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← Sick! Productions Ltd

2025-03-31-accounts

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Company registration number: 4622154 Charity registration number: 1116008

SICK! Productions Ltd

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Menzies LLP One Express 1 George Leigh Street Manchester M4 5DL

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 12
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 13
Independent Examiner's Report 14
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Notes to the Financial Statements 17 to 29

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Reference and Administrative Details Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees Christine D’Cruz, Chair
Paul Russ
Emma Barnes, (appointed 10 September 2025)
Edward Berg
Rosanna Stanbury, (appointed 12 March 2025)
Patrick Carroll Fogg, (appointed 3 February 2025)
Senior Management / Leadership Tracy Gentles, Chief Executive
Team
Charity Registration Number 1116008
Company Registration Number 4622154
The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.
Registered Office Red 3
Sharp Project
Thorp Road
Manchester
M40 5BJ
Independent Examiner Menzies LLP
One Express
1 George Leigh Street
Manchester
M4 5DL
Bankers The Co-operative Bank Plc
Skelmersdale

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Objectives and activities

Objects 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. This is achieved by providing resources, facilities, and creative spaces for public education in the fields of visual and performing arts and film.

Each year, the trustees review the charity's aims, objectives, and activities. This report highlights the charity’s achievements and the outcomes of its work during the reporting period. The trustees acknowledge the success of key activities and the positive impact the charity has had on the communities it serves. This review ensures that the charity’s aims, objectives, and activities remain aligned with its stated purpose.

Public benefit

The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and planning future activities. Specifically, they consider how proposed activities will contribute to achieving the set aims and objectives.

In setting objectives for the year and planning activities, the trustees have also considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the document ‘Public Benefit: Running a Charity (PB2)’.

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Achievements and performance

Creative Programme

SICK! Festivals 2024

The 7th biennial Festival, ‘Where’s the Media Now…?” was held throughout the month of May 2024. It was delivered under the leadership of our new Artistic Director/CEO, Tracy Gentles. The whole Festival was presented in North Manchester and online, embedding our 10 year + commitment which commenced in 2021 to the communities of North Manchester. This approach has strengthened our relationships with local stakeholders and helped establish new partnerships. It has also given us the opportunity to test innovative ideas and develop new commissioning models. Feedback from the communities of Harpurhey, Charlestown and Moston have been positive, and particularly from local partners appreciating the authenticity of the collaboration. The 2024 Festival has marked a significant step towards deeper acceptance and trust in the communities..

“You just get it. You get what we're trying to do and that's why it's a great collaboration...You've given us ideas on different ways we can use the space.” - Carol Slade, Simpson Memorial Hall, SICK! Festival 2024 Venue Partner

At a Glance

Programme

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Partnerships:

Audience and participants:

Artists:

Budget;

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Festival Commissioning

Community-led and Lifting Community Voice

The 2024 Festival amplified local voices. Poor Lass and Creation Foundation, with links to the area, created live recordings and streamed podcasts from the ground by interviewing performers, participants, and audiences. Poor Lass and Creation Foundation contributed significantly to public discussion about the local area and the work presented within the Festival.

The Festival has strengthened ties with the community, and we have gained insights for future development. All collaborators aligned with our Festival’s aims, and we ensured that work from outside of North Manchester was suitable, and partners understood the opportunities and risks involved in these communities.

The Festival included several key commissions that had been co-produced with community members:

SAFE - was created by our Young Ambassadors with artists Rachel Shore and Ria Righteous. Through a series of community dinners reaching over 50 people from the local community, the Young Ambassadors held conversations on what makes people feel safe and unsafe in North Manchester. Together they created an installation that was installed at Harpurhey Shopping Centre to platform local people’s perspectives.

Mindgames IRL - was a video gaming event that launched the full-length game “Never, Forever, Always,” which was created by 4 young people from Manchester, 4 from Finland and Finnish games designer and artist Eetu Rantanen. The game explores how young people navigate their everyday mental health with the launch event presented at Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project, co-created with young people from the area.

