## **CARLISLE HALL PLAYGROUP** 

## **CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: NIC100137** 

## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 

FOR THE PERIOD 1[ST] JANUARY 2022 – 31[ST] DECEMBER 2022 

Carlisle Hall Pre-School Playgroup (Carlisle Hall Playgroup) is based at Carlisle Hall, Downshire Presbyterian Church, Victoria Road, Carrickfergus.   Governed by our Constitution, we are community based and self-funding with a parent Management Committee who are the Trustees of the Charity.  The Trustees during this reporting period are: 

Lauren Rea; Lesley Burnside; Teresa Conner; Lucy Dougan; Louise Craig; Kathryn-WilsonStewart; Lauren Keith; Cathy Black. 

Part way through this year the committee changed, with additional members coming on including Janis Burnside, Claire Gilmore and Lauren Gray. 

Throughout the year the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provided a benefit to the beneficiaries. 

The Charity’s purpose is to provide a safe and satisfying way of learning through play for 3–5year-old pre-school children in the area (the beneficiaries), without regard to the religious affiliation or other beliefs of the families concerned. 

The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the preparation of each child for Nursery / Primary Education through mastering the basic skills of expression, communication, problem solving and the ability to relate to other children and adults. 

These benefits are evidenced through feedback provided to the parents by the Leader for each child throughout the year.  An annual inspection is carried out by the Social Services Trust which requests feedback from parents and this forms part of the report. 

A private benefit to Trustees may arise occasionally through attendance at training for management committees, including finance.  Through this training Trustees may gain skills and experience which are transferable to other settings.  These benefits are incidental and necessary to the provision of the benefit to our beneficiaries. 

Throughout the year at each session, the playgroup provided activities through which the children can learn through play: tabletop and floor toys; painting, art & craft; water play; play 



dough; physical play (e.g. climbing, trikes); house corner (role play); books and storytelling; music, song and rhymes. These activities improve each child's abilities over the course of the year - hand/eye co-ordination, talking, listening, concentration, muscle development, agility and strength.  This year a focus was also put on introducing the children to topics including weather, seasons and starting to recognise their own names. 

In addition to this the children enjoyed several special events, including a Christmas play and a visit from Wee Critters – allowing the children to learn more about the interesting animals. 

The management committee holds several fund-raising activities throughout the year to support the finances required to keep the Playgroup running smoothly and to ensure sufficient funds are in place for the upkeep and replacement of equipment.  The children enjoyed a number of fun activities that also served as fundraising events, including a sponsored trike ride, a sponsored band march and a bake sale, as part of the nativity.  Other fundraising events included a fun fair for the whole community. 

We continue to focus on updating and enhancing the playgroup as per the annual inspection guideline and this year have included more information boards and ensured the playgroup is sectioned according to activities.  We will continue to monitor the wear on toys and books and will replace as necessary.  This has all been taken into account with our financial planning. 

The Trustees are grateful to all the parents for their support and help throughout the year and to several local businesses that helped our fundraising efforts through sponsorship. 

Lauren Gray 

Chair