Registered company number
04566497
Registered Charity number
1166691
Birmingham Playcare Network
Accounts
31 March 2024
Birmingham Playcare Network
The Report of the trustees
for the year ended 31 March 2024
INTRODUCTION
The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 2015.

The Company is exempt from Audit understion 477 of the Company act 2006 in respect of small companies.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the charity, as set out in its Memorandum of Association are:
To enhance the development and education of children and to facilitate contact, share information, offer support and encourage, to promote the right to play of all children and to encourage best practice in child-centred playcare within the City of Birmingham by:-
1 supporting and enhancing the profile of playcare provision through events and activities
2 consulting with and encouraging the participation of Members
3 actively supporting the development of quality assurance standards for playcare
4 operating in an environment of equal opportunities and inclusive practice
5 supporting the development of playcare resources
6 supporting the development of a playcare training resource
7 establishing effective links with appropriate agencies to further benefit the work of the charity
This year, the charity provided the following services :
Play provision : 3000 craft and play packs were distributed across the city as part of the Holiday Activity and Food programmes lead by Street Games on behalf of Birmingham City Council.BPCN were commissioned to create and distribute packs to children who were not able to access holiday playscheme provision to provide children with activity and play opportunities.
Workforce Development: BPCN continued to deliver a successful summer of playscheme activity at both Martineau Gardens in Edgbaston and Stockfield Park in Acocks Green. Green spaces and parks in the south of the city were offered open access schemes with trained and upskilled playworkers. Working with our local community has also provided the opportunity for volunteers to gsin new skills and secure paid work.
Information and Member services: BPCN offered community groups, schools, artists, the Early Years sector and the general public access to The Birmingham Scrapstore. This is a community re-use facility that takes clean business waste that is upcycled for play and creative projects.
Quality: BPCN support and promote the importance of play in childhood. Our activities seek to ensure that playful opportunitiess are accessed by children across our city. These opportunities should offer choice, innovation in play and environments that promote creativity , problem solving and fun.
All of the Centre’s activities are aimed at supporting quality playcare, and supporting providers of playcare across the City of Birmingham. No member of the company, including the Trustees, receive any financial benefit from their involvement with the Centre.
In developing activities and delivering services, the Trustees have taken account of the guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Our key achievements over the last twelve months include:
Our key achievement has again been distributing craft and play packs as part of the Bring It On Brum campaign. We have ensured that children receiving our packs had the basic elements such as stationary, sports equipment and craft resources toprovide them with activities to do during the school holidays. This project is now a much more sustainable and focused piece of work with volunteers supporting the design of activities, sessional staff supporting the collation of the packs and partner organisations supporting the design work. We still have a very strong relationship with National Literacy Trust who provide us with more than 3,000 books each year to be included in these packs.
Our location in Northfield at The Hollymoor Centre is now a ‘Warm Welcome’ supported by Household Support Fund and visitor numbers increase each month. Our relationship with local businesses and individuals is developing strongly and we are now working closely with partners at International Synergies who support SME to reduce their carbon emissions. Our scrapstore facility is supported by volunteers from across BPCN with the number of volunteers hours exceeding 70 hours per week.
