Chair’s report
Northgate Association 2019-2020
I think it’s fair to say that the last academic year has been one like no other. We started the autumn term like every other autumn term, keen to begin another year of fundraising to fund resources and experiences for the children of Northgate and to enrich their education. We could never have predicted, as we sat in our first committee meeting of the autumn term in the Cricket Club bar, that our events and fundraising activities for the year ahead would be completely curtailed by a global pandemic.
Thankfully, it was in that first meeting, as we discussed the need to find ways to fundraise that required little in the way of volunteer input and that would give an ongoing return, Mairead Wright suggested we start a ‘250 club’. Although similar to the existing ‘100 club’, it was decided that we needed to go bigger on ticket price and prize fund to generate more interest and raise a more substantial sum for the PTA. For a £10 month commitment, the new ‘250 Club’ would allow parents the chance to contribute to our PTA funds without any time (or baking or crafting) commitment while being in with a chance of winning up to a £1000 cash sum in a monthly draw. It was decided that the 100 club would be wound up and a new 250 club launched. Thank you to Mairead for the huge effort put in to set it up, sign parents up and to publicise it ready for its first draw in December. This has become the fundraising lifeline this year, providing a regular income now of close to £800 a month, allowing us to continue to fund the annual commitments we make to curriculum enrichment weeks, Christmas activities and other much needed resources. In total this had raised in excess of £8,000 in the year and the hope is that, going forward, we can generate more interest to only grow that level of fundraising.
While no volunteers came forward to take on the organisation of a traditional Christmas Fayre, trustees Geri Wren, Jo Parrott and Jon Doolan, together with a few other parents, offered to arrange a smaller scale event so that the children did not miss out on the festivities. They pulled together a Christmas film night, with Christmas games from year 6 and food and drink stalls. They did a great job organising this in a short timescale, had a great turnout and a really respectable £1,400 profit. Thank you to the Christmas team for the work they put in.
Our Fireworks night proved yet again to be a huge success. Once again ticket sales were online, making it easy for parents to purchase and minimal effort required to sell them. Recognising that getting sufficient volunteers to run the bar, BBQ, entry gate and as safety marshals has become increasingly difficult over the years, a new approach was taken and the bar and food sales were outsourced to the Belgian Brewer and the Secret Sausage Shop, with an agreement to a percentage share of takings and a fixed sum pitch fee respectively. We also took a new approach to managing the restrictions imposed on capacity by the terms of the alcohol licence, and a specific bar area was cordoned off so that we could allow more visitors in to the event (and increased ticket sales) while adhering to the 499 person restriction in the designated bar area. There were learning points from the new approach taken but the fireworks display itself was as fantastic as ever. While the weather was the wettest it has been for a number of years meaning people did not hang around to eat and drink, we were fortunate to have agreed a generous pitch fee with the Secret Sausage Shop which, coupled with the high ticket sales, meant financially the event was a tremendous success raising over £3,600.
Thanks once again to Peter Fowke for putting on this annual event, this year with Jon Doolan who will be taking on the organisation of this event as soon as we are able to hold one again.
In February, Louise Tennekoon kindly organised what turned out to be the only disco of the year. As usual the children enjoyed themselves and the addition of hot food to the disco format has proven to be popular. Thank you to Louise for her disco input this year – we hope she will pick up the organisation of these once we are able to dance again.
In March we once again marked Mother’s Day by opening a pop up shop for the children to purchase pre-wrapped gifts at £3 each. Allison Boom and I organised this in the last week before the school was force to close. It became apparent early on in the week that many children were already off school so uptake was not at the previous year’s level but a profit none the less was raised, of £350. We were very sad not to be able to offer the Dad’s a gift for Father’s Day. It is hard to imagine that things will be back to normal in time for Mother’s Day 2021 but we hope we can come up with a COVID-safe way of allowing the children the chance to shop for their Mummies.
Other fundraisers bringing in individually small amounts, but collectively making a real difference to our fundraising pot, are the Happy School Bags collections, the second hand uniform sales (now operating through a Facebook selling page), the Christmas card fundraiser, Stikins name label commission, Terracycle schemes and The Giving Machine commission. Thank you to all involved in those, in particular Nicole Quail, Alison Greet, Jacqueline Dearnley and Kelly Hyde.
I think that just about summarises our fundraising year. BIG BIG thanks to everyone involved in ALL of it – thank you to all who have volunteered, taken part, bought tickets, bought beers and burgers, donated uniform, bought uniform, shared Facebook posts and all who have been involved in any way.
Despite the obvious challenges, to finish the year with over £15,000 in the bank is
INCREDIBLE.
We were sad to say ‘goodbye’ but needed to say a huge ‘thank you’ to departing trustees, Sara Blackiston, Mairead Wright, Nicola Jaggers, Amber Laking and Peter Fowke. All have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort, even blood, sweat and tears over the years. Notably Mairead, Nicola and Amber formed a Christmas dream team and organised 2 successful Christmas fayres and an unforgettable Summer Ball in 2019. Mairead also instigated the 250 Club which has been a great success. Peter has been possibly the longest serving PTA member in PTA history, racking up around 15 years of volunteering – he has been there and involved at every event, setting up early and clearing away late, lugging boxes, fridges and equipment around the school grounds, making emergency trips to Tesco for more beer and wine and a general pillar of support to the committee at all times. He will be greatly missed. Thank you to all departing trustees for all your time and effort. It really is appreciated.
