## **Annual Report 2021** # **Space2Create is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation** **Registered Charity No. 1159664** Space2Create Studio 31 (Unit 31) The Factory Castle Mills Aynam Road Kendal LA9 7DE (01539) 482540 info@space2create.co.uk www.space2create.co.uk ## **Contents:** |1.|Trustees|3| |---|---|---| |2.|How we provide public benefit|3| |3.|Managers Report|4| |4.|Activities for the public benefit 2018|4| |5.|Volunteers and Service Users|6| |6.|Organisational Links|6| |7.|Financial Report|7| |8.|Accounts|7| 2 ## **1. Trustees’ Annual Report 2021** This is the Trustees’ Annual Report detailing the activities by Space2Create for the public benefit and its finances during the period 1[st] January 2021 to 31[st] December 2021. Trustees are: Julie Tait – Chair Karen Fishwick – Treasurer Jan Write Julie Thomas – Secretary Jamie Barnes Alison Barnes ## **2. How we provide public benefit.** Space2Create provides public benefit in three ways. Firstly by providing a range of creative activities and opportunities in our studios and the wider community. We believe that creative activity in a social setting with a mutually-supportive group helps improve an individual’s well-being, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance. Within group sessions we ensure a positive atmosphere with outcomes that boost an individual and incorporate the recommended five ways to well-being: to connect, be active, take notice, learn and give.We aim to move people forward into volunteering, education, employment or other ways they can be useful and participating members of their local community. Secondly, we provide space and resources for other groups to meet or be creative. We have lots of space in our studios which we make available to other organisations or individuals who have similar aims to our own when we are not using them. We also have a large selection of creative resources which can be used by those groups. Finally, we hold exhibitions in our gallery space and other locations which show off the achievements of our Service Users. We also use these exhibitions to challenge stigma and inform the public about the mental and physical health problems our Service Users face. We also give opportunities for any artist struggling to create despite some form of mental or physical illness or disability. We also give opportunity to local artists to exhibit and collaborate with other local and national organisations to present projects that reflect our aims. Figure 1: Space2Create Service User Journey 3 ## **3. Managers Statement** 2021 has been a year characterised in all respects of the charity by the phrase “Things can only get better”. We started the year in Covid Lockdown until March when we finally were released and able to plan a way forward. We were slowly able to move from no sessions at the unit to restoring our services to an almost normal level. It proved the case for our finances too moving from a period in the first quarter of extreme concern over the state of our income to an increasingly strong position as the year progressed. 2021 has been a year over recovery and return. Exhibitions started again in September with the Green Door Art Trail and we saw the return of some of the other users of our unit. As always I want to say a big thank you to the volunteers and staff without whom the charity would have collapsed. Their tireless and loyal support enabled S2C to survive and build towards a stronger organisation. Mat Butler Manage ## **4. Activities for the Public Benefit In 2021** ## **a) Group Sessions Returning after March 2021** Up until the end of March S2C provided online sessions and pre-recorded video content. Over a few weeks there was a transition period of mixed face to face and online content until full normal sessions were resumed. Tuesdays: 2Create 9.30-12 & TuCreate 1-3 Wednesday: WeCreate 9.30-12 Thursdays: Craft & Chat 9.30-12 Friday: WellArt 9.30-12 Saturday: Writing Group 10-12 ## **c) Other Organisations benefiting from use of Unit 31 and S2C resources** ## **Hub Club** Space2Create continued to support the Hub Club providing space and resources for them to meet for two sessions in the week where possible. Hub Club supports adult with leaning disabilities running an art session and a sing and sign session each week. 4 ## **Sandgate School** When normal sessions resumed pupils from the final year at Sandgate School attended Tuesday afternoon sessions. The pupils were in small groups for blocks of six weeks supported by a learning assistant from the school. The pupils all had a variety of special needs. ## **Repair Café** The Repair Café started using the unit for a monthly session in the evening. This allowed people to bring items to be fixed rather than thrown away. Food is also provided on the night by the Kendal Peoples Café. They also hold a monthly skills session over a weekend teaching a variety of skills. ## **Green Door Artists** Green Door hire the unit for regular board and committee meetings as well as a venue for the annual Green Door Art Trail which sees large numbers of people through the unit giving an opportunity to promote our work to a new audience. ## **d) Exhibitions** We held no exhibitions until September 2021 as we felt that with the various Covid restriction in place it was not viable or safe to do so. We had a permanent exhibition of work by Service Users and Staff in place over this time. ## **Green Door Art Trail 2021** The Art Trail saw eight artists exhibiting within the unit and open to the public. While numbers were down understandably on previous events there was a steady stream of visitors over the weekend. ## **Art Of Remembrance** An exhibition by the South Lakes Arts. This exhibition was inspired by any form of remembrance and resulted in a high quality and emotive show. The opening was very poorly attended and visitor numbers were very low in the post lockdown period. ## **e) Projects within local community** ## **Library Sculptures** We were approached by Kendal Library to produce some form of sculpture work to hang in the rotunda. The Library offered a selection of books to work with that had been withdrawn from the Library. Working with Service Users we designed and built a large bird sculpture from the book pages around a wire frame along woth several smaller abstract pieces. These were then hung in the rotunda above people heads as they walked into the Library. We received a lot of very positive feedback from the project and again introduced S2C to people we would not normally reach. ## **Face2Face** S2C Service Users took part in the Face2Face project at Cartmel Priory. This involved decorating masks in wats which represented people mental health over the lockdown period. A large number took part and these were hung inside the Priory to great effect. 