OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Culture Warrington

2025-03-31-accounts

Charity registration number 1151203 (England and Wales)

Company registration number 07974406

CULTURE WARRINGTON

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

CULTURE WARRINGTON

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees M Banner
L M Harrison
D C Simons
J L Wilkie
C Persoglio
C Lloyd-Fitzgerald (Appointed 21 May 2024)
P Parry (Appointed 24 April 2025)
A Duckworth (Appointed 24 April 2025)
B Appleby (Appointed 16 September 2025)
Dr S Norton (Appointed 16 September 2025)
C Shaw (Appointed 22 September 2025)
Charity number (England and Wales) 1151203
Company number 07974406
Registered office Pyramid Arts Centre
Palmyra Square South
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1BL
Auditor Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited
Suites C,D,E, & F
14th Floor The Plaza
100 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9QJ
Bankers National Westminster Bank plc
23 Sankey Street
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1XG
Solicitors Mills & Reeve LLP
8th Floor
1 New York Street
Manchester
M1 4AD

CULTURE WARRINGTON

CONTENTS

Page
Chairman's statement 1
Trustees' report 2 - 8
Independent auditor's report 9 - 12
Statement of financial activities 13
Balance sheet 14
Statement of cash flows 15
Notes to the financial statements 16 - 33

CULTURE WARRINGTON

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

We have so much to celebrate, and I am immensely proud of Culture Warrington. As the leading cultural organisation in Warrington, we continue to demonstrate consistency of an enriched, diversity of programmes and outreach for our communities.

Our Leadership Team, with strategic direction from Trustees continued to develop and support the arts in Warrington through an increasingly diverse and inclusive programme.

A significant highlight was the relaunch of Warrington Arts Festival. Thanks to substantial funding from Arts Council England (ACE) alongside financial support from Warrington Borough Council and Warrington BID, we delivered an accessible, wideranging and high caliber summer event, which was the culmination of ongoing work in the community.

We lead an ambitious programme created with, by and for the people of Warrington, which resulted in fantastic feedback from our primary funder. ACE told us that ‘ the quality of the commissions and programming were very high with a non-typical audience of ACE funded events with families who may have found it difficult to attend paying events’ shining a spotlight on our ability and experience in bringing communities together.

Within our core offer, the successful appointment to the new role of Museum Development Manager will help drive a new vision and our strategic priorities for Warrington Museum and Art Gallery (WMAG).

With increased focus on sustainability, we’ve adopted a policy and action plan with many of our team qualified in ‘Carbon Literacy’ and our inspiring Sky Garden project has been recognised with a number of national awards.

149,630 participants took part in our expansive events programme across our venues and through our education, outreach and engagement initiatives.

Looking ahead, the Towns Deal funded modernisation of our Pyramid Arts Centre is currently underway and we look forward to welcoming visitors back next year.

On a personal note, I recently took the difficult decision to retire as Chair after leading Culture Warrington since its inception in 2012. Fresh leadership in a new era for the charity feels right, and our new Chair Claire Lloyd Fitzgerald is an exciting prospect.

The possibilities for Culture Warrington are wide-open, with a hardworking, talented and collaborative team and the support of a skilled and knowledgeable Board delivering for the people of Warrington.

I would like to thank our Board for its strategic leadership and our creative, imaginative Leadership Team; they are the foundations on which we flourish and continue to develop our arts and heritage. Their professional passion and thoughtful ideas continue to develop our inclusive, ambitious programmes.

To colleagues, volunteers, Warrington Borough Council, partners, funders and all our supporters across the years, my thanks, it has been a pleasure working with you.

M Banner Former Chair

Date: 25 November 2025

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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 (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).

Public benefit

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Objectives and activities

The objectives of the charity, as set out in the Articles of Association are:

Culture Warrington was formed in May 2012 as the lead organisation to deliver Arts, Heritage and Events in Warrington, and encompasses three venues, Pyramid, Parr Hall and Warrington Museum & Art Gallery. As well as operating these venues Culture Warrington programmes a wide range of events and festivals.

Culture Warrington operates the Museum, Pyramid and Parr Hall on 25 year leases from Warrington Borough Council at a peppercorn rent as part of the management agreement to deliver services. It is impractical to assign a separate rental value to the buildings.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

HIGHLIGHTS

Warrington Music Festival

Working collaboratively with partners, we delivered Warrington Music Festival, a free event showcasing the talents of some of the best grassroots and emerging music artists from the region. The aspirational project saw many young people go on a journey from showcasing their material at Pyramid’s Basement Bar to being centre stage performing to hundreds of people in the town centre on a large capacity professional platform.

