**Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

## **From 01/10/2022 To 30/09/2023** 

## **Charity name: The Signal Box** 

## **Charity registration number: 1163454** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

To further or benefit the residents of the Newtown district in Cambridge city, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious, or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort of improving the conditions of life for the residents. The objectives and activities are all designed for the public benefit as set out in the guidance issued by the charity commission. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

The Signal Box hosts a range of community events and activities with emphasis on providing a hub for the whole community, while providing additional support through activities for children, young people and vulnerable or isolated residents. 

Following the centre’s closure during the COVID 19 pandemic, classes including Sword Fighting and Qigong started up again in the summer of 2021 and have continued to run regularly throughout 2022 and 2023. In 2022 a Japanese Children’s Group started using the Centre on a regular basis. In 2023 the smaller room was booked regularly for 1:1 tuition and supervised family meetings. 

A new nursey started hiring the main room weekdays in September 2022 and continues to grow and support the centre with a regular income. 

Ad-hoc bookings increased during this period and were at approximately two thirds that of pre-pandemic level. Weekend children’s birthday parties continued to be popular and were booked on average twice a month. 

Some free events were put on for local young people during the summer of 2023. These were art sessions, non-contact boxing and bushcraft. These events were funded by a grant provided by Cambridge City Council and were facilitated by a local charity, coach and business. 

Another grant was provided by Cambridge Community Foundation which was used to make some improvements to the building internally, such as building more storage and to ensure Health & Safety compliance. The grant also provided more additional staffing hours which led to the employment of a deputy manager working 3 hours a week to support the manager with bookings and other administration tasks. The 



grant included funding for the running costs of a new table tennis session and an additional table tennis table. The sessions started in October 2022 and have proved very popular, running once or twice a week, with over twenty different people attending since it started. The grant funded a new website which showcases what the centre has to offer and has online booking functionality. Along with a new logo and regular social media postings the website has increased awareness of the centre and led to more bookings. 

The centre was in a precarious financial position following the pandemic. The increased income during this period has meant the charity has performed well and continued to show a gradual improvement. This improvement was slowed by a spike in utility bills. 

## **Financial Review** 

Essentially, all the finances needed to run the Signal Box are generated from room hiring. The Signal Box ran a profit of £7,600 over the financial year to 30 September 2022 from these bookings. A one-off grant supported some of the running costs during this period and allowed the centre to put on free activities for the first time in several years. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

The Signal Box is a registered Charity, and its constitution is that of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. 

The Trustees meet several times a year to oversee the governance and management of the charity. Two part-time employees deal with the day-to-day operations. 



CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR fNGIAND AND WALE
Keceipts and
ents accounts
Fortho Portod
To
01110,?0
Section A Receipts and payments
Unro8irlcted
Ro$iri¢i¢é
Endtswm•ni
T*xal fundi
Last
A1 R•celKts
GtBnt. CtyC(Kwl
1.545
LÈ
27.51•
27.51•
Sub tot•llGn>ss for
AR}
1•.YJS
12.•WJ
A2 ￿8•1 •nd IrN•stm•nt Ml•s.
Sub tot•1
27,flJ3
111,9)S
11990
A3Pa
Cwtre Run
Staft
¢1$
3.775
3.75D
1.438
1.31$
14Si
1.$72
533
22T
533
Stsb tot•1
A4As¥•t •nd I￿￿9¢m•￿t
Sub tot•1
Totslp•yrnnls
9,698
111,306
of r•c•lpirfp•ym•ntsJ
AS Tr•nsl•rs b•two•n funds
A6 C•ah funds la¥t y••r •nd
C•sh Ivnds Ihls y•4r•nd
17.905
18.105
1,577
4.255
21140
2,051
42JS
22.3411
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Eno0*n￿
furKIs
lunds
B1 Cagh Iw)d*
22.140
21140
CCX%R1 ISSI
fvnds

D¥1￿
B3 Inv•stm•nt asmts
B4 r•t•ln•d for th•
ofi
B5 Llabllttl8*
SW byw•
bthalTolal ihe truth5
Oate of
0310112024
CCXKR2 acwJrtslSSI