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← Counterpoints Arts

2024-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

COMPANY NUMBER 08062988 CHARITY NUMBER 1150079

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS CONTENTS For the year ended 31 March 2024

Contents Page
Trustees’ report (including reference and administrative details) 1 – 11
Independent Examiner's Report 12
Statement of financial activities 13
Balance sheet 14
Statement of cash flows 15
Notes to the financial statements 16 – 26

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees of Counterpoints Arts are pleased to present their annual report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The financial statements are prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes and comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles, and the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102).

Counterpoints Arts (CA) was established in 2012 to bring together and integrate the complimentary work of Partnership for Arts and Refugees (PAR) and Forum on Migration and Communications (FOMACS). Both initiatives (PAR and FOMACS) have recognized track records of developing creative arts and collaborative projects with diverse partners from the arts and advocacy sectors.

In establishing this new organization we have accomplished the following: Created a working environment which integrates a combination of in house skills including: digital and graphic design, arts curation and architecture, film production and programming, creative writing and research development and education, strategic policy and publishing.

Mission

Our mission is to support, produce and promote the arts by and about migrants and refugees, seeking to ensure that their cultural and artistic contributions are recognised and welcomed within British arts, history and culture.

We do this by developing and commissioning creative projects and approaches to represent the stories and experiences of refugees and migrants through talent development, collaborations with artists, arts/cultural and educational organisations and civil society activists working in the field of migrant and refugee rights.

Vision

Our vision is underpinned by a belief in the dynamic power of the creative arts to inspire social change and enhance inclusion and cultural integration of refugees and migrants.

Counterpoints Arts’ Board of Trustees for the period between the 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 included: Co-Chair, Alice Sachrajda (Freelance Researcher); Co-Chair, Naima Khan (Director of Inclusive Mosque); Treasurer, Tim Catherall (Director of Finance and Operations, Institute of Development Studies); Malu Ansaldo, (Creative Producer); Ali Ghaderi (Founder of Babylon Project & Actor); Huda Jawad (Co-Founder of the Faith & VAAWG Coalition); Sahar Halaimzai (Director of Afghanistan Initiative of Malala Foundation).

Objectives and Activities

Counterpoints Arts (CA) objects, as per its Memorandum and Articles, are specifically restricted to the following:

To further such charitable purposes for the benefit of the public in particular but not limited to:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees have had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s objectives and planning current and future activities.

Counterpoints Arts Narrative Report

2023 has been a challenging year marked by turbulent politics and escalating global conflicts. The Illegal Immigration Bill was passed, breaking international law and effectively banning anyone from seeking asylum in the UK. The lack of safe routes for asylum seekers resulted in thousands more lives lost at sea. The antimigrant rhetoric continued to poison our political debates and perceptions of migrants and refugees. And the escalation of conflicts across the globe pushed our common humanity, values and international institutions to a (heart) breaking point.

But however difficult and challenging, this context also generated new solidarities, partnerships and creative responses. Through our many collaborations across the UK and internationally, we created an impact in 2023 that has far exceeded the scale and size of our small team and operations.

This year we took our Refugee Week Festival to a new level in the UK and supported its growth in 16 other countries. We developed ambitious work through our PopChange programme, focusing on comedy, TV and film. We delivered an exciting programme of public art commissions and events across the UK, many of which focused on the intersection of climate and displacement. We created a range of new initiatives, including a new Literature Prize for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds; and a new programme of work focusing on Arts, Refugees and Mental Health, which was informed by our Creatively Minded and Refugees report. And we set-up a sister organisation, Counterpoints in Greece.

All of this was made possible because we were able to partner with so many inspiring artists, communities and organisations whose creativity and unwavering commitment to creating change kept us carrying on even through the most difficult moments.

We have also been fortunate to have an incredible team of staff, trustees and advisors, strengthened this year by new colleagues who have brought a fantastic range of lived experiences, skills and perspectives, helping us expand our commitment to working with care, generosity and experience-based knowledge.

All of this work was framed by our new 4-year plan, which we published in April 2023 and which spelt out our ambition to increase the impact of our narrative change work in the UK and internationally, and to develop more intersectional approaches relating to displacement, climate, racial justice and mental health.

