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2025-10-31-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 2025

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 13
Independent examiner's report 14
Statement of financial activities 15
Balance Sheet 16
Notes to the financial statements 17 to 23
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The following page does not form part of the statutory financial statements:

Statement of financial activities per fund 24

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name 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 Christopher Thompson, Chair
Andrew Norton, Treasurer
Peter Kent-Baguley
Colin Broome
Marc Briand
Mark Brammar
Jon Phipps
Louise McFaul
Secretary Julie Taylor
Accountant P L Whittaker Taxation
50 Broad Street
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 5NS

Page 1

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

Foxlowe Arts Annual Report 2024-,2025

Since taking on the role of chair, this year has been one of the more difficult ones. Earlier in the year there was uncertainty in the economy fuelled by the ever-visible negative press, which had a knock-on effect on our bottom line due to less spend per head.

We also had the added problem of increased employers NIC, a catch 22 where we had to stay competitive with the local market, some other local establishments were late putting up their prices, and we realised that reducing staffing would impact on service levels.

Looking at our digital till system not many people were using the cafe after 3pm so we reduced opening in our café/trading subsidiary by half an hour and that along with customer confidence brought the overall surplus to the charity for the year from a loss to five percent. The last quarter showed that we were back on target for a 12 percent surplus.

Overall, the charity was down -£5000 although this did not consider an early repayment of £2500 from the loan scheme, also Gift Aid was not claimed for the year so the charity in fact was break even. Another year that was uncomfortably tight on finances.

Our biggest fixed cost is still our loan at £50000pa (plus interest). Transferring this from a previous loan to a community loan reduced the interest from five percent to two percent and this has been a big help and saving, although the term of the loan stayed the same we had to use £27k of our reserves to make up the loan in 2020 and unfortunately we haven’t been able to replace that sum so our reserves still remain too low.

When I took on the chair in November 2017 there was a looming £15,000pa hole in the accounts and along with the newly appointed treasurer, Andy Norton, we looked to see how we could close the gap which ultimately was met by renting out more rooms and putting on more comedy and music acts.

One of the new rooms that we rented out was our shop on the ground floor which was stocked by local artists by Fox and Crow. The directors of the shop finally stepped down in June so there was a short time of no rent until Lennies took it on, run by Charlotte Leneghan who sells her own artisan handmade chocolate along with local artists giftware. Another welcome edition to the Foxlowe is Tagg Floral, owned by Claire tagg who now occupies the newly repaired Conservatory. The Conservatory roof was repaired with a grant from UKSPF and Moorlands Town Partnership, a big thanks to fellow trustee Jon Phipps for obtaining this grant along with separate grants to insulate the roof space above the Ballroom (Rainbow Room) and replace the roof on the old salting house in the side front passage.

Our second largest fixed cost is our utilities at £27481, this was a reduction from last year of £28,360 due to continued insulation and draft sealing. We also had better weather this year and we are fortunate in having an excellent broker who understands the energy markets. As an example, we have recently signed up for a four-year gas contract due to the dip in costs. We have also saved year-on-year by decommissioning an old chiller unit that was cooling down an uninsulated back bar, this was replaced some years ago by fridges and barrel coolers saving in the region of £3000 pa.

Our insurance was £10594 up from £9,543 and maintenance a low £5511, but up from the previous year’s extremely low £1075. The big problem with older buildings is that they deteriorate quickly if you don’t spend on their upkeep: we are very mindful of this especially with our money reserves and we are heavily reliant on volunteers and grants and we are extremely grateful to our volunteer maintenance team and a special thanks must go to Kevin Eavis for his commitment to keeping the Foxlowe maintained.

Although every year it is hard work to balance the books the community has managed to pay another £50,000 off the loan scheme and as of the 1st August 2025 it is now down to £200,000 from an initial purchase price of £1million in 2014. Just think what we could achieve if we had regular funding from Town, District or County councils.

Our next year objectives are;

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

A big thanks to all the coordinators for their individual reports which was compiled by fellow trustee Peter Kent-Baguley.

