Cmrttylkn￿D¢r.l3jvj• LIWPth*TiÈiSL*iit44¢CuthX 27.2RD(4 1,7*JJ• &r¥LgJ &*5* 7.713 15E4 P4W FI*NWIS LWS 4*L )19 b7J4 Pbril* Ir.Yh1115 a79> .91 ppy 40 cuwQcM Fo¥tri￿*4¢5A) 1.7rtrJ.72 I￿.00 ..7$ AIA [% u otccnJMI8 oth￿P￿ ￿l,.11S 3AQ A trl (SA1É4 [AC￿Al. lel 59 19J.I ÉYFsIthow I10kFu￿5￿l3￿tr*• XO4Ln ## Annual report Dame Allan’s Schools Parents’ Associaton Charity #1137728 Report of the trustees for the year ending 31 July 2025 The Trustees of Dame Allan’s Schools Parents’ Association (DASPA) Charity present their annual report and independently examined financial statements. As an organisation, DASPA are approaching their centenary and are an important part of the Dame Allan’s Schools community. ## Our Aims To advance the education of pupils in the schools, in particular by: - Developing effective relationships between staff, parents and others associated with the school - Engaging in activities or providing facilities or equipment which support the school and advance the education of pupils. DASPA’s mission statement is to ‘advance the education of pupils by developing the community of parents, pupils, and staff. The goal is to engage in community activities that help provide facilities or equipment which support the school and pupils.’ We have pursued the means to achieve this mission with an extensive schedule of fundraising activities. The main events in our calendar are a Christmas Fair, Summer Fair, Ceilidh, Refreshments at drama and music events, regular uniform sales, parties and film nights, selling calendars, Christmas cards and memory bears. Some of our activities incur expenses, expenses are kept to a minimum and are agreed in principle in advance by trustees. Some activities such as junior competitions and the EYFS fun day are considered a contribution to the school and are represented as a payment to Dame Allan’s Schools. Other activities make a positive contribution although the level of this differs according to the activity. For example, the Ceilidh is costly to run but the event supports the school community and the school’s ceilidh bands while the two annual fairs have some expense but raise considerably more income. All the activities which incur expenditure have made a profit. We are lucky that for some activities like the Christmas Fair and Summer Fair, parents and carers generously donate items that we are then able to use as fundraising opportunities. We have also received a cash donation for £700. We thank all parents and carers for their support. We are also fortunate not just to have the support of parents and carers but also of the staff and school itself. The generous opportunity afforded by using the school’s payment system to sell tickets for events, fundraising items such as Christmas cards and raffle tickets has meant that the charity is able to extensively explore many possible revenue streams. The profits made by DASPA are available for expenditure by the schools. Departments and schools are invited to put forward a fundraising request before a DASPA meeting to the Director of Co-curricular at the school or deputy head at the Junior School. If the amount is under £2500 it can be agreed at the meeting or if it is more than this, then it needs agreement by the majority of trustees at a separate online or IRL meeting. At the meeting consideration is made that requests are additional and how many students would benefit from the purchase. All those submitting requests are contacted by DASPA with an outcome decision or request for further information. This year we have supported Dame Allan’s in the senior school with ten digital pianos, sculling blades for the school’s nascent rowing club and a donation of a speaker for the school’s Shakespeare festival. Also, at the senior school we have funded twelve folding tables and many chairs to make use of spaces around the school and to support DASPA events. Other significant items at the seniors include Nintendo controllers for the esports club, pickleball equipment, house flags for sports day and food tech items. Monies have also been used for treats for senior pupils including after show pizza, support for the VI form Ball and ice creams. At the junior school funds have been used for fabulous treats which include a visit from a reindeer, year 6 autograph books, a visit and treat from Father Christmas and an EYFS fun afternoon. Some funding has been ringfenced for the refurbishment of the Sports Hall and the new Astro pitch as well as a speaker for the Maths department. In addition, trustees are in negotiation with the school to fund other significant items. But as noted by our auditor, the trustees will agree a reserve policy this year to diminish the high levels of reserves that are currently held. ## Overview of 2024-5 What a great year 2024-25 proved to be for DASPA with not only a full normal calendar but also with some additional events. A big thank you to Julie Brazier and Kat Lilford who have prepared our