## **Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024**
Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
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Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
**Contents**
**Annual report**
**Our story**
**We aim for ouryoung people to**
**Strategic Review**
**The difference we make**
**Ouryoung people**
**Our Team**
**Patrons**
**Trustees**
**What Patrons, Trustees, Staff and Volunteers say**
**about us**
**What our families say about us**
**Our Sponsors in 2025**
**Trustees Report**
**Financial Review Accounts December 2024**
**Country Days Limited**
**Registered number**
**11433398**
**Charity number (date of incorporation 26.06.2018)**
**1181833**|2
Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
**Contents**
**Annual report**
**Our story**
**We aim for ouryoung people to**
**Strategic Review**
**The difference we make**
**Ouryoung people**
**Our Team**
**Patrons**
**Trustees**
**What Patrons, Trustees, Staff and Volunteers say**
**about us**
**What our families say about us**
**Our Sponsors in 2025**
**Trustees Report**
**Financial Review Accounts December 2024**
**Country Days Limited**
**Registered number**
**11433398**
**Charity number (date of incorporation 26.06.2018)**
**1181833**|**Page **
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**4**
**5**
**6**
**7**
**8**
**9**
**10**
**11**
**12-14**
**15**
**16**
**17**
**18**|
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||**Contents**||
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||**Annual report**|**3**|
||**Our story**|**4**|
||**We aim for ouryoung people to**|**5**|
||**Strategic Review**|**6**|
||**The difference we make**|**7**|
||**Ouryoung people**|**8**|
||**Our Team**|**9**|
||**Patrons**|**10**|
||**Trustees**|**11**|
||**What Patrons, Trustees, Staff and Volunteers say**|**12-14**|
||**about us**||
||**What our families say about us**|**15**|
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||**Our Sponsors in 2025**|**16**|
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||**Trustees Report**|**17**|
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||**Financial Review Accounts December 2024**|**18**|
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Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024||
## **Country Days Annual report**
_A recent survey in the New Forest reported that less than 10% of local children played in wild places anymore and that their roaming radius had dropped by 90% in a generation. It is as if the unstoppable rise of the smartphone (more than half of 10-year-olds now own one) has mirrored an equally unstoppable decline in natural curiosity and wonder._ Country Life Roger Morgan -Grenville Country Life. August 2025.
At the Leys during the Easter and Summer holidays we welcome groups of 7–11-year-olds from many local primary schools to explore, learn and enjoy nature. We aim to inspire them, promote their curiosity and wonderment with our hands on learning experiences in small groups.
After all of the careful planning of the curriculum it is always rewarding to see it come to life in the faces and expressions of the children. The feedback received from the children and their parents after the courses are a testimony to why what we do matters. All of us at Country Days believe that outdoor learning opportunities in a safe environment is vital for every child’s development.
We hope to offer more learning opportunities at the Leys for the children with the most limited access to nature because of the importance of this type of learning for every child’s learning potential.
