About EBED
EBED is the national charity for bridge education and development in England.
We promote the long-term health of the game by supporting youth bridge, teacher training, tournament director training, educational resources and club development.
Support new players
We help schools, universities, clubs and volunteers introduce bridge to people of all ages.
Train and equip
We train teachers and tournament directors, and develop resources for bridge education.
Connect the community
We work with counties, clubs and partners to create pathways to a lifetime of enjoyment.
Find key information about EBED’s governance & policies,
and our meetings, partners & supporters.
What EBED does
English Bridge Education & Development is the national charity for bridge education and development in England.
Our charitable purposes are to promote duplicate bridge for the public benefit and to advance the education of young people in full-time education in the playing of duplicate bridge.
We carry out this work by supporting the learning, teaching, promotion and development of bridge across a range of settings, including schools, universities, clubs, counties and community organisations.
Learn bridge
EBED helps new and improving players find clear routes into the game. We support access to learning resources, books, online options and guidance for those who want to take their next steps in bridge.
Youth bridge
EBED has a particular charitable focus on young people in education. We support youth bridge through schools, universities, competitions, residential camps, online play, junior awards, grants and bursaries.
We also support the teachers, parents, volunteers, clubs and local organisers who help young people discover and continue playing bridge.
Teach bridge
EBED supports bridge teachers and teaching assistants through EBTA, the national network for bridge teaching. EBTA provides access to teaching resources, professional support, shared practice and other benefits for those involved in bridge education.
We aim to help teachers introduce bridge confidently and effectively, whether in clubs, schools, community settings or online. Under certain circumstances, we provide grants to teachers where this is consistent with our charitable purposes to promote duplicate bridge.
Directing
EBED provides training and support for club and tournament directors, helping bridge sessions and competitions to be run fairly, confidently and well.
Wider support and development
EBED also produces and shares educational materials, supports clubs and partner organisations, promotes the wider benefits of bridge, and helps connect learners, teachers, young players and volunteers with suitable opportunities.
We keep an interest in research and evidence relating to the benefits of bridge, including previous work connected with Stirling University, and we use this wider understanding to support the case for bridge as an educational and social activity.
As a small charity, EBED cannot provide every service directly or respond to every local need immediately. Where we cannot help directly, we aim to signpost people to appropriate resources, organisations or next steps.
For more background on the formation of EBED, read the EBED Born article.
Board of Trustees
EBED is a registered charity responsible for supporting the educational development of bridge in England. The organisation is overseen by a board of trustees, who provide strategic direction and ensure that the charity fulfils its objectives.
Trustees work with staff, volunteers and partner organisations to develop programmes that expand participation in bridge and strengthen the long-term health of the game. They give their time as volunteers because they want to build a generation of new bridge players who can enjoy the game and benefit from it.
Chair of Trustees: Ian Sidgwick. Bridge is one of the best things that I learnt at school. Later I played at university, joining the student team and became secretary of the Bridge Society and team captain. Apart from some social bridge during the early eighties when an expat in Nigeria I didn’t play for over 30 years, then I came back to it and my enthusiasm instantly returned. I’m an elected board member of the EBU and a former President of my county association here in Gloucestershire
My career was mostly in the pharmaceutical industry moving from production to supply chain to international procurement, I also delivered in-house training courses in Europe, North America and Japan. My last 10 years of employment was as purchasing director for The Jockey Club. Now retired but busy.
Bridge is such a great game, so many more people would benefit from learning it. I wish to contribute to achieving that.
William Bourne (EBED Treasurer) started playing bridge at school and like so many others came back to it later in life. He now plays at Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough bridge clubs. He has been a member of EBED’s Youth Advisory Group since 2016 and ran the Autumn Bridge Camp on behalf of Sussex CCBA from 2018 to 2023. He was awarded the Tom Bradley award for services to Youth Bridge in 2022. Away from bridge he acted as independent chair of two public sector pension boards from 2015 to 2023 and currently provides independent investment and governance advice - on occasion including challenge - to public pensions and charities. He hopes to use the same skillset as an EBED Trustee, and as Treasurer to keep it on a sustainable financial path in the longer term.
