2025-08-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

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|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Period start date|Period end date| |01|SEPT 2024|31|AUG|2025| |From|To|

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Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name THE HOWBURY TUMBLERS

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|||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Other names charity is known by|Tumblers| |Registered charity number (if any)|1087716| |———| |Charity's principal address|Slade Green and Howbury Community Centre| |Chrome Road| |Slade Green Erith Kent| |Postcode|DA8 2EL| |————| |Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity| |Dates acted if not for whole|Name of person (or body) entitled| |Trustee name|Office (if any)| |year|to|appoint|trustee|(if any)| |1 Natalie Buhl|Chair| |2 Jenny Faulkner|Vice Chair| |3 Emma Stuart|Treasurer| |4 Sam Rawlins|Secretary| |Counter signatory| |5|[Sam Nicklin (Formerly ]| |Owen|)| |6 Gayna Saill| |7|[Chloe Ritch (was ]| |Phillips)| |8 Jezz Vau|——|ghn Kelly|Retired June 2025| |9 Lorraine Owen| |10 Tabitha Grimes|Joined October 2024| |12 Katie Moore|Joined October 2024| |13| |14| |Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)| |Name|Dates|acted if not for whole|year| |——_——|

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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

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Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
Grants & Funding	Jamie Kesten	BVSC, Engine House Bexley, 2 Veridion Way Erith Kent DA18 4AL

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Carole Read – Manager/ lead playleader Clare Tyrrell – Deputy Manager / Lead playleader Lucy Plaskasovitis- Senior Support Playleader Donna Leinster Support Playleader

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document CONSTITUTION (eg. trust deed, constitution)

A Registered Charity How the charity is constituted

• (eg. trust, association, company)

Volunteering opportunities including joining the Committee are advertised Trustee selection methods on newsletters, our website and via social media. We try to encourage (eg. appointed by, elected by) new members onto the Committee, and ask them to express interest in a letter. Interested parties are invited to attend a meeting prior to commitment. Potential members are then nominated and selection based upon a show of hands at a Committee meeting.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

• policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;

• the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;

There is a procedure for the induction of new trustees which includes: inviting them to observe a meeting, giving them a copy of the organization structure, constitution, policies, minutes of meetings and rules regarding quorums. Trustees are given our Privacy notice and Personal data consent form. Trustees are encouraged to attend training courses and given access to the local Voluntary services newsletters and publications.

Howbury Tumblers reviewed and updated all policies and procedures this year in line with our review policy including Safeguarding Children Policy. Paperwork generated this year was securely destroyed in line with GDPR regulations.

• relationship with any related Howbury Tumblers continue to work well and closely with Eco parties; Communities, who manage the Centre, to ensure the best services & outcomes for families in Slade Green. Eco Communities recognise

•  trustees’ consideration of Howbury Tumblers is a service much needed and supported by the local

• major risks and the system community. We have a written agreement to occupy the premises rent

• and procedures to manage free, so we can maintain low cost services for our families in our deprived

• them. area. As long as ECO COM manages the Centre I am confident our rent agreement will be honoured. The charity’s greatest risk at present remains the cost of living crisis- we continue to face an uncertain period as families struggle to pay for essentials which could have a huge negative impact on the charity finances. We will continue to look for funding to support families and the charity to support our running costs and to provide a better environment and experiences for our children & families

Section C Objectives and activities

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The Objects of Howbury Tumblers are :

1. To enhance the wellbeing, development and education of preschool age children ( 0-5 yrs) by providing a safe and stimulating play and learn environment

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

1. To encourage Parents & Carers to be involved in the development and wellbeing of their child through participation in group activities, and those offered by other agencies and community groups

2. To ensure the group offers opportunities for all children regardless of race, culture, religion, ability or means

3. To encourage the study of the needs of such children and their families and carers and promote public interest in and recognition of such needs in the local area

