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2025-03-31-accounts

Charlton Toy Library

AGM report

1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025

Registered Charity Number: 285099

Langhorne Creche, Langhorne House, Springfield Grove, Charlton SE7 7TL Telephone: 07701 220373 • Website: www.charltontoylibrary.org.uk Email: info@charltontoylibrary.org.uk

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

AIMS:

To promote the principle that play does matter for the developing child.

OBJECTIVES:

We aim to improve the current quality of life and future life chances of local children by providing a much-needed childcentred support service to families in our main premises at Langhorne House and through our outreach service HomeStart and other child-centred groups as well as other hard-to-reach families referred by Health Visitors and other health professionals. We also offer a low-cost toy/book/games and child safety equipment loan scheme.

Many of the children we support through our Outreach Service live in families experiencing poverty and disadvantage, some have suffered domestic violence and many feel isolated. This has a huge negative impact on the children's well-being and development. Our intervention at an early formative stage in their development aims to break the cycle of deprivation by improving their literacy, numeracy, creative & social skills, thus improving their school careers and their future life chances and contributing to stronger, more cohesive communities.

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

2

WHO WE ARE

Charlton Toy Library is a registered charity offering an inter-linked support service for the under 5s community in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. We operate a toy, book and safety equipment loan scheme and a stay and play service in our main base along with a much-needed Outreach service to support disadvantaged families and children in desperate need.

Charlton Toy Library is a registered charity, governed by a constitution adopted 10th February 1982. It is run by members of a voluntary Management Committee (who are also the charity trustees), staff (a Toy Library Co-ordinator and an Outreach Worker) and volunteers, all helping to run play & borrowing sessions and giving help, support and advice to families.

All the money received from membership, loan fees and fundraising events is spent on toys and Toy Library running costs. We have an Equal Opportunities policy and aim to provide a good selection of multi-cultural and non-sexist toys and books along with impartial advice and support.

“CTL is a fantastic facility, congratulations on running such a great resource for children and parents."

“I love this place SO much! Coming now with my third child, so it feels like a second home. A favourite place for all my girls. Thank you so much for everything. I was so pleased once you opened again after lockdown. Also, LOVE the singing sessions. Thank you!”

CTL is such a great place for our babies to play, for us parents to make new friends, a fantastic way to get toys and baby equipment without spending a lot of money and, at the same time, help the environment by reusing them. Thank you for the amazing work you do!

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

3

CHAIR’S REPORT BY JOHN STEPHENS

I am now coming to the end of my fourth year as Chair of Trustees. It’s fair to say that the twelve months to 31[st] March 2025 have certainly been the most eventful so far!

This was the year that Charlton Toy Library, after 42 years in Charlton House, found itself potentially without a home. By early 2024 Greenwich Heritage Trust, which manages Charlton House, faced an unsustainable funding gap for essential repairs and refurbishment. As a result, the Trust decided it needed a tenant able to pay commercial rent, and we received notice to leave in July 2024.

It’s safe to say the period from September 2024 to our reopening at Langhorne House in January 2026 was challenging for everyone involved. I would like to pay particular tribute to our two team members, Vicky Thomas and Sharon Jay, for their hard work and resilience. Without their willingness to go the extra mile to overcome a host of practical challenges and difficulties we would not now be successfully operating at Langhorne House and could not have created such an inviting new space for young children and their families.

We are also grateful to Janet Denne and the Charlton House team, as well as the trustees at Greenwich Heritage Trust, for their support in helping to make the move viable. Charlton House kindly provided £2,000 to help cover additional costs associated with the relocation, for which we’re very thankful.

My thanks also goes to Victoria Sandell, Events & Culture Manager at The Royal Borough of Greenwich, for her help during the negotiations, and to Cllr. Lakshan Saldin and Cllr. Jo Van Den Broek for their help liaising with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Charlton Triangle Homes (now Peabody), enabling us to make the move to Langhorne House.

Moving has brought some unexpected positives, too. Through the efforts of Vicky and Sharon, we reduced our toy stock – built up over many years - to a well-curated, more manageable collection with a full inventory. At the same time, and thanks to our treasurer and finance officer Janine Khoshnevisan, we upgraded our IT hardware and are in the process of moving more securely to cloud-based storage.

