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← Mortal Fools

2024-03-31-accounts

Company Registration Number 08102487 Registered Charity Number 1153400

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ending 31 March 2024

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

NOTE FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Mortal Fools has successfully navigated a year that has been beset with economic uncertainty, continued political upheaval and ever more complex procurement challenges. Our primary objectives have been achieved and our reach has extended to a larger number and more diverse group of young people. We have continued to co-create high calibre artistic work and sustained our focus on the quality of our output and programme content.

Our growth over recent years has demanded more effort than ever from the senior team, to ensure that content and delivery is consistent across all we do. Structures within the organisation have continued to improve, so that the tone of voice and ownership cascades beyond leadership. We do, however, remain heavily reliant on the tenacity, appetite and at times the sheer determination of this team and the Board of Trustees to maintain our success.

It is evident that this investment has improved ownership and pride at all levels within Mortal Fools. Whole company away days have been extremely well received and the Board attendance where feasible appreciated. This along with internal policy reviews has enabled us to react to the pressures we all face and maintain good levels of staff morale and wellbeing, as well as on rare occurrences challenge unacceptable behaviours in a fair and equitable way. We continue to provide unrivalled working conditions in line with the real living wage in what remains a difficult climate.

Throughout 2023/24 we continued to mature and increased our impact while managing the budget. The contribution to the Board from our younger Board members has been refreshing, and our Board recruitment drive has seen the depth, breadth, and skill base of our Trustees increase. This along with the establishment of subgroups prepared us well to meet the challenges of the year effectively.

It would belittle our effort to say this year has been about consolidation and fine tuning the organisation. The efforts have at times been seismic and as anticipated the comfort of obtaining multiyear funding, particularly our first full year as an Arts Council England regularly funded National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) has brought a different dynamic and significant pressures to bear on the organisation. These were anticipated and well prepared for, but as with all new endeavours there has been a hiatus of activity required to dovetail ACE’s systems and information demands into our own.

The shift to seeking multi-year funding was always our ambition and is undoubtedly right for Mortal Fools. The funding cycles are however further apart, funds are tighter and competition greater than ever, so the hard knocks feel harder when they land. We have always resisted total reliance on NPO funding as this would stymie growth and make us over cautious in our ambitions beyond the boundary of that funding. It is therefore critical that the funding regimes are sustained.

We have continued to create some new substantive posts and increased some core team members’ working hours. This has improved our capacity and enabled us to maintain a highquality of service and reach, while securing our financial position. At times the pace has felt relentless and reflects the need for some further strategic recruitment to support the next steps. This will free up our senior team to focus on their strengths, to increase our reach and impact and make our content second to none. To do this we are looking to recruit an Executive Director by January 2025.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

NOTE FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES (CONTINUED)

The national economic situation has remained stagnant, and the upcoming budget is an unknown but will be presented against the backdrop of funding shortfalls in all sectors of government and a ‘broken NHS’. The money markets are more volatile than ever, but inflation is now back within the desired target and interest rates may begin to reduce. But these shafts of hope will not greatly impact the realities of the lives we strive to support. The real cost of living still goes up.

The health of the nation seems to be the new focus and there does appear to be a greater understand of a holistic approach to health and a focus on the fundamentals of access to effective education, healthier living, emotional wellbeing and improved diets. Mental healthcare is thankfully no longer seen as a fringe activity and prevention is now being recognised as an economic necessity rather than a nice to do. This aligns more than ever to the core ambitions of Mortal Fools reinforcing the continued relevance of what we do.

This is our third year in Ashington and has undoubtedly spread our impact further. We have maintained our delivery in Tyne Valley and our reach beyond Northumberland is increasing. The digital content we have created around the Melva programme had played a big part in this. Our ultimate ambition is still to operate from our own purpose-built premises which does slowly get ever closer to reality.

On behalf of the Board and beneficiaries, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the team and its leadership for another excellent year.

Richard Wise, Chair of Trustees

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year to 31 March 2024.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered charity name Mortal Fools Charity registration number 1153400 Company registration number 08102487 Registered office YMCA Northumberland, North View, Ashington, NE63 9XQ

Trustees

For the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, the Board of Trustees is the Board of Directors of the charitable company and is referred to as “the Trustees” throughout this report.

The Trustees of Mortal Fools during the period and to the date of signing this report are as follows:

Mr R Wise (Chair) Mrs R A K Barclay Resigned 11 December 2023 Mrs K Crawley Appointed 17 June 2024 Mr P Douglas Resigned 26 September 2024 Mr M Gate Appointed 1 July 2023 Mrs L Jobson Appointed 11 December 2023 Ms N Leyden Appointed 25 September 2023 Mrs K Martin Appointed 18 March 2024 Ms R Pattinson Mr S Rutherford-Orrock Appointed 25 September 2023 Miss M Saunders Appointed 26 June 2023 Ms S Spencer Miss K Stanforth Company Secretary Ms S Allen Bankers Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS Independent Examiner Mr P O’Hara FCA, Chartered Accountant, 26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Documents

Mortal Fools is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 12 June 2012, as Northern Arts Enterprises Limited, and registered as a charity on 14 August 2013.

It was established under the Memorandum of Association that established its objects and powers and is governed under its Articles of Association, as amended by special resolutions registered at Companies House on 5 July 2012, 3 September 2012, 8 August 2013, 12 May 2016, 22 February 2018, 1 December 2020 and 28 February 2022.

The Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity.

Eligibility for membership of the charity and membership of the Board of Trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. There are no restrictions in the governing document on the operation of the charity other than those imposed by general charity law.

Charitable Purpose

Mortal Fools charitable objects are for the benefit of the public particularly but not exclusively in the north of England, through the teaching, practice and showcasing of the arts in all their forms:

For the purposes of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means children and young people (up to aged 25) who are excluded from society, or parts of society (like social circles) as a result of one or more of the following factors: socio-economic circumstances; race; gender; poor educational or skills attainment; mental health; disability; bullying and harassment and ethnic origin.

