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2021-03-31-accounts

Company number: 2811035 Charity Number: 1020584

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 31 March 2021

Company number 2811035

Charity number 1020584

Registered office and operational address

Winsford Library, High Street, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 2AS

Trading Name Cheshire Dance

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:

Janet Halloran Chair Elaine Mclean Vice Chair (resigned 18 May 2021) Nina Osbaldeston Treasurer Jenny Allen (resigned Sept 2021) Bettina Carpi Shamima Noor Tracey Oultram Shelley Owen Josh Slater Gillian Whitworth

Secretary Adam Holloway Key management Adam Holloway

personnel

Bankers Barclays Bank PLC 21 Dingle Walk, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 1AG Independent Catherine Hall FCCA DChA, Slade & Cooper Limited examiner Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats, M4 6JG

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Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31 March 2021

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. 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.

Objectives and activities

The association is established to promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public in the arts and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the study, performance, knowledge, understanding, appreciation of the art of dance in all its manifestations.

The trustees review the aims, objectives, and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Achievements and performance

The charity's main activities and who it tries to help are described below. All its charitable activities focus on Dance and are undertaken to further Cheshire Dance’s charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Cheshire Dance is very well recognised in providing public benefit through the advancement of education in dance, related arts activity, community development and health promotion. We do this in several ways, including :-

Cheshire Dance promotes an open programme amongst 3 key markets for dance: audiences, participants and learners along with artists and the professional sector. Some activities promote more mainstream engagement whilst the majority is targeted proactively amongst specific communities and groups who face access issues. We work regularly on an outreach basis ensuring that as many people

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as possible are able to engage locally to where they live, particularly in areas of low engagement. Opportunities vary in type and target group and range from regular classes to short intensive projects, from individual sessions and performances to full day/week activities. Dates and times are also infinitely adaptable - daytimes, evening, weekends through term time and school holidays. Our flexibility to programme in this way is a strength and ensures that more people over a much wider geography and demographic have the opportunity to experience dance than would otherwise be the case. We find ways to connect, move and dance together through all our sessions, supporting people's physical and mental wellbeing. We have evidence that high-quality, creatively rich content is key to the success of our organisation in extending our reach as an organisation and in supporting the independent sector. Increasingly, Cheshire Dance offers a strong online and digital presence offering film, photography, news and b/vlogs with an ever-growing take up enabling us to extend our reach to a younger audience and those confined to home.

Staffing

Cheshire Dance for the period of 2020-2021 employed

Cheshire Dance for the period of 2020-2021 contracted or commissioned 56 freelance artists and engaged 45 volunteers

Highlights of the year 2020-2021

The achievements detailed above and below provides ample evidence that during 2020-21 Cheshire Dance proved that the organisation is; able to flex and reframe its activities swiftly, respond and adapt to challenges and opportunities, and has demonstrated a stubborn resilience and productivity. We have proved that the organisation is dynamic, strong and resilient and well positioned to deliver ambitious plans for growth over the next ten years in line with the Arts Council Let’s Create Strategy Outcomes and Investment Principles and our aims and objectives for the benefit of our wider community.

Due to the pandemic in 2020-21 75% of the Cheshire artistic programme shifted to online delivery with 90% of this targeting vulnerable communities - this was a huge achievement during Lockdown. Throughout the year Cheshire Dance delivered 10,713 participant experiences through 1,300 creative sessions. This was an extensive delivery programme given the circumstances and speaks to just how vital dancing and Cheshire Dance is to so many people – even when our and our stakeholders’ priorities were paired down to the bone in the face of the Pandemic crisis.

There is no doubt that 2020/21 was a unique and challenging year for Cheshire Dance, our participants, freelance artists, partners and key stakeholders. Cheshire Dance reacted swiftly to the COVID-19 restrictions that it faced during the Lockdowns and Tiers thrust upon us all during these unprecedented times. The Cheshire Dance Board and Team demonstrated an ever-stronger commitment to its aim to ensure everyone has access to dance and can benefit from its transformative power, and in response to Lockdown#1 developed a COVID-19 Response Plan to provide a strategic response to the situation. Throughout 2020/21 the organisation continued to support and develop dance with priority groups across the county using digital technologies, on and offline resources and when allowed face to face activities.