In addition, attendees had the opportunity to gain insight into potential career paths in the music industry via ‘Stage Craft’, free educational workshops made possible thanks to a partnership with Priestley College.

Parr Hall Programmed Events

Our iconic listed concert hall continued to host a diverse range of performers and household names. We even had a Hollywood star grace our stage when Russell Crowe and his ‘Indoor House Party’ toured – the Parr Hall gig was one of a very limited number of UK shows.

Our distinctive programme across the year covered comedy, dance, talks, family shows and music with something for everyone. Highlights included fast rising Earlestown rockers The K’s, top comedians like Rhod Gilbert, Jimmy Carr, Al Murray and Katherine Ryan, music stars such as Peter Hook and Scouting for Girls, journalist and explorer Simon Reeve and BBC broadcasting legends, duo Mark and Lard, who were back together again professionally for the first time in two decades.

There was also a lot of excitement when we exclusively hosted two intimate album launch shows for the high-profile band The Courteeners in advance of their sell-out arena tour.

As ever, our annual Panto was well attended by family audiences. Cinderella was one of our most successful seasons, which capitalised on TV star Anne Hegerty’s inclusion in the cast.

Beyond touring shows, Parr Hall is at the heart of community hires and our wider programming such as Warrington Arts Festival, which has become more significant during Pyramid’s temporary closure.

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery (WMAG)

In addition to housing our galleries and collection of some 200,000 artefacts from across the world, we use the venue as a unique performance space to facilitate cross-team projects such as Warrington Pride, Lunar New Year and an Early Years Takeover as part of Warrington Arts Festival, with an underused space revamped as a permanent dedicated zone for young children and their families.

Our range of free school holiday and weekend craft activities remain ever popular with families.

Education

Developing our formal education offer to schools, we created Early Years / KS1 visits to the Museum with partners including a subsidised musical or artistic element which has been well received.

We created a new funded scheme of work based on a local historical figure which has been made available for schools to download for free, and we continued our CPD (continuing professional development) programme for teachers in association with Heritage England.

Sustainability / Green Agenda

Along with our sustainability agenda and volunteer programme, our nationally recognised and award-winning rooftop green space, Sky Garden, provides an alternative and inspiring venue for a range of educational, mental health and community engagement programmes and outdoor arts.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

As an invited member of Warrington Climate Emergency Commission, we developed a strand of work on green youth engagement, and we are regularly approached by the sector to share our expertise and best practice.

Exhibitions

Highlights included ‘ World Building ’ celebrating the work of local creative Curtis Jobling, best known as the designer of Bob the Builder and creator of Raa Raa the Noisy Lion .

Steve Goldman’s The Worst Record Covers in the World was well received and featured more than 600 unintentionally hilarious record covers in a celebration of creative risk.

The success of the show prompted a tweet from visitor, BBC 6 Music’s Mark Radcliffe, which went viral. Subsequently, we were pleased to welcome first-time visitors to our galleries because of this.

Roots and Reflections: A Journey Through Black British History celebrated Black British history and culture through the creativity of 600 primary schoolchildren across nine schools. The young artists worked with artist Tina Ramos Ekongo in a project funded by Arts Council England.

Other exhibitions featured local artists and pieces from our collection which tied into national events such as the D-Day anniversary and Warrington Pride.

Collections, Heritage and Archives

Alongside our Search Room service and collections ‘Object Enquiry’ drop in’s, we continued our successful outreach and engagement programme through a series of events, talks and workshops. Our expertise continues to be recognised and valued as we host research projects and provide curatorial advice to local organisations.

Alongside the team, we’re grateful to our dedicated volunteers who contributed their time in supporting the Archives offer.

We were delighted to be supported by Arts Council England through its ‘Unlocking Collections’ campaign this year. We received £16,795 which helped us launch ‘ A Cabinet of (Whose?) Curiosities ’ project which seeks to collaborate with the community to address colonial structures associated with Warrington Museum’s past and collections. It has seen us work with youth groups and members from our Sikh, Hong Kong, Chinese and African communities, including sessions with nonEnglish speakers.

Place Partnership Fund (PPF) Team and Warrington Arts Festival

Our first year of the two-year Arts Council England-funded PPF project of work has enabled us to engage and collaborate with a wide range of partners and groups including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Youth Justice system, the LGBTQIA+ community and global majorities incorporating input into our annual Warrington Arts Festival and beyond, creating a legacy and feeding into the relaunch of Pyramid.

The project has three main streams: Communities, Children and Young People and Artist Development.

