2023-08-31-accounts

Charity Registration No. 1111684

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

CONTENTS

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 August 2023

	Page
Reference and Administrative Details	2
Overview from the Chair	3 – 4
Trustees’ Report	5 – 17
Independent Examiner’s Report	18
Statement of Financial Activities	19
Balance Sheet	20
Notes to the Financial Statements	21 - 29

1

ANDEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Trustees	Andrew Duncan, Chair	(reappointed 14 November 2022)
	Freddy Mardlin, Treasurer	(appointed 7 September 2023)
	Jardelle Johnson, Secretary	(appointed 18 July 2023)
	Paul Brocklehurst	(appointed 20 September 2022)
	Nicky Galliers	(resigned 18 July 2023)
	John Gaine	(appointed 20 September 2022)
	Freya Johnson	(appointed 7 June 2023)
	Nikhil Alexander Khosla	(reappointed 20 March 2023)
	Jake Macan
	Elizabeth Onwuka-Okoye	(appointed 7 June 2023)
	Caroline Rouse	(resigned 18 July 2023)
	Albert Simsensohn	(appointed 14 November 2022)
	Anna Fox	(appointed 14 November 2022)
	Sarah Kitteridge	(reappointed 7 June 2023)
	Richard Longworth	(reappointed 20 March 2023)
	Jo Stephens	(reappointed 18 July 2023)
	Rupert Taylor	(reappointed 20 March 2023)
	Ashley Zhang	(appointed 20 September 2022,
		resigned 19 February 2024)
Patron	The Right Hon. Jeremy Corbyn,
	M.P.
	Steven Kavuma
Registered office	City & Islington College
	444 Camden Road
	London
	N7 0SP
Registered Charity No.	1111684
Independent Examiner	Aamer Shehzad
	Accountability Europe Ltd
	Omnibus Workspace
	39-41 North Road
	London
	N7 9DP
Bankers	The Co-operative Bank
	PO Box 50
	Delf House
	Southway
	Skelmsersdale
	WN8 6WT

2

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

OVERVIEW FROM THE CHAIR

This letter is my opportunity to pay tribute to everyone involved with Angel Shed over the past year. David Mabbott took over sole responsibility for Angel Shed as Artistic & Executive Director at the beginning of 2022/23 and his leadership and commitment have been instrumental in continuing to build Angel Shed’s reputation and success. On behalf of all the Board, I would like to thank him, as well as the rest of the team, the support staff and all the volunteers, for their hard work and dedication over the year.

More importantly, at the time of writing this letter, we have started celebrating our 20[th] Anniversary which is a monumental occasion for Angel Shed and I take this opportunity to give a huge thank you to all who have helped build and establish Angel Shed as the success it is today. Lorraine Grout was here at the beginning in 2004 and, together with Jo Merritt-Hall, was largely responsible for establishing Angel Shed. When they both left in 2020, Dawn Davis, Natalie Sloth-Richter and David Mabbott took over and continued to develop and to expand what we offer. Over that time, the membership has continued to grow; we have introduced the separate Music Collective and Dance Company; we are building on our outreach programme; we are promoting inclusivity training to other organisations, and much more besides. I know that all the Trustees would join me to express our heartfelt gratitude to them for their professionalism and tireless dedication over all these years.

Many thanks must also go to all the staff whose energy and enthusiasm ensure that each and every workshop is inspiring and that every member wants to come back week after week, year after year - as well as the numerous volunteers who provide a hugely important contribution to each workshop and without whose help we could not survive.

Last month, we marked our celebrations with a joyous evening of performances and personal reminiscences from members and volunteers, both past and present. The evening served a vital reminder of the spirit and exuberance that has been generated by Angel Shed over the past 20 years and the indelible impact it has had on our members and volunteers alike, an impact that is greater than the sum of its parts.

I would also like to extend a huge thanks to all those in the wider community (including Islington Council, City & Islington College and many others) who have contributed to our success over the last 20 years and in particular to the generous support of all our funders without whom none of this would have been possible.

On a different note, I am delighted that Steven Kavuma has agreed to become a Patron. Steven is a writer and director who is passionate about developing artists and diversity within the arts and he is very welcome at Angel Shed.

The Board has seen a number of changes and I welcome Freddy and Jardelle who are taking over as Treasurer and Secretary respectively from Caroline and Jake who are stepping down. Richard, Alex, Nicky and Ashley have decided to retire as well. On behalf of the Board, I thank them for their invaluable contributions. I also welcome the appointment of Freya and Elizabeth as Young Trustees. Together with the active involvement of our Youth Board, the Board more closely reflects the age and diversity of our members.

3

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

OVERVIEW FROM THE CHAIR

Finally, I have decided to retire as Chair. After nearly eight years, it is time for somebody younger, with fresh ideas and energy to take over and I am delighted that Sam Lansdale has agreed to take over from me. It has been a delight, a privilege and an honour to represent Angel Shed and I would like to thank all my fellow trustees for their invaluable support, advice and commitment.