With respect to the charity’s finances, our running costs have reduced during 2024-25, largely due to no longer paying rent and utilities at our new premises. However, like many small charities, our financial position remains precarious. The move to Langhorne House placed significant operational pressure on our small team of trustees, who had to prioritise the complex and time-sensitive demands of relocating the charity over other important activities, including fundraising. CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY AGM report 2024-2025

4

CHAIR’S REPORT BY JOHN STEPHENS

We are enormously grateful that BBC Children in Need has backed our Outreach programme for an incredible 13 years and has confirmed support of around £18,000 a year until 31 October 2026. Children in Need is now limiting grants to nine-year periods for all charities, so this funding will end at that point.

As a result of these aspects, securing replacement funding and building new income streams for 2025-26 is our top priority.

Reach and impact

Overall, in 2024-25 we were proud to support 245 children in 180 families. Almost a quarter (24%) of these families accessed our services completely free of charge and a further 19% paid a concessionary rate, while 12% were lone-parent households. In the current cost-of-living crisis, support for less-well-off families remains a key priority for the charity. Around 25% of the families we serve are from the global majority, and we will keep working to ensure our membership truly reflects the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of Greenwich.

The Outreach service is there for families who are experiencing disadvantage and face barriers to visiting the Toy Library in person. During the last year, 69 children in 43 families received direct support through home visits or telephone calls. Outreach offers far more than toys, sensory equipment, books, safety equipment, clothes, shoes, cots, beds, prams and buggies. Just as important, it provides a friendly face and listening ear from our Outreach worker, Sharon Jay. Sharon’s compassion and determination often see her going well beyond the call of duty to make sure vulnerable families’ basic needs are met. On behalf of those families, and all the trustees, I would like to say a huge thank you to Sharon for everything she does.

Since reopening at Langhorne House, we have resumed our core faceto-face offer, including toy and equipment loans plus lively, interactive Stay & Play sessions for members every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with an extra Saturday session once a month.Vicky and Sharon have transformed the new space into a warm, engaging environment for our members. Although we understandably saw a reduction in attendance at face-to-face sessions since the move, we are already welcoming new faces and look forward to seeing our numbers grow further from September.

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

5

CHAIR’S REPORT BY JOHN STEPHENS

Thank you

This brings me to the vital role played by our volunteers - without whom our weekday sessions, Saturday mornings, and community events simply could not happen. On behalf of all trustees, I’d like to offer heartfelt thanks to our dedicated and generous volunteers for everything you doOur current volunteer team includes:

June Shand, Jen Stanley, Julie Pepperrell, Julie Cullen, Sophie Durcan, Susan Weinwright, Nikeisha Nilmaraj, Emma Foord-Divers, Simina Ghent, Wendy Wen.

The day-to-day running of our Toy Library – whether that’s toy loans, Stay & Play sessions, community events, or the many administration tasks that keep us going – is brilliantly led by our indefatigable Co-ordinator, Vicky Thomas. Vicky’s passion, creativity and calm determination underpin so much of what we do. On behalf of the trustee board, a huge thank you to Vicky for all her tireless work and for always going above and beyond.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our trustee group, who have worked hard to help us steer the Toy Library through an incredibly challenging year. We have operated with a smaller group than ideal, comprising myself, Cat Farnsworth, Emily Wallace, Janine Khoshnevisan, Kate Hall and Jo Rollings. It’s only because of the commitment and hard work of this group that we are where we are today. Jo stepped down from her role at Easter, and I’d like to thank her for her contribution and dedication during her time as a trustee.

We have been actively recruiting and are delighted to welcome Suzie Mackenzie and Bren Albiston to the trustee group. We expect to be joined by at least two more trustees later this year, strengthening our team as we look ahead.

Finally, on behalf of all the trustees, staff, and volunteers, I wish all our members a safe, enjoyable, and relaxing summer. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in Charlton Toy Library – we truly couldn’t do it without you. We look forward to welcoming you back in September.

John Stephens Chair of Trustees 1st July 2025

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

6

CHAIR’S REPORT BY JOHN STEPHENS (cont.)

Membership Statistics 1[st] April 2024 - 31[st] March 2025

Families using our main services & outreach service combined: 180 families Total number of children helped: 245 children and 203 adults

Outreach families supported (free of charge): 43 families Outreach children helped: 69 children

Families supported free of charge: 43 families (24%) Families paying concessionary rate: 42 families (19%)

Families from global majority backgrounds: 45 families (25%) New families: 122 families Lone parent families: 22 families Grandparent members: 19 Childminders: 2

Families in the SE7 area: 69 families Families in the SE18 area: 42 families

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

7

OUTREACH PROJECT REPORT by Sharon Jay

Our Outreach service is in its 12th year of funding from BBC Children in Need and we have successfully secured a grant to keep this much-needed support for struggling local families going until September 2026. In 2024-25 I worked with 43 families and their 69 children. This accounts for 24% of our entire membership.

