## **STRETCH**
**(Charity Number: 1109851)**
**Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended**
**30th September 2024**
Charity accounts preparation & independent examination service
## **STRETCH**
|**STRETCH**||
|---|---|
|**(Charity Number: 1109851)**||
|**Contents**||
|**Index**|**Page**|
|**Trustees' Annual Report**|**1**|
|**Independent examiner's report**|**7**|
|**Receipts & payments accounts**|**8**|
|**Statement of assets and liabilities**|**9**|
|**Notes to the accounts**|**10**|
## **Trustees' Annual Report**
**From: 01/10/2023 To: 30/09/2024 Charity's full name** STRETCH **Registered Charity number** 1109851
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Summary of the purposes of the charity set out in its governing document**
To advance the education and promote the rehabilitation of disadvantaged communities by promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively involving museums and galleries. To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.
We aim to promote the creative arts amongst marginalized groups, particularly the offending community, young people who are struggling with formal education, young people in local authority care, including those with physical and learning difficulties, the poor and those in need of rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. Stretch achieves its objectives by delivering a variety of innovative and bespoke arts projects, enhancing the rehabilitation and education of the marginalized communities and in so doing, enabling their reintegration into the community. The objectives are further achieved through advocacy of the benefits of arts education in engaging into society those that have suffered social exclusion of many sorts.
## **Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts**
Our main activities and who we help are described elsewhere in this report. All our charitable activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. The Committee have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit throughout the year when deciding on the activities of the charity.
The trustees consider that they have complied with their duties to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
## **Achievements and performance**
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.**
## **Directors Account**
It has been a difficult few years for Stretch, seemingly harder to get funding and Stretch Director Carlotta Allum busy trying to finish her PHD. The work we have done we are very proud of, but it feels like a struggle.
## **Violence against women and girls**
So�e �unding �ro� Islington Coun�il �as �ery ti�ely and o�ened doors to a ne� grou� o� �lients �here �e really �ound �e �an �a�e a di��eren�e� We ran a s�e�i�i� storytelling �ro�e�t �ith Wo�en and �irls a��e�ted �y �iolen�e �alled W�Heal� We deli�ered �or�sho�s �here the girls and �o�en told their stories �reati�ely and �elt e��o�ered to s�ea� u�, the stories �an then �e used in the �ider �o��unity� �his led to a great �artnershi� �ith Bethany House and �e are �undraising to �ontinue this �or�
We �ere �ell su��orted �y �ahi�a Begu� at Bethany House su��orted a��o��odation� �hey �ere ha�ing an o�en day so I �ent and ga�e a �resentation� We started a deli�ery o� sessions at the a��o��odation that �ent �ell and �ere �ell attended� �his �as an easier �la�e to �or� as �e �ere �isiting the� in their ho�es, and
it �as easier �or the� to get there� �he hostel had a good roo� �or �ro�e�ts and lots o� art �aterials and the �o�en �ere engaged� We deli�ered � sessions that al�ays had a �ini�u� o� � �eo�le and a �a�i�u� o� 9� �he �o�en there ha�e �ulti�le disad�antages and ha�e all e��erien�ed �iolen�e in so�e �ay� It �as a di�erse grou� o� di��erent ages, ethni� origins and stories� All the �arti�i�ants li�ed on site� 1
Bethany House, 13 Lloyd Square, Islington, London, WC1X 9AR
_I would like to say Thank you for allowing our residents to express and share their journey without any pressure or judgement. We had attendance because you made them feel you were willing to listen to their story._
2
3
4
## **Financial review**
## **Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period**
## t
## **Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held**
It is the new policy of the Trust to build some unrestricted reserves. As it stands we have very few unrestricted funds and we are looking at a new fundraising strategy to rectify this. Our work is project funded and there for ‘general overheads’ would be low. It has been a very difficult year and we did not hit our fundraising targets from the year before. We hoped to maintain 3 months running costs by 2018. Reserves would be held so that the charity can fulfill its financial obligations to staff and creditors in the event of an unexpected cessation of activity.
