Annual Report on the work of the Red Kite Family Centre 2023-2024
Brief historical context
Following the decision of Oxfordshire County Council to cut funding to the majority of its locally-based Children’s Centres and to concentrate its statutory services in a few regional hubs, it was decided to establish a local community run charity to continue the work of our local Children’s Centre. The Red Kite Family Centre (RKFC) charity was set up in January 2017, trustees were appointed, and the centre opened with its new leader and staff team in place in April 2017. Since then it has been operating very successfully and this report highlights its main achievements and the value it brings to all families with young children in our area.
Trustees (as at end March 2024)
Katie English (co-Chair) Amy Spicer (co-Chair) Charlotte Curry (Secretary) Rosie Pearce (co-Treasurer) Sarah Bradford (co-Treasurer) John Hulett
Post year end note - Katie Lee English has stepped down in her role as co-chair in October 2024. John Hulett has stepped in to fill this role whilst replacement is sought. We also welcomed two new trustees - Will Clere and Fiona Joines in July 2024.
Staff Team
The RKFC employs a small team of staff, all on permanent, part-time contracts. As at January 2025, we have six employees.
The provision offered by RKFC
There are two main bases for our activities, the main site in Southern Road, Thame and the satellite location in at Chinnor Library, Chinnor. Through these bases RKFC offers a full programme of universal (open to all parents of under 5s) and targeted activities each week and our sites are also used regularly by NHS midwives, health visitors and speech and language therapists. These partnerships with health professionals mean that we can provide a ‘onestop shop’ of advice, support and activities for all parents with pre-school children from birth to 4yrs old. Our staff continue to work closely with Oxfordshire Early Help support team and Children’s Services and our sites are often hired by social services for contact and other case review meetings.
Statement from the Chairs
The year to 31 March 2024 offered more certainty to staff and service users alike. Following the uncertain period of financial strain in the previous year, the centre was able to focus more on future development and staff and trustees worked in collaboration to review the vision and strategy of the work at The Red Kite Family Centre.
The team and trustees have continued to build partnerships and relationships within the local community to strengthen funding stream opportunities. We were nominated to join the local business network ‘Opendoorz’ which has offered broader perspectives and learning for community engagement and brought new funding opportunities and voluntary support to the centre.
Katie English, our co-chair stepped down shortly after the financial year end and we have sought to recruit additional trustees to broaden our areas of expertise in human resources, early years and finance. This in turn has strengthened the governance delivered by the board.
We continue to seek new funding to secure our services for 24/25. We work extremely hard to maximise our efficiency to ensure that every pound we receive delivers maximum value to our community. The funding landscape has become trickier to navigate and the trustees intend to employ a professional grant writer to help us achieve a more sustainable future financially.
We hold in admiration the determination and creativity of the staff team during past periods of adversity. We are very much indebted to them for the success of the charity and its impactful work in the local community, particularly among the many parents and their 0-4yr olds who attended the wide range of activities the centre offered and continues to offer.
Financial Summary
This year saw our financial position secured, due to two donations from the Joyce Chapman Trust, totalling £51,000. An increase in contributions from the community was also received in response to last year's financial situation. While we are confident we have enough funds to secure the services to at least 2025/26, larger grants will be needed in the future to sustain and grow the charity. See Statement from the Chairs for actions being taken.
Amy Spicer and John Hulett, Joint Chairs of the Board of Trustees.
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Red Kite Family Centre
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Red Kite Family Centre (The Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Name: Claire Lasko
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): ACA (ICAEW)
Address: 63 Old Shoreham Road, Hove, BN37BE
Date: 30/1/25
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Red Kite Family Centre As at 31 March 2024
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities Red Kite Family Centre As at 31 March 2024 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities Red Kite Family Centre As at 31 March 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 31 MAR 2024 | ||
| Current Assets Cashatbankandin hand Red KiteFamil Centre 1063002 |
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| y Red Kite Famil Centre Reserve ,. 4445510 |
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| y Redwood 35 day noticeaccount -savings ,. 5000000 |
||
,. |
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| Total Cash at bank and in hand 10508512 |
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,. 83800 At Ribl |
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. 10592312 ccouns ecevae |
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| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Total Current Assets ,. PAYE Paable 38132 |
||
| y Pensions Paable . 11461 |
||
y . |
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| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 495.93 |
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| Net Current Assets (Liabilities) 105,427.19 |
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| Total Assets less Current Liabilities 105,427.19 |
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| Net Assets Capital and Reserves 105,427.19 Current Year Earnings |
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Oenin balances 56,063.88 |
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| pg Retained Earnings 91,496.27 |
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(42,132.96) |
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| Total Capital and Reserves 105,427.19 |
Balance Sheet Red Kite Family Centre 31Jan2025
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Profit and Loss
Red Kite Family Centre For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Profit and Loss Red Kite Family Centre For the year ended 31 March 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| Turnover CENTRE FUNDRAISING |
|
| COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING 5,800.57 |
|
| COMPANY DONATIONS 14,353.19 |
|
FRIENDS OF RED KITE 14,458.50 |
|
GRANTS 18,368.63 |
|
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS 84,986.64 |
|
Intt Inm 4,907.02 |
|
| eres coe ROOM HIRE 358.10 |
|
5,370.70 |
|
| Total Turnover 148,603.35 |
|
| Gross Profit Administrative Costs ~~ACCOUNTANCY~~ 975.42 148,603.35 |
|
| ASSOCIATED GRANT COSTS 979.08 |
|
| CENTRE CONSUMABLES 204.47 |
|
CENTRE COSTS - inc Play equipment 53875 |
|
CLEANING COSTS & MATERIALS . 388189 |
|
COMMUNITY & ADULT LEARNING COSTS ,. 115860 |
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CONSULTING ,. 5700 |
|
DBS CHECKS . 320 |
|
5. |
|
| EVENTS COSTS 2,231.24 |
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| Health & Safety 72.51 |
|
| Insurance 347.42 |
|
| IT SERVICES 223473 |
|
,. |
|
| MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS 205280 |
|
Pi Ct ,. 96425 |
|
| ensons oss . |
|
| PREMISES COSTS - Grounds Maintenance & Repairs 1,443.83 |
|
Printing & Stationery 145941 |
|
Rent ,. 14400 |
|
Salaries . 7157273 |
|
Si R ,. 74136 |
|
| esson esources . |
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| STAFF TRAINING 10960 |
|
. |
|
| SUBSCRIPTIONS 592.76 |
|
| TELEPHONE 99311 |
|
UTILITIES - ELECTRICITY . 502251 |
|
,. |
|
| UTILITIES - GAS 73.68 |
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| WASTE COLLECTION 74236 |
|
. |
|
| Total Administrative Costs 98,646.71 |
|
| Operating Profit 49,956.64 |
Profit and Loss
2024
| Other Income AMY SPICER CONSULTING WORK (55000) |
|
|---|---|
COMMUNITY & ADULT LEARNING . 374741 |
|
HMRC - GIFT AID ,. 290983 |
|
Total Other Income ,. |
|
6,107.24 |
|
| Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation 56,063.88 |
|
| Profit after Taxation 56,063.88 |