2025-03-31-accounts - The Playwork Foundation

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period Period start date Period end date 01 04 2024 31 03 2025

From To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name The Playwork Foundation Other names charity is known by Y Sefydliad Gwaith Chwarae

Registered charity number (if any) 1176557 Charity's principal address c/o Tŷ AVOW 21 Egerton Street Wrecsam, Wrexham Postcode LL11 1ND

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 (ifany)
SARAH JANE BERRY	Treasurer	18/10/2024	Board of Trustees
Penelope Mary Dunn Wilson
Helen Stephenson
Anne-Marie Mackin
Margaret Anne Stobart
SIMON JOHN BAZLEY
ALISON WOOD	Secretary
Simon Rix
Julia Green
Siôn Lewis Edwards	Chair

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Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation Model) How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Elected by the Board of Trustees Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

The Playwork Foundation is governed by a Constitution and is registered
You may choose to include as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation Model). During the
additional information, where year the trustees continued work to transition to an Association Model
relevant, about: CIO, reviewing quorum requirements, trustee terms, election processes
and member involvement. A revised draft constitution was developed and policies and procedures will be finalised and adopted in the coming year.
adopted for the induction and training of trustees; Trustee recruitment remained a priority. A skills audit identified the need
the charity’s organisational for additional capacity, particularly in financial oversight, and the structure and any wider Foundation successfully appointed a new Treasurer during the year. network with which the charity Further recruitment activity took place to strengthen representation across works; the UK, including outreach to Northern Ireland and Scotland.
relationship with any related The trustees met regularly throughout the year, including an in-person
parties; Away Day in Birmingham, England, in January 2025 to review
trustees’ consideration of governance, constitutional reform, strategic priorities and the major risks and the system organisational workplan. A formal actions log was introduced to support and procedures to manage continuity between meetings, and work continued on updating key them. organisational policies including Social Media, Environmental Impact,

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Conflict of Interest, GDPR and Safeguarding. The Safeguarding Policy was updated to reflect current statutory guidance.

The Foundation continued to participate in multi-national sector structures, including the UK Playwork National Occupational Standards (NOS) Consortium convened by Play Wales and the Playwork Education and Training Councils (PETCs) for England, Wales and Scotland respectively. Trustees contributed to the NOS Writing Group and Advisory Groups, and acted as Secretariat for PETC England while monitoring developments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Work also continued to develop the Adventure Playground Network for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including the development of draft Terms of Reference and renewed communication processes.

Administrative governance was strengthened through the opening of a new bank account with the Co-operative Bank and updates to Charity Commission records. Trustees also began planning a rebrand and relaunch to align with the forthcoming constitutional change.

Section C Objectives and activities

The Playwork Foundation’s object is to advance and promote education, for the public benefit, in children’s play and playwork. This is achieved in particular by:

providing information

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

raising awareness
facilitating discourse
carrying out research
building capacity across the playwork sector.

For the purposes of the constitution, children’s play is defined as freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated activity, and playwork is defined as the profession guided by the Playwork Principles.

The Playwork Foundation exists to advance and promote education, for the public benefit, in children’s play and playwork. In planning and delivering the charity’s activities during the year, the trustees had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

The Foundation undertook a range of activities aligned with its charitable objects, including:

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Providing information and raising awareness through sector events, public engagement and contributions to multi-national discussions on playwork, qualifications and policy.
Facilitating discourse through Playwork in Progress, a weekly reflective practice space attended by practitioners across Great Britain and internationally.
Building capacity by designing and delivering a 12-session online training programme for the out-of-school (OOS) sector, offering -
accessible, high quality professional development in core playwork theory and practice.
Supporting sector infrastructure through active participation in the UK Playwork National Occupational Standards (NOS) Consortium and the Playwork Education and Training Councils (PETCs) for England, Wales and Scotland respectively.
Strengthening practice and collaboration by supporting the

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Adventure Playground Network for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which received external recognition in a peer-reviewed academic article during the year.

Advocating for playwork through engagement with the Department for Education (England), local authorities, and campaigns relating to playwork pay, conditions and sustainability.

These activities directly further the Foundation’s charitable purpose by improving understanding of playwork, supporting practitioners, and contributing to the development of national frameworks, standards and networks.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

During the year the Foundation delivered a wide range of activities designed to strengthen playwork practice and support those working with children in community, out-of-school and adventure playground settings. A major focus was the development and launch of a new programme of online training for the OOS sector. Trustees designed and delivered a 12-session covering core playwork theory and practice, attracting strong attendance and repeat engagement. Sessions were recorded and made available online, and a feedback process was introduced to support ongoing improvement.

Playwork in Progress continued throughout the year, providing a weekly reflective practice space that fostered discussion, peer support and sector learning. The sessions contributed to wider engagement with issues such as play sufficiency, playwork identity and sector challenges. The Foundation played an active role in national sector infrastructure. Trustees contributed to the UK Playwork NOS Consortium, supporting the development of a new Functional Map and participating in the Writing Group and Advisory Groups. The Foundation also supported PETC England as Secretariat and monitored developments through participation in the equivalent bodies in Scotland and Wales, including qualification changes, workforce planning and regulatory reviews.

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The Foundation continued to support the development of the Adventure Playground Network for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This work was recognised externally during the year: a peer-reviewed article in the International Journal of Play (Wragg & Edwards, 2024) highlighted the Network as an encouraging example of sector resilience and noted the - Foundation’s role in helping to establish a UK wide platform for adventure playgrounds. Trustees contributed to Network meetings, supported data collection on insurance and closures, and participated in discussions in England relating to the Play Commission and the Children and Built Environment Inquiry.