Howbury Tumblers gives Parents, Carers and their children under five pre- bookable accesses to its provision from 9.30 to 11.45 pm, and 12.15-2.15 pm, Monday to Friday, term time only, for a small daily charge. Some drop – in families are also accommodated if we have space for them. We have waived fees on occasions for families we know to be going through hardship so that they are able to attend. Family events ( funded) are run in periods of group closure -ie- school holidays, fun, educational and very economically viable, and include provision for older siblings The Group sells refreshments to users to help finances. Children’s birthday parties are held and charged for as a means to raise funds for the group. Summary of the main A learning support program provides short and long term work activities undertaken for the experience placements for school children and placements for childcare public benefit in relation to students at all levels. these objects (include within this section the statutory We work to support Parents in their parenting role, providing a listening declaration that trustees have ear when needed, and signposting to relevant agencies and services had regard to the guidance when appropriate, and encouraging their involvement in the Group and issued by the Charity its activities, and their child’s development, building confidence and skills. Commission on public benefit) We have provided volunteers for local events and activities run by Erith Made, Howbury Friends and other Community Groups Signposting to other community groups and services, with which we work closely, and with whom we collaborate to provide community events – in the aim of achieving better outcomes for our families, promoting Community participation and cohesion and contributing to wellbeing and health of the family unit and community as a whole. Fundraising to extend our services and provide better for the children and families in our community. These included selling Cakes, raffles, selling crackers at our local community Christmas Fun day, participating in a Christmas card project, and the Bexley Community lottery Working with other Groups and agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes in terms of service delivery for our families. This year this has

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included our involvement in Bexley SHIELD, Bexley safeguarding Champions, Bexley Children & Young Peoples Network , Northend Ward Neighbourhood Watch, Bexley Voluntary Services Council and our local schools & colleges

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

• policy on grantmaking;

• policy programme related investment;

• Contribution made by volunteers.

As well as the management committee members, 3 Parent volunteers and 2 grandparent volunteers have been involved in helping to run the day to day activities and holiday events at Howbury Tumblers. Another volunteer helps out with the website management and administration, purchasing, odd jobs and general caretaking. Another volunteer provides us with assistance with accounting and with Social Media

WE have provided face to face services over 47 weeks this year. Staffs continue to contribute much voluntary time, over 600 hours .Carole Read has contributed in excess of 500 hours – at least 10 hours per week. Clare Eastop, Lucy Plaskasovitis and Donna Leinster contributed around 6 hours of voluntary work a week, in addition to their part time paid hours. Parental Volunteer time contributed is around 65 hours, within Howbury Tumblers, where voluntary work has included helping support children’s learning through crafts & cooking , helping to maintain a safe environment , and helping out with the family events in school holidays, and the other volunteers – helping with website, odd jobs , purchasing etc. around 40 hours across the year. The Committee contributed around 12 hours each individually attending both online (Zoom) and face to face meetings when possible.

Section D Achievements and performance

During the year 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2025, Howbury Summary of the main Tumblers has: achievements of the charity during the year

Provided 47 weeks of face to face services( includes holiday events) , via two bookable sessions daily, giving children access to a wide range of activities and experiences, led by experienced staff from 9.30- 11.45pm and 12.15-2.15pm. Around 685 individual children have attended this year, around 110 children attending every week. A total of 3898 children attended sessions this year.

At our AGM in June 2024, based on that year’s finances, The Committee took the difficult decision to increase attendance costs by £1 for the first attending child in order to safeguard the financial stability of Howbury Tumblers – This came into effect in September 2024. WE did not have one person express concern about this, to our great relief. The finances at the end of this year are more stable and we have not experienced any significant downturn in user numbers or number of visits

Maintained the play & learn environment to a high standard of cleanliness and safety with risk assessments reviewed and added to when necessary Provided a wide range of arts & crafts materials and resources for Creative activities, and provided cooking activities, both hot and cold. Provided sensory activities daily with a linked theme to the creative opportunities available that week, to promote the learning potential of each week’s activities, and helping to engage more difficult to reach

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Section D Achievements and erformance p

children, and individual sensory exploration ( using non shared tactile and other resources ) at our extended circle time

Provided opportunities for outdoor and indoor physical play daily and promoted an active lifestyle to our families through many activities

Provided singing, dancing, bubbles and instruments, and Storytime at each session, again linked to our weekly theme.

Tracked all Children’s individual progress, and undertook close tracking and monitoring of children we recognize needed more support, and worked closely with Parents and Carers to effect positive change, signposting to appropriate agencies where necessary- with particular attention paid to their mental health & wellbeing. We also assisted with reports to these agencies – and a school - on a couple of children, using our observations to help them gain a picture of the child and plan intervention.Reported children’s progress via reports to BBC Children In Need Supported a number of adults ( parents) experiencing difficulties in their lives Supported a number of families with free sessions

