Ideas to save a local pre-school with money troubles...

[Mascaraohara]

Needed please...

They need to raise over 1500 per month to avoid closure.

can't help wondering how it got so bad without anybody noticing but hey ho!

[Redtartanlass]

Short term
Have you talked to
SuresartEarly Years Development & Childcare Partnership
*Business Link

Longer Term
European Social Fund
Lottery
defra (if rural location)

Will try and find some useful links for you. Where approx in the country are you?

[compo]

You could write to the local paper and your MP to drum up support

[Mascaraohara]

hey thanks, some good ideas there... some links would really be useful! I'm not on the commitee or anything, my dd only started going there in January.

I don't really know anything about fund raising but knew there would be some good advice and ideas here.

[SorenLorensen]

The pre-school my ds2 goes to (and ds1 went to as well) was in this situation 2 years ago. The volunteer treasurer they had (qualified accountant) had messed up the books so badly they were in the red and in imminent danger of closing. Neither of my children were there at the time so I don't know details but I know they got a new treasurer and another accountant to help wth the annual audit (ask parents - see if there are any qualified accountants among them) and they sorted the books out. They also got a new Chair who applied for every grant going, and organised some serious fund raising. They are very healthily back in the black now - so it can be done. I'm sorry I don't have more details but it sounds like redtartanlass knows what she's talking about. Good luck.

[Mascaraohara]

Thanks SL they have sent out a letter today with some figures on and they just don't look like they add up to me at first glance. Being new though I don't want to wade in there all full on.

[Mascaraohara]

they've managed to lose over £11k from 2004 to 2005 figures.

[SorenLorensen]

They will probably be glad of your input. I went to a pre-school meeting last night and 7 parents turned up (90 children...) Somehow I have ended up as Secretary and troutpout is the new Chair (heehee) I have to get my rotten 'orrible kids to bed now but I will come back later and tell you some of the fund raising things we do.

[Clayhead]

£11,000!!!

Are they members of the Pre-School Learning Alliance? They can give you a lot of info if you can get hold of them.

Also www.funderfinder.org.uk

I am on a Pre-School Committee and we are quite tight with the finances and I am that the debt has built up, it's such a shame.

[Clayhead]

Sorry, meant to add, all of the money was nicked from dd's Pre-School about 5 years ago and they are now in a really healthy position. I wasn't involved at the time but I believe it was hard work (but worht it as it is a really lovely pre-school now).

[calpopscalum]

HI, I'm a governor at my son's nursery and we raised £1k over Xmas (70 odd kids).
We did a sponsored singsong (raised over £600!!)
Xmas presents (not relevant to you at the mo!!)
bought plastic pint pots and the kids filled them with sweets etc - sell em for £1 - best to do it like a tombola thing. raffle.

We are now fundrasing again and are doing:
cake stall - always does well as sa short term fix!
Fill a smartie tube - buying tubes of smartis let the kids get high eating thema nd then parents fill with money! 1p, 5p, 20p and £1 coins fit in.
Easter egg raffle, egg hunts etc - all help.

Know it's not big amounts but they're traditional money spinners. If you live in northampton, and know someone who works at barclaycard, they match your funding.

[Mascaraohara]

I know ClayHead, I was really shocked when I saw - I would have expected that the finances to be quite strictly controlled as it is a charity I think. But also that nobody has seen this coming - seems very odd!

Of course any input from anybody would be greatfully received.

[Clayhead]

Well, no one noticed that the treasurer had stolen all the money from dd's pre-school either! I don't know all the details but I believe that she fobbed them off for ages and it was months before suspicions arose. Usually, the accounts are only audited every 11 months so there is a loong time inbetween for stuff to go on.

We have had good fundraisers with a Virgin Vie party held at the pre-school one evening (the usual party holder's % given to the pre-school) and those football things where everyone pays £1 for a team, puts their name by it and you scratch off at the top to see who it is. You get £60 and, if the prize is a £15 bottle of spirits, you sell tickets easily and make £45 ish.

Personally, i would concentrate my efforts with the SureStart/EYDCP/PLA first off to see it they can come up with any lump sums.

[Mascaraohara]

I can't get the figures to add up!

Charities aren't allowed to make a profit are they? so if they're in the black one year that should get added to the next years money - right?

[Clayhead]

Well, we sometimes make a small profit over a 12 month period (as in we get more in than we pay out) but that gets carried over into the next year. Only taken out when we need to buy something big. So, yes, it should be carried over to the next year - after all, there ar eno shareholders etc. so who could monies taken out be given to?

We pay the vast majority in staff wages plus smaller amounts for new toys & equipment, insurance, paper & craft stuff, rent, PLA subscription etc.

[SorenLorensen]

I'm back - horrid kids are in bed.

The Smartie tube thing was one suggestion I was going to make.
We're also doing an Easter Extravaganza type thing - bingo, egg hunt, raffle.
They have had craft fairs in the past - combined with a cheese and wine evening.
There was a book sale today - where pre-school got some remuneration depending on how many books were sold.
Quiz/cheese and wine evening.
And I had an email from Baker Ross today - they a scheme where you register and get money when parents buy craft stuff from them here I am going to mention that at the next meeting.
Sponsored things - we had a sponsored 'Stomp' last summer (but cold for it now) - like an obstacle course/sports day all the kids could do.

I can't help you with the technical stuff as I've only been Secretary since last night and I don't know how it all works!

[SorenLorensen]

I think the fundamental thing for your group is probably to get an accountant/someone who knows what they're doing in to look at the books. I know our pre-school used to pay someone but now they have an accountant and a book-keeper who do it for free.

[jstbcs]

football scratch cards

[yoyo]

Try this . It is best to distribute the bags widely, e.g. Church groups, community groups, Fire brigade, Independent schools and you will be surprised how much stuff you get.

[Mascaraohara]

Some really great ideas and starting points here guys - thanks so much.

And bump for daytime crowd.

Am going to try and phoen the Chairman tonight and see if I can find out when the next commitee meeting is.

[Mascaraohara]

bump

[lazymoo]

I am chair of our PTA. One thing we did which was nice was do a hand print wall, we went to B and Q and blagged from them(and from parents) a load of paint samples/discontinued paint. What was really lovely was we only wanted to cover a small area, but so many old pupils wanted to join in we covered the whole of the hall, and now we plan to paint over the wall every 10 years and do it again. We sold each hand print for £1 and made over £1500.00

[nannynick]

In the short term, if money is needed quickly, then I see the following as being things you could try:

Ask all parents for a donation - say £10. It could add up to pay a weeks worth of overheads!

Sponsorship - is there any local company who would contribute funds in exchange for publicity.

Publicity - get the local paper and radio involved, give them a good story to work with and you never know what may happen.

Sale of Promises - can be a good fundraiser. You invite people to offer goods and services which you then sell off to the highest bidder.

Good luck