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2023-03-31-accounts

Open City Annual Report

January 2022 to March 2023

Charity registration number 1072104

Company registration number 03159878 (England and Wales)

OPEN CITY

(FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 15 MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Pooja Agrawal (Appointed 28 February 2023) Dav Bansal (Appointed 27 May 2022) Anna Liu (Appointed 27 May 2022) Eleanor Dodd Jayden Ali Sara Bailey Deborah Denner (Appointed 28 February 2023) Peter Bury (Appointed 23 May 2023) Edward Francis (Appointed 23 May 2023) Carolyn Larkin (Appointed 23 May 2023) Selina Mason (Appointed 23 May 2023) Secretary Lucy Pickford Charity number 1072104 Company number 03159878 Registered office C1, Design District Unit 2 Floor 11a Cripps Yard Soames Walk London SE10 0BQ Independent examiner Tom Wilcox Counterculture Partnership LLP Unit 115 Ducie House Ducie Street Manchester M1 2JW

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 10
Independent examiner's report 12
Statement of financial activities 13
Statement of financial position 14
Notes to the financial statements 15 - 24

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees of Open City are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and 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).

Objectives and activities

Public benefit

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Activities

The Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit (section 17(5) of the 2011 Act) has been considered when applying the objectives of the Charity.

Open City’s charitable object is to foster public appreciation of and advance public education in architecture. To achieve this object Open City makes architecture and neighbourhoods more open, accessible & equitable. We empower communities to learn about, experience and have a role in shaping architecture where they live. We collaborate with people from diverse communities to widen access to spaces, neighbourhoods, knowledge and careers they are often excluded from. We do this by creating educational and cultural programmes discussing, celebrating & opening up historic & contemporary architecture. Our work is organised into 5 strands:

Annual Festival

Empowering communities, residents’ groups, civic organisations and local businesses to exhibit and learn about buildings and neighbourhoods which matter to them, our Open House Festivals are accessible volunteer-led public celebrations encouraging audiences to explore new places, learn about different communities & experience diverse architecture first-hand.

Children and Young People

We work with schools and higher education providers to support children and young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, under-represented communities, and with special educational needs and disabilities to learn design skills and critical thinking needed for successful careers in creative industries including design, architecture and landscape.

Year Round Programme

We deliver a year-round programme of events, tours, training courses, publications, children and young people’s activities, audio and new media programmes, and volunteering opportunities centred on creatively exploring and widening access to architecture.

Worldwide Festivals Network

Leading, supporting & growing our network of over 50 festivals from Lagos to New York, creatively engaging at least 750,000 citizens a year with architecture of their local communities.

Open City believes a good city is one in which all citizens have a stake in the design, development and care of the built environment. And one in which nobody is shut out of the architecture and landscapes of their cities, or key decisions about its future.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Achievements and performance Programmes in 2022/3

2022/3 saw the charity return to an approach similar to pre pandemic time. However with the introduction of a variety of new programmes in response to the pandemic in previous years we had a stronger year round programme of activity.

A full summary of the charity’s services including new and adapted educational programmes follows:

Accelerate

Accelerate is a design education and mentoring programme supporting young Londoners from under-represented backgrounds to pursue careers in city-making professions including architecture, landscape, engineering and planning. Accelerate helps diversify the workforce of London’s built environment industries to be more representative of the city’s communities.

Accelerate 2022/23 enabled a cohort of around 100 students to develop the skills required for entry to higher education architecture related courses in partnership with universities in London

Accelerate expanded to meet the rising need for more creative support in accessing life-changing opportunities in the built environment sector. We have increased the size of our Accelerate programme to treble its 2020 level and have launched an alumni network to support our graduates through to qualification and the early years of their careers.

Accelerate continues to grow with plans to develop new hubs in 23/24.

