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2024-03-31-accounts

Show of Strength Theatre Company Limited

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024

Charity number 1067886 Company Number 2889027

[1]

Trustees' Annual Report

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements of Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd for the year ended 31st March 2024.

Contents

[2]

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name : Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Charity Registration Number : 1067886 Company Registration Number : 2889027 Registered Office and Operational address : 74 Chessel St, Bristol BS3 3DN Trustees 2023-24: Christopher Ryde (chair) Kellie Hasbury John Holland Simon Partridge Lynda Rooke Robert Whyatt Rose Wallis (appointed 13[th] December 2023) Rachel Sellars (appointed 13[th] December 2023) Victor Ecclestone (passed away during 2023) Company Secretary: Sheila Hannon – Creative Producer Bankers: NatWest Ashton Gate PO Box 235, North St, Bristol BS99 5AW Independent Examiner: Rupert Taylor 5 Mount Pleasant, Millbrook, Torpoint, Cornwall PL10 1BS

Structure, Governance & Management

Governing Document

The organisation is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Its governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 19[th] January 1994 as amended by a Special Resolution on 18[th] November 1997. It was registered as a charity on 2[nd] February 1998.

The trustees of the Charity, who are also the Directors of the Company for the purposes of Company Law, exercise all the powers of the Charity and Company. The Board of Trustees meets at least four times a year, and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. They delegate responsibility for the day to day running of the charity to the Creative Producer, Sheila Hannon.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Board regularly identifies any gaps in expertise and seeks to recruit trustees with appropriate skills. Potential trustees observe one or more Board meetings to determine suitability. Successful candidates are then invited to join the Board and appointments are usually made annually at the AGM (usually November or December).

New trustees are recruited from a wide range of professions that currently include Theatre Management, Education, Professional Theatre (performance), Professional Theatre (management), Creative Workers’ Union Equity, Voluntary Sector, Property Management, Marketing and PR and the law, and demonstrate a wide range of skills, experience and commitment.

[3]

Objects and Activities

Charitable Objects

To promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public, particularly by the production of plays and other theatrical performances.

SOSTC is proud to have successfully delivered on these objectives for over 20 years and continues to do so.

Public benefit

Show of Strength Theatre Company (SOSTC) and its trustees are fully aware of and take into consideration the Charity Commission's guidance relating to public benefit in all its decision making and in all cases where this is required and is relevant. Many shows and performances produced by SOSTC engage schools and other learning establishments and younger persons, promote high streets and other local environments and independent traders and all encompass a degree of education and history. We believe that our theatrical performances are of wider benefit to the cultural background of the localities in which they are seen. Many shows are performed outdoors in public streets and are entirely accessible to all members of the public, often on a free basis, through funding that SOSTC has actively raised with other partners. This year our education work, funded by Historic England, included working with women in HMP Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire. Details of how the charity delivered public benefit during the year are set out in the section “Achievements and Performance” below.

Funding

Staff

Board

At the 2023 AGM on 13 December:

[4]

Achievements and Performance

ARTISTIC ACTIVITY/PROJECTS

2023-4 projects are summarised here in chronological order

February-November 2024

Core Project: THEATRE WALKS Ongoing

Now in 9[th] year following the launch of FRANKENSTEIN IN BATH in 2016 and still one of SOSTC’s most engaging and successful projects. Public tours began again in February and this year we created and launched two new walks, both funded by the Being Human Festival. RAISING CARY GRANT, the story of Bristol born Archie Leach, was commissioned by and in partnership with the University of the West of England and MADNESS AND MAYHEM IN MEDIEVAL BRISTOL was commissioned by and in partnership with the University of Bristol. Both these new tours were fully booked and led to the company’s work being featured in the national press and media including front page of the Guardian, whole page in the Daily Mirror and a feature on TV’s THIS MORNING with Bristol’s Josie Gibson. Our THEATRE WALKS portfolio now comprises nine tours for public and private bookings. All our work is fully covered by appropriate professional insurance and risk assessed, with regular updates, and all THEATRE WALKS are preceded by health and safety briefings.

