Charity registration number 1165164
ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Patron | Robert Voss CBE CStJ, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire |
|---|---|
| Trustees | Tony Bernstein (Chairman) |
| Lyle Aitken (Treasurer) | |
| Dave Carey | |
| Meena Hansen | |
| Kate Holland-Hibbert | |
| Suzanne Langridge | |
| Chris Luff | |
| Paul Lewis | |
| Sarah Thompson | |
| Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Mel Boda |
| Artistic Director | Tom Billington |
| Charity number | 1165164 |
| Principal address | Ramillies |
| The Green | |
| Sarratt | |
| Rickmansworth | |
| Hertfordshire | |
| WD3 6AY | |
| Independent examiner | Gary Howard FCA |
| Howard Wilson Chartered Accountants | |
| 36 Crown Rise | |
| Watford | |
| Hertfordshire | |
| WD25 0NE |
ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 10 |
| Independent examiner's report | 11 |
| Statement of financial activities | 12 |
| Balance sheet | 13 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 14 - 24 |
ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) constitution , the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Objectives and activities
Charitable objects
The charity's objects are to promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people with learning disabilities from becoming socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society in particular by providing them with opportunities to engage in music and performance.
Aims of charity
At Electric Umbrella we create amazing, interactive, live music experiences with learning disabled people, and in doing so help change the way the world looks at them - and others.
Everything we do is led by learning disabled people working alongside professional musicians. Our programmes are broad and offer opportunities for learning disabled children and adults. Through our programmes we provide social and work based opportunities for our members so that they are seen to be making a meaningful contribution in the community. This develops friendships, skills, confidence, increases feelings of self worth, improves well being and promotes independence. Our education programme reaches 40,000 children a year across mainstream and Special Educational Needs primary schools both in Hertfordshire and across the country and changes the way people think about diversity and inclusion.
Objectives for the year
In response to the UK lockdown in March 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, our primary objective became the creation of an online platform that would enable our existing members to continue to access their weekly small group sessions and the Big Yellow Choir online.
Our secondary objective evolved when we discovered that the wider LD community had also become socially isolated during the pandemic and so we created Electric Umbrella Online providing 4 hours each weekday of online content which we offered nationwide and beyond, as well as a second National Big Yellow Choir and an additional 3 member sessions for a further 60 members .
As a charity using music to combat social isolation for adults with learning disabilities, our online programme has enabled us to continue our purpose and to ensure we improve the health and wellbeing of our amazing community through these extraordinary times.
To support these objectives and to extend our reach as well as continuing to challenge perceptions, it became clear that we needed to recruit a wider team of staff. This included Musicians, an Operations Manager, a Bookkeeper and Marketing support. We also discovered the invaluable contribution and energy that graduate interns could bring to Electric Umbrella.
The global Covid-19 pandemic meant our entire programme to go online in 2020 and whilst we retained an online version of Electric Umbrella for our 60 existing local music members and 60 Big Yellow Choir participants, we gained 2,000 new participants from all over the country through our online provision.
Whilst maintaining our online programme, our primary objective for the year was to gradually re-introduce face to face opportunities for our members as soon as it was safe to do so. It became vital to maintain our online provision as we had a commitment to the online community we had built. Equally, many of our local members were keen to return to face to face once a week and still wanted to participate in the online programme as they had become reliant on Electric Umbrella activities.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Our secondary objective was to extend our reach and continue to challenge perceptions by re-launching our Electric Umbrella Express Schools programme, where a team of our professional musicians and members lead school workshops and assemblies each week in mainstream schools.
Our third objective was to extend the impact of our weekly Music Machine online programme within the SEN schools nationally by offering face to face workshops to local SEN schools to enhance their relationship with Electric Umbrella and provide a strong music provision into those schools.
Our fourth objective was to launch our Instruments for Change project with our members helping to refurbish and reimagine donated musical instruments, to develop new income streams for the charity and opportunities for members to learn new skills.
Strategies for achieving objectives
To support these objectives, it became clear that we needed to raise our profile to raise more funds and recruit a wider team of staff. This has been achieved through the launch of an extremely successful Instruments for Change initiative in November 2021.
The income generated through the sale of these instruments, together with the opportunities they provided for our members to take part in meaningful work based opportunities enabled us to grow our staff and volunteer teams.