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From the outset it became clear that our priority groups of Older People, Young People, People with Disabilities, including those with Profound Intellectual & Multiple Disabilities (PIMD), Artists and Freelance staff were amongst those most heavily impacted by COVID-19 and that dance had a key role to play in supporting these individuals and groups during times of shielding and isolation.

Throughout 2020-21, Cheshire Dance continued to engage with and listen to participants, partners and artists to develop a programme of support and activity;

During the year Cheshire Dance remained committed to the delivery of our Artistic Programme and whilst some elements of the programme had to be postponed or even cancelled, others could be reimagined. Additionally, the pandemic brought opportunities to create new initiatives and partnerships in response to the ever-changing external environment.

Both the staff and the Board took time to undertake strategic thinking and examine; Arts Council England Let’s Create Strategy and Investment Principles, Local Authority Stronger Futures planning documents, develop our response to the Black Lives Matter campaign and consider our approach and programme amidst COVID-19 restrictions to inform our plans for 2021-22 and beyond.

Cheshire Dance welcomed four new Board members with a younger profile and recognising that there is more to do the Board made a commitment to the ACE Investment Principle Inclusivity and Relevance will, in, 2021/22 established a Board Working Party that will accelerate their focus on Board diversity.

Let’s Create

The work of Cheshire Dance resonates strongly with the Arts Council England Let’s Create Strategy, it’s Vision for England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish - its Outcomes (see below) and Investment Principles. Cheshire Dance is deeply embedded in, and co-creates with, a range of local communities in Cheshire and creatives across the North West and nationally, seeking opportunities that deliver on our vision - to ensure everyone has access to dance and can benefit from its transformative power and mission - to champion dance and the voices of those who engage . To do this Cheshire Dance works extensively in partnership across the arts & culture, public, voluntary and commercial sectors. We are deeply embedded in voluntary and public sector partnerships as a lead creative and cultural voice in Cheshire. These partnerships ensure we work in a responsive way; informed, supported and invested in by these sectors to meet the priorities of the communities we engage.

Let’s Create Outcomes

 Creative People

Cheshire Dance is an active employment hub offering training to support access into employment within the Creative Industries, particularly but not exclusively dance. Our person-centred approach encourages all our participants to be creative people, encouraging a diverse range of people and communities to recognise their creative talents, with some looking to creative industries career paths.

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 Creative Communities

Cheshire Dance is truly connected to the communities we are part of and the people we work with. Our approach to our work with Older Adults, Young People and People with Disabilities takes us into the heart of these communities of both interest and place. Our artistic programme has proved to be dynamic as even during lockdown and restrictions we provided 10,713 creative experiences and delivered 1,300 creative sessions with 90% of this activity targeting vulnerable communities/people with Protected Characteristics.

Cheshire Dance acts to bring the professional dance community together. Creative, active and positive partnerships across the arts, education, public and voluntary sectors are at the heart of all that Cheshire Dance does. In our role as the accountable body for Dance Consortia North West we champion, promote and influence opportunities to grow the dance sector across the region through the North West Dance Plan.

Building on from initial Board and Team workshops to examine Lets Create and to further develop and align our plans to Let’s Create; Cheshire Dance has developed a Road Map outlining the consultation we will be undertaking during 2021-22 to inform both our Business Plan for 2022-23 and our forthcoming Arts Council National Portfolio organisation application. We are committed to capturing and amplifying the voices of artists, participants, stakeholders, the team and the Board to ensure our plans truly respond to and reflect their ambitions. During autumn 2021 we will continue to debate, consult, discuss and examine the Lets Create Strategy and Investment Principles.

Additional highlights from 2020-21 include

Online Activities

Where possible regular classes moved online with our eldest participant being 95 years of age – who says older adults don’t do technology!

Cheshire Dance was able to offer a range of regular weekly online sessions for active and not so active older adults, young people, carers and young people with Downs Syndrome. Whilst some of our regular participants chose not to take part in the online offer it did attract new people who had not danced with us before or would not normally attend a face to face session due to geography or feeling uncomfortable about dancing with others. During Lockdown#3 in January ’21 young people report screen fatigue due to pandemic home-schooling and told us they preferred to wait until face-to-face sessions could resume, rather than meet online. Conversely the demand for dance and health online sessions has grown with the New Year bringing new collaborations with local organisations to trial new online classes.

What people have said about our online offer…

“It is lovely to be able to see other people in the same situation and to take part is something enjoyable. Apart from walking the dog, this is the only exercise I can get Ron to partake in and feel that this is really important to his wellbeing. As you can imagine we are missing social interaction and these sessions really help on not only the physical but also the mental health of both of us.”

