Trustees Annual Report for Lighthouse Loudwater – charity number 1197215
Lighthouse Loudwater is a Christian charity that aims to support children of all backgrounds, faiths and cultures by delivering a free to access fun-packed Summer holiday club week with activities such as organised sports, team games, craft sessions and sessions designed to help children understand and explore the Christian faith.
Lighthouse Loudwater was set up and registered with the Charity Commission in December 2021 and ran its first summer activity week in August 2022.
It was a very successful week. On average 190 children attended on each of the days, with many children attending every day. With careful planning, places were able to be offered to almost every child that applied. Feedback from children and their parents/carers was overwhelmingly positive.
The Trustees are particularly passionate about vulnerable children. The Summer week included many such children. Lunches were provided every day for many of them.
The Charity benefits from a strong Board of Trustees.
The following Trustees joined when the Charity was formed and continue as Trustees:
Tim Andrews (Chair)
Rebecca Dodds
Mark Humphries
Alison Rodgers
The Board was further strengthened by the appointment on 12[th] January 2023 of the Revd James Dwyer.
During the year, the Trustees met regularly to review the 2023 Holiday Week and mid year events and to plan for 2024 and beyond.
The Trustees recognize that children attended Lighthouse Loudwater for a variety of reasons. Some have attended another Lighthouse in the past. Some need fun safe and secure Summer childcare. Most of the children have a link with a local school or church.
Trustees were particularly pleased to welcome some children who were new to the Lighthouse experience and also children of parents who themselves attended a Lighthouse when young.
Lighthouse Loudwater benefits from the hard work and kind contributions of many volunteers. The Trustees recognize that some volunteers take annual leave to be involved and others give up family time and other commitments. We recognise that time is precious and appreciate this investment in Lighthouse .
Lighthouse relies on volunteers to help with looking after the children in our care and a significant amount of the volunteers are 12-18 year olds. They are called lamplighters. They are given a chance to take some appropriate responsibility for the younger children (4 to 11 year olds), under the watchful eye of older and more experienced Lighthouse Keepers and Age Group leaders. The Lamplighters become role models for the younger children and benefit from this one week opportunity to serve others. We appreciate every one of them.
Trustees are very aware that events that are repeated periodically enable ongoing appropriate links with the children and their families. Accordingly, the year ahead will see regular “Lighthouse Live” events and probably a “Light Disco” in the Autumn.
Trustees are very excited about being able to hold another Lighthouse week in 2024 and the mid year events.
Financial Review:
Lighthouse Loudwater’s finances were very different this year. Council grants were not applied for or received. Voluntary donations of over £5000 were, however, received in total from parents, helpers and churches. The Trustees are encouraged by and appreciate all of these donations especially as the main Lighthouse week is free to access.
Total income in the year was £6,369 and expenditure was £7,092 resulting in a deficit for the year of £723. This was manageable as our opening reserves were £2,799.
Trustees would like to record particular appreciation of the members and leaders of St Peters Church Loudwater. Their excellent links in the community and their commitment to the establishment and success of Lighthouse Loudwater was a significant reason for the charity’s successful first year and exciting outlook.
Lastly, it would not have been possible to run the main Lighthouse week without the support and encouragement from our site hosts for 2023 , Carrington School. They were the perfect hosts on a perfect site. Whilst Loudwater Lighthouse will be run at Loudwater Primary School this summer (2024), we very much hope to return to Carrington School in the Summer of 2025.
Tim Andrews
Chair, Lighthouse Loudwater 17[th] June 2024
Lighthouse Loudwater Accounts for Year ended 30th September 2023
| Summary | 2022/23 | 2021/22 |
|---|---|---|
| Income | ||
| Church Donations | 3200.00 | 5800.00 |
| Council Donations & Grants | 0.00 | 1400.00 |
| Receipts (Sumup) | 269.29 | |
| Parent & Helper Donations | 1942.00 | 1575.00 |
| Gift Aid 2023/24 only | ||
| Shop, Refresh etc | 1227.32 | 1326.94 |
| Other | 40.00 | |
| 6369.32 | 10411.23 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Shop, Tuck & Refreshments | 212.37 | 756.19 |
| T Shirts & Lanyards | 1163.97 | 578.40 |
| Sports | 0.00 | 548.83 |
| Craft | 899.97 | 430.18 |
| Lighthouse Central Services & Admin | 1575.00 | 1226.00 |
| Other Admin | 214.97 | 954.21 |
| Mainstage | 1050.00 | 669.18 |
| Additional Needs | 60.00 | 304.33 |
| Lunches | 346.79 | 192.08 |
| Activities (inc booklets) | 787.89 | 414.85 |
| Premises Donation | 500.00 | 570.80 |
| Database Development | 0.00 | 400.00 |
| Lighthouse Live & Mid Year events | 93.94 | 385.90 |
| Insurance | 174.29 | 167.74 |
| Other | 12.80 | 13.50 |
| 7091.99 | 7612.19 | |
| surplus | -722.67 | 2799.04 |
| Bank Reconciliation | ||
| Cashbook start of year | 2,799.04 | - |
| less payments | - 7,091.99 | - 7,612.19 |
| plus receipts | 6,369.32 | 10,411.23 |
| Total | 2,076.37 | 2,799.04 |
| Plus gift aid 2022/23 and 2021/22 | ||
| Bank at end of year | 4,179.07 | 4,513.39 |
| payments accrued | 2,102.70 | 2,114.35 |
| receipts accrued | - | 400.00 |
| Total | 2,076.37 | 2,799.04 |