Company Registration Number
03241874
## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited**
A Company Charity Limited by Guarantee Registered Charity Number 1067976
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
for the year ended 31st August 2023
## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited**
**Trustees** Richard Pattinson (Chair) Dr Jane Burnett Louise Colley Danielle Daglan Michelle Hodgson John Howard Matthew **Secretary** Lynda Graveson **Charity number** 1067976 **Company number** 03241874 **Principal address** Looking Well Studios King Street High Bentham Lancaster LA2 7HG **Registered office** Looking Well Studios King Street High Bentham Lancaster LA2 7HG **Independent Examiner** White Rose Accounting Cobdale Cottage Cobdale Lane Warter YORK YO42 1XD **Bankers** HSBC plc Market Place Settle North Yorkshire BD24 9EN
**Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited** A Company Charity Limited by Guarantee
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Trustees' Report|4|
|Strategic Director's Report|12|
|Independent Examiner's Report|16|
|Statement of Financial Activities|17|
|Balance Sheet|18|
|Statement of Cash Flows|19|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|20|
## **Trustees’ Report, Year Ended 31 August 2023**
Thankfully we have moved out of the pandemic phase of Covid but the impact of it on the Cost of Living continues to affect a great many people and as a result the need for our services has continued to grow and Pioneer Projects has responded magnificently. Our range of services and number of interactions has grown which means our delivery team has increased supported by successful increased fundraising.
Our growing footprint in Bentham and across the wider Craven District of North Yorkshire has required us to extend our delivery team to include an Administrator, a Creative and Wellbeing Facilitator, an additional Keyworker and to create an initial 12-month role for a LGBTQ+ Development Worker.
I sincerely thank the Board of Trustees for all their support overseeing the strategic direction and governance of Pioneer Projects and all our staff, volunteers and supporters for delivering a rich and engaging range of services in a continuing challenging environment. Our volunteers have provided a wonderful service which has succeeded in Bentham Library remaining open with a number acting as walk leaders for the Women’s Walking for Health Group and others supporting our Making Connections Dementia Groups. As a Board of Trustees, we are always keen to welcome new Trustees with relevant experience and skills to support the aims and objects of Pioneer Projects. This is a very rewarding experience and more details on how to apply appear at the end of this report.
Against this background of continuing social, economic and wellbeing challenges it is crucial that Pioneer Projects has at the core of its delivery aspirations a clear, ambitious and relevant Five-Year Plan which is also able to respond to the unexpected. The current Plan has five prominent themes:
- A Community Arts Programme
- A Mental Health Programme
- A Dementia Programme
- Community Support Offer
- Sector Development and Partnerships
Our constructive and engaging partnership with Orb Community Arts, based in Knaresborough, continues to blossom which supports both organisations by sharing good practice, advancing new skills and developing beneficial relationships with funding partners. Leon is Strategic Director of both Pioneer Projects and Orb Community Arts sharing his time between both organisations. We also have representation on each other’s Board of Trustees which continues to support the ambitions of both organisations and to engage in joint work and visits where beneficial to do so.
In addition to our collaboration with Orb Community Arts, Pioneer Projects continues to develop working relationships with a growing number of organisations including the Settle Carlise Railway, the National Trust, North Yorkshire Library Services and continues to offer Leadership and Co-operation in a growing number of service delivery partnerships.
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A report of our finances is included in the Strategic Directors Report and of course in the Financial Statement itself. Following on from the revaluation of our property, The Looking Well, in 2021/2022 it may appear from our balance sheet that we have a significant surplus of funds, £601,968, but £450,000 of this is the net book value of the building not cash in the bank. As at the end of the 2022/2023 financial year (31[st] August 2023) there was a balance of £143,692 cash in hand. This sum reflects the differential timing of funds/grants raised and the planned spending of them against the delivery of services and also includes a prudential reserves policy of £45,000 to meet any unexpected events in line with Charity Commission guidance. Due to Pioneer Projects increase in staff and delivery the Trustees aim to raise the reserves policy to £55,000 over the next 12 to 18 months. Our aim remains to produce an inyear budget roughly in balance i.e. funding meeting expenditure.
The directors, who are also the Charity Trustees, present their report and accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) effective January 2015
## **Structure, governance and management.**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee. It is also a registered charity, number 1067976.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, who served during the year were:
Richard Pattinson (Chair) Dr Jane Burnett Louise Colley (Orb Community Arts representative) Danielle Daglan Michelle Hodgson John Howard Matthew
The Board of Trustees is the ultimate responsible body of the organisation and it meets regularly throughout the year to advise on strategies and to exercise governance and financial oversight of the charity. The day-to-day activities are organised and managed by a team of paid staff under the overall control of the Board of Trustees. There are no related close party relationships to be disclosed. The Trustees are aware of their responsibility to assess and control the risks to which the charity is subject. The assessment and control of these risks is an ongoing process and is regularly reviewed by the Trustees. Risk assessment is thus applied to all relevant areas of operation, ranging from health and safety matters to financial systems.
