## **Thurrock Play Network** Charity number 296428 ## **Annual report to December 2023 Audited accounts to March 2022 – 2023** ## **Charity address:** The Pyramid Resource Centre Heath Road Grays RM16 4XH 01375387738 info@thurrockplaynetwork.co.uk ## **Accountant** Kim Hooper Chartered accountant 132, Admirals Towers 8 Dowells Street Greenwich SE10 9GE **Thurrock Play Network Annual Report 2023** **Pyramid Resource Centre Heath Road Grays RM16 4XH** ## **01375 387738** **info@thurrockplaynetwork.co.uk website: www.thurrockplaynetwork.co.uk Charity Number: 296428 Thurrock Play Network** Time flies! Covid and its impact on us seems such a long time ago. Recovery was initially slow, but the last few months have seen a massive serge forward in terms of what TPN is about and what we want to achieve as a community resource. In terms of our financial position, it has been worrying, as our grant from Thurrock Council, which represents half of our income, was in jeopardy. The fact that we have secured funding for 20232024, less 10% from last year, has been down to the persistence and support from Natalie Smith and Becky Lee, from the Council community engagement team, who argued our business case so successfully. We do know that there will be no core grant available for 24-25. With the cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone, we have not increased our membership fees, which have remained the same for the previous 3 years. We have seen a significant increase in our membership numbers from individuals, the voluntary and statutory sector, reaching out to over 9,000 children and adults. The staff and volunteers have worked extremely hard, sometimes juggling large donations with running workshops, supporting external events, serving customers and general house-keeping duties, as well as always planning ahead. Thank you to you all. Our volunteer base has never been so great, with dedicated volunteers of all ages, giving up so much of their time to help us either on site or working from home. They have a superb range of skills and talents. Without this support, we would not be able to survive. We value all of you. At last count we had 23 active volunteers on our books and others on the side lines, who step in when asked. Their enthusiasm in coming up with new ideas for activities or fund raising is invaluable. Additionally, we have several organisations and businesses that give in kind. Thank you to all of you. You make the place buzz!!! Our trustees, all volunteers, who oversee the general running of TPN, have used their various skills to ensure that all finances, HR, and overall management is monitored and that TPN remains sustainable. Sadly, one of our longest serving trustees passed away suddenly. Maggie was a founder member and was passionate about play and the local community. She will be sorely missed. We have supported several external events, either by personal attendance or by providing crafting packs. For the jubilee, in 2022, 600 packs were distributed out, all put together by our volunteers and staff, using scrap materials – plenty of queens and soldiers! With the coronation in 2023, packs, again were distributed. At Gray’s Town Park, last year, we provided craft activities and there must have been over 150 children making crowns and easter bunnies. Christmas craft packs were made for the libraries. There has been a regular timetable of events, from sewing, machine embroidery, candle making, wreath making, crochet to calligraphy, and many more, all run by volunteers and again mostly using donated / scrap materials. It has been great to also be able to run several activities for our children, which have gone down well. Play is important to all of us and affects us all. With the disastrous affect that the pandemic had on the mental well-being of communities, both young and old, we hope that we can offer activities and support, which will expediate recovery back to some sort of normality. Our key project is the scrap-store, which is sourced from donations from individuals and local businesses, which would otherwise find their way to landfill. Some of our quality donations come from further afield, with an amazing 5 big van loads of all sorts from the Lord of the Rings sets. IKEA, of course, continue to support us with regular van loads of donations. With careful monitoring of the tonnage that we have had donated this year, we are looking at over 26 tonnes over a 9-month period. With the pressure on us, with regards to climate change and saving the planet, we are all doing our bit by reducing the carbon footprint. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle becomes even more essential. Our donations range from a small bag to van loads! We have received several monetary donations, not only from individuals but other organisations. We try to keep our social media current, celebrating any donations and keeping up to date with news. Thank you. One man’s rubbish is another’s treasure. Some great partnerships have been developed over this last year, supporting community activities and other organisations, either with setting up or to those already established, who support specific groups. This has allowed us to extend our support to families and other individuals, who might not know about us or be able to access our resources. Providing activities for Young Carers, during the holidays was a pleasure and to know that some of our donations have ended up in Senegal to support young children out there! This year’s National Play Day theme was ‘Play on a shoestring’ and our activities were aimed to be run at zero cost. This event was run in conjunction with the Big Lunch, on 2[nd] August. After 3 years of not being able to celebrate National Play Day in the way that TPN have always done, despite the weather, there was a good turn-out, with several different organisations involved and co-ordinated through CVS and the Community team with a Lower Thames funding grant. Writing this report is difficult as there are so many people to thank and so much goodwill around, it is difficult to put this on paper, but with current support we are receiving, we can see a very healthy future. ## **Current staffing:** Lauren Strutt – Interim co-ordinator Tony Boughen – Driver – maintenance Fiona Flint - Retail support Faye Smith - Retail support Michelle Tucker - Retail support Denise Wakeling - Admin **Current trustees as of 31[st] December 2023** Sylvia Yates Chair Andrea Bull Vice Chair Andy Cole Secretary Paul Allchorne Aileen Burgess Pam Freestone Dave Henderson Margaret Henderson Teresa O’Keeffe Sara Muldowney - Councillor representative ## **Financial statement** The 22-23 audited accounts are attached. 19 bf £IMpJI I4￿ Qg'i.aol 6.N7 *4 £5è747 11747 &7W JiJX2J