**Ullapool Otters O to 3 Childcare Trustees' Annual Report** 14 June 2025 to 13 June 2026 ## **Charity contact information** Ullapool Otters 0 to 3 Childcare SC052624 Argyle Street, Ullapool IV26 2UB 07906254709 Ullapool_otters@outlook.com 2 ## **Charity Trustees** Name all of your charity trustees for the period, and the date they left if they were not in post for the whole year 1. Jocelyn W Napier 2. Karen Otter 3. Kim Lamond 4. Helen Chalmers 5. Louise Boyd ## **Objectives and activities** Ullapool Otters Oto 3 childcare came about on the back of a community survey and local knowledge of the need for childcare in this age range. There is currently inadequate availability of childcare provision in Ullapool, and we aim to address this need for our local community by providing a sustainable not for profit 0-3 years childcare service as a charity. The organisation aims to enable parents in the local area to continue in employment by providing high quality affordable childcare to their children from age 3 months to 3 years. 3 ## **Structure, governance and management** Type of governing document Ullapool Otters O to 3 childcare is governed by a constitution. Trustee recruitment and appointment There have been no trustee appointments during the third year of operation. All trustees are original members that were involved through the planning stages of the charity. All members have been selected based on their personal investment into improving the lives of both children and their parents in the community. All members have specific knowledge and skills based in either the business or childcare sectors to allow for a diverse range of skills to ensure sustainability of the charity. 4 ## **Achievements and performance** The organisational aims for the third year of operation - Continue to campaign for the requirement for early years childcare in the area. - Continue to search for a suitable premises for the use of early years childcare in the central area - Connect with relevant stakeholders involved in the provision and decision making in early years for the wider area. The charity has spent time building relationships with other charities in the area in order to open up possible options for a premises as well as identify contacts to further highlight the issue of lack of childcare in the area. An Ullapool based group with shared interest in failing infrastructure within the area has become a key component of the campaign to highlight the need for childcare and identifying a solution. We are now working alongside this group to identify the possibility of intergenerational care. Ullapool Otters now sits as part of a steering group identifying key components of intergenerational care and training for staffing to relieve some of the staffing pressures that the charity will likely experience in the future. A vacant space in what was previously part of the care home and part of the doctor’s surgery has been the key point of discussion and Ullapool Otters 0 to 3 Childcare has been in discussion with decision makers regarding this building. The trustees feel it would be a suitable space for a childcare center and Early Learning Centre Commissioner for Highland Council has viewed the premises to check for suitability. Several discussions have taken place to highlight the need for childcare and demonstrate why it should be considered as a priority for this space.0 As members we continue to lobby, meeting with councilors and local teams to come up with a solution for the continued need for early years childcare in the community. 5 ## **Financial review** There is currently no financial activity for the charity as we try to obtain a suitable premises. ## **Future plans** - The charity will continue to lobby for support from local government. - The charity will work with local groups and councilors to find a solution to the childcare issue in the community. 6 ## **Declaration** ## **Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:** Jocelyn Napier **Print name** Chairperson **Designation** 10/08/2026 **Date** 7