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2022-08-31-accounts

Company number: 08283259 Charity Number: 1151944

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Manchester Histories

Reference and administrative information

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Company number 08283259 Charity number 1151944

Registered office and operational address Room WLG21 Samuel Alexander Building,

University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL

Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Hannah J Barker (Chair of Trustees)
Rob Higginson
Andrew Pattinson (Resigned 07/07/2022)
Melanie Tebbutt
John M Williams
Charlotte Wildman
Heather Shore
Kirsty Hutchinson
Jahmal Williams-Thomas (Appointed 01/02/2022)
Key management Karen Shannon Chief Executive
Personnel Charlie Booth Community Engagement Manager
Janine Hague Project Manager
John Leatherbarrow Administrator
Ted Harris Communication & Marketing
Bankers Co-operative Bank plc
Independent Christy Lau FCCA CTA DChA
Examiner Slade & Cooper Limited
Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Ancoats Manchester M4 6JG

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31[st] August 2022. Included within the trustees’ report is the directors’ report as required by company law.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

Objectives and activities

For the public benefit, the advancement of participation, education, and learning. But without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing to:

Purpose

We connect people to explore the past and shape the future through histories and heritage.

Vision

To explore and share Greater Manchester’s past to create a fairer future.

Mission

To work collaboratively to reveal and celebrate the stories of the people and places of Greater Manchester.

Manchester Histories continues to deliver its three-year business plan which sets out our aims and ambitions. Our four aims are the foundation of our Business Plan, and they reflect our values of compassion, curiosity and justice. The plan was a collaborative process, with our staff, volunteers, trustees and partners sharing their ideas and passion.

We developed our plan with support from the Culture Recovery Fund. In the plan, we explore how Manchester Histories will positively and proactively continue to recover from the complex challenges the pandemic has created for our sector and communities.

Our Values

Our values are inspired by the histories and heritage of Greater Manchester and the people who live and work in this region, who continually demonstrate their curiosity about the world, radical thought, compassion for others and commitment to social justice. Manchester Histories values informed histories and heritage that reflect:

• Compassion :

We value empathy and understanding for others, for ourselves and for the planet.

• Curiosity :

We value the creative power of wonder in how we experience the world and how we understand the past.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

• Justice :

We value fairness as a motivator for action.

Our Aims

Our aims are purposefully broad in scope. Manchester Histories will remain responsive to opportunities over the next few years with aims that allow for flexibility and innovation in uncertain times.

Aim One

Connecting people through histories and heritage

Manchester Histories will deliver unique events, projects and networks that connect people through histories and heritage.

Aim Two

Reaching new audiences in new ways

Manchester Histories will bring creative innovation to how we tell our stories to engage new audiences. We believe that history is for everyone, and it is our job to ensure it is relevant to peoples’ lives.

Aim Three

Building resilience and continuing to thrive

Manchester Histories will develop our infrastructure, resources, people and partnerships to deliver our ambitious aims.

Aim Four

Creating a sustainable and fair future for everyone

Manchester Histories will create opportunities to learn from the past and create a better future to benefit our local and global communities.

Public benefit

Manchester Histories is an award-winning charity that works collaboratively to reveal, share, and celebrate Greater Manchester’s diverse histories and heritage. We connect people to explore the past and shape the future through histories and heritage.

We are proud to celebrate the diversity, creativity, ingenuity and social principles of the people of the 10 Greater Manchester districts. Our engagement with histories and heritage empowers people, both as creators and audiences, by recognising and valuing their stories.

We develop our work in partnership with communities, academics, volunteers, artists and organisations, so our work manifests itself in response to the people we work with and for. As a result, Manchester Histories creates work that is innovative, creative and different.

We deliver a year-long public and community engagement programme and host the biennial Manchester Histories Festival.

History Matters. It connects people with those who've gone before and those who'll come after. We support people to explore these connections. It's why our work is vital.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to support. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's values, aims and activities remained focused on its stated purpose.

The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Manchester Histories Festival 2022. The History of Climate Change. Past - Present- Future

The focus of Manchester Histories' activity in 2022 was the development and delivery of the biennial festival. The festival returned for its 8th edition. It was a return to in-person activity since the COVID19 pandemic, exploring the history of climate change as well as celebrating the rich histories & heritage of Greater Manchester.