No Us and Them - was a community co-produced dance piece between a group of adult North Manchester residents, a children’s beginners dance group, and contemporary dance outfit Company Chameleon. Created with a diverse group of local residents, the work explored themes of what keeps people apart and what brings them together. The work was performed at Harpurhey Market.

Channel/2049 - was co-created by the residents of Whitebeck Court (supported housing for the over 60s), artists Alan Dunn, Claire Nolan, Sh!t Theatre and Maria Stukoff. In Channel/2049 they imagine what Manchester in year 2049 might look like.

Four documentary style video episodes were created featuring guest academics and FC United’s Women’s Football Manager, released during the festival 2024 online viastaflive.com and on Instagram.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Themes

Themes explored in the festival emerged directly from community conversations, they included public safety, knife crime, gender, sexuality, poverty and the cost-of-living crisis, FOMO, doom scrolling, gaming and online culture, grime and drill music culture, OCD and anxiety, climate anxiety, environmental sustainability and biodiversity, ageing and dementia, fractured communities, HIV/Aids and neurodiversity.

The unifying theme that straddled all projects was mental health and how we look after it. Supporting community mental health, the festival included a series of Open Mental Health Workshops, both widening community conversations around mental health and profiling our year-round support and opportunities.

SMASH! Open presented highlights from our SMASH! social prescribing programme including artists talks and workshops. This series of activities was made available to anyone who wanted to attend and although mental health related, did not have to identify as having any problems.

For the Mandem launched our 2024-25 men’s mental health programme the North Manchester Talking Circles. Teaming up with men’s mental health support organisation Mandem Meet Up for a day highlighting men’s mental health, advocating for greater understanding and to break stigma.

Appetite Building

We see engaging in the arts as a journey and wanted to present a diverse programme with something for everyone, supporting people in building an appetite for meaningful art. Key festival events and programming strands which supported this were:

In Our Nature, a large family-friendly event held at Boggart Hole Clough, attracting over 1,500 local residents. The day was filled with activities including live mural painting, children's games, face painting, community music, youth markets, and sports events, introducing locals to art, biodiversity, and SICK! Festival.

Public realm presentations taking place in and around Harpurhey Shopping Centre, a key hub for SICK! Festival 2024 with over 150,000 visitors in May. Presentations taking place within this area included: The Launderette Sessions, by Dutch artist Merel Smitt, held at the Amazing Grace Launderette, offering intimate one-on-one performances exploring local lives.

Our programme presented at North West Theatre Arts Company in Moston, including:

Our live art programme at Simpson Memorial Hall in Moston, with a programme exploring the intersection of art, health, and community.

This included presentations of:

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Digital

Recognising the need and value of digital programming, SICK! offered online content for those unable to attend live events. Channel/2049 presented episodes on staflive.com, while podcasts from Poor Lass and Creation Foundation provided socially conscious content, reaching regional, national, and international audiences through live recorded and streamed events.

Community-led and Lifting Community Voice

The Festival provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with the community and gain insight for future development. With a focus on North Manchester, all collaborators where aligned with the festival’s aims, ensuring the work brought in from outside was suitable and partners understood both the opportunities an risk involved.

Local voices were amplified through live recordings and streamed podcast from the ground. Poor Lass and Creation Foundation interviewed performers, participants, and audience, which contributed significantly to public discussions about the area and the work presented within the Festival.

The Festival included several key commissions that had been co-produced with community members.

Other Achievements

Strategic Review

After completing the first SICK! Festival under new leadership, a comprehensive strategic review was undertaken. The review was independently led by Something to Aim For and included interviews with all staff members. The review focused on four areas:

• strategy • the shape of the organisation

• Resources • people

Leadership accepted the recommendations of the strategic review:

Business Development

International was a key fundraising priority in 2024/25, with the Artistic Director/CEO and International Development Consultant working closely together to build pan-European partnerships for our innovative new Beyond Survival and Status Labs Programmes.

Building on the 2024-26 funding commitment from long-term partners the Finnish Institute UK+IRE, in 2024/25 we achieve a 20,000 euro grant from Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture 2026 towards an exciting commissioning programme for Oulu, Finland and Manchester, UK based artists.

Further, in 2024/25 we continued to grow our Year-round Programme, achieving new funding from:

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Data Collection, Evaluation and Monitoring

For SICK! Festival 2024, we have invested in establishing new systems for collecting environmental data, audience survey data and introducing a new Counting What Count’s qualitative survey. We purchased four new tablets for use on site and provided staff with training.

38% of audience respondents identified as non-heterosexual, with 17% specifically identifying as bisexual. Around 32% of respondents identified as neurodivergent, and 22% as deaf or disabled, reflecting our success in engaging these communities. Most respondents were based in Greater Manchester (92.73%). Of these, 51% lived in the northern areas of Harpurhey, Blackley, and Moston. 87% of respondents rated their experiences as “Good” or “Very Good”.

Financial Review

Grants and Donations

Despite a challenging fundraising environment, SICK! has gained significant new grants in 2024/25 building on the support of multi-year funders.

Core income has remained stable since 2023/24 with thanks to the multi-year core support of Arts Council England National Portfolio and Oglesby Charitable Trust.

Demonstration strong strategic alignment with local authority priorities, in 2024/25 we have increased grant income from Manchester City Council by 21% to £33,075 and GMCA income by 250% to £26,378.

The organisation continued to benefit from multi-year project grants from Pilgrim Trust, Manchester City Council (Our Manchester Fund), the Finnish Institute UK+IRE, the University of Manchester, and Historic England.

New grants include:

We are hugely grateful for the support of all our funders.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Other Income

In 2024/25, we received new consultancy income, box office revenue for festival 2024 presentations while gaining donation income, showing a modest but notable increase in new funding streams.

Assets

In 2024/25, two cars used in the 2022 project and exhibition SICK! Cars were sold for £549.

Within restricted funding for the Mindgames project, the organisation purchased four laptops and software at the cost of £2,410.46 to support young people to participate in the video game design programme.

Expenditure

2024 was a biennial festival year, with significant expenditure in addition to our growing year-round programme.

The total festival spend was £213,823, including an investment of £146,498 in artists and creatives and £64,246 directly invested into North Manchester.

There was also an increase in temporary staffing costs to underpin the newness of the 2024 festival and relevantly new staff team, including bringing in two temporary/part-time Festival Assistants, a temporary/part-time Communications Assistant, Engagement Manager and freelance Production Manager and team at the cost of £77,419.

The Year-round programme expenditure has grown from £49,451 in 2023/24 to £66,302 in 2024/25 (34%).

Risk Management

Trustees review risk and mitigations as part of quarterly board meetings, with any extraordinary meetings called if necessary. Key risks identified in 2024/25 include:

Financial Stability

Inflation by 31 March 25 reduced to 2.6% from the 2023 high of 7.1%, which had demonstrably stretched budgets leading into the festival year.

The organisation has continued to diversify its portfolio of funding, gaining strong uplifts in local authority support and seeding new box office, consultancy, and donations income streams. Increasing its income by 13.4% on the previous year.

Staff Stability & Team Wellbeing

The Strategic Review in part aimed to improve the staffing structure of the SICK! team and increase its stability. Recognising the problem of burnout within the arts sector and the disruption of redundancies after the strategic review, we have increased our staff welfare budget, introduced “human check ins” into our team meet structures and continue to embed the principles of care across all aspects of operations and delivery.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Policy on reserves

SICK! Productions Ltd aims to hold a minimum of three months’ base operating costs in cash, currently set at £80,000 in the 2024/25 budget. This reserve ensures the organisation can meet its liabilities in the event of ceasing operations.

At the year-end, total funds were £71,359, of which £11,176 were restricted and £2,093 held in fixed assets, leaving £58,090 in free reserves.

Plans for future periods

In 2025/26, we will launch our 2025-30 Business Plan, with the following priorities:

Foster Global Connectivity : Establish mutual, accountable exchanges between local and international communities through frameworks like Beyond Survival and Status Lab.

Promote Community Wellbeing : Embed creative health programmes to improve mental wellbeing, such as SMASH! and Mindgames.

Reinforce Community Resilience : Strengthen local cultural infrastructure and leadership, particularly in North Manchester.

Drive Inclusive Future-Building : Support intersectional storytelling and shift dominant narratives to amplify marginalized voices.

Expand National and International Significance : Build reciprocal, community-led exchanges with international partners, ensuring collaborations are mutually beneficial and amplify local voices globally.

Key programme for 2025/26:

Beyond Survival is a new project that brings together diverse themes and goals under one cohesive vision. Offering a unique opportunity for artists, collectives, and companies to place their work at the forefront of an innovative new international commissioning consortium for intra-local co-operation, exploring socially engaged practice, healthcare, and shared local and global challenges. In 2025/26 will launch a partnership with Finnish Institute UK+IRE and Oulu2026 European City of Culture 2026.

Status Lab will feature a robust residency programme for early to mid-career artists, designed to support and empower them in their creative journeys. It will prioritise socially engaged artists committed to exploring specific topics within their work-subjects often connected to their identities and lived experiences.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Organisational Goals

Strengthen Financial Stability : Focus on securing multi-year, unrestricted funding, diversifying income sources, and expanding reserves to ensure sustainable growth.

Enhance Governance and Capacity: Strengthen systems, governance, and team capacity to support the delivery of the plan.

Embed Ethical Practices : Ensure all projects are collaborative, centered on lived experiences, transparent, equitable, and guided by principles of relevance, solidarity, and intersectionality.

Measure and Adapt Impact : Continuously evaluate and adapt programmes to ensure they foster fairer, healthier futures and achieve systemic change.

These priorities aim to position SICK! as a national centre of excellence in creative health practice and an international leader in ethical, participatory arts by 2030.

Structure, governance and management

In January 2024, Tracy Gentles was appointed as Artistic Director/CEO with the 2024 Festival being the first under her leadership.

The trustees appoint the Artistic Director/CEO to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation. The Artistic Director/CEO is supported by the Executive Director, forming the Leadership Team.

The Board of Trustees administers the charity. They meet at least four times a year, with additional extraordinary meetings scheduled if held as required.

Changes in Board and Governance

Board Development was a priority in 2024/25, with a focus on diversifying the board and ensuring skills and expertise reflect the requirements of the changing organisation under new leadership. In this financial year, Patrick Carroll-Fogg, an employment and HR specialist, was appointed as trustee on 3 February 2025 and Rosie Stanbury, a Creative Consultant and Coach, was appointed as trustee 12 March 2025.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees are recruited to reflect the diversity and needs of our beneficiaries. Regular Board discussions address recruitment, with members receiving an induction covering their roles, financial responsibilities, and operational frameworks.

Organisational structure

SICK! Productions Ltd is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, established in 2002 and registered as a charity in 2006. The Board of Trustees governs the organisation, reviewing strategy, risks, and financial management.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Staff Team

The Strategic Review resulted in significant changes to the organisations team, unfortunately resulting in the Creative Producer (Commissioning) and Communications Manager roles made redundant in October 2024.

In February 2024, the Head of Business Development was promoted to the role of Executive Director. Also in February, a new temporary Administrative Producer was recruited to support the operations function to underpin the transition.

As of 31 March 2025, the staff team consists of: Artistic Director/CEO, Executive Director, Creative Producer, General Manager, Engagement Manager (part-time/temporary) and Administrative Producer (part-time/temporary).

Independent Examiners

The trustees review the appointment of the Independent Examiners annually. In the 10 September 2025 board meeting, a resolution was proposed and agreed to appoint Beever Struthers as Independent Examiners, with responsibility including to prepare the end of year financial statement 2024/25. In October 2025, Beever Struthers completed its merger with Menzies LPP.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of SICK! Productions Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Trustees' Report

Small companies provision statement This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:17/12/25

......................................... 5E8AF381A10F42B... Christine D’Cruz Chair, Trustee

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of SICK! Productions Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:17/12/25

......................................... 5E8AF381A10F42B... Christine D’Cruz Chair, Trustee

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of SICK! Productions Ltd ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of , which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of SICK! Productions Ltd as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

[Pins] ...................................... |[Kulu] SignedE98C1DCEF2244B6... by: Helen Binns FCA Menzies LLP One Express 1 George Leigh Street Manchester M4 5DL

17-Dec-2025 Date:.............................

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net expenditure
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
16		 Unrestricted
funds
£
269,091
8,659
277,750
(23,850)
(356,397)
(380,247)
(102,497)
1,050
(101,447)
161,631
60,184		 Restricted
funds
£
-
143,609
143,609
-
(199,725)
(199,725)
(56,116)
(1,050)
(57,166)
68,342
11,176		 Total
2025
£
269,091
152,268
421,359
(23,850)
(556,122)
(579,972)
(158,613)
-
(158,613)
229,973
71,360		 Total
2024
£
264,093
107,316
371,409
(23,850)
(390,687)
(414,537)
(43,128)
-
(43,128)
273,101
229,973

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 16.

The notes on pages 17 to 29 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 15

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SICK! Productions Ltd

(Registration number: 4622154) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

2025 2024
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 12 2,093 688
Current assets
Debtors 13 18,398 1,200
Cash at bank and in hand 72,830 240,918
91,228 242,118
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 14 (21,961) (12,833)
Net current assets 69,267 229,285
Net assets 71,360 229,973
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds 16 11,177 68,342
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds 60,183 161,631
Total funds 16 71,360 229,973

For the financial year ending 31 March 2025 the charity 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 special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 15 to 29 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on .................... and signed on their behalf by:17/12/25

......................................... 5E8AF381A10F42B... Christine D’Cruz Chair, Trustee

The notes on pages 17 to 29 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 16

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SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 Charity status

The charity is limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales, and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

The address of its registered office is: Red 3 Sharp Project Thorp Road Manchester M40 5BJ

2 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

SICK! Productions Ltd 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.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Income and endowments

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

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Page 17

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.

Raising funds

These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Support costs

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Page 18

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £100.00 or more are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate
Fixtures / fittings 25% straight line
Computer equipment 25% straight line

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Foreign exchange

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside for specific purposes at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

Page 19

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Pensions and other post retirement obligations

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

Financial instruments

Classification

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.

3 Income from donations and legacies

Grants, including capital grants;
Grants from other charities		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
269,091
269,091		 Total
2025
£
269,091
269,091		 Total
2024
£
264,093
264,093

4 Income from charitable activities

Box office income
Other festival and hire income
Project specific funding		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
3,281
5,378
-
8,659		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
143,609
143,609		 Total
2025
£
3,281
5,378
143,609
152,268		 Total
2024
£
-
-
107,316
107,316

Page 20

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

5 Expenditure on raising funds

Staff Costs
6
Expenditure on charitable activities
Production costs
Artists
Marketing / website
International development
Depreciation, amortisation and other similar costs
Staff costs
Allocated support costs
Governance costs		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
23,850
Note
7
7		 Total
2025
£
23,850
Total
2025
£
60,900
119,500
15,934
40,922
492
239,944
68,084
10,346
556,122		 Total
2024
£
23,850
Total
2024
£
24,101
46,649
100
-
254
236,420
75,239
7,924
390,687

Included in the expenditure above is £199,725 (2024: £145,790) relating to restricted funds.

Page 21

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

7 Analysis of governance and support costs

Charitable activities expenditure

Rent, rates, utilities
Telephone & broadband
IT / office equipment
Subscriptions
Insurance
Travel & expenses
Staff welfare
Marketing
Bank charges
Consultancy
Sundries
Governance costs
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Other fees paid to examiners
Legal fees
Other governance costs		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
12,551
1,465
2,904
4,011
2,200
21,192
3,880
7,025
27
7,250
5,580
68,085
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,500
1,500
3,274
4,072
10,346		 Total
2025
£
12,551
1,465
2,904
4,011
2,200
21,192
3,880
7,025
27
7,250
5,580
68,085
Total
2025
£
1,500
1,500
3,274
4,072
10,346		 Total
2024
£
12,686
1,617
-
3,627
1,555
8,086
3,316
9,426
1
27,098
7,827
75,239
Total
2024
£
2,250
900
4,774
-
7,924

8 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.

