Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period 01/04/2023 to 31/03/2024
Charity name: Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton
Charity registration number: 1196767
Objectives and Activities
The purpose of the CIO is to advance and promote the education of mainly but not exclusively pre-school children in Cilfynydd and Pont Norton through the medium of the Welsh language.
We aim to provide quality Welsh-medium sessional and early years care to children between the ages of 2 and school nursery age:
∙ Supporting children to achieve the best possible outcomes through care, learning and play
We offer toys and resources of the highest standard, appropriate to the children’s needs, development and ages. Children over the age of 2 are introduced to activities which promote the Flying Start Scheme and the age 3-7 Foundation Phase (the national early years curriculum) in order to ensure the best possible start to their education. We plan our outdoor activities carefully in order to create opportunities that will further support the children’s learning and development. We are working closely with a local charity who share the same building to access an outside space.
∙ Supporting children to feel valued, safe, healthy and confident
Our priority is the happiness and safety of each child – our homely and happy environment offers the best possible care, and the chance for each child to learn and to develop to its full potential. Children will feel secure and confident.
∙ Ensuring the quality of care you offer is continuously improving and that children and parents / carer’s voices are heard
Our staff attend regular training and we ensure that staff have the appropriate qualifications. We work with the Mudiad Meithrin support officers and officers from the Council and develop and improve the provision regularly as a result of training, advice and new regulations.
We encourage the children to express their views and emotions during the sessions by choosing happy and sad faces and offering choice at times during activities. We have a system for receiving parents comments, we hold feedback sessions with parents and are happy to discuss any concerns or questions before or after the Cylch session. We strive to work closely with families and maintain a high standard service.
Statement on Public Benefit
Our organisation is committed to fulfilling its charitable objectives for public benefit. The trustees have regularly reviewed and considered the Charity Commission's guidance to ensure that our activities align with the principles of public benefit. To date, the charity has benefitted 214 members of the public including babies, pre-school children, and local families.
Our organization has strived to benefit the community in various ways. These include Welsh language events and play sessions, which have directly impacted the lives of individuals within the Cilfynydd area by bringing the language to life, embedding it into everyday activities and encouraging families to choose Welsh Medium education for their children.
We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability, and we will continue to monitor and assess our activities to ensure ongoing compliance with Charity Commission guidelines on public benefit.
Additional Information
In addition to the trustees we have 3 volunteer committee members and a further 2 people who support the running of sessions and fundraising activities. The business admin, finances, grant applications and paperwork is all carried out by our trustees and volunteers.
Achievements and Performance
Since opening in September 2021 the Cylch Meithrin has mostly been to full capacity with waiting lists on various occasions indicating the need for the provision in the area. The opening launch was well attended by local politicians, council officials, director of the local Menter Iaith, feeder schools headteachers, CEO Mudiad Meithrin, parents and the children and these important stakeholder relationships have been since maintained to ensure the growth of the Cylch within the community.
We have held several open days for parents to secure interest of intake which have been well attended. We have also won accolades for our Ti a Fi parents and toddler group recognised as best in Wales in the 2022 Gwobrau Mudiad Meithrin award ceremony and the Cylch Meithrin came runner up in the small Meithrin category in 2023.
Financial Review
The charity is dependent on grant funding and in order to remain viable we will always need assistance with funding for general and direct costs such as rent and equipment. We aim to keep our sessions affordable to the whole community as cost should not be a barrier to the Welsh language. As the only provider of this service in the local area we hope that the local authority will continue to support us in the next year.
Reasons for holding zero reserves;
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Project and Grant-Based Funding: As we largely operate on a project-by-project basis we do not hold general reserves but instead secure funding for specific projects or initiatives. This ensures that each project has its dedicated funding.