The Momma moves programme continues to invite mothers and their babies or children under 5 to come along to gentle keep fit and play sessions based at the Hollymoor Centre. This year we have partnered with the National Literacy Trust programme ‘ First Words Together’ to provide mothers with free books along with hints and tips on communication and language development with their babies. These sessions were extremely well received and the feedback from those who attended was great.
BPCN continue to work with Stockfield Community Housing Association and Arts in the Yard on their Building Community project which is a five-year funded Big Lottery programme. The tea dances and play in parks elements of the project are run by BPCN and this year the play in parks also received match funding from the Bring it on Brum programme. This allowed all children who attended the scheme to receive a healthy lunch as well as access to artist and more sports focussed provision. They also had healthy food activities, cold cooking opportunities and lots of free fruit and vegetables to try.
BPCN continues to run workshops for local residents in Northfield as part of our Create Craft Share project funded by the Network Neighbourhood Scheme. This supports older women to address issues of loneliness through craft and friendship and we had an amazing trip to the NEC with over 50 residents and volunteers to the craft show.
We have this year run a pilot scheme funded by BCC though the Household support fund to address issues of bed poverty in children under 5. This scheme is called ‘Safe Sleep Scheme’ and provides cots, moses baskets and other sleeping equipment to families who are referred to us through the Birmingham Forward Steps Children Centre Network. The pilot has run between January and March 2024 and has focussed on the North of Birmingham. We hope this pilot will shine a light on child poverty in our city and highlight the need for a city wide baby bank to support the most vulnerable children in society.
We have worked collaboratively with a range of partners throughout the year bringing in valuable specialist services to our local community. Our partners have included:
Sport Birmingham, Stockfield Community Housing Association, Arts in the Yard, Thrive Together Birmingham, Edgbaston Foundation, Heart of England Foundation, Big Lottery, Northfield NNS, The Eveson Trust, Clarion Housing, Martineau Gardens, Bring it on Brum and Street Games, BCC and the household support fund, The Warm Welcome Network, In Kind Direct, Giving World, Longbridge Childcare Strategy, The National Literacy Trust, and The Reuseful Network.
The Trustees would therefore like to thank our dedicated staff team, our volunteers, our partners and funders for their support over the year, enabling us to positively change the lives of so many children.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overall there was a surplus in Unrestricted funds of £ 31,995 increasing our Unrestricted reserves to £85,124
This year we secured new funding from Eveson Trust, Street Games BCC Household Support Fund and Clarion, as well as continued support from Stockfield Building Community Together consortium.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks.
Where grants are given for specific purposes, they are treated as Restricted Funds. In the year to 31 March 2024, there were 8 restricted funds and 1 designated fund, and tracking and managing these funds is an important part of the charity’s financial management. We are grateful to all our funders for their valuable support.
In the year to 31 March 2024 37% of the expenditure went on staff salaries and employer costs, and 48% on the direct costs of the charity's activities. The remaining 15% was spent on premises, overheads and governance.
The Trustees have adopted a policy on reserves. Due to uncertainties and the short term nature of much of the charity’s funding, the aim is to hold sufficient reserves in the Unrestricted Fund to allow it to operate for a period of 6 months and/or to meet redundancy costs for posts that cannot be sustained. The current free reserves of £85,124 will cover this amount,
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The company is constituted as a not for profit Company Limited by Guarantee having no share capital. It was registered as a charity in April 2016. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the policies made from time to time by its Directors, who are also the trustees of the charity. The members have not required an audit.
Every Trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as Trustees, the Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Company.

