2025-03-31-accounts - The Place

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 5th November 2023 Period start date To 5th November 2024 Period end date

Charity name: The Place

Charity registration number: 1175671

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objects of the CIO (The Place) are to further such charitable purposes for the benefit of families with young children resident in the Faringdon area, in particular but not exclusively by advancing the education of such families in relation to childcare, parenting, health, the environment, ICT and life skills by such means as The Trustees may consider appropriate.
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	The Place offers the following services to families with babies and children under 5: Play At the Place (a universal group providing play activities in line with EYFS and support for parents); Tots and Tinies for families with small babies and Toddlers Breastfeeding support Ante-natal groups Family drop in group Movie Time Stepping Out activities to help parents prepare their children for school During school holidays, outings and outdoor events are offered for families including older siblings. We run courses for parents such as FamilyLinks Parenting, Baby Massage and First Aid. A Clothes Library is also available providing baby clothes from 0-5yr and maternity clothes. Equipment and clothes are also sourced for older children on request. Until the end of October 2024 The Place hosted the Health Visitor clinic and support from the local Heath Visitor team. The Place offers practical support to

		other groups in the town, such as a Rhyme Time at the local library and builds community ties by holding activities at the local cycle park supported by the local cycling club and at a local care home. We also hold a monthly session in The Folly woodland to encourage families to explore nature together.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	All spending commitments and activities are guided by our commitment to the charity's core purpose to provide benefit to a particular section of the public,namely families with young children in the local area (Faringdon).

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	The Place is not a grant-offering organisation.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	The Place does not hold any investments.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The Place is supported by two sorts of volunteers; those involved with the project and those who help with fund raising. Volunteering for the project is a formal process involving DBS checks and training.These volunteers help in sessions under the direction of the charity's staff. During the period covered by this report there were 2 such volunteers Volunteering to support fundraising is informal These volunteers participate in meetings to support fundraising, organise and support fund raising events.. A core group have organised successful community events raising £950 towards our running costs. There were 13 volunteers in this category.
Other		Until 31st October 2024 the activities of The Place were overseen by a Steering Committee. This had a formal constitution and drew its members from local organisations who support the charity’s work and service users. The Town Council held a SLA with Spurgeons to manage the day to day running of The Place and delegated authority to the Steering Committee with the support of the Town Clerk to manage

it on their behalf. The Service Level Agreement with Spurgeons ended on 31st October 2024 and the charity is now managed directly by the trustees. Input from grant giving bodies and other community organisations to help shape our provision will now come from a Stakeholder Panel which will meet quarterly in place of the Steering Group.

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	Our new manager Lucy Redwood-Hanson took up her post last October with two relatively new staff members. They have become a dedicated and effective team over the past year. The charity has invested in training two staff members to deliver Family Lnks courses and one to deliver Baby Massage, to enable us to run these courses regularly. 591families used the project in the period from October 2023 to October 2024, reaching 615 children. We continue to use our online booking system for groups. In addition, our staff support vulnerable users in accessing groups to ensure that they remain inclusive. Families can also book our sensory room. The monthly family drop in group on Saturday mornings has continued to be well attended. We have continued running ante-natal courses led by a midwife, which we initiated using a grant from Nationwide Building Society We have maintained our links with other services and organisations, with the Health Visitors holding clinics on our premises until the end of October 2024, supported by our staff; visits to groups from Oral Health; weekly Rhyme Time in the Library to encourage parents to use its services and activities at the local cycle park supported by the local cycling club. We have held singing sessions at the local Day Care drop in centre and a local care home, strengthening community ties. A highlight of the year for many was an outing to The Cotswold Wildlife Park funded through a grant from the local Rotary organisation

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:	You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
		Feedback from our users shows we
		continue to meet our objectives in
Achievements against	Para 1.41	providing support for parents and
objectives set		families:
		"Thank you so much for all you do for us
		(and all the Faringdon families that you
		shower with love, time and support.We are
		so lucky to have you all in our corner...It is
		because of your groups that I have made
		such amazing mum friends and how our
		family has come to have such a special
		community of families all enjoying the
		rollercoaster that is parenthood
		together...You guys are the reason I kept
		going with breastfeeding and your hugs and
		cups of tea have lifted me on countless
		occasions. Thank you for being there for the
		big stuff, the small stuff and everything in
		between."
		Our Volunteers raised £950 this year.
		Other donations from the public, local
Performance of fundraising		businesses and organisations, plus
activities against objectives	Para 1.41	additional grants mean that the charity is
set		on track with its funding requirement
		N/A
Investment performance	Para 1.41
against objectives
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	At 30th November balance held £29,958.93 in main account and £25,582.05 in reserve account which covers operating costs and reserves. Items to note: ● A bill is due from FTC to cover all Spurgeon’s expenses spanning 2023.24 and 2024.25.This will amount to £31,092.30 ● Faringdon United Charity transferred the 2024.25 grant on 12.12.24
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	As a non-profit making charity The Place steering board have reviewed the need for reserves in line with guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The charity will keep money aside as a reserve to protect the charity against drops in income or allow it to take advantage of new opportunities. Reserves will be held to ensure that The Place is able to operate during periods of lower income and to ensure money is reserved for unexpected events, redundancies or any emergencies. Trustees understand that uncertainties may be faced in the future and the need to hold reserves where future income alone is unlikely to meet costs. We recognise that trustees need to be able to justify the holding of income as reserves as the Charity Law requires any income received be spent within a reasonable period of receipt. Reserves will be held to meet expenses in unpredicted occurrences. This includes but is not limited to: ⦁Ensure there are sufficient cash reserves in the current account to cover day to day running costs, including staff training &staff meetings. ⦁Replace equipment as it wears out and carry out necessary maintenance. ⦁Closure due to unexpected damage to our rented premises, ⦁Re-location of The Place from its current premises. ⦁Unexpected drop in income, resulting in The Place being unable to meet its financial obligations ⦁Redundancy payments after closure of business ⦁Any other reasonable expense agreed bymore than halftheTrustees.