Open House Festival 2022

Open House Festival is a city-wide celebration of the urban landscape giving ordinary access to buildings and conversations they are normally locked out of. The 2022 Open House Festival saw a return to full programming but faced the unexpected challenges of the Queen’s death. Reacting proactively, we worked to provide guidance to contributors unsure of the next steps, supported those that needed to withdraw and communicated to visitors to keep them informed of the changing programme. We were still able to stage the festival from 8 to 21 September 2022 with over 823 places taking part across all 33 London boroughs and online.

Diversity and Inclusion at Open House Festival

For Open House Festival 2022, the staff team invested more time and resources in engaging a more diverse and younger audience. This strategy is bearing fruit with the overall audience now 87% white relative to the country at large which is 86.3% white. However, trustees believe there is far more potential to further engage a more diverse audience with the festival as Open City does throughout its other programmes.

On gender, the charity is aware that the majority of Open House Festival attendees identify as women according to surveys. Women have been historically marginalised from architecture and built environment industries so the trustees are pleased to see that Open House Festival is doing its bit to reverse that imbalance.

Social Impact of Open House Festival

We believe that by learning about places, communities and history outside our usual experience through events like the Open House Festival, we can grow in empathy and understanding of others and the world. Below are some relevant statistics based on social impact studies and visitor surveys that the charity has undertaken exploring the Open House Festival and its value to individuals and communities.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Over 1.5 million people have visited a London borough they’ve never been to before as a result of taking part in the Open House Festival

Open House volunteers in London have contributed over 300,000 hours of time to civic activities in the community through the festival

Around 75% of visitors say they have learned something new that positively changed their perceptions as a result of attending the Open House London Festival 866,400 people say they will revisit a borough they had never been to before as a result of the festival 4.68 million people feel the Open House Festival helped them learn new things that have changed the way they view the city.

Architecture in Schools

Architecture in Schools is a creative learning programme for primary school pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6. The programme also aims to train teachers in how architecture can be used in the classroom and built environment professionals in how to better engage young people.

For the majority of young participants, Architecture in School is the first time they have been taught about architecture or the social purpose of city design.

2022 saw a return to our traditional programme of schools work delivering workshops directly in schools. Open City expanded the Architecture in Schools programme this year to meet rising needs across the city. In collaboration with design professionals we have delivered almost 250 workshops for over 1,300 children aged 8-10 exploring London and learning about design. We aim to launch new branches of Architecture in Schools in the West Midlands and West London and work towards the end of the 2022/23 year focused on developing funders and partnerships for this expansion.

In line with a wider review of its brand and graphic communication, Open City is in the process of renaming “Architecture in Schools” to “Young City Makers”.

Open City SEND Programmes

Open City runs a number of programmes for children with special educational needs and disabilities supported by the John Lyon's Charity. Open City continued to create, fund and deliver support for children and young people throughout 2022/23

Open City Tours

Open City delivers a year-round programme of educational public tours discussing key themes relating to neighbourhoods, architectural heritage and the urban landscape. The tours programme furthers both our charitable aims while providing us with a stable income stream to support our free programmes.

The past year saw Open City’s regular tour programme double in size in a rapid recovery from the pandemic. We ran more walking tours and boat tours and we also increased the size of our urban tour guide training course. Working with the Mayor of London’s Royal Docks Team we created a special training programme supporting local residents in the Royal Docks to develop the skills and confidence to create their own tours of the area.

7881 printed tours were distributed helping those that ordered them better explore the city and 38 new tour guides were trained through the urban guide training programme.

Several free public walking and cycling tours were run as part of the Open House Festival.

Merchandise

During the pandemic, Open City created a series of high-quality card models of famous and lesser-known London buildings which could be ordered online and made at home. Those who would not be able to physically enjoy Open City’s programmes or the Open House Festival could instead use a model as a way of tangibly exploring a building, learning about its history and design whilst also having fun creating a lasting memento.

