Nature Day Courses for Young People in Bedfordshire
COUNTRY DAYS
PO Box 1591, Bedford MK42 5DT
Email : info@countrydays.net
Country Days Limited Registered number Charity number Trustees Report
11433398 1181833
P O Box 1591, Bedford, MK425DT
Country Days is an Educational Charity providing outdoor learning in a beautiful nature reserve for young people aged 7-11 in Bedfordshire. We aim to provide children who have little or no access to the countryside with an opportunity to learn in and about nature. We aim to enrich and develop their learning by stimulating their imagination with a carefully designed curriculum which fosters an understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and develops their educational and emotional development through problem solving, teamwork and enhancing their communication skills. We run four one day courses in the Easter Holidays and 2 x two-day courses in the summer holidays and have been able to offer places to 280 children.
Country Days has two patrons and nine trustees, a head of admin and a course supervisor. The head of admin and founder trustees liaise with teaching committee led by Victoria Hayward and teaching staff on the courses to devise an exciting and progressive curriculum for the children every year and a separate fundraising committee to generate the funding for the courses and the resources for the children at the local nature reserve. The charity was founded 5 years ago based on the vision of Ann Hadfield MBE (now deceased) who had previously founded the charity F4YP to help young people in Bedfordshire. All the trustees with the exception of the family members of Ann Hadfield and Margaret Campbell (Accountant) are locally based. The trustees offer different but invaluable expertise and were recruited in consultation with the Founding Patron of Country Days, Brian Woodrow OBE, now deceased, who had made a huge contribution to raising funds for local charities and organisations in Bedfordshire and improving the circumstances and making a difference to those in need in Bedfordshire. All the trustees are united and passionate in their belief to help develop opportunities for young people of Bedfordshire to fulfill their potential, gain vital life skills and foster a lifelong understanding and appreciation of the natural environment which is so critical to their wellbeing and future.
Following courses at Easter and Summer, the core team of teachers and admin discuss their progress across three key areas, teamwork and cooperation, problem solving and confidence at the beginning and end of the courses so we can evaluate the effectiveness of the courses and the children complete a questionnaire and the teaching staff and parents provide feedback. The feedback is useful so every year we use the previous years’ experience to further develop a curriculum designed to stimulate their imagination and extend their knowledge experientially. We offer learning across 4 core areas of science, art and literacy, sport and bushcraft and on our 2-day courses extend their cultural capital by building the courses around a theme. We also aim to introduce them to new activities which they haven’t previously experienced for instance archery and semaphore.
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Our high pupil to teaching ratio not only fosters the individual learning which makes a huge difference to our many SEND children but also creates a sharper learning curve and faster individual development for all the children in our natural environment over a short time period. With carefully thought-out engaging activities in a beautiful natural environment, we aim to promote their emotional wellbeing and develop the imagination and curiosity about the natural world and provide them with different but complimentary educational opportunities outside of their usual remit.
In line with the funding received and in order to be able to increase the number of places on our courses in line with the growing demand we completed work on two additional rain shelters and continued to improve the biodiversity at the field to encourage more insects, birds and wild life to flourish within the habitat for the children to discover and observe. We built another landing stage by the pond so that more children could partake in the very popular activity of pond dipping. We set up wildlife cameras within the nature reserve for the children to see the nocturnal activities of the wildlife at the nature reserve and extend their awareness and understanding of a natural habitat. We were delighted by the feedback on the courses and we will intend to continue to develop our curriculum give children opportunities and learning which is both complementary to and outside of the remit provided in schools.
We are building local awareness of the charity and helping to foster relationships with the local schools and local community.
We are delighted by the support from local trusts including the Harpur Trust, the BEA, the Wixamtree Trust, the Carlton Trust, the Bedford Charitable Trust, St John’s Hospital Trust, the House of Industry, the Neighbourly Trust, the Miller Charitable Trust and Kempston Charities, Bedford Borough Council and several local parish councils. We are also part of the HAF scheme.
Our Fundraising events included a very successful fundraising dinner and an individual 5k event which combined with the donations from local trusts, private individual donations and several local councils meant that we met out Fundraising target for 2022 and were able to run all our planned courses, ensure the Nature Reserve was fit for purpose and safe for the children and increase its biodiversity for a bright future. Year on year we have met out financial targets and delivered more places on our courses for the young people in Bedfordshire.
As can be seen from the accounts there is sufficient funding in the bank to cover the running costs of the planned courses, maintenance of the site and administration for the next year and develop the site with a view to expanding the activities and opportunities we offer.
Any funds donated for specific purposes were spent within the appropriate year so there are no specific reserved funds. It is our informal policy to have enough in the bank account to be able to fund activities a year in advance. Detailed accounts are enclosed.
Country Days Ltd is a single entity set up as a private company limited by guarantee and a registered charity and governed by the objectives listed on the Charity Commission website.
