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2024-03-31-accounts

FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)

Trustees ’ Report and Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Charity number 1149680 Company number 07935786 (England & Wales)

FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

CONTENTS

Page
Report of the Directors (Trustees) 2-10
Legal and Administrative information 8-9
Auditor’s Report 11-13
Statement of Financial Activities 13
Balance Sheet 14
Cashflow Statement 15
Notes forming part of the Financial Statements 16-25

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

The Directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a Directors ’ Report and Accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity ’ s governing document, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

Objectives and Activities

The charity ’ s objectives are “ to promote, maintain, improve and advance education with particular reference to encouraging and stimulating public appreciation, artistic knowledge and understanding of all forms of the dramatic arts and by promoting the training of theatre professionals and those working in the arts. The charity also aims to advance the arts for the benefit of the general public by ” promoting and facilitating access to performances of dramatic art .

The charity ’ s main goals for the year were to fundraise for, develop and present a programme of work by a wide range of live performance makers, and present this programme to as wide a public audience as possible.

STRATEGIC REPORT

1. Relationships with Affiliated Organisations

We maintain close relationships with major funders for revenue activity, notably Arts Council England, the Esm é e Fairbairn Foundation, John Ellerman Foundation, and Backstage Trust, and have secured the support of a new funder the Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund. We have received two corporate donations from Assured Guaranty, renewing their support from the previous year.

2. Achievements and Performance

In 2023/24 we engaged 229 theatre makers and produced 12 live and digital productions across 51 UK venues that were experienced by 13,543 audience members (13,308 live; 191 by telephone; 44 digital). In addition, 805 people participated in 37 of our talks, workshops and other engagement opportunities, and we supported a further 85 artists and theatre makers develop and research new ideas for 7 new projects including work by lead artists Inua Ellams, Hannah Lavery, Khalid Abdalla, Melanie Wilson and Rachel Bagshaw.

2023/24 Presentations

----- Start of picture text -----
Lead No. of No. of Audience
Production Artists/Company Dates venues presentations No. ’ s
03 – 07 April, 02 – 06
When All Is Said
1 Travis Alabanza May, 24 – 28 July 1 191 191
(telephone)
2023
27 April – 02 June
2 Protest (Scotland tour) [Hannah Lavery & ] 10 31 2,806
Natalie Ibu 2023
Neil Bartlett &
3 BLUE NOW 07 - 27 May 2023 4 4 1,234
Russell Tovey
----- End of picture text -----

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Common Wealth
4 Peaceophobia & Speakers 12 – 18 June 2023 1 6 488
Corner
31 August – 02
5 The Midnight Run Inua Ellams 1 3 213
September 2023
6 The 14th Tale Inua Ellams 25 – 19 October 2023 13 15 2,457
Racheal Ofori & 09 – 25 November
7 FLIP! 3 43 1,944
Emily Aboud 2023
An Evening with an
8 Inua Ellams 19 October 2023 1 1 169
Immigrant
Courtney Conrad,
The Last Taboo of Bryony 04 November – 11
9 4 55 days 920
Motherhood Kimmings, Sara December 2023
Shaarawi
The Day I Fell Into A 22 – 24 November
10 Lewis Gibson 1 6 90
Book 2023
26 January – 16
11 Protest (England tour) [Hannah Lavery & ] 10 42 2,987
Natalie Ibu March 2024
Courtney Conrad,
12 The Last Taboo of Bryony 12 – 31 March 2024 1 44 44
Motherhood (online) Kimmings, Sara
Shaarawi
51 441 13,543
----- End of picture text -----

a) Public Benefit

The charity complies with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 having due regard of the public benefit guidance published by the Commission.

In 2023/24 we delivered a mixed programme of live performances both indoors and outdoors, as well as workshops, talks, and other engagement activities digital performances and performances delivered by telephone.

Highlights included:

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

b) Representation

Representation is one of our core values and in all our work we seek to increase inclusion and access to the arts for practitioners and audiences.

Approximately 75% of Fuel ’ s 2023/24 programme of work in production or development was led by artists from the Global Majority.

