BRAMBLES Cl¥lb THORNS COMMUNITY TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 CHARITY NUMBER 1071096 www.brambles-kenilworth.com INDEX Pages Trustees, Annual Report 14 Independent Examinevs Report ststement of Flnanclal Affalrs Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts 8-12 THORNS COMMUNITYTRUST TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 Referen￿ and admlnlstrative Inforniatton Thoms Communlty Trust (Tcfi Es a reglstered charlty, no. 1071096. Tcf trades under the ftame Brambles Pre-school and Out of School aub (Brambles). Brambles is located on the site of Thorns Community Infant School (Thorns). and contlnues to malntsin close IIDks with the school. Its princlpal location Is clo Thorns Community Infant School. Blackthorn Road, Kenilworth, CV8 2DS. T￿ ts overseen by a committee ofTrustee& The￿ are three types of trustee: EX￿ffici0- the head teacher of Thorns Community Infant khool Nominated-Trustees who a￿ appointed by the governing body of Thoms Communlty Infant School. and Co￿Pted- TTu5tee5 wlw have been aprx)Inted by the Tcf committee of Trustees as a consequence of their particukr professional skllls. TRusfEES WHO SERVED DURING THE YEAR Name Posftlon Trpe of Trnstee Jonathan Wright Liz Bradbury Slmon Morris Michelle Andrews Victoria Lancaster Chair Ex4)fficio Trustee Trustee Trustee CO￿pted Ex-officio Nomlnated Nominated Nominated TRusfEES MANAGING Tcf AT ThE TIME THIS REPORT L551GNED Name Posttlon Type ofTrustee Co-opted EX￿ffiCi0 Nominated Nominated Jonathan Wrfght Llz Bradbury Mlchelle Andrews Victorla Lancaster Chalr Ex-officio Trustee Trustee Stru¢ture. Governance and Management T￿15 govemed by a constitution, whlch was wrltten in January 1998 and supplemented by a further deed of the same year. An amendment to the constitutkin was made by way of Deed of Varlation dated 23rd March 2011. In 202>24, the Trustees met as a formal Board on four occastons- on 26 September 2023. 6 December 2023, 6 March 2024 and 2 Juty 2024. Durlng trust meetings all Trustees had the right to speak and to be heard. Declslons were made bv consensus. The day-to-day management of Brambles Is delegated to the manager of Bramble5. who is 5UPPOrted by a deputy manager. Tcf also contracts a dlrect employee who Is responsible for day to day admlnlstration and l)usiness management. Operational reports are made by the Brambles mana8er and the business manager (who is responslble for finance) at most Trustee meetlngs. main alm of TCT Is to provlde hl8h quallty chlld care to y(￿nE thiklren between the ages of 2 years and eknn vears throuRh the provision of a PrfrSclK)ol. Out of School Uub and Holiday aub. In effect, Brambles fulfils the obll8atlon ofThorns Communlty Infant Sthool ty way of Its extended hours provtslon. Publk benefit Brambles Is a pre-school, out of school club and holiday club settlng that provides reasonab￿ prKed childcare and educational benefits to the local community. The Twstees always seek to knr in mind that T￿ 15 a charity and that they have a responslblllty to act In the public Inte￿$t At the time of slgnlng this report all servlng Trustees had ￿ad the Ruldance Dubllshed bv the Charltles Commisslon ofi oublk benefft. The Trustees belleve that the aim5 and resultlng benefits of Tcf are cleai and that the benefits obtsined from Tcf5 actiyltles are derbved from Its airns. In addltw)n. the benefits are focused on a section of the public, namely prÈ- school and prlmary age chlldren and thelr parentslcarers, and wlthln thls ra￿e, no sertlon of the publlc Is unrea50nablv restrlcted. Oue to Its locatbn the chlldren who attend Brambles terKI to Ilve wSthln the Thorns. catchment area. The admlsslons pollry does not however exclude chlldren from attendln8 WIK) lfve (yjtslde of thls a￿. TheTrustees stlll conslder that the wlces are cornpetttfve and would not regard the Inablllty to paytees as a bar to enty. Pre•school Llurln8 the flrtanclal year, the 8rdmbies Prfr5cPwl was open for Il¥e momlng and lunchtime sesslons as well as a nurnber of afternoon Se$S￿n$ per week durln8 temi tlme. Brambles Ofsted re8lstratlon allows 30 chlldTen to attend per sesslon. It Is Tcf pollry to not fill each sesslon so that t educatlonal experlence for each chlld Is optlmlsed. The Vast malorttyof the Pre-school chlldren Th>¥ed from 8rambles PrfrScl#)ol up to Thoms at the end of thelr pre-school year. Out ofschool Club Durln8 the flnanclal year, the Out of School was also onty open durlngtefrn tlme, wlth a 8ood number of chlldren reglstered, splbt across the three year groups atTlx>ms. The Out of School Club