We welcomed Ryan Moore onto the committee in the Treasurer’s role and Nambia Ferguson as Secretary. I will continue as Chair and I am very glad to finally have a secretary to share some of the duties with. Thank you for joining us.
The year ahead is looking a little uncertain but we look forward to the time we can hold events again, but in the meantime we will continue the fundraising as best we can and continue to enrich our children’s education.
Louisa Piercy
Chair of Northgate School Association
Northgate Association Accounts 1 Sept 2019 to 31 Aug 2020
| No | rthgate Ass | rthgate Ass | ociation | Accounts | 1 Sept 2019 to | 31 Aug 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS Discos Fireworks Christmas Fayre Break the Rules Day Ice Cream Sales Camp out Summer Fayre May Ball Colour Run Film Night Quiz/Comedy/Casino night Mother's/Father's day event Christmas cards Second hand uniform Happy Bags The Giving Machine Purchase of equipment Costs - Insurance, licenses Refreshments for school events Terracycle Christmas Tea Towels 250 Club Runfest Go Henry Name Labels Interest & Worldpay Fees 100 Club Donations received School Production Gifts Total Receipts |
£ | PAYMENTS | £ 544 - 2,430 - 505 - - - - - - - - - 611 - 839 - - - - - 479 - - - - 4,648 - - - - - 143 - - - 10,200 - 15,441 £ 25,424 -£ |
10,200 -£ |
Profit Variance vs LY 702 -902 3,620 2,228 1,411 -2,503 - '- - '- - '- - '- - '- - '- - '- - '- 346 -1,190 112 11 347 -42 492 -441 15 -22 - '- 479 - * includes £350 Independent ad -309 - '- 291 291 - '- 8,132 8,132 - '- - '- 231 80 13 13 208 70 - '- - '- 15,441 |
2018-19 2017-2018 2016-2017 2015-2016 2014-2015 2013-2014 1,604 2,676 2,447 1,689 2,118 2,799 1,392 1,726 2,285 3,058 1,965 1,696 3,914 4,331 3,456 3,275 2,449 2,466 626 482 521 490 564 867 0 381 471 0 0 31 0 0 542 0 594 890 0 4,252 4,294 0 3,909 3,061 5,819 0 0 3,896 422 746 367 897 2,271 2,187 1,370 -142 824 364 435 830 0 125 0 -182 196 580 427 1,116 1,536 104 753 806 184 161 101 39 141 124 228 169 389 299 424 510 435 529 933 514 354 635 725 727 37 76 75 180 193 257 -841 -391 -483 0 108 45 -170 -264 -247 -349 -789 -248 -19 -162 -71 0 -43 -36 0 0 0 0 180 -163 0 0 0 244 538 678 0 0 0 333 27 44 0 15 0 0 0 205 120 0 0 0 5 24 151 0 0 0 416 221 -1 -15 1 1 0 0 138 128 338 438 260 448 0 500 65 943 1,015 900 0 -290 0 0 0 0 Historical profit |
|||||||
| 1,246 | Discos Fireworks Christmas Fayre Break the Rules Day Ice Cream Sales Camp out Summer Fayre May Ball Colour Run Film Night Quiz/Comedy/Casino night Mother's/Father's day event Christmas cards Second hand uniform Happy Bags The Giving Machine Purchase of equipment Costs - Insurance, licenses Refreshments for school events Terracycle Christmas Tea Towels 250 Club Runfest Go Henry Name Labels Interest & Worldpay Fees 100 Club Donations received School Production Gifts |
544 - |
|||||||||||
| 6,051 | 2,430 - |
||||||||||||
| 1,916 | 505 - |
||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| 957 | 611 - |
||||||||||||
| 951 | 839 - |
||||||||||||
| 347 | - | ||||||||||||
| 492 | - | ||||||||||||
| 15 | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | 479 - |
||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| 291 | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| 12,780 | 4,648 - |
||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| 231 | - | ||||||||||||
| 13 | - | ||||||||||||
| 350 | 143 - |
||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||||||
| 25,641 | 25,641 £ |
Total Payments Profit ( Loss ) Donations to school |
|||||||||||
| 16,919 | 15,478 | 18,269 | 19,868 | 17,301 | 17,616 | ||||||||
| STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT £ £ Represented by: Deposit Account 8,234 ) Deposit Account Current Account 11,743 ) 22,168 Current Account Cash in hand - ) Cash in hand 100 Club 2,772 100 Club Debtors 670 Debtors Creditors -1,251 Creditors Payments in access of Receipts -9,983 Reserves Carried Forward 12,185 Net assets Opening Balances frompreviousyear 1 Sept 2019 to 31 Aug 2020 |
£ 8,251 2,472 - 2,710 0 -1,248 |
|---|---|
| 12,185 |
Book1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Northgate Association I report on the accounts of the Northgate Association for the year ended 31 August 2020. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). It is my responsibility to: . Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 201 l Act; . To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) of the 2011 Act; and . To state whether particular matter have come to my attention. Basis of examiner's statement My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 you as 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 examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has rA)me to my attention: I. Ivhich gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: . To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 201 l Act; and . To prepare accord which accord with the accounting records and comply with the li requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 11 2. To which, in my opinioffj attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Laurence Foote 4 Dane O'coys Road Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire CM23 2RN 21 /06/2021