ANNUAL REPORT & Thnancial Year ended 30 June 2024 Statements Registered CharitylNGO: 1172875 (England & Wales}, 9716 Iuganda) & OP. 2181051122-487113011 (Kenya) CONTENTS Foreword from the Chair Play & Education in Africa What We Do Where We Work Reflectin On the Past Year hts From 2023124 Looking Ahead- Priorities for 2024125 Thankyou! Financial Review Our Governance Statement Of Trustees, Res onsibilities Inde endent Examiner's Re ort Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities Consolidated Balance Sheet Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Consolidated Notes to the Financial Statements UK Statement of Financial Activities UK Balance Sheet UK Notes to the Financial Statements 10 12 14 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 34 35 36 PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 FOREIIORD FROH THE CHAIR As we reflect on the past year, l am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. Despite a challenging global landscape, we have remained steadfast in our mission to transform children's lives through play, expanding our reach and deepening our impact. One of the most significant milestones this year has been our expansion to Kenya, building on the strong foundation we have established in Uganda since 2009. Our growing partnerships with local governments and organisations demonstrate the increasing recognition of play as a fundamental pillar of early childhood development. This is a momentous step forward, and we are excited about the opportunities it present5 to create lasting change in communities. At the same time, we have continued to strengthen our programmes, pioneering new approaches to play-based learning, integrating innovative training models for teachers, and advocating for policy changes that prioritise play in early education. The landmark partnership with UNICEF Uganda to fabricate 72 playgrounds in just four months is a testament to our team's ability to deliver larg&scale impact efficiently and effectively. Volunteering remains at the heart of our work, and this year, we have seen incredible growth in our international volunteering programmes. With 274 university students taking part and new countries coming on board, we are proving that young people's passion and energy can drive meaningful change. Looking ahead, we are eager to diversify our volunteering opportunities to engage a broader range of young adults and expand to new regions. None of this would be possible without the dedication and resilience of our team, volunteers, donors, and partners. In the face of economic uncertainty, rising costs, and shifting funding landscapes, your unwavering support has enabled us to push forward and continue making a difference. As we enter a new chapter, our goal is to consolidate our achievements and build on the strong momentum we have created. We are determined to expand our impact sustainably, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, play, and thrive. With your support, I have no doubt that we will continue to make profound and lasting changes in the years ahead. Thank you for standing with us on this journey. Here's to another year of impact, innovation, and transformation. Dr Noorzaman Rashid Chair of Board of Trustees PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 PLAY & EDUCATION IN AFRICA THE NUMBERS SPEAK Why Play Matters in Education Play-based learning improves cognitive skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in children. Research shows that integrating play into early childhood education leads to higher literacy and numeracy rates. The Current State of Play & Education in Africa Only 220/0 of children in 5ub-Saharan Africa are enrolled in pre- primary education (UNESCO, 2022). Many schools lack safe play spaces or structured play programmes. Over 80¥0 of l O-year-olds in Africa cannot read a simple text due to poor early education foundations (World Bank, 2023). Play-based learning helps close this gap by enhancing memory retention and engagement. How Play Boosts Learning Outcomes Children who engage in structured play activities show a 20% improvement in problem-solving skills (Lego Foundation, 2021 }. Schools incorporating play report higher attendance rates and reduced dropout rates. Play fosters social-emotional learning which is essential for teamworL leadership, and future success. Breaking Barriers: What Needs to Change? Build and equip more playgrounds in schools. Support teachers in using play-based learning techniques. Governments should integrate play into national curriculums. PLAY IS A NECEssrry FOR LEARNING & DEVELOPHENT PLAY AcfioN IFifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 WHAT IIE DO We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the profound benefits of play. That's why we design, develop, and deliver innovative, high-quality play facilities and play-based programmes that help disadvantaged children learn, heal, and thrive. Playgrounds As Africa's leading not-for-profit playground manufacturer, we create safe, engaging, and inclusive play spaces for children in diverse settings. Playgroups Our mobile play programmes bring play opportunities to socially excluded children, ensuring no child is left behind. Playworkers We train and support community playworkers to use play as a powerful tool for children's development. Education Our Educational Play