**Charity number 1163178**
## **The Bone Ensemble**
**Unaudited trustees' report and financial statements**
**For the year ended**
**31 March 2025**
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors|1|
|Trustees' Report|2 - 3|
|Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities|4|
|Independent Examiners Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7|
|Notes to the financial statements|8 - 11|
## **The Bone Ensemble**
|**Trustees**|Orit Azaz|
|---|---|
||Louisa Jane Davies-Foley|
||Frances Anne Johnstone|
|**Senior Management Team**|Jill Dowse|
||Adam Ledger|
|**Charity registered number**|1163178|
|**Registered office**|162 Addison Road|
||Kings Heath|
||Birmingham|
||B14 7EP|
1
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Trustees' Report year ended 31 March 2025**
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of The Bone Ensemble for the year ended 31st March 2025.
## **Objectives and activities**
To advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of drama.
## _Overview_
This year was full of exciting developments and deepening relationships for _The Islander_ project, which brings together a long-held love of islands with a desire to explore themes emerging from a beloved short story by Tove Jansson. Conversations with islanders gave greater depth and meaning and new artistic connections brought fresh thinking and creative imaginings into the company's ongoing exploration.
## _The Islander Project_
A successful Arts Council bid, together with further funding from West Midlands Combined Authority and the University of Birmingham, enabled the company to further their research and development plans, with plans in place to finish this activity (including a photoshoot and the creation of a promotional trailer and tourpack) the following financial year.
The Co-Artistic Directors met many islanders during their two residencies - on beaches and boats, in cafes, in sheds, in squirrel territory, on a moose hunt, in the sauna… They recorded field sounds, filmed landscapes and shared 'thank you' gifts from one island to another island.
Jill & Adam learned more about the flora and fauna of these places, and how intensively climate and weather events impact upon these environments and the people who live there. As a case in point, the second residency in the Isles of Scilly was unfortunately postponed by bad weather - such is island life - but foundations were laid for meeting members of the community (including the Men's Shed on St Mary's with whom the company plans to co-design set elements), artists and potential programmers in early May.
A second visit to the Isle of Wight enabled them to meet local artisti Teresa Grimaldi, who has become an important collaborator. They were also able to revisit Finland, where, in Pellinge, songs were shared and tales told of meeting Tove Jansson and her partner Tooti. They were also shown the first Moomin she ever drew, scribbled into an outhouse wall. Via a smartphone filming initiative with young people on the Isle of Wight, the company met an exciting emerging film maker who they will bring further into the project.
In January, the company brought together the band of performer-musicians and worked intensively for two weeks in the studio experimenting with bringing together film, storytelling, song, soundscapes and puppetry. This time together culminated in an online 'fika' event which connected residents, artists and programmers from all three communities, including rural touring schemes and national partners.
Although the show will be suitable for touring to arts centres, the company is particularly keen to visit rural communities, which are often somewhat isolated, like islands themselves, as this feels like a good fit for the themes and values of the show.
The company are considering ways of extending our engagement with these communities beyond the show itself.
Livestreaming has begun to emerge as an important engagement and touring tool, particularly to more isolated people or communities.
2
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Trustees' Report cont… year ended 31 March 2025**
Although the focus of the show has now pivoted towards expressing the joys and challenges of island life mostly by drawing on conversations and stories told to us by people in these three island communities, and weaving in Jill & Adam's own experiences in these unique habitats, the spirit of Jansson's tale and writing continues to inspire.
This year has laid strong creative and relational foundations for the touring performance, shaped deeply by place, people and sound.
## **Financial Review**
The detailed figures are included in the financial statements.
