PLAYGROUP
47b Main Street
Waringstown
Craigavon
Co. Armagh
BT66 7QH
Tel. No." 028 3888 1077
Email: enquiries@noahsarkplaygroup.corn
enin
Hours= 9:15 a.m.
12.15 p.m.
Registered by Southem Health & Social Care TnJst
Registration Number SIXK)532
Registered Charity No: NICI 02114
Annual Report
for
Financial Year
ending
30 June 2023

Noah's Ark Playgroup
Office Bearers and Committee Members 202212023
Chairperson: Mrs Kerry Geddis
Secretary: Mrs Laura Hawthorne
Treasurer: Mrs Jocelyn Girvan
Committee Members: Mrsjenny Hull; Mrs Gail Walker; Mrs Catherine Anthony;
Mrs Penny Chapman; Ms Naomh Lawlor; Mrs Katie Uprichard, Mrs Renette
Castles; Mrs Sarah SergeanL

Pla
rou
Leader's Re
for
's Annual Re
Noah's Ark Pla
rou
ort 2022
On behalf of all the staff at Noah's Ark, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome each
and every one of you to our playgroup family. Our members of staff work tirelessly to provide
a safe, clean and positive environment for everyone. That continued hard work ensures that
every child and their family has a welcoming and happy place to come each morning. A
place, where we want everyone to feel at home and to enjoy the Noah's Ark experience.
As staff, we can provide the learning experience and the loving. safe environment, but our
playgroup would not exist without the support of our families. So, thank you to all of you, who,
by sending your child to Noah's Ark. supports our playgroup
a playgroup which was
established in September 1992, so we are now operating in our 32nd year, which is such an
achievement in itself.
Thank you also to the support of our hardworking and steadfast Management Committee. We
need a committee for two reasons - first of all. because we are a registered charity and
secondly, we are a community playgroup and we must be committee run in order to receive
funding from the Trust. which amounts to £6 for every day that we are operational - a total of
about £1 000 per year.
As you will know, that amount of money does not go far, so as well as our fees, we need fo
fundraise throughout the year to keep the playgroup open and we do that fundraising, with
the help of our Committee. We have a challenging year ahead, when costs are continually
rising. We always aim to keep our fees as low as we possibly can, but like other non-profit
making organisations. we still need to pay our bills. Regular fundraising ensures that we can
keep our fees at a minimum.
Last June, our wonderful Committee marked our 30th Birthday by organising a Garden Party
for us. It was such a wonderful aftemoon, with the staff. the committee. the playgroup children
and their families coming together for an afternoon of celebration. laughter. fellowship and
fun in the beautiful gardens of the Uprichard FamiW.
The work that went into that afternoon was a credit to the dedication. hard work and
organisational skills of the playgroup committee members involved. with special thanks to
Laura Hawthorne and Katie Uprichard who came up vrfith the idea and made it possible.
I would like to thank Gail Walker for the loan and set up of the sensory tent; thank you to the
Uprichard family, who allowed us to take over their garden for the day; thanks also to their
very understanding neighbours, who allowed us use of their field for parking.. and thank you to
Keny Geddis for organising the beautiful baskets of flowers which were kindly gifted to the
staff. Thanks to all those committee members. who helped in any way, from bringing food &
sandwiches, chairs. tables. games, etc. and to those who helped set up the activities,
decorations and bunting and also to those who provided financial assistance to make the

day so special. Our birthday cake was fabulous and enjoyed by everyone. Thanks also to
Tesco, who generously gifted fruit. crisps and treats for our party and to the local churches,
organisations and Harrison Nursery for the loan of bunting. tables and activities. I would also
like to thank one of our playgroup mums, Karen Smith, who came along with her Arcade
Coffee truck and gifted all the proceeds to playgroup funds- a very generous and kind thing
lo do for us. The staff were OVe￿helmed by everyone's kindness and it will be a day that will
always hold special memories for us for many years to come.
So. on behalf of all the staff, I would like to thank the committee for all their help and support
over the past year. Many thanks to those of you, who have agreed to stay on to help out for
another year. We are also delighted to welcome on board new members and we hope you
find the experience of being involved in your child's playgroup rewarding.
l also want to thank my dear friends and colleagues- Hilary Craig, Ray Coleman and Hannah
Gardiner. We have a great team of staff here at Noah's Ark and I thank them for their help
and support each day. I know the care and attention that each staff member gives to each
and every child in their care every day at this playgroup and how much hard work and
dedication we all put into ensuring the success of this playgroup as a whole. A lot of work is
out of hours and voluntary and it takes special people to want to do that year after year.
Noah's Ark Playgroup is our second home. As members of staff. it is our greatest wish. that
when you and your child come to playgroup each day, that you also feel 'at home, with us.
We hope that you do.
Elaine Hutton - Playgroup Leader

