## **Cotton Shed Trustees Report 2025** Chair of the Charity : Keith Lofthouse Treasurer : Sue Wood Trustees : Glyn Ellis Victoria Foulds ## **Summary Report for the period of April 2024 – March 2025** ## **Treasurer’s Introduction** Cotton Shed Theatre Company is now in its 18[th] year of inclusive theatre workshops and performances for all. This period marks a decrease in delivery as long running ‘Reaching Communities’ funding has come to an end including as part of this fund, delivery of ‘Sign & Rhyme’ and ‘Silver Shed’ projects. These strands of delivery have seen success and engagement with our community since the company’s restart in 2022. However, in discussion with trustees, artistic practitioners and with support from Horse + Bamboo – there is a clear desire and need to focus Cotton Shed activity back to a ‘core’ of theatre workshops and performances for all ages. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank outgoing chair, Louise Parish and outgoing Treasurer, Brian Miller for their many years of support, advice and leadership to the charity. Louise and Brian led Cotton Shed through a period of evolution during restart of activities in 22 - 23, their work in developing the partnership with Horse + Bamboo and maintaining relationships with funders, has been instrumental to the continuation of the charity. Although currently without multi-year funding in place, Cotton Shed Theatre Company has continued to deliver workshops during 2024 with the support of People’s Health Trust, Lancashire County Council and of course, the continued support of our membership. ## **Partnership with Horse + Bamboo** Partnership with Horse + Bamboo to project manage core delivery continues and remains a valuable connection for both companies. It is noted that a relationship would continue if the formal partnership did not – with continued support and guidance. The hope is that with further funding secured, this relationship would be able to continue. ## **Delivery** ## **Workshops** During the last period, workshops have been run for Beginners (4-8 years), Children (812 years), Youth (12-16 years) and Company 16+ years based on the following: - **Beginners** - learn the basics of theatre skills, speech development and confidence building in a nurturing and supportive environment. Cotton Shed employ a variety of EYFS methods to achieve this such as repetition, song and role play. - **Childrens** - offers the chance for increased performance opportunity, and more - collaborative learning. The children learn the art of devising and can experiment with the foundations of their theatrical skills. Within this group, Cotton Shed heavily focuses on emotional expression, identity, and social skills. - **Youth** - takes a deeper approach to learning, focusing on the use of script and different theatrical practitioners. Many of our youth group articulated that they do not have the opportunity to complete a drama GCSE/further education at their schools, so they welcome and enjoy this learned method of workshop. - **Company** - consists of all adults with additional needs. They are a strong cohort that work together to create art that they feel best represents them. Our company group is very much internally led, meaning that our practitioners interpret and oversee their work, but the practice is very much company driven. ## **Performances & Sharings** By making the most of new Artistic Practitioner contacts and expertise, this year has seen CottonShed members dance like never before, and have the opportunity to perform on stages and in events across the North West, to audiences of thousands. ## **Company & Youth Performance - The Lowry, Salford Dance Explosion (June 2024)** Devised dance piece performed alongside My Life Legacy members. Members : 7 | Audience : 450+ ## **Company Performance - Shhhhh, Waterfoot Wakes (July 2024)** Self-devised show about river pollution in Waterfoot. Members : 10 | Audience : 120 ## **Beginners’ & Children’s Performance – Bacup & Stacksteads Carnival (July 2024)** Two devised dance pieces and participation in community parade. Members : 18 | Audience : 300+ ## **Beginners’ & Children’s Performances – In the Dead of Night & Stories from the Shadows (October 2024)** Two devised Halloween shows performed for parents at Horse + Bamboo Theatre. Members : 22 | Audience : 63 ## **Company & Youth Performance – Blackpool Opera House (December 2024)** Devised dance piece performed alongside Theatre Works & My Life Legacy members. Members : 18 | Audience : 2,700+ COTTONSHED ACCOUNTS 01 JANUARY- 31ST DECEMBER 2024 EXPENDITURE CQTTectwith bank statement RECEIPTS £ 63.fj89.69 Balance Brought Forward I Salarie5 2 Accornmodation, Travel. Subsistence & trips 3 Petty Cash 4 Publicity 5 Communiration 6 Insurance 7 Sub5criptionslMembership 8 Grants/Donations including Gift Aid & Virgln Money Giving 9 Summer School 10 Recruitment 11 Tralfiing 12 ProduLtion Costs 13 ProdurtioTr Income 14 Resources 15 Sign and Rhyme 1k Sign and Rhymo Patfts 16 Mi 17 Friendshed (Actlvè Communities) 18 Noar Neighbour5 19 Silvershed 20 Cottonshod Room Hire 21 Shino Alivè 22 Audit ofAccounts 23 Lotterios Rag¥5tralion 24 Company Connect 25 com￿19 Refvnd 26 Salès 27 Songwribng Shed 28 Gov•manc8 29 Legal 42,792.70 617.26 419.32 15,730. £ 40,102.61 115. 317.20 3A72.50 375.00 25,515.20 88.736.98 £ 104,36UO corr•etwith bank statement £ 15,627A2 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ••+ Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of COTTON SHED THEATRE COMPANY On accounts for the year ended 2024 Charity no (if any) 1123037 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trusv,) for the year ended ID I Responsibilities and As the tharity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ' Please delete t e words in the brackets if they do not apply. Independent examinerfs statement Signed: Date: 06 Z02S Name: CkK(xhfm Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: IER October 2018 Section 8 Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here bn.ef details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018