It was full of exhibitions, talks, creativity and more. It was a festival for the community, meaning there was something for everyone to enjoy.

It took place over five days (Wednesday 8th June 2022 to Sunday 12th June 2022) and delivered 54 different events through an open call covering topics from local history and heritage, climate change, activism, and sustainability. The events were split across four venues in the region including Manchester Central Library, Gallery Oldham, Angel Meadow Park, and the Manchester Monastery, Gorton.

This culminated in an estimated 22,164 visits over the course of these five days (inclusive of online visits, repeat visits, artists, volunteers, and performers). This was lower than in previous festivals but could be attributed to a couple of varied factors including post-pandemic behaviour changes, public transport issues, and other competing events taking place on the same weekend.

The festival also involved the successful trial of the new Manchester Histories Hub in Manchester Central Library which provided a communal setting for workshops and talks. The experience of using the space at the festival provided a grounding for the delivery of future events and festivals.

‘What a brilliant festival it has opened my eyes to see things more clearly about the history of climate change through seeing a creative piece of work. A brilliant way to get a message across.’

Audience Member, Feedback Form.

A festival steering group was set up to ensure both historic and present-day histories around climate change and action were fully represented in the programme and its support and guidance was invaluable to making sure the design and delivery of the festival was open, diverse, and aligned to Manchester Histories core values. The group brought skills and expertise of specific topics around histories, heritage, climate change and operations which helped the festival team to make strategic decisions about the delivery and content of the festival. It also acted as a sounding board for ideas and discussion and connected the festival to a wider range of contributors and a much broader audience.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Highlights include:

Has attending this event made you think about climate change in a different way? ‘If yes, please tell us:

‘Yes, it’s opened my eyes to climate change being a global problem. It’s a world issue and looking at the history and future of Bangladesh it really brought it home, that we must do something.’

Audience Member, Feedback Forms

Manchester Histories also commissioned a freelance evaluator to measure the impact and reach of the festival. Dr Frances Liddle conducted feedback talks with participants & audiences, video responses and analysed the data from the event feedback forms. This led to several recommendations for future festivals. The full report can be viewed on our website or here.

Contribution of volunteers

‘I really enjoyed volunteering with Manchester Histories, and I look forward to hearing more about ways to get involved with the organisation in the future. I enjoyed meeting new people and seeing how we as a community can come together to tackle something as big as climate change.’ Manchester Histories Volunteer

Volunteers play a significant role in shaping and delivering each Manchester Histories Festival and the year-long programme. The organisation has a core volunteer group of approx. 25 people from previous festivals and the Peterloo 2019 commemorations, and the team was keen to build on this core for the 2022 festival. An open call went out in partnership with others such as the University of Manchester Student Volunteering Portal to recruit more people. Over 60 new volunteers applied through these different routes of which 35 continued to the festival. They contributed 376 hours with over 89 shifts which generated a total of £3,760 of in-kind support.

The volunteers also had the opportunity to take part in Carbon Literacy Training. This was delivered in partnership with GMAST (Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team) and the Carbon Literacy Project, on a train-the-trainer basis. The festival’s Community Engagement Manager delivered the training to over 30 volunteers and will continue to deliver the training to other volunteers in the heritage sector to provide longer-term carbon reduction beyond the 2022 festival.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Achievements and Performance

Other activities continued to run alongside the delivery of the festival through our year long programme of public engagement. All our charitable activities were undertaken to further Manchester Histories’ charitable purposes for public benefit.

Recovering from Covid-19

2022 saw a welcome return to meet and engage with people in person for the first time since the pandemic. However, it was important to acknowledge that life in 2022 was still quite different to what it was two years ago. This was evident in our festival, as we saw lower in-person audience numbers than in previous festivals and the trend of last-minute sign-up to events due to the uncertainty of people becoming ill with COVID-19. However, having online digital content available as part of the festival and on- afterwards was a crucial way of engaging with new audiences. Blended in-person and online activity will be the way Manchester Histories will operate in the future to reach more diverse audiences as we continue to recover from the pandemic.

Rooms of our Own

Brill project! Really important, especially for working class young adults/people who wouldn’t normally have access to this type of training and opportunity Project Volunteer

Rooms of Our Own was a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by the Pankhurst Trust in partnership with Manchester Histories. The aim was to uncover and preserve the Pankhurst Centre’s organisational archive from the 1970s to 2014.

