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← London Play

2024-03-31-accounts

London Play

Charity number: 1104731 Registered company number: 04055882 (England and Wales)

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

London Play

Contents

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Page Reference and administrative information .................................................................................... 1 Trustees’ annual report .......................................................................................................... 2-10 Independent examiner’s report .................................................................................................. 11 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) .................. 12 Balance sheet ............................................................................................................................. 13 Notes to the financial statements ......................................................................................... 14-19

London Play

Reference and administrative information

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Charity number 1104731
Company number 4055882
Registered office International House
64 Nile Street
London N1 7SR
Trustees Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as
follows:
Keith Cranwell
Hal Davidson
Nicholas Hall
Shalena Haughton-Peters (resigned 6 December 2023)
Zareen Islam (appointed 14 June 2024, resigned 25 November 2024)
Sereena Keymatlian (appointed 14 June 2024)
Melian Mansfield, Chair
Sara Martins
Caroline Needham
Rafael Portillo
Amy Quinn ((appointed 14 June 2024)
Colin Simmons (resigned 6 December 2023)
Barry Walden, Vice chair
Key management Fiona Sutherland Director/deputy director
personnel Paul Hocker Director (left 30 June 2023)
Bankers CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Independent Mary E Ryan FCCA, DCha
Examiner Ark Accountancy Ltd
31 Cheam Road
Epsom
Surrey
KT17 1QX

1

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

Charitable objects as stated in the Articles of Association dated 10 June 2017 are:

To enhance the development and education of children in the Greater London area by developing and supporting the provision of children's play; primarily by:

London Play exists to ensure that all children have access to high quality, accessible play opportunities in London - whether in supervised settings or in the wider public realm. Through its activities it aims both to protect and improve existing play provision; and increase the amount of provision.

Significant activities

The charity's main objectives for the year were to:

London Play continues to support and work with a broad range of individuals and organisations who are interested in promoting, facilitating, and providing play opportunities for children in London. In addition to working with professional play workers and service managers, the charity collaborates with and supports parents, teachers, residents, community and 'Friends' groups and other 'lay people' and volunteers to promote the benefits of play and support them to improve and expand play opportunities for children in their communities.

Details of significant activities

Significant activities over the 2023-24 year included:

2

London Play Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Public benefit

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Public benefits ultimately arising from London Play's activity include more active, healthy, happy children; better connected, more friendly, safe and cohesive communities; more skilled and empowered professional play workers, laypeople and volunteers; cleaner street environments and reduced antisocial behaviour. Additionally, free-to-access adventure playgrounds in some of London's least affluent neighbourhoods offer local parents a real alternative to paid childcare and free them up to pursue work or training opportunities to improve their life chances; and those of their children too.

All the benefits derived from the activities and achievements of London Play are ultimately to the benefit of all London's children. Benefits are focused on children in London only, but are not restricted in terms of charitable need, personal characteristics, access to facilities, membership, trustees' discretion, or ability to pay. No detriment or harm has arisen from carrying out the charity's activities.

Volunteers

All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 8 to the accounts.

Much of London Play's work involves supporting the efforts of volunteers to provide, improve or promote more and better play opportunities where they live or work.

Play streets and play on estates initiated during 2023-24 involved volunteers facilitating the temporary transformation of streets and estate spaces with playful activity for children living in their neighbourhoods. Over the year London Play supported the launch of approx. five new regular play streets/estates involving approximately 25 volunteers (five per location) with an average of five events each. Car Free Day volunteers (over 100 streets) numbered in the hundreds. Conservative estimate of volunteer days: 600

Our board of eleven trustees are volunteers who attend trustee meetings every quarter, and London Play events as well as carrying out significant amounts of work to support the organisation at other times. (At least 60 volunteer days this year).

Play campaigns: approximately 12 volunteer campaigners were part of London Play’s Communities United for Play project over this period. (minimum 24 volunteer days).

Total volunteer days across all London Play projects: 680+

Members and supporters

Membership of London Play is stable at around 50 and the number of supporters continues to grow.

3

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

London Play worked on three major grant-funded projects and delivered a number of contracts during the year.

Between April 2023 and March 2024 London Play directly generated around 7,500 play opportunities for London's children and thousands more indirectly through its activities. Key activities and achievements by the organisation during the period are outlined below.

GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS

Communities Unite for Play (Trust for London) November 2022 – October 2024

The second year of this two-year project has generated further momentum and seen real impacts in its aims to support local people to campaign for better play provision in their areas. Around 2,000 people voted in the second annual campaign to find ‘London’s Saddest Playground’. The group in Lewisham that ‘won’ has used the accolade to raise awareness, engage the council and apply for funds. The inaugural ‘People for Play’ campaign workshop and family friendly picnic held at Coram’s Fields in September 2023 was highly rated by attendees, and several participants have since made progress in prompting change in their local areas. London Play has variously supported groups to make deputations to their councils, run consultation events and generate publicity; as well as developing tools and case studies to help campaigners better make the case for play in their areas.

Play opportunities generated: 500+ potentially hundreds in each of five main locations

Adventure Play for the Community, by the Community (Awards for All/Lottery) September 2023 – August 2024

This project aims to capture the value of London’s adventure playgrounds to their communities and help them make the case for funding and support. Children from 16 of London’s adventure playgrounds made films about their favourite place to play and were asked to identify community champions to bring to the adventure play awards event where they were honoured. Six adventure playgrounds received a small amount of funding to stage a community celebration event which was filmed, to be compiled into a film highlighting the community value of these vital community hubs. A film celebrating 75 years of adventure play in London is being created.

Estimated number of play opportunities generated: minimum 180

Jelly Sports (London Marathon Foundation) January 2024 – December 2025

This project, as its name suggests occupies the wobbly and exciting – yet largely unexplored – space between play and sport. This two-year project is transforming the space on people’s doorsteps, on their streets or estates, into hyper-local opportunities to have fun and get active for the whole family. Communities in five neighbourhoods in Southall, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham and Hackney have been joining in future Olympic events including Jelly & Spoon races and ‘Blasketball’.

Play opportunities created to March 2024 approx. 50 (beginning phases of the project)

4

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

CONTRACTS & COMMISSIONS

In addition to grant-funded work London Play undertook several contracts to support play in parks, on streets, in elderly care facilities and across a borough.

Play on Streets and Estates in Tower Hamlets

September 2022 – August 2024

A two-year commission from Tower Hamlets Council to inspire and support residents to start and run regular play sessions on streets and estates in the borough. With significant controversy over low traffic neighbourhoods in the borough, the focus has mostly turned to play on estates. Here, working with resident groups a regular culture of playing out has been nurtured on two housing estates.

Play opportunities: approx 600

Car Free Day 2023

London Play was once again commissioned by the Mayor of London and Transport for London to inspire and support people across the capital to try out a play street on Car Free Day via our popular ‘Swap your car for a Spacehopper’ campaign. Over 100 streets and more than 10,000 people took part, with more than three quarters of participants reporting that the experience would lead them to consider applying to run more regular play sessions on their street.

Over Car Free Day weekend London Play was also commissioned by the Project Centre to reclaim Deptford High Street in Lewisham with play, as part of a consultation with residents about permanently pedestrianising the space. Giant hopscotch, junk modelling, street games and spacehopper races transformed a usually trafficdominated space and proved a popular draw with local people.

Play opportunities (children): approx 5,500

Newham Play Policy Development

Oct 2023 – March 2024

London Play was commissioned by Newham Council to support the development of its play street policy to ensure the application process and implementation is easy and practical for both residents and council officers to understand and navigate – and bring it in line with best practice.

Play opportunities: A majority of children in Newham aged 16 and under (approx. 76,000) could enjoy the benefits of play streets if their adult carers and communities are encouraged to start play streets.

Hallmark Play Garden

Opened spring 2024

The Hallmark Foundation commissioned London Play to develop a pilot intergenerational ‘play garden’ where residents who have younger visitors can enjoy their company outdoors in a playful space drawing inspiration from the play memories of the older generations and the input of local young people. The new care home and garden opened in the spring and visits by a local nursery group are frequent.

Play opportunities generated: 200+

PUBLICATIONS

London Playwire e-newsletter

The quarterly London Playwire e-newsletter continued to bring news and practical information of interest to anyone who facilitates play – including professional playworkers, teachers, community groups, parents and carers. Sent to around 1,350 subscribers (over 3,500 readers).

5

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

EVENTS

Adventure Play Awards, October 2023

As part of the Awards for All project the awards event at the Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End was attended by 16 groups and more than 200 children. Hackney’s Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground was named London Adventure Playground of the Year for 2023. A new award for the ‘Playworker Dream Team’ was offered in response to children’s frequently articulating the importance of playworkers in their lives and won by Barnard Adventure Playground in Islington. Best Flick was won by Lambeth’s Triangle Adventure Playground and Haringey’s Markfield Project took the prize for ‘Weird and Wonderful’.

