## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
Charity number 1110747
A company limited by guarantee number 05496869
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 6|
|Examiner's report|7|
|Statement of financial activities|8|
|Balance sheet|9|
|Notes to the accounts|10 to 14|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates**
Jan Petrus Maria Costima Chair Janet Mitchell Treasurer / Secretary Samantha McCormick Quentin Krang Treasurer Hayley Marsden
Teresa Widera Terence Hyde
Resigned 20 August 2024 Appointed 12 June 2023 Resigned 29 February 2024 Appointed 2 October 2023 Resigned 17 April 2023
**Charity number Company number**
1110747 05496869
Registered in England and Wales Registered in England and Wales
## **Registered and principal address**
## **Bankers**
10 Ashville Terrace The Co-operative Bank Farsley PO Box 101 Leeds 1 Balloon St LS28 5AT Manchester, M60 4EP
## **Independent examiner**
E J Beverley FCCA **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO** Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed on 1 July 2005. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association amended 6 June 2022 and 17 May 2023. The liability of the members in the event of the company being wound up is limited to a sum not exceeding £1.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are also the directors for the purposes of company law and are appointed at a duly convened meeting of the trustees.
2
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
To advance the education of the public by the promotion of the Arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of dance.
## **The charity's main activities**
The charity currently works in the local community, providing high-quality arts projects and classes, which seek to bring positive change to health and wellbeing.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of the arts, dance and health.
## **Achievements and performance**
In 2023/24, Ascendance has explored its artistic potential, developing new opportunities for participants and artists to expand their skills and showcase their talents. Ascendance has continued to establish new partnerships and expanded its in-person and digital class and workshop provision across Leeds and Bradford, reaching new participants from a diverse range of backgrounds. Ascendance has also developed its community performance company Fuse Dance Collective, a company with professional dancers and members with Parkinson’s, attracting audiences at regional theatres and events.
## **Organisational Development:**
Ascendance is proud to have taken on Artistic Director Rachel Wesson on a full-time basis together with maintaining a flexible freelance workforce, Creative Director Emma Clayton, Izzy Brittain, Emma Hindley, and trainee teachers Sharon Fountain, Josephine Pass, Sophie Atkinson and Becky Firth. In addition, Natalie Haslam has a new role as Development, People and Culture Manager providing fundraising, organisational and marketing support on a consultancy basis. The organisation has also supported five volunteers to help the outreach team.
## **Key Achievements this year include:**
Developing our National Lottery Community Fund project ‘No One Left Behind’.
Securing Bradford 2025 funding to develop a new mini film series and exhibition.
Securing Leeds Council funding to support core activities.
Piloting a new Choreographic development project, ‘Training Ground’, for our participants with Parkinson’s, to develop their skills and become dance artists.
Developing a new community company model for ‘Fuse Dance Collective’ after successfully launching in the previous year.
Providing opportunities for five volunteers to assist with classes, events and outreach activity.
Providing 7 placements students work experience to Leeds Trinity University and Leeds College of Music.
Providing training and talent development for 8 freelance dance artists.
Hosting an Away Day for Board and Team at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and a Team Creatives Day at Meanwood Urban Valley Farm.
Undertaking business planning, including strategy development, with a focus on marketing, fundraising and the artistic model.
Undertaking a review of all Ascendance’s policies and updating them in line with current guidelines and best practices.
3
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Outreach & Digital Inclusion.**
This year Ascendance has undertaken important outreach and digital inclusion work with key partners and community groups, enabling more diverse participants to be included in regular work and projects. It continues a successful online dance class and runs Hybrid sessions through Leeds Care Delivery Service.
Ascendance has 130 regular class members over 9 regular dance community groups.
## **Key achievements this year include:**
Increasing provision with 10 regular neuro dance sessions per week across hospices, care homes, community centres and at home provision via Zoom. This has resulted in 380 Face to Face Dance Sessions (across Leeds, Bradford, Halifax) and 38 Zoom Dance Sessions, as well as 8 Hybrid dance sessions from Care Homes and Hospices reaching over 200 people with conditions such as Dementia and Parkinson's.