The project was designed to better organise, care for, and share the organisational archive of the Pankhurst Centre. A building which was once the home of Emmeline Pankhurst and the first meeting of the Suffragettes. In the 1970s it was left derelict and was saved from demolition by a group of Feminist women who campaigned and fundraised to have it turned in to a home for women’s equality in the 1980s.

Over an 18-month period, supported by a team of Pankhurst staff, freelance professionals and Manchester Histories, the Pankhurst Trust trained and supervised volunteers to sort through, reorganise, re-box and newly catalogue over a thousand items.

Volunteers were also trained to collect oral history interviews with ‘veterans’ – women involved in the creation and management of the Pankhurst Centre over the years. The oral history recordings and the newly catalogued and sorted archive was then transferred to Archives+ in Manchester Central Library to be preserved for decades to come.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Rocket 2030

Manchester Histories is working alongside a new partnership that aims to deliver a cultural programme to mark the 200th Anniversary of the world’s first inter-city passenger railway between Liverpool and Manchester. The programme of events will also commemorate globally momentous events in railway history.

Manchester Histories was responsible for managing a call out for consultant/s to support a feasibility study to develop a Delivery Framework and identify the key components of events to mark the 200[th] Anniversary. This work is ongoing and will continue to develop over the coming years.

Manchester Histories Hub at Manchester Central Library

Manchester Histories opened a brand-new welcoming and inspirational space in Manchester Central Library that has a focus on wellbeing and highlights lesser-known histories and heritage through exhibitions, performances, installations, workshops and events.

The hub will promote well-being by creating opportunities to connect with others, explore histories and heritage, make new friends and combat isolation. It is a place for people to come together to reveal and celebrate Greater Manchester’s rich and diverse histories.

The hub also promotes the work of the HiDDEN network and will deliver workshops and informal social sessions exploring archives and collections with people from marginalised communities or those facing mental health challenges, homelessness or social isolation.

Histories Stories & Voices

In partnership with Manchester City Council, Manchester Histories continues to develop the Histories Stories & Voices project. Histories, Stories and Voices is a programme evaluating how Manchester's history, identity and its people are reflected in the city’s public spaces. This is an ongoing project, and we are now expanding and deepening the consultation with people and communities to shape the development of a framework that will deliver a creative response to the review and the application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the work over the next four years.

Journey to Net Zero

Manchester Histories has worked hard over the last year to start our journey to net zero. We have set personal and organisational pledges with GMAST (Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team) to reduce our carbon footprint. We have adopted the city's target of zero-carbon by 2038 and signed the Manchester Commitment to Act campaign.

Alongside reducing our Carbon Footprint, we have put in place an Environmental Policy and Action Plan that will support Manchester Histories to save resources and act by:

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Manchester Histories is a member of the GMAST network, and our CEO (Chief Executive Officer) attends all meetings to ensure Manchester Histories works alongside other cultural organisations to become a zero-carbon city by 2038 or before.

HiDDEN Network

Manchester Histories CEO was elected as the new chair of the HiDDEN Network in June of 2022. The HiDDEN network consists of the smaller Greater Manchester-based museums that hold rare collections, such as the Jewish Museum, Pankhurst Centre, Elizabeth Gaskill House, Victoria Baths, Portico Library, Greater Manchester Police and Transport Museum and the Working-Class Movement Library.

The network is currently developing new project work and a joint volunteer programme; bringing together volunteers to share experiences, promote the network and undertake joint training to build skills and knowledge within the heritage sector.

Beneficiaries of our services

‘Traditionally, young people with SEND voices are marginalised. From an outside perspective it was wonderful to see our students’ voices being heard, and them in turn recognising the contribution they can make to the wider community to bring about change.’

Tutor, Manchester College, Together for Our Planet Film, Manchester Histories Festival

Manchester Histories works with several community groups, organisations, volunteers, students and people from across Greater Manchester who benefit from our services. For example, some of the organisations and groups involved in the festival this year included:

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

team worked with young people from Manchester College, Manchester Youth Council and Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People. It involved collaborating with 32 local young people, including many learning-disabled people.

Student Placements

Manchester Histories provides placements to students from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, providing real-life experiences to improve their future career paths. In 2022 Manchester Histories worked with five 3rd-year students from the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) Consultancy Module from the University of Manchester. They worked with Manchester Histories to create a new Communication Strategy to review and recommend ways of reaching new audiences such as young people.

