Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 2[nd] August 2024 Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England & Wales number 07610796. Registered charity 1146863 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## Contents ||Page| |---|---| |Administrative details|3| |Trustees’ Report|4| |Independent Examiner’s Report|10| |Statement of Financial Activities|11| |Balance Sheet|12| |Notes to the Financial Statements|13| Page 2 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## Administrative details Name of charity Creative Sparkworks Governing document Memorandum and Articles incorporated 20 April 2011 as amended by Special Resolution registered at Companies House on 27 March 2012 Registered charity number 1146863 Registered company number 07610796 (England and Wales) Trustees and Directors Sylvia Edwards (Founder/Chair) Mark Crowhurst (Treasurer) Adrian Jones Karen McCormick Zainab Abrar Zahra Malik John Palfery-Smith Ayo Bodunrin Shubham Maurya Registered office 157 Lambeth Walk, Lambeth, London, SE11 6EE Bankers Santander Bank, Co-operative Bank Independent examiner Faisal Khan t/a M J Golz Odeon House, 146 College Road Harrow HA1 1BH Page 3 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## **Trustees Report for the year ended 2 August 2024** ## **Objectives of the charity** Creative Sparkworks is a registered charity with the objectives: 1) To advance young people in life, especially through accredited educational creative activities, to develop their capabilities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society. 2) To promote the rehabilitation of young offenders and those young people at risk of offending by educating them in the arts with the aim of assisting them to re-integrate into the community and to provide them with skills to help them find employment and rehabilitate themselves. 3) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society. 'Socially excluded' means being excluded because of unemployment, financial hardship, youth, or old age, physical or mental ill-health, substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs, discrimination, poor educational or skills attainment, relationship and family breakdown, poor housing, and crime, either as a victim or as an offender. ## **Activities** We deliver free film, TV and media education, skills and employment training courses with entrylevel paid jobs to unemployed and underrepresented young adults from disadvantaged groups including but not limited to, young offenders, refugees, neurodiverse, LGBTQ, low educational attainment, NEET and those with disabilities. The projects and activities Creative Sparkworks run are tailored to meet the needs of both our client base and those of our established employers in the film and TV industries. We deliver free collaborative community arts and crafts activities to economically, socially disadvantaged and underrepresented residents, local children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds and mental health and social service users. ## **Our free courses include: -** - Free Film & TV Skills Training and Employment Courses for young adults from underrepresented groups with entry-level paid work and placements in the industry. - Film with Health in MIND: film production courses for young adults facing mental health challenges with industry-based work experience. - Community Murals: collaborative painting programmes to increase community cohesion and enhance deprived neighbourhoods. - Buzzy Bees: school holidays art and film activities for local children and youths Page 4 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## **Achievements and performance** We have a fifteen-year record of helping disadvantaged young talent, and of increasing creative opportunities and community cohesion in our local area. - We have been funded to deliver over 60 free film, media, and community art programmes. - 83% of our beneficiaries are from diverse groups. - Over 600 students have worked over 52 completed projects. - 75 - 85% of our beneficiaries achieve some entry level paid work, other paid work, or gain places in higher education, further training, and volunteering. - ## **Case Study and Testimonials** Sabrina joined us in December 2023, whilst she was in Assisted Living, trying to find accommodation in Lambeth where her daughter went to school. She had been made redundant and had lost all confidence in finding work and was consumed with her parental duties and amount of travel back and forth to accommodate her daughter’s schooling. She found the course, workshops and visits very motivational; this inspired her to seek work after having completed her CV and showreel with the tutor’s help. She managed to find freelance employment in a sports branding film production company and is now confident in progressing with consistent freelance work. She continues to seek alternative accommodation but can now provide financial support to her daughter and herself. In Sabrina’s words _‘Thank you for all your help even tho I didn’t attend as much…the course inspired me to work harder outside…and now…I have a place doing animation for a team’_ Shubham, who had come over from India and was struggling to find, work, friends, support and opportunities, joined one our summer course in 2022, in his words: _At Creative Sparkworks, I gained practical skills in film production from seasoned industry professionals. As someone new to both the film industry and the UK, the community here was incredibly welcoming, creating a memorable learning environment that extended beyond the classroom. On the practical side, they helped me craft industry-specific CVs and offered valuable real-world advice on networking and breaking into the field. This support led to several part-time roles in major productions and ultimately to my current full-time position as a Junior Unity Developer at Bodyswaps, where I get to combine technical game development (for VR and other platforms) with creative interactive storytelling for soft-skills training. To anyone considering starting their filmmaking journey or looking to refine their filmmaking fundamentals, I highly recommend Creative Sparkworks._ Shubham, 2022, Student Trainee, Creative Sparkworks. **Shubham continues working for BodySwaps and has now formed part of our Board as a Youth Trustee, guiding our charitable objectives ensuring our work remains relevant and inclusive with s strong youth voice present.** ## **Testimonials** _I wanted to take this initial opportunity to say that it has been great to see the success of your work and the impact it has had on the lives of the young people you are working with. As always, please do get in touch if you have any questions._ _Regards, Andy Mathews Skinners' Charity Foundation_ Page 5 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 _Hi._ _I really enjoy the projects we’ve been collaborating on and it’s great to see the students benefiting from it "_ ## _**Sarah Johnson**_ ## _**VP, Global Free TV-AVOD, Business Development Strategy & Analytics**_ ## _**Sony Pictures Entertainment**_ _Dear Sylvia,_ _I am delighted to provide the following reference. Re: Creative Sparkworks - (Learn2Film2£arn)_ _On behalf of the Walcot Foundation, I am able to confirm that we have worked with Creative Sparkworks since as far back of 2008 and have most recently funded the last 6 years of the Learn2Film2£arn project in Lambeth. This excellent project works with disadvantaged cohorts of students, particularly those from neuro-diverse groups and BME young people, to provide training, opportunities, and employment within the creative industries._ _Projects have always been delivered on time and on budget and the Walcot Foundation has always been particularly impressed with the range of work experience and opportunities on offer to individuals who are often excluded on the basis of their background and/or lack of connections in the industry._ _Should there be a future opportunity for Creative Sparkworks to apply for our funded support, we would welcome an application from them._ _Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me._ ## _Yours faithfully,_ _Dan Hogan | Grants Officer The Walcot Foundation 127 Kennington Road London SE11 6SF | Tel 020 7735 1925 walcotfoundation.org.uk | email disclaimer | Subscribe to news._ ## **Achievements and performance August 2023 to August 2024** Throughout the summer of 2023 and into 2024 with many still suffering from poor mental health and anxiety, we continued to deliver projects and activities to support as many as possible. Inflation and the cost-of-living crisis continues to get worse, the landscape is very tough and challenging, with many facing financial hardship; we continue to support those most in need, through our training and employment courses and community activities: - Successful completion of Bounce Back Year 3 programme, funded by the Walcot Foundation to run our Film & TV Skills & Employment Training project for 18–30-year-olds living in Lambeth. - Continued grant support from The Skinners’ Company now in our 3[rd] Year. Page 6 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 - New grants from Hedley, Foyles Foundation & Thomas Wall Trust were secured. - Commissioned to once again cover and deliver the official footage and edit for the Lambeth Country Show, where our tutors alongside our talented alumni, filmed and edited the 2-day festival over the summer, all paid at the London Living Wage. - Awarded grant by Lambeth Council Children and Young Peoples’ Commissioning Service for the Holiday Activities Fund combined with healthy eating and physical wellbeing activities. - Delivered a commissioned Social Media Campaign featuring 10 partner organisations to outreach and raise awareness of the work. - Delivered Festive Craft Activities to 18 local families with their children supported by Lambeth Getting Involved Grant. - Built new and continued to nurture productive relationships with employers and industry