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2022-03-31-accounts

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report to end March 2022

Registered Charity 1165888 Trustees’ Report

For the period from: 1[st] April 2021 To: 31[st] March 2022

Charity name: Invisible Palace

Charity registration number: 1165888

Registered/principal address: 23 Dulwich Wood Avenue London SE19 1HB

Invisible Palace

Trustees:

Initial period of appointment (years from 7[th] March 2016):

Michael George Sylvester Doiley 3 resigned & reappointed 24th February 2020 Rosalind (Rosie) Hunter 2 resigned & reappointed 2nd January 2019 Julianne (Jules) Hussey 3 resigned & reappointed 26th August 2020 Sonia Rai 3 reappointed 24th Feb 2020, resigned 1[st] April 2021 Helen Forde 3 appointed 26th August 2020, resigned 1[st] Jan 2022 Gail Rowe 3 appointed 26th August 2020

Following the year reported on, the following Trustees have been after an open recruitment process:

Abigail Lilly 1[st] November 2022 Ayesha Begum 1[st] November 2022 Eyo E Oku 1[st] November 2022 Sarah Patterson 1[st] November 2022 Isabelle Mae Skelly 1[st] November 2022

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Report for the charity’s sixth full year of operation.

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Invisible Palace

Introduction

Invisible Palace is a charity based in South East London which brings people from a whole range of backgrounds together through shared interests for collective activity. Working across the five boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, in the neighbourhoods that surround Crystal Palace Park, the charity focuses on:

  1. The advancement of education in and appreciation and understanding of the arts, culture, heritage, history and sciences for the public benefit.

  2. The promotion of equality and diversity and the promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.

These objectives are achieved by:

Offering a programme of arts, cultural, heritage and educational activities and events, working with the local community, for individuals who live, work or study in the area whatever their background, and for the general public, with the aim of enabling people from diverse backgrounds to interact with each other.

The work of Invisible Palace takes a participant led approach, with the small team developing and running activities championing the needs of those taking part and creating programmes which respond to this need on a local and individual level. By targeting people who may be marginalised from what is already happening in the local area across age groups and backgrounds, people are brought together in a community of interest rather than having their demographic background or life stage be the main factor in defining them.

Invisible Palace prioritises working with those who are excluded or at risk of being excluded from society. They promote a broad definition of social exclusion, including those being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one of more of the following factors:

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Covid delivery easing restrictions

April 2021 saw a gradual easing of Covid restrictions, the ‘rule of six’ had been re-introduced at the end of March and this was an opportunity to offer outdoor activities for small groups. By July most legal limits on social contact had been removed but for many people this made getting out and about harder as they felt at risk of infection. Invisible Palace continued to maintain close contact with valued partners such as Paxton Green Time Bank and Crystal Palace Community Trust to understand wider impacts for different people.

Following on from learning detailed in the conclusion of the 20-21 Trustees Report Invisible Palace had identified itself as an agile and responsive organisation, but with a need to clearly identify and explain its approach in order to build on its strengths.

Sculptures of Crystal Palace Park project

In April 2021 a project enquiry was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) for work that would build on Sculpture Saturdays, a walking tour that had been adapted to digital delivery during the pandemic. 13 Sculpture Saturday posts across three channels attracted 7244 engagements and sparked 134 conversations.

The aim of the project was to continue the community conversations that began in the pandemic and work inclusively with local people to tell the stories of neglected sculptures in Crystal Palace Park. The project would build on existing partnerships and develop new ones, letters of support were received from Paxton Green Time Bank, Willow Learning for Life, and Crystal Palace Park Trust. In July NLHF awarded £78,400 for a 30-month project.

The project began in September with a researchers’ meeting, then a launch event held at Crystal Palace Museum which included 3 short walks set up as community conversations. By the end of March 2022 36 hours of activity had been offered through 15 different meetings or events. 74 people had got involved with one or more event resulting in 323 hours of volunteer time being contributed to the project.

Evaluation and User Research were key elements of the funded work in order to support data gathering across all strands of the project and enable evidenced co-production at all stages. The project continues to winter 2024.

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Invisible Palace

PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SPRATT, PAUL CROOK, SUE GIOVANNI, TANYA RHODES

Defy Gravity Social Circus in partnership with My Aerial Home

Invisible Palace (IP) is a delivery partner with Crystal Palace Community Trust (CPCT) on a 3-year Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund project due to end December 2022. This work was severely disrupted by Covid so easing of restrictions from April 2021 was a chance to catch up with delivery.

In June and July Invisible Palace worked with My Aerial Home (MAH) to deliver a Summer Intensive programme of circus activities at St John’s Primary in Penge. 44 children took part in the programme which included clowning, poi, hula hoop, tightwire, and aerial counterbalance. It was designed with social circus research in mind. This research evidences risk as a key factor linked to personal growth for social circus participants. Aerial was completely new for all participants and generated very interesting feedback. The aerial disciplines in particular were challenging, often uncomfortable but fun and rewarding. It was clear that students were working through this dilemma as can be seen in the word cloud feedback below.

