Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] April 2023 Period start date To 31[st] March 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Chalgrove and Watlington First Steps Family Hub
Charity registration number: 1179759
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To enhance the development and education of families with children primarily under statutory school age in Watlington, Chalgrove and surrounding villages. |
| 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 Hub is open each morning for sessions aimed at 0 -5 years and their parents and carers. In addition it runs more specialist sessions including school readiness, mental health and wellbeing, baby massage and music. The staff are able to signpost parents and carers to additional specialist services as needed and have regular contact with health and educational professionals. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | All trustees have been provided with the charity commission documentation both in hard copy and online and have signed a Trustee and Committee code of conduct document |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Our 3 paid staff are supported by a volunteer at each session. All are DBS checked and have completed safeguarding training. Our trustees and committee members are also volunteers providing a |
lot of support time, enthusiasm, and professional knowledge to help the staff with the work programme as well as attending meetings regularly. Other
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 | We aim to provide a support service for children, parents, grandparents, and other carers in South Oxfordshire operating from two bases – one in Chalgrove and one in Watlington. These are both alongside nursery and primary schools and linking closely with staff there. We provide activity sessions preparing babies and young children to be ready for nursery and school as well as support and advice for the adults caring for them. These services are preventive and responsive to local needs providing social contact to prevent loneliness and isolation and poor mental health. The services are a lifeline particularly for young families new to the area and we have many new houses being built. It is hoped that these connections will remove or reduce some of the burden on social care and family support services as families establish links in their communities. This year has seen a significant increase in those moving to new housing requiring more support in a new area. We have continued with the social media connections which were established when we were unable to open in person and this has reached families in more remote locations who may find attendance more difficult at times. We are confident that our two centres have achieved their objective this year and have been delighted to see such high attendance with very positive feedback from those attending. Smaller groups have been able to support those more anxious about meeting others as well as large groups with a musician who provides enjoyment for all in a large hall attached to the playroom. We have close links with the parish councils. Local District and County Councillors have provided not only continued support to our committee as well as visiting us but have been able access finance from their councillor grants which has helped enormously. We have remained financially stable and as numbers have increased so |
have our voluntary contributions. We can continue to provide the service successfully due to excellent staff, a very positive and reliable group of volunteers as well as regular support from Health Visitors and Head Teachers from the schools and nurseries.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
The charity is meeting the objectives set out in its constitution and this is evidenced by attendance figures, verbal and written feedback from attendees and nursery and primary school head teachers. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Fundraising and donations have continued to match our financial requirements. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | We have a deposit account with our bank and we have been able to increase funds with interest successfully. |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity has reduced its reserves a little this year but still maintains a healthy balance sheet with a lot of voluntary donations from the community. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Our reserves are maintained to ensure the stability of the organisation and the employment of staff. We have accepted grants when offered for various items and the support of the parish councils and closely monitor, at our regular meetings, our sustainability as well as our regular outgoings. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £47,415 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
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 | Parish Councils annual donations, District and County Council Councillor grants, occasional donations from local businesses, voluntary tradesman support for maintenance tasks, fundraising activities by villagers or from fetes and festivals. We receive regular donations each week from our services users which is recommended but voluntary and access is open to all. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | As our charity has become more established and recognised for the work we do we hope that any financial risks have lessened as more people have experienced the care and support provided enabling us to request increased donations if required to maintain services. Currently we are very fortunate with our two premises, but should this change and require large rent payments it would present a greater financial risk to our organisation. We have also increased the pay rates and numbers of hours worked by staff to manage our increased demand and ensure safety for all our users. Our outgoings are therefore slightly higher than in previous years. |
Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| 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 | Trustees are appointed by a resolution passed at a meeting of the charity trustees. |
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 |
New trustees meet initially with Chair of Trustees and then with committee members and trustees. They all sign a code of conduct when they are elected and this is explained fully to them. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity works collaboratively with local councillors, education staff, local health services and other early years services. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Professional relationships particularly working with statutory child care situations and our local councils and schools as described above. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | First Steps Family Hubs |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Chalgrove and Watlington First Steps Family Hubs |
| Registered charity number | 1179759 |
| Charity’s principal address | Chalgrove and Watlington First Steps Family Hub High Street Chalgrove Oxfordshire OX44 7ST |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Topping | Chair | |||
| Amanda Bruce | Secretary | |||
| Linda Simmie | ||||
| Valerie Kearney | 17thMay 2023 to 31st March 2024 |
|||
| Neil Topping | ||||
| David Benskin | 1.4.23 to 19thApril 2023 | |||
– 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 N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
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.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date
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