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2020-10-31-accounts

Company registration number: 07757326 Charity registration number: 1144382

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

(A company limited by guarantee) Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

P L Whittaker Taxation 50 Broad Street Leek Staffordshire ST13 5NS

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Contents

----- Start of picture text -----
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 5
Independent examiner's report 6
Statement of financial activities 7
Balance Sheet 8 to 9
Notes to the financial statements 10 to 16
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The following page does not form part of the statutory financial statements:

Statement of financial activities per fund 17

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited
Charity registration number 1144382
Company registration number 07757326
Principal office Market Place
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 6AD
Registered office Market Place
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 6AD
Trustees Peter Kent-Baguley
Colin Broome
Andrew Norton
David Bell
Marc Briand
Chris Thompson, Chair
Belinda Hargreaves
Paul Osborne (Retired 19 February 2020)
Claire Parton
Accountant P L Whittaker Taxation
50 Broad Street
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 5NS

Page 1

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

At the beginning of March 2020 no one knew what was in store and how businesses where going to cope. Luckily the Arts Centre is supported by numerous patrons who have carried on their pledge of money all the way through the pandemic. This income, together with rental payments from the Creative Hub, the Fox and Crow Gallery and Cabbage Rose, plus government grants and staff furlough payments, has kept us afloat.

One of our biggest challenges has been the cost of the mortgage. Early on we asked for a short payment holiday from our mortgage (held with the previous owners of Foxlowe). Unfortunately they refused to negotiate with us. This made us look again at alternative ways to finance our loan. Unfortunately, with a worldwide pandemic, banks started to take longer to answer the phones. So the board of trustees had another look at the ‘Foxlowe Communitarian Loan Scheme’ that Peter Kent-Baguley envisioned some years ago. At the time this was not taken up due to the amount of work involved, but with no regular external financial support this became the only option to secure the building for the community (see Peter’s report below).

I became involved in the Arts Centre from the very start as the Gallery Coordinator. My own interest was much more about the arts than heritage or tourism; but all those who get involved with the Foxlowe come to see how the building has a sense of place within the area and how our activities have been hugely beneficial to tourism in the Moorlands.

While lockdowns have curbed some of the Heritage activities that we had planned as part of a programme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, this hasn’t put a stop to future plans. With ongoing research, every year history of the building unfolds. For example a descendant of Mrs Cruso has donated books including a family bible and a book by Timothy Cruso. Timothy was a family relation who lived at the Foxlowe. He was a friend of Daniel Defoe and the namesake of Robinson Crusoe.

There have been discoveries from Foxlowe’s recent past. We now have the original bronze plaques from when the building was the Textile Union headquarters and Trades and Labour Club. History and artifacts are slowly coming back home – a home which now can withstand the weather now that the generous grant from the HLF has been used to repair the roofs. We still have a way to go to restore the building and the lockdown restrictions have curtailed a lot of our work through lack of finances: but in the words of Gloria Gaynor ‘We Will Survive’.

Foxlowe Communitarian Loan Scheme

To avoid paying increased leases we decided to buy the Foxlowe in 2014. Because we were a relatively new project without a substantial economic track record commercial mortgages were costly: at an interest rate of at least 7% and with personal properties of the three original trustees required as guarantees. The vendor‘s offer of a private mortgage at 5% on a 15-year mortgage seemed exceedingly attractive and was accepted, and commenced on 1st August 2014.

During 2019 we looked for a new mortgage with a lower rate of interest, through the voluntary sector and commercial companies, but all involved initial charges of some £13,000, a cost we wished to avoid.

The Foxlowe wouldn’t have developed over the past nine years had it not been so well supported by the community. It was therefore, to the community we looked for our proposal to raise the remaining capital. This was £477,000 at 31 July 2020, the end of the sixth year of the mortgage. The new loan saves the Foxlowe £101,350 in mortgage interest over the remaining nine years of the loan.

The Loan Scheme was structured to raise £450,000 in 90 multiples of £5,000 with an annual fixed interest of rate of 2%. 10 multiples, £50,000, would be repaid each year of the loan along with interest payments to all lenders. Despite the short period of time between launching the scheme in mid-April and mid-July we achieved the goal with just over 40 lenders, the government’s Bounce Back loan of £50,000, interest-free for four years and 2% thereafter and £27,000 from Foxlowe reserves. The remaining £477,00 was paid on 31 July 2020 and the Foxlowe Loan Scheme activated on 1st August 2020.

The trustees are grateful to, and proud of, all who supported the Scheme.

