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2025-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 1161120

CONWY ARTS TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT

&

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1

CONWY ARTS TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Contents

Page
Trustees’ Annual Report 3 - 12
Independent Examiners Report 13
Statement of Financial Activity 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes forming part of the financial statements 16-20

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CONWY ARTS TRUST Trustees’ Annual Report

The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2022, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities.

OBJECTIVES and ACTIVITIES

The objects of the Trust are to promote, maintain, improve and advance the education and appreciation of the public in the art of drama and the other arts within the County Borough of Conwy by encouraging and fostering cultural activities such as study, performance, understanding and appreciation of drama productions, music, literature, the visual arts and educational workshops.

The Charity has had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. As always, Conwy Arts Trust is extremely grateful to the many people who have donated money to us, which has enabled engagement activities to continue at this time. However, attracting funding becomes more difficult as Grant Providers respond to economic pressures.

In order to maximise impact, the Charity has worked closely with Venue Cymru and the Conwy County Borough Council Culture team. Our projects have been funded by a mixture of donations and grants received from the Clocaenog Grant, Thomas Howell Education Fund, UKSPF Grant and CultureStep Investment Fund.

Our Key areas of work in 2024/25 were:

ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE

Review of the Year

The following projects have been delivered by the Trust in the period covered by the financial statements:

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take pART

The huge arts, literature and science festival returned to Venue Cymru this winter, funded by Conwy Arts Trust through Arts Council of Wales, and held over the weekend of 11-12 January. 10,000 children, young people and adults took part in 108 workshops, ranging from model-making with Aardman Animation, to Jedi Knight training classes, Medieval print making and technical theatre lighting. BBC Wales and S4C brought the shows Rownd a Rownd, Stwnsh, Deiain a Loli and Sioe Cyw and take pART Patron, Harry Potter book illustrator Jonny Duddle, led his incredibly popular draw-along sessions.

As in previous years, take pART offered children and young people the opportunity to have a go at so many different arts, science and literature activities, which they may not be able to engage with otherwise.

Python On The Prom

----- Start of picture text -----
Photo by Paul Sampson
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We launched a campaign to raise a statue of Terry Jones in his seaside hometown of Colwyn Bay and hit the fundraising target of £120,000 target in less than 6 months! A Python on the Prom GoFundMe campaign launched on 5 September, on behalf of Conwy Arts Trust and Terry’s children Sally and Bill, by Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, who visited the seaside resort to announce plans to raise a bronze statue of their friend and fellow Monty Python member, on the town’s promenade.

Suzy Eddie Izzard, a long-time Python fan, and gave a donation of £6,000 which took the appeal past its total of £120,000.

We commissioned Llandudno artist Nick Elphick to undertake the design and he has been working on getting Terry’s likeness whilst donations were coming in. Now the funding is confirmed, Nick will start working on the final design. Although the pose is still under wraps at the moment and the campaign team will be making a special announcement about it in the near future, it is hoped the statue will be unveiled in Spring 2026.

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Sally Jones, Terry’s daughter, who is leading A Python On The Prom fundraiser with her brother Bill and the Conwy Arts Trust, supported by Conwy County Borough Council, said: “I am absolutely stunned that we’ve hit our target and want to thank everyone who has made a donation or bought a campaign t-shirt. We have had donations from all over the world and everyone has been so overwhelmingly positive about having a statue of my old Dad. Just like me I am sure he would have been blown away by the response.

We have more than enough to pay for all aspects of raising a statue of Dad but we don’t want to stop there, we would really love people to carry on giving and from this point on all donations will be split between the Conwy Arts Trust and The National Brain Appeal.” The appeal total currently stands at £127,989, which includes donations, proceeds from tickets sales from a screening of The Holy Grail, proceeds from tickets to the Terry Jones archive exhibition at Oriel Colwyn and sales of merchandise online and through box office at Venue Cymru and Theatr Colwyn.

Thomas Howell Education Fund Grant

A £5,000 education grant was obtained through Thomas Howell which allowed Shirley Williams, Fusion Officer at Conwy County Borough Council, to run Stories from The Archives workshops at schools throughout the county.