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“Having the sessions regularly has had a wonderful impact on the health and well-being of our carers. It increases their mobility in this time of increased stillness due to the pandemic and when many people are fearful to leave their homes even for daily exercise. It brings them together for something to look forward to each week.”

“I really look forward to our dance sessions on a Friday morning with Rachel because I get so much benefit from them. I feel better physically, mentally and best of all, it’s fun. It's lovely to 'meet' up with the other ladies each week.”

“Just wanted to let you know how much we have enjoyed our dance sessions. Although my husband is no longer mobile he takes part with my help as much as possible. He loves the music, and often just claps and hums along. There is always adaptations that I can help him with. A pleasure to take part in these worthwhile sessions.”

#Black Lives Matter

In response to Black Lives Matter campaign Cheshire Dance looked to deepen its relationship and partnership with Movema to develop a meaningful and appropriate response to the campaign. During the year Cheshire Dance and Movema developed the ‘Wildfire Rising’ programme and secured funding

for the delivery of the programme in 21/22. Wildfire Rising’ is an associate artist programme that aims to remove barriers of inequality by investing in and supporting dance artists from African, South, East and South East Asian diasporas to make way for the rising of their artistry, representation and development.

The programme recruited three North West based dance artists, who will each take part in paid, bespoke professional development and reflection as well as receiving a £1.5k commission with support to develop their own dance work.

Through 'Wildfire Rising' Cheshire Dance and Movema and are committed to:

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Move with Us

Funded by Sport England the ‘Move with Us’ sessions were for those living with dementia and other conditions and their carers. Half of the participants join in the class with their spouse, the other half joined from care homes where they are resident and are supported by their activities coordinator/carers. The funding for this project meant that cost wasn’t an additional barrier for those currently facing huge inequality of opportunity as a result of the pandemic (carers, older adults with dementia, care home residents) and thus has enabled some of the people who were most isolated and inactive to bring movement into their lives. These sessions have continued through collaboration with Cheshire and Warrington Carers Trust and are as important and valued as ever as carers have reported that they often felt forgotten and ‘left behind’ in the opening up from COVID.

Moving Matters

During Lockdown#3, a new online wellbeing workshop, ‘Moving Matters’ was launched in association with HealthBox CIC. This generated tremendous interest, leading Arts Council England to promote the session in the Creative Lowdown blog https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/blog/creative-lowdown-15-january-2021

and on their social media platforms. Emma Thomas, Lead Dance Artists for Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) was invited to appear on Northwich Radio to talk about the Moving Matters taster session that took place as part of the CWAC Libraries Health and Wellbeing Week in January.

Pre-recorded classes

When the country first went in to lockdown Cheshire Dance wanted to honour existing freelance artists’ contracts and in consultation with the artists it was agreed that they would create bespoke pre-recorded video content with materials suitable for older adults and people living with disabilities. Cheshire Dance made particular use of its YouTube channel in lockdown and now have a bank of 22 videos for older adults and 30 videos for disabled people.

Freelance artist Emily O’Shea had been contracted by Cheshire Dance to teach in a variety of school settings in Summer 2020 so we worked with Emily to re-purpose her time towards the creation of a free, online dance resource for schools. We used this resource as a marketing tool for the Cheshire Dance COVID-19 schools offer from which bookings have started to be generated.

Offline Resources

Cheshire Dance were acutely aware that many people may not have access to a digital offer and wanted to provide opportunities for those who weren’t able to engage online to stay active at home. The offline resources helped us to reach a significant number of people who we weren’t previously working with.

During August 150 families in Lache and Frodsham received Cheshire Dance CHALK! Activity Packs. Specially designed by Dance Artist Emily O'Shea, these packs contained ten different activities for children and their families. All activities were designed to inspire imagination, outdoor play, drawing, writing and, of course, dancing! Cheshire Dance received funding from The Westminster Foundation and Cheshire West and Chester Council through the COVID-19 Community Response fund.

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Moving Moments

A celebration of the contribution that Older People in the community make to our society. We joined the ‘Age Proud Lache’ group which forms part of Age Friendly Cheshire West and partnered with a variety of organisations to send out food and activity boxes to 100 older adults in Lache.