Page 22

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

9 Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:

Staff costs during the year were:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2025
£
231,757
27,331
4,706
263,794		 2024
£
247,481
-
12,789
260,270

The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:

Festival / Programme
Administration		 2025
No
5
2
7		 2024
No
3
2
5

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £56,320 (2024 - £54,232).

10 Independent examiner's remuneration

Examination of the financial statements
Other fees to examiners
All other services		 2025
£
1,500
1,500		 2024
£
2,250
900

11 Taxation

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

Page 23

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

12 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
13 Debtors
Trade debtors
14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals		 Furniture and
equipment
£
5,076
-
5,076
4,500
-
4,500
576
576		 Furniture and
equipment
£
5,076
-
5,076
4,500
-
4,500
576
576		 Computer
equipment
£
14,802
1,895		 Total
£
19,878
1,895
21,773
19,189
491
19,680
2,093
689
2024
£
1,200
5,076 16,697
4,500
-		 14,689
491
4,500 15,180
576 1,517
576 113
2025
£
18,398
2025
£
6,894
9,727
2,340
3,000
21,961
2024
£
9,684
-
24
3,125
12,833

15 Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £4,706 (2024 - £12,789).

Page 24

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

16 Funds

Unrestricted funds
General
General fund
Designated
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Greater Manchester Integrated Care
University of Manchester (Creative
Health)
Three Monkies Trust
David Family Foundation
Manchester City Council
Granada Foundation
Unlimited
Manchester City Council NIF
Pilgrim Trust
GM High Sheriff Police Trust
GMCA Violence Reduction Unit
Historic England
University of Manchester (Creative
Track)
Manchester City Council - Culture
Team (Ambassadors)
Manchester City Council OMVCS -
SMASH
GMCA - Shared Prosperity
Manchester City Council OMVCS -
Mandem Meetup
Oulu2026
Finnish Institute
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
at 1 April
2024
£
86,631
75,000
161,631
4,500
1,050
2,500
1,000
2,000
2,000
3,500
7,415
24,877
1,000
7,500
6,000
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
68,342
229,973		 Incoming
resources
£
277,750
-
277,750
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
30,400
-
-
12,000
5,000
5,000
20,000
26,378
8,075
16,074
20,682
143,609
421,359		 Resources
expended
£
(380,247)
-
(380,247)
(4,500)
-
(2,500)
(1,000)
(2,000)
(2,000)
(3,500)
(7,415)
(51,401)
(1,000)
(7,500)
(18,000)
(5,000)
(5,000)
(19,382)
(26,378)
(8,075)
(16,074)
(19,000)
(199,725)
(579,972)		 Transfers
£
76,050
(75,000)
1,050
-
(1,050)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,050)
-		 Balance at
31 March
2025
£
60,184
-
60,184
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,876
-
-
-
5,000
-
618
-
-
-
1,682
11,176
71,360