Other organisations have benefited from using our services, to connect people and broker partnerships with others, but to also act as consultants for supporting other project work, funding, exhibition and the ‘go to’ organisation for support in engaging people in histories and heritage

All the above beneficiaries have benefited from their engagement with Manchester Histories projects. They have learnt about histories and heritage which is important to them, and what local histories and archives can offer to bring histories to life.

Beneficiaries have shown increased confidence and people felt their quality of engagement with their own histories and heritage had improved.

Manchester Histories' commitment to creating a fairer society for all is evident throughout our work, mission, vision, values and aims, and it is part of our organisational culture. However, we understand that creating an inclusive culture is an ongoing process where you must continually remain open to growth and change. To ensure our work is representative of the diversity of Greater Manchester we develop and produce our work in partnership with communities, academics, volunteers, artists and organisations. We listen to people and the work we deliver is influenced by the communities we work with and for. Our work manifests itself in response to the people we work with. As a result, Manchester Histories creates work that is innovative, creative and different. We are proud to celebrate the diversity, creativity, ingenuity and social principles of the people of Greater Manchester. Our engagement with histories and heritage empowers people, both as creators and audiences, by recognising, representing and valuing all stories.

Financial review

The charity had a deficit of unrestricted funds for the year of £15,424. At the end of the financial year, the total unrestricted reserves of the charity were £112,306.

This has been a festival year so expenditure was higher than in our previous financial year. We spent against the GMCA Culture Fund Grant £12,5000 before it had been deposited into this year's financial account as the grant period ran from April 2022 to April 2023 and not within our reporting year. This is why we see a deficit in this year's accounts.

We invested funds into Manchester Histories Hub at Manchester Central Library and staff development so we can deliver more community-based heritage activity in our public-facing venue.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

We also invested in technology so that we can deliver hybrid events to in-person and online audiences, making our work more accessible to all. On top of this, we branded the space with a new design and purchased some furniture and goods to make the space welcoming and functional to our audiences.

The charity is in a good financial position and we are working to secure further core funding for 2022 - 2023 from Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Culture Fund, the Cultural Partnership Agreement, Manchester City Council and both Universities to continue to deliver our work across Greater Manchester.

Principal funding sources:

Reserves policy

We are aware as trustees of the need to have sufficient free reserves (unrestricted funds not invested in fixed assets or otherwise designated) to enable the charity to manage its cash flow and the inherent risks associated with staging a programme of work and festival and responding to changing funding regimes. It is the intention of the Trustees to maintain the charity’s reserves at the equivalent of six months’ operational expenditure. This is calculated at approx. £50,000. Manchester Histories will ensure full cost recovery funds are added to each funding application with a 20% administration fee and charge industry standard fees for any consultation or provided services to other organisations or funders.

Future Plans

Going forward, Manchester Histories will continue to deliver our business plan and be flexible, adaptable and relevant to our audiences. We believe that histories and heritage have powerful abilities to shape identities and bring positive changes to our lives and to our communities. As part of our commitment to living our values, Manchester Histories will create opportunities for the people we engage with to explore the views of others with curiosity, listen with compassion, and act with justice.

We will build on work in Manchester Histories Hub, to ensure that heritage plays an instrumental role in supporting people’s well-being by providing activities that:

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

We will continue to focus on the development of our key purpose: Connecting people through histories and heritage, and to recognise and celebrate the skills, passion and expertise that exist in our communities across Greater Manchester to bring histories to life.

The Trustees and Chief Executive would like to thank all our partners, stakeholders, freelancers, staff, funders, volunteers and audiences who have supported Manchester Histories over the past year.

We are indebted to the ongoing support of the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council Cultural Partnership Grant, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Culture Fund, National Heritage Lottery Fund and would particularly like to thank Creative Manchester, National Lottery Community Fund, Manchester City Council Neighbourhood Investment Fund & Team, Manchester Central Library & Team, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Venture Arts, Granada Foundation, Friends of Angel Meadow, Gallery Oldham, Far East Consortium, Solid Ground, Manchester Monastery, Gorton, and all our partners for their support in developing new and exciting project work with us.

Thank you to Glitterfish & Reason Digital for their continued support with the Manchester Histories website.

Thank you to Fido PR for their work in helping us reach as many different audiences as possible locally, nationally and globally.