Cheshire Dance came together with local artist Rachel Almond to create five beautifully designed prints to inspire and encourage older adults to stay active at home. These A5 specially commissioned watercolours feature creative activities on the reverse to remind older adults to integrate movement and dance into their daily lives for enhanced health and wellbeing. This project received funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund and support from Cheshire West and Chester Council, Age Friendly Lache and Sanctuary Housing.

Listening to our communities and artists – planning a return to face to face sessions

In July ’20 we sent a survey out to our existing participants and freelance artists to ascertain the appetite for a return to face to face classes in the studio. Results were mixed and ranged from those who are very keen to get back to face to face activity to those who are still very nervous and would prefer to stay online for the foreseeable future. Although most freelancers were keen to get back to studio classes several felt they would be putting the vulnerable populations they work with at risk because they also teach in other contexts such as schools. This feedback will inform our approach to returning to face to face sessions as the country emerges from lockdown. Each session will be considered on a case by case basis in partnership with artists, participants, venues and partners.

Face to Face Sessions

Whilst these were extremely limited during 2002-21, in November and December ’20 we delivered face to face sessions with The Grange Community Primary School in Winsford, exploring topics linked to the curriculum. Here’s some feedback from teachers and pupils:

"We have loved having Cheshire Dance in school. They are professional and understanding of the current climate and are constantly providing unique ways to bring dance to life in school, whilst keeping safety as a priority. The children have made so much progress in dance and the teachers have valued the expert coaching to help inform their own teaching. Thank you!"

Here are some of the words/phrases used by Year 5 Pupils. (Dec 2020):

*Best Five Weeks of My Life * Amazing * Brilliant * Worth Waiting For * I Don't Want It To End

One Of The Best Experiences I've Ever Had

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New Cheshire Dance website

During the year further design and wireframe development took place of a powerful new database driven website for Cheshire Dance. The new website consists of a range of digital assets that have the potential for wider application across the North West dance sector with the Artists network ALFA and Dance Consortia North West.

Dance Consortia Northwest (DCNW)

The Consortia is a partnership of dance development organisations, venues, companies, independent artists and HE institutions that have co-authored its purpose, ambition and values and secured Arts Council England investment. DCNW was established in 2017 and is working to deliver the NW Dance Plan to support and grow dance in the North West. DCNW is working to:

Cheshire Dance is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and is the accountable body for the central Arts Council funding for DCNW and employer of the Partnerships Director and a .2 FTE Administrator (and potentially other) posts. Dance Consortia North West governance is held within Cheshire Dance’s charitable objects and delivered through a signed Operating Agreement.

During the autumn ‘20, Cheshire Dance created a website for Dance Consortia North West to showcase how the partnership is collectively responsive to the strengths, needs and specialisms of the region’s artists and organisations.

During lockdown DCNW was a critically useful resource keeping partners connected for survival, Covid adaptations as well as forward planning. Alongside extensive planning amongst the Consortia partners negotiations continued with Arts Council England to seek permission to submit a strategic area based National Lottery Programme application for over £100k. DCNW has since been awarded £170k in September 2021 to deliver a comprehensive research programme.

The Executive Group have launched The Dance Plan, a resource for anyone connected with the dance sector in the region to use as part of their case making and planning. Alongside this is an Operational Plan detailing how ye partnership is going to work together, with priorities and goals including successful applications to National Lottery Project funds.

During 2020-21 time was taken to evaluate the first DCNW mentoring programme and having adjusted the programme to reflect the learning from the initial mentoring programme a second mentoring programme has recently been launched.

DCNW continued to offer support to Company Carpi and Movema, both of whom were successful in attracting matched funding from Arts Council England Project funding. Support has also been given to help the companies navigate their commissions with partners, Now Northwich, Spare Parts, Lancaster Arts and Culture Warrington.

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Catalyst Project

During the year Cheshire Dance pursued its research project with the Philip Barker Centre at Chester University, as far as restrictions allowed, with the aim of the project being to find a more systematic way of producing evidence to tell the story of the Cheshire Dance experience. A set of three outcome domains holding eight more tightly defined outcome areas have emerged that Cheshire Dance group members felt reflected their dance experience as a way for Cheshire Dance to roll-out new evaluation methods and reveal their dance stories. A participatory action research methodology incorporating a phenomenological design was successful in enabling the voice of the group members to lead the research process. These outcomes are the starting point for Cheshire Dance to gain evaluation consistency across numerous participatory groups. Consistent evaluation data using these outcomes will aim to support the advocacy, fundraising and artistic direction of all the individual dance groups and Cheshire Dance as a whole.

