## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01/09/20 To 31/08/21**
**Charity name: Earlybirds Playgroup**
**Charity registration number: 1165010**
## **Objectives and Activities**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes Para 1.17 The object of the CIO is to promote and
of the charity as set out facilitate the care, education and wellbeing
in its governing of young children under compulsory school
age within the Gloucestershire Local
document
Authority and surrounding areas.
Our objective is that through play, pre-
school children will be able to reach their
maximum potential and achieve their early
learning goals as set out in the
government’s Early Years Foundation
Stages framework. Earlybirds embrace
imagination, creativity, independent
decision making and child-led learning. The
focus is very much on providing a safe,
caring and welcoming environment in
order to allow the development of self-
confidence, independence, and social skills
and being good communicators so that
each child can thrive and be prepared for
the transition to primary school.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and Earlybirds is open Monday-Friday during
activities in relation to 1.19 term time and is the only playgroup
operating in the Ruspidge/Buckshaft area.
those purposes for the
The lack of local transport means that it is
public benefit, in
the only setting accessible to many
particular, the activities, parents and carers in the vicinity.
projects or services
Earlybirds receive funding from the Local
identified in the
Authority for up to a maximum of 30 hours
accounts.
per week for 3 year olds. Funding is also
available for 2 year old children who meet
certain criteria. For those children not
eligible for funding or who require
additional hours the fees are kept below
GCC funding rates. Trustees recognise that
Cinderford is an economically deprived
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
area and we try to keep fees as low as
possible so that it can remain accessible. In
order for Earlybirds to cover running costs
trustees and staff also arrange fundraising
activities, however this year this was
impacted with the pandemic.
Activities provided are led by the children's
interest which include, but not limited to,
outdoor play, cooking and arts & crafts.
Statement confirming Para 1.18 Trustees are aware of the guidance issued
whether the trustees by the charity commission on public
benefit and have had due regard in relation
have had regard to the
to this.
guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
Para 1.38
Policy on grant making
Para 1.38
Policy on social
investment including
program related
investment
Earlybirds Playgroup has been lucky to be
supported by a number of parents, carers
and volunteers during the year who have
Para 1.38 given their time and expertise free of
Contribution made by charge. Unfortunately, the pandemic had
volunteers an impact on volunteers being in the
setting, but volunteers did start attending
again when rules allowed.
A local resident very generously carried out
our PAT testing again this year free of
charge. Trustees meet regularly both
formally and informally to help support the
setting.
**----- End of picture text -----**
Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
Primarily the setting was able to remain
open fully during the pandemic. This
meant that children of key-workers and
vulnerable children were able to attend
and allow a level of normality during the
uncertain period. This also meant key-
Summary of the main
workers were able to continue to provide
achievements of the
the key support needed during this time.
charity, identifying the Para 1.20
difference the charity’s
work has made to the
Stay and play (parent and tots session) re-
circumstances of its
opened when allowed which provided a
beneficiaries and any
space to safely engage with other parents
wider benefits to society and children.
as a whole.
The lease for the setting was extended for
5 years during this year meaning security
for the foreseeable future, enabling the
continuity for families wishing to attend
the setting.
A staff member has started an
**----- End of picture text -----**
apprenticeship in childcare.
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Achievements against
objectives set Para 1.41
Due to the pandemic we decided not to
pursue new fundraising activities this year.
These have been reintroduced for the next
academic year.
Performance of
fundraising activities
against objectives set Para 1.41
Investment performance
against objectives Para 1.41
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Financial Review**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Earlybirds continue to be in a stronger
financial position at the financial position than previous year. This
is because the treasurer has continued to
end of the period
work hard on monitoring income and
expenditure closely, so that Earlybirds
stays financially sustainable. She has also
continued to set budgets and reports on
the finances at each trustee meeting. As a
result we have been able to further
enhance our reserves fund slightly as set
out in our Reserves Policy.
A separate Fundraising account remains
open so that all monies that have been
fundraised from parents, carers and the
general public can be separated and used
purely for resources that will benefit the
children will enjoy. We can then
demonstrate to parents and carers how
their generosity is being enjoyed by the
children at Earlybirds.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 A reserves policy is in place. This will cover
policy for holding the cost of any unforeseen major works to
the building as well enable us to fulfil our
reserves stating why they
are held redundancy obligations to staff if the
setting ever had to close.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £17003
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 N/A
reserves
Details of fund materially Para 1.24 N/A
in deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 N/A
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The primary source of funds is the funding for childcare from the Local Authority. The charity’s principal sources of funds Funds are also raised through fundraising activities such as raffles, this year these (including any Para 1.47 were online due to Covid-19. fundraising) Ordinarily the setting would hold a summer and Christmas fayre and hold other
**----- Start of picture text -----**
fundraising events.
Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy Para 1.46
adopted
The principal risk financially would be
children not joining the setting. This is the
same every year but due to reputation,
communication and good advertising,
A description of the luckily this has not been an issue as yet.
principal risks facing the Para 1.46
charity
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing Para 1.25 Constitution
document
(trust deed, royal
charter)
How is the charity Para 1.25 CIO
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection Para 1.25 The setting has an application form for
methods including details trustees. Potential trustees are invited to
of any constitutional attend a meeting to see if they would be
willing to commit and to meet the trustees.
provisions e.g. election to
post or name of any
Trustees normally are elected at an AGM,
person or body entitled however if the need arises, trustees can be
to appoint one or more elected as part of a meeting, the potential
trustee is elected by the board of trustees
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
trustees for a period of one year.
