2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Charity name: Fowlmere Playgroup

Charity registration number: 1024798

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The aims of the playgroup are to enhance the development and education of children under statutory school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups by offering appropriate play, education and care facilities and adhering to the aims and objectives of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
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	Fowlmere Playgroup is a small, friendly, parent- managed setting providing a happy, stimulating and supportive environment for pre-school children (two years and upwards) within the framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum where each child can have the opportunity to develop fully in every aspect of their development. The playgroup serves Fowlmere and the surrounding villages. The Playgroup employs three part-time members of staff during term time to provide sessions on weekdays. The Friday session is for children starting school in the following September to prepare them for the transition. Fowlmere Playgroup is open to all children within the age range, regardless of colour, ethnicity, religion, social background or disability.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In managing the playgroup, the trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
	Para 1.38

Policy on social investment including program related investment
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	A substantial contribution is made by the trustees' management committee. In addition, without the continual fundraising efforts of the trustees the playgroup would not continue to operate. The input of the Playgroup Leader and staff outside their paid hours is also key.
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	Fowlmere Playgroup successfully ran supervised sessions for children aged from two years to school age, during school hours. Our staff work tirelessly to look after the children and give them the best possible childcare and learning experience, so that they feel safe, happy and nurtured, and thrive as preschoolers.

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
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The focus this year has been on growing our financial reserves. We are still recovering from the impact of Covid-19. Our biannual thrift sales raised record amounts in addition to successfully running a raffle. With prizes generously donated by community businesses. Our profit has helped to increase some of the reserves lost in recent years and improved out financial stability going forward. We need to raise our reserves to ensure we have funds to cover all expenses in the event of a future closure and to cover multiple staff absence/ maternity leave. We currently do not have enough funds to cover this in the event of multiple staff absence/ maternity cover.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The playgroup aims to maintain a reserve fund to cover three months’ operational costs. This will allow us to meet staff notice and redundancy costs if required and to act as a buffer to fluctuations in income due to unexpected decreases in child numbers. We need to aim to raise these reserves slightly to ensure we can fully cover any closure costs along with funds to pay staff maternity and/or sickness.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£16,911
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	Playgroup has faced uncertainty after the URC building was closed as a place of worship. Work is ongoing with the local Parish Council who are hoping to purchase the building which would allow playgroup to continue to rent the space. The playgroup committee of trustees have explored all other possible premises locally but unfortunately noting has been found which is suitable and affordableforthe charity torent.

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 charity’s principal source of funds is fees paid and funding awarded by Cambridgeshire County Council for children attending the setting. These are in many cases covered by early years government funding. Fowlmere playgroup also run a thrift sale twice a year and a raffle at least once a year to raise further funds.
Investment policy and objectives including any	Para 1.46

social investment policy adopted
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Pre-school Learning Alliance Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Trust
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	Trustees elected by members at AGM

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
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	Fowlmere Playgroup
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1024798
Charity’s principal address	Fowlmere URC Chapel Hall Chapel Lane Fowlmere SG8 7SA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3 4 7	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Kayleigh Holwell	Chair	From October 2021	Members of the charity
	Kate Parker	Treasurer	From October 2022	Members of the charity
	Lindsey Crow	Secretary	From October 2022	Members of the charity
	Emma Shipman		From October 2022	Members of the charity
	Nicola Law		From July 2023	Members of the charity
	Sarah Jones		From January 2024	Members for the charity

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

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)

Jasmine Redrup (Manager)

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

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Signature(s)
Full name(s) Kayleigh Holwell Kate Parker
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc) Chair Treasurer
pf
Date 01/10/2024 01/10/2024
ee
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||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Section|B|Statement|of assets|and|liabilities|at|the|end|of|the|period| |Categories|Details|Unrestrictedfunds|Restrictedfunds| |81|Cash|funds||to|nearest£|‘to|nearest|

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|||| |---|---|---| |Kayleigh Holwell|12/11/2024| |Kate Parker|12/11/2024| |Print|Name|=|

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