Company Number 06382865 Charity Number 1123009 

Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust 

Report and Accounts 

31 March 2024 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Report and Accounts Contents** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|1 to 8|
|Accountants' report|8|
|Statement of Financial Activities|9|
|Balance Sheet|10|
|Notes to the Accounts|11 to 18|





## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual Trustees Report together with the accounts for the Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust ("Darbar" or "charity") for the year ending 31 March 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors' report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. 

The accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting 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) (effective 1 January 2015). 

## **Company details** 

Registration : Company Number 06382865 Charity Number 1123009 Governing document : Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust is a company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended on 19 February 2008. Registered office : LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester, East Midlands LE1 1RE. Commencement : The company was incorporated on 26 September 2007, registered as a charity on 29 February 2008 and commenced its activities on 1 January 2009. Bankers : HSBC Bank, 25 Clumber Street, Nottingham NG1 3GA Independent Examiner : Martin Gatehouse BA(Hons) ACA Computant Limited The Stables Old Vicarage, Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, North Devon EX32 0PH Directors and Trustees : Sandeep Virdee OBE : Nishant Bhaskar (Co-Chairs) : Harmeet Virdee (Co-Chairs) Trustees : Gillian Newson (Safeguaring Lead) : Hasan Bakshi : Sabin Kindel (appointed 12-Sep-23) Secretary : Simrat Lall 

1 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

## **Objectives** 

The objects of the charity, as set out in its governing document, are to advance the education of the public in South Asian music and other aspects of South Asian arts, culture and heritage through public performances and training and to relieve sickness and; to preserve and protect health among people by promoting music and other art forms as therapy. 

## Vision 

To grow audiences and engagement and widen access to world-class Indian classical music through innovation in curation, presentation, and audience development in live festivals and events, music education, streaming, social media, and television. 

## Mission 

To capacity-build, upscale and invest in Darbar’s operations, maximising audience growth and engagement, generating new revenues and building future sustainability. 

Darbar’s uniqueness stems from its position as the premier UK organisation focused on developing, supporting and growing Indian music throughout the UK through three different, but complementary, areas of work outlined below. Through its work to date, Darbar has built extensive expertise in delivering live and digital productions alongside impactful education programmes and has developed large, passionate audiences for Indian classical music nationwide. 

- l Live - producing world class live events and experiences that showcase the best in Indian classical music across the UK. These events engage diverse audiences and showcase the variety of Indian performance, with regular productions including an annual festival of classical Indian music in prestigious London venues such as the Barbican Centre; nationwide concerts and our Culture Festival to showcase emerging artists from urban, contemporary and classical genres. 

- l Education - introducing a new generation of children to the joys of Indian classical music through the provision of Indian music education in primary schools. Darbar‘s Music Academy provides a platform for students of Indian classical music to be taught by world class teachers, which, over time will help create a new generation of musicians. We run an Indian classical music appreciation course ahead of our annual festival to help de-mystify the genre. 

- l Digital_Content - engaging new and diverse audiences, whilst expanding the reach, for Indian music at scale through innovative digital platforms. This includes a unique partnership with Sky Arts to develop TV programmes that showcase the quality and variety of Indian classical music; and our Darbar Player app, a subscription streaming service to full length concerts, interviews and educational courses. 

2 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

## **Highlights of activity 2023/24** 

## Live 

Between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024, Darbar curated a total of 46 live events with an audience of 16,756. Of these: 

- l 19 were part of Darbar Festival 2023. 

- l 9 events took place in Leicester (3 as part of the Culture Festival). 

- l 11 were hosted at St Martin-in-the-Fields (including 3 candlelit concerts). 

- l 2 were part of the South Asian Sounds Festival at the Southbank Centre. 

- l 2 were other events at the Barbican. l 3 were additional partnership events. 

Over the year, we supported 126 artists: 61 from India, 61 from the UK, and 4 from other countries. 

