## **The Spring Playgroup Charity**
Registered Charity No 1157755
**Trustees' Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024**
March 2012
IER
## **The Spring Playgroup Charity**
**Also known as:** The Spring Playgroup (also referred to as the Spring Playgroup)
## **Registered charity number:** 1157755
**Setting address:** Kenilworth Sports and Social Club, Montague House, Upper Rosemary Hill, Kenilworth CV8 2PA
**Email:** admin@Springplaygroup.co.uk
**Website:** www.Springplaygroup.co.uk
## **Trustees at point of submitting Annual Report:**
Antony Feltbower (Chairman) Lise Reeve Jacqueline Cross Felicity Hawke
Jacqueline Cook was also a trustee and the Secretary until she resigned on 23 February 2024 and Kevin Broadbent retired as a Trustee and Treasurer on 30 September 2024
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Charity is governed by a Trust Deed that was registered with the Charity Commission on 7 July 2014 and came into effect on 1 September 2014. This is based on the Charity Commissions model trust deed, incorporating provisions from the previous Spring Playgroup registered charity’s trust deed, which was dated 7 June 1999, where they did not conflict with the model. The Charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and takes over the work of the original Spring Playgroup, registered charity number 1076506.
Trustees are selected by the existing Trustees discussing the requirements of a new Trustee, making suggestions, approaching suitable candidates and appointing a suitable person.
The Charity’s organisational structure is as follows:
- Trustees
- Manager/Supervisor
- Deputy Supervisors
- Staff and volunteers
The Trustees confirm they have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## **Objectives and activities**
The main object of the Trust is to advance the education of children under statutory school age, regardless of their financial circumstances, in a loving caring and respectful atmosphere based on Christian belief and practice, while encouraging other charitable activities through which parents and carers may help their children.
The Trustees must use the income and may use the capital of the Trust in promoting the objects.
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As a result, the Charity provides high quality preschool sessions. The Spring Playgroup does not charge fees for these sessions and will not do so for as long as funds allow. It is believed to be the only such group in Warwickshire to do this.
During the year the Spring Playgroup offered flexible sessions between the hours of 9am and 3.30pm for children from the age of two. We received statutory funding for some children from the age of two and most children aged three and over (from the beginning of the term following their third birthday). When all children eligible for statutory funding had been allocated their sessions, additional hours were offered to these and other children as best fitted their needs.
In total 37 children attended the Playgroup during the year, 30 of whom received some statutory funding and 6 of whom received extra funded sessions. 4 children received the new Working 2s grant which was available from April 2024.
The Spring Playgroup encourages parents and others to help in group sessions as volunteers. In many cases, these volunteers have undertaken qualifications in childcare and preschool education with the Spring Playgroup’s support, benefitting the volunteers, their children and the wider community. In 2023-24 one person volunteered with the Playgroup.
Work experience and work placements are also sometimes offered to local students, along with support for local people wishing to volunteer and take qualifications in childcare, where appropriate, and this was offered for a Year 11 student during 2023-2024.
## **Achievements and performance**
From April 2023, the deputy manager was appointed acting manager of the Spring when the manager retired. She was formally appointed as the manager from September 2023 and has been very successful to ensure the smooth running of the Spring Playgroup. In addition, during the summer term, she was instrumental in organising the move from our location at the Sports and Social Club to the brand new Scouts Centre at Castle Farm. This involved considerable planning and coordination as well as working over the summer holidays, ably assisted by members of staff, trustees and friends.
There was a substantial increase in child numbers during the year with 3 new starters in the autumn term and 9 more in the spring / summer terms, bringing total numbers for the year to 37. This included many younger children and an increase in the number who qualified for two-year olds funding.
The Trustees remain humbled by the dedication of the staff and volunteers and their commitment to work in the best interests of the children and their carers, above and beyond the call of duty.
## **Financial review**
The trustees reviewed and agreed a policy on reserves in January 2022 to keep a positive cashflow throughout each year and aim to increase the reserves over time so that the Spring Playgroup has improved financial resilience. This policy continued through the last year.
Total expenditure for the year was £117,576 compared with total income received of £122,491.
Income was mainly derived from:
- The Government’s Early Education Funding, provided for children over three years old (this starts from the term after they are three. This figure varies from year to year,
March 2012
IER
depending on the numbers of children in the Spring Playgroup and when their birthdays fall during the school year);
- The Government’s 30 hours free childcare scheme;
- Statutory funding for some two year olds under the Warwickshire County Council’s scheme for two year olds and the government’s new scheme for working families;
- Gifts from parents and other individuals; and
- Grants and donations from organisations and other supporters including local churches.
Income from the various Early Education Funding schemes this year totaled £72,635, and the income from restricted grants was £18,823. We received grants from the WCC Councilor’s Grant Fund, the Kings Table Residual Fund and Kenilworth Town Council. £1,750 was spent on staff costs, £8,800 was used towards our rent, and £1,273 was spent to purchase equipment in our new premises. £7,000 of restricted funds has been carried forward to next year.
