FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
30 April 2022
Charity Registration No. 1142638
Company Registration No. 7607883 (England and Wales)
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 - 8 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 9 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 10 |
| Balance Sheet | 11 |
| Notes forming part of the Financial Statements | 12 - 14 |
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Legal and Administrative Information
Trustees and Directors as at 30 April 2022
Miss O Bieri Mr M James Mrs F Raines Mr S Saaidah Mrs S Harries Mr P Russell Mrs P J Steers (Chair)
Principal and Registered Office
2 Moths Grace Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 9FY
Independent Examiner Jason Foxwell independent-examiner.net 39 Enfield Road Poole Dorset BH15 3LJ
Bankers
Lloyds Bank 83 High Street Walton on Thames KT12 1DU
CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent, ME19 4JQ
Virgin Money Jubilee House Gosforth Newcastle, NE3 4PL
Page 1
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Report of the trustees for the year ended 30 April 2022
The Trustees and Directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2022.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published on 16[th] July 2015.
Structure, governance and management
The Organisation is a Charitable Company limited by Guarantee. It was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed under its Articles of Association which set out the objects and powers of the Charitable Company. (See “Objectives and Activities” below)
The Trustees and Directors, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who are also charity Trustees for the purposes of charitable law, and who served during the year were:
Miss O Bieri – Appointed 6 July 2021 Mr M James Mrs F Raines Mr S Saaidah Mrs S Harries – Appointed 9 October 2021 Mr P Russell – Appointed 29 March 2022 Mr PN Messer – Resigned 22 January 2022 Mrs P J Steers (Chair)
We were very sorry that Mr PN Messer had to step down from the Board for personal reasons, but delighted to welcome Mrs S Harries and Mr P Russell to the Board.
None of the Trustees and Directors has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Directors are members of the company and in the event of the company being wound up, each member would be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
In order to adequately represent the disabled community, who are the principal beneficiaries of the charity, two Trustees are disabled members of the workshops funded by the charity. Traditional business skills, fundraising skills and experience in the field of public provision in the arts are well represented on the board. There is constant monitoring of the range of skills which feeds into the recruitment of new members. Trustees are required to read the Commission’s guide “The Essential Trustee” which is distributed to all new Trustees along with the Memorandum and Articles and the latest financial statements.
All Trustees give their time as Trustees voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity for their work as Trustees. They normally meet four times a year but have met more frequently during the Coronavirus Emergency and subsequently. Trustees may be paid for their professional services, but only at a commercial rate and not in connection with their role as Trustees.
The charity has no subsidiaries or other related parties.
Page 2
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 April 2022 (cont/d)
The Trustees and Directors have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate these exposures.
Company procedures ensure compliance with legislation on the health and safety of staff, volunteers, clients and visitors to the workshops. Staff, volunteers and clients are also informed of our policies regarding protection of vulnerable people, equality and diversity, and confidentiality. All Trustees, staff and volunteers who carry out regulated activities are DBS checked, as are our senior company members who sometimes mentor workshops in schools.
Objectives and activities
Our purposes as set out in the Objects are contained in the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are:
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The advancement of education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts and in particular but not exclusively, the art of theatre.
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The advancement of the arts, culture and heritage for the public benefit.
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The relief of those in need by reason of disability.
These objects have not changed during the year.
The Trustees and Directors have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objectives are:
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The provision of education workshops, particularly for disabled but also for non-disabled actors, dancers, musicians and film-makers, enabling them to learn the skills of theatre, media, dance and music.
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The provision of opportunities for our students to take part in both live and filmed performances in front of audiences.
Activities undertaken for the public benefit
The trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the public benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011. The main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects are contained within the attached supplement.
Achievements and performance
Our objectives and how we have fulfilled them.
1. To increasingly stand on our own feet by generating our own income
In terms of workshop places we have delivered 125 filled workshop places per week. 73 members have worked with us on-line.
Due to the corona virus pandemic, our creative team worked tirelessly from March 2020 to deliver our workshops online via Zoom and this continued until June 2021. All online workshops were well attended. Fees continued to be charged at the same rate as for face-to-face workshops. Our Zoom workshops continued until June 2021 when we returned to The Bridge. However, the outcome of a thorough COVID_19 risk assessment determined that we should only have a maximum of 16 people in the building at any one time. Therefore we implemented a blended approach with half of
Page 3
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 April 2022 (cont/d)
the workshop members participating face-to-face and the other half on Zoom. This was worked on a three week rota so that all members were able to have at least 2 face-to-face sessions before the end of term on the 30th July.
The Visual Arts workshops we introduced in 2020 have proven to be both popular and valuable. We currently have 10 members participating, of whom half pay full fees, and the rest reduced fees (supported by bursaries). We have received grant support for this initiative and the Visual Arts workshops have become part of our ongoing offer. We will require further grant support to be able to continue these very successful workshops during the next financial year.