The Company is entitled to exemption from Audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies
Registered Company number
04566497
Registered Charity number
1166691
Registered office
Hollymoor Centre
8 Manor Park Grove
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 5ER
Trustees
Yvette Oruye
Maxine Yvonne Mills
Sarah Ann Wood
Jesse Gerald
Key personnel
Day to day Management is devolved to the Business Development Manager, who regularly reports to the Board of Trustees
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to :
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless inappropriate to presume
- that the company will continue in business.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on its behalf by:
Trustee
Yvette Oruye
Date: 28th September 2024
Birmingham Playcare Network
Independent Examiners Report to the trustees
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity’s gross income did not exceed £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law, and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention to indicate that:
- accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006;
- the accounts do not accord with such records;
- where accounts are prepared on an accruals basis, whether they fail; or to comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006, or are not consistent with the Charities SORP (FRS102)
- any matter which the examiner believes should be drawn to the attention of the reader to gain a proper understanding of the accounts.
RB Welch
Retired Qualified Accountant
Polkadot Accountants Ltd
173 Church Road
Northfield
Birmingham
B31 2LX
28th September 2024
Birmingham Playcare Network
Statement of Financial Activities incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Current Year Current Year Current Year Current Year Prior Year
2024 2024 2024 2024 2023
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Fund Fund Fund
Note
£ £ £ £ £
Income and Endowments from
Charitable Activities 3 58,460 74,740 114,309 247,509 289,284
Investment Income 4 2,963 - 2,963 812
Total 61,423 74,740 114,309 250,472 290,096
Expenditure
Raising Funds 5 5,685 - - 5,685 7,300
Charitable Activities 5 44,028 80,184 94,827 213,354 225,812
Net Income / (Expenditure) 49,713 80,184 94,827 219,039 233,112
Reconcilition of Funds 11,710 (5,444) 19,483 25,749 56,984
Total funds brought forward 85,084 48,481 6,618 140,183 83,199
Transfer between Funds (11,943) 13,457 (1,514) - -
Total funds carried forward 84,851 56,494 24,587 165,932 140,183
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year.
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
* Please see note 13 for prior year comparative
Birmingham Playcare Network
Balance Sheet
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Note 2024 2023
£ £
Current assets
Debtors 2,064 2,238
Cash at bank and in hand 167,995 142,555
170,059 144,793
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,127) (4,610)
Net current assets 165,932 140,183
Net assets 165,932 140,183
All funds
Unrestricted Funds 84,851 85,084
Designated Funds 56,494 48,481
Restricted Funds 24,587 6,618
Profit and loss account 5,685 7,300
Total Funds 165,932 140,183
The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The member has not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts .
The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
Trustee
Yvette Oruye
Issued by the Trustees 28 September 2024
Birmingham Playcare Network
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2024
1 General Information
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, 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 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

