Cheeky Cherubs Not for Profit Children's Centre.

Our Community Children's centre needs your help. Four years ago we opened our not for profit Centre for the families in our community. Our aims was to provide a children/youth centre to replace the ones the council were closing down. We were funded by various companies including: The Key Fund, Barclays bank, Manchester Airport, Forever Manchester and Sainsbury's. People in the community helped with the start up and to get our project off the ground.

Cheeky Cherubs is a Community interest company not much different to a charity. Unlike charities, CICs do not automatically get rate relief of 80-100%, this means that we applied for Discretionary rate relief 4 years ago. Our application was refused so we appealed. In our appeal we asked our customers and friends to write testimonials about our work and the good things we do at Cheeky Cherubs, like youth clubs, family support, pop up shops, apprenticeships, childcare, room hire and volunteering opportunities for people with learning difficulties..

Trafford council under conservative rule sent bills each year of around £17,000 per year. They told us that the appeal was still pending and it was ultimately the council leaders Sean Anstees decision we were waiting for. Not knowing what to pay whether we would get 80% reduction or 100% total reduction of the business rates, we paid a total of £2,000 as good gesture. In May 2018 a week after Labour gained Trafford council power, we received notice that they had awarded us the 80% discretionary rate relief. Unfortunately this wasn't awarded for the first year due to the appeal wasn't sent in until the second year.

If this matter was cleared up and a decision was taken at the start of our enterprise we would have been able to pay the £350 per month, however we now owe the council £20,295 up to April 2018. We asked if we could pay £250 per month over 8 years but they refused and will only accept payment over 24 months. The sum per month is £1,189 including the £343 per month of this years rates, this is massively out of our reach.

We are pleading for your help to pay the first years Business rates please which is £11,385. This will help us continue with the great things and plans we have in the future.

Many thanks

Sue Wilkinson and the team at Cheeky Cherubs.