Little Acorns Playgroup Trustees Annual Report
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Company No.
Charity No. NI101552
Principal Office
20A Derrymore Road . Gawleys Gate Craigavon Co. Armagh BT67 OBW Registered Office
20A Derrymore Road Gawleys Gate Craigavon Co. Armagh BT670BW
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Directors and Trustees served during the year:
N. Moore
A. McCarron
F. Hanna
P. Haire
E. Burns
S. Bustard
L. Baker
F, Creaney
P. Neill
Company Secretary
F. Hanna
Key Management Personnel
Chairperson Nuala Moore Vice Chairperson Avni McCarron Treasurer Paula Neill
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Bankers
First Trust Bank 18-20 Scotch Street Dungannon BT66 6AQ
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The purposeofthe charity is to provide a safe and stimulating environment to learn through play for all children (the beneficiaries) in our rural area. We provide activities both planned and unplanned based on our ethos of Learning through Play’ set out in the curricular guidance for preschool education. The charity has a close relationship with the local primary school enabling us to ease the transition from preschool to primary school with minimum impact for the child.
Little Acorns was established to provide quality Early Years education & personal development for preschool children aged between 2 years 10 months and 4 years 11 months for the Gawley's Gate and neighbouring areas, in an inclusive & diverse environment. We strive to ensure that the individual needs and abilities of the child are recognised and developed. We offer a safe and stimulating environment for all children, regardless of race, religion or gender. The trustees confirm that they have had due regard to guidance produced by the Charity Commission's benefit requirement statutory guidance.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The 2024/25 year presented a number of ongoing challenges for Little Acorns Playgroup and Afterschool. One of the most significant developments was the closure of the Breakfast Club. This decision was not taken lightly but was necessary due to a consistent decline in attendance, which had rendered the service financially unsustainable. While it was once a popular and valuable offering, the closure helped prevent further financial losses for the setting.
The physical condition of the playgroup's mobile unit continues to be a major concern. The building required considerable maintenance over the year to ensure it remained safe and fit for purpose. These essential works have placed a heavy burden on the setting's finances.
To help offset some of these costs, the Committee organised an end-of-year fundraiser focused specifically on raising funds for repairs and maintenance. This event was well-supported and demonstrated the commitment and resourcefulness of the current Committee and playgroup community.
Unfortunately, voluntary donations from parents have continued to decline this year. This trend is believed to be linked to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and wider economic pressures affecting families. As a result, the setting remains heavily reliant on fundraising and careful financial planning to sustain its operations.
Despite these challenges, the dedication of staff, Committee members, and volunteers has been unwavering. Their hard work ensures that Little Acorns continues to provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for all children in its care. The Committee remains focused on exploring sustainable ways forward and looks ahead to 2025/26 with cautious optimism.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The financial results for the year ending 31 August 2025 reflect another challenging year for Little Acorns Playgroup, driven largely by continued sector pressures and the broader Cost of Living Page 2
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Crisis. Total income for the year was £88,245, which represents a small increase on the previous year (£86,770 in 2023/24), primarily due to higher income from other trading activities.
Despite this, the charity recorded a net deficit of £16,099 (compared with £9,612 in 2023/24). The deficit was largely driven by increased expenditure on charitable activities, which rose to £103,845 (up from £95,302). This reflects significant maintenance costs associated with the ageing building, as well as rising operational expenses.
Income from donations and legacies declined significantly from £5,388 to £2,962, continuing a downward trend that is believed to be linked to the ongoing cost-of-living challenges faced by many families. in contrast, income from other trading activities increased to £6,250 (from £3,594), suggesting that efforts to explore alternative income streams had some positive impact.
The charity continues to operate a reserves policy to ensure sufficient funds are ring-fenced to cover winding-up costs if ever required. As at year end, total funds carried forward were £41,587, comprising £40,587 in unrestricted funds and £1,000 in restricted funds, ensuring that reserves remain within policy threshoids.
Looking ahead, while the results show a deepening deficit, the organisation remains focused on careful financial management and strategic fundraising. The closure of the Breakfast Club during the year was a necessary step to prevent further financial loss, and targeted fundraising efforts— such as the end-of-year event—provided essential support for urgent costs.
The current Committee continues to explore sustainable ways to generate income and control costs, and there is cautious optimism that 2025/26 may bring a more stable financial picture.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The type of governing document is by constitution and is constituted by unincorporated association. Trustees are nominated and voted onto committee, by those attending. Those who are nominated need to be seconded to become a committee member. Office bearers must have held a vice role where possible before taking an office bearing role.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of[the] charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection offraud and other irregularities.
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
Signed on behalf of the board
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N.Moore Trustee 22 September 2025
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