MAY 2023-JANUARY 2024 THE BRISTOL GIRLS

Historic England funded project in partnership with the University of the West of England/UWE to explore the forgotten story of ten women from Bristol Newgate prison (now the site of The Galleries Shopping Centre) transported to Australia. Research to be shared in a series of workshops with women prisoners in Gloucestershire’s HMP Eastwood Park and led by Creative Producer and writer, Sheila Hannon; UWE Associate Professor of History, Dr Rose Wallis, and actor Lynda Rooke. Security checks and prison staff shortages caused repeated delays and in May we learned sessions could not begin until the autumn.

Our first workshop was 1 October and over the next 5 weeks we worked with a group of women in HMP Eastwood Park, looking at the stories of women imprisoned and transported 200 years earlier. All sessions were collaborative and included creative writing, with everybody in the room taking part. The final session included two professional actors who read all the work and fed back. In January the scripts were recorded and made available on various websites. A visual display about the project was installed in vacant shop premises in The Galleries (site of Bristol Newgate prison), seen by thousands of shoppers as well as on social media with hugely positive feedback.

In November 2024 Sheila Hannon, Dr Rose Wallis and Lynda Rooke gave a presentation on the project to South Bristol History Festival.

AUGUST 2023 MEET THE PURNELLS

Funding from Bedminster Business Improvement District for outdoor performances on East Street, part of Bristol Art District

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

Creative Producer Sheila Hannon gave a series of talks at Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre on Sarah Guppy, the first woman to register a patent for a bridge (1811). The Bridge is interested in collaborating on a on a project to explore this patent, to be further developed next year.

30 SEPTEMBER/1 OCTOBER 2023 DOCKS HERITAGE WEEKEND

We work regularly with Bristol City Council’s M Shed museum on heritage weekends. Two Bristol actors play 1950s characters ‘George and Sheila Purnell’, in the then working harbour. George, a docker newly promoted to crane driver, and his wife Sheila interact with the public, telling their stories and recreating the working harbourside with volunteers from Bristol’s M Shed.

31 OCTOBER 2023 HALLOWEEN AT THE LLANDOGER TROW

Another established partnership, a stop on our BLACKBEARD tour. An evening of very specific ghost stories – tales of the ghosts said to haunt this very building, a mid 17[th] century dockside inn and Bristol’s oldest timber framed building.

[5]

4 FEBRUARY 2024 BEDMINSTER LANTERN PARADE

Actors playing (real) Victorian local gentry, the Smyth family of Ashton Court, led this annual community celebration that closes streets and lights up Bedminster in the depths of winter.

FEBRUARY 2024 DEVELOPMENT WITH CLEVEDON LITFEST

Clevedon Litfest want to partner on an Arts Council application for an outdoor performance telling an important , forgotten story: a suffragette ‘outrage’ in town in the fight for Votes For Women in 1914. To incorporate Elizabeth Blackwell funding for community engagement.

END MARCH 2024 LAUNCH NEW SEASONS THEATRE WALKS

Financial Review

In 2023-24, the charity recorded a deficit of £8,882 on unrestricted funds (2023 surplus of £6,780). This was due to utilising reserves to fund some of its work; however sufficient funds remain to ensure the financial viability of the organisation, and reserves will not be depleted beyond these safe levels.

Risk Assessment

The major risks to which the charity are exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate these risks.

Key risks:

Small board: aim to recruit at least one new board member fulfilled: 2 new members appointed at December AGM. Board again comprises 8 trustees.

Loss of Staff: Creative Producer committed to continuing with SOSTC. Aim to appoint second Associate Producer fulfilled with appointment of Gerard Cooke with responsibility for managing private tours.

Lack of core funding : SOSTC continues to diversify funding streams and to show an end of year surplus. 2023/4 was a highly successful year in which we again punched considerably above our small weight, delivering a range of diverse and original projects and increasing and widening the range of our partners and funders including:

The Company’s sustained commitment to, and considerable experience of, outdoor performance continues to augur well in a post-Covid world. Funding for arts and education projects is harder and harder to access and even when successfully accessed has to stretch further and further.

Reserves Policy

The trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not earmarked for future activities should be at least three months of resources expended, which equates to around £10,000. At the balance sheet date free reserves amounted to £27,518 (2023 £36,401): this remains well in excess of the target level.

[6]

Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees

Trustees are required 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 the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees confirm that to the best of their knowledge there is no information relevant to the Independent Examination of which the Examiners are unaware.

