Little Acorns
Trustees, Annual report and Statement of Receipts and Payments
For the financial year ended 31 October 2023
Charity Number: 108558

Little Acorns
Trustees, Annual Report and Statement of Receipts and Payments
For the financial year ended 315t October 2023
Contents
Pages
References and administrative details of the Charity
Trustees, report
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Little Acorns
References and administrative details
Charity Name.. Little Acorns
Charity Registration Number:
108558
Contact Address:
20 Manse Road
Crossgar
BT30 9LY
Trustees
The Management Committeeltrustees consists of 5 members, made up as follows:
Chairperson..
Dr Judith Harper
Treasurer:
Mrs Michelle Mullan
Secretary:
Mr Robin Fairbairn
Pastoral Carelsafeguarding..
Mrs Clare Wilson
Parent Representative..
Mrs Louise Neill
All trustees have had regard to the Commission's Public benefit requirement
statutory guidance.
At the Annual General Meeting the trustees can appoint one or more new trustees by
way of nomination and vote.
Independent Examiner
Dr Stanley Gamble
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5t
Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 October 2023
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments
st
and Assets and Liabilities for Little Acorns for the year ended 31 October 2023.
Charitable purposes
Little Acorns Pre-school wa5 established to promote play-based learning
environment for all children aged 2 years and 10 months to statutory school age
without distinction. This happens by advancing the foundational education of pre-
school aged children by providing a safe and satisfying group play, with the rights of
parents/carers and other interested people in the community to take responsibilitv
for and to become involved in the activities of the group. We encourage training
among staff and parents to a wider knowledge of the development, social needs and
behaviours of children. This enables the needs of every child to be met by a
programme tailored to them individually.
Public benefits
The benefits include enhanced educational opportunities for children from 2:10
years until they are ready to start school. This enables them to develop socially,
educationally, physically and morally in 8 nurturing and caring environment and
facilitate5 a successful transition into a more formal primary school learning
environment. These benefits are evidenced through adult observations, feedback
from children themselves, feedback from parents/carers and independent
evaluations by the South Eastern Health Trust. The most important benefit is that
through this experience each child will personally develop and gain skills that enable
them to cope and progress to the next stage of their growth and education.
What our organisation does
Little Acorns provides pre-school education to the children in an area of rural
deprivation. The staff of the organisation provide educational experiences which
allows children to grow in self-confidence, experience success, develop a good self-
image, learn to play co-operatively and share with others, develop at their own rate
through challenging, progressive play, communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings
clearly to both adults and children, deepen and lengthen concentration through
their natural spontaneous curioslty and interests, choose and explore a wide range
of materials which allow them to express themselves appropriately and creatively,
share in wonder and excitement created by books, stories, songs, rhymes, music and
natural environment, appreciate and practice social skills and learning to care for
others, and enjoy the satisfaction of work well done and share this with their
parents.
Achievements
The children benefitted from a range of visitors, activities and trips over the year
which enhanced their learning. These include a visit from: a District nurse, a
ca retaker, a n Interior designer, a local farmer, and Police dogs. Our activities
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included: Mini-Groover5 dance, Play bus, Football coaching, Sport's Day, Christmas
fete, Pre-school Graduation, Pre-school joint Christmas Concert with Derryboy
Primary School. Trips included a visit to Forest School.
Going Concern
The trustees have reviewed the budgets for the year ahead and are satisfied that
there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Trust can continue its activities
st
and the financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2023 can be signed off
as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document and Constitution of the Charity
Little Acorns is governed by the Constitution and the fund is managed by the
appointed Trustees.
Pay and remuneration
None of the Trustee5 are in a paid capacity. They are all acting on a voluntary basis.
There is no remuneration to report.
Orgunisational Structure
The Trustees are responsible for the day to day management of Little Acorns. The
Trust is chaired by Dr Judith Harper. The Trustee5 are responsible for making
decisions on matters of general concern and importance to the Trust including
deciding how funds are to be applied. The Trustees meets at times fixed by the
members, Special meetings may be convened at any time by the chairperson.
Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities
The trustee5 are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the statement of
receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with
applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000
require5 the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a
statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year.
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Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities {continued)
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to
show and explain the Trust's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the assets and liabilities of the Trust. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Trustee:
Date:
Trustee,.
Date:
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