Secreta
'sRe
ort for Noah's Ark Pla
Annual Re
ort 2022
2023
rou
The year started off with Noah's Ark reaching its 301h Birthday, having first opened
its doors in September 1992.
Improvements had been made to the outside of the property at the end of
August. when N. l. Water fitted a new storm drain on the Main Street in
Waringstown, which ran through our playgroup yard. This meant a new courtyard
wall was built. a new outer door onto the laneway was installed and the laneway
leading up to the main road was tarmacked.
staff retumed for 2 days of training & set up on Tuesday 30 & Wednesday 31
August. Induction visits for the new children took place over 2 days on Thursday
l & Friday 2 September.
Our new term started on Monday 5 September with 15 children on our register.
Our members of staff were Playgroup Leader- Elaine Hutton. Deputy Playgroup
Leader - Hilary Craig. Playgroup Assistant - Ray Coleman and Relief Assistant
Hannah Gardiner.
The playgroup closed on Monday 19 September as a mark of respect forthe State
Funeral of Queen Elizabeth11
We gratefully received a donation of toys and outdoor vehicles from the
Hawthorne family.
During the month of October, parents received a Settling-ln Report for their child.
keeping them informed of how well their child was progressing. after their first
month at the playgroup.
Three members of staff i.e. Elaine Hutton, Hilary Craig and Hannah Gardiner
updated their First Aid Training on the evenings of Monday 2 and Tuesday 3
October.
Our Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 18 October at 8pm at the
playgroup. I I people attended and a committee of I I people was duly elected:
Chairperson: Kerry Geddis; Treasurer: Jocelyn Girvan; Secretary: Laura
Hawthorne," Committee Members: Sarah Sergeant, Renette Castles. Jenny Hull.
Katie Uprichard, Penny Chapman. Gail Walker. Naomh Lawlor and Catherine
Anthony. After the short business part of the evening, a light supper was served.

Annual Reports for 2021/2022 were printed and copies left in the hallway for
parents or visltors to take.
The playgroup was closed from Monday 31 October
Friday 4 November
inclusive for the half-term break. during which time some remedial work was
carried out above the Fire Exit Door in the main playroom.
The first Monitoring Report from the Playgroup Leader was emoiled lo the
Committee on 7 November.
It was decided that our Christmas fundraisers would involve selling Fireside Quiz
sheets, organising a Marks & Spencer/Luxury Christmas Hamper Raffle, holding a
sponsored Christmas Jumper Week. as well as selling Playgroup Calendars to help
raise money for playgroup funds. It was agreed that we would also purchase
engraved pens and distribute them to parents to sell next term. As in previous
years, staff made a Wish List of sundry items, required for the playgroup, which
parents could buy in lieu of staff Christmas presents. It was also agreed that we
would start to sell pre-loved uniforms at £5 per item. Our committee member
Renette Castles kind￿ offered to bake a range of Christmas Cookies for us to sell
for playgroup funds.
Elaine Hutton and Hilary Craig completed 2 nights of Health and Safety, Risk
Assessment and Manual Handling Training.
Our December neV￿letter was sponsored by the Uprichard family.
We also gratefully received a donation of paper from the Sergeant family.
During the first week of December. the playgroup children posted their letters to
Santa and there was great excitement as we put up the Christmas tree and
decorated the playgroup for Christmas. A post box was also left in the hallway for
children to post cards to their friends.
Parents received their child's observations. which were sent home for them to
read, as well as a short progress report on their child's first term.
Every Christmas. since the playgroup opened in 1992, we have been delivering
hampers of groceries to local pensioners. A total of 19 bags of groceries, donated
by parents and staff, were delivered by the playgroup staff. on behalf of the