The charity made a net surplus of £22,691 in the year under review (2024: deficit of (£6,804). Restricted and unrestricted funds at the end of the year were £26,395 and £28,038 (2024: £0 and £31,742)
By order of the Board
Orit Azaz Trustee 27 November 2025
3
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures
- disclosed and explained in the financial statements and
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclosure with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 27 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Orit Azaz Trustee
4
Charity number 1163178
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of The Bone Ensemble**
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts
The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
· examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
· follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act and to:
· state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out 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 any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention to indicate that:
- accounting records have not been kept in accordance with section 130 of The Charities Act 2011
· the accounts do not accord with such records:
- attention should be drawn to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Joanne Watkin BA (Hons) FCA Purple Cat Accountancy Limited
87 Highgate Road Walsall West Midlands WS1 3JA
5
23 January 2025
## **The Bone Ensemble**
## **Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Income**
**3**
Voluntary income
Charitable activities
Investment income
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
**4**
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
**Net income / (expenditure) before transfers**
**Transfers**
**Net income / (expenditure) after transfers**
**Balance brought forward at 1 April 2024**
**8**
**Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025**
**8**|**General**
**Restricted**
**fund**
**fund**
**2025**
**2024**
-
39,519
39,519
4,000
-
-
-
2,683
-
-
5
**Total funds**|
|---|---|
||-
39,519
39,519
6,688|
||3,704
13,124
16,828
13,492|
||3,704
13,124
16,828
13,492|
||(3,704)
26,395
22,691
(6,804)
-
-
-
-|
||(3,704)
26,395
22,691
(6,804)
31,742
-
31,742
38,546|
||28,038
26,395
54,433
31,742|
The notes form part of these financial statements
6
**The Bone Ensemble**
**Charity number 1163178**
## **Balance sheet as at 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible fxed asets
6
**Current assets**
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
8
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Represented by**
**Funds**
Unrestricted general fund
9
Restricted fund
9|**2025**
214
5,486
49,356
54,842
(623)
54,219
54,433
28,038
26,395
54,433|**2024**
374
5,408
26,770|
|---|---|---|
|||32,178
(810)
31,368|
|||31,742
31,742
-|
|||31,742|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 27 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by
Orit Azaz Trustee
7
**The Bone Ensemble**
## **Notes to the accounts year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Basis of accounting**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and with the Charities Act 2011
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **Recognition of income**
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when
- the charity becomes entitled to the resources
- the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised when ther is a legal or contructive obligation to that expenditure and it is probable that settlement is required and that the amount can be reliably measured.
All expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis
## **Creditors**
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amount
## **Debtors**
Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount; subsequently they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
## **Taxation**
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in paragraph 1 schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
## **Funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and have not been designated for other purposes
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or have been raised by the charity for specific purposes
8
**The Bone Ensemble**
## **Notes to the accounts year ended 31 March 2025**
|**3. Income**
**Voluntary income**
Grants
**Charitable activities**
Theatre tax relief
**4. Expenditure**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
Artistic director fees
Other freelance fees
Sets, props and costumes
Insurance
Bank charges
Printing and stationery
Software
Subscription
Travel
Miscellaneous expenditure
Accountancy fees
Depreciation|**2025**
39,519
**2025**
-
-
**2025**
7,283
3,750
80
406
-
-
413
70
3,891
175
600
160
16,828|**2024**
4,000|
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**
2,683|
|||2,683|
|||**2024**
6,552
1,662
-
401
-
8
485
-
3,276
270
630
208|
|||13,492|
## **5. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
No amounts were paid to trustees in the year under review.
9
**The Bone Ensemble**
## **Notes to the accounts year ended 31 March 2025**
|**6. Fixed assets**|**Office**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|
||**equipment**||
|**Cost**|||
|Balance brought forward at 1 April 2024|830|830|
|Additions|-|-|
|Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025|830|830|
|**Depreciation**|||
|Balance brought forward at 1 April 2024|456|456|
|Charge for the year|160|160|
|Balance carried forward at 31 March 2025|616|616|
|**Net book value**|||
|At 31 March 2025|214|214|
|At 31 March 2024|374|374|
|**7. Debtors**|**2025**|**2024**|
|Theatre tax relief|-|2,683|
|Other debtors|5,486|2,724|
||5,486|5,407|
|**8. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**2025**|**2024**|
|Accruals and deferred income|623|810|
||623|810|
10
**The Bone Ensemble**
## **Notes to the accounts year ended 31 March 2025**
|**9a Funds (current year)**
Total unrestricted funds
**Restricted funds**
Island project
**Total restricted funds**
**Total funds**
**9b Funds (previous year)**
Total unrestricted funds
**Restricted funds**
**Total restricted funds**
**Total funds**
**10. Fees for examination of the accounts**
Independent examiner's fees|**Balance at**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**1 April 2024**
**31 March 2025**
31,742
-
(3,704)
-
28,038|**Balance at**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**1 April 2024**
**31 March 2025**
31,742
-
(3,704)
-
28,038|**Balance at**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**1 April 2024**
**31 March 2025**
31,742
-
(3,704)
-
28,038|
|---|---|---|---|
||-
39,519
(13,124)
26,395|||
||-
39,519
(13,124)
-
26,395|||
||31,742
39,519
(16,828)
-
54,433|||
||**Balance at**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**1 April 2023**
**31 March 2024**
38,546
6,688
(13,492)
-
31,742|||
||-
-
-
-||-|
||38,546
6,688
(13,492)
-||31,742|
|||**2025**
600|**2024**
630|
11