Play opportunities: 200 children attended the event (many more involved at playgrounds taking part)

People for Play campaign workshop and picnic, September 2023

A workshop and picnic for local play campaigners and their families was held at Coram’s Fields as part of the Trust for London project. Attendees heard from Friends of Market Place playground about their successful campaign and fundraising for a unique and nature-inspired play space in Barnet; and a bid for CIL funding in Lewisham. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we hope to make this at least an annual event. While campaigners listened and networked, children and other family members joined in the play outside and witnessed the transformative power of loose parts fabric and cardboard junk.

Play opportunities: 20 at the event, many more as a result of campaigns by local people

OTHER

Advice, support and guidance

London Play continued to offer advice, support and guidance freely via phone, email and in person in response to demand. This included supporting residents and councils across London on their (sometimes quite lengthy) journey to get children playing out in the streets where they live. Support provided included advice and guidance on legislation and practicalities, attending public meetings to talk about the benefits of play streets, promotion and linking groups with one another. Support for play campaigners was also offered as part of the Communities United for Play initiative.

Social media

London Play continued to build its social media presence during the year. As of July 2024, our Facebook following was approximately 36,000; Twitter followers numbered 4,330 and we had 1,700 on Instagram.

Policy and campaigning

London’s Saddest Playground

Part of the Communities United for Play project, February 2024 saw the second annual campaign to raise awareness about substandard play facilities across the capital. A playground in Lewisham was voted the ‘winner’ and this prompted constructive dialogue with the council about its approach to maintaining and providing play infrastructure across the borough particularly in light of its recent adoption of a play strategy (developed with the support of London Play). London Play also supported residents in Southwark with a deputation to the full council where they secured a commitment to an audit of play in the borough; and also residents in Newham and Hammersmith and Fulham.

6

London Play Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Government inquiry into children and the built environment

London Play was one of more than 100 organisations to submit evidence to this enquiry. Our submission detailed how a hostile built environment currently significantly restricts children’s ability to play outside freely and move independently around their neighbourhood.

London Mayoral election – Five Ways to a More Playful London

London Play produced a manifesto for play ahead of the London Mayoral elections calling on the next Mayor to commit to making London the best city in the world to grow up in. It outlined five ways that the mayor has it in his power to improve play, children’s access to play and include their views.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS

The environment that London Play and other charities across the country are operating in continued to be challenging during 2023/24. Political uncertainty was a feature of the year as both local and general elections loomed and decisions on spending were put on hold by the Mayor of London and other public bodies.

With some 30 of London’s 32 boroughs reportedly using reserves to balance the books and half of all England’s local authorities threatened with bankruptcy, councils are increasingly delivering skeleton-only statutory services. Play is not a statutory duty for public authorities to provide and it is no surprise that our own research supports various reports showing that neglect and decline are afflicting playgrounds and play services across London and beyond. Combined with the ongoing cost of living crisis, demand for our services and advocacy has grown, while we also face increased challenges in securing funds to support our work.

London Play’s funding derives predominantly from grant bodies and local authority contracts. As above, local authority finances are under unprecedented strain which has inevitably driven up competition for grant funding. Feedback we have received from multiple funders attests to a huge rise in applications they are receiving. London Play is expending significant resources on developing and submitting funding applications with a lower rate of success than we have achieved previously.

An increased focus from funders on prioritising equity-led organisations (those led by and for marginalised communities) has also proved challenging for London Play – as a second-tier organisation somewhat removed from our ultimate beneficiaries (marginalised children and their families). However, our new three-year strategic plan includes the goal of increasing opportunities for our beneficiaries to influence our governance and direction by ‘diversifying and reinvigorating’ our leadership and ‘centring children’s voices’. The first year working to this strategy has seen a successful drive to recruit new trustees bringing additional skills, lived experience and diversity to the board including representation from adventure playworkers on the front line with children. We have also revamped our board meetings to include networking and peer support sessions for adventure playworkers to inform our work. These are staged at different adventure playgrounds where children are also invited to have an input.

Another strand of our strategic plan has focused on building new partnerships and identifying opportunities for collaboration. Among the organisations that we have developed new connections with include Young V&A, Hackney Museum, Barbican, The Royal Parks, Playwork Foundation, The Building Centre, Northeastern University (Boston, US), Bookizcon (Korea) and others.

