The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 October 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 charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "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).
Mistley Kids Club Limited runs a thriving after school and holiday club for local children, including children with additional social, emotional and medical needs. We accept children within the age range of 4-16 (and for continuity of care, up to 19 if they have additional needs). We aim to empower both mainstream children and those with additional needs in a fully inclusive play environment. In the school holidays we are able to give the children a broader experience through a variety of organised trips and activities.
Our club supports working families, enabling them to pursue employment or training. For the parents and carers of children with special needs we provide an essential source of respite.
To ensure high standards, we promote the education and training of the persons engaged in the provision of such care, education and recreational facilities.
The Trustees have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and have strived to ensure that the charity's activities reflect this.
The number of children coming to depend on the Charitys services continues to grow, in part due to the rundown of other services in the area. Children come to use from 14 different schools during term time and from several more than this during school holidays; we have up to 60 children attending in each session.
Some children have very specialist needs and require one to one support and a high level of specialist training. The number of staff required increases significantly during school holidays. The Charity remains dependent on long term Government funding in the form of grants from Essex County Council and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
The Charity receives a number of smaller donations from the public but does not use any professional fundraisers. None of the donations come from outside of the UK and the work and expenditure of the Charity does not extend outside the country.
The Trustees hold regular board meetings and meet to oversee the work of the charity with the Manager (Claire Moss) and other staff. Staff pay is reviewed annually in light of increases in Minimum and Living wages set by government.
Our Manager and the senior staff have full NVQ qualifications in Play-work. We work with the Pre-school Learning Alliance to keep up to date on best practice in childcare, and to help us source appropriate training. Professional standards are regulated and inspected by OFSTED. All staff and Trustees are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
During the period under review the Charity had a surplus on its Income and Expenditure Account of £131,851 (2024: £28,795). The total funds of the charity as at the balance sheet date amounted to £274,436 (2024: £142,585).
The trustees aim to provide and maintain reserves to such a level as to provide solvency, to meet redundancy costs in case of closure and also to hold funds for other unexpected contingencies. The aim is to hold £35,000 in the reserve account, though currently this has to be drawn periodically to maintain cash flows throughout the year. Whilst some small income is derived from the reserves, the charity does not look to base its income on any material investments and holds no endowment funds.
Thanks to the support of the following organisations, Mistley Kids Club Limited continues to be financially viable-
Essex County Council
Active Essex
Jack Petchey Foundation
Colchester Catalyst
Hyper Local Fund
Robin WIlshaw
Manningtree Beer Festival
Manningtree & Stour Valley Rotary
CVST
Local Giving Magic Grant
Grassroots
Provide Community
Essex Community Foundation
EALC Food Fund
Sport England
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 4 August 2010 and registered as a charity on 8 February 2011.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the period and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Trustees are returned by election at the Annual General Meeting. If skills are needed in the interim, then candidates are invited to join the Board to contribute those particular skills. New trustees are being actively sought to help run the charity.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Mistley Kids Club Limited for the purpose 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 which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company 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 in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Qualified opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Mistley Kids Club Limited (the ‘charity’) for the period ended 31 October 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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, except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section of our report, the financial statements:
Basis for qualified opinion
Limitation of scope
The charity does not have a satisfactory estimation basis for allocation of expenditure between unrestricted income and between each source of restricted income. We were unable to satisfy ourselves by alternative means concerning allocation of costs against income received.
As a result, the scope of our audit was limited in relation to the allocation of the total value of reserves amounting to £274,436 between unrestricted and restricted funds at 31 October 2025 and also of the allocation of reserves amounting to £142,585 at 31 August 2024.
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 Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’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 qualified opinion.
the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or
the trustees have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the charity’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and 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.
As described in the Basis for qualified opinion section of our report, we were unable to satisfy ourselves concerning the allocation of the total value of reserves amounting to £274,436 between unrestricted and restricted funds at 31 October 2025 and also of the allocation of reserves amounting to £142,585 at 31 August 2024. We have concluded that where other information refers to the restricted fund balances it may be materially misstated for the same reason.
In respect solely of the limitation on our work relating to restricted income and reserves described above:
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records.
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 auditor's 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.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
The objectives of our audit, in respect to fraud, are: to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses; and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and its management.