children, to the local pensioners early December. A Christmas card. handmade
in the playgroup by each child, was included in the hamper of food.
In return, we received donations from some of the pensioners for our playgroup
funds. with thanks to Mrs Rutherford, Mrs Barnes, Mr Hagan, Mr King and Mr & Mrs
steen.
The term finished with a Christmas Party Week, at the end of which. each child
received a Christmas gift and party box. A selection box for each of the
playgroup children was also kindly donated by Waringstown LOL 83. The party
food was kindly provided by the staff and committee and a great time was had
by all.
Our last day of term was Wednesday 21 December. We had 21 children on our
register.
Our fundraising in December raised the following amounts of money for
playgroup funds:
Marks & Spencer Christmas Hamper Raffle- £140
Christmas Fireside Quiz Sheets - £1 17
Christmas Jumper Week- £27
Calendars- £162
Christmas Donations for toy fund - £1 00
Donations from pensioners - £70
Christmas Cookies- £51
Our sincere thanks to the committee for donating the hamper and food items tor
our Luxury Hamper Raffle. Thank you also to those who donated prize items for the
Fireside Quiz i.e. Mrs Gail Walker from The Big White Coach Events. who donated
a Build A Bear Kit: The Mace. Waringstown. for donating a food voucher: Mr & Mrs
Tim Smith from Arcade Coffee for donating a coffee voucher and Mrs Alex
Keegan from AK Hair Design for donating a hair voucher. Thank you to everyone
who sold quiz sheets or raffle squares for us. Your help and support was greatly
appreciated.
Our new term commenced on Wednesday 4 January 2023 with 28 children on
our register.
Our January newslelter was sponsored by Mr Stephen Girvan from Valley
Engineering Services.
The annual grant from the Trust was received on 6 January. This amounted to
£1050.

All 4 staff members attended Anaphylaxis Awareness and Epi-Pen Training.
A photographer from CS Moments in Ba1￿mena came to the playgroup on
Monday 30 January to take individual professional photos of each child. A total
of £145 was raised for playgroup funds.
The Playgroup Leader's second Monitoring Report was emailed to the Committee
on l February 2023. Fundraising for this term would be playgroup photographs.
selling pens and raffling a Pamper Hamper. kindly donated by committee
member, Katie Uprichard. It was also agreed that we would hold our usual
summer term 20p/smartie tube fundraiser. so the committee donated tubes of
smarties, which were to be given to all children before Easter.
Our playgroup leader. Elaine Hutton, submitted our Annual Monitoring Report to
the Charity Commission and carried out the annual update of our Fire Risk
Assessment.
5 Noah's Ark printed pens were distributed to each family to sell, raising a total of
£370 for playgroup funds.
The playgroup was closed from 13- 17 February inclusive for the half term break.
A burst radiator over the half-term break caused flooding damage and the
playgroup was closed the following week to allow the playroom to dry out.
damages to be repaired and new vinyl flooring to be fitted. New radiators were
also fitted throughout the building. Parents were refunded for the week that we
were closed. We were very grateful to the families who donated their refunds to
playgroup funds. We would also like to thank Mr and Mrs Brian Uprichard and Mrs
Anne Dunlop who gave donations for playgroup funds at this difficult time.
Our Playgroup Leader, Elaine Hutton, and Deputy Leader, Hilary Craig, updated
their Designated Officer Training over 2 nights in Armagh.
Our March nev￿letter was sponsored by the Love Family.
In celebration of World Book Day at the start of March, a book token was
distributed to each child and children were invited to bring along their favourite
book and dress up if they wish.
Our Playgroup Assistant, Ray Coleman, completed online Fire Safety and Risk
Assessment Training via Zoom.

The playgroup closed on Friday 17 March and Monday 20 March for St Patrick's
Day.
We raffled a Mother's Day Pamper Hamper. which was kindty donated by Mrs
Katie Uprichard and raised £1 00 for playgroup funds.
Once again. children's observations for the term were sent home to parents at
the end of March.
In the last week of term, the Easter Bunny paid his annual visit to the playgroup
and caused great excitement by leaving the children a crème egg in the Easter
baskets they had made. Once again. we thank Ray Coleman for donating the
eggs for the children.
We sold hand knit Easter character toys. kindly donated by Mrs Barbara Simpson,
and raised £57 for playgroup funds.
Our term finished on Friday 31 March vrfith 29 children on our register
A mandatory qualification audit of all staff and volunteers was completed and
sent to the Trust (HSC) at the beginning of April.
We were saddened to leam of the passing of Mr Gilbert Crook over the Easter
period. Gilbert had been long associated with Noah's Ark, by independently
auditing our playgroup accounts every year.
After l O days of closure over Easter, the summer term commenced on Monday
17 April 2023.
Our April newsletter was kindly sponsored for the second time by the Uprichard
family.
Committee Members were emailed their third Monitoring Report from the
Playgroup Leader on 17 April.
Due to a week's loss of fees in February from the flooding closure, it was decided
that the playgroup would stay open until the end of June to recuperate the loss
of income. There was a review of fees for 202312024 and due to the increase in
rent and general expenses over the past year, it was agreed that fees would be
increased by £1 per session and that the deposit would be increased to be
equivalent to 2 weeks, payment, pro rata. The annual update of policies was also

