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2023-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1169083

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 for St Thomas' Children's Centre

Wright Vigar Limited Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers Northgate House Northgate Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7BZ

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 3
Independent Examiner's Report 4
Statement of Financial Activities 5
Balance Sheet 6
Notes to the Financial Statements 7 to 11
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 12 to 13

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

The objectives of the charity are:

The charity works for the public benefit having as its objectives the development and education of children and young people in particular by:

It is our duty to ensure all that we do works towards achieving these objectives by using the powers the constitution affords us.

Public benefit

When reviewing the charity's objective's and aims in planning future activities the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

The charity's activities are to provide a breakfast club, pre school and kids' club for children in the local area.

Demand for our services across the three sections was good and steadily increasing.

The Pre-school is registered by Ofsted to take 68 children per session.

We are pleased to report attendance for the holiday clubs is steadily increasing.

Employment

As at 31st March 2023 the number staff employed by the Centre is 21.

The National Living Wage levels were met and paid as from the 1st April 2022 and will also do so 1st April 2023. Auto enrolment pensions regulations are being complied with.

Staff ratios per child have been legally adhered to. When possible, the Centre Managers have reduced levels of staffing per session when possible to do so, in order to keep wages costs to a minimum.

Buildings

There have only been the expected routine maintenance costs incurred. All required inspections have been made (fire, etc.).

A thorough analysis of Health and Safety and Risk Assessments has been completed via our human resources consultants. This is an important aspect of the trustees legal obligations to ensure the safety and well-being of all of the children, parents and staff who use our building and as such will continue forever more.

We have 'Possessory title' of the 'car park land' across the road from the Centre land and in 12 years' time (i.e. 2033) should apply for 'Absolute title'. The land can only be used as a car park and cannot be built upon.

We lease the building from Lincolnshire County Council on a ten-year lease. The lease has recently been successfully renewed to the 29th February 2032. The process of registering the lease with the Land Registry has yet to be completed (by the Land Registry).

Page 1

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

For detailed figures, please refer to the Financial report prepared by our auditors - Wright Vigar. Figures in brackets are for the previous year 2021/2022 for comparison purposes.

Cash and Bank income and expenditure. The Children's Centre had excess income over expenditure for the year of £7,588 (£8,964).

Our four main streams of income brought in £382,686 (£348,118) and other income £30,064, (£17,043) = total income of £412,750 (£365,161).

Wages costs and employer pension contributions for the year were £331,669. (£291,508). This constitutes 86.7% of our costs against our four main streams of income. This is just outside our target range of 80-85% of wages cost against our four main income streams.

All other costs amounted to £73,668 (£64,700). Total costs for the year £405,337. (£356,208)

Detailed financial monitoring has been taking place over the year to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Centre. Happily, this has been achieved.

The Fees, Wages and Finance Committee met in January 2023 to agree the fees charged to parents as of April 2023 and set the wage rates to be paid to staff as at 1st April 2023.

The current method of short-termly financial monitoring of the income and expenses of the Centre will continue by the Chairman, Managers and Committee in the coming year. Any necessary action to ensure the long-term financial well-being of the Centre will be taken.

It has been decided that due to the low interest investment rates and high inflation, the money deposited in the HSBC deposit account was not providing a sufficient return in investment in the best long-term interests of the Childrens Centre. Therefore, upon receiving independent financial advice, during February 2022 and October 2022 a total of £80,000 was invested in a Balanced Portfolio Wealth account, with St James's Place. The latest figures available as at 18th May 2023, show the fund is worth £74,635. The 'loss' is due to the normal initial management fees, approximately 5% (£4,000), but unfortunately 1½% (£1,500) is due to the war in Ukraine / President Putin. Under normal World circumstances it is anticipated the fund would have clawed back its initial capital investment value of £80k by now (May 2023). The fund is however performing as well as can be expected against all other indicators and funds and will grow at a greater rate when more normal times are upon us.

Reserves policy

The reserves policy of the charity is to maintain unrestricted funds at a sufficient level which enables the charity to be able to plan, organise and operate future activities. The reserves at the year-end date are at a level which the trustees consider to be an adequate level. The trustees will continue to monitor the reserves held by the charity.