Andrew Duncan Chair

4

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

1. Our mission

Angel Shed provides fully inclusive performing arts opportunities for children and young people of all backgrounds. As a result, we enable greater inclusion for those most likely to be otherwise excluded: including those who are economically disadvantaged, those who are disabled, those with social, emotional and mental health issues, those with special education needs, LGBTQ+ people, young carers, and those from communities experiencing racism and racial inequality.

Established in 2004, Angel Shed has engaged thousands of children and young people across Islington, north London, and beyond. We are embedded in a community where over 1 in 3 children in Islington live in relative child poverty (End Child Poverty Coalition, 2023) and operate against a backdrop of continuing decline in the provision of performing arts in education.

Inclusivity is integral in every aspect of our work:

• We welcome anyone to join.

• We operate on a ‘pay-what-you-can’ basis and workshops are free to those who cannot afford them.

• We don’t hold auditions.

• We are led by the ideas of children and young people, who are active participants in the planning, creation, and performance of our work. This allows them to share and explore the stories, issues and topics that are relevant to them.

• We adapt to the needs of individual members, meaning everyone can participate in a way which works for them.

• We actively reach out to those most likely to experience exclusion, with strong connections across the education, charity, and youth sectors.

• We have a high ratio of adults to participants to ensure the best possible support for all children and young people.

Through our work, we aim to:

• increase the self-confidence and enhance the self-esteem of participants, breaking down self-imposed barriers to achievement and allowing them to reach beyond themselves;

• impart a range of performing and social skills that will sustain our members on stage and in life;

• improve social cohesion, by providing a safe environment for children and young people to recognise differences, develop empathy and value what they have to offer to one another;

• deliver training and experience to volunteers that can create pathways to employment;

• create a public platform for children and young people to express their voices and thoughts, especially those not often heard by their mainstream peers.

5

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

2. Our work

We provide a range of weekly performing arts workshops for children and young people in theatre, music and movement. During 2022/23, our programme (and the relevant age groups) consisted of the following:

Children's Theatre (CT) 7 - 10 years Youth Theatre 1 (YT1) 10 - 13 years Youth Theatre 2 (YT2) 13 - 19 years Music Collective (MC) 12 - 19 years Dance Company (DC) 10 - 19 years

Our artistic programme is based on the following objectives:

• We believe that accessibility and excellence are mutually inclusive. A truly inclusive practice, process and environment expands the boundaries and strengthens the quality of artistic output.

• We create inspirational and outstanding youth-led theatre, focused on long-term collaboration with children and young people who are at the heart of the creative process from start to finish.

• We present an eclectic mix of original theatre, music, and dance, focusing on crossover between these disciplines and performances including live music, costumes, and sound and lighting design.

• We celebrate difference, engage the community and inspire social change through original work, new writing and reworkings of existing material.

• “It has really helped with my confidence. It’s a huge confidence boost. I started doing Angel Shed, meeting new people, and I could be myself. I started coming out of my shell. I was able to be confident not just here, but everywhere.”

Youth Theatre 2 member, December 2022

3. Our members

Over 100 members attended Angel Shed during 2022/23 with 80 attending on average each term.

Long-term, continued engagement continues to be a central element of our work. 68% of members this year were returning. The average membership of our Youth Theatre groups is over 4 years, while 50% of Youth Theatre 2 members have attended for 6-10 years.

Of our overall membership, 63% are global majority and 62% are female. 26% of members have special educational needs or are disabled, which rises to 35% for those aged 10 and above.

• “For most people who don’t like being at school or at home, Angel Shed is an escape, somewhere where you can be yourself. It’s peaceful, it’s a stress-free zone for us teenagers.”

Youth Theatre 2 member, April 2023

6

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

4. Our performances

We put on regular performances created by children and young people, in professional theatre spaces at our base in City and Islington College. During 2022/23, our members presented the following performances, which can be watched on our YouTube channel (@AngelShed):

• ‘The Suits’, Youth Theatre 2 (December 2022): YT2 members devised this work to explore themes of discrimination, power, identity, and corruption.

At a meeting of the rich and powerful, a devastating explosion throws the event into disarray. Who are the sinister ‘Suits’ plotting behind the scenes? And do we ever really know the truth?

• ‘The Dig’, Youth Theatre 1 (March 2023): YT1 members explored different periods of history, as well as how characters develop when stuck together for a long time.

Follow the world’s top archaeologists as they search for four artefacts which were lost to the sands many decades ago. Find out if they can work together and survive months in the barren remoteness of the desert…

• ‘From the Water’, Music Collective and Dance Company (June 2023): Featuring songs, music and movement on the theme of ‘water’, the Music Collective and Dance Company collaborated on choosing the theme for this project and creating their own original work in relation to it.

• ‘The Last Piece of Earth’, Children’s Theatre (July 2023): CT members explored themes of the climate, our planet and space.

The Earth is falling apart in the climate emergency. A group of astronauts venture to outer space to find a solution to save the planet, each of them holding onto their last piece of Earth. Will they be able to save our planet?

• “Inspirational. I loved hearing about the process that the group went through to create the plot, characters and performance. One of my students is in the cast and I can see how taking part increases his confidence. It’s brilliantly inclusive too. A joy to see. Thank you Angel Shed.”

