Chair’s Report for Friends of the Steiner Academy Hereford
October 2019 – September 2020
This year was no ordinary year, for anyone. Everything started normally but by March 2020 schools were closed, fundraising ceased and nearly everybody stayed at home during the global coronavirus pandemic. Our teachers and office staff carried on working hard of course, providing materials for remote learning, and in-school provision for those children of key workers and vulnerable families. The kitchen worked hard to supply and deliver food to families receiving free school meals also for the wider community, and later in the year the school’s community food larder was busy receiving donations of food for those families hit by the hard times the pandemic caused for so many.
Financially, the year started very positively with donations to Friends at their highest ever levels in October and November 2019. The lottery had doubled its membership, Catherine Tester having worked hard to promote it. Once the pandemic got underway in the second half of the year, we saw an unsurprising drop in donations, both in the number of people donating and in the amounts that were given. This was, of course, most understandable as some people saw their income sources disappear overnight. Fingers crossed we will see these figures increase once again, when conditions allow.
We started the year by proudly celebrating 100 years of Steiner Waldorf Education on 19 September 2019. The children were involved in various activities to mark this occasion, including sending postcards all around the world to children in other Waldorf schools.
Class 3 kickstarted the fundraising year with a successful and very enjoyable Harvest Supper, raising a fantastic £1250.
October saw a community workday with lots of jobs ticked off the list and delicious food being provided by classes 5 and 8.
Then came the Advent Fair at the Shire Hall in Hereford. A beautiful, bustling and well-attended event that brought in just over £4,000 in profit.
Hot on the heels of the Advent Fair was the Advent Market held at school. A lovely, much quieter opportunity to purchase gifts and produce, make a wreath and so on.
In January there was a meeting held by the Principal, Kate Andrews, to discuss communications at school. Sadly, this was mostly only attended by other staff, governors and members of the Friends Committee.
While the world slowly ground to a halt and the UK entered its first lockdown towards the end of March 2020, the Kindergartens managed to squeeze in a very successful Promise Auction fundraiser in early March, which brought in £4975.
The only other fundraising event that was able to happen for the rest of the year was a trip to Colin Crawford’s orchard in August 2020. Here, parents and children gathered apples which were taken to Carey farm for pressing and bottling. The result was 380 bottles of delicious, light apple juice, which will hopefully be sold and served at future fairs and events, as well as in the school shop.
Although most classes did not manage to achieve their fundraising goals of £600 per class and £1000 for the Kindergartens, the fundraising events that did go ahead were very successful and have brought in much-needed funds. Most classes did manage to raise some monies, and I’m sure that with more time they would have met their targets. Thanks to the brilliant fundraising efforts from previous years, Friends was nevertheless able to meet all its financial commitments due to the school this year.
It is very heartening to see the level of effort, commitment and hard work that comes from our parent community to support the education of our children and the health of our community life. On behalf of the Friends Committee, I would like to thank you all.
Sophy Simpson, Chair.
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report |
Friends of the Steiner Academy Hereford | Friends of the Steiner Academy Hereford | Friends of the Steiner Academy Hereford |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2020 | Charity no (if any) |
1135990 | |
| Sections A and B of CC16a: receipts and payments accounts for y/e 30 Sep 2020 and the statement of assets and liabilities as at 30 Sep 2020. |
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| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended30th September 2020. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). |
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Date: 21 January 2021 Signed: Name: Timothy Greenhalgh Relevant professional qualification(s) (if any): Address: The Rectory Church Lane Welford on Avon CV37 8EL
1
Oct 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
Oct 2018
IER