Foxlowe Documentary Films

Page 2

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

The Documentary Film group usually screens six films a year from October to April. This year the group were able to screen only four of their planned films for the period in question, from November to March, excluding January. The following list shows the average ratings awarded by their audience out of 5 stars for each film and the amount raised by each in donations: Nae Pasaran! (4.9 stars, £78.52); XY Chelsea (3.6 stars, £31.40); Death by Design (4.6 stars, £33.44) and Symbiotic Earth (3.9 stars, £90.26). Total income in donations for those films was £233.62. The cost of the screening licences was donated by volunteers.

Foxlowe Films

In 2018-19 takings had improved significantly. Not surprisingly, the pandemic took its toll on this and many other events. The total number of films screened for the part of the year we were open fell from 36 to 18, but while we remained open the average audience numbers held steady at 44.

The decision to cease screenings in March 2020 was made on the grounds of safety for film goers and volunteers and economic viability. The critical factors included the inability to accommodate more than 24 viewers safely, poor ventilation, predicted losses based on fewer tickets sales (especially if people were reluctant to attend) and the age profile of volunteers and audiences, many of whom are in the most vulnerable group.

While some larger venues, which can accommodate sufficient numbers to be viable, are looking to reopen in summer 2021, most smaller community cinemas like Foxlowe Films can only consider re-opening around September 21 at the earliest. Stay tuned – we miss you, and we hope you miss us.

Foxlowe Gardens

The Foxlowe gardeners ran a day of Christmas wreath workshops in December 2019, which raised £280. There was a Seed Share event in February 2020, with the March one having to be cancelled due to Covid. The gardeners ran a Virtual Plant Share in May, with offers online and plants collected from the patio. In October they ran two full-day apple juicing events, with a sequence of sessions each day. These were socially distanced and on the patio. The income from the workshops and subsequent equipment hire totalled £230. Projected sales from bottles of juice delivered to the café are expected to total £155, with £385 raised overall from apple activities. Throughout the open season in summer and autumn, the gardeners maintained a ‘Plants to Go’ stand on the patio, which brought in donations delivered via donations boxes.

Live and Local

Glass half-full, or glass half-empty? It can be seen both ways in terms of professional theatre shows brought to the Foxlowe by Live and Local , the touring agency for our region. We had booked four shows, but only two were able to go ahead.In November an inventive, irreverent and highly accessible one-man version of "King Lear" drew an excellent audience. Before that in October Gonzo Moose Theatre brought “Once Upon a Time”, a show with younger audiences (particularly) in mind. Starting from well-known Grimm Brothers characters, this was a fairytale adventure bursting with physical comedy, absurd jokes and magical illusion.Shows cancelled by Covid were “Twisted Tales 2”, a welcome return by a company from two years ago, and “The Wolf The Duck and the Mouse” aimed at 3 – 7 year-olds.

This was the fourth season of work made available by Live and Local which has financial support from the Arts Council England and SMDC. Plans are well-advanced for similar theatre-company visits in the year ahead.

GatewaySHED

The GatewaySHED members had a jovial end to 2019. Plenty of highly polished turned Christmas Trees and the now iconic mice doorstops were sold in the café to help generate income and many of the members enjoyed a lovely Christmas get together. It’s nice also to see our Shedders when they’re not in their overalls and covered in sawdust!

As the lockdown hit in March 2020, the Shed shut alongside everything else. Members were supported to take their ongoing projects and some of the hand tools offsite to enable them to continue some things at home – but everyone has thoroughly missed the opportunity to create, chat and learn alongside each other.

Page 3

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

A full re-opening risk assessment was put together during July when restrictions first lifted. It was agreed that we could safely accommodate 6 Shedders at a time – fully utilising the outside space as priority and use of PPE. A new booking-in system was created which allowed some limited activity to take place until the restrictions tightened. The members continue to keep in touch via email and the Facebook page and we look forward to being able to open the space up when restrictions allow.

Volunteers

As always Volunteers are the backbone of the organisation and they went above and beyond during lockdown with essential maintenance. When restrictions were lifted volunteers managed to transform the main function room into a more usable space and increased capacity with the stage moved. The room has been renamed Bromfield after William Bromfield who had the room originally built.

Music and Comedy

Covid shouldn’t overshadow the 4.5 months that we managed to actually put music on. This included Chip Taylor, Kristen Hersh, Chris Leslie, Joni Talks, Mark Radcliffe, Nibs van der Spuy, Laurance Jones Band, Pete Morton, leek Ska with the Skalinskis, Limehouse Lizzy and Desperado. As always the monthly Comedy Club was well received and also extra comedy including Tom Binns with Alfie Moore being the last act before laughing was cancelled for a very long time.

