Federation of Westminster Special Schools Charity Fund S CHARif4 frN) Charity No: 1173810 ANNUAL REPORT 2023 - 24
ANOTHER YEAR- WE NEED MORE TRUSTEES! Several of our TTUStees prior to the Charity being established have enjoyed a long association with the Federation of Westminster Special Schools and know the schools well. We have seen the tremendous work and dedication of Federation staff heIping childTen and young people to learn and develop in order to fulfil their educational and developmental potential. Both staff and students have provided the inspiration for the Charity Fund to be established and registered with the Charity Commission. The Charity's aim is to raise funds for a range of projects to improve the facaities at the two special schools. We support both schools to meet the needs of this vulnerable group of children and young people by ensuring that the best possible educational opportunities are provided. This is our sixth knnual Report and although Covid restrictions have been lifted it is clear that many of the fund giving groups are still experiencing considerable delays in replenishing their own reserves to give out in response to funding bids. Several quote -supply chain- delays preventing them from fully functioning. This has meant that the bids we have made for the provision of a new minibus for College Park has been extren]ely protracted and a decision is still awaited. Sadly we do not expect to be successful as that charity seems to become inactive. The approach we used in our first year contacting many businesses with local connections or specialist donating bodies has not proved to be an effective way of raising the amount of funds needed. Having said that we have developed some good community links who continue to raise funds for us and the Trustees value these. We have been looking to Tecruit two independent trnstees but, unfortunately this has not been successful and potentially puts the tUre of the Charity in jeopardy. With external advice and support we advertised in a range of places but there was very little response which was very disappointing. A fresh carefully targeted campaign is going live very shortly. We need one with a knowledge of fundraising strategies and the other with financial expertise. This to help move the charity forward in future years. If we do not recruit successfidly the future of the charity is in jeopardy. I would like to thank Trustees and volunteers for their continued efforts and to add a partiCLdar word of thanks to Yvonne our derk. We agreed last year to rotate the chairing of the Trustee meetings. This has worked well but we are still looking to appoint a pernianent chair once more trustees are in place. David Dyer - Trustee
Date
Trustees, Report Objectives and Activities The Charity exists to raise funds that can be used to enhance the earning of children and young people by improving the facilities at the Federation of Westtninster Special Schools ("FWSS"). The FWSS is made up of two schools: College Park and the Quee School ("QEII"). College Park caters for 150 children and young p while QEII caters for 80 children and young people with severe o multiple needs. Elizabeth II Jubilee ople with autism, profound and The money raised by the Fund is intended to: Help towards increasing or improving the range of activiti FWSS. Help provide or improve facilities, such as IT or play equip play facilities and replacing minibuses. Help pupils take part in the extended opportunities by gi they need. Support parents to engage with the work of the schools an child's education. on offer at the ent, improving g them the support support their The Charity does not (and does not intend to) finance any statutory or core activities undertaken by the schools. Trustees have regard to the guidance sued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Achievements and Perforniance This has been the Charity's sixth fully active year and we have built on the work undertaken initially where the Trustees dedicated time to establ" administrative and financial structures. In addition to producing operating documen , policies, procedures, the Charity had focused on: identifying and budgeting for a suitable project, establishing a fundraising programme and creating publicity material. Funding Projects - some successesl The two minibuses for QEII have been ordered from GM Coachworks and are due for delivery in the Autumn terni and the £5000 funding we gave College park for a therapy swing has now been sent and the swing installed.
Fundraising Programme In our early days, Trustees had established a fimdraising plan to identify, log and approach potential donors. Organisations approached for funding include charity trusts, charity foundations, grant-making bodies, local shops, businesses and parents. During the first year some 200 flding appeal letters were sent and donations were received from local shops and parents. In our second year we targeted a smaller number of more specific and specialist funding organisations and followed up others which expressed an interest in our first year. In our third year we are monitoring a far snller group of organisations and looking for relevant opportunities. Trustees are conscious that it may take several months to receive a reply from potential donors and competition from other charities has also made it difficult in a climate of reduced available nding. Many organisations prefer to nd national charities making it even more difficult for local charities. Publicity & Marketing The Trustees have created a dedicated webpage on the FWSS website, as well as a Facebook page. The Charity has also established a newsletter to raise its profile via the web. social media and through the FWSS newsletter in order to reach out to staff, parents and the wider public. Financial Review & Reserves This first full year of the Charity had been used to establish income streams. We have successfully fundraised to enable our first project to be completed - the play spaces at QEII. The Charity has established policies to evaluate projects, ensuring value for money and has sufficient funds to continue its current activities for the forthcoming year. The Board of Trustees regLdarly reviews the Charity's reserve levels in the light of its planned activities. The reserves provision for revenue costs has been set at a level to cover the Charity's ordinary operating costs for a period of six months. In addition to this requirement, there should be further reserves available to cover actual capital commitments and to cover funds that have been donated for specific projects. The Charitys principal source of funding coTnes from donations and grants. The Charity applies for grants from various bodies and companies who wish to support the aims of the Charity. It also receives donations from parents with children attending the FWSS, from friends of the Federation, and from the general public. The principal risk affecttng the Charity would be the inability to raise sufficient funds to fulfil its charitable duties and to fund the projects that it wishes to complete. To mitigate this,
Trustees serving at the date this report was approved were: Michal Chudy David Dyer Aslam Merchant Yvonne Jarnian served as Clerk to the Board of Trustees. Carole Melson has acted as "associate" members offering a weal of advice. Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees, Repo above. Signed on behalf of the Charity TThteeS: Trustee Date: mber 2024
fiaraIsing continues on a professional basis, and applications for grants are made whenever practicable. StTUQture, Governance 2nd M2n2gement The FWSS Charity Fund is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered on 13 July 2017. The Fund is governed by the terms of its Constitution, which established its objects and powers. Although linked to the Federation of Westminster Special Schools, the Charity is an independent organisation with its own Board of Trustees who are the only voting members. Trustees are recruited with reference to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration and management of the Charity. Trustees who are members of the FWSS Governing Board must at all times keep FWSS and Charity business separate. There are three independent trustees who provide scrutiny and oversight. No FWSS parent or member of staff may becotne a Trustee. The full Board of Trustees met three times from April 2022 to March 2023 inclusive. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Fund. Any expenses reclaimed from the Fund are set out in appropriate notes to the accounts. The Board of Trustees has adopted policies and procedures relating to= Finance and Reserves Charity Governance (code for small charities) Operating Procedures Confiict of Interest Policy statements covering the following linked to FWSS Policies
Equal Opportunities Policy. (Known as the 'Single Equalities Plan and Policy,) Child Protection and Safeguarding Health and Safety Whistleblowxng The Trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the Fund each year. This report looks at what the Charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work for the months in the year ending 31st March 2021. Administrative Details The FWSS Charity Fund is a registered charity (No ll73810). The correspondence address is: College Park School, Garway Road. London Wz 4PH. The Charity webpage can be found at: h e2 .westminster.sch.uk
CHARITY COMMISSION For ENGLAND AND WALES Rece Paymen pts and Accounts Chairty Names . Chairty Number: For the period (Start Date) End Of Year Federation of Westminster Special Schools Charity Fund 1173810 01 April 2023 To ( End Date 31 March 2024 Opening Balance £25,813.25 ReiptS and Pay ents Adrnin Fund5 2023-24 Sertion A Al Receipts BACS Donation Amazon Core Europe Donated Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Unrestricted Funds £ 114.00 31.08 Total income £ 120.CK) 120.IX) 32.72 Interest in Account 32.72 47.49 Sub Total A2 Assets and Investments Sales. ett Total Receipts (Including opening balance) 47.49 47.49 192.57 200.21 o. 0.00 192.57 200.21 A3 Payments Charity Insurance Account Fee Payment to Clerk College Park School Totsi Payments Income for Year Allocated Funds £ 0.00 Admln Funds Restricted Funds £ Unrestricted Funds £ Total Payments 318.62 318.62 1350.00 4865.46 60.00 1350.00 4865.46 6594.08 0.00 0.00 6594.08 192.57 200.21 Brought Forward from 2022/23 Cash Funds this year end Total Funds in Account 1324.83 9851.66 17533.93 25813.25 -5261.61 9851.66 (Total Donations - Total Payments) 17726.50 19419.38 £ 19.419.38
Sertion B Statement of Assets and Liabilities at t e end of Period / Month Unrestritted Funds £ Restritte Funds £ Bl Cash Fund Details Endowment Funds £ Total cash Funds. ( agree balances with receipts and payments 0.00 B2 Other Monetry assets Unrestricted Funds £ Restrirted Funds £ Endowment Funds £ Details Total 0.00 Fund to which asset belon8S B3 Investment assets Details Cost (optional) Current value (optional) Total B4 Assets retalned for the charity's own Details Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) Total 0.00 0.00 Fund to which Amount due Ilability relates (optional) Details iwhen due (optional) B4 Llabilitles Total o. 0.00 Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all trustees Signature Print Name Date of approval