Helen Orssich (nee Hadfield) Esme Watkinson (nee Hadfield) Co – Founder Co- Founder
Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
3
## **2018**
**Country Days was founded by Ann Hadfield MBE. After her death in July 2018 Esme and Helen Hadfield became co-founders 24 children attended the first pilot course in August 2018, we were very fortunate to have 1 shelter which was funded by Ann Hadfield**
## **Our Story**
## **2020**
**In 2020 Covid hit and we ran an online course which over 50 children taking part. We had a 2nd rain shelter built in 2020 which was funded by Harpur Trust.**
## **2019**
**In 2019 we ran our first course in the summer with 160 children over 4 days enjoying -**
## **2022**
- **Poetry in performance**
- **Plastic Recycling**
**In 2022 our Easter and Summer courses were even more creative. And we started to introduce a theme for our Summer courses. We chose the theme of ‘Treasure Island’ by Robert Louis Stevenson**
- **Sport and problem solving**
- **Bushcraft**
- **Arts and Crafts**
- **Pond dipping**
- **Campfire cooking**
- **Building a base camp**
## **2023**
- **Archery**
- **Semaphore**
**Our Easter and Summer courses were another wonderful success we chose the theme of Greek Myths for our summer course. eight activities linked to -**
- **Creating treasure**
- **Craft building**
- **Making maps**
**We welcomed many children from the Bedfordshire Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support who attended both our Easter and Summer courses.**
- **Greek Myths.**
- **Mythical creatures**
## **2024**
- **Medusa**
- **Story of Achilles**
**We decided to increase our activities from 4 to 5 and hired 2 more teachers. In 2024 our activities consisted off –**
- **The Odyssey Part 2**
## **2021**
**In 2021 we decided to extend our courses to Easter which ran for 4 days and a Summer course which ran for 5 days.**
**Some of our activities included**
**Obstacle courses Orienteering Bug hunting Botany Creative Writing Performing arts**
**We created a partnership with The Grange Academy for a funfilled day of outdoor learning and we are excited to continue building our partnership in the future.**
**We were excited to hear that Hugh Maltby was cycling 10,000 miles to raise money for our 3[rd] rain shelter. Also, in 2021 we built an admin shed, science sheds, improved the landing stages for the pond, bought 8 pop up toilets and improved the car parking area.**
## **2025**
**In 2025 we were lucky to have some wonderful weather for both courses.**
**Our theme for the Summer course was Roald Dahl, some of the activities were based on**
- **The Minpins**
- **Bushcraft**
- **Pebble painting**
- **Woodland People**
- **Sports**
- **Who’s been framed**
- **Poetree**
- **Archery**
- **Pond dipping**
- **Fantastic Mr Fox**
- **The Enormous Crocodile**
- **Danny Champion of the World,**
- **Charlie and the Chocolate Factory**
- **The Twits**
- **Mini beast hunting**
Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
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## **We aim for our young people to**
**To smell the earth**
**To taste the rain**
**To touch the wind To see things grow To hear the sun rise And night fall**
**To care**
**Our values**
**RESPECT** Be kind to each other
## **FUN**
Make friends, be enthusiastic, support each other
## **NATURE**
Enjoy the nature reserve
5 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Strategic Review**
Country Days is an Educational Charity providing outdoor learning in a beautiful nature reserve for young people aged 7-11 in Bedfordshire, giving children who have little or no access to the countryside an opportunity to learn in and about nature.
We are grateful for the dedication of our patrons, trustees, teachers, support staff, volunteers and our fundraising committee whose dedication and enthusiasm has made all this possible. We are equally grateful to all those who have supported us and proud of what we have achieved to help create a brighter future for children on low-income families in Bedfordshire and hope you enjoy reading about it.
Research and surveys continue to highlight why stimulating interest in the natural environment is the key to unlocking learning potential, building confidence and resilience to give children a more positive future.
Each year we strive to offer more places to more children, extend the scope of our courses to deliver an ambitious curriculum and make a difference to those whose opportunities to enjoy the wonders of nature are limited.
We continue to introduce new activities and implement the learning from last year to this one. Our quiz night sold out in a week, our first ever stall at the Cecil Higgins Museum event caught the attention of a local MP and culminated in handing out over 100 leaflets this combined with our Family Fun Day helps us in our quest to continue to raise awareness and allow the charity to play a more central community role.
A sponsored bounce run by Great Ouse Primary Academy was both a successful fundraiser and further developed the awareness of the charity.
50% of our children this year were FSM, pupil premium or SEND and the need to support the growing number of these children is vital.
We continue to publicise our funding on social media platforms, newsletters, word of mouth and local fundraising events. We are fortunate in the support of the local community and with increasing numbers of returning children we are building the future volunteers for Country Days. Next year we have 3 more volunteers who are previous participants in the courses. One of our annual volunteers who supports the charity throughout the year on all the courses is taking part in the 5K Bedford Running Festival and another has completed the three peaks challenge. At the family fun day our Head of Admin Rita Di Carlo was presented with a Recognition Award by Camilla King, High sheriff of Bedfordshire.
