St Nicholas’ Primary School PTA
Annual Report September 2022August 2023
Charity NI100417
Minorca Place, Carrickfergus BT38 8AU Email: stnicholaspspta@gmail.com
Committee Members (elected November 2022 )
Caroline O’Kane, Chairperson
Noleen McCorry, Treasurer
Paul Rice, Secretary
Fundraising Support team during 2022 - 2023
Peter Barabas
Emma Brock
Gemma Lowry
Kerry O' Mahony
Christina Baker
Dolores Cuss
Orla Corey
Teacher Representative
Miss G Doherty / Mrs C Byrne
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2022 - 2023
Our purpose
Our purpose is to advance the education of pupils in the school by:
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developing effective relationships between staff, parents and others associated with the school; and
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engaging in activities or providing facilities which support the school and advance the education of the pupils.
As Chairperson of St. Nicholas' Primary School PTA, I sincerely thank everyone in our extended school community who has supported our fundraising activities during the year ended 31 August 2023. All current parents, guardians and staff are members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and are welcome to join the Committee as a volunteer and contribute to our planning meetings.
Financial performance
With recent years been impacted by social distancing measures, it was a very welcome return to normal fundraising events during the 2022-23 academic year. However, the ongoing cost of living crisis is impacting on how the PTA operates. Firstly, we are experiencing an increase in all costs for consumables and supplies for events. Discounts and donations that were offered in previous years are not as readily available. Secondly, we are increasingly aware of the financial strain that many families are experiencing and consider this when pricing events. The overall impact is that events are less profitable than in previous years. Therefore, it has become important that the PTA Committee seek new and alternative ways to raise funds, such as applying for grants, and sourcing donations for prizes and supplies.
Despite these difficulties, the income raised during the year was £5,306 (2002: £3,418), with expenditure of £5,261 (2022: £4,518), resulting in a net surplus of £45 (2022: deficit £1,100).
Fundraising events
During the first term the PTA Quiz Night was well attended, the first such event in three years. The PTA was also able to hold its Christmas Raffle again, always a significant fundraiser, with winners drawn after the Christmas shows.
For the first time in many years, the PTA organised a Christmas Fun Day in the school hall on a Saturday in December, including a free Santa’s grotto. There was no entrance fee charged, as the event was to promote the school community and welcome families back into the school. The event was well attended and deemed a success by those involved.
As a free treat for the children, the PTA provided each child with a pumpkin to decorate ahead of Halloween. Later in the year the PTA provided a BBQ at Sports Day, which is always popular, although sales are somewhat weather dependent. There was also a small raffle for those attending the Awards Day in June, the first since the pandemic.
The final event was as part of the Summer Garden Party, where the PTA again ran a BBQ, sold preloved books and toys and organised some fundraising games.
Other fundraising
The PTA received £1,000 from the M&S Community Fund following a successful application to support the new interactive whiteboard.
The PTA is proud to offer preloved uniform which generates income through voluntary donations. The Cash for Clobber Eco Schools initiative continues with funds raised on donated clothing and textiles.
Easyfundraising continues to contribute small amounts routinely through members’ on line purchases. The PTA encourages all parents to register and support this initiative. Amazon Smile, a similar scheme ceased its commission for charities during the year.
Supporting our school
The PTA Committee discusses expenditure requests at its meetings with votes taken as required, but the ultimate responsibility for how funds are spent rests with the elected charity trustees. We always aim to get the best value for money, whether purchasing educational resources or consumables for our events.
This year the school had one main priority for fundraising, to replace a broken interactive whiteboard. The PTA provided dictionaries and class novels as requested by the KS2 teaching staff. Following a donation of a buddy bench from the local Mens Shed, the PTA bought three more for the KS1 playground. The PTA also purchased the sports day medals, awards day plaques for the children and supported key events during the school year.
All of these fundraising activities only take place because there is a team of parent volunteers who donate their time and energy to making them a success, so thank you to everyone who has helped in any way. I also wish to thank the staff of St Nicholas Primary School for their support, helping with setting up events, issuing our communications and promoting the PTA in newsletters and social media.
Finally, as outgoing Chairperson, I wish the new committee members continued success in their fundraising efforts for St. Nicholas Primary School.
Caroline O'Kane October 2023
St Nicholas’ Primary School PTA
Treasurer’s Annual Report 2022-2023
The Treasurer and Committee members of St Nicholas PS PTA are pleased to submit their annual report and accounts for the year 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023.
Income
During the year the PTA engaged in new fundraising activities (detailed in the Chairpersons Report and the Financial Statement) including the Christmas Fair / Fun Day, and reinstated activities that were dropped during the pandemic including the quiz and Christmas raffle. Activities that generated the most profit this year were: raffles (profit £1483); M&S Charity Fund award (£1000); garden party activities (£545.54) and Christmas Fun Day / Fair activities (£272.71). As a result, total income generated for the year 2022-23 was £5306 , representing another increase on previous years when income was £3418 (2021-2022) and £3083 (2020-21).
Expenditure
During the year the PTA made significant contributions (detailed in Chairpersons Report and Financial Statement) towards school resources /initiatives including the purchase of an interactive whiteboard (£2350), books (£492), and Sports / Awards Day medals (£324), as well as a drama taster session, Halloween pumpkins, Easter egg prizes, digital pantomime, and catering for school events. Other regular / annual costs include Parentkind membership (£140) and bank fees (£136). We also invested in a gazebo (£170) that will allow the PTA to operate a BBQ / tuckshop / other activities at school events in any weather!
Expenditure for the year was £5261 , representing an increase on the previous year (£4518, 2021-21). Surplus for the year was £45.
Balance for the year ended 31[st] August 2023 was £4353.
Noleen McCorry
November 2023