Worcester Play Council
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023
Registered Charity Number 702616
Worcester Play Council
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31[st] March 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The Charity is governed by a constitution adopted on 16[th] November 1989 and amended on 21[st] December 2002. Charitable statues was first registered on 2[nd] March 1990.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Committee of Management
The Management Committee is elected annually for a period of one year but may be re-elected. The Committee can have up to 12 ordinary members. The City Council representatives are appointed annually by the City Council. The Chairperson is only allowed to remain in office for 3 years but can be re-elected.
Related Parties
The Charity is guided by both local and national policy in so far as it follows the Charity’s objectives. Worcester City Council has a high degree of influence on the Charity in ensuring that policies, as defined the Charity’s objectives, are properly pursued.
Objectives
The object of the Charity is to provide facilities for recreation or leisure time occupations for persons under the age of 16 years who are resident in the City of Worcester. Such facilities being that which the beneficiaries have need by reason of their youth, social or economic circumstances and which will improve the conditions of life of the beneficiaries by promoting their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Chairs Report
This year proved to be an interesting one, providing challenges and raising questions for the Board and supporters of Worcester Play Council. At the beginning of the year the City Councillor representative negotiated a £15,000 grant from the City Council, which enabled us to work with Perdiswell Young People’s Leisure Club to provide administrative and play organisation services. With this support we were able to look ahead and plan a programme of play and to continue to raise funds for these activities. Programmes of play sessions were organised for Easter and half term holidays. The sessions held in the areas of highest need were poorly attended, in comparison with other areas of the city and this was of concern to the board members. It was discussed, but the board felt that we had made similar efforts in all areas to advertise these events. It was felt that we should continue to offer free play sessions in all areas, but that we would try to use different venues within these areas. In the summer we held our usual programme of play sessions around the city and for the first time provided food, through the Holiday Activity and Food scheme. The National Play Day was celebrated by a free event at Perdiswell, where it was estimated that up to 3,000 people may have attended. In addition, the Summer Fun Squad sessions were attended by 400 children, with food being provided.
During the year a survey of younger children’s views and wishes concerning play was conducted by Board Member Nikki Stobbs, to whom we are most grateful. This
conclusively indicated that children want more adventurous physical play. This has remained a topic high on the agenda of discussions in our meetings.
In addition to a need for more adventurous child-led play, the board also started to consider the play and leisure needs of older children. As the year ended these issues were being actively considered by the board and will remain on its agenda in the future.
Public Benefit
In planning our activities for the year, the trustees kept in mind the Charities Commission guidance on public benefit. The focus on our activities remains supporting play facilities, the expansion of resources, and the provision of support and information to facilitate quality play across the City. This is with the intention of providing children and young people with a playful way of improving their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Financial Review
The Charity continues to be dependent upon grants and donations with no guaranteed income stream and this has been identified as a major risk area for the Charities continued existence.
Core Reserves Policy
The Management committee aim to accumulate sufficient restricted reserves to cover normal operating expenses for six months should funding cease. It is, however, anticipated that this reserve will be depleted on occasions such that shorter period of expenses would be covered.
Use of core reserves: -
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To support funds, grants until expected monies are actually cleared.
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To cover unexpected costs on a one-off basis.
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To cover years of low funding, with expectations of replacing in the future financial years.
All decisions regarding the use of the core fund will be made by the finance committee with a minimum attendance of 3 people and a majority decision.
Trustees’ responsibilities in evaluation to the financial statements.
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts Reports Regulations 2008) and the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking responsible steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees on: 20[th] October 2023
Heater Giannasi – Chairperson
Elected Trustees:
Chair: Heather Giannasi Vice Chair: Christine Cawthorne Secretary: Paul Edwards Treasure: Phil Weston OBE Officers: Sarah Walton Michelle Buckland
Worcester Play Council
Statement of Financial Activities For the Year to 31[st] March 2023
Incoming resources from generated funds
| Grants and Donations | |
|---|---|
| Worcester City Council | 15,000 |
| Eveson Trust | 4,000 |
| Worcester City Council Small Grants | 2,000 |
| Worcester City Council Covid Recovery | 4,912 |
| Worcester County Council Divisional Grants | 1,000 |
| Platform Housing | 1,000 |
| Groundworks (Tesco Community Grant) | 1,000 |
| Total | 28,912 |
| Cost of Generating Funds | |
| Play Development Support | 11,000 |
| Fun Squads | 8,190 |
| Play Day | 3,933 |
| Insurance | 993 |
| Materials | 735 |
| Food | 600 |
| Transport | 511 |
| Equipment | 322 |
| Admin | 260 |
| Total | 26,544 |
Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2023
| 2021/22 £ 11,531 |
Assets 2022/23 £ CURRENT ASSETS Bank Accounts Unity Trust Bank 13,899 |
|---|---|