New audience development with sports organisations, including Leeds Rhinos Community Foundation, engaging participants through their wellbeing programme.
Reaching Asian elders with PUK initiatives and events at Karmand Community Centre.
Reaching people with complex needs at Links Care Home, Bradford.
Undertaking digital inclusion work across Leeds, reaching those who can’t leave their homes and upskilling participants to take part in Zoom sessions.
Partnering with Abilitynet and 100% Digital Leeds to upskill participants. And joining the Digital Inclusion Network to help people get access to, and benefit from, the online world.
Developing new and existing partnerships with Sense, Parkinson’s UK Halifax branch, New Wortley Community Centre and Morley Town Council reaching new and diverse participants.
Providing activity as part of the ‘Arts in Care Home Day 2023’ at Leeds City Library and offering workshops as part of ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’, reaching 6 Care Homes / Day Centres.
## **Performances:**
This year Ascendance has expanded its performance strand, showcasing work at seven venues as part of its Arts Council Funded ‘Pillars’ Project. Performances featured a new music commission by acclaimed film composer Laura Rossi.
Community Showcase at The Riley Theatre, March 15th 2024 - True Yorkshire Grit
Winter Celebration at Morley Town Hall, December 4th 2023 - A True Yorkshire
Parkinson's UK Leeds branch meeting at St Chad's Parish Centre, November 8th 2023 - True Yorkshire Grit
Living Well with Parkinson's at Bradford Town Hall, June 17th 2023 - Journey
Leeds 2023 Celebration at Meanwood Community Centre, August 12th 2023 - Orchard
Expressions Festival at Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre, July 13th 2023 - El Nino
Moving with Joy at Leeds Playhouse, June 2nd 2023 - El Nino
## **Financial review**
The net income for the year was £11,176, including net income of £12,827 on unrestricted funds and net expenditure of £1,651 on restricted funds after transfers.
4
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £20,816.
The reserves policy is to ensure there are sufficient reserves available to finance adequately, for at least three months, the operation of the company in the event of unforeseen circumstances. This reserve may be depleted to satisfy scheduled temporary liquidity deficiencies. Currently three months trading equates to £15,000 and this is updated on a monthly basis and is calculated on a rolling annual timeline.
This is a minimum requirement to mitigate an unexpected financial emergency. The Management recognise that in times of particular funding uncertainty around our core funder, it is prudent to build reserves above this to enable the company to survive and deliver our mission in the event of loss of a major element of our grant income and it has therefore been a stated aim to rebuild company reserves over the current Arts Council funding period, to bring them to a level which would withstand such longer-term changes to our business model.
The ambition is to sustain reserves that allow the company to function for a six month period and this has been set at £30,000.