Board Structure & Operation

The charity currently has eleven Trustees, having undertaken a public recruitment drive to bring new professional expertise and relevant lived experience to the Board. Trustees have participated in governance development through external training, including Anti-Racism, LGBTQIA+ Awareness and Safeguarding.

The full Board meets quarterly, has at least one additional full away day for strategic planning with leadership team staff and participates in a company development day with the whole staff team.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Board Structure & Operation (Cont.)

For accessibility and inclusivity, regular Board meetings are offered as hybrid – with some folks meeting in person and some dialing in via Zoom. The charity invested in technical conferencing equipment to make these meetings as high quality as possible.

Three Sub-Groups meet quarterly – usually online – between full Board meetings. They are a combination of leadership team staff members and trustees. The current Sub-Groups are:

Minutes are taken from all Sub-Group meetings.

For all full Board meetings, an agenda, detailed written business reports and specific subject papers are prepared by senior staff and circulated to trustees in advance of Board meetings, integrating notes from sub-group meetings.

The charity has almost filled the number of trustees allowed within its current governing document. To accommodate a greater number of young people as trustees (18-25), in 2024-25, the charity will amend the governing document to allow this.

The additional focus for Board recruitment in the next year is to increase professional representation from Legal, Finance and Health backgrounds.

Appointment and Induction of Trustees

Trustees are recruited via a combination of open advertising and contacts via personal and professional networks. In all cases, Trustees are elected to the Board following the same process:

New Trustees are inducted by other trustees and senior staff. The Trustee Induction Pack will be reviewed and updated in 2024-25. It includes a range of resources to support newcomers’ understanding of their role and the charity’s activities, and signposting to training by external providers, with the Company covering any costs associated with the training.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have reviewed the charity's needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission.

The Trustees aim to hold a level of Unrestricted Reserves which enables the charity to have sufficient financial resources to meet various liabilities which would occur if Mortal Fools were unable to continue operating, together with an allowance to enable the charity to respond flexibly to issues or appropriate initiatives which might be identified outside of its annual budgeting process.

At present, the Trustees estimate that the Unrestricted Reserves required to cover all known liabilities for a period of 3 months amounts to approximately £135,000 and that this should be the minimum Free Reserves Target held in the accounts. The Trustees recognise that these liabilities will increase as the charity continues to grow.

Mortal Fools currently holds total Unrestricted Reserves of £209,256 at 31 March 2024.

‘Free Reserves’, defined as total non-designated Unrestricted Funds minus the value of unrestricted Tangible Fixed Assets, are £208,916.

Although this exceeds the minimum target level at 31 March 2024, the Trustees have committed £30,000 of Unrestricted Reserves to be spent on Youth Theatre delivery costs in the first quarter of 2024/25. Additionally, another £40,000 of Unrestricted Reserves has been ringfenced towards initial salary costs of a new senior post to support the charity’s long-term strategic development aims. Recruitment for this position is planned for late 2024/25 with a prospective start date early in 2025/26.

This ringfencing leaves a balance of £138,916 unallocated Unrestricted Reserves, which is close to target level.

This policy will be reviewed by the Trustees on an annual basis as part of the charity’s budgeting processes.

Grant-making

The charity does not currently engage in grant-making activity.

Contribution of Volunteers

The charity makes limited use of volunteers within its productions and to support its activities.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Aims & Objectives

Mortal Fools’ core purpose is to support people to have better quality inter-personal relationships with one another – as a fundamental component of wellbeing – and to use participation in creative and performance-based activities as the methodology to achieve this.

We specialise in the co-creation of compelling, dynamic, socially-relevant and high-quality creative and performance-based work with children, young people and communities.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Aims & Objectives (Cont.)

We work with 1,000s of children and young people every year, mostly in the North East. We develop our skills, knowledge and approach through dynamic multi-sector partnerships (Youth, Community, Health, Education, and Arts and Culture), jointly co-designing work to meet the contemporary needs of children and young people.

We are champions of theatre and performance produced by young people and for young people. We advocate for this work to be recognised and supported as an important art form in our sector, touring our work nationally, supporting participatory artists to train in co-creation, and embedding the achievement of positive wellbeing outcomes across all our work.

Utilising digital technology for engagement of beneficiaries and to share our work with more diverse audiences continues to be a great success and will continue to form a core part of our work.

WHY we do what we do

We are a purpose-driven organisation. Our work must be relevant to and matter in wider society and make a demonstrable and measurable difference to those we work with.

We recognise that the presence of positive and secure interpersonal relationships is a key factor in personal wellbeing, motivation, civil engagement and life fulfilment. We use drama and theatrebased approaches – interpersonal by nature – to support people to build the skills and knowledge to form and maintain better relationships. This work is positive action against the shift towards the divided, competitive and aggressive societal changes seen in the UK and wider world in recent years.

Through all our work we advocate for, demonstrate and give people ways to form better relationships and learn how positive connection and shared positive experiences with one another can be used to prevent those things which drive us apart. Positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes are an integral part of our work. We use the ratified PERMA™ Framework as our approach to planning, monitoring and evaluating the impact of our work on wellbeing outcomes.

Our work helps people to bring about changes in behaviour and outlook, increasing in confidence, experiencing personal accomplishment, building their personal resilience, shaping a more positive self-image and setting themselves up for a more positive future.

HOW we work

We use high-quality drama and the process of making and performing theatre-based work as our primary tools for change. Our work explores contemporary concerns facing children and young people and the realities of the world we’re living in right now – inviting positive change.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

We have 4 key values that shape everything we do:

1. CONTRIBUTING - Everyone Matters

Co-creation is at the centre of everything we do. All our team and everyone we work with contributes to shaping our programmes and our activities, helping us to learn and make an impact.

Our activities are participatory, with ideas being supported, acted upon and recognised from all involved. Our activities are an asset in the lives of the people we work with, making a positive contribution and influence in both grassroots and strategic multi-sector settings.

We consistently evaluate our work so we remain relevant to wider society and make a tangible positive contribution.

2. GROWING - Becoming more

We are bold, ambitious and entrepreneurial. We embrace challenges and are not afraid of failure. We champion a growth mindset and constantly look to learn from others. We are committed to continuous reflection and development, supporting everyone with the right level of challenge to become more.

