BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS
ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT 2023-2024
Company Registered: 08482397 Charity Registered: 1159687
TRUSTEE DIRECTORS:
Aimee Tollan David Luke Nikki Wyrd Harriet Wells Alexander Beiner Peter Sjostedt-Hughes
The charity is incorporated under guarantee.
Activities and Achievements
The main activity of the charity is to organise the biennial academic conference ‘Breaking Convention-Multidisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness’. Breaking Convention is a gathering of psychedelic researchers and those interested in psychedelic research. They come from many different academic disciplines; neuroscience, anthropology, medicine and art to name a few. The conference acts as an educational tool for those interested in psychedelic research, as a platform for researchers to present new data, and as a networking event for those in the psychedelic research community. The three-day conference is held at a hired venue, and includes a full programme of talks across four lecture theatres, workshops, a film festival and a visionary art exhibition. The event in April 2023 was held at the University of Exeter.
Financial Overview
Due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions since 2020, the event in April 2023 was the first three-day conference held in person since 2020. Two one-day events were held, one in 2022, and one in 2024.
The primary source of income has been from ticket sales. Other sources of income are from a small amount of sponsorship from donors who wish to fund a particular speaker’s flights, or to have their logo appear in the conference programme. Stall spaces are sold for a fixed fee in the marketplace area. A small amount of profit is made from selling merchandise and a bookstall.
Breaking Convention also publishes a collection of essays written by speakers from the previous conference. The directors select and edit essays submitted by the speakers, which is then published by Strange Attractor Press. Some income comes from the sale of these books online. All of the income from all sources is spent on organising the conference, hire of the venue, production and filming costs, travel expenses for crew and invited speakers for
the conference itself and for each of our meetings, equipment hire, and accommodation for the crew during the conference.
Two of the Directors (Aimee Tollan & Nikki Wyrd) are paid an hourly rate of £25.00 and £18.00 respectively, to manage the organisation. They both work part-time hours for the majority of the year. Other trustees give their time voluntarily, however travel expenses are paid for by the organisation. Examples of tasks undertaken by the aforementioned Directors are managing the day to day operations of the organisation, managing the social media account, answering email queries from attendees, general event production duties, managing the financial records, and holding smaller events in addition to the 3 day conference, amongst other tasks.
The event is usually planned over a period of 2 years. Any surplus or shortfall from one year’s accounts will be carried forward and used to cover the next scheduled event. All funds are reinvested in the event and the Charity’s operation.
The company does not hold any capital assets or other investments.
Management and Operation
The charity is managed by a group of 6 directors plus a wider non-executive committee of 15 people. The Executive Committee (Aimee Tollan, Nikki Wyrd, Harriet Wells, David Luke, Alexander Beiner & Peter Sjostedt-Hughes) share connections in academia and come together through a mutual interest in psychedelic research and consciousness. They arrange the academic programme of the conference, invite the speakers, organise venue hire, and create a ‘2nd-track programme’ from people who have submitted abstracts to present. In addition to the core group of directors we have a wider committee, who attend our main meetings, to whom certain tasks are delegated. For example, managing our group of 80 volunteers (who act as ushers and as technicians in the lecture theatres, and many other roles) for the weekend of the conference itself. Other tasks undertaken by the wider committee include; the organisation of the visionary art exhibition, arranging the production of merchandise, curating the digital art installations, and website construction/maintenance.
The management of the organisation’s event takes place through either face-to-face or online meetings every few months, and through regular email correspondence.
During this year, the Directors reviewed all areas of the business, considered, and agreed policies to mitigate and/or protect against any risk areas identified.
Future Aims and Objectives
Breaking Convention will continue to provide funding with our annual “Student Essay Prize” for the best essays in various disciplines and to accept submissions for our collection of essays that we publish. We plan to edit another collection of essays and will continue hosting smaller lectures in person and via zoom. Finally, we plan to hold our biennial conference in 2025, all duties surrounding this have been outlined above.
…………………………………………………
AIMEE TOLLAN
Signed on behalf of the Directors/Trustees 28 June 2024
………………………………………………… Nikki Wyrd Signed on behalf of the Directors/Trustees 28 June 2024
Company Registration No. 08482397 (England and Wales)
BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Company information | 3 |
| Directors' report | 4 |
| Income statement | 5 |
| Statement of financial position | 6 |
| Notes to the accounts | 7 |
| Detailed profit and loss account | 8 |
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS COMPANY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
Directors
Company Number Registered Office
Accountants
DAVID LUKE AIMEE TOLLAN NIKKI WYRD HARRIET WELLS ALEXANDER BEINER PETER HUGHES 08482397 (England and Wales) 111 WOLSEY DRIVE KINGSTON SURREY KT2 5DR United Kingdom C M MITCHELL ACCOUNTANCY LTD 111 WOLSEY DRIVE KINGSTON UPON THAMES SURREY KT2 5DR
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS (COMPANY NO: 08482397 ENGLAND AND WALES) DIRECTORS' REPORT
The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023.