5 ## **f) Events and shows** Most events and shows continued to be cancelled or postponed in 2021 so we had no opportunities to take part in any. ## **5. Volunteers and Service Users** ## **Service Users** Service User numbers continued to be restricted this year as we came from lockdown into a time of restrictions. As a support group we had some flexibility to run sessions but had to maintain distances, so our capacity was significantly reduced. To counter this we introduced a booking system. Many of our Service Users were very badly effected by the pandemic and many reported increased anxiety and a worsening in their conditions. We had many enquiries from new people who had no previous history of mental Health issues but had suffered with anxiety and isolation issues over the lockdowns. ## **Volunteers** As we restarted sessions we struggled to find enough volunteers to meet the needs of the groups. Apart from a core few volunteers many had moved on, experienced changes in their circumstances or had new employment such they could no longer volunteer. There was very high demand for volunteers post pandemic and we found recruiting extremely difficult. We can only pay tribute to the core of volunteers who were able to continue supporting the charity in an extremely difficult time managing to keep things running. ## **6. Organisational Links** After the lockdowns we lost many links to organisations but were able to re-establish some and find new ones. We are always extremely grateful for the support these organisations give us without which we would not be able to deliver the services we do. - Cumbria Voluntary Service - Kendal Town Council - South Lakeland District Council - Hub Club - Green Door Artists - South Lakeland Arts Community - Many local artists - Kendal Arts Community - Community Mental Health Team - Cumbria County Council - Kendal Integrated Care Community - Food Club - Health and Wellbeing Coaches - Kendal Library - Ingalls Chartered Accountants And many private individuals of whom we are grateful for their support. 6 ## **7. Financial Report** 2021 was an extremely difficult financial period at times particularly in the first and second quarter. With a severe dip in donations, no income from fundraisers or exhibitions and no income from room hire the amount of cash available to the charity became very low and a concern that we might have to cease operations was very real. Staff voluntarily decided to not be paid for a short period and held over until a number of grants came through securing the charities position. Towards the end of the year we received the forst payment in a significant bequest that promises to allow S2C to develop into 2022 and beyond. Funds, Grants and Donations came from the following: - Kendal Town Council Grant - South Lakeland District Council - National Lottery Awards For All - Government Small Business Covid Relief Grant - Cumbria Community Foundation - Public Donations - Private individual donations - Session donations - Income from room hire - Sales of artwork - Frieda Scott Trust - Estate of David Stretch ## **8. Accounts** 2021 Accounts: 7 CHARITY COhlMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For tha perlod fn>m 014on-X 31.W21 Section A Receipts and payments Unrnstrlctsd funds End¢wm•nt fvndj La•t Totalfunds funds Funthn Croftsolès Roomloi Grou I31,￿1 a2 911 Sub totd(Gmss inGom6 forAR) veslm•ntJa J92 (see lablel. IX112 A3 Pa ments iJ72 710 ID3 103 3.388 236 S￿10 70 A4 A*¥et and ltt¥*stment rch• s•e tsble Office furnlture a ul ment 139 Subts 7MOI 41.9 JJP31 5,80 A5 TTan•f•rn b•tw••ft fund• A6 Cash furK15 last year¢nd 100ATr2 10LIJ62 10. CCXX Rl ISSI 24n1rJJ22 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrl¢t•d R•strkted funds funds toneuut£ Endowm•nl fund• t•n•4r••t£ Categorie5 Delails 81 Cash funds Totsl ¢a•h r￿dI 106,354 rrtl•ll Unrestrkted lurMI$ R￿trIct*d End￿Dent funds fvnds Detalls B2 Other monetary assets ¢urThntYd Detalls B3 Inveslment assets Fund Details Cfr•lufflbjmarO•4thwn￿I 84 Assets rBtaingd forthe tharity's own use 7,111 Pundknmtlch Oetslls 85 Llabllltlo• Prin¢N8rn0 Dota of rov hatf of thotruBt¢e5 Slgnature 41 CCYX R2•u0￿•(S8) 24111r￿ CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to thg trustee81 mem￿r5 of Chatlty Space2Crgate On accounts for the year ènded 31 Dacember 2021 Charity no {If any) 1159664 Set out on pages 1and2 to indudo '. I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ihe above charity (Ihe TTUSt'I for the year ended 3111212021. As the chanty's trustees. you are responsible for the preparotlon of tha accounts in accordance wth the requirem8nts ofthe Charrties Act 2011 Responsibilties and basls of report I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Direthons gwen by tho Chanty Commission under section 14q5Xbl of the Act. Independent I have completed rny examination. I confimi that no m810rf81 matters have examlnerfs statement com& to my attention in cx)nnectton with the examination {•thefvt whith gtves me cause lo believe that in, any materlal respecL the accounting recor(ls wero not kept in accordance with seclron 130 of the Chadues ACL. or the accounts did not accord the acu)unting re¢>)rds,' or the accounts dld not comply wfth tha applicable requirements conceming the fom 8nd conl8nt of accounts set ￿t in the Charlties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I hav8 no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wlth the examination to whlch attenlK¢n should be drawn in thls report In order to enable a proper understanding of the acGounls to be reached. . Pleasa doleto the words in tha braGkgls rflhgy do not apply. Slgnod: Date: Name: G F Whiteslde Rel•vant profgsslonal quallflcatlonls) or body {rf •nyl: ICAEW Addre8S: Ingalls {Kendal) Ltd IER Oct 2018 io Libra House. Mud8y Moss Buslness Village. Oxenholme Road. Kendal, LA9 7RL Section 8 Disc105ure Only complete rf the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of charity a￿unts. directions and guidance for examiners). Glv• hern brfel datslls of any Items that the examiner wishos to d18close. IER Oct 2018 li