We receive feedback graciously and gratefully and use supportive and constructive ways to give and respond to feedback.

3. WITH OTHERS - Better Together

Our activities bring people together – to achieve, to learn and to have fun – with curiosity, cocreation and kindness at the heart of everything we do. We seek out people to work with who know things that we do not, integrating ongoing input from our beneficiaries, artists and others we work with or whose work relates to our own. We prioritise working with partners who share our values and whose work has similar motivations.

We support the development of key interpersonal skills like empathy, teamwork and resilience for all who work with us. We care for one another, and this compassion helps us to build strong, lasting and fruitful relationships.

4. AS OURSELVES - Always authentic

We create safe spaces which support and encourage everyone to be their authentic, imperfect selves - with individual strengths, vulnerabilities, lived experiences, emotions and needs. We recognise, respect and embrace our differences, understanding that this makes us all stronger, more empathetic and wiser.

We strive to meet the needs of everyone we work with, making sure our company is welcoming and inclusive to people from all walks of life. We create environments that are genuinely supportive and accessible, where everyone feels valued as an individual, and is enabled to contribute.

As a company, we do not copy or try to compete with others. We confidently walk our own path, and we seek to work with those who also value authenticity and openness.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

WHAT we do

We have several programmes of activity. Each of them achieves a combination of the following objectives:

OUR ACTIVITY PROGRAMMES

PROGRAMME 1: YOUTH THEATRE (objectives achieved are: a,b,e,g,h,I,j,m,n)

Youth Theatre

A term-time programme of activities with 6 groups in West and South East Northumberland and online, providing a fun, safe and active environment where young people aged 7-19 explore their own lives and their wider world through drama and theatre. In these sessions, young people cocreate dynamic, thought-provoking, original theatre alongside professional theatre artists - with the young people’s ideas, emotions and experiences at the heart.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

The 6 groups are:

In 2023-24, our MFYT groups created an original film series ‘The Bigger Picture’ and two live performance nights, ‘Fools Fest’.

Ensemble Young Company

This 5-month annual project (school years 9-13 and up to age 19) supports teenagers to co-create and tour original theatre in a process closely aligned with professional theatre production.

Young company members originate from our two main operational locations.

In 2023-24, the Ensemble Young Company toured their completed production ‘Flux’ (Apr 2023) and created their new production – ‘Inevitable?’ – which was created within a national Youth Theatre partnership project called ‘Grow Up’, involving Company 3 (London), Prime Theatre (Swindon) and Beyond Face (Plymouth) – including a weekend development residential for participating organisations.

PROGRAMME 2: FUTURE READY (a,b,c,d,h,I,j,m,n)

Young Cultural Leaders

Supporting young people in their broader personal development through social action projects, event management, Peer Facilitation training, volunteering and work experience. This includes opportunities to do higher level Arts Award qualifications.

Creative Interventions

Working with Education settings to use participation in creative activities to support young people to develop confidence, creative and social skills. Young people are referred into the groups by the host partner, using criteria like high levels of school absence, mental health or behavioural challenges or inter-sectional needs.

The structure is 12 weekly 2-hour sessions with an informal sharing at the end and young people completing an Arts Award qualification.

In 2023-24, our Creative Intervention partners were Duke’s Secondary School in Ashington and Duchess’s Community High School in Alnwick.

Employability Skills

In 2023-24, we worked with The Prince’s Trust to pilot a co-delivered employability skills week supporting young people aged 16-25 with career development in the creative industries.

Later that year, we were commissioned by North of Tyne Combined Authority to pilot a new programme of employability skills delivery focused on young people aged 16-25 in and around Ashington, Northumberland. This work will be delivered in 2024-25.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Cross-sector Partnerships

Working with youth sector partners, we are testing co-delivery models combining creative practices with traditional youth work practice. The focus is on using a creative approach to develop employability, social action and leadership skills.

In 2023-24 we trialled ‘Creative Mondays’ arts drop in sessions with YMCA Northumberland.

PROGRAMME 3: Professional Theatre for young audiences (b,c,e,h,j)

We work with professional theatre artists (writers, directors, actors, designers and production staff) to create social-change theatre that is relevant to the lives of our core beneficiaries.

Melva

This digital online creative intervention programme has evolved from an original theatre production in 2017 to the current multi-media programme for schools. The digital package supports children’s, teachers’ and parents’ mental health education and strategies for self-management of worries and anxiety and includes:

In 2023-24, we agreed a commission with North of Tyne Combined Authority to provide annual programme licences free of charge for 50 schools in the North of Tyne area.

We also continued to develop Melva sponsorship packages with private businesses to provide free licences to schools that the businesses nominated.

We integrated a new evaluation approach into the programme structured to the PERMA™ Framework, generating a combination of teacher and pupil feedback and wellbeing data demonstrating impact.

During the year, we began development of a new component for the Melva programme – an illustrated novel for upper Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 children. The novel is being co-written by original Melva writer, Danielle Slade and Mortal Fools Artistic Director, Kiz Crosbie. The novel will address mental wellbeing themes pertinent to the target age group including transition and change, friendships, puberty, grief and loss and self-harm and suicidal ideation.

PROGRAMME 4: CONNECT (b,h,l)

This is our business training programme for multi-sector organisations, which generates earned income to subsidise our delivery with young people. The CONNECT training approach combines practice from actor training and theatre rehearsals with business thought leadership and social science and neuroscience content and research.

The CONNECT programme is a hybrid model of in person and online delivery and is a fast-growing strand of our work and income stream.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

PROGRAMME 5: Sector Development (c,d,f,g,I,j,k,n,o)

Running a Youth Theatre

In Autumn 2023, we, together with 6 other Arts Council NPO Youth Theatre organisations (Beyond Face, Theatre Factory, Burnley Youth Theatre, Prime Theatre, Company 3, 20 Stories High), codesigned a year-long series of online training / practice-sharing sessions, covering subjects emerging from a national survey of Youth Theatre organisations.