Gallery

Gallery Coordinator: Nena Selmes

The gallery has held 11 exhibitions since September 2024. The first of these was the open exhibition which was held on a pay to hang basis. This turned out to be very successful with over 100 artworks on display. It was also financially very successful despite no commission being taken on works sold. We also held two pop up exhibitions which again were very successful since the majority of sales take place in the first two weeks or so of most exhibitions. These linked to other events taking place in the town so a real interest was created. The gallery maintains a balance between new and established artists and this formula has worked very well for us. We also seek to balance individual artists having a full exhibition and work from groups of artists. It is important to us that some exhibitions favour the aesthetic experience of viewing interesting and /or challenging work as well as commercially popular works. The supplementation of sales through cards, books and tea towels has also been invaluable. Our policy of having most displayed works available for sale, (minimum 80%,) has also been very successful.

The exhibitions held were:

6/9/24 - 21/9/24 Emergent- new and emerging artists, pay to hang, 6 artists selected by judging panel to be offered a further full exhibition.

27/9/24 - 29/9/24 Textiles pop up, in line with Textiles week

2/10/24- 5/10/24 Karen Mc Bride, in line with Blues and Americana Festival

11/10/24 - 23/11/24 Michael Reeves

29/11/24 - 11/1/25 Society of Staffordshire Artists Christmas exhibition

17/1/25 - 1/3/25 Faces and Places, Gavin Bowyer, Chris Thompson, Justin Twigg

6/3/25 - 19/4/25 David Walton

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

25/4/25 - 7/6/25 The Wilds. Emergency exhibition of various works set up due to ill health of booked artists.

14/6/24 - 9/8/25 Hiraeth. Mark Lippett and Karen Wicks

15/8/25 - 27/9/25 Firestarter. 7 artists from Emergent exhibition, Betty Button, Justin Twigg, Julia Higgins, Michelle Jones, Chris Heath, Hazel Haywood, Clare Pinder.

3/10/25 - 16/11/25 Kevin Bowcock retrospective.

The total income of the gallery depends on sales that are made in exhibitions as we generally do not charge to hang.

Total visitor numbers and income for the above exhibitions are as follows:

Visitors Total income £ Foxlowe Income £

709 Emergent 850 850 684 Textiles pop up 713.50 214.05 96 Karen McBride 5 5 483 Reeves 600 180 585 SSA 1188.85 356.65 861 Faces and Places 1514.96 454.49 360 David Walton 0 0 516 The Wilds 1293 387.90 628 Hiraeth 535 160.50 771 Firestarter 2010 603 923 Kevin Bowcock 5687 1706.10

Totals: 14,397.31 4,917.69

The Drawing Room Café Gallery

Art Exhibitions

Co-ordinator/Curator: Andrew Gale andygaleart@gmail.com (07950 610 779)

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

I have been coordinating and curating the Drawing Room Café Gallery, opposite the service counter, since June 2022. The exhibitions run for two months, back-to -back, with change overs late on a Saturday afternoon. There is a long lead time for exhibitions. At the time of writing, we have artists booked until mid 2027. In 2025, seven artists exhibited their diverse visual language in six exhibitions. At the beginning of the year was the continuation of Tracey McGuiness-Kelly’s exhibition, showing four very large collage artworks, on Khadi paper, depicting Finally, Chris Thompson completed the year with an exhibition entitled, Horizons. This expressive exhibition is hanging at the time of producing this report. the four seasons, with smaller print versions available for purchase. Tracey is a Marple based artist. Following this exhibition, for the first time, I hung my own work. This comprised large screen print posters, which included letterpress. They had a political theme inspired by the 1932 Kinder Mass trespass. Printmaker, Bernie Rutter, from Wirksworth, was hung next, with her beautifully executed printmaking on aluminium, inspired by Irish coastal scenes and encounters. Next, the Foxlowe Art Group presented their show, an eclectic mix, arising from their fortnightly workshop sessions at the Foxlowe. The next to be shown was artist Eva Juusola, from Sheffield. Her artworks were representational tonal etchings, using copper sulphate and zinc plate. She was selected for a show at the Foxlowe by a small panel, that I convened, to judge the work hung in the Derby Print Open (June 2024). We have been awarding a guest exhibition show to artists exhibiting in the Derby Print Open, organised and curated by Green Door Printmaking Studio, Derby, for three years now. Through this involvement, Foxlowe Arts Centre is listed, by Green Door Printmaking Studio, as an official sponsor of the annual Derby Print Open. The penultimate exhibition, in the café, was the work of two artists, both printmakers and painters, Carol Beckett and Barbara Helm, from Glossop. Barbara showed figurative life studies and Carol focused mainly on compositions inspired by the landscape. Both artists showed again this year at the Manchester Art Fair in November.