Storyteller Manon Prysor took the ‘Conwy Toy Story’ session to Ysgol Bro Gwydir, Ysgol Llanddoged, Ysgol Cynfran, Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan, Ysgol y Plas Llanelian, Ysgol Awel y Mynydd and Ysgol Eglwysbach.

Storyteller Jerry Bone took the ‘World War Two’ session to Ysgol San Sior, Ysgol Pencae, Ysgol Dolwyddelan, Ysgol Pant y Rhedyn, Ysgol Hen Golwyn and Ysgol Tudno.

Children at Ysgol Cynfran and Ysgol Blessed William Davies enjoyed sessions on ‘Victorian Crime and Punishment’, led by Manon Prysor.

Lorraine Lister visited Ysgol Tudno and Ysgol Blessed William Davies with the ‘Suffragettes’ session.

‘Old Victorian School Days’ sessions were enjoyed by pupils at Ysgol Capelulo, Ysgol Pencae, Ysgol Blessed William Davies, Ysgol Deganwy, Ysgol y Plas, Ysgol Glan Morfa and Ysgol Dyffryn yr Enfys, all led by Manon Prysor.

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Ceramics for Wellbeing

A grant of £6,150 from Conwy and Denbighshire Local Authority fund for Autism focused projects and activities, enabled Shirley Williams, Fusion Officer, to run a series of Ceramics workshops for people with Autism.

Pea Restall, Master Potter, was employed to lead the workshops, held at The Troop Café, Llandudno, the Special Unit at Ysgol Aberconwy, the Peculiar Gallery in Abergele and at Integrated Adult & Community Services in Abergele.

All of the participants were able to enjoy the mental health benefits of working with clay, which can root, calm and stabilize the emotions of the artist. Working with clay also lowers cortisol and engages muscles, fine motor skills and the imagination!

A grant for £7,000 from Conwy Community Led Local Development was used by Shirley Williams to run more Ceramics workshops with seven local groups. These were:

Aberconwy Domestic Abuse Group in Llandudno Junction; the Creative Learning Centre for Adults with Learning Difficulties at Canolfan Rivieries, Llandudno; the residential patients of the Pupil Referral Unit of Canolfan Addysg Nant-y-Bryniau Education Centre, Abergele; Adferiad Groups at Troop Café, Llandudno; Conwy Connect for Learning Disabilities in Colwyn Bay and the Pupils of Ysgol Gynradd Bro Cernyw, Llangernyw.

The sessions, again led by Master Potter, Pea Restall, were a huge success, with feedback from participants ranging from ‘The course was fantastic…all left having enjoyed the social side of the session and feeling accomplished having created some wonderful ceramic pieces,’ to ‘…they are all very grateful to you for your patience, kindness and guidance. Those two days have really been very positive experiences and will be cherished – thank you.’

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CultureStep Award

An Arts and Business Cymru CultureStep award of £1,500 was used to run art courses for 84 children at three different schools.

Artist Wendy Couling ran a workshop on Vikings at Ysgol Cerrigydrudion, on Space at Ysgol Llanfairtalhaiarn and on Cynefin with pupils from Ysgol Pentrefoelas. Fusion covered the cost of presenting all of the children who took part with an Arts Award certificate.

Teuluoedd Creadigol | Family Arts Festival

CAT awarded £6,100 to Venue Cymru to be split between take pART 2025 and Teuluoedd Creadigol / Family Arts Festival, held in October, 2025. During the half-term school holiday, a whole host of activities for children and young people were held, ranging from puppet making to illustration, beatboxing sessions to clog dancing workshops.

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Sing Yoga

A grant of £2,000 was awarded to Venue Cymru for a ‘Sing Yoga’ Singing and Yoga Community choir, pilot project.

Sessions were held at the theatre in Colwyn Bay and also at Porth Eirias, led by Manon Llwyd, Conductor and Musician, and Leisa Mererid, Yoga and Mindfulness practitioner. The sessions were free to attend and aimed at bringing a fresh approach to community singing, by blending the transformative benefits of yoga with the joy of music – creating a truly unique and uplifting experience.

Amdani! Conwy

The Spirit of 2012 Funding has now come to an end. The project, which was a partnership with Community Voluntary Services Conwy (CVSC) and Disability Arts Cymru pioneered inclusive approaches to volunteering. In total over 80 volunteers were recruited over the 2 years and the feedback from hosts and volunteers was overwhelmingly positive.