The year in numbers:
Total Workshop Hours – 844 Singalong hours – 15 (concluded at the end of the 2021 summer term) Total Volunteer Hours for Workshop support – 1,565
Total Volunteer Hours for Chatline – 516 (concluded at the end of the 2021 summer term) Additional Volunteer Hours for Quizzes, Social Events and Singalongs – 36
- 2. To provide value for money to funders, donors and fee payers
We achieve a high level of efficiency at very low cost. Our workshop and rehearsal spaces at the Bridge are provided at low rates by Surrey Clubs for Young People who have tenure of the Bridge until March 2026). We are also able to make use of local church and village halls at low cost.
Much work at Freewheelers is done by volunteers who give their time, skills and other resources for free. During the part of the year where Covid restrictions still applied, our regular workshop volunteers all continued to work online with us, and two also worked to support Freewheeler members at The Grange Centre when the Grange was unable to offer full support during Covid restrictions for the large number of their residents who work with us.
During the year, we have continued to offer free social activities to our members. In addition to fortnightly quizzes with the questions chosen by members, we have added a monthly ‘social’ meeting called Wednesday Wheelers. We have run a poetry evening, enjoyed two-minute speeches by Members on a variety of topics, reviewed a film and run an improvisation evening.
- 3. To increase the skills, health and well being of our students and give them opportunities to realise their ambitions
We carry out regular monitoring of our members’ ambitions and their sense of progress and wellbeing with a system called Spokes (similar to Outcome Stars). We are continuing our work to make this operational via our Database. This is the initial part of our work towards an Impact Assessment system which will enable us to report more efficiently on the work of individuals, their well-being, and the wider impact of our company.
We ensure that every student, no matter how profound their disability, can take part in all our activities.
As in 2021-22, the public visibility of our work this year has been curtailed considerably. Music Tutor Jay Bristow continued to fly the flag for Freewheelers each Friday on Facebook Live, leading a Singalong and responding to a lively chatline and requests from members until the end of the 2021 Summer term.
Page 4 FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
The students in our workshops performed live or on film in the following public on-line events:
| “Picture of Health” film for opening of the newMedical | ||
|---|---|---|
| May | ||
Research Council (MRC) London Institute of Medical Sciences |
Live public event | |
| 2021 | ||
| (LMS)building - Andrea & the original Degas cast | ||
| Social media | ||
| June 2021 | “Return to Freewheelers” film |
|
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| June 2021 | Freewheelers Radio, Episode 1 |
|
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Sept 2021 | Freewheelers Radio, Episode 2 |
|
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Oct 2021 | Freewheelers Film Festival | |
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Oct 2021 | “Zoom Cubed” trailer - Monday Company | |
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Nov 2021 | Freewheelers Radio, Episode 3 |
|
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Nov 2021 | “You Can’t Stop The Beat” film - Full Company |
|
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Dec 2021 | “Coronavirus Heroes” film - Junior Youth Theatre | |
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Dec 2021 | Visual Arts Gallery sharing | |
| platforms | ||
| Social media | ||
| Dec 2021 | The Advent Calendar | |
| platforms | ||
| “Environments” exhibition at The Riverhouse Barn Gallery - | ||
| Jan 2022 | Live public event | |
| Visual Arts Group | ||
| Online for external | ||
| Jan 2022 | PHAB online event - Freewheelers & Wellbeing Session - | participants from |
| Ad Ji Rihd W | ||
| nrea, acqu, car atson | PHAB | |
| March | Social media | |
| “Shooting Star” film - Monday Company | ||
| 2022 | platforms | |
| March | Social media | |
| “The Other Side Of Me” film - Matthew James | ||
| 2022 | platforms | |
| April | Social media | |
| Nick’s Leg Waxing Fundraiser - Nick Walewski | ||
| 2022 | platforms | |
| April | Social media | |
| “The Alternative Cinderella” film - Junior Youth Theatre | ||
| 2022 | platforms | |
| April | Social media | |
| Freewheelers Radio, Easter Special | ||
| 2022 | platforms | |
Page 5 FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
4. To be accessible to people on low incomes
Many of the disabled people who attend our workshops and participate in these activities would not have been able to do so without the support of the charity and its funders. Our policy is not to exclude any student, and therefore we partially or fully subsidise 45 students. About 40% of our members receive bursaries or fee discounts currently, which come directly from private or corporate donors.
5. To expand our links with the local community and the range of activities we provide
During this financial year the charity has provided educational workshops in theatre, youth theatre, dance, music, film-making and visual arts for disabled people in Leatherhead and surrounding areas on Mondays, Monday evenings, Tuesdays and Fridays. Most of our workshops continued online until June 2021 when we returned to the Bridge to run blended workshops (see above).