agreed. The Committee also decided to mark the playgroup's 30th birthday with
a Garden Party in June. which they would organise.
At the end of April, Mr Stephen Giprfan trorn Valley Engineering Services kindly
carried out our annual PAT testing free of charge, with our grateful thanks to him.
The Trust Annual Inspection took place on Friday 28 April. This year's Inspection
Area was "Quality of the Physical Environment and Monitoring and Evaluation"
All went well and credit must be given to the continued dedication and hard
work of the staff. A copy of our current Inspection Report is afvays available in
the hallway for parents, perusal.
Our May newsletter was sponsored by the Hampton family.
The playgroup was closed on Monday l May and Tuesday 2 May for the May Day
bank holiday and again on Monday 8 May for the Coronation of King Charles111.
The playgroup celebrated the King's Coronation with the children making their
own royal crowns to wear during our special week of Coronation parties, where
we enjoyed specially baked Coronation cupcakes and treats. Each child was
presented with a Coronation gift bag filled with mementoes of this historic
occasion. Mrs Joanne Wheeler. one of our parents, kindly donated some
Coronation cupcake toppers. as well as bun cases and cake decorations for
future use.
Questionnaires were distributed to families. along with the May newsletters. asking
parents to evaluate our service. Feedback was positive and encouraging for the
staff.
Open Days were held on 3 days from Monday 15- Wednesday 17 May inclusive.
The playgroup was closed again on Friday 26 and Monday 29 May for the Spring
Bank Holiday.
Our June newsletter was sponsored by the Kane family.
Our big event of the year took place on the afternoon of Saturday 17 June, when
the Committee organised and invited all the children and their families to attend
our 301h Birthday Celebration Garden Party. kindly hosted in the beautiful family
garden of our committee member, Mrs Katie Uprichard.

As well as a slide, swtngs and climbing frame. there was lots of space to run and
play, a wild garden to walk through, a sensory tent to explore in, a sheltered area
to sit and relax and a variety of outdoor games and activities to engage in.
One of our parents, Mrs Karen Smith, brought along her Arcade Coffee truck and
served a variety of delicious drinks and tasty tray bakes, with all proceeds going
to playgroup funds. Party food was provided by the committee members and
Tescos donated a selection of crisps. fruit and treats for the occasion.
Our afternoon finished off with a birthday cake and the presentation of a basket
of flowers to each of the 4 members of staff from the Committee.
A fabulous time was had by all, with special thanks to all those committee
members who put so much effort into organising this special and memorable
event.
Our thanks also to Gail Walker from The Big White Coach Events, for setting up the
sensory tent for us, thank you to Harrison Nursery for the loan of their bunting, thank
you to the churches and organisations who lent us a variety of games and
equipment and a special mention of thanks to the Uprichard Family for allowing
us use of their wonderful garden for the party and also their neighbour for the use
of their field for the parking. While no entry fee was requested. donation5 were
gratefully received. We raised £255.67, plus £154.80 from Arcade Coffee, making
a total of £410.47 for playgroup funds.
Also this month. we decided to raffle an original oil painting, painted and
donated by Mrs Mary Coleman. We raised £57 for playgroup funds.
During the last week of term, as part of our Teddy Bears. Picnic Party Week, we
held a 'Sunhats and Shades, fundraiser, raising £195 for Cancer Fund for Children.
For taking part, each child received an activity sheet.
At the end of June. parents received their child's End of Year Work Folder and
Booklet, which is a selection of each child's work undertaken during their time at
Noah's Ark. A progress report and complete set of observations were also
included in their booklet. Every child received a party bag and the gift of a book,
as a reminder of their time at Noah's Ark.
Our playgroup year ended on Thursday 29 June with 33 children on our register.
When the last child had left. staff cleared the room for the summer and spent the
following day repainting the walls, doors and skirting boards of the main
playroom, in preparation for the new term in September.