Helen Orssich ( nee Hadfield Esme Watkinson ( nee Hadfield ) Rita Di Carlo Co – Founder Co- Founder Head of Administration
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Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **The difference we make**
**We helped 300 unique young people**
**We work in partnership with other local agencies including 50+ schools, children's services, and specialist organisations, supporting young people and their families.**
**96% of young people have shown improved SELF CONFIDENCE**
**45 hours of interactive learning in small groups of 12 or less**
**99% would come back to Country Days**
**96% learnt SOMETHING NEW**
**95% made NEW FRIENDS**
**96% improved TEAMWORK SKILLS**
**45% came from 40% of our young More than 10% have a families with people have one or social worker or are financial more SEND, mental under a child difficulties health or protection plan (CPP) neurodiverse or EHCP**
7 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Our young people**
We want to continue to run our outdoor learning courses of one- or two-days duration during the Easter and Summer holidays at a local nature reserve for 300 children aged between 7-11 from low-income families in Bedfordshire who have little or no access to the countryside.
Each year we review our courses using teacher, parental and child feedback and adjust our curriculum accordingly. Our courses this year have received outstanding positive feedback from parents and children.
Our links with schools and organisations continue to grow. Due to the cost-of-living crisis, the pressures on the education and welfare systems, we believe the work Country Days does in the community in Bedfordshire has become increasingly vital to support the emotional wellbeing of children 7- 11 consequently we need to broaden its reach to include more children throughout the year.
We are continuing to explore the possibilities of how we can expand our activities to include a Saturday morning club run by 2 teachers so that we can give more children the opportunity to benefit from being outside and learn in a beautiful nature environment.
## **Our Strategic priorities**
## **ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE ACTIVITIES AND FOOD**
Through our face-to-face delivery, maintain that 50% of places are accessed by young people meeting our criteria and alleviate barriers created by financial hardship. Increase access to healthy meals and snacks at our face-to-face provision.
## **EXPAND OUR REACH**
Ensure that the delivery locations are reflective of where referrals are being received from, where there is most local need, and where we can build strong relationships within the community.
## **FUNDRAISING**
Continue our relationship with our existing funders where possible, explore new funding, extend and develop our fundraising activities.
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Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Our Team**
**Victoria Hayward**
## **Curriculum leader Safeguarding**
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.
## **Teaching staff**
**Cameron Long Laura Davies Katrina Hyden Emma Wilson Christopher Tansell Helen Watkinson**
**Support staff**
**Rita Di Carlo -Head of Admin Lynni Gingell - Health and Safety, Fire Marshal Roy Horner - Site Manager**
## **Group leaders**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Amelie Davies Nicola Bowyer Izzy Davies Esme Orssich
Volunteers
Sophie Abdin Michael Hadfield
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Fundraising Committee**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Rita Di Carlo Esme Orssich Helen Hadfield Claire Innes Anna Lewes Hugh Maltby
**----- End of picture text -----**
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Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Patrons**
## **Susan Lousada**
Born and educated in Bedfordshire, Susan has lived all but four years of her life in the county. She has over 20 years’ experience of running a family business and continues to be a director of a property and investment company. Susan has devoted much of her life to voluntary service with a particular focus on helping children and young people. Susan was appointed Lord-Lieutenant for Bedfordshire in 2022 to be the King's personal representative in the county. This is a voluntary position and the retirement age is 75. Married to Simon for over 40 years, they have two children and two grandchildren. Susan enjoys local history, gardening, skiing, and walking.
## **Elisabeth Slack**
Elisabeth graduated with first class honours in Agricultural Science from Nottingham University in 1971. She then joined a research team at Bristol University, gaining a doctorate in Microclimatology. A teacher of science and maths, her teaching career culminated in a deputy headship at secondary level. Elisabeth served as Chairman of The Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama from 2002 - 2010 and as fundraiser from 2002 - 2012 and is now the Festival’s President. She was a longstanding volunteer for Youthscape in Luton, the Lieutenancy representative on the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Board (The Higgins Bedford), and has been a governor of both the Grange Academy in Kempston and Walmsley House School in Bedford. Elisabeth’s appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant was made in 2017.
## **Lionel Stewart, MBE**
Lionel is a retired Police Officer with over 34 years’ experience both in London and Bedfordshire. Since retiring from the police, he has held numerous security roles in major companies. For 10 years, he ran Bedfordshire Crimebeat where he met and worked alongside the late Ann Hadfield. In his spare time, he has a welfare role for retired police officers and enjoys time with his family. He has two sons and two daughters, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
10 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Trustees**
## **Helen Orssich nee Hadfield and Esme Watkinson nee Hadfield**
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.