Due to the continued lack of income from reduced face to face sessions and gigs, we continued to be more reliant on grant income than we would have expected. We also continued to be reliant on Covid recovery grants from the previous year. In August 2021 we were incredibly fortunate to appoint a volunteer part-time grant and trust fundraiser, who has been instrumental in securing grant income for us this year to fund our online Music Machine programme, our Instruments for Change project and our return to face to face delivery. We were also generously gifted our first Electric Umbrella minibus to enable us to take our members on the road to deliver our education programme in schools across the county.
Public benefit statement
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Achievements and performance
Our activities and achievements
To summarise the impact of Electric Umbrella this year:
Our weekly programme continued to offer our members their online small group music sessions, Big Yellow Choir sessions and access to our free-to-attend online programmes. Remaining online for the majority of 2021, we have continued to reach over 1,500 learning disabled people in this way each week. In January 2022 we reintroduced face to face weekly music sessions alongside our online programme which proved extremely popular.
In the latter part of 2021, our schools programme moved from being purely online to our Electric Umbrella team going on the road with our new Big Yellow Bus. This delivered Electric Umbrella Express directly to mainstream primary schools across Hertfordshire and the Music Machine programme to SEN schools across the country. At the same time Music Machine continued to be broadcast online alongside the delivery team in a different SEN school each week. We now reach over 1,000 school children each week.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
In the New Year we also launched our brand new member Crew Days to provide meaningful work- and socialbased experience for our members. There are now three types of Crew Day on offer:
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working as part of our Instruments for Change team to repair, test and re-imagine instruments
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travelling with us to different SEN schools each week to deliver sessions, workshops and the live Music Machine broadcast
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delivering our Express show in mainstream primary schools across Hertfordshire
We secured our first storage and workshop site at The Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead and launched our Electric Umbrella online instrument store in March 2022. Since then, we have opened our first Emporium there selling musical instruments to the public, staffed by our Crew Day members, volunteers and our team of volunteer music specialists.
Our members learn how to fix and repair instruments, hone their performance skills and interact face to face with our customers in the shop. Not only does this support our work in challenging the perception about learning disabled people, but it provides meaningful work and social based opportunities for members to thrive - building friendships, learning new skills, developing independence, and increasing confidence and resilience. Additionally, the project has green/recycling benefits by reducing the number of broken instruments sent to landfill and strong messaging in the community about reuse. Ultimately the sale of the instruments provides a good unrestricted income stream for Electric Umbrella.
We have continued to grow our membership significantly and massively increased awareness of what we offer across the UK. All of these achievements demonstrate how everything we do is led by our learning disabled members working alongside professional musicians.
Performances
Live performances were not an option for us for much of the year due to the continuing effects of the pandemic but were finally able to start our monthly residency at The Horns in Watford in Autumn 2021 where our learning disabled members perform live with our house band of professional musicians. Open Mic Nights are an opportunity for our members to shine on stage and are summed up by a member of the audience: “Electric Umbrella represents everything that is wonderful about the world we live in. The Horns gig was pure joy!”
In addition, we have performed at numerous live and online events during the year including the annual Watford Christmas light switch on, Watford Chamber of Commerce Christmas lunch, an annual pharmaceutical conference hosted by a local law firm, Hertfordshire County Council’s Christmas song writing session, the Institute of Health and Social Care wellbeing festival, Haringey Music Service conference and the annual Audentior Awards.
Supporters and Partnerships
We continue to work closely with organisations across the country who promote Electric Umbrella within their own communities. A number of these organisations also became donation stations for our instrument amnesty including Emmaus and Sunnyside Rural Trust who both operate locally to us in Hertfordshire.
We have also continued to benefit from partnerships with Warner Media, Watford Chamber of Commerce and both the Hertfordshire and Haringey Music Services, as well as receiving support and funds from Absolute Accountancy Recruitment and Slone Capital.
We continue to grow partnerships with other local charities and organisations, developing this with the inclusion of SEN schools nationally and Hertfordshire’s mainstream schools.
We continue to work closely with Watford Borough Council in promoting inclusion for Watford.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
We are also extremely fortunate to have Robert Voss, the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, as our Patron. He has been instrumental in championing and promoting Electric Umbrella across the County.