2022 saw an easing off on production of our models range but an increase in other merchandise ranges including London themed socks, soaps, prints, and tshirts. These provide both a small scheme of income as well as a unique marketing tool.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Podcasts

During the Pandemic Open City launched regular educational podcasts. The Open City Podcast feed now features a variety of shows including audio tours of special neighbourhoods and, most prominently, a weekly news show, which gets 100,000 listeners a year.

Books

Following on from the success of our previous publications The Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs, and the Public House: A Cultural and Social History of the London Pub.

In 2022, Open City published London Feeds Itself. Working with the food writer Jonathan Nunn it explored the intersection of London’s food cultures with urbanism. A big hit, the 5000 copies sold out and we are looking into publication of a second edition of this in 23/24.

Films

In 2020 many buildings found themselves unable to open their doors to the public as in previous years. Open City used this as an opportunity to bring them to more people than ever by creating short film tours presented by the experts that live and work in them. During 2021 Open City was able to run more in-person events so eased off on the production of films. These films are still freely available on YouTube and we have developed an extensive audience on TikTok publishing micro documentaries engaging and educating huge audiences. In 2022, 18 million people engaged with the videos and it won the Archiboo Best Social Media Award.

Open House Worldwide

Open City supports Open House Worldwide, a network of sister organisations around the world who share the values, mission and event formats of Open City. In 2022 Open House Worldwide hosted Housing and the People on 6 April. A day of live online tours from Lagos to Taipei, the festival visited 26 homes in 18 cities and gathered 46 inspirational architects, civic leaders, curators, educators, artists and residents for conversations about the future of housing. Open House Worldwide also continued to expand. In the past year, Open House festivals launched in four new cities including Colombo in Sri Lanka and Maputo in Mozambique.

Financial review

Reserves policy

This year the board of trustees raised the reserves policy in line with rising costs and inflation. The charity now maintains at least £300,000 of unrestricted reserves which the board deem sufficient to run the organisation for three months without income.

Sponsors and Partners

Open City is grateful for the support of a number of important sponsors and partners who are listed here.

Headline Sponsor for the Open House Festival in 2022 was Rightmove the UK’s largest online real estate property portal.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

London Boroughs

Open City would like to thank the following London Boroughs who supported our work in 2022 with financial support towards the costs of staging the 2022 Open House Festival:

• City of London • Barking and Dagenham • Bexley • Brent • Bromley • Camden • Croydon with LSBU • Ealing • Enfield • Greenwich • Hackney • Hammersmith and Fulham • Haringey • Harrow • Hillingdon • Hounslow • Islington • Kensington and Chelsea • Kingston upon Thames • Lambeth • Lewisham • Newham • Redbridge • Southwark

• Sutton

• Wandsworth

• Westminster

Partners

Open City would like to thank the following organisations who supported our work in 2022 through sponsorships, grants and in-kind donations.

The Mayor of London Royal Docks Team Almacantar Bureau at Design District Lendlease Peabody Eric Parry Architects Shangri-la The Shard Trowers and Hamlins Margaret Howell Be First London Knight Dragon British Land Multiplex Global

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris - Allford Hall Monaghan Morris is a leading British architecture practice. They make buildings that are satisfying and enjoyable to use, beautiful to look at and easy to understand.

Rocket Properties - Rocket Properties collaborate with clients and local communities to re-energise areas of London with innovative commercial and residential developments, with sustainability in mind.

Derwent - Derwent London is a British-based property investment and development business whose ethos has always been distinctive and design-led.

Trowers & Hamlins (in-kind support) - Trowers & Hamlins are an international law firm who are fascinated by the future of towns and cities.

Foster + Partners - Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, urbanism and design, all rooted in sustainability and founded by Norman Foster in 1967.

The Howard de Walden Estate - The Howard de Walden Estate is the freehold owner of 92 acres of Marylebone, central London.

The Museum of London (in-kind support) - The Museum of London is the city’s shared place in the middle of it all telling the stories of London and Londoners past, present and future.