These aim to improve Youth Theatre delivery across the UK, cultivate working partnerships and a mechanism for practice sharing and is a shared move towards raising the profile of Youth Theatre within the wider Arts sector. The programme launched in January 2024 and is being delivered throughout the year.

National Youth Theatre Census

Together with Company 3, Beyond Face and Prime Theatre, we devised plans to secure funding (from Arts Council England) to complete a national census of Youth Theatre organisations.

Artist and Practitioner Development

We are a sector leader in the North East in supporting professional cross-sector practitioners to develop their practice with, by and for children and young people.

We do this by providing training, mentoring and employment opportunities for practitioners and theatre-based artists, with a particular emphasis on those who are early career stage. We also work in partnership with cross-sector organisations working with young people, facilitating practice sharing via co-delivery of projects and activities.

Entry Level Employment

We currently have a full-time Marketing Assistant and introduced a part time (currently 0.8FTE) Assistant Practitioner & Coordinator in 2023-24.

We are working on the development of further entry-level positions in the coming year.

Public Benefit

The Trustees understand and have discussed the implications of the provisions of the Charities Act 2006, which state that all charities must demonstrate that they are established for public benefit, and have had due regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The Trustees believe that the charity meets both of the key principles.

Principle 1 - There must be an identifiable benefit, or benefits Principle 2 - Benefit must be to the public, or a section of the public

The charity’s principal public benefits are:

1. Education and development of young people

The charity’s participatory arts activities focus on strengthening the social and emotional capabilities and mental health of young people – such things as confidence, resilience, creativity, communication, managing feelings, problem-solving, relationship-building, responsibility and perseverance, through participation in performance-based activities.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Public Benefit (Cont.)

2. Education and development of adults

The charity delivers professional development skills workshops with adults that utilise similar approaches to those used with young people but made bespoke for the particular setting e.g. teacher CPD and masterclasses in creative leadership and managing imposter syndrome.

3. Events and plays for the general public

There is a safeguarding policy in place, which includes online working, and is reviewed at least annually (including a review of statutory guidance). There is a safeguarding link trustee and they, together with staff members as Designated Safeguarding Officer and a deputy, are all trained with a Level 3 Safeguarding accreditation, refreshed every 3 years.

As per our policy, we undertake the following Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and procedures:

The main beneficiaries are:

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Public Benefit (Cont.)

We prioritise working with beneficiaries in locations of socio-economic disadvantage and rural isolation and which are under-served by cultural provision. From our base in YMCA Northumberland in Ashington, we operate a satellite model of delivery including a secondary base in Prudhoe in west Northumberland and a growing number of residential partnerships with crosssector partners.

Risk Management

The Trustees regularly review the major governance, operational and financial risks which the charity faces as part of its annual business planning process and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate these risks.

The charity has a comprehensive risk management framework. It comprises:

The charity has a comprehensive approach to risk management, comprising:

The Trustees are satisfied that appropriate financial systems and controls and employment policies and practices are in place. They consider the key risks facing the charity currently to be:

• Competition for Grant Funding Competition for grant funding within the charitable, youth and arts sector has increased throughout the year, with the charity receiving rejections from funders who were previously reliable supporters and several large current multi-year grants entering their final year in 2024.

The multi-stream income generation model the charity operates has maintained financial resilience, but the trustees recognise the need for the charity to decrease its reliance on grant funding (c68% of income in 2023-24) by maximising income from other income generation streams e.g. Melva commissions, CONNECT sales.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)

Risk Management (Cont.)

The Trustees recognise the importance of investment in key areas of staffing in the coming year, specifically increasing capacity in the senior leadership team and income generation programmes and this will be a focus in the coming year, with Unrestricted Reserves designated to support this.

The development of our working practices with young people has resulted in us attracting and retaining higher numbers of young people with complex challenges – creating additional profound, complex and changeable challenges in our delivery contexts.

The Trustees recognise the importance of supervision and support of delivery team staff as part of the charity’s duty of care to staff, alongside safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. This will be an area for further development in the coming year.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Overview

Mortal Fools has successfully accomplished another year of growth, supported more young people than ever before and continued to co-create brilliant artistic work with a growing diversity of young people in the North East region.

In April 2023, we joined Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of regularly funded organisations (NPO). This, together with continued support from trust and foundation grant funders and the securing of some new commissions, has maintained the financial resilience of the charity.

Becoming an Arts Council NPO positioned Mortal Fools on a national stage, amplifying the voices and needs of the young people we work with in the wider sector, supporting the establishment of new national partnerships and providing a step-change for the organisation. We were visited by the Chief Executive and regional colleagues from Arts Council England in February 2024, who were unreservedly encouraging about our development plans.

Ashington continues to be an exciting place for us to be operating – partly because of the demonstrable impact our work has on local young people and the excellent reputation we have cultivated amongst the community, together with the wider regeneration plans and funding secured for town centre developments. Our place-based approach has proved very successful in achieving these outcomes, with the marketing and delivery teams leading audience development.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)

Overview (Cont.)

Delivery commissions have proved increasingly successful during the year, generating new income streams and providing new practice-development contexts. Notable successes have been:

We remain committed to fighting for better futures for young people, working with cross-sector partners to improve systems, services and settings that support young people and building referral pathways with a range of organisations working with young people.

“Mortal Fools continued growth and success is fabulous news for Northumberland and for children and young people. As well as co-creating powerful theatre productions and films of resonance and relevance, they are an excellent and inspirational training agency working across many diverse sectors. This is testament to their clarity of vision and the effectiveness of their approach in supporting strong, dynamic individuals and the leaders of tomorrow.” - Cultural Development Manager, Northumberland County Council

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)

In summary, in 2023-24, the charity:

“As a disabled young person, I was struggling to find a place that would accept me and that I would be comfortable working in. Mortal Fools is just so inclusive for everybody, from all different backgrounds. […] the way a session is structured helps us loads […] I always walk away with my head held high.” Ilana, 18, Ensemble Young Company Member & Assistant Practitioner

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)

The main creative projects this year were:

Ensemble Young Company – FLUX 2023 Tour

A northern tour of our reworked Ensemble Young Company play, performed by 11 young people from Northumberland.