Directors
The following directors held office during the whole of the period:
CAMERON ADAMS DAVID LUKE AIMEE TOLLAN NIKKI WYRD HARRIET WELLS ALEXANDER BEINER
Statement of directors' responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under that law, the directors have elected to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these accounts, the directors are required to:
-
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 accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Signed on behalf of the board of directors
............................................................................
AIMEE TOLLAN Director
Approved by the board on: 30 May 2024
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
| Turnover Cost of sales Gross surplus Administrative expenses Operating loss Interest receivable and similar income Loss on ordinary activities before taxation Tax on loss on ordinary activities Loss for the financial year |
2023 £ 179,438 (156,496) 22,942 (38,430) (15,488) 87 (15,401) - (15,401) |
2022 £ 19,537 (19,519) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 (17,632) |
||
| (17,614) 3 |
||
| (17,611) - |
||
| (17,611) |
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 AUGUST 2023
| Notes Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4 Net current assets Net assets Reserves 5 Profit and loss account Members' funds |
2023 £ 20,800 (700) 20,100 20,100 20,100 20,100 |
2022 £ 36,101 (600) |
|---|---|---|
| 35,501 | ||
| 35,501 | ||
| 35,501 | ||
| 35,501 |
For the year ending 31 August 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime and in accordance with the provisions of FRS 102 Section 1A - Small Entities.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 30 May 2024 and were signed on its behalf by
AIMEE TOLLAN Director
Company Registration No. 08482397
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
1 Statutory information
BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS is a private company, limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, registration number 08482397. The registered office is 111 WOLSEY DRIVE, KINGSTON, SURREY, KT2 5DR, United Kingdom.
2 Compliance with accounting standards
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of FRS 102 Section 1A Small Entities. There were no material departures from that standard.
3 Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below and have remained unchanged from the previous year, and also have been consistently applied within the same accounts.
Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets.
Presentation currency
The accounts are presented in £ sterling.
Turnover
Turnover represents the value, net of VAT and discounts, of goods provided to customers and work carried out in respect of services provided to customers.
Charitable status
The company has charitable status under number 1159687. All funds are exclusively for charitable purposes and, as such, are exempt from Corporation Tax. The company's aims are for the public benefit, the advancement of education, science, and the arts in particular but not exclusively.�
The company organises a convention on alternate years, and income relating to a convention held in one year will be collected over the course of both years.
| 4 | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Other creditors | 700 | 600 |
5 Company limited by guarantee
The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital.�
.
6 Average number of employees
During the year the average number of employees was 6 (2022: 6).
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BREAKING CONVENTION EVENTS DETAILED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023
This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts.
| Turnover Sales Cost of sales Purchases Commissions payable Other direct costs Gross profit Administrative expenses Travel and subsistence Stationery and printing Subscriptions Bank charges Insurance Accountancy fees Consultancy fees Advertising and PR Operating loss Interest receivable Interest receivable Loss on ordinary activities before taxation |
2023 £ 179,438 156,496 - - 156,496 22,942 6,527 2,488 876 76 932 700 25,096 1,735 38,430 (15,488) 87 (15,401) |
2022 £ 19,537 |
|---|---|---|
| 15,998 1,521 2,000 |
||
| 19,519 | ||
| 18 | ||
| 2,356 655 811 93 - 600 13,117 - |
||
| 17,632 | ||
| (17,614) | ||
| 3 | ||
| (17,611) |
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to th• trust• BREAKING CONVEfvrrioN E+lENTS LIMITED On accounts for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2023 Charlty no lff any) 1159687 S•t out on p•ges I rèport to the trustees on my examin'on of the accounts of the alx)%e ¢hanty (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 3110812023. Responslbllltlos and b481• of r•port As the tharity's trustees. you are SponSible for the preparation of the ac£ounts in accorthnca Wbth Iho r•quiroffnts of tho Chafities Ad 2011 (Ihe Arf). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given ty the Charity Commission undèr 8ed<)n 145(SMb) thl the Act. Independent examlnerfs ststement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disdosad below ') which oives me Gquse to believe that in, any material re$peQ: the a¢xounling records were not kept in cordanCe with 8e(ion 130 of the Charities Acl.. or the accounts not accord wtth the ac¢(n.ng rerds. or the a¢xounts did not comply with Ihe applicable requirements concerning the fonn arKI c>)ntent of accounts set out in the Charttles {Accourrts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement Ihal the ac£ounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. I have no concems and ha come &ross no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should drawn in this report in order to enable a proper under8tanding of the acuntS to be rehad. . Please delete Ihe WO in the brnckets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Dat•: 2810612024 Name: C M MITCHELL I C M MITCHELL ACCOUNTANCY LTD Relovant professlonal quallficatlon(s) or body (rfany): ACA (ICAEW) Address: 111 WOLSEY DRIVE, KINGSTON, SURREY. KT2 5DR IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only [mplete rf the eXaner needs to highlight material matters of Goncem {see CC32. Independent exanNnats'on of chanty a(tounts.' diredions arKI guidano for exanmnets). Glve here brlef detalls of any Items that the oxaminer wlshes to dIsclo. IER Oct 2018