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2023-03-31-accounts

Skylight Circus in Education T/A Skylight Circus Arts

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

Registered Charity 1001570

Company Limited by Guarantee 2567143

Skylight Circus in Education

Reference and administrative information for the year ended 31st March 2023

Charity name Skylight Circus in Education

also known as Skylight Circus Arts and Skylight

Company number 2567143

Charity number 1001570

Registered office and operational address: St Chads Fold, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale OL16 1QT

Trustees

Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year

and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Key management: David Allen, CEO. Martine Bradford, Creative Director.

Bank: Co-operative Bank plc, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester, M60 4E

Independent Examiner: Teresa Fennell, It Doesn’t Have To Cost The Earth Ltd

2

‘SPARK!’ parade, Falinge Park, Rochdale, Aug 2022

3

“Wonderfully different, diverse and inclusive, bringing people together and enriching their lives”

Sebastian Boppert

Director of International Communications

Eventbrite

4

FOREWORD

We began the year with a bang as we rolled out our new brand identity. Skylight’s fresh new look came with a branding styleguide tool kit enabling us to create marketing materials which appeal to a wide variety of target audiences while still having a clear identity.

A strategic review and a business review consolidated our work strands and identified new areas of earned income including larger scale commissions in education projects. These are already yielding success.

Consequently income has increased as have outputs, participation and audience numbers. A small selection of key activities can be seen in Skylight’s FY 22/23 Impact Video on our YouTube channel.

We were disappointed our bid to become an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) was unsuccessful; especially after the great success of our ACE funded SPARK! performance. However, the work which went into this bid accelerated our artistic and operational plans. We will continue to reap the benefit of this as we move into the next financial year and those beyond.

Investment in arts and culture in Rochdale Borough began to flood. The team played a key role in a number of new initiatives including Create Rochdale - the borough’s new Local Cultural Education Partnership which connects educators and arts providers; and The Culture Co-Op - Rochdale’s ACE funded Creative People and Places project.

Finally, it would be remiss to not mention Skylight’s success in live ticketing company Eventbrite’s competition to find the country’s ‘Most Curious and Colourful Event.’ Our first place in the competition made local, regional and national news!

David Allen

Chief Executive Officer

5

Skylight in numbers…

…523 circus sessions

…5,180 participants

…4,055 audience members

…43% Global Majority participation

6

SKYLIGHT CIRCUS IN EDUCATION

TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2023. Included within the trustees’ report is the directors’ report as required by company law. Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Purposes, Aims, Objectives and Skylight Activities

Purposes and aims in Skylight’s original governing document:

‘To promote, maintain, improve and advance education for the public benefit by the demonstration and teaching of human circus skills. To relieve the needs of disabled persons by the demonstration and teaching of human circus skills to such persons’ (1990)

Charity Commission Activities Overview 2020

Life-changing social circus projects to improve health and well-being. Collaborations: professionals and members to create productions. Specialisms: circus with disability, diversity, mental health, challenging young people. Address challenges in communities with multiple deprivation.

Purposes 2020 Summary. ‘Benefiting individuals and communities through circus arts training, performance and workshops. Skylight’s base in central Rochdale is in an area of multiple deprivation and activities extend across the region. This report outlines how our purposes were achieved over this very different year of Covid-19.

Aims, objectives and activities are reviewed by the trustees each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period to March 2023. The trustees ensure the charity remains focused on its stated purposes.

7

Staff, freelance team, volunteers and trustees with our new logo

April 2023

8

Skylight Activities April 2022 to March 2023

While some of the post-pandemic challenges remained, as we moved into FY 22-23 Skylight was able to make great progress in our artistic development ambitions.

We delivered a phenomenal number of circus sessions- 523 in just 365 days! Over 5,000 people took part in circus activities and more than 4,000 people saw us and our participants perform.

Outreach bookings soared as communities shook off post-pandemic nervousness. Classes began to fill to pre-pandemic levels.

The crown jewel of our year was the ACE-funded SPARK! Show with two public performances including a large scale outdoor event we staged in partnership with Vintage Worx Community Development Trust.

