# **Derbyshire Toy Libraries Annual Report** 

**2022-2023 Financial Period 01/09/22 - 31/8/23** 

**Prepared by:** The Trustee Committee 

June-2024 



## **Derbyshire Toy Libraries** Learning through play 

Brandon (7) 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Orla (4)<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Ethan (4) 

Evelyn (10) 

Fern (5) 

Alexander (4) 

Sophie (5) 



Derbyshire Toy Libraries c/o Crich Glebe Field Centre Glebe Field Close Crich Matlock Derbyshire DE4 5EU 

**Registered Charity No: 1081255** www.derbyshiretoylibraries.org derbyshiretoylibraries@gmail.com 

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## Contents 

About Us 

5 

Chairs Statement 

6 

Treasurers Statement 

7 

Our People 8 Key Activities 9 

Our Governance 11 Our Trustees 12 Notable Events 13 Annual Accounts 14 

4 



## **About Us** 

Derbyshire Toy Libraries (DTL) is a registered Charity established in May 2000. We abide by the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in setting our objectives and carrying out our work. 

We carry out our work throughout Derbyshire and exist to: 

- support children’s education and development through the extension of play opportunities 

- provide a place for parents and carers to meet 

- offer support for parenting and parental involvement in play 

- relieve financial hardship of families through the provision of affordable and subsidised play activities and resources 

- reduce the number of toys in landfill, encouraging multiple re-use 

- act as a hub within the local community 

- provide opportunities for volunteering and learning new skills 

We are run by a dedicated team of local people who oversee Toy Library operations. 

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## **Chairs Statement Rehana Reid** 


At the end of last year we committed to a year of growth, development and improved toy library services for our local communities and we are proud to have honoured that commitment. 

We were delighted to welcome two new Trustees Anna Field and Cassie Ensor. Anna is our new Treasurer. Cassie brings an array of experience in business and recruitment having worked at the university of Derby for 16 years. Having built her career on employer engagement working on complex European funded projects, she is currently working on developing the University’s new Derby Talent Programme. Cassie was a previous member of DTL, attending the stay and play sessions with her two children since 2015. We were also fortunate to welcome business and governance consultant Elizabeth Brierton who has undertaken a huge amount of work to support DTL in improving our governance systems and structures, policy development and fundraising. 

We embarked on two new ventures this year. We opened a new weekly Stay and Play session at Grassmoor Community Centre in Chesterfield and a Multiples session in Belper, all supported by a fantastic new team of volunteers. 

Our founder and manager Ann-Marie has been able to dedicate more time to spreading the word of Derbyshire Toy Libraries to raise our profile, encourage more children and families to benefit, to support our fundraising efforts and to celebrate our achievements. 

As well as celebrate our joys we also draw attention to our difficulties. We continue to see the rising cost of living alongside cuts to local services having a detrimental impact on local families and escalating the need for quality, affordable play provision. At the same time we face an increasingly challenging funding environment, with greater competition for scarce resources. 

We are incredibly grateful to all our staff and volunteers, including students, parents, grandparents, foster carers, and more. Your commitment, hard work, and team spirit help maintain and improve the incredible range of play-based resources that support the education, skills, and wellbeing of local children and families across Derbyshire. 

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## **Treasurers Statement Anna Field** 


These accounts have been drawn up on the accruals basis, consistent with previous years. 

Overall, the outcome for the year is a surplus of £9,143. The Confident Communicators fund of £9,000 makes up most of the surplus with unrestricted funds being £143. 

At the end of the year, Derbyshire Toy Libraries had funds amounting to £15,857. 

The Charity’s policy on reserves is to hold sufficient funds to enable it to maintain the Charity’s equipment to a good standard and to meet all other reasonably foreseeable eventualities. 

22/23 – A steady year of modest growth with a roughly breakeven position after the £9,000 Confident Communicators funding. This £9,000 is noted in the accounts as restricted funds. Although the Funding was received in March 2023 and Derbyshire County Council(DCC) launched the Scheme in June 2023, DCC acknowledge that the Scheme has been slow to get started. Autumn 2023 has seen more movement on the Scheme. 