Our Staff Team
We have grown from a staff team of 10 to a team of 12 this year. Our founders Mel Boda and Tom Billington are always looking to strengthen and support our team to enable us to deliver a growing Electric Umbrella programme.
In January 2022 we recruited a full time Technical Manager to deliver our new Instruments for Change Project, supported by a part time administrator. In March 2022 we also recruited two more part time staff to manage our schools programme, our growing volunteers and to assist in face to face sessions. One of our amazing graduate interns recruited originally through the Government Kickstart Scheme became our full time Marketing and Production Assistant.
We appointed Electrify to manage all of our marketing and communications as the demands for this dramatically increased with the growth of our partnerships, programmes and community.
Our staff team consists of our two founders, a part-time Operations Manager, two Session Leaders plus a Session Assistant, a full time Member Development Manager and the five new roles outlined above. We also have two freelance musicians and a freelance bookkeeper.
We are extremely fortunate to have a volunteer Data Protection Officer who manages our GDPR compliance and IT needs, as well as a volunteer fundraiser who has been instrumental in raising grant income for Electric Umbrella this year through grants and trusts.
We rely on 220 hours of volunteer support every week to operate our programmes, online sessions, live performances, recording on our albums, repairing, servicing and reimagining instruments, and behind the scenes work. The appointment of a volunteer coordinator has been invaluable in growing this invaluable resource as we continue to develop our face to face provision and rely even more on volunteers.
Staff and Volunteer Development
We have been successful with a number of grants to develop our team of staff and volunteers which has in turn enabled us to develop and broaden our services. We are also regularly approached by local businesses and services keen for us to deliver disability awareness training to their organisations and this is something we are developing.
Fundraising achievements
We have so many amazing individuals, families, community groups and businesses who have raised £79,724 for Electric Umbrella this year.
Absolute Accountancy held a successful Golf Day which raised £2,700. Slone Capital arranged a fantastic team to take on the arduous Solent Swim raising funds of £19,700 for us in the process.
We also had three members of our community who ran in marathons during the autumn raising a phenomenal £6,500 in sponsorship.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
In addition to these generous donations from our community, Electric Umbrella have been successful in receiving grants totalling £143,086 from the following:
Dacorum Borough Council Watford Borough Council Martyn Joseph Let Yourself Trust The Batchworth Trust Ethel & Gwynne Morgan Trust Watford Chamber of Commerce Quercus Fund Watford & Three Rivers Trust Hertfordshire Community Foundation People's Postcode Lottery Hertfordshire County Council National Lottery Grant Watford Cultural Support and Development Grant
Our Programme this year in detail
The charitable activities of Electric Umbrella continue to be about forming a unique co-creation of adults with learning disabilities and musicians. These activities are as follows:
Weekly music sessions for our members
Weekly group music sessions are what Electric Umbrella was founded on - unique, regular, meaningful and musical experiences for learning disabled people.
We started the year with over 100 members accessing their small group music sessions online across the week.
In January 2022 we launched two Friday Face the Music sessions from the Watford Pump House. These quickly filled with 40-45 members eager to meet and create music together. Our online group music sessions continue to be popular with over 60 members joining them each week.
Big Yellow Choir
Our Big Yellow Choirs are for everyone over the age of 16. The ethos of the choir is to encourage family groups to attend together, and it is well attended by family groups of multiple generations!
We operate two extraordinary choirs which are open to everyone regardless of ability or disability.
We offer a weekly online Big Yellow Choir as well as a face to face Big Yellow Choir in Hertfordshire.
Electric Umbrella Online Programme
Plug In is our brilliant, free programme of online activity. Each week, we broadcast EUTV which is an interactive zoom TV show on Monday evenings, a Friday afternoon singalong and a Saturday breakfast show, as well as a fortnightly Open Mic night.
EUTV is an interactive Zoom TV show presented by learning disabled adults alongside celebrity guests, musicians, actors, singers, dancers and creatives from the world of music, disability arts and beyond. This year our guests have included Tony Hadley, The Staves, the Taylor Twins, Martyn Joseph, and Malachi Cush to name but a few.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
The Electric Umbrella Singalong is a weekly interactive Zoom show where anyone can choose the songs that everyone can sing together. The show is hosted by Electric Umbrella musicians and special guests from the world of music and entertainment, and supported by our learning disabled members.