• “Amazing work building the confidence of young people. They showed enjoyment and enthusiasm in what they were doing and it made us laugh!”

• "I enjoyed today's performance. Particularly the inclusiveness and how the team ensured that everyone had a part and were fully involved."

7

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

“Loved how inclusive it was and how the children come up with their own script – it’s great for their imagination. Loved the production – lighting and live music – gives them a taste of a real theatre.”

Audience feedback, December 2022-July 2023

5. Outreach: Angel Shed in the community

Over 450 children and young people have taken part in our Outreach work in 2022/23. We engage in a range of projects in the community, delivering inclusive activities to those who are underrepresented at Angel Shed, and those who are less likely to be able to access our weekly sessions. We plan to extend our outreach projects to improve our service to the wider community and to increase our profile, which in turn encourages increased membership.

This year, we delivered workshops and projects, with thirteen classes across seven schools: Ambler, Hungerford, Pakeman, Pooles Park, Richard Cloudesley Primary, Richard Cloudesley Secondary and Winton. We continued to be part of Islington Council’s 11 by 11 scheme – a commitment to offer 11 free outstanding cultural experiences to all children and young people in Islington by Year 11.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience working with Angel Shed on a project based on

exploring the environment. Our class of children with severe and complex needs went on a voyage of discovery across the galaxy to visit new planets. The songs and sensory experiences planned for them were fantastic. So much care and thought had gone into the preparation and resourcing for every one of the 5 sessions and it meant that every child could participate, and they did, with enthusiasm. The songs were simple but catchy and age appropriate and helped to transport us on our journey. The team used signing and helped the children to find their own voice during every part of the session, ensuring that they were totally engaged. It was magical! Thank you!”

Heather Johnston, Middle Primary Class Teacher, Richard Cloudesley Primary, June 2023

We have also delivered one-off workshops at Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants, Lift Youth Hub (for children with a social worker) and at Platform Youth Hub for Mary’s/Prospex Girls Super Group.

We delivered pre-performance workshops before each performance of ‘The Suits’. Groups attending included Prospex, City and Islington College, Hackney Shed, Sapphire Community Group, Marys, XLP, Immediate Theatre, Chickenshed and Centre 404. We also ran community workshops at our public ‘Creativity Day’ in June.

We ended the year by delivering a week-long ‘Make a Theatre Performance’ project as part of Summerversity in August 2023.

8

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

We also took members on theatre trips, including performances of ‘How Not To Drown’ at Theatre Royal Stratford East, ‘&Juliet’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre and ‘Jungle Book reimagined’ at Sadler’s Wells.

6. Our volunteers

We run an extensive volunteer programme providing training, inclusive facilitation practice, and experience working with children and young people. In 2022/23, 53 performing arts volunteers supported our members in workshops and performances, averaging 29 per term (an increase of over 20%). Of these, 57% were 25 and under, including students at City and Islington College and other local special and mainstream schools.

Our volunteers are at the core of our work and Angel Shed could not do what we do without them. Our highly experienced creative staff, inclusive approach and large trained volunteer team allow us to deliver high-quality artistic work while providing the most appropriate support for each participant. A high ratio of adults to participants ensures the best possible support for all children and young people.

Our volunteers share a common interest in the performing arts, children and young people, and inclusivity. The diversity of volunteers’ backgrounds and experiences make them great role models for our members, who can see themselves reflected in the team; almost one third of volunteers have special educational needs or are disabled, over three quarters are female, and almost half are global majority. Some volunteers are current or former attendees of Angel Shed themselves and have progressed into the volunteer programme.

Additional volunteers support our work throughout the year, including in relation to office support, photography, graphic design, costume, technical support, front of house and musicians.

• “My experience at Angel Shed has benefitted me in a way that I didn’t think my confidence could grow in six months. I think it would help me to gain teaching employment in the future.”

• “Volunteering at Angel Shed is benefitting my career and building on my personal skills and

• interests. Before this, I had never experienced youth theatre and so it’s been really interesting and affirming for me to see first-hand how important this is to the children who attend.”

“From the first session, I felt very supported by staff. From being so attentive and receptive with feedback, to making every session as fun as the last, I have always felt room to grow because of Angel Shed’s support.”

Volunteers, December 2022 - July 2023

9

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

7. Financial support

Islington has over 1 in 3 children living in relative child poverty (End Child Poverty Coalition, 2023). Fundamental to our mission is to prioritise those members who are experiencing any form of disadvantage. We operate a ‘pay-what-you-can’ system to ensure no-one is excluded due to financial constraints. 73% of members accessed our financial support over the year (up from 60% last year) and our income from members decreased by a third between the Spring and Summer terms. We expect these issues to be exacerbated as the cost of living crisis continues to take its toll.

“He’s learnt so much about independence, he has improved his confidence, speech, and life skills. Allowing us to pay what we can afford allows us to take part. As a single parent who doesn’t work it allows my son to do something he truly loves.”

Parent of member in Youth Theatre 2 who has a learning disability, July 2023

8. Impact and evaluation

Our comprehensive impact measurement system takes a multi-viewpoint approach:

• Weekly observation of members by staff and volunteer team.

• Termly self-evaluation questionnaires by members.

