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2024-12-31-accounts

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS CHARITY NUMBER 268289

REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Contents

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION..........................................................1 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.........................................................................2 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT...........................................................................5 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES......................................................................6 BALANCE SHEET.................................................................................................................7 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS....................................................................8

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

CHARITY NAME: The Federation of Children’s Book Groups The Federation of Children’s Book Groups
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 268289
TRUSTEES: Jane Etheridge Chair
Erin Hamilton Vice Chair
Anne Bradley National Secretary
Rebecca Brattle Treasurer (appointed 6/4/24)
Sarah Stuffins
Rosemary Pike
Diane Gaunt (resigned 6/4/2024)
Patricia Adams (resigned 6/4/2024)
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: Wakananai
Firs Road,
Mardy,
Abergavenny,
NP7 6NA
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Community Action Sutton,
Granfers Community Centre
73-79 Oakhill Road
Sutton
SM1 3AA
BANKERS: Lloyds Bank plc

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The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

For the year ending 31 December 2024

The Board presents the report and financial statements for The Federation of Children’s Book Groups for the year ended 31 December 2024. The statements appear in the format required by the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities (revised December 2005). The report and statements also comply with Companies Act 2006.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The organisation is a charity and its governing instrument is a Constitution, originally adopted on 2 October 1976.

Objectives and Activities

To educate children by encouraging them to read and appreciate books

In the interests of social welfare, to organise appropriate and enjoyable leisure time activities that broaden children’s experience of life and encourage children’s awareness of the world around them.

Public Benefit

The activities that we carry out are described above. These activities are undertaken to meet our objectives and aims and to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

In setting and reviewing our objectives and aims, and in planning and carrying out our activities, we have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Board carries out regular reviews of its skill sets and endeavours to recruit as required in order to forward the work of the charity

Risk Management

The organisation has mitigated its financial risk by adopting a reserves policy which is outlined below. Annual accounts and returns are filed with the Charity Commission. In-house financial mentoring is undertaken to ensure charity funds are being properly controlled and in accordance with its constitution objectives.

During the year the charity did not employ anyone and was managed and operated by the Trustees voluntarily.

2

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

Report of the BOARD OF Trustees (continued) For the year ending 31 December 2024

Organisation of the Charity

Membership of the Federation is open to any persons or group of persons operating as children's book group.

The Federation consists of

Achievements and performance

An in person conference was held in April 2024 at Woldingham School. The conference was deemed to be a success. A venue has been booked for 2025.

The Children’s Book Award ceremony was held in Birmingham and was live streamed. There is a significant amount of money in the deposit account which will be required to fund the Children’s Book Award until a new sponsor is found. The National Executive is investigating a number of possible sources of funding.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The results for the year end and financial position of the Charity are shown in the annexed statements.

The charity’s surplus is £5,932 (£294 deficit, 2023). This leaves final balances to carry forward of £83,871 of which £80,617 Unrestricted funds and £3,254 Restricted funds. (£77,939 Total funds, 2023). Since the Balance Sheet date no significant changes have taken place.

3

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

Report of the BOARD OF Trustees (continued) For the year ending 31 December 2024

RESERVES POLICY

The Charity’s Trustees aim is to have cash reserves to keep a minimum of three months operating costs, building to a maximum of six months when funds allow, though the nature of the charity’s funding dictates that this will be a slow process. The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually by the Trustee Board.

TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the financial activities of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period.

In preparing those Financial Statements the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS

A resolution proposing Community Action Sutton be appointed as Independent Examiners of the charity will be put to the Annual General Meeting.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

………………………………………… Ms Jane Etheridge (Chair)

………………………………………… Ms Rebecca Brattle (Treasurer)

………………………………………… Date

4

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 set out on pages 6-12 which have been prepared under the accounting policies set out on page 8.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an Independent Examination is needed

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for Independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent review

My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe, that in any material respect, the requirements have not been met:

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Name: Dunstanette Kuti FCCA MCSI

Position: Community Accountant Community Action Sutton Granfers Community Centre, 73-79 Oakhill Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3AA

Date:

5

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Note
Income:
Charitable Activities
Voluntary Income
Investment Income
Total Income
2
Expenditure:
Charitable Activities
Governance costs
Total Expenditure
3
Net Income / (Expenditure)
4
Transfers between funds
Total Funds brought forward
Total Funds carried
forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2024
Total Funds
2023
£
£
£
£
35,370
-
35,370
25,253
14,033
-
14,033
17,766
367
-
367
258
49,770
-
49,770
43,277
42,973
-
42,973
42,606
865
-
865
965
43,838
-
43,838
43,571
5,932
-
5,932
(294)
-
-
-
-
74,685
3,254
77,939
78,233
80,617
3,254
83,871
77,939

The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than those in the statement of financial activities. Therefore no statement of total recognised gains and losses has been prepared. All the above amounts relate to continuing activities.