The Saturday Breakfast Club is a weekly 8am online show every Saturday with fun, songs and games.
These shows are enjoyed by audiences of around 500 people from across the UK.
Open Mic Nights
Held once a month online and then from September 2021 we introduced a live Open Mic night from The Horns Pub in Watford once a month. Both Open Mic formats involve members signing up to sing and perform in the spotlight. We have a house band of professional musicians who play alongside our members at the Open Mic at The Horns, performing to an audience of over 150 people.
Crew Days
From January 2022 we began to offer Crew Days to our members to provide meaningful work and social based activity. We started with three very different Crew Day opportunities each week from working with our Instruments for Change project to delivering our Express schools workshops in mainstream primary schools to travelling around the country with our Music Machine to SEN schools.
We delivered 993 hours of our Crew Day programme from January to March 2022 for 22 members.
Since March 2022 we have extended the number and variety of Crew Days on offer, covering 6 days a week in the Emporium, 2 days a week travelling with Express, 1 day a week travelling with Music Machine and a recent addition being a Pushing Boundaries Crew Day for secondary school workshops and Corporate performances.
Electric Umbrella’s Big Yellow Bus
Generously donated by West Herts Charity Trust in October 2021, we now have our brand new and very yellow minibus. Adding a unique Electric Umbrella number plate and getting the minibus wrapped and branded with our logo, this minibus has utterly transformed what we can offer to schools each week.
We started with one day a week visiting two mainstream schools with Express and another day to visit an SEN school to deliver Music Machine. Since then we have increased to two days of Express as well as one day of Music Machine. Our members travel in the minibus as part of their Crew Days to schools.
Electric Umbrella Express
In October 2021 we started our Express programme where our Express team delivers interactive assemblies using music to celebrate diversity and inclusion to mainstream primary schools across the county of Hertfordshire. Co-presented by our brilliant team of learning disabled and professional musicians, the Express performances challenge both children and staff to think differently about learning disabled people, and how we can celebrate differences and build a world that is more inclusive. We consistently reach between 250 - 500 children each week. We received a £5,000 grant from Quercus to deliver this programme free of charge to 17 Watford based primary schools.
Electric Umbrella Music Machine
Following the online launch of Music Machine the previous year, we launched our live show delivery from SEN schools in September 2021. The Music Machine team now delivers the show live from a different SEN school each week, with a Crew of our Learning Disabled members. Our online audience ranges between 300 - 600 each week across 25+ schools nationwide. The live performance is accompanied by a totally immersive music workshop for the hosting school. Music Machine is a fully interactive, vibrant music making show to help teachers and students everywhere to find connection and expression through music.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Financial review
Following considerable success in securing covid related funding in the previous financial year, 2020/21, we had built up extremely healthy reserves of £185,008, of which £30,414 was restricted and £154,594 was unrestricted.
In recognition of the requirement to provide both face-to-face and online activities this year, whilst delivering our plan to establish our Member Development Programme and launch our Instruments for Change Project, the Trustees agreed to use some of the reserves to fund these initiatives. As a result we have used £73,536 of our unrestricted reserves, leaving £81,058 in unrestricted funds which is the equivalent of 3.4 months’ of unrestricted running costs.
As well as increasing our income streams with new activities, we have also started to focus our fundraising on securing multi-year funding to enable us to deliver our ambitious plans and build reserves.
The total income for the year was £266,086 which was a decrease of £119,162 from the previous period (2021: £385,248). Of that income, £54,677 was restricted income. The previous year’s income included substantial covid recovery grants and donations.
Total expenditure for the year was £368,247 which was an increase of £131,514 on the previous period (2021: £236,733). Of that expenditure, £83,302 was paid out of restricted reserves.
At the year end the charity carried forward a balance of £81,058 on unrestricted funds (2021: £154,594) and £1,789 on restricted funds (2021: £30,414), as well as a balance of £74,809 of deferred grant income in Accruals and Deferred Income (2021: £31,045).
Reserves policy
The Trustees have agreed a policy whereby funds not committed or restricted by the charity should be maintained at a level sufficient to pay staff and running costs for a minimum of three months.
This policy allows for a reduction of income or lack of fundraising success during any particular year whilst allowing the charity to continue its activities at the current level for three months. The Trustees have carried out a risk profile on the income and expenditure streams which indicate we have successfully started to diversify our income streams through crew days, donated instrument sales and seeking core costs grants. Our main committed expenditure is for our staff and venue costs.
Part of our covid recovery has been a move towards increasingly diversified income streams to reduce the risk of reliance on one or two sources, which has led to a revised reserves policy to reflect our new risk profile.
Electric Umbrella will continue with fundraising endeavours to ensure that reserves are at the level required.
Principal sources of income Our principal sources of income are: Session fees Gigs/shows Grants and Trusts Corporate sponsorship Individual Giving Online shows Instruments for Change Merchandise
and this year we have added: Schools Programme (Express & Music Machine) Member Crew Days Instrument & merchandise sales through our Emporium store
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Risk management
Risk factors and review
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. All sessions, crew days and events are risk assessed and we are seeking to update all our policies and procedures on a rolling basis.
Plans for future periods
We will continue with our plan for the future and significantly scale up our reach and impact - both in terms of the learning disabled people that directly benefit from our sessions and events, and of the audiences of whom we are challenging perceptions. We are committed to the learning disabled community across the UK who participate in our online programme and we plan to maintain and develop this whilst continuing to increase our in-person reach across Hertfordshire. We are acutely aware that Electric Umbrella provides purpose and regular meaningful social interaction for so many people, and we are dedicated to our charitable purpose of reducing social isolation through our programmes. This will mean that our fundraising requirements are significantly increased and we will work towards building our fundraising team and developing sustainable income streams though selling our services. We will need to work hard to build our unrestricted income to increase our reserves as our expenditure grows with the organisation. Owing to the required growth in team and membership of the organisation, funds for a hub/permanent session space and transport are going to be more critical than ever before.
The Emporium will feature prominently in our plans for the coming year. We will start to offer Crew Days for 6 days a week and increase the level of participation from an increased member base. We will increase the number of face to face sessions and host these at the Emporium maximising on the space available to us. Later in 2022 we will introduce a weekly Baby Brollies session as it’s important people of all ages are able to benefit from Electric Umbrella. We will increase our staffing to open on Saturdays to enable us to generate further income and provide more opportunities for members. As well as selling donated instruments, our Crew Days and our future Corporate Days will start to re-imagine unusable instruments into new items for sale, such as drum lamps. We want to recycle everything we receive and work towards becoming Zero Waste. We are planning a second instrument drive to generate more donations.
Watford will also continue to be an important base for us. We will continue to host two Face the Music sessions each Friday at the Pump House as well as hiring the Watford Palace theatre for two concerts.
Our Education Programme in both mainstream and SEN schools will continue to expand and we will develop both of these programmes to double the reach and impact.
Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document and how we are constituted
Electric Umbrella is a foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation governed by its foundation CIO constitution and registered with the Charity Commission on 14 January 2016.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Trustees
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
(Appointed 25 January 2022) (Resigned 25 June 2021)
Lyle Aitken (Appointed 25 January 2022) Laura Bell (Resigned 25 June 2021) Tony Bernstein Margaret Bounford (Resigned 25 January 2022) Dave Carey (Appointed 28 October 2021) Meena Hansen (Appointed 15 June 2022) Kate Holland-Hibbert (Appointed 28 October 2021) Suzanne Langridge (Appointed 28 October 2021) Chris Luff Paul Lewis David Miller (Resigned 25 January 2022) Pamela Robertson (Resigned 2 November 2021) Amanda Spray (Resigned 8 June 2021) Sarah Thompson (Appointed 28 October 2021)
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
New Trustees are invited onto the Board by the existing Trustees, having been made aware of the aims and scope of the charity and of their duties and responsibilities as trustees. The Trustees reflect the needs of the charity and they offer a wide range of skills and experience.
Organisational structure
Day to day operations are delegated to the CEO, Melanie Boda who reports to the Trustees who meet at least 6 times per year.
Induction and training of trustees
The Chair of the board of Trustees meets each new trustee to provide Trustee induction. New trustees undertake a rigorous interview process. The CEO provides a guided tour of all services, information on the history of the organisation and current operations.
