**Toybox Children’s Centre Scottish Charity: SC030007**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report &**
## **Receipts & Payments Accounts**
**For the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
Simple Figures Ltd 17 West Argyle Street Ullapool IV26 2TY
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|**TOYBOX CHILDREN’S CENTRE**|**SC030007**|
|---|---|
|**TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT and RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS**||
|**For the year ended 31 March 2025**||
|**CONTENTS**|**PAGE**|
|Trustees’ Annual Report|3|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|5|
|Statement of Receipts & Payments|6|
|Statement of Balances|7|
|Notes to the Accounts|8|
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**TOYBOX CHILDREN’S CENTRE**
**SC030007**
## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025**
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, along with the Independent E xaminer’s report.
The Toybox Children’s Centre is a charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), charity number SC030007.
## **Trustees**
The Trustees who served during the year and were in office at the year-end of 31 March 2025 were;
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Charity is governed by its constitution. Membership is open to parents and guardians living in Wester Ross. The management of the Charity is vested in the management committee, members of which are elected by the membership at the annual general meeting.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The objectives of the charity are to provide high quality affordable childcare for families living in the Wester Ross area and opportunities to support the all-round development of pre-school and school age children attending the Centre.
## **Achievements and Performance**
Over the past year, the Centre has continued to grow, providing childcare services to an increasing number of local families including a few funded 2 year olds and families who have moved to the area knowing we are the only childcare setting in a vast area on the west. Alongside this, we have ensured that staff receive the necessary training to meet Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) requirements and PVGS are underway for office bearers as required. The manager completed her BA in Childhood practice in June 2024 again in line with SSSC requirements.
Outdoor play has unfortunately been limited due to poor weather in summer 2024 continuing throughout the next 6 months. The school however agreed to let us use their gym hall for active play a day a week which has been very successful.
Throughout 2024-25, our enrolment numbers were more stable than in the previous year. During busy periods, additional staff were required to maintain the necessary ratios, while quieter times still required two staff members on duty to meet Care Inspectorate regulations. Despite having more children on the register however, there were a significant amount of absences due to prolonged respiratory infections which affected our income over several months. In addition poor weather and
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electrical faults caused the Toybox to be closed for over two weeks between November 24 and January 25 which again impacted our income. This is the second year this has happened.
To improve staff planning, the committee has also updated the absence policy. A minimum of two weeks' notice is now required for absences, with charges applicable if notice isn't given. The committee also ensured staff wages are in line with the real living wage which is also a requirement of funders.
We managed to secure Community Regeneration Funding through Highland Council of £12,500 in – order to help meet our shortfall in the year 2024 2025. In addition we applied for and were awarded £16,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All fund. This however is ringfenced to be used between April 2025 and March 2027 despite being paid to us in February 2025. We are very grateful to both the Highland Council and the National Lottery for their support.
It seems unlikely that the Scottish Government will fulfil its commitment to providing funded care for all 2-year-olds at this time. Despite this, Toybox is well-positioned should the situation change, thanks to our strong Care Inspectorate ratings of 4s and 5s.
## **Statement of Risk**
Management believes that we are well-positioned to manage risks effectively. Toybox maintains a minimum of £15,000 in working capital, equivalent to over three months of operational expenses. We also hold a redundancy fund of £26,000 which is adequate for the current staff members
The management committee believes that the charity has sufficient unrestricted reserves to sustain its operations for the foreseeable future.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by
Chairperson
Date - 05 / 09 / 2025
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TOYBOX CHILDREN'S CENTRE
SC030007
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT
For the year ended 31 March 2025
I report on the accounts of Toybox Children's Centre ISC03(K)071 for the year ended 31 March 2025
which are set out on pages 6-9.
Respectlve responslbllltles of the Trustees and Examlner
The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of accounts in accordance with the terms
of the Charities and Trustee Investment {5cotland) Act 2(NJ5 and Charities Accounts IScotland}
Regulations 2006 as amended in 2010. The charity Trustees consider that the audit requirement of
Regulation 1011} {dl of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine
the accounts as required under section 44111 (cl of the Act and to state whether particular matters
have come to my attention.
Basls of Independent Examlnerfs Statement
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotlandl
Regulations 2006. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charitv
and a comparison of the accounts presented in those records. It also includes the consideration of
any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from the Trustees
concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be
required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the
accounts.
Independent Examlnerfs Statement
In the course of my examination. no matter has come to my attention..
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements..
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(Illa} of the 2005 Act and
Regulation 4 of the 2(K)6 Accounts Regulations, and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accountin8 records and comply with Regulation 9
of the 2006 Accounts Regulations
have not been met. or
2. to which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of
the accounts to be reached.