teacher training equips educators with the skills to enhance classroom learning through play. Mental Health We use play to support trauma-affected children and those in institutions, helping them build resilience and confidence. Apprenticeships Our nationally accredited apprenticeship programme trains street- connected young people in welding and construction, providing them with l ife-changing ski I Is. Advocacy We work alongside communities and governments to raise awareness and influence policy, ensuring play is recognized as essential to child development. Through play, we transform lives. From building safe playgrounds to training educators, supporting mental health, and empowering communities, we aim for every child- no matter their circumstances to have the opportunity to learn, heal, and thrive. Together, we're shaping a brighter future, one play opportunity at a time. PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 IIHERE IIE IIORK From our offices and workshops in Milton Keynes (UK), Jinja (Uganda), and Kisumu (Kenya), we deliver our programmes across a diverse rangeof settings, ensuring that children in some of the most challenging environments have access to the power of play. Refugee Settlements Play is vital for children affected by trauma and displacement. Since 2016, we've partnered with major INGOS to support over 250,000 refugee children in Uganda. By integrating play into emergency response, we help restore normalcy, promote healing, and support development. Rural Comrnunities Remote rural communities face major challenges, from limited services to economic hardship and climate change. In some of East Africa's most isolated regions, our work has improved school attendance, learning, and dropout rates. Our playgrounds serve as community hubs, giving children a safe space to play and families access to support. Urban Slums Children in urban slums face extreme hardships, from homelessness and violence to lack of education and safe spaces to play. Our programmes provide vital respite, offering structured play that fosters joy, learning, resilience, and social development. ECDE Centres & Primary Schools For over a decade, we have helped ECDE centres and primary schools integrate playgrounds and play-based learning. Now, we are building model ECDE centres - best-practice environments that set new standards in early years education. These centres provide safe, stimulating spaces for children while training educators and shaping early childhood education policy. Hospitals and other institutions The world is built for adults, often leaving children in environments that feel intimidating and unwelcoming. Our play-based inteNentions make these spaces more child-friendly, improving children's experiences and outcomes. From hospitals aiding recovery to safe spaces in police stations and refugee centres, we help reduce fear and support vulnerable children. PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 REFLECTING ON THE PAST YEAR Over the past year, we have remained steadfast in our mission despite significant challenges. Our three key strategic goals- Enabling Financial Growth, Improving & Expanding Our Services, and Driving International Volunteering- have guided our efforts as we worked tirelessly to expand our reach, strengthen our partnerships, and enhance the impact of our programmes. 1. Enabling Financial Growth In Progress: Securing new corporate partnerships proved more challenging than anticipated, even with the recruitment of a Corporate Engagement & Fundraising Lead. However, we successfully established a new partnership with Miswa Chemicals while continuing strong collaborations with Gamely Games and Landmark Properties. These long-term relationships reaffirm the trust and impact we build with our partners. On the social enterprise front, we made the difficult decision to close the Play Action Academy. While free courses saw significant engagement, we struggled to convert this interest into paid enrolments. Despite this setback, we remain committed to exploring sustainable reVenu￿generating models. Volunteering continued to be a growth area, supported by the Turing Scheme, which has enabled more young people to participate in our programmes by covering international travel costs. The scheme also allowed us to reach a broader and more diverse group of volunteers through the Widening Participation Programme. 2. Improving & Expanding Our Services YES:We made significant strides in formalising strategic partnerships, including signing MOUS with the counties of Mandera and Kisumu to co-invest in constructing model Early Childhood Development and Education IECDEI centres. We also strengthened existing partnerships with UNICEF, African Revival, and Proseed. Our training programmes expanded considerably. We partnered with the New Horizons Foundation - Lupeni to provide STEM training for primary school teachers in Romania and collaborated with the Global Fund for Children IGFC) to deliver impacrful training sessions. Notably, we served as the lead training provider at GFC'S PEAK Conference in Uganda, training 28 organisations, and delivered four-day Educational Play Training sessions for thei r partners in Uganda, Ghana, and Zambia. A key innovation this year was redesigning our playground structures to use a bolt method, reducing installation time by three days and requiring fewer