FUTURE PLANS

Demand for our services has returned after the Covid-19 pandemic. Numbers are up.

We are pleased to report attendance for the Holiday clubs is particularly healthy.

Initial indications of attendance numbers across the four 'departments' of the Children's Centre activities are good and rising for the coming year 2023/24.

Last year (2021/2022) we reported financially, that 2022/23 was going to be a challenging year. Due to current economic and world events nothing has particularly changed for the year 2023 - 2024. We are still facing three significant cost increases this coming year:

a) wage increase due to the increase in National Living Wage regulations. b) energy costs, - we have been advised potentially rising by 175%.

c) lease payment - doubling.

All of this has been considered in our budgeting for the year and has meant we have had to increase our fees for the services we provide to our parents and carers in order to ensure the sustainability of the Centre. Monthly monitoring of income and expenditure will take place to ensure the long-term financial well-being of the Centre.

We are very aware of our importance in the community for providing good quality care for children, to parents who need to go out to work and our status as an employer of 21 members of staff.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

Page 2

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed according to its constitution and its registered number is 1169083. It was established on 8 September 2016 to take forward the work of the unincorporated charity which had the charity registered charity number of 1081559.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are recruited from parents and Carers who express an interest in wanting to 'put something back into the community' by volunteering to be on the trustees committee.

Persons or organisations from the wider community not directly involved with the Children's centre are also considered for membership.

  1. Prospective trustees are interviewed by the Chairman and existing committee.

  2. If both parties are willing to proceed, then the induction process is started.

Organisational structure

The members of the committee shall meet not less than five times per year.

Conclusion

In the day-to-day work of the Centre, providing quality care, education and recreation for all of the children who use the Centre, we can no doubt look forward to another successful year 2023/24.

The staff, their dedication and quality of work are the most valuable asset of the Centre. The Centre's success is down to the hard work and dedication of the staff and management for which we are all incredibly grateful. The parents and children who use the Centre can be confident they are using one of the best child-care services in the area.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1169083

Principal address Wyberton Low Road Boston Lincolnshire PE21 7RZ Trustees Mrs A L Smith S L Brown A Bradley (resigned 7.10.22) Mrs K L Wilkinson Mrs E L Martin E J Larkin (appointed 3.10.22) Independent Examiner James Sewell BA (Hons) FCA CTA Wright Vigar Limited Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers Northgate House Northgate Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7BZ 22/07/2023 Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

Stephen Brown Stephen Brown (Jul 22, 2023 16:39 GMT+1) ........................................................................ S L Brown - Trustee

Page 3

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Thomas' Children's Centre

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of St Thomas' Children's Centre

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Thomas' Children's Centre (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

James Sewell BA (Hons) FCA CTA The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Wright Vigar Limited Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers Northgate House Northgate Sleaford Lincolnshire NG34 7BZ Date: ............................................. 23/07/2023

Page 4

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

2023
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
412,750
Investment income
2
175
Total
412,925
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
3
1,500
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
396,899
Other
6,938
Total
405,337
Net gains/(losses) on investments
(1,930)
NET INCOME
5,658
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
182,752
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
188,410
2022
Total
funds
£
365,161
11
365,172
2,500
348,236
5,472
356,208
134
9,098
173,654
182,752

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 5

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Balance Sheet

31 March 2023

2023
Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
6
39,527
Investments
7
74,204
113,731
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
8
8,815
Cash at bank and in hand
77,768
86,583
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
9
(11,904)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
74,679
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
188,410
NET ASSETS
188,410
FUNDS
10
Unrestricted funds
188,410
TOTAL FUNDS
188,410
2022
Total
funds
£
45,541
47,634
93,175
9,995
88,192
98,187
(8,610)
89,577
182,752
182,752
182,752
182,752

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by: 22/07/2023

Stephen Brown (Jul 22, 2023 16:39 GMT+1) ............................................. Stephen Brown S L Brown - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 6

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Improvements to property - 10% on cost Fixtures and fittings - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2. INVESTMENT INCOME

INVESTMENT INCOME
2023 2022
£ £
Deposit account interest 175 11

Page 7

continued...

