Registered Charity Number 1176557 Registered Company Number CE012854
The Playwork Foundation
Report and Unaudited Accounts
31st March 2024
Incorporating P&W Social Accountants
The Playwork Foundation The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Introduction
The trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024
Legal and Administrative Details
The Playwork Foundation (or "the Charity") was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission on 8 January 2018.
Charity Commission Registration: 1176557 Company number: CE012854
Trustees:
S Bazley K Benjamin J Boldon (resigned 29th August 2023) S Edwards J Sexton Anne-Marie Mackin B McIlwrath (resigned 7th June 2023) S Rix H Stephenson M Stobart A Wood
Contact Office:
53 Aversley Road Birmingham B38 8PD
Accountants:
P&W Social Accountants Ltd 10 Newent Road Northfield Birmingham
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The Playwork Foundation
The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Objectives and Activities of the Charity
The object of the Charity is to advance and promote education, for the public benefit, in children's play and playwork, in particular but not exclusively by:
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Providing information;
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Raising awareness;
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Facilitating discourse;
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Carrying out research; and
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Building capacity.
The Foundation
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Provides advocacy;
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Advice and information;
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Sponsors or undertakes research; and
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Acts as an umbrella or resource body for playworkers and playwork.
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
The Playwork Foundation’s annual open meeting took place online on 19th July 2023, and was attended by each of the four national play organisations (NPOs) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who each gave a presentation on the current state of play and playwork politically and practically. The Playwork Foundation gave a presentation of the progress of the previous year.
Playwork in Progress – a free, weekly virtual reflective practice session, facilitated by trustees Penny Wilson and Siôn Edwards – has continued throughout the year. The sessions have attracted playworkers from United States of America, Sweden, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. An additional meeting was held in February 2024 to discuss the ‘Childhood Matters’ report released by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. The mailing list for Playwork in Progress has now been merged with our general mailing list – this has allowed greater exposure of the session itself, as well as increasing engagement with our general subscribers and increasing traffic to our website. In total, we now have over 500 email addresses subscribed to our mailing list.
In collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground, and Play Bradford, The Playwork Foundation established an Adventure Playground Network for Great Britain and Northern Ireland – the inaugural meeting was held in November 2023, and two subsequent meetings have taken place in February 2024 and April 2024. These meetings have discussed insurance and litigation, working with local authorities, and identifying the benefits and social value of adventure playgrounds. A number of pieces of work have arisen from these meetings, including a survey of insurance arrangements at adventure playgrounds, and a working group to refine the unique role of adventure playgrounds in community-based children’s services – The Playwork Foundation continues to support these endeavours.
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The Playwork Foundation The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year (continued)
In February 2024, trustees met in-person at Trefoil House, Birmingham, to work on establishing our organisational values. This was complemented, later in March 2024, with a half-day virtual meeting to establish our vision and mission statements. Now adopted, these documents guide the Board’s decision-making and planning, and they can be found on our website: https://playwork.foundation/about-us/.
At the National Playwork Conference in England, in March 2024, The Playwork Foundation curated its own track, which was populated by workshops delivered by trustees in attendance. These included: ‘The playwork approach’, ‘Still here – Adventure Playgrounds Unite!’, ‘If Playwork was for sale – A manifesto for the sector’, and ‘Co-creating an ivory bungalow for playwork’. The Playwork Foundation also facilitated a well-attended plenary discussing the future of playwork that closed the conference.
A number of our trustees continue to represent the Foundation on the UK National Occupational Standards (NOS) Consortium together with Play England, Playboard Northern Ireland, Play Scotland and Play Wales. The collaborative efforts of the Consortium will result in rewriting the NOS for playwork that will underpin all UK playwork qualifications to ensure consistency, parity and relevance.
The Playwork Foundation continue to act as secretariat for PETC (Playwork Education and Training Council) England, alongside Play England who act as chair.
Website
We have continued to use our website as both a place to share announcements and news, and a repository for information and resources relating to play and playwork. A substantial review of current performance has been undertaken by an associate member, with some key areas of improvement identified. Our most popular page remains ‘The Playwork Principles’, followed by ‘What is playwork?’, and two recent posts ‘International Day of Play’ and ‘Playworkers for Peace’. The latter two pages’ success are the result of their inclusion in Playwork in Progress mailings.
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The Playwork Foundation The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Future Plans
In response to concerns regarding a dearth of training in playwork theory and practice – particularly in England – and a particular lack of training tailored for those working in the out of school sector, The Playwork Foundation are preparing a programme of virtual training sessions to be designed and delivered by trustees, many of whom are experienced playwork trainers. We anticipate these workshops to commence in September, to run on a fortnightly basis, and be made available free to Foundation associate members.
Our annual open meeting will take place on 12th July 2024.