We have also been navigating a changing fundraising landscape, with many funders updating or revising their strategic goals in response to external socio-economic events and subsequent impact on funding priorities. In spite of the challenge this presented, we were successful with both renewal of existing grants and new bids, with some funders providing additional uplifts in light of increased living costs. The response from our funders confirmed that our mission and artistic programmes remain relevant and valued at a time when funding opportunities overall have been reduced and cuts are being made across the NGO sector.

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

With the above challenges comes increased risk of hostility, including online hate and cyber-attacks on organisations working in the refugee and migration sector. We recognise the need to build knowledge and awareness around this and to leverage the power of the sector more widely for shared learning and collective support.

Our organisational training programme for 2023-24 was developed to respond to the aforementioned challenges, including Safeguarding, Trauma-Informed practice, Anti-Abuse practice, Socio-Economic Mobility, Coaching, Well-being and Collective Care. In the coming year we will explore how our team and network can better understand and respond to online hate, learn about organisational best practice for cyber security and pay attention to other needs, both practical and specialist, as they arise. Feedback on our training programme from our network has been positive, with and with those invited to join some of our training sessions expressing how valuable it is to convene in spaces that prioritise and practise solidarity and peer-to-peer learning.

The following sections of this Trustee’s Report outline Counterpoints Arts’ main events and key achievements and outputs, as well as more detail on key risks and challenges over the last year.

For more insights into Counterpoints Arts’ activities, outputs and events, please visit our website’s 2023/24 events archive: - https://counterpoints.org.uk/upcoming events/

Main events, achievements and outputs:

Refugee Week 2023 reached new heights, featuring over 9,500 events held around the UK centred on the theme of Compassion and the festival blossomed in 16 other countries including Slovenia, Croatia, Thailand and Malaysia. The Annual Conference and Away Day in the lead up to the festival provided space for over 620 individuals, organisations and other professionals across various sectors in society to convene, share ideas and inspiration and gain insights on practical aspects of organising.

The theme proved timely and resonated strongly with our networks, inspiring them to counter negative narratives through artistic expression and everyday simple acts. This year’s Refugee Week in the UK saw 10% of the UK population taking part (approximately 1.1 million participants) and 130 UK villages, towns and cities celebrating the festival (This data is included in Refugee Week 2023 Evaluation and is from research conducted by Month of Community.)

The festival’s lead artwork on the theme of Compassion was created by Murugiah in a bold and joyful style. The artwork generated inspiration for many and was created as an installation piece at Southbank Centre in London, launched at the beginning of June. The artist developed the work in collaboration with a group of young asylum seekers from Compass Collective, an arts organisation assisting unaccompanied minor refugees and young people seeking asylum through theatre, music and film projects and arts-led professional development programmes.

The festival began with a collective thunderclap moment on social media using the hashtags #CompassionIntoAction and #SimpleActs which trended at number one for several hours. The theme also had a presence at Glastonbury festival and was featured as an animation on the Pyramid Stage prior to Elton’s John’s farewell concert in front of an audience of 120,000 people and across other areas of the music festival, including as a large banner during the peace procession. It was our first collaboration with a music festival and a great way to share the message of Refugee Week and encourage festival-goers to stand

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

in solidarity with refugees.

Counterpoints’ events programme for Refugee Week featured performances, screenings, salons, conferences and lectures, and an extensive programme of activity with Southbank Centre. Highlights include:

For our 7th biennial Platforma festival in October, we co-produced more than 30 arts events focused on Climate and Displacement with partners and communities across the Southwest of England, including in Cornwall, Paignton, Bristol, Swindon and Plymouth. As part of the festival we ran an open call for two public art commissions in partnership with ArtReach for work exploring Climate Justice and Displacement. The selected artists were dhaqan collective, a feminist Somali art collective working to preserve Somali nomadic culture and Kaajal Modi, a multidisciplinary designer, artist and creative researcher with over five years’ experience working to engage communities around the UK with important conversations about culture, sustainability and climate.