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## **Objectives and activities**
The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, and was established for the following main objectives:
1. To advance the education and understanding of health issues, in particular by using the arts to communicate such issues.
2. To provide educational, recreational and other leisure time facilities in the interest of social welfare, with the object of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of Bentham, North Yorkshire, and other appropriate communities.
3. To promote such other charitable activities as the trustees may from time to time determine.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Achievements and performance**
Pioneer Projects develops projects, activities and training through arts and celebration to reduce social isolation, promote inclusion and build strong and healthy communities. The organisation’s ethos and working practices are based on the evidence that health and creativity are connected. A broad-ranging programme of high-quality imaginative arts activities engages people of all ages as participants and the wider community as audiences. The artist-led, person-centred delivery has been developed to engage the widest range of people and people living with memory loss, mental health and long-term conditions and supports families and carers. More details of our activities are contained in the Strategic Directors Report.
We look forward to further developing our services especially for younger people and we will explore ways where we might be able to support farming communities in our areas of operation.
## **Financial review**
Core funding is supplied through contracts with local health and social services, and external grant funding is also secured for specific arts programmes and celebratory events. Work is only carried out if funding has been secured unless in exceptional circumstances where the Board agree to access the unrestricted reserve, as happened at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. There is therefore a continuing requirement to maintain a reserve to cover running costs, and the costs of winding up should this ever become necessary. The Trustees aim to maintain a reserve of a minimum of four months’ running costs including a Building Maintenance Reserves and Staff Contingency Fund. Given the sensitive nature of the charity’s work in mental health and with people with dementia, the Trustees believe that any shorter wind-up time would be too abrupt. This policy is monitored at each Board Meeting and reviewed annually at the AGM.
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## **Considering being a Trustee of Pioneer Projects?**
We are keen to hear from anyone who is interested in joining the Board of Trustees to support the continuing work and ambitions of Pioneer Projects.
The policy in respect of recruitment of trustees is for the potential trustee to have an initial informal discussion with senior staff or an existing trustee and visit Pioneer Project’s premises in Bentham. A trustee pack is supplied, including an application form. The application form is returned to the Board Secretary and a meeting is set up with a trustee and senior manager to discuss trusteeship and mutual suitability. Two references are requested and followed up. Potential trustees are invited to a Board meeting to observe the meeting and for nomination. None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
On behalf of the Board
Richard Pattinson (Chair)
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## **Strategic Director’s Report – Year Ended 31 August 2023**
## **Introduction**
Though the operational complexities presented by Covid finally receded in the year 2022-23, its impact on the wellbeing of those Pioneer Projects supports left a long shadow. Compounded by an unforgiving cost-of-living crisis, this saw the numbers of those needing this support grow by 27% on the preceding year. Pioneer was able to respond to this challenge, securing additional funding, growing its staff team, and delivering an ever-wider range of support and services that helped keep people of all ages included, creative, and well across the whole of Craven district. This saw us not just develop as a more effective organisation in itself, but also as a system leader, bringing together an effective cross sector community mental health partnership to address local need, and supporting a range of other community-based organisations to develop their skills and services. At the heart of this work, our commitment to harnessing the power of creativity to effect positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities remained fundamental to our success. The year ended with our new Five-Year Strategy and Business Plan completed and ready for launch, underpinned by a solid financial position, and a renewed aspiration to grow the impact, reach, and influence of our work.
## **Finance**
Our financial position at the end of 2022-23 remained strong, with an in-year surplus of £22,062. Income of £316,325 was up significantly on the previous year’s figure of £176,862, representing new multi-year mental health funding from the NHS of around £118,000. This also saw an increase in expenditure from £226,981 to £294,262 reflecting the cost of a growing staff team, and an increase in payments to partner organisations co-delivering our services via Service Level Agreement.
We enter 2023-24 with Cash at Bank and in Hand of £143,692 including a full Operational and Building Reserve of £45,000. At time of writing (December 2023) confirmed in year Income stands at £241,825 and budgeted in year Expenditure of £343,909 with a predicted deficit of £102,084. Our Funds Balance brought forward from 2023-24 however covers this deficit and leaves us only around £3,400 short of maintaining our agreed Operational and Building Reserve at year end. Outstanding ‘pipeline’ funding applications and bids in preparation give the Board confidence that we will end the 2023-24 financial year with both a full reserve, significant funds for delivery to carry forward into 2024-25, and an in-year budget close to balancing.
Given the current economic and political uncertainty, the longer-term forecast remains less clear, however a number of recurring grants and contracts rolling into the 2024-2025 financial year provide a solid foundation on which to plan sustainable services in the longer term.