Established a new website ( summer 2025) Maintained the website for the Group throughout the year Produced a monthly newsletter and activity plan, and posted these on our website, on social media, and in hard copy at Tumblers and In the Centre to inform our families , and promote the existence , substance and availability of our services and those of other local Community groups and Centre’s Continued to engage children in our book lending / early reading scheme , and continued our book bank and toy bank Hosted and supported 8 students for work experience & support in childcare learning, from a variety of local educational establishments Staff refreshed Safeguarding procedures via online training, also refreshed in Safeguarding against radicalization, Human trafficking & slavery, Unconscious Bias, Honor based violence & forced marriage, Information & cyber Security, Signs of Safety for partner agencies, and Domestic violence. Staff undertook certificated courses in Paediatric First Aid , Health & safety, and Food hygiene These were due to be renewed after three years since last certification – all were face to face courses. Had three visits from the Dental Hygiene community nurse, giving practical advice, fun play for the children, and samples to Parents Had a special Black History project, where some of our African grandparents made hats and other dressing up items for the children and dolls

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erformance p

• Had yearly renewal DBS checks on all staff

• Maintained Privacy Statements to all forms of our Communications with others

• Reviewed all our Policies between January and April 2025.

• Fundraised internally for the group, selling gift crackers and other seasonal items at Howbury Friends Christmas Fayre, and our Father Christmas event raising £310 – with raffles the total raised was £792.88

• Supported Erith Christchurch Festival of lights and had a Howbury Tumblers Christmas tree at the church festival, contributing to charity, encouraging people into church for the event, and promoted our own services to the Community, raising £80 for the Church and Bexley Community hospice

• Raised money for BBC Children IN Need with a cake bake and raffle, raising £180

• Continued selling tickets for the Bexley Community Lottery, and sold tickets to 15 regular supporters, raising around £862 this year. Promoted this regularly on Social media and via newsletters,

• Promoted the Group through social media - a page and Group on Facebook, and on websites such as Bexley Borough Mummies , Club Hub,& Happity

• Continued to support Parents in their parenting role, including those experiencing difficulties with older children – arranging remote and face to face meetings with other agencies we felt could help through our links and work with others and signposting to other support and guidance

• Continued to Support a local families , individual Parents and children in difficult circumstances by providing a listening ear and practical help & advice, and free sessions

• Continued to raise the profile of our group and other agencies and community groups in the local area, enabling more families to access family services

• Continued to seek funding from external funders in the aim of improving our services to children & families, gaining grants from BBC Children In Need, Masonic Charitable Foundation, and ASDA Foundation.

• Provided a second play leader five days a week through funding from Children In Need ( year 1) for the wage of our Assistant Play leaders (started Sept 2024), with around 6-8 hours weekly voluntary time by the funded staff. The year 1 report was submitted , we had the following feedback from CIN



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Section D Achievements and erformance p

• Through our National Lottery Community Fund Grant –The Family Factor we provided a mini beast event for Halloween autumn half term. Each event is split into two sessions to maximize attendance opportunity. We provided around 140 children with special Christmas events – one being an SEN event - with a visit and gift from Santa – split over 5 sessions. We hosted a Farm event and football event at Easter, and First Aid event May Half term week .Summer holidays we ran 4 events, Our amazing animal world, Yoga, forest school and Circus skills. All sessions were £1 per family and all were fully booked.

• Purchased creative and sensory resources using our Skipton Grant.These grants help us enormously in providing quality resources, which are more expensive all the time, and even more so when we are providing for around 120 children a week. They maximize children’s opportunities -access to a quality learning environment and individual learning potential.

• Purchased cleaning products through our Wakeham Trust Grant – another important buffer for our finances

• Paid support staff through our BBC Children IN Need Grant 2024

• Purchased face to face staff training courses through our Masonic Foundation Grant in Health & safety in the workplace, and Food Hygiene

• Purchased equipment and creative resources through our ASDA Foundation Grant

Section E Financial review

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Brief statement of the

charity’s policy on reserves

The Trustees try to maintain general reserves of at least £20,000 in order to have sufficient funds to maintain the Charity’s cash flow, to cover unforeseen costs and to meet its commitments should the charity need to wind up.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

ou may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

• the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

• how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

• Investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Our main source of income is daily fees paid by parents and carers for their children’s attendance. We have always been totally committed to keeping this as low as possible in order that we remain accessible to families in our identified area of need - Slade Green- the most deprived area in Bexley – however looking at our finances last year it was decided that after around 15 years we must increase attendance fees, and from September 2024 the cost for the first child in a family was raised by £1.still the cheapest (full service) group to access in Bexley. We can see from this years finances that this has helped the financial stability of Tumblers – we need to ensure the survival of our charity into the future, as we have again this year been made aware so many times, by Parent testimonies, how important the group has been to them, their child, and the positive impact on both, in terms of wellbeing, mental & physical health. We also have some income from the sale of refreshments; Fundraising is another small source of income, as are holding children’s birthday parties. Grant funding continues to be an important source of income, particularly for the support staff wages, and for the purchase of activity and sensory resources - We will continue to apply for grant funding for projects and equipment, and fundraise internally to help finances.