The festival sparked many new collaborations and served as a springboard for our first Women’s Climate and Displacement retreat at Hawkwood Centre For Future Thinking in Stroud, Gloucestershire focused on networking, knowledge exchange and ways of gathering and collaborating. This is a long term networking group that we plan to strengthen and work with over the coming months in relation to our work around Climate & Displacement.

In addition to Platforma, other areas of our Enabling strand of work included supporting more than 15 organisations and artists over the last year with their DYCP (Develop Your Creative Practice grants from Arts Council England) applications, including for research, theatre performances, exhibitions, art classes and workshops in many locations around the UK. One example of such a project is Voice Notes, an international collaborative art project, co-created with young people who have fled war and violence, that explores the role of the telephone in experiences of exile.

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Our PopChange programme this year, focusing on narrative change on migration and displacement, has included developing new networks and initiatives in collaboration with BFI, BAFTA, Choose Love, Netflix and others. The initiative has expanded its reach with consultancy work on 3 new films, salons that explore migration and climate justice, an event at BAFTA with Hassan Akkad, and a new collaboration with Deadbeat Films production company.

Our public programme included new works in outdoor public spaces in Athens, Berlin, Halifax, Dover and Cornwall. Setting up Counterpoints Arts Greece this year has helped to further establish a presence for our International programming and to further develop the 2024 Refugee Week Greece festival. We’ve seen strong enthusiasm and an appetite for collaboration from the new Steering Group for Refugee Week Greece and we are excited to see how people, organisations and communities respond to the Refugee Week theme of ‘Our Home’ for 2024.

The 2023 Summer School on Collaborative Practice and Social Change took place in June in Ireland as part of our Learning strand of work, bringing together more than a dozen artists from the interdisciplinary visual arts; music and hip hop, live performance, film, photography and dramaturgy. We produced a publication to highlight the conversations between artists and activists and this included reflections on the first five years of the project.

Counterpoints also launched a Collaborative Incubator Toolkit as part of our membership of the Beyond The Now collective, a long-term collaboration over the past few years in which journalists, digital activists and socially-engaged artists have drawn from their own experiences of migration and forced displacement. This year the collaboration explored and critiqued the way migration is represented by legacy media. Project partners this year included coculture, Mozilla Festival, Ettijahat, Arts University Plymouth, Open University and Create.

New Projects & Partnerships for 2023/24:

In 2023, we launched a range of new and exciting initiatives, including a new strand of work Arts, Refugees and Mental Health, a new Literature Award and a new series of large-scale public art commissions inspired by the Moomins Characters planned for 2025.

In partnership with Footnote Press we launched the inaugural FXC Writing Prize , a new writing prize recognizing narrative nonfiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. The new award received much interest and numerous applications, following our press announcement in the Guardian and Book Seller. The award included a publishing deal, along with a week-long writing residency for the winner and two runners up. Sabrin Hasbun won the 2023/24 award and her submission Wait For Her is due to be published in Spring 2025. This award marks the beginning of an exciting area of work to showcase and mainstream literary responses to migration and displacement.

Following the publication of our report Creatively Minded & Refugees , commissioned by Baring Foundation and launched in June 2023 during Refugee Week, we began a new strand of work on Arts, Displacement and Mental Health, focused on networking, creative programming and developing a shared language and evaluation framework in this area. Mental health has always been implicit in our work and over the next two years, we plan to put the conversation of mental health more at the heart of our activity and programming.

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Further highlights include:

Organisational Updates:

This year our Digital output increased significantly, with content and videos highlighting many projects and enabling our audiences to hear the range of human stories behind our work. A fantastic example of the power and reach of our digital storytelling was a post promoting our No Direction Home comedy project that went viral via an IG post in collaboration with Show and Tell Production and Soho Theatre.

Over the last year, we have continued using our office as a hub for partner organisations seeking office space and for hosting working groups, training sessions and workshops with others across the sector. This way of working, combined with our flexible working model, has enabled us to feel more connected with one another after the remote working period in 2020-22, while also providing us with opportunities to show solidarity and support in the context of ongoing challenges faced by the sector.

We marked the end of the year with an Annual Party, providing a moment for our network to gather together and reflect on the highlights and challenges of 2023. The event was a valuable moment for many of our artists, partners, organisations and funders and alongside this event we produced a short video and publication looking back on our projects and events over the year.