Our partnerships with local arts and culture organisations, VCFSE groups and service providers such as Rochdale Borough Council (RBC) strengthened. We developed new partnerships, not least with HOME - Manchester’s arts hub and we worked with more renowned practitioners such as Gandini Juggling and Handmade Parade to great effect,

Earned income increased as did grant funding with significant support from ACE through the Project Grant scheme and we were delighted to secure a big increase in core funding from Henry Smith Charity, helping us support the local community.

Skylight continued to support young people in pursuing creative careers. We provided a work experience placement for one young person from a local secondary school. We extended contracts for our Kickstart Scheme trainees. We also progressed an ex Youth Circus class participant into a paid circus tutor role.

We improved facilities for staff and participants in our circus studio in central Rochdale by refurbishing the kitchen, which also doubles as a meeting space and working space for our expanded team.

9

Highlights Included:

10

Circus Joy - circus as a pastime and entertainment purposes

Circus Wellbeing - specifically for health and wellbeing outcomes

Circus Pathways - education, training and career development

11

Silver Circus participants perform at SPARK!

Falinge Park, Rochdale, August 2022

12

CIRCUS JOY PERFORMANCES

Performance is our creative lifeblood. Participants are the stars of our shows.

Having fully emerged from the pandemic lockdown it was almost business as usual with respect to staging performances for our participants to show off their circus skills. However, many public events in our calendar were not fully up and running but thanks to significant ACE funding we were able to stage an event which enabled us to further realise our artistic development plan…

13

Master and apprentice, Children In Need funded project, June 22

14

CIRCUS WELLBEING PROJECTS

Skylight is inclusive, supporting people with a variety of needs::

Social Prescribing Pilot activity for elders with dementia took place in care settings. The project delivered sessions on the nearby Kirkholt Estate and Kingsway Dementia Hub.

Circus Globe was re-commissioned. This time by RBC who asked us to develop the programme to support Ukrainian families displaced by the conflict. We called this Circus Friends. There were thirty nine participants, some of whom have become regular class participants and have attended some of our ‘inspiration trips to see professional circus shows outside of the Borough.

Organisational Wellbeing We delivered staff team building workshops to a small number of organisations with shared community focussed values. These included a local housing association, a collective of volunteer dementia carers and a major national funder. We hope to be able to develop this earned income strand in the coming financial year.

15

A ROPE class participant gets ready to take flight under the watchful eye of Martine Bradford, Creative Director, Skylight Circus Arts

Middleton Holidays at Home Funding from Rochdale Borough Council Township Fund for twenty five young people 6 -12 years in socially disadvantaged areas. Skylight provided circus activities and healthy food sessions in partnership with Burnside Community Centre, Middleton once again. Similar projects with Army of Kindness took place in Rochdale town centre attended by forty young people.

16

BBC Children in Need Funded SPRING 3 . The second year of our three year project, making a difference in the lives of young people with disabilities and additional needs. We delivered 37 sessions with participants drawn from local schools including in partnership with Special Education Schools. Activities were delivered with the following partners:

Springside School

Broadfield Primary School

Redwood Secondary School

Brownhill Learning Community

Integrated Care Partnership (formerly CCG) Funded Side-by-Side

Family sessions for young people aged 11-16 4-19 with physical, emotional wellbeing and social needs resumed. Some are in care or living in poverty. Some are affected by trauma, neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, or behavioural disorders and mental health issues. They are often socially isolated through bullying, anxiety, poor communication skills or financial circumstances. Rochdale Connections Trust and other organisations refer young people. Side-by-Side attracted many more young people than expected this year with 228 participants.

17

CIRCUS PATHWAYS ACTIVITIES

Schools Outreach We were finally able to return to school settings to provide much needed respite. We provided circus workshops to 29 schools around the borough and the Greater Manchester and surrounding area.

Career Development We continued to provide opportunities for two young people from Rochdale who came to us via the Kickstart Trainee scheme. This included retaining both as employees while enabling our first Kickstart Trainee to develop their own project for the LGBT community while pursuing other social-value employment outside of Skylight.