**Support Provided**
Our support and services continued to focus on the delivery of group based creative activities that promoted inclusion, increased skills, and improved wellbeing, alongside keyworker interventions that supported engagement, wellbeing assessment, goal setting, onward referral to other appropriate services, and personal
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progression. It was delivered across three main areas, including a **Community Arts programme** , a **Mental Health programme,** and a **Dementia programme,** with 774 group sessions provided (up 6 on the year before) and 7,875 episodes of individual support (up over 15% from 6,843).
With a new Creative & Wellbeing Projects Manager in place, the **Community Arts Programme** has shown particular development, not just at our base in Bentham where we run our ‘Creative Wellbeing Community” sessions, but also in how creative activities are delivered in our Craven wide Mental Health and Dementia Programmes.
Creative activity is now themed on a termly basis, allowing participants and groups in a range of disciplines and locations to explore and interpret ideas together. Themes this year included Metamorphosis, Place, and Exploration. The approach has seen groups working more collaboratively, producing work that inspires responses from other groups, and leading to a range of exhibitions, and an ‘exhibition trail’ across Craven, with genuine creative consistency and impact. These exhibitions took place in both the community venues where groups take place, and high-profile public locations including Skipton Museum Town Hall and Gallery, and stations on the Settle to Carlisle Railway. Though participants were not obliged to contribute to this themed approach, and some preferred to continue with their own projects, this approach proved popular and is helping create a real sense of a Pioneer community where people are sharing positive experiences with each other and the wider world.
The range and nature of activities has also started to develop. Stop motion animation, photography, and music sessions were added to the mix this year, and there was a move towards more ‘active creativity’, for instance the Sing Along with Every Song group, moved from singing cover versions to writing their own material in response to work being developed in the writing group. Groups like the ‘Pathways’ group, a collaboration with Orb Community Arts in Knaresborough, also sought to explore themes through a variety of creative disciplines (art, writing, song, sound recording) rather than just one.
This move towards ‘creative partnerships’ has also been key, with the year seeing work done not just with Orb Community Arts, but with the National Trust at Fountains Abbey, the Settle Carlisle Railway, and North Yorkshire Council Libraries Service. This included such projects as ‘Ey Up’, done in collaboration with the library service (who also worked with Orb) in which a group of Pioneer participants in Bentham explored local dialect through the writing and production of a short film, that was debuted in Bentham Library and then shown across the county. In Bentham, it has also seen increased work with young people’s charities NYMAZ and SELFA, local schools, and the library to develop more creative activities for younger people. This has included Lantern Workshops at the local primary school, the Little Notes group for 0–5-year-olds, and the Get Going sessions for older children.
Over the year, the **Mental Health Programme** also saw significant growth and consolidation. Building on a partnership approach that Pioneer has been developing since before the pandemic, we have now formally launched the Craven Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs network. This sees mental health support delivered in a range of community venues across Craven including Looking Well in Bentham, The
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Place in Settle, Grassington Hub, Glusburn Institute, and the Soroptimist Rooms, St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Broughton Road Community Centre, Greatwood & Horseclose Community Centre, and the Town Hall Museum & Gallery, all in Skipton. It is a three-tiered approach, with a local partner providing lower-level support such as Wellbeing Café offering food, activities, and an inclusive welcome, Pioneer Projects delivering wellbeing focused creative sessions and keyworker support, and specialist mental health providers such as Mind or Bradford District Care Trust, offering in-reach support (such as confidence/skills building sessions and peer-topeer support groups). Pioneer brokers partnership delivery in all these locations, and manages referral pathways between these and primary, secondary, local authority, and VCS partners including Bradford & Craven’s District’s Safe Spaces alternatives to crisis pathway.
Pioneer’s support ensures that people with both diagnosed Serious Mental Illness and people with lower-level issues such as depression, anxiety, or stress have access to both wellbeing focused creative activity that has measurable benefits to mental health, and keyworker interventions that provide pastoral support, wellbeing assessment and review, goal setting, progression support, and signposting and referral to a range of other support and opportunities. That this is done in partnership with both local and specialist partners means that people are more likely to receive the right support at the right time, helping them to stay well within the community. This support is provided in a range of locations, and to a range of groups, not always reached, such as the rurally isolated communities of Bentham, Settle, and Grassington, the South Asian community of Skipton, the economically deprived wards of Greatwood & Horseclose in Skipton, women’s groups, and (through the development of a new Outreach worker role), those identifying as LGBTQ+.
The **Dementia Programme** , though having some notable successes in terms of delivery, is the one area where Pioneer are struggling to maintain a specialist service. The ongoing reduction of referrals and Individual Service Contracts into groups from North Yorkshire Council Health and Adult Services, combined with an inability to secure independent grant funding, and the reduced capacity of individuals to pay for a service due to the cost-of-living crisis, means these groups are being funded through reserves. This has led to the Skipton group being suspended, with currently just two ‘Making Connections’ groups remaining active, one in Bentham and one in Settle. The service however remains of high quality, with weekly creative sessions supporting people living with dementia to ‘work with the imagination’ and help them stay an active, creative, and valued member of the community.
