Annual Trustees’ Report
Downshire Primary School Parent Teacher Association
for the period 29 April 2022 to 30[th] June 2023
Downshire Primary School, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough, Co Down, BT26 6AR, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Charity No: 106318
Constitution & Governance
Downshire Primary School Parent Teacher Association (the PTA) is a charity registered in Northern Ireland under charity number 106318 and governed by a constitution adopted by members at an Annual General Meeting.
The period under review is 1[st] September 2022 to 30[th] June 2023. Due to the nature of the school calendar, there is very little banking activity between July & August.
The membership of the PTA consists of parents, guardians or carers of any pupil currently attending Downshire Primary School, together with teaching and non-teaching staff employed by the school.
Purpose
The purpose of the PTA is to advance the education of the pupils in Downshire Primary by:
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Developing effective relationships between the staff, parents and others associated with the school;
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Engaging in activities or providing facilities or equipment which support the school and advance the education of the pupils.
Activities & Achievements
In the year under review, the PTA ran the following events in the school or wider community to raise funds for the school:
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A May Fair, attracting parents, teachers, children and the general village community in Hillsborough and beyond
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A Christmas Fair, attracting a similar range of people
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A treasure hunt in the local community
These activities not only raised money for the school, but provided invaluable opportunities to develop effective relationships between parents, with the staff and the community at large, generating significant support for the school in the village.
The PTA also ran the following activities and competitions for the children:
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Evening discos and in school discos
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Christmas activities and competitions
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Designing Christmas cards for professional printing
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Tea towels with the children’s drawings of themselves.
Again, these activities provided opportunities and amusement for the children, whilst raising money for the school and developing relationships in the community.
In September 2022, the PTS donated £13 355 to the school for use at its discretion. This money came from funds raised during the previous school year. In March 2023, the PTA donated £2500 to Downshire Primary School to purchase new iPads for the pupils. In September 2022, a total of £240 was donated for the school sensory garden.
The PTA also successfully applied for a grant from Lisburn Community Council, totalling £500. The School is linked to Amazon Smile Gift Aid and received £102.
In addition to the money raised for the school, the PTA also helped the school by providing the following:
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Free refreshment for the December Open Morning
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Free refreshments for the P1 induction days and the P7 Leavers Assembly
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Free Santa hats for each of the pupils
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A contribution to the P7 Leavers Party
Financial Position
On the 1[st] September 2022, the PTA had £15,151 in the account. At the end of the school year in June 2023, £9 799 was in the account.
A total of £16 095 was donated to Downshire Primary during this period.
Through the fundraising activities mentioned, a total of £15 171 was raised during this period, with a fund raising cost of £4627.
For further detail, the Receipts and Payments Accounts, together with the Statement of Assets and Liabilities are submitted along with this report.
Trustees
Emma Wilson (Chair until September 2022)
Vanessa Ribeiro (chair)
Claire Liddle (Secretary)
Rebekah Steele (Treasurer until September 2022)
Natalie Wray (Treasurer)
Michael Poots
Lisa Scott
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Vanessa Ribeiro Natalie Wray Chair Treasurer