The trustees, who are also directors, present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the '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 serves the Carlton district near Selby and Goole. The objects of the charity to enhance the development and education of children primarily under school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups. The charity offers appropriate play, education and care facilities, family learning and extended hours groups, together with the right of parents to take responsibility for, and to become involved in the activities of such groups, ensuring that such groups offer opportunities for all children regardless of their race, culture, religion, means or ability.
The trustees believe that they have complied with the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and have delivered public benefit during the year by virtue of the activities undertaken by the charity.
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in managing the activities of the charity.
The charity encourages the study of the needs of children and their families and promotes public interest in the recognition of such needs in the local area. It also aims to promote and adhere to the aims of the Pre-school Learning Alliance.
The charity provides affordable playgroup sessions on five mornings and afternoons. Various structured activities including arts, crafting, role-playing, exploring different materials and story time, are offered in conjunctions with activities planned in response to the children's interest. Necessary skills are developed through monitored bathroom training and meal times. Sessions open to the family and the wider community are held periodically throughout the year.
The charity ran sessions for five mornings and afternoons per week for thirty-one registered children who were aged between two and four years old. In addition, the charity has engaged with the local primary school to establish a transition programme to prepare for children for the move up to infant classes.
The difference made to the beneficiaries of the charity and wider society
The charity has provided play activities, promoted social development together with personal and educational development and preparation for entry into mainstream education. The charity believes that by providing safe childcare facilities for two to four years olds, it benefits the wider community by building an understanding of the child's place within its community. They have also forged links with the wider community by holding a joint fundraising event with the local village hall.
The trustees consider the financial performance by the charity during the year to have been satisfactory. The charity held reserves of £104,917 (2024 - £61,330) as at 31 March 2025, as shown on pages 4 and 14 of the financial statements. Specific changes in fixed assets are detailed in the notes to the financial statements.
The charity runs five morning and afternoon playgroup sessions per week. The reserves policy is to maintain a sufficient level of reserves to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of up to one month should a shortfall in income occur and to take account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time.
In order to make a judgement on the amount of reserves the trustees have considered the risks in respect of expenditure, unrestricted income, and where funds can only be realised by the disposal of a fixed asset. Also taken into consideration are any external identified potential major risks to income and expenditure during the year under consideration.
A risk assessment has been undertaken for the year 2024-2025 and the following major risks to the charity have been determined as:
- Change of government;
- Economic environment
- Increase in the cost of living.
The charity's reserves policy is to ensure that reserves are sufficient to cover the liabilities such as redundancy, creditors, lease commitments and provide monies to cover advance fees paid by users.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
New trustees are sought from members of the Playgroup's Volunteer Committee. In addition, the charity advertises locally for committee members and trustees. A member of the committee can nominate themselves to be a trustee and are appointed by the Playgroup's Volunteer Committee by majority vote.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Carlton Playgroup Ltd (the ) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the ’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Carlton Playgroup Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Presbytery, Station Road, Goole, East Riding, DN14 9NL, UK.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the '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 is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The 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 . Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the 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 or grantors 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.
All income (including grants) is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
All income is accounted for gross, before deducting any related fees or costs.
Categories of income
Income is categorised as income from exchange transactions (contract income) and income from non-exchange transactions (gifts), investment income and other income.
Income from exchange transactions is received by the charity for goods and services supplied under contract or where entitlement is subject to fulfilling performance related conditions. The income the charity receives is approximately equal in value to the goods or services supplied by the charity to the purchaser.
Income from a non-exchange transaction is where the charity receives value from the donor without providing equal value in exchange, and includes donations of money, goods and services freely given without equal value in exchange.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the 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 transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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 has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the 's balance sheet when the becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
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.
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
There are no areas of the company's accounts which require critical accounting judgements to be made or have estimation uncertainty.
There were no trustees' expenses or remuneration paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).