Life Drawing Class

Co-ordinator: John Pointon

Since the launch of the Life Drawing class in November 2024 a total of 48 sessions have been held with an average session attendance of 15. From January 14th to October 14th 2025 a total of 702 people participated

I as coordinator Gift Aided the total sessional donations of £4035 attracting £1009, total £5044 for Foxlowe over 12 months.

Also important to note the group had an exhibition at the Nicholson gallery from January 4th till February 28th during which we had 4 workshops.

Foxlowe films Co-ordinator: Maureen Wiskin

Programming Issues. Films for screening are selected by our Programme Team of five. A lot goes into choosing and sourcing films for screening and it can be a complex and challenging process. We strive to bring a wide range of high-quality drama, comedy, thrillers, documentaries and the best of British and World cinema to our local community; aiming to entertain, challenge and delight, so creating shared moments watching the big screen in the intimacy of our friendly cinema space. Some members of the team attend bi-annual pre-screening events at their own expense, which helps guide film selection. Challenges include the cost of the licences and DVDs (which are rocketing), locating the distributors and lastly, and most importantly, the availability of the films themselves and how they fit into the programme. Small cinemas like ours have to wait at least 16 weeks after a film is released before being able to book it. In addition, many films are made /commissioned only for the big screen and not for community use. We are lucky still to have a cinema; many of the Reels on Wheels schemes in villages have folded. Last year we used a grant to purchase a lap top so we can download films whenever these are provided by licencors cheaper than buying DVDs. This takes out the worry about unreliable postal services and the fact fewer DVDs are being made. The Programme team do a great job in consistently bringing a balanced programme to the Foxlowe. Please bear in mind suggestions are considered but they do have to be assessed against the criteria above.

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

Subtitles are a bit like marmite with film goers either love or hate them. All foreign films are subtitled and clearly marked on the programme. However, the sound quality on some films can be compromised by strong accents, especially American ones. This is not always obvious until the projectionist does a sound check on the night and the decision of whether or not to use subtitles has to be made at the last minute, which we hope is understood.

Cinema for All Award. Helen Beech has secured two bursaries (total £350, no time limit), which aims to attract young people from the @21 project to film-going and film making. There are opportunities through the BFI for young people to obtain training to get involved in the film industry and this project is seen as a way of opening up opportunities for those who show interest.

Finance - please refer to the summary data spreadsheet attached.

We have 2 sponsors; Primo Piano and Picture Book; both donate £40 per season amounting to £240 per annum for which we are very grateful. Takings from the bar are not included in the figures.

The summary spreadsheet indicates total audience numbers, the range and averages for each season

In the current economic climate, people have to make choices, and even though film tickets are cheap compared to other Foxlowe activities, it’s not surprising attendance number are down.

Customer feedback .

To gauge audience reaction to each film, audience members are invited to complete simple feedback slips to rate the film from excellent to poor. Irrespective of the size of the audience the majority of films are rated excellent or very good. This means that while some films do not appeal to everyone, those who do attend give good ratings, which justifies our aim of providing a range of films of different genres. For example, the Mike Leigh film Hard Truths didn’t attract a large audience, possibly because of its dark subject matter, but it did attract Mike Leigh fans who really loved it. We do not routinely collect verbal feedback, but occasionally we do make a note of reactions. Recently one person commented that they recognised that we are trying to do something different and that the programme this time was very interesting as it was so varied. One regular has said he tries to see as many films as he can because it means he gets to see films he otherwise would not. Sometimes audiences will clap or smile as they leave or linger and chat about the film. All positive. On the very rare occasion that a film is not well liked, audiences are very vocal on leaving and the feedback forms also give insight. The programming team always take these comments into consideration when planning future seasons. Volunteers We seem to attract volunteers who are also very busy people, so we need a large pool of volunteers to ensure all the duties are covered every time. Last year we had 24 volunteers; we are now down to 19.