Despite vigorous fundraising efforts, income has declined this year and as a result the London Play staff team has suffered cuts. Paid staff hours have fluctuated, and the director took redundancy in June 2023. We continue to be optimistic that we will attract new supporters for our developing and highly fundable ideas.

London Play trustees continue to be appreciative of the adaptability, tenacity and creativity shown by the staff team in responding to ongoing challenging times.

7

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income for the year totalled £145k (2023 £165k), which was 12% down on the year to March 2023. Costs at £160k (2023 £231k) are materially down by 31% on last year largely due to reduction in staff costs. Total reserves stand at £50k (2023 £64k) of which £17k are unrestricted. Trustees and staff are focused on increasing this over the coming year through the active pursuit of core grant funding and surpluses earned on contracted projects.

RESERVES POLICY

The Board of Trustees have reviewed the reserves policy in light of guidance from the Charity Commission.

The reserves should be adequate to cover:

As a result of the review, The Trustees believe that the Charity should hold free reserves of between £45k to £85k.

Total unrestricted reserves at year end of £16,902 fell short of this aspiration. Reserves were depleted by expending staff time on fundraising; and making a redundancy payout in June 2023. Trustees are focused on raising further unrestricted funds during the year ahead.

FUTURE PLANS

The path ahead is undoubtedly challenging but two longer-term projects are providing stability to the organisation as we move forward in the knowledge that some of the many seeds we have planted will germinate in the coming months.

At the time of writing London Play had just secured a two-year contract with The Royal Parks to continue the success of the previous Play in the Park project. Play in the Park II will see us focusing on bringing communities living around The Regent’s and Greenwich parks into the parks with engaging and replicable nature-play activities. Jelly Sports, funded by the London Marathon Foundation will continue through 2024 and 2025 – supporting residents to transform their streets or housing estates with regular playful fun.

We are optimistic that a period of relative political stability – with both the Mayor of London and the national government more politically aligned and in place for the next few years, will be positive for London Play – and play in London. The impacts of the change in national government are yet to be seen and, in any case, unlikely to be felt immediately. However, there are hopeful signs including Labour’s manifesto commitment to work with charities and others to develop an “ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty” and the announcement of a new ‘Youth Futures’ programme to support young people’s mental health and avoid them being drawn into crime.

Meanwhile the newly (re)elected Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, stated his intention in his victory speech, to ‘make London the best city in the world to grow up in’. London Play is already in discussions with his team to ensure that play – and London’s unique adventure playgrounds are acknowledged as intrinsic to his vision. Our ‘Five Ways to a Playful London’ manifesto, published ahead of the elections is the starting point for these discussions which we hope will lead to fruitful partnerships and initiatives ahead.

8

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The UN declared a new annual International Day of Play on 11 June, and London Play took the initiative to mobilise hundreds of children, parents and playworkers in the inaugural London Parade for Play in and around Parliament Square with children taking to the podium to share their views about how politicians can act to improve their lives. This created significant interest on social media and in raising awareness about children’s right and need to play. We hope to make this an annual event and opportunity for children’s voices to be heard.

Support for London’s adventure playgrounds will continue to be a focus. We were successful in obtaining funding from the Barbara Ward Children’s Foundation for our popular Go Kart Build and Race event which prioritises teams from adventure playgrounds. The London Adventure Play Awards will be held at a new location in October 2024. We are seeking new funding to support this annual highly valued and popular event. We are also awaiting the outcome of funding applications to launch a support network for London adventure playgrounds.

Our hope is also to continue developing support for community play campaigners that we have started via our successful Trust for London project, and we will be applying for further funding enabling us to build on the successes so far. We are also in talks with a number of councils interested in developing policies and action plans in relations to play provision in their localities.

We will continue to support residents and councils to transform streets with play. City Hall and TfL have indicated that Car Free Day and support for different ways of using streets including play streets will continue to be a priority for Sadiq Khan’s administration. Additionally, our new ‘Playful High Streets’ initiative invites commissions from local authorities, business improvement districts, consultancies and others to temporarily transform high streets or other public spaces to showcase their playful potential. At the time of writing, commissions have been secured from The Project Centre, The Barbican, Whitecross Street Party, Hammersmith and Fulham Council and others are in the pipeline.

