PLAIN TEXT VERSION 1 PLAIN TEXT VERSION CONTENTS RCCC OFFICIALS & STAFF .................................................................................................3 WELCOME ............................................................................................................................4 BOARD ..................................................................................................................................4 DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................................................6 COMPETITIONS ...................................................................................................................8 FINANCES ............................................................................................................................9 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ........................................................................................... 10 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................................. 10 PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................................. 12 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................... 14 SAFEGUARDING ................................................................................................................ 16 PARTNERSHIPS & SPONSORS ........................................................................................ 16 RECOGNITION AWARDS ................................................................................................... 16 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION & RESULTS ......................................................... 17 2 PLAIN TEXT VERSION RCCC OFFICIALS & STAFF Patron HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Honorary Members HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH | G ROY SINCLAIR President 2020/21 ANDREW KERR Vice President 2020/21 SUSAN KESLEY Board of Directors GRAHAM LINDSAY (Chair) LIZ BURTON-KING BRUCE CRAWFORD (Chief Executive Officer) JIM CULLEN STEPHEN FARROW (Independent) ANDREW KERR (RCCC President 2020/21) SUSAN KESLEY CORRIE LAWRENCE (Co-opted | RCCC Ladies Branch President 202/21) KERRA MCKINNIE (Independent) MARGARET NICOL KEITH PRENTICE KEVIN TROUP (Independent) JANINE WILSON Staff SCOTT ANDREWS (Development Manager | South West Scotland) LINDSEY BOOTH (Welfare Officer) BRUCE CRAWFORD (Chief Executive Officer) NICOLA GLENCROSS (Finance Administrator) PAMELA GRAHAM (Marketing Officer) FIONA HARFIELD (Workforce Development Manager) SOPHIE JACKSON (Academy Manager) ELAINE MILLS (Administrator) NICK RENNIE (Head of Development) IAIN STEWART (Development Manager | National Projects and North & East Scotland) JAYNE STIRLING (Competitions Manager) SUZY WAKEFIELD (Office Manager) MAGGIE WILSON (Development Manager | Central Scotland) Development Officers ROBIN BRYDONE (Dundee Ice Arena) ANN-MAREE DAVIDSON (Dewars Centre, Perth) ANGELA KYLE (Ayr Ice Rink) HAMMY MCMILLAN (The Peak, Stirling) JIM MORRISON (East Kilbride & Lanarkshire) LAURA MUTCH (Curl Aberdeen) GRAHAM SLOAN (Dumfries Ice Bowl) 3 PLAIN TEXT VERSION WELCOME I am delighted to bring you the Annual Report of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club for season 2020/21. It has been the most unusual year in our 183-year history with some sadness, but there are positive results that are highlighted in the Annual Report. On the 9th of April 2021, the Royal Caledonian Curling Club mourned the loss of Honorary Member, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, Past President 1964/65. The President wrote to our Patron Her Majesty the Queen, expressing our sorrow and our Men’s Team wore black armbands at the World Championship in Calgary that day as a mark of respect. The restrictions that have been in place due to the pandemic may have reduced our opportunity to curl, but we have been as busy as ever in supporting our facilities and preparing for the time when curling could resume. Working in greater partnership has been key to the progress and success we have achieved, in particular with the Scottish Ice Rink Association, sportscotland, UK Sport, Event Scotland, British Curling and the World Curling Federation. We suffered from a complete lack of domestic curling competitions for our members to meet each other and play but have been busy with online activity. Some of the achievements we managed to accomplish were creating guidance for the safe return to curling, frequently requiring to be updated as government advice and regulations evolved. We managed to run 32 training courses online and offered members the chance to “Curl Up” and join us from the comfort of their homes to hear from experts and have open discussions on different aspects of curling. The World Curling Federation cancelled many of the international events and only played the Olympic qualification events in covid secure bubbles in Calgary for Mens and Womens and Aberdeen for the Mixed Doubles. The Scottish Men represented by Team Mouat, took silver, and went on to win back-to-back Slams. The Scottish Women finished in eighth position at the Worlds and in Mixed Doubles, the Scottish Team beat Norway in the final to become World Champions. These results mean the Men and Mixed Doubles have earned an Olympic berth for TeamGB, while the Women must play in the Olympic Qualification event in December, where the last two places are being contested for Beijing 2022. The increasing levels of vaccination and falling cases of COVID-19 in Scotland give us hope that the new season will bring a return to some normality. I look forward to seeing you on the ice next season and trust you stay safe and enjoy curling again as soon as you are able. Bruce Crawford Chief Executive Officer BOARD The board continued to conduct its business throughout the past year, using online video meetings and met on eight occasions. Uppermost in the thoughts of the directors has been the health and welfare of members, whist also supporting the long-term future of the sport through working with the ice rinks to sustain their businesses when they are able to reopen, after the extended period of closure. 4 PLAIN TEXT VERSION The board agreed to offer members the opportunity to “Pause” their membership for the year, which over 2,500 members elected to do. The impact of this was significant but with reduced outgoings in some areas of operation the board felt it was the right thing to do. At the AGM in 2020, a commitment was given to improve communications and engagement with members. The board approved a new Engagement and Communication Strategy which has been put into action through our usual communication channels. There have been a number of surveys online and webinars held with good turn out from members at a time when many were not thinking about curling at all. The board also formed a working group to review the branding of RCCC and Scottish Curling and this has led to a clear policy document to guide those involved in the use of the two brands the reflect our history and traditions while also focusing on future development and growth of curling in Scotland. A huge response from members helped to shape the policy now in place so thanks to all involved in the group and as individuals who responded to the survey. A working group was formed to conduct a deeper review of the Board’s previous decision to use selection of teams to represent Scotland at future World Curling Championships. This group heard a range of input from athletes, coaches, funders and other stakeholders. They consulted widely and held open meetings online before making a recommendation to the board, which was subsequently approved to continue to select teams for international representation at World Men, Women and Mixed Doubles events. The board is currently reviewing the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan to incorporate a post pandemic refresh at the midpoint in the cycle. After the 2022 AGM, there will be a deeper review and preparation will begin for the next Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. The Structure Review Group, set up by the board, paused during the first part of the season and then returned with some meetings and webinar engagement sessions. Strong feedback was received in relation to changes to national committees (ASC, LSC and the proposed new MNC) so no proposals for changes to the committee structure will be taken forward this year. The one item that received support from the majority of people consulted over the last few years was the addition of Junior Vice President position instead of Past President role which has not been useful or valued. This will give individuals a two-year period as an office bearer before becoming President, to ensure that they are better prepared. The board also agreed to put to the members that no more than two of the three presidential posts shall be of the same gender. A hugely significant achievement this year was securing the £2m support package from Scottish Government for our ice rinks who were struggling with the ongoing costs and lack of activity and income. This was achieved by effective lobbying to government and working in partnership with the Scottish Ice Rink Association. We urge members to support their ice rinks in the years ahead as the immediate threat may have been addressed but many of the challenges remain. The board has improved the governance structures and processes and recognise this work will continue. A new Nominations Committee has been formed and a small group led by Jim Cullen have proposed amendments