We were delighted to welcome one ex Youth Circus participant onto the team as an employee in a circus tutor role.

Circus Sparks was without doubt the highlight of the year in terms of circus delivery in our Pathways strand. The train-the-trainer project was developed with RBC’s Early Help and Schools team as a response to COVID for primary school children deprived of key learning development opportunities due to lockdown.

Ten primary schools from the Borough participated. Teachers were invited to Skylight to learn circus skills and gained the skills to teach their colleagues and pupils within their schools. Each school was provided with circus equipment, a support visit from Skylight’s circus trainers and support materials including simple to understand skill flash cards and videos.

The results were phenomenal! Over 80% of pupils who then participated in school-run circus sessions with the trained staff member saw an improvement in communication development (WellComm score) equivalent to one year.

The project has been re-commissioned by RBC for a further three programmes. We hope to begin working with education teams in other boroughs around Greater Manchester in the next financial year.

18

“Every school needs Skylight” Primary school teachers at the Circus Sparks train-the-trainer pilot

Circus Sparks skill flash cards were provided to all the pilot schools along with tutorial videos and ‘circus in a box’ equipment for use in school

The class of 22

The first graduates from the inaugural Circus Sparks programme

19

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Ad hoc sessions and events away from our studio cut across the three main work strands- Circus Joy, Circus Wellbeing & Circus Pathways- previously highlighted. There was an appetite for communities to experience what had been denied by lockdown. We had a bumper year with a particularly busy summer period. These are just a few of the highlights:

Darnhill Festival The well established community run street festival was back to full strength. We performed and delivered a Have-a-Go workshops in the full-to-the-brim streets of the Darnhill Estate in the Heywood borough of Rochdale.

Pride In The Park The inaugural Pride event staged at next door Broadfield Park saw Skylight provide free circus Have-A-Go workshops for attendees. As part of our commitment to the Borough's LGBT network, Skylight staff oversaw event evaluation including developing surveys and supporting Rochdale Sixth Form students in collecting data on the day. We also made our building available for those with disability access issues and rehearsal space with green room for event performers.

Events & Community Workshops were numerous across a wide variety of bookers, event types and locations. We performed and provided Have-A-Go circus workshops at, among many others, Littleborough Arts Festival, The Queen’s Jubilee Celebration at Bowlee Park & Community Centre, Wythenshawe Park Real Food Project fun day, Princess Park Festival in Irlam, Salford, the Nelson Town Council Event and- further afield- Warrington Scout Group’s event.

20

NETWORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Skylight partners strengthen the delivery of our work in supporting our local communities, improving the quality of our outputs and the artistic ambition of the shows we create with our participants.

Extraordinary Bodies continued their partnership work with Skylight. We visited their ‘Delicate’ touring show at The Lowry and a new group came together to build community connections with 19 people creating land art and poetry based on themes in the show.

Networks Skylight continued to be active in Borough-wide support networks for example Rochdale Borough Culture Network RBCN), Children and Young People’s Forum, LGBT/ Rochdale in Rainbows Steering Committee and the Social Prescribing Steering Committee. We also took on new roles in Rochdale’s new LCEP- Create Rochdale- and CPP projects- The Culture Co-Op.

Partnerships We continued to pursue a partnership approach to develop our skills and strengthen the quality of our work and opportunities for participants.

Notably we engaged arts practitioners of renown and were also able to provide access to complementary arts activities through a new partnership with HOME MCR.

21

Silver Circus participants featured in The Telegraph,

November 2021

22

PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES

At the end of the previous reporting period the Trustees set out the following areas for development:

- ACE Project Grant Bid

In the wake of a rejected bid in the previous financial period it was strategically important to successfully bid and execute an ACE funded project in order to further our Artistic Development plan and re-affirm a commitment to creative excellence. The SPARK! Project was the outcome of this vision.

We submitted an application which was judged to “align strongly with the strategic ambition of Let’s Create particularly in Priority Place.” Our proposed Activity Plans scored as “Strong Contribution” and “Good Contribution” to ACE Outcomes. Our commitment to ACE Investment Principles were all scored as “Likely To Progress.” However, as noted elsewhere, our bid was unsuccessful.

