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Registered number: SC203106
Charity number: SC029731















          CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
          TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
          FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 

CONTENTS



Page
Reference and administrative details of the charitable company, its Trustees and advisers
1
Trustees' report
2 - 5
Independent auditors' report on the financial statements
6 - 9
Statement of financial activities
10
Balance sheet
11
Notes to the financial statements
12 - 21

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITABLE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


Trustees
M Reid
F Waterston (resigned 26 August 2024)
D Hayward
M Fairbairn
D Doughty Shenton
C Watson (appointed 7 March 2024)

Company registered number
SC203106

Charity registered number
SC029731

Registered office
Valley Park Community Centre
37 Southhouse Road
Edinburgh
Midlothian
EH17 8EU

Company secretary
P Ellis

Independent auditors
Sumer Auditco Limited
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
Pentland House
Saltire Centre
Glenrothes
Fife
KY6 2AH

Bankers
Bank of Scotland
Unit 15A Cameron Toll
Lady Road
Edinburgh
EH16 5PB

Page 1

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 
  
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of the charitable company for the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024The Annual report serves the purposes of both a Trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The Trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019). 
 

Since the charitable company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
 

Objectives and activities
 

a. Objectives and aims
 

The objectives of the charitable company are:
1. To provide a quality affordable and inclusive childcare service for those people within the Liberton / Gilmerton Neighbourhood Partnership area who are excluded from key aspects of life.
2. To improve access to economic activity and learning opportunities for local parents and carers by providing childcare which will enable them to take up job, training and educational opportunities.
3. To provide a safe, pleasant and stimulating child-centered play care environment where children learn and broaden their experiences through participating in play activities.
 

Achievements and performance
 

a. Main achievements of the charitable company
 

Childcare Connections continues to provide affordable, inclusive and quality childcare to families, helping to remove one of the main barriers that prevents parents/carers taking up training and job opportunities. The out of school services offered before school, after school and through school holidays have facilitated the best possible service to more than 250 families during the year providing childcare for children attending 5 local primary schools and 2 high schools. 
The number of children attending the service during 2023/24 has continued to increase however the level of growth has been slower than anticipated which is attributed to the change in working patterns of parents with a greater number of parents carrying out hybrid working.   
With the challenges of recruitment and retention of staffing across the sector the investment and development of staff has never been more important with Childcare Connections continuing as a real living wage employer.  
During the year we have had 1 member of staff working towards the PDA Childhood Practice level 9 award, and 2 staff and 1 apprentice working towards the SVQ3 (level 7) award in Social Services Children & Young People.  In addition to formal qualifications all staff have attended in house team building and development days, training with local training providers and have been given ongoing access to an online training portal. 
Childcare Connections Board and Senior management team continue to be careful in the monitoring the use of reserves, income from parent fees, and funding from the City of Edinburgh Council. As the subsidised childcare funding reaches the end of its extended year the Board of Directors have provided support to the Senior management with plans for the services and the use of the financial income and review of outgoings for the sustainability of the service. 
 
 

Page 2

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 
Financial review
The charitable company had net expenditure of £2,686 in the year (2023 - net income of £6,333). The main sources of funding continued to be from parental fees and funding from the Capital City Partnership. 
 

a. Going concern
 

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
 

b. Reserves policy
 

At 31 March 2024, free reserves amounted to £411,432 (2023 - £412,559). The trustees' policy is to retain 6 months' worth of unrestricted running costs in order to meet commitments and cover any unexpected expenditure. This equates to approximately £217,000 and hence the charitable company is holding unrestricted free reserves at the year end which are well in advance of the target levels.
 

Structure, governance and management
 

a. Constitution
 

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is constituted by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. It is governed by a Board of Directors. The Directors make the strategic decisions regarding the charity and delegate to the staff the day to day operations.
 

b. Methods of appointment or election of Trustees
 

Requirements are discussed at Board meetings. Vacant positions available on them Board are discussed regularly, and attempts made to identify individuals with the appropriate skill base who are then encouraged to apply to become trustees.
 

c. Organisational structure and decision-making policies
 

The Board of Directors meets at least once every two months and, in consultation with the senior members of staff, makes policy decisions, receives budgetary information and ratifies any service delivery decisions. At all times we seek to fulfil the requirements of our founders and to satisfy the demands from the local community in the delivery of our service.
As an organisation we are seeking to maximise the skill base of those involved. This is achieved through encouraging staff training and development, and by attempting to attract Board members with a variety of skills and experience.
 

d. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees
 

New trustees receive a director's pack of information and a job description.

 
 

Page 3

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 
Structure, governance and management (continued)

e. Financial risk management
 

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charitable company is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The Board of Directors conducts an annual review of the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, and systems are then established to mitigate those risks.
 

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities
 

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).


Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.


The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.