£30,278 of income was received via donations from parents, individuals, and other organisations. This was significantly higher than in previous years following an appeal in late 2023 when it looked like there might be a significant shortfall in funds. The trustees are grateful to all those who made donations during the year. Organisations donating in 2023/24 included the Kenilworth Round table, the Living Word Fellowship Church, St John the Evangelist Church, and the SJP Foundation.
The playgroup moved to new premises during the summer of 2024. One of the grants was specifically towards the purchase of new equipment required following the move. About £5,500 was spent in total on move related costs and this has had an impact on the level of reserves. 2023/24 ended with cash in the bank of £11,397 being carried forward to the following year, which included £7,000 of restricted funds. No fund was in deficit.
The budget for 2024/25 has been set to broadly break even and maintain the same level of cash in the bank at the end of the year.
## **Declaration**
The Trustees declare they have approved the Trustees’ Annual Report above.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Signature
Full name
Antony Feltbower
Position Chair of Trustees
Date 16.12.2024
March 2012
IER
## Section A
## Independent Examiner's Report
**Report to the trustees/** I **members of** The Spring Playgroup Charity **On accounts for the year** 31[st] August 2024 **Charity no** 1157755 **ended (if any)**
**Set out on pages 7 & 8**
**Respective** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The **responsibilities of** charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section **trustees and examiner** 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 by the
- **examiner's statement** 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 examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 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.
**Date: 16-12-24**
**Signed:**
**Name:** Mr P L ~~ewis~~
**Relevant professional** I ~~ACA~~
**qualification(s) or body**
**Address: 40 Barrow Road, Kenilworth. CV81EH**
March 2012
IER
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The Spring Playgroup Charity 1157755
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 1st September 31st August
To
from 2023 2024
Section A Receipts and
payments
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|||**Unrestricted**
**funds**||**Restricted**
**funds**||**Endowment**
**funds**||**Total funds**||**Last year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**to the nearest £**||**to the nearest £**||**to the nearest £**||**to the nearest £**||**to the nearest £**|
|**A1 Receipts**|||||||||||
|Gifts||**30,278**||**-**||||**30,278**||**17,521**|
|Statutory funding||**72,635**||**-**||||**72,635**||**80,959**|
|Fundraising||**474**||**-**||||**474**||**491**|
|Grants||**-**||**18,823**||||**18,823**||**9,100**|
|||**-**||**-**||||**-**||**-**|
|Bank interest||**281**||**-**||||**281**||**172**|
|Other||**-**||**-**||||**-**||**-**|
|||||||||**-**||**-**|
||||||||||||
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_|_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**103,668**||**18,823**||**-**||**122,491**||**108,243**|
**The Spring Playgroup Charity Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024**
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A2 Asset and investment
sales. -
- - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 103,668 18,823 - 122,491 108,243
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
A3 Payments
Staff costs 95,299 1,750 97,049 90,080
- - - -
Premises 5,597 8,800 14,397 13,230
Insurance 1,194 - 1,194 1,191
Consumable play materials 391 - 391 552
Refreshments and cleaning materials 596 - 596 469
Office/Administration 1,771 - 1,771 1,603
Bank charges 60 - 60 60
Equipments and resources 845 1,273 2,118 1,007
- - - -
Sundry
Sub total
105,753 11,823 - 117,576 108,192
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**A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)**
The Spring Playgroup Charity ~ Registered Charity No 1157755 Trustees: L Reeve, J Cross, T Feltbower, F Hawke
**The Spring Playgroup Charity Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024**
**-** Sub total **-** Total payments **105,753 11,823 - 117,576 108,192 -** _**Net of receipts/(payments)**_ **2,085 7,000 - 4,915 51 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 6,482 - 6,482 6,431** _**Cash funds this year end**_ ~~=====~~ **4,397 7,000 - 11,397 6,482 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds Categories Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds** Caf Bank Current Account **1,378** Caf Bank Gold Account **3,000 7,000 -** Petty Cash **19 - -** _**Total cash funds**_ **-** ~~===~~ **4,397 7,000** (agree balances with receipts and payments OK OK account(s)) **Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds** The Spring Playgroup Charity ~ Registered Charity No 1157755 Trustees: L Reeve, J Cross, T Feltbower, F Hawke
**The Spring Playgroup Charity Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
## **B3 Investment assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use**
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Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
- - -
- - -
- - -
Fund to which Current value
Cost (optional)
asset belongs (optional)
Details
- -
- -
- -
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|**Details**
Various storage solutions for toys/play
materials
Tables/Chairs/Home corner
Various toys/play equipment
Computer equipment|**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
Restricted
Restricted
Unrestricted
Unrestricted|**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Current value**
**(optional)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|
The Spring Playgroup Charity ~ Registered Charity No 1157755 Trustees: L Reeve, J Cross, T Feltbower, F Hawke
**The Spring Playgroup Charity Annual Report for the year ending 31 August 2024**
**B5 Liabilities**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
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Fund to which Amount due When due
Details liability relates (optional) (optional)
-
-
——
Date of
Signature Print Name
approval
A Feltbower 16-Dec-24
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The Spring Playgroup Charity ~ Registered Charity No 1157755 Trustees: L Reeve, J Cross, T Feltbower, F Hawke