The use of the Leys Nature Reserve, which is used to host the nature courses for Country Days, is freely donated by its owners Esme Watkinson and Helen S E H Orssich, who also act as trustees for Country Days. The Charity has raised funds to maintain it as safe environment for the children and developed it so it is fit for purpose with the addition of more rain shelters and a landing stage at the pond in order to allow the course activities to take place and accommodate the growing number of places the charity can offer in line with the demand for its activities. The nature reserve is not run for profit and the owners’ future intention is to create opportunities for schools, voluntary organisations and other charities in Bedfordshire to benefit from using the Nature Reserve if suitable for their activities when it is not in use by the charity, and any fees raised by this will be donated back to Country Days to contribute to the preparation costs of the site for the courses.
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More details are included below.
Patrons
Susan Lousada, DL
Susan was born and educated in Bedfordshire and has lived all but four years of her life in the county. She is married to Simon, has two children and two grandchildren and enjoys local history, gardening, skiing, walking and spinning classes.
Susan has a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Leeds University and a PGC in Translational Medicine from Cranfield University. She has over 20 years’ experience of running a family business prior to its sale in 2007.
She is a non-legal member in the First Tier Tax Tribunal and serves on a Research Ethics Committee based in Oxford where she has held both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions.
Susan is privileged to serve as Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire as His Majesty the King’s representative in the county. Other voluntary positions held include school governor at Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School with particular responsibility for safeguarding and is Chair of the Curriculum Committee and has mentored pupils in a Bedfordshire upper school. She is Vice President of Bedfordshire NSPCC, a member of the County Priory Group (St John’s Ambulance), a member of the charity School readers Senior Management Team, serves on the Bedfordshire Committee of the East Anglian Air Ambulance and is a Trustee of Level Trust.
Susan was very honoured to serve as High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 2020/2021 where during lockdown she was instrumental in distributing almost 1800 laptops to children with no access to a digital device across Bedfordshire.
Lionel Stewart, MBE
Lionel Stewart is a retired Police Officer with over 60 years’ experience both serving and retired. He is Chairman of Beds Retired Police Officers Association NARPO. As Crimebeat coordinator he worked closely with the late Ann Hadfield in the early days of Fun for Young People.
Trustees
Helen Orssich and Esme Watkinson are the daughters of Ann Hadfield MBE. They formed the charity inspired by their mother's vision following their mother's death in 2018. Helen runs an advertising and film production company in London and Esme has just retired as a General Practitioner in Birmingham.
Alexis Orssich works in technology for a startup. Despite living in London, he loves the countryside and believes all children should have the opportunity to appreciate and love nature.
Helen Watkinson is Ann Hadfield's granddaughter. She is Head of Department for English at Fulham Boys School London.
Margaret Campbell is a qualified accountant. She is company secretary for the charity and handles the financial record keeping and preparation of accounts.
Caroline Heaton lives in Bedfordshire and very much enjoys rural life. She feels it is important for young people to have the opportunity to experience time in the countryside and develop skills and knowledge while in an area surrounded by plants, trees and wildlife.
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Claire Innes Claire Innes is a HR and interim management recruitment specialist at the Association of Colleges, the membership body for the Further Education sector in England. Passionate about education and the opportunities it provides to transform lives, Claire supports Country Days with the recruitment of excellent teaching staff to inspire young people.
Frank McMahon was headteacher of Robert Bruce School and greatly appreciated the Fun 4 Young People summer school initiative which enriched the school holiday experiences of so many pupils.
He believes Country Days, its ambitious successor, builds on those achievements and significantly develops the range of activities provided.
Caroline Waterfall is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 7. She believes being outside in the countryside broadens the lives and learning of the young.
Committee
Rita Di Carlo is the Charity Secretary and leads the admin team. She has just retired as office manager at Kempston Academy after dedicating a quarter of a century to the schools of Kempston in Bedfordshire.
Victoria Hayward is the Head of Curriculum. Victoria is the Education Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Lead, School Improvement Team, Bedford Borough Council. She has over 15 years of experience working in education as a former Deputy Headteacher with the focus of driving forward practice and improving outcomes for children.
Lynni Gingell is the health & safety officer and fire marshall. Lynni is the Safeguarding officer at Kempston Academy.
Site Maintenance
Roy Horner is farm estate manager in Bromham and has managed the Leys nature reserve since 1994.
Helen Orssich (nee Hadfield) Esme Watkinson (nee Hadfield) Co – Founder/Trustee Co – Founder/Trustee
Patrons: Lionel Stewart MBE. Susan Lousada DL.
Trustees: Margaret Campbell; Caroline Heaton; Claire Innes; Frank McMahon; Alexis Orssich; Helen Orssich nee Hadfield; Dr Esme Watkinson nee Hadfield; Helen Watkinson; Caroline Waterfall Registered Charity No.1181833
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Registered number 11433398
Country Days Limited
Report and Accounts
31 December 2022
Country Days Limited Registered number: Directors' Report
11433398
The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Principal activities
The company's principal activity during the year continued to be the provision of nature courses for children aged 7 - 11.
Directors
The following persons served as directors during the year:
Helen Orssich Esme Watkinson Caroline Heaton Claire Innes Francis McMahon Alexis Orssich Caroline Waterfall Helen Watkinson They are also trustees of the charity
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
This report was approved by the board on 27th September 2023 and signed on its behalf.