## **Amount of reserves held**
## **Reasons for holding zero reserves**
## **Funds materially in deficit**
none
## **Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern**
The risks to which the charity are exposed are monitored on a regular basis by the Board and appropriate action is taken to mitigate and manage those risks, and to minimize any possible disruption to the effectiveness of the charity’s work from them. We have an extensive insurance policy that includes Trustee indemnity insurance. We work to specific project funders risk assessments.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Description of the charity's trusts**
**Type of governing document** Constitution Deed of Trust **(e.g. trust deed, royal charter) How the charity is constituted (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)**[Association] **Trustee selection methods including** Elected at the AGM, selected and interviewed by other Trustees - **details of any constitutional** invited to apply **provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees**
## **Reference and administration details**
**Charity's full name** STRETCH
5
## **Charity’s principal address**
## The Centre Margate
## **Postcode** CT9 1JG
## **Names of the trustees who manage the charity**
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Matthew Meadows
Chair
Matthew Marshall
Gregg McGee
Andrew Kidger
Treasurer||||
## **Names and addresses of advisers**
|**Names and addresses**|**of advisers**||
|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**|**Address**|
|Osbaldwick, York
YO10 3NR
**Independent**
**Examiner**
Karen Wood ACMA
Outsource Accounting Services & IE's
2 Galligao Lane|||
## **Bankers**
_HSBC, 13 Parliament York YO1 8RS_
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members** Carlotta Allum
## **Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts**
**Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees**
**Signature**
**Full Name Position** Chair **Date** 29th July 2025 Matthew Meadows
6
~~LT~~ **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Stretch**
I report on the accounts of: **Stretch (the Charity)**
for the year ended: **30th September 2024** which are set out on pages 8 to 10 .
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention, other than those stated below ,in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
- 2 the accounts do not accord with those records
There has been absence of supporting documentation for the payments, other than seeing them leave the bank account on the statements.
## 29/07/2025 ~~a~~
**Karen Wood (ACMA)** Outsource independent examination service
**Date:**
2 Galligap Lane Osbaldwick York YO1 0 3N R
7
## **STRETCH**
(Charity Number: 1109851)
|**Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear**|**Receipts & Payments Accounts for theyear**|**30th September 2024**
**ended:**|**30th September 2024**
**ended:**|**30th September 2024**
**ended:**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Website
**Total receipts**
**Receipts**
Grants
Donations & fundraising
**Balance carried forward**
**Transfers between funds**
**Balance brought forward**
Grant delivery
Marketing & promotion
**Payments**
Running costs & equipment
Bank interest
Insurance
Accountancy & governance
Travel
**Net of receipts/(payments)**
Membership & subscriptions
**Total payments**
Bank charges|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
1,000
50
-
**1,050**
1,000
-
-
463
-
542
-
215
**2,220**
**(1,170)**
**-**
**1,234**
**64**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
28,080
-
-
**28,080**
23,005
1,239
300
2,825
-
208
348
155
-
**28,080**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
29,080
50
-
**29,130**
24,005
1,239
300
2,825
463
208
890
155
215
**30,300**
**(1,170)**
**-**
**1,234**
**64**|**2023**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
18,405
50
1|
|||||**18,456**|
|||||18,544
93
528
222
198
500
70
163|
|||||**20,318**|
|||||**(1,862)**
**-**
**3,095**|
|||||**1,233**|
8
## **STRETCH**
(Charity Number: 1109851)
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at:**|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at:**|**30th September 2024**|**30th September 2024**|**30th September 2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Current bank account
Savings bank account
**Liabilities**
Independent Examination fee
**Assets**
**Cash at bank and in hand**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
63
1
**64**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
250
**250**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
**-**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
**-**|**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
63
1
**64**
**2024**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
250
**250**|**2023**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
1,232
1|
|||||**1,233**|
|||||**2023**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
90|
|||||**90**|
9
## **STRETCH**
(Charity Number: 1109851)
**Notes to the Accounts for the year ended:**
## **30th September 2024**
## **1. Basis of Accounts**
The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
## **2. Restricted income funds**
|**Fund name**
Arts Council
Islington Borough Council
Islington Borough Council
Arts Council|**Balance**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance**
**b/fwd**
**resources**
**expended**
**c/fwd**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
27,000
27,000
-
-
1,080
1,080
-
**-**
**28,080**
**28,080**
**-**
Storytelling project with women and girls affected
by violence called WEHeal.
**Purpose**
Storytelling for mental health, projects with MIND
in Camden and Downview Prison.|**Balance**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance**
**b/fwd**
**resources**
**expended**
**c/fwd**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
27,000
27,000
-
-
1,080
1,080
-
**-**
**28,080**
**28,080**
**-**
Storytelling project with women and girls affected
by violence called WEHeal.
**Purpose**
Storytelling for mental health, projects with MIND
in Camden and Downview Prison.|
|---|---|---|
|||**-**|
||**Approval of Accounts for theyear ended:**|**30th September 2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**Signed for and on behalf of the Trustees**
The report and accounts were approved at a
meeting of the Trustees held on:
**Print Name**
Matthew Meadows|**Date**
**Date**
**Position (e.g. Chair etc)**
29th July 2025
29 th July 2025
Chair|
10