2021-08-31-accounts - Thorns Community Trust

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THORNS COMMUNITY TRUST

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021

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
Name Position Type of
Trustee
Jonathan Wright Chair Co-opted
Simon Morris Trustee Nominated
David Webber Trustee Nominated
TRUSTEES MANAGING TCT AT THE TIME THIS REPORT IS
SIGNED
Name Position Type of
Trustee
Jonathan Wright Chair Co-opted
Simon Morris Trustee Nominated
David Webber Trustee Nominated
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Structure, Governance and Management

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 2020-21, the Trustees met on one occasion. In November 2019 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. The resultant repercussions of Covid 19 meant that inspections were halted and as in the previous year the decision was made not to convert until a “Good Inspection” result was achieved.

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;
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:

Signature
Full Names	David Webber
Positions	Trustee
Date	23/01/2024

Thorns Community Trust

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Year ended August 2021

Income from: Donations Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other Total Expenditure on: Caritable Activities Total Net Expenditure / Income Reconciliation of Funds Funds brought forward Funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2021	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2020