In line with the wider Community Arts programme, this also saw the groups involved in much more partnership work, and outward focused activities. This included members of the groups and their carers taking part in a project with the Settle Carlisle Railway, going on a number of day trips along the line, creating artwork in response to these trips, and exhibiting the resulting work in station waiting rooms, and at Skipton Town Hall Museum & Gallery. Participant feedback also impacted on how services are provided on the line leading to improvements in accessibility. The move towards incorporating participants with wider community activities continues to be a focus, with cross generational groups being arranged with local schools.
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The majority of Pioneer’s regular Mental Health and Community Arts groups are also Dementia Friendly and support the regular attendance of many individuals living with dementia and their carers. Nevertheless, efforts continue to source sustainable funding to maintain our specialist groups, that support these people to stay part of the community for as long as possible.
In addition to this core service delivery, Pioneer also functions as a vital **community resource** for the rurally isolated town of Bentham. This includes hosting and supporting the running of Bentham Community Library, housing the last remaining local banking service, and supporting a range of local volunteer led community groups and activities.
## **Numbers Supported**
Over the 2022-23 financial year, Pioneer provided **7,875** episodes of support (including attendance at group sessions and 1-1 interventions) up a notable 15% from the previous year. This support was provided to **873** individuals, up 27% from 2022-23. At an average of 9 episodes of support per participant, this support is significant. Pre-pandemic these figures stood at 4,785 episodes of support to 458 individuals, with an average of 10 episodes of support, indicating just how challenging times are for our communities, and how needed Pioneer’s services are.
## **Impact**
Pioneer has a well-developed ‘service user journey’ and a related outcomes framework and feedback process that allows us to clearly gauge the impact of delivery. 1-1 assessment and review from a named keyworker, supports participants to assess and review their wellbeing, co-design their engagement, set personal goals, and measure progress towards these.
This has the advantage of both highlighting the impact of engagement to the individual in a relevant and empowering way, whilst providing aggregated data that highlights the impact of the whole service.
Data from the last year continues to show that Pioneer’s support is critical in maintaining people’s mental health and wellbeing, developing skills and confidence, promoting inclusion and a sense of citizenship, and leading to significant progressions into meaningful destinations including volunteering, further education, and paid work.
## _Increases in mental health and wellbeing_
Mental health and wellbeing are measured using a combination of the Shorter Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) and graded questionnaires.
During the last year 72% of those assessed showed improved or maintained mental health as measured using SWEMWBS. Though this was down marginally on the previous year’s 79%, the number of those responding by graded question as to whether they felt engagement had been ‘beneficial in maintaining or improving
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wellbeing’ rose from 98% to 100% with 75% grading this impact as ‘very much’ (the highest level) up from 44% the previous level.
“(Pioneer) helped me get through a very difficult time in my life.”
“Pioneer supported me in a holistic way that helped me mentally, spiritually, and physically”
## _Increases in skills and confidence_
Participants set themselves personal goals around developing life skills and confidence using a RARPA (Recognizing and Recording Progress and Achievement) based community learning tool. This allows them to set both activity goals (such as ‘regular attendance at the Singing Group’) and personal goals (such as ‘increased social interaction with others’) and
measure progress towards them.
As in the previous year 93% of those assessed showed progress towards these goals.
“It’s given me confidence and increased self-esteem and made me think about the future.”
“Pioneer made me feel safe, build my confidence, and make friendships.”
## _Increases in social inclusion_
In graded questionnaires about the impact of engagement, 100% (up from 95% last year) reported increased social inclusion as a result of attending Pioneer’s sessions.
“It’s given me a safe space to socialise.”
“Pioneer has given me the confidence to interact with other people.”
## _Increased Citizenship_
In graded questionnaires about the impact of engagement on feelings of increased citizenship 98% (up from 89% last year’ felt they were ‘giving something back’.
“I feel welcomed and a valued part of the community.”
“(Pioneer) has become an important community link for me.”
## _Progressions into volunteering, education, or work_
Asked whether they had made any significant progressions in the last year 52% of those assessed stated they had made a primary progression: 8% into paid employment, 22% into education, and 22% into volunteering. 90% assessed felt that engagement had made them feel more employable, and 93% felt that ongoing engagement would be beneficial to their wellbeing and personal development.
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“Pioneer supported me to find employment.”
“It’s helped me persevere when looking for work.”
## **Partnerships and System Impact**
Pioneer’s work also continues to have a beneficial impact for the organisations it works with and the wider health, skills development, cultural, and community environments it which it operates.
The most significant achievement in this area in the last year has been the development and formal launch of the Craven Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs Network. This is seeing Pioneer manage a three-tier community mental health service for the whole district. It incorporates seven local organisations that provide reach into a range of local communities (including rurally isolated, economically deprived, south Asian, female, and LGBTQ+ communities), a consistent district wide referral, keyworker, creative delivery, and partnership management offer from Pioneer, and in-reach support from specialist mental health providers including the Bradford District and Craven Care Trust Community Mental Health Teams, Mind in Bradford & Craven, and the Cellar Trust. It also functions as a referral pathway into specialist mental health services and same day mental health crisis support.