Staffing and Freelancers

In 2020/21 Cheshire Dance successfully managed staffing pressures due to COVID-19, reduction in staff numbers as a result of Furlough and maternity leave. With the closure of the Cheshire Dance office at Winsford Library staff were required to work from home for much of the year. The Board and Senior Management were mindful of the pressures that COVID-19 had on staff during 2020, allowing staff to work flexibly, take time when needed to manage work/life balance, including the pressures of home schooling and also supported additional annual leave during the Christmas break.

Cheshire Dance is continuing to articulate and action a fundamental shift in our approach to working with freelancers. We are committed to developing relationships with our freelance artists where they are seen as consultants and co-creators of our programme, where they are paid to engage in all training required for their work with Cheshire Dance.

Additionally, we aim to remove financial barriers to engaging in the rest of our CPD/Artist development programme, ensuring that we can maintain and develop diversity within our workforce. By investing in our freelance artists and their development, we invest in an excellent experience for our participants and audiences, in the development of a rich and diverse dance sector in Cheshire and the NW, and in the future of Cheshire Dance. This was achieved with the support of Cultural Recovery Fund investment; our challenge is to resource this on an ongoing basis.

Cultural Recovery Fund

At the start of 2021/22 Cheshire Dance benefitted from investment from the Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF). This enabled us to relaunch our programme, employ artists, equip the programme for safety, promote it well, re-engage more of our dancing community and learn from engagers and non-engagers alike.

In June 2021, the CRF criteria changed with the 3 month period of funding extending to December 2021. Whilst this late notice meant most of the funds were used in the April to June period we planned and are now implementing a second push to re-engage participants

and support artist development through the Autumn 2021 term. Already we are experiencing strong demand from our groups for this return to face-to-face sessions.

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Now Northwich Festival

Due to the pandemic the Now Northwich Festival, programmed to take place in October 2020, was cancelled. However support from the Cultural Recovery Fund enabled scenario planning for a Covid secure festival to take place in April 2022. Cheshire Dance have negotiated an agreement with Cheshire West & Chester Council for the 2022 Festival and will continue to undertake strategic planning and fundraising for the Festival with key partners and stakeholders including Cheshire West & Chester Council, Northwich Town Council, the Business Improvement District and Barons Quay. Cheshire West and Chester Localities have submitted an application to Arts Council England National Lottery Programme. Investment from CRF has enabled us to undertake scenario planning and research to ensure the event will be Covid safe.

A focus on Winsford

Cheshire Dance were delighted to be commissioned by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) to deliver elements of their borough-wide reopening and recovery programme, a significant investment programme of cultural, community and visitor attraction activity to position, encourage and grow the confidence of residents and visitors to safely return to the city centre, main towns, market towns and visit places across the borough.

The Winsford High Street Recovery programme will see a new engagement programme develop through Autumn 2021 and into Spring 2022 that will culminate with an event in the Town Centre sometime in March 2022. Having a base in Winsford phase one of the programme provides the opportunity to not only deliver an exciting events programme in the town but to provide employment for local artists and engage more deeply with the local community and to understand their ‘Wishes of Winsford’ as part of the town centre regeneration programme. Planning has already commenced with local partners including Cine Window, Cross Hatch, the Library and the CWAC Culture team.

The commission represents an extension of our partnership with Cheshire West & Chester Council bringing new investment through Future High Streets funding signalling long term regeneration for Winsford and initiating discussions for a new development ‘Winsford Social’.

Beneficiaries of our services

Cheshire Dance delivers/promotes dance engagement pro-actively amongst specifically targeted groups:

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Cheshire Dance delivers continuing professional development in dance and social justice which not only advances knowledge of the artform, facilitation and dance development but also the effects of physical activity on the body and the duty of care to participants and practitioners. People that engage in Cheshire Dance’s continuing professional development activity include:

Cheshire Dance seeks to engage the public in works of art as audiences. Particular target groups include:

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Financial review

Reserves policy

Cheshire Dance requires unrestricted reserves for both investment and risk management. Cheshire Dance maintains a Risk Log separately to its reserves policy.

Insolvency

Likely costs are contingent to skeleton operating costs, net debtor/creditor balances and contractual agreements with staff, particularly to cover redundancy situations.