The Landscape Institute - The Landscape Institute is the chartered body for the landscape profession. It is an educational charity that promotes the art and science of landscape practice.

Canary Wharf Group - Canary Wharf Group has overseen the largest urban regeneration project in Europe and is a fully integrated private real estate company.

John Lyon’s Charity - John Lyon’s Charity gives grants to benefit children and young people up to the age of 25 who live in nine boroughs in north and west London.

Aga Khan Foundation

The Geoff Harrington Foundation

The Marchus Trust

Thames Water Charities

The Baylight Foundation - The Baylight Foundation is a charitable organisation with the aim of increasing the public understanding of what architecture can do, rooted in the experience of Walmer Yard.

Mount Anvil - Mount Anvil exists to create outstanding places where people can thrive and for them, that is all about the quality of their homes.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Accelerate and Architecture in Schools Partners

Open City would like to thank the following organisation who supported the charity’s Accelerate programme during 2022.

Principle Accelerate Partners Morris + Company Sheppard Robson Stanton Williams NBBJ Weston Williamson + Partners Cullinan Studio LOM Architecture and Design Atkins Global Make Architects Studio ONB Heatherwick Studio Frame Projects Maccreanor Lavington BDP Periscope Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Carmody Groarke Jestico + Whiles Grimshaw Architects Jamie Fobert Gort Scott IQL National Education Union Chapman Taylor Jestico + Whiles ARUP Elliott Wood ORNS Allies and Morrison Adamson Associated Ritchie Studio Civic Engineers Jas Bhalla Architects Michael Barclay Partnership Alison Brooks Architects Leighann Heron Sarah Wigglesworth Architects Stride Treglown VHH Architects LOM Haptic ASSAEL BDP Fielden Fowles Newground Meridian Water David Chipperfield Architects

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Student Sponsors Alison Brooks Architects Jamie Fobert Architects Stanton Williams Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Archer + Braun BDP Carmody Groarke Jestico + Whiles Gort Scott Maccreanor Lavington The Landscape Institute Pollard Thomas Edwards

Media Partners

Open City would like to thank the following organisations who supported our work in 2022/23 through partnershipbased media coverage.

Dezeen - Dezeen’s mission is simple: to bring its readers a carefully edited selection of the best architecture, design and interiors projects and news from around the world.

BBC Radio London - The sound of London, your essential guide to London life. Proud supporters of Open House Festival for 28 years.

The Architectural Review - Scouring the globe for architecture that challenges and inspires, The Architectural Review is an international magazine published in London since 1896.

The Architects’ Journal - the UK’s leading magazine for architects.

Vittles - Vittles is an online magazine based in the UK and India, publishing new food and culture writing.

Risk Management

Income

Open City is working towards the assumption that funding from local authorities and the construction sector is likely to be harder to secure in the next few years. Our introduction of individual donations through the friends programme has become a growing source of income, helping us to diversify our income streams further. The Open City team are continuing to develop revenue streams including merchandise, membership and events. We were unfortunately unsuccessful in our National Portfolio funding application. However a large commercial headline sponsor for the festival alongside an extensive range of public and private sponsors has allowed us to maintain a diverse income base for the year.

The recruitment of a development manager in early 2022 will support our aim to increase income from trusts and foundations.

Financial Monitoring

Cash reserves are reviewed on a regular basis by the office manager and the COO and if nearing the reserves limit, this is referred to the CEO and Treasurer. Cash flow projections are compiled and reported to the treasurer and director by the Open City financial manager, Brian Hand on a monthly basis. Management accounts are compiled and reported to the treasurer and director by the Open City financial manager, Brian Hand on a quarterly basis. Brian Hand sought to step down from this role at the beginning of 2023 and a new accountant - Rachel Eden of Holy Brook Accounting took over this process alongside the COO Lucy Pickford (appointed in early 2023). 2023/24 will see a review and improvement of financial processes and monitoring.