We created 12 Young Producer volunteer roles to help programme and deliver the festival. The scheme was so successful that they have been retained alongside a new cohort for year two. One of their huge successes was ‘Squiggle’, collaborating with established Warrington artist and fashion designer Tony Green to deliver a large community canvas in the local shopping centre which attracted 1,400 attendees across a weekend within the festival programme.

We launched ‘HeARTful Minds’ a funded programme of artist delivered sessions across 14 schools with more than 560 participations by children identified at risk with mental health. 92% of the children taking part stated that their confidence had improved by taking part in the programme.

As part of Warrington Arts Festival (WAF), we held our largest Open Exhibition hosted at WMAG, which attracted almost 900 entries, of which 96 artworks by 70 artists were selected.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

We launched an Artist Development programme too, with free monthly opportunities for artists to learn, meet and platform work. It has also provided ongoing project development and fundraising support for Culture Warrington’s Associate Artists.

The festival itself is the culmination of engagement throughout the year, and we worked to actively remove barriers that might stop people coming to events such as cost, accessibility and location.

More than 12,500 people attended live events throughout the week, plus more who experienced the artworks and exhibitions and 70 local artists took part in a paid capacity.

The festival culminated with our biggest piece so far, a free large-scale aerial performance. The production also saw us commission a local artist who worked with care leavers to create a poem which provided an impactful backing track to the event about Warrington’s sense of identity.

Staff

Number of staff employed by Culture Warrington – 57 employees (at end March 2025)

Number of volunteer hours supported by Culture Warrington – 1,900

Financial review

In the year ended 31 March 2025 Culture Warrington recorded a surplus of £492,005 (2024: surplus of £519,374) prior to actuarial gains from the pension scheme, from incoming resources of £4,451,234 (2024: £3,650,142).

After taking into account the actuarial gains there was an overall increase in funds from £1,888,380 to £2,544,385 as at 31 March 2025.

The cash position remains at a healthy level with cash levels being at £3,230,715 as at 31 March 2025 (2024: £2,913,208).

The charity has recorded a surplus in 2024/25 but this surplus includes £56,359 accounted for as a restricted fund from Place Partnership Funding received from Arts Council England; this surplus will reverse over the next financial year as this funding is spent on delivery. Alongside this £283,683 was received from Shared Prosperity fund to purchase equipment. This surplus will decrease over the coming years due to the deprecation of the assets.

The charity continues to maintain strong reserves and cash.

Reserves policy

The purpose of the reserves policy for Culture Warrington is to ensure the stability of the ongoing operations of the charity.

The charity’s unrestricted reserves are intended to provide an internal source of funds for situations such as a sudden increase in costs, significant unbudgeted costs, or unanticipated loss in income or funding. The unrestricted reserves may also be used for investment in infrastructure. The unrestricted reserves are not intended to replace a permanent loss of funds but may be used to implement actions to deal with the impact of such a loss.

The target minimum unrestricted reserve (excluding reserves relating to the pension scheme) is equal to three month’s average operating costs – currently this would equate to £850,000 – and the trustees will seek to maintain reserves at this level. The Trustees will balance the growth in unrestricted reserves to the target level with investment into projects which extend the reach of the cultural offer in Warrington by splitting any annual surpluses equally between these two objectives.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Structure, governance and management

Culture Warrington is a charitable company with Articles of Association and governed by a Board of Trustees. Culture Warrington is constituted as a limited company by guarantee without share capital.

The trustees are directly elected by the Trust. Culture Warrington agreed with Warrington Borough Council that the Council is entitled to nominate two observers.

The Board of Trustees has met formally five times during the year.

From 1 March 2024, the management support services contract provided by LiveWire (Warrington) CIC ceased and Culture Warrington became a standalone organisation with a new Senior Management Team comprising an Executive Director and Cultural Director who attend all Board meetings.

Each new trustee attends an induction day held by the Senior Management Team. Trustees are presented with a pack of information about Culture Warrington and their roles and responsibilities as a trustee; additional training is provided if required.

During the year the Trust continued to largely suspend the operation of subcommittees of the Board, with all business being carried out by the Board, although the Finance Audit and Risk Subcommittee met once during the year for a detailed review of the strategic risks affecting the charity.

Going concern

The charity has been able to deliver a full programme of events enabling it to continue to build its reserves. Grants received from Arts Council England into restricted funds will be spent in future periods and so these reserves will reduce over that time. However, an increase in the Management Fee from Warrington Borough Council for 2024/25 has been obtained to support core delivery. Alongside this, energy prices have decreased bringing them back to a more sustainable level.