Page 25

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Unrestricted funds
General
General fund
Designated
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted
Arts Society
Peter Sowerby Foundation
Wikdwuch Festival
Finnish Institute
Greater Manchester Integrated Care
Co-operative Bank
University of Manchester
Oglesby Charitable Trust
MCR Active/Winning Hearts & Minds
Manchester City Council NIF
University of Manchester (Creative
Health)
Three Monkies Trust
David Family Foundation
Manchester City Council
Granada Foundation
Unlimited
Manchester City Council NIF
Big Life Group
Pilgrim Trust
Manchester City Council OM Fund
GM High Sheriff Police Trust
GMCA Violence Reduction Unit
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Historic England
University of Manchester (Creative
Track)
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 Balance
at 1 April
2023
£
56,990
109,295
166,285
3,000
9,450
21,428
39,103
9,500
1,000
730
20,000
2,605
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
106,816
273,101		 Incoming
resources
£
264,093
-
264,093
-
-
-
-
4,500
-
-
-
-
2,250
1,050
2,500
1,000
2,000
2,000
3,500
7,415
1,500
30,126
20,000
1,000
7,500
9,975
6,000
5,000
107,316
371,409		 Resources
expended
£
(268,747)
-
(268,747)
(3,000)
(9,450)
(21,428)
(39,103)
(9,500)
(1,000)
(730)
(20,000)
(2,605)
(2,250)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,500)
(5,249)
(20,000)
-
-
(9,975)
-
-
(145,790)
(414,537)		 Transfers
£
34,295
(34,295)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£
86,631
75,000
161,631
-
-
-
-
4,500
-
-
-
-
-
1,050
2,500
1,000
2,000
2,000
3,500
7,415
-
24,877
-
1,000
7,500
-
6,000
5,000
68,342
229,973

Page 26

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership

Supporting the development of a creative workshop series aimed at disabled participants in North Manchester.

University of Manchester (Creative Health)

Supporting SICK!'s core team to feed into the development of Greater Manchester's Creative Health strategy.

Three Monkies Trust

Supporting the development of a creative workshop led by leading disabled artists Dan Daw aimed at young disabled participants in North Manchester.

David Family Foundation

Supporting the development of a creative workshop led by leading disabled artists Dan Daw aimed at young disabled participants in North Manchester.

Manchester City Council

Supporting the creation of No Us And Them, a new artwork created by Company Chameleon and North Manchester residents, for presentation at SICK! Festival 2024.

Granada Foundation

Supporting the creation of No Us And Them, a new artwork created by Company Chameleon and North Manchester residents, for presentation at SICK! Festival 2024.

Unlimited

Supporting the presentation of Vijay Patel's Brotherly, Otherly, Disorderly, as part of SICK! Festival 2024.

Manchester City Council NIF

Supporting the In Our Nature event at Boggart Hole Clough, presented as part of SICK! Festival 2024.

Pilgrim Trust

Supporting the development and delivery of the SMASH (Women & Girls), mental health arts programme in North Manchester.

GM High Sheriff Police Trust

Supporting the creation of the SAFE installation, presented as part of SICK! Festival 2024.

GMCA Violence Reduction Unit

Supporting the creation of the SAFE installation, presented as part of SICK! Festival 2024.

Historic England

Supporting the development of the shared heritage murals project in North Manchester.

University of Manchester (Creative Track)

Supporting final year degree student to participate in a paid creative media internship at SICK!

Manchester City Council OMVCS - SMASH

Towards SMASH the arts-based social prescribing programme.

Oulu2025

International Time Travel - a programme intersecting with ILME’s ‘Travel Agency.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Finnish Institute - Long term development partnership

Long term development collaboration.

17 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets		 Unrestricted
funds
General
£
766
81,379
(21,961)
60,184
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
688
173,776
(12,833)
161,631		 Restricted
funds
£
1,327
9,849
-
11,176
Restricted
funds
£
-
68,342
-
68,342		 Total funds at
31 March
2025
£
2,093
91,228
(21,961)
71,360
Total funds at
31 March
2024
£
688
242,118
(12,833)
229,973

18 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

Page 28

Docusign Envelope ID: 58FEDECD-3751-40EE-8852-F4E9BD811924Docusign Envelope ID: 22F8472F-E3C4-421F-961F-75605DA95383

SICK! Productions Ltd

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

19 Prior year Statement of Financial Activities

19 Prior year Statement of Financial Activities
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net expenditure
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
16		 Unrestricted
funds
£
264,093
-
264,093
(23,850)
(244,897)
(268,747)
(4,654)
(4,654)
166,285
161,631		 Restricted
funds
£
-
107,316
107,316
-
(145,790)
(145,790)
(38,474)
(38,474)
106,816
68,342		 Total
2024
£
264,093
107,316
371,409
(23,850)
(390,687)
(414,537)
(43,128)
(43,128)
273,101
229,973

Page 29