In 2022 the accounting year was extended to a 15 month year to shift Open City’s year end to run in line with the financial year.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Economic Impacts

There have been several national and global crises that have had a direct negative impact on the British construction sector which is making it harder for Open City to obtain support from architecture practices and other built environment professionals. The trustees are aware of this risk and will endeavour to obtain more secure funding streams which are less exposed to the current major economic impacts.

Covid-19

The charity responded robustly and proactively when the pandemic hit Europe. 2022 saw a country wide shift out of the cycles of lockdowns and restrictions; however, the trustees will continue to monitor the possibility of new waves of Covid-19 and take appropriate action to introduce new precautions where necessary.

Cost of Living Open City is committed to doing everything it can to continue delivering its charitable mission and empowering the communities it serves, while doing what it can to support its staff who are feeling the effects of current high inflation. The trustees have adopted a new pay policy that will support staff with annual pay rises informed by the charity’s financial performance and inflation.

Plans for future periods

Open City adopted a three-year plan in December 2018 which was altered in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The trustees approved a new emergency one-year strategy on 1 December 2020 to take the charity through 2021 with the further aim of creating a new three-year as the pandemic recedes.

Open City adopted a new revised strategy for the 2022/23 year ahead, with an extended programme for its ambitions to expand into Birmingham relative to available funding.

Open City focused on establishing funding partners in Birmingham for gradual expansion of the education programmes into the city with plans for new strands of the Open House Festival put on hold. The long term plan to 2026 is now being developed in 2023/24 to take us to the next NPO funding window. The strategic direction will continue to bring the social impact of Open City’s programmes to new audiences in culturally under-served areas while improving the reach and impact of the charity’s core work in the capital.

Office Space

At the end of 2021 the charity secured new office space at Design District, a new development in North Greenwich where it will again benefit from free office space in return for delivering educational programmes connected to the Design District. At the beginning of 2023, Open City began negotiations with Design District to move offices within the district. A three year contract was in discussion to provide secure premises for the charity. This would no longer be free but the rent would be significantly reduced in return for the continuing educational programmes connected to the area and the security of tenancy.

Websites

Following an overhaul of digital infrastructure in 2020, Open City continued to consolidate this work in 22/23. As one of the largest assets of the organisation, the Open House Festival website had further work completed to introduce a new visual interface with further improvements made to usability.

Structure, governance and management

Open City Architecture was formed in 1992 and became registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales under registration no. 1072104 in 1996. It is a company limited by guarantee (Company Registration no. 3159878) and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The charity changed its name to Open City on the 4th of December 2023.

The Trustees of the charity, who constitute its board of Directors, have been appointed in accordance with the charity's Articles of Association.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees at the time of filing, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, are: Pooja Agrawal (Appointed 28 February 2023) Dav Bansal (Appointed 27 May 2022) Anna Liu (Appointed 27 May 2022) Eleanor Dodd Jayden Ali Sara Bailey Deborah Denner (Appointed 28 February 2023) Peter Bury (Appointed 23 May 2023) Edward Francis (Appointed 23 May 2023) Carolyn Larkin (Appointed 23 May 2023) Selina Mason (Appointed 23 May 2023)

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Recruitment of trustees is undertaken through open processes with a periodic call for new trustees through social media, our extensive network, and our supporters. The charity's Articles of Association set out the length and duration of each trustee. Potential trustees are interviewed by a minimum of two existing trustees followed by an invitation to the relevant person to observe a trustee meeting.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity 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 the group) and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

There is no relevant independent examination information of which the charitable company's independent examiner is unaware; and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant independent examination information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Independent Examiners

Counterculture Partnership LLP were appointed as independent examiners for Open City in 2022-23.

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Section 419(2) of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Signed on behalf of the board of trustees/directors.

DATE 14th December 2023

SIGNATURE

Deborah Denner Chair of Open City Trustees

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF OPEN CITY

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Open City (the charity) for the period ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

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

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination by virtue of being a Fellow Member of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners, which is one of the listed bodies

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:

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 financial statements to be reached.