“Absolutely blew me away. So powerful and emotional. Had me in tears! Each performer was exceptional. This should be in every school and also on the West End in London. Would be a sell out! Would recommend to everyone!” FLUX 2023 Audience Member

Ensemble Young Company – Inevitable? & Grow Up Project

Participation in the national ‘Grow Up’ youth theatre NPOs collaboration project, attending a residential and practice sharing sessions with 3 other youth theatres and co-creating and premiering a new play Inevitable? with 11 young people from Northumberland.

“Mortal Fools has really changed my life for the better. Before I didn’t leave my house or see anyone but now, I’m pretty much out every day. They taught me to be confident and trust in my ideas as well as good social skills and team leading skill.” Ensemble Young Company Member, 16

Youth Theatre – The Bigger Picture

Co-creating a series of 6 short films with our 6 youth theatre groups from Ashington and the Tyne Valley about socially engaged themes young people want to talk about. Included community filming/activity days and community screenings and workshops.

“Mortal Fools has helped me build up my confidence, make connections with new people and make new friends. I've been much happier from the friends I've made at Mortal Fools and I've been so proud of all the times I've helped people out. I really love entertaining people and making them happy with my acting.” Youth Theatre Participant, aged 12.

Youth Theatre – Fools Fest: Through the Wardrobe

Two live events of short theatre performances from our 6 youth theatre groups in Ashington and the Tyne Valley – inspired by the themes and imagination of the Narnia stories.

“The work yous have done with my daughter at the Ashington YMCA after losing her mum has been astronomical. I cannot thank you enough and if I was able to live an eternity then it still wouldn't be long enough for all the thank yous I need to say.” Parent of Youth Theatre Member

Youth Theatre – Sounding Board R&D

A research and development term integrating music and sound into our theatre process and learning new skills.

Creative Interventions Youth

Two pilot projects of creative drop-in activities at YMCA Northumberland youth work project – Creative Mondays – a light touch intervention to engage more young people facing barriers in the arts in Ashington.

19

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)

Creative Interventions Education – Duke’s Secondary School & Duchess’s Community High School.

Four 12-week creative intervention projects in secondary schools to support young people referred because they have specific needs or challenging circumstances. The groups experimented with different creative activities, created theatre & audio pieces, presented a showcase of their work and achieved Explore Arts Awards. Included one partnership project with Natural England exploring young people’s relationship with the outdoors.

“It’s just made me less of a shut off – I am way more of a person – I don’t know how to explain it, but I am just more of a normal person around people now, it’s like wow!” - School Intervention & Creative Mondays Youth Group Participant

Melva Digital – Explore Scratchicle Town

A new 8-week intervention launched for academic year 2023/24, using short form animation and storytelling to educate young people on the NHS 5 ways to wellbeing. The new content was launched at the start of the academic year 2023/24, alongside a new programme of Teacher support and training, and evaluation tools.

“This is a very worthwhile programme which was a pleasure to deliver to our children. Children who wouldn't normally speak about their fears and emotions have had the confidence to overcome this by listening to others.” – Participating Melva Teacher

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

We trained and supported 4 new Peer Facilitators into voluntary and paid roles helping run our younger youth theatre groups and worked with 2 existing Peer Facilitators. These roles provide an entry route into part-time creative employment and volunteering for young people from our youth theatre programmes.

“Mortal Fools is the greatest and most welcoming theatre group anyone could be a part of” Connor, 18, Ensemble Young Company Member & Volunteer

We created a new early-career employed role of Assistant Practitioner & Coordinator, supporting a recent graduate into their first role in the arts. They have brought much-needed resource to our delivery team, and have learned new skills in co-creation, facilitation, coordination and fundraising.

“I can thrive the most when I am part of a close-knit, supportive team, who will help encourage me to be the best version of myself […] Mortal Fools has provided me with the stability, consistency, and support I need to find my feet in the industry in my first job.” Jess, 21, Assistant Practitioner & Coordinator

20

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (CONTINUED)

We have delivered creative outreach sessions with organisations like:

“The families and young people who engaged with Mortal Fools thoroughly enjoyed their experiences. Several parents commented that having free and accessible activities for all ages has been really helpful for their families. Another told me she was happy to see children getting access to technology (cameras, voice recording, animation software) because schools have ever decreasing budgets for arts and drama. The excitement for self-expression has been palpable!” Parks Officer, Hirst Park, Ashington

We distributed digital content (films & resource packs) to 20+ settings which hosted screenings and workshops (schools, colleges, youth work settings, arts organisations).

PARTNERSHIPS

Local Authority & Strategic:

Voluntary Sector and Community-Based:

21

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the period ended 31 March 2024

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

The overall focus for the coming year is creating the conditions within the charity to support the next stage of organisational growth and development.

Place-based working continues to be a key strategic focus, considering our place within the Northeast region and Northumberland and our alignment with strategic development objectives for both areas.

Our localised approach will focus on our hometown, Ashington. Local developments in the coming years that we will pursue are:

Business Development

There are several focus areas of this work, including:

For Melva, this means:

For CONNECT, this means:

We will also develop other earned income streams, including:

22

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the period ended 31 March 2024

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS (CONTINUED)

Creative Health Initiatives

This is a field of work gaining national momentum, which our work has long been well aligned with. Working with colleagues at Northumberland County Council, the National Centre for Creative Health and via a range of Creative Health networks, we will take steps to advance this work, including:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees (who are also the Directors of Mortal Fools 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 year.

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. The Trustees 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.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Richard Wise Trustee 9 December 2024

23

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF MORTAL FOOLS LIMITED YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

I hereby report to the Trustees of Mortal Fools (Charity Registration Number 1153400) on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 set out on pages 25 to 39.

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the charity’s Trustees (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 charity’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 Institute of Chartered Accountant in England and Wales, 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:

  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 or 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 (FRS102)).

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.