‘Volunteering is great. You get to learn a lot of things and it keeps you motivated. All the staff are good from Amdani! because they never let you down or leave you out - I know it’s hard to do for different reasons but one of the most important bits of your life is independence.’ Amdani! Conwy Volunteer

CAT contributed just under a £1000 towards the project which supported with marketing activity to recruit and engage volunteers.

Learning from the project is being taken forwards and future inclusive volunteering projects are being explored with Community Voluntary Support Conwy. The impactful project film can be viewed here:

Amdani! Conwy Volunteers (English)

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Small Grant Fund

Sian Young, Culture Development Officer for Conwy County Borough Council, is providing administration services for this grant scheme.

As a result of the generosity of the public, we have been able to continue our small grants fund to support a range of creative arts projects in our communities.

This year, a £1,000 grant award were given to: Côr Meibion Llangwm for their concert with an invited Male Voice Choir. In September, 2024, Sangerrunde Mittich choir, travelled from Bavaria in Southern Germany, to perform with Côr Meibion Llangwm in Cerrigydrudion.

Côr Alaw , a mixed voice Welsh choir from Colwyn Bay, used their grant to celebrate the choir’s 15[th] anniversary. They performed 'Teilwng Yw'r Oen' – a rock composition from Handel's Messiah. The choir was established to celebrate Ysgol Bod Alaw's 60th birthday including former pupils, parents, school staff and friends led by Mr Dilwyn Price. This was in 2009 and after enjoying the concert, the decision was made to continue with the choir. Since they established, they’ve performed around north Wales and competed in Eisteddfodau.

A Summer Arts School was held at Royal Cambrian Academy , Conwy, with a Small Grant award. Held over six sessions, the seven to 12-yearolds explored drawing, kinetic art, cyanotype printing, 3D model building, mosaic and clay.

Application forms for a Small Grant can be downloaded here Small Grant | Conwy Arts Trust and it is strongly recommended that interested parties discuss their application before submitting by calling Sian on 01492 575572 or e-mailing art@conwy.gov.uk

DONATIONS TO CONWY ARTS TRUST

We are grateful to the many people who have donated to the charity this year. Income to general donations equated to £11042.98 and to restricted funds, a total of £110382.00 was donated, a summary of which follows:

GENERAL DONATIONS
General bucket collections /Donations £1,092
Annual CAT donations via Box Office £4,442
Sub Total £5,534
RESTRICTED DONATIONS
General bucket collections /Donations £1,067
Annual CAT donations via Box Office £4,442
take pART bucket collections £185.99
take pART ticket income from 2025 £5,671.81
Theatr Colwyn Seat Campaign £300.00
Python on the Prom Project £104,224.20
Sub Total £115,891
TOTAL £121,424.98

The Gift Aid Claim from the donations received in the period 2024-2025 is estimated to be in the region of £1,593.89. The claim for 24.25 is in the process of being claimed and approved by HMRC.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Conwy Arts Trust would like to thank its volunteer Board Members for their ongoing support. In 2024/25 the following people served as Board Members for the Conwy Arts Trust: Dilwyn Price; Michael Tree; Don Milne; Sarah Ecob; Joann Rae; Kristen Gallagher; Cllr Gwennol Ellis; Gareth Leech and Helen Goddard. Lorraine Whalley was our Minute Taker (non-voting) and Debra Jones was a non-voting member in charge of Accounts.

Thanks are due to our Patron Rhys Meirion for his support of the charity. We would like to extend our thanks to Conwy County Borough Council and Venue Cymru for administrative, financial and project support throughout the year and to our external auditor, Sandra Forrest.

Finally, huge thanks to everyone who has supported us with financial donations, worked with us on our projects or been one of our many wonderful participants.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In the period under review, the income the Charity received was £148,641 . The majority of the expenditure was for the CREU/CREATE, UKSPF Ceramics Project and Python On The Prom project which are all restricted funds. The fund brought forward to this year was £64,158. Expenditure in the year on specific projects amounted to £47,873.