opened both before school, from 8am, and then a8aln after school. from 3pm to 6pm. Holthy aub Durlng the flnanclal year, the Hollday C￿b was open durln8 a 8ood number of school holldays and offered a vadety of se551on5, Wtthln the tlrneframe of 8am to 6pm. The number of chIld￿n attending Hollday aub var*d between holldays. In common with pre¥lous year5, a good proportlon of the chlldren who attended lrf>llday dub were puplls at Tl¥)rns or Park Hlll. These were supplernented by chlldren that attended other schools In Kenllworth. Rlsk Review The Trustee5 regularly consider the rlsks to which T￿ is exposed at the Trustees, meetln8s and, where appropriate. measures are taken to ensure exlstlng system5 and pr￿edureS are st￿ngthened to mltlgate these risks a5 far as posslble. During the year, some new pollcles We￿ approved and other Improvements were rnade. This Is necessary to ensufe Good 8ovemance and manage rlsk so as to malntsln the hl8h stsndards for the settln8. The TnJstees are mlndful that changes In Government Pollcy as far as the free provlslon of childcare for nursery age chlldren could alter the r15k proftle for the settlng. In order to further mFtlgate flsk, the Trustees have establlshed a Charltable Incorporated Organlsatlon ICIOI and transferred the undertaklng of the Charlty to that CIO on 31 Au8USt 2024. Flnandal Re¥lew Forthe year eThdlng 31 August 2023, made a surplus of £8,282. Thls Increased the overall level ot resepies to £148.663 at the end of the flnanclal year. The contlnued challenge faced by T￿ Is In ensurlng that the p￿sChOol Is kept full and that numbers at the Out of School Club are sustalned las the latter largely cros5-5ubsidlses the firstl. The dlsparlty ha5 become even more acute durln8 the flnanclal year In questlon, albelt the Trustees are aware of thls and are worklng hard to make the Preschool more sustslnable wlthout the subsldy. The flnandal performance depends to a l•r8e extent on these factors belng malntslned. There are no ￿$trItted or deslgnated funds held by the Twst. From tlme to tlme the Trustees may budget to spend certaln monles on certaln projects, but these funds remaln at all tlmes part of the 8eneral accumulated fund of the Trust. However. the Trustees belleve that an adequate level of reserves of four to slx months, runnln8 costs should be malntalned at all tlrnes to enable T￿ to contlnue operatlng for a term should all external fundlng cease. The Trustees obseTre that the present cash balance held Is materlally In excess of the stlpulated four to slx months, runnlng costs. Glven the a8e of the temporary bulldlng and the malntenance Ilabllltles that accrne annually, It remalns the stated Intention of the Trustees to look to those surplus funds Iwtth the addltlon of 8rant monlesl to elther refurblsh or replace the current temporary l)ulkllng. Future Events Fees contlnue to be revlewed annually. The Trustees will continue to keep both fees and expenditure under close revlew so as to ensure that the Trust continues to generate a surplus and therefore malntaln adequate leve15 of reserves to remaln vlable Into the future. Statern￿t of Trustees. Responslbllltle5 Chartty law requlres the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and falr vlew of the stste of affalrs of the charity and the incomlng resources and applicatlon of resources, including the Income and expendlture, of the charity for that perlod. In preparing these financlal statements. the Trustees are requlred to: • select sultable accountln8 policies aTrd then apply them conslstenty, observe the methods and principles of the Charities 50RP- make Jud8ements and estimates that are reasonable and prudentr. • state whether appllcable UK Ac¢ountln8 Standards have been followed. subject to any materSal departures dtsclosed and explalned In the financlal 5taternents" prepare the financial statements on the 80in8 concern basis unless It ts Inapproprlate to assume that the charitv will ¢ontlnue in buslness. The Trustees are responsible for keepln8 proper accountln8 records that disc105e wlth reasonable accuracy at any tlme the flnanclal posltlon of the charlty, and enable thern to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charltles Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other irre8ularities. The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees. Report above. Sl8ned on behalf of the Tcfs Trustees: Jonathan Wllliam Emlyn Wrl8ht Chalr 19 June 2025 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTOTHE TRUSTEES OF THORNS COMMUNITYTRUST I report on the accounts of Thorns Community