Thank you, Imagine Design, for all the branding and design especially for the festival programme and impact report

Structure, governance and management

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 6 November 2012. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission, having been registered on 8 May 2013.

The only people eligible to be members of the Charity are its directors, and the Directors must be members of the company. Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees on 31[st] August 2022 was 8. The trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in QuickBooks. There are no related party transactions that require to be disclosed.

Appointment of Directors and Trustees

The Directors, who are the Trustees, are appointed by the members in general meeting. At each AGM (Annual General Meeting), one third of the Directors retire by rotation, being the longest in office, and are eligible for re-election. Other than a retiring trustee, the only people eligible for election as trustees are those either nominated by the Board or by a member giving not less than 14 and not

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

more than 35 clear days’ notice of the intention to propose a person for appointment or reappointment.

Trustee recruitment, induction, and training

The Directors, who are the Trustees, are collectively known as the Board. The Directors will identify new Trustees to be recruited as the needs of the organisation grow. The Board will continue to develop robust strategies for their induction, and for ongoing training and development of the entire Board.

The induction training for newly appointed trustees comprises of an initial meeting with the Board of Trustees at which a pack is provided. This includes a copy of the governing document, a copy of the most recent annual report and financial statements, our policies, a copy of the minutes of previous trustee meeting minutes and a copy of the Charity Commissioners guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’.

Organisation

The Board, which must not be less than three members, administers the Charity. We currently have eight board members, with one resignation in the reporting year. The Trustees have delegated the day-to-day authority for operational matters including finance, employment and artistic development, within the overall vision agreed by the Board to the Chief Executive, Karen Shannon. The Board meets on a quarterly basis, the chair and Chief Executive meet monthly.

Related parties and relationships with other organisations

Manchester Histories prides itself on its ability to build positive relationships with other partners and charities. Manchester Histories builds partnerships of mutual benefit. Alongside receiving support to achieve our aims, we support our partners to deliver their strategic objectives. For example, we are supporting Manchester City Council to achieve their ambitious aim of making Manchester a zerocarbon city by 2038 by training our people in carbon-reduction, delivering our Environmental Action Plan and being an active member of the GMAST Network (Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team). We have long-standing partnerships with the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. Both institutions were involved in establishing Manchester Histories. The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University give valuable support in supporting core funds and public engagement opportunities through histories and heritage activity.

Manchester Histories continues to be part of Manchester City Council's Culture Partnership Agreements Grants programme and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Culture Fund. This has enabled us to better connect with the cultural offer across the city and with other cultural organisations to share good practice, knowledge and understanding, and to cross-market our activities to support each other’s work in terms of promotion, advocacy and profile.

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

Key management personnel undergo a yearly review of their work. This is carried out by the chair of the Trustees, who reviews their performance, development needs and achievements. If any remuneration is awarded at this review, all board members need to agree to this based on a successful review and performance before it is awarded to any member of personnel.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Risk management

Manchester Histories has considered the major risks facing the charity and has put in place policies and procedures to mitigate those risks. In every funding application, such as National Heritage Lottery Fund, Manchester Histories must submit a risk management register to identify any risks associated with project work. Strategies and plans are then put in place to mitigate the risks of being able to deliver project work and the festival successfully.

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Manchester Histories

Trustees’ annual report

for the year ended 31[st] August 2022

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

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

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 27/04/2023 and signed on their behalf by

Hannah J Barker

Professor of British History, Director of the John Rylands Research Institute SALC, University of Manchester.

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Independent examiner’s report

to the trustees of

Manchester Histories

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] August 2022 which are set out on pages 16 to 33.

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.

Christy Lau FCCA CTA DChA

Slade & Cooper Limited Beehive Mill, Jersey Street Ancoats Manchester M4 6JG Date 23/05/2023

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Manchester Histories

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 August 2022

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
32,700
Charitable activities
4
18,500
Total income
51,200
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
66,624
Total expenditure
66,624
(15,424)
7
(15,424)
Transfer between funds
-
Net movement in funds for the year
(15,424)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
127,730
Total funds carried forward
112,306
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year		 Restricted
funds
£
12,500
124,222
136,722
136,722
136,722
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
2022
£
45,200
142,722
187,922
203,346
203,346
(15,424)
(15,424)
-
(15,424)
127,730
112,306		 Total funds
2021
£
20,559
173,365
193,924
158,309
158,309
35,615
35,615
-
35,615
92,115
127,730

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

A full comparative SOFA is available on the last page of the financial statements.