As an organisation we continued to strengthen our team, Board and Advisors with the necessary experience and expertise. We continue to prioritise our team’s wellbeing and nurture our team culture through ongoing wellbeing support (through wellbeing budgets and our Employee Assistance Programme), regular supervision and 1-2-1 support. Our training programme remains a crucial part of our teams’ collective and individual professional development and we will continue to identify and organise training on topics relevant to our work.

Financial Review

The income for the period amounted to £731,147 (2023: £581,575) and the total expenditure amounted to £680,558 (2023: £647,597). This resulted in net income of £ 50,589 (2023: expenditure of £66,022). At the year-end there were unrestricted funds of £362,031 (2023: £362,783) and restricted funds of £237,502 (2023: £186,161) carried forward.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Arrangement for setting pay and remuneration of Key Management Personnel

Salaries are reviewed annually on 1st July and any recommendations for change must be agreed by the Board of Trustees. The Co-chairs of the Trustee Board are responsible for the annual review of the salaries of the Director.

Future Plans:

Our future plans include developing our work along the three main strands of Enabling, Producing and Learning in order to continue building support and ecosystems for artists and organisations. We will do this through showcasing work, supporting development of creative practice, and platforming artistic voices in public and mainstream spaces. Alongside this, we will also continue generating cross-sector conversations and shared learning with our networks and partners.

Specific areas and programmes of work will include:

Developing our intersectional work:

National Focus and Networks:

- Continue to build our reputation as the lead national agency for developing and supporting the arts by and about refugees and migrants;

- Continue growing Refugee Week as the largest UK festival and network celebrating the creativity, resilience and contributions of refugees, including generating new collaborations and producing a significant music event for the next festival;

Local Focus:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

International Work:

PopChange programme:

Organisational Aspirations:

- Continue to diversify our funding strategy to build a stronger base for our business plan aspirations, including beginning to develop a philanthropic network and exploring individual donations;

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Reference and Administrative Details

Company number 08062988
Charity number 1150079
Principal and
Registered office Unit 2.3, 128 Hoxton Street, London N16SH; T:02070121761
Bankers The Co-operative Bank
1 Balloon Street
Manchester
M60 4EP
Independent MHA
Examiners Business Park
910 The Crescent
Colchester
CO4 9YQ
JS2 Limited
Accountants One Crown Square
Woking
Surrey
GU21 6HR

Directors and trustees

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

Naima Khan (Co-Chair) Alice Sachrajda (Co-Chair) Tim Catherall (Treasurer resigned on 6[th] June 2024) Malu Ansaldo Huda Jawad Ali Ghaderi Sahar Halaimzai (Appointed 8[th] June 2023) Jan Brulc (Appointed 12[th] September 2024) Holly Rose Robinson (Appointed 12[th] September 2024) Almir Koldzic (Secretary)

Structure, Governance and Management

Counterpoints Arts is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 9 May 2012 as amended by special resolution on 28 November 2012 and is a registered charity.

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustee recruitment, training and oversight

There can be no less than 3 trustees. New trustees are appointed by the board.

The trustees meet regularly to oversee the charity’s affairs and advise on strategic decisions about the overall direction of the work of the organisation, to monitor finances and contribute towards various aspects of the work of the organisation. There are 8 employees – two full time and six part time.

New trustees have an orientation programme which includes being given papers and briefings on their legal obligations under charity and company law, on the charity’s decision-making process and financial performance. Where appropriate, Trustees will be encouraged to attend appropriate external training.

Related parties

Two of our Trustees received remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity totalling £586 Any connection between a trustee or employee of the charity and any individual or organisation which is paid to work with or for the charity must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related third party. Further details of Trustee remuneration can be found in Note 6 to the accounts.

Risk management

The Trustees review the risks annually, which the charity may face and have been monitoring carefully the most significant risk identified i.e. that of building a firm financial base on which to build the operations of the charity. As agreed by the Board and as the charity grows, a formal bi-annual review process will be implemented to identify other risks and implement procedures to mitigate those risks identified.