Trust I'the Trust'> for the year ended 31 August 2024 whlch comprlse the Statement of Finanaal Activities, the Balance Sheet, and the related notes. Responslbllltles and basls of the report As the Trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111 the 2011 Act'l. You are satisfied that the accounts of the Trust are not requlred by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination. I report In respert of my examlnatlon of the Trusvs accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Att. In carrying out my examination I have followed the general Dlrectlons glven by the Charity Commlsslon for England and Wales under sectlon 14515)Ib) of the 2011 Act. Independent examlner's ststement I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no matters have come to my attentlon In connertion wlth rny examlnatlon glvlng me cause to belleve that In any materlal respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance wlth section 130 of the 2011 Act. or the accounts dld not accord wlth those records; or the accounts dld not comply wlth the appllcable requlrements concernln8 the form and mntent of accounts set out In the Charltles {Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts 8lve a 'true and falr, vlew whlch Is not a matter con51dered as part of an Independent examlnatlon. I have no concerns and have Come across no other matters in connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Mlchelle Larkln Chartered Accountant FILAN Accountants 57 Ely Street Warwlckshlre CV37 6LN 19 June 2025 THORNS COMMUNITY TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 2024 Notes Unrestrfcted Restrlcted Fund Funds 2023 Unrestrlded Restrfcted Fund Funds Totsl Funds Funds Income from: Oonation Charitable artivities Other tradin8 activities Investrnents Other 1,000 173,374 li 790 290 1.000 173,374 li 790 290 177,295 196 2.110 177.295 196 2,110 671 671 Total 179,601 671 180.272 175,465 175,465 Expendlture on: Charitable activities 171,319 671 171,990 167,663 167,663 Total 171,319 671 171,990 167,663 167,663 Net (expendlture)Ilncome 8.282 8,282 7,802 7,802 Reconclllatlon of funds: Funds brought forward 140,381 140.381 132,579 132.579 Funds carrfed fornvard 148,663 148,663 140,381 140,381 THORNS COMMUNITYTRUST BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024 2023 Flxed assets Tangible fixed assets 11 6,598 8,253 Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and In hand 12 4,669 144,025 148,694 5,146 129,423 134,569 Credltors: amounts fallin8 due wlthln one year Net current assets 13 (6,629) (2,4411 142,065 132.128 Net assets 148.663 140.381 Represented by: Accumulatsd funds: General fund 14 140 381 These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 19 June 2025 and are signed on their behalf by: JWE Wright Chalr THORNS COMMUNITYTRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 i. status Thoms Community Trust is an unincorporated assoclation. It is also a registered charity (registration nimber 10710961 whose activities are intended to be for the public benefit. Its principal locatlon Is clo Thorns Communlty Infant School, Blackthorn Road, Kenilworth, CV8 2DS. 2. Accountlng Pollcles Basls of preparatlon The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accountlng and Reporting by Charlties preparing thelr accounts in accordance wlth the Financial Reportin8 Standard appllcable In the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) Issued on 16 July 2014 and the Flnanclal Reporting Standard applicable in the Unlted Klngdom and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charltles Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practlce as It applies from l January 2015. The accounts (flnanclal statements) have been prepared to glve a 'true and falrf vlew and have departed from the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and falr vie￿. Thls departure has Involved following Accountlng and Reporting by CharitSes preparing their accounts in accordance wlth the Flnanclal Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Prartlce effective from l April 2005 which has slnce been withdrawn. Golng concern After making enquiries, the trustees are not aware of any materlal uncertalntles that cast doubt on 8olng concern and have a reasonable expectation that the Charity will be able to continue Its actlvltles for the foreseeable future, and at least twelve months from the date of approval of these accounts. Accordlngly, they have continued to adopt the going concern basls In the financial statements. Income Income is recognised as Incomlng