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

Each week the following tasks need to be covered ‘Early Doors’ (1)-responsible for setting up and closing down, Front of House (1), both the former roles double up as Fire Marshalls, Tickets (2), bar (2) and projectionist (1). In addition, a small programme planning group meet to plan future programmes If you are interested in volunteering for any of these roles, do please get in touch. Training is given. Needless to say, we are hugely appreciative of the commitment of our volunteers, without which Foxlowe Films could not function.

How can everyone help?

Come for the first time or more often and bring a friend.

Volunteer-training is given and you could try out a role by shadowing someone.

Circulate the programmes to friends.

Identify potential new sponsors

Identify potential new sponsors
Autumn 2024 Spring2025 Summer 2025 Autumn 2025 Totals
1.11.24 to 3.12.25 21.1.25 to 8.4.25 29.4.25 to 24.6. 23.9.25 to 28.10.25
No of films 5 12 9 6 32
Tickets sold 133 432 234 246 1045
Average 27 36 25 41 31.5
Range 9 to 44 13 to 71 11 to 58 18 to 74
Income
Ticket sales £931.00 £3,024.00 £1,638 £1,722.00 £7,315.00
Sponsorship £20.00 £40.00 £40 £20.00 £120.00
Grant for laptop £500.00 £0.00 £0 £0.00
sub total £1,451.00 £3,064.00 £1,678.00 £1,742.00 £7,935.00
Expenditure
Publicity/tickets £101.30 £259.55 £157.07 £127.28 £645.20
Cinema 4 All £30.00 £30.00 £32.33 £0.00 £92.33
License fees £510.00 £1,442.77 £1,031.35 £785.00 £3,769.12
Range £97 to £150 £96 to £197.96 £60 to £142 £104 to £181.30
DVDs +postage £45.00 £123.89 £72.95 £24.97 £266.81
Misc -laptop £410.42 £0.00 £0.00 £0 £410.42
Sub total £705.30 £1,875.21 £1,293.70 £956.25 £5,183.88
Surplus £745.70 £1,188.79 £384.30 £785.75 £2,751.12
Notes

full season publicity/ticketscosts pro rata for both autumn seasons Surplus =contribution to FAC costs

Theatre

Co-ordinator: Michael Quine

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

The Foxlowe’s incoming professional theatre and dramatic work has continued through the year with eight performances in all, running from November to May. The wide variety of shows included specialist work for young children, shortly before Christmas; a new musical about the Post Office scandal; a one-man comedy tale about his elderly neighbour who so much wanted to get high just once before she died; the Minima band playing their atmospheric music to accompany Hitchcock’s silent film The Lodger ; a warm and heartfelt play about a couple whose marriage was ever so gently falling apart – Middle , first seen at the National Theatre; and another about a couple who became attached at and through tango lessons in Argentina and who followed their performance with audience members in the Foxlowe getting up to strut their stuff; and a return visit by She’Koyokh with their exuberant klezmer music and dance.

Audience numbers have increased during the year though we have determined to cap audience numbers at around 80 for most of these shows so as to ensure good sightlines. Ticket prices were raised a little during the year from £xx to £xx and each one of the eight events made a real contribution to the Foxlowe’s financial health.

Four of the eight shows were from companies who had been here before and were keen to return (with a different show), and 6 of the eight were brought to us by Live&Local, the not-for-profit arts organisation which works with a network of voluntary groups across 8 counties to provide a range of support for arts activities that keep people in touch with their communities and enhance their quality of life. We are pleased to acknowledge the financial support given by SMDC to Live and Local which in turn leverages much more support from Arts Council England, especially since without the initial encouragement and support of Live&Local we would not have been able to develop this much-appreciated strand of (work) Foxlowe’s programme.

Foxlowe Clay Collective

Co-ordinator: Johanna Goetze

TIME LINE 2023 – now:

applied for grants & gathered equipment & donations from community members/potters.

