## **Friends of the Arts Centre [Charity no. 1162818] Trustees’ Report for 2023-2024** 

2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Arts Centre, so, despite the ongoing financial pressures, a festival of special events was held by the Arts Centre. All were free to the public, and FoAC had set aside £5,000 as a contribution to the cost, as promised the year before. 

That was the largest donation FoAC has granted so far, and was made possible, ironically, by lockdown having previously stopped demand for our subsidies. The build-up of our funds, mentioned in last year’s report, found worthy use in helping this celebration. 

We were delighted to be able to help the Youth Theatre project, and to support an exchange project between the Arts Centre and a group of arts practitioners from southern India. 

Support for the hugely valuable community engagement element of the Arts Centre’s activity was postponed for a year to ensure adequate resources were available. 

Maintaining an adequate income is now becoming a matter of rather more concern than hitherto, as founder members of FoAC grow older and pass away. Comparison of the accounts year on year will show the slow attrition of our income via Direct Debits and Standing Orders, while the signs are clear that the Arts Centre will come to need more help than ever before, every year going forward. We are therefore attempting to set up a more active recruitment system for members from the Arts Centre audiences. We cannot ask for increased contributions from our existing supporters. 

As things currently stand, we are likely to experience increasing requests for our help year by year. These are already well in excess of our current reliable income, so the drive for renewal in our membership and our committee is extremely important. 



## **Friends of the Arts Centre [Charity no. 1162818] Accounts 1.4.2023 to 31.3.2024** 

## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE:** 

## **INCOME** 

Individual payments from donors 160.00 _(Stretch, Eldridge, Allen, Bainbridge)_ Donations via LocalGiving 2726.00 

**TOTAL INCOME 2886.00** 

## **EXPENDITURE** 

_Cheque Issued                 Presented              Purpose Sum_ 

08.06.2023 26.06.2023         Youth Theatre 1500.00 19.07.2023 31.07.2023         Arts Centre festival 5000.00 14.08.2023 25.09.2023          Indian Artists 1000.00 27.10.2023 DD                          LocalGiving fee 180.00 

## **TOTAL  EXPENDITURE 7680.00** 

(Loss) for year (4794.00) 

## **BALANCE SHEET** 

Cash in Bank 31.03.2023 

8325.55 



Movement of funds 

(-4794.00) 

**Balance at 01.04.2024 3531.55**