## **Helen Watkinson**
Is Ann Hadfield's granddaughter. She is a Lead Practitioner and English teacher at a secondary school in London. Helen has just begun a PhD in Education Research.
## **Anna Lewes**
Runs her own property accounting business from home and has two children. Having grown up in the rural village of Pavenham and as a current resident of Felmersham, she fully understands the joy of the great outdoors and the impact it has on children's health and wellbeing. Anna is thrilled to be part of this wonderful charity in honour of the late Ann Hadfield who was a dear friend and inspiration to so many.
## **Margaret Campbell**
Is a qualified accountant. She is company secretary for the charity and handles the financial record keeping and preparation of accounts.
## **Tim Sergeant**
Teaches at Redborne Upper School, lectures at the University of Bedfordshire and also works in professional football as Head of Education at Stevenage FC. Having taught on Country Days courses since 2021, he is excited about his new role as Trustee: "Once you realise how special Country Days and the people involved are, you just don't ever want to leave! As a Trustee, I hope to continue inputting the charity's work and giving something back for the great experiences I have had so far. I feel I get what Country Days is all about: despite my title of 'PE teacher' I have been a pirate, a wizard, a Greek God and even King of England!"
## **Claire Innes**
Is a Partner in the Interim HR Practice at Eton Bridge Partners, an Executive Search firm in London. 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. With two boys of her own, and having grown up in the countryside on a farm in Ireland, she appreciates the value of time spent outdoors and the positive effect it has on mental health and wellbeing.
## **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. On retirement, he became involved with Emmaus movement, locally and nationally. It provides formerly homeless people with safe and secure accommodation, and supports them through provision of opportunities to regain their self-confidence and esteem.
11 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **What Patrons, Trustees, Staff and Volunteers say about us**
## **Dr Elizabeth Slack DL(Patron)**
It is a privilege and an honour to serve as a patron of Country Days, and to help to secure a flourishing future for the charity. Ann Hadfield’s purchase of the land in Felmersham in the 90’s and the energy with which she began to establish it as a nature reserve dedicated to allowing young children to spend time in nature was a hugely generous, timely and visionary gift. I admire greatly the way that Country Days has since been established as a charity by her family and others, based on furthering her ideas. The trustees and all the volunteers involved in running the courses are delivering precious experiences full of imagination, creativity and care, offering meaningful ways to widen enjoyment and appreciation of our countryside for young people in Bedfordshire.
More than half a century of working and volunteering in various roles with children and young people of all ages has, for me, revealed how important fresh air and time spent playing and learning in natural settings are for all aspects of a child’s development. Such access should be a fundamental entitlement for every child and all those who foster such experiences are engaged in work of inestimable value. Young people’s experiences also prepare them to play an active part in mitigating climate change and advocating for the protection of biodiversity as they grow older.
## **Frank McMahon (Trustee)**
It was a privilege and an honour to be asked to be a trustee of Country Days. As a former teacher - and parent and now grandparent - I am particularly aware of the value of visits to the countryside for children - of all ages! My visits to the site are always a pleasure, seeing and hearing children and adults involved in a variety of activities, and cheerfully engaged in the variety of challenges and opportunities provided. The benefits to children of being outdoors are numerous:
Their physical, mental and educational development all benefit from exposure to nature, which can help support a healthier lifestyle, reduce stress, and enhance important cognitive and social skills;
The open spaces encourage children to run, jump, climb and play, all of which improve their physical fitness, agility, balance, and coordination
Exposure to nature can reduce levels of stress and provide a welcome break from mobile phones and other technologies of dubious benefit to well-being
Physical exertion in the fresh air leads to better sleep, helping children to feel more refreshed and rested; sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones, teeth and a more robust immune system
Countryside experiences can enrich classroom learning in many subjects, including science, geography and history. It can improve concentration and focus, particularly for children with ADHD
It provides opportunities for children to use their imagination and inventiveness - a humble stick can be a magic wand! Problem-solving, while building dens or devising ways of overcoming challenges, enhances critical thinking, boosts perseverance, while also refining crucial social skills!