Pete O’Hara, FCA, Chartered Accountant

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales

26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF

9 December 2024

24

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Note
Income
Income from Investments
3
Income from Charitable Activities
4
Income from Donations & Legacies
5
Expenditure
Expenditure on Charitable Activities
6
Net Income/(Expenditure)
Balance brought forward
Balance carried forward
13		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
Total
2023
£
£
£
£
5,392
-
5,392
1,241
307,178
248,579
555,757
409,913
31,640
-
31,640
23,500
344,210
248,579
592,789
434,654
274,428
336,364
610,792
492,393
274,428
336,364
610,792
492,393
69,782
(87,785)
(18,003)
(57,739)
139,474
249,970
389,444
447,183
£209,256
£162,185
£371,441
£389,444

The notes on pages 27 to 39 form part of the financial statements.

All of the activities of the company are classed as continuing.

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

25

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION/BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

31 March 31 March
2024 2023
Notes £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets 9 2,572 13,125
Current Assets
Debtors 10 104,501 159,650
Cash At Bank & In Hand 293,103 235,303
397,604 394,953
Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year 11 (28,735) (18,634)
Net Current Assets/(Liabilities) 368,869 376,319
Total Net Assets 12 £371,441 £389,444
Represented by:
Unrestricted Reserves 13 209,256 139,474
Restricted Reserves 13 162,185 249,970
£371,441 £389,444

The notes on pages 27 to 39 form part of the financial statements.

The Trustees are satisfied that for the year ended 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption under section 477(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The Trustees also confirm that the Members have not required the charity to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

(i) ensuring that the charity keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and

(ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 9 December 2024 and signed on their behalf:

Richard Wise Trustee Company Registration Number 08102487

26

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 – 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' ('FRS 102'), and with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value.

Advantage has been taken of the provisions in the SORP for Charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a statement of cashflows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.

Income

All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income, any performance related conditions attached have been met or are fully within the control of the charity, the income is considered probable and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

27

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Continued)

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Depreciation is provided on any fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the assets over their remaining useful lives as follows:

A full year’s depreciation charge is applied in the year of acquisition and no charge is made in the year of disposal.

Impairment of Fixed Assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

Financial Instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost where there is a material adjustment.

28

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Accounting Policies (Continued)

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the purposes of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for specific purposes.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor.

Taxation Status

Mortal Fools is a Charity registered under the 1960 Charities Act and is accorded exemption from liability to taxation on its income under S505 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

There are no significant judgements or estimation uncertainty included within the financial statements.

2. Legal Status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

3. Income from Investments

Interest on cash deposits Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
2024
£
2023
£
5,392
-
5,392
1,241
£5,392
£-
£5,392
£1,241

The 2023 total of £1,241 relates wholly to Unrestricted Funds.

29

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4. Income from Charitable Activities

ncome from Charitable Activities
Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Funds Funds
Grant Income £ £ £ £
#iWill Youth Social Action Fund at the
Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear - - - 10,000
and Northumberland (CFTWN)
The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust at the
CFTWN		 - 10,000 10,000 -
Arnold Clark Community Fund - - - 1,000
Arts Council England: National Portfolio
Organisation (NPO)		 180,000 - 180,000 -
Asda Foundation - 294 294 -
Ashington Community Development Trust
at the CFTWN		 - 10,000 10,000 -
Ashington Town Council - 5,000 5,000 -
BBC Children In Need - 29,370 29,370 30,570
BBC Children In Need: Youth Social
Action Fund		 - - - 26,000
Bernicia Foundation - - - 10,000
Carroll Savage Fund at the CFTWN - 2,500 2,500 -
Co-op Local Community Fund - - - 3,268
The Curtin PARP Fund at the CFTWN - - - (12,283)
Garfield Weston Foundation 25,000 - 25,000 25,000
Hadrian’s Wall 1900 Community Grants
and National Lottery Heritage Fund		 - - - 4,999
High Sheriff of Northumberland Youth
Against Crime Award Scheme at the - 1,000 1,000 1,000
CFTWN
The Ironmongers’ Company - - - 4,411
John D Endowment Fund at the CFTWN - - - 2,500
The Joicey Trust - 2,000 2,000 -
Kavli Trust - 52,789 52,789 105,012
Kerry Grassroots at the CFTWN - - - 4,987
Key Fund Federation - - - 168
Lady Betty Martin Fund within the North
East Fund for the Arts at the CFTWN		 - - - 5,000
Linden Family Fund at the CFTWN - 5,000 5,000 -
Muckle LLP at the CFTWN - 1,000 1,000 3,000
The National Lottery Community Fund:
Awards For All		 - - - 10,000

Continued overleaf…

30

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

4. Income from Charitable Activities (Cont.)

Grant Income (Cont.)
The National Lottery Community Fund
(RC North East and Cumbria Region) in
partnership with the Ballinger Charitable
Trust: Reaching Communities
Newcastle City Council TWAM – LCEP
North of Tyne Combined Authority: Small
Grant Programme
North of Tyne Combined Authority: Inspire
North of Tyne Creative England
Northumberland Children's Trust
Northumberland County Council: Arts &
Heritage SLA
Northumberland County Council: Cultural
Investment Project
Northumberland County Council:
Community Chest Scheme
Northumberland Public Health: Creative
Northumberland
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Prime & Spriggs Family Fund at the
CFTWN
Ridley Family Charity at the CFTWN
Robert Wood Trust at the CFTWN
Sir James Knott Trust
Youth Music Trailblazer Fund
Wellesley Trust Fund at the CFTWN
Earned Income
Box Office Takings
Drama Session Fees
Partner Contributions
Refreshment & Other Sundry Sales
Statutory Contract Income
Training Fees		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
2024
£
2023
£
-
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
49,598
49,598
-
-
20,000
20,000
-
-
-
-
12,500
-
5,000
5,000
5,000
-
8,748
8,748
9,721
-
5,000
5,000
~~-~~
-
-
-
5,000
-
-
-
9,999
-
6,000
6,000
-
-
-
-
4,965
-
-
-
3,000
-
2,000
2,000
-
10,000
-
10,000
10,000
-
23,280
23,280
-
-
-
-
10,000
215,000
248,579
463,579
314,817
1,596
-
1,596
1,734
11,389
-
11,389
13,754
14,238
-
14,238
29,133
1,110
-
1,110
1,136
36,874
36,874
-
26,971
-
26,971
49,339
92,178
-
92,178
95,096
£307,178
£248,579
£555,757
£409,913

Of the 2023 total of £409,913, £134,289 relates to Unrestricted Funds and £275,624 to Restricted Funds.