Pioneer also provides support to Craven Communities Together to administer the Compass in Craven E-hub which currently benefits 162 organisations, who have a higher local profile and improved interconnectivity as a result. 30 of these, including key referral partners from all three district Primary Care Networks, are now registered to use the system’s Multi-Agency Referral tool (MARS), with more being trained in its functionality as a Client Record Management, and Project Management tool. This work also includes support to Community First Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Council Stronger Communities department to help with the development of new Community Anchor Organisations within the district (including Skipton Step into Action, Glusburn Institute, and The Place in Settle).
Pioneer’s ongoing partnership with Orb Community Arts has also been maintained, sharing a Strategic Director, and developing parallel approaches to service delivery, staffing, outcomes measurement, finances, and strategy. This has seen both organisations develop compatible five-year Strategies and Business Plans that will help them grow in effectiveness, reach, and influence. Thought retaining their individual identities, this cross organisational synergy has had clear impact on organisational reputation, with both enjoying higher profile relationships with North Yorkshire Council, the local NHS Integrated Care Boards, and key funders such as the National Lottery. This impact of this partnership has been most notable in the area of mental health, with both organisations now leading cross sector community based mental health partnerships in their respective districts. This is now showing signs of being replicated in the area of ‘creative health’, influencing the development of the new unitary North Yorkshire Council’s Cultural Strategy, with concomitant future benefits for Pioneer and Orb
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## **Staffing**
The increased services developed over this year saw a need to expand and develop Pioneer’s staff team. Our Keyworker team was increased from two members to three, a new permanent post of Creative Facilitator was introduced, and an Administrator brought in. A new Creative & Wellbeing Projects Manager, Grace Knill also joined and brought much needed stability to a position that had seen a number of incumbents pass through in the previous two years. This larger, and refreshed team was instrumental in developing Pioneer’s services over the year, not least in the development of the Craven Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs network, a more impactful Creative Programme, and new delivery for younger people particularly in the north of Craven.
## **Promotion of Services**
Pioneer continues to use a variety of means to promote its services, including its website, social media channels, the Compass in Craven E-hub, regular newsletters, articles in the local press and by maintaining excellent links with a range of statutory and community partners who disseminate information on our behalf. We also provide a range of printed promotional materials by which we promote our services. With the new five-year Strategy and Business Plan now finalised, the next year will see the development of a more impactful promotional strategy that better reflects our developing service including a new fit for purpose website.
## **Future Plans**
Pioneer Projects know that their creative approach to wellbeing and creativity works, and aspire to more effective delivery, greater reach, and increased sharing of skills and knowledge with more partners. The vision for the next five years is now set out in a new Strategy and Business Plan. This commits to developing services under five distinct programme areas:
- A Community Arts Programme (Craven)
- A Mental Health Programme (Craven)
- A Dementia Programme (Craven)
- Community Support Offer (Bentham)
- Sector Development and Partnerships (Craven)
Over the lifetime of this plan, particular attention will be given to developing:
- The breadth of the Community Arts Programme in Bentham
- The reach of the Community Arts Programme across Craven and beyond
- Work to support Children and Young People to engage in the Community Arts Programme
- Work to promote stronger Youth Voice
- Creative co-production with cultural, wellbeing, and community focused organisations
- Internal accredited courses in creative disciplines for participants
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- External training provision for organisations wanting to develop creative approaches to engaging marginalised groups (especially those experiencing poor mental health or living with dementia)
- Increased support to participants wanting to progress into volunteering, education, or work
- Support to people identifying as LGBTQ+ to access services
- Support to marginalised communities to access services (i.e., farmers or travellers)
- Continuous Professional Development opportunities for staff, partner organisations, and networks
Pioneer Projects has become a beacon for innovation in ‘creative health’ and is well positioned to become and evermore important part of what keeps the people and communities of Craven, especially the most marginalised, well and fulfilling their true potential.