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

3. RAISING FUNDS

Investment management costs

Investment management costs
2023 2022
£ £
Support costs 1,500 2,500

4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.

5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted
fund
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 365,161
Investment income 11
Total 365,172
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds 2,500
Charitable activities
Charitable activities 348,236
Other 5,472
Total 356,208
Net gains on investments 134
NET INCOME 9,098
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 173,654
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 182,752

Page 8

continued...

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Improvements
to
property
£
COST
At 1 April 2022
42,747
Additions
-
At 31 March 2023
42,747
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2022
3,436
Charge for year
4,275
At 31 March 2023
7,711
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2023
35,036
At 31 March 2022
39,311
7.
FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
MARKET VALUE
At 1 April 2022
Additions
At 31 March 2023
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022
There were no investment assets outside the UK.
Fixtures
and
Computer
fittings
equipment
Totals
£
£
£
8,679
4,833
56,259
695
229
924
9,374
5,062
57,183
3,993
3,289
10,718
1,846
817
6,938
5,839
4,106
17,656
3,535
956
39,527
4,686
1,544
45,541
Unlisted
investments
£
47,634
26,570
74,204
74,204
47,634

Cost or valuation at 31 March 2023 is represented by:

Unlisted
investments
£
Valuation in 2022 134
Valuation in 2023 (1,930)
Cost 76,000
74,204

Page 9

continued...

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Other debtors
9.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
10.
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above are
Unrestricted funds
General fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Comparatives for movement in funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
TOTAL FUNDS
ONE YEAR
as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
412,925
412,925
At 1.4.22
£
182,752
182,752
Resources
expended
£
(405,337)
(405,337)
At 1.4.21
£
173,654
173,654
2023
2022
£
£
8,815
9,995
2023
2022
£
£
4,681
4,445
7,223
4,165
11,904
8,610
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.23
£
£
5,658
188,410
5,658
188,410
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
(1,930)
5,658
(1,930)
5,658
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.22
£
£
9,098
182,752
9,098
182,752

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
TOTAL FUNDS
Incoming
resources
£
365,172
365,172
Resources
expended
£
(356,208)
(356,208)
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
134
9,098
134
9,098

Page 10

continued...

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
TOTAL FUNDS
At 1.4.21
£
173,654
173,654
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.23
£
£
14,756
188,410
14,756
188,410

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Gains and Movement
resources expended losses in funds
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 778,097 (761,545) (1,796) 14,756
TOTAL FUNDS 778,097 (761,545) (1,796) 14,756

11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Page 11

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Pre-school fees
Pre-school funding
Out of school fees
Hot dinners
Other income
Investment income
Deposit account interest
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Wages
Pensions
Rent
Water
Insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Stationery
Sundries
Equipment
Activity items
Children's gifts
Staff uniform
Premises expenses
Cleaning
Subscriptions
Training costs
Refreshments
Hot dinners
Other
Improvements to property
Fixtures and fittings
Computer equipment
Support costs
Finance
Bank charges
Card charges
Investment costs
Governance costs
Legal fees
Carried forward
2023
£
46,925
263,404
68,411
3,946
30,064
412,750
175
412,925
317,763
13,906
6,500
2,295
1,832
4,277
728
2,039
2,040
103
5,674
1,352
1,132
5,872
4,309
6,521
2,169
7,793
6,599
392,904
4,275
1,846
817
6,938
138
364
1,500
2,002
1,183
1,183
2022
£
33,649
229,890
78,816
5,763
17,043
365,161
11
365,172
279,204
12,304
3,016
1,445
1,591
3,149
780
2,298
2,199
-
4,956
487
226
9,984
4,438
6,147
3,339
5,908
4,090
345,561
3,436
1,257
779
5,472
164
371
2,500
3,035
-
-

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 12

St Thomas' Children's Centre

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
Governance costs
Brought forward
Accountancy and payroll services
Total resources expended
Net income
2023
£
1,183
2,310
3,493
405,337
7,588
2022
£
-
2,140
2,140
356,208
8,964

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 13