To support UK-based musicians, we significantly increased the number of concerts, providing financial support and visibility through Darbar’s marketing and high-quality performance videos. These videos reach over 160 countries and serve as marketing assets for musicians to secure future concerts. We continue to support young, emerging talent alongside global masters and legends of Indian classical music. A notable achievement was the increased number of musicians performing at the Barbican Hall, a space traditionally reserved for artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar, and Zakir Hussain. 

We also actively supported female artists. Over the year, we supported 32 female artists and 148 male artists. Women headlined 44% of Darbar Festival events, exceeding our goal of 30% for headlining performances. However, in the UK, the pool of female musicians is limited, and we were able to programme only 15% women. Our Sky Arts television programmes also focused on women this year, producing two episodes: Women in Music and Women in Dance – _Dance Rebel_ . 

To make Indian classical music more accessible, we increased free foyer events at the festival and hosted a free event in Leicester as part of Leicester Mela, attracting 2,400 attendees. We also provided free tickets to 137 Leicester audience members with limited access to cultural events. 

**Darbar Festival** - over the last 18 years, Darbar has become a global platform for emerging artists and more established artists alike. This year’s Darbar Festival included 25% emerging talent, including young artists who were curated directly from social media platforms, i.e. YouTube and Facebook. Since performing at Darbar Festival, they have consequently been invited to perform at major festivals in India. Without the Darbar platform, this could not have been possible. As such, Darbar is helping create the next generation of artists by supporting their musical careers. 

**Darbar Culture Festival** - Darbar Culture Festival, formerly the Darbar Fringe Festival, continued at The Curve in Leicester with three concerts. One of these featured our Residency performance, where four artists from different musical backgrounds collaborated to create a new piece, offering a space for experimentation and development. 

**Leicester Audience Development Plan** – This year, Darbar returned to Leicester with more regular programming of Indian classical music concerts, leveraging world-class artists who performed in London to bring high-quality performances to Leicester audiences. 

3 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

**Partnership Concerts** - as part of our work to ensure world class Indian arts reaches a wider community, we undertook a range of live events with local partners including lunchtime wellbeing concert series (8 concerts) with St Martin in the Fields in London, 2 Tamil community concerts in association with Hartley College Past Pupils’ Association-UK, we were part of a UK India Reception at 10 Downing street, we curated 2 concerts as part of South Asian Sounds festival at Sound Bank Centre and we delivered an additional 2 events at the Barbican. 

## Education 

The Darbar Academy (DA) carries forward the teaching legacy of Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee who taught thousands of students the tabla. He started in East Africa during the 1970s, before moving to London and Leicester in the UK. 

## **Darbar Academy (Live)** 

Launched in June 2021, DA Live offers high-quality online group classes via Zoom at affordable prices. Now in its third year, the Academy has helped hundreds of students learn vocal and sitar music through three courses led by Roopa Panesar and Indrani Mukherjee. 

This year, we delivered: 

- l _Level Up Your Singing_ (65 students, taught by Indrani Mukherjee). 

- l _Learn to Sing for Absolute Beginners_ (67 students, taught by Indrani Mukherjee). 

- l _Learn to Play Sitar_ (71 students, taught by Roopa Panesar). l A five-day _Harmonium Challenge_ for Absolute Beginners (70 participants). 

We also held our first physical sitar workshop with Roopa Panesar for 10 dedicated students in Leicester. 

**Darbar Academy courses for schools** - In 2023, we developed our first school programme, _Learn Indian Music on Your Keyboard_ , enabling children to play Indian classical-inspired pieces on any instrument. In its first year, the course reached 57 schools, spanning primary, secondary, and special needs institutions. 

## Digital 

**Sky Arts TV programme production** - We produced two 60-minute free-to-air programmes, broadcast on 4th and 11th December 2023: 

- l _Dance Rebel (Women in Dance)_ featuring Aditi Mangaldas (Kathak). Women in Music featuring Anupama Bhagwat (Sitar), Ranjani and Gayatri Sisters (Carnatic vocal), 

- l and Jyoti Hegde (Rudra Veena). 

