## **THORNS COMMUNITY TRUST** 

## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT** 

## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020** 

## **Reference and administrative information** 

Thorns Community Trust (TCT) is a registered charity, no.  1184065.   TCT trades under the name Brambles Pre-School and Out of School Club (Brambles).  Brambles is located on the site of Thorns  Community  Infant School  (Thorns),  and  continues  to  maintain  close  links  with  the  school.    Its principal location is c/o Thorns Community Infant School, Blackthorn Road, Kenilworth, CV8 2DS. 

TCT is overseen by a committee of Trustees.  There are three types of trustee: 

Ex-officio - the head teacher of Thorns Community Infant School 

Nominated - Trustees who are appointed by the governing body of Thorns 

Community Infant School, and 

Co-opted  – Trustees  who  have  been  appointed  by  the  TCT  committee  of  Trustees  as  a consequence of their particular professional skills. 


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TRUSTEES WHO SERVED DURING THE YEAR<br>Name  Position  Type of<br>Trustee<br>Jonathan Wright  Chair  Co-opted<br>Simon Morris  Trustee Nominated<br>David Webber Trustee Nominated<br>TRUSTEES  MANAGING  TCT  AT  THE  TIME  THIS  REPORT  IS<br>SIGNED<br>Name  Position  Type of<br>Trustee<br>Jonathan Wright  Chair  Co-opted<br>Simon Morris  Trustee Nominated<br>David Webber Trustee Nominated<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


**Structure, Governance and Management** 

**1** 



TCT is governed by a constitution, which was written in June 2019. The trust was created to convert an existing Charity (Thorns Community Trust No. 1071096) to a CIO. The purpose of this decision was to provide greater protection to the board of Trustees in the event that the charity became insolvent. 

In 2019-20, the Trustees met on one occasion. On advice from Warwickshire County Council the Trust decided not to proceed with the conversion due to the Inadequate Ofsted rating received in November 2019. 

Governance of Brambles during this year was overseen by the Board of Thorns Community Trust (1071096). 

The  day-to-day  management  of  Brambles  is  delegated  to  the  manager  of  Brambles, who is supported by a deputy manager. TCT also contracts a direct employee who is responsible for day to day administration and business management.  Operational reports are made by the Brambles manager and the business administrator (who is responsible for finance) at most Trustee meetings. 

## **Objectives, activities and performance** 

The main aim of TCT is  to provide high quality child care  to young children between  the ages of 2  years  9 months  and  eleven  years  through  the  provision  of  a  Pre-School,  Out  of  School  Club  and  Holiday Club. 

In effect, Brambles fulfils the obligation of Thorns Community Infant School by way of its extended hours provision. 

## _Public benefit_ 

Brambles is a pre-school, out of school club and holiday club setting that provides reasonably priced childcare and educational benefit to the local community.  The Trustees, always seek to bear in mind that TCT is a charity and that they have a responsibility to act in the public interest.  At the time of signing this report all serving Trustees had read the guidance published by the Charities Commission on public benefit. 

## **Financial Review** 

For the year ending 31 August 2020, TCT made no financial transactions. No Trustees received remuneration of any kind. 

## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities** 

Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accoun�ng policies and then apply them consistently; 

- observe the methods and principles of the Chari�es SOFA; 

- make judgements and es�mates that are reasonable and prudent; 

**2** 



- state  whether  applicable  UK  Accoun�ng  Standards  have  been  followed,  subject  to  any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

- prepare  the  financial  statements  on  the  going  concern  basis unless  it  is  inappropriate  to assume that the charity will continue in business. 

The  Trustees  are  responsible  for  keeping  proper  accounting  records  that  disclose  with  reasonable accuracy  at  any  time  the  financial  position  of  the  charity,  and  enable  them  to  ensure  that  the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.  They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above 

Signed on behalf of the TCT’s Trustees: 


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Signature<br>Full Names  David Webber<br>Positions  Trustee<br>Date  23/01/2024<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


**3** 



## **Thorns Community Trust** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Year ended August 2020** 

|**Income from:**<br>Donations<br>Charitable activities<br>Other trading activities<br>Investments<br>Other<br>**Total**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Caritable Activities<br>**Total**<br>**Net Expenditure / Income**<br>**Reconciliation of Funds**<br>Funds brought forward<br>**Funds carried forward**|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>Restricted<br>Funds<br>Total<br>Funds<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>**2020**|
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