Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025
Charity name: Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton
Charity registration number: 1196767
Objectives and Activities
The purpose of the CIO is to provide an early introduction and to promote the Welsh language for pre-school children and their parents/guardians in Cilfynydd and Pont Norton.
We aim to provide quality Welsh-medium sessional and early years care to children between the ages of 2 and school nursery age (available until December 2024 – see ‘Additional information’)
We also provide an opportunity for parents and carers and children to socialise, play, learn and grow through the medium of Welsh.
∙ 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. (service available until December 2024 – see ‘dditional information’)
∙ 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.
∙ Ensuring the quality of care you offer is continuously improving and that children and parents / carer’s voices are heard
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.
-
Cessation of early care provision
-
Like other small charities facing the challenges of the current economic climate and with many wider national changes being introduced, such as the increase to the national minimum wage, and cost of mandatory training and the increase in the cost of living generally it became increasingly evident to the committee and trustees during this financial year that securing long-term financial security of our early care provision was not sustainable.
In December 2024 a decision was made to cease the early care provision service for under 3 year olds, which at the time of closure impacted 7 children. Redundancy notice were issued to 2 members of staff with their employment terminated at the end of February 2025.
● Continued service of Ti a Fi – parent and toddler group
- We continue to provide our parent and toddler group running for 1.5 hours one morning a week during school term. Weekly sessions included thematic crafts, free play and signing. The sessions are also supported by Mudiad Meithrin offering advice on how we can develop the Cylch Ti a Fi further. An average of 15 children attend the Cylch Ti a Fi parent and toddler group on a weekly basis and it attracts local parents and childminders, with more than half of the parents saying their children intend to attend Welsh medium schools. The pattern we most often see emerging is children attending schools of their older siblings. More can be done to encourage and inform
parents of benefits of choosing Welsh language education and re-establishing links with local Welsh medium schools.
Achievements and Performance
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 and won the award in May 2024
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.
Reasons for holding zero reserves;
- 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 grant Fees for Cylch Meithrin sessional daycare (until closure in December 2024) Donations from families accessing Ti a Fi (on-going) 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. We were also registered with CIW until December 2024 until our early year care provision stopped.
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 2025
Turnover
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Donations - individuals - unrestricted|579|
|Fundraising Events|376|
|Grant Income - restricted|0|
|Grant Income - unrestricted|52,250|
|Sales|12,295|
|Total Turnover|18,500|
|Cost of Sales|
|Direct Expenses|1,098|
|Total Cost of Sales|1,098|
|Gross Profit|17,402|
|Administrative Costs|
|Audit & Accountancy fees|493.20|
|General Expenses|20|
|Freelance Contractors|160|
|IT Software and Consumables|215.87|
|PayPal fees|102.93|
|Pensions Costs|702.64|
|Printing & Stationery|65.88|
|Rent|3,312|
|Salaries|19,679|
|PAYE|71.27|
|Insurance|150|
|Subscriptions|2.25|
|Total Administrative Costs|14,703|
|Operating Profit|(7,021)|
|Profit on Ordinary Activities Before Taxation|(7,021)|
|Profit after Taxation|(7,021)|
----- End of picture text -----
Balance Sheet
Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Phont Norton As at 31 March 2025
| Current Assets | |
|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand | |
| Cash 0 |
|
| Current Account Cylch Meithrin Cilfynydd a Pho 1,776 |
|
| PayPal 1,511 |
|
| Total Cash at bank and in hand 3,287 |
|
| Accounts Receivable 0 |
|
| Total Current Assets 3,287 |
|
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 0 |