The principle risks, uncertainties and mitigation strategy for Counterpoints Arts Charity are as follows:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Reserves policy

The Trustees have reviewed the charity’s need for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission, and are committed to building reserves to increase financial security. We have produced and agreed a detailed Reserves Policy going forward, so as to ensure that Counterpoints Arts ongoing and future activities are protected to a reasonable degree from unexpected short-term variance in income and expenditure. Total reserves at 31st March 24 were £599,533 (2023: £548,944). This consists of unrestricted reserves of £228,175 (2023: £362,783), designated reserves of £133,856 (2023: £nil) and restricted reserves of £237,502 (2023: £186,161).

Risks to consider

Counterpoints Arts is a small charity with a simple organisational structure and this policy has been written by taking into consideration the following types of potential operational and financial risks:

Reserve level

The Board of Trustees for Counterpoints Arts agree to set the reserve level at £200,000, this being the estimated minimum level required to ensure the work of the organisation can continue without disruption in adverse circumstances, and this level considers the increase in inflation and any other external financial factors. The agreed levels relate to the unrestricted core funds of the organisation.

Basis of calculation

The minimum reserve level has been reached by calculating 6 months of CA’s core operating costs, including:

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Decision-making and lead roles by Governance and Staff

The reserves level should be monitored by Counterpoints Arts on a monthly basis to check that it remains within 10% of the level set within this policy. If the reserves level varies significantly below or above 10%, then the Board of Trustees should be consulted. Any other significant changes to the budget or financial position of the organisation should be reported to the Board of Trustees.

Risk Assessment

This policy will be referred to when carrying out financial risk assessments for CA.

Review of policy

The reserves level set out in this policy will be reviewed annually by the Treasurer in conjunction with any overall organisational changes.

Small Company Exemptions

This report is prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. As a small company it is eligible for exemption from audit.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors and Trustees

Holly Robinson Trustee and Treasurer January 29, 2025

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Counterpoints Arts

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 13 to 26.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you 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 company’s accounts as 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 examiner's statement

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.

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 accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; 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 in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Mad Dated: January 30, 2025

Cara Miller ACCA

MHA

Chartered Accountants Business Park 910 The Crescent Colchester CO4 9YQ

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS (COMPANY NUMBER 08062988) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Note
2024
2024
Income:
£
£
Donations
2
209,805
489,049
Charitable activities
2
32,293
-
Total income
242,098
489,049
Expenditure:
Charitable activities
3
242,850
437,708
Total expenditure
242,850
437,708
Net income / (expenditure) for the
year and net movement in funds
(752)
51,341
Total funds brought forward
362,783
186,161
Total funds carried forward
362,031
237,502		 Total
2024
£
698,854
32,293
731,147
680,558
680,558
50,589
548,944
599,533		 Total
2023
£
512,813
68,762
581,575
647,597
647,597
(66,022)
614,966
548,944

All of the above results derive from continuing activities.

There are no recognised gains and losses for the year.

The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS (COMPANY NUMBER 08062988) BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Current assets
Debtors 8 19,129 5,436
Cash at bank and in hand 673,645 557,222
Creditors:Amounts falling due within one year 9 (93,241) (13,714)
Net assets 599,533 548,944
Charity funds
Unrestricted funds 11 378,531 362,783
General funds 244,675 362,783
Designated Funds 133,856
Restricted funds 221,002 186,161
Total Charity funds 11 599,533 548,944

For the year ending 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from the requirement to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

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

January 29, 2025 The financial statements were approved by the Directors and authorised for issue on _______ and signed on their behalf, by:

Holly Robinson Trustee and Treasurer

The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS (COMPANY NUMBER 08062988) STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS As at 31 March 2024

2024 2024 2023 2023
£ £ £ £
Cash flow from operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) 50,589 (66,022)
Adjustments for:
Decrease / (increase) in debtors (13,693) 882
Increase / (decrease) in creditors 79,527 (13,630)
___ ___
Net cash (used in) / provided by
operating activities		 116,423 (78,770)
___ ___
Change in cash and cash equivalents in
the year		 (116,423) (78,770)
___ ___
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the year		 557,222 635,992
___ ___
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the year		 673,645 557,222
___ ___

The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements

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COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 General information and statement of compliance

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee (registered number 08062988), which is incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is Unit 2.3, 128 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH.