Leon Fijalkowski Strategic Director
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## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited Independent Examiner's report to the trustees.**
The charity's trustees (who are also directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
· examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
· to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below
## **Independent examiner's statement**
- In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
· to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 130 of the Charities Act; and
· to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the Charities Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Zillah Hopps FMAAT White Rose Accounting 19th December 2023
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## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st August 2023**
|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
**Total Funds**
**Note**
2023
2023
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Incoming Resources**
From generated funds:
Donations and gifts
2.1
7,088
-
7,088
Activities for generating funds
2.2
14,627
-
14,627
Investment income
-
-
-
21,715
-
21,715
Grants
2.3
-
265,370
265,370
Incoming resources from charitable activities
2.4
2,695
24,660
27,355
Other incoming resources
2.5
1,884
-
1,884
**Total incoming resources**
26,294
290,030
316,325
**Resources Expended**
Investment costs
90
-
90
Charitable activities
3.1
38,354
255,338
293,692
Governance costs
3.2
480
-
480
**Total Resources Expended**
**38,924**
**255,338**
**294,262**
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers**
**(12,630)**
**34,692**
**22,062**
**Gross transfers between funds**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**(12,630)**
**34,692**
**22,062**
**Other recognised gains/(losses)**
2.6
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Net movement in funds**
**(12,630)**
**34,692**
**22,062**
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
**(12,630)**
**34,692**
**22,062**
Total funds brought forward
**336,738**
**243,168**
**579,906**
**Total funds carried forward**
**324,108**
**277,860**
**601,968**
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before other**
**recognised gains/(losses)**|Total Funds
2022
£
2,862
12,725
-
15,587
133,692
26,078
1,506
176,862
67
226,434
480
226,981
(50,118)
-
(50,118)
247,042.44
196,924
196,924
382,982
579,906|
|---|---|
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
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## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited Balance Sheet as at 31st August 2023**
||**Notes**|2023|2022|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
|**Fixed Assets**||||
|Tangible assets|4|454,388|454,043|
|**Current assets**||||
|Cash at bank and in hand||143,692|123,714|
|Debtors and prepayments|5|5,125|3,086|
|**Current liabilities**||148,817|126,800|
|Creditors and accruals:||||
|amounts falling due within one year|6|(1,237)|(937)|
|**Net current assets**||(1,237)
147,580|(937)
125,863|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**||601,968|579,906|
|**Net assets**||**601,968**|**579,906**|
|**Represented by Funds**|8|||
|Unrestricted||324,108|336,738|
|Restricted||277,860|243,168|
|||**601,968**|**579,906**|
The Trustees are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.
The directors (Trustees) acknowledge their responsibilities for:
i) ensuring the company keeps accounting records which comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company at the end of each financial year and of its profit and loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and with the Financial Reporting Standards for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Richard Pattinson (Chair)
26th February 2024
**Company Registration Number 03241874**
18
**Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited Statement of cashflows as at 31st August 2023**
|**Notes**
10
**Cashflows from investing activities:**
Purchase of property, plant & equipment
Proceeds from the sale of investments
**Net cash used in financing activities**
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the year
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
**Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
11|2023
£
22,072
(2,095)
-
(2,095)
19,977
123,714
143,691
143,692|2022
£
(115,241)
(2,094)
-
(2,094)
(117,335)
241,049
123,714
123,714|
|---|---|---|
19
## **Pioneer Projects (Celebratory Arts) Limited Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31st August 2023**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
## **Basis of Preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, applicable accounting standards, and with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) issued in January 2015.
## **Legal Status**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.
Its directors are its trustees and vice versa.
## **Funds Structure**
Restricted funds are those subject to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or grantor
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
## **Incoming Resources**
All incoming resources, including gifts in kind, are recognised gross when they are capable of measurement with reasonable accuracy and when receivable in accordance with any funding agreement.
## **Donated Services and Facilities**
These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.
## **Volunteer Help**
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees' Annual Report.
## **Resources Expended**
Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis.
## **Liability Recognition**
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources
## **Governance Costs**
Governance costs include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
