UK Athletics can confirm that the accounts for the 2020-2021 financial year are now available on UKA.org.uk and published at Companies House this week.

Alongside this publication, UKA’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Draisey has issued the following information to highlight the key elements.

• The accounts published cover the time period of precisely the first 12 months of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the impact these events had on revenue and costs as a result are very evident.

• The ambition for the year was to achieve a no worse than break-even position. Whilst the reported deficit for the year was £103k that included unrealised foreign exchange losses of £148k (as a result of the sport holding US$ to cover costs including those associated with our international events and overseas training camps). Excluding those costs the actual outcome as a result of UKA core activity was a £45k surplus.

• Over the longer term and comparing this result to the previous two years where the combined losses over that period were over £1m this is a much-improved outcome for the organisation.

• A key factor in achieving this was a significant reduction in both income and costs when compared to the previous 12 months. Income fell by almost £9m whilst operating costs reduced by a little over £9m. For example, other than the British championships which was held behind closed doors in September 2020, no other major athletics events were held. Travel restrictions meant that costs that would have been incurred over the winter for overseas training and preparation camps could not happen and the need for staff to work from home meant that normal operating costs were not incurred.

• It is important to note that in the year, UKA was able to access a number of government schemes, including placing a number of staff members on furlough. As a result the organisation claimed an amount in the region of £85k.

• Unfortunately, like many organisations facing the challenge of the pandemic UKA also made changes to employed staffing levels to make sure of a more appropriate structure to exit the pandemic. This sadly resulted in a number of colleagues leaving the organisation in the year.

Finally, in a like for like comparison with 2019, total directors’ remuneration for 2020-21 has fallen by £60k and the accounts also show that individual non-executive directors remuneration has fallen year on year as Directors elected to take a voluntary cut. We will be showing a further fall in the accounts for 2022.

UKA CFO Mark Draisey commented:

“This is a positive outcome for the sport, with our ambition of a break-even position only impacted by the exchange rates affecting our holding in US Dollars. In terms of our core activities the organisation is coming out of this challenging period with a much stronger financial position to report.

“We remain focussed on maintaining our position through 2021-22 and beyond as we exit from Covid and as we begin the implementation of our new operational plan.”

UKA CEO Mark Munro said:

“This has been a really challenging time for the whole sport, and I’d like to thank everyone involved in athletics for their continued efforts and support during what was such a difficult period. Everyone from competition providers helping to deliver events where they were able to, to coaches continuing to support and guide their athletes, to everyone volunteering to do their bit to ensure the sport got up and running successfully again.

“Good financial health is essential for the National Governing Body to ensure we can deliver the essential services such as safeguarding, health and safety, clean athletics to name but a few. We’re committed to keeping this focus as we move forward into another busy year so that we can best support the sport across the UK.”

The UK Athletics Ltd Financial Statement for year ending March 31 2021 is here UK Athletics Ltd Report Financial Statements 31 March 2021