2024-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] April 2023 Period start date To

31[st] March 2024 Period end date

Charity name: Creative Kids

Charity registration number: 1127371

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	1) TO PROMOTE, MAINTAIN, IMPROVE AND ADVANCE EDUCATION IN THE UK BY THE PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE ARTS INCLUDING DRAMA, DANCE AND MUSIC. 2) THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN THE UK WHO HAVE NEED BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, POVERTY OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF SUCH PERSONS.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	Our vision is a community that invests in its children’s creativity. Where all children are given free access to the arts so they can realise their creative potential and are inspired to build for themselves a vibrant, diverse and connected community. To accomplish our vision, we create both free and affordable, accessible arts events in Boscombe that encourage children’s participation and engagement with the arts and local artists. Our aims are: • To work towards inspiring young imaginations, bringing young people and creative practitioners together. • To give disadvantaged children (6 – 18) from the most deprived areas of our community, who are excluded from arts activities by means of their poverty, the opportunity to engage in arts events that will improve their life skills and help alleviate them from the issues caused by their hardship. • To nurture children’s well-being by using the arts to encourage cooperation and problem solving, free expression, communication, imagination, creativity and trust building.

		• To promote children’s health through arts activities. • To raise awareness of Creative Kids within the local community and to develop and promote its services in order to encourage greater participation, engagement and community cohesion. • To enlist workers from the voluntary sector including work experience/placements students • To create activities that support holistic child development including mental and physical well-being. We run an Arts Education Centre & Studios delivering the Arts Award, which includes a free and small fee-based arts education program operational in the school holidays and at the weekends. We offer our Studios to creative partners for free to bring talent into the area to inspire children in need. We run an arts outreach program, delivering free pop-up arts at national cultural arts festivals. Creative Kids aspires to exceptionally high standards of performance, promoting equality, celebrating diversity and teaching with passion. We believe the arts are a powerful instrument for social change and when projects use the arts to engage, inspire and nurture the creative potential of children, creative communities are born and flourish.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	We can confirm that our charity trustees have a high regard to the commission's public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	N/A
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A

Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	We have worked with 15 volunteers this year. This includes 4 international students. Our volunteers age ranges from 15 – 79.
Other

Achievements and Performance

Achievements and Performance
	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	Registered Arts Award Education Centre by Trinity College London. Registered with Ofsted (voluntary register) February 2016. Boscombe is one of the most deprived areas in the South West of the UK with a number of social issues especially for the younger generation including low attainment levels, social isolation and anti-social behaviour. Creative Kids directly supports local families in crisis by offering an arts programme where young people can develop and improve their life skills, make new friends and socialise with new peer groups. We also give members the opportunity to gain a national qualification in the arts – something that, without this support, would have never seemed possible to most of its members. We currently have 1472 subscribed members. We offered 4474 fully funded places to vulnerable children this includes a target beneficiary of any child in receipt of free school meals and is part funded by BCP Councils HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) Program. HAF only covers Easter, Summer & Christmas so we sought funding from other local Trusts to ensure continuity of delivery throughout the year for children in need. We launched a new project to support children we had identified as requiring 1:1 support at our Holiday Arts Club. Staff were trained as Drawing & Talking Practitioners. Children suffering from trauma or who were having difficulties managing emotions were offered 12-week courses to help them feel better. A total of 168 sessions were delivered. A new cohort of 30 children will be starting in October. Outcomes for children have been really positive with improved emotional states and parents who have gone onto support further at home.