23/24 – Looking Forward - The Trustees are aware of the need to consolidate the achievements of the past year to ensure financial and operational sustainability for the future. Grant applications continue to be submitted to support targeted projects – for example running costs for our Grassmoor sessions. 


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## **Our People** 


## **Staff** 

Founder & Manager: Ann-Marie McMillan founded the Toy Library 24 years ago. AnnMarie continues to manage the Toy Library with the same drive and enthusiasm that founded the Toy Library. Ann-Marie also actively seeks out opportunities to not only expand our service but to provide Derbyshire’s young children and their families with quality toys, resources and opportunities to Stay and Play together. 

Coordinator: Lyndsey Willis runs some of our popular Stay and Play sessions, our Click and Collect Service and our monthly Toy Auctions. Lyndsey’s encyclopedic knowledge of our resources, their uses and where they are in our Toy Store is second to none. Lyndsey carries out her work for DTL with enthusiasm and encouragement for all who use the service. 

Business & Governance Consultant: Elizabeth Brierton joined DTL in 2022 to undertake governance work, project support and website development. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience in Project Management, Continuous Improvement and Process Change.. Elizabeth is supportive and encouraging with a keen eye for detail. 

## **Volunteers** 

We are supported by a group of volunteers who give their time to help out at our Stay and Play sessions and our Community Events. We have been supported in 22/23 by Ben, Jordanne, Lisa, Georgina and Clare. In addition, our new venture in Grassmoor has been supported by Pam, Denise, Jackie and Alex. Our new sessions for Multiples are run by Lizzie. 


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## **Key Activities** 


## **Toy Hire “Click and Collect”:** 

Members pay £10 for an annual membership, discounted to £8 if sign up for recurring payments (min 2 years).  This gives members access to an online catalogue of over 1,000 toys and resources they can hire with prices starting at 50p per week. Toys and Resources include age based Purposeful Play Packs, individual developmental items, larger outdoor play equipment, soft play sets and Party Packs. A new addition to our stock this year has been reusable tableware which can be hired for celebrations. Enquiries and bookings are made online and the service is run by Lyndsey from our toy store at Strutt Centre, Belper. 

## **Monthly Virtual Toy Auctions:** 

We hold Monthly Virtual Toy Auctions selling items that have either been retired from our play sessions or toys that have been donated to us. The Toy Auctions are a critical income stream for us as monies raised are used to pay rent on our hired toy store at The Strutt Centre. The resale of these toys gives them a new lease of life with a new generation of children saving the items from landfill. The toys are sold at very reasonable prices making them affordable to all. 

## **Confident Communicators Voucher programme** 

Derbyshire County Council purchased vouchers to enable Early Years providers who have attended their Confident Communicators programme to access to the resources, play sessions and expertise of Derbyshire Toy Libraries. 

The aims of Confident Communicators is to provide staff development focused on communication and language to our Early Years settings and schools. 

To encourage networking and different providers connecting within their communities especially reaching out to Childminders, Derbyshire County Council want to employ a ‘recommend a friend’ system. Initially the vouchers will be given to the 30 providers enrolled for Confident Communicators and ask them to recommend the local providers they are working with to receive their voucher. 


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## **Key Activities** 

## **“Stay and Play”:** 

Our Stay and Play Coordinators, with the assistance of our volunteer team run a timetable of weekly, 90 minute stay and play sessions in 4 different locations. A rotated selection of clean, safe and high quality toys are available for the children to play with alongside other play based activities and song time. Parents and carers engage in play with the support of our Play Co ordinators and volunteers. Each week parents/carers are offered refreshments. Sessions are charged at £4 and concessions are offered for those unable to pay. On average 132 children attend a Stay & Play session each month. 

## **Multiples Stay and Play:** 

On the second Saturday of the month, Lizzie leads a session for Multiples at the Strutt Centre. This developed following the closure of Matlock Multiples based in Darley Dale. Twins and more are welcomed with their parents and or carers who can have a hot drink and talk to others  with twins or more. 

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## **Our Governance** 


The charity is governed by a board of six unpaid trustees who hold legal responsibility for the charity and adhere to our governing document and supporting policies. 