personnel on-site. By improving our efficiency, we aim to deliver more play opportunities for children with fewer resources. PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 Driving International Volunteering YES:To strengthen the support available to our volunteers, we introduced mandatory Mental Health First Aid training for all lead in-country staff for our summer programmes. Our number of university partners increased to 45, and we successfully ran our first summer playground projects in Kenya. This expansion marks a significant milestone, broadening our reach and increasing the impact of our volunteering initiatives. pi ATioWI PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 HIGHUGHTS FROH 2023124 We are immensely proud of the progress we have made in the past year. Here are some of our most significant achievements: rirst Hodel ECDE Construction in Kenya We completed our first model Early Childhood Development and Education IECDE) centre at Obwolo Primary School in Kisumu, Kenya in partnership with Peter and Marina Rahal, the County Government of Kisumu and a number of small foundations. This marks an exciting new chapterfor the charity. Additionally, we broke ground on our next ECDE projects in collaboration with County of Kisumu, at Ong'adi Primary School and Ratta Village. Expanding Volunteer Programmes This year, 274 UK university students participated in our volunteering programme, helping to build 14 playgrounds in Uganda and Kenya over the summer. Expanding our volunteering activities to new countries is a major milestone and a testament to the growing demand for our work. PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 Securing Our Laryest Playground Tender with UNICEF Uganda We secured a landmark contract with UNICEF Uganda to fabricate 72 playgrounds across 24 districts, in Uganda, in just four months - our biggest and fastest playground project to date! The contract also included community sensitisation initiative5 and teacher training at all 72 locations, making thi5 a major milestone for the organisation. Delivering Programmes Across Six Countries For the first time in our history, we expanded our reach to six countries in a single year, launching training and playground activities in Ghana, Kenya, Romania, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia. This achievement underscores our growing global impact. strengthening Government Partnerships We hosted a high-profile delegation from the County Government of Kisumu in London, including His Excellency, Governor Prof. Peter Anyang, Nyong'o, First Lady Dorothy Nyong'o, Minister for Education Hon. John Awiti, and members of the County Assembly. This visit fostered a collaborative approach to transforming early childhood education in Kisumu and reinforced our commitment to long-term, government-backed solutions. This year alone, our work has directly impacted 23,500 children, while 2,021 teachers, parents, caregivers, and community members have received training to create lasting change. This past year has been one of resilience, innovation, and progress. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated teams in the UK and East Africa, our volunteers, donors, corporate and local government partners Their unwavering support enables us to continue transforming children's lives through play. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum and create an even greater impact in the years to come. PLAY AcfioN iTrifERNATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Year Ended 30th June 2024 ## LOOKING AHEAD – PRIORITIES FOR 2024/25 ## 1. Strengthening Financial Resilience - - - - 2. Scaling & Sustaining Impact With a strong foundation in place, we will focus on developing new programmes that enhance play-based learning in early years education. This includes working with teacher training colleges, integrating play into government-led initiatives, and ensuring the sustainability of our model ECDE centres and training programmes. Consolidating recent achievements: Ensure the long-term success of newly established projects, including the ECDE model centres, playground builds, and training initiatives. Developing new programmes: Focus on play-based curriculum development for early years education, supporting teacher training colleges to integrate play-based teaching practices, and advocating for local government departments to embed play in all areas of their work that benefit children and communities. Leveraging government collaboration: Strengthen partnerships with county and national governments to secure co-investment in infrastructure and education initiatives. 3. Deepening Volunteer & Community Engagement Our volunteering programmes remain a cornerstone of our worl and we will explore opportunities to expand into new countries and engage a more diverse range of young adults beyond universlty students. At the same time, we will continue empowering local communities to drive long-term change through capacity-building and alumni engagement initiatives. Expanding international volunteering: Explore opportunities to extend volunteering programmes to new countries, broadening our reach and impact. Diversifying volunteer participation: Open volunteering opportunities beyond university students to include other groups of young adults, such as those from apprenticeship schemes, youth organisations, and early