​Referral for our services continue to come from many local organisations such as Home Start, Family Engagement Support Workers from Children’s Centres, Health Visitors, Social Workers, The Pre-birth Assessment Team, Best Beginnings Midwives Team, Early Years Quaggy Development Trust, and others too. Some families hear about our services and refer themselves directly to us.

​I continued to support families in their home. The children supported had many and varied struggles to deal with, such as families with low incomes, disabilities, families experiencing domestic abuse and families with no recourse to public funds of any kind. Our aim was to give these children some sense of a “normal” childhood… to just be kids… playing and having fun.

On my first visit to homes, I assessed what help was needed. I began by helping to improve the physical wellbeing of children by providing, completely free of charge, essential clothing, beds, prams, baby equipment, child home safety equipment and much more.

Once the safety and physical comfort of the children had improved, I then supplied the toys, books and games that families could not afford. These items kept the children constructively occupied. They learnt to play happily within the home, with their parents and with their siblings, improving behaviour and family dynamics. The books and play equipment stimulated their curiosity and improved their learning & development.​

​I worked with parents and carers, helping them to understand the importance of play in their children’s development. These measures together helped children develop and learn, making them better ready for school when the time comes.​

In January 2024, we started a new collaboration with The Bridge and MumsAid, supporting families with children with complex medical conditions or disabilities. I supported these families within the home and CTL stay and play sessions. We have a wide range of Sensory toys and equipment to help children within their play.

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

8

OUTREACH PROJECT REPORT by Sharon Jay

So that you can appreciate all the work carried out please consider the following achievements. The figures are slightly lower than usual, due to being closed for two months for our relocation.

We also helped families with whatever was needed to relieve some of the struggles and disadvantage in their lives such as housing problems and emotional and practical support.

When needed we linked with other organisations to extend the range of help.​ ​There has been an increase in the number of outreach families that have visited our stay-and-play sessions and enjoyed the singing and sensory activities. They have socialised with other families and reduced their sense of isolation. I hope to see more and more coming into our stay and play sessions in the near future.​

I would like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to Vicky for being there to support and help whenever it has been needed, it means so much to have such an amazing friend and work colleague.

Thank you to all the volunteers who take the time to make outreach happen, their dedication in helping in every possible way, you are all truly amazing.

Sharon Jay Outreach worker

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

9

TOY LIBRARY CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT by Vicky Thomas

I have had the honour to be the CTL Coordindator for almost 7 years now. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our lovely members, our wonderful team of dedicated volunteers, our Trustees and our amazing Outreach Worker Sharon.

From 1st April 2024 until 31st March 2025, we organised several successful events:

I would like to say a massive thank you to our wonderful volunteers Sophie, Julie P, Julie C, June, Jen, Susan, Emma, Wendy, Simina and her daughter Angelina, Jack and Garry, as well as our Trustees who always offer their help and support. I am really looking forward to welcoming our members in the next few months!

Vicky Thomas, CTL Coordinator

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

10

TREASURER’S REPORT BY Janine Khoshnevisan

We finished the financial year 2024-2025 with a deficit of £11,075, represented by -£11,094 in restricted funding and £19 in unrestricted funds. This deficit is due to the funding granted in 2023-24 but carried over and spent in 2024-25: £10,000 from Awards For All and £1,430 from The Leathersellers.

As the Toy Library had to close for two months to relocate to new premises, internally raised income was lower in 2024-25, but this was minimised to just £1,000 lower. The relocation was a huge task and took up much trustee time and energy that ideally should have been spent on making funding applications. This has left us in with a funding shortfall for 2025-26. This is a pressing focus. Now that we are settled in our new home the management committee is concentrating on diversifying income and finding new funding sources to secure the long-term future of the Toy Library.

Due to our very low membership and toy loan fees, and to the fact that our Outreach Service is always provided completely free-of-charge, the Toy Library needs outside funding to provide our much-needed services. We are very thankful to be in our 12[th] year of funding from BBC Children in Need, who cover much of the costs of our Outreach Service. We received a grant from the Mighty Acorns project to work with children with complex medical needs, and we were very pleased to receive a grant from the Barratt Foundation. Thank you to all these organisations without whose help we could not offer the range of services that we do.

