Trustee Report for The Crow's Nest Community Playgroup Ltd. for the year ending 30 June 2025
Registered Charity name and details:
The Crow's Nest Community Playgroup 127 Curragh Road Aghadowey BT5l 4BT
105852
The Trustees for the period were: Olive Collins, David Condell, Jacqueline Barr, Gillian Pollock,
Objectives and Activities:
To promote play based learning environments for all children under statutory school age of Aghadowey
and its surrounding environs in County Londonderry, without distinction of age, gender, marital status,
disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the
statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to
advance education, and in particular:
to advance the education of the beneficiaries by the provision of safe and satisfying group play, with the
right of parents/carers to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of the group to
promote the preservation of health of the beneficiaries.
To support the vision and values of ‘Early Years’ - The Organisation for young children.
to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the directors may, from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity
Structure and Governance
Crow’s Nest is a Company limited by guarantee; the board of directors are made up of current parents, past parents and members of the local community. Directors are elected at our AGM.
The office bearers are also elected at AGM and are rotated so as committee skills are developed through time, and a strong knowledge base is developed to ensure continuity.
The committee meets regularly and minutes and attendance are kept for these meetings.
Achievements and results for the year:
Funds raised by fees, fundraising initiatives and donations are used to purchase play equipment, play resources and to fund educational trips and experiences for all children in attendance, in the furtherment of an enhanced learning environment and experience in a rural location. In addition, Playgroup received a very good report from Social Services and our Independent Early Years Advisor. Our most recent inspection had outstanding in all three areas examined, they were: from ETI. The areas examined were Outcomes for Learners, Quality of Provision for Learning and Leadership and Management.
Reserves policy:
Money held in investment account- purpose and objectives to increase capacity in rural environment to meet the need. And to accumulate finances for landscaping and maintain outdoor play area. In addition we need to have a reserve of funds to cover staff Summer holiday pay.
Risk review:
The trustees continue to assess the risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operation and finances of the playgroup, including the challenges of obtaining funding.
The trustees are satisfied that the correct systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks.
As an audit is not required under the requirements of The Charities Act (NI) 2008 and The Charities (accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, an independent examination of the accounts is
attached.
The trustees annual report was approved on 15 [th] October 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: