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2023-03-31-accounts

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

Company number 4622154 Charity number 1116008

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Amended Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Breckman & Company Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 49 South Molton Street London W1K 5LH

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Contents

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 - 10
Independent Examiner's report 11
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 12 - 15
Balance Sheet 16
Notes to the Financial Statements 17 - 24

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Reference and Administrative Details

Constitution

The charitable company is a private company limited by guarantee registered in EW - England and Wales, company number 4622154, incorporated under the Companies Act and its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The company is a registered charity, number 1116008.

Directors and Trustees

The Directors of the Charitable Company ("the Charity") are its Trustees for the purpose of Charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees.

As set out in the Articles of Association, at every AGM, one-third of the Trustees in office must retire. A Trustee who retires by rotation is eligible for reappointment if he/she is willing to continue to act as Trustee. The Trustees to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or re-appointment. Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of Trustees are ongoing and incorporated indirectly into the regular Trustees meetings.

The Trustees during the year and since the year end, were :

Christine Ann D'Cruz (Chair) appointed 5 October 2023
Charmaine Connor appointed 19 July 2023/resigned 5 October
2023
Craig Duncan resigned 10 August 2022
Paul Ferry resigned 5 October 2023
Prof. Sandeep Ranote resigned 5 October 2023
John McLuckie resigned 5 October 2023
Peter Bulkley resigned 5 October 2023
Paul Brian Russ appointed 5 October 2023
Joseph Strickland resigned 17 October 2023

Chief executive / day to day management

Helen Medland - CEO/Artistic Director

Independent examiners

Breckman & Company Ltd, Chartered Certified Accountants, 49 South Molton Street, London W1K 5LH.

Bankers

The Co-operative Bank, P.O. Box 250, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale WN8 6WT.

Registered office and operation address

Unit 3, The Sharp Project, Thorp Road, Manchester M40 5BJ.

Name

SICK! Productions Ltd is also known as "SICK! Festival".

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The reference and administrative information on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES PURPOSE AND AIMS

The principal activity of SICK! Productions is to foster and promote the improvement, development, maintenance and advancement of artistic knowledge, understanding and appreciation by providing resources, facilities and a creative space for the education of the public in the fields of visual and performing arts and film.

The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees acknowledge the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'

ACTIVITIES

The main activities of SICK! Productions are: a biennial international festival which takes place across Greater Manchester with a focus on the communities of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown; an innovative cross-artform commissioning programme which brings artists together with local communities with lived experience, the health sector, community groups/charities and researchers; and a growing year-round programme of neighbourhood engagement and projects in Manchester.

All charitable activities are undertaken to further SICK! Productions charitable purposes for the public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE STRATEGIC PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS

SICK! Productions has made significant progress in 2022/23 towards realising its ambitions detailed in our Business Plan 2021 to 2023, including in its successful delivery of SICK Festival 2022 in May (last was October 2019) and in delivering year-round work in the community. Key highlights have been set out below.

FESTIVAL 2022

SICK! Festival 2022 took place throughout May, with activities taking place in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown, in the City Centre, at venues in South Manchester/Hulme, and across the GM Metrolink network.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

The 2022 Festival marks a major change in the way that the organisation presented the festival programme. It was significantly different from previous festivals in three key ways:

1) The majority of the programme comprised public realm projects or projects taking place in community venues, rather than focusing on presenting with major cultural institutions.

2) Around 70% of the programme was presented in the North Manchester wards of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown.

3) The majority of the festival programme was focused on commissioning work, which was created with participants and organisations from the community in which we work.

Key Facts and Figures:

98% of audiences rated their experience as "Very Good" or "Good" and 94% said that they would recommend SICK! Festival to a friend. One audience said about their experience:

"To hear such open, honest, sensitive, raw discussions being held in such a safe and instructive arena was beautiful. The artists were outstanding, the audiences were beautiful and having a singer was incredible. I will attend more events based on this experience tonight. Well done SICK! Festival".

COMMISSIONING PROGRAMME

Commissions presented as part of SICK! Festival 2022 included:

I Am:

Opened by Camilla, Queen Consort (then the Dutchess of Cornwall), I Am was a new collection of portraits by award-winning photographer Allie Crewe. It was commissioned by SICK! Festival and developed in partnership with domestic abuse charity, SafeLives. Her bold and powerful images bear witness to the lives and experiences of survivors of domestic violence from Manchester and across the UK.