RESERVES and INVESTMENT POLICY

The restricted funds to be brought forward amount to £145,188. This will be released in accordance with the forward work plan and the projects that are still ongoing. The non-restricted funds amounted to £19,774 of which £1000 is ringfenced for risk of closure and to be used for any winding up costs. As the Charity does not have any fixed assets these funds may be regarded as being readily available to meet short to medium term costs and fund future projects. The fund balances at year-end were managed by Conwy County Borough Council and as the funds need to be readily available to cover expenditure plans no interest was earned on balances. Going forward the Trust may decide to invest balances in an interest-bearing account.

It is the intention of the Trustees to increase the level of unrestricted funds for more general purposes to enable the Charity to respond to applications for projects and provide match funding for other projects the Board may support.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

The constitution of the Trust was adopted on 13[th] November 2013. This is the annual report and covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a period of 12 months.

TRUSTEES

The Trustees have been appointed in accordance with the constitution of the Conwy Arts Trust. The Trust has been set up for Charitable purposes and no subscriptions are payable to the Trust. Upon becoming a Member of the Trust a person also becomes a Member of the Board of Management. Trustees shall remain in post for a period of 5 years but shall be eligible for reappointment. The member organisation shall have the right to appoint a new representative, informing the Secretary in writing.

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REFERENCE and ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Secretary to the Trust

Michael Tree

E-mail address

conwyartstrust@gmail.com

Correspondence Address

Conwy Arts Trust c/o Venue Cymru The Promenade Llandudno LL30 1BB

Independent examiner – Sandra Forrest CPFA

84 Trinity Avenue Llandudno LL30 2UQ

Bankers

Barclays 84 Mostyn Street Llandudno LL30 2SH

The Trustees and Members of the board of Management serving during the year together with any changes are as follows:-

Dilwyn Price (Chair) Donald Milne (Treasurer) Sarah Ecob( Fundraising Officer) Michael Tree (deputy Chair) Gareth Leech Kristen Gallagher Joann Rae Helen Goddard

Cyng Gwennol Ellis as a Conwy County Borough Council representative.

Risk Review

The Trustees have examined the strategic and operational risks which the Charity faces and confirms that the systems in place are sufficient to safeguard the Charity’s funds.

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Responsibilities of the Board of Management in Relation to the Financial Statements

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The requirement is to prepare Financial Statements for each financial year which give a view of the state of affairs of the Charitable Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the Trust for the financial period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charitable Trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charitable Trust and hence take reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:-

Dilwyn Price – Trustee

Donald Milne – Trustee

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF

CONWY ARTS TRUST

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was given in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records comply with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met: or

  2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Sandra Forrest CPFA

84 Trinity Avenue Llandudno LL30 2UQ

Date: 11 November 2025

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CONWY ARTS TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Unrestricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Total
Funds		 Total
Funds		 Total
Funds		 Prior
Total		 Period
Funds		 Period
Funds		 Note Ref
£ £ £ £ £
Income and
Endowments from:
Donations and
Legacies		 6,867 121,058 0 127,925 39,870 2
Charitable Activities 0 0 0 0 0
Other Trading
Activities		 0 20,716 0 20,716 5,381 3
Total 6,867 141,774 0 148,641 45,251
Expenditure on:
Returning Funds 0 0 0 0 11,976
Charitable Activities 2,852 44,985 0 47,837 69,431 4
Total 2,852 44,985 0 47,837 81,407
Net Income/
(Expenditure)		 4,015 96,789 0 100,804 -36,156
Transfers between
funds		 -2,300 2,300 0 0
Net Movement in
Funds		 1,714 99,089 0 100,804 -36,156
Reconciliation of
Funds:
Total Funds brought
forward		 18,059 46,100 0 64,158 100,314
Total Funds carried
forward		 19,773 145,189 0 164,962 64,158

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CONWY ARTS TRUST

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Note Ref. Total Funds Total Funds Prior Year Funds Prior Year Funds
Current Assets £ £
5 Debtors 25,979 15,376
Cash at Bank and in Hand 140,816 49,232
Total Current Assets 166,796 64,608
Liabilities:
6 Creditors: Amounts falling due within
one year		 1,833 450
Net Assets or (Liabilities) 164,962 64,158
Total Assets less Current Liabilities 164,962 64,158
Total Net Assets or Liabilities 164,962 64,158
7 The Fund of the Charity:
Restricted Income Funds 145,189 46,099
Unrestricted Funds 19,773 18,059
Total Charity Funds 164,962 64,158

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1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (2015). The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:-

Incoming Resources

Incoming resources includes the amounts given by individuals and businesses and other organizations during the year. Income is recognised when it is received by the Trust.