It is recognised that Cheshire Dance’s core funding agreements require notice periods in the event of funding cuts and as such, in the event of insolvency, no additional reserve is required to cover notice periods for staff redundancy.

Target Reserve

As at 31st March 2021 Cheshire Dance holds £46,791 of unrestricted, undesignated reserves. The Board has set a target reserve of £46,446 including £24,000 required to cover skeleton running costs and a further £22,446 to cover redundancy costs.

At the date of this report Cheshire Dance has met its Reserves Policy.

Review

The Target Reserve is reviewed each year to take account of all risks and in particular, staff entitlement to redundancy.

If the decision is taken by the Board that insolvency is unavoidable, it would instruct the Director of the company to produce a balanced budget for the insolvency period.

Investment

Any further unrestricted reserves held above the target reserve figure will be invested in Cheshire Dance’s long term sustainability and development. The Board will work with the Director and staff to consider designating any further reserves to further the objects of the charity.

Plans for the future

Moving through the pandemic and looking forward with secure foundations in place during 2020-21 the Board of Trustees has undertaken the following:

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Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in 1993 and registered as a charity in 1983.

The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and 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 31 March 2021 was 10 (2020: 9). 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.

Board recruitment

Cheshire Dance attracts Board members from across the public, dance, cultural, voluntary and education sectors. We aim to attract a mix of applicants from different backgrounds, going further than simply reflecting the stakeholders and geographic areas we currently serve. Roles are advertised openly and we reach out to different communities through the networks connected to our increasingly diverse programme.

Following Expressions of Interest received, a Board and Team member meet informally with candidates so both parties can assess compatibility. By agreement candidates are then invited to meet the Board/Team through observing a Board meeting. In preparation candidates can access meeting papers and a comprehensive Board Induction pack. Again by agreement, after the meeting, candidates join the Board formally and continue the induction process.

Related parties and relationships with other organisations

The trustees maintain an accurate Register on Interests covering both trustees and staff. Where conflicts of interest arise in decision-making, specific interests are noted and interested parties step out of the decision-making process. The trustees recognise the importance of including practicing artists in its number. During the year one trustee received payment work as freelance artists. They are Bettina Carpi.

Cheshire Dance is related to Dance Consortia North West. It is the fundholder, employs its staff and shares back office services. The Consortia has an independent Chair and Executive Decision-Making Group made up of representatives of interested dance and arts organisations, Higher Education Dance Departments and a network of Independent Dance Artists across the region.

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

Trustees maintain knowledge of competitive salary levels in the sector. It assesses all staff salaries each year and implements appropriate rises as part of its overall responsibility for financial control and long-term resilience.

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Risk management

The Board reviews major risks on a quarterly basis and All Relevant Organisational Risks on an annual basis, or more frequently as circumstances dictate. Options for Mitigating Action are reviewed at the Trigger point and agreed and implemented as appropriate. The Risk Log includes ongoing adaptation and recovery risks associated with the Covid 19 Pandemic.

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

Funds held on behalf of Dance Consortia North West, as a Restricted Fund, total £38,300 in cash at 31[st] March 2021.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited 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:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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

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The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 12[th] November 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Jan Halloran

Chair

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Independent examiner’s report

to the trustees of

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2021 which are set out on pages 19 to 33.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity 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 your company’s accounts as 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 respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; 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.

Catherine Hall FCCA DChA Slade & Cooper Ltd, Chartered Certified Accountants Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Manchester M4 6JG 15[th] November 2021

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Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Statement of Financial Activities

(including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
56,786
Charitable activities:
4
141,912
Investments
5
72
Total income
198,770
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
6
176,843
Total expenditure
176,843
8
21,927
Transfer between funds
-
Net movement in funds for the year
21,927
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
54,373
Total funds carried forward
76,300
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
-
86,976
-
86,976
61,889
61,889
25,087
-
25,087
75,917
101,004		 Total funds
2021
£
56,786
228,888
72
285,746
238,732
238,732
47,014
-
47,014
130,290
177,304		 Total funds
2020
£
11,546
303,995
421
315,962
319,331
319,331
(3,369)
-
(3,369)
133,659
130,290

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

19

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited Company number 2811035

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2021

Note
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
13
438
Total fixed assets
438
Current assets
Debtors
14
5,605
Cash at bank and in hand
15
200,929
Total current assets
206,534
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
16
(29,668)
Net current assets
176,866
Total assets less current liabilities
177,304
Net assets
177,304
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
17
101,004
Unrestricted income funds
18
76,300
Total charity funds
177,304
2021		 £
£
1,739
1,739
12,518
140,839
153,357
(24,806)
128,551
130,290
130,290
75,917
54,373
130,290
2020		 £
£
1,739
1,739
12,518
140,839
153,357
(24,806)
128,551
130,290
130,290
75,917
54,373
130,290
2020
1,739
128,551
130,290
130,290
75,917
54,373
130,290

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 are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with FRS102 SORP, and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.

