Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/09/2022 To 31/08/2023
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 had regard to the guidance |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
issued by the Charity Commission 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 | Ian Haydon stepped down as chair after the end of the financial year although he remained on the committee. Ian’s main focus over the last few years was to negotiate a new lease rental figure with NHDC. Given the current climate Ian worked hard to negotiate a reduced rate and whilst it did cost several thousand pounds in legal fees to fight NHDC’s original assessment, we have agreed a figure of £700 per annum which we consider fair. Once the lease was resolved, the main focus was to improve the mobile. We installed new cladding over the Christmas 2022 holidays which has made such a difference to the external look of Merry Go Round and really enhanced the setting, giving it a more modern visual look. Whilst child numbers did increase during the second half of the year, with extra places taken up once children settled in, especially |
in nursery, it was a particularly bad year for numbers. It is worth noting that nationwide, many settings are closing due to low attendance numbers. Hopefully, the UK government will follow through its intention to provide more funded nursery placements in the next year or so. Donations / Grants We were incredibly grateful to the ‘Baldstock’ music festival, who donated £3,000 to Merry Go Round, to fund a new shed. We also receive donations of £200 from BEF and £219 from the Jumble Sale Trail
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Fundraising activities (Christmas, Easter and Baldock Fair) were down compared to 2022 as lack of volunteers meant we were unable to have a stall at the Hartsfield Christmas Fair. Revenue amounted to c£600. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | n/a |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Merry-go-round made a loss of £40k, principally for three reasons. On the positive side following the successful conclusion of the lease with Herts CC we were able to invest in improving the portacabin – and over £23k was spent on new cladding and glazing that had been put off until the ten year lease was finalised. However, as expected child numbers were down significantly on 2022 – some 20% - which resulted in a shortfall of c£20k income. Finally whilst the new lease gives us security of tenure for the next ten years at a reasonable rate, we spent a considerable amount on legal fees contesting NHDC’s unreasonable opening position. Despite this our reserves stood at a healthy £80k at the end of the year and we continue to keep a close eye on costs. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are set aside to 1. Operating shortfalls, and 2. investing in the setting |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £80k provision for any operating shortfall and investing in the setting. A substantial lease provision is no longer required in the short term. |
| 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 |
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 86% of our income, up on previous years. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | n/a |
| Falling child numbers. These have fluctuated |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | widely in the past, and fell considerably this year. We remain protected in the short term by our large reserves and expect numbers to increase slightly in 2024. |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
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 Para 1.51 training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties 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 |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
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 | |||
| 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
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
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
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
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|---|---|---|
| Gary Carey | ||
Treasurer |
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| 16thApril 2025 | ||
| 16thApril 2025 |
| 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 |
01/09/2022 | To | 31/08/2023 | ||
| 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 | 80,058 | - | - | 80,058 | 103,853 |
| Fees | 12,641 | - | - | 12,641 | 27,357 |
| Other Income | 4,741 97,439 |
- - |
- | 4,741 97,439 |
2,463 |
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
- | 133,673 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table B1). |
|||||
| Bank Interest | 389 | - | - | 389 | 12 |
| - 389 |
- - |
- | - 388.79 |
- | |
| ~~Sub total~~ Total receipts A3 Payments |
- | 12.00 | |||
| 97,828 | - | - | 97,828 | 133,685 | |
Wages |
93,356 | - | - | 93,356 | 96,596 |
| Buildingandpremises | 6,901 | - | - | 6,901 | 4,387 |
| Utilities | 7,005 | - | - | 7,005 | 6,348 |
| Supplies | 1,207 | - | - | 1,207 | 1,789 |
| Food & Activities | 2,105 | - | - | 2,105 | 2,165 |
| Training& Advertising | 627 | - | - | 627 | 1,674 |
| Insurance | 547 | - | - | 547 | 535 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,763 | - | - | 1,763 | 7,166 |
| Capital | 24,848 138,360 |
- - |
- | 24,848 138,360 |
- |
| **Sub total ** | - | 120,660 |
| 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 |
|||||
| 138,360 | - | - | 138,360 | 120,660 | |
| - 40,532 | - | - |
- 40,532 |
13,025 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 119,899 | - | - | 119,899 | 106,874 | |
| 79,367 | - | - |
79,367 | 119,899 |
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 B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds |
Signature Details Details Details Details Treasurers Account Business Instant Account 30 day Account Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 16,787 62,439 141 |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| 79,367 | - | - | ||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Date of approval |
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| 16-Apr-25 | ||||