- Funding and Financial sustainability

The strategy outlined in the previous Trustee Report came to fruition in this financial period. We were, largely, successful in managing fewer, larger grants & commissions which aligned more closely with our vision.

We were successful in attracting re-commissions for strategically important work such as the Circus Sparks schools programme.

Our earned income improved as planned, diversifying our income, thereby mitigating risk associated with a very competitive funding process..

23

- Brand Development and Marketing

Skylight’s new brand - developed in consultation with staff, freelance workers, trustees, volunteers and participants - was successfully rolled. A re-branded and refreshed website with a more contemporary feel was launched and continues to be developed.

- Employment

The employment of an arts administrator, staff member was put on hold until the completion of the previously mentioned Skylight Vision project. Recruitment was expected to take place in the following financial period (FY 23/24).

- Vehicle

It had been agreed a liveried vehicle would be beneficial to outreach operations. Unfortunately two funding bids submitted which allowed for capital investment in a vehicle to support project delivery were unsuccessful. We remain committed to acquiring a vehicle with a low environmental impact. The Executive Team will continue to monitor funding opportunities.

- Building Development

As a result of unsuccessful bids to fund the development of a much needed extension to our circus studio space, the board had agreed to refurbish the kitchen. In addition to improving facilities for staff and participants, this would create additional meeting facilities and an office overflow working space. The kitchen was completed as planned with minimum disruption.

24

Middleton Holiday At Home circus activities

Burnside Community Centre, Middleton, August 2022

25

FINANCIAL REVIEW

During the period the charity increased its income through a mixture of improved grant fundraising, commissioned projects and earned income. Income increased compared with the previous financial period by nearly 43% to £210,328.

However, expenditures increased by just over 12% thanks to prudent financial management.

FUNDRAISING PERFORMANCE

Inline with the stated funding strategy we consolidated grants to a fewer, larger grants:

- Henry Smith Charity ‘Strengthening Communities’
(Continuation funding- 2nd round)
Year 1 of 3 £43,000
- Arts Council England ‘Skyspark’ Project Grant £29,975
(Secured in FY 21/22 for this financial period)
- We were re-commissioned by NHS’ Integrated Care Partnership
(Formerly CCG)
Year 1 of 3 £16,084
- Total grants & commissions income £157,032
- Outreach (paid for work) classes & other income £51,012

26

EMPLOYMENT

The charity currently employs 9 staff. Two of these are full time. 5 staff members are on a fixed hours part-time basis. 2 members are employed on a variable hours part-time basis.

5 staff have delivery responsibilities connected directly to Skylight’s charitable activities and purposes. 4 staff have operational responsibilities which support Skylight’s charitable activities and purposes.

Staff Breakdown:

- Full Time Staff (x 2)

Creative Director

Funding and Development Manager

- Part Time Staff (x7)

CEO

Project Coordinator/Circus Tutor

Circus Tutor Trainees (x3)

Bookkeeper

Cleaner

- Freelance Team (x6)

Artists ranging from aerial to music & choreography. We also contract additional specialists.

27

‘Circus Friends’ participants Skylight Circus Arts, November 2022

28

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

The following training activities took place during FY 21/22:
Safeguarding training APR 22
staff, freelance workers, trustees & volunteers
Paediatric first-aid training APR 22
staff & freelance workers
Gandini Juggling Masterclass MAY 22
staff & freelance workers
Arts Council England Artsmark Programme OCT 22
DA
Circusworks Inclusion Training FEB 23
staff & freelance workers
RBC Safeguarding Training MAR 23
MB
Refresher First Aid Top Up MAR 23
MB, MC
RBC Sociocracy organisational training MAR 23
DA
Create Growth Programme MAR 23
DA, DP
DP
Media Production Training		 Throughout Year
MB
Extraordinary Bodies Unexpected Leaders		 Throughout Year

Skylight was provided with a training support package by Rochdale Development Agency to pay for staff time and costs in attending tailored training programmes.

Skylight continued its policy of paying regular freelance workers to attend key training sessions to ensure a high standard of work and to assist in their employability elsewhere.