As well as raising our profile with new audiences, the Playful High Streets initiative is also generating unrestricted income, contributing to our aspiration of diversifying our sources of funding, which is a priority over the coming year. Along with fostering collaboration and continuing to promote the value of play to as wide and influential an audience as possible, we are confident that we can navigate the challenges ahead and continue to act as a beacon and support for the London play ecosystem, and for the benefit of all London’s children.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Appointment of Trustees

The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees which is elected from the membership at the Annual General Meeting; additional trustees can be co-opted by the Board during the year and formally appointed at the following AGM. On appointment new trustees are sent an induction pack and are offered induction opportunities with staff and trustees; as well as being offered training opportunities as they arise during the year.

Two trustees resigned in December 2023, three new trustees were co-opted in June 2024.

Trustees met approximately every six to eight weeks to make strategic, policy, and financial decisions on the basis of reports submitted by the director. These meetings alternate online and in person.

9

London Play

Trustees’ Report

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Organisational structure

Since 1 April 2005, London Play has been operating as an incorporated charity (Charity No.1104731, Company No.4055882), following a transfer from the old charity (No. 1075508) under its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Throughout the year operational management has been the responsibility of the Senior Management Team - Paul Hocker and Fiona Sutherland – and since July 2023, Fiona alone – under the direction of trustees. Staff have the opportunity to discuss their work with their line manager through a system of regular supervision.

Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the Trustees should follow best practice and:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Independent examiner

Mary Ryan of Ark Accountancy was re-appointed as the charity's independent examiner during the year and has expressed her willingness to continue in that capacity.

The Trustees’ annual report has been approved by Trustees on 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Melian Mansfield

Chair

10

London Play

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Mary Ryan Ark Accountancy Ltd Chartered Certified Accountant 31 Cheam Road Ewell Epsom Surrey KT17 1QX

Date: .............................................

11

London Play

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2023
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and Legacies 2 14,468 - 14,468 6,563 - 6,563
Charitable activities 3 39,880 - 39,880 88,940 - 88,940
Other trading activities 4 7,520 - 7,520 964 - 964
Investments 5 855 - 855 456 - 456
Other 6 - 82,590 82,590 - 68,738 68,738
Total income 62,723 82,590 145,313 96,923 68,738 165,661
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 39,944 - 39,944 34,031 - 34,031
Charitable activities 63,729 56,583 120,312 107,639 89,672 197,311
Other - - - - - -
Total expenditure 7 103,673 56,583 160,256 141,670 89,672 231,342
Net income/(expenditure) for the year (40,950) 26,007 (14,943) (44,747) (20,934) (65,681)
Transfers between funds - - - - - -
Net movement in funds 17 (40,950) 26,007 (14,943) (44,747) (20,934) (65,681)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 57,852 6,846 64,698 102,599 27,780 130,379
Total funds carried forward 16,902 32,853 49,755 57,852 6,846 64,698

All income and expenditure have arisen from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above.

12

London Play

Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2024

Note
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
11
Current assets:
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14
Net current assets / (liabilities)
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets / (liabilities)
15
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
17		 £
9,403
53,597
63,000
(13,245)
-
16,902		 2024
£
-
-
49,755
49,755		 £
25,617
54,685
80,302
(15,604)		 2023
£
-
-
64,698
64,698
49,755
32,853
16,902
49,755		 -
57,852		 ~~____~~
64,698
6,846
57,852
64,698

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to charitable small companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 2024 and were signed on their behalf by:

M B Mansfield, Chair

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London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’:

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Computer equipment: 33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs

The charity makes payments under defined contribution pension schemes. Contributions payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activity in the period to which they relate.

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London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

2. Income from donations and legacies

Donations 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
14,468
-
14,468
14,468
-
14,468		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
6,563
-
6,563
6,563
-
6,563

3. Income from charitable activities

Grants
Contracts
Activity charges		 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
-
-
-
39,880
-
39,880
-
-
-
39,880
-
39,880		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
23,600
-
23,600
65,340
-
65,340
-
-
-
89,940
-
88,940

4. Income from other trading activities

Advertising
Sponsorship
Consultancy
Merchandise		 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
970
-
970
-
-
-
6,538
-
6,538
12
-
12
7,520
-
7,520		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
892
-
892
-
-
-
-
-
-
72
-
72
964
-
964

5. Income from investments

Interest earned on deposits 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
855
-
855

855
-
855		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
456
-
456
456
-
456

6. Other Income

Grants for core activities 2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
-
85,590
82,590
-
82,590
82,590		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
-
68,738
68,738
-
68,738
63,738

