Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
Trustees Annual Report for the Period
To Include Receipts and Payments Accounts for year-end 31[st] August 2025
FOR
Wick and District Playgroup
(Charity Number: 1194601)
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
Wick and District Playgroup
CONTENTS OF THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2025
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES ...................................................................................................................... 3 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS ...................................................................................... 3 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT .............................................................................. 4 Governing Document and How the Charity Is Constituted ............................................................ 4 Trustee Selection Methods ............................................................................................................. 4 Policies and Procedures Implemented by Wick and District Playgroup: ........................................ 4 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................... 4 Summary of the Main Actives Undertaken for the Public Benefit in Relation to these Objectives: ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Additional Details of Objectives and Activities ............................................................................... 4 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................ 5 FINANCIAL REVIEW ............................................................................................................................. 6 Statement of the Charity’s Policy on Reserves ............................................................................... 6 Further Financial Review Details ..................................................................................................... 6 DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................................... 6 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEE OF WICK AND DISTRICT PLAYGROUP ............ 7 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT ..................................................................................................... 8 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES ................................................................................................ 9 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS ...................................................................................................................... 9
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Principal Address:
Wick and District Playgroup,
Wick and Wick and Monknash Village Hall Church Street Wick Cowbridge CF71 7QE
Trustees
Abigail Evans (appointed 20 July 2022)
Chloe Girdler (appointed 25 July 2023)
Jenna Fullford-Thomas (appointed 06 February 2026)
Responsible Person
Ceri Squire
Independent Examiner
Mark Sommers
13 Cae Brewis, Llantwit Major, CF61 2AU
marksommers@live.co.uk
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19[th] May 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Chloe Girdler – Trustee
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document and How the Charity Is Constituted
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constituted a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
Trustee Selection Methods
Trustees are primarily recruited from within the playgroup’s immediate community, particularly parents of children currently attending. Interested individuals are typically nominated by an existing trustee and formally seconded to confirm their appointment.
Policies and Procedures Implemented by Wick and District Playgroup:
Wick and District Playgroup maintains and implements a range of policies to support effective governance, including
-
Complaints handling
-
Conflict of interest management
-
Staff remuneration
-
Risk management
-
Safeguarding of vulnerable children
-
Volunteer management
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The charity’s purpose is to support the development and education of children in Wales for the public benefit. This is achieved by helping parents understand and meet their children’s needs through the provision of high-quality childcare.
Summary of the Main Actives Undertaken for the Public Benefit in Relation to these Objectives:
The playgroup provides sessional daycare alongside early years foundation phase education for preschool-aged children. A wide variety of structured and free play opportunities are offered, both indoors and outdoors.
These activities support children’s development across key areas including physical, intellectual, emotional, and social skills. Children are encouraged to engage in creative, imaginative, and physical play, while also learning to interact socially and follow simple behavioural expectations.
Additional Details of Objectives and Activities
The trustees would like to recognise the valuable contribution of Ruth Davies, a dedicated volunteer who plays a key role in supporting the delivery of services and helping the playgroup meet its objectives.
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
-
A Capital Grant of £1,000 from the Vale of Glamorgan Council was received to help towards a replacement shed/container after losing the existing one in a storm in December 2024.
-
During 2024–2025, Playgroup continued to strengthen relationships within the wider community. Although involvement in the annual Community Christmas Fayre was unfortunately cancelled due to the storm, Playgroup remains committed to participating in future local events and activities, helping to further reinforce Wick and District Playgroup’s presence within the village community.
-
Playgroup continued to foster good relationships with the families that attend. The termly “Stay and Play” session which were initially introduced in 2022 have proven ever popular and continue to and give parents and carers an insight into the care provided within the playgroup setting.
-
During the Quality of Care Review 2024-2025; the outreach for feedback was well received with many questionnaires returned. Overall, the response from parents was extremely positive and some wonderful feedback was given. All questionnaires came back with a rating of ‘Excellent’ and ‘Good’.
-
Playgroup became a ‘Flying Start’ setting in 2023/2024 and has continued to support eligible children and families by providing access to the funded two-year-old childcare offer within applicable postcode areas. We continue to await the rollout of this provision within Wick itself.
-
Due to an increase in numbers of children attending the setting, we were financially able to employ two extra members of staff for the final term - they have been a fantastic addition to the team.
-
Three members of staff successfully completed their Level 2 qualification in Children’s Care, Play, Learning and Development. One member of staff will continue on to undertake Level 3 training, helping to ensure the provision of high-quality childcare is supported by relevant skills and qualifications.
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Statement of the Charity’s Policy on Reserves
It is recognised that a formal reserves policy should be established by the trustees. However, due to historically low levels of surplus, this has not been prioritised to date. Based on the financial position at the end of 2024/2025, and projected performance for 2025/2026, it is anticipated that the charity will be able to begin allocating reserves. As a result, the development of an appropriate and relevant reserves policy will become increasingly important.
Further Financial Review Details
The charities principal income is from the Welsh Governments and Local Governments Childcare scheme; accounting for 72% of income (an increase year on year from 60% for 2023/2024 and reflecting a similar proportion of fee distribution to 2022/2023). Direct fees from parents have reduced to 28% - this pattern is typically of the two-year intake cycle as those who are between the ages 2-3 are feepaying, they then become the following years childcare scheme candidates.
Expenditure has been carefully managed, with investment focused on high-quality, versatile indoor and outdoor play equipment. Additional spending has supported consumable resources that encourage creativity, outdoor exploration, and artistic activities. These improvements have been made possible in part due to the generous donation received from St Donat’s Nursery received in November 2023.
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Chloe Girdler
Trustee: Treasurer DATE: 19[th] May 2026
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEE OF WICK AND DISTRICT PLAYGROUP
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Wick + District Playgroup
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Wick + District Playgroup (‘the CIO’) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mark Sommers 13 Cae Brewis Llantwit Major CF61 2AU 29 June 2026
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2025
Wick and District Playgroup - Charity Number: 1194601
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31st AUGUST 2024
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
N/A