DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE (DECKACY)
Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
JANUARY 30, 2026
56, Westbourne Road,
Marsh, Huddersfield. HD1 4LE
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 April 2024 - Period start date To 31 March 2025 Period end date
Charity name: DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE
Other Name: DECKACY
Charity registration number: 1153656
Principal Address: 56 Westbourne Road, Marsh, Huddersfield, HD1 4LE
Trustees (as of the date of this report):
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Joanne Fisher (Chair, appointed 01 July 2025)
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Darren Wint (appointed 03 December 2024)
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George Mark Matheson (CEO and Trustee)
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Promotion, nurture, and support of high standards among BAME artists and creative practitioners in all branches of the creative arts, enabling them to secure employment across the spectrum of existing and new, mainstream, and fringe opportunities, including creative enterprise training. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Under our Collaboration Commitment, DECKACY brought Neurolearn.online Ltd, Eco fresh laundry Hub CIC, and the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir CIC under its wing. These activities focus on providing bursaries for NeuroCoach training, establishing professional safeguarding standards, and supporting community cohesion through music and essential services. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees of DECKACY confirm that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit as part of their governance and decision-making processes. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | DECKACY provides grants specifically for BAME creative practitioners and neurodiverse individuals to deliver projects that reflect our mission of fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | We utilise strategic social investments, including program-related investments, to advance our mission. This includes commissioning research and creative works that deliver both social impact and potential financial returns to sustain the charity |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | DECKACY acknowledges the commitment of our volunteers; however, we recognize that their contribution alone is limited without the necessary additional resources to achieve our broader regional goals |
| Other | DECKACY has commissioned the esteemed author Lane Anthony to produce research surrounding neurodiversity, which forms a core part of our current educational framework. |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | This year marks a major shift from previous periods of financial inactivity to active project delivery: • Bursary Programme:Successfully created 20 bursaries to support the next generation of practitioners. This includes training for 10 trainee neurocoaches in London and 10 in the West Yorkshire area. • Safeguarding Portal:Developed and launched a secure safeguarding portal. This platform allows neurocoaches to register as "fit to practice," involving mandatory DBS checks and qualification verification to ensure high professional standards. • Literary Commissioning: Commissioned esteemed author Lane Anthony to produce groundbreaking neurodiversity |
research. His three seminal works— Autism a Super Power , The Dynamic Development Plan , and Awakening The Workforce, now form the core of DECKACY’s educational framework. • Strategic Growth: Lane Anthony’s work is set to form the basis of a Doctor by Publication, with the PhD celebration scheduled for January 2026, further establishing DECKACY as a leader in neuroinclusive research.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The charity successfully met its target of establishing the "under the wing" collaboration model, providing regional training opportunities that were previously hindered by a lack of funding. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | The social investment into Lane Anthony's publications is expected to generate future income through the sale of his work, supporting long-term sustainability. |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Following a period of zero income, the charity is transitioning to a more active financial state through its new partnerships and commissioned intellectual property |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | DECKACY maintains a reserves policy to ensure financial stability. Reserves act as a financial safety net to manage unforeseen expenses and bridge potential gaps in income streams. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Nil |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | The charity is in a rebuilding phase following a period where no income was generated. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The trustees believe the new collaborations and the launch of the neurocoach training programs provide a sustainable path forward. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Expected sources include grants, donations, and earned income from the sale of commissioned educational materials and literary works. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The principal risk remains external funding volatility, which we are mitigating through the diversification of activities and funding sources. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Trust Deed. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are chosen based on their ability to contribute to strategic goals. We are currently revising selection methods to ensure greater inclusivity for neurodiverse individuals. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | New trustees participate in orientation training sessions led by the Chair, covering roles, responsibilities, and core operational documents. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | DECKACY operates with a Management Committee of 8 members who meet quarterly. We work within a wider network including Neurolearn.online Ltd and various community CICs |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | DECKACY |
| Registered charity number | 1153656 |
| Charity’s principal address | 56, Westbourne Road. Marsh. Huddersfield, WEST YORKSHIRE HD1 4LE |
Risk Management
The Management Committee has conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated at least annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces.
Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of a strategic plan which will allow for the diversification of funding and activities, specifically through our new collaboration commitment with Neurolearn.online Ltd, Eco fresh laundry Hub CIC, and the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir CIC. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers, clients and visitors to the charity. These procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity.
Organisational Structure
DECKA Creative Yorkshire (DECKACY) has a Management Committee of 8 members who meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At present the Committee has four members from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity, including the specific expertise required to oversee the new neurocoach training initiatives.