**Darbar Player subscription app** - This year, we added 23 Director’s Cuts (full concerts) to Darbar Player, bringing our total video library to over 600. Subscriber numbers reached 622 by year-end. Kaushiki Chakraborty’s Bhimpalasi remains the most-viewed video, with 6,948 views. Of the 10 mostviewed videos, 5 feature women artists. 

**Darbar YouTube channel** - Our YouTube channel achieved 13.7 million views this year, with 79 new videos added and 44,210 new subscribers gained. 

4 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

## **Financial review** 

Total income for the year amounted to £983,176, an increase of £350,202 on the previous year, mainly due to an increase in ACE funding and ticket sales from live events. Total expenditure (before depreciation) amounted to £872,753 (2023: £538,637) mainly due to increased expenditure on charitable activities including employment costs. 

Principal funding sources are the Arts Council of England and other grants, donations, ticket sales from live events and income derived from the production of videos and digital content. 

## **Governance** 

Darbar is governed by a Board of Trustees, each appointed initially for a term of four years, renewable for another four years. The Board meets at least four times a year to consider the affairs of the charity. The Board delegates day-to-day responsibility for the affairs of the charity in the person of the Artistic Director and staff team. They provide the board with quarterly reports on the performance of the charity. 

## **Structure and management** 

We have a small, dedicated team of staff, volunteers and freelancers that support our work. In 202324 Darbar had 11 full-time staff, of whom 92% identified as Asian and 55% identified as female. 

## **Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees** 

Additional Trustees are appointed on the basis of a board skills audit and through a combination of trustee networks and recommendation from within the sector as well as public advertisements. On appointment, each Trustee observes two Trustee meetings before they are confirmed and receives an induction by the Trustees, the Governance Officer and key staff. 

## **Remuneration policy for key management personnel** 

The remuneration of all staff is reviewed annually. The Trustees review the remuneration of key management personnel, and draw on their knowledge of the sector, the formal appraisal process, and common practice in other charities of similar size, to ensure that the remuneration set is fair and not out of line with that generally paid for similar roles. 

## **Related party relationships** 

The charity has considered the disclosure requirements of the SORP for related party relationships. Sandeep Virdee, a Trustee, is also the Artistic Director of the charity. His appointment and remuneration have been agreed by other Trustees and comply with the charity’s constitution and Charity Commission requirements. 

The charity has no other related party connections with individuals or other organisations. The Trustees consider that the members of the Board of Trustees and their close connections to be the only related parties of the charity. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity of any kind.  No expenses were claimed from the charity by any Trustees in the reporting year. 

Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Chair of Trustees and to withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises. A conflict-of-interest register is maintained by the board to have oversight on this. 

5 



**Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

## **Risk management** 

The trustees note their duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. A risk register is maintained which Trustees review every Board Meeting. Trustees use a traffic light system to review and monitor risks and mitigation strategies are updated regularly. 

## **Reserves policy** 

The policy of the Trustees is to make investments and maintain such reserves as will ensure the long term viability of the charity and enable it to fulfil its objects for the foreseeable future. Trustees consider it reasonable to maintain three months overhead costs as reserves which are estimated to be approximately £80,000. 

General reserves, which are also unrestricted funds available to the charity that are not tied up in fixed assets, at the year-end stood at £378,148 (2023: £282,484), which exceeds this level. Additionally, designated funds representing next book value of project equipment, which form part of unrestricted funds stood at £32,705 (2023: £31,749) at the year end. Unrestricted reserves are available, at the discretion of the Trustees, to further the general objects of the charity. 

## **Going concern** 

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies. 

## **Statement of Trustee responsibilities** 

The charity Trustees, some who are also the directors under company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

Company law requires the charity's Trustees to prepare accounts for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing the accounts, the Trustees are required to: 

- l select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- l observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; 

- l make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- l state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

- l prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence 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 on the charitable company’s website and filed with the Charity Commission. 

6 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Trustees' Report** 

Including Directors' Report under Companies Act 2006 

## **Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiner** 

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our Trustees’ annual report; 

- l there is no relevant information needed by the independent examiner in connection with preparing their report, of which they are unaware, and 

- l The Trustees have each taken all necessary steps in preparing their report and accounts to become aware of any relevant information, and to ensure that the independent examiner is aware of that information. 