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Manchester Histories Company number 08283259

Balance sheet as at 31 August 2022

Note
£
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
12
4,800
Total fixed assets
4,800
Current assets
Debtors
13
20,096
Cash at bank and in hand
14
110,714
Total current assets
130,810
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling
due in less than one year
15
(23,304)
Net current assets
107,506
Total assets less current liabilities
112,306
Net assets
112,306
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
16
-
Unrestricted income funds
17
112,306
Total charity funds
112,306
2022		 £
£
6,400
6,400
5,312
134,101
139,413
(18,083)
121,330
127,730
127,730
-
127,730
127,730
2021		 £
£
6,400
6,400
5,312
134,101
139,413
(18,083)
121,330
127,730
127,730
-
127,730
127,730
2021
6,400
121,330
127,730
127,730
-
127,730
127,730

For the year in question, the company was entitled to exemption from an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with FRS102 SORP, and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.

The notes on pages 19 to 33 form part of these accounts.

Approved by the trustees on 27/04/2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Hannah J Barker (Chair)

Rob Higginson (Trustee)

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Manchester Histories

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 31 August 2022

Note
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
19
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents in the year		 2022
£
(23,387)
-
-
(23,387)
134,101
110,714		 2021
£
44,136
(8,000)
(8,000)
36,136
97,965
134,101

18

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022

1 Accounting policies

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

a Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), second edition - October 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Manchester Histories meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

No key judgments which the trustees have made which have a significant effect on the accounts.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

c Income

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

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

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income received in advance of a provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

19

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

d Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised; refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

e Interest receivable

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.

f Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

20

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

h Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 7.

i Tangible fixed assets

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

Website

20%

j Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k Cash at bank and in hand

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

l Creditors and provisions

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

21

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

m Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

n Pensions

Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution ‘money purchase’ scheme. The charity’s contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 9. There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.

2 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The registered office address is disclosed on page 1.

3 Income from donations and legacies

University of Manchester
Total
University of Manchester
HMRC JRS Grant
Total
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Previous reporting
period
Current reporting
period		 Unrestricted
£
15,200
17,500
32,700
Unrestricted
£
10,000
10,000
559
20,559		 Restricted
£
10,000
2,500
12,500
Restricted
£
-
-
-		 Total 2022
£
25,200
20,000
45,200
Total 2021
£
10,000
10,000
559
20,559

22

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

4 Income from charitable activities

Unrestricted
£
- CRF Round 3
-
-
- MHF ZCC
-
-
-
- Cultural Team
-
-
-
Granada Foundation
-
4,220
Project Fees and Consultancy
11,557
Other income
2,723
Total
18,500
4
Income from charitable activities (Cont.)
Unrestricted
£
-
- CRF Round 1
-
- CRF Round 2
43,270
- Access costs
-
-
-
- Cultural Team
-
-
750
Other income
3,552
Total
47,572
- Histories, Stories and Voices in
Manchester
Unicorn
Greater Manchester Combined
Authority
Heritage Lottery Fund
Manchester City Council
Current reporting
period
Trust for RC Purposes
National Heritage
Previous reporting
period
Greater Manchester Combined
Authority
Heritage Lottery Fund
- DigiFest 2020
- Scoping for Manchester Statues
and Public Realm Review
- VCSE
Manchester City Council
Project fees and consultancy income
- Cap & Dove
National Lottery Community Fund		 Restricted
£
37,980
9,700
4,682
5,100
13,000
22,230
25,000
3,780
2,000
750
-
-
124,222
Restricted
£
9,600
45,838
13,300
3,500
1,050
5,000
22,505
25,000
-
125,793		 Total 2022
£
37,980
9,700
4,682
5,100
13,000
22,230
25,000
3,780
2,000
750
4,220
11,557
2,723
142,722
Total 2021
£
9,600
45,838
56,570
3,500
1,050
5,000
22,505
25,000
750
3,552
173,365