Our expenditure in its entirety supports the key objectives of our Group.

~~SS~~ Section F Other optional information

~~SC“~~ Section G Declaration

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|Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary, Chair,

14/10/2025
Samantha Rawlins
Secretary
Chair
Natalie Buhl
~~ee~~
~~re~~
~~ee~~
~~|~~| |---|---|

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Charity Name No (if any) The Howbury Tumblers 1087716 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01.09.24 31/08/25

Section A Receipts and payments	Section A Receipts and payments
	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Endowment funds		Total funds		Last year
A1 Receipts	to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £
Parent/Carers Subscriptions 14,237.00 13,080.90 Refeshment Sales 1,261.03 1,738.35 Outreach Income - Income from Childrens parties 405.00 190.00 BexleyCommunityLottery 861.50 874.00 Fundraising& Donations 942.88 1,003.55 GRANTS - Children In Need Grant 2024 26,324.00 13,270.00 ASDA FOUNDATION 2,000.00 1,100.00 Masonic charitable Foundation 1,880.00 500.00 Other Income - - Sub total 17,707 30,204 - - 31,757 A2 Asset and investment sales, etc. - - - - Total receipts 17,707 30,204 - 47,911 31,757 ~~=e~~
A3 Payments
Staff Wages	14,392.76		15,602.42				29,995.18		28,627.99
Tax/NI
	628.49						628.49		67.33
Toys, Books & Play Equipment			1,174.56				1,174.56		558.61
Refreshments Supplies	372.23						372.23		685.62
Activity resources Costs			1,637.35				1,637.35		2,072.25
Insurance
	458.39						458.39		435.23
External providers costs
			3,176.00				3,176.00		1,770.00
Payroll Service	344.40						344.40		331.20
Cleaning	236.00		131.19				367.19		178.07
Subscriptions & Website	21.60								567.36
Rent/ Room Hire
			100.00						260.00
Postage & Printing/Stationery			13.99						212.29
DBS Fees & BVSC membership	15.70
Donations
	80.00								209.00
Other expenditure	100.00								280.00
**Sub total **	16,650		21,836				38,485		36,255
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, etc.	-		-		-		-		-
Total payments	16,650		21,836		-		38,485		36,255
Net of receipts/(payments)	1,058	1,058	8,368	8,368	- 9,426	- 9,426	- 9,426		- 4,498
A5 Transfers between funds
					-		-		-
A6 Cash funds last year end	41,024	41,024	11,912	11,912	-
Cash funds this year end	42,081	42,081	20,280	20,280	- 9,426	- 9,426	- 9,426		7,843

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period	Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
					Unrestricted Restricted		Endowment
Categories		Details			funds funds		funds
					to nearest £ to nearest £		to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	42,101.10 20,260.67 - 20 - - - - 42,121.10 20,260.67 Agreement Cash at bank Cash in hand Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments ~~SSB~~
			account(s))		Error Agreement Error		OK
					Unrestricted Restricted		Endowment
					funds funds		funds
		Details			to nearest £ to nearest £		to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	- - - - - - None ~~PE~~ ~~SIE SE 44~~
B3 Investment assets	Details None ~~Pp~~		Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - ~~JE SJE SEE 4]~~
		Details			Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional)		Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	unrestricted - 6,000 restricted - 12,000 - 18,000 Books, Toys & Play equipment ~~——$——~~
					Fund to which Amount due		When due
		Details			liability relates (optional)		(optional)
B5 Liabilities	- - - - - None ~~===~~
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees			Signature		Print Name		Date of approval
		E.Stuart			Emma Stuart(Treasurer)		14-Oct-25
		Natalie Buhl
					NatalieBuhl( Chair)		14-Oct-25

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner’s Report ~~Ee~~ Report to the trustees/ members of[The Howbury Tumblers ] ~~a~~ On accounts for the year 31[st] August 2025 Charity no 1087716 ended (if any) ~~eeee ee~~ Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~PO~~ Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is 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 Directions 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.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

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 any 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 fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement (other than that disclosed below *)

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

4. have not been met; or

5. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

6. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 27/10/2025 Signed: ~~a~~

Name: Genevieve Jones ~~CC~~ Relevant professional Association of Accounting Technicians qualification(s) or body ~~PO~~

1

IER

March 2012

(if any):

Address: 71 St Marks Avenue Gravesend Kent DA11 9LN

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

2

IER

March 2012

Give here brief details of N/A any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

3

IER

March 2012