Results from our workforce demographic survey (completed by around 69% of our freelance and contract staff workforce) showed that, of the theatre makers who we engaged:

In looking to present the most vital work of our times, we are committed to our strong focus on producing work by artists from under-represented demographics, maintaining representation on our board, staff team and in on and offstage freelance roles, and actively engaging audiences and participants from often under-served demographics. We acknowledge our responsibility to do more with and for under-represented groups amongst theatre makers and audiences in the future. During the last financial year, we continued acting on the Anti-Racism Touring Rider (which we worked on with 10+ other theatre organisations and adopted in 2021) and reviewed and continued acting on our Anti-Racist Promise, our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Action Plan, and our AntiAbleism Policy.

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

c) Touring

The past year has felt hugely rewarding as we built upon our model, making strides in our deep engagement ambition outside of London despite an increasingly challenging context for mid-scale venue partners across the UK.

This was a busy year of touring for Fuel, as we toured to 28 venues and 7 schools outside of the capital: Liverpool Unity; Northern Stage, Newcastle; Theatre Royal Brighton; The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen; Perth Theatre; Byre Theatre, St Andrews; Turner Contemporary, Margate; Mareel, Shetland; Orkney Theatre, Kirkwall; HOME, Manchester; Eastwood Park Theatre, East Renfrewshire; Lanternhouse, Cumbernauld; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh; Tron Theatre Glasgow; Tramway Glasgow; Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle; Summerhall, Edinburgh; Warwick Arts Centre; Storyhouse, Chester; Glasgow Women ’ s Library; Traverse Theatre Edinburgh; Squire Performing Arts Centre, Nottingham; Harrogate Theatre; Cambridge Arts Centre; Lakeside Theatre Colchester; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Lighthouse Theatre, Poole; Theatre Royal Plymouth; and schools across Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Wakefield. 10 of these venues were new relationships for Fuel.

d) International Reach

In 2023/24 we continued to find opportunities for international collaboration and presentation. We have released the rights for a replica production of Touching The Void to take place in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, in autumn 2024.

3. Plans for future periods

In June 2024 we mark the start of our 20[th] anniversary year by announcing a season of work by exceptional artists. We have an exciting programme of new commissions that have planned presentations across 2024/25. Highlights include:

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

In the next financial year we are also focusing on key development work on new commissions including: Trio by Rachel Bagshaw (A Dead Body in Taos; The Shape of Pain), Senebesh & the Dolphins by Michael Henry ( Barber Shop Chronicles; An Octoroon, FELA!) and Inua Ellams ( Barber Shop Chronicles; Three Sisters; The Half God of Rainfall ), which we aim to premiere in 2025.

4. Financial Review

The financial statements show the current state of the charity ’ s finances for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Because of the financial challenges currently facing the theatre sector, and touring in particular, 2023/24 was a case of doing less with reduced producing and administrative capacity. Turnover fell by £309,556 (20%) to £1,217,890 (2023: £1,527,446) and total expenditure fell by £347,828 (21%) to £1,326,617 (2023: £1,674,445). A net amount of £94,107 of project designated funds were utilised in the year, as well as a net outgoing of £77,854 on restricted funds. These were partly offset by a surplus on unrestricted funds of £63,234 before fund transfers (2023: unrestricted surplus of £19,918 before transfers) giving rise to an overall deficit of £108,727 (2023: deficit of £146,999).

Fuel ’ s principal sources of income are:

The support of our partners is essential to our ability to continue supporting inspiring artists to develop and present adventurous, playful and significant work for people all over the UK and beyond. Not all artistic projects are self-supporting, and the performing arts relies on a mixed economy of funding to survive.

Reserves policy

The trustees have examined the charity ’ s requirements for reserves considering the main risks to the organisation. In light of ongoing sectoral challenges arising from the wider economy and those specific to the performing arts sector, the trustees believe that the level of unrestricted funds held by the charity should be around £215,000, being a 3-year average of 8 weeks ’ turnover (2021/22 to 2023/24).

As at 31 March 2024 unrestricted General Funds were £219,636 (2023: £195,709) and total free reserves were £204,171 (2023: £178,632). There was also designated unrestricted funds of £57,664 (2023: £112,464) carried forward to 2024/25 to be used in direct project expenditure during the year. At 31 March 2024 Restricted funds were £156,245 (2023: £234,099). The undesignated unrestricted funds comprise free organisational reserves available across all of FPL ’ s operations. All

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

restricted funds are allocated to specific projects and once these projects are complete no surplus is expected to remain from these restricted funds.