Our remaining fundraising totals for the year were as follows=
Newsletter Sponsorship for the year raised £330
Loose change collected throughout the year in our charity box at NISA
Petrol Station totalled £140
Sale of new uniforms amounted to £472
Sale of pre-loved uniform5 amounted to £50
20p fundraiser raised £195
Sale of handknit children's woolly hats raised £50
Donations given throughout the year amounted to £180. with grateful
thanks to the Emerson family, the Wilson family. the Mccullough family, the
Cameron family, the Locke family. the Hampton family, the Larmour family
and the Uprichard family.
Our sincere thanks also go to all those parents and committee members, who
donated money. resources. cleaning products, amazon vouchers, printing paper,
as well as craft and art materials during the year. Thanks also to New Creation
printing business in Lurgan, for their donation of paper.
The playgroup staff and committee are very grateful for all the donations and
fundraising support received throughout the year and they thank everyone
involved.
And that concludes the Secretary's Report for the year ending 30 June 2023.
Laura Hawthorne- Playgroup Secretary

Noah's Ark Pla
rou
Charl
no: NIC102114
Treasurer's Re
ort for Flnanclal Year
Endln
30 June 2023
Noah's Ark Playgroup is a non-profit making registered chartty. All
money received by Noah's Ark goes back into the running and
the upkeep of the playgroup. Because we are committee run and
have a written constitution, we receive from the Trust a small grant
of only £6 for each day that we are open (which amounts to
approximately £IOOO each year). We receive no funding from any
other official body.
However, as you can imagine, this grant alone would not sustain
us, so, along with income from the fees we receive from parents,
we also supplement our income during the year with fundraising,
which was up almost £6(X) from the previous financial year.
However, our fee income for 2022/2023 was down £6300 from the
previous year. which led to a difficult year financially for the
playgroup.
Parents and local businesses have also kindly supported us during
the year with monthly newsletter sponsorship and donations and
we are always very grateful for these.
Our playgroup accounts are checked and independently verified
each year and we thank Mrs Carol McAlister for doing this for us.
Our total income for the financial year ending 30 June 2023 was
£36,812.70
This consisted of the following:
Fees received from parents - £31,996.00
Milk refund- £424.23
Fundraising (including the sale of uniforms) - £2.967.47
Annual Trust Grant - £1,050.00
Donations - £180.00
Cancer Fund for Children {money donated by parents) - £195.00

Our total expenditure for year ending 30 June 2023 was £44,958.25
This consisted of the following:
staff costs (4 staff members) which includes salaries, pensions and
payments to Inland Revenue- £37,106.04
Premises (including maintenance. rent & telephone costs)
£4,307.40
Milk- £383.67
Insurance - £519.38
Consumables- £463.90
Fundraising costs. including purchase of uniforms- £535.33
Membership subscriptions - £87.00
Equipment- £104.50
other expenses {including groceries. cleaning materials, bank
charges, postage costs. Christmas & end of year gifts for children,
King Charles 111 Coronation gifts for children, health & safety
supplies, staff uniforms, annual administration fee for pension,
purchase of credits for text messaging service, purchase of
stationery i.e. sessional register and money (donated by parents)
sent to Cancer Fund for children - £1,451.03
The deficit of income over expenditure for the year was £8.145.55
Our total assets at the end of the financial year were listed as
£6597.06
And this consisted of:
Equipment valued at- £724.57
Cash in the bank- £5.856.91
And petty cash in hand - £15.58
Jocelyn Girvan - Playgroup Treasurer

Noah's Ark Playgroup
Income and Expenditure Account
For Year Ending 30 June 2023
Income
Fees received from parents
Milk Refund
Fundraising
Grants
Donations
Nl Cancer Fund for Children .
{*donated by parents)
Fees paid by parent in error
Covid Grant duplicated in error
2023
31,996.00
424.23
2,967.47
1.050.00
180.00
195.00
2022
38,305.08
291.00
2,394.40
6,428.92
341.00
188.00
208.00
850.00
£36.812.70
49.006.40
Expenditure
Salaries linc. NICS/PAYE/Pension)
Premises Irent, malntenance & phone)
2023
37.106.04
4,307.40
383.67
519.38
463.90
535.33
104.50
87.00
1.451.03
2022
37,154.04
4,723.27
423.48
429.05
1,094.31
962.12
427.35
87.00
2,673.71
Milk
Insurance
Consumables
Fundraising (incl purchase of uniforms)
Equipment bought during year
Membership Subscriptions
Other Expenses
(see page 4 attached for
breakdown)
£44.958.25
47,974.33
Profit/Deficit of
Income over Expenditure
8,145.55
1,032.07