Maintenance

A significant amount of work has been achieved both via the HLF grant and Volunteers, 3 of the main roofs were completely redone by Fulwood Roofing of Stafford. This also included a significant amount of lead work. Our regular builder Gary Braddock and team took off the cement render to the East and West walls of the oldest part of the building and re-rendered using local sand with lime to give the correct colour for the area. This was after 10 samples were produced to show to SMDC’s Conservation Department. Experienced volunteers in trades were able to paint some of he higher windows using the scaffolding provided for the render.

As part of the research for the HLF we were able to discover that William Bromfield had the Trades and Labour club extension built so named the function room the Bromfield. A significant amount of work was completed by volunteers to transform the room, with new lighting, stage, wiring and lighting racks, damp removed and false walls taken down to make for a large space and a better visitor experience. A generous donation of £3000 was used for plumber, electrician and materials to make this happen. A big thanks to all those involved.

Foxlowe Exhibitions

We had a special exhibition in the corridors in conjunction with Leek Blues Festival showing the work of photographer Nick Barber from Stoke on Trent along side the regular exhibitions in the Café and the upstairs gallery. The one year anniversary of the Fox and Crow Gallery was held in the Cruso Room. Exhibitions in the Foxlowe Gallery started with ‘Small Worlds’ and unfortunately ended with only 2 days of the ‘Feltworks’ exhibition which showed the work of Ruth Broadbent and Tyra Till. All we had was the preview and the Saturday before the Arts Centre was forced to shut – although the exhibition was one of our most successful ones with most items sold in just 2 days.

Small company provisions

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

Page 4

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

Compiled by Chris Thompson with the help of Peter Kent-Baguley, Maureen Wiskin, Alison McCrea, Michael Quine, Jo Phillips.

Approved by the Board on 17 July 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

.........................................

Chris Thompson Trustee

Page 5

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 October 2020, which are set out on pages 7 to 16.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

have not been met; or

......................................... Peter Lee Whittaker P L Whittaker Taxation 17 July 2021

50 Broad Street Leek Staffordshire ST13 5NS

Page 6

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses) for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

Note
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Voluntary income
2
Incoming resources from charitable activities
4
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Charitable activities
5
Total resources expended
Net income before other recognised gains and losses
Other recognised gains/losses
(Losses)/gains on investment assets
Net movements in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Unrestricted
Funds
£
50,367
103,439
153,806
75,329
75,329
78,477
(97,797)
(19,320)
623,617
604,297
Total Funds
2020
£
50,367
103,439
153,806
75,329
75,329
78,477
(97,797)
(19,320)
623,617
604,297
Total Funds
2019
£
36,795
250,806
287,601
141,049
141,049
146,552
-
146,552
477,065
623,617

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 7

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited (Registration number: 07757326)

Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2020

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
Investments
11
Current assets
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling
due within one year
13
Net current (liabilities)/assets
Total assets less current
liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling
due after more than one year
14
Net assets
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
Revaluation reserve
Unrestricted income funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total charity funds
2020
£
£
826,989
100
827,089
210,944
44,067
255,011
(477,803)
(222,792)
604,297
-
604,297
(97,797)
702,094
604,297
604,297
2019
£
£
925,283
100
925,383
213,700
44,486
258,186
(53,800)
204,386
1,129,769
(506,152)
623,617
-
623,617
623,617
623,617
2019
£
£
925,283
100
925,383
213,700
44,486
258,186
(53,800)
204,386
1,129,769
(506,152)
623,617
-
623,617
623,617
623,617
925,383
204,386
1,129,769
(506,152)
623,617
-
623,617
623,617
623,617

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 8

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited (Registration number: 07757326)

Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2020

......... continued

For the financial year ended 31 October 2020, the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

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

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008 January 2015).

Approved by the Board on 17 July 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

.........................................

Chris Thompson Trustee

The notes on pages 10 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 9

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets, and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2005)', issued in March 2005, the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015) and the Companies Act 2006.

Fund accounting policy

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

Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 17.

Incoming resources

Voluntary income including legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned (as the related goods or services are provided) under contract.

Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

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

Support costs

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

Fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £0 or more are initially recorded at cost.

Depreciation

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

Plant and machinery 25% reducing balance basis Property improvements 10% straight line basis

Fixed assets are included in the balance sheet at revalued amounts.

Page 10

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

......... continued

Investments

Fixed asset investments are included at market value at the balance sheet date.

Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year, or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the statement of the financial activities in the period of disposal.

Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the statement of financial activities based on the market value at the year end.