Structure, Governance and Management
Nature of the Governing Document and constitution of the charity
The Charity is controlled by its governing document, adopted on 8 January 2018, and was registered with the Charity Commission on 8 January 2018. The Foundation is registered as a CIO as defined by the Charities Act 2006.
Trustee Selection
The Trustees have regard to the skills knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Charity. Trustees are selected to give the charity a good mix of appropriate professional skills.
Public Benefit
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, and have referred to and taken due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and consider the charity's activities are for the public benefit.
Financial Review
Policies on reserves
The Charity wishes to build up free reserves in order to deliver its aims and objectives, a full policy on reserves will be produced by the Trustees as annual levels of income and expenditure become more established.
Internal Control & Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees are responsible for the internal controls, and review them on an annual basis. They also actively review the major risks which the charity faces, and review them on a regular basis.
Transactions and Financial position
The Statement of Financial Activities show net outgoing resources for the year of £847 (2023: outgoing resources of £966).
The total reserves at the year end of 31 March 2024 stand at £4,421 (2023: £3,578).
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The Playwork Foundation
The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The Charities Act require the board of trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Board is required to :-
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed , subject to any material
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departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The trustees are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are also responsible for the contents of the trustees' report, and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the trustees' report is limited to examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
Method of preparation of accounts
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Governing Document, the Charities Act 2011 and 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 effective 1st January 2019.
K Benjamin Trustee
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Accountants' Report to the Trustees of
The Playwork Foundation
You have approved the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes. In accordance with your instructions, we have compiled these unaudited accounts from the accounting records and information and explanations supplied to us.
RB Welch P&W Social Accountants 10 Newent Road Northfield Birmingham B31 2ED
12th July 2024
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The Playwork Foundation Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Note Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Activities for generating funds 3 Total incoming resources Resources expended on charitable activities 4 Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 7 Total Funds carried forward 7 |
Unrestricted Unrestricted & Total & Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ 68 121 68 121 915 1,087 915 1,087 (847) (966) (847) (966) 4,425 5,391 3,578 4,425 |
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The net movement in funds referred to above is the net incoming resources as defined in the SORP and is reconciled to the total funds as shown in the Balance Sheet as required by the SORP paragraph 4.67.
All activities derive from continuing operations
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| The Playwork Foundation Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024 Note Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors 6 Total current assets Creditors Amounts falling within one year 6 Provisions for liabilities and charges Net assets The funds of the charity : Unrestricted funds 8 3,578 Total unrestricted funds Total charity funds |
2024 £ 3,902 - 3,902 (324) - 3,578 4,425 3,578 3,578 |
2023 £ 4,850 4,850 (425) - 4,425 4,425 4,425 |
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The Trustees are satisfied that the Charitable Incorporated Company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.
The Trustees acknowledges their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 12th July 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
K Benjamin Trustee
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The Playwork Foundation Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024
1 General Information
The Playwork Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered and domiciled in England. Its principal activity is to operate as a charity established to advance and promote education, for the public benefit, in children's play and playwork. Its registered office is 53 Aversley Road, Birmingham, B38 8PD
2 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting policies
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and 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 effective 1st January 2019
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Preparation of accounts on a going concern basis
Having regard to the level of reserves and the ongoing level of expenditure against unrestricted funds in conjunction with the development of membership activity in the coming year the trustees are satisfied that the accounts should be prepared on a going concern basis.
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
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.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
| 3 Activities for generating funds Membership income Other income 4 Resources expended on charitable activities Accountancy fees Bank charges Communications Conference, Hotel and Travel Website and software costs |
2024 £ - 68 68 2024 £ 324 63 92 436 - 915 |
2023 £ 55 66 121 2023 £ 324 65 - 384 314 1,087 |
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The Playwork Foundation Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2024
5 Trustees' remuneration and benefits
Neither the trustees nor any persons connected with them have received any remuneration from the charity or any related entity, either in the current or prior year.
In the year ended 31 March 2024, expenses were paid to one Trustee £42.83, this related to the reinbursement of expenses incurred in as acting as a Trustee (2023: £Nil).
6 Creditors: Amounts falling within one year
| 6 Creditors: Amounts falling within one year Accruals 7 Movement in funds Current year Unrestricted and total funds Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted and total funds Comparative year Unrestricted and total funds Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted and total funds |
At 01.03.23 £ 4,425 Incoming resources £ 68 At 01.03.22 £ 5,391 Incoming resources £ 121 |
2024 £ 324 Net movement in funds £ (847) Resources expended £ (915) Net movement in funds £ (966) Resources expended £ (1,087) |
2023 £ 425 At 31.03.24 £ 3,578 Movement in funds £ (847) At 31.03.23 £ 4,425 Movement in funds £ (966) |
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