Twelve images were installed as a public exhibition in St Peter's Square and across Greater Manchester's Metrolink network. Taking the project into the heart of the city, they aim to challenge the narratives around domestic abuse and the perceptions of those affected..

SICK! Cars and LOVE Letters to Moston Lane:

LOVE Letters to Moston Lane and SICK! Cars were presented at the Green, a central hub for SICK! Festival 2022 installation work, located nearby to Harpruhey Shopping Centre. The commissions were presented alongside Jimmy Cauty's MDZ Estate and the Mindgames Arcade featuring the Never, Forever, Always prototype video game.

SICK! Cars was a new project that challenged stereotypes about masculinity and looks at the pressures we put on people to "be a man". Two "vinyl-wrapped" cars were covered in amazing artwork created by artists Woodrow Phoenix, Courtney Hayles and a group of young men based in North Manchester.

LOVE Letters to Moston Lane was created by Jack Poole and members of the local community of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown who decorated the installation over the course of the festival with colourful art materials. Thousands of local people left their mark and shared their feelings about where they live, who and what they love.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

Soundpaths:

Supported by Dutch Culture, Soundpaths is an immersive sounds-walk developed with Brighter Sounds. Soundpaths takes the sounds and voices of the community and transforms them into an unforgettable atmospheric journey. The audio is accompanied by a beautiful original orchestral score and uses an audio App for phones created by musician Yonatan Collier.

Soundpaths MHC leads audiences around the vibrant streets of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown with local memories, ambient recordings and sounds from local musicians.

Soundpaths Boggart Hole captures sounds of nature and conversations with the Boggart Hole Ramblers who know and love this beautiful park.

Soundpaths was shortlisted for a 2022 Manchester Culture Award and is still available to download and experience.

YEAR-ROUND PROJECTS

SMASH: Mental Health Arts Programme

After the successful delivery of the festival in May, achieving long term funding to secure the future of the highly successful SMASH programme became the main development priority. In September 2022, we received two small grants from Big Life Group and Manchester Local Care Organisation to deliver a SMASH Explore, targeted at men struggling with their mental health and living in North Manchester. SMASH Explore uses group walking and photography blended with mental health support. The first phase of this project was delivered in October 2022 with the second due to commence in April 2023. An exhibition of participants photography is also planned for July 2023.

In December 2022, we were delighted to have been successful in our application to the Pilgrim Trust to introduce a new Women & Girls focused version of the SMASH Programme, which will run from April 2023 to March 2026 and delivered in partnership with Manchester Youth Zone

In January 2023, we achieved further funding from Manchester City Council to secure the future of the mixed SMASH Programme from April 2023 to March 2026, which will continue to be delivered in partnership by No 93 Wellbeing Centre, Harpurhey.

MENOPAUSE BUS

Funded by Pro Helvetia and developed with WildWuchs (Switzerland), Menopause Bus was an international collaboration around the themes of menopause. Two choirs of women, from Manchester and Zurich, shared their experiences and thoughts about ageing and the menopause through a WhatsApp-based pen-pal system. From this online collaborative process, songs were written by two composers and then performed by the choirs aboard an open top double decker bus. The project was presented in five locations in Manchester in October 2022: Harpurhey Shopping Centre, The Lowry, the University of Manchester and Piccadilly Gardens.

MOSTON LANE SHUTTERS PROJECT

Moston Lane is a central hub of the area with a large number of shops catering for the diverse and vibrant local community. The shutters project aims to improve the look and feel of the lane after shops have closed. In December 2022, the first shutter, by artist Hammo and funded by Winning Hearts & Minds/Manchester Active, was unveiled. The shutter artwork was informed by research into local history and heritage. In March 2023, we learnt that we had been successful in our application to the Heritage Fund to co-produce three new shutter artworks with local shop keepers and young people.

NEIGHBOURHOOD ENGAGEMENT

In 2021, we made a 10-year commitment to the North Manchester communities of Moston, Harpurhey and Charleston. In 2022, post festival, activating deeper neighbourhood engagement in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown was the key focus of the Creative Team.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

Our Ambassadors Scheme was re-launched with a greater focus on engaging young people (18 to 30) who live and work in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown. The young people work with our team to help them understand local priorities, sensitivities and communities. Through regular meetings, the Ambassadors help shape commission and projects that are relevant, exciting and important for local people. Through their participation, young people develop agency, confidence and skills, while increasing their exposure and understanding of art and performance. The Ambassadors are currently supporting the generation of ideas for 2024 commissions.

Community partner engagement continued to grow, connecting with local service providers to support presentation and delivery, local partners includes Moston Matters, Moston Clean-Ups, No 93 Wellbeing Centre, Manchester Youth Zone, Simpson Memorial Hall, Boggart Hole Clough, Harpurhey Shopping Centre, The shopkeepers of Moston Lane, Manchester College and FC United of Manchester.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Historically, SICK! Festival's biennial model has seen restricted and unrestricted grant funding secured for a festival in the previous financial year, with expenditure against these restricted funds taking place in the following financial year. This business model has resulted in significant restricted and designated fund balances carried forward in non-festival financial years, and net expenditure in financial years where festivals take place. These fluctuations have been partly mitigated through the growth in year-round activity (such as SMASH), meaning that extensive restricted funds have been rolled forward due to greater spending for Festival 2022.

In January 2023, we were delighted to receive a conditional offer from Arts Council England to continue in the National Portfolio (Let's Create), which was confirmed in March 2023. This means that we will continue to receive vital standstill core funding that we support SICK! between 2023-26

Support from the Postcode Neighbourhood Trust has also strengthened our core funding position, enabling us to recruit a second Creative Producer who started with us in March 2023. We are grateful for the continued support of the Oglesby Charitable Trust, who provide valuable core funding.

Significant new multi-year grants from Manchester City Council and the Pilgrim Trust will provide vital funding to sustain the growing SMASH Programme throughout the new NPO period between 2023-26.

INCOME

SICK! received £254,091 over the reporting period from Arts Council England NPO funding. Other funds were secured from a number of charitable foundations from within the UK, as well as cultural funders from the EU. Our thanks go to all our funders in 2022/23, including:

Total income for the year was £390,057, of which £30,749 was restricted, and £359,308 was unrestricted.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

Total expenditure came in generally within budget, with the final out-turn of spending for the period of £372,942 of which £0 was restricted and £372,942 was unrestricted.

YEAR-END POSITION The charity finished the 2022/23 financial year with net suplus of £17,115. Funds carried forward to 2023/24 total £273,101 of which £106,816 is restricted and £166,285 is unrestricted.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The organisation has a risk management strategy which is reviewed on a regular basis, with risk management being a regular agenda item at quarterly board meetings. Board meetings also serve to establish systems and procedures to mitigate ambition at the heart of risk assessment. Consideration is given to the charity's appetite for such risks and the balance of financial and artistic risk.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The main risks and uncertainties faced by the charity in the current period are identified as (1) a shortfall in funding to deliver the artistic programme and other charitable activities; (2) the impact of the cost of living crisis on partners and funders; and (3) challenges regarding audience development relating in particular to our shift of focus towards presenting the majority of the festival in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown, areas with historically low engagement with the arts. Our risk management processes identified risks including the future financial position of external partners, safeguarding risks, attracting and retaining staff and managing staffing capacity.

RESERVES POLICY AND GOING CONCERN

The reserves policy of SICK! Productions Ltd is to hold a minimum of three months' base operating costs in cash at the bank, currently calculated to be £70,000 in the 2022/23 budget. This is deemed sufficient to meet all liabilities in the event of SICK! Productions Ltd ceasing to operate as a going concern (current unrestricted reserves is £166,285 which incorporates £70,000 reserves plus the remaining £106,816 which is allocated towards festival delivery).

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

SICK! Productions is in the process of writing its 2023-26 Business Plan which is informed and closely aligned to our successful Arts Council England National Portfolio application. The Arts Council England's Let's Create Investment Principles are also closely aligned to our own strategic priorities. Those Arts Council England's principles of:

This work will be supported by an increased level of engagement and input from our Trustees. Through our 2023-26 Business Plan, we aim to:

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

CONNECT, forging supportive relationships in diverse communities. Working with local residents, healthcare and charities partners, we connect with communities affected by subjects we address that face socio-economic disadvantage.

CREATE powerful and engaging work by international, national and local artists, who make their work with, alongside and for local communities, people with lived experience, health workers, charities and researchers.

COMMUNICATE, sharing the experiences, knowledge and understanding generated through our engagements in ways that are powerful, thought provoking and accessible. Through our festival, year-round activity, presentations and online, we stimulate, challenge, inform and inspire large, diverse audiences.

We will achieve this be addressing the following priorities:

FESTIVAL

We will present festivals in May 2024 and 2026, which will be increasingly rooted and developed by with and for the communities of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown. The festival will continue to present innovative, high-quality work by local, national and international artists in a high-profile, cross-art form programme.

The festivals in 2022 had more presentations in the public realm than previous years, which was partial due to the disruption to arts venues by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, we will continue to present work in the public realm but will also reinitiate venue-based work, however we will aim to support and build capacity in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown based venues including North West Theatre Arts, The Miners Community Arts & Music and Simpson Memorial Hall. Some presentations within city centre cultural venues will still occur. Through the festival programme we will collaborate with non-arts partners from healthcare, the charities sector and academia, which will remain fundamental to the delivery of the programme.

We will present a highly diverse programme in 2024 with at least 50% of presented artists representing protected characteristics or lower socio-economic backgrounds. The programme will be developed with, and designed to engage the diverse communities of Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown, taking into account the demographics and cultural habits of people living in these areas.

Additionally, the long-term vision of the festival's growth, development and plans for international showcasing and commissioning will be defined and developed during this year for 2024 and beyond.

- COMMISSIONING PROGRAMME

Over the next period we will deliver newly commissioned projects in three areas:

INTERNATIONAL

Every two years we will deliver 2-3 ambitious (public realm, performance, digital) projects by artists of international calibre and profile with significant potential for national and international legacy, extending the reach and recognition of our work. We will invite international artists to come and engage directly with our own local communities, bringing new perspectives and, where possible, connecting with other communities internationally that share similar experiences or challenges.

Work currently in development includes Never, Forever, Always 2.0, funded by the Finnish Institute, which will take the prototype games developed for SICK! Festival 2022 by a group of young people from Finland and North Manchester into a full-length art video game.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

NATIONAL

Every two years we will deliver 2-3 Connect Commissions in collaboration with other commissioning partners in the UK. In each location the projects will engage the local community and healthcare/grassroots partners. We will provide mentoring in cross-sectoral collaboration practices for the commission recipients. Aimed at early-to-mid-career artists, these mid-scale commissions will provide opportunities for the artists to extend their networks and reach new audiences nationally as well as in Manchester.

Work currently in developed includes an untitled work by Dan Daw, who will work with young people form Manchester Youth Zone to co-produce a new work exploring what it is like to be young and disabled in Manchester. The project has so far received funding from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.

MOSTON, HARPURHEY AND CHARLESTOWN

Each 2-year cycle we will produce two major commissions responding to contexts/experiences of communities in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown, developed in collaboration with neighbourhood representatives, reflecting urgent issues these communities face. Projects will be presented in community venues and public spaces during SICK! Festival.

Work currently in development includes the SAFE commission, which will explore what makes people feel safe or unsafe in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown. The commission will be led by the Ambassador group.

CONNECTING TO OUR COMMUNITY

SICK! will continue and expand delivery of its 10-year plan to embed our work in Moston Harpurhey and Charlestown. We will bring together local people and organisations to better understand the issues affecting these areas, directly involving the community in the shaping and delivery of our activity in order to maximise social benefit. We will consult diverse and marginalised groups in an area that face economic, social and health challenges, working across boundaries to increase social cohesion.

Ambassadors Scheme: We will work with 10-15 local ambassadors, aged 18- 30, to help us better understand the diverse communities of the area. They will offer community-specific knowledge and insight, attending monthly meetings on different aspects of programming and delivery, from website and social media content to strategic planning and project development. They will work with us to deliver three community dinners per year, welcoming 30-50 members of the local community to join us for food and conversation. These will provide opportunities to share our plans with a wider cross-section of the community, an informal context to discuss matters of importance to the community and a chance to listen to the concerns and aspirations of our neighbours.

We will create a year-round programme of live and online, thematically-focused Community Conversations, exploring issues identified as most urgent in the local community. This will enable us to engage more deeply with our community around these themes, as well as generating ideas for future activity, offering a public forum for debate, and providing a space for reflection on past activities.

We will expand delivery of SMASH, our Mental Health Arts Programme that offers a range of creative and cultural experiences for people experiencing mental health problems in North Manchester developed with leading cross-artform artists with experience of mental health problems and cultural institutions in the city. With the programme now secured for 2023-26, we will seek to deepen our evaluation and model the programme with the aim of growing the programme further and sustaining it beyond 2026. We will continue to work with No.93 Wellbeing Centre and other referring organisations from health and social care.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Growing diverse audiences for our activities has been identified as a key strategic opportunity for the next few years. Over the next year we will:

" Focus on growing our audience and participant engagement in Moston, Harpurhey and Charlestown, putting audiences and communities in North Manchester at the centre of programming.

" Increase year-round engagement with audiences and participants in North Manchester.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

We will increase our work around fundraising and business development by securing further funding for Festival 2024 and 2026, enabled by a mix of community project bids, large scale trust and foundation bids. In 2023/24 there will be particular focus on achieving multi-year core funding to increase and embed our year-round activity, which will increasingly inform commissions and festival presentations. This will be supported by the development of advocacy and partnership relationships. Additionally, work will take place on producing an international development plan, exploring further partnerships, consultancy and export models.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

SICK! Productions Ltd is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, incorporated on 16 December 2002 and registered as a charity on 4 September 2006. The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the Company and is governed by its Articles of Association. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 4 to the accounts. The organisation's staffing structure for 2022/23 consisted of CEO/Artistic Director, Head of Business Development, Creative Producer, Operations Manager and Marketing Officer

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES

The Directors of the Company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, a third of the trustees retire by rotation every year and may then seek re-appointment by members at the Company's Annual General Meeting. All the trustees are also members of the Company. There are no other members. The members of the Company are keen to ensure that the needs of its beneficiaries are appropriately reflected through the diversity of the Trustee body. To enhance the potential pool of trustees, the charity has sought to identify key members with specialist experience and Board recruitment is discussed regularly at Board meeting.Trustees receive an induction pack on joining the organisation, providing: Outline of trustees' role and obligations

The main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity, including the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

An outline of the charity's financial model and the current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Trustees' Report

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Company is governed by a board of trustees, who are also the sole members of the Company. At present, the board has five members with a variety of experience relevant to the work of the charity, with an aim to increase this number to ten Trustees. Sub-groups and Board champions will also be identified and implemented within this next financial year.

Trustees regularly review the progress of the charity and its funding, as well as reviewing the risks, controls and financial management of the charity. Trustees are responsible for approving the strategy for SICK! Productions and ensuring both the public benefit delivered through its outcomes and impact and the sustainability of the charity. The trustees are responsible for the appointment of the Chief Executive/Artistic Director.

MANAGEMENT

A system of delegation is in place and day-to-day responsibility for the provision of the services rests on the Senior Management Team: CEO/Artistic Director, Head of Business Development and Creative Producer with the CEO/Artistic Director having overall responsibility for ensuring the charity delivers its objectives. This Senior Team is supported by an Operations Manager and Marketing Officer. We are also supported by one Kickstart role supporting digital communications and festival production.

SMALL COMPANY EXEMPTIONS

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 12 December 2023 and signed on its behalf by

Christine D'Cruz Chair

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of SICK! Productions Ltd

I report on the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 12 to 24.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Trustees (who are also the Directors of the Company for the purposes of Company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The Charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Having satisfied myself that the Charity is not subject to an audit under Company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

ꞏ examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

ꞏ follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

ꞏ state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review 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 any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all 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 view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

ꞏ to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and

ꞏ to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Richard Nelson FCCA Breckman & Company Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants

49 South Molton Street London W1K 5LH

12 December 2023

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
Income and endowments from:
2
Donations and legacies - page 13
329,906
-
Charitable activities:
Festival and hire income - page 13
29,402
30,749
Total
359,308
30,749
Expenditure on:
Raising funds:
Fundraising
22,800
-
Charitable activities:
Festival - page 14
350,142
-
Total
372,942
-
Net income / (expenditure)
3
)
(13,634
30,749
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
179,919
76,067
Total funds carried forward
12, 13
166,285
106,816		 2023
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
funds
funds
£
£
£
329,906
263,591
-
60,151
22,714
118,340
390,057
286,305
118,340
22,800
2,454
-
350,142
243,935
171,323
372,942
246,389
171,323
17,115
39,916
)
(52,983
255,986
140,003
129,050
273,101
179,919
76,067		 2022
Total
£
263,591
141,054
404,645
2,454
415,258
417,712
)
(13,067
269,053
255,986

The notes on pages 17 to 24 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Income from donations and legacies
Grants
Arts Council England, NPO
Oglesby Charitable Trust
The Big Life Company
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Income from charitable activities
Festival and hire income
Hire income - Jubliee Square
Box office income
Partner contributions
Other income
Project specific funding
Grants/donations
Manchester CC
Peter Sowerby Foundation
Creative & Cultural Skills
Dutch Culture
Oglesby Charitable Trust
Wildwuchs Festival
Finnish Insititute
GMCVO
Co-Op Bank
Arts Society
MCR Active/Winning Hearts & Minds		 2023
£
-
79
-
29,323
730
-
-
-
-
3,798
10,116
9,500
1,000
3,000
2,605		 £
254,091
54,000
1,500
20,315
329,906
29,402
30,749
60,151		 2022
£
20,230
-
800
1,684
14,950
21,000
6,206
17,436
35,500
-
23,248
-
-
-
-		 £
254,091
9,500
-
-
263,591
22,714
118,340
141,054

13

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Expenditure on charitable activities
Festival
Production/running costs
Production costs
Wages/salaries
Pension
Artists
Marketing/website
Support and governance costs - page 15
Unrestricted
Restricted		 2023
£
110,530
138,012
2,819
35,061
9,773
296,195
53,947
350,142
350,142
-
350,142		 2022
£
114,825
186,671
11,151
58,450
8,508
379,605
35,653
415,258
243,935
171,323
415,258

14

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Year ended 31 March 2023

Support and governance costs
Support costs
Office overheads
Rent
Premises costs
Telephone/stationery/computer
Depreciation of fixtues/fittings
Depreciation of computer equipment
Administration costs
Staff welfare
Travel/accommodation/subsistence
Entertaining
Sundries/tickets
Professional/financial - Jubilee Square
Consultancy fees
Bank charges
Discounts allowed
Governance costs
Professional/financial
Legal/accountancy/consultancy
Subscriptions/licences		 2023
£
7,864
4,280
7,733
17
48
1,684
6,443
143
3,766
13,198
-
-
7,790
981		 £
19,942
12,036
13,198
45,176
8,771
53,947		 2022
£
5,440
8,328
3,384
-
-
1,966
1,360
570
179
369
231
4,000
8,028
1,798		 £
17,152
4,075
4,600
25,827
9,826
35,653

15

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Balance Sheet 31 March 2023

Notes
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
8
Current assets:
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current
liabilities
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
12
Designated funds
Restricted funds
13
Total charity funds		 2023
£
2,658
272,650
275,308
)
(3,149		 £
942
272,159
273,101
56,990
109,295
166,285
106,816
273,101		 2022
£
1,261
288,483
289,744
)
(33,758		 £
-
255,986
255,986
161,212
-
161,212
94,774
255,986

For the year ending 31 March 2023 the Company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small Companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12 December 2023 and signed on its behalf by

Christine D ' Cruz

Trustee

The notes on pages 17 to 24 form an integral part of these financial statements.

16

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting policies

1.1. Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (issued October 2019) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Individual fixed assets costing £100 or more are capitalised at cost.

Depreciation is provided at annual rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

1.3. Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

1.5. Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

1.6. Fund accounting

Funds held by the Charity are either:

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

17

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2023

1.7. Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when:

Donations and legacies

Grants/donations are recognised in incoming resources in the year in which they are receivable, except as follows:

Donated services and facilities

Donated services or facilities are recognised as income when the Charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the Charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. On receipt, donated services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the Charity which is the amount the Charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

Investment income

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

18

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1.8. Expenditure

All expenditure is included on an accruals basis inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered and is recognised when:

Costs of raising funds

Costs incurred in attracting donations, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Festival costs - costs incurred in production and running of festivals in the year.

Support costs

The administrative and overhead costs associated with running the office from which the Company operates as well as governance costs. Support costs are wholly attributable to production costs.

Governance costs

Costs associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity.