5
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts 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 the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (Charities SORP (FRS102)), and in accordance with the special provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by the board of trustees on 11/11/2024
Janet Mitchell (Trustee)
6
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 14.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
WYCAS conduct the bookkeeping and complete the independent examination for the charity. The following criteria are met:
- 1) the independent examiner is a member of an approved body that has applied the FRC's Revised Ethical Standard;
2) there is documentary evidence in respect of the bookkeeping arrangements that the trustees were "informed management" and have made such judgements and decisions that are needed in relation to the presentation and disclsure of information in the financial statements;
3) the independent examiner was not the book-keeper nor does the examiner report directly to the bookkeeper.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention 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 company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
- 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
E J Beverley FCCA
19/11/2024
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
7
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Statement of Financial Activities
## (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2024
|Notes
2024
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Income from:**
Grants
(2)
500
Earned income
16,574
Donations
4,343
**Total income**
21,417
**Expenditure on:**
Salaries
(3)
6,623
Artistic programme
525
Freelance administration staff
-
Other overheads
-
Freelance marketing and fundraising staff
60
Advertising and consultancy
144
Organisational development
-
Personal access
-
Minor equipment
-
Depreciation
1,090
Insurance
128
Independent examination
120
Accountancy work
-
Evaluation
-
Travel
-
Venue hire
-
**Total expenditure**
8,690
**Net income / (expenditure)**
12,727
**Transfers between funds**
100
**Net movement in funds**
12,827
**Fund balances brought forward**
8,446
**Fund balances carried forward**
(4)
21,273|2024
Restricted
funds
£
105,680
-
-
105,680
20,972
47,177
2,331
888
12,478
1,219
4,086
1,620
402
-
228
660
4,958
1,440
3,257
5,515
107,231
(1,551)
(100)
(1,651)
34,775
33,124|2024
Total
funds
£
106,180
16,574
4,343
127,097
27,595
47,702
2,331
888
12,538
1,363
4,086
1,620
402
1,090
356
780
4,958
1,440
3,257
5,515
115,921
11,176
-
11,176
43,221
54,397|2023
Total
funds
£
47,775
9,981
4,951
62,707
-
34,619
14,844
232
7,447
2,480
3,870
200
352
2,152
256
660
543
50
1,974
4,415
74,094
(11,387)
-
(11,387)
54,608
43,221|
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
8
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Balance sheet
|as at 31 March 2024
2024
Unrestricted
£
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
(5)
457
**Total fixed assets**
457
**Current assets**
Debtors and prepayments
(6)
-
Cash at bank and in hand
(7)
24,606
**Total current assets**
24,606
**Current liabilities:**
**amounts falling due within one year**
Creditors and accruals
(8)
3,790
**Total current liabilities**
3,790
**Net current assets**
20,816
**Net assets**
21,273
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
21,273
Restricted funds
-
**Total funds**
21,273|2024
Restricted
£
-
-
270
32,854
33,124
-
-
33,124
33,124
-
33,124
33,124|2024
Total
£
457
457
270
57,460
57,730
3,790
3,790
53,940
54,397
21,273
33,124
54,397|2023
Total
£
1,547
1,547
447
42,235
42,682
1,008
1,008
41,674
43,221
8,446
34,775
43,221|
|---|---|---|---|
For the year ending 31 March 2024 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476. The trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime and with FRS 102 (effective January 2019).
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 11/11/2024
Janet Mitchell (Trustee)
9
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Notes to the accounts
## for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by 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) and with the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year. No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Going concern**
The trustees are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, if it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Grants and donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
## **Expenditure and liabilities**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out the resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets costing more than £250 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows: IT equipment: over 3 years
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
10
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2024
|**2 Grants**
Arts Council England
Household Support Fund
Opera North
Parkinson's UK
Sport England
The National Lottery Community Fund
Leeds Older People Forum
Versus Arthritis
**3 Staff costs and numbers**
Gross salaries
Social security costs
Employment allowance
Pensions|2024
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
500
-
-
-
-
-
500|2024
Restricted
funds
£
27,750
1,000
-
3,000
9,828
64,102
-
-
105,680|2024
Total
funds
£
27,750
1,000
500
3,000
9,828
64,102
-
-
106,180
2024
£
27,000
2,785
(2,785)
595
27,595|2023
Total
funds
£
39,845
-
-
2,420
-
-
1,300
4,210
47,775
2023
£
-
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The average number of employees during the year was 0.8, being an average of 0.8 full time equivalent (2023: 0, 0 FTE). There were no employees with emoluments above £60,000.
|**Defined contribution pension scheme**
Costs of the scheme to the charity for the year
**4 Restricted funds**
£
Pillars PUK
335
Pillars ACE
34,440
Pillars Sport England
-
NL Community Fund
-
Household Support Fund
-
34,775|Incoming
£
3,000
27,750
9,828
64,102
1,000
105,680|Outgoing
£
563
50,775
1,513
53,480
900
107,231|2024
£
595
Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
(100)
(100)|2023
£
-
Balance c/f
£
2,772
11,415
8,315
10,622
-
33,124|
|---|---|---|---|---|
## **Fund name**
Pillars PUK
Pillars ACE
Pillars Sport England
## **Purpose of restriction**
To deliver activities to help people with Parkinson’s become and stay physically active in Bradford.
