Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2024)
UP Community
Charity Number: 1196821
Trustees’ Report
About UP Community
Up Community is a small charity based in Hertfordshire. Established in 2021, we are passionate about supporting neurodiverse children and their families. We organise social events such as sensory play groups for children and their families. Our aim is to create a supportive community where children can socialise in a safe and non-judgemental environment and parents or carers can seek support, friendship and advice.
Sensory Play Groups
Up Community's Sensory Play Groups have flourished since their inception. The first session took place in November 2022, at the Maxwell Park Community Centre in Borehamwood, drawing significant interest from the community and attracting 15 families. In a significant and positive development for our community, our Sensory Play Groups have relocated to the Borehamwood Baptist Church, situated at 12 Furzehill Road, Borehamwood, WD6 2DF. This move marks a new chapter for our
charity, providing a fresh and welcoming environment for our activities. The inaugural event at our new home took place on 23 September 2023 and was met with enthusiasm from families. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the leadership and congregation of Borehamwood Baptist Church for their warm reception and for providing us with a wonderful new space to continue our vital work. Families consistently communicate to us that these sessions fill a significant gap in the community, as there are limited alternatives available for them to engage with their children in a safe and understanding environment. We affirm our commitment to continuing organising these events.
UP Community (1196821) – Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report (01/10/2022 - 30/09/2023)
Collaboration with Hertsmere Mencap
Fostering partnerships with likeminded organizations is a cornerstone of our strategy to broaden our impact. To that end, we are delighted to announce a new collaboration with Hertsmere Mencap (Registered Charity No. 243871), an organization that is affiliated with the Royal Mencap Society. This partnership commenced in November 2023, and our first joint event was held on 11 November
- By joining forces with Hertsmere Mencap, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with learning disabilities and their families, we aim to create more inclusive and comprehensive support systems for the neurodiverse community in our area.
Fundraising
To cover the expenses of our Sensory Play Groups and sustain our operations, we actively pursue various fundraising avenues. We have raised funds using EasyFundraising (htps://www.easyfundraising.org.uk), a platform that enables our supporters to raise donations at no additional cost to them while they shop online. We also received voluntary donations from participants of our play groups and funds from two companies: Epitechnic and Velocity Transport. We are very grateful for their support.
We are thrilled to announce that UP Community has been selected as a recipient of the Co-op Local Community Fund.[7] We were notified of this fantastic news by email on November 3, 2023. This grant will provide a significant financial
boost, enabling us to continue and expand our Sensory Play Groups throughout 2024. The Coop Local Community Fund supports projects that make a real difference in local communities, and we are incredibly grateful for their belief in our mission.
UP Community (1196821) – Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report (01/10/2022 - 30/09/2023)
Community Engagement and Advocacy
We are profoundly grateful for the continued support of Councillor Dr. Dan Ozarow. His advocacy for our charity has been instrumental in raising our profile within the community. We were honored to be invited by Councillor Ozarow to
Borehamwood’s annual parish meeting, where we had the opportunity to deliver a presentation to local residents about our mission and the events we organize. We extend our sincere thanks to Honorata Puciato for representing UP Community and delivering an eloquent and impactful presentation on our work. These opportunities are invaluable in fostering community understanding and support.
The success of our events and the smooth operation of our charity would not be possible without the unwavering dedication of our volunteers. We would like to extend a special thank you to Karlla da Silva for her invaluable assistance in running our events. Her commitment and hard work have been instrumental in creating a positive and supportive atmosphere for the children and families we serve.
Future initiatives
Looking ahead, our primary focus will remain on the development and enhancement of our Sensory Play Groups. We are committed to creating inclusive, stimulating, and supportive environments where neurodiverse children can thrive and their families can connect with one another. We will continue to listen to the needs of our community to ensure our programs are both relevant and impactful.
UP Community (1196821) – Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report (01/10/2022 - 30/09/2023)
Accounts
Statement of financial activities (01/10/2023 to 30/09/2024)
| Total incoming resources: | £4786.41 |
|---|---|
| Donatons via EasyFundraising: | £262.69 |
| Donatons from charitable actvites: | £176.20 |
| Company donatons: | £3450.00 |
| Co-op funding | £600.02 |
| Hertsmere Lotery | £297.50 |
| Total resources expended: | £1798.19 |
| Borehamwood Baptst Church hall hire: | £615.40 |
| Bouncy castle hire: | £680.00 |
| Insurance policy: | £153.44 |
| Virtual ofce subscripton: | £114.00 |
| Other: | £235.35 |
| Payments made to or expenses claimed by staf / trustees: | £0.00 |
| Net incoming / outgoing resources: | £2988.22 |
Balance sheet (30/09/2024)
| Assets: | £3084.45 |
|---|---|
| Cash assets: | £3084.45 |
| Liabilites: | (£2100.00) |
| Loan from trustees (2021 – 2022) (0% interest): | (£500.00) |
| Loan from trustees (2022 – 2023) (0% interest): | (£1600.00) |
| Net Assets: | £984.45 |
| Charity funds brought forward | (2003.77) |
| Net incoming / outgoing resources for the year | 2988.22 |
| Charity funds carried forward: | 984.45 |
Marcin Pajdzik Chairman Up Community
UP Community (1196821) – Accounts and Trustees’ Annual Report (01/10/2022 - 30/09/2023)