The Directors have considered the effect on the financial position of the charity and in view of the current financial position, and the financial support available, the Directors consider it appropriate to prepare accounts on a going concern basis.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Trustees

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:

A F Appleton-Mitchell (Resigned 25 February 2025) M T Corfield (Resigned 20 March 2025) M Banner L M Harrison D C Simons R K Welsh (Resigned 17 September 2024) J L Wilkie C Persoglio C Lloyd-Fitzgerald (Appointed 21 May 2024) P Parry (Appointed 24 April 2025) A Duckworth (Appointed 24 April 2025) B Appleby (Appointed 16 September 2025) Dr S Norton (Appointed 16 September 2025) C Shaw (Appointed 22 September 2025)

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

As part of the arrangements with Warrington Borough Council, the Council nominated two observers that attend Board meetings. The Council observers during the year were Councillor Claire Lloyd-Fitzgerald and Councillor Russ Bowden.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees, who are also the directors of Culture Warrington for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)(INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Auditor

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at the Annual General Meeting.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

C Lloyd-Fitzgerald

Trustee Dated: 25 November 2025

CULTURE WARRINGTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF CULTURE WARRINGTON

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Culture Warrington (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the 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, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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 Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity 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 charity’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 other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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. 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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 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 our audit:

CULTURE WARRINGTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF CULTURE WARRINGTON

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which 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 charity for the purpose 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 charity’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.

Auditor's 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 an auditor's report 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.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF CULTURE WARRINGTON

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:

(i) The presentation of the charity's Statement of Financial Activities, (ii) the charity's accounting policy for revenue recognition (iii) the overstatement of salary and other costs (iv) the assumptions used in the calculation of the valuation of the surplus or deficit on the defined benefit pension scheme and the movements for the year. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and the Statement of Recommended Practice - 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' issued by the joint SORP making body .

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the charity’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. These included Data Protection Regulations.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF CULTURE WARRINGTON

Audit response to risks identified

As a result of performing the above, we identified the presentation of the charity's Statement of Financial Activities, revenue recognition and overstatement of wages and other costs as the key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud. The key audit matters section of our report explains the matters in more detail and also describes the specific procedures we performed in response to those key audit matters.

In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

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.

Philip Griffiths (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited 25 November 2025 Accountants Statutory Auditor Suites C,D,E, & F 14th Floor The Plaza 100 Old Hall Street Liverpool L3 9QJ

CULTURE WARRINGTON

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
Income from:
Charitable activities
3
3,921,769
Investments
4
51,865
Total income
3,973,634
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
3,489,183
Total expenditure
3,489,183
Net income
484,451
Transfers between funds
-
Other recognised gains
and losses:
Actuarial gains on defined
benefit pension schemes
164,000
Net movement in funds
7
648,451
Reconciliation of funds:
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
1,489,716
Fund balances at 31 March 2025
2,138,167		 Restricted
funds
2025
£
477,600
-
477,600
470,046
470,046
7,554
-
-
7,554
398,664
406,218		 Total
2025
£
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
4,399,369
3,252,062
51,865
37,590
4,451,234
3,289,652
3,959,229
3,082,566
3,959,229
3,082,566
492,005
207,086
-
(4,164)
164,000
55,000
656,005
257,922
1,888,380
1,231,794
2,544,385
1,489,716		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
360,490
-
360,490
48,202
48,202
312,288
4,164
-
316,452
82,212
398,664		 Total
2024
£
3,612,552
37,590
3,650,142
3,130,768
3,130,768
519,374
-
55,000
574,374
1,314,006
1,888,380

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Fixed assets
Notes
2025
£
Tangible assets
11
Current assets
Stocks
12
21,884
Debtors
13
118,911
Cash at bank and in hand
3,230,715
3,371,510
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14
(1,266,796)
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets excluding pension liability
Defined benefit pension liability
15
The funds of the charity
Restricted income funds
16
Unrestricted funds
17		 £
2024
£
439,671
20,341
144,221
2,913,208
3,077,770
(1,379,955)
2,104,714
2,544,385
2,544,385
-
406,218
2,138,167
2,544,385		 £
190,565
1,697,815
1,888,380
1,888,380
-
398,664
1,489,716
1,888,380

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 25 November 2025

C Lloyd-Fitzgerald

Trustee

Company registration number 07974406 (England and Wales)

CULTURE WARRINGTON

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
21
Investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from disposal of tangible fixed assets
Investment income received
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash generated from financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		 2025
£
(301,506)
900
51,865		 £
566,248
(248,741)
-
317,507
2,913,208
3,230,715		 2024
£
(106,430)
-
37,590		 £
806,344
(68,840)
-
737,504
2,175,704
2,913,208

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Culture Warrington is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Pyramid Arts Centre, Palmyra Square South, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1BL.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

In view of the current financial position, the funding support available, and the continued support of our commissioners, Warrington Borough Council, the trustees consider it appropriate to prepare accounts on a going concern basis.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

1.5 Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been included in support costs and allocated to activates on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Plant and equipment 10% on cost
Fixtures and fittings 10% on cost
Computer equipment 20% on cost

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

1.9 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.10 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 to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Impairment of financial assets

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.

