Dinsdale
• Adam Haxell
• Laura Stoker
• Chloe Rowlatt

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Treasurer’s Report – Jan- Dec 2023

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Matt Reynolds

Movement in Reserves - 2023

JAN – DEC 2023 INCOME STATEMENT & BALANCE SHEET (Summary)

• All income areas showed strong % growth in 2023, testament to the work carried out in particular by Merch. (£128k gross sales, £52k net), Membership (£4.6k) & 100 club (£10k ‘sales’)

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• Just under £12k commission paid to DHFC in respect of merchandise sales

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• Strong balance sheet position showing £140k cash & £140k investment in DHFC

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• The cash is available for further investment / new ground investments, all to be explored further in due course

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• 2023 Accounts completed and reviewed by an independent examiner prior to FCA submission by 30 June. The accounts will be published on the trust website once submitted

Secretary’s Report 2023-24

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Philip Mitchell

Board Events

• 12 monthly meetings held, & minutes published

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• Chair: Tim Scott

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• Deputy Chair: Liam Ball

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• DHST-nominated DHFC Directors: Mark Scoltock, Mel Hughes*, Nick Igoe

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• Philip Mitchell re-appointed as Secretary until end Sep 2024 (Secretary is not a Board member)

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• Matt Reynolds continued as Treasurer

DHST �100 Club Lottery

• Established in 2004 as a ring-fenced fund for investment in DHFC, in return for meaningful supporter influence
• Registered with LB Southwark as a ‘Small Society Lottery’
• Over £64,000 raised to date - a key source (~50%) of our investment for shares. More will be required
• Contributions down 6% this year – to ~£790 per month
• Prizes currently ~£200 and £120 each month

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• Please sign up & encourage friends. Forms are available on the website & here tonight
• If you prefer, one-off tickets for the next draw can be bought in the Online Shop (or here tonight)
• Or … you can also pay for several months in advance

Polls and resolutions

Disapplication of audit requirement

Resolution #1:�

“To disapply the requirement to appoint a qualified auditor for the financial year 2024”

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• requires <20% votes cast against AND
• requires <10% of eligible members voting against

Elections to DHST Board for 2024-25

Election Details

• 4 Board seats available for 3 years

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• 5 Candidates - all applications valid

• A competitive election was therefore required

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Thanks to members of Election Management Group:

• Mark Doidge (External observer)
• Liam Ball
• Nick Igoe

Votes Received 2024

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• Voting papers received in election period

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• Eligible voting papers received

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• Valid voting papers received

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• 75

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• 75

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• 73

Candidates & votes 2024

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• Alex DAISH 41

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• Ryan GIBBONS 42

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• Adam HAXELL 52

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• Chloe ROWLATT 68

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• Alex WILSON 50

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Final Election Results

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The following people are elected to serve on the DHST Board for a period of three years (i.e. until the 2027 AGM):�

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• Ryan GIBBONS

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• Adam HAXELL

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• Chloe ROWLATT

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• Alex WILSON

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Welcome to new Board Members

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& thanks to all candidates and voters

Q&A