Going Concern

We have set out above a review of Fuel ’ s financial performance and the general reserves position. Our planning processes, including financial projections, have taken into consideration the current economic climate and its potential impact on the various sources of income and planned expenditure. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern. In forming this opinion, they have considered financial risks to the organisation on both its income and expenditure for at least a period of twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

Investment policy

Any available funds are held on the charity ’ s bank account to enable it to meet its operational obligations as they fall due. The Trustees will consider the investment of surplus funds when such arise.

Risk Management

The Trustees and Senior Management review the charity ’ s major risks on an ongoing basis. The main areas of risk to the continuing and orderly provision of services and mitigating factors are:

Combined risk of economic and social factors

Fuel has a number of diverse and strong income streams which provide a sound mixed economy operating model. The ongoing economic and social impact of Covid-19, and the cost-of-living crisis and its consequences, will affect our activity and therefore our ability to earn and raise income.

Risk management and mitigation:

Risk of loss or inability to retain key members of Senior Management staff

Like many organisations of our size there is a reliance on a small leadership team. In 23/24, our Executive Director and Head of Programme left Fuel after 5+ years for new opportunities. We successfully recruited a new Executive Director in-year and restructured the Planning Team with two existing team members, Senior Producers, joining this group in place of the Head of Programme, and our Head of Fundraising joining the team in recognition of the crucial nature of this role at this time.

Risk management and mitigation:

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

5. Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Fuel Productions Limited (the charity) (FPL) was formed in February 2012 and is registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales under registration number 1149680. It is a company – limited by guarantee (company registration number 07935786 England & Wales) and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Its operational address is currently at Somerset House, South Wing, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.

The charity is managed by its Trustees who constitute the board of directors and have been appointed in accordance with the charity ’ s Articles of Association. The directors in office during the year ended 31 March 2024 were as follows: -

N Benjamin S W D Egan Chair (Co-Chair from December 2023) L Geissendorfer Co-Chair (from December 2023) J Hallgarten A Henry S Hoyle W Martin K M E McGrath J Sealey S Thaker

The day-to-day management was carried out by Kate McGrath (Artistic Director & CEO) and Ines Tercio (Executive Director until 22 December 2023) and Ine Van Riet (Executive Director from 11 March 2024) during the year ended 31 March 2024. The registered office is disclosed on the information page.

Appointment and training of Trustees

New Trustees are proposed at quarterly meetings, and their proposal discussed by existing Trustees. Potential Trustees observe at board meetings, at the end of which, a vote is taken as to whether to appoint as a new Trustee.

New Trustees receive copies of Fuel Production Limited ’ s business plan and are briefed on the structure and operation of the company.

Organisational structure and decision-making process

FPL employs producing and operations teams. In 2023/24, this consisted of: an Artistic Director & CEO, an Executive Director, a Head of Programme (to December 2023), two Senior Producers, an Engagement Producer, a Development Producer, a Producer, an Assistant Producer, an Assistant Producer & Executive Assistant (from January 2024), a Programme Assistant (fixed term), a Head of Finance, a Head of Fundraising (from January 2024), a General Manager, a Communications Manager, and a Production Manager. FPL is led by the Planning (SMT) team, comprised of Fuel ’ s founding Director and current Artistic Director & CEO, Kate McGrath, along with the Executive Director, the Head of Finance, the Head of Fundraising and the two Senior Producers.

A team of freelancers is assembled for each project based on its nature and scale. During the year we engaged 229 freelancers on and offstage. Regular project and production management meetings are held throughout a project to ensure it remains on schedule and on budget.

The Trustees are responsible for the management of the charity ’ s business and charitable objectives. The day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to Kate McGrath, the Artistic Director & CEO, who implements policy and strategy as approved by the Trustees.

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

Related parties and co-operation with other organisations

Any connection between a Trustee or senior manager of the charity with a contractor, consultant, production company, contracted artist, performer or funder must be disclosed to the full Board of Trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. Note 11 details the related party transactions reported in the year.

None of our Trustees receives remuneration or other benefits from their work as Trustees. Kate McGrath, who is a Trustee, receives remuneration for her role as Artistic Director & CEO further details are provided in Note 10 to the accounts.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity number: 1149680 Company number: 07935786 Registered Office: South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Fuel Productions Ltd is incorporated and domiciled in the UK.

The charity also makes itself known as Fuel.

