Kidzone 20b Millvale Road, Bessbrook, Newry, Co. Down. BT35 7NH Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Directors Report for year ended 31 July 2023 The Directors who are the trustees for the purpose of charity law present their report and the unaudited financlal statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 July 2023. The financial statements have been prepared In accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies, regime and in accordance with FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland,. Please refer to page 4 in the Statement of Financial Position. Structure, Governance and Management Organised Structure The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association whlch established the objects and powers of the company and Is governed under Its Articles of Association. The members retire in accordance with the Articles of Association. Relevant motlon will be put at the Annual General Meeting. Directors The Directors who served during the year are as follows: Claire Mallon Tara McAleavey Tanya Murphy Joanna Quinn Aine Barry Gemma Blackadder DenSse Doyle Fiona McKevitt Tracy Dos Reis Risk Management The Directors have reviewed the risks faced by the charity and believe that maintaining the reserves at the required level to continue the charit¢s activities on a short-term basis, combined with the annual review of financial systems controls, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions.
Aims and Objectives The maln aim of Kidzone is to enhance the development and education of children aged 3 to 12 years of age in the Bessbrook, Newry and surroundlng areas, by providing play-based learning environments. Kidzone is open to all children without distinction of religion, culture, race or means. Kidzone is divided into Pre-school and Aftersthool provision as follows: Key aims of the playgroup- To enhance the development and education of pre-school children In a safe, caring and stimulating environment through: Improving learnlng outcomes developing relationships between stsff and parents / carers enhance parenvs confidence as they can be involved on the Board of Directors develop parenvs under5tsnding of play and child development Key aims of the afterschool- To enhance the development and education for school aged chlldren and Improve their personal and social care. We achieved this aim throughout the year by Provldlng care for the children in a safe, secure and stimulating environment Providing a variety of experiences and opportunitles available for all children Providing care to enable parents to return to work or training Giving opportunities for parents to build thelr confidence as they had the opportunity to become Involved on the Board of Directors Public Benefit Statement The Directors of Kidzone confirm that they have compiled wlth their duty under section 4(b) of The Charitles Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the charitable company in the year ended 31 July 2023
Achievements and Performance Kidzone Kidzone is registered with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and is inspected annually to ensure that hlgh quality care and education is provided for all children. We are in a purpose-built facility which meets the highest childcare standards, Trust regulations and Environmentsl Health standards. All necessary registrations are held and reviewed on a regular basis by the regulatory bodies to ensure the highest standards are malntained. Kidzone supports the cross-community requirements of the charity. Kidzone Playgroup We are a member of the 'Early Years Organisation for Young Children., Kidzone playgroup offers 48 places- 24 places in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Both sessions are inspected by SHscf on an annual basis. There were no recommendations from this report. The playgroup provides 24 places to chlldren aged 34 years In the mornlng pre-school session. The pre-school morning session places are funded by DENI through the PSEP program. We were inspected by The Educatlon and Trainlng Inspectorate on 19th April 2018 and the report concluded that the playgroup has a high level of capacity for sustained Improvement In the Interest of all the children. The pre-pre-school afternoon sesslon places are funded by the Pathway Fund. This helps to keeps the fees affordable for all families. The playgroup Implements the Highscope approach to early childhood care and education. This is a recognised standard with Early Years and Social Services. Hlghscope identifies and bullds on thildren's strengths, interests and abllities. The Highscope approach has been developed by research over many years and is used Internationally. The staff are all trained to level111 or above and have years of experience and expertise. We also provide the opportunlty for others to leam and become trained as childcare workers. Kidzone Afterschool aub The afterschool provldes quallty afterschool care for 24 children each day, aged from 4- 12 years. Throughout this year, we had 32 families who availed of the Afterschool. To ensure that we are continuing to provide a qualAty service we are Inspected by Social Services annually. The report this year was very positive with no recommendations or requirements. We also received feedback from parents and carers at three points throughout the year. This feedback was very posltive with all parenvs content wFth the quallty of care and development. Our servlce continues to be invaluable to local families and by providing this afterschool we are giving local children the opportunity to access a quality service that otheiSe they may not have access too. We have three staff members trained to level 5, one working towards achieving level 5 and all other staff members trained to level 3. We continue to promote equality of opportunities and welcoming to all regardless of special needs, special requlrements, rellglon, culture, race or means. We had children attending with special needs who had a one to one support. We also had children attending who had English as an additional language and children whose placement was supported by social servlces. Financial Review The charftvs total funds amounted to £216,906 at the period end 31 July 2023. The net incoming resources (loss) for the year end 31 July 2023 amounted to (£6,292)
Reserves Policy Kidzone Playgroup and Kidzone Afterschool Club both have separate reserves policies. Directors Responsibilities Dlrectors are responsible for preparing the financial ststements in accordance with applicable law and United Klngdom Accounting Standards (United Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Dlrertors to prepare financlal statements for each flnancial year whlch give a true and fair vlew of the state of the affairs of the charltable company and of the Incomlng resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these financlal statements the Dlrectors are requlred to: Select suitsble accountlng policles and apply them conslstently Observe the methods and princlples in the Charities SORP (FRS 102) Make Judgements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent State whether applicable UK Accountlng Standards have been followed, subjert to any material departures disclosed and explalned in the financlal ststements Prepare the finanaal statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charltsble company will contlnue In operation. The Directors are responslble for keeplng adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the tharitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charftable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Share Capital The Company Ss limited by guarantee, not having a share capital. Taxation status The company is recognised as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs. Accordingly, the company has availed of the exemptions contsined in Chapter 3rf>art 11 Corporation Taxes Act 2010 and section 256 Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. Small Companies Exemption The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provislons relating to small companies within Part 15 ofthe Companies Art 2006. The report was approved by the Directors of Kidzone on 19th November 2019 and signed on its behalf by: Fiona McKevltt (Treasurer) aalre Mallon (Chairperson)O.... LA .£LLI.I...-..-......-....-.-........................ Accepted as a charity bythe Charity Commission under reference NIC 100922 Registered in Northern Ireland No. 36068