Boathouse Theatre Arts Registered Charity Number 1156740 Annual Report for the period Year Ending July 2025 BOATHOUSE Theatre Arts Boathouse Theatre Arts Jackson Hall Portland Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 IQN Boathouse Theatre Arts Charity Number: 1156740
Boathouse Theatre Arts Organisational Inforniation for the year ended 31 July 2025 Legal Form: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Governing Document: Constitution (Last amended in 2019) Committee Members: Chair- Rachel Lowden Treasurer-Nicola Rowland Trustee - Felicity Parsons Trustee - Sally Marchant Trustee - Melissa Rowland Trustee - Lawrence Jordon Bankers Melissa Rowland Sally Marchant Boathouse Theatre Arts Charity Number: 1156740
Boathouse Theatre Arts The report from the Chair and Trustee's for the year ending July 2025 The challenges in the current climate continue to be a concern for us as a small organisation. There is a high level of deprivation and poverty in Hastings, and we continue to try and be as inclusive as possible for those with different needs, who may experience more financial hardship and fewer opportunities. This means we rely heavily on our volunteers to support paid practitioners to deliver workshops. We have had some new volunteers join this year as well as some constant stalwarts who support both adult and children's groups. Our CEO supervises the volunteers and continues to invest high levels of energy and commitment over and above in order to sustain us as an organisation. Funding applications have been submitted for various organisations, and we have been unsuccessful in some but fortunate within the last month to be awarded £5000 from a funder with Sussex Community Foundation. The need for groups continues and the waiting lists grows so we began a Tuesday evening added adult group in Ore which is in its embryonic stage but developing fast. We were awarded money from postcode lottery players in 2024, specifically to Invest in a new project and decided it was best place here. Unfortunately, the venue we were using for our adult group become too expensive and was inaccessible for some. We are trialling a new studio in the town which is at our limit in terms of payment for hiring but is run by another local charity of whom we have close bonds with, and are continuing to work in partnership with. Our new website and Instagram page have been launched which will increase awareness and spread news of our upcoming shows and socials. We have invested in this with a view that we can attract more donations, of which during this fmancial year we haven't had any. We welcomed a new trustee to the board in January who is a participant at Boathouse and wrote the fabulous pantomime we saw at Christmas. Lawrence has Autism and is a gifted writer and perfonner and we are so thrilled for the Boathouse Theatre Arts Charity Number: 1156740
skills he is bringing to the board and the voice of lived experience as an active member of the adult group. It is a privilege to continue to work with a group of committed and passionate trustees, and to continue to work towards a sustainable robust fllLqncial structure that can scaffold the creative and powerful work our members and practitioners co create. All our participants have learning difficulties to varying degrees, some are non-verbal and some have mobility challenges. Boathouse provides weekly sessions that engage people in singing, acting and perforniance. R.A. Lowden CEO report Boathouse Theatre Arts continues to meet the needs and wants of our comrnunity through the deliverance of theatre workshops. We now have 3 groups that each deliver weekly theatre workshop session during terni time. The Sunday Adult Group continues to meet the need of 25 members. They have recently relocated to purpose built, fully accessible theatre studio, built by our local Mencap. The cost remains the same as the previous venue. Over the past year, the group has welcomed a new member of paid staff and a volunteer. They have enjoyed several workshops from visiting artists, both building their skills and forging relationships within the community. One particular workshop was around comedy and was especially well received by many of our members! The Children's Group continues to meet the need of l O children and their families. One member has his siblings join in, which allows them build upon their family