LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Company limited by guarantee

Company Registration Number:
12394254 (England and Wales)

Unaudited statutory accounts for the year ended 31 January 2024

Period of accounts

Start date: 1 February 2023

End date: 31 January 2024

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Contents of the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 January 2024

Directors report
Profit and loss
Balance sheet
Additional notes
Balance sheet notes
Community Interest Report

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Directors' report period ended 31 January 2024

The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 January 2024

Principal activities of the company

The principal activity during the year was that of an early years forest school



Directors

The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 February 2023 to 31 January 2024

Anne Rees
Sophie Wardell
Sarah Croft


The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the board of directors on
28 October 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Anne Rees
Status: Director

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Profit And Loss Account

for the Period Ended 31 January 2024

2024 2023


£

£
Turnover: 12,568 9,670
Cost of sales: ( 15,656 ) ( 17,531 )
Gross profit(or loss): (3,088) (7,861)
Operating profit(or loss): (3,088) (7,861)
Profit(or loss) before tax: (3,088) (7,861)
Profit(or loss) for the financial year: (3,088) (7,861)

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Balance sheet

As at 31 January 2024

Notes 2024 2023


£

£
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand: 491 76
Total current assets: 491 76
Net current assets (liabilities): 491 76
Total assets less current liabilities: 491 76
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year: 3 ( 22,942 ) ( 19,439 )
Total net assets (liabilities): (22,451) (19,363)
Members' funds
Profit and loss account: (22,451) ( 19,363)
Total members' funds: ( 22,451) (19,363)

The notes form part of these financial statements

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Balance sheet statements

For the year ending 31 January 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 28 October 2024
and signed on behalf of the board by:

Name: Anne Rees
Status: Director

The notes form part of these financial statements

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 January 2024

  • 1. Accounting policies

    Basis of measurement and preparation

    These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 1A (Small Entities) of Financial Reporting Standard 102

    Turnover policy

    Turnover comprises the invoiced value of goods and services supplied by the company, net of Value Added Tax and trade discounts

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 January 2024

  • 2. Employees

    2024 2023
    Average number of employees during the period 4 4

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 January 2024

3. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year note

2024 2023
£ £
Other creditors 22,942 19,439
Total 22,942 19,439

COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNUAL REPORT

LITTLE SQUIRRELS TORQUAY CIC

Company Number: 12394254 (England and Wales)

Year Ending: 31 January 2024

Company activities and impact

The year looked promising but unfortunately communication with the committee at Shekinah grow project became increasingly difficult. Having had a meeting with Torbay Council to discuss whether the secure fenced in space at Shekinah Grow project would be suitable for setting up an early years provision, it was decided that the site wasn't suitable until management made the long term expectations clear. Unfortunately their decision wasn't in our favour as it was decided they would focus on adult only activities. This meant a long process of taking everything build up down again which was finally completed early Spring 2023. From here it was back to the drawing board with regards to finding a permanent home for Little Squirrels forest school to be based from. April 2023 we received funding from Fearless Charity who had reached the end of their own project and were looking to support other non profit organisations. This has helped keep us afloat and really made a big difference to us being able to continue affordable groups for local families. Totnes Steiner play group had venue difficulties and with the costs of room hire going up, it wasn't possible to keep the group affordable to local families so it is indefinitely on hold. Steiner play group is very much suited to the area of Totnes and it was with sadness that staff had to withdraw due to financial reasons. September 2023 a new Thursday group was set up at Denbury near newton Abbot. Not in our original catchment area but the woodland space there is really big and suited to full day adventures for home educated pupils. The sessions where fully booked and financially stable until January 2024 when suddenly 4 out of 8 pupils had to leave. There was frustration for staff as a lack of communication from the parents who dropped out meant that there was uncertainty on the groups future. Tuesday forest school groups continue to provide stable income and employment for 2 forest school leaders as we have a large number of return bookings which provide a strong base for the group.

Consultation with stakeholders

Our large number of returning families speaks for itself as positive confirmation that what we are offering is of value to the families in Torbay. Many informal reviews have taken place verbally with feedback directly heard from parents of pupils attending. A questionnaire was put out via our newsletter and in email to our current attendees early in the academic year starting September 2023, seeing which activities parents wished to see added to what we offer- we haven't yet been able to fulfil these due to difficulty in finding suitable and affordable venues but we are keen to explore the options of offering woodworking groups, first aid training for children and seasonal themed parties as well as birthday parties. There had been frustration from 3 families who requested that we host birthday parties for them as they gave short notice and all staff where already engaged elsewhere. This has made us reflect that once we find a suitable site from which to offer forest school parties that we should be clear in advertising and sharing our offering of these to the local community to avoid disappointed families and to make it clearer what we can offer. With feedback from those who used out picktime.com booking system and got frustrated with the lack of clarity we have switched across to a UK based provider who so far provide excellent customer and business support.Eequ.org is now our new booking system provider. This feedback was directly received either via email or messenger from customers asking for support and sending screenshots saying things weren't working for them and what should they do instead. So far when there have been tech issues they have been speedily sorted out by the bookings manager at Eequ.

Directors' remuneration

Mrs Anne Rees Director has taken gross salary for work completed for Little Squirrels Torquay to the value of £6370 Of this a sum of £3519.75 has been loaned back to the company in directors loans to pay its staff and cover its costs. The total loaned now equals £22942.45. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the renumeration of directors or for the compensation of the director's loss of office which require to be disclosed.

Transfer of assets

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration

This report was approved by the board of directors on
28 October 2024

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Mrs Anne Rees
Status: Director