Our advisors

Auditors Knox Cropper LLP 65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD Bankers The Co-operative Bank plc Business Direct, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT Legal advice Sean Egan Consultants Ltd 50 Sheen Park, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1UW

Directors and Trustees of Fuel Productions Ltd:

The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law. The Trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

N Benjamin S W D Egan Chair (Co-Chair from December 2023) L Geissendorfer Co-Chair (from December 2023) J Hallgarten A Henry S Hoyle W Martin K M E McGrath J Sealey S Thaker

Key management personnel:

Kate McGrath Artistic Director & CEO Ine Van Riet Executive Director (from March 2024)

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

Trustees ’ Responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The Trustees (who are also the directors of FPL for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees ’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Policies).

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 income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity ’ s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to 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 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.

Statement as to disclosure to our auditors

In so far as the Trustees are aware at the time of approving our Trustees ’ annual report:

Auditors

Knox Cropper LLP were appointed as auditors during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The annual report and accounts, including the strategic report, was approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Date: 11[th] September 2024

Katherine McGrath (Trustee)

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

Independent Auditor ’ s Report to the Members of Fuel Productions Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Fuel Productions Limited (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'.

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees ’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company ’ s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees Responsibilities, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Richard Billinghurst FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Knox Cropper LLP 65 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 2AD Date: 11[th] September 2024

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Fuel Productions Limited Statement of Financial Activities (including Income & Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Unrestricted Designated Restricted
Notes Funds Funds Funds 2024 Funds Funds Funds Total 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Income
Donations 3 146,949 - - 146,949 79,688 - - 79,688
Income from charitable activities 4 714,558 - 355,771 1,070,329 760,425 - 687,308 1,447,733
Investment income 5 612 - - 612 25 - - 25
Total incoming resources 862,119 - 355,771 1,217,890 840,138 - 687,308 1,527,446
Expenditure
Raising Funds: Fundraising costs 6 4,736 - 35,858 40,594 4,958 - 33,400 38,358
Charitable activities 7 785,649 94,107 397,767 1,277,523 807,372 256,759 564,066 1,628,197
Governance 8 8,500 - - 8,500 7,890 - - 7,890
Total expenditure 798,885 94,107 433,625 1,326,617 820,220 256,759 597,466 1,674,445
Surplus/(Deficit) for year 63,234 (94,107) (77,854) (108,727) 19,918 (256,759) 89,842 (146,999)
Transfer between funds 17 (39,307) 39,307 - - (73,901) 73,901 - -
Net Movement on funds 23,927 (54,800) (77,854) (108,727) (53,983) (182,858) 89,842 (146,999)
Reconciliation of funds
Total Funds brought forward 195,709 112,464 234,099 542,272 249,692 295,322 144,257 689,271
Total Funds carried forward 17 219,636 57,664 156,245 433,545 195,709 112,464 234,099 542,272

All transactions are derived from continuing activities.

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Fuel Productions Limited Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024 Charity number 1149680 Company number 07935786 (England & Wales)

Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 12 15,465 17,077
Current Assets
Cash at bank and in hand 323,988 465,880
Debtors 13 170,228 214,577
Investments 14 7,271
501,487
13,983
694,440
Liabilities
Creditors falling due within one year 15 (83,407) (169,245)
Net Current Assets 418,080 525,195
Total Net Assets £ 433,545 £ 542,272
Funds 17
Unrestricted funds–General Funds 219,636 195,709
Unrestricted funds: Designated: Productions 12,664 106,771
Unrestricted funds: Designated: Digital Infrastructure - 5,693
Unrestricted funds: Designated: Project Development 45,000 -
Restricted funds 156,245 234,099
£ 433,545 £ 542,272

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies ’ regime.

The notes on pages 17 to 25 form part of these financial statements.

Signed:

Katherine McGrath, Trustee, on behalf of the trustees

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 11[th] September 2024

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Fuel Productions Limited Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 31 March 2024

Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities A £(143,966) £(183,492)
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest income 612 25
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (5,250) (1,832)
Investment in commercial productions 6,712 1,302
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 2,074 (505)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year (141,892) (183,997)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 465,880 649,877
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year £323,988 £465,880
A. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
2024 2023
£ £
Net movement in funds (108,727) (146,999)
Add back depreciation charge 6,445 6,752
Add back loss on disposal of fixed assets 417 -
Deduct interest income shown in investing activities (612) (25)
Decrease/(increase) in stock - 3,067
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 44,349 (60,046)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors (85,838) 13,759
Net Cash used in operating activities £(143,966) £(183,492)

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

  1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland – (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Fuel Productions Limited meets the definition of a public entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The Trustees, having assessed the charity ’ s financial position, its plans for the foreseeable future, the impact of sector specific and wider economic difficulties, the risks to which it is exposed and the detailed cash forecasts for the 12 months from the date of signing, are satisfied that it remains appropriate to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis.

c) Legal Status

Fuel Productions Limited is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. FPL is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The registered office is South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.

d) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Unrestricted funds include donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund.

e) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of a theatrical performance or provision of other specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met (see note 17).

f) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred.