The charity Trustees make available to each new charity Trustee, on or before his or her first appointment:
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a copy of the current version of our Constitution; and
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a copy of the CIO’s latest Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Accounts
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a copy of the Charity Commission's guide "The Essential Trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do" (CC3); and
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a copy of the Charity Commission's "Charity Trustee Welcome Pack"
The trustees have successfully participated in the Better Boards training conducted by Hertfordshire Community Foundation.
Relationship with wider network
Electric Umbrella have excellent and numerous partnerships with other charitable organisations, and musicians across the industry that we continue to grow and develop. These relationships are developed through collaboration on our albums and delivery of our online programmes. Key partners over the year have included Mencap, Williams Syndrome Foundation, Emmaus, Sunnyside Rural Trust, Hertfordshire Community Foundation, Pump House Theatre, Watford Borough Council, Dacorum Borough Council, Breakspear School, and a wealth of both SEN and mainstream schools across the country.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They 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.
The trustees' r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Trustees to extend huge thanks to the members, staff, volunteers, supporters, ambassadors, advisors, the wider Electric Umbrella community and our Patron, The Lord-Lieutenant Robert Voss CBE CStJ for all their support and hard work - without each of you Electric Umbrella would not be the success it is today.
Tony Bernstein
Tony Bernstein
Chair of Trustees
Dated: 30 January 2023
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Electric Umbrella (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act . In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statements in accordance with 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) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn.
I understand that this has been done in order for financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Gary Howard FCA
Howard Wilson Chartered Accountants 36 Crown Rise Watford Hertfordshire WD25 0NE
Dated: 30 January 2023
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
| Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds funds 2022 2022 2022 2021 2021 Notes £ £ £ £ £ Income from: Donations and voluntary income 3 79,724 - 79,724 130,456 - Charitable activities 4 131,685 54,677 186,362 129,010 125,782 Total income 211,409 54,677 266,086 259,466 125,782 Expenditure on: Raising funds 5 44,005 32,297 76,302 25,116 5,943 Charitable activities 6 240,940 51,005 291,945 114,255 91,419 Total expenditure 284,945 83,302 368,247 139,371 97,362 Net (expenditure)/income for the year/ Net movement in funds (73,536) (28,625) (102,161) 120,095 28,420 Fund balances at 1 April 2021 154,594 30,414 185,008 34,499 1,994 Fund balances at 31 March 2022 81,058 1,789 82,847 154,594 30,414 |
Total 2021 £ 130,456 254,792 385,248 31,059 205,674 236,733 148,515 36,493 185,008 |
|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2022
| 2022 Notes £ Fixed assets Tangible assets 9 Current assets Stocks 10 5,292 Debtors 11 9,245 Cash at bank and in hand 134,421 148,958 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 (100,350) Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Income funds Restricted funds 15 Unrestricted funds |
£ 34,239 48,608 82,847 1,789 81,058 82,847 |
2021 £ 2,822 15,450 215,813 234,085 (49,077) |
£ - 185,008 185,008 30,414 154,594 185,008 |
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 30 January 2023
Tony Bernstein
Tony Bernstein Trustee
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
Electric Umbrella is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's CIO constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling , which is the functional currency of the charity . Monetary a mounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. All other income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, otherwise the income is deferred until the performance conditions have been fulfilled. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis inclusive of VAT.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.6 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Fixtures and fittings 25% straight line Motor vehicles 25% straight line
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities .
The trustees have a policy not to capitalise individual asset purchases costing less than £1,000.
1.7 Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any ) .
1.8 Stocks
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell . Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
1.9 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
1.10 Financial instruments
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity 's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future p aymen ts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity ’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.11 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.12 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
3 Donations and voluntary income
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2022 | 2021 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donations and gifts | 79,724 | 127,049 |
| CJRS Furlough Grant | - | 3,407 |
| 79,724 | 130,456 |
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
4 Charitable activities
| Session and choir fees Events and gigs Education programme income Gr ant s income Instruments and merchandise sales Analysis by fund Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Charitable grants The National Lottery Community Fund Quercus Fund Hertfordshire Community Foundation Hertfordshire County Council Watford Chamber of Commerce Batchworth Trust Martyn Joseph Trust Arts Council Watford and Three Rivers Trust People's Postcode Lottery Other |
2022 £ 93,575 8,404 4,700 68,277 11,406 186,362 131,685 54,677 186,362 - 5,000 10,017 600 18,162 10,000 2,500 - 15,898 5,000 1,100 68,277 |
2021 £ 77,853 4,196 3,085 163,151 6,507 254,792 129,010 125,782 254,792 30,000 - 16,500 49,782 - - - 30,000 5,000 - 31,869 163,151 |
|---|---|---|
The charitable grants shown are the proportion of grants received during the year that relate to this accounting year. Where a proportion of the funding received specifically relates to a later accounting period the amount that relates to the future accounting period has been carried forward as deferred income.
5 Raising funds
| Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2022 2022 £ £ Fundraising and publicity Marketing and Website costs 36,652 20,500 Other fundraising costs 7,353 5,875 Staff costs - 5,922 44,005 32,297 For the year ended 31 March 2021 Fundraising and publicity 25,116 5,943 |
Total 2022 £ 57,152 13,228 5,922 76,302 |
Total 2021 £ 26,725 4,334 - 31,059 31,059 |
|---|---|---|
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
6 Charitable activities
| Staff costs and leader fees Depreciation Session and choir costs Event costs Equipment purchases Insurance Travel Office costs Legal and professional costs Other costs Governance costs Bank charges and other finance costs Vehicle costs Analysis by fund Unrestricted funds Restricted funds For the year ended 31 March 2021 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
2022 £ 224,407 4,085 36,627 1,722 4,447 1,954 1,309 1,365 8,850 2,749 1,385 1,052 1,993 291,945 240,940 51,005 291,945 |
2021 £ 165,935 - 16,873 5,881 3,946 1,983 300 969 5,668 2,677 840 602 - 205,674 114,255 91,419 205,674 |
|---|---|---|
Governance costs include independent examiners' fees of £840.(2021 - £840).
7 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
8 Employees
Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| Direct charitable work Employment costs Staff costs and leaders fees Social security costs Other pension costs |
2022 Number 10 2022 £ 212,410 14,003 3,916 230,329 |
2021 Number 10 2021 £ 153,102 9,985 2,848 165,935 |
|---|---|---|
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.
9 Tangible fixed assets
| Fixtures and fittings Motor vehicles £ £ Cost Additions 1,494 36,830 At 31 March 2022 1,494 36,830 Depreciation and impairment Depreciation charged in the year 249 3,836 At 31 March 2022 249 3,836 Carrying amount At 31 March 2022 1,245 32,994 10 Stocks 2022 £ Finished goods and goods for resale 5,292 |
Total £ 38,324 38,324 4,085 4,085 34,239 2021 £ 2,822 |
|---|---|
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
11 Debtors
| Amounts falling due within one year: Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income |
2022 £ 5,481 3,764 9,245 |
2021 £ 15,450 - 15,450 |
|---|---|---|
12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Notes Other taxation and social security Deferred income 13 Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2022 £ 6,683 74,809 7,812 11,046 100,350 |
2021 £ - 31,045 6,737 11,295 49,077 |
|---|---|---|
13 Deferred income
| Other deferred income Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows: Deferred income is included within: Current liabilities Movements in the year: Deferred income at 1 April 2021 Released from previous periods Resources deferred in the year Deferred income at 31 March 2022 |
2022 £ 74,809 2022 £ 74,809 31,045 (31,045) 74,809 74,809 |
2021 £ 31,045 2021 £ 31,045 4,650 (4,650) 31,045 31,045 |
|---|---|---|
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
14 Retirement benefit schemes
Defined contribution schemes
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £3,916 (2021 - £2,848).