## **Small company provisions** 

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. 

This report was approved by the board of Trustees on 30 December 2024 and signed on its behalf. 

Sandeep Virdee Trustee and Director 

7 



## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the unaudited accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 9 to 18. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the Charity 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 Charities Act 2011 ("the 2011 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 company'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 a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW), 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 that in any material respect: 

- l the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 

- l the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- l the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

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

Martin Gatehouse BA(Hons) ACA 

Computant Limited 

The Stables Old Vicarage, Barnstaple Hill, Swimbridge, North Devon EX32 0PH 

30 December 2024 

8 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust** 

**Statement of Financial Activities** (incorporating Income and Expenditure Account) **for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**Notes**<br>**Income**<br>Grants, donations and legacies<br>3<br>Charitable activities<br>4<br>Trading and other activities<br>Interest receivable<br>**Total income**<br>**Expenditure**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities<br>5<br>Other<br>6<br>Interest payable<br>**Total expenditure**<br>Gain/(loss) on revaluation and disposal of investments<br>**Net income**<br>Net movement in funds<br>**Reconciliation of funds**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**2024**<br>**£**<br>Unrestricted<br>520,703<br>451,184<br>5,756<br>5,533<br>983,176<br>(4,120)<br>(579,330)<br>(278,555)<br>(25,507)<br>(887,512)<br>-<br>95,664<br>95,664<br>282,484<br>**378,148**|**2023**<br>**£**<br>Unrestricted<br>314,553<br>316,968<br>1,292<br>161|
|---|---|---|
|||632,974|
|||(2,245)<br>(377,009)<br>(169,603)<br>-|
|||(548,857)|
|||(5,807)|
|||78,310|
|||78,310<br>204,174|
|||**282,484**|



The notes form an integral part of these accounts. 

9 



**Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Registered number:** 06382865 **Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024** 

||**Notes**||**2024**||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**£**||**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Tangible assets|10||650,869||21,358|
||||650,869||21,358|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Debtors|11|35,106||22,220||
|Cash at bank and in hand||307,345||304,658||
|||342,451||326,878||
|**Creditors: amounts falling due**||||||
|**within one year**|12|(133,295)||(28,174)||
|**Net current assets**|||209,156||298,704|
|**Total assets less current**||||||
|**liabilities**|||860,025||320,062|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due**||||||
|**after more than one year**|13||(481,877)||(37,578)|
|**Net assets**|||378,148||282,484|
|**The funds of the Charity**||||||
|Unrestricted income funds:|16|||||
|General funds|||345,443||250,735|
|Designated funds|||32,705||31,749|
|**Total Charity funds**|||378,148||282,484|



The directors are satisfied that the charitable company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under the Charites Act 2011 and under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. 

The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 

The notes form an integral part of these accounts. 

Sandeep Virdee Director Approved by the board on 30 December 2024 

10 



**Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## _**Company information**_ 

Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England with registration number 06382865. Its registered office address is LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester, East Midlands LE1 1RE. 

In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. 

## _**Basis of preparation**_ 

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 issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. 

## _**Public benefit entity**_ 

The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. 

## _**Going concern**_ 

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern and therefore the accounts are prepared on this basis. 

## _**Income**_ 

Income, including from Government and other grants, whether 'capital' or 'income', is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. 

Income for programmes spanning two or more accounting periods is allocated over the period to which it relates in order to more accurately recognise the performance conditions associated with this income. Income received in advance of delivery of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition is met. 

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable. 

## _**Fund accounting**_ 

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for particular purposes. 

11 



**Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## _**Expenditure**_ 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 

Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charitable company in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose. Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of offering fellowships and delivering related services undertaken to further the purposes of the Charity and their associated support costs.  Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading. 

## _**Allocation of support costs**_ 

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity (support costs), comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned as an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity in the period. 

Governance costs, which are considered a category of support costs, are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the Charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the Charity’s activities. 