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

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

All costs are allocated between expenditure categories of the SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of resources. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of project size.

g) Fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a reducing balance basis as follows:

Office equipment 25% on net book value Production equipment 25% on net book value Website 33% on net book value

h) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

i) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

j) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

k) Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 “ Basic Financial Instruments ” and Section 12 “ Other Financial Instruments Issues ” of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charity ’ s balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Derecognition of financial liabilities Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity ’ s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

l) Pension contributions

The charity operates a stakeholder pension scheme which is available to all employees. Pension contributions are charged to the SOFA as they become due.

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

2. Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

charitable objects.
2024 2023
£ £
3. Income from Donations
Individuals 11,949 23,688
Corporations 10,000 5,000
Unrestricted grants 125,000 51,000
£146,949 £ 79,688
4. Income from charitable activities
Arts Council England - National Portfolio funding 204,861 204,861
Project Grants 355,771 687,308
Commissions 151,935 187,253
Production fees & charges 103,941 166,920
Ticket sales & merchandise 16,497 30,353
Royalties 8,193 6,515
Consultancy 900 42,019
Other 228,231 122,504
£1,070,329 £1,447,733
5. Investment income
Bank interest 612 25
£ 612 £ 25
Total incoming resources £1,217,890 £1,527,446

Of the total incoming resources of £1,217,890 in the year £355,771 (2023: £687,308) was restricted under agreements to support a mixture of productions and FPL programmes.

The charity receives a grant from Arts Council England, a government funded organisation, as one of their National Portfolio Organisations (NPO). This grant is unrestricted funding to the organisation. In both 2022/23 and 2023/24 Arts Council England awarded additional project grants to support specific programmes of work. These amounts are included in Project Grants and in 2023/24 amounted to £212,066 (2022: £353,357).

£212,066 (2022: £353,357).
2024 2023
£ £
6. Expenditure on raising funds
Fees 40,013 37,460
Expenses 581 898
£40,594 £38,358

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

2024 2023
£ £
7. Charitable activities
Artistic & creative fees 334,913 438,942
Production & touring costs 217,487 354,076
Producing & production staff costs 426,286 517,272
Royalties payable 3,680 2,688
Access costs 9,896 10,117
Marketing costs 57,360 77,543
Educational engagement 8,099 8,611
Set storage 18,841 18,877
Direct administration costs 3,830 4,332
Support costs 197,131 195,739
Support costs £ 1,277,523 £1,628,197
Staff costs 129,601 129,256
Freelance fees 1,730 1,731
Office overheads 24,733 29,535
Administration costs 15,560 11,809
IT costs 5,588 3,224
Insurance 11,417 11,282
Legal & Professional fees 750 750
Sundry expenses 1,307 1,400
Depreciation 6,445 6,752
£ 197,131 £ 195,739
8. Governance
Audit/Independent Examination fees £ 8,500 £ 7,890
9. Net incoming resources and expenditure for the year
2024 2023
£ £
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation 6,445 6,742
Lease payments in the year 29,734 34,774
Auditor's/Independent Examiner's remuneration:
Audit fees 8,500 7,890
10. Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key
management personnel
2024 2023
£ £
Salaries and wages 529,107 603,996
Social security costs 49,419 59,481
Pension costs 11,895 13,942
£590,421 £677,419

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

10. Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel (continued)

The average number of employees during the year were:

2024 2023
Producing & production staff 11 13
Fundraising staff 1 1
Support staff 2 3
14 17

One employee received employee benefits in excess of £60,000 in the band of £70,000 to £80,000 (2023: one). One employee receiving remuneration of £70,000 or more participated in the charity ’ s pension scheme. The total employer ’ s contribution for them in the year was £1,321 (2023: £1,321).

Pension costs are allocated to activities in line with the related staffing costs and are wholly charged to unrestricted funds.