If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

Derecognition of financial assets

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

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

1.11 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

1.12 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The present value of the Local Government Pension Scheme defined benefit liability depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions. The assumptions used in determining the net cost or income for pensions include the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in note 15, will impact the carrying amount of the pension liability. Furthermore a roll forward approach which projects results from the latest full actuarial valuation performed at 31 March 2022 has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability at 31 March 2025. Any differences between the figures derived from the roll forward approach and a full actuarial valuation would impact on the carrying amount of the pension liability.

FRS 102 section 28.22 allows an entity to recognise a surplus within the Local Government Pension Scheme "only to the extent it is able to recover the surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the plan". The actuarial report as at 31 March 2025 indicates a defined benefit asset position, which has been capped at nil value. This is on the basis that it is uncertain that a surplus following any triennial review would result in reduced contributions for the employer, and is unlikely to result in a repayment.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

3 Income from charitable activities

Cultural
engagement
2025
£
Museum and Art Gallery
1,409
Pyramid and Parr Hall
4,452
Facility hire
451
Cultural engagement
456,392
Commissions
10,000
Education
17,958
Management fee
1,606,508
2,097,170
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
1,641,454
Restricted funds
455,716
2,097,170		 Museum
Venue and
events
management
2025
2025
£
£
6,239
902
-
1,787,126
-
144,918
7,259
350,844
15,116
1,180
-
-
(11,385)
-
17,229
2,284,970
17,229
2,263,086
-
21,884
17,229
2,284,970		 Total
Cultural
engagement
2025
2024
£
£
8,550
1,160
1,791,578
393
145,369
534
814,495
1,702
26,296
38,876
17,958
13,840
1,595,123
1,528,052
4,399,369
1,584,557
3,921,769
1,584,557
477,600
-
4,399,369
1,584,557		 Museum
Venue and
events
management
Total
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
5,653
-
6,813
-
1,458,052
1,458,445
-
186,644
187,178
1,928
3,827
7,457
3,551
356,955
399,382
-
-
13,840
11,385
-
1,539,437
22,517
2,005,478
3,612,552
18,982
1,648,523
3,252,062
3,535
356,955
360,490
22,517
2,005,478
3,612,552

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

4 Income from investments
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2025 2024
£ £
Other income 51,865 37,590

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

5 Charitable activities

Staff costs
Depreciation and impairment
Premises expenditure
Artists and event fees
Spectrix charges
Telephone and computer
Printing and stationery
Advertising
Sundries
Purchases and stocks
Legal costs
Motor, travel and entertainment
Equipment hire
EPOS charges
Carried forward		 Cultural
events
2025
£
294,040
3,467
1,307
271,022
-
-
967
-
51,953
2,243
410
777
669
-
626,855		 Museum
Venue and
Events
Management
2025
2025
£
£
155,661
643,178
431
46,561
-
343,087
2,954
810,025
-
28,799
-
10,956
-
909
-
8,656
9,653
6,464
26,312
150,345
12,774
115,632
28
7,785
-
36,609
-
25,915
207,813
2,234,921		 Total
2025
£
1,092,879
50,459
344,394
1,084,001
28,799
10,956
1,876
8,656
68,070
178,900
128,816
8,590
37,278
25,915
3,069,589		 Cultural
events
2024
£
180,084
3,552
1,451
49,760
-
-
921
-
6,577
1,261
1,248
460
299
-
245,613		 Museum
Venue and
Total
Events
Management
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
144,972
382,756
707,812
1,559
27,040
32,151
743
495,142
497,336
5,825
701,252
756,837
-
26,569
26,569
-
12,617
12,617
-
345
1,266
-
-
-
86,664
4,122
97,363
7,192
113,141
121,594
-
39,429
40,677
-
1,508
1,968
-
15,407
15,706
-
26,209
26,209
246,955
1,845,537
2,338,105

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

5 Charitable activities

(Continued)