## **Depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £100. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt, less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life as follows:
- Freehold buildings 2% straight line (up to 2021) - Fixtures, fittings and equipment 25% reducing balance - Computer equipment 33% reducing balance
20
|**2. Incoming Resources**
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
**Total Funds**
2023
2023
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**2.1 Donations and gifts**
Donations and gifts
5,340
-
5,340
Friends of Bentham Library
1,748
-
1,748
7,088
-
7,088
**2.2 Activities for Generating Funds**
Memory Loss Groups
6,378
-
6,378
Community Art Shed
206
-
206
Payments activities
8,043
-
8,043
14,627
-
14,627
**2.3 Grants**
-
18,000.00
18,000
Craven Communities Together (compass)
-
17,947
17,947
Craven Communities Together Small Grant (Settle)
-
-
-
Igen Trust
-
28,632
28,632
National Lottery Comm Fd-Reaching Communities
-
48,987
48,987
NYC Get Going Grant
-
-
-
NYCC Get Going Grant (SELFA)
-
1,000
1,000
NYC Stronger Communities - Create & Chat
-
-
-
Craven Airedale Wharfedale TCMH
-
100,000
100,000
-
14,410
14,410
The Tudor Trust
-
30,000
30,000
Two Ridings Community Foundation Arqiva
-
-
-
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
-
5,894
5,894
West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health & Care Ptnship
-
500
500
Better Connect (Your Consortium) DWP Kickstart
-
-
-
-
265,370
265,370
**2.4 Other Incoming resources from charitable activities**
-
18,983
18,983
-
1,972
1,972
North Yorkshire Council Library Service Level Agrmnt
-
3,705
3,705
Room hire
2,371
-
2,371
Library income
324
-
324
Other income
-
-
-
2,695
24,660
27,355
**2.5 Other incoming resources**
Other income (commission, fees, training)
96
-
96
OffGem Renewable Heat Incentive
1,452
-
1,452
1,547
-
1,547
**2.6 Other recognised gains**
Revaluation of property
-
-
-
-
-
-
**Investment Income**
Bank Interest
337
-
337
337
-
337
**Total Incoming Resources**
26,294
290,030
316,325
North Yorkshire Council Individual Service Contracts
Bradford District Care Trust Crisis Alternative Support Fund
Igen Trust (VIA ORB) Creative Bridges to Wellbeing Project
North Yorkshire Council Health & Adult Services
Community Mental Health Contract|Total Funds
2022
**£**
2,862
7,481
263
4,981
12,725
-
32,599
1,000
-
48,028
740
-
1,000
8,360
4,500
32,000
1,000
-
-
4,465
133,692
18,983
2,109
3,527
1,459
-
-
26,078
394
1,112
1,506
247,042
247,042
-
-
423,905|
|---|---|
21
|**3. Resources Expended**
**Investment costs**
Bank charges and interest
**3.1 Charitable Activities**
Wages, salaries and pensions
Payroll charges
Craven Airedale Wharfedale TCMH SLA's
Strategic Director
Consultancy/External Evaluation
Council Tax
Light and heat
Telephone
Course fees, subscriptions etc
Insurance
Print post stationery and IT
Repairs and renewals
Marketing
Fees to sessional artists and tutors
Fees to sessional artists/tutors - Friends of Bentham
Volunteer expenses
Cleaning and catering
Travel and subsistence
Materials
Venue hire
Training
Overpayment of NYCC HAS ISCs
Sundry
Depreciation
**3.2 Governance costs**
Accountancy and Independent Examiner's Fee
**Total Resources Expended**|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
**Total Funds**
2023
2023
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
90
-
90
90
-
90
4,565
154,748
159,313
219
54
273
-
45,000
45,000
-
-
-
-
1,064
1,064
-
96
96
3,663
2,606
6,269
65
2,034
2,099
360
780
1,141
84
2,919
3,003
958
3,223
4,181
1,215
2,853
4,068
48
1,409
1,457
17,648
27,411
45,058
525
-
525
203
-
203
3,323
1,923
5,246
787
552
1,339
1,224
1,802
3,026
1,153
5,454
6,607
-
1,400
1,400
-
-
-
566
10
575
1,749
-
1,749
38,354
255,338
293,692
480
-
480
480
-
480
**38,924**
**255,338**
**294,262**|Total Funds
2022
**£**
67
67
113,101
179
-
23,460
7,747
218
6,869
1,530
308
2,554
2,954
3,149
1,129
45,819
405
4,367
1,098
3,208
4,576
1,417
351
78
1,918
226,434
480
480
**226,981**|
|---|---|---|
22
## **4. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation.**
|**Cost**
Balance b/fwd
Property revaluation reserve b/f
Additions
As at 31st August 2023
Depreciation
Balance b/fwd
Charge for the year
As at 31st August 2023
Net book value
As at 31st August 2022
As at 31st August 2023|**Buildings**
**£**
428,340
247,042
-
675,382
225,382
-
225,382
450,000
450,000|**Computer**
**Equipment**
**£**
13,219
-
-
13,219
10,535
885
11,421
2,683
1,798|**Fixtures,**
**fittings and**
**equipment**
**£**
31,141
-
2,095
33,236
29,782
864
30,645
1,359
2,591|**Total**
**£**
472,700
247,042
2,095
721,837
265,699
1,749
267,449
454,043
454,388|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The building was acquired in January 2004. Work to refurbish and convert the property started in December 2004 and was completed in early January 2006. The premises are the headquarters of the charity.
A professional valuation of the property was undertaken in February 2006, and as a result initial depreciation of £128,496 was applied at 31st August 2006 to reflect the market valuation of £300,000. A depreciation policy of writing this value off over 50 years was agreed and implemented from 1st September 2008.
A further professional revaluation was carried out in January 2022 giving a market value of £450,000; the uplift in value is shown in the revaluation reserve. No further depreciation is being applied.
## **5. Debtors and Prepayments**
|Analysis of debtors falling due within one year
Trade debtors
Salaries
Accrued income
Prepayments
**6. Creditors and accruals**
Analysis of creditors falling due within one year
Accountancy/Independent Examination
Salaries and pensions
Accruals
Trade Creditors
**7. Staff costs and emoluments**
Gross salaries
Employer's National Insurance
Employer's pension contributions
Average number of employees (f.t.e.)