In accordance with written authority of the Charity Commission on 23rd February 2018 as required by clause 4.3 of the Articles of Association, one trustee who is also an employee received remuneration during the year. Details of the amount paid are set out below:

Salary and benefit Pension Contributions
2024 2023 2024
2023
K McGrath £74,659 £71,658 £1,321
£1,321

One other trustee received remuneration of £750 (2023: £750) for their services related to legal advice provided to the charity and not for their duties as trustees, which were unpaid. No other trustee received remuneration.

None of the Trustees were paid expenses in either 2023/24 or 2022/23.

The key management personnel of the charity comprises the trustees, the Artistic Director & CEO and Executive Director. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel in the year was £113,944 (2023: £118,477).

11. Related party transactions

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

12. Tangible Fixed Assets

12. Tangible Fixed Assets
Office Production
Equipment Equipment Website Total
Cost £ £ £ £
At 1 April 2023 12,046 28,002 14,309 54,357
Additions - - 5,250 5,250
Disposals (741) - - (741)
At 31 March 2024 11,035 28,002 19,559 58,866
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023 6,920 22,410 7,950 37,280
Charge for Year 1,177 1,398 3,870 6,445
Eliminated on Disposal (324) - - (324)
At 31 March 2024 7,773 23,808 11,820 43,401
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2024 £3,532 £4,194 £7,739 £15,465
At 31 March 2023 £5,126 £5,592 £6,359 £17,077
13. Debtors 2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 1,074 33,139
Other debtors 169,154
£170,228
181,438
£214,577
14. Current asset investments 2024 2023
£ £
Investment in commercial productions £7,271 £13,983
15. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 19,924 57,853
Accruals & deferred income 25,563 57,691
Other creditors 24,823 32,192
Social security & other tax 13,097 21,509
16. Deferred income £83,407 £169,245
£ £
Balance at 1 April 33,946 53,045
Amount released to incoming resources (33,946) (53,045)
Amount deferred in the year - 33,946
Balance at 31 March £ - £ 33,946

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

17. Analysis of charitable funds Balance Transfers Funds
1 April between 31 March
2023 Income Expenditure Funds 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds
General Fund 195,709 862,119 (798,885) (39,307) 219,636
Designated - Productions 106,771 - (94,107) - 12,644
Designated–Digital Infrastructure 5,693 - -
(5,693)
-
Designated–Project Development - - - 45,000 45,000
Total unrestricted funds £308,173 £862,119 £(892,992) £ - £277,300
Analysis of movements in restricted funds
Production funds:
Archive Project - 10,000 -
-
10,000
CVC commissioning 8,795 - (5,795) - 3,000
David Farr:A Dead Body in Taos - 1,165 (1,165) - -
Eska: Woman & Machine 28,341 7,299 (24,120) - 11,520
Hannah Lavery: Protest 5,000 9,000 (14,000) - -
Inua Ellams: Senebesh & The Dolphins 24,529 10,199 (21,374) - 13,354
Inua Ellams: The 419 14,999 - -
-
14,999
Inua Ellams: 14th Tale 10,000 9,999 (19,999) - -
Khalid Abdalla: Nowhere 21,924 2,999 (24,923) - -
Lewis Gibson: The Day I Fell Into A Book 3,739 - (3,739) - -
Lucian Msamati: Mugabe Project 13,500 - -
-
13,500
Melanie Wilson:Oracle 21,972 3,000 (13,838) - 11,134
Osoyegbon 3,995 - (3,150) - 845
Rachel Bagshaw:Trio 6,305 - (674) - 5,631
Racheal Ofori: FLIP! 18,500 69,990 (88,490) - -
The Last Taboo of Motherhood - 24,473 (24,473) - -
Toby Olie:There's a Bear on My Chair - 8,699 -
-
8,699
Travis Alabanza:When All Is Said - 10,906 (10,906) - -
Fuel's season of work for young people - 3,279 (3,279) - -
Fuel 2024 Touring - 100,013 (100,013) - -
Organisational development:
Fundraising consultant & staff 52,500 84,750 (73,687) - 63,563
Total restricted funds £234,099 £355,771 £ (433,625) £ - £ 156,545
Total Funds £542,272 £1,217,890 £(1,326,617) £ - £433,545