We are closely associated with DAiSY (Disability Arts in Surrey) and have worked with them to enhance our Visual Arts workshops. During the year staff and Trustees received Equality training via DAiSY.
We have continued our involvement with other local Leatherhead groups. Part of the Leatherhead Community Hub has now moved into the North Leatherhead Community Association building, and has made the building more accessible. We are hoping to use their Hive (an arts studio).
We continue with our efforts to improve the facilities of The Bridge Centre in Leatherhead. As the major users of the building for many years, we are continually working towards better adapting the facilities to our purposes while ensuring that young people can also work in the building.
6. To achieve artistic excellence and bring our work to a wider audience, changing perceptions of disability
Although our Amandla! production has now run its course, a film has been made of the performance and consideration will be given to showing this at a better time.
The Monday Company has now presented the premiere of a very ambitious new production involving music, dance, puppeteering and binaural sound. This is called ‘Do Not Disturb’. It is based on the true story of one of our members, and incorporates many ideas from the other Monday members, working with Puppet Maker Nick Barnes, Playwright Anita Sullivan and Musician Thomas Gray. Its premiere at Leatherhead Theatre in February 2020 was an enormous success, Given Covid, the Arts Council for England permitted us to change our application from ’touring’, to ‘making a film’. Filming commenced in March 2022 but had to be curtailed due to coronavirus. It will recommence in November 2022. We hope to tour the film widely, including to medical schools (an interest has already been expressed by St Georges Hospital, London).
The full-length dance production ‘Degas’, for which funding was being sought when coronavirus struck, was revived and re-rehearsed during the year. The production will be rehearsed and performed at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill in May 2022. Additionally, a short film (approximately 1 hour) will be made of the production in order to promote positive perceptions of disability and the work of Freewheelers. To accompany screenings, several members will perform excerpts from the production and conduct Q&As. The film will be toured later in 2022 and into 2023.
Page 6
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Financial Review
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds (i.e. funds which have not been designated for a specific use) should be maintained at a level equivalent to approximately six months’ expenditure. The Trustees and Directors consider that reserves at this level will ensure that in the event of a significant drop in funding, the Company will be able to continue its current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. On 30 April, 2022 our unrestricted reserves were £107,412.
However, in order to operate successfully , we need to be able to raise considerable amounts of money in excess of fee income, both to maintain our unrestricted reserves and for specific activities including workshop sponsorship, materials, film-making and theatre performances. Fundraising during the year has been challenging as there has been considerable competition for funds due to the impact of Covid 19 on many charitable organisations. We recognise the need for a long-term funding strategy to address this issue and we are currently in the process of making an application to the Arts Council to become a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). If we are successful, we would receive substantial funding over a three-year period from 2023-2026. Additionally we are in the process of making targeted funding applications to a range of other potential funders with a view to enhancing our short and long-term funding.
So urces of Funding: Restricted Funds
We are very grateful to all our funders, without whom Freewheelers would not exist. This year we received grants from the following organisations, for particular projects associated with our work:
May-21 CFS Coronavirus Jul-21 Arts Council, England Jan-22 No Fear Bridge
Sources of Funding: unrestricted funds
This year 75.5% of our funding came from student fees and commissioned projects. This year we have received generous donations from individuals and organisations
Our Silver Appeal for regular giving, launched in November 2014 to celebrate our 25[th] anniversary, now raises annually £4,286
Page 7
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND IKEDIA LIMITED Organisatfional ews The retirement of our CEO Viv Colvill in July necessitated a review of our organisational structure and a great deal of time and consideration was devoted to this. In April, we were delighted to be able to appoint Karl Newman as CEO. Karl has an extensive background in disability arts and is a fonner Freewheelers Trustee. Our General Manager, Katie Gentry. went on maternity leave in March and we appointed Bonnie Capocciama Acting General Manager. Bonnie very quickly learned the complexities of our oprationS and has established excellent relationships with our members and our team. She has proven to be N"ery effective in this interim iole. In line with our updaling of processes and procedures within the Company. we are in the process of moving some of our 5Éaff from a freelance to salaried basis. On behalf of the board of trustees and directors L rs Pip Steers Direcior and Trustee Dated . Pagc 8
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Directors of the Freewheelers Theatre and Media Limited
I report on the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 April 2022 which are set out on pages 10 to 14.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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;
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.