Helen Orssich Director
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Country Days Limited Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 December 2022
| Turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Administrative expenses Operating profit Profit before taxation Tax on profit Profit for the financial year |
2022 £ 56,827 (18,293) 38,534 (10,008) 28,526 28,526 - 28,526 |
2021 £ 54,844 (26,633) |
|---|---|---|
| 28,211 (5,925) |
||
| 22,286 | ||
| 22,286 - |
||
| 22,286 |
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| Country Days Limited Registered number: Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2022 Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 3 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Net current assets Net assets Capital and reserves Profit and loss account Shareholders' funds |
11433398 81,790 |
2022 £ 19,762 81,790 101,552 101,552 101,552 |
69,626 | 2021 £ 3,400 69,626 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73,026 | ||||
| 73,026 | ||||
| 73,026 |
The directors are satisfied that the 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 directors acknowledge 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 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Helen Orssich Director Approved by the board on 27th September 2023
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Country Days Limited Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 December 2022
| At 1 January 2021 Profit for the financial year At 31 December 2021 At 1 January 2022 Profit for the financial year At 31 December 2022 |
Share capital £ - - - - |
Share premium £ - - - - |
Re- valuation reserve £ - - - - |
Profit and loss account £ 50,740 22,286 73,026 73,026 28,526 101,552 |
Total £ 50,740 22,286 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73,026 | |||||
| 73,026 28,526 |
|||||
| 101,552 |
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Country Days Limited Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022
1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (as applied to small entities by section 1A of the standard).
Turnover
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover also includes donations received.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.
Taxation
The company is a registered charity and as such does not pay corporation tax
Provisions
Provisions (ie liabilities of uncertain timing or amount) are recognised when there is an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that economic benefit will be transferred to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation can be estimated reliably.
| 2 Employees Average number of persons employed by the company |
2022 Number 0 |
2021 Number 0 |
|---|---|---|
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Country Days Limited Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2022
| 3 Tangible fixed assets Cost At 1 January 2022 Additions At 31 December 2022 Depreciation At 1 January 2022 Charge for the year At 31 December 2022 Net book value At 31 December 2022 At 31 December 2021 Items added to the site improvements in the year included Two rain shelters and a bin store. The car park was improved |
Site Improveme nts £ 4,250 21,515 |
|---|---|
| 25,765 | |
| 850 5,153 |
|
| 6,003 | |
| 19,762 | |
| 3,400 | |
4 Other information
Country Days Limited is a private company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England. Its registered office is:
2 St Stephens Terrace London SW8 1DH
It is a registered charity number 1181833
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Country Days Limited Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2022
This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts
| Sales Cost of sales Gross profit Administrative expenses Operating profit Profit before tax |
2022 £ 56,827 (18,293) 38,534 (10,008) 28,526 28,526 |
2021 £ 54,844 (26,633) |
|---|---|---|
| 28,211 (5,925) |
||
| 22,286 | ||
| 22,286 |
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Country Days Limited Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2022
This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts
| Sales Donations Legacy Fund raising event Course fees Cost of sales Course costs Field costs Administrative expenses Employee costs: Fees paid Premises costs: Water General administrative expenses: Telephone and fax P O Box Bank charges Insurance Fund raising costs Depreciation Sundry expenses Legal and professional costs: Advertising and PR |
2022 £ 54,557 - 890 1,380 56,827 12,383 5,910 18,293 2,727 2,727 - - 126 378 393 944 - 5,153 100 7,094 187 187 10,008 |
2021 £ 48,942 - 5,222 680 |
|---|---|---|
| 54,844 | ||
| 12,798 13,835 |
||
| 26,633 | ||
| 1,920 | ||
| 1,920 | ||
| (232) | ||
| (232) | ||
| 406 360 90 805 1,526 850 - |
||
| 4,037 | ||
| 200 | ||
| 200 | ||
| 5,925 |
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesldirectorsl members of On accounts for the year ended Charity no.: Company no.: Set out on pages I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the 8c¢ounts of Ihe Company for the year ended )1 / i L/ As the charity's trustees of the Company (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company lawl, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 20061"the 2006 Act"). Responsibilities and basls of report Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required lo be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounls as carfied out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 {"Ihe 2011 Act"). In Carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's slatement IThe company's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualifled lo undertake the examinalioj by being a qualified member of *4 ( i O LL I ELL I have completed my examinalion. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my allenlion {olher than that disclosed below'l which gives me cause lo believe that.. • accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Acl 2006., or the accounts do not accord with such records., or the accounts do not Comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fairf view which is not a maller considered as part of an independent examination., or .Ihe accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP {FRS102). IER October 2018
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delele Ihe words in Ihe brackets if Ihey do nol apply. Slgned: Date.. Nam8: 4vL Relevant professional qualification(sl or body (if any): 14 s WI¥) Address: 19 Section B Dis¢losure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material mallers of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examlnerwishes to dls¢lose. IER October 2018