The trustees also confirm that they have taken all necessary steps to ensure that they themselves are aware of all relevant financial information and that this information has been communicated to the Examiners.

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 2024 was 7 (2023 - 7). The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Approved by the trustees on 29[th] November 2024 and signed on their behalf by

................................................................ ................................................................. Christopher John Ryde (chair of trustees) Lynda Susan Rooke (trustee)

[7]

Independent Examiner's report to the trustees of Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31[st] March 2024, which are set out on pages 9 to 14.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s 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 charity’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:

  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.

……………….................................................................................. 2[nd] December 2024

Rupert Taylor 5 Mount Pleasant Millbrook Torpoint Cornwall PL10 1BH

[8]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating Income & Expenditure Account) Year to 31st March 2024

Year to 31st March 2024
Restricted Unrestricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
2024 2024 2024 2023
[See Note 12]
Notes £ £ £ £
Income
Donations [2] - 97 97 149
Charitable activities [3] 7,500 18,839 26,339 33,489
Investments - 548 548 46
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Income 7,500 19,485 26,985 33,684
Expenditure
Costs of raising funds [4] - - - 1,898
Charitable activities [5] 10,000 28,367 38,367 22,506
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Expenditure 10,000 28,367 38,367 24,404
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net Income / (Expenditure) (2,500) (8,882) (11,382) 9,280
Transfers between funds - - -
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Net Movement in Funds (2,500) (8,882) (11,382) 9,280
Total funds brought forward 2,500 36,401 38,901 29,621
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total funds carried forward - 27,518 27,518 38,901

[9]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Balance Sheet

As at 31st March 2024

Company no. 2889027 Charity no. 1067886

2024 2023
Notes £ £
Fixed Assets [6] - -
Current Assets
Cash at bank and on hand 39,726 48,208
Debtors and prepayments [7] 807 839
--------------- ---------------
40,533 49,047
Current Liabilities
Creditors and accruals [8] 13,015 10,146
--------------- ---------------
Net Current Assets 27,518 38,901
--------------- ---------------
Net Assets 27,518 38,901
Statement of funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds [9] 27,518 36,401
Restricted funds [9] - 2,500
--------------- ---------------
27,518 38,901

Approved by the Board of Trustees on XXth November 2024 and signed on its behalf by

……………………………………………… Christopher John Ryde Trustee

……………………………………………… Lynda Susan Rooke Trustee

[10]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Notes to the Accounts Year to 31st March 2024

[1] Principal Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(j)		 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the 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) (effective 1 January 2019),
the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.
Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and
liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant
accounting policy note(s).
Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
Each year expenditure is budgeted according to the available funding. Therefore the trustees are satisfied that the
charity is a going concern on an ongoing basis. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to
continue as a going concern. For more details, see the Reserves Policy above.
Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the
items of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured
reliably.
Income from 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 activities is deferred until the criteria for income recognition have been met.
Donated services and facilities
Donated professional services and 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 is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. There were no such donations during
the year in question. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of trustees
and volunteers is not recognised with any monetary value.
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.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives
of the charity. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through
the terms of an appeal.
Expenditure
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. The charity is
not registered for Value Added Tax, therefore all expenditure is expressed inclusive of VAT. Expenditure is
classified under the following activity headings:
[i] Costs of raising funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading
for fundraising purposes.
[ii] Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and
services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities, and those costs
of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
[iii] Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading. There were no such costs during
the year in question.
Allocation of support costs
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable
activities. These include office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's
charitable activities. As the charity only undertook one area of activity, support costs have not been apportioned.
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets are written off over the expected useful life of the asset, at 25% per annum on the reducing
balance method. Individual items costing less than £1,000 are not treated as fixed assets.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
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.

[11]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Notes to the Accounts (continued) Year to 31st March 2024

(k) Cash at bank and on hand

Cash at bank and on 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.

(l) Creditors

The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. These are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

[2]
[3]		 Restricted Unrestricted
Total
Restricted Unrestricted
Total
Income from donations
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Individual donations
-
97
97
-
149
149
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
-
97
97
-
149
149
Income from charitable activities
Restricted Unrestricted
Total
Restricted Unrestricted
Total
2024
2024
2024
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
£
£
Grants
7,500
6,500
14,000
2,500
5,000
7,500
Box office receipts
-
9,769
9,769
-
11,212
11,212
Fees income
-
2,570
2,570
-
14,777
14,777
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
7,500
18,839
26,339
2,500
30,989
33,489

The charity received government grants during the year totalling £6,500 (2023 nil). These were project funding from the University of the West of England, and the University of Bristol.