• Annual parent/carer questionnaires.

• Testimonials and feedback from members, parents/carers, and referrers.

• Case studies of members by staff.

The differences Angel Shed makes in children and young people's lives are varied. The primary outcomes we measure our impact against are: belonging to a community; strengthened relationships; increased confidence; improved skills.

Feedback from our members showed the following:

I feel listened to 84% I made a new friend this term 88% I’m given support when needed 86% I’ve got to know people different from me 89% I feel included 88% I have improved my skills or gained new skills 98% I can be myself 81%

I’ve got better at… …sharing ideas 85% …listening to others 82% …collaborating with other children 88% …collaborating with adults 82%

From attending Angel Shed, parents/carers noticed a positive impact on their child’s:

Mental health 95% Behaviour and resilience 96%

10

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

Confidence and self-esteem 98% Relationships (e.g. family, friends) 95% Sense of belonging/ community 98% Transferable skill (e.g. communication) 97%

9. Safeguarding, training and policy

We take safeguarding extremely seriously and it is an integral part of our work. We always have a minimum of two Safeguarding Leads in the organisation and mandatory safeguarding training is delivered each term for all staff and volunteers, supported by the Safeguarding Trustee. Safeguarding Leads complete Advanced Child Protection training. Our Safeguarding Policy is reviewed at least annually.

This year, we arranged Unconscious Bias and Youth Mental Health training for staff and volunteers. Staff complete other training as required, including First Aid and Safe Recruitment.

We created two video and text resource packs this year, ‘Creating Original Inclusive Theatre with Young People’ and ‘Inclusive Games’. These have been downloaded and viewed thousands of times so far and feedback has been very positive. They were designed for both internal use in our staff and volunteer training, but also for use by schools, youth groups, and community projects.

We hold policies on areas including the following: Safeguarding; Positive Behaviour Support; AntiBullying; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Social Media; Complaints; Uncollected and Missing Child; Health and Safety; Data Protection, GDPR and Confidentiality; Recruitment; and Conflicts of Interest. We regularly review all policies and ensure they are put into practice.

In November 2022, Angel Shed achieved the Bronze Award Quality Mark from London Youth - their flagship Quality Assurance programme providing youth organisations with a badge of excellence. The assessor commented that we demonstrated: “clear evidence of an exciting and valuable organisation doing meaningful work with young people, through theatrical arts and music.” We are actively working towards the Silver Award.

10. Youth board

Angel Shed’s Youth Board was formed almost three years ago to ensure members are involved in decision making across all parts of the organisation. They discuss topics that are important to them and decisions taken by Youth Board regularly lead to changes at Angel Shed.

The Youth Board consists of 12 members representing our four older groups (Youth Theatre 1, Youth Theatre 2, Music Collective, Dance Company) and range in age from 11 to 19. The group meet at least twice each term and they met seven times this year in total.

Key discussions and actions from meetings this year included:

• taking the lead on planning our first ever pre-show workshops for ‘The Suits’. More than half a dozen youth groups attended the workshops designed and led by Youth Board members.

11

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

• reviewing and feeding back on our new 3-year strategy and designing our new membership flyer.

• drafting principles for accepting corporate support and donations, now being reviewed by the Board of Trustees to create an ethical fundraising policy.

• writing an equal opportunities statement and undertaking carbon literacy training, including coming up with ideas for how to become more environmentally friendly at Angel Shed.

• planning and helping to deliver a ‘Creativity Day’ (an open day created by Youth Board).

• holding a Q&A with Angel Shed’s Chair of Trustees and discussing Youth Board’s priorities for the year ahead; including learning more about the theatre industry, getting involved more in the Angel Shed hiring process, and putting on events for Angel Shed’s 20th anniversary, International Women’s Day, and Black History Month.

11. Management

Angel Shed transitioned to a new team structure over the Summer term and into Autumn 2022. David Mabbott took on the role of Artistic & Executive Director. He provides regular reports to, and is answerable to, the Board of Trustees, who in turn oversee the workings and management of the charity. Maya Shimmin joined the team as Company & Volunteer Manager and David Ward as Fundraiser. Maryam Shaharuddin, Philly Rule and Yanna Avlianos stepped up into Lead Facilitator roles, supported by a new team of Assistant Facilitators. Our volunteer team continues to grow into 2023/24.

We created three new part-time roles in June 2023. Maya Shimmin has become Volunteer & Training Manager, while Lauren Phillips and Cora Sehgal Cuthbert join the team as Membership Co-ordinator and Outreach Co-ordinator respectively. These roles will increase our core staff capacity to both support ongoing delivery and extend our reach to new participants and partners. It will enable us to provide more support to participants, their families and our volunteers, to ensure that as many young people as possible are able to join Angel Shed and maximise the impact of their time with us. It will also enable us to reach out more into the community, deliver more taster activities and projects and deliver a new training offer to local freelancers, youth, and arts organisations.

12. City & Islington College

Since its inception, Angel Shed has had the benefit of facilities at City & Islington College (“CANDI”), including professional performing spaces, rehearsal facilities and a small office. These resources are provided free of charge, the annual benefit of which is estimated at around £45,000. The free use of the space is vital to Angel Shed and means that the bulk of our funding is directed towards the children and not costly overheads.