resources to the extent that the charity has provided the servlces In question. Expendlture Costs of activities in furtherance of the char5Vs objects comprise those costs incurred by the charity as a result of the delivery of its service. Governance costs comprlse those costs Incurred by the charlty in meeting Its constitutional and statutory requirements. Tanglble fixed assets Tangible fixed assets are included in the balance sheet at cost less depreciation. Depreclatlon is generalty calculated so that the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value are written off over their estimated useful lives. The following depreciation rates apply: • Flxtures, ftttlngs and equipment- 25% reduclng balance. THORNS COMMUNrrY TRusr NOTES TO THE FINANaAL STATEMEKrs YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued) 3. Donations 2024 unrestric￿ Total 2023 Totsi Donations The donation received in 2023 was an Unreserved Grant from Waitrose. 4. Income from charftable actlvltles 2024 2023 Out of school club fees Holiday club fees Preschool grant Preschool fees 93,070 22,501 56.732 4,992 177.295 88,754 22,936 48,798 12,886 173,374 S. Other tradlng activitses 2024 2023 Contributions from Public Contribution from Trustee Simon Morris 196 11 6. Investment income funds 2024 2023 Interest receivable on bank deposits 2,110 2.110 790 7. Other income 2024 2023 Best Practice Network Grant Received from WCC County Fund for Breakfast Club 671 290 THORNS COMMUNITY TRusr NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMEKts YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued) Expendlture on charltable actlvities 2024 2023 Totsl Staff costs Insurance Materials Electricity Training Printing postage and telephone Depreciation Rent Rates Repairs Cleaning Professional fees Nursery IT and software Bank charges Storage & Archivin8 Sundry Grant Expenditure- Restricted 142,601 2.500 4,278 3.120 936 1.068 2.199 142,601 2,500 4.278 3,120 936 1,068 2,199 4.000 155 140,242 2,160 5,068 1,393 918 934 2,751 4.333 155 291 2,138 922 188 71 952 4.098 1.760 1,091 1,760 1,091 61 1.854 4.157 61 1,854 4.157 671 170.934 671 671 170.263 166,703 Governance costs: Trustees, remuneration and expenses Independent Examiner's fees 1.056 171,319 1.056 171.990 960 167,663 671 9. Trustees remuneratlon and expenses Ms Michelle Andrews, a trustee. received £0 {2023: £40) for reimbursed expenses during the year. 10. Staff ￿Mune￿tIon and nurnbers 2024 2023 Wages and salaries Employers National Insurance Penslon contributlons 138,116 2,177 137,149 1,069 2,024 140,242 142.601 The average monthly number of employees paid during the year was 2 full time (2023.3) and 10 part-time (2023: 121 who worked between 3 and 25 hours per week. 10 THORNS COMMUNITY TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continuedl 11. Tanglble fixed assets Fixtures & ffttln85 Property Equlpment Improvements Totsl As at I September 2023 Additions As at 31 August 2024 26,537 11.070 7,003 44.610 544 45,154 26,537 11,614 7,003 Oepreclatlon As at I September 2023 Provided in year As at 31 August 2024 24.142 599 24.741 9.645 492 10,137 2.570 1,108 3.678 36,357 2,199 38,556 Net book value As at 31 August 2024 1,796 1.477 3.325 6,598 As at 31 August 2023 2.395 1.425 4.433 8,253 12. Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors Prepayments Other debtors 3,267 1.402 4,231 915 4.669 5,146 13. Credltors: amounts falllng due wlthln one year 2024 2023 Trade creditors Taxation and social Security Other creditors and accruals 850 5,710 6,629 901 2,441 Included within Other Creditors is £5.162 (2023: nil) which ts a Grant re￿iVed from Best Prartice Network. £5,833 was received in the year and £671 was used to cover costs of a staff member on placement. ThORNS COMMUNITYTRUST NOTES TO THE FINANaALSTATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (contlnued) 14. Movement In fvnds Name of fvnd Openin Incomlng Outgolng aoslng Restrfcted fund: Best Practlce Network 671 (671) Unrestrlrted fund: General fund 140,381 179,601 (171.319) 148,663 Total of all funds 140 381 148 663 15. Fees for examlnatlon of the accounts 2024 2023 Independent examlnerfs fees Fees pald to the Independent examlner- paymll costs Fees pald to the Independent examlner- bookkeepln8 Costs 1,056 871 180 2,107 960 922 1,882 FILAN Accountants carried out payroll duties at a cost of £871 (2023 .£922) in the year. Filan Accountants also provlded bookkeepin8 training of £180 (2023: nil) which is included within Training. Separate departments carried out thls work to ensure independence was malntalned. 12