Jason Foxwell independent-examiner.net 39 Enfield Road Poole Dorset BH15 3LJ
Date:
Page 9
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Statement of Financial Activities For the Year Ended 30 April 2022
| Note Income from: Donations Donations and Legacies Investment Income Income from Charitable Activities Other income 3 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities Bursaries Awarded by Freewheelers Total expenditure Net gains/(losses) on investments Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2022 £ Total Funds 2021 £ 12,110 - 12,110 17,987 - - - 566 125,187 - 28,507 - 153,694 - 272,577 4,412 |
|---|---|
| 137,297 28,507 165,804 295,542 |
|
| 181,526 51,230 232,756 213,408 - - - 22,374 |
|
| 181,526 51,230 232,756 235,782 |
|
| - - - - |
|
| (44,229) (22,723) (66,952) 59,760 |
|
| 151,641 62,847 214,488 154,728 107,412 40,124 147,536 214,488 |
The Statement of Financial Activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
.
Page 10
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED Balance Sheet as at 30 April 2022 2022 2021 Notes Fixed Assets Tanuible assets Current Assets DebtOTS CaJh at bank 59,995 100,098 160,093 11 8.846 2.72,1 $8 Liabilities: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Tr*et current assets 144.067 209.863 Net 2ssets 147,536 214.488 The funds of the charity: L Threstricted Fands Restricied income funds 107,412 40,124 147,536 151,641 62,847 214.488 The company is entitled (o the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. for the year ended 30 April 2022. No member of the compdny has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476. requiring an audit of these accounts. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accouniing records which comply with section 386 of the A¢t and for preparing accoiints ,hich give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which oihenvi5e comply with the requirements of ihe Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts. so far as applicable to the company. Thes¢ accounts hav¢ b¢¢n prepared in accordancc with th¢ special provisions relating lo small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. The accounts were approved by the Board on Cl loa 2 Mrs P Steers Director and Trus Pag¢ 11
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 30 April 2022
1 Accounting policies
(a) Accounting Convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16[th] July 2015 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
(b) Reconciliation with previous Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP)
- In preparing the accounts, the trustees have considered whether in applying the accounting policies required by FRS 102 and the Charities SORP FRS 102 a restatement of comparative items was needed. No restatements were required.
(c)Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Plant and Machinery
25% per annum
(d) Income
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.
General funds represent the funds of the company that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application of the general purposes of the company. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the company are also unrestricted.
Donations and collections given for use by the charity are recognised when received.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
(e)Expenditure
- Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.
Page 12
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
2 Related party transactions and trustees’ expenses and remuneration
None of the Trustees and directors received any remuneration or expenses for the year. (2020/2021 - £21,333)
3 Income from Charitable Activities
| Student Fees Bursary – Student Fees Grants |
Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ 2022 £ 2021 £ 125,187 - 125,187 108,384 - - - 22,374 - 28,507 28,507 141,819 |
|---|---|
| 125,187 28,507 153,694 272,577 |
4 Employees
The number of employees during the year was 1 (2021: 1). No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2021: none).
in excess of £60,000 (2021: none). |
|
|---|---|
| Social security costs Pension contributions |
2022 £ 2021 £ 3,867 3,922 774 353 |
| 4,641 4,275 |
5 Independent Examiner’s Remuneration
The independent examiner’s remuneration constituted an examination fee of £625.
6 Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost At 1 May 2021 Additions At 30 April 2022 Depreciation At 1 May 2021 Charge for year At 30 April 2022 Net Book Value At 30 April 2022 At 30 April 2021 |
Plant and Machinery 24,235 - |
|---|---|
| 24,235 | |
| 19,610 1,156 |
|
| 20,766 | |
| 3,469 | |
| 4,625 |
Page 13
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |
|---|---|
| Trade Creditors Accruals Other creditors |
Total funds 2022 £ Total funds 2021 £ 15,401 625 - 21,700 625 - |
| 16,026 22,325 |
8 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities |
Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ Total funds £ 3,469 119,969 (16,026) - 40,124 - 3,469 160,093 (16,026) |
|---|---|
| 107,412 40,124 147,536 |
9. Related Party Transactions
There are no related party transactions.
Page 14
FREEWHEELERS THEATRE AND MEDIA LIMITED
10. Restricted Funds
| Ace Cultural Recovery Fund Ace Touring - Do Not Disturb Arts Council CFS Burnett Music Fund for Degas CFS/DCMS Coronavirus Response Fund MVDC - Arts fund for DND Access MVDC For Zoom Cubed No Fear Bridge Surbiton Masonic Lodge Surrey Short Breaks |
Total funds 2022 Movement in year Total funds 2021 £ £ £ 1,274 (12,595) 13,869 14,710 (7,589) 22,299 16,051 0 16,051 1,587 (913) 2,500 1,478 (3108) 4,586 0 495 (495) 232 (56) 288 0 (550) 550 741 0 741 4,051 1593 2,458 40,124 (22,723) 62,847 |
|---|---|