Brought forward
Share of support costs (see note 6)
Share of governance costs (see note 6)
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 Cultural
events
2025
£
626,855
110,281
991
738,127
325,237
412,890
738,127		 Museum
Venue and
Events
Management
2025
2025
£
£
207,813
2,234,921
94,431
678,796
891
4,250
303,135
2,917,967
276,318
2,887,628
26,817
30,339
303,135
2,917,967		 Total
2025
£
3,069,589
883,508
6,132
3,959,229
3,489,183
470,046
3,959,229		 Cultural
Museum
Venue and
events
Events
Management
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
245,613
246,955
1,845,537
169,206
147,996
450,877
5,534
4,736
14,314
420,353
399,687
2,310,728
390,459
399,687
2,292,420
29,894
-
18,308
420,353
399,687
2,310,728		 Total
2024
£
2,338,105
768,079
24,584
3,130,768
3,082,566
48,202
3,130,768

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

6 Support costs

Support costs Governance
costs
£
£
Staff costs
413,709
-
Depreciation
12,956
-
Advertising and literature
50,895
-
Professional fees
10,550
-
Telephone and computer
131,988
-
Other central support costs
79,380
-
Irrecoverable VAT
180,030
-
Net interest cost on defined
benefit pension scheme
4,000
-
Audit fees
-
6,133
Legal and professional
-
-
883,508
6,133
Analysed between
Charitable activities
883,508
6,132
7
Net movement in funds
The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Fees payable for the audit of the charity's financial statements
Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets		 2025
£
413,709
12,956
50,895
10,550
131,988
79,380
180,030
4,000
6,133
-
889,641
889,640		 2024 Basis of allocation
£
373,722 Time spent
5,173
46,791 Charitable activity levels
150,564 Operational staff costs
68,410 Device numbers
67,791 Operational staff costs
143,628 Charitable activity levels
(88,000)
9,800 Governance
14,784 Governance
792,663
792,663
2025
2024
£
£
6,133
9,800
51,500
37,324

8 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

9 Employees

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Management and administration
Operational team
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2025
Number
7
63
70
2025
£
1,242,452
104,136
160,000
1,506,588		 2024
Number
2
56
58
2024
£
871,874
66,660
143,000
1,081,534

The members of the senior management team are employed by Livewire (Warrington) CIC.

The number of employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more were:

2025 2024
Number Number
£60,001 - £70,000 - 1
£70,001 - £80,000 1 -

10 Taxation

The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

11
Tangible fixed assets
Plant and
equipment
Fixtures and
fittings
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2024
188,452
100,928
Additions
295,006
-
Disposals
-
(900)
At 31 March 2025
483,458
100,028
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2024
90,681
32,308
Depreciation charged in the year
34,261
7,069
At 31 March 2025
124,942
39,377
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025
358,516
60,651
At 31 March 2024
97,771
68,620
12
Stocks
Raw materials and consumables
13
Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 Computer
equipment
£
50,694
6,500
-
57,194
26,520
10,170
36,690
20,504
24,174
2025
£
21,884
2025
£
68,326
50,585
118,911		 Total
£
340,074
301,506
(900)
640,680
149,509
51,500
201,009
439,671
190,565
2024
£
20,341
2024
£
86,815
57,406
144,221

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2025
£
61,203
236,898
56,439
912,256
1,266,796		 2024
£
61,690
227,362
41,448
1,049,455
1,379,955
15 Retirement benefit schemes
2025 2024
Defined contribution schemes £ £
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes 160,000 143,000

Defined benefit schemes

The charity's employees belong to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), which is managed by Cheshire Pension Fund. This is a multi-employer defined-benefit scheme.

The LGPS is a funded defined-benefit scheme, with the assets held in separate trustee-administered funds.

The principal actuarial assumptions are as follows;

Key assumptions
2025 2024
% %
Discount rate 5.85 4.85
Expected rate of increase of pensions in payment 2.70 2.75
Expected rate of salary increases 3.4 3.45

Mortality assumptions

The assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are:

Retiring today
- Males
- Females
Retiring in 20 years
- Males
- Females		 2025
2024
Years
Years
20.7
20.8
24.6
24.6
20.7
20.8
25.1
25.1