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We are a small charity with limited resources, so it is challenging to build and maintain reserves. Instead, we allocate all funds directly to their programs to maximize impact.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern; There is a push in Wales to increase the number of Welsh speakers, whilst this is in line with our own objectives it has meant that funding is directed to the starting of new cylchoedd meithrin rather than the sustaining of the existing ones. Lack of available grant funding combined with the increase in minimum wage and shortage of Welsh speaking practitioners with the relevant qualifications makes it very difficult to predict the future for the organisation.
The charity’s principal sources of funds; Mudiad Meithrin SAS start-up grant Fees for Cylch Meithrin sessional daycare Donations from families accessing Ti a Fi Small local authority grants Fundraising by our trustees running half-marathons Raffles at open days
Principal risks facing the charity;
Staffing - there is a national shortage of qualified Welsh speaking practitioners in the early years. In the event of staff turnover, staff illness etc, the workforce is lacking suitable candidates to allow us to fill those gaps.
Funding - many of the available funds are dependent on us providing longer hours, more days, which we are unable to do because of the staff shortage and because we do not own the building we operate from.
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document - Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees.
How is the charity constituted? - CIO
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees - Election to post
Additional information
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees - We have adopted the policies provided by Mudiad Meithrin
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works - We are a member of Mudiad Meithrin and also registered with CIW and work within their operational standards.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name - Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton Other name the charity uses - Cylch Ti a Fi Cilfynydd a Phont Norton Registered charity number - 1196767
Charity’s principal address -
Cilfynydd Community Centre Howell Street Pontypridd CF37 4NR
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Angela Karadog - Committee Treasurer - 14 September 2021 to present Eurgain Haf Thomas - Committee Chair - 14 September 2021 to present Lowri Mared Real - Committee Secretary - 14 September 2021 to present
Profit and Loss
Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Profit and Loss Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton For the year ended 31 March 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| Turnover | |
| Donations - individuals - unrestricted | 994.53 |
| Fundraising Events | 75.00 |
| Grant Income - restricted | 8,787.51 |
| Grant Income - unrestricted | 4,864.23 |
| Sales | 10,216.10 |
| Total Turnover | 24,937.37 |
| Cost of Sales | |
| Direct Expenses | 1,964.80 |
| Total Cost of Sales | 1,964.80 |
| Gross Profit | 22,972.57 |
| Administrative Costs | |
| Audit & Accountancy fees | 696.02 |
| IT Software and Consumables | 278.75 |
| PayPal fees | 85.80 |
| Pensions Costs | 591.92 |
| Printing & Stationery | 41.41 |
| Rent | 3,000.00 |
| Salaries | 19,266.42 |
| Subscriptions | 125.00 |
| Total Administrative Costs | 24,085.32 |
| Operating Profit | (1,112.75) |
| Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation | (1,112.75) |
| Profit after Taxation | (1,112.75) |
Profit and Loss Annual Return 20234 Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton
29 Jan 2025 Page 1 of 1
Balance Sheet
Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton As at 31 March 2024
| Balance Sheet Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton As at 31 March 2024 |
Balance Sheet Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton As at 31 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| 31 MAR 2024 | |
| Current Assets | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | |
| Cash 30.00 |
|
| Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Pho 5,448.10 |
|
| PayPal 4,404.06 |
|
| Total Cash at bank and in hand 9,882.16 |
|
| Accounts Receivable 935.00 |
|
| Total Current Assets 10,817.16 Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year |
|
| NIC Payable 7.29 |
|
| PAYE Payable 120.80 |
|
| Pensions Payable 272.07 |
|
| Wages Payable - Payroll 1,640.67 |
|
| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2,040.83 |
|
| Net Current Assets (Liabilities) 8,776.33 |
|
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities 8,776.33 |
|
| Net Assets 8,776.33 Capital and Reserves |
|
| Current Year Earnings (1,112.75) |
|
| Owner A Funds Introduced 11.40 |
|
| Retained Earnings 9,877.68 |
|
| Total Capital and Reserves 8,776.33 |
Balance Sheet Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton
29 Jan 2025 Page 1 of 1