23

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

5 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Staff costs
Event production costs
Professional fees - artists & curators
Other professional fees
Marketing & publicity costs
Other project costs
Travel and Meetings
Depreciation
Governance costs (see note 6)
Support costs (see note 6)
Restricted expenditure
Unrestricted expenditure		 Total 2022
£
101,344
13,804
16,049
34,845
18,558
4,195
2,975
1,600
1,575
8,401
203,346
2022
£
136,722
66,624
203,346		 Total 2021
£
81,899
773
9,335
36,394
11,652
9,259
1,813
1,600
1,575
4,009
158,309
2021
£
142,702
15,607
158,309

6 Analysis of governance and support costs

Insurance
Office costs
Accountancy services
Insurance
Office costs
Accountancy services
Current reporting
period
Previous reporting
period		 Support
£
956
7,445
-
8,401
Support
£
227
3,782
-
4,009		 Governance
£
-
-
1,575
1,575
Governance
£
-
-
1,575
1,575		 Total 2022
£
956
7,445
1,575
9,976
Total 2021
£
227
3,782
1,575
5,584

24

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

7 Net income/(expenditure) for the year

This is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation
Independent Examiner's remuneration
Accountancy fees
Staff costs
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Other personnel costs
Independent examination		 2022
£
1,600
1,050
263
2022
£
97,191
2,831
1,322
101,344		 2021
£
1,600
1,050
263
2021
£
79,170
2,392
337
81,899

8 Staff costs

No employees has employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2021: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the period was 4.5 (2021: 4).

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Community Engagement Manager, Project Manager, Administrator and Communication & Marketing (2021: the trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Community Engagement Manager, Project Manager and Administrator). The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £100,022 (2021: £81,562).

9 Trustee remuneration and expenses, and related party transactions

Neither the management committee nor any persons connected with them received any remuneration or reimbursed expenses during the year (2021: Nil).

No members of the trustee received travel and subsistence expenses during the year (2021: £ Nil).

No aggregate donations from related parties (2021: £ Nil).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

No trustee or other person related to the charity had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity, including guarantees, during the year (2021: Nil).

25

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

10 Government grants

The government grants recognised in the accounts were as follows:

Manchester City Council
Greater Manchester Combined Authority		 2022
£
45,012
25,000
70,012		 2021
£
32,055
25,000
57,055

There were no unfulfilled conditions and contingencies attaching to the other grants.

11 Corporation tax

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Chapter 3 of Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity.

12 Fixed assets: tangible assets

Cost
Additions
Depreciation
Charge for the year
Net book value
At 31 August 2022
At 31 August 2022
At 1 September 2021
At 31 August 2021
At 1 September 2021
At 31 August 2022		 £
8,000
-
8,000
1,600
1,600
3,200
4,800
6,400
Website		 £
8,000
-
Total
8,000
1,600
1,600
3,200
4,800
6,400

26

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

13 Debtors

13
Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
14
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and on hand
15
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other creditors and accruals
Deferred income
Taxation and social security costs		 2022
£
16,000
4,096
20,096
2022
£
110,714
110,714
2022
£
-
3,150
19,700
454
23,304		 2021
£
750
4,562
5,312
2021
£
134,101
134,101
2021
£
1,000
2,307
13,880
896
18,083

27

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds

Balance at
1
September
2021
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total
-
- VCSE
- MHF ZCC
Manchester City Council
Greater Manchester
Combined Authority
- Cultural Team
Current reporting
period
Granada Foundation
University of
Manchester
Manchester
Metropolitan University
Unicorn
Trust for RC Purposes
- Cap & Dove
Heritage Lottery Fund
- CRF Round 3
National Lottery
Community Fund		 Income
£
37,980
9,700
4,682
5,100
13,000
22,230
25,000
3,780
750
10,000
2,500
2,000
136,722		 Expenditure
£
(37,980)
(9,700)
(4,682)
(5,100)
(13,000)
(22,230)
(25,000)
(3,780)
(750)
(10,000)
(2,500)
(2,000)
(136,722)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance at
31 August
2022
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

28

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds (Cont.)