## _**Tangible fixed assets**_ 

Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. A designated fund has been set up during the year for equipment purchased from specific project funds. Such items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000. The cost price of the equipment capitalised is charged to the project by way of transfer to designated funds. The balance on this designated funds at the year end represents net book value of project equipment capitalised. 

Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land and buildings, are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows: 

Equipment : over 4 years 

## _**Investments**_ 

Investments included in net current assets are included at cost and then revalued at each year to include at fair value. The gain or loss on revaluation is included in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## _**Debtors**_ 

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. 

12 



**Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## _**Creditors**_ 

Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method. 

## _**Cash at bank and in hand**_ 

Cash at bank and cash 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. Cash balances exclude any funds held on behalf of service users. 

## _**Taxation**_ 

No provision for taxations is required as 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. 

## _**Pensions**_ 

The Charity contributes towards the employees' personal pension schemes. The cost of the contribution is charged to the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis. 

## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements** 

In the application of the accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods. 

|**3**<br>**Income from grants and donations**<br>Unrestricted income:<br>Arts Council England<br>Grants<br>Other donations<br>Gift Aid|**2024**<br>**£**<br>495,329<br>1,437<br>20,905<br>3,032<br>520,703|**2023**<br>**£**<br>249,508<br>45,000<br>18,095<br>1,950|
|---|---|---|
|||314,553|



13 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts** 

**for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**4**<br>**Income from charitable activities**<br>Unrestricted income:<br>Digital productions<br>Live events<br>Educational services|**2024**<br>**£**<br>142,450<br>252,584<br>56,150<br>451,184|**2023**<br>**£**<br>135,672<br>144,747<br>36,549|
|---|---|---|
|||316,968|



Digital productions income includes £85,000 received from Sky UK Limited for episodes of the Darbar Festival for both 2022 and 2023. 

|**5**<br>**Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**<br>Unrestricted:<br>Live events<br>Digital productions<br>Educational services<br>Research and development<br>**6**<br>**Analysis of other expenditure**<br>Unrestricted:<br>Employee costs<br>Premises costs<br>General administrative<br>Legal and professional|**2024**<br>**£**<br>290,511<br>174,239<br>110,580<br>4,000<br>579,330<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>149,168<br>11,839<br>65,343<br>52,205<br>278,555|**2023**<br>**£**<br>146,626<br>160,851<br>69,482<br>50|
|---|---|---|
|||377,009|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>109,171<br>11,440<br>24,198<br>24,794|
|||169,603|



14 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**7**<br>**Support costs**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Pension costs<br>Travel and training<br>Rent, utilities and telephone<br>IT software and consumables<br>Insurance<br>Legal, professional and consulting<br>Marketing and PR<br>Governance costs<br>General expenses<br>Bad debts<br>Depreciation and disposals<br>Apportioned to:<br>Digital productions<br>Live events<br>**8**<br>**Net income**<br>This is stated after charging/(crediting):<br>Depreciation and disposals<br>Independent examination<br>**9**<br>**Employees**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs|**2024**<br>**£**<br>132,491<br>8,595<br>8,082<br>34,128<br>2,511<br>2,451<br>9,465<br>41,460<br>1,280<br>49,969<br>7,923<br>14,759<br>313,114<br>137,770<br>175,344<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>14,759<br>1,500<br>16,259<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>291,077<br>25,019<br>12,814<br>328,910|**2023**<br>**£**<br>96,732<br>5,609<br>6,830<br>13,767<br>2,738<br>2,339<br>3,227<br>16,857<br>4,710<br>23,431<br>-<br>10,220|
|---|---|---|
|||186,460|
|||101,248<br>85,212|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>10,220<br>1,500|
|||11,720|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>129,435<br>9,543<br>5,609|
|||144,587|



The total employee benefits including pension contributions and mileage allowance of the key management personnel, Artistic Director, were £65,113 (2023: £57,235). 

