2021-07-31-accounts - The Ark Baby & Toddler Group

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date 01 August 2020 31 July 2021

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1178356

The Ark Baby & Toddler Group

The Ark

Charity's principal address Aldreth Village Centre High Street Aldreth Postcode CB6 3PQ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	David Greene	Chair
	Susan Greene	GroupLeader
	Maureen Haigh	Treasurer
	LindsayFrost	Secretary
	Margaret Duffield	Craft Co-ordinator

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

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

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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)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution adopted on 06/12/2017

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustees are appointed or reappointed for a period of three years at the Trustee selection methods Annual General Meeting held in April by the existing trustees.

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

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

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
Trustees are appointed for a term of three years. The initial appointments have been given staggered terms so that not all trustees come up for re-election in the same year.
There is a child protection policy in place. All Trustees & other volunteers helping run the group(s) have been DBS checked and are given copies of current policies.
At induction all volunteers are given a safety briefing and description of their role and are required to sign that they have understood it and will comply with the charities safety policy.
All trustees and volunteer helpers give their time voluntary and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

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

The objects of the CIO are to promote development, education and socialisation of children aged 0 to 3 and to provide support to their parents or carers by:

providing a regular group, or groups, where they can meet in the community and build relationships with others
ensuring that such groups offer equal opportunities to all families with appropriate aged children, regardless of race, culture, religion or means

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March 2012

providing activities for 0 to 3 year olds that stimulate, challenge and develop them both cognitively and physically
providing information and raising awareness on matters relating to health and general wellbeing of 0 to 3 year olds by the provision of suitable books, signposting other organisations and training.
introducing the Christian Faith and its values in an age appropriate way through storytelling, songs and craft activities.

The trustees have kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when planning events and activities for the year.

For the first part of the year COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were in force and we were unable to run our normal Wednesday Group. We were particularly concerned during the continuing restrictions for new parents. The pandemic restrictions in November allowed for small support groups to be run and we therefore decided that we would run an Under Ones support group for these families. Our current venue at Aldreth was still closed but we were able to rent a room in an alternative hall in Haddenham. We held two 1 hour groups of 7 families at each on a Wednesday morning, which were very much appreciated by the new parents who came.

In April 2021 our old venue became available and with a lessening of the pandemic restrictions, we were able to re-commence our Wednesday Groups. We also moved the Under Ones Group to Aldreth on a Monday, as we felt it was still needed. Due to changes in the restrictions, we could now run one group of 15 families for an hour and a half.

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)

For the time being we did not run the dad’s group and our focus remained on running the Wednesday & Monday groups in a safe and welcoming manner within the COVID-19 restrictions.

The main aim of these groups is to provide a safe and welcoming environment to under three year olds and their carers where the children can explore and discover new life skills, physical skills or educational skills in a fun and safe manner and their carers can relax, share concerns and experience with each other or voice questions and be directed to agencies that will offer them further support.

The Monday group for Under Ones offers a chance for new parents to meet and exchange worries, ideas and find support, encouragement and friendship. We have introduced some sensory play activities in recent months.

The Wednesday sessions are constructed around individual themes each week but always include sensory activities for the children to explore, small world play to develop fine motor skills, role play for children to explore the world around them, art and craft activities to stimulate and develop spacial awareness, larger toys to encourage physical development and action songs as a group activity. Parents/Carers are encouraged to interact with their children in all the different activities and can therefore share activities that they may not wish to do or be able to do, at home. This is an important part of building child – parent relationships.

As a Christian group we build some of the sessions around Biblical themes introducing values such as ‘Caring for others’, ‘Forgiveness’ and Sharing.

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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.

This work is only possible because of the huge commitment of our member volunteers and Trustees. We are extremely grateful for the many hours volunteers have spent setting up, moving boxes of toys, serving food and drink, sweeping floors and being available to chat, support and encourage all our families, not to mention the many hours of work that go into preparation and planning each term. None of this would be possible without them.

We are very grateful, too, for the massive ongoing support we have received in running this group. We have continued to receive donations of money from supporters even through the COVID-19 crisis, for which we are very grateful.

We have also had many donations of toys, clothes & equipment that we have been able to distribute to families in need during this time; thank you to all of you for your support.

Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D Achievements and erformance p

Highlights and Developments of 2020

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

While we could not meet in person, we continued to make weekly sing-a-long videos and had compiled 47 by the time we finished.
The weekly loan of toys continued to some families who had difficult circumstances during the pandemic
We made 18 Storyboxes containing stories and related activities to pass between our families to use at home.
In August we delivered 24 Starting School Packs to our ex-group children.
Also, in August we delivered 20 Carers Packs of goodies to people from our group working in the care sector. These were provided by Kingsgate Church in Cambridge.