Tony Cherrett learned bridge at school and has played ever since. Tony has been teaching bridge in Surrey for 12 years. He organises bridge events and is currently working with EBED on planning a revamped Junior Autumn Camp. He is a member of the Surrey committee. He also runs Caterham and By the Wey Bridge Clubs.
Tony had a career in IT and International Banking. This involved much international travel and addressing many interesting management and technical problems.
Tony believes we should encourage as many people as possible to play bridge at any level.
Lynne Ballinger loves teaching bridge and gets a buzz from seeing students’ progress in their learning. She has a wealth of experience in teaching Adults and Children and has recently retired as an IT Programme Manager. Lynne is a board member of the Stratford-upon -Avon Bridge Club . She passionately believes we need to get more people playing and learning bridge at every level.
Andrea Knox is an ex-City Solicitor and Licensed Insolvency Practitioner who runs a niche commercial law firm and plays bridge “to relax”. Over 20 years ago she escaped London for Llandudno, where she rebuilt a derelict farmhouse overlooking the Irish Sea and Snowdonia. She lives there with her husband Martin Garvey, whom she met through bridge, and their three naughty collies: Blarney, Dave and Basil.
Andrea is President of the Welsh Bridge Union, has represented Wales in three Lady Milnes, and regularly plays ACBL Nationals plus English, Irish and Welsh events. She has launched a range of fun WBU competitions, including STRICTLY COME TEACHING, CAKE CLUB and the DRAGON PAIRS, and co-organises the annual LLANBRIGHTON BRIDGE CONGRESS in Brighton.
Andrea believes bridge should be enjoyable, inclusive and accessible, and is especially keen to encourage juniors.
Alongside a career in IT, managing some large, high profile and complex projects, Nicky Bainbridge has been playing bridge for over fifty years.
Nicky has been teaching bridge for over twenty years. She qualified as an English Bridge Union Teachers Association teacher in February 2005.
Nicky teaches online and face to face, from beginners to coaching club players. She has a wealth of well-tried materials and teaches either in courses of ten lessons or as weekly seminars or as individual crafted sessions.
Nicky qualified as a Club Tournament Director in 2004 and as a County Director in 2011.
In April 2010, Nicky founded Heart of England Bridge Club. After 15 years, the Club is winding down, but Nicky is still teaching and running gentle bridge.
On the Northamptonshire Contract Bridge Association Committee for three years, Nicky served as shareholder, vice chairman and chairman and is presently a shareholder.
Documents
As a registered charity, EBED maintains a number of statutory policies as well as records of meetings and annual returns to the Charity Commission. We also publish our latest strategy document, as well as periodic newsletters.
Our policies are published below together with the most recent returns, minutes and newsletters. Old versions are available in our archive.
Statutory documents
EBED Constitution
EBED Privacy Policy
Other useful GDPR documents
Safeguarding policies
Latest publications
Strategy 2024
Application form for EBED Grants
EBED Charity Commission Annual Return 2024
13th April 2026 EBED Trustee Meeting
Our Donors
EBED's charitable objectives are generously supported by our donors.
Makers of Playing Cards Charity
This charity, whose objectives include assisting the welfare and education of young people, especially those under 25 has generously supported EBED with our Bridge for Youth projects. You can read more about the Makers of Playing Cards Charity here
English Bridge Union
The national body for duplicate bridge in England.
Our Partners
EBED has formed partnerships with a number of providers who allow enthusiasts to play or to learn bridge online. Some offer promotional subscriptions to qualifying junior members. Click on the links below to find out about these great offers.
Play, learn, compete on a desktop or mobile device
Youth-focused bridge school formed in partnership with EBED
Free online library of modules teaching the England Junior Squad bidding system (5 card majors, strong no-trump, 2/1 game forcing)
Teaching and learning website with versions for both Acol and 5CM.
Free membership for EBTA teachers.
Play, learn, or compete with friends
EBED practice deals pre-loaded to the IntoBridge playing platform.