The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. 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 (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.

1.2 Going concern

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. This has been adopted as the Trustees consider the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorisation of these financial statements. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the Charity and rounded to the nearest pound.

1.3 Financial instruments

The Charity only holds basic Financial Instruments. The financial assets and financial liabilities of the Charity are as follows:

Debtors – accrued income is a basic financial instruments and debt instruments measured at amortised cost are as detailed in Note 8. Prepayments are not financial instruments.

Cash at bank – is classified as a basic financial instrument and is measured at face value.

Liabilities – accruals and other creditors will be classified as financial instruments, and are measured at amortised cost as detailed in Note 9. Deferred income is not deemed to be a financial liability, as in the cash settlement has already taken place and there is simply an obligation to deliver charitable services rather than cash or another financial instrument.

1.4 Funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

1.5 Income recognition

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the Charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

For donations to be recognised the Charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of these is within the control of the Charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).

The Charity receives government grants in respect of furthering its charitable objectives. Income from government and other grants are recognised at fair value when the Charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

1.6 Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.

Expenditure has been included in the following cost categories: Charitable activity cost is the expenditure for meeting the Charity’s objectives. Such costs include the direct costs of the charitable activities together with an allocation of the support costs that enable these activities to be undertaken.

The Charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.

1.8 Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year

Debtors are recognised when the Charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Creditors are recognised when the Charity has a present legal or constructive obligation resulting from a past event and the settlement is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits.

Rentals applicable to operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period in which the cost is incurred.

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

2. INCOME

Grants and donations
International Comic Relief
Arts Council England
Unbound Philanthropy
Esmee Fairbairn
Baring Foundation
Prism
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
AB Charitable Trust
John Ellerman
Migrant Helpline
British Red Cross
United Nations
Unilever
British Refugee Council
IOM
Co-culture E. V.
C A F E Ltd
Oxfam
Amnesty International UK
Deadbeat Films Ltd
Freedom From Torture
Edgware Road Featu
Doughty St Chamber
Refugee Action
IRC
Europese Culturele
Show and Tel Ltd
British Future
Nottingham Trent
City of Sanctuary
Riot Communication
Coculture E.V.
NHS England
British Council
National Education Union
Metropolitan Housing Trust
Kickstart
IPOW
Protein Dance Ltd
Other Donations
Total grants and donations		 Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
-
106,472
-
63,333
-
40,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
209,805		 Restricted
Funds
2024
£
153,800
-
93,500
-
55,800
7,000
44,000
16,500
15,000
12,500
12,500
10,250
10,000
8,620
6,250
4,955
4,245
4,000
3,750
3,231
2,000
2,000
2,000
1,875
1,875
1,091
1,022
1,000
900
625
100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,660
489,049		 Total
2024

£
153,800
106,472
93,500
63,333
55,800
47,000
44,000
16,500
15,000
12,500
12,500
10,250
10,000
8,620
6,250
4,955
4,245
4,000
3,750
3,231
2,000
2,000
2,000
1,875
1,875
1,091
1,022
1,000
900
625
100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,660
698,854		 Total
2023
£
82,250
81,472
95,000
-
4,000
7,000
44,000
15,000
-
12,500
10,000
9,000
-
6,000
-
-
-
-
3,000
-
6,000
-
-
3,375
1,500
-
-
1,000
-
625
-
45,890
35,800
22,798
20,000
3,298
2,585
600
120
-
512,813

19

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

2
INCOME FROM (continued)
Unrestricted
Funds
2024
Charitable Activities
£
Events and consultancy
32,293
Total charitable activities
32,293		 Restricted
Funds
2024
£
-
-		 Total
2024
£
32,293
32,293		 Total
2023
£
68,762
68,762

In 2024, £698,854 (2023: £512,813) was received from grants and donations, £209,805 (2023: £120,570) of which to unrestricted funds and the remaining £489,049 (2023: £392,243) to restricted funds.