Total
- Histories, Stories
and Voices in
Manchester
- CRF Round 2
- Wythenshawe (NIF)
- Scoping for
Manchester Statues
and Public Realm
Review
- Cultural Team
Manchester City
Council
People's River
- Access costs
- Radical Read
Greater Manchester
Combined Authority
Previous reporting
period
- CRF Round 1
Heritage Lottery Fund
Manchester Histories
Festival Digifest 2020
Historic England		 Balance at
1
September
2020
£
-
-
-
-
5,583
1,000
-
-
15,000
525
7,955
30,063		 Income
£
45,838
13,300
3,500
22,505
-
-
1,050
5,000
-
25,000
-
9,600
125,793		 Expenditure
£
(37,838)
(13,300)
(3,500)
(22,505)
(5,583)
(1,000)
(1,050)
(5,000)
(9,846)
(25,000)
(525)
(17,555)
(142,702)		 Transfers
£
(8,000)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(5,154)
-
-
-
(13,154)		 Balance at
31 August
2021
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

29

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

16 Analysis of movements in restricted funds (Cont.)

Name of restricted fund Description, nature and purposes of the fund

Heritage Lottery Culture Recovery Fund to support core costs and reserves for the charity - Culture Recovery post-pandemic. Fund (CRF)

National Lottery To support community activity and artists from underrepresented groups to Community Fund support Manchester Histories Festival 2022.History of Climate Change. (Together for Our Planet programme) Manchester City Council Support from MCC to put on the European Zero Carbon City Conference at - MHF ZCC Manchester Central Library as part of Manchester Histories Festival 2022.

Manchester City Council Funds to support community activity and commissions to make - VCSE neighbourhoods better places to live. The fund supported Manchester Histories Festival 2022, which took place in Gorton, Angel Meadow Park and Manchester Central Library. Manchester City Council Grant to support core costs for Manchester Histories to deliver work related - Cultural Team to Manchester’s Cultural Ambition 2022. Greater Manchester Grant to support Manchester Histories core costs and project activity. The Combined Authority Culture Fund Grant contributes to the recognition of Greater Manchester locally, nationally and internationally to attract new investment, new visitors and new talent to Greater Manchester.

University of Grant to support the Manchester Histories Festival. Manchester Manchester Grant to support the Manchester Histories Festival. Metropolitan University

Granada Foundation Manchester Histories commissioned three young artists and RECLAIM to express their responses to climate change as part of the Manchester Histories Festival.

30

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

17 Analysis of movement in unrestricted funds

General fund
Designated fund
General fund
Designated fund
- Projects
Previous reporting
period
Current reporting
period
Name of
unrestricted fund
General fund
Designated fund
- Projects		 Balance at
1
September
2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
As at 31
August
2022
£
£
£
£
£
77,601
51,200
(58,495)
-
70,306
50,129
-
(8,129)
-
42,000
127,730
51,200
(66,624)
-
112,306
Balance at
1
September
2020
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
As at 31
August
2021
£
£
£
£
£
11,923
68,131
(15,607)
13,154
77,601
50,129
-
-
-
50,129
62,052
68,131
(15,607)
13,154
127,730
Description, nature and purposes of the fund
The free reserves after allowing for all designated funds
Allocated to support our ongoing public engagement programmes and
Manchester Histories Festival.		 As at 31
August
2022
£
70,306
42,000
112,306
As at 31
August
2021
£
77,601
50,129
127,730

31

Manchester Histories

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 (continued)

18 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Creditors of more than one year
Total
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Total
Previous reporting
period
Current reporting
period		 General
fund
£
4,800
-
65,506
-
70,306
General
fund
£
6,400
71,201
77,601		 Designated
funds
£
-
42,000
-
42,000
Designated
funds
£
-
50,129
50,129		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-		 Total
£
4,800
-
107,506
-
112,306
Total
£
6,400
121,330
127,730

19 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income/(expenditure) for the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating		 2022
£
(15,424)
1,600
(14,784)
5,221
(23,387)		 2021
£
35,615
1,600
(1,416)
8,337
44,136

32

Manchester Histories

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 31 August 2021

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
20,559
Charitable activities
4
47,572
Total income
68,131
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
15,607
Total expenditure
15,607
52,524
7
52,524
Transfer between funds
13,154
Net movement in funds for the year
65,678
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
62,052
Total funds carried forward
127,730
Net income/(expenditure) for the
year
Net income/(expenditure) before
net gains/(losses) on investments		 Restricted
funds
£
-
125,793
125,793
142,702
142,702
(16,909)
(16,909)
(13,154)
(30,063)
30,063
-		 Total funds
2021
£
20,559
173,365
193,924
158,309
158,309
35,615
35,615
-
35,615
92,115
127,730		 Total funds
2020
£
20,000
200,620
220,620
179,149
179,149
41,471
41,471
-
41,471
50,644
92,115

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

33