Chairs Report/Annual report September 2024 to July 2025
Friends of Swing Gate Charity Registration Number 1039636
Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Contents Friends of Swing Gate Charity ..............................................................................................1 Background....................................................................................................................1 Trustees ............................................................................................................................1 Trustees’ powers.............................................................................................................2 Annual General Meeting......................................................................................................2 School year 2024 to 2025 Events .........................................................................................3 Achievements / Contributions .............................................................................................4 Aims and Ambitions ...........................................................................................................4 Financials .........................................................................................................................5 Into the future ....................................................................................................................6
Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Friends of Swing Gate Charity
Background
Friends of Swing Gate was set up to advance the education of the pupils in the school. We work hard to make the learning experience as exciting and engaging as possible for the children to support the school with its’ goals.
The constitution was updated in 2022 to reflect the changing needs of the charity and how we go about helping the school. Whilst we are an entirely separate body to the school, our focus is 100% on the Swing Gate children and how we can best contribute to their learning.
As such we focus on the following core areas:
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The physical environment
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Health and wellbeing
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Technology and tools for all
FoSG not only raises much needed funds, but we also build community across our families through our events and work.
This year our focus has been on mental wellbeing and we have funded some incredible resources. We will continue to focus on fundraising for a separate wellbeing space this year.
Trustees
The trustees are the lifeblood of the charity. The team gives up a huge amount of personal time to deliver on our goals.
This year we have said goodbye to Nikki Luckhurst. Thank you Nikki for everything you have done.
We are welcoming two new Trustees, Chris and Sophie who bring energy and new life to the Board.
| Position | Name | Tenure start date | Tenure end date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Sara Marshall | April 2022 | July 2026 |
| Secretary | Caroline Scott | September 2024 | |
| Treasurer | Andrew Clark | September 2024 | |
| Trustee | Alli Bostedt | April 2024 | July2026 |
| Trustee | Amy Lam | March 2024 | July 2026 |
| Trustee | Christopher Wilkins-Read | September 2025 | |
| Trustee | Sarah Jones | September 2022 | |
| Trustee | Sophie | September 2025 | |
| Trustee | Nikki Luckhurst | Sept 2022 | July 2025 |
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Trustees’ powers
In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the Trustees have the power to:
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Raise funds, receive grants and donations
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Apply funds to carry out the work of the charity
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Co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes
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Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes
More information about the charity can be found in the Constitution if you’d like a copy.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM is held every year, during September or October. Fourteen days prior to meeting an agenda will be made available and the meeting will be recorded in the format of written minutes.
This year the meeting will take place on 10[th] October @0900 via a Zoom call https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82273848551
The current Trustees will present this report of Trustee membership, events, achievements and accounts.
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
School year 2024 to 2025 Events
During the year the Trustees arranged the following events:
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Quiz & Auction night – fun night to challenge your general knowledge, bar and snacks and a very high energy auction
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Christmas Art work – printing children’s art work on cups, tea towels and stationery
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Pumpkin Decorating – an opportunity to decorate a pumpkin for Halloween
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Bottle Tombola – Tombola stall at the Festival of lights using a huge variety of donated bottles full of variety of liquids.
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Christmas Wreath Workshop – A work shop where each person decorated their
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own moss wreath
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Christmas Rotary – donations collected while Santa visited Berkhamsted
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Santa visit (book gift)
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Winter Wonderland Disco – an hours’ session of fun, music and snacks
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Elfridges – an opportunity for each child to a buy many gifts made or donated for family and friends (including the dog !)
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Summer fete – a variety of fun stalls, activities and food for all the family
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Family Quiz – Family focused quiz and bar
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Preloved Uniform
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Ice lolly sales
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Vinted sales
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Just Giving – successful campaign for contributions
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Poster Wall – sponsorship banners for local companies
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Achievements / Contributions
This has been an incredible year for FoSG and the School.