5i8ned-
Dated.. 21" Au8USt, 2025
Simple Figures Ltd
17 West Argyle street
Ullapool IV26 2TY
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t)oc ID.. 54g8dcf1d34b11ff1176d48753fb93d8a83823
**SC030007**
## **TOYBOX CHILDREN’S CENTRE**
## **STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**INCOME**
Fees
1
Fundraising
Donations
Other Income
2
Bank Interest Received
Grants Received
3
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE**
Wages
4
Pension Contributions
Food
Cleaning & Disposables
Art, Toys & Equipment
5
Post & Stationery
Travel Expenses
Repairs & Maintenance
Light & Heat
6
Telephone
Rates & Insurance
Rent
7
Miscellaneous Costs
Legal & Professional
Subscptns & Licenses
Bank Charges
**Total**
**Surplus/(deficit) for**
**the year**|**2025**
**2025**
**2025**
**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
51,222
-
51,222
38,053
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2601
-
2601
1,929
439
-
439
-
15,391
16,000
31,391
12,956|
|---|---|
||69,653
16,000
85,653
52,938
60,328
-
60,328
43,904
3,411
-
3,411
27,679
852
-
852
940
505
-
505
270
1,438
-
1,438
1,205
126
-
126
50
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
89
-
-
-
-
988
-
988
978
658
-
658
632
2,000
-
2,000
1,525
268
-
268
169
385
-
385
460
347
-
347
282
-
-
-|
||71,306
-
71,306
78,400
**14,347**
**(25,462)**|
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**SC030007**
## **TOYBOX CHILDREN’S CENTRE**
## **STATEMENT OF BALANCES As at 31 March 2025**
||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Bank and cash in hand**|||||
|Opening balances|8, 9|44,292|-|44,292|
|Net movement in funds||(1653)|16,000|14,347|
|**Closing balances**||**42,639**|**16,000**|**58,639**|
|||**Fund**||**£**|
|**Assets**|||||
|Debtors (fees receivable)||Unrestricted||3,161|
|**Total assets**||||**3,161**|
|**Liabilities**|||||
|HMRC (PAYE and NI)||Unrestricted||1,019|
|**Total liabilities**||||**1,019**|
|**Net assets**|10|||**2,142**|
These accounts were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by;
Date - 05 / 09 / 2025 Date - 05 / 09 / 2025
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**TOYBOX CHILDREN’S CENTRE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025**
**SC030007**
## **1. Fees**
Fee income increased by 5% in line with staff wage rises. Numbers fluctuate from year to year, reflecting the varying demand for places. Charges continued to be applied for absences without sufficient notice, and the stricter enforcement of this policy has supported fee income during the year. Children under 2 are charged a higher rate due to the lower staff-to-child ratios required by the Care Inspectorate (1:3 for under 2s, 1:5 for age 2, and 1:8 for over 3s). These ratios mean that overall capacity is constrained by the number of younger children in attendance.
## **2. Other Income**
Other income from SDS (Self-Directed Support) was due to one of our staff members supporting a young person with ASN during the year, with the staff payment being reimbursed by Highland Council.
## **3. Grants Received**
|**. Grants Received**||
|---|---|
||**Total**|
||**£**|
|Highland Council Community Regeneration Funding
|12,500|
|North Highland Initiative
|1,779|
|Highland Council (snacks)|595|
|Celtman|183|
|Scottish Government (snack and milk)|334|
|National Lottery
|16,000|
|**Total**|**31,391**|
The National Lottery funding of £16,000 received in 2024/25 is restricted for use in financial years 2025/26 and 2026/27. Accordingly, the full amount remains unspent and is carried forward as restricted funds.
## **4. Wages**
Wages increased during the year in line with the Real Living Wage. In addition, the higher number of children under 2 years old attending required a lower staff-to-child ratio, leading to an increase in staffing levels to meet Care Inspectorate requirements.
## **5. Art, Toys and Equipment**
The grant from the North Highland Initiative enabled purchases of new foam matting for the playroom floor to prevent minor injuries from falls.
## **6. Light and Heat**
Light and Heat expenses are now included in the quarterly rent bill.
## **7. Rent**
Rent of £500 per quarter is paid to the school since the move to the new premises and includes light and heat costs (see above).
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## **8. Opening balances**
Comprise Current Account £19,292 and High Interest Savings Account £25,000.
## **9. Redundancy Fund (in Deposit account)**
During 2023/24, the Trustees transferred £25,000 into a high interest deposit account and designated it as a redundancy reserve. In the 2023/24 accounts, this transfer was included within “Pension Contributions” expenditure. In line w ith OSCR Receipts and Payments Guidance and general accounting practice , transfers between the charity’s own bank accounts should not be recorded as expenditure.
Accordingly, in the 2024/25 accounts the redundancy reserve is presented as part of the Statement of Balances. At 31 March 2025, the deposit account held £25,439 (the original £25,000 plus interest earned relating to the 2023/24 financial year and received during 2024/25) which the Trustees have ring-fenced for potential redundancy costs.
## **10. Assets**
There is no specific asset register held, however there is an insurance policy to cover assets up to £15,000 (toys, play equipment etc) in the event of any loss or damage.
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