£106,472 (2023: £81,472) of government grants were received from Arts Council England to fund Counterpoints Arts charitable activities. There were no other contingencies or unfulfilled conditions relating to this fund.

In 2024, £32,293 was received from charitable activities, £32,293 (2023: £52,261) of which to unrestricted funds and the remaining £nil (2023: £16,501) to restricted funds.

3. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Analysis of direct costs
Staff costs
Event costs
Printing and publications
Other direct costs
Total direct costs
Analysis of support costs
Support staff
Property costs
Office costs
Professional fees
Governance costs – Independent Examiner’s fee
Total support costs
Total costs		 2024
£
283,513
27,036
5,140
307,830
623,519
7,780
21,868
8,380
15,531
3,480
57,039
680,558		 2023
£
254,484
54,226
14,815
265,696
589,221
9,836
21,548
10,752
12,964
3,276
58,376
647,597

20

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

In 2024, there was £680,558 of expenditure, of which £71,841 (2023: £186,429) was spent from unrestricted funds and the remaining £437,708 (2023: £461,168) spent from restricted funds.

4. NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR

This is stated after charging:

Independent examination fees 2024
£
3,480
____		 2023
£
3,276
____

5. STAFF COSTS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Employees
Total staff costs and employee benefits were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Defined contribution pension costs		 2024
7
____
2024
£
252,405
25,572
13,316
____ _
291,293
2023
8
____
2023
£
234,687
18,832
10,801
____
___
264,320

No employees had total annual emoluments greater than £60,000, but less than £70,000 (2023: One). One employee had total annual emoluments greater than £70,000, but less than £80,000 (2023: None).

The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel were £150,058 (2023: £72,535). Key management personnel is defined as the trustees together with the two co-directors of the Charity (who are not directors for the purposes of Companies Act).

21

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

6. DIRECTORS REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Two Trustees (2023: Two) received reimbursement for expenses in the year totalling £586 (2023: £158). One Trustee was paid for services in the year totalling £250 (2023: £178). There were no other related party transactions in the current year (2023: None).

There were 2 payments to Trustees in the current year, made in accordance with our Articles of Association:

Naima Khan

Ali Ghaderi

The total aggregate donations received from Trustees was £24 (2023: £nil).

7. PENSION AND OTHER POST–RETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension plan for its employees. The amount recognised as an expense in the period was £13,316 (2023: £10,801). The defined contribution liability allocated to restricted funds is £9,334 (2023: £8,729) and unrestricted funds £3,982 (2023: £2,072).

8. DEBTORS

Other Debtors
9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accruals
Deferred Income
Other Creditors
Opening deferred income
Released in the year
Income deferred in the current year		 2024
£
19,129
19,129
2024
£
14,470
75,000
3,771
93,241
-
-
75,000
75,000		 2023
£
5,436
5,436
2023
£
13,154
-
560
13,714
3,298
(3,298)
-
-

22

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Deferred income comprises receipts received in the year which relate to activities to be completed in future periods.

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Assets
Liabilities
Net current assets		 Unrestricte
d Funds
2024
£
321,415
(93,240)
228,175		 Designat
ed Funds
2024
£
133,856
-
133,856		 Restricte
d Funds
2024
£
237,502
-
237,502		 Total
2024
£
692,774
(93,240)
599,533

10. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS (continued)

Assets
Liabilities
Net current assets		 Unrestricte
d funds
2023
£
376,497
(13,714)
362,783		 Designat
ed funds
2023
£
-
-
-		 Restricte
d funds
2023
£
186,161
-
186,161		 Total
2023
£
562,658
(13,714)
548,944

