Stepping Stones Pre-school Nursery
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2023
The trustees present theirAnnual Report for Stepping Stones Pre-school Nursery (also called Stepping
Stones Playgroupl.
Stepping Stones operate5 a pre-school nursery in North Belfast. It normally operates from St Gerard's
Community Centre, 722 Antrim Road, Belfast, but for the year ended 31 August 2023 (and subsequent
year) it has operated from the adjacent Park Lodge PS site, whilst building work is carried out close to
the Community Centre. The Nursery cater5 annually for 24 local children of pre-primary school age,
reduced in the year ended 31 August 2023 to 22 to reflect the space restrictions of the temporary
Space being used. The Nursery, stated benefits are:
the advoncement of education.. enhanced positive early learning experiences for children in
the "area of benefit", which develops both their learning and social skills,. improvement in
healthy living in the orea through ongoing health and hygiene initiatives in the Ploygroup,.
empowerment ofparents to participate in the Ploygroup which provides them with experience
that they cun use in other areas of community development.
The public element of the benefits have been stated as:
provided to the children (from the- oreo of benefit ) attending the Ploygroup, and their
fvmilies. As the Playgroup Serves different children/families over time, the wider local
community benefitsfrom having a local pre-school educational resource uvailoble to them. As
parents are empowered through their participation in the Playgroups, monogement
committee, the locol community benefitsfrom those parents using these skills/experiences in
otherfields/organisations.
The Trustees are confident that the stated/intended public benefit has continued during the year
ended 31 August 2023.. all available places (22 in this casel were filled, with the Management
Committee overseeing the Nursery through periodic management meeting5 and ongoing
communication. During the year the Nursery generated a modest surplus of £326 (the previou5 year
a deficit of £2,631): additional financial support received during the year was used to tackle the
financial implications of the temporary move (additional costs directly due to the move, further
additional staffing costs and the reduction in income arising from the restriction on our capacity from
24 to 22 children for the yearl. Otherwise, the Management Committee continued to tightly control
Costs, contributing to the current year's modest surplus.
These accounts, prepared using the accruals basis, have been filed with the Charity Commission for
Northern Ireland. In addition to income from Government funding for pre-school places the
Management Committee undertook a number of fundraising activities during the year, the proceeds
of which were used to buy new equipment for the Nursery.
The Trustees during the year were as follows:
David McKee (Chairperson)
Edwina Weiniger1Secretaryl
Peter Mcclean (Treasurer)
Ursula Quinn
Maeve Smith

Staff are encouraged to continue their development with appropriate training, supported by the
Nursery.
The new financial/school year, starting on 01 September 2023 saw the Nursery achieve full local
attendance once again lincreased from 22 to 23 to reflett a move to 3 larger temporary space in Park
Lodge PSI. The Management Committee have continued to monitor cost control, and engage with our
long term tenant about a likely return date to our permanent space. Based on the how the year is
developing, the Management Committee is confident that the 23124 year will once again see the
Nursery generate a modest surplus
Peter Mcclean, Treasurer, 14 March 2024