Under Ones Group

In October we realised we could run an under one’s support group within the current regulations, if we could find a venue open. This started in November with two sessions for 7 families at each. In April we moved this group back to Aldreth and as the restrictions had been eased, we were now able to have one group with a maximum of 15 families.

Highlights and Developments of 2021

At Christmas we put together Christmas Craft Bags with a book and delivered around the area to about 70 children.
At Easter we put together Easter Craft Bags with a book and delivered around the area to 78 children from our families.
We purchased a new trampoline and wooden climbing equipment.
In June we celebrated Fathers Day, with the children making cards to give to their dads and gave out 40 cans of cider as gifts for the dads.

Starting up again

On April 14th 2021, we started back with a Toddler Group on Wednesdays. We started with two sessions, 9.15-10.30am & 11.0012.15pm, as the restrictions limited us to 15 families at a time. This required us to have two different sets of toys and equipment for each session and so the 30 minutes between sessions saw us putting things away, cleaning and setting back up again. As places were limited, we put a booking system in place.

By May 19th, as lockdown eased, the restrictions on numbers were relaxed a little and we were able to join both groups together again. We decided that a limit of 25 families at a session would be appropriate to the size of the building.

Community Involvement

During the year our families & supporters have donated many items to provide for people and families in the wider community and we had a fund raising Pyjama Day for a local children’s charity.

This season has been so hard for families with children who are under school age, especially when you have had a baby in isolation. We support our families in various ways as and when needed and we are building a strong community in the group, where friendships are made and nurtured and children feel relaxed and secure.

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The Trustees are in the process of formulating our reserve policy and expect it to be in place by the end of 2021.

Details of any funds materially We have cleared the interest free loan for the General Fund and have not in deficit needed any further loans.

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;

Our current bank account balance is £3900, of which £195 is reserved for offsetting the cost of running the Who Lets the Dads Out? group. All of the remainder is unrestricted funds.

Our principal source of funding is from the small attendance charge we make for the group and donations from supporters. All of the money raised goes towards running costs, new equipment and engaging with our families. We have no paid staff.

investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Future Plans

We hope in the coming year to be able to develop what we offer families at both the Wednesday Group and the Who Let The Dads Out? sessions. We are currently exploring running a Paediatric First Aid course for parents and looking at other ways to support parenting, particularly new parents.

Section G Declaration

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) David Greene Sue Greene Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[ Chair ] Group Leader Date 19/04/2022

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Charity Name No (if any) The Ark Baby and Toddler Group 1178356 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/08/2020 31/07/2021

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 1,502 3,964 59 656 389 - - - 6,570 - - - 6,570 1,290 389 885 90 444 608 49 - - 3,755 - - - 3,755 2,815 43 847 3,705	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43 238 195	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £ 1,502 3,964 59 656 389 - - - 6,570 - - - 6,570 1,290 389 885 90 444 608 49 - - 3,755 - - - 3,755 2,815	Last year to the nearest £
Admission fees	1,502		- - - - - - - - -	1,502	1,567
Donations	3,964			3,964	1,846
Fundraising	59			59	217
Gift Aid	656			656	-
Other Incomes	389			389	-
	-			-	-
	-			-	-
	-			-	-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	6,570			6,570	3,630

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-		- - -	-
	-			-	-
*Sub total*	-			-	-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
			-	6,570	3,630

Equipment & Craft Materials	1,290		- - - - - - - - - -	1,290	825
Fundrasingfor other Charities	389			389	-
Hire of hall	885			885	820
Insurance & PAT	90			90	90
Outings & Snack	444			444	384
Miscellaneous expenses	608			608	265
Stationery& Printing	49			49	-
Debt Clearence	-			-	528
Governance	-			-	-
**Sub total **	3,755			3,755	2,912

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-		- - -	-
	-			-
**Sub total **	-			-	-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
			-	3,755	2,912

	2,815	-	-	2,815	718
	43	- 43	- -	-	- 100
	847	238		1,085	229
	3,705	195	-	3,900	847

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

19/04/2022

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

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets	Signature Details Details Current Account Cash PayPal Account - Restricted Fund Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 3,680 - 25 - 195 3,705 195 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Maureen Haigh David Greene	Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			OK
			Endowment funds to nearest £
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			Current value (optional)
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			When due (optional)






			Date of approval
		Maureen Haigh	19/04/2022
		David Greene	19/04/2022

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

19/04/2022