23

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

11. FUND RECONCILIATION

CURRENT YEAR
Restricted funds
Staff and Core Costs Fund
Refugee Week Fund
Learning Lab
Leadership & Comm
Pop Culture
Arts and Social Change
Arts and Mental Health
Across Borders
Footnote Literature Prize
Total Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Productions
Platforma
Core
Pop Culture
Total Designated Funds
Total funds		 Balance at
1 April
2023
£
13,585
44,195
13,989
5,017
-
-
1,300
108,075
-
186,161
362,783
-
-
-
-
-
548,944		 Income
Expenditure
£
£
139,000
(112,500)
88,560
(84,716)
11,241
(25,230)
-
(5,017)
107,548
(60,876)
15,000
(10,079)
56,650
(18,170)
54,050
(107,288)
17,000
(13,832)
472,549
(437,708)
46,643
(71,840)
73,000
(66,269)
59,122
(89,269)
63,333
(15,472)
-
-
195,455
-
(171,010)
731,147
(680,558)		 Transfer
£
-
(109,411)
16,975
30,933
-
61,503
109,411
-		 Balance at
31 March
2024
£
40,585
48,039
-
-
46,672
4,921
39,780
54,837
3,168
237,502
228,175
23,706
786
47,861
61,503
133,856
599,533

24

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

11.

PRIOR YEAR
Restricted funds
Staff and Core Costs Fund
Refugee Week Fund
Learning Lab
Leadership & Comm
Pop Culture
Arts and Social Change Retreat
International Comic Relief
Baring Foundation
Total Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds		 Balance at
1 April 2022
£
37,111
24,349
3,737
5,267
10,624
24,400
133,097
-
238,585
376,381
614,966		 Income
£
151,585
83,720
81,754
-
435
5,000
82,250
4,000
408,744
172,831
581,575		 Expenditure
£
(175,111)
(63,873)
(71,503)
(250)
(11,059)
(29,400)
(107,272)
(2,700)
(461,168)
(186,429)
(647,597)		 Balance at
31 March
2023
£
13,585
44,196
13,988
5,017
-
-
108,075
1,300
186,161
362,783
548,944

11. FUND RECONCILIATION (continued)

Restricted

Staff and Core Costs Fund

Restricted funding for ongoing operational costs and for employers liabilities arising on transfer of employment contracts to Counterpoints Arts.

Refugee Week Fund Restricted funding for an annual, UK wide festival of arts, cultural and educational events that promote the contribution of refugees to the UK.

Learning Lab Restricted funding for a dedicated public learning programme focusing on the theme of arts and social change in relation to migration.

Leadership & Comms

A project to increase the capacity and visibility of grassroots arts and activism networks through training and networking, communications work and a leadership programme.

Pop Culture Restricted Funding for a strand of work in the field of pop culture and social change, encompassing sport, film/TV, fashion and gaming.

25

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Arts and Social Change Retreat Restricted funding towards networking retreats across
our projects, including around climate and popular
culture.
International Comic Relief
Restricted funding for a series of commissions, publicity
networking and artist development in Greece, Germany
& the UK.
Arts Council England Restricted funding towards building our networks and
programming across the UK, to support emerging talent
and new projects, including commissions, showcasing
and main-streaming work by and about migrants and
refugees.
Baring Foundation Restricted funding to produce a research report on arts
and mental health, looking at the provision for refugees
and asylum seekers.
Arts and Mental Health Restricted funding towards our Arts, Migration and
Displacement strand of work developing commissions,
networks and shared learning around how arts promotes
mental health.
Footnote Literature Prize Restricted funding towards our literary award that seeks
to amplify and platform marginalised literary voices from
migrant or refugee backgrounds.

Designated Platforma Designated funding towards ongoing enabling work, including networking events, artistic support, and arts programming related to our bi-annual Platforma festival. Productions Designated funding towards our ongoing programming of productions and arts events, taking place across London and the UK Clapham Park Designated funding towards a collaborative neighbourhood storytelling project exploring the past, present and future of the Clapham Park area in London.

Pop Culture Designated funding for a strand of work in the field of pop culture and social change, encompassing sport, film/TV, fashion and gaming.

26

Docusign Envelope ID: 6C4B6DF3-3139-438C-8FAE-FA6CD2FF470A

COUNTERPOINTS ARTS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont.) For the year ended 31 March 2024

12. OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS – LAND AND BUILDINGS

OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS – LAND AND BUILDINGS
Contracts ending;
Not later than one year
Later than one and not later than five
years		 2024
£
7,037
-
7,037		 2023
£
16,800
-
16,800

Lease payments recognised as an expense in the year were £18,691 (2023: £17,729)

13. SHARE CAPITAL

As the company is limited by guarantee it has no share capital and no shareholders.

27