 


Page 4

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
 
Disclosure of information to auditors
 

Each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when this Trustees' report is approved has confirmed that:

so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware, and
that Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditors are aware of that information.
 

Auditors
 

The auditorsSumer Auditco Limitedhave indicated their willingness to continue in office. The designated Trustees will propose a motion reappointing the auditors at a meeting of the Trustees.
 

 

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:



M Reid
Date: 31 October 2024
Page 5

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 

Opinion


We have audited the financial statements of Childcare Connections Limited (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).


In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.


Basis for opinion


We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.


Conclusions relating to going concern


In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.


Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.


Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.


Page 6

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED (CONTINUED)


Other information


The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual reportOur opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.


We have nothing to report in this regard.


Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.


Matters on which we are required to report by exception


In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' report.


We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.


Responsibilities of trustees


As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.


In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
 

Page 7

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED (CONTINUED)


Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements


We have been appointed as auditor under section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.


Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.


Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the company and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
We focused on laws and regulations which could give rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements, including, but not limited to, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and UK tax legislation. Our tests included agreeing the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and enquiries with management. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. As in all our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.


A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' report.


Page 8

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED (CONTINUED)


Use of our report
 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, and to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, in accordance with regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members and Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company, its members, as a body, and its trustees, as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.





Greg Stapley (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of
Sumer Auditco Limited
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
Pentland House
Saltire Centre
Glenrothes
Fife
KY6 2AH

31 October 2024


Sumer Auditco Limited are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.


Page 9

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)


 
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024


Unrestricted funds
2024
Restricted funds
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £
        £

Income from:







Charitable activities

3

473,471

8,175

481,646

445,972
 
Total income
473,471
8,175
481,646
445,972
Expenditure on:







Raising funds

4

26,023

-

26,023

24,959
 
Charitable activities

5

450,134

8,175

458,309

414,680
 
Total expenditure
476,157
8,175
484,332
439,639

Net movement in funds
  
(2,686)
-
(2,686)
6,333

Reconciliation of funds:

  





Total funds brought forward

  

416,836

-

416,836

410,503
 
Net movement in funds

  

(2,686)

-

(2,686)

6,333
 
Total funds carried forward
  
414,150
-
414,150
416,836

The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 12 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

Page 10

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED
 
(A company limited by guarantee)
REGISTERED NUMBER: SC203106


 
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2024


2024
2023
Note
£
£

Fixed assets
  

Tangible assets
 10 
2,718
4,277

  
2,718
4,277

Current assets
  

Debtors
 11 
5,260
4,690

Cash at bank and in hand
  
427,952
424,455

  
433,212
429,145

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
 12 
(21,780)
(16,586)

Net current assets 
  
 
 
411,432
 
 
412,559

Total net assets 
  
414,150
416,836


Charity funds
  

Restricted funds
 13 
-
-

Unrestricted funds
 13 
414,150
416,836

Total funds
  
414,150
416,836

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:




M Reid
Date: 31 October 2024

The notes on pages 12 to 21 form part of these financial statements.

Page 11

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1.


General information

Childcare Connections Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland, governed by their Memorandum and Articles of Association. The charity's registered office is Valley Park Community Centre, 37 Southhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH17 8EU. 


2.Accounting policies

  
2.1

Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Childcare Connections Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

The presentation currency of these financial statements is GBP, rounded to the nearest pound. 

  
2.2

Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

  
2.3

Income

All income is recognised once the charitable company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Page 12

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)

  
2.4

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis when a liability is incurred and it is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. The charitable company is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure is shown gross of irrecoverable VAT. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of expenditure:

Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of the charitable activities carried out which meet the objectives of the charity. Expenditure on charitable activities includes governance costs which comprise the costs of running the charity, including strategic planning for its future development, external audit, any legal advice for the trustees and all the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements, such as the costs of Board meetings and of preparing statutory accounts and satisfying public accountability.

Costs of raising funds include all staff costs incurred in obtaining external funding for the charity and all other direct costs associated to fundraising activities.

 
2.5

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably. 

Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Office equipment
-
over 4 years

  
2.6

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

  
2.7

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments.

Page 13

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)


2.8

Creditors and provisions

Creditors are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Creditors are recognised at the amount that the charitable company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.

  
2.9

Financial instruments

The  charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

  
2.10

Pensions

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charitable company to the fund in respect of the year.

  
2.11

Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charitable company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charitable company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.


3.

Income from charitable activities





Unrestricted funds
2024
Restricted funds
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £
        £





Parental fees

340,231

-

340,231

306,410
 
Grants

133,240

8,175

141,415

139,562
 
Total 2024


473,471
8,175
481,646
445,972
Total 2023


440,017
5,955
445,972

Page 14

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4.

Expenditure on raising funds





Unrestricted funds
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £




Staff costs

24,631

24,631

23,567
 
Marketing

1,392

1,392

1,392
 
Total 2024


26,023
26,023
24,959
Total 2023


24,959
24,959









5.

Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities


Summary by fund type





Unrestricted funds
2024
Restricted funds
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
        £
        £
        £
        £





General Fund

450,134

-

450,134

408,725
 
Capability Scotland

-

8,175

8,175

5,955
 
Total 2024


450,134
8,175
458,309
414,680
Total 2023


408,725
5,955
414,680

Page 15

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6.

Analysis of expenditure by activities





Activities undertaken directly
2024
Support costs
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £
        £





General Fund

381,877

68,257

450,134

408,725
 
Capability Scotland

8,175

-

8,175

5,955
 
Total 2024


390,052
68,257
458,309
414,680
Total 2023


352,707
61,973
414,680


Analysis of direct costs





General Fund
2024
Capability Scotland
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £
        £





Staff costs

320,450

-

320,450

293,766
 
Agency staff

220

-

220

-
 
Rent

4,400

-

4,400

4,400
 
Materials and play care

33,239

8,175

41,414

35,236
 
Other direct costs

15,725

-

15,725

15,375
 
Audit and accountancy fees

7,843

-

7,843

3,930
 
Total 2024


381,877
8,175
390,052
352,707
Total 2023


346,752
5,955
352,707

Page 16

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

6.Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)

Analysis of support costs




General Fund
2024
Total
funds
2024
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £
        £




Staff costs

53,722

53,722

46,029
 
Depreciation

1,559

1,559

2,137
 
Other support costs

12,976

12,976

13,807
 
Total 2024


68,257
68,257
61,973
Total 2023


61,973
61,973


7.

Auditors' remuneration

2024
2023
£
£

Fees payable to the charitable company's auditor for the audit of the charitable company's annual accounts
7,200
3,930


8.



Staff costs


2024
2023
£
£


Wages and salaries
374,381
341,173

Social security costs
18,401
16,538

Employer pension costs
6,021
5,651

398,803
363,362

The average number of persons employed by the charitable company during the year was as follows:


2024
2023

No.
No.


Childcare
24
19

Management and administration
2
3

26
22

Page 17

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8.Staff costs (continued)

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

The total amount of remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel, made up of the Operations Manager, Finance and Admin Officer and the Playcare Leaders, was £189,834 (2023 - £181,525).



9.


Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration, expenses, or other benefits (2023 - £NIL).




10.


Tangible fixed assets




Office equipment

£


Cost or valuation

At 1 April 2023
11,907


At 31 March 2024

11,907


Depreciation

At 1 April 2023
7,630

Charge for the year
1,559


At 31 March 2024

9,189


Net book value


At 31 March 2024
2,718


At 31 March 2023
4,277


11.



Debtors


2024
2023
£
£


Due within one year

Trade debtors
704
780

Prepayments and accrued income
4,556
3,910

5,260
4,690

Page 18

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

12.



Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year


2024
2023
£
£


Trade creditors
1,913
1,765

Other taxation and social security
3,789
4,428

Other creditors
1,156
-

Accruals and deferred income
14,922
10,393

21,780
16,586


13.

Statement of funds


Statement of funds - current year

Balance at 1 April 2023
£
Income
£
Expenditure
£
Balance at 31 March 2024
£

Unrestricted funds





General Fund

416,836

473,471

(476,157)

414,150
 

Restricted funds






Capability Scotland

-

8,175

(8,175)

-
 

Total of funds


416,836
481,646
(484,332)
414,150

The restricted fund is from Capability Scotland and is for the inclusion of children with additional needs in mainstream provision.

Page 19

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13.

Statement of funds (continued)



Statement of funds - prior year

Balance at
1 April 2022
£
Income
£
Expenditure
£
Balance at
31 March 2023
£

Unrestricted funds





General Fund

410,503

440,017

(433,684)

416,836
 


Restricted funds






Capability Scotland

-

5,955

(5,955)

-
 


Total of funds


410,503
445,972
(439,639)
416,836


14.

Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current period

Unrestricted funds
2024
Total
funds
2024
        £
        £


Tangible fixed assets

2,718

2,718

Current assets

433,212

433,212

Creditors due within one year

(21,780)

(21,780)

Total 


414,150
414,150



Analysis of net assets between funds - prior period

Unrestricted funds
2023
Total
funds
2023
        £
        £


Tangible fixed assets

4,277

4,277

Current assets

429,145

429,145

Creditors due within one year

(16,586)

(16,586)

Total 

416,836
416,836

Page 20

 
CHILDCARE CONNECTIONS LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)
 

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

15.


Pension commitments

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charitable company to the fund and amounted to £6,021 (2023 - £5,651). Contributions totaling £1,156 (2023 - £NIL) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date.


16.


Related party disclosures

The trustees are of the opinion that there were no related party transactions in the current or previous financial year.

Page 21