BIRMINGHAM PLAYCARE NETWORK
To enhance the development and education of children and to facilitate contact, share information, offer support and encourage, to promote the right to play of all children and to encourage best practice in child-centre play care withing the City of Birmingham.
Objects
THE OBJECT FOR WHICH THE COMPANY IS ESTABLISHED IS TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITHIN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY FACILITATING CONTACT, SHARING INFORMATION, OFFERING SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT, PROMOTING THE RIGHT TO PLAY OF ALL CHILDREN AND ENCOURAGING BEST PRACTICE IN CHILD-CENTRED PLAYCARE, SUPPORTING AND ENHANCING THE PROFILE OF PLAYCARE PROVISION THROUGH EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, CONSULTING WITH AND ENCOURAGING THE PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY ASSURANCE STANDARDS FOR PLAYCARE, OPERATING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICE, SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYCARE RESOURCES, SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PLAYCARE TRAINING RESOURCE AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE LINKS WITH APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO FURTHER BENEFIT THE WORK OF THE COMPANY.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit in unrestricted funds of £6,072, reducing its free reserves to £78,779. Per the trustees' report, these reserves are considered sufficient to meet their stated policy target of covering six months of operation or redundancy costs. The going concern basis is maintained, though it is explicitly dependent on continued support from key grant funders.
What the accounts disclose
“the aim is to hold sufficient reserves in the Unrestricted Fund to allow it to operate for a period of 6 months and/or to meet redundancy costs for posts that cannot be sustained.” — page 4
“The validity of this assumption is dependent upon the continuance of support from the Company's key grant funders and in response to the progress made by the Company in pursuing a viable budget including the obtaining of further grants and other funds.” — page 9
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
Trustees
- YVETTE HYACINTH ORUYEchair
- Harriet Sarah McCann
- JESSE GERALD
- MAXINE YVONNE MILLS
- SARAH ANN WOOD
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £329k | £358k |
| 31/03/2024 | £250k | £219k |
| 31/03/2023 | £290k | £233k |
| 31/03/2022 | £226k | £192k |
| 31/03/2021 | £114k | £118k |
Common questions
Is BIRMINGHAM PLAYCARE NETWORK financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a deficit in unrestricted funds of £6,072, reducing its free reserves to £78,779. Per the trustees' report, these reserves are considered sufficient to meet their stated policy target of covering six months of operation or redundancy costs. The going concern basis is maintained, though it is explicitly dependent on continued support from key grant funders. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City Council | 23/06/2021 | £5k | Birmingham Playcare Network (small grant) |
| Birmingham City Council | 23/06/2021 | £5k | Birmingham Playcare Network (small grant) |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/06/2021 | £10k | Community Scrapstore |
| Birmingham City Council | 01/12/2020 | £7k | Winter Warmer Moments |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/04/2019 | £10k | Community of Volunteers |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 11/11/2016 | £10k | Play Celebrations |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 01/06/2016 | £10k | Healthy and Happy Lifestyles Project |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 30/03/2016 | £10k | "Playful Generations" |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE EDWARD AND DOROTHY CADBURY TRUST | 2 | £7k |
| THE EDWARD CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £53k |
| THE ROPER FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £44k |
| QUARTET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | 1 | £40k |
| THE 29TH MAY 1961 CHARITY | 1 | £33k |
| THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £25k |
| THE ROGER & DOUGLAS TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £23k |
| THE SAINTBURY TRUST | 1 | £20k |
Charities like this
- FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S TRUST
- BIRMINGHAM CITY FC FOUNDATION
- GRENDON AND BILLESLEY NURSERY AND FAMILY CENTRE
- THE BIRMINGHAM SETTLEMENT
- THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST GENERAL CHARITY
- BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIRMINGHAM PLAYCARE NETWORK | £329k | — | 0 | above | — | noted |
| FRIENDS OF BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S TRUST | £271k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| BIRMINGHAM CITY FC FOUNDATION | £1.8m | £70,001 - £80,000 | — | above | — | no doubt |
| GRENDON AND BILLESLEY NURSERY AND FAMILY CENTRE | £3.1m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| THE BIRMINGHAM SETTLEMENT | £2.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST GENERAL CHARITY | £1.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |