Charity Commission Trustees Annual Report 1 September 2022-31[st] March 2023 Financial Year
The Trustees of Clapgate Community Fund Charity present their annual report and audited accounts for part year 2022-2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006, the trust deed and the Charities SORP 2005.
Background Information
We are a charity called Clapgate Community Fund (1185914) and we aim to improve facilities for children aged 3-11 that attend Clapgate Primary School in South Leeds and improve facilities for local residents and families. The population of children and families comes from the 10% most deprived in Leeds with many families using food banks on regular occasions just to be able to feed their children. The area our charity is based in is called Belle Isle and is made up of clusters of council estates.
Our Aims
The aim of our charity is to provide the pupils of Clapgate Primary School with extracurricular activities, access to residentials, equipment and experiences that they may not otherwise have access to and support work in the local community of Belle Isle to improve life chances of families in the area.
Our Objectives
Our objectives are set to reflect our educational aims and the ethos of the school. It is important to us that we maintain and enhance the academic success of the School.
This objective is, however, set in the context of the broader goals we set for the School and its pupils.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. Our key objectives for the year included:
-
Fund raise towards a community cabin
-
Provide pupils with additional education experiences e.g. after school clubs, trips
Mission Statement
We want all the children who attend Clapgate Primary school and in the local Belle Isle community to be able to:
-
Create memories
-
Nurture talents
-
Spark curiosity
-
Raise self-esteem and aspirations
-
Motivate children to adopt healthy, active lifestyles
-
Equip all children with the skills and attitudes they need to be happy, successful and caring individuals.
In addition we want local families to:
Achieve financial stability
- Live long healthy lives
Be contributors to making Belle Isle a thriving community
Values Statement
-
Spark – we want children to be imaginative and creative
-
Grit – we want our children to be motivated and resilient
-
Team – we want our children to be communicators and collaborators
-
Humanity – we want our children to be respectful and caring
-
Knowledge – we want our children to be knowledge seekers and keepers.
Achievements
The main focus of this year’s fundraising has been to create a community cabin.
We have established a forest allotment area with a cabin where the community can come and grow their own food, learn how to cook and be educated about the environment. Part of our initiative is for families to complete the whole food process from planting, nurturing, picking, cooking and then eating. We have supported this process and taught families how to cook healthy meals together using an allotment and the cabin with kitchen facilities.
Whilst our project has a practical element which is clear, the confidence, self-esteem and mental health benefits should not be underestimated. The outdoors, the learning opportunities, the family time alongside making new friends and building of community relationships are all known positive factors on improving mental health issues.
In setting up this area it has first and foremost given the community somewhere to talk and break down social barriers which have developed further during the pandemic. Issues with mental health have shown to have increased in both children and adults and engaging in activities has given families the chance to relax together and get to know other families.
It has improved an area in a deprived community which struggles for green space. It has created a place for families to be able to grow and eat healthy food also contributing to a healthier mind. It has given families the chance to enjoy outdoor activities together which are fun and challenging as well as learn new skills.
In addition, we have used the cabin to address the growing issue of children starting school without being able to speak clearly and without adequate language to
communicate. The cabin has been used for children aged 2-5 to address this through drama led workshops and early interventions. We use the cabin space to invite parents and children in and run sessions aimed at children from the community who have SEN or are at risk of SEN to develop their learning before they start school.
The cabin has been used by local groups who struggle for a safe and inviting space to host groups and clubs of benefit to the local community. As a community we strive to use the cabin for a huge range of activities and to meet current community priorities, here are just some of the uses so far:
-
A light and bright space for yoga and keep fit in the local community who struggle to take up exercise.
-
A space for parents to meet and engage with one another outside school but within our premises. We hold parental engagement classes to teach parents about the curriculum and how to encourage and engage their child’s learning.
-
• Other community groups such as slimming world, breastfeeding support, community health services and toddler groups.
Trustees:
Keeley Shires Natasha Singleton Heather Taylor
Financial Information
The account period reported is 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] March 2023. The previous reporting periods on our accounts had been wrong on the charity commission. Our accounts now reflect the financial year on the charity commission. The next reporting period will be correct on the accounts and charity commission. We have also included accounts for the April to September 2022 period for transparency.
CLAPGATE COMMUNITY FUND Stalernent of Aco)unts for the Year End&J 31 March 2023 Re.. Bank Statements.. 283- 288 In¢¢M ExndItu Funds brought forward a5 p¥r bank 5tatemenl 283 Commisgon .. gnI nrat)n 22.173.57 Conln'bthion tts School Budget 72,731.75 Grant8 rewv8d 59.652.32 Funds carried forward as at 31.3.23. Bank stalement 288 Fundfaisin9 150. 8,W.20 £81.975.95 £81,979.95 Prepared by Signed- Mandy Belt Dated: 311112024 Accounts RoViOW l rtify that the above accounts in accord8n¢e with the book of aco)unts vouchers and supporting documents supplied lo me and the dosing balances are corTect. Signed: Date: 1613124
Registered charity – Clapgate Community Fund - 1185914