29

Skylight staff, volunteers and performers Rochdale Folk Festival, June 2022

30

OUTPUTS & BENEFICIARIES

A strong year of delivery with participants and audiences keen to shake off the effects of COVID lockdowns saw a small improvement in the number of participants and interventions.

Audiences grew strongly - by 17%- with more opportunities to engage available. The success of our own SPARK! Event was key to this increase.

The diversity of our participants increased dramatically- Over 41% identified as part of the global majority.

Total Sessions Delivered 523

Individual participants 5,180

Total global majority participants 2,138

Number of Interventions

Classes 2,019

Projects 1,997

Outreach 3,334

Total Interventions 7,350

Audiences 4,055

Project participants with Special Educational Needs 294

31

GOING FORWARD INTO THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR (FY 23/24)

Skylight is in a stable financial position, though with reduced reserves compared with FY 22/23. This is as a result of planned investment. Free reserves were used to fund investment in salaries, building facilities and Skylight’s artistic development.

However, the strategic development and business planning process we have completed should see income increase through new work streams and a price increase for outreach work in line with the sector.

In the new financial period (FY 23/24) Skylight’s Trustees and Executive Team have identified the following areas for progress:

32

RESERVES POLICY

At the end March 2023 the total funds of the charity were £68,384. Of this £11,539 was restricted with the remainder being unrestricted (£4,595) and designated funds (£52,250).

In the 2022/23 financial year the Trustees have determined that unrestricted funds of the charity should be sufficient to cover the running costs of the charity for 2 to 3 months.

Since this time the Board has decided that a designated fund should be created to cover the redundancy costs or other associated costs that the charity would be required to pay if the charity were to close due to it becoming financially unsustainable. At the start of the financial year the Trustees determined that this amount would be £52,250.

During 2023/24 the Trustees have decided that they will increase the designated reserve figure to £57,000. This figure covers redundancy costs and a minimum of 1 month’s running costs.

33

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Skylight was registered as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity in December 1990.

The company has a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and it is governed under its Articles of Association.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31st March 2019 was seven (in 2016: it was seven). The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 10 to the accounts.

Trustees who are related parties this year: The Chair, J C Riley, is married to Noreen White.

Prospective trustees receive induction materials and are voted onto the board. No other person or external body is entitled to appoint trustees.

Trustees' lived experience reflects many communities we serve, including disability and access issues & working class backgrounds. Four of our seven trustees are female.

Vacancies exist for artists, input from young people, local diversity groups.

34

RISK MANAGEMENT

Trustees monitor financial and other risks at quarterly meetings so they can take prompt action when needed.

The following actions were taken:

Meetings took place in a hybrid format with attendance in person and online via Zoom depending on availability. Attendance from all trustees was strong.

Trustees monitor risks in the subgroups set up at times to address specific needs in addition to full trustee meetings.

Usually, these are:

Employment Sub Group, Finance Sub group and Creative Sub group. Only the Finance Sub group met this year. All employment and creative business was conducted by the full board.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees:

The trustees (who are also directors of Skylight Circus in Education for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

35

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees' annual report has been approved by the trustees on 19th December 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

J. Riley

Chair of Board of Trustee

36

A BIG THANK YOU TO

All who have volunteered and helped us over the year, including our hard-working staff and the Trustees who contributed far more than their roles demanded.

We appreciate the dedication of the freelance workers who make it possible for Skylight to spread the circus joy far and wide.