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

17. Analysis of charitable funds Balance Transfers Funds
(continued) - Prior year 1 April between 31 March
2022 Income Expenditure Funds 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds
General Fund 249,692 840,138 (820,220) (73,901) 195,709
Designated - Productions 102,783 - (69,913) 73,901 106,771
Designated–Digital Infrastructure 5,693 - -
-
5,693
Designated - Sustaining Excellence 9,391 - (9,391) - -
Designated–Artist Development 17,205 - (17,205) - -
Designated–Project Development 50,250 - (50,250) - -
Designated–2022 Programme Recovery 110,000 - (110,000) - -
Total unrestricted funds £545,014 £840,138 £(1,076,979) £ - £308,173
Analysis of movements in restricted funds
Production funds:
Archive Project - 2,891 (2,891) - -
CVC commissioning 32,645 - (23,850) - 8,795
David Farr: A Dead Body in Taos 34,825 26,482 (61,307) - -
David Rosenberg & Frauke Requardt: And 2,855 - (2,855) - -
The Shot-Girls Burst Into Flames
David Rosenberg & Frauke Requardt: Localite 2,993 - (2,993) - -
Eska: Woman & Machine - 28,341 -
-
28,341
Fly The Flag - 59,252 (59,252) - -
Hannah Lavery: Protest - 5,000 -
-
5,000
Inua Ellams: Borders & Crossings - 31,293 (6,764) - 24,529
Inua Ellams: The 419 14,999 - -
-
14,999
Inua Ellams: 14th Tale - 10,000 -
-
10,000
Khalid Abdalla: Nowhere - 26,991 (5,067) - 21,924
Lewis Gibson: The Day I Fell Into A Book 12,940 - (9,201) - 3,739
Lucian Msamati: Mugabe Project 13,500 - -
-
13,500
Melanie Wilson: Oracle - 26,973 (5,001) - 21,972
Melly Still: The Gretchen Question - 69,990 (69,990) - -
Osoyegbon 6,728 (2,733) - 3,995
Rachel Bagshaw: Trio - 17,200 (10,895) - 6,305
Racheal Ofori: FLIP! 2,000 17,500 (1,000) - 18,500
Keisha Thompson/Alan Lane: Issy BOSSS and
-
105,027 (105,027) - -
Fractal
Toby Olie: There's a Bear On My Chair - 6,583 (6,583) - -
Travis Alabanza: When All Is Said - 20,459 (20,459) - -
Uninvited Guests: Performing Futures - 73,098 (73,098) - -
Organisational development:
Fundraising consultant & staff 25,200 70,000 (42,700) - 52,500
Audience development and engagement 300 83,500 (83,800) - -
Sustaining Excellence 2,000 - (2,000) - -
Total restricted funds £ 144,257 £687,308 £ (597,466) £ - £ 234,099
Total Funds £689,271 £1,527,446 £(1,674,445) £ - £542,272

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FUEL PRODUCTIONS LIMITED Annual Report and Accounts For the Year Ending 31 March 2024

17. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Designated Funds

Production funds represent unrestricted earned income from specific productions set aside against costs of their future development and presentation.

The Digital Infrastructure funds were held for investment in development of a digital content distribution platform.

The Sustaining Excellence funds were held to invest in developing collaboration between artists and scientists.

The Artist Development funds were held to invest in commissioning and early-stage development of new ideas with artists.

The Project Development funds are held to be used in the development of new projects with artists Fuel has relationships with.

2022 Programme Recovery funds were used as contingency against 2022/23 project funding shortfalls.

Restricted Funds

Restricted Production funds are to support the costs of the future development and presentation of specific productions.

The Fundraising & Production staff fund represents funding from the Backstage Trust to support the costs of employing a Fundraising Manager and a Production Manager.

Fund transfers

During the year the balance on the Digital Infrastructure Fund was released to general reserves on the completion of Fuel ’ s digital platform, the cost of which has been capitalised. A transfer of £45,000 was made from general reserves to the Project Development Fund designated reserves.

18. Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible Net Current
Assets Assets Total
As at 31 March 2024 £ £ £
Unrestricted funds 15,465 261,835 277,300
Restricted funds - 156,245 156,245
£15,465 £418,080 £433,545
As at 31 March 2023
Unrestricted funds 17,077 291,096 308,173
Restricted funds - 234,099 234,099
£17,077 £525,195 £ 542,272

19. Operating Lease Commitments

2024 2024 2023 2023
Within 1 In more Within 1 In more
year than 1 year year than 1 year
£ £ £ £
Land and Buildings 29,144 29,144 17,173 15,000
£ 29,144 £ 29,144 £ 17,173 £ 15,000

25