2024-12-31-accounts

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP)

• Charity no I 1157509 (If any)

31 December 2024

• Set out on pages LI 1 &2

  • ___ .

• Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.

• responslbllltles of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year

• trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

  • It is my responsibility to:

  • examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

  • • to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

  • • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

• Basis of Independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner's statement 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 the 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 In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

• examiner's statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

  • to keep accounting records in accordance with section 13 0 of the Charities Act; and

  • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

  • have not been met; or

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: ~~I =~.~~ Date: [ 28 October 2025 Name: [ R Smith (If any): L. _____________________ , -- I

Relevant professional quallflcatlon(s) or body

Address: [ 5 The Ley

IER

March 2012

Woodstock Oxon OX20 1 UX

Section B

01scosurr

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

March 2012

2

IER

South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP) Balance Sheet at 31 at December 2024

Current Assets Cash			2024 £0.00	2023 £0 00
Balanoe at Barclays Balance in Paypal account Balance in Zeltle account Total Current Aaeet9			£38,502.51 £0.00 £676.39 £39,178.90 —-——= —	£31,469.30 £000 £923 £32,39270 Ps ———
Debtors Brownies Invoice BRN-AUT-23				£550.00
Zurich Insurance Claim Total Current Debtors				£1,417.20 £1,967.20 Se
Creditors SOAP Hire Refund Bloxham	SOAP Hire Refund Bloxham			£120.00
Kai Tabacek Expenses			**£65.71 **
Naomi Wlita Expenses			£307.14
FIRST AID ACADEMY			£720.00
DEC Electrical			£96.60
wages and NI (Dec 24)			£247.33
Total Current Liabilities			£1,436.78	£120.00
Net Assets		-- £37,742.12 <=.		U4,ll9.90 —— —_
Represented by:
Accumulated Fund Bal nce blfwd			£34,239.90	£37,233.93
Surplus/Deficit(·) of Income over Expenditure Balancec/fwd			£3,502.21 £37,742.11	.£2,994.03 £34,239.10
Restricted Funds	Memorandum
Summer Playscheme 2025			£12,000.00
Designated Funds
Reserves			£3,000.00	£3,000.00
Building & Grounds Contingency Fund			£5,000.00	£5,000.00
Contingency Fund Total Designated Funds			£4,000.00 £12,000.00	£4,000.00 £12,000.00
Unrestricted Funds			£13,742.11	£22,239.90
Total Fundl			£37,742.11	£34,239.10
Restricted Funds:
Summer Playscherne 2025	OVCAWellTogethergrant
Designated Funds:
Reserves Building & Grounds Contingency Fund Contingency Fund	To cover the utilities, servk:et and winding up cost that would be required If SOAP were to cease ill activities. To cover any repairs or improvements to the premi981 and grounds. To prolect the organisation against predicted reductions in funding, particularty (but not exduaively) to be spent on payroll to protect core

To cover the utilities, servk:et and winding up cost that would be required If SOAP were to cease ill activities. To cover any repairs or improvements to the premi981 and grounds. To prolect the organisation against predicted reductions in funding, particularty (but not exduaively) to be spent on payroll to protect core activities.

South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP) t Income and Expenditure Accoun for the year ending 31st December 2024

Income	2024	2023
Grants Oxford City Council OCVA	£500.00 £12,00 .00	**£2,00 .00 **
WOodward Trust Dorla Field		£750.00 **£667.25 **
Lettinga of Site Onaite donations Online donations	£12,438.70 £1,003.33 £6,947.91	£32,636.50 £9,415.21
lnatltutlonal donations Event ulee and Mlsoellaneoue Zurich Insurance Claim	£2,700.00 £12,586.43	£9,085.40 £1,417.20
Total Income	£48,176.37	£55,971.58
Expenditure
Staff Wages and Employer's NI	£26,314.23	**£28,452.08 **
Pensions	£59.59	£257.93
Payroll Staff Training	£511.00 £1,006.00	£615.30 £712.85
OBSChecks	£116.00	£73.00
Site rental and maintenance Insurance (Includes employee and public llablllty)	£3,315.95	£2,991.77
Equipment Refuse Collection	£1,885.74 £0.00	£423.27 £385.78
Telephone	£18.48	£119.69
Electricity	£806.22	£1,892.83
Rate, Rent Hut and site expenses Material,(play & dom11tlc)	£262.52 £5.00 £2,542.94 £333.92	£349.92 £5.00 £16,3-48.15 £1,329.40
Activities	£298.66	£199.69
Website	£147.67	£435.00
Fundralalng coats	£6,483.43	£3,518.60
Accountcharges	£315.78	£293.50
Refunds	£150.00	£290.00
Sundry payments	£101.03	£271.83
TotalExpenditure	£44,874.16	£58,945.59
Surplul/0.ftclt (·) of Income overExpenditure	£3,502.21	-£2,994.03

South Oxford Adventure Playground

Annual Report 2024 (January – December 2024) CIO Reg Number: 1157509

Address: Whitehouse Road, Oxford, OX1 4QH

INTRODUCTION

South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP) is a local charity run by volunteers that provides a well- loved adventure playground that is used by locals and those who live further afield. It is free for all children during the school holidays from Easter to the end of October and after school during this period. SOAP also runs a popular weekly youth club for 11-15 year olds. Sessions are overseen by a team of trained play workers or youth workers, and are open access, meaning children & young people can come and go as they please.

Trustees on date when the report was approved: Naomi Waite, Megan Douthwaite, Phil Doubtfire

Committee on date when report was approved : Naomi Waite (Chair), John Appleby-Alis (Treasurer), Kai Tabacek, Sophie Bowell, Megan Douthwaite, Cath Unia

Reserves policy: £3,000 shall be kept in reserve, for emergency repairs/renovations and to cover 3 month’s running costs for utilities and services.

