The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
I’m pleased to present my Chairman’s Report for this year’s Annual General Meeting of the Whaplode Playing Field Association Ltd.
As ever, the work of this association continues to be driven by the commitment and care of its members and supporters, and I want to begin by thanking you all for the hard work you’ve put in over the past year.
Volunteer Work and General Maintenance
A heartfelt thank you goes to all current members who have contributed their time and effort to litter picking and the general upkeep of the field. These regular tasks, though often unseen by the wider community, are vital to keeping the playing field a clean, safe, and welcoming space for everyone. Your efforts are truly appreciated.
I would like to give a special extra thank you to Margaret, whose behind-the-scenes work as Secretary is absolutely invaluable. From correspondence to coordination and everything in between, Margaret’s quiet dedication ensures the smooth running of the association, and we are incredibly grateful for all she does.
We were also pleased to welcome Sally Beale as a new member this year. We look forward to working with her and are confident she will be a valuable addition to the team.
Litter Picking Support
In addition to our own volunteers, we’d like to extend our thanks to Tudor Lodge School for their extra help with litter picking. It’s wonderful to see younger members of the community taking pride in their local area, and we hope this partnership continues in the future.
Financial Position
I’m happy to report that the Association remains in a strong financial position, despite the fact that no fundraising activities took place during this financial year.
This stability has been supported by two generous contributions:
A £1,500 grant from the Parish Council, for which we are extremely grateful.
A further £380 from Asda, which has also been put to good use in supporting our ongoing maintenance in terms of litter picking tools/clothes/bags.
Thanks to prudent management and the absence of any major unforeseen costs, our reserves remain healthy.
Safety and Grounds Maintenance
The annual Wicksteed Safety Report found no major faults or problems with the play equipment, which was excellent news. This has allowed us to avoid any significant expenditure on repairs and has reduced pressure on our finances.
We’d also like to express our sincere thanks to Evolution for their continued exceptional service in grass cutting. The field has been kept in excellent condition throughout the year, and we appreciate their reliability and high standards.
Special thanks also go to Wayne Sterma, who not only undertook tree cutting work to tidy up the park, but also responded swiftly and effectively to deal with a fallen tree earlier this year. His help was instrumental in maintaining safety and the overall appearance of the field.
Looking Ahead
At present, there are no major projects on the horizon, but one area requiring attention is the replacement of some safety matting beneath the play equipment. This is scheduled to be addressed shortly to ensure continued compliance with safety standards. Also the ongoing worries from neighbours and trees will always be going on in the background.
In Conclusion
To all our members, volunteers, and community partners: thank you. Your time, energy, and care ensure that Whaplode Playing Field remains a valuable asset for the village.
Let’s continue working together to maintain and protect this space for everyone’s benefit. I look forward to the year ahead with confidence and gratitude.
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have prepared for your approval the financial statements of Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the statement of financial activities and the related notes from the charity’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at https://www.icaew.com/regulation.
This report is made to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 31 March 2025. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial statements of Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the charity's trustees, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited and the charity's trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and deficit of Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited. You consider that Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year, and is not required to obtain an independent examiner's report.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the financial statements of Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory financial statements.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Whaplode Playing Field Association Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Laurels, 27 Stockwell Gate West, Whaplode, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE12 6WG, England.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity 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.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity's compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustee's meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, then trustee's are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on the basis it applies income received for the charity's primary aims and objectives.
On incorporation (12 March 2021) existing equipment was taken over at its notional value of £1.
Land and Incorporation
The charity was incorporated in March 2012 to take on the responsibility of the maintenance and management of the Whaplode Playing Field.
The previous unincorporated committee transferred the assets and cumulative cash holdings to the charity/company.
The playing field is owned by South Holland District Council for which no rent is paid.
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Grants includes £1,500 (2024 - £1,500) received from the Parish Council in relation to general running costs.
RESTRICTED COSTS
These funds represent the residual value of playground equipment purchased by the charity and
depreciated over an expected life of ten years.
A balance of £1,454 (2024 - £1,454) remains in the charity bank account from donated funds of £9,525 in
the 2022. £8,071 was spent on new equipment in the same year.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).