RAVEL RASCALS PARENT TODDLER GROUP GLENRAVEL
Ravel Rascals Parent and Toddler Group Annual Trustees Report for the year 2022 to 2023
Charity Name as on Register: RAVEL RASCALS PARENT TODDLER GROUP
Northern Ireland charity (NIC) number: 107619
Charity Location: Operated at St Mary’s Parish Hall, Lisnamanny Road, Martinstown, Glenravel, Ballymena County Antrim, BT43 6QH
Charity contact details/correspondence address: Mrs P McKeown - Pauline.McKeown@northerntrust.hscni.net, 7 Lignamonagh Court, Martinstown, Glenravel, Ballymena, County Antrim, BT43 6QN
Charity Constitution Information:
Ravel Rascals Parent and Toddler Group Constitution, adopted on 19/09/2018 and signed by the Trustees (Chairperson and vice chairperson). We are administered by governing constitution documents noted above and also have relevant Safeguarding of children and Vulnerable Adults and Equal Opportunity Policies in place and reviewed and ratified October 2022.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
A full list of assets has been compiled consisting of equipment (DELL laptop and M3 hard drive), play items (including balls, soft toys, bricks, farm toys, slides, kitchens, water and sand table, train table, arts & crafts materials), and service items in regular use by the group (tables, trays, cups, plates, teapots). We do not have any Liabilities.
Charity Trustees for 2022/2023 year
Pauline McKeown (Chairperson)
Josephine McIlhatton (Vice-Chairperson)
Bernie McCafferty O’Loan (Treasurer)
Josephine O’Hagan (Secretary)
Our committee and general membership remain the same unless notified and ratified by next annual general meeting.
Principal aims & purposes
The aim and purposes of the charity are to enhance the development and education of children under
statutory school age (0-4 years) by encouraging parents/guardians to understand and provide for
the needs of their children by: -
(a) Offering appropriate play facilities, with the right of parents/carers to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of the Group, ensuring that the Group offers opportunities for all children, regardless of gender, race, political, religious, disability, or sexual orientation.
(b) Encouraging the study of the needs of such children and their families and promoting public interest in and recognition of the needs of such children and their families in the local areas.
Main activities
Northern Ireland Registered Charity NIC 107619
RAVEL RASCALS PARENT TODDLER GROUP GLENRAVEL
As usual in 2022/23 we aimed to provide play (social, interactive and physical play) and arts and craft activities and weekly sessions every Thursday in term time for children in the local Community aged 0- 4 years. To support the parents and carers of the aforementioned children through community involvement, provision of activities and support. All attendees are provided with refreshments at each session also.
On average we facilitate approximately 25+ children and 12+ adults per weekly session, this will fluctuate depending on activities offered and time of year and the school terms of the nearby schools.
Main activities or public benefit, for the year 09/2022-31/08/2023.
As usual we aimed to provide activities and weekly session every Thursday in term time as detailed above. We had a slight delay in return to sessions so began at the start of October. We did notice a delay in children’s abilities at this time and returned to basic skills and free play.
Benefit and Public Benefit in this period
We would usually have observed significant benefit in our toddlers in their cognitive abilities and practical ability and social skills as we progress through our sessions. This was observed to be reduced but social skills and children’s interactions had improved by activity year’s end in June.
With reference to adults attending our group, our sessions offer a place of relaxation, support and a pleasant welcoming atmosphere to many of our parents who may not be local to the area, may be new mums and new breastfeeding mums and we offer support and help in all these areas.
As a group we tried to maintain regular contact with all attendees through social media means and by sharing information and activities free of charge online by private WhatsApp group. This year has seen more interactions in this manner and also it being used more frequently to disseminate information.
We were unable to provide Jo jingles session at this time as the operator post Covid was moving to a school and structured playgroup only model.
The trustees believe that our purposes satisfy the elements of the public benefit requirement. Even with continuing obstacles of a post pandemic environment in place we feel we have observed direct benefits to both the physical and mental health of our public beneficiaries as evidenced by the online feedback and verbal interactions mentioned above. No private benefit has flowed from any of these purposes.
Operating online
We continued to take great care in assessing security and safety in operating online with private groups and password protected logins in all cases.
All users were also reminded not to share photographs outside of our private group chat.
GRANTS OBTAINED
Unfortunately this year we were unable to support our sessions despite making several applications.
Regard to the Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance
Our Trustees in our planning for this period have given regard to the Northern Ireland Charity Commission's public benefit requirement statutory guidance and understand our legal obligations in providing benefit to our beneficiaries and fulfilling our obligations.
Financial Summary & Review – relating to the financial year 01 September 20022 to 31 August 2023.
Starting Balance as of 01/09/2022:£1502
Closing balance as of 31/08/2023: £1354
No debts are held by the Charity and we do not have a reserves policy.
Northern Ireland Registered Charity NIC 107619
RAVEL RASCALS PARENT TODDLER GROUP GLENRAVEL
04/04/202
Josephine McIlhatton DATE Signed on behalf of all Trustees of Ravel Rascals Parent Toddler Group.
Northern Ireland Registered Charity NIC 107619