		Reserves are held in a high interest Virgin account
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	The reserves held in 2025 will be £37,868 equivalent to 6 months operating costs.
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 Place receives core funding from Faringdon Town Council and Faringdon United Charity. By building links with other organisations in the town and raising the charity’s profile we continue to meet our funding objectives. Additional grants from Faringdon United Charity and FEAT have been used to fund first aid and parenting courses respectively.Donations from individuals, local businesses and organisations as well as funds raised by our volunteers make up the rest of our funding. These have included donations from Lord Faringdon's Trust, the Funding Dory Community Three Legged Race, The Bangers and Beer Festival and Pat Thomas Butchers.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The charity has a Risk Management document in place. No immediate risks identified
Other		The charity has a rolling three year financial plan in place

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		N/A
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	CIO
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 09 Nov 2017
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	One trustee must be appointed by Faringdon Town Council Other trustees are recruited either from local organisations who support our aims or for specific expertise, such as in Early Years, business or administrative experience . Prospective trustees fill in an application form, are interviewed where appropriate and their appointment approved by the Board.

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:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Trustees are directed to the training material for trustees on the Charity Commission website. All trustees receive the charity's safeguarding policy and other key policies. The Safeguarding Trustee has safeguarding training.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	Until 31st October 2024 day to day management of the charity was delegated to Spurgeon’s through a Service Level Agreement. When that agreement ended, the trustees assumed direct responsibility. The project’s manager is now line managed by the chair and another trustee, the treasurer oversees finance and other trustees have oversight of specific areas such as Health and Safety. The charity uses the services of a Health and Safety and Human Resources company.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	The Charity worked with Faringdon Town Council to contract Spurgeon’s to manage the day-to day running of the project. Although that contract has ended, the charity still works closely with the council as a major funder. The charity's services are based in a council owned building and the council is represented on the board of trustees.
Other		Churches Together in Faringdon provided initial support when the charity was set up who continue to have representation on the board of trustees. Faringdon United Charity have been represented on the Steering Group as they are a significant funder.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Place
Other name the charity uses
Registered charitynumber	1175671
Charity’s principal address	The Pump House, 5 Market Place, Faringdon, SN7 7HL

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity	Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
1	Ashley Brown		Appointed 17/01/2023
2	Mayor of Faringdon Peter Castle	Safeguarding/H & S trustee		Faringdon Town Council
3	Joanna Cave	Chair Safeguarding Trustee	Appointed 6/11/2017
4	Jonathan Mapley		Appointed 16/01/2023
5	Lucinda Henderson		Appointed 11/04/2023
6	Brenda Roach		Appointed 8/03/2022
7	Eleanor Tucker		Appointed 8/03/2022
8	Sally Thurston	Treasurer	Appointed 23/7/2024

– 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 this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe 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




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.

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.	The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.	The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full Name(s)	Joanna Cave
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	Chair of Trustees
Date	18/02/25

THE PLACE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024-25 HP CHARITY REGISTERED WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES REGISTRATION NUMBER 1175671 The Corn Exchange Farlngdon SN7 7HL

Trustee Report The Place Charity, which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, was set up in 2017. Its objectives are advancingthe education of families through the provislon of training and family support facilities and groups, provision of advice and support and guidance on issues relating to childcare. The purpose of the charity is to provide support forfamilies with young children, resident in the Faringdon area via The Place, located in the Corn Exchange, Faringdon. The Charity receives grants and amounts raised by local fund raisers which it uses to fund the support. The Place operates in premises owned by Faringdon Town Council and is now run by the Charity, since November 2024. Signed Treasurer gc.I 3rd September 2025

