How we raise money

The majority of the money we raise is from events throughout the year. We run an annual Jumble Sale and various other fundraisers in school each term. This has included a Smarties Challenge, £20.25 Challenge and a Break the Rules Day to name a few! We also have second-hand uniform available for a donation.

We love to support the children’s requests via School council and really value their input and enthusiasm. This has developed our Marathon event to a Colour Run, and also saw us organise our first Southrop Fashion Show!

We have applied for funding or a donation of items where appropriate and receive sponsorship where we can. Donations from parents are extremely important. You can donate time, money, items for sale, raffle prizes or offers of services and skills. We have also introduced Gift Aid which enables us to claim an additional 25% of your donation, at no extra cost to you.

How we spend the money we raise

The PTA committee decide on how money is spent at our regular meetings.

A funding form is available for all school staff to complete and submit. The PTA will then discuss and made a decision on the request.

The PTA have funded the school minibus, iPads, whiteboards, storage, play equipment, gardening equipment, coach trips, glockenspiels, various other classroom equipment and books.

PTA funds are spent on the ‘extras’ that are not provided by the school’s budget, thus making our children’s learning experiences so much more fulfilling and exciting. We always endeavour to spend our funds in ways that will benefit all our children across all areas of the school and curriculum.

Gift Aid

Southrop School PTA is registered with HMRC for Gift Aid. If you are a UK tax payer, we are able to claim 25p in every pound that you donate to our PTA, or that is collected for sponsorship. There are strict guidelines as to what can be claimed and further information is found on the HMRC website. If we are able to claim Gift Aid for an event will have a tick box option to donate and your name and address will be required.

Company matched giving

Company matched giving is 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(s) donates or fundraises for us. We have been helped enormously in the past by this type of donation, and there are several benefits to both ourselves and the company involved:

• employees’ morale is boosted by having their efforts supported by their employer
• the company benefits from having charitable donations written off against taxable profits
• the company can endeavour to get publicity for their giving our PTA benefits from receiving perhaps double what we have raised at an event

If you think that your employer has a matched giving scheme already in operation, or if you would like some more information about charity matched giving or setting up a scheme in your workplace, please talk to one of the PTA committee members, or ask in the school office.

How we get information to you

All school communication is sent as an email via the Portal. PTA information will be sent out as an email message or within the school newsletter, in the PTA section at the end.

We also have a facebook page ‘Southrop School PTA’ and two whatsapp groups, one for the Cygnets, and the other for the Swans. If you would like to join the whatsapp group, please email pta@southrop.gloucs.sch.uk or you can ask the school office.

How you can 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 so valuable. It doesn’t matter if you can’t help on a regular basis, if you have half an hour to spare e.g. wrapping gifts, preparing prizes, setting up tables etc. We really couldn’t achieve everything we do without the help that we receive from our school community. Or you can simply support the AGM and give us your ideas for fundraising events. This is also the time to ask questions or voice your opinion. You can help by letting us know if you have any contacts or skills we could use, everything is potentially valuable to us. If either or both parents complete the Gift Aid declaration form, your donations will be worth a lot more to us. And finally, we are always extremely grateful to receive donations as mentioned before.

Charitable Status

Charity law requires voluntary organisations such as ours with an annual income in excess of £5,000 to register with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. As a charity we must abide by Charity Commission rules and regulations and we are bound by a governing document referred to as our constitution. Our constitution sets out the rules about how we operate as a PTA and how we conduct ourselves financially as well as an entity.

Being a registered charity enables the PTA to:

• receive charitable donations from local and national companies
• apply to grant-making charitable trusts; most charitable trusts will give grants only to groups formally recognised as charities
• receive donations made through payroll giving and company matched giving schemes
• apply for Gift Aid

We have developed strong links with the local community and are always well supported by both residents and businesses, for which we are very grateful.

Support from Parentkind

Our PTA is a member of Parentkind, which is a national charity and membership  organisation for Parent Teacher Associations. We pay an annual membership fee which gives us lots of member benefits including comprehensive insurance cover for all PTA run events, support and advice on running the PTA plus fundraising ideas and good practice hints and tips.

A message from the PTA

We hope you now know a little more about our PTA. We would like to thank everyone that has donated and supported our events, in school, and in the local community. Everything we fund enriches our childrens experience and makes their time in school so enjoyable. Please feel free to talk to any member of the PTA if you have any fundraising ideas or want to help in anyway.

Banner Buzz

Southrop School PTA are thrilled to have recieved a free banner from Banner Buzz to help promote our fundraisers and events.  Banner Buzz supports charities or not for profit organisations that could benefit from this opportunity, or if you want to shop with Banner Buzz, please see their website www.bannerbuzz.co.uk