The notes on pages 11 to 22 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 12th November 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

Jan Halloran (Chair)

20

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 31 March 2021

Note
2021
£
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
20
60,018
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest, and rents from investments
72
Proceeds from sale of tangible fixed assets
-
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
72
60,090
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
140,839
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
200,929
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year		 2020
£
3,790
421
-
421
4,211
136,628
140,839

21

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021

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 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

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. The trustees have made no key judgments 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.

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

22

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

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.

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.

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

h Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £400 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:

Equipment 25%

23

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

i 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.

j 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.

k 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.

l Financial instruments

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.

m Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 8. There were outstanding contributions at the year end of £Nil (2020: £Nil).

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.

24

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

3 Income from donations and legacies

Donations
Government CJRS payments
Total
Total by fund 31 March 2020		 Unrestricted
£
-
56,786
56,786
-		 Restricted
£
-
-
-
11,546		 Total 2021
£
-
56,786
56,786		 Total 2020
£
11,546
-
11,546
Grants and Contracts
Arts Council England
Cheshire West & Chester
Cheshire West Voluntary Action
The Granada Foundation
Earned income
Other income
Total
Previous Reporting Period
Grants and Contracts
Arts Council England
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire West & Chester
AESOP
Curious Minds
The Granada Foundation
Active Cheshire
Earned income
Other income
Total		 Unrestricted
£
89,831
39,606
-
-
12,205
270
141,912
Unrestricted
£
88,208
-
39,606
-
-
-
2,650
33,570
136
164,170		 Restricted
£
68,800
2,480
2,684
1,000
12,012
-
86,976
Restricted
£
58,330
15,000
28,915
7,170
1,000
2,000
-
26,466
944
139,825		 Total 2021
£
158,631
42,086
2,684
1,000
24,217
270
228,888
Total 2020
£
146,538
15,000
68,521
7,170
1,000
2,000
2,650
60,036
1,080
303,995

25

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

5 Investment income

All of the charity's investment income arises from money held in interest bearing deposit accounts. All investment income is unrestricted.

6 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Salaries
Other Staff Costs/Contracted Staff
Other Core Costs/Resources & Venue/Office
Marketing
Capital Projects/Depreciation
Other/Insurance
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure
Analysis of governance and support costs
Basis of
apportionment
Accountancy services
Governance
Previous reporting period
Basis of
apportionment
Accountancy services
Governance
Governance costs
(see note 7)		 Support
£
-
Support
£
-		 Total 2021
£
179,370
29,713
10,452
11,976
1,301
3,339
2,581
238,732
2021
£
61,889
176,843
238,732
Governance
£
2,581
Governance
£
2,548		 Total 2020
£
160,201
123,640
24,960
1,001
1,651
5,330
2,548
319,331
2020
£
144,671
174,660
319,331
Total 2021
£
2,581
Total 2020
£
2,548

7 Analysis of governance and support costs

26

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

8 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation
Independent examiner's remuneration -
Independent examination
Accountancy
Payroll
Staff costs
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Allocated as follows:
Charitable activities		 2021
£
1,301
1,000
500
691
2021
£
165,785
9,899
3,686
179,370
179,370
179,370		 2020
£
1,651
1,000
623
500
2020
£
150,005
7,012
3,184
160,201
160,201
160,201

9 Staff costs

No employees has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2020: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 8 (2020: 8). The average full time equivalent number of staff employed during the period was 5.4 (2020: 5.5).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £39,942 (2020: £39,159).

27

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

10 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

No (2020: Nil) trustees claimed reimbursed expenses during the year (2020: £Nil).

One trustees (2020: two) received fees as an artist supplying services to the charity, as permitted by the charity's governing document:

2021 2020
£ £
Bettina Carpi 5,943 5,781
Jan Halloran - 66

Elaine McLean, a trustee, is the mother of Jane McLean who is employed as Creative Director. Jane McLean received actual salary of £22,948 (2020: £7,958 + maternity pay) during the year.