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

15
Retirement benefit schemes
Amounts recognised in the profit and loss account
Costs/(income):
Current service cost
Net interest on defined benefit liability/(asset)
Total costs
Amounts recognised in other comprehensive income
Costs/(income):
Actual return on scheme assets
Less: calculated interest element
Return on scheme assets excluding interest income
Actuarial changes related to obligations
Effect of changes in the amount of surplus that is not recoverable
Total costs/(income)
The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from the charity's obligations in
respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:
Liabilities/(assets):
Present value of defined benefit obligations
Fair value of plan assets
Surplus in scheme
Restriction on scheme assets
Total liability recognised		 (Continued)
2025
2024
£
£
160,000
143,000
4,000
(88,000)
164,000
55,000
2025
2024
£
£
(141,000)
(374,000)
291,000
269,000
150,000
(105,000)
(991,000)
(210,000)
677,000
260,000
(164,000)
(55,000)
2025
2024
£
£
3,278,000
3,841,000
(6,138,000)
(6,024,000)
(2,860,000)
(2,183,000)
2,860,000
2,183,000
-
-

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

15 Retirement benefit schemes (Continued)
2025
Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations £
Liabilities at 1 April 2024 3,841,000
Current service cost 160,000
Benefits paid (96,000)
Contributions from scheme members 69,000
Actuarial gains and losses (991,000)
Interest cost 295,000
At 31 March 2025 3,278,000
The defined benefit obligations arise from plans which are wholly or partly funded.
2025
Movements in the fair value of plan assets £
Fair value of assets at 1 April 2024 6,024,000
Interest income 291,000
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest) (150,000)
Benefits paid (96,000)
Contributions by scheme members 69,000
At 31 March 2025 6,138,000

The actual return on plan assets was £141,000 (2024 - £374,000).

Fair value of plan assets
Equity instruments
Debt instruments
Property
Cash		 2025
£
2,946,000
2,394,000
737,000
61,000
6,138,000		 2024
£
3,012,000
2,169,000
723,000
120,000
6,024,000

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16 Restricted funds

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.

At 1 April 2024 Incoming Resources Transfers At 31 March
resources expended 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Numismatic 1,500 - - - 1,500
Sustainable Improvement Fund
Grant 2,908 9,500 (5,391) - 7,017
Geoblitz 1,111 - - - 1,111
Ready to borrow 4,215 - (1,128) - 3,087
Contemporary Arts - - (11,523) - (11,523)
Weston Loan Programme 1,283 - - - 1,283
Colonel Edelsten Bequest 52,657 - (23,350) - 29,307
Meeting Point 6,500 - (6,120) - 380
Peter Rogerson Bequest 6,810 - - - 6,810
Local Growth Fund - - (3,467) - (3,467)
Grass Roots Music 23,219 - (2,124) - 21,095
Place Partnership Fund 298,461 446,216 (389,855) - 354,822
Pyramid Remastered Towns Deal - 21,884 (27,088) - (5,204)
398,664 477,600 (470,046) - 406,218
Previous year: At 1 April 2023 Incoming Resources Transfers At 31 March
resources expended 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Numismatic 1,500 - - - 1,500
Sustainable Improvement Fund
Grant - 3,500 (592) - 2,908
Geoblitz 1,111 - - - 1,111
Ready to borrow 5,343 - (1,128) - 4,215
Contemporary Arts - 35 (732) 697 -
Weston Loan Programme 1,283 - - - 1,283
Colonel Edelsten Bequest 57,575 - (4,918) - 52,657
Meeting Point 6,500 - - - 6,500
Peter Rogerson Bequest 8,900 - (2,090) - 6,810
Local Growth Fund - - (3,467) 3,467 -
Grass Roots Music - 26,955 (3,736) - 23,219
Place Partnership Fund - 330,000 (31,539) - 298,461
82,212 360,490 (48,202) 4,164 398,664

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16 Restricted funds

(Continued)

Numismatic - £1,500 was received from the Northwest Museum Development Fund to improve care of and accessibility to our Numismatic collection.

Sustainable Improvement Fund - The Sustainable Improvement Fund was applied for and granted in 2022 by Museum Development North. The programme strand applied under was ‘Environmental Sustainability’. The money received was spent designing and building the first phase of the Sky Garden space on top of Golden Square shopping centre. This included design drawings, delivery of soil, gravel, sleepers and plants, and construction of the bedding spaces and seating area by Groundwork Warrington. The Sky Garden is a rooftop community garden space we use to increase biodiversity in the town centre, we also use it as a learning space for schools and a community space for events and a volunteer garden team. The remainder of the funding was used to trial and deliver some school workshops based around plants and habitats and staff time managing the project delivery.

This initial fund paved the way for further funding to expand the space and deliver a fuller community events programme over the summer months.

Geoblitz - This grant via Leeds Museums is to develop and/or promote engagement with the Geology collection at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery.

