Oak Field Old Student Association CIO
Report of Activities of Association January 2023 – December 2023 and Financial Statements for Period Ended: March 2023
Charity No: 1195431
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Legal and administratve informaton | 3 |
| Report of the trustees | 4 |
| Statement of fnancial actvites | 6 |
| CIO balance sheet | 7 |
Legal and administrative information
Constitution
Oak Field Old Student Association CIO a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles. Charity number 1195431
T rustees
Glenys Clifton Patricia Lewis Glen Quickfall Rosemary Stewart David S Stewart OBE DL
Registered office
Oak Field School, Wigman Road Nottingham NH8 3HW
Auditor
John Clifton
Bankers
NatWest
Report of the trustees for the period ended 31[st] December 2023
The trustees, are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year 31[st] March 2023.
Legal and administration information set out on page 3 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice 2005 - Accounting and Reporting by Charities and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).
Object of the charity
The object of the charity is to improve the lives of children and young adults in Nottinghamshire who suffer from moderate to very severe learning and/or physical disability by funding facilities and services designed to provide fun, friendship, care and stimulation.
Organisation
A board of trustees met four times in the year to administer the charity. The charity has no paid staff and no fees are paid to any director/trustee.
Review of activities and future developments
When the Oak Field Old Student Association CIO was established in 2021, we were still battling with the effects of the Covid pandemic, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to re-establish all face-to-face activities whilst appreciating that there are still some old students who still feel vulnerable and dealing with the long term consequences of the pandemic. I am delighted to report that we continue to reach out to our 500 adults with learning disabilities in the City and County of Nottingham.
The annual Christmas Old Student meal held at Oak Field School in December 2023 was once again well attended and much enjoyed.
Residential Visits
There was a residential visit to St Michael’s, Hathersage, Derbyshire in June 2023 and this was very well supported by volunteers, making the weekend a great success. Some parents noted that it was this annual residential provides the only break that the family gets each year. The visit was supported by a grant of £1000 from Fundays in Nottinghamshire for which we are very grateful. Plans for a return to Hathersage in 2024 are in hand as is a trip to Keswick in the Autumn 2024.
There was a trip to see Twelfth Night performed outdoors by Nottingham Playhouse which was much enjoyed by the old students.
In 2023 a large party of students went to the Panto at Nottingham Playhouse. This is always an enjoyable evening.
Open University Conference July 2023
In July a group of old students spoke at the annual SHLD conference in Milton Keynes. They spoke about the importance of the activities of the Old Student Association and their presentation was very well received. This gave a platform to share how other communities can support adults with learning disabilities.
Arts Activities
The Nottingham Theatre of Citizens continues to thrive, meeting at the Girls High School. This Spring they performed to a full house at The Space, the state-of-the-art theatre at the Girls High School. It was supported by the Lord Mayor and other civic dignatories.
Magenta Dance Group continues to meet at Dance4 (Fabric) The group is very popular and the standard of their work continues to be of high quality.
The Poetry Group met again in the Spring Term 2023 Numbers are relatively small but for those who join there is real enthusiasm. For some recovering from mental distress due to lockdown this course has been a lifeline. A range of artists and poets provide a very stimulating course. For 2024 additional funding is providing for additional weeks.
These evening courses are largely funded by very generous support from Fundays in Nottinghamshire.
We continue to send birthday cards, a newsletter and Christmas Cards to all former students. With some 500 this is quite a task. We held a very successful Christmas card party in November and with the team managed to sort nearly five hundred cards that evening. The cost of postage continues to be a challenge, at least £1600 a year, but we know how important a card through the letter box is to our old students. For some it may be the only card.
The activities provided make it possible for them to share enjoyable experiences and to feel better about themselves hopefully leading to happier lives.
Funding
At present our largest provider of funding is happy to support the evening activities but as a CIO we seek further funders so that the work can be supported and maintained.
We are pleased to acknowledge support from
Fundays in Nottinghamshire The Thomas Farr Charity Thomas Edward Clarke Trust Winifred Eileen Kemp Trust
Our Team
The trustees are impressed with the skilled, dedicated and kind personnel and volunteers who run the events organised and funded by the CIO. Providing support for the most vulnerable adults in our City requires people with a particular skill-set, and we are indeed fortunate that such individuals lead on our activities. a
Reserves policy and risk management
During the year the trustees have reviewed progress against the objectives and as part of that process have carried out a review of the risks which face the charity. All such risks are considered low risk by the trustees. An annual review will continue in addition to a review whenever a significant change to policy, people or procedures takes place.
The trustees' target for reserves is that cash of at least an amount equivalent to the subsequent twelve months anticipated expenditure should be held. Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
In carrying out due diligence trustees are required to:
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♣ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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♣ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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♣ prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. The trustees 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.
A resolution will be proposed at a Board Meeting that John Clifton be appointed as auditor to the charity for the ensuing year.
By order of the trustees: 25th March 2023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe To 01104Q072 31mY2023 Section A Receipts and payments unr¢$irlttqd funds R•stri¢tAd funds Endowmont lunds Total funds L4•t yÈar A1 R•cg1 C1njrTn &E¥on Con1ntlChIkna5DInn 555 1.04V 841 210 336 CbabtDTP08lryC Sub totllGFoss vKom9 for ARI I$0 5.$41 2Ass•tand Inv•trMntsalB, IsefytsblBI. Sub lotal 4.B5D 11.086 A3PA TrFs1Een Chn51maDIM•i .80 1275 127$ miDr4ch1tgY coti$?rws p0BtyGp n1 114 Sub total 1.7 %3IT JMD A4 A56•1 •nd Inv•8trn•nt purchasès. (seg tsblfjl Sub tolal 1.T 9.317 11M61 3,QQO Notof recelplslpaynwntsl A5 Tr•nsl8Y4 be0• funds A6 Cash lunth Ity4•r •nd Cash funds thls y•8r trnd 3.106 1,700 2.081 2,341 404 2,341 23 2,341
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr¢stylCtod lund R$tricted lund• Endowment fund 81 C&•h fund• Tot•1 cJJh fvxjds 2J Unr•strlthd Rtrkl•d fund Endwmbnl lund$ D0119 Fyrrtjtowhkh B3 Itw•sbMrbt¥$s0t• Fyndtad OEtsils B4 81$ r¢lalned lorth• charftys own D•tsii¥ BS Llabllllles SwJn&lui* Print Name Daig of rova