CROFTON CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA ASSOCIATION

 

Treasurer’s Report for Year 01 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

 

Introduction

 

This year we have seen a huge boost to the income of the group.  A total of £6,913 was added to our funds through a number of initiatives.  These can be broken down into three main categories.  These are:

           

            Donations;

            Fundraising Activities;

            Funding from Third Party Funders.

 

I will speak about each area in more depth below, but I would like to say thank you to everyone who has helped us to gain such a huge amount.  You have certainly made my job easier and more stress free!

 

 

Donations

 

We have been lucky enough to receive a couple of donations this year.  The first of which was received in October 2003.  This was a £50 donation from Linpac as a result of a letter sent requesting a prize for the Halloween Raffle we held at the end of October in 2003.

 

We also received an unsolicited donation of £100 from the Crofton Pinder’s and Constable’s Charity.  This is a local charity set up over 100 years ago.  The charity owns a small piece of land opposite the Junction of Slack Lane and Doncaster Road (near the Weaver’s Green public house).  This land is rented out and the rental income is then given to worthy causes within the village.  The charity has been dormant for several years, but was resurrected recently; with our group being the first to receive a sizeable portion of their funds.  This, as well as the kind words in the covering letter, has been very much appreciated by the group.

 

 

Fundraising Activities

 

The ‘bonus ball’ fundraising has continued with the support of the committee and members of Crofton Millenimums.  Thanks to them we have had a small, but regular, income.  This year it has amounted to £199.  Less than year, which totalled £451, but still a sizeable amount.

 

At the Crofton Gala this year we broke even, as we had to buy most of our prizes for the stall.  It was still a worthwhile exercise as the group received publicity and raised awareness of what we were about.

 

Our main fundraising event took place at Halloween.  We organised a children’s party, which admission free to children, but £1 for adults.  A disco, which cost £75, was paid for and the main room in the Community Centre was our venue at a cost of £20 (which was refunded).  We held a raffle to boost funds that cost £95.25 in total, with a further £35 to gain a lottery licence enabling us to sell raffle tickets throughout the year.  Although the costs were high the benefits were too.  We managed to raise £1,154.  This means the profit to the group was £948.75.

 

As the Halloween raffle and party proved to be such a huge success, we all agreed to repeat the event at Easter in 2004.  Although most of the costs have been borne in this financial year (£194.05), a further £50.00 for the disco will be shown in 2004/2005 figures.  This is because the event was held on 2nd April 2004.  The costs of the Easter Raffle showing in this year’s accounts include £135.27 for prizes, and £41.28 for printing the actual tickets.  £654 was raised through ticket sales in this year, and a further £206 was received on the night.  This means the total profit made through the Easter raffle totalled £615.95.  Although we sold more tickets for this raffle, the cost per ticket was only 50p whereas the Halloween Raffle tickets cost £1 each due to the better prizes.

 

All in all, the fundraising efforts of the group have been excellent this financial year.

 

 

Third Party Funding

 

I have been extremely busy this year requesting and completing applications for funding from several funding bodies.  These include:

 

The Forrester’s Fund for Children – In August 2003 I completed the application form and requested £1000 from this funder.  Unfortunately, the application was unsuccessful due to the size of our project.  After talking with the funder it was established we could reapply for the Children’s Play Areas, but we would need to specify a particular piece of equipment that the money would buy.

 

Alliance & Leicester – In November 2003, I completed this application on line and as yet I have not received a reply.  No specific amount was requested.ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp

Barclays Bank – The application for £25,000 was completed in November 2003.  The request was refused as we are not of charitable status.  After talking with the funder they looked at our constitution and agreed we covered all that was required in their funding process.  Because of this they will allow us to reapply for the grant for the Children’s Play Areas.

 

Local Network Fund – A grant of £7,000 has been requested from this funder.  A telephone interview was held in April 2004 as we had succeeded in the first stage of their application process.  The Panel Meeting was to be held last week and I am awaiting their decision.

 

Comic Relief – In November 2003 a request for £5,000 was put to this funder.  They have requested further information for the application to proceed.  This is to be sent shortly.

 

Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd – The application to WREN was sent in October 2003 requesting £25,000.  After a meeting with their representative we were informed we had been successful in December 2003.  The monies are paid direct to the supplier of the equipment.  We must ensure we have secured match funding before the 10th May to receive this money.

 

The Royal Society for Nature Conservation – The application for this funder was completed in December 2003, requesting £4,000.  We are still awaiting a reply.

 

The Community Chest – £10,000 has been requested from the Area Panel’s Community Chest.  This request was entered in November 2003 for their financial year beginning April 2004.  I have had no reply as yet.

 

The National Regeneration Fund – In November 2003 £5,000 was requested from this funder.  The application was approved and the monies are currently in our bank account.  We have until January 2005 to spend this money.

 

Living Spaces – An application was put to this funder for £25,000 in January 2004.  After a lengthy meeting with their representative further information has been requested.  This information has recently been returned and a reply is expected shortly.

 

 

Summary

 

This year has been extremely busy.  Although a lot of the year was taken up with the Fair Share scheme from the National Lottery, we have achieved so much in the time we have had available.

 

We are in a much stronger position – WREN had the faith in us to become our first funder (which is the hardest task of all).  We have a month left to secure the remaining funding, and I am sure we will achieve this.