The charity’s trustees have had due regard to the Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Purpose according to SOAP’s constitution: To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of children and young people in the St Ebbe’s, Grandpont and New Hinksey area of the city of Oxford who have need of such facilities with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Changes to the management committee & trustees in 2024: Tom Currie stood down from the Management Committee.

USE OF SOAP IN 2024

SOAP provided free, inclusive, supervised, adventurous outdoor play and activities for a total of 90 days in 2024. Four hundred and forty two children aged 7 and above registered through the year, and in total there were 3,500 child visits. Forty-two percent were by unaccompanied children aged 7+ years; a quarter were by 7+ year olds accompanied by a parent or carer; and a third were by children under 7 years accompanied by a parent/carer. Young people came from across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom as the visuals below show.

Most sessions fell between April and October, but Youth Club for Year 7s and upwards ran year round. SOAP opened on Thursdays and Fridays after school throughout the season and ran holiday playschemes in the

Easter Holidays (4 days), Summer Half Term (3 days), Summer Holidays (20 days), October Half Term (2 days).The Parasol Project used SOAP on Mondays through the summer holidays.

Oxford City Schools & Community groups:

SOAP has provided Oxford City schools within the ring road free access to the site since 2018. We continued this through 2024 and 6 city primary schools were able to take advantage of this, booking 14 visits in total. The schools were St Nicholas, New Hinksey, Larkrise, St Barnabas, St Ebbes and East Oxford Primary. Other organizations with regular or one off paid sessions at SOAP included the Guides, Home Education, Oxford Legal Walk, Parasol, Mabel Prichard School, South Oxford Family Room, Kennington Youth Club, OASIS,

Meadowbrook School, Bloxham Grove School, Kingfisher School Abingdon and West Oxford Elfins. This represented a significant increase in day time hires from previous years.

Weekend and evening private hire:

There were 70 weekend and after school private hires between March – October. This compares with 103 in 2023, 124 in 2022, 70 in 2021 and 105 in 2019. Poor weather may partially explain the reduction from the previous two years. Cath Unia continued management of the party hires and a growing number of day time hires supported by some volunteer party checkers.

50th Anniversary Celebrations:

SOAP celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary in 2024. Kai Tabacek researched and produced an exhibition to look back at the history of the playground. It was unveiled at SOAP’s Birthday Party on 29 June and then went on tour to New Hinksey School, St Ebbes Primary School, the South Oxford Community Centre and Oxford Westgate Library. Tamar Shirley led on organising the Birthday Party which was a wonderful occasion bringing back people who had been involved with SOAP throughout its 50 year history including past staff, management and founders. The Exhibition provided a focal point for the celebration along with BBQ, bar, games, arts & crafts, live music, speeches and an amazing SOAP cake.

FACILITIES & EQUIPMENT

• Our annual ROSPA inspection didn’t bring up any significant issues. Megan Douthwaite dealt with the necessary repairs throughout the year with support from local volunteers.

STAFFING

• Management of the playschemes throughout the year continued to be fulfilled by Michelle Keeler and over the Summer playscheme this was shared with long time playworker and local resident Saskia Cookson. Both were trained as Designated Safeguarding Leads to ensure there was always an onsite safeguarding lead.

• We took on some good new playworkers, many of whom were local residents, and were pleased to have a good number of staff returning from previous years. New staff included: Oskar Cookson, Alfie Weaver, Ella Franklin-Fraiture, Queen Awojobi, Benjamin Miley-Smith, Izzy Franklin, Francesca Colonnese, Rosie Sangiogio, Anns Eugene, Bryan Kidd and Rebecca Silk.

• Staffing the after school sessions continued to be challenging.

FUNDRAISING

• A fundraising campaign took place around the 50th Anniversary with funds raised both by an online fundraiser and the successful delivery of SOAP’s 50th Birthday Party

• SOAP sold Christmas Trees for the first time and hosted a (very wet and windy) christmas fair on the same day.

• Grant funding came from: Oxford City Council

• Donations from: Christ Church, St John's, All Souls, Trinity, Jesus, New College, Magdalen

• Income from site lettings and party hire including an increased number of schools and community groups

CONSIDERATIONS AND LEARNING

• Learn from the experience of having two Managers running the scheme and continue to nurture staff to ensure there is a good pipeline of future Senior Playworkers and Managers.

• Continue to develop and fine tune the registration app and SOAP’s shared drive and calendar

• Continue to develop the use of the wood and consider how it can be incorporated more fully into the wider site.

• Continue to regularly monitor the proportion of unaccompanied children, those aged 7+, children accompanied by adults, and the proportion under 7.

• Explore options to better serve priority target groups, including strategies to increase access for over 7s. This should include how to improve the quality of age appropriate child-led free play and activities.

• Consider how to raise money for significant future capital costs in the event that the play equipment and/ or hut becomes unusable.

• Consider how to attract a wider range of active volunteers to the committee and make sure the position of secretary is filled.

• Consider how to ensure grant fundraising returns to normal levels or explore additional streams of income to safeguard SOAP’s future.

• Consider how to ensure ODS continue to fulfil the work we need them to on site repairs and maintenance in the light of changed staffing and more pressure on budgets.

THANK YOUs

Thank you to our community, donors, and to all the volunteers who have made SOAP work this year with particular mentions for Megan Douthwaite, Phil Doubtfire, John Appleby-Alis, Kai Tabacek, Sophie Bowell, Tom Currie, Emily Sharp, Tamar Shirley, Cath Unia, Graham Cowgill.

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