accounts and to Sarah Batey who audited them. Thanks to Cherie Mobberley our outgoing DASPA Junior Secretary and a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to Gillian Wordsworth Goodram our new DASPA Junior Secretary. Melissa Gaglardi has been a wonderful trustee and chair of DASPA Junior and has worked so well in the role and we would like to formally thank her here for enabling so many events at the junior school. She has been ably assisted by Kat Lilford who is our go-to party planner, Mrs Needham our junior party organiser, Cath Huntley with her enthusiastic junior uniform sub-committee who has taken on the enormous task of junior uniform and Gillian Wordsworth Goodram who is the junior secretary. As co-chairs, Laura Percy and Vanessa Morrell have worked well together with the support of the DASPA committee, to help manage an extensive year of fundraising for pupils at Dame Allan’s Schools. Thanks to Sarah Johnson our secretary, assisted by Jill Davies. Thanks to our trustees Laura Percy, Vanessa Morrell, Melissa Gaglardi, Julie Brazier, Kat Lilford, Sarah Johnson and Stephen Davies for overseeing the governance of the charity. A big note of thanks to the over 50 active members of DASPA who enable our great events and fundraising to happen. The financial statements for the year show how successful the DASPA Committee has been in raising funds for the school with payments made of just over £15,500 and just over £25,000 raised this year . ## Christmas Fair We held a very successful Christmas Fair at the Senior School. The footfall was over 500 people and raised just under £5000. The fair was very successful, and the sixth form helpers really enhanced the event. We had stalls for our own fundraising, from local businesses, fundraising from pupils and stalls for local charities. There was a great sense of community and atmosphere at this fair. Refreshments provided by the school were very much appreciated by all who attended. Many thanks to everyone who helped make it such a memorable day. A big thank you to our wonderful school choirs who serenaded us with Christmas music and special thanks to James Percy who played a key role at this Christmas event! ## Uniform Sales Our regular monthly uniform sales (alongside a coffee morning) at St James and St Basil’s Church, have proved to be a great way not only to raise funds but also make friends and support the parent community. It is with heartfelt thanks that we take this opportunity to thank Rev James McGowan and his team at ‘Js and Bs’. Thanks to, our brilliant senior uniform subcommittee (Laura Percy, Vanessa Morrell, Bronwen Deane, Connie Hall, Stephen Davies, Julie Brazier and Jill Davies) who enable these sales to happen, with special thanks to Bronwen who makes everyone extra welcome with her homemade cakes. Regular sales are also a fixture at the junior school under the leadership of Cath Huntley who continues to improve and innovate the junior sales and augment donations with her fantastic subcommittee comprising of Anna Westwick, Julia Lovell, Kate Middleton, Sara Webster, Marie Harrison, Jenny Dutta, Hayley Cook, Ali Gordon, Fiona Stanley and Caroline Twizell. The junior subcommittee, led by Cath Huntley, also organised the reusing and redistribution of uniform following the change in uniform style from the junior school. Uniform was sent to South Africa and Malawi from Jesmond Parish Church and to other international schools through Kitaid. Rucksacks and sports bags were taken by the Lord Taverners Charity to schools in Africa. Unbranded uniform has been donated to local charities and any uniform that cannot be worn has been recycled. This all represents a lot of work and heartfelt thanks for Cath and her committee for organising this worthwhile endeavour. Many thanks for all of the hard work that these uniform subcommittees bring and for the lifeline they give to new and existing parents at our school. Thanks too for the massive contribution of over £8,300 to DASPA’s fundraising efforts from uniform sales. ## Refreshments Our offer of refreshments at concerts and performances have proved very popular and a great money raising activity. Thanks to Laura Percy for managing this activity and special thanks to Connie Hall and Karen Simblet for supporting this activity which runs throughout the year on almost a dozen occasions, and which supports the school as well as raising considerable funds for DASPA. ## Family Ceilidh We were thrilled to be able to hold our Family Ceilidh. Our own school ceilidh bands and Irish dancers entertained us to music from the British Isles. The tickets quickly sold out. Pizza was once more arranged and has quickly become a new DASPA tradition. Thanks to Vanessa Morrell and Laura Percy who organised this exciting event and our school ceilidh bands. ## Senior Partes The year 7 party was well attended. It is only with the complete support from teaching and non-teaching staff and the DASPA committee