Tom Wilcox Counterculture Partnership LLP Unit 115 Ducie House Ducie Street Manchester M1 2JW

Dated: ......................... 18th December 2023

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
384,663
15,000
Charitable activities
4
437,139
-
Other trading activities
5
325,915
-
Investments
6
146
-
Total income
1,147,863
15,000
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
49,920
-
Charitable activities
9
1,000,255
20,501
Total expenditure
1,050,175
20,501
Net income/(expenditure) and
movement in funds
97,688
(5,501)
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances at 1 January
2022
274,582
30,000
Fund balances at 31 March
2023
372,270
24,499		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2021
2021
£
£
£
399,663
106,890
273,634
437,139
262,703
-
325,915
255,135
-
146
-
-
1,162,863
624,728
273,634
49,920
74,941
-
1,020,756
465,744
243,634
1,070,676
540,685
243,634
92,187
84,043
30,000
304,582
190,539
-
396,769
274,582
30,000		 Total
2021
£
380,524
262,703
255,135
-
898,362
74,941
709,378
784,319
114,043
190,539
304,582

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

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
13
Current assets
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
15
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
The funds of the charity
Restricted income funds
16
Unrestricted funds		 2023
£
55,457
411,389
466,846
112,770		 £
42,693
354,076
396,769
24,499
372,270
396,769		 2021
£
132,908
320,209
453,117
170,925		 £
22,390
282,192
304,582
30,000
274,582
304,582

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the period ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the period in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

14th December 2023

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .........................

..............................

Deborah Denner

Trustee

Company registration number 03159878 (England and Wales)

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Open City is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is C1, Design District Unit 2, Floor 11a Cripps Yard, Soames Walk, London, SE10 0BQ.

1.1 Reporting period

These financial statements are presented for a longer 15 month period ending 31st March 2023 due to change in the year end, therefore comparative amounts presented in the financial statements (including the related notes) are not entirely comparable.

1.2 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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 charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.3 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.4 Charitable funds

The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.

Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.

Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes, and it is the policy of the board of trustees to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.

There is no formal policy of transfer between funds or on the allocation of funds to designated funds, other than that described above.

Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.

1.5 Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Donated 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.

On receipt, donated services and 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 the expenditure in the period of receipt.

Due to the nature of Open House (free access to London's best buildings), the charity receives the benefit of venues to hold all its events and programmes each year. At these events volunteers also donate their time. A value has been quantified for this benefit as there is no reasonable market value to base the benefit on.

1.6 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs may include any back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charities programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities where applicable. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in the notes to the accounts.

1.7 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance Computer Equipment 25% reducing balance Website Development 20% reducing balance

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.8 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.9 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.10 Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.11 Taxation

The company is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only.

1.12 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.13 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
£
£
Donations and gifts
107,208
-
Legacies receivable
61,296
15,000
Grants received
216,159
-
384,663
15,000		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2021
2021
£
£
£
107,208
74,236
-
76,296
-
45,941
216,159
32,654
227,693
399,663
106,890
273,634		 Total
2021
£
74,236
45,941
260,347
380,524

4 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2023 2021
£ £
Projects
Income from charitable activities 437,139 262,703

5 Income from other trading activities

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2023 2021
£ £
Shop income - 176,815
Sponsorships 324,290 78,320
Product Income 1,625 -
325,915 255,135

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

6 Income from investments

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2023 2021
£ £
Interest receivable 146 -

7 Expenditure on generating donations and legacies

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2023 2021
£ £
Fundraising 49,920 74,941
49,920 74,941

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

8 Costs of charitable activities by fund type

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
£
£
Projects
885,870
19,632
Support costs
114,385
869
1,000,255
20,501
Costs of charitable activites by activity type
Activities
Support
undertaken
costs
directly
2023
2023
£
£
Support costs
Projects
905,502
115,254
905,502
115,254		 Total
2023
£
905,502
115,254
1,020,756
Total
2023
£
1,020,756
1,020,756		 Total
2021
£
512,162
197,216
709,378
Total
2021
£
709,378
709,378