Our approach was as follows:
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial and sector experience, and through discussion with the trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), and discussed with the directors and other management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
We considered the legal and regulatory frameworks directly applicable to the financial statements reporting framework (FRS 102, the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011) and the relevant tax compliance regulations in the UK;
We considered the nature of the industry, the control environment and business performance, including the key drivers for management’s remuneration;
We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit;
We considered the procedures and controls that the company has established to address risks identified, or that otherwise prevent, deter and detect fraud; and how senior management monitors those programmes and controls.
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Where the risk was considered to be higher, we performed audit procedures to address each identified fraud risk. These procedures included: testing manual journals; reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation; performing analytical procedures; and enquiring of management, and were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-for-audit.aspx.
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Other matters which we are required to address
The prior period financial statements were not audited.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's 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 charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the period. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Mistley Kids Club Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Village Hall, Shrubland Road, Mistley, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 1HS, England.
The financial statements cover an extended 14 month period to 31 October 2025, Therefore, the amounts presented in the financial statements are not entirely comparable to the comparative period of 12 months to 31 August 2024.
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” (“FRS 102”) 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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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 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.
Income arising from Charitable Activities is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Grant income is recognised in line the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), when the charity has control over the funds, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
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 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 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.
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.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees 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.
The Trustees have estimated the amount of costs allocated to the delivery of restricted fund projects.
The average monthly number of employees during the period was:
No employee received employment benefits of more than £60,000 during the period (2024: Nil).
The remuneration of key management personnel during the period amounted to £55,704 (2024: £39,340). There was one employee deemed to be key management personnel during the period.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
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 Respite Care Scheme provided temporary support for individuals who require care.
The Food Support Fund supports households with children or a disabled person against the cost of living increases.
The Micro Grant Fund provides support for the Charity to improve their local community.
The Essex Community Foundation funding was to enable the Charity in delivering fully inclusive after-school and holiday childcare.
Inclusion funding provided a contribution to one-to-one staffing costs.
Essex ActivAte provided funding to make free places at holiday clubs available in the school holidays to children in the local area who receive benefits-related free school meals and for other low income or vulnerable young people.
Wraparound funding provided a contribution to staffing costs to provide afterschool and holiday clubs.
The Essex Short Breaks Community Capital Inclusion Fund provides funding for Capital expenditure, to enhance the inclusivity and accessibility of the clubs facilities, primarily to young people with a wide range of SEND but also benefitting young people and adults of all ages who access the club.
Active Essex provided funding to support physical activity initiatives.
Fowler Smith and Jones Charitable Trust provided funding towards staffing costs.
The Jack Petchey Foundation recognises and rewards young people for hard work with funding to spend on a project of their choice within their group.
Suffolk County Council provided funding for the Charity to upgrade their facilities.
Suffolk County Council provided funding for the Charity to deliver sessions to disabled children and young people.
The Tendring District Council Community Champion Micro Fund provided to the Charity to support Families with basic needs.
Active Essex Foundation CIO provided funding towards staff safeguarding training.
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.
During the period the charity rented a premises totalling £10,086 (2024: £7,196) from Mistley Village Hall, a charity connected via the same trustee,
During the period the charity received funding of £177,572 (2024: £132,243) from Send Sensation CIC, a charity connected by the same trustee.
During the period the charity purchased services totalling £1,998 (2024: £nil) from the spouse of key management.
The trustees consider that the services were obtained on normal commercial terms and at arm's length.
During the period, the following opening balance misstatement was identified and corrected,
Grant income of £54,289 should have been recognised in the prior period upon SORP revenue recognition criteria being met.
Deferred income of £12,874 had not been recognised on the provision of service funding received in August 2024 relating to September 2024.
Fixed assets with a net book value of £10,108 were disposed of in a prior period.
Opening trade debtors were understated by £4,361.
Petty cash expenditure of £3,196 incurred in the prior period had not been recognised.
The opening PAYE liability was overstated by £2,458.
The opening pension liability, within 'other creditors' was overstated by £94.
Impact on the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) for 2024:
Income previously reported: £523,351
Adjustment (Increase): £45,776
Restated Income: £569,127
Expenditure previously reported: £530,507
Adjustment (Increase) £10,750
Restated Expenditure: £541,257
Impact on Funds:
Opening Funds as previously reported: £107.560
Prior period adjustment: £35,025
Opening Unrestricted/Restricted Funds as restated: £142,585
The charity had no material debt during the year.