The Foundation also engaged with the Department for Education (England), introducing the organisation’s work and exploring issues relating to playwork training, qualifications and the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Trustees continued to explore the implications of CIMSPA’s interest in supporting playwork qualifications and professional standards, gathering information and facilitating open discussion within the sector.

The Foundation contributed to sector events including the English National Playwork Conference in Eastbourne, where trustees delivered workshops and plenary sessions, and the Club Central Conference, where trustees facilitated workshops, hosted a stall and presented the Playwork Award. Trustees also attended the Welsh National Play conference - Playing and Being Well - in Cardiff.

The Foundation supported advocacy efforts relating to playwork pay and conditions, including engagement with the Islington Play Association and local campaigns in Leicester and Dudley. Trustees also contributed to discussions about the development of a new Children’s Plan and the potential introduction of a Play Sufficiency Duty in England.

Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D Achievements and performance Summary of the main The year saw significant achievements across the Foundation’s work. achievements of the charity The launch of the OOS webinar programme represented a major during the year expansion of the Foundation’s training offer, with strong attendance, repeat engagement and positive feedback from practitioners. The programme strengthened the Foundation’s visibility and provided - accessible, high quality training for those working with children in out-of-school settings. The Foundation strengthened its multi-national influence through active participation in the UK Playwork NOS Consortium, contributing to the development of new National Occupational Standards and supporting sector engagement across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Trustees also supported PETC England as Secretariat and monitored developments in Scotland and Wales through representation on their respective PETCs. The Foundation’s contribution to the development of the Adventure Playground Network was recognised externally during the year. A peer-reviewed article in the International Journal of Play described the Network as an encouraging example of sector resilience and highlighted the Foundation’s role in supporting its establishment and coordination. This recognition reflects the Foundation’s growing influence in supporting multi-national infrastructure for playwork. The Foundation played a key role in sector advocacy, supporting playworkers facing pay and funding challenges, contributing to discussions with local authorities and national bodies, and participating in campaigns relating to adventure playground closures and playwork pay. Trustees also engaged with the Department for Education and explored the potential implications of CIMSPA’s involvement in playwork qualifications. The Foundation delivered a strong presence at sector events, including the English National Playwork Conference and the Club Central Conference, where trustees delivered workshops, facilitated discussions and promoted the Foundation’s work. Playwork in Progress continued to provide a valued reflective space for practitioners, and the Foundation supported the development of a Skills Bootcamp pilot in Devon, contributing to training delivery and evaluation. The January Away Day provided an opportunity for trustees to reflect on achievements, review governance and agree priorities for the coming year. A comprehensive organisational workplan was developed, including plans for constitutional reform, rebranding, training development, sector engagement and advocacy.

Section E Financial review

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Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The Playwork Foundation maintains modest unrestricted reserves to support its core activities and meet essential operational costs. Given the charity’s volunteer-led structure and low expenditure, the trustees consider the current level of reserves sufficient for its scale and risk profile. The trustees review the reserves position annually and aim to build capacity for future growth through fundraising and partnership development.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

The charity held no funds in deficit during the financial year.

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

The charity’s principal source of funds remains voluntary contributions and small-scale partnership income. No income was received during the reporting period, and total expenditure amounted to £985, covering bank charges, accountancy fees and conference-related costs. These costs supported the Foundation’s charitable objectives by enabling trustee governance, sector engagement and public benefit activities.

The Foundation held £2,917.46 in unrestricted cash funds at year-end. No restricted or endowment funds were held, and the charity had no liabilities or assets other than cash.

The trustees did not operate an investment portfolio during the year. Should investments be considered in future, the trustees will adopt an ethical investment policy aligned with the Foundation’s charitable objects and values.

Section F Other optional information

During the year the trustees developed a comprehensive workplan for 2025-26, including plans to transition to an Association Model CIO, rebrand and relaunch the Foundation, strengthen mutli-national representation, develop a playwork archive, expand training offers and enhance sector engagement. The Foundation also plans to continue supporting the Adventure Playground Network, monitor the development of the Play Sufficiency Duty in England, and deepen engagement with the Department for Education (England) on playwork qualifications and policy.

The publication of a peer reviewed article in the International Journal of Play during the year provided further evidence of the growing recognition of the Foundation’s role in supporting sector infrastructure and collaboration, particularly in relation to the Adventure Playground Network.

The trustees wish to record their thanks to all volunteers, partners and members who contributed to the Foundation’s work during the year, and to acknowledge the significant contribution of trustees who stepped down during the period.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. TAR 7

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Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Siôn Lewis Edwards Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 29/01/2026

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The Playwork Foundation No (if any) Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period 1-Apr-24 31-Mar-25 To from

Section A Receipts and payments

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts - - - - - - - - - - - Sub total - Total receipts - A3 Payments Bank charges 61 Accountants Fees 324 Conference Fees 600 - - - - - - Sub total 985 - - Sub total - Total payments 985 Net of receipts/(payments) - 985 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end - Cash funds this year end - 985 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ *Sub total*(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)	to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds	to the nearest £ Endowment funds	Total funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - 61 324 600 - - - - - - 985 - - - 985 - 985 - - - 985	Last year to the nearest £
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			985	-

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Details Bank current account Details Details Details Details Signature SJ Berry *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	to nearest £ to nearest £ 2,917 - - - - - 2,917 - Agreement Error OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Sarah Berry Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional)	to nearest £ Endowment funds
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		OK
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		Date of approval
SJ Berry	Sarah Berry