To support participants with Neorodisabilities The project will enable 50 neuro-disabled participants from local communities across Leeds to cocreate, rehearse & perform 6 shows with guidance from 5 freelance artists.
To deliver a dance and yoga-based exercise project for individuals with neuro disabilities such as Parkinson's and MS in a deprived area of Bradford.
11
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **4 Restricted funds (continued)**
**Fund name** NL Community Fund
## **Purpose of restriction**
To widen the reach of the Ascendance Repertory’s support to people living with long term health conditions in West Yorkshire.
Household Support Fund To provide 20 participants £50 food vouchers to help with the cost of living. Transfer relates to reallocating funds to unrestricted fund to cover overhead expenses.
|**5 **
**6 **
**7 **
**8 **|**Tangible assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for year
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
**Debtors and prepayments**
Debtors
Prepayments
**Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank
Cash in hand
**Creditors and accruals**
Creditors
Accruals
Taxation and social security
Other creditors|£
7,871
-
7,871
6,324
1,090
7,414
457
1,547
2024
£
-
270
270
2024
£
57,450
10
57,460
2024
£
1,080
780
1,756
174
3,790
IT
equipment|Total
£
7,871
-
7,871
6,324
1,090
7,414
457
1,547
2023
£
175
272
447
2023
£
42,225
10
42,235
2023
£
-
1,008
-
-
1,008|
|---|---|---|---|
12
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 31 March 2024
## **9 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
13
## The Ascendance Repertory Company Limited
## Statement of Financial Activities including comparatives for all funds (including summary income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2024
|2024
2023
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds
funds
£
£
**Income**
Grants
500
-
Earned income
16,574
9,981
Donations
4,343
4,951
**Total income**
21,417
14,932
**Expenditure**
Salaries
6,623
-
Artistic programme
525
10,870
Freelance administration staff
-
5,751
Other overheads
-
210
Freelance marketing and fundraising
60
1,212
Advertising and consultancy
144
714
Organisational development
-
3,518
Personal access
-
-
Minor equipment
-
127
Depreciation
1,090
2,152
Insurance
128
-
Independent examination
120
-
Accountancy work
-
62
Evaluation
-
-
Travel
-
144
Venue hire
-
692
**Total expenditure**
8,690
25,452
**Net income / (expenditure)**
12,727
(10,520)
**Transfers between funds**
100
-
**Net movement in funds**
12,827
(10,520)
**Fund balances brought forward**
8,446
18,966
**Fund balances carried forward**
21,273
8,446|2024
Restricted
funds
£
105,680
-
-
105,680
20,972
47,177
2,331
888
12,478
1,219
4,086
1,620
402
-
228
660
4,958
1,440
3,257
5,515
107,231
(1,551)
(100)
(1,651)
34,775
33,124|2023
Restricted
funds
£
47,775
-
-
47,775
-
23,749
9,093
22
6,235
1,766
352
200
225
-
256
660
481
50
1,830
3,723
48,642
(867)
-
(867)
35,642
34,775|2024
Total
funds
£
106,180
16,574
4,343
127,097
27,595
47,702
2,331
888
12,538
1,363
4,086
1,620
402
1,090
356
780
4,958
1,440
3,257
5,515
115,921
11,176
-
11,176
43,221
54,397|2023
Total
funds
£
47,775
9,981
4,951
62,707
-
34,619
14,844
232
7,447
2,480
3,870
200
352
2,152
256
660
543
50
1,974
4,415
74,094
(11,387)
-
(11,387)
54,608
43,221|
|---|---|---|---|---|
14