Resources Expended

Expenditure is included on an accruals basis and includes the costs of irrecoverable VAT.

Grants are charged in the year when the grant is paid to the recipients.

Fund Accounting

Funds held by the Charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the Charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

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Note 2 - Donations and Legacies

Unrestricted Restricted Total 2025 Total 2024
£ £ £ £
Python on the Prom 0 104,225 104,225 0
takepART 0 232 232 0
VC/TC/OC 0 6,301 6,301 0
UKSPF Ceramics 0 7,000 7,000 0
TC Seat Refurb 0 300 300 0
CultureStep – Stories
from Archives		 0 1,500 1,500 0
ClocaenogGrant 0 1,000 1,000 3,000
Conwy &
Denbighshire NAS		 0 0 0 12,102
ACW – Young
Creatives		 0 0 0 4,500
Thomas Howell’s
Education Fund		 0 500 500 5,000
Albert Hunt 0 0 0 2,000
Other Donations 6,867 0 6,867 13,268
6,867 121,058 127,925 39,870

Note 3 - Other Trading Activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total 2025 Total 2024
£ £ £ £
Python on the Prom 0 15,044 15,044 0
TakepART 0 5,672 5,672 5,381
0 20,716 20,716 5,381

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Note 4 - Cost of Charitable Activities - Restricted Funds

Activity Activities
Undertaken
Directly		 Grant
Funding of
Activities		 In Kind
Costs		 Total
£ £ £ £
CREU/CREATE project
from restricted funds		 0 6,822 0 6,822
Winter Lights 0 1,657 0 1,657
VC/TC/OC 825 0 825
takepART from restricted
funds		 0 5,276 0 5,276
Thomas Howell 0 4,250 0 4,250
Clocaenog 0 600 0 600
UKSPF Ceramics 0 7,000 0 7,000
Create 2 0 1,970 0 1,970
YoungCreatives 0 500 0 500
CultureStep – Stories from
Archives		 0 1,500 0 1,500
Python on the Prom 0 12,485 0 12,485
Small Arts grants 2,100 0 0 2,100
TOTAL 2,100 42,885 0 44,985

Note 5 – Debtor

Amounts falling due within one year: -

2025 2024
£ £
Other Debtors 25,979 15,376
Total 25,979 15,376

Note 6 - Creditors

Amounts falling due within one year: -

2025 2024
£ £
Other Creditors 1,833 450
Total 1,833 450

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Note 7 - Statement of Funds
01/04/2024 Income Expenditure Transfer
between
funds		 31/03/2025
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 18,059 6,867 (2,852) (2,300) 19,774
Restricted Funds
Theatr Colwyn Project 3,597 0 0 0 3,597
Creu 7,569 0 (6,822) 0 747
Create 2 2,000 0 (1,970) 0 30
Textile Project 12 0 0 (12) 0
Winter Light 1,657 0 (1,657) 0 0
TC Seat Refurbishment 0 300 0 0 300
Small Arts Grant 650 (2,100) 2,300 850
VC/TC Restricted 17,863 6,301 (825) 0 23,339
Ty Cerdd 1,725 0 0 0 1,725
Take pART 5,276 5,904 (5,276) 12 5,916
Clocaenog 1,500 1,000 (600) 0 1,900
CultureStep – Stories from
Archives		 0 1,500 (1,500) 0 0
Thomas Howell Education 3,750 500 (4,250) 0 0
ACW Young Creatives 500 0 (500) 0 0
UKSPF Ceramics 0 7,000 (7,000) 0 0
Python on the Prom 0 119,269 (12,485) 0 106,784
Totals 64,158 148,641 (47,837) 0 164,962

Restricted fund balances will be utilised to support the projects in the areas indicated in 2025/26 and subsequent years.

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8. Capital Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The organisation has commissioned a statue for at an estimated cost of £97,815. This expenditure will be funded entirely from restricted reserves designated for this purpose. Accordingly, no liability is expected to arise against unrestricted funds.

9. Contingent Assets

There were no contingent assets at the balance sheet date.

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