Calderdale Theatre School Association Report of the trustees for the year ending 31[st] July 2025
Purposes and activities
The purpose of the charity is to advance the education and skills of young people in Calderdale by developing their understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the arts and culture through theatre, drama and other activities.
The principal activities of Calderdale Theatre School (CTS) were Saturday morning drama workshops and live performances. The workshops were delivered by a team of freelance professional drama practitioners who also rehearsed and directed the productions. The Saturday morning workshops were held during school terms at the Orange Box Young Peoples’ Centre in Halifax. Performances took place at Fire & Water in Sowerby Bridge and at the Orange Box in Halifax.
These activities benefited young people by building confidence, developing creativity, improving verbal and non-verbal communication skills, developing empathy and concentration, and encouraging teamwork and collaboration.
In planning activities for the year, trustees kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and fee charging. CTS welcomes all young people, aged between 10 and 19, regardless of personal background, ability, faith, gender or personal circumstances. Of the 43 students registered during the year, 29 were girls and 14 boys with 8 students reporting additional needs.
CTS relies on the income from fees to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the trustees gave careful consideration to the accessibility of the charity for those on low incomes. During the year 1 student received a free place, 10 students received a means-tested reduction, and 2 students received a reduction for families with more than 1 student.
Volunteers
The running of CTS is reliant upon the work of volunteer trustees and parents. They do a lot of the administration work of the charity and help behind the scenes making and maintaining costumes and creating sets and props. This year we were particularly grateful to Ellis Price and Lucy Fee from Fire & Water, Alison Roberts, Tony Clark, Lisa Gort and Christine Wood for their help with productions.
Calderdale Theatre School Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No: 1151269
Achievements and performance
A Play-in-a-Day
We had great fun in December when all our members took part in a Play-in-a-Day event. The students worked in groups and were given a box of stimulus to create a piece of theatre. We also welcomed visiting artist, Lucy Fee, who made props and costumes from junk and recycled items. The drama made was extremely diverse and entertaining. It was rewarding for staff to see the skills and techniques taught and practised in sessions, used in their devised work. We had an enthusiastic audience that supported this elaborate box of tricks.
Frankenstein
In the Spring Term, rehearsals for Frankenstein began. This piece involved students from years 9 to 13. We were delighted to invite Katie Alcott onto our staff as Movement Director, which greatly enhanced the concept of the piece. The play was adapted by Rob Garrett, one of our established leaders and was performed at Fire & Water in Sowerby Bridge. The atmosphere and setting of this theatre space greatly suited the world of the play and the students created a very affecting piece of theatre. The cast had the opportunity to perform the show three times, which allowed them to refine their work and practise maintaining focus and consistency in performance. Ben and Rob directed the piece and supported cast members who sang. The effect was eerie, atmospheric and thought provoking. A journey into a timeless classic that still mirrored concerns of our current times. Costumes by Alison Roberts. Stage Art by Lisa Gort.
Calderdale Theatre School Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No: 1151269
A Scary Play
In the summer term, rehearsals for A Scary Play began. Our younger students in years 6 to 9 entered a world of mystery and intrigue in a piece inspired by Judith Johnson and Walter De La Mare and adapted by Alison Field. The choreographed movement was created by the students and supported by their directors Jenny and Alison. They also learned how to perform in a new stage configuration, ‘Promenade’, where the audience follow the actors around the space. Different realities and scenes were staged in different locations, which created a sense of movement and pace. The result was immersive and challenged students to work with complex direction ideas. Projection and physical theatre were at the heart of this sometimes, abstract piece. The staff were very proud of the powerful ensemble created by these extremely mature and talented students. Costumes by Alison Roberts, Set Building by Tony Clark.
Calderdale Theatre School Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No: 1151269
Financial Review
Once again, the financial pressure on families meant that trustees decided not to increase fees this year. We have continued to hold workshops at the Orange Box and are grateful to Calderdale Council for their support. Cash at the bank at 31/07/2025 was £20,555 in unrestricted funds. The main financial risk to the charity is a sustained reduction in student numbers and the increasing cost of premises to hire for workshops and performances. We aim to keep £5000 in reserve funds to cover 6 months running costs and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur.
Structure, Governance and Management
Calderdale Theatre School Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by its constitution dated 26[th] January 2013.
The board of trustees, which can have up to 12 members, administers the charity. The board meets every 2 months. The board engages the services of freelance drama practitioners to deliver the drama workshops and other activities. In accordance with the constitution one third of trustees retire each year but they are eligible for re-election. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefit.
