WATT FUN COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
TRUSTEES, REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023.
Objectives and activities
Principal activity
The principal activity of the charity is to provide an inclusive, learning through play
environment to pre-school children aged between 3 and 5.
Aims and objectives
The aim of the charity is to advance the education of young children through the provision of
an appropriate, safe and satisfying programme of play and activities which meet the
requirements of the Department of Education's Curriculum. This is done without distinction of
age, gender. marital status, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity. political
or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntsry
organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and in particular:
to advan￿ the education of the beneficiaries by the provision of safe and satisfying
group play. with the right of parentslcarers to take responsibility for and to become
involved in the activities of the group; and to promote the preservation of health of the
beneficiaries; and
to support the values and principles of Early Years.
How our charity benefits the public
Our activities provide benefit to the public by:
Providing opportunity for education;
Providing opportunity for affordable childcare;
Providing opportunity for staff development via training and qualifications;
Providing quality childcare in a rural environment;
Supporting parentslguardians;
Networking with other public benefit groups.
Achievements and perforniance
Charitable activities delivered and achieved by Watt Fun Playgroup for this period include:
Provided places for 15 pre-preschool children (aged 2 years and 10 months to 3).
Provided places for 26 preschool children (aged 3 to 5);
Provided placement for 1 college student studying childcare;
Promoted language development through the introduction and use of story sacks;
Updated training in special educational needs.
Financial Review
The charity returned a deficit for the year of £3,479 (2022 - surplus of £2,169). At 31 August
2023 the total unrestricted funds of the charity amounted to £16,808 (2022 - £20,287).
Of the total funds reported above. £16.808 is made up of cash as bank. The trustees
consider it prudent to hold monies in reserve in the event that unforeseen circumstances
should lead to financial difficulties which might put the fvture of the charity in jeopardy.

WATT FUN COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
Financial Review (continued)
The Playgroup receives funding from the Education Authority for each pre-school child. This
money is used to pay staff wages, make a contribution to heat. light and insurance costs for
the premises and the general running of the Playgroup. Funds are supplemented through
fund raising events held in conjunction with parents and friends in the local area. This
includes coffee momings. a sponsored walk and quiz sheets.
Reserves policy
Charity reserves should provide the organisation with financial stability and the means for il
to meet its charitable objectives for the foreseeable future. The trustees are confident that
the unrestricted funds. together with expected fLrture incomes, will be sufficient to meet the
working capital requirements for the forthcoming year.
Plans for the future
The future plans for the charity are:
To promote physical health through the use of drama and role play;
To improve health and wellbeing for children and adults by promoting healthy foods
and exercise;
To devebp staffs. Confiden￿ in the use of Makaton sign language through training.
To continue to grow and provide places for all children under 5.
Structure, governance and management
Watt Fun Community Playgroup is a registered charity and has been in operation for over 30
years. It is a cross-community organisation and has 5 members of staff and a Parent's
management committee who are responsible for making decisions about the group. Watt
Fun Community Playgroup is governed by a Constitution which was adopted on 22nd
September 2015. The Playgroup caters for approximately 25 children between the ages of 3
and 5 years in a preschool moming and 25 children pre-school afternoon session. We are
based in Ballywatt Presbyterian Church Hall. The property is used on li￿nce from the
Ballywatt Presbyterian Church and no fee is charged but a donation is given. The Playgroup
does cary its own insurance as well.
All children are welcomed at the Playgroup and children with additional n￿dS are treated
with equal concern. A SENCO (being a Special Educational Needs Coordinator) leader is in
situ who coordinates the provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities
in Playgroup. The Playgroup has an Additional Needs Policy in place which they adhere to
and is available for inspection.

WATT FUN COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
Structure, governance and management (continued)
The Playgroup was rated as outstanding in all areas by the Education Training Inspectorate
in Northern Ireland in 2016. The Playgroup is inspected annually by the Northern Health &
Social Care Trust via the Trust Early Years Team to ensure it maintains its standards and
approximately every five years by the Department of Education.
We believe that the Playgroup is successful for many reasons and one of these is the
partnership with parents and the integration of parents into life at the Playgroup. Each parent
or carer is persuaded to visit the Playgroup to explain their profession or career.
We also explore and celebrate various traditional annual events in the calendar including the
Chinese New Year and the North West 200 event held in the local area. This is to expand
the children's learning outside the traditional and also to make them aware of the events in
the local community.
The trustees who served during the year were:
Naomi Freeburn (Chair)
Gemma Cochrane
Susan McAuley
Gemma McElnay
Danielle Reed
Gemma Richmond
Appointing of trustees
The trustees are appointed annually during the Annual General Meeting which is usually
held around October. Suitable candidates are considered on the basis of their skills,
experience and sympathy with the aims of the charity.
Related parties and co-operation with other organisations
None of our trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity.
Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity with any related parties
must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual
relationship with a related party.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 23 January 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Susan McAuley
Chair