15

London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

7. Expense Analysis

Salaries
Other personnel costs
Contractors
Evaluation
Materials and Equipment
Venue Hire
Catering and Travel Costs
Printing and Publicity
Accommodation costs
IT and Communications
Office costs
Travel and Meetings
Accounting and IE
Other professional fees
Finance costs
Support and Governance
Total Expenditure		 2024
2023
Raising
Funds
Charitable
Activities
Governance
& Support
Total
Raising
Funds
Charitable
Activities
Governance
& Support
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
31,273
67,784
14,200
113,257
28,527
126,323
21,354
176,204
-
-
-
-
-
530
132
662
-
14,644
6,344
20,988
-
19,248
-
19,248
-
2,100
-
2,100
-
6,564
17
6,581
-
9,042
(6)
9,036
-
1,889
-
1,889
-
2,025
390
2,415
-
1,360
253
1,613
-
4,649
-
4,649
-
201
146
347
-
99
-
99
784
1,712
-
2,496
395
1,807
294
2,496
-
-
3,704
3,704
-
1,683
3,631
5,314
-
302
3,698
4,000
240
454
3,430
4,124
-
-
581
581
-
-
519
519
-
-
2,100
2,100
-
-
2,100
2,100
-
-
540
540
-
2,500
1,105
3,605
-
-
60
60
-
-
150
150
32,057
96,556
31,643
160,256
29,162
169,081
33,099
231,342
7,887
23,756
(31,643)
-
4,869
28,230
(33,099)
-
39,944
120,312
-
160,256
34,031
197,311
-
231,342

8. Net expenditure for the year

.
Net expenditure for the year
2024 2023
£ £
Trustee expenses - -
Operating lease rentals:
Property 2,496 2,496
Other - -
Depreciation - -
Independent examiner's remuneration (excluding VAT) 1,100 1,100

9. Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes
Total		 2024
£
104,840
3,439
4,978
113,257		 2023
£
156,591
12,090
7,523
176,204

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year (2023: nil).

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £113,257 (2023: £176,204).

No charity trustee was paid for employment with the charity in the year (2023: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil).

No reimbursement was made to any trustee (2023: £nil) for travel and other expenses in the year.

16

London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

10. Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was as follows:

Charitable activities
Support
Total		 2024
No.
3
-
3		 2023
No.
4
1
5

11. Tangible fixed assets

Fixed assets were fully depreciated.

12. Debtors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade debtors
Other debtors		 2024
£
9,222
181
9,403		 2023
£
25,582
35
25,617

13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals		 2024
£
7,099
1,966
2,080
2,100
13,245		 2023
£
6,620
6,451
202
2,331
15,604

14. Analysis of net assets between funds – this year

Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors - amounts falling due within one year
Net assets at the end of the year		 Unrestricted
£
9,403
20,744
(13,245)
16,902		 Restricted
£
-
32,853
-
32,853		 Total
funds
£
9,403
53,597
(13,245)
49,755

17

London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

15. Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year

Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors - amounts falling due within one year
Net assets at the end of the year		 Unrestricted
£
25,617
47,839
(15,604)
57,852		 Restricted
£
-
6,846
-
6,846		 Total
funds
£
25,617
54,685
(15,604)
64,698

16. Movements in funds

6. Movements in funds
Restricted funds:
Communities Unite for Play
Adventure Play for the Community
Jelly Sports
Total restricted funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At the
start of
the year
Incoming
resources
& gains
Outgoing
resources
& losses
Transfers
At the
end of
the year
£
£
£
£
£
6,846
49,500
(41,170)
-
15,176
-
9,840
(11,488)
1,648
-
-
23,250
(5,573)
-
17,677
6,846
82,590
(58,231)
1,648
32,853
57,852
62,724
(102,026)
(1,648)
16,902
64,698
145,314
(160,257)
-
49,755

Purposes of restricted funds:

18

London Play

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

17. Movements in funds – prior year

Restricted funds:
Communities United for Play
Play Works II
Playful Communities
Days Out In Nature
Total Restricted Funds
Total Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds		 At the start
of the year
£
-
2,671
16,209
9,900
27,780
102,599		 Incoming
resources
& gains
£
22.000
-
46,738
-
68,739
96,923		 Outgoing
resources &
losses
£
(15,154)
(2,671)
(61,479)
(9,900)
(89,672)
(141,730)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-		 At the end of
the year
£
6,846
-
-
-
6,846
57,852
130,379 165,661 (231,342) - 64,698

19