## **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.
August 2024 was the third annual summer activity week. It was very successful. On average 180 children attended on each of the days, with many children attending every day.
Feedback from children and their parents/carers was again 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 served during the year:
Tim Andrews (Chair)
Rebecca Dodds (resigned 21/02/2025)
Revd James Dwyer (resigned 21/02/2025)
Mark Humphries
Alison Rodgers
During the year, the Trustees met regularly to review the 2024 Holiday Week and mid-year events and to plan for 2025 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, we planned and ran six Sunday “Lighthouse Live” events during the year. They were successful and well attended. It is our intention to continue running such events although we do recognize the financial cost of doing so.
Trustees are very excited about being able to hold another Lighthouse Summer activity week in 2025. Preparation has gone well.
## **Financial Review:**
Lighthouse Loudwater ’s finances were different this year.
Council grants were not applied for or received.
Nevertheless, income was very encouraging. We particularly benefited from a high level of parental, helper and supporter voluntary contributions. We so appreciate this and do not take it for granted especially as we continue to ensure that the events are free to access.
Total income in the year was £7,833 and expenditure was £9,645, resulting in a deficit for the year of £1812. This was manageable as our opening reserves were £2,076.
Spend was high as we launched and ran the new “Lighthouse Live” events. We also ran some great, but costly, activities at the annual activity week e.g. Go Karts.
A three year Gift Aid return is in process and will improve the financial position of the charity.
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 ongoing commitment to the success of Lighthouse Loudwater was a significant reason for another successful year for the charity.
We also benefit from the support of members of ChristChurch Flackwell Heath, the Community Church Wooburn Green and indeed other local churches.congregations.
Lastly, it would not have been possible to run the main Lighthouse week without the support and encouragement from our site hosts for 2024, Loudwater Primary School. They were great hosts and we will be returning there this summer.
Tim Andrews
Chair, Lighthouse Loudwater 16[th] July 2025
## **Lighthouse Loudwater** Charity Number 1197215 **Accounts for Year ended 30th September 2024**
|**Summary**
**Income**
Church Donations
Council Donations & Grants
Personal Donations
Shop, Refresh etc
Other
**Expenditure**
Shop, Tuck & Refreshments
T Shirts & Lanyards
Sports
Craft
Lighthouse Central Services & Admin
Other Admin
Mainstage
Additional Needs
Lunches
Activities (inc booklets)
Premises Donation
Lighthouse Live & Mid Year events
Insurance
Other (incl medical & lamplighters event)
**surplus**
**Bank Reconciliation**
Cashbook start of year
less payments
plus receipts
Total
Bank at end of year
payments accrued
receipts accrued
Total
control
**o/s payments**
LH Central
Mark's expenses
Premises Donation
Rodgers (Labelmaker)
Total
**o/s receipts**
Total|**Yr to 30/09/24**
4300.00
0.00
2476.20
1057.15
**7833.35**
787.36
1023.91
81.69
1187.13
1891.00
217.14
844.13
0.00
527.69
1382.92
350.00
926.57
136.03
290.00
**9645.57**
**-1812.22**
2076.37
-9645.57
7833.35
**264.15**
1733.28
1,469.13
-
**264.15**
0.00
-
1119.13
350.00
**1,469.13**
**0.00**|**Yr to 30/09/23**
3200.00
0.00
2203.00
966.32
**6369.32**
212.37
1163.97
0.00
899.97
1575.00
214.97
1050.00
60.00
346.79
787.89
500.00
93.94
174.29
12.80
**7091.99**
**-722.67**
2,799.04
7,091.99
-
6,369.32
**2,076.37**
4,179.07
2,102.70
-
**2,076.37**|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
|||1,275.00
787.71
39.99
**2,102.70**
-
-|