## **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
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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￿(pèVnI0￿tsj
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
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Un￿trIcted
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