Key responsibilities of the trustee board include setting the strategic direction of the charity, building its financial health, ensuring it fulfills its aims and objectives and overseeing its operation. 

As a minimum the board meets termly to review, plan and manage the work of the charity. Ad hoc meetings are arranged outside of these times as and when needed. 

Trustees and officers are elected and appointed upon a convening of a general meeting. We are always looking for new Trustees to strengthen our Team. If you would like to be involved please speak to Ann-Marie McMillan. Ann-Marie can be contacted via manager.derbyshiretoylibraries@gmail.com. If you would like to speak to Ann-Marie face to face, you can usually find her at our Belper Community Hall Stay and Play sessions. 

Our Trustees are all volunteers and receive no benefit for their work with Derbyshire Toy Libraries. 


11 



## **Our Trustees** 


During this period, the Trustees were: 

Rehana Reid - Chair 27/06/2018 Anna Field - Treasurer 12/09/2022 Liz Parker - Trustee 13/03/2014 Beth Coley-Cross - Trustee 01/09/2019 Cassie Ensor - Trustee 12/09/2022 Lauren Tansley – Trustee 01/06/2023 


_**We’re a varied bunch who bring different skills and knowledge to the table. Our differing experiences and backgrounds are key to ensuring that the Toy Library delivers services that are accessible to as many people as possible.**_ 



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**Derby Drive Intern from Aug 22 - Feb 23** 

**1** 

## **Notable Events** _**from this year**_ 

Abdalla Shalaby worked with us to help raise profile of DTL on social media and in local schools and communities. 

The reels produced are available on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHT3wkIAUbz2VID8 QgsV5Ow/videos 

**Lots for Tots Awards 3 Oct 22** 

**Pop-up play session 2 Sept 22** 

Held a pop-up play session at Hulland School. 

**Various Activities 5 Feb 23** 

The first Multiples session took place Ann-Marie was interviewed by Sally Pepper at BBC Radio Derby Attended Volunteering Fair at Derby University - to promote volunteering roles to students, staff and members of the public. 

## **Hosted British Red Cross 8 First Aid Session June 2023** 

Organised and hosted free First Aid Session run by the British Red Cross 

## **Wellness Hubbub 4 Nov 22** 

Ann-Marie was Highly Commended in the Most Loved Volunteer Category of the whilst Derbyshire Toy Libraries was a Finalist. October 2022 

Attended this community group session at The Glebe in Crich 

**Various Activites 7 May 23** 

**Various Activites 6 Apr 23** 

Featured on local ITV News Participated in Children’s Book Festival Coxbench Hall hosted an Intergenerational Young at Heart Stay & Play session. 

The first Grassmoor Stay & Play session took place. Attended Kilburn Community Day 

## **Attended the following events 9 Jul 23** 

- Belper Food Festival 

- Stall at the Flea Market, Derwent Mill Transition Belper Eco Market 

## **Various Activities** 

## **Aug 23** 

**10** 

Participated in Belper Open Gardens event. Hosted another First Aid session. 

13 



DERBYSHIRE TOY UBRARIES
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNT5
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sf AUGUST 2023
The charl￿$TrUStees are responsible for the preparatlon of the accounts. The Chariws Trustees
conslder that an audit Is not requlred for thls year under sectlon 144 of the Charitle5 Act 2011 Ithe
Charitles Artl and that an Independent examlnatlon Is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examlne the accounts under sectlon 145 of the Charftles Art.
to follow the procedures lald down In the general Dlreclions glven by the Charlty
Commlssion (under sectlon 14515llbl of the Charltles Act), and
to rtate whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon.
My examlnatlon was carried out In accordance wlth general Dlrectlons given by the Charlty
Commlsslon. An examination Includes a revlew of the accountlng records kept by the Charlty and
comparlson of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also Includes conslderation of any
unusual Items or disclosures In the accounts and seeking explanatlons from the Trustees Con￿rning
such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the evldence that would be requlred In
an audlt, and consequently no oplnlon Is glven as to whether the account5 present a "true and fal
vlew and the report is limlted to those matters Set out Sn the statement below.
In connertlon wlth my examlnation. no matter has come to my attentlon
which glves me reasonable cause to believe that, In any materlal respert, the
requirements
to keep accountlng ￿COrdS In ac¢ordano wlth sectlon 130 of the Charltles Act:
to prepare accounts whlch accord with the accounting records and comply wlth the
accountin8 requirements of the Charitles Act have not been met.
2. to which, in my oplnion, attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper
understandln8 of the accounts to be reached.
Slgned by:....
IMrs.}V.M. Ne
Date: 17th May 2024
Amber Accountsncy Services
21 Spanker Lane
Nether Heage
Derbyshire
DE56 2AT
14