Our landlord

St Chad’s Educational Trust

Our funders & commissioners

Arts Council England

Children In Need Henry Smith Charity Integrated Partnership (previously CCG) Your Trust

Our partners (and sometimes commissioners)

Action Together Beyond Psychology Extraordinary Bodies HOME Manchester The Lowry Rochdale Borough Council

Rochdale Development Agency

Our fellow Rochdale Borough Culture Network members

Cartwheel Arts English Folk Expo

M6 Rochdale Library Service

Touchstones Gallery & Museum

37

Our friends and supporters

Claire Minett Jamie Moran John McLoughlin

Darren Grice Janet Emsley

And, last but not least, our participants

38

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SKYLIGHT CHARITABLE COMPANY (‘THE COMPANY’) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Company’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date :

Teresa Fennell, ACMA CGMA

It Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth Ltd

47 St Dunstans Close, Worcester, WR5 2AJ

39

Skylight Circus in Education

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
7
Transfer between funds
Net movement in funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
19
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Unrestricted
funds

£
2,284
114,627
116,911
340
144,497
144,837
(27,926)
(13,526)
(41,452)
99,797
58,345		 Restricted
funds
£
-
93,417
93,417
-
98,647
98,647
(5,230)
13,526
8,296
3,243
11,539		 Total funds
2023
£
2,284
208,044
210,328
340
243,144
243,484
(33,156)
-
(33,156)
103,040
69,884		 Unrestricted
funds
£
38,963
74,267
113,230
480
132,473
132,953
(19,723)
1,405
(18,318)
118,115
99,797		 Restricted
funds
£
-
34,341
34,341
-
80,328
80,328
(45,987)
(1,405)
(47,392)
50,635
3,243		 Total funds
2022
£
38,963
108,608
147,571
480
212,801
213,281
(65,710)
-
(65,710)
168,750
103,040

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

40

Skylight Circus in Education Company number 2567143

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2023

Note
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
2,956
Total fixed assets
2,956
Current assets
Debtors
13
10,590
Cash at bank and in hand
15
65,541
Total current assets
76,130
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
14
(9,203)
Net current assets
66,928
Total assets less current liabilities
69,884
Net assets
69,884
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
16
11,539
Unrestricted income funds
17
58,345
Total charity funds
69,884
2023		 £
£
-
-
5,650
103,529
109,179
(6,139)
103,040
103,040
103,040
3,243
99,797
103,040
2022		 £
£
-
-
5,650
103,529
109,179
(6,139)
103,040
103,040
103,040
3,243
99,797
103,040
2022
-
103,040
103,040
103,040
3,243
99,797
103,040

For the year in question, the company was entitled to exemption from an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime (of the Companies Act 2006).

The notes on pages 14 to 27 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 19th December 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

J. Riley (Chair)

41

Skylight Circus in Education

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)second edition - October 2019 - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Skylight Circus in Education meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

No key judgments which the trustees have made which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

c Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

d Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised; refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

e Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

42

f Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 6.

i Operating leases

Operating leases are leases in which the title to the assets, and the risks and rewards of ownership, remain with the lessor. Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

j Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:

Leasehold improvement 10% straight line method
Circus equipment 25% straight line method
Fixtures and fittings 20% straight line method
Office equipment 20% straight line method
Computer Equipment 33% straight line method
Motor Vehicles 25% straight line method

k Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

l Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

m Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

n Financial instruments

43

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

o Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution ‘money purchase’ scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 8. There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.

2 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address is disclosed on page 1.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Rochdale MBC
Donations
Total		 Total 2023
£
-
2,284
2,284		 Total 2022
£
38,336
627
38,963

All income from donations and legacies is unrestricted.

4 Income from charitable activities

Grants and contracts
Action Together
Arts Council
Children in Need
Henry Smith
Your Trust
The Work Company
Commissions
Other
Fees and Other Income
Circus Skills Workshops
Circus Skills Classes
Other
Total		 Unrestricted
£
20,000
12,447
30,708
460
63,615
31,205
16,720
3,087
51,012
114,627		 Restricted
£
2,180
32,475
15,762
43,000
93,417
-
-
-
-
93,417		 Total 2023
£
2,180
32,475
15,762
43,000
20,000
12,447
30,708
460
157,032
31,205
16,720
3,087
51,012
208,044

44

Income from charitable activities (Cont.)

