Stepping Stone Theatre for Mental Health Annual Report 24 -25
The year running April 1, 2024 – Mar 31, 2025 was extremely busy. We continued to do many projects that were started the year previously. Please see below the projects we did during this year. Some projects continue to be on going and some have finished.
Aims and Objectives – Our ethos really is straight forward. We want to bring together people who have mental health challenges and present activities that are creative. Mental Health is often stigmatized and those suffering are often marginalized. We see to increase well-being through creativity.
Don’t Get it Right; Get it Written – 2 online writing courses lead by Kate Hull Rodgers. 120 minute sessions of creative writing. Some of the exercises are about testimonial writing, some are about fictional writing. Classes are drop in, each session is a stand-alone lesson. These attract 5 -8 people each. (Friday at 6 and 8 pm) To join, one must become a member of the Stepping Stone Scribblers Writers Group on Facebook. Start by befriending Kate Hull Rodgers.
We also lead face to face workshops in the community and surrounding villages. These are led by both Bill and Kate. We ran workshops at the local library and the alternative training centre, Clip. The popularity of these events means that we have a waiting list of people who would like to join.
We ran a total of four writing workshops a week. These resulted in Book 2 and Book 3 of the In Our Own Words series. This is a continuation from the Lock Down Legacy. By March 25, we have published 9 books of testimonial and creative writing. All eight books are now an official library book in Gainsborough Library. Written by Stepping Stone Scribblers the books are a collection of people’s mental health stories. They feature hints and tips on how to maintain and manage good mental health practices.
Gainsborough Standard and Shine Newsletter – Kate Hull Rodgers continued to write her monthly mental health blog for the Gainsborough Standard. She has gone from being a guest writer to having her own bi-line. Kate also wrote her popular Upfront Column for the Shine Newsletter which is distributed throughout the county. This has helped to keep Stepping Stone’s profile high.
LIVETALK – Twice a week Bill Rodgers and Kate Hull Rodgers host an hour long broadcast. This is video as well as audio. If listening live the participants can contribute their written comments through a live feed. They can also phone in. All they have to do is follow Stepping Stone Theatre on Facebook. (Thursday and Sunday at 3 pm)The shows are also available to be listened to later on YouTube. Around 500 shows to date.
Stepping Stone Strollers – a walking group that meets each Sunday at 10 at Clip at the Bridge. We do a leisurely walk along the Riverside. The sessions ran spring and summer of 2024. The walk is followed by free cake and coffee or tea.
Stepping Stone Singing Social– a face to face singing group, singing for fun, all levels. We moved venues and are now homed at Clip Friday at 1:00 – 3:00. The event has attracted many SENDI people, so we truly have an integrated group, with a joy for singing bringing them all together.
One To One Support – Both Kate and Bill have been supporting people as and when needed with telephone befriending and helping people with interview and job searching. Two people were successful at getting work, but found it a struggle with their mental health issues. They continue to come to the Groups.
Downtown Drama Group – this year, thanks to receiving enough funding, we were finally able to establish a drama group. We met weekly, members have had to be very committed to the group. It is not drop in, members must make a commitment. This allows our director, Bill – who has 40 years experience – to really make the performances special.
Performance – We have performed 2 major theatre shows over the last year. We celebrated Stepping Stone Theatre’s ninth birthday in June and World Mental Health Day in October. The company members came together to perform before an audience theatre style. They read from the books and they sang meaningful songs. The shows were directed by Bill and they were a great success. The World Mental Health Day was so well attended that the audience was spilling out onto the road. Stepping Stone has built a powerful reputation and our events go from strength to strength.
Finances –
INCOME
| Private Donor | £500 |
|---|---|
| Arnold Clark | £200 |
| Lincolnshire County Council | £17,750 |
| Town Council | £650 |
| People’s Health Trust | £11,873 |
| Evan Cornish Foundaton | £5,000 |
| People’s Postcode Trust | £21,000 |
| West Lindsey District Council | £500 |
| Total | £61973 |
OUTGO
Workshop leaders and administrators £48,000
Running costs (volunteers, travel, refreshments, office sundries, insurances etc)
| Running costs | £7379 |
|---|---|
| Bank charges | £62 |
| Graphic artst and trophy | £60 |
| Room hire | £775 |
| Total | £56,276 |
Future
Our plans for the year 24-25 will be to continue to deliver the sessions that are meeting with great success. We plan an event to celebrate World Mental Health Day. We remain open to any further opportunities. Meanwhile we carry on and have become a resource that people can rely on. We are always there and that is a great accolade for the board and sessional leaders of Stepping Stone. During this year we plan to make a comprehensive documentary film about Stepping Stone and why creativity can so positively impact on our mental health.
Charitv Narne No lif anv) Ste pln Stone Theatre 1165525 R•c•lpts and payments accounts CC16a For thg period from 0110412024 To Period end dale 31103r2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrletèd fund8 Endowment funds Total funds Last ar to the nearest to th• nwr•st to tho n•arest to the nearest £ A1 Recei Donations Granls WLDC Loite COO Councillors. Other 1.350 1,350 2.550 26 rants 350 350 Sub total(Gross inctxnè for AR) 61.973 62,328 71.781 A2 Ass&t and inve$tment sales, Is¢* tsbl•l. Sub total ,78 A3Pa Pr Printing, postage & aLlvertising ments 126 1.481 3,841 Insurances Travèl, subsistencè & enl¢rtainin Trustee & meelin expenses Venue hire. evenls & caterin Equipment, repairs & accessofles Websit& & dornain name Bank cha ès Sundries Volunteer ex enses Workshop, mentoring and sessional costs Administration costs 591 1.623 20 1,418 1,623 20 1.418 2.219 1.595 277 277 151 61 1,165 61 498 387 60 596 1.364 387 38.400 10.200 55,107 38,400 10,200 55. 07 38,400 9,600 59,082 Sub total A4 Asset and investment urchases See table La To Fllm recordln 599 790 599 790 ul ent Sub totsl 56,496 Netof réc8lPt(pèVnI0tsj AS Transfers bgtW0gn funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end CCXK R18ttounts Issi 5,47 34,812 34, 40,289 22,114 ,812 2710512025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the peiiod Unrestricted funds to nearèst £ 40,289 Restricled funds to naarast £ Last year Categorlg¥ Dètall¥ to n•ar•st £ 34,812 B1 Cash funds Cash at ba Total cash funds 40,289 34,812 loyiee )d payTTEnts a(XXMJnt(sll OK UntrIcted furKI$ tr* nearest £ OK Re¥trlctsd funds to nearest £ Error Endowm•nt funds to n?arest £ Detsils B2 Other monetary assgts Sh CompLrter & broadtsst Buddy Be Lap top Karaoke machi 836 836 4,011 737 4,011 737 1,263 599 1,263 Lap T¢¥is Video recording 790 FUNI to whleh asset belon Cost loptlonal) Currènt valug tlonal Detsils 83 Investmentassets Fund to which asset Cost (optional) Current valuo tlonal Detsils 84 Ass•ts r•taln•d lorth• Charfty's own us¢ Fund to whlch Ivability Arnount due loplionall Whèn due loptsonall Details BS Uablllves Stgwy by or two trustees on behalf of all the trustses SwJnaluie Print Name Datts of roval lan Bu Kate Hull Rodgèrs 27.5.26 27.5.25 CCXXRI ISSI 27105Q025