Registered Charity Number: 1107149
## The Friends of the RWA
Trustees Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023
Royal West of England Academy Queen’s Road, BRISTOL BS8 1PX
page 1 of 6
## THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA
## Registered Charity N[o] 1107149 Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road, BRISTOL BS8 1PX
## TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The Friends exist to support the Royal West of England Academy by providing finance, and to arrange lectures and cultural visits. With origins in the Subscribing Members at the Academy’s foundation in 1844, they became an independent unincorporated charitable association governed by a constitution adopted in February 1999, modified on 1 November 2004 (prior to registration as a charity), and again on 20 November 2020.
The Friends’ affairs are run by a committee of Trustees, elected annually by the membership. The Trustees acting during 2023 were:
|Jane Boot|Anne Christine Jewell|
|---|---|
|_(appointed April 2015)_|_(appointed March 2018)_|
|Andrew Nixon|Laurel Smart|
|_(appointed July 201_8)|_(appointed April 2019)_|
|Patricia Triggs|Sue Quirk|
|_(appointed December 2020)_|_(appointed February 2021)_|
|Gordon Lewis|Stephen Noreiko|
|_(appointed June 2021)_|_(appointed October 2021)_|
|Monica Cuellar Parreño|Catherine Frances Davey|
|_(appointed October 2023)_|_(appointed October 2023)_|
No Trustee has received any remuneration or other benefits, nor any Trustee’s expenses.
The Charity’s bankers are: HSBC-UK, 62 George White Street, BRISTOL BS1 3BA
The Accounts show total net receipts of £41,640, and payments of £40,705, which include donations to the Royal West of England Academy of £33,600.
The Friends of the Royal West of England Academy is a charity which exists, as the name implies, to support the Royal West of England Academy. Our primary, and most obvious, support is financial. Regular monthly reports on the state of our finances are the basis on which the amounts of our continuing donations are decided by the Trustees. Growth in membership, to currently more than one thousand individuals, has brought increased receipts, and we end 2023 with a small surplus.
The Friends, as a community of established or aspiring artists and artlovers, support the presence and further the purposes of the RWA with a range of activities, as well as by targeted fund-raising for specific ends.
page 2 of 6
This year our efforts went towards transforming the balcony on the front of the RWA building into an outside seating area with new tables, chairs, and planters, and making the balcony more inclusive and accessible with a ramp for wheelchair access. As part of the same project an evacuation ramp was added to the lower ground floor, enabling access for schools supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities.
We publicise our work, keep Friends updated, and help promote the Royal West of England Academy generally through our communication channels: a monthly email newsletter, a quarterly printed newsletter sent to all Friends, an Instagram account, and the _Floating Circle_ blog.
Regular monthly talks are delivered by RWA Academicians and artists who are experts in their field, either in the galleries when the speaker is talking about a current exhibition, or as illustrated talks in a meeting room. There are also visits to artists in their studios, and Friends thus have valuable opportunities to meet with and talk to a wide range of artists, and gain an understanding of their practices.
A highly successful programme of Trips and Visits takes groups of Friends further afield, to a variety of destinations of cultural or artistic interest. Five day trips were organised, as well as a four-day residential trip taking in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the Hepworth gallery in Wakefield. These visits enrich Friends’ artistic and cultural experience, as well as contributing significantly to our funds.
The Friends’ Annual Exhibition gives artist Friends an opportunity to show their work in the prestigious surroundings of the RWA. The Exhibition continued during the pandemic, and while the RWA was closed for major works in the fabulous space of the Create Centre in Bristol. Bringing joy and purpose to artists and the public alike, it was more than just an exhibition, creating an opportunity for artists to get involved, to build networks and to make friends, and of course contribute to fund raising.
__________________________________
Signed on behalf of the Trustees, Mr Andrew Nixon, Chair
page 3 of 6
## FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
|**RECEIPTS ANDPAYMENTSACCOUNT**|**RECEIPTS ANDPAYMENTSACCOUNT**||
|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted Funds||Unrestricted Funds|
||2023|2022|
|**_Receipts_**|**_£_**|**_£_**|
|Subscriptions & Donations|34,347|29,565|
|Gift Aid return|2330|0|
|Net Contribution from Trips & Visits|3246|2,365|
|Net Contribution from Exhibitions|1717*|1789|
|――――――――――――――――|――――|―――|
|**TOTALNETRECEIPTS**|41,640|33,719|
|**_Payments_**|**_£_**|**_£_**|
|Administrative Support|(774)|(954)|
|Printing, postage, publicity|(5523)|(2,497)|
|Insurance including BAFM Membership|
(808)|(443)|
|――――――――――――――――|――――|―|
|**RUNNINGCOST OFFRWA**|(7,105)|**(3,894)**|
|**_Net Running Surplus_**|**_34,535_**|**_29,825_**|
|**_Donations to RWA_**|**_(33,600)_**|**_(32,000)_**|
|**TOTALPAYMENTS**|**_(40,705)_**|**(35,894)**|
|**NET RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS)**|**935**|**(2,175)**|
|**Total Funds at start of year**|**3,849 **|**6,024**|
|**Total Funds at end of year**|**4,784**|**3,849**|
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
> *Exhibition expenses in 2023 included venue hire for the Friends’ Exhibition in 2022 (£1056) as well as for 2023 (£1086).
page 4 of 6
## FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**BALANCESHEET**|**AT31 DECEMBER2023**||
|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted Funds|Unrestricted Funds|
||2023|2022|
||**_£_**|**_£_**|
|**FIXEDASSETS**|||
|**CURRENTASSETS ANDLIABILITIES**|||
|Cash at bank|**4,784**|3,849|
|Unpresented Cheques|0|0|
||―――――|―――――|
|**Total Net Assets**|**4,784**|**3,849**|
|**Funds Balance**|**4,784**|**3,849**|
These accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis for presentation and approval at the AGM to be held on Wednesday 00 November 2024 at 00:00 p.m. These accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis for presentation and approval at the AGM to be held on Thursday 21 November 2024 at 6.30 p.m.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
――――――――――
**----- End of picture text -----**
Mr Andrew Nixon Chair
――――――――――
Stephen F. Noreiko Treasurer
page 5 of 6
THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA
I report on the accounts for the year ended 3 1 Decetllber 2023 set out on pages 3
and 4.
Rupective responsibilities of Truste and Examiner
The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees
consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the
Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent eKimination is needed.
Having satisfied mysdf thai the charity is not subject to audit under charity law
and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility io:
examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act,"
to follow the procedures laid down in tbe General Directions given by the
Charity Comn]ission under Section 14515Kb) of the 2011 Act." and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the Independent ExamineS report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given
by the Charity Commission. An eyamination indudes a reNqew 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 you as Trustees concerning such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide ajl 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 lew. and the report is limited to those matters set out in
the statement below.
Independent examinerfs statement
In connection with my examination, no ntter has come to my attention:
(l) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect
the requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the
ch{ltIeS Act 2011" and
to prepare accounts which accord witb the accounting records. comply
with the accounting requirements of Section 132 of the CRltieS Act 2011
and with the methods and principles of the Statement of recommended
Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met. or
(2) to whicty in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a
Proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
J.D. Wells FCA
34 cange Sqe
Clifton
Bristol. BS8 3LB
YyJ+
page 6of6