31

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

5. Income from Donations & Legacies

Donations & Gift Aid
Donation In Kind
Theatre Tax Relief		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
2024
£
2023
£
4,875
-
4,875
13,265
4,500
-
4,500
-
22,265
-
22,265
10,235
£31,640
£-
£31,640
£23,500

The 2023 total of £23,500 relates wholly to Unrestricted Funds.

6. Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities

Production & Activity Costs
Salaries & On Costs
Freelance Project Worker Fees
Production, Hire & Staging Costs
Design, Print & Promotional Materials
Support Costs
Administrative Costs
Consultancy Fees
Staff Training
Depreciation
Website Development
Governance Costs
Accountancy & Payroll Fees
Board Costs
Legal & Professional		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
2024
£
2023
£
188,438
234,342
422,780
328,524
11,999
24,089
36,088
32,889
12,274
15,409
27,683
41,876
20,709
17,015
37,724
26,860
33,358
17,582
50,940
43,861
957
4,070
5,027
-
2,042
4,301
6,343
3,331
347
10,206
10,553
11,181
-
9,350
9,350
-
2,857
-
2,857
3,219
650
-
650
-
797
-
797
652
£274,428
£336,364 £610,792
£492,393

Of the 2023 total of £492,393, £142,140 relates to Unrestricted Funds and £350,253 to Restricted Funds.

7. Net Movement in Funds

et Movement in Funds
2024 2023
£ £
The net movement in Funds is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation of Owned Fixed Assets 10,553 11,181
Independent Examiner’s Fees – Independent Examination 900 900
Independent Examiner’s Fees – Other Services 300 -

32

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

8. Staff Costs & Directors’ Remuneration

Gross Salary Costs
Employer’s National Insurance
Employer’s Pension Contributions		 2024
£
2023
£
383,743
300,115
28,132
20,133
10,905
8,276
£422,780
£328,524

No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).

The average number of staff employed during the year, calculated as full-time equivalents, was as follows:

2024 2023
No. No.
Artistic Production and Support 13 11

No remuneration was paid to any Trustees in the year.

No travel and subsistence expenses were reimbursed to Trustees in respect of their attendance at meetings of the charity (2023: £Nil).

9. Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions in year
At 31 March 2024
Accumulated Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for year
At 31 March 2024
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2024
At 1 April 2023		 IT &
Office
Equipment
£
Total
Fixed
Assets
£
37,197
37,197
-
-
37,197
37,197
24,072
24,072
10,553
10,553
34,625
34,625
£2,572
£2,572
£13,125
£13,125

33

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10.
Debtors
Trade Debtors
Other Debtors
Accrued Income
Prepayments
All sums are due within 1 year.
11.
Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year
Trade Creditors
Other Taxes & Social Security Costs
Other Creditors - Pension Contributions Due
Income Received In Advance
Other Creditors
Accruals		 2024
£
2023
£
5,300
22,726
5,000
12,998
90,749
119,159
3,452
4,767
£104,501
£159,650
2024
£
2023
£
12,512
7,291
8,859
7,239
1,700
1,381
1,100
-
40
40
4,524
2,683
£28,735
£18,634

12. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Fixed Assets
Debtors
Cash at Bank and In Hand
Creditors – Due Within 1 Year		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
340
2,232
2,572
13,125
10,563
93,938
104,501
159,650
220,142
72,961
293,103
235,303
(21,789)
(6,946)
(28,735)
(18,634)
£209,256
£162,185 £371,441
£389,444

34

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Analysis of Charitable Funds

Fund at 1 Income in Expenditure Fund at 31
April 2023 Year in Year March 2024
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
Charity General Fund 139,474 344,210 (274,428) 209,256
Restricted Funds
#iwill Youth Social Action Fund at the 10,000 - (10,000) -
Community Foundation for Tyne &
Wear and Northumberland (CFTWN)
The 1989 Willan Charitable Trust at - 10,000
(3,092)		 6,908
the CFTWN
Arts Council England National Lottery 18,994 - (18,994) -
Project Grants: Co-Creation
Exchange
Asda Foundation - 294
(294)		 -
Ashington Community Development - 10,000
(10,000)		 -
Trust at the CFTWN
Ashington Town Council - 5,000
(5,000)		 -
BBC Children In Need - 29,370
(29,370)		 -
DCMS Youth Investment Fund 6,712 -
(6,520)		 192
BBC Children In Need Youth Social 23,400 -
(23,400)		 -
Action Fund
Carroll Savage Fund at the CFTWN - 2,500
(2,500)		 -
CBNE: Capacity Building 5,000 - - 5,000
CBNE: Partnership Investment (PI) 22,566 - (5,524) 17,042
High Sheriff of Northumberland Youth - 1,000
-		 1,000
Against Crime Award Scheme at the
CFTWN
The Ironmongers’ Company 4,411 -
(4,411)		 -
The Joicey Trust - 2,000
-		 2,000
Continued overleaf…

35

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Analysis of Charitable Funds

