## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 01/09/21 Period start date To 31/03/22 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Earlybirds Playgroup** ## **Charity registration number: 1165010** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The object of the CIO is to promote and
facilitate the care, education, and wellbeing
of young children under compulsory school
age within the Gloucestershire Local
Authority and surrounding areas.
Our objective is that through play, preschool
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 transitionto primary school.| |Summary of the main activities
in relation to those purposes
for the public benefit, in
particular, the activities,
projects or services identified in
the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Earlybirds currently operates during school hours
of 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday during
term time and is the only playgroup
operating in the Ruspidge/Buckshaft area.
The lack of local transport means that it is
the only setting accessible to many
parents and carers in the vicinity.
Earlybirds receive funding from the Local
Authority for up to a maximum of 30 hours
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 in line with
GCC funding rates, usually just below. Trustees
recognise that Cinderford is an economically| |||deprived 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.
Activities provided are led by the children's
interest which include, but are not limited to,
outdoor play, cooking and arts & crafts. The
setting is currently working towards its Curiosity
Approach accreditation. By following The
Curiosity Approach we are creating a culture of
curiosity, awe and wonder into the heart of our
setting.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Trustees are aware of the guidance issued
by the charity commission on public
benefit and have had due regard in relation
to this.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| ||SORP
reference|| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Earlybirds playgroup is lucky to have been
supported throughout the year by a number of
parents, carers, and volunteers who have given
their time and expertise free of charge.
Earlybirds welcomes volunteers and students
into the setting.
A local resident within the community has been
very generous and has carried out the PAT
testing free of charge again.
The trustees meet every half term formally and
as required informally to help support the
setting.| |Other||| |||| ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a whole.|Para 1.20|The setting continues to thrive post-pandemic.
Numbers are rising and were above the level
prior to the pandemic.
With a return to normality this has allowed us to
help children reach their full potential prior to
starting their next step of primary school.
We have continued to be a hub for the
community for parents, including our
increasingly successful stay and play tots
sessions. This has provided a space for parents
and their children to safely engage with others.
We recruited a new manager in January 2022.
She has qualified teacher status and was keen to
lead the group through their curiosity approach
accreditation, bringing much experience to the
setting. Further support she has been able to
provide has been guiding staff who are currently
completing their apprenticeship, as she is a
qualified assessor.
In addition to fundraising for the setting we have
also supported a number of charities, for
example, children in need and more.
In December we were able to take part in the
localchurch's christmas treefestival.| |---|---|---| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set|Para 1.41|| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s financial
position at the end of the
period|Para 1.21|Earlybirds continue to be in a strong financial
position. This is because the treasurer has
continued to 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
the result we have been able to further
enhance our reserves fund 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
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 policy
for holding reserves stating why
they are held|Para 1.22|A reserves policy is in place. This will cover
the cost of any unforeseen major works to
the building as well enable us to fulfil our
redundancy obligations to staff if the
setting ever had to close.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£33,602.64| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern|Para 1.23|N/A| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| |The charity’s principal sources
of funds (including any
fundraising)|Para 1.47|The primary source of funds is the funding
for childcare from the Local Authority.
Funds are also raised through fundraising
activities such as raffles. These events are run
both online and inperson at the setting.| |Investment policy and
objectives including any social
investment policy adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The principal risk facing Earlybirds financially
would be that children do not join the setting.
This is a risk every year but due to the positive
reputation, communication, and good
advertising, luckily this has not been an issue as
yet.| Other ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed,royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution| |How is the charity constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association,CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more trustees|Para 1.25|The setting has an application form for
trustees. Potential trustees are invited to
attend a meeting to see if they would be
willing to commit and to meet the trustees.
Trustees are normally elected at an AGM,
However, if the need arises, trustees can be
elected as part of a meeting, and the potential
trustee is elected by the board of 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)** |**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**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 with which the charity
works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Earlybirds Playgroup| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1165010| |Charity’s principal address|Earlybirds Playgroup
Buckshaft Road
Cinderford
GL14 3DL| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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15|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**
**Nam**
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**(if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---| ||Rhiannon Trillo|Chair|Early
birds| ||Hannah Tufnell|Treasurer|Early
birds| ||Sarah Jones||Early
birds| ||Matt Bishop||Early
birds| ||Jodie Bishop|Acting manager until
Jan 2022, deputy
manager from this
point|Early
birds| ||Margaret Hewis|Manager|Started Jan 2022
Early
birds| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| 16 17 18 19 20 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 **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in N/A this capacity Name and objects of the charity N/A on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe N/A custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---|---| ||||| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|||| ||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)** HM Tufnell **Full name(s)** Hannah Tufnell **Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Treasurer **etc) Date** 12/01/23 I Gen￿ lnfornaii￿J Accounfthnts. Rewn and Clieni A￿￿0¥•1 CvrtfK Incom¢ thd Expenditiwt Accwnt ADDRL85.. Iltrth 5hAft Rtha Ckndrrfud QL14 JDL AcrouNTAKrs.. SAA J Vicknastr C¥thfLYd GL14 2ET Jn with 8iV¢n to us we h•v¢ (xrt • fvl ex￿￿*11￿ ofthe bank and of the E¥ly Bird¥ Att￿1￿1& SA A¢¢wnt J Vtclonll Str¢¢t Cind¢rford Gi￿reS[cr￿1[* fjL14 2ET th¢tr wrp•rnyJn. (kn beWf of Ewty Birds TOT4L 7A 124 S.234 210 755 ctts OFiNCOM¢ OVER EXPENDITURE 51.100 01.09.20) 41.413 1th7