The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these accounts.

6

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

THE FEDERATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK GROUPS

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

Note
FIXED ASSETS:
Tangible Assets
6
CURRENT ASSETS:
Stock
Debtors & Prepayments
7
Cash at bank and in hand
LIABILITIES:
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year
8
Deferred income
9
NET CURRENT ASSETS:
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
10		 164
1,200
88,474		 2024
£
6,900
76,971		 164
3,890
74,820		 2023
£
6,900
71,039
89,838 78,874
950
11,917		 1,425
6,410
12,867 7,835
83,871 77,939
80,617
3,254		 74,685
3,254
83,871 77,939

The financial statements were approved by the board on _____ and signed on its behalf by:

The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these accounts.

7

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the financial statements.

Basis of preparation of Accounts

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015), effective January 2015.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charitable objectives of FCBG.

Restricted funds are made up of grants received for the specific projects including salary payments and may only be applied for this purpose. Any changes to the agreed budgets must be agreed with the funders considered before being actioned.

Incoming Resources

All incoming resources are in included in the Statement of Financial Activities when FCBG has entitlement to in the income and there is a certainty of receipt and the amount is quantifiable. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts are included when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.

Interest receivable is included when receivable.

Resources Expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred.

Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such actives and those costs of an indirect nature to support them.

Governance costs include those costs associated with organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

8

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

2 INCOME

Charitable Activities
FCBG Conference
FCBG
Voluntary Income
FCBG
Subscriptions
Donations and Sponsorship
CBA
CBA contributions
Other income
Bank interest received
Total Income		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
2023
£
£
£
£
29,615
-
29,615
23,979
5,755
-
5,755
1,274
35,370
-
35,370
25,253
6,025
-
6,025
5,345
3,158
-
3,158
5,897
4,850
-
4,850
6,523
14,033
-
14,033
17,765
367
-
367
258
367
-
367
258
49,770
-
49,770
43,277

TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

9

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

3. EXPENDITURE:

Charitable Activities
FCBG
Exec Travel
Secretarial
Newsletter
NSSM
CBA
Conference
NNFN
Insurance
Sundries
Storage
Meetings/Room Rental
CDL Hotel Ltd -dispute
FCBG Conf
2024 Delegate refunds
2024 Sundries
2024 venue fees
2024 Speaker fees
2023 Speaker fees
2024 expenses
Governance costs
Independent Examiner's fee		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2024
Total
2023
£
£
£
£
2,850
-
2,850
2,302
186
-
186
81
1,320
-
1,320
1,320
-
-
-
59
11,860
-
11,860
11,020
83
-
83
-
-
-
-
260
325
-
325
325
681
-
681
1,540
1,248
-
1,248
1,152
156
-
156
144
-
-
-
2,083
315
-
315
400
50
-
50
-
17284.5
-
17,285
18,589
2625
-
2,625
3,200
100
-
100
132
3889.5
-
3,890
-
42,973
-
42,973
42,606
865
-
865
965
865
-
865
965
43,838
-
43,838
43,571

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

10

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

4. NET RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR

NET RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR
(a) This is stated after charging:
Independent Examiners Fee
(b) Donated goods in the year		 2024
2023
£
£
865
965
2024
2023
£
£
Nil
Nil

5. STAFF COSTS

Trustee and Employee information

Trustees

No remuneration or expenses were paid to any trustee during the year (2023: nil).

The aggregate amount of reimbursed traveling expenses made to the four trustees was £ nil (2023: nil).

6. FIXED ASSETS

Cost
At 31 December 2024 and 2023
Depreciation
At 31 December 2024 and 2023
Net Book Values
At 31 December 2024 and 2023
7. DEBTORS
Prepayments		 Trophies
Total
£
£
6,900
6,900
-
-
6,900
6,900
2024
2023
£
£
1,200
3,890
1,200
3,890

11

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups

Registered Charity number: 268289

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

8. CREDITORS – amounts falling due within one year

Accrued expenses
Accrued Independent Examiners Fees
TOTAL		 2024
2023
£
£
-
475
950
950
950
1,425

9. DEFERRED INCOME

2025 Delegates
2025 Publishers
0. TOTAL FUNDS
Restricted Funds
National Year of Reading Fund
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund		 At 31
Decembe
r 2023
Income
£
£
3,254
-		 2024
2023
£
£
10,902
5,405
1,015
1,005
11,917
6,410
Expenditur
e
Transfers
At 31
Decembe
r 2024
£
£
£
-
-
3,254
3,254
-
74,685
49,770		 -
-
3,254
(43,838)
-
80,617
77,939
49,770		 (43,838)
-
83,871

10. TOTAL FUNDS

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