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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Mount Saint Catherine's Little Buds Playgroup and Big Buds Out of Schools Club

  • Status

    Received: 1 days late

  • Income

    £77.2K

  • Spending

    £66.2K

Charity no. 107477 Date registered. 20/07/2020

Public benefits

The public benefit from purposes 3.1 (a) and (b) is that through the provision of pre-school and out of schools clubs the children (‘the beneficiaries’) from Armagh City and its surrounding environs (‘the area of benefit’) are provided with imperative support to strengthen their educational mental, emotional, social, physical, cognitive and

Language development in a safe and stimulating environment which they can learn through play based experiences, ensuring that each child will be assisted to develop to reach their full potential. Thus the wider community also benefits indirectly as each generation of children profit from a strong educational and development foundation. Our service benefits the parents/carers by allowing them to work knowing their child/children are safe and happy within our practice. We offer flexible affordable care for children aged 2 years 10 months until 12 years old, accommodating the needs of working and single parents within the wider community. We invite parents/career onto the committee providing them with the opportunity to take ownership of the management and running of the playgroup and out of schools and thereby becoming more closely involved in the formative years of their child’s education. These benefits can be demonstrated by the thorough evaluation of the playgroup and out of schools by various governing and regulatory bodies such as early years and Social Services. Through providing home visits and parent’s workshops in the playgroup we are able to build stronger relationships with the parents and carers and also between parents/carers and their children by involving them in their children’s education and recreation which leads to stronger family relationships and links to wider community. Therefore the wider Armagh city community also benefits indirectly. These benefits are evidenced through feedback from the parents/carers who use our service throughout the year. Also through the detailed observation and assessment carried out by staff and external inspections from early years and social services. The beneficiaries receive a healthy snack during their session which encourages healthy eating from a young age. Parents/carers are informed of any health related information relevant to children at this stage and the playgroup liaises social services and other health professional in regards to making the health and development of all children a priority. These benefits can be evidenced by feedback from parent/carers, records kept of the children and also through external inspections by social services. In relation to all of the above a private benefit to trustees and staff may arise from training in good governance, finances, first aid, safeguarding and child protection, etc. Through this training, skills and experience are acquired which are transferable to other settings. These benefits are incidental and necessary to keep in line with regulations and ensure that high standards of care are achieved. The staff training records demonstrate their level of capability and certificates received on completion are displayed for parents to view. Little Buds and Big Buds operates and adheres to an equal opportunities policy in which we aim to ensure our practice is accessible to everyone irrespective of their backgrounds or beliefs. As a registered childcare provider with the southern health and social care trust we meet the standards of the department of health, social services and public safety and are inspected on an annual basis.

What your organisation does

Children can attend the playgroup from the age of 2 years and 10 months old and can stay until they are school age. Children can attend regardless of their gender, race, disability and religion. Little Buds provides a warm, stable, secure, stimulating and educational environment in which younger children follow the Eager and Able to Learn Programme

and the pre-school children follow the N.Ireland Preschool Curriculum. We charge the minimum amount to make the playgroup affordable to all as we are situated in one of the most socially deprived areas in Armagh. Observations of the children are recorded on a daily basis and any concerns are dealt with promptly. Parents are invited to join our voluntary committee on a yearly basis. We currently have 8 parents on our committee. We are a member of Early Years and when joining up we agreed to their values and principles. We meet with our Early Years Advisor at least twice a year to ensure this. In relation to any harm which may arise from any of the purposes, there may be minor incidents during the course of play and to manage this risk all staff are trained in Health, Safety & Risk Assessment and adhere to the ‘Management of Risks’ policy. All staff are also trained in Paediatric First Aid and Fire Safety Risk Assessment.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education

Who the charity helps

  • Learning disabilities
  • Parents
  • Physical disabilities
  • Preschool (0-5 year olds)
  • Sensory disabilities
  • Travellers
  • Unemployed/low income
  • Victim support

How the charity works

  • Cross-border/cross-community
  • Disability
  • Education/training
  • Playgroup/after schools

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 30 June 2024

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 30 June 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 30 June 2022

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

3.1 The Group is established to promote play based learning environments for all children either under statutory school age or of primary school age(hereinafter referred to as the beneficiaries) of the area served; Armagh City and its surrounding environs in Northern Ireland (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and in particular: a. to advance the education of the beneficiaries by the provision of safe and satisfying recreation activities and group play, with the right of parents/carers to take responsibility for and to become involved in the activities of the group; and to promote the preservation of health of the beneficiaries; and b. to support the values and principles of Early Years.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name


  • 12 Trustees
  • 5 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Miss Briege Delaney, Mount St Catherine's Little Buds Pl, Windmill Hill, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT60 4BR

Trustee board

Trustee
Mrs Jacqueline Trainor
Mrs Ann Maire Mclaughlin
Mrs Helen Mullen
Mrs Jolita Paulaskaite
Mrs Emma Oliver
Mrs Louise Lavery
Mrs Emma Knipe
Mrs Zilyema Boycheva
Mrs Laura Douglas
Mr Chris Douglas
Mr Neil Mcclelland
Ms Ciara Farley

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland
  • Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon Council