A huge “thank you” goes to Charlton Triangle Homes who kindly gave us our first new home in 42 years. The immense support that they have given us is invaluable in helping us to support disadvantaged families in our community. We would also like to thank the Atlas Business Group who continue to provide our internet services for free and even switched these services to our new premises without charge.

The funds that we raise are never enough to run the entire Toy Library and for this reason we would also like to thank all those who help keep us going. Thank you to all our volunteers who help at sessions and events. Thank you to the local community for your continued support with both physical and financial donations. And thank you to all those organisations who help us too. Added together, your support and time helps to improve the lives of so many children and families across the borough. We could not do it without you.

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

11

TREASURER’S REPORT BY JANINE KHOSHNEVISAN

These accounts have been successfully examined and accepted by our Independent Examiner, Caroline Sharp (FCA, DChA).

Janine Khoshnevisan

CTL Treasurer and Trustee

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY INCOME RESERVES POLICY

Unrestricted funds are needed:

1) to provide funds which can be designated to specific projects to enable these projects to be undertaken at short notice and

2) to cover administration, fund-raising and support costs without which the charity could not function.

The trustees consider it prudent that unrestricted reserves should be sufficient:

a) to avoid the necessity of releasing fixed assets held for the charity’s use;

b) to cover 6 month’s administration, fund-raising and support costs (currently approximately £20,000)

c) to provide a pool equal to 10% of the average charitable expenditure over the preceding 2 years from which funds can be designated to specific projects (currently approximately £9,400).

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

12

INCOME-EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 2024-2025 CHARLTON TOY LIBWtY a E¥p¢nditur¢ A¢¢Mt 2024-2025 Restricted Lknrestricted B8C Children In N¢e4 1è,810 20 9.573 &t Ltl Aligthfy A£orrts Pr¢J¢¢t Th• 8arrat Foundaib 4.535nO zooéot 1.500 A I •yol 8refiwich Hvitty¢ F•uhd4li•n 2.9))( Liti. 570 Fundrniii 1.577 1.292 Ilembership ltts Yoy l¢or. ftel Salety equipm¢nl loon f¢ 1,402 3.319 006 88 lopo onatior 1.808 ￿￿1c 6roup afflk ir.t¢r¢st 283 191 503 21.145.20 10.617 $1762.41 S1.V2 Aeslricted iMrestrScted T•tsl Advertiliry/promotioMI Child Sof¢ty Ewiprn¢nt ise 927 052 è52 5llS 3zJ Joi Fundniising ¢P¢PSIS 295 295 52 3.731 3.OJ8 6,789 Ir4uranc¢ 35 S+affiw cos5 Outr¢a£h 25.304 31.419 Z0434 TIO 710 975 Tvys buoks videos etc 79 79 Tmvel 249 VoluDtur4xpe•us Workshops. vAtsi< d cThifts 32.239 iO.J98 42.857 -11.D94 19 -11.075 CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY AGM report 2024-2025 13

INCOME-EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 2024-2025 sHEr As AT 31 IAAAC 2025 Restn'cted Unrestricted Currnnt Account 5.458 5.905 20.306 20,300 ash im hond Ic 4 unpremnted itsrns -308 484 391 25.556 25.947 AB>RESENTED BV. Bab2r£e blfwd. 1023-2024 Net r¢celpts for 202¥2025 11.485 25.537 37.022 -11.094 19 -11,opJ 391 25.550 25.947 SHEEf As AT 31 IAARLTrI Restricted ￿eStrICted 13.Y2 5.596 Current Acc*JUnt 19.138 Business 20KI83 20.083 Cash in hand Ic 4 unpres¢nt¢d it¢rni -2.057 -242 -2.299 11.485 25.537 37.022 APRESENTED By. Balonce blf4Td. 2022-2023 .237 20.411 35,648 1,374 Not rtceipts for 2023-2024 2.248 -874 11.485 25.537 37.022 CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY AGM report 2024-2025 14

ACHIEVEMENTS 2024-2025

We have:

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

15

ACHIEVEMENTS (continued) 2024-2025

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

16

Our plans for 2025-2026 are:

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

17

COMMITTEE MEMBERS, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS as at 31[st] March 2025

The Management Committee

John Stephens, Chair Janine Khoshnevisan, Treasurer Jo Rollings, Committee Member (until Easter 2025) Kate Hall, Committee Member Patricia Santome, Committee Member (until July 2024) Cat Farnsworth, Committee Member

Trustees and Officers are elected and appointed at the AGM by nomination method or co-opted by the Management Committee at a monthly meeting.