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

9 Analysis of support costs

Projects
Personnel and travel costs
Premises costs
Telephone and IT costs
Marketing, printing and stationery
Depreciation
Finance costs
Share of support and governance costs
Governance		 2023
£
11,595
3,949
34,232
9,624
31,094
22,260
112,754
2,500
115,254		 2021
£
38,860
8,668
83,579
8,820
35,350
19,440
194,717
2,500
197,217

Governance costs includes £2,500 (2021: £2,500) paid to the independent examiner.

10 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the period.

11 Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the period was:

Management and administration
Projects
Total
Staff costs and emoluments
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2023
Number
2
12
14
2023
£
456,334
37,630
9,724
503,688		 2021
Number
2
12
14
2021
£
330,983
25,717
6,093
362,793

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

12 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

13 Tangible fixed assets

Fixtures and
fittings
Computer
Equipment
Website
Development
£
£
£
Cost
At 1 January 2022
19,181
44,910
178,483
Additions
-
-
51,397
At 31 March 2023
19,181
44,910
229,880
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
18,460
43,449
158,275
Depreciation charged in the period
218
388
30,488
At 31 March 2023
18,678
43,837
188,763
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
503
1,073
41,117
At 31 December 2021
721
1,461
20,208
14
Debtors
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
Trade debtors
51,733
Other debtors
1,537
Prepayments and accrued income
2,187
55,457
15
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2023
£
Other taxation and social security
59,247
Payments received on account
35,365
Trade creditors
9,652
Other creditors
3,081
Accruals and deferred income
5,425
112,770		 Total
£
242,574
51,397
293,971
220,184
31,094
251,278
42,693
22,390
2021
£
132,397
511
-
132,908
2021
£
70,974
58,600
25,843
6,467
9,041
170,925

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

16 Restricted funds

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.

At
Housing Masterclass
Previous year:
At
Accelerate
Arts Council Recovery Fund
Housing Masterclass
Other		 1 January
2022
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
At 31 March
2023
£
£
£
£
30,000
15,000
(20,501)
24,499
1 January
2021
Incoming
resources
Resources
expended
At 31
December
2021
£
£
£
£
-
25,000
(25,000)
-
-
202,693
(202,693)
-
-
30,000
-
30,000
-
15,941
(15,941)
-
-
273,634
(243,634)
30,000

Purpose of restricted funds

Accelerate - Funds restricted to Accelerate are restricted to supporting the development and delivery of the Accelerate programme which supporters teenagers to pursue careers in city-making.

Arts Council Recovery Fund - to support the charity throughout Coronavirus.

Housing Masterclass - Funds restricted to the housing masterclass are restricted to supporting the delivery of programmes which explore, promote and drive positive practice in housing design and development in the UK.

Other - Other restricted funds are restricted to the terms they were given to Open City on.

17 Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

At 1 January Incoming Resources At 31 March
2022 resources expended 2023
£ £ £ £
General funds 274,582 1,147,863 (1,050,175) 372,270

OPEN CITY (FORMERLY OPEN CITY ARCHITECTURE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

17 Unrestricted funds (Continued)
Previous year: At 1 January Incoming Resources At 31
2021 resources expended December
2021
£ £ £ £
General funds 190,539 624,728 (540,685) 274,582
18 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds
2023 2023 2023
£ £ £
Fund balances at 31 March 2023 are represented by:
Tangible assets 42,693 - 42,693
Current assets/(liabilities) 329,577 24,499 354,076
372,270 24,499 396,769
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds
2021 2021 2021
£ £ £
Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are represented by:
Tangible assets 22,390 - 22,390
Current assets/(liabilities) 252,192 30,000 282,192
274,582 30,000 304,582

19 Related party transactions

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the period (2021 - none).