The charity has a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and an Equality and Diversity Policy. All freelance staff who work directly with the students are required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The Financial Controls policy was updated this year. The charity also has policies on anti-bullying, charity risks, complaints procedures, equality and diversity, serious incident reporting, taking, using and storing images, trustee conflict of interests, trustee expenses and privacy.
Reference and Administrative Details
Calderdale Theatre School Association (CTSA), charity No. 1151269, is registered at 23 Chiserley Gardens, Wadsworth, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, HX7 8RU.
Trustees
All trustees served for the full year
Rachel Smith – Chair Tony Clark – Vice Chair Gerry Powell – Treasurer Michaela O’Sullivan – Secretary Adelle Beswick Louise Clark Alison Roberts
Signed on behalf of trustees:
RACHEL SMITH Chair of Trustees 29/10/2025
Calderdale Theatre School Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity No: 1151269
| Calderdale Theatre School Association | Calderdale Theatre School Association | Calderdale Theatre School Association | Calderdale Theatre School Association | Calderdale Theatre School Association | 1151269 | 1151269 | 1151269 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
01/08/2024 | To | 31/07/2025 | ||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 9,999 208 15 195 1,013 11,430 - - - 11,430 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 9,999 208 15 195 1,013 11,430 - - - 11,430 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
| Student Fees | 9,999 | 10,455 | |||||||
| Fundraising | 208 | 727 | |||||||
| ISTA Refund | 15 | - | |||||||
| Bank interest | 195 | 230 | |||||||
| Tickets Sales Productions | 1,013 | 1,627 | |||||||
| HealthyHolidays | 525 | ||||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
11,430 |
13,564 | |||||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales,(see table). |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| ~~Sub total~~ | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 13,564 | |||||||||
| Room Hire | 1,848 | - | - | 1,848 | 1,520 | ||||
| Freelance Staff | 7,530 | - | - | 7,530 | 7,570 | ||||
| Administration | 552 | - | - | 552 | 652 | ||||
| Cost of Productions | 1,613 | - | - | 1,613 | 1,064 | ||||
| Wardrobe room hire | 1,150 | - | - | 1,150 | 900 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | ~~12,693~~ | ~~-~~ | ~~-~~ | ~~12,693~~ | ~~11,706~~ | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | ~~-~~ | ~~-~~ | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 11,706 | |||||||||
| - 1,263 | - 1,263 | 1,858 | |||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| ~~-~~ | ~~-~~ | ~~-~~ | |||||||
| - 1,263 | - 1,263 | 1,858 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/11/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Signature Details Bank account Savings Account Cash account Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 634 - 19,898 - 23 - 20,555 - Agreement Error OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - Print Name Rachel Smith |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| OK | ||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| When due (optional) |
||||||
| Date of approval |
||||||
| Rachel Smith | 10/05/2025 | |||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/11/2025
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlnefs report on the accounts Section A Ii)depei)deiit Exaininer s Reporl Roport to the trusteesl On accounts for the 31" 2 Chwlty no {If any) 1151289 Mlod ¥¥ I rewt to ts trusts cm my examlnatth d Ihe acc¢xwts of abov8 cl• (Ihe Tru) the yew erthj 31" 2025 R•8ponslbllltles and As chority tnAeos cl the Trust. you are r8sFLyb1o ffx the prepgrat basls of rewt of the accounts in 8CdanCe requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ih6 Acr). I in rewl of my examinakn of lh& Tnjst's accwnts carri1 out (lar $8ctKM 145 of ts 2011 Act arKI In cwryir3 Ojt my examnation, I h8ve f(41rM&l aw4icat4e DIr1S given by thè Charity ComMisOn urKler wtKXI 145(5Mb) d lh9 ACL Independent l c(MnFlebJ my examin8ttyy). I confirn that no material mattws h8ve •xamln•fs stat•m•nt come to my atttkn {olher than that disclc£eAI belthv ') connectM with the exannaIn which gives me caLW to believe that in, any mater1 8ccountkng reccxds were kept in acconthce wlth geclw)n 130 of the Act I have TK) Ccrtwns and havè come acr Th) otkw matters in conn8Ction wlth ts examinal#M to wtiich 8ttentKffl should be thawn order to enable a ur#JerstandKvJ of the accounts to b6 rCh&. ' Pkno the woth ii? ts Iackets rfthèy do not apy. Slgn•d: io Rdevant professional quallficatl(x)(s) or body (rf anyl: Section B Disclosure Only comFlete rf ts eXaMir newts to huNight matters of concem (see CC32, Indepethrt examiiatiw of charity accwnts.. directions and guKlance f examirErs). IER October 2018
Glve hero brlef dots15 of any items that the amin6r Wis• to disclose. IER October 2018