We have children listed on record with clinically diagnosed special educational needs; these include autism, narcolepsy, cataplexy, anxiety, multisensory impairments, high functioning ADD, limited reading and writing, dyslexia and dyspraxia. They have used digital skills to overcome barriers to learning. Beyond this we have several children suffering from anxiety or trauma, have attachment issues, are in foster care, have parents in prison or generally have very unsettled home lives with problems that are unknown to social services and who are ‘under the radar’. We have worked with and referred several families this year to external support services to help children in need and run keyworker observations of children in need to help parents with referrals to Doctors and Schools and to speed up the lengthy process of getting assessed. The varying programmes also provide opportunities to recruit, train and celebrate volunteers and offer respite care to parents with complex social needs who wish to return to work or access specific specialist support services. Creative Kids is a highly respected organisation within the local community. As Sovereign Centre leaseholders, Creative Kids hold a valid Public Liability Insurance certificate and Employers Liability Insurance. The units in which we operate are managed by a qualified art professional that holds safeguarding children and first aid certificates (child specific) and the setting is Ofsted registered (voluntary) EY496668 Our Charity works in partnership with the local Volunteer Centre to recruit volunteers and The Arts University Bournemouth to recruit work placement students. The Charities Commission and The Community Action Network advise us on good practice and we access free volunteer training events hosted by Dorset Youth Association. Volunteers are regularly consulted, appraised and develop work agreements, which are reviewed periodically. Volunteers are remunerated for travel and subsistence. We work with freelance artists and creative practitioners but the majority of our team is made up of dedicated volunteers. We continue to invest in people and have spent trading funds upskilling staff on first aid, food hygiene and safeguarding to maintain quality standards.

We have been successful in receiving continued grant funding from 3 local Trusts which has helped with the rising cost of living.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Trading income £22,636, up by £4,804 on 22/23 Total Grants £57,497 Closing Balance £16,152 (ringfenced for ongoing projects not reserves) Mixed income Model; BCP HAF contract granted for 2023/24 which is helping to cover some core running costs in addition to Trust Funds and rising childcare income from parents, enabling us to sustain a quality service and provision. U-turn in UC benefits and being paid childcare costs upfront is showing signs of helping although there is still fear of applying from some parents. Successful year of grants as we have strong relations with local Trusts that understand our mission, have similar objectives and can see evidence of impact in practice.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why theyare held	Para 1.22	We do not have a reserve policy.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	None
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	We operate on a project to project basis. Our overheads are very low due to the value of our in- kind sponsorship e.g. website, venue, business rate concession.
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a goingconcern	Para 1.23	None

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Our income is made up of a balanced combination of grant funding, fundraising events and childcare fees revenue.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	None
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Operational Risk is relatively low (see Par. 1.22) In September 2023 we recruited a new Board of Trustees. Long serving Trustees stepped down due to pressing work commitments. The new Board have a range of diverse skills that have added value and support to the Charity. We meet quarterly and have recently held our AGM that outlines the next three years strategic direction and funding requirements moving forward.

Increased food prices, energy and a higher living wage impacts overall cashflow forecasts, so these have been considered for future grant funding bids. Trustees agree we cannot increase fees for childcare as we do not work in a cash cow community. The high street is dwindling and shops in the area have been closing down which impacts on footfall. We have a strong reputation in the area for quality delivery and have started offering waiting lists for places. The idea to adjoin the twin centres is being implemented to serve more children and in this way we can generate more revenue and serve more children in need. We will continue to source funding to fill the gap and continue to sustain our promise to local families in need. 4 hours of funded care is not enough time off and/or activities for at least 60% of our vulnerable families. We had an ongoing dispute with Octopus Energy regarding an erroneous bill for £8,375 when adding a new SMART meter. This put strain on Founder in terms of managing the complaint and having to evidence the reading was indeed faulty. This lasted several months and was finally wiped. We now keep monthly photos of meters and record meter reading data in house in addition to uploading readings to the energy provider. The Festival program was reduced due to core staff illness/disability and dependency for support for arts centre which in turn equates to lesser trading income in this stream of revenue. We are actively recruiting a full time Arts Education Centre Manager to work term time and in the school holidays and embed the Arts Award who will work alongside our Club Manager. The Founder, who is registered disabled needs to reduce hours and train a new long term team member to replace her. New funding being sourced to cover next three years. Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed,royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated Association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election topost or name of any	Para 1.25	Trustees are open website.	are invited to apply in writing, applications to all, anytime. We have a link on our http://creativekids.org.uk/get-involved/

person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	Policies and procedures (Amended June 2024) https://creativekids.org.uk/about-us/
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	Organisational structure consists of Board of Trustees, Founder/Charity Manager), bank of volunteers, paid freelance artists/practitioners and local statutory/arts partnerships. Community Partners listed on website.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	None
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charityname	Creative Kids
Other name the charityuses
Registered charitynumber	1127371
Charity’s principal address	16 Pleasance Way, New Milton, HAMPSHIRE BH25 6TD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Cary Lightfoot	Secretary/Treasurer	01/04/2023 – 31/03/2024	Members
	Kelly Longrigg	Trustee	27/10/2023 – 31/03/2024	Cary Lightfoot (Founder)
	Rachel Maddix	Chair	21/10/2023 – 31/03/2024	Cary Lightfoot (Founder)
	Imogen Charleston	Chair	01/04/2023 – 05/03/2024	Resigned
	Jo Tyler	Trustee	01/04/2023 – 24/10/2023	Resigned

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Imogen Charleston Full name(s) Cary Anne Lightfoot ~~a~~ Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Secretary Chair etc) ~~ee~~ Date 08/08/2023 ~~|~~

Recelpts and payments accounts CC16a oIKMr20Z3 JiffjJr20?4 Section A Receipts and payments Unrnsirtcitd fvnd• A••b￿•0 ttsftd• nd• Totsl l¥nd• L••iywr A1 InAI 17.• CP +IiF F Zl,•1l 4•52 2.100 17•• SL¢¢•ilGmM IVARI ?s.•iJ 10.217 71.147 A3 lh￿.5 171 In APlllls F• Esf￿ Ytyth irfwr 47• 15• 2S J17 4•• IOTJ•• 1327 AST￿￿•￿ bw••ffl fund• A•Cwh ltynd• lart y•w•nd I•￿•1￿•¢¢) C•h fimd5 thts yMr•nd 1•.152 17,37• Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of Ihe period

Bl C•shfimd# Trtalc•sh fi• fund8 Endowmont funds funds Deta115 B2 (Mlf mon•tsry a￿ts CAri• ¥41u Detall$ B3 W￿lment 8ss•ts FthOtot4¢b4•1•t Dettsll$ 79J ¢51llGtwl IP&d X XS+ 110 r* 2CQOI Pnnter6 PTWLY Tr8lW 7tr) 1QOOO FMJ Detalls .A,LowGRI aol7lL C ALIGHTFOOT ,1912f

(HARIFY (OW15510M Independent examlnerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examlner's Report Report to th8 trustoesl Ctsalive Klds On accounts for th• y•ar èndod 3110312024 Charlty no (If any) 1127371 Set out (In pages 1of2 Respectlve The tharivs tnjstees are restx)nsible for the preparation of the ac(x)unts. rnsponslbllltles of The tharity's trustees consider that an audtl is not required for this year tr￿199￿ and ￿arnIn0r under section 144 of the Charities A¢t 2011 and that an indep8ndent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act. to follow the procedures laid down in Ihe general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of th8 Chartties Act. and to state whether particular matters have (x)me to my attention. Basis of indepondent My examinatKJn was carried out in aC(￿rdancE viith generdl Directions given examinorfs statement by the Charity Commission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the acfJ)unts presented wilh Ihose records. It also includes conSiderat￿n of any unusual items or disclosures in the aco)unts. and seeking explanations from the trustees (J)nceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that vnuld be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the aC￿UnIS present a Irue and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Indyndent In ￿nnectIon with rny examinatlon, no Matter has come to my attention examlnerfs statement which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respec( the Trustees have not met the requirements to gnsure that- proper acC￿UntIng Tecords are kept In accordance with sedion 130 of the Charities Act. and accounts have been prepared that accord viith the accwnting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act l am pleased to be able to (x)nfirm. as my role as independent Examiner that l agree that the receipts and payments acwunts do refle¢t the accounting practices that look pla￿ during the year ending 31103r2024 and the supporting papeTh¥ork does rofled appropriate ac(x)unting procedures. Slgnod: Date: Name: Angle Downes Relevant profosslonal quallflcatlon(s) or body (If any): MBA, Frankiin W. Olln Graduate Sch(x)l of Buslne8S RGN RM Nur81ng and Mldwilery Address". Flat 8a Old Milton Green Parade. New Mllton BH25 5QA IER March 2024

Only complete If the examlner needs to hlghlight malerial problems. Glve hero t￿lef dotals of any Items that the •xamlMr wlsh•$ lo d5scloso. IER March 2024