Our Collaboration Agreement with CANDI secures our continued use of the space and confirms the ongoing work being carried out by both parties. The Board of Trustees is very grateful to CANDI for their continued generosity.

12

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

Our strong relationship with CANDI includes Angel Shed providing opportunities for students to take part in our volunteer programme, and collaborations such as fashion students designing and making costumes for Angel Shed performances. We continue to work on further collaboration through joint creative projects and further student work placement opportunities.

13. Fundraising

Most of Angel Shed’s income comes from trusts, foundations and grant-makers. In an increasingly challenging funding climate, Angel Shed is ever grateful for the continuing support and generosity of our funders, including (among others):

Arts Council England	Morris Charitable Trust
Backstage Trust	The Mrs Smith & Mount Trust
Charles S French Charitable Trust	National Lottery Community Fund
Cloudesley	Pat Newman Memorial Trust
Cripplegate Foundation	Postcode Society Trust
Cuckoo Hill Trust	Shaftesbury Young People Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation	The Leathersellers’ Foundation
The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation	Three Monkies Trust
Islington Council	UK Youth/Pears Foundation
Jack Petchey Foundation

A lesser amount of our income comes from subscriptions paid on a termly basis by beneficiaries, tickets, merchandise and donations. Regrettably, given that we work in a community that suffers from a high level of deprivation that is exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis, the increased membership results in a commensurate increase in demand for financial support rather than increased income from subscriptions.

We are confident of our ongoing financial stability and in our ability to generate income, despite the increase in demand for our services. Recent fundraising successes have included a three-year pledge from UK Youth, and we are on track to fundraise an additional £20,000 as part of our 20[th] anniversary celebrations. We have further fundraising events planned for the year ahead, including marathons and gala performances, alongside robust fundraising pipelines based on research, expertise and previous grant makers.

We have begun to roll out an Inclusive Training offer, building on 20 years’ experience delivering high-quality inclusive training and workshops. We expect this to create a sustainable income stream, given high demand in both the charity and corporate sectors.

We continue to explore and expand alternate funding streams, including corporate engagement and community fundraising.

13

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

14. Financial review

The financial statements are attached. During the year to 31 August 2023, the charity received income of £136,202 (2022: £119,752). After expenditure amounting to £141,800 (2022: £121,170), the charity recorded a deficit of £5,598 (2022: deficit of £1,418).

Both income and costs increased as a result of special projects carried out in the year, all of which were fully funded. Additional staffing to manage the outreach programme and the inclusive training mentioned above have increased costs in the year but are expected to generate increased membership and additional revenue streams in 2023/24. The net result is a deficit and the Trustees have agreed to release funds from reserves.

15. Reserves policy

The Trustees consider it appropriate to maintain unrestricted reserves of no less than the gross expenditure budget for one term (approximately 4 months’ worth of operating costs). Total funds at 31 August 2023 amounted to £71,033 (2022: £76,631) of which unrestricted reserves were £50,946 (2022: £53,442) and which exceeds the target level.

The Trustees are aware of the need to maintain and build reserves but consider that this level of reserves is sufficient to keep the charity delivering the core programme in the event of a significant drop in funding.

The Trustees aim to increase the level of reserves to 50% of the full year budgeted costs to provide greater long-term financial stability.

16. Risk assessment

The Trustees have identified and reviewed the risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that the internal control systems in place (including regular reviews of the financial budget and future plans) are sufficient to mitigate these risks.

The Trustees have identified the following principal risks that the charity faces:

• Major loss of income from donors: the Trustees regularly monitor the level of funding and continue to develop a sustainable fundraising plan.

• Need to relocate: the Collaboration Agreement signed with CANDI secures the charity’s continued use of the space needed for the foreseeable future.

• Safeguarding: safeguarding is considered a priority and our policies and procedures reflect the importance we attach to it. Safeguarding is a standing item on the Board’s agenda and a safeguarding report is presented to the Board annually, compiled by the Safeguarding Trustee and Safeguarding Leads.

• Reputational damage - all staff and stakeholders are rigorously checked, and activities assessed according to the high standards of the charity’s reputation. Our reporting systems ensure that any issues can be quickly identified and appropriately dealt with.

14

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

17. Looking ahead

Our members are at particularly high risk from the ongoing cost-of-living crisis as a high proportion come from low-income households. Islington has one of the highest rates of child poverty in England which means a significant number of local children are growing up in households struggling to make ends meet. As our membership grows, we have noticed that a higher proportion of new members require financial support, alongside an increased core membership of young people with SEN/D. We never turn a child away on financial grounds and while our costs increase, we do not feel able to increase our subscriptions. This is reflected in our budget and fundraising plans going forward.

We have launched an ambitious 3-year strategy for 2022-25. Areas of focus include increasing our membership, establishing new specialist groups, delivering longer-term outreach projects, increasing lived experience across the organisation, building our core staff team and diversifying our income streams. The next 12 months will see a number of new initiatives – including a 20th birthday fundraising campaign, and the launch of an external training offer – to diversify our funding base, whilst continuing to seek support from philanthropic trusts, foundations and grant makers.