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
15 Restricted funds
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:
| Movement | in funds | Movement | in funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Incom e | Expenditure | Balance at | Incom e | Expenditure | Balance at | |
| 1 April 2020 | 1 April 2021 | 31 | March 2022 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Arts Council Emergency Response | - | 9,000 | (9,000) | - | - | - | - |
| EUTV | - | 86,432 | (77,932) | 8,500 | - | (8,500) | - |
| Hertfordshire County Council | - | 20,500 | - | 20,500 | 600 | (21,100) | - |
| SEN Big Light Up | - | 5,250 | (5,250) | - | - | - | - |
| Kickstart Scheme | - | - | - | - | 18,162 | (18,162) | - |
| Choir, tours and performances | 1,401 | - | - | 1,401 | - | (1,401) | - |
| Workforce development grant | 593 | - | (580) | 13 | - | (13) | - |
| Peoples Postcode Lottery | - | - | - | - | 5,000 | (5,000) | - |
| Watford & Three Rivers Trust | - | - | - | - | 15,898 | (14,700) | 1,198 |
| Watford Schools Tour | - | - | - | - | 5,000 | (5,000) | - |
| Training sessions | - | - | - | - | 1,970 | (1,379) | 591 |
| Instruments for Change Project | - | - | - | - | 8,047 | (8,047) | - |
| Other funds | - | 4,600 | (4,600) | - | - | - | - |
| 1,994 | 125,782 | (97,362) | 30,414 | 54,677 | (83,302) | 1,789 |
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
15 Restricted funds
(Continued)
Arts Council Emergency Response grant is funding to aid the setup of our online operation EUTV.
EUTV aka Electric Umbrella TV is the totally interactive online operation that we created during lockdown via zoom and provides 4 hours of content each day - a breakfast show, spotlight session with guest musician, sing along and bedtime story.
Hertfordshire County Council grant is towards Electric Umbrella's campaign to connect with people with a learning difficulty throughout the ongoing COVID pandemic and beyond.
SEN Big Light Up is our newly launched online Music Machine to SEN schools. We launched these weekly sessions in January 2021 and are now reaching 700 school children across 30 schools nationwide.
Kickstart scheme is funding from Watford Chamber of Commerce towards salary costs of three posts.
Choir, tours and performances is funding towards the Choir, Dream Machine, Schools Tour and Spring Tours from Hertfordshire County Council Locality Budgets, Watford Borough Council and Dacorum Borough Council.
The Workforce development grant from HCF was specifically for the time of Sue Lacey to work with Mel Boda and Tom Billington to develop in house training materials to deliver to all staff and volunteers.
Peoples Postcode Lottery is a grant towards the salary costs of one post.
Watford & Three Rivers Trust is a grant towards the cost of equipment.
Watford Schools Tour was a grant towards the cost of Electric Umbrella Express in Watford Schools.
Training sessions is funding from Hertfordshire Community Foundation to teach Makaton skills
Instruments for Change project is funding from the Graham Rowlandson Foundation via Hertfordshire Community Foundation for our project to repair and resell old musical instruments.
Other funds include the Sunflower Campaign, Sunflower Album and Watford Pump House grants which were reported on and expended in the previous period.
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ELECTRIC UMBRELLA
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
| 16 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 2022 £ £ Fund balances at 31 March 2022 are represented by: Tangible assets 34,239 - Current assets/ (liabilities) 46,819 1,789 81,058 1,789 |
TotalUnrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 2021 2021 £ £ £ 34,239 - - 48,608 154,594 30,414 82,847 154,594 30,414 |
Total 2021 £ - 185,008 185,008 |
|---|---|---|
17 Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2021 - none) .
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EU 2022 Final accounts
Final Audit Report
2023-01-30
Created: 2023-01-30 By: Gary Howard (gary@howardwilson.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAXfWyHWak6wgIimsIvGQ2K7hbTPMSbj9o
"EU 2022 Final accounts" History
Document created by Gary Howard (gary@howardwilson.co.uk) 2023-01-30 - 1:13:15 PM GMT
Document emailed to tony@electricumbrella.co.uk for signature
2023-01-30 - 1:15:13 PM GMT
Email viewed by tony@electricumbrella.co.uk
2023-01-30 - 2:13:34 PM GMT
- Signer tony@electricumbrella.co.uk entered name at signing as Tony Bernstein 2023-01-30 - 2:13:59 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Tony Bernstein (tony@electricumbrella.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-01-30 - 2:14:01 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Document emailed to Gary Howard (gary@howardwilson.co.uk) for signature 2023-01-30 - 2:14:02 PM GMT
Email viewed by Gary Howard (gary@howardwilson.co.uk) 2023-01-30 - 2:15:06 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Gary Howard (gary@howardwilson.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-01-30 - 2:15:35 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2023-01-30 - 2:15:35 PM GMT