Responsibilities of the Management Committee
Company law requires the Management Committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Management Committee should follow best practice and:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is not appropriate to assume that the company will continue on that basis.
The Management Committee is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The Management Committee is 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.
Members of the Management Committee
Members of the Management Committee, who are trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 3 of the legal and administrative information.
Approved by the Management Committee on 19 January 2026 and signed on its behalf
Mr George Matheson (Chairman)
DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE (DECKACY) Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles Ywr End•d 31 M•rch 2025 Unl•str1 Fuftdj I R•6uKi•d T4xal Funds 20251 T471al Fund Z024 (É> I•ICOIAllla AE8OUACf8 Totsl Inc¢ymkng re¢•$ 14f#OLrtf• EXPf140tD
ItCO¥ClilATIOII OF IUMOS ¢HAI*IAAII CMAIAI A¢TINa Jo Fl•h•r
DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE (DECKACY) Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025 2025 2024 ts) FIXED ASSETS Tan9bl• ass8 Total Flxed As•ets ¢UIIAE•IT AtseTS Totsl Cwrent AS1$ Credlt(Ys". amounts fallkng thie wlthkn one year N•t Cwr•nt Ass•ts TOTAL AMITS LIM CUNT
MET ASSETS FU14Dg OF CHAIIITY R•sirl¢t•d lur*Js CHAIRIIAN CHAIRI ACTIIIO TREASUIIER Jo F•th•r
Financial Summary for DECKA Creative Yorkshire (DECKACY)
Over the past four years, DECKACY has not generated any income from donations, grants, investments, charitable activities, or voluntary contributions. Consequently, there has been no expenditure during this period. This prolonged financial inactivity has historically reflected a significant challenge in advancing the charity’s mission and maintaining operational momentum, particularly in its advocacy for BAME creative practitioners and neurodiverse communities.
The 2024/25 period, however, marks a significant strategic pivot for the organisation. Under a new "Collaboration Commitment," DECKACY has brought three innovative entities under its wing to integrate community support with professional development: Neurolearn.online Ltd, Eco fresh laundry Hub CIC, and the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir CIC.
This collaboration has already yielded tangible results that move DECKACY beyond its phase of inactivity. Key achievements include:
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Professional Training and Bursaries: The creation of twenty bursaries to support the next generation of practitioners, which includes training for ten trainee neurocoaches in London and ten in the West Yorkshire area.
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Infrastructure and Safeguarding: The successful build of a secure safeguarding portal, which provides a robust framework for neurocoaches to register as being fit to practice, ensuring that professional standards and safety are maintained across the network.
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Community Integration : The Eco fresh laundry Hub community build initiative, which serves as a model for linking essential community services with social wellbeing and neuro-inclusive support.
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Cultural Empowerment: The integration of the Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir CIC to foster community cohesion and provide a platform for cultural and creative expression.
To ensure long-term sustainability, DECKACY has commissioned the esteemed author Lane Anthony to produce three publications surrounding neurodiversity: Autism a Super Power , The Dynamic Development Plan , and Awakening The Workforce . The charity anticipates benefiting from future income generated by the sale of this work, creating an earned income stream that supports our charitable purpose.
By taking these proactive steps, DECKACY has successfully transitioned from a period of inactivity to a phase of strategic growth and collaboration. Strengthening these partnerships and diversifying our income through both grants and intellectual property will be critical in
enabling the charity to fulfil its mission of empowering underserved creative communities and advocating for inclusion and diversity across the regions we serve.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on the behalf of the charity’s trustees Signatures (S); George Matheson Full Name (S): George Matheson Position (eg Secretary, : Chairman Chair, ect.) Date: 30/01/2026
DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE (DECKACY) Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles Ywr End•d 31 M•rch 2025 Unl•str1 Fuftdj I R•6uKi•d T4xal Funds 20251 T471al Fund Z024 (É> I•ICOIAllla AE8OUACf8 Totsl Inc¢ymkng re¢•$ 14f#OLrtf• EXPf140tD
ItCO¥ClilATIOII OF IUMOS ¢HAI*IAAII CMAIAI A¢TINa Jo Fl•h•r
DECKA CREATIVE YORKSHIRE (DECKACY) Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025 2025 2024 ts) FIXED ASSETS Tan9bl• ass8 Total Flxed As•ets ¢UIIAE•IT AtseTS Totsl Cwrent AS1$ Credlt(Ys". amounts fallkng thie wlthkn one year N•t Cwr•nt Ass•ts TOTAL AMITS LIM CUNT
MET ASSETS FU14Dg OF CHAIIITY R•sirl¢t•d lur*Js CHAIRIIAN CHAIRI ACTIIIO TREASUIIER Jo F•th•r