I could go on. I’m proud to play a minor role in this major contribution to the enhancement of the lives and development of so many young people; and to witness the commitment and dedication of the adults who make it all possible.
12 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Laura Davies (Teaching staff)**
It is a pleasure to be asked to be a teacher at country days 5 years ago and I have loved every course run since. Teaching outdoors is something I don't get to do much of in my day-to-day teaching so it's a real pleasure to have such a great site available for children to come and explore, especially for those children who are not surrounded by countryside. When teaching the pond dipping or mini beast hunting, I really get to see the awe and wonder of children who catch a newt for the first time or find a new and interesting creature.
## **Katrina Hyden (Teaching staff)**
It has been brilliant becoming part of the Country Days team. As a practitioner who usually lone works it has become an experience to look forward to each holiday. All of the team members are creative and have a contagious passion for outdoor learning and screen free exploration.
My favourite part is to see children arriving for the first time, often a little nervous, coming to life, feeling safe and bounding back to their parents at the end of the day full, excited to show and tell what they have been up to.
I organise art and craft and I try to have a range of activities to try, from sticking to sewing, with a lot of opportunity for the children to go off-script creative with their makes. I have honestly been blown away by the focus and the ideas that they have come up with. It's very special to have the chance to facilitate creative experimentation, have instant access to a whole load of natural and sustainable resources ("everyone go and pick up three pinecones!") and to work with such flexible and caring practitioners and facilitators during the programmes.
13 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Esme Orssich (Group leader)**
For the past five years, I have volunteered as a group leader for Country Days during their Easter and Summer courses. Each year, my enthusiasm and belief in the charity deepen after spending time with the children. They truly love the courses. As a group leader I have the privilege to directly hear their unsolicited feedback. the most common being that they don’t want the day to end, or that they can’t wait to come back. In a digital world, that is no small achievement: these children genuinely want to be outdoors.
Often, the children in my group don’t know each other beforehand, or only a few do. I see great value in this: resilience and social skills grow, and I’ve yet to see a child intentionally excluded. It gives them a fresh social experience, different from school, and one rooted in inclusivity. This year, I watched a neurodivergent child gain immense confidence as they made new friends and were welcomed with kindness and openness — instead of being made to feel different or alone.
## **Sophie Abdin (Volunteer)**
I started volunteering at Country Days in Summer 2024 and continued at Easter and Summer this year. I thoroughly enjoy being with the team who make sure the holiday club runs so well and have learnt a lot about managing activities, resources, and time. Without the commitment of the leaders at the club, the children would not get the experiences they do, and they love their time with Country Days; they always say they want it to be longer.
I have enjoyed building positive relationships with everyone and seeing how much the children want to share their joy at discovering new things. At each camp, I am learning new skills and would like to become a leader in the future. My confidence and decision-making have improved through my time volunteering. Being outdoors in nature. exercising; we take lots of steps, makes the experience feel even more rewarding'
14 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **What our families say about us**
“My eight-year-old year three son had a brilliant time and this is a boy who cannot cope at another Holiday Club we have tried. He is autistic and ADHD and has difficulties getting along harmoniously with other children, but he found the adults to be very kind and helpful and really enjoyed all the activities that were an offer. As his parent it was worth its weight in gold and we will look forward to the next course at Easter and again next summer. I am so grateful to have found your course”
“These courses are so important to children's child hood. To spend two days outside within the safety of this environment is amazing. My daughter arrives not knowing anyone and leaves with new found friendships. Thank you for making this possible”
“My daughter had a great time, came home exhausted but full of wonderful stories about her day in the sunshine. Thanks for taking such good care of her and giving her a great experience she will be talking about for a while”
“Our daughter attended the course on Wednesday 9th April. She never attended one of your courses and came home buzzing with enthusiasm and happily exhausted. She had nothing but positive feedback about the activities, staff and setting. We are so grateful to you for helping our daughter to explore, enjoy and learn about the great outdoors. Impressed by your set up and the drop off and pick up. We hope she can attend again in the future. Thank you”
“Country days is always my son's favourite option for a holiday club. The organisers and kind and supportive and he loves the activities too. It’s such great value as well”
“Fantastic organisation the children absolutely loved it, such a warm friendly environment would highly recommend”
15 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Our Sponsors in 2024**
We are so lucky to have continued to be supported by so many fantastic local and national charitable trusts.