2 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Company will continue to operate. The validity of this assumption is dependent upon the continuance of support from the Company's key grant funders and in response to the progress made by the Company in pursuing a viable budget including the obtaining of further grants and other funds. The Company's current business plan shows that the Company will be able to operate in the foreseeable future. Based on this understanding, the directors believe that it remains appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. The financial statements do not include any adjustments, which would result from the basis of preparation being inappropriate.





Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life (assets with a cost below £1,000 are not capitalised) :
Fixtures, fittings & equipment -25% per annum straight line
Income
"Items of income are recognised and included in the accounts when all of the following criteria are met:
- The charity has entitlement to the funds;
- any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity;
- there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable; and
- the amount can be measured reliably.




Expenditure
"Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
- Costs of raising funds comprise staff costs and other direct costs involved in the raising of funds for the charity;
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes the direct costs of activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support & governance costs.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
"


Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted Funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. From 2023 it has been decided by the Trustees Play Advocacy as a designated fund rather than Unrestricted.

Restricted funds can only be used for the particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are rasied for a particular restricted purpose.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Creditors
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Pension Costs
The Company operates a money purchase pension scheme for employees. Employer contributions are charged as an expense in the period to which they relate and are allocated to activities in line with the related salary cost.

3 Restricted Grants Income
2024 2023
£ £
Stockfield BIG 24,970 22,287
Tesco - 992
Northfield NNS 4,540 4,920
Harry Payne Foundation 1,000
NDSU 2,500
Commonwealth Games Creative City 10,150
Commonwealth Games Celebrating Comms 6,445
Legacy Fund Stronger Comms 1,000
Eveson Trust 2,252 -
Brummie Mummies 10,500 -
Martineau PIP 3,928 -
Safe Sleep Scheme 55,500 -
Warm Welcome 3,000 -
Governance Review 9,619 -
114,309 49,294
Designated Fund Income 74,740
Income from Charitable activities
Scrapstore 52,902 46,904
Training - 700
Play Advocacy - From 2023 Treated as a Designated Fund - 187,095
Other income 5,558 5,336
58,460 240,035
247,509 289,329
4 Investment Income
2024 2023
£ £
Bank account interest 2963 812
5 Direct costs of charitable activities
2024 2023
£ £
Staff costs 79,397 84,021
Staff training & travel 312 163
Premises & office costs 23,095 26,303
Central function costs 8,527 5,238
Direct cost of activities 107,158 109,547
Independent Examiner's Fee 550 540
219,039 225,812
Raising funds: £ £
Staff costs 5,285 6,900
Other direct costs 400 400
5,685 7,300
6 Staff costs
2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 83,097 85,514
Employer costs - National Insurance - 1,555
Pension costs 1,585 2,291
84,682 89,360
The average number of full time equivalent employees during the year was as follows:
2024 2023
3.0 3.0
There were no trustees remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2024 nor for the year ended 31st March 2023.
There were no trustees expenses paid for the year ended 31st March 2024 nor for the year ended 31st March 2023.
7 Debtors
2024 2023
£ £
Trade Debtors 2,064 2,238
2,064 2,238
8 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 3,287 2,109
Income tax and social security 491 1,961
Accrued expenses 349 540
4,127 4,610
9 Analysis of net assets between funds
2024 2023
Total Total
& Unrestricted & Unrestricted
Funds Funds
Fixed Assets
Net Current Assets/(liabilities) 165,932 140,183
165,932 140,183
10 Movement in Funds
Opening Balance Movement in fund Closing Balance
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 73,142 11,709 84,851
-
73,142 11,709 84,851
Designated Funds
General Fund 61,938 (5,444) 56,494
-
61,938 (5,444) 56,494
Restricted Funds
Tesco 318 (318) -
Eveson Trust (2,252) 2,252 -
Northfield NNS 3,538 977 4,515
Stockfield BIG 3,500 (1,087) 2,413
Brummie Mummies - 7,300 7,300
Martineau PIP - (4) (4)
Safe Sleep Scheme - 744 744
Warm Welcome - - -
Governance Review - 9,619 9,619
5,104 19,483 24,587
140,184 25,748 165,932
Tesco – Funds to provide social activities for older residents in Birmingham promoting gentle exercise and dance.
Eveson - Financial support to replace and update IT equipment Funding
NNS - This is a club developed for local women over 50 to deliver craft sessions and a selection of crafty trips and events. The workshop were delivered at our scrapstore facility with the group showcasing their talents and leading the workshops. We also showcased healthy lifestyles with our partners at Cuppa Squad to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Building Communities Together – This is a five year Big Lottery funded programme that BPCN deliver along with partners Stockfield Community Housing Association and Arts in the Yard. Based in the Stockfield area of Acocks Green the project aims to reduce isolation, provide play opportunities and increased access to the arts
Clarion Essentials Fund – Brummie Mummies this scheme is to support local mothers and their young babies to access keep fit, cookery sessions and access to household essentials to combat the cost of living crisis. The group meeting weekly during term time and are now a strong independent support to each other.
Clarion Resilience Fund – Governance review. Money received this year to be spent in the new financial year 24 – 25 to run a governance review and strengthen the sustainability of the organsation.
BCC household support Fund – Safe Sleep Scheme, a pilot scheme to address issues of bed poverty in children under 5.
Warm Welcome – BCC Household Support Fund – to provide refreshments to our visitors along with a warm, friendly welcome from our staff and volunteers along with the opportunity to signpost for support if needed.
11 Related Party Transactions
There were no transactions with related parties during the year or previous year that require disclosure in these accounts.
12 Ultimate Controlling Party
The charity is wholly under the control of the board of Trustees.
13 Comparative Statement of Financial Activities
(incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account)
for the year ended 31st March 2023
2023
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total
Notes Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
INCOME FROM:
Donations & legacies
Charitable activities 3 52,940 187,095 49,249 289,284
Investment income 4 812 812
TOTAL INCOME 53,752 187,095 49,249 290,096
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds 5 7,300 7,300
Charitable Activities 5 14,497 138,614 72,701 225,812
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 21,797 138,614 72,701 233,112
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 31,955 48,481 -23,452 56,984
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds bought forward 53,129 0 30,070 83,199
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 85,084 48,481 6,618 140,183
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