Key roles - Chair, Vice-Chair etc are agreed
at each AGM unless a vacancy arises.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees Para 1.51
The charity’s
organisational structure
and any wider network Para 1.51
with which the charity
works
Relationship with any
related parties Para 1.51
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Reference and Administrative details**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity name Earlybirds Playgroup
Other name the charity
uses
Registered charity 1165010
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
number
Charity’s principal Earlybirds Playgroup
address
Buckshaft Road
Cinderford
GL14 3DL
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Name of
person (or
body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to
whole year
appoint
trustee (if
any)
Hannah Tufnell Treasurer Earlybird
1
s
Rhi Trillo Chair (since July Earlybird
2
21) s
3 Jess Simonds Secretary Sept 20 - Nov 20
4 Emily Skillern Vice-Chair Sept 20 - Nov 20
5 Lorna Shepard Chair Sept 20 - Nov 20
6 Matt Bishop February 21 - current
7 Sarah Jones July 21 - current
8 Jodie Bishop
Rachel Hopkins Chair (Nov 20 - Sept 20 - July 21
9
July 21)
10 Laura Howlett Sept 20 - July 21
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
**----- End of picture text -----**
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole
year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A
held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A
charity on whose behalf
the assets are held and
how this falls within the
custodian charity’s
objects
Details of arrangements N/A
for safe custody and
segregation of such
assets from the charity’s
own assets
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser**
**Address**
**Name**
Accountant SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street, Cinderford, GL14 2ET **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date**
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
## for
Early Birds
Early Birds
## Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
||Page|
|---|---|
|General Information|1|
|Accountants' Report and Client Approval|2|
|Certifcate||
|Income and Expenditure Account|3|
Early Birds
General Information for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
## **ADDRESS:**
## **ACCOUNTANTS:**
Early Birds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 3DL
SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET
Page 1
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
Accountants' Report to
## Early Birds
In accordance with instructions given to us we have carried out a full examination of the records, bank statements and invoices provided to us and certify that the attached financial statements be a true and accurate record of the transactions of the Early Birds Accounts.
SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET
Date: .............................................
Client Approval Certifcate
We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation.
........................................................................ On behalf of Early Birds
Date: .............................................
Page 2
Early Birds
## Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
|||31.08.21|||31.08.20|31.08.20||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£||£|£||
|**Gross receipts**||||||||
|Fees|||9,772|||6,200||
|Grants|||64,954|||80,102||
|Fund raising|||2,287|||2,080||
|Sundries|||953|||960||
|Donations|||108|||-||
|Interest received|||2|||4||
|**TOTAL INCOME**|||78,076|||89,346||
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|Resources and equipment||7,654|||4,995|||
|Premises expenses||3,247|||1,987|||
|Rates||2,011|||1,524|||
|Salaries and HMRC||57,620|||51,839|||
|Refreshments||40|||305|||
|Insurance||491|||303|||
|Professional fees||682|||445|||
|Training||3,482|||703|||
|Sundry||162|||-|||
||||75,389|||62,101||
|**EXCESS OF INCOME OVER**|**EXPENDITURE**||2,687|||27,245||
|Balance at 01 September 2020
21,168||48,413|||(01.09.19)|||
|Balance at 31 August 2021||53,316||(31.08.20)
|||48,413|
|Current Account||31,176|||||26,554|
|Fundraising Account||2,916||||4,853||
|Reserves Account|17,003|||||17,001||
|Petty cash|5|||||5||
|Total funds|51,100|||||48,413||
Page 3
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
## for
Early Birds
Early Birds
## Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
||Page|
|---|---|
|General Information|1|
|Accountants' Report and Client Approval|2|
|Certifcate||
|Income and Expenditure Account|3|
Early Birds
General Information for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
## **ADDRESS:**
## **ACCOUNTANTS:**
Early Birds Playgroup Buckshaft Road Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 3DL
SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET
Page 1
Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
Accountants' Report to
## Early Birds
In accordance with instructions given to us we have carried out a full examination of the records, bank statements and invoices provided to us and certify that the attached financial statements be a true and accurate record of the transactions of the Early Birds Accounts.
SA Accountancy 5 Victoria Street Cinderford Gloucestershire GL14 2ET
Date: .............................................
Client Approval Certifcate
We approve the financial statements and confirm that we have made available all relevant records and information for their preparation.
........................................................................ On behalf of Early Birds
Date: .............................................
Page 2
Early Birds
## Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31 August 2021
|||31.08.21|||31.08.20|31.08.20||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£||£|£||
|**Gross receipts**||||||||
|Fees|||9,772|||6,200||
|Grants|||64,954|||80,102||
|Fund raising|||2,287|||2,080||
|Sundries|||953|||960||
|Donations|||108|||-||
|Interest received|||2|||4||
|**TOTAL INCOME**|||78,076|||89,346||
|**Expenditure**||||||||
|Resources and equipment||7,654|||4,995|||
|Premises expenses||3,247|||1,987|||
|Rates||2,011|||1,524|||
|Salaries and HMRC||57,620|||51,839|||
|Refreshments||40|||305|||
|Insurance||491|||303|||
|Professional fees||682|||445|||
|Training||3,482|||703|||
|Sundry||162|||-|||
||||75,389|||62,101||
|**EXCESS OF INCOME OVER**|**EXPENDITURE**||2,687|||27,245||
|Balance at 01 September 2020
21,168||48,413|||(01.09.19)|||
|Balance at 31 August 2021||53,316||(31.08.20)
|||48,413|
|Current Account||31,176|||||26,554|
|Fundraising Account||2,916||||4,853||
|Reserves Account|17,003|||||17,001||
|Petty cash|5|||||5||
|Total funds|51,100|||||48,413||
Page 3