DERBYSHIRE TOY UBRARIES
Receipts & Payments Account
year ended 31stAugu5t 2023
2023
2022
Re￿Ipts..
Stssion fees
Membershlp fees
Party hlre
Toy hlre
4,856
3,874
4,512
14,366
4.292
2,887
3,887
27,608
16,571
FundralsSn8
Grants recelved
Sales of toys
Other rÈcelpts
Donatlons
855
10)
srK*
4,104
2,892
2.138
7.791
8,542
35,399
25,113
staff costs
siaff expense5
Room hlre
Refreshments
Insuran(t
Transpwl
ITrnebslte
MarketlTr8
Fundrals6n8 costs
Other payments
Toy5 purchased
Tralnlng costs
ZettltlPaypal fee5
13,467
997
7,117
12,488
1,408
83
557
370
530
760
776
992
1.773
5S3
23
178
275
135
340
24,780
29.476
fplus l Deficlt ol rect1ptsv￿ payments
Balan￿brOu￿11OpWèrd
10.619
5.269
4.363
9,632
TOTALFUNDS
5,269
Aepiesented ty..
Cash in hand
Bankaryount balance
30
15.8S8
5.239
É 151
5269
Audltoes Report
I confirm thatthts R￿[pts and Payments accounttiuty reflects the flnandal posltlon In accordance
wrth the fecdpts and vouchers of OerbyshlTeToy knbrarles.
Mts.V
untancy Sthces
knber
17th May 2024
.B. Rent accrual= £1,475. Restrlcted fiJnd5= £9,CO)
15

DERBYSHIRE TOY LIBRARIES
Receipts & Payments Account
Year ended 31st August 2023
2023
2022
Recelpts:
Session fees
Membershlp fees
Party hlre
Toy hlre
4,856
3,874
4,512
14,366
4,292
2,887
3,887
5,505
27,608
16,571
Fundralslng
Grants recelved
Sales of toys
Other receipts
Donations
855
100
1,800
500
4,104
2,892
300
2,138
7,791
8,542
35,399
25,113
Payments:
Staff costs
Staff expenses
Room hire
Refreshments
Insurance
Transport
IT/Website
Marketing
Fundraising costs
Other payments
Toys purchased
Training costs
Zettle/Paypal fees
Accounts fee
13,467
997
7,117
12,488
1,408
9,548
83
648
370
530
760
776
992
1,773
537
553
1,064
23
178
275
135
340
50
100
24,780
29,476
Surplus / Deficit of receipts over payments
Balance brought forward
10,619
5,269
4,363
9,632
TOTAL FUNDS
£ 15,888
5,269
Represented by:
Cash in hand
Bank account balance
30
15,858
30
5,239
£ 15,888
5,269
Auditor's Report
I confirm that this Receipts and Payments account truly reflects the financial position in accordance
with the receipts and vouchers of Derbyshire Toy Libraries.
Mrs. V.
wey
Amber Ac
untancy Services
17th May 2024
N.B. Rent accrual = £1,475. Restricted funds = £9,000

DERBYSHIRE TOY UBRARIES
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sf AUGUST 2023
The CharitVs Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charit¢s Trustees
consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the
Charities Act) and that an independent examlnation Os needed.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Dirertions given by the Charity
Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning
such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in
an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fairf,
view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act;
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met.
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed by: .
(Mrs.) V.M. Ne
Date: 17th May 2024
Amber Accountancy Services
21 Spanker Lane
Nether Heage
Derbyshire
DE56 2AT