Bridekirk Dovenby School Friends Of Bridekirk Dovenby School ## ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Thursday 9[th] March 2023 7pm on Zoom 1. Welcome and introductions Attendees: Rose Rowlands Helen Mars Julia Fish Lynsey Smith Karenza Harrington Helen Brough Charoltte Lewis-Dalby Emma Hind Sam Wheeler Abby Gartland 2. Apologies and absence Lucy Moore Kelly Bell Kerry Marr Katherine Leadbitter Angela Bell Leah Coe Emma Wrathall Mhairi Walker 3. Chair’s Report Our first event of 2022 was the Easter Bingo, this was going to be open for all but due to covid numbers rising in the area we decided to hold a class bingo instead. The children had a lovely afternoon and there were lots of happy, chocolatey faces at the end of the day. For the first time, school held sports day at M. Sport, I am sure you will all agree that a fab afternoon was had by all. Thanks to all who helped with refreshments and car parking. A beautiful, sunny day in July saw us hold our summer fayre. The playground looked wonderful and it was great to see so many children and families attend. Into the new academic school year and with Christmas approaching we designed and made Christmas cards – we don’t make lots of money from this but it has become a regular fundraiser to do. The Christmas fayre was also well attended, everyone had a festive morning and got into the spirit of Christmas with Santa and his elves. The mulled wine seemed to go down very well, and the mince pies were delicious. The class hampers for the raffle looked brilliant as always. Our final event was the Valentines disco and yes, I was a little stressed at 4.40pm when the DJ hadn’t arrived but a fun night was had by all. We have continued to raise money to support the work in the sensory garden this year but it would be nice to have a new project to work on and finally thank you to all the committee for all their help and support this year. ## 4. Treasurer’s Report After 2 very quiet years fundraising-wise, this last 12 months has been busier! Around Easter the children enjoyed an easter bingo in school and we collected some donations from that. For the first time Sports day took place at the M-sport track in Dovenby. FOBDS sold strawberries and cream with the help of some work experience students which went down well. Then to finish the summer term we had the Summer fayre. It was a fabulous summers day and was really well attended. Last autumn Helen enlisted the staff and pupils to make Christmas card designs which sold well before Christmas and for the first time in a few years we held a Christmas fayre with stall from FOBDS and other local vendors. Our financial year finished off with a Valentines disco for the children at Gilcrux village hall which was great fun all round. Our main project over the last couple of years has been the Sensory garden. This year we were successful in securing 3 grants to help finance the work. £10,000 from the Allerdale GDF Community partnership to purchase the sensory equipment £20,000 from Tallentire Windfarm Community Benefit fund which is managed by Cumbria Community foundation for groundworks and building a barefoot path £2000 from Bassenthwaite rotary club for a piece of equipment (the living tipi) FOBDS received these grants into our account and we have subsequently paid school for the equipment and materials which have been purchased so far. We have also given school the £3764.50 which was raised by the sponsored run for the sensory garden. School are keeping this in their funds along with other individual donations for future purchases for the garden. It is hoped that the garden will be ready for a grand opening by late spring/early summer. ## Income March22/March23 Expenditure |-|Easter bingo|£206|- Strawberries & cream|£79.53| |---|---|---|---|---| |-|Sports Day|£198.00|- Xmas card expenses|£943.20| |-|Summer Fayre|£1908.30|- Disco hire|£200| |-|Xmas cards income|
£1207.45|- iPads|£3169| |-|Christmas Fayre|£1307.40|- Hills books|£82.75| |-|Valentines disco|£ 401.50|-Parentkind membership|£140| Income raised £5228.65 Minus expenses £1222.73 = Total Amount fundraised this year **£4005.92** ## **For the sensory garden** Income of £32,000 Expenditure – - Deposit to Hideout House Company £ 5301.60 - - Balance for equipment and groundworks so far £15,067.16 - - New painted playhouse, inc. fitting £ 1995 We have currently spent £22,363.76. We have a quote for constructing the barefoot path and edging the other path areas of approx. £10,000 so we will have successfully spent the grant money we were given for the project. ## **The current balance in the bank is £19,406.43** Main project in Sensory 10 from Allerdale 20 from Tallentire windfarm and 2 from Bassenthwaite Rotary which has covered everything we’ve bought so far. We have given school money from sponsored run £3+ We have £32K of grant money. 13254 Hideout house Groundworks £2042 1995 playhouse Willow structure The grant money has been used first. 5. Election of officers Chair - Helen Marrs, proposed by Wendy Metcalf seconded by Julia Fish. Vice Chair - Helen Brough, proposed by Julia Fish seconded by Abby Gartland. Secretary – Katherine Leadbitter, proposed by Wendy Metcalf and seconded by Helen Marrs. Treasurer - Abby Gartland, proposed by Helen Marrs seconded by Rose Rowlands. ## 6. Future events Garden party to open sensory garden, June date TBC. Egg dump prizes to be provided by FOBDS. Summer fayre. Tea towels in summer term – Marhi offered to organise. Coins for the Coronation to be provided by FOBDS. School trip funding? We would like to subsidise a trip at Christmas time. Could we subsidise an arts week when the artist is coming into school? Could we look at draining the field? ## 7. AOB? Could we look at funding a YOTO. 8. Next meeting 7pm 11[th] May at the Ship, Dovenby.