partners, Netflix, ITV Academy, ITV Good Morning Britain, Sony Pictures Spotlight, APA’s Just Runners, The Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Soho Runners, Stitch Editing, London Youth, Goldsmiths University, Department Work & Pensions Lambeth. - 27 trainees took part in our Film & TV Skills Training courses, which included inspirational talks and visits to production studios with Q&A from professionals in the industry for example Alison Hammond TV presenter from ITV Good Morning Britain and her producer at ITV Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Head Office Brunel Building Paddington; we continued with our workshop skills programme that ran over 3 days, piloted our first work including a networking brunch with executives and VPs, Social Media, Marketing & Distribution and Pitching Workshop’s. Film London ‘Equal Access Network Scheme’ CV Writing Clinics; Kooth (Safe and anonymous Mental Wellbeing Support) offering awareness and signposting for mental illness including offering free consultations online around the clock. - Employment outcomes for 27 trainees during the period of this report: 1 FT Position - Rainbow Productions Ltd - Warehouse & Maintenance Assistant, 3 FT Promotions to Head Of PR & Sales - Stitch Editing, Ad Sales: Commercial Traffic Assistant - NBCUniversal and Junior Data Manager & Controller ETC (Electric Theatre Company), 5 went onto to further training - 4 were accepted on the Call Time Foundation program and the other as Digital Marketing Trainee WYK Digital, 6 Freelance or PT work in the industry, 6 FT or PT jobs in other industries, 1 enrolled in Full Time Higher Education at UAC Film Production, 5 gained local paid work on Creative Sparkworks projects, including the Lambeth Country show & a commissioned Youth Voice Film. - David Thomas, Financial Consultant for ScreenSkills, delivered another outstanding workshop ‘Finance for Freelancers’ to prepare trainees for the world of work, self-employed or PAYE. - Q Accountants continued to deliver a great service supporting the charity with Annual Returns for Companies House and the Charity Commission. - Paula Da Costa continued to manage the day to day running of the charity’s operations as well as leading on industry employers and relationships. - Federico Rivas continues his good work in his role of Creative Youth Support Co-ordinator, who continues to support and motivate our young cohorts while offering pastoral support. - Our talented senior lead tutors continued their great work with us again to deliver outstanding Skills Training and also leading on our commissioned local projects. - We appointed 2 new Young Trustees from our star alumni, in high-end employment and education in the industry, to our Board who is making a difference to the future of the charity. Page 7 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 - We appointed a new Treasurer who comes from a strong financial background, who has been a real asset in supporting our finances. - Sylvia Edwards has officially stepped into her new role of Founder & Chair. - Installation of the Community Mural for the Lambeth Walk funded by the Big Lottery ‘Awards For All’ was celebrated with local residents and artists, now part of Lambeth Walk, we thank Watmos Community Homes for their support. - We continue to deliver school holiday workshops via the Lambeth HAF for local children and young people. - We continue to deliver ‘The Buzzy Beez’ holiday activities to local disadvantaged children with repeat funding from Lambeth Council Getting Involved Grants. ## **Financial review** The charity received income of £77,898 in the year ended 2 August 2024 including major grants and donations from: - Walcot Foundation - Skinners Charity Foundation - Hedley Foundation - Lambeth Council - Foyles Foundation - Thomas Wall Trust Expenditure for the year amounted to £65,830. During the year the charity made a net income of £12,068. Net assets on 2 August 2024 were £25,162. ## **Reserves policy** Creative Sparkworks has a separate bank account – “reserve account” – which is only activated if there is an unforeseen shortfall of income to cover existing commitments. £2,500 to cover three months with an additional contingency £1,250. Reserves for one quarter are currently set at £3,750.00 This is intended to cover rent and staff cost for the quarter ahead. Apart from the rent, the charity has no significant fixed overheads. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. ## **Structure, governance, and management** Creative Sparkworks is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The Trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. Page 8 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## **Statement of Trustees’ and Directors’ responsibilities** The Trustees (who are also Directors of Creative Sparkworks for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. - Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. - State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. ## **Preparation of the report** The report was approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 16[th] April 2025 and is signed on behalf of the Trustees by: - ## **Chair Treasurer** Sylvia Edwards Mark Crowhurst Page 9 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees** ## **For the year ended 2 August 2024** I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 2 August 2024 ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** The charity Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiners 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 that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act: or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the 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; or 4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Approved on 23[rd] April 2025 ## **Faisal Khan, FCCA** Page 10 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 statement olNnsndalAd￿les I1￿UdI￿5UrnTh￿ryof In(omeand EypendkureA￿￿Dt) Year ended 2August 2014 Note Unie5trKle Fund5 Rest￿ted Funds Total Funds p[￿r Year Funds Income and Endowrnentsfrom Charitoblektivities 2.187 75.711 77098 103.708 Expendi￿re on. Raisingfund5 3.269 1.913 2.120 7.303 1.562 56.929 36 13B59 94.217 2.643 110.229 58042 2.156 65 other S8.527 Net IExpendiknrel/lncom2 15.1161 17.184 16.5211 Reconciliation of lunds. Totsl fund5 broughtfoTward 8.510 4.584 13m4 19.615 Totsl fund5 carried Forward 3,394 21.768 Page 11 ## Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 The charity was entitled to exemption from audit under Charities Act 2011 and trustees have not required the charity to obtain an audit in accordance with Charities Act 2011. Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Charities Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charities under audit exemption regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP. The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 16[th] April 2025 and signed on their behalf by: - ## **Chair** ## **Treasurer** Sylvia Edwards Mark Crowhurst Page 12 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 ## **Notes to the financial statements.** ## **1 Basis of preparation** These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note to these accounts. The accounts 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 July 2014 (the Charities SORP); and - the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); - the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. The accounts have been prepared under the Charities SORP for the first time. Although the format of the accounts differs from that applied in the past, no changes have been made to amounts previously reported. No material prior year error has been identified in the reporting period. ## **2 Accounting policies** ## _Income_ Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity becomes entitled to the resources, it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources, and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Performance related grants are recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services. It is not practical to value the monetary value of donated time. ## _Fixed Assets & Depreciation_ Fixed Assets are depreciated at 20% SLM and represented as net of depreciation. ## _Expenditure and liabilities_ Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty. Page 13 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 Movemenl in Fund$ Atstartof Incorning Resources Outgoing Resources Atthe End of Year Yea< Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Fund5 4.584 8,510 13.094 75.711 2.187 77.898 58.527 7.303 65.830 2L768 S,394 25.162 Expendlture Unrestricted Fund5 Restricted Funds Totsl Prioryear ENpeDditureon rai51Difunds,' staff Fees ICEOI 3288 1.582 3.755 ,775 125 Bank CharEes & Interest Consultanty Repairs & Maintsnance Rent 8.225 3269 1562 4A31 Expenditure on Charitable activities.. Rent stafF Fees 5WJ 1.544 182 43.742 1.839 917 45.286 2￿21 917 65￿78 L112 L190 09 Materials/Direct Exppn5es Insurance Travel 6enefici8ries' Canteefj IT& Software 8Dokkeeping &kEDUntancv Health & Sèftty. Training Electricity & Woter 122 122 717 722 857 302 302 L652 728 1,179 1,179 Equipment EouivoluntrÈrs' Expenses Professional & Production costs 289 349 7.709 5242 other Contingènty Postage. Printing& Statlon¥try Movinispecialistequiprnent Depreciation 75 19 36 55 743 2,101 2.120 2.101 2.156 I￿14 2fi42 Totol 7,303 58,527 65O30 110.231 Page 14 Creative Sparkworks Annual Report and Financial Statements 2 August 2024 The charitable activities of Creative Sparkworks are the delivery of community visual art, film and media education skills and employment training courses. The charity has no employees and, therefore, no employee earning more than £30,000 per annum. Staff fees above consist of payments to freelancers. None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with this charity or a related entity. No trustee expenses have been incurred. Page 15