- Carlton Educational Trust
- BEA
- St Johns Hospital Trust
- The Christopher H R Reeves Charitable Trust
- Bedford Borough Council- (HAF)
- Wixamtree Trust
- Gale Trust
- House of Industry
- Bedford Inner Wheel
- Tesco Groundwork
- Bedfordshire Charitable Trust
- BLCF Frank Branston Fund
- Bedford Lions
- Oakley Parish
- Kempston Charities
- The Miller Charitable Trust
- Neighbourly Charitable Trust Grant
- National Lottery
- The Sun Pub- Felmersham
16 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Trustees Report**
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.
## **Charitable objectives and activities**
To act as a resource for young people up to the age of 11 living in the Borough of Bedford by providing programmes of Physical, educational and other activities as a means of:
- A) Advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals.
- B) Advancing Education
- C) Providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for young people living aged 7-11 living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons.
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The Trustees confirm that they have due regard for the Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives, planning future strategy and setting policy. The work of Country Days is fundamental in improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Bedfordshire by giving them opportunities they would not otherwise have.
Research has shown multiple benefits of being outdoors on children’s learning and development, including social, physical and academic benefits. Despite the research children still spend most of their time inside. With the increasing challenge of climate change it is vital that our young people develop an awareness and appreciation of the natural environment which can only be heightened by spending more time in it.
The Leys Nature Reserve at Felmersham provides an ideal learning environment for Country Days with 33 different varieties of trees in woodland, a pond with great crested and common newts, resident ducks and other wildlife and three natural open play areas.
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 rain shelters, landing stages at the pond and 2 science sheds, Admin hut and storage, 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’ intention is to continue to develop 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
17 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
## **Financial Review Accounts December 2024**
The Charity was awarded total funds of £58,919 this financial year from a range of grant funding, donations and community fund raising activities.
The major sources are grant funding from The Wixamtree Trust, The Carlton Trust, The BEA, The Gale Trust, Kempston Charities, The Miller Charitable Trust, The St John’s Hospital Trust, The National Lottery and Bedford Borough Council also provide funding through the HAF programme.
Currently we hold sufficient unrestricted reserves to meet the funding gap between our costs and the funding we raise to allow us to expand the charity’s vision to benefit more children in Bedfordshire and increase the use of the nature reserve throughout the year but we recognise that these funds will deplete as the charity expands. Our charity committee and admin team at Country Days continues to look at ways to increase our fundraising activities in step with the growth of the charity. We were fortunate to benefit from the sterling efforts of several committed supporters raising sponsorship while undertaking some hefty sporting challenges.
The trustees recognise that as with all charities there is an uncertainty to grant funding but the trustees have an expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements and hold a prudent reserve.
The trustees approve a draft budget for each financial year and any costs which exceed this budget but are deemed vital to the charity are approved by the board. Any capital and core costs over a threshold of £2,000 are sanctioned by the board of trustees on an ongoing basis.
18 Country Days Trustee Report & Accounts Dec 2024
Registered number 11433398
Country Days Limited
Report and Accounts
31 December 2024
**Country Days Limited Registered number: Directors' Report**
**11433398**
The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **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 16 September 2025 and signed on its behalf.