Financial overview to 24 October 2025:

since
~~06/202~~		 EXPENSE account cash (n.b. there is a cash tin, which we haven't fully reconciled,
meaningincome will be more than recorded in this spreadsheet)
~~includes initial set-up of the studio fitting it~~		 (n.b. there is a cash tin, which we haven't fully reconciled,
meaningincome will be more than recorded in this spreadsheet)
~~includes initial set-up of the studio fitting it~~		 (n.b. there is a cash tin, which we haven't fully reconciled,
meaningincome will be more than recorded in this spreadsheet)
~~includes initial set-up of the studio fitting it~~
3
 S £5,676.42 £23.00 Total -£5,699.42 ~~,~~
out with electricity, purchasingthe kilns
~~l i f~~
~~since~~
~~06/202~~		 ~~£325.00 aone was ncome rom member~~
~~subscriptions/payments for firing costs for~~
3 INCOME £5,556.00 £23.70 Total £5,579.70
one month: September 2025

By end of October 2025 we will have paid the remaining £119.72 set-up cost of the studio set-up expenses.

We are a thriving hub of activity with 22 members now. We are expecting to be at capacity once we have reached circa 25 members, limited number mainly down to shelf space. (every member needs to have a shelf for their work. We usually have someone in every weekday and our studio manager, Sue is in every day.

We have sessions led by experienced potter Aud: Wednesdays 12:00 - 14:00 (new session) and Thursdays 13:00 - 15:30 (full session with 10 members max). We have sessions led by Richard on Tuesdays 19:00 - 21:00 (full session with 10 members max).

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

Membership fees are, £20 monthly for coming up to once a week and £30 monthly for twice weekly.

Plans for next year

Continue fundraising for a new kiln, with likely a feature in Leek Life, and a feature in the Foxlowe newsletter in early 2026.

Kevin Millward of Clay College, Stoke will hold his book launch & Clay Collective formal opening.

More sessions at the Outside Arts stand at Buttermarket & other collaborations with Outside Arts with the expectation of a wide reach across the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Community workshops at schools and at the Foxlowe - in the Foxlowe gardens in the summer.

Workshops for adults/public planned with Aud (3 workshops firmly planned in Jan/Feb/Mar).

We have a growing waiting list of 12 interested people for proper classes and tuition, so we will, ask experienced potters to run these (Les Higgins and Andy Price).

Dave to continue his Young Potters (age 11-16) course.

Once all new members have been inducted shelf re-allocation and appropriate charging will be completed.

We will be introducing a metered monitoring system of our electricity consumption.

Membership subscriptions should yield at least £300 monthly with additional income from workshops and community events and once we have a new kiln, we hope to join kilnshare.

we should always be keeping some clay for starters to use & for workshops, as well as some glaze. If not donated/reclaimed, this may be an ongoing expense.

Foxlowe costs (loan, insurance, fire extinguisher servicing, etc, electricity cost of firing, paper towels, soap, bin bags and other consumables.

GRANT FUNDING REPORT NOVEMBER 2025

TRUSTEE: Jon Phipps

The period 2024-25 has proven to be quite fruitful in terms of securing grant aid to deliver Foxlowe’s priorities. Trustees, volunteers and others have worked hard to ensure that external funding can be leveraged to secure a sustainable future for the building. Funding has been unlocked to deliver three projects, with just one application (to the National Lottery) being unsuccessful.

Project #1 : Refurbishment of the Conservatory, and Replacement Windows to Performance Space

Grants Secured : £9,763.84 (UK Shared Prosperity Fund); £2,948.26 (Staffordshire Moorlands District Council). Total £12,712.10

This initial project, completed in January 2025, had two main elements:

The outcomes of this project have been very positive for Foxlowe: the Conservatory is now a popular florist shop, and the performance space is much more comfortable (and better lit).

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Trustees' Report

Project #2 : Insulation of Rainbow Room

Grant secured : £3,768 (UK Shared Prosperity Fund)

The Rainbow Room is a well-used but poorly insulated space. In February 2025, the roof space above the roof was effectively insulated, reaching (and in places exceeding) modern insulation standards.