Previous reporting period

Previous reporting period
Grants and contracts
Action Together
BBC Children In Need
Henry Smith Charity
Kirkholt Millions
Link 4 Life
The Work Company
Growth Company
Fees and Other Income
Circus Skills Workshops
Circus Skills Classes
Other
Total		 Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
20,000
11,657
1,011
32,668
27,044
6,800
7,755
41,599
74,267		 Restricted
£
5,500
14,966
13,625
250
-
-
-
34,341
-
-
-
-
34,341		 Total 2022
£
5,500
14,966
13,625
250
20,000
11,657
1,011
67,009
27,044
6,800
7,755
41,599
108,608

5 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Freelancers
Costs of Arts, Activities & Workshops
Premises
Vehicle Costs
Insurance
Office Costs
Other Costs
Professional Fees
Volunteer costs
Bad debts
Depreciation
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure
Governance costs (see note 6)
Support costs (see note 6)		 Total 2023
£
110,904
53,649
20,466
12,554
1,123
2,691
3,493
79
515
735
1,820
150
713
34,253
243,144
2023
£
98,647
144,497
243,144		 Total 2022
£
105,847
28,965
7,312
24,628
326
5,164
2,666
-
1,881
36
-
-
2,690
33,286
212,801
2022
£
80,328
132,473
212,801

45

6 Analysis of governance and support costs

Basis of
apportionment
Staff costs
Time spent
Premises
Floor area
Office costs
Floor area
Accountancy services
Time spent
Other Governance costs
Governance
Basis of
apportionment
Staff costs
Time spent
Premises
Floor area
Office costs
Floor area
Accountancy services
Governance
Previous reporting		 Support
£
27,726
3,138
873
2,516
-
34,253
Support
£
26,462
6,157
667
-
33,286		 Governance
£
-
-
-
650
63
713
Governance
£
-
-
-
2,690
2,690		 Total 2023
£
27,726
3,138
873
3,166
63
34,966
Total 2022
£
26,462
6,157
667
2,690
35,976

7 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging/(crediting): 2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation 150 -
Operating lease rentals:
Property
Accountancy Fees:
Accountancy & payroll bureau fees (inc. accounts
preparation) 3,166 1,556
Accounts preparation - 537
Independent examination 650 597

46

8 Staff costs

Staff costs during the year were as follows:

ff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pensions
Other staff costs
Allocated as follows:
Charitable activities
Support costs		 2023
£
128,943
6,080
2,439
1,167
138,630
110,904
27,726
138,630		 2022
£
123,135
5,680
2,469
1,025
132,309
105,847
26,462
132,309

No employees has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 8.5 (2022: 7).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees, the Creative Director and the Business and Development Manager and the CEO. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £95,942 (2022: £84,990).

9 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

No trustees received remuneration during the year (2022:£nil).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

During the year no trustees were reimbursed for expenses incurred on behalf of Skylight Circus.(2022:£1,165).

The Trustee do not have Trustee Indemnity Insurance

10 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

Rochdale MBC
Coronavirus job retention scheme
Kick Starter		 2023
£
-
-
12,667
12,667		 2022
£
38,336
-
12,667
51,003

There were no unfulfilled conditions and contingencies attaching to the grants.

47

11 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

12 Fixed assets: tangible assets

Leasehold
improvements
Cost
£
7,997
Additions
-
Disposals
-
7,997
Depreciation
7,997
Charge for the year
-
Disposals
-
7,997
Net book value
-
-
13
Debtors
Trade debtors
Other current assets
Prepayments and accrued income
14
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors and accruals
Taxation and social security costs
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2023
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023		 Circus
equipment
£
38,739
-
-
38,739
38,739
-
-
38,739
-
-
2023
£
5,832
750
4,008
10,590
2023
£
8,625
650
(72)
9,203		 Office
equipment
£
18,317
-
-
18,317
18,317
-
-
18,317
-
-
2022
£
3,100
-
2,550
5,650
2022
£
1,148
2,914
2,077
6,139		 Fixtures
and fittings
£
-
3,107
3,107
-
150
-
150
2,956
-		 £
65,053
3,107
-
Total
68,160
65,053
150
-
65,203
2,956
-

48

15 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and on hand 2023
£
65,541
65,541		 2022
£
103,529
103,529