Ready to Borrow - This grant from ACE is to enable Culture Warrington to buy equipment that provides a suitable and stable environment so that we are able to borrow paintings from National Museums.

Contemporary Arts - This is funding from ACE and Warrington Borough Council to fund the Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival.

Weston Loan Programme - This grant is to cover costs relating to borrowing three paintings from National Museums Liverpool, including conservation work, transport, School of Art activity programme of artist workshops and seminars, exhibition guides, additional Front of House staff. This programme ran from May to December 2018.

Colonel Edelsten Bequest - This grant from the Colonel Edelsten Bequest is to fund an upgrade of equipment to improve the experience for users of Culture Warrington.

Meeting Point - This funding from Arts and Heritage is to enable Culture Warrington to work with and commission a local artist to produce a piece of contemporary art, and to explore showing contemporary art within a heritage context. The commissioned piece formed part of the Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival for 2019.

Peter Rogerson Bequest - This is legacy funding from the estate of local history librarian, Peter Rogerson, to be invested in developing the Charity’s Archive Service.

Local Growth Fund - This funding is provided by the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership to make the existing Warrington Museum & Library building and the network of community-based libraries into hubs for the delivery of digital programmes and workshops for coding clubs, schools, local businesses and digital creatives in the community.

Grass Roots Music - This funding is provided by Arts Council England to support rehearsal and recording studios, promoters, festivals, and venues for live and electronic music performance such as grassroots music venues and club sector organisations to apply for support for projects.

Place Partnership Fund - This funding is provided by Arts Council England to support for specific types of projects that aim to make a step change in the cultural and creative opportunity in places through the Place Partnership Strand within Project Grants. These will be projects that seek to transform an aspect of cultural or creative provision in line with Let’s Create and the strategic cultural development aspirations of the place the activity benefits.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

16 Restricted funds

(Continued)

Pyramid Remastered Towns Deal – Revenue funding from the Town Deal award of £5m towards the redevelopment of Pyramid which is specifically set aside to contribute towards the decant and return to Pyramid which includes removal costs, storage costs, temporary venue costs, setting up of safety and security systems, etc. This could also include marketing and communication materials, consultation fees, etc. to help communicate that the building is ready for reopening to the public.

17 Unrestricted funds

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.

At 1
Car park fund
General funds
Pension fund
Previous year:
At 1
Car park fund
General funds
Pension fund		 April 2024
£
15,452
1,734,264
1,749,716
(260,000)
1,489,716
April 2023
£
15,452
1,531,342
1,546,794
(315,000)
1,231,794		 Incoming
resources
£
-
3,973,634
3,973,634
-
3,973,634
Incoming
resources
£
-
3,289,652
3,289,652
-
3,289,652		 Resources
expended
£
-
(3,161,183)
(3,161,183)
-
(3,161,183)
Resources
expended
£
-
(3,082,566)
(3,082,566)
55,000
(3,027,566)		 TransfersGains
£
-
-
-
-
-
TransfersGains
£
-
(4,164)
(4,164)
(4,164)
and losses
£
At 31 March
2025
£
-
15,452
-
2,546,715
-
2,562,167
164,000
(96,000)
164,000
2,466,167
and losses
At 31 March
2024
£
£
-
15,452
-
1,734,264
-
1,749,716
-
(260,000)
-
1,489,716

The car park fund represents contributions to car parking by staff which the trustees have agreed to set aside to cover any future repair costs.

CULTURE WARRINGTON

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

18 Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted
2025
£
Fund balances at 31
March 2025 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
408,931
Current assets/(liabilities)
1,729,236
2,138,167		 Restricted
2025
£
30,740
375,478
406,218		 Total
Unrestricted
2025
2024
£
£
439,671
128,592
2,104,714
1,361,124
2,544,385
1,489,716		 Restricted
2024
£
61,973
336,691
398,664		 Total
2024
£
190,565
1,697,815
1,888,380

19 Related party transactions

During the current and prior year Culture Warrington utilised the key management personnel and resources of Livewire (Warrington) CIC a company registered in England and Wales, company number 07972958. A recharge is incurred from Livewire (Warrington) CIC for the use of these resources.

20 Analysis of changes in net funds

The charity had no material debt during the year.

21
Cash generated from operations
Surplus for the year
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
Difference between pension charge and cash contributions
Movements in working capital:
(Increase) in stocks
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
Cash generated from operations		 2025
£
492,005
(51,865)
51,500
164,000
(1,543)
25,310
(113,159)
566,248		 2024
£
519,374
(37,590)
37,324
55,000
(2,627)
(27,100)
261,963
806,344