2 Voluntary income

Donations and legacies
Donations and pledges
Grants
Grants - other agencies
Unrestricted
Funds
£
25,367
25,000
50,367
Total Funds
2020
£
25,367
25,000
50,367
Total Funds
2019
£
35,945
850
36,795

3 Grants receivable

Grants - other agencies

Unrestricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds 2020 2019
£ £ £
25,000 25,000 850

Page 11

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

......... continued

4 Incoming resources from charitable activities

Charitable activity 1
Theatre
Gallery
Films
Talks
Music
Room hire
Other income
Interest on cash deposits
Total resources expended
Direct costs
Cost of goods sold
Other direct costs
Employment costs
Establishment costs
Repairs and maintenance
Office expenses
Travel and subsistence
Accountancy fees
Interest payable
Other finance charges
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Support costs
Legal and professional costs
Unrestricted
Funds
£
61,752
-
-
-
-
26,911
-
14,776
Total Funds
2020
£
61,752
-
-
-
-
26,911
-
14,776
103,439
Charitable
activity 1
£
42,773
2,239
8,780
18,186
4,872
1,022
176
1,146
(7,672)
356
497
72,375
2,954
75,329
Total Funds
2019
£
-
4,812
2,456
59
36,570
25,583
181,326
-
103,439 250,806
Total
£
42,773
2,239
8,780
18,186
4,872
1,022
176
1,146
(7,672)
356
497
72,375
2,954
75,329

5 Total resources expended

Page 12

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

......... continued

6 Trustees' remuneration and expenses

No trustees received any remuneration during the year.

7 Net income

Net income is stated after charging:

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
8
Employees' remuneration
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:
Wages and salaries
2020
£
497
2020
£
8,780
2019
£
2,181
2019
£
-

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year (2019 - No. 0).

9 Taxation

The company is a registered charity and is, therefore, exempt from taxation.

Page 13

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

......... continued

10 Tangible fixed assets

Freehold
interest in land
and buildings
(including
heritage assets)
£
Cost or Valuation
As at 1 November 2019
916,518
Revaluation
(91,518)
Disposals
-
As at 31 October 2020
825,000
Depreciation
As at 1 November 2019
-
Charge for the year
-
As at 31 October 2020
-
Net book value
As at 31 October 2020
825,000
As at 31 October 2019
916,518
Plant and
machinery
including
motor vehicles
£
11,524
-
-
11,524
9,038
497
9,535
1,989
2,486
Building
improvements
£
13,207
-
(6,279)
6,928
6,928
-
6,928
-
6,279
Total
£
941,249
(91,518)
(6,279)
843,452
15,966
497
16,463
826,989
925,283

11 Investments held as fixed assets

Market value
As at 1 November 2019 and 31 October 2020
Net book value
As at 31 October 2020
As at 31 October 2019
All investment assets were held in the UK.
Other
investments
£
100
100
100

Page 14

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

......... continued

12 Debtors

Other debtors 2020
£
210,944
2019
£
213,700

13 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
2020
£
427,003
50,000
800
477,803
2019
£
53,000
-
800
53,800

14 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

Bank loans and overdrafts
Included in the creditors are the following amounts due after more than
2020
£
-
5 years:
2019
£
506,152
After more than five years by instalments 2020
£
-
2019
£
506,152

15 Members' liability

The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the members is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £nil towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

Page 15

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2020

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

......... continued

16 Related parties

Controlling entity

The charity is controlled by the trustees who are all directors of the company.

17 Analysis of funds

General Funds
Unrestricted income fund
At 1
November
2019
£
623,617
Incoming
resources
£
153,806
Resources
expended
£
(75,329)
Other
recognised
gains/losses
£
(97,797)
At 31
October
2020
£
604,297

18 Net assets by fund

Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than
one year
Balance sheet suspense
Net assets
Unrestricted
Funds
£
826,989
100
255,011
(477,803)
-
-
604,297
Total Funds
2020
£
826,989
100
255,011
(477,803)
-
-
604,297
Total Funds
2019
£
925,283
100
258,186
(53,800)
(506,152)
-
623,617

19 Account balances

Current Account £4,930 Foxlowe Loan Scheme (protected reserve) £14,780 Heritage Lottery (protected reserve) £20,379 Reserves £41,843

Page 16

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Statement of financial activities by fund Year Ended 31 October 2020

Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Voluntary income
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Charitable activities
Total resources expended
Net income before other recognised gains and losses
Other recognised gains/losses
(Losses)/gains on investment assets
Net movements in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Unrestricted
income fund
2020
£
50,367
103,439
153,806
75,329
75,329
78,477
(97,797)
(19,320)
623,617
604,297
Unrestricted
income fund
2019
£
36,795
250,806
287,601
141,049
141,049
146,552
-
146,552
477,065
623,617

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.

Page 17