bond. We have two parents who choose to remain in the session and support the team and members in the workshop. Parents have access to a relaxed are4 with hot drinks and biscuits, and this h&8 been a vital lifeline for several, allowing them some respite and the chance to talk to similar families. Our new group is our Tuesday Adult Group. This is held Tuesday evenings at a loca] community centre with a hall and stage. This opened January 2025 and currently meets the needs of 8 members. It is run by one Lead Practitioner and supported by one paid support and one volunteer. As the group expands. we will adjust the staffing. Last summer. we took our Singing and Signing Choir to a few local community events. Boathouse Theatre Arts Charity Number: 1156740
Last Christmas saw Boathouse Theatre Arts put on their fst ever pantomime! This was a joint production of the Sunday and Children's Groups and was very well received. We packed the theatre for one afternoon and received many compliments on the professional deliverance of the panto. Through our public events and productions, we often see a rise in interest as to what we offer and donations. We have one family now donating monthly, and several people interested in us have joined our Tuesday Group. We have since created our website, which we worked closely with local website builders. and this brings in extra interest. I aim to send out a quarterly newsletter to those signed up to it- generally a mix of family members &nd local community groups. M Rowland MILL(e R.A LOW k4•wDL J s/10/202S i&lio Izottr k50F¥5AN L*W FEPI C E •DEDApJ Ieiio fL74 Boathouse Theatre Arts Charity Number: 1156740
Boathouse Theatre Arts Year end 31 July 2025 Financials and Treasurer's Report Prepared by Nicola Rowland 10th October 2025
8oathouse Theatre Arts Treasurer's Report Year Endln8 31 July 2025 Educatlon and Admlnlstratlon Year ended 2025 Year ended 2024 Grants Recelved io.cth. 8,080.CKI Individual Donations IDirert Credit) L126.84 li.3. Friends of Boathouse 360.IX) 445.1)) Income from Sesslons and Show5 7.449.14 6,512.67 TOTAL FUND INCOME 18.935.98 26,337.67 EXPENDITURE Freelance Teachers 7,189.99 5,118.94 Venue Hlre Ilncl Ha5tin85 Centre Xmas Show) 3.100.(MJ 2,710.50 prr Adminlstrator and Assoclated GS S,W.68 4.988.09 Printing and Publlclty 282.21 1,864.49 Excursions 1,186.75 Insurances 162.76 139.60 ststlonery and Sundry Expendkture 333.lJ) 16.762.64 16.468.37 EDUCATION AND ADMINISThATION FVND TOTAL FOR THE YEAR 2.173.34 9,869.30 BALANCE AT BANK BIFWD 15,983.75 6,114.45 SURPLUSIIDEFicin FOR THE YEAR 2.173.34 9.869.30 BALANCE AT BANK CIFWD 18.157.09 15,983.75 RESERVED FUNDS SURPLUSIIDEFIC 7,5(Kl.(Ki 10.657.09 18.157.09 5,OCKI.CK) 10,983.75 15,983.75
Boathouse Theatre Arts Treasurer's Report Reporting period - August 2024 to July 2025 Income Overvlew Grants and sessions have both increased in the year, however income from donations and Friends of Boathouse have de¢ased. If we can maintain a steady flow of grant and donation income, along with consistent session attendance, Boathouse will continue to thrive. 2024,5 donations were skewed by the £IO.000 received from Gardeners Books. Summary of Grants Recelved Postcode Lottery Neighbourly Foundation Sussex Community Foundation Designated to Children's Group Undesignated Undesignated £4,(KK) £i,i)00 Expenses Overview Overall the expenses for the year have remained consistent between 2024 and 2025, however in the current year there has been increasd spend in both wages and hall hire. In 2024 Boathouse Theatre Arts funded a trip to see Gase in London. There was also the cost of the website build in 2024 which has not been repeated in this year. Cash positlon The bank balance at the end of the year was £18.157. At the lowest point of the year it fell to £13,910 and peaked at £20,814. Notes and Observations I have Increased the reserves to £7,500 from £5,000 which Is enough to cover 6 months worth of wages and hall hire. The Sunday and Tuesday groups are running at a loss. The Childrens group is in profit only due to the grant received from the Postcode Lottery. Looklng Ahead We need to ensure that grants continue to come in regularly. Is the Tuesday Group viable. Have numbers increased? Are there opportunites to Increase Friends of Boathouse or fundraising etsewhere? Are the numbers at Children's group increasing?
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