Forest PTA Committee - Registered Charity Number 1086810
07/10/2009 - PTA Annual General Meeting
Marie James, Chair
Jennifer Cole, Deputy Chair
Sharon O'Connor, Secretary
Pam Jackson, Treasurer
Graham McIntyre, School Representative
Graham Green
Ginny Ward
Jill Tyler
Helen Tarran
Sally Sanderson
Robert Leiper
James Long
Julie Hellings
Emma Clifford-Roberts
Carolyn Foote
The Forest School Parent Teacher Association
Why Do We Have A PTA?
We are very fortunate at our school to have a PTA that is an integral part of the school community. The PTA has raised many thousands of pounds all of which has been spent on improving equipment, facilities and resources to enhance our children’s education.
The PTA also exists to provide closer links between home and school, and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of the school. All parents and members of the school community can get involved if they want to, even if they only have a small amount of time available, and all parents are automatically members of the Association when they join our school.
Why Are We A Registered Charity?
The Charities Act 1993 requires organisations such as ours, with an annual income in excess of £1,000, to register with the Charity Commission. As a Charity we must abide by Charity Commission rules and regulations and we are bound by a Constitution. Our Constitution lays down rules about how we operate as a PTA and how we conduct ourselves.
Being a Registered Charity gives us many extra benefits:
- We are able to apply for Gift Aid, which can earn us an extra 28.2p in every pound donated to the PTA.
- We can raise funds more easily from grant giving trusts, local businesses, etc.
- We can take advantage of charity matched giving schemes
Role Of The Committee
Our PTA Committee consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. We also have a number of other Committee members to make up the full Committee. The Committee meets on a regular basis, usually once or twice per half term, with smaller working groups meeting as necessary to organise our bigger events.
Our Annual General Meeting is held in October, at the beginning of the autumn term, and this is an opportunity for all parents to come along and hear in more detail about events run and funds raised, and how the money has been spent. It is also the occasion when we elect our new Committee.
Support from the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations
Our PTA belongs to NCPTA, which is the national charity that advances education and supports PTAs.
NCPTA also has a range of parental information sheets on subjects such as: literacy and numeracy, special educational needs, how to help your child get the most out of their school days, bullying, homework, using the internet and career paths, to name but a few. You can access this information via the NCPTA website, www.ncpta.org.uk To gain entry to the site you will need our membership number, which is 37822, and our school postcode which is RH13 5NW.
Gift Aid
Gift Aid can boost our funds considerably. It is tax claimed back from the Inland Revenue from donations made to us out of your earned income.
If you are employed and pay income tax, we are able to claim 28p in every pound that you donate to our PTA. The procedure for this is very simple. We ask our parents to sign the declaration form attached (this only has to be done once whilst you have children at the school) to confirm their employment and the declaration can be cancelled at any time. Following this, every time the signatory supports the child with a cash/cheque donation or if a sponsored event is supported, the PTA can claim the Gift Aid on the contribution.
There is nothing further for you to do and we need no other information from you. The issue of Gift Aid is taken on trust and you can support more than one charity in this way. We do not, and are not required to, divulge any personal information to the Inland Revenue from your completed forms.
Please do sign the declaration form if you are able.
Click here to download the declaration form.
Charity Matched Giving
Charity matching is a very simple. Companies or businesses pledge to donate to a charity, such as ourselves, an amount of money relating to the amount that an employee fundraises for us.
If you think that your employer has a matched giving scheme already in operation, or if you would like some more information about charity matching or setting up a scheme in your workplace, please ask in the school office.
How We Spend The Money We Raise
Usually our Head Teacher will have a ‘shopping list’ of items that the school would like to purchase. Sometimes this will be as a result of the children asking for something, such as picnic tables. Our current target is to fully update and equip the Music Department, particularly the musical instruments.
The PTA funds are for the ‘extras’ not provided by the school budget, that make our children’s learning experiences so much more fulfilling and exciting. PTA funds are not generally spent on improving the fabric of the school buildings as this is the responsibility of the Governing Body. We always endeavour to spend our funds in ways that will benefit all our children across all areas of the school and curriculum
How We Get Information To You
Usually the PTA letters we send home are printed on gold paper – so we are easily recognised! There are regular letters giving dates for forthcoming events and also updates and requests for help when we are planning large events. Following events, we always write to let you know how much was raised and, if we can, we tell you then what the money will be spent on.
PTA letters are posted on the school notice boards (situated in reception) and information is sent home via our new School Comms e-mail system and letters via the boys.
A Summary of the amount raised that term and current events will be included in the School Newsletter.
How Can You Get Involved
There are lots of ways you can help and support your child through the PTA.
Offering to help before events, or at other times during the year, is invaluable – it really is a case of ‘many hands make light work’. It doesn’t matter if you can’t help on a regular basis, or even if you can’t come into school. There are always little jobs that can be done from home if you have half an hour to spare – for example, wrapping gifts, preparing raffle tickets, etc. You can of course, if you feel able, volunteer to be a Committee Member.
You can attend the AGM and give us your ideas for fundraising events – this is also the time to ask questions or voice your opinion.