Alicia Halloran, the daughter of Jan Halloran, a trustee, was engaged as a freelance artist by the charity and received fees of £1,293 during the year (2020: £7,237).

Rafael Braga-Araujo, the son-in-law of Elaine Maclean, a trustee, was engaged as a freelance artist by the charity and received fees of £180 during the year (2020: £790).

Ruth Spencer, partner of Adam Holloway, executive Director, was engaged as a freelance artist by the charity and received fees of £1,475 during the year (2020: £3,650).

Apart from the above transactions, no trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity, including guarantees, during the year (2020: nil).

11 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

Arts Council England
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire West & Chester
Government Furlough		 2021
£
158,631
-
42,086
56,786
200,717		 2020
£
146,538
15,000
68,521
-
230,059

The are no unfulfilled conditions and contingencies attaching to the grants.

28

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

12 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.

13 Fixed assets: tangible assets

Cost
Additions
Disposals
Depreciation
Charge for the year
Disposals
Net book value
At 1 April 2020
At 31 March 2021
At 1 April 2020
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2021
At 31 March 2020		 Computer
equipment
£
35,479
-
-
35,479
33,740
1,301
-
35,041
438
1,739		 £
35,479
-
-
Total
35,479
33,740
1,301
-
35,041
438
1,739

29

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

14 Debtors

Fees receivable
Prepayments and accrued income
15
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and on hand
16
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors and accruals
Taxation and social security costs		 2021
£
940
4,665
5,605
2021
£
200,929
200,929
2021
£
20,419
6,302
2,947
29,668		 2020
£
10,018
2,500
12,518
2020
£
140,839
140,839
2020
£
12,146
6,400
6,260
24,806

30

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

17 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Training Community
Training Prof
Capital Grants
Total
Training Community
Training Prof
Total
Previous reporting
period		 Balance at
1 April
2020
£
36,678
37,500
1,739
75,917
Balance at
1 April
2019
£
33,578
31,499
68,467		 Income
£
15,576
71,400
-
86,976
Income
£
87,720
63,651
151,371		 Expenditure
£
(10,772)
(49,816)
(1,301)
(61,889)
Expenditur
e
£
(85,370)
(57,650)
(144,671)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
750
-
750		 Balance at
31 March
2021
£
41,482
59,084
438
101,004
Balance at
31 March
2020
£
36,678
37,500
75,917

Name of restricted fund Description, nature and purposes of the fund

Training Prof

This represents funds to deliver training and are mainly derived from Arts Council England.

Capital Grants

This represents funds held to be released against depreciation on fixed assets, with funds mainly derived from Cheshire Dance including those transferred from unrestricted funds.

31

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

18 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

General fund
Designated fund
General fund
Designated fund
Name of
unrestricted fund
General fund
Designated fund
Current reporting
period
Previous reporting
period		 Balance
at 1 April
2020
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
As at 31
March 2021
£
£
£
£
£
41,864
198,770
(176,843)
(17,000)
46,791
12,509
-
-
17,000
29,509
54,373
198,770
(176,843)
-
76,300
Balance
at 1 April
2019
Income
Expenditur
e
Transfers
As at 31
March
2020
£
£
£
£
£
39,433
164,591
(174,660)
12,500
41,864
25,759
-
-
(13,250)
12,509
65,192
164,591
(174,660)
(750)
54,373
Description, nature and purposes of the fund
The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds
Designate to cover committed core costs, including that for the
progression of a feasibility study to establish a residential base for the
organisation.		 As at 31
March 2021
£
46,791
29,509
76,300
As at 31
March
2020
£
41,864
12,509
54,373

32

Cheshire Dance Workshop Limited

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021 (continued)

19 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous Reporting Period
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total		 General
fund
£
438
46,353
46,791
General
fund
£
1,739
40,125
41,864		 Designated
funds
£
-
29,509
29,509
Designated
funds
£
-
12,509
12,509		 Restricted
funds
£
-
101,004
101,004
Restricted
funds
£
-
75,917
75,917		 Total
£
438
176,866
177,304
Total
£
1,739
128,551
130,290

20 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating		 2021
£
47,014
1,301
(72)
6,913
4,862
60,018		 2020
£
(3,369)
1,651
(421)
(3,646)
9,575
3,790

33