Staff

Sharon Jay, Outreach Worker Vicky Thomas, Toy Library Co-ordinator

Volunteers & Fundraisers

Sophie Durcan, Susan Wainwright, Julie Pepperrell, Julie Cullen, June Shand, Jen Stanley, Wendy Wen, Simi and Angelina Ghent, Emma Foord-Divers, Garry Jay, Jack Wheeler and all our Trustees

And to everyone else who has helped on a more informal basis... thank you!

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

18

FUNDRAISERS & SUPPORTERS 2024-2025

As always there are a huge number of people and organisations to thank for their support.

Thank you to all our funders and supporters:

Peabody Housing Association Triangle Homes Charlton BBC Children in Need Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust Charlton House The Royal Borough of Greenwich Awards For All The Barrat Foundation The Leathersellers Fire Action Ltd HeadStart IT Atlas Business Group Woolwich and Plumstead Relief in Sickness Fund Mama2Mama Greenwich Midwifery Team Greenwich Social Workers Greenwich Supports Team Home-Start Greenwich London Property Licensing

Thanks also to our Independent Examiner, Ms Caroline Sharp (FCA, DChA)

Finally, our thanks (and apologies!) to anyone else who has helped us this year and who we may have momentarily forgotten to mention!

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024--2025

19

Signature

I declare, in my capacity as Chair of the Management Committee, that:

• the Management Committee has approved the report above; and

• have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.

Signature Full name Position Position Date Position

CHARLTON TOY LIBRARY

AGM report 2024-2025

20

Charlton Toy Library

Receipts and payments

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Receipts
Donations
Gift Aid
Fundraising
Bank interest
BBC Children in Need
Mighty Acorns Project
Leathersellers
The Barrat Foundation
Greenwich Supports
Magic Little Grants
Membership fees
Music Group
Toy loan fees
Safety equipment loans
Session sales
Total receipts
Payments
Advertising/promotional
Child safety equipment
Equipment
Fundraising costs
General running costs
Insurance
Management costs
Staffing costs
Outreach welfare
Volunteer expenses
Toys, books, videos etc
Travel
Total expenditure
Reconciliation of funds
Cash funds brought forward
Cash funds carried forward
National Lottery CCLF
Royal Greenwich Heritage
Foundation
Net receipts for the year
From charitable activities
From donations
Awards for All		 £
1,808
503
1,576
283
-
-
-
-
-
2,000
1,500
-
-
1,462
91
966
88
340
10,617
-
-
325
295
3,058
-
35
6,115
710
-
-
60
10,598
19
25,537
25,556
Unrestricted		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
16,810
-
4,335
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
21,145
158
652
555
-
3,847
1,571
-
25,188
-
-
79
189
32,239
(11,094)
11,485
391		 2025
Total
Unrestricted
£
£
1,808
1,649
503
148
1,576
1,292
283
293
16,810
-
-
5,468
-
-
4,335
-
-
-
2,000
-
1,500
-
-
-
-
-
1,462
2,329
91
-
966
1,208
88
98
340
1,096
31,762
13,581
158
380
652
-
880
-
295
52
6,905
3,244
1,571
1,561
35
35
31,303
8,137
710
954
-
92
79
-
249
-
42,837
14,455
(11,075)
(874)
37,022
26,411
25,947
25,537		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
-
9,573
15,199
10,000
-
2,500
-
-
570
500
-
-
-
-
-
38,342
547
1,195
302
-
11,168
-
-
20,297
21
33
2,242
289
36,094
2,248
9,237
11,485		 2024
Total
£
1,649
148
1,292
293
9,573
20,667
10,000
-
2,500
-
-
570
500
2,329
-
1,208
98
1,096
51,923
927
1,195
302
52
14,412
1,561
35
28,434
975
125
2,242
289
50,549
1,374
35,648
37,022

1

Charlton Toy Library

Statement of assets and liabilities

As at 31 March 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cash funds
Current account 5,090 391 5,481 5,354 11,485 16,839
Business reserve 20,366 - 20,366 20,083 - 20,083
Cash in hand 100 - 100 100 - 100
Total cash funds 25,556 391 25,947 25,537 11,485 37,022
Funds
Restricted funds
Awards for All - 10,000
BBC Children in Need 391 968
Leathersellers - 1,431
-
Mighty Acorns (914)
Unrestricted funds
General funds 25,556 26,411
Total charity funds 25,947 37,896
----- End of picture text -----

Approved by the trustees and signed on August 2025 on their behalf by

Mrs Janine Khoshnevisan (Treasurer)

2

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