We look forward to another successful year at Angel Shed in 2023/24, bolstered by the creation of three new part-time roles – Volunteer & Training Manager, Membership Co-ordinator, and Outreach Co-ordinator. These roles will increase our core staff capacity to both support ongoing delivery and extend our reach to new participants and partners. It will enable us to provide more support to participants, their families, and our volunteers, to ensure that as many young people as possible are able to join Angel Shed and maximise the impact of their time with us. It will also enable us to reach out more into the community, deliver more taster activities and projects, and deliver our new training offer to local freelancers, youth and arts organisations.

18. Legal structure and governance

Angel Shed Theatre Company (“Angel Shed”) is a registered charity (registration #1111684) and the trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting for Charities.

The Trustees confirm that they have read and understood the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit. Having regard to that guidance, the Trustees consider that the purposes and activities of Angel Shed, as set out in this report, satisfy the requirements of the public benefit test as set out in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees will continue to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in determining the activities undertaken by Angel Shed.

19. Incorporation

Angel Shed is an unincorporated association, registered as a charity on 13 October 2005 and operates under its constitution dated 29 September 2005 (as amended on 29 September 2017

15

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

and 18 June 2021). The Objects of the charity are the advancement of education in the field of the performing arts including (but not limited to) drama, music and dance, for the benefit in particular but not exclusively of children and young persons who require help with mobility, communication, or other physical, mental or behavioural needs and those that come from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a view to increasing their confidence and self-esteem and helping to build a more inclusive society.

The Board has completed the process of incorporation. The new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for Angel Shed Theatre Company (#1195194) has been registered with the Charity Commission. We received approval from the Charity Commission and have transferred the assets and employees of Angel Shed to the CIO with effect from 1 September 2023. With effect from 1 September 2023, all the activities of Angel Shed are carried out in the name of the new CIO. The activities and financial position of the CIO, Angel Shed Theatre Company (registration #1195194), are fully disclosed in financial statements of that entity and are largely repeated in that report to enable a full understanding of the transfer.

Bates Wells Braithwaite generously provided the necessary legal advice on a pro-bono basis.

20. Board of Trustees

Angel Shed is managed by a Board of Trustees who meet at least six times per year. The Trustees are also the members of Angel Shed. Under the terms of the constitution, Trustees are elected for a period of three years, after which they are eligible to be re-elected by the Board. Trustees are eligible to stand for a maximum of three consecutive terms. New Trustees are provided with a full induction to the legal obligations, the charity’s finances and its policies. All Trustees are expected to complete safeguarding and child protection training and further training is provided when beneficial and desired.

The Trustees bring a range of complementary skills to the Board, including expertise in safeguarding and child protection to ensure policies and procedures are fully up-to-date, specific professional skills (finance, legal, fundraising) to ensure that Angel Shed complies with its legal and charitable requirements, trustees with a background in creative industries, as well as representation of both the children (through their parents or carers) and the volunteers.

We value working with people of different experiences, skills and backgrounds as this is how we continue to learn, grow and thrive and our recruitment process reflects our commitment to remove any potential barrier to applicants. In particular this year, we are thrilled to have appointed two trustees in the new roles of Young Trustees in recognition of our need to ensure the Board more effectively represents the lived experience of our membership.

16

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

TRUSTEES REPORT

The Trustees who held office at the date of this report are:

Paul Brocklehurst Richard Longworth Andrew Duncan (Chair) Jake Macan Anna Fox Freddy Mardlin (Treasurer) John Gaine Elizabeth Onwuka-Okoye Freya Johnson Albert Simsensohn Jardelle Johnson (Secretary) Jo Stevens Nikhil Alexander Khosla Rupert Taylor Sarah Kitteridge (Safeguarding)

During the year, Caroline Rouse resigned as Treasurer, having moved away from London. Nicky Galliers and Ashley Zhang have resigned citing work and family commitments. Furthermore, as at the date of this report, Jake Macan, Nikhil Alexander Khosla and Richard Longworth have also resigned. The Board would like to thank them all for their valuable contributions over the past years.

We welcome the appointment of Jardelle Johnson as Secretary, Freddy Mardlin as Treasurer as well as Freya Johnson and Elizabeth Onwuka-Okoye, both as Young Trustees.

Also as at the date of this report, Andrew Duncan retired as a trustee and as Chair and Sam Lansdale has been appointed as his successor.

Approved by the Trustees on 19 March 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Andrew Duncan Chair

17

ANDEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity’s trustees 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with those records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

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.

Aamer Shehzad FCA

Accountability Europe Ltd Omnibus Workspace 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP

Date: 30/04/2024

18

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

Note Income from: Charitable activities 3 Other income 4 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 5,9 Support costs 7 Total resources expended Net income/(expenditure) Fund balance brought forward Fund balance carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 32,400 17,024 49,424 (47,181) (7,739) (54,920) (2,496) 53,442 50,946	Restricted Funds £ 86,778 - 86,778 (86,880) - (86,880) (3,102) 23,189 20,087	Total 2023 £ 119,178 17,024 136,202 (134,061) (7,739) (141,800) (5,598) 76,631 71,033	Total 2022 £ 101,230 18,522
				119,752
				(112,421) (8,749)
				(121,170)
				(1,418)
				78,049
				76,631

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared. All income and expenditure relate to continuing activities.