Kavli Trust
Kerry Grassroots at the CFTWN
Linden Family Fund at the CFTWN
Muckle LLP at the CFTWN
NCC: Community Chest Scheme
Newcastle City Council TWAM: LCEP
North of Tyne Combined Authority:
Inspire
North of Tyne Combined Authority:
Small Grant Programme
North of Tyne Creative England
Northumberland Children's Trust
Northumberland County Council:
Cultural Investment Project
Northumberland County Council
(NCC): Arts and Heritage SLA
Northumberland Public Health:
Creative Northumberland
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Prime & Spriggs Family Fund at the
CFTWN
Ridley Family Charity at the CFTWN
Robert Wood Trust at the CFTWN
The Rothley Trust
Youth Music Trailblazer Fund
Total Restricted Funds
Total Funds		 Fund at 1
April 2023
£
Income in
Year
£
Expenditure
in Year
£
Fund at 31
March 2024
£
54,833
52,789
(62,279)
45,343
2,602
-
(2,602)
-
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
3,000
1,000
(4,000)
-
4,937
-
(3,079)
1,858
-
10,000
(2,470)
7,530
-
20,000
(12,640)
7,360
-
49,598
-
49,598
6,322
-
(6,322)
-
-
5,000
(5,000)
-
-
5,000
(2,658)
2,342
91
8,748
(8,839)
-
19,998
-
(18,350)
1,648
61,438
6,000
(67,438)
-
4,965
-
(4,965)
-
367
-
(183)
184
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
334
-
(334)
-
-
23,280
(9,100)
14,180
249,970
248,579
(336,364)
162,185
£389,444
£592,789
£(610,792)
£371,441

36

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Analysis of Charitable Funds (Cont.)

Name of Restricted Fund Purpose & Allocation of the Restricted Fund
Cross-Project / Core Funds
Paul Hamlyn Foundation (Arts
Access and Participation Fund)		 Contribution to staff salaries, with the aim of helping the
organisation to improve its staff structure, develop its
practice and support socially excluded young people.
Kavli Trust Towards Melva, Future Ready and Core Funding, to
support creative interventions using theatre and
performance-based approaches to support children and
young people's mental health and wellbeing.
BBC Children in Need / 1989 Willan
Charitable Trust / The Joicey Trust		 Towards core programme costs associated with
supporting young people with intersectional needs and
experiencing disadvantage, including salaries.
Ashington Town Council Towardscore costs associated with supporting Young
People living in Ashington
DCMS Youth Investment Fund / The
Rothley Trust		 For the purchase of digital equipment and resources to
enable the charity to reach more young people and
provide a better service to them including hybrid (in
person and online) sessions. Any remaining balances
relating to these funds reflect fixed asset values.
N’land CC Community Chest
Scheme / Ridley Family Charity at
CFTWN		 For the purchase of office and IT equipment for new
Ashington office base, followed by support in purchasing
technical theatre equipment for activity in
Northumberland. Any remaining balances relating to
these funds reflect fixed asset values.
N’land CC Arts and Heritage SLA /
Northumberland Children’s Trust /
Muckle LLP at CTFWN		 Towards core running costs related to activity taking
place in or with young people from Northumberland.

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

13. Analysis of Charitable Funds (Cont.)

Name of Restricted Fund Purpose & Allocation of the Restricted Fund
Project-Specific Funds
BBC Children in Need Youth Social
Action Fund / #iWill Social Action
Fund at CFTWN		 Towards the cost of developing and embedding youth-led
social action within Mortal Fools Youth Theatre, including
running weekly sessions, community outreach sessions,
and creation of social action focused creative outputs.
North of Tyne Creative England:
Culture and Creative Investment
Programme		 Towards support of full-time income generation Producer
role.
Muckle at CFTWN Towards the cost of providing 5 schools with Melva
licenses, to support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.
Prime & Spriggs Family Fund at
CFTWN		 Towards the costs of running Stage 2 Mortal Fools Youth
Theatre group in Ashington.
Culture Bridge North East
Partnership Funding /
Northumberland Public Health /
Newcastle City Council TWAM		 Towards the cost of_Creative Northumberland,_a
collaborative project between schools and cultural
organisations testing the impact of cultural activity on
wellbeing. Mortal Fools are acting as budget holders for
this project on behalf of theNorthumberland LCEP.
Ashington Community Development
Trust via CFTWN / ASDA
Foundation		 Towards the costs of running 3 x Mortal Fools Youth
Theatre groups in Ashington, to support the mental
health and wellbeing of children aged 7 to 19
Carroll Savage / Linden Family Fund
/ High Sheriff Northumberland Youth
Against Crime Scheme (2024) – all
at CFTWN / N’land CC: Cultural
Investment Project		 Towards the costs of running our Ensemble Young
Company group in 2023-24, including the creation and
touring of ‘Inevitable’ as part of the ‘Grow Up’ partnership
project with Company Three.
Culture Bridge North East: Capacity
Building		 To fund a dedicated Producer for_Creative_
Northumberland.
The Ironmongers’ Company / Robert
Wood Trust at the CFTWN		 Towards Creative Interventions in Schools.
ACE PG Co-Creation Exchange /
Kerry Grassroots at CFTWN		 Towards the cost of the Co-Creation Exchange Network
and Ensemble Young Company group in 2023, including:
the co-creation and production of the original_FLUX live
performance in Ashington (2022); the filming and
distribution of digital version of the show; the updated
and re-worked_FLUX tour(2023); related outreach work;
and cross-sector development work.

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MORTAL FOOLS (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

13. Analysis of Charitable Funds (Cont.)

Name of Restricted Fund Purpose & Allocation of the Restricted Fund
Project-Specific Funds (Cont.)
Youth Music Trailblazer Fund Towards the costs of piloting new approaches to music
making across all of our Mortal Fools Youth Theatre
groups and outreach groups in 2024.
North of Tyne Combined Authority
(NTCA): Small Grants Programme.
Commissioned by North East
Combined Authority funded by the
UK government through the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund.		 Funding for'Future Ready' - our pilot employability skills
project supporting economically inactive and/or socially
isolated young people aged 16-30 in Northumberland.
NTCA: Inspire Project Towards the cost of developing new wellbeing education
content for the_Melva_programme.

14. Related Party Transactions

There were no related party transactions during this year.

15. Taxation

The company is a registered charity and no provision is considered necessary for taxation.

16. Financial Commitments

No material financial commitments have been made in respect of future financial years.

17. Company Limited by Guarantee

The charity is incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 and is limited by guarantee, each member having undertaken to contribute such amounts not exceeding 1 as may be required in the event of the company being wound up whilst he or she is still a member or within one year thereafter.

There are currently 11 members of the company (2023: 10).

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