Helen Orssich Director
1
## **Country Days Limited Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 December 2024**
|**Turnover**
Cost of sales
**Gross profit**
Administrative expenses
**Operating profit/(loss)**
Interest receivable
**Profit/(loss) before taxation**
Tax on profit/(loss)
**Profit/(loss) for the financial year**|**2024**
**£**
58,919
(29,961)
28,958
(22,597)
6,361
1,488
7,849
-
7,849|**2023**
**£**
29,010
(24,756)|
|---|---|---|
|||4,254
(17,309)|
|||(13,055)
1,110|
|||(11,945)
-|
|||(11,945)|
2
**Country Days Limited Registered number:** 11433398 **Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024**
|**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**|90,576|**2024**
**£**
6,880
90,576
97,456
97,456
97,456|76,286|**2023**
**£**
13,321
76,286|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||89,607|
|||||89,607|
|||||89,607|
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 16 September 2025
3
## **Country Days Limited Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 December 2024**
|**At 1 January 2023**
Loss for the financial year
**At 31 December 2023**
**At 1 January 2024**
Profit for the financial year
**At 31 December 2024**|**Share**
**capital**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Share**
**premium**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Re-**
**valuation**
**reserve**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Profit**
**and loss**
**account**
**£**
101,552
(11,945)
89,607
89,607
7,849
97,456|**Total**
**£**
101,552
(11,945)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||89,607|
||||||89,607
7,849|
||||||97,456|
4
## **Country Days Limited Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **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 consists of the funds donated and amounts raised from the activities of the charity.
## _**Tangible fixed assets**_
Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:
Structures on the field
over 4 years
## _**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**_
As a charity tax is not payable
## _**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.
## _**Foreign currency translation**_
Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recognised at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. At the end of each reporting period foreign currency monetary items are translated at the closing rate of exchange. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost are translated at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are charged to profit or loss.
## _**Reserved funds**_
The company does not hold any reserved funds in the strict technical sense, but it is the policy of the directors to hold in reserve enough funding to cover the courses of for the following year and any donations given for specific purposes are spent in the year of receipt so no funds are held at the year end.
5
## **Country Days Limited Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024**
|**2**
**Employees**
Average number of persons employed by the company
**3**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 January 2024
At 31 December 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023|**2024**
**Number**
0|**2023**
**Number**
0|
|---|---|---|
|||**Plant and**
**machinery**
**etc**
**£**
25,765|
|||25,765|
|||12,444
6,441|
|||18,885|
|||6,880|
|||13,321|
## **4 Other information**
Country Days Limited is a private company limited by shares and incorporated in England. Its registered office is:
3 Alpha House
4 Beta Place
SW4 7QN
6
## **Country Days Limited Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2024**
_This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts_
|**Sales**
Cost of sales
**Gross profit**
Administrative expenses
**Operating profit/(loss)**
Interest receivable
**Profit/(loss) before tax**|**2024**
**£**
58,919
(29,961)
28,958
(22,597)
6,361
1,488
7,849|**2023**
**£**
29,010
(24,756)|
|---|---|---|
|||4,254
(17,309)|
|||(13,055)
1,110|
|||(11,945)|
7
## **Country Days Limited Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 31 December 2024**
_This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts_
|**Sales**
Donations
Fund raising events
Course fees
Other
**Cost of sales**
Course costs
Field costs
**Administrative expenses**
Employee costs:
Fees paid
Premises costs:
Water
General administrative expenses:
Telephone and internet
PO box
Fund raising costs
Bank charges
Insurance
Rubbish removal
Depreciation
Sundry expenses
Legal and professional costs:
Advertising and PR|**2024**
**£**
52,287
3,800
2,635
197|**2023**
**£**
24,938
2,831
1,040
201|
|---|---|---|
||58,919
12,562
17,399
29,961
10,725
10,725
180
180
277
425
1,926
107
1,041
243
6,441
391
10,851
841
841
22,597|29,010|
|||12,047
12,709|
|||24,756|
|||7,350|
|||7,350|
|||329|
|||329|
|||313
396
541
126
1,011
464
6,441
110|
|||9,402|
|||228|
|||228|
||||
|||17,309|
8
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examlner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Charity Nanie
COUNTRY DAYS LIMITED (11433398)
On accounts for the year
ended
31" DECEMBER 2024
Charity no
(if any)
1181833
Set out on pages
1to8
rso
iona
ee
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3111212024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 ('the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's statement
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
0310912025
Name:
SOPHIA MULE
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS- MAAT 10261662
Address:
19 BRADGATE ROAD
BEDFORD
MK40 3DE
Section B
Dlsclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32,
Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for
examiners).
IER
October 2018
Give here brief details of
any Items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
IER
October 2018