The attached notes form part of these financial statements.

19

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 AUGUST 2023

	Note		2023		2022
		£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	9		5,174		7,226
Current assets
Cash at bank		67,330		72,912
Other debtors	10	73		182
				73,094
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year	11	(1,544)		(3,689)
Net current assets			65,859		69,405
Net assets			71,033		76,631
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds			20,087		23,189
Unrestricted funds			50,946		53,442
Total funds	12,13		71,033		76,631

Approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 19 March 2024

and signed on behalf of the Board by:

Andrew Duncan (Chair)

____ Freddy Mardlin (Treasurer)

20

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

1. Principal accounting policies

1.1. Basis of preparation

The financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: 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) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

1.2. Going concern

The ability of the charity to undertake its activities is largely dependent upon the receipt of grants, subscriptions, donations, and ticket sales from its performances. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

1.3. Accounting convention

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention.

1.4. Cashflow statement

The charity is exempted from preparing a cash flow statement due to the exemption available to charities with income less than £500,000.

1.5. Income

All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted under FRS 102.

1.6. Expenditure and liabilities

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

1.7. Funds

Restricted funds received are accounted for separately and are used for the purpose specified by the donor. Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charitable objectives of the charity.

21

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

1.8. Fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Musical equipment - 33% on cost

Office equipment - 12.5% on cost

2. Detailed comparatives for the statement of financial activities

Income from: Charitable activities Other income Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities Support costs Total resources expended Net income/(expenditure) Fund balance brought forward Fund balance carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 28,757 18,522 47,279 (46,588) (8,749) (55,337) (8,058) 61,500 53,442	Restricted Funds £ 72,473 - 72,473 (65,833) - (65,833) 6,640 16,549 23,189	Total 2022 £ 101,230 18,522
			119,752
			(112,421) (8,749)
			(121,170)
			(1,418) 78,049
			76,631

22

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

3. Income from charitable activities

Grants receivable Cripplegate Foundation BBC Children in Need Jack Petchey Foundation Islington Council - Small Change, Big Impact The John Thaw Foundation Charles S French Charitable Trust The Leathersellers’ Foundation The Cuckoo Hill Trust The Pat Newman Trust Cloudesley Foundation Morris Charitable Trust London Youth Arts Council England Backstage Trust Islington Council - Arts on Estates Arnold Clark Community Fund Three Monkies Trust Garfield Weston Foundation LHC Community Benefit Front Room Songs The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation Isledon Arts CIC Brian Murtagh Charitable Trust Islington Council – Virtual School Islington Council - Take a Step Project Mr and Mrs Smith Mount Fund Postcode Society Trust Shaftesbury Young People Trust TNL Community Fund UK Youth Grants received

Un-restricted Funds Restricted Funds Total funds 2023 2022 £ £ £ £ 1,500 6,250 7,750 8,750 250 - 250 - 1,000 3,895 4,895 13,478 - - - 5,000 - 1,000 1,000 1,000 - - - 3,000 5,000 - 5,000 5,000 - - - 1,500 2,000 - 2,000 2,000 - 6,000 6,000 - - - - 2,500 - 1,000 1,000 200 - 28,734 28,734 8,055 - - - 14,507 - - - 1,000 - - - 1,000 - - - 9,500 10,000 - 10,000 10,000 - - - 4,260 - - - 500 - - - 3,000 - - - 6,980 - 5,000 5,000 - 150 - 150 - - 3,000 3,000 - 2,500 - 2,500 - - 23,192 23,192 - - 7,285 7,285 - - 1,422 1,422 - 10,000 - 10,000 -

32,400 86,778 119,178 101,230

Grants classified as restricted funds can only be used for specific purposes and for the purpose specified by the donor.

23

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

4. Other income

Subscriptions Donations & legacies Ticket and other sales Other income	Total funds 2023 2022 £ £ 10,857 11,163 4,596 5,140 1,571 2,219
	17,024 18,522

Subscriptions are contributions received from, or on behalf of, participants in Angel Shed’s theatre workshops. Subscriptions are collected on a per-term basis, on a recommended amount as decided by the Trustees. Donations are received mainly from individuals at Angel Shed shows and community fund raising events. Ticket and other sales relate primarily to the sale of tickets to shows and Angel Shed merchandise.

Other income is considered as unrestricted funds.

During both years, the charity received donations in kind from City and Islington College for the use of theatre, office space and certain administrative costs.

5. Charitable activities

Staff costs and freelance fees Volunteer expenses Activity costs Charitable activities	Total funds 2023 2022 £ £ 115,073 103,368 3,619 3,429 15,369 5,624
	134,016 112,421

Staff costs are for Angel Shed's artistic team. Freelance fees to staff are determined on a termby-term basis. Volunteer costs include primarily the reimbursement of travel and out-of-pocket expenses for helping at rehearsals and shows. Activity costs include production costs (e.g. costumes, IT, equipment and support etc.), direct marketing expenses and other direct project expenditure.