Project #3: Improvement of Principal Roof Valley, and Repairs to Former Coalshed

Grant Secured : £6,738.00 (UK Shared Prosperity Fund); £1,250 (Staffordshire Moorlands District Council). Total £7,988.00

Funding has recently been secured for this project, which is expected to commence in coming weeks. Again it has two elements:

Project #4: New Public Address System and Music-related Activities for Young People

Grant Secured : Unsuccessful bid for £29,000.

This project (submitted to the Music Venues Programme, part of the Arts Council’s Lottery allocation) was not successful. The bid, submitted in April 2025, had two inter-linked elements. These comprised:

Despite the fact that the bid was not successful, the Arts Council welcomed many of the aspects of the bid, and provided useful feedback. It is therefore proposed that a bid be re-submitted, focussing more on the PA system than previously.

Conclusions

Overall, the past 12 months has been fruitful in terms of securing grants. It is proposed that additional grant aid be sought in 2026, on the proviso that it meets Foxlowe’s priorities, and that investments in the physical fabric of the arts centre lead to cost savings or increased income.

Foxlowe Garden Co-ordinator: Alison McCrea

This has been an excellent year for the garden team, that now has eight regular volunteers and continues to welcome our friends, the horticulture students at Newfriars College , on a monthly basis in term-time.

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

We continue to run our public events, starting with two very well-attended Christmas Wreath workshops in December and then our Seed and Plant Shares in April and May respectively. This year, we were joined for the Seed Share by members of the Leek Allotment Holders and Gardeners Association , who organised a Hands-On sowing activity for children.

In June, we worked together again with Moorlands Climate Action (MCA) to run HuG, Foxlowe’s Green Arts Fair, this year with a hedgerow theme and the introduction of a very temporary hedge for Anthony Hammond, the creator of our carved Fox, to demonstrate hedge-laying. We were also happy to inaugurate the easy to pitch (but very stable) new gazebo supplied by MCA, primarily for use at the Foxlowe but also available for loan to community groups. We finished our programme of events with apple juicing workshops in October and the loan of our juicing kit to a range of Foxlowe friends.

Inevitably, there was updating and essential refurbishment. This year we had to replace our small shed and in the process were given a couple of very useful storage units that we’ve installed in the composting area. They provide a good home for the apple juicing kit, parts of the new gazebo and of course our very new battery operated mower – so much easier to use and also greener than the old petrol operated one. We were finally able to buy this using the funds raised by the Seed and Plant Shares and also our popular Plants2Go stand, which itself has been refurbished with a new sign and donations box. The most recent refurbishment has been the planting of a new beech hedge to screen the gently decaying dead hedge.

As always, we take great delight in the increasing amount of wildlife in the garden. The No-Mow experiment appears to have greatly increased the number of insects – not just pollinator species but also the many tiny insects that are food for our beloved swifts – and of course other birds. We get great pleasure out of the increasing fungi, including waxcaps, in these areas, along with butterflies such as the Comma, attracted by ripening raspberries; the colourful Cinnabar moth, whose caterpillars feed on ragwort plants; the occasional marauding dragonfly and, particularly this year, an explosion of Yellow rattle brought in via a donation of green hay from even more friends of the Foxlowe.

We owe a huge dept of gratitude to the many people who have given time, donations, plants and materials to the garden – too many to name here. We hope they can visit often and be able to enjoy the garden as much as we do.

Shed demolition team.

GatewaySHED Co-ordiantor: Jo Phillips

GatewaySHED, now in its 9th year, exists to support people who want to share the woodworking tools, machinery and comradery that come with being a member of a community workshop space.

The Shed has had 29 active members during the last year. With 2/3 men, 1/3 women split and ages ranging from 30’s to late 80’s, the Shed is a space where creativity, ideas and skills are regularly shared. Whatever the weather, members gather at the rear of the Foxlowe garden, to work on their own individual projects and/or join together to work on group projects.

In March, an old broken spindle leg was turned on the lathe and transformed into an egg cup; bowls, goblets and tool handles have all followed. Interest in woodturning has increased so much amongst the members that a decision was taken to install a third lathe during the year.