[4] Analysis of fundraising costs
Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
Marketing
-
1,898

[5] Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Total Total
2024 2023
Direct costs: £ £
Production costs and fees 30,216 16,426
Marketing and publicity 3,444 -
--------------- ---------------
Total Direct Costs 33,660 16,426
Support costs: £ £
Freelance fees - 482
Insurance 374 408
Rent and room hire 1,567 1,596
Printing, postage and stationery 56 21
Telephone and computer 834 332
Administration - 499
Accountancy 792 690
Fee for independent examination 406 1,380
Travel and subsistence 635 672
Legal and professional fees 26 -
Sundry expenditure 18 -
--------------- ---------------
Total Support Costs 4,707 6,080
--------------- ---------------
Total Charitable Expenditure 38,367 22,506

[12]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Notes to the Accounts (continued) Year to 31st March 2024

[6] Tangible Fixed Assets

[7]
[8]		 Total
2024
Cost
£
Opening balance
-
Additions during the year
-
Disposals
-
---------------
-
Depreciation
Opening balance
-
Charge for the year
-
Eliminated on disposal
-
---------------
-
---------------
Net Book Value at 31/03/24:
-
Net Book Value at 31/03/23:
-
Debtors and prepayments
2024
2023
£
£
Trade debtors
620
700
Prepayments
187
139
---------------
---------------
807
839
Creditors due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Trade creditors
10,147
5,825
Prepaid income
1,107
531
Accruals
1,236
3,265
Other creditors
525
525
---------------
---------------
13,015
10,146

Prepaid income represents receipts during the year for events taking place after 31st March 2024.

[9] Movements in funds
Balance at
Transfers
Balance at
[for previous year, see Note 12]
31/03/2023
Income Expenditureetween funds
31/03/2024
Restricted Funds
£
£
£
£
£
Historic England: Bristol Girls Grant
2,500
7,500
(10,000)
-
-
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
Total Restricted Funds:
2,500
7,500
(10,000)
-
-
Unrestricted Funds
General Funds
36,401
19,485
(28,367)
-
27,518
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
---------------
Total Funds:
38,901
26,985
(38,367)
-
27,518

The Historic England grant relates to a series of projects at HMP Eastwood Park.

[10] Payments to trustees and related party transactions

One trustee received payments totalling £3,600 for artistic services during the year (2023 nil). The legal authority for these payments is contained in the charity's Memorandum of Association. The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on trustee payments. The trustees received no other remuneration or expenses payments during the year (2023 nil). There were no other related party transactions during the year.

[13]

Show of Strength Theatre Company Ltd Notes to the Accounts (continued) Year to 31st March 2024

[11] Staff costs

The charity employed no staff during the year (2023 nil).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Creative Producer, who is paid on a freelance basis. The total remuneration paid to key management personnel during the year was £11,798 (2023 £4,825).

[12] Detailed comparison with previous year

Statement of Financial Activities 2022-23 Statement of Financial Activities 2022-23 Restricted Unrestricted Total
funds funds funds
2023 2023 2023
£ £ £
Income
Donations - 149 149
Charitable activities 2,500 30,989 33,489
Investments - 46 46
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Income 2,500 31,184 33,684
Expenditure
Costs of raising funds - 1,898 1,898
Charitable activities - 22,506 22,506
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Expenditure - 24,404 24,404
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Net Income / (Expenditure) 2,500 6,780 9,280
Transfers between funds - - -
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Net Movement in Funds 2,500 6,780 9,280
Total funds brought forward - 29,621 29,621
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Total funds carried forward 2,500 36,401 38,901
Movements in funds 2022-23 Balance at Balance at
31/03/2022 Income Expenditure 31/03/2023
Restricted Funds £ £ £ £
Historic England: Bristol Girls Grant - 2,500 - 2,500
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Restricted Funds: - 2,500 - 2,500
Unrestricted Funds
General Funds 29,621 31,184 (24,404) 36,401
--------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
Total Funds: 29,621 33,684 (24,404) 38,901

[14]