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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/09/2019 To 31/08/2020
Charity name: Merry-go-round under 5’s
Charity registration number: 1010031
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance the education of children below compulsory school age by; (a) providing a safe and satisfying group play in which parents have the right to take part. (b) encouraging other charitable activities through which parents may help the children (c) furthering the aim of the pre-school playgroups association |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Merry-Go-Round Under Fives provides exciting preschool education and opportunities for children under five from Baldock and the surrounding area. We are situated in the extensive grounds of Hartsfield School. As well as two purpose- built classrooms, we' re lucky enough to have two enclosed outdoor play areas with a wide range of outdoor learning facilities and toys. ~ We are an independent, non-profit making charity. ~ We are Ofsted registered. ~ We have a high ratio of staff to children- we can focus on children's individual needs and development. ~ We believe that care and education are equally important. ~ We provide children with routines and activities to ensure they feel safe, valued and gain experience from socialising with other children |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission |
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| had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
on public benefit. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Summary Due to the covid lockdown in March 2020 and social distancing when we re-opened in June 2020, we were unable to hold our AGM in October 2020. As the last AGM was in October 2019, I have noted all the facts and figures from September 2019 to December 2020 as follows Numbers on role for 2019 to 2020 school year 18 Nursery with 21 Pre-school from Sept to December 2019 rising to 28 from January to July 2020 Waiting List Our waiting List continues to increase on a weekly basis and we currently have 27 names with ages ranging from 16 months upwards. Covid-19 |
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In March 2020 we were required to close due to the pandemic. We remained closed until June 2020 as none of our parents’ needed childcare under the key worker eligibility. Before opening in late June, we had to carry out lengthy risk assessments, purchase mountains of PPE and hand sanitizer, restructure the setting and environment to make it as safe as we could. This was a very different and strange experience for all as we were required to allocate those returning children to ‘peer bubbles’ who were able to attend twice a week. Luckily the weather was on our side and the ‘peer bubbles’ were able to enjoy lots of outside activities. Unfortunately, the government restrictions also meant that we were unable to hold our planned events – no Shepreth trip, no sports day, no end of term family picnic. Most of the parents chose to keep their children at home which sadly meant that many were unable to complete their final weeks at MGR. September 2020 saw us re-open as normal with the continued emphasis on regular sterilising and hygiene procedures. November 2020 saw the country in another lockdown which meant we could not proceed as normal with our nursery nativity and Santa’s Grotto. The Nativity Production where all the nursery children play a part and sing went ahead but without an audience. Instead, we recorded it and made it available for parents to view. And, instead of our usual Santa’s Grotto get together we invited all the children to attend a Christmas party where they had the opportunity to see Santa in his open air grotto and receive a gift from him.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
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|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives |
Para 1.41 | In a normal year we aim to raise c£2.5k through fundraising. The Covid pandemic meant the cancellation of the Baldock Festival, our main fundraising event of the |
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| set | year. We raised £1.6k as a result. | ||
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | n/a | |
| Other | |||
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Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Despite the Covid pandemic, which covered nearly half of the period, Merry-go-rounds’ finances are in a very healthy position. In the year we made a surplus of £25k, with cash reserves of £88k. The setting has not been in such a strong position for a number of years. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are set aside to 1. Pay for the cost of demolishing the setting if required, 2. operating shortfalls, and 3. investing in the setting |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £45k provision if the setting needs to be demolished, the remaining £43k is for the operating shortfall and investing in the setting. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | n/a |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | n/a |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | We are in negotiations with Herts DC about taking out a long-term lease. Whilst there will be an increased rent, we will get security of tenure which will enable us to invest on building a new setting. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The principal source of funding is from Herts DC. This year it amounted to 87% of our income and it was this funding that insulated us from the effects of the pandemic as we received this income when the setting closed for the academic year in March 2019. |
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| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | n/a |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | 1. Falling child numbers. These have fluctuated widely in the past, we expect them to be down considerably in 2021 as a knock-on effect of the pandemic, however we are protected in the short term by our large reserves. 2. Security of tenure. We have never had a formal lease with North Herts DC and have instead paid a |
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Other
peppercorn rent. This has meant we have traditionally had a large reserve in case we were required to vacate the setting. We are confident we can agree a 10-year lease at a fair rent which would enable us to invest in the settings infrastructure.
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Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Election |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
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|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Merry-Go-Round Under 5’s |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1010031 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Mobile, Hartsfield School Ground, Clothall Road, Baldock, SG7 6PN |
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si Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity fic Trustee name Office (if any) at year io 1 Mr Ian Haydon Chair
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Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Ian Haydon | Chair | From 14 January2020 | ||
| Mr GaryCarey | Treasurer | |||
| Mrs Sheila Ely | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
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si Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others fic Description of the assets held in this capacity at io Name and objects of the n: charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this C falls within the custodian O charity’s objects N FI Details of arrangements for safe custody and D segregation of such assets E from the charity’s own assets N TI AL Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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Declarations
si fic The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. at io Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Gary Carey
Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair, etc)
Date 25[th] September 2023
| Merry-Go-Round Under 5's |
Merry-Go-Round Under 5's |
Merry-Go-Round Under 5's |
1010031 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||
| For the period from |
01/09/2019 | To | 31/08/2020 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| Funding | 110,430 | - | - | 110,430 | 103,414 |
| Fees | 16,012 | - | - | 16,012 | 19,384 |
| Other Income | 1,695 128,138 |
- - |
- | 1,695 128,138 |
2,744 |
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
- | 125,543 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table B1). |
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| Bank Interest | 28 | - | - | 28 | 13 |
| - 28 |
- - |
- | - 28 |
- | |
| ~~Sub total~~ Total receipts A3 Payments |
- | 13 | |||
| 128,166 | - | - | 128,166 | 125,556 | |
Wages |
87,097 | - | - | 87,097 | 94,934 |
| Buildingandpremises | 4,541 | - | - | 4,541 | 5,105 |
| Utilities | 4,254 | - | - | 4,254 | 3,495 |
| Supplies | 2,074 | - | - | 2,074 | 3,697 |
| Food & Activities | 572 | - | - | 572 | 1,161 |
| Training& Advertising | 439 | - | - | 439 | 2,499 |
| Insurance | 469 | - | - | 469 | 112 |
| Miscellaneous | 2,829 102,276 |
- - |
- | 2,829 102,276 |
488 |
| **Sub total ** | - | 111,491 | |||
| - | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - - |
- - |
- | - - |
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| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| 102,276 | - | - | 102,276 | 111,491 | |
| 25,890 | - | - |
25,890 |
14,065 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 62,261 | - | - | 62,261 | 48,196 | |
| 88,151 | - | - |
88,151 | 62,261 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities |
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Treasurers Account Business Instant Account 30 day Account Total cash funds Details Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 15,120 73,031 - |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| 88,151 | - | - | ||
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| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Date of approval |
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| 25-Sep-23 | ||||