The Shedders often undertake repairs in return for a donation to the Shed – and the usual wobbly chair legs, bird tables and gates have all been reinforced and given a new lease of life this year! Sanding, cleaning and creating tables from a donation of several Singer sewing machine treadles kept a lot of our members busy over the summer. As did cutting and putting together numerous Swift Boxes for Swifts of Leek to help install nesting boxes on houses and buildings across the town.

A donation of off-cuts of wood from the kind folk at local table-top game company Carrooka, meant that tables, shelves, lamps and bottle openers were produced – some of which were sold when the Shed partook in HuG Moorlands Green Arts Festival – a great example of how waste materials can be put to new use.

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Trustees' Report

As active members of UK Men’s Sheds Association, the Shed benefits from discounts with tool retailers and the learning that comes with being part of a growing network of Men’s Sheds across the UK. In July, GatewaySHED members attended ShedFEST at Worcester University to gather with, meet and be inspired by over 500 Shedders, related retailers and charity health professionals from across the country. Sheds / Men’s Sheds / Community Sheds are proven to benefit the physical and mental health of their members, and it’s always inspiring to be part of the wider movement. ShedStories – a new touring theatre, documentary and dance show launched at ShedFEST is telling the story of Sheds – and Gateway Shedders went to support the local performance of the show at Fenton Town Hall in October.

In October’25 George Pope, one of the founding members of GatewaySHED sadly passed away. George was instrumental in getting stuck into the very first renovations of the single garage we started with and the creation of the wood store from a skip of donated wood. He was the oldest of our members then - but would always be the first up the ladder and the one sitting on the roof! His wide-ranging joinery experience and skill has been shared with many of our members over the last years - and his patient teaching skills and good humour were invaluable to us. He was a huge part of the GatewaySHED and will be hugely missed by us all.

/

Health and Safety

Co-ordinator David Barnes

Health and Safety matters are under control for this reporting period. PAT testing continues as and when required, particularly when new equipment is introduced into the building. Most equipment does not have heavy usage and therefore only needs testing every 3 years or so. It is important that co-ordinators notify the H&S officer when new equipment is brought into the building so they can be tested before they are used.

A risk assessment has been completed for the cellar which is now used for the preparation and firing of individual pottery items. A number of recommendations were made and these are in the process of being cleared. All electrical equipment used there has been PAT tested.

No other new risk assessments were required during the reporting period.

During the year a member of staff has started regular checks on call points and smoke detectors, although it is noted that a piece of kit for the testing of heat detectors is required.

All fire extinguishers have been checked and passed as being in good condition - this is carried out annually by an external contractor.

Looking to the future it has been identified that staff need to be aware of the operation of certain safety equipment and it is anticipated that this will be carried out in the New Year. As required, any risk assessments will be reviewed and revised as necessary.

Comedy & Music

Co-ordinator: Andy Norton

Comedy this year has again been a both great draw for amazing acts such as Clinton Baptiste who regularly plays 2000 seaters and would love to come back as would Tom Stade that sold out and is booked in for 2026 , Andy Parsons also , the comedy club has again been busy , but the national trend for ticket sales is that they have been slowing down and this reached the Foxlowe in the summer and affected ourselves , so things to work on and also careful booking on prices for next year .

Small company provisions

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

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Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited Trustees' Report

Approved by the Board on 17 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

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

Christopher Thompson Trustee

Page 13

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 2025, which are set out on pages 15 to 23.

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.

The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of (named body).

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

50 Broad Street Leek Staffordshire ST13 5NS

17 June 2026

Page 14

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

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
Net movements in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
75,124
252,388
327,512
280,410
280,410
47,102
47,102
860,210
907,312		 Total Funds
2025
£
75,124
252,388
327,512
280,410
280,410
47,102
47,102
860,210
907,312		 Total Funds
2024
£
61,685
321,788
383,473
261,231
261,231
122,242
122,242
737,968
860,210

The notes on pages 17 to 23 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 15

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited (Registration number: 07757326)

Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2025

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 assets
Net assets
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted income funds
Total charity funds		 2025
£
£
825,610
100
825,710
283,641
103,401
387,042
(305,440)
81,602
907,312
907,312
907,312		 2024
£
£
825,763
100
825,863
236,386
103,401
339,787
(305,440)
34,347
860,210
860,210
860,210		 2024
£
£
825,763
100
825,863
236,386
103,401
339,787
(305,440)
34,347
860,210
860,210
860,210
825,863
34,347
860,210
860,210
860,210

For the financial year ended 31 October 2025, 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 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

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

Christopher Thompson Trustee

The notes on pages 17 to 23 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 16

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention 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 16.