24

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

6. Support costs

Insurance Telephone, internet and website Recruitment Depreciation Office costs Accounting and governance fees Support costs	2023 2022 £ £ 603 458 848 1,739 114 - 2,052 2,052 2,344 2,186 1,778 2,314
	7,739 8,749

Angel Shed does not incur any rent or other occupancy expenses for the use of the theatre, rehearsal rooms and office space, as this is provided free of charge by City and Islington College (2022: £nil).

7. Net income/(Expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging:

	2023	2022
	£	£
Depreciation	2,052	2,052
Independent examiner’s fee (excluding VAT)	750	750

8. Analysis of staff costs, trustees’ remuneration and expenses and costs of key management personnel

Total staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and freelance fees Social security costs Other pension costs	2023 2022 £ £ 82,241 95,826 1,464 5,010 1,797 2,532
	85,503 103,368

No member of staff received emoluments of more than £60,000 in the year or prior year.

25

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

The total employee benefits, including employer NIC and pension, of the key management personnel were £46,967 (2022: £38,556). During the year there were no redundancy payments.

The trustees of the charitable company were not paid and did not receive any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2022: £nil), neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2022: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: £nil).

The average number of part-time employees during the year was as follows:

	2023	2022
	No.	No.
Performing arts practitioners and administration	3	3

9. Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 1 September 2022 Additions At 31 August 2023 Depreciation At 1 September 2022 Charge for the year At 31 August 2023 Net book value At 31 August 2022 At 31 August 2023	Musical equipment £ 5,418 - 5,418 (3,834) (960) (4,794) 1,584 625	Office equipment £ 8,738 - 8,738 (3,096) (1,092) (4,188) 5,642 4,549	Total £ 14,156 -
			14,156
			(6,930) (2,052)
			(8,982)
			7,226
			5,174

10. Other debtors

Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors	2023 2022 £ £ 73 182
	73 182

26

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

11. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Accruals and deferred income Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	2023 2022 £ £ 1,544 3,689
	1,544 3,689

12. Movement in funds

Current year

Restricted funds Cripplegate Foundation Jack Petchey Foundation Islington Council - Small Impact, Big Change Morris Charitable Trust London Youth Arts Council England Three Monkies Trust Harold Hyam Wingate Isledon Arts CIC The John Thaw Foundation TNL Community Fund Islington Council – Take a Step Project Brian Murtagh Charitable Trust Cloudesley Foundation Shaftesbury Young People Trust Postcode Society Trust Total restricted funds Unrestricted funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Total funds	1 Sept 22 Income Expend- iture 31 Aug 23 £ £ £ £ - 6,250 (3,750) 2,500 6,389 3,895 (6,673) 3,611 2,500 - (2,500) - 2,500 - (2,500) - - 1,000 (1,000) - - 28,734 (28,734) - 5,000 - (5,000) - 3,000 - (3,000) - 3,800 - (3,800) - - 1,000 - 1,000 - 1,422 (1,422) - - 3,000 (3,000) - - 5,000 - 5,000 - 6,000 (1,667) 4,333 - 7,285 (3,642) 3,643 - 23,192 (23,192) -
	23,189 86,778 (86,880) 20,087 53,442 49,424 (51,920) 50,946
	53,442 49,424 (51,920) 50,946
	76,631 136,202 (141,800) 71,033

27

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

Movement in funds

Prior year

Restricted funds Cripplegate Foundation Jack Petchey Foundation Islington Council - Small Impact, Big Change Charles S French Charitable Trust Morris Charitable Trust London Youth Arts Council England Angle House Foundation Islington Council - Arts on Estates Three Monkies Trust Garfield Weston Foundation LHC Community Benefit Front Room Songs Harold Hyam Wingate Isledon Arts CIC Total restricted funds Unrestricted funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Total funds	1 Sept 21 Income Expend- iture 31 Aug 22 £ £ £ £ 5,000 5,000 (10,000) - - 13,478 (7,089) 6,389 2,500 5,000 (5,000) 2,500 - 3,000 (3,000) - 4,568 2,500 (4,568) 2,500 481 200 (681) - - 8,055 (8,055) - 3,000 - (3,000) - 1,000 1,000 (2,000) - - 9,500 (4,500) 5,000 - 10,000 (10,000) - - 4,260 (4,260) - - 500 (500) - - 3,000 - 3,000 - 6,980 (3,180) 3,800
	16,549 72,473 (65,833) 23,189 61,500 47,279 (55,337) 53,442
	61,500 47,279 (55,337) 53,442
	78,049 119,752 (121,170) 76,631

28

ANGEL SHED THEATRE COMPANY

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Current year

Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds Total funds Prior year Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds Total funds	Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Total 2023 £ £ £ - 20,087 20,087 5,174 45,772 50,946
	5,174 65,859 71,033
	Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Total 2022 £ £ £ - 23,189 23,189 7,226 46,216 53,442
	7,226 69,405 76,631

14. Taxation

The charitable company is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

15. Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for the year (2022: none).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties. There is no balance due to/from related parties at the end of the year.

29