Committee

The Committee is made up of a group of volunteers which consist of mainly parents whose children attend Dandelions and live within the local area.

Committee meetings are held approximately every half-term, this is when decisions concerning events, fees, policies and staff are made. The Annual General Meeting is held in November, where a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and the general Committee Members are elected for the following year. Parents of new children are always encouraged to join the Committee.

We are also looking to set up a group known as 'Friends of Dandelions' which will be a group of volunteers dedicated to fundraising for our Pre-school.

If you are interested in joining the Committee or the 'Friends of Dandelions' group then please reach out to the team on committee@dandelions-preschool.org.uk as we are always looking for enthusiastic members and volunteers.

Further Information - The Management Committee

Without a Committee, Dandelions is unable to run 

Dandelions is a registered charity and therefore supported by a Management Committee.  Our Committee has to be made up of 60% of Dandelions parents. 

Trustees play an important and crucial role in the existence of a charity such as:

-        Managing our finances

-        Employing and supporting the manager with staffing

-        Making sure that we have, and work to, policies that help us to provide a high-quality service; and

-        Making sure that we work in partnership with parents

-        Working closely with our employed book-keeper

-        Gain an understanding of both statutory and non-statutory guidance within the Early Years sector

-        Working closely with the Pre-school Manager and the team

-        For the Chairperson to act as the nominated representative with Ofsted.

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The AGM is open to all parents of children who attend our setting. It is our shared forum for looking back over the previous year’s achievements and shaping the coming years plans. This is when the committee will be formed, with the committee being elected by parents. The AGM usually takes place each November.

How you can help

The support you can provide as a charity trustee is extremely important to us. We value the contribution of your time and skills, as they are essential ingredients to our success.

Why volunteer?

• Are you interested in learning new skills?

• Would you like to meet new people?

• Would you like to share your skills, time and ideas with others?

• Are you passionate about the development and education of young children?

If you answer "Yes!" to any of these questions, we would love to hear from you. Volunteering as a charity trustee is all about opportunities – for the charity, but also for yourself – and from small beginnings, you could find yourself taking a new direction in life.

It offers you the opportunity to become more practically involved in the care and education of young children. You will also have a chance to update existing skills and learn new ones. This can have valuable long-term benefits when applying for jobs or undertaking further training.

What are charity trustees?

The charity trustees are in charge of running the charity, making decisions regarding its management in order to achieve its aims. This is a crucial role in the existence of a charity, but the position carries a number of responsibilities.

The Management Committee work closely with the Pre-School manager who has overall responsibility of the day-to-day running of the Pre-School.

Who can be a charity trustee?

Individuals over the age of [16 years (for CIOs and charitable companies) / 18 years (for unincorporated charitable associations)] are eligible to be elected as a trustee of our charity. A few individuals may be disqualified from acting as a trustee of a charity; such as those that have an unspent conviction for an offence involving deception or dishonesty, or are bankrupt (unless they are discharged). The list of reasons that will automatically prevent someone from being a trustee will extend from 1 August 2018. If you are unsure if you are eligible, you can contact the Charity Commission for further guidance (www.charity-commission.gov.uk).

The trustee role is also subject to suitability checks by Ofsted (www.ofsted.gov.uk), which include an enhanced criminal records check. Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from volunteering with us. This will depend on the circumstances and background to the offence(s) disclosed.

2024-25 Management COMMITTEE

Natasha Southwell - Chairperson (Pediatric First Aid Trained/ Level 3 Safeguarding/Safer Recruitment)

Zoe Southcott - Treasurer

Cara Mills - Secretary

Gemma Wolfe - Vice Chairperson

Stacey Poyner - Vice Treasurer

Samantha Gray - Member

Jemma Skinner - Member

Simon Wood - Member

Stacey Alexander - Member