Incoming resources

Voluntary income including donations, 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

Page 17

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... 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
Committed giving
Donations and pledges
Grants
Grants - other agencies		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
11,275
35,909
47,184
27,940
75,124		 Total Funds
2025
£
11,275
35,909
47,184
27,940
75,124		 Total Funds
2024
£
26,800
28,934
55,734
5,951
61,685

3 Grants receivable

Grants - other agencies Unrestricted
Funds
£
27,940		 Total Funds
2025
£
27,940		 Total Funds
2024
£
5,951

Page 18

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... continued

4 Incoming resources from charitable activities

Charitable activity 1
Sales of purchased goods
Theatre
Gallery
Room hire
Other income		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
647
206,356
1,179
40,196
4,010		 Total Funds
2025
£
647
206,356
1,179
40,196
4,010
252,388		 Total Funds
2024
£
56,005
208,331
4,033
41,703
11,716
252,388 321,788

5 Total resources expended

Total resources expended
Direct costs
Cost of goods sold
Employment costs
Other direct costs
Employment costs
Establishment costs
Repairs and maintenance
Office expenses
Subscriptions and donations
Interest payable
Other finance charges
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Support costs
Legal and professional costs		 Charitable
activity 1
£
189,497
1,000
797
35,013
38,077
5,038
2,704
4,800
2,528
738
153
280,345
65
280,410		 Total
£
189,497
1,000
797
35,013
38,077
5,038
2,704
4,800
2,528
738
153
280,345
65
280,410

6 Trustees' remuneration and expenses

No trustees received any remuneration during the year.

Page 19

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... continued

7 Net income

Net income is stated after charging:

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Employees' remuneration
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:
Wages and salaries		 2025
£
153
2025
£
35,013		 2024
£
191
2024
£
35,866

8 Employees' remuneration

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year (2024 - No. 0).

9 Taxation

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

Page 20

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... continued

10 Tangible fixed assets

Freehold
interest in land
and buildings
(including
heritage assets)
£
Cost
As at 1 November 2024 and 31
October 2025
825,000
Depreciation
As at 1 November 2024
-
Charge for the year
-
As at 31 October 2025
-
Net book value
As at 31 October 2025
825,000
As at 31 October 2024
825,000		 Plant and
machinery
including
motor vehicles
£
11,524
10,761
153
10,914
610
763		 Building
improvements
£
6,928
6,928
-
6,928
-
-		 Total
£
843,452
17,689
153
17,842
825,610
825,763

11 Investments held as fixed assets

Market value
As at 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025
Net book value
As at 31 October 2025
As at 31 October 2024
All investment assets were held in the UK.
12
Debtors
Other debtors		 2025
£
283,641		 Other
investments
£
100
100
100
2024
£
236,386

Page 21

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... continued

13 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts 2025
£
305,440		 2024
£
305,440

14 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 22

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

......... continued

15 Related parties

Controlling entity

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

16 Analysis of funds

At 1 At 31
November Incoming Resources October
2024 resources expended 2025
£ £ £ £
General Funds
Unrestricted income fund 860,210 327,512 (280,410) 907,312

17 Net assets by fund

Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Net assets		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
825,610
100
387,042
(305,440)
907,312		 Total Funds
2025
£
825,610
100
387,042
(305,440)
907,312		 Total Funds
2024
£
825,763
100
339,787
(305,440)
860,210

Page 23

Foxlowe Arts Centre Limited

Statement of financial activities by fund Year Ended 31 October 2025

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 movements in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
income fund
2025
£
75,124
252,388
327,512
280,410
280,410
47,102
860,210
907,312		 Unrestricted
income fund
2024
£
61,685
321,788
383,473
261,231
261,231
122,242
737,968
860,210

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

Page 24