that this party can happen and the committee and we’re sure pupils were all extremely grateful. Many thanks to the subcommittee of Vanessa Morrell, Sarah Johnson, Connie Hall and Laura Percy in organising this event. ## Curry Night and Dinner Disco Two new events were trialled this year a curry quiz night held in the 6th form common room and a dinner disco held at The Royal County Hotel. Both events were well attended and raised just over £900. They both were great social activities for parents and may be tried again. Thanks to Laura Percy, Veronika Edward-Smith, Jemma Lawson and Vanessa Morrell for organising these activities. ## DASPA Allanian Art Competton DASPA supported the school by holding a calendar design competition with prizes for each class, where students were invited to design a picture for a calendar. These were then donated to Allanians and local care home residents. Many thanks to Laura Percy who managed this activity. ## Junior School It is with great pleasure that we can report that the Junior School offered a full range of DASPA activities this year. Four parties, three film nights and a summer fair. The Summer Fair had over 400 attending and raised £5,500. It was a brilliant event and all attendees enjoyed it. It was a big occasion for the Dame Allan’s Junior School and wider family to come together. Over 30 staff and parents volunteered at the event and the raffle prizes were excellent with each year being responsible for a hamper. A big thank you to Melissa Gaglardi and Kat Lilford who led this event. The regular Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Year 6 parties all went extremely well, ably led by Mrs Needham and most of the children in the year attended these events and they also all now know how to play party games! Many thanks to the numerous parents who have assisted at these events. We also organised a reindeer visit for pupils, a Santa visit with small gifts for all pupils and a colouring competition with popcorn and candy floss for EYFS pupils. DASPA Juniors made just over £11,000 this year. Going to encourage spending on smaller items as don’t get many requests. ## Merchandise fundraising items The calendar, hoodies and Christmas card fundraising activities were other successful activities that helped DASPA fundraising objectives. Jackie Needham works tirelessly each year to enable these activities to happen which all make a massive contribution to our fundraising. Many thanks for this work. This year memory bears were sold which were made from the old uniform and proved to be a very popular item. DASPA supports the junior school providing prizes for the annual bauble competition and easter egg competition which also contribute to income streams with a cost of entry. Yet, we have not only supported the school in raising funds and organising events for the Dame Allan’s Schools community, but we have also supported the school at open days, music festivals and jump in mornings. ## Year Ahead We hope in the year ahead to be able to offer this extensive range of activities, and we hope to be able to help fund additional resources and opportunities for pupils at the school through a good variety of participative fundraising streams. We have reserves allocated for great projects which are in the pipeline for the Junior and Senior school projects that enhance the experience of the students at Dame Allan’s, as well as the Ball for parents. In addition, we plan to ratify a reserves policy. DASPAAGM 08 January 2Q26 Independent Review ofAccounts 2024r20254- Report Sarah Batey- 20112125 Thank you for again invrting me to complete an independent revlew ofthE accounts for DASPA Junior and DASPA senior. 1115 gocKJ to see the wnlinued great work that goes on within these 2 bodEs and also the amazing tx)nlribulions made lo schtx)I lrfe. Thank you to your t[￿SU[erS Julie Brazier and Katherine Bowden for their hard work during the year and also supporting me during the review and to DAS bursarfs office for their support of DASPA during the year. l am happy to sign off the acGounls as 8c¢urate and have made the followtng review points I note that the high levels of reserves held at the end of both 22123 and 23,'24 have continLted to build in 24125 and now stand at over £48,500. 18uggest if not in place currently, the committee agree 8 resetve policy, which would be a maximum value. only to be exceeded rf there is a large fundraising commitment to the schools in progress. I would also suggest a review is completed regards funding and that this increase is addressed in 25126 or fvndraising aclivlties are sealed back until a plan is in place. I note that the "settlements. vAth DAS conlinue lo be made infrequerrtly and suggest rnore frequent reconcilialions with settlement {B￿￿Onlhty at a rninimum), this w511 enable any errors or miscoding to be iderrtifEd and deatt with in a timety manner. I did not however note any material miscoding in this period. Sarah Baley