1.9. Pensions

The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable are recognised as expenditure when due.

1.10. Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements

In determining the carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities, the charity makes assumptions of the effects of uncertain future events on those assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. The charity's estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and expectation of future events and are reviewed annually. Further information about key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation of uncertainty, are set out in the notes.

2. Incoming resources

The total incoming resources for the year have been derived from the principal activity undertaken wholly in the UK.

3. Net income/(expenditure) for the year is 2023 2022
stated after charging: £ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 65 -
Independent examiners fees:
- Independent examination 2,250 2,250
- Other services 250 -

19

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

4. Trustees' emoluments and reimbursed expenses

The Trustees received no remuneration during the year (2022 - £nil).

The aggregated amount reimbursed to Trustees during the year was £nil (2022 - £nil).

5.

Staff costs and numbers
Staff costs
Salaries and wages
Pension costs		 2023
£
158,358
2,819
161,177		 2022
£
186,410
11,151
197,561

No employee earned £60,000 or more during the year (2022 - nil).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees and the Senior Management Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £54,232 (2022 - £52,898).

Staff numbers

The average numbers of employees (including casual and part time staff) during the year was made up as follows:


Festival/programme
Administration		 2023
Number

3
2
5		 2022
Number
3
2
5

6. Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme in respect of its employees. The scheme and its assets are held by independent managers. The pension charge represents contributions due from the company and amounted to £2,819 (2022 - £11,151).

7. Corporation taxation

The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 and section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its Charitable objects.

20

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

8. Fixed assets - tangible assets

Fixtures/
Computer
fittings
equipment
£
£
Cost
1 April 2022
4,500
14,370
Additions
431
576
31 March 2023
4,931
14,946
Depreciation
1 April 2022
4,500
14,370
Charge for year
17
48
31 March 2023
4,517
14,418
Net book values
31 March 2023
414
528
31 March 2022
-
-		 Total
£
18,870
1,007
19,877
18,870
65
18,935
942
-

21

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

9.
Debtors
Trade debtors
Other debtors
10.
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Other creditors
Accruals		 2023
£
1,098
1,560
2,658
2023
£
24
3,125
3,149		 2022
£
1,098
163
1,261
2022
£
-
33,758
33,758

11. Limited by guarantee

The private limited company is registered in EW - England & Wales, is limited by guarantee, and does not have a share capital. Each Member gives a guarantee to contribute a sum, not exceeding £1, to the Company should it be wound up. At 31 March 2023 there were 5 Members.

12. Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds Brought Incoming Outgoing Transfers Carried
forward resources resources forward
£ £ £ £ £
General fund 179,919 359,308 )
(372,942		 )
(109,295		 56,990
Designated funds: - - 109,295 109,295
179,919 359,308 )
(372,942		 - 166,285

22

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

13. Restricted funds

Restricted funds Brought Incoming Carried
forward resources forward
£ £ £
Arts society - 3,000 3,000
Peter Sowerby Foundation 9,450 - 9,450
Wildwuchs x 2 17,630 3,798 21,428
Finnish Institute 28,987 10,116 39,103
GMCVO - 9,500 9,500
Co-op bank - 1,000 1,000
University of manchester - 730 730
Oglesby Charitable Trust 20,000 - 20,000
MCR Active/Winning Hearts & Minds - 2,605 2,605
76,067 30,749 106,816

Arts society

Supporting a new project working with young people around issues of violence

Peter Sowerby Foundation

Peter Sowerby Foundation funding towards the SMASH programme

Finnish Institute

Supporting the youth digital project Never, Forever, Always 2.0

GVMCO

Supporting a new inclusion commission that will co-produce a new work of dance theatre with disabled young people

Co-op Bank

Supporting a new project working with young people around issues of violence

Oglesby Charitable Trust

Funding for Commissions and Community programme.

MCR Active/Winning Hearts & Minds

Supporting us to explore local heritage as part of the Moston Lane Shutters Project.

23

DocuSign Envelope ID: 9E0098D2-4045-4AB5-ACE4-F307D3490534

SICK! Productions Ltd

(Limited by Guarantee)

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
General
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
Fund balances at 31 March 2023
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
942
-
Net current assets
165,343
106,816
166,285
106,816		 Total
£
942
272,159
273,101

15. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions requiring disclosure.

24