At the beginning of the school year, the school confirmed the adventure playground had been condemned and a new one would cost in the region on £25k. The school only had £7k in their budget and asked FOSG to help.
So we took on the challenge to raise the difference. We worked fearlessly together, FOSG, parents, friends and local companies and raised enough funds for a new playground which was ready for the children for Christmas.
In addition to the very impressive playground FoSG has funded the purchase of the following:
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The software for the school reading system
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The school panto
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The Yr2 colour run
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And the books from Father Christmas (shhhhh)
Aims and Ambitions
This year, the school has asked if we could work towards providing a dedicated wellbeing space. Together we are looking some different options including a garden room or a yurt.
What ever the option it will take significant fundraising and like last year we are committed to doing our best to help the school with its ambitions.
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Financials
| FOSG INCOME 2024/25 | FOSG INCOME 2024/25 | FOSG INCOME 2024/25 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DATE | EVENT | TAKINGS | COSTS | PROFIT |
| 18/10/2024 | Quiz Night (Sara) | £3,961.00 | £280.58 | £3,680.42 |
| 31/10/2024 | Halloween (Alli) | £199.75 | £0.31 | £199.44 |
| 1/11/2024 | Xmas4schools (Sarah) | £189.00 | £0.00 | £189.00 |
| 24/11/2024 | Festival of Light (Nikki) | £436.00 | £57.08 | £378.92 |
| 30/11/2024 | Wreath Making (Caroline) | £630.00 | £396.32 | £233.68 |
| 6/12/2024 | Rotary Club Santa Sleigh (Andy) | £582.00 | £0.00 | £582.00 |
| 13/12/2024 | Christmas Disco (Sara) | £1,582.50 | £846.96 | £735.54 |
| 16/12/2024 | Elfridges (Alli) | £1,457.00 | £286.15 | £1,170.85 |
| 25/12/2024 | Just Giving School Playground (Sara) |
£10,774.08 | £614.71 | £10,159.37 |
| 2/3/2025 | Berko Fun Run | £2,202.16 | £43.45 | £2,158.71 |
| 14/3/2025 | Family Quiz (Sara) | £1,323.80 | £403.50 | £920.30 |
| 31/3/2025 | Year Challenge (Cancelled for 2025) | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| 14/6/2025 | Summer Fair (Sara) | £4,680.90 | £1,420.76 | £3,260.14 |
| 31/7/2025 | Just Giving Wellness Room (Sara) | £598.00 | £118.53 | £479.47 |
| Ongoing | Other |
£3,007.31 | £493.61 | £2,513.70 |
| 2nd hand uniform sale (Amy) | £331.00 | £4.23 | £326.77 | |
| Vinted (Anca) | £7.50 | £0.00 | £7.50 | |
| Easyfundraising (Bank Transfer) | £387.11 | £0.00 | £387.11 | |
| Ice Cream (Sarah) | £742.40 | £153.38 | £589.02 | |
| Payroll/Company Giving | £1,458.00 | £0.00 | £1,458.00 | |
| Asda Cashpot | £81.30 | £0.00 | £81.30 | |
| Fosg Website | £0.00 | £174.00 | -£174.00 | |
| Parentkind membership | £0.00 | £162.00 | -£162.00 |
Totals £31,623.50 £4,961.96 £26,661.54
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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Friends of Swing Gate Business Plan 2024/2025
Into the future
The current Board has a heavy reliance on Year 2 parents, some of which will be moving on at the end of this academic year.
We are looking for new members to take on the leadership role of the charity. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in getting involved.
And a thank you
We are entirely dependent on the generosity of our volunteers and donors.
A huge thank you to everyone who has got involved, in whatever shape or form. We are eternally grateful and you have made a huge difference to the kids.
A personal note of thanks from me to my fellow Trustees. You are all fabulous and I’m honoured to work with you.
Sara Marshall
Chair
Friends of Swing Gate
Friends of Swing Gate annual report 2025
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