Direct charitable work
Administrative|2023
£
1,013
-
-
4,113
5,125
2023
£
480
721
36
-
1,237
2023
£
150,862
4,140
4,311
159,313
4
2
6|2022
£
80
-
-
3,006
3,086
2022
£
480
457
-
-
937
2022
£
107,869
2,000
3,232
113,101
3
2
5|
|---|---|---|
No employees received remuneration in excess of £60,000
23
## **8. Analysis of funds**
## **8.1 Funds held.**
|**8.1 Funds held.**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Fund name**|**Type**|**Purpose and restrictions**|
|Building Development Fund|Restricted|property value included within tangible fixed assets|
|Bradford District Care Trust Crisis Alternative Support Fund|Restricted|Craven Mental Health Framework Safe Spaces|
|Craven Airedale Wharfedale TCMH|Restricted|Delivery of Local Mental Health Transformation work|
|Craven Communities Together (compass)|Restricted|Compass in Craven eHub staff costs|
|Craven District Council Small Business Grant Covid|Unrestricted|Small Business Grant Covid|
|Dept Health & Social Care|Restricted|Covid grant|
|Friends of Bentham Library|Unrestricted|Bentham Community Library activities and resources|
|Igen Trust|Restricted|Staff costs for Social Prescribing project|
|Igen Trust (VIA ORB)|Restricted|Creative Bridges to Wellbeing project|
|National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities|Restricted|Creative & Wellbeing Community Hub sessions, staff & overheads|
|NYC Get Going Grant (Lego club)|Restricted|Lego Club for 6-11 years, Bentham|
|NYC Get Going Grant (SELFA)|Restricted|Young people creative programme|
|NYC Health & Adult Services Community Mental Health Contract|Restricted|Community mental health support, Craven|
|NYC Health & Adult Services Individual Service Contracts|Restricted|Day time activities and support|
|NYC Library Service Level Agreement|Restricted|Bentham Community Library|
|The Tudor Trust|Restricted|Core staff costs|
|UK Shared Prosperity Fund|Restricted|North Yorkshire feasibility study|
|Friends of Settle / Carlisle Train Line|Restricted|Railway project for people living with dementia|
24
|**8.2 Movement of major funds**
**Fund name**
**Unrestricted funds**
General unrestricted funds
Friends of Bentham Library
Craven District Council Small Business Grant Covid
**Restricted funds**
Building Development Fund
Craven Airedale Wharfedale TCMH
Craven Communities Together (compass)
Dept Health & Social Care
Igen Trust
Igen Trust (VIA ORB)
National Lottery Comm Fd-Reaching Communities
NYC Get Going Grant
NYC Get Going Grant (SELFA)
NYC Library Service Level Agreement
The Tudor Trust
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Friends of Settle / Carlisle Train Line
**Total Funds**
Bradford District Care Trust Crisis Alternative Support Fund
NYC Health & Adult Services Community Mental Health Contract
NYC Health & Adult Services Individual Service Contracts|Balance
b/fwd
Incoming
resources
Outgoing
resources
Transfers
Balance c/fwd
332,820
24,547
34,479
(2)
322,885
-
1,748
525
-
1,223
3,918
-
3,920
2
-
336,738
26,295
38,924
-
324,108
175,988
-
-
-
175,988
(555)
18,000
19,136
-
(1,691)
-
100,000
99,264
-
736
15,111
17,947
13,694
-
19,364
1,480
-
1,480
-
-
-
28,632
28,632
-
-
-
14,410
4,532
-
9,878
19,264
48,987
44,357
-
23,893
240
-
-
-
240
-
1,000
1,000
-
4,765
18,983
17,111
-
6,636
2,109
1,972
2,154
-
1,927
1,224
3,705
2,215
-
2,714
23,543
30,000
21,262
-
32,281
-
5,894
-
5,894
-
500
500
-
-
243,168
290,030
255,338
-
277,860
**579,906**
**316,325**
**294,262**
**-**
**601,968**|
|---|---|
25
## **9. Net assets between funds**
|Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
**Total Funds**
2023
2023
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
278,400
175,988
454,388
46,945
101,872
148,817
(1,237)
-
(1,237)
**324,108**
**277,860**
**601,968**|
|---|---|
The Building Development Fund of £175,988 shown in note 8.2 has been fully expended in previous years and is represented by the property included within tangible fixed assets of £454,388 above.
The unrestricted funds in the Balance Sheet amounted to £324,108 being fixed assets of £278,400 and liquid reserves of £45,708. From the liquid reserves of £45,708 the Board have agreed to reserves as follows (including a Building Maintenance & Staff Contingency Fund of £6,000):
|Reserves policy:
Project delivery:
Net movement in funds
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
Revaluation of property
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Increase/(decrease) in deferred income
HSBC Money Manager account
HSBC current account
petty cash
**Total**
**11. Cash at bank and in hand**
**10. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash**
**flow from operating activities**
**Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities**|45,000
£
708
£
45,708
£
**2023**
**£**
22,062
1,749
-
(2,039)
300
-
**22,072**
45,473
98,142
77
**143,692**|2022
£
196,924
1,918
(247,042)
2,374
(69,415)
-
**(115,241)**|
|---|---|---|
26