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year (2023: nil). 

|Average number of persons employed by the company|**2024**<br>**Number**<br>8|**2023**<br>**Number**<br>3|
|---|---|---|



15 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **10 Tangible fixed assets** 

|**Cost**<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>At 31 March 2024<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Charge for the year<br>On disposals<br>At 31 March 2024<br>**Net book value**<br>At 31 March 2024<br>At 31 March 2023|**Land and**<br>**buildings**<br>**£**<br>-<br>628,988<br>-<br>628,988<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>628,988<br>-|**Equipment**<br>**£**<br>147,895<br>15,282<br>(108,250)<br>54,927<br>126,537<br>12,655<br>(106,146)<br>33,046<br>21,881<br>21,358|**Total**<br>**£**<br>147,895<br>644,270<br>(108,250)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||683,915|
||||126,537<br>12,655<br>(106,146)|
||||33,046|
||||650,869|
||||21,358|



All of the above assets are used for the furtherance of the charity's objectives. 

|**11 Debtors**<br>Trade debtors<br>Other debtors<br>**12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**<br>Bank loans and overdrafts<br>Trade creditors<br>Other creditors|**2024**<br>**£**<br>18,309<br>16,797<br>35,106<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>14,517<br>25,365<br>93,413<br>133,295|**2023**<br>**£**<br>14,621<br>7,599|
|---|---|---|
|||22,220|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>6,211<br>19,463<br>2,500|
|||28,174|



16 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**13 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year**<br>Bank loans<br>**14 Loans**<br>Creditors include:<br>Instalments falling due for payment after more than five years<br>Mortgage|**2024**<br>**£**<br>481,877<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>401,203<br>401,203|**2023**<br>**£**<br>37,578|
|---|---|---|
|||**2023**<br>**£**<br>-|
|||-|



The mortgage is secured by a fixed and floating charge over the property of the charity. The term is 20 years (final instalment payable in Oct-43) and interest is charged at 3.75% over the Bank of England base rate. 

|**15 Analysis of net assets between funds**<br>General unrestricted:<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>Current assets<br>Liabilities<br>Designated:<br>Tangible fixed assets (not capitalised)|**2024**<br>**£**<br>650,869<br>342,451<br>(615,172)<br>378,148<br>32,705|**2023**<br>**£**<br>21,358<br>326,878<br>(65,752)|
|---|---|---|
|||282,484|
|||31,749|



17 



## **Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

## **16 Movement in funds** 

|**2024**<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>General funds<br>Designated funds<br>**2023**<br>Unrestricted funds:<br>General funds<br>Designated funds|**At 1-Apr**<br>**£**<br>250,735<br>31,749<br>282,484<br>**£**<br>190,292<br>13,882<br>204,174|**Incoming**<br>**& transfers**<br>**£**<br>965,734<br>17,442<br>983,176<br>**£**<br>602,982<br>29,992<br>632,974|**Outgoing**<br>**& transfers**<br>**£**<br>(871,026)<br>(16,486)<br>(887,512)<br>**£**<br>(542,539)<br>(12,125)<br>(554,664)|**At 31-Mar**<br>**£**<br>345,443<br>32,705|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||378,148|
|||||**£**<br>250,735<br>31,749|
|||||282,484|



Due to the nature of the charitable company’s activities, it has to incur significant and frequent expenditure on digital and other equipment for specific projects. This is recorded as an expense in order to match cash received for the project with cash spent on the project, while ignoring the capital nature of some expenditure. 

This does not comply with the requirements of charity law and UK accounting standards and therefore the Trustees have instead created a designated fund for expensed equipment, by way of transfer in from unrestricted funds for purchases that would otherwise require capitalisation, and a transfer out for the equivalent of annual depreciation. 

## **17 Related party transactions** 

Other than remuneration received by the Artistic Director (who is also a Trustee) in his capacity as such, the Charity's Trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the Charity in the year (2023: £nil). No other Charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the Charity (2023: £nil) 

No Trustees' were paid or reimbursed expenses in their capacity as trustees. Expenses incurred and reimbursed by the Artistic Director in that capacity were in the ordinary course of Charity's business and do not require disclosure. 

## **18 Other information** 

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1. Total members as at 31 March 2024 were 4 (2023: 4). 

18