Annual Accounts forthe flnanclal year ended 31" March 2025 The Accounts are maintained on a spreadsheetand summarlsed below. The Charityoperates a bank account at Lloyds for Its day to day actlvltles. A further deposlt account has been set up wlth Virgin Money for holding reseNes. The Accounts are maintalned on a receipts and payments basis, in other words they reflect the transactlons completed withln the f inanclal year which runs to 31 March 2025. st The Charity owns no assets but has employed staff in 2024/25. The Town Clerk acted as Treasurer for part of the year, hertime being funded by the Town Council as part of their support to the Charity. This support is not reflected in the accounts. Income and Expenditure Account 2024125 2023124 Income 8,031.45 Donations 5,350.16 913.58 Interest 38,333.61 Grants 24,634.70 Note I 47,27&64 Total 29,984.86 Expenditure 64,992.57 Administration/running costs 1,171.37 Note2 17,024.37 Salaries 6,908.54 Communitysupport contractors 8,030.10 88 925.48 Total 9 201.47 (41,646.84) Surplus/deficit 20,783.39 Statement of Current Assets and ReseNes 14,247.14 Bank Balance Lloyds 81,923.97 25,913.58 Bank Balance Vlrgin 180.76 Petty Cash

40 341.48 Total Charlty Fund 81,988.32 Opening balance 61,204.93 (41,646.84) Surplus/deficit 20,783.39 40 341.48 Closing balance Notes l. Grants The main grants the Charity reiVed in the year included:

Dragons Den Grant £1,3(X) (£2,146 in 2023/24) Faringdon U nited Charity Grant £26,5CK) (£18,399.60 in 2023/24) Nationwide £5,503 Faringdon Trust £3,CXX) Z Admlnlstratlon The Place pay the difference to the Town Council between the running costs of the Children's Centre, under the Service Level Agreement with Spurgeon's and the amount paid by the Town Council to Spurgeon's by way of subsidy to the charity. The amount due to the Town Council at the end of March 2024 in respect of 2023/24 was £23,830.02. This amountwas paid to theTown by The th pla on 26th April 2024. In addition £31,092 was paid on 18 February 2025 in respect of 2024/25. As they accounts are done on a cash basis, they reflect two yearfs actual cash payments in 2024/25 compared to nil in the prior year. This arrangement changed in November 2024when The Place became responsible forall costs and the Service LevelAgreement ended. Consequently the Charith began employing staff and incurring admin costs such as IT and insurance etc.

Rcp()I't of tliL iiidcpLiidL'nt cxaniinLr to I'he Place RLI)()rt ()11 tIIL IILLC)Iiiil.% c)t"TIIL PlaLL f()r diL yr Liidcd 31 Il MdrLh 2025, wFiiLh dfL l>Lt <)ut ()n 2 .qiid 3 01. Ilic 'ill'iclicd. RLspectii'e responsibilities of trustee and independen( examlner Tlic Charily's Iruslccs ai'c responsiblc for Ihc prcparalion of Ihe accounls. The Charity's truslees coii.sider that an audit is not required for this year (undcr section 43(2) of the Charities Act1993 (the 1993 Act)) and thal an indepcndcnl examination is necded. It is my responsibility to Examine the accounts (under section 43(3)(a) of the 1993 Act); Follow the procedur&s laid downin the General Directions givenby the Charity Commi&siona5 (uiider section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act)" and State whether particular matters have come to my attention. This report is made solelyto the Trustees ofThe Place in accordancewith the Charities Act1993. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to in an examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent perniitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Trustees of The Pla(x for my work, for this rew¢ or for the opinions I have fornied. Basis of independent examiner's report My examinationwas carriedoutin accordance with the General DirectionforIndependentExamination issued by the Charity Commissioner& An examination includls a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosur&s in the accounts and seeking of explanations fiDm you as trustees concerning such matters. The proce(hwes undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be reqUId if a full audit was undertakefy and CA)nsequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (l ) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the Act: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the ACL have not been met; or (2) to which, in my Opinio attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. 7oc Christopher Hackett For and on behalf of Auditing Solutions Ltd 3rd Seplember 2025

THE PLACE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024-25 HP CHARITY REGISTERED WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES REGISTRATION NUMBER 1175671 The Corn Exchange Farlngdon SN7 7HL

Dragons Den Grant £1,3(X) (£2,146 in 2023/24) Faringdon U nited Charity Grant £26,5CK) (£18,399.60 in 2023/24) Nationwide £5,503 Faringdon Trust £3,CXX) Z Admlnlstratlon The Place pay the difference to the Town Council between the running costs of the Children's Centre, under the Service Level Agreement with Spurgeon's and the amount paid by the Town Council to Spurgeon's by way of subsidy to the charity. The amount due to the Town Council at the end of March 2024 in respect of 2023/24 was £23,830.02. This amountwas paid to theTown by The th pla on 26th April 2024. In addition £31,092 was paid on 18 February 2025 in respect of 2024/25. As they accounts are done on a cash basis, they reflect two yearfs actual cash payments in 2024/25 compared to nil in the prior year. This arrangement changed in November 2024when The Place became responsible forall costs and the Service LevelAgreement ended. Consequently the Charith began employing staff and incurring admin costs such as IT and insurance etc.