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Balance at
1 April
2022
£
Action Together
1,161
Skyspark
-
CCG
699
Children in Need
-
Henry Smith
1,383
Kirkholt Millions
(1)
Skelton Charity
-
3,243
Balance at
1 April
2021
£
Action Together
-
Arts Council
412
CCG
17,585
Children in Need
3,648
D'oly Carte
622
Henry Smith
25,618
Ironmongers Charity
54
Kirkholt Millions
2,496
Skelton Charity
200
50,635
Previous reporting period		 Income
£
2,180
32,475
-
15,762
43,000
-
-
93,417
Income
£
5,500
-
-
14,966
-
13,625
-
250
-
34,341		 Expenditure
£
(3,341)
(46,689)
-
(12,552)
(36,055)
(10)
(98,647)
Expenditure
£
(4,339)
-
(16,886)
(18,594)
-
(37,860)
-
(2,649)
-
(80,328)		 Transfers
£
14,214
(699)
-
-
11
13,526
Transfers
£
-
(412)
-
(20)
(622)
-
(54)
(97)
(200)
(1,405)		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
-
-
-
3,210
8,328
-
-
11,539
Balance at
31 March
2022
£
1,161
-
699
-
-
1,383
-
(1)
-
3,243

Analysis of movements in restricted funds (Cont.)

Name of restricted fund

Description, nature and purposes of the fund

Action Together

Circus Rainbow

Series of 'circus social' sessions creating a safe space for Rochdale's LGBTQIA+ teens

Arts Council

SkySpark

Multi-generational circus training, 'Spark!' show development and performance project. Arts Council England funding augmented by cash contributions from Rochdale Borough Culture Network, M6 Theatre and Skylight reserves by Board of Trustees prior consent.

Children in Need

Spring 3' Project for young people with disadvantages, disabilities and special

Henry Smith

49

Contribution to core costs specifically for work with communities in Rochdale.

Strengthening Communities

17 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

Balance
at 1 April
2022
£
99,797
99,797
Balance
at 1 April
2021
£
118,115
118,115
General fund
Previous reporting period
General fund		 Income
£
116,911
116,911
Income
£
113,230
113,230		 Expenditure
£
(144,837)
(144,837)
Expenditure
£
(132,953)
(132,953)		 Transfers
£
(13,526)
(13,526)
Transfers
£
1,405
1,405		 As at 31
March 2023
£
58,345
58,345
As at 31
March 2022
£
99,797
99,797

Name of Description, nature and purposes of the fund

General fund The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds

19 Analysis of net assets between funds

Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous reporting period		 General
Designated
fund
funds
£
£
6,095
52,250
6,095
52,250
General
Designated
fund
funds
£
£
99,797
-
99,797
-
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds		 Restricted
funds
£
11,539
11,539
Restricted
funds
£
3,243
3,243		 Total
£
69,884
69,884
Total
£
103,040
103,040

50

1. Skylight Trustee Annual Report FY22-23

Final Audit Report

2023-12-20

Created: 2023-12-20 By: Teresa Fennell (teresa@itdoesnthavetocosttheearth.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAPpuaWCJ6sVB7yFSrq-hz4nZl5aB0ArqF

"1. Skylight Trustee Annual Report FY22-23" History

Document created by Teresa Fennell (teresa@itdoesnthavetocosttheearth.co.uk) 2023-12-20 - 11:48:09 AM GMT Document emailed to Jim Riley (jim@circusjim.co.uk) for signature 2023-12-20 - 11:48:22 AM GMT Email viewed by Jim Riley (jim@circusjim.co.uk) 2023-12-20 - 12:00:13 PM GMT Document e-signed by Jim Riley (jim@circusjim.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-12-20 - 12:00:50 PM GMT - Time Source: server Document emailed to Teresa Fennell (teresa@itdoesnthavetocosttheearth.co.uk) for signature 2023-12-20 - 12:00:55 PM GMT Email viewed by Teresa Fennell (teresa@itdoesnthavetocosttheearth.co.uk) 2023-12-20 - 12:04:03 PM GMT Document e-signed by Teresa Fennell (teresa@itdoesnthavetocosttheearth.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-12-20 - 12:04:16 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2023-12-20 - 12:04:16 PM GMT