During the summer holidays IP and MAH worked with CPCT to deliver circus activities in a youth work setting as part of a play scheme. 35 children took part in activities included hula hoop, juggling, and tightwire.

In February 2022 MAH invited CPCT Youth to an Aerial Taster session at their premises in Bell Green, Sydenham, 16 young people took part with some surprising results. At the session two

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CPCT Youth club members had shown particular aptitude despite having issues around confidence and self-esteem. Both were offered to join regular MAH sessions at a heavily discounted rate. CPCT Youth provided case studies on this work which made a demonstrable difference to the wellbeing of both young people.

Reflection on feedback from all sessions this year resulted in a clear direction for the social circus work that includes a pathway for progression for participants. New work is currently being developed on this basis.

Vicar’s Oak gardening activities

From mid-April onwards the gardening was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF). Gardening sessions took place every fortnight with additional watering sessions in between during warm weather. In addition, 2 fundraising plant sales were held. There were also a new addition of 3 garden and exhibition visits for volunteers.

Over the year 17 people got involved with at least one gardening activity. The May plant sale that took place just as Covid restrictions were easing was very popular with 63 people attending. The sale in September had approximately 44 visitors. The sales raised in total £621.

This year one volunteer moved on to full time employment and one to a more permanent volunteer role. During this period the type of people volunteering with the project started to change with less retired people and a greater number looking for training or work experience. This became a stronger trend later in 2022 though there is still a core of 5 regular volunteers.

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Invisible Palace

Throughout this year 67 hours of gardening activity was offered, and 245 hours of volunteer time was donated to the project. New plants purchased for the beds were paid for out of funds raised at plant sales.

User research and evaluation work funded by NLCF has resulted in improved data collection and evidence of the benefit of this work.

Volunteer comments

Gardening and working with other people has given me pleasure and helped me to connect with other gardening enthusiast, feeling less isolated during the pandemic

I've been working with the group for almost 2 years and I find it lovely to take care of the green spaces and also create friendships in the area.

The garden is beautiful in every season. I love watching the changes. Volunteering here is often the highlight of the week. Getting involved with the people and nature in a friendly but controlled and safe environment is a real tonic. Honestly it has been a saviour during COVID. Thank you!

Passer-by comments

Superb - good work! Brightens up the palace experience - lovely addition - thank you!!

I love this community garden. It always cheers me up when I pass it. I love the selection of plants and the countryside feel it gives. You are doing a great job with it. Please don't stop.

Beautiful Garden! Inspires others into gardening! THANK YOU!

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Invisible Palace

Summary

This year Covid restrictions eased. Participation in projects changed as many went back to work while others reassessed and made changes. Invisible Palace initially focussed on outdoor activities where possible as people rebuilt confidence in social settings.

Between April 2021 and the end of March 2022

Building on learning from the peak of the Covid pandemic Invisible Palace emerged with focus, purpose, and confidence.

One fundraising aim was to seek multi-year funding where possible which proved successful with the National Lottery Heritage Fund supporting the Sculptures of Crystal Palace Park project.

Last year Invisible Palace identified a need to improve how working practice and outcomes are evidenced and reported. This work began in 2021 and quickly reaped benefits by simplifying complex project narratives. The work was further developed as the Sculptures project began. Next year Invisible Palace will report on emerging principles for co-creative practice developed during Phase 1 of the Sculptures project.

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Invisible Palace

Financial Review

The charity's Financial Statements form page 10 of this report.

The Receipts and Payments accounts show total receipts of £61,369 during the financial year reported on; total payments of £37,336 and a year-end position of £28,978 held in assets (cash at bank).

The charity received trust funding of £8,403 from the City Bridge Trust and a National Lottery Heritage Fund award of £39,200.

Overall funding for the year was more than doubled from the previous year. Funding for longer projects was also achieved this year.

The total restricted funds receipts by the Charity for the year were £59,383 . Of this £36,543 of restricted funds payments were made during the period. At the end of this period £24,266 of restricted funds are held which includes the opening balance of £1,426.

The total unrestricted funds received by the charity was £1,986 with £793 being spent this financial year and with the balance carried over from the previous year £4,712 of unrestricted funds held at the end of the year.

The finances this year were again independently examined by Stefan Bort a Chartered secretary for Bort Corporate Solutions Ltd.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' Report above and the Financial report on page 10.

Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees:

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (e.g. Secretary, Chair) Date

Julianne Hussey Rosalind Hunter
Trustee Trustee
30th Jan 2023 30th Jan 2023

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Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888
Receipts & Payments Account
for theperiod 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022
The charity holds no endowment funds atpresent
There are were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total
Receipts £ £ £
Donations 0 1,986 1,986
CityBridges Trust 8,403 0 8,403
Power of oneproject/CPCT 11,280 0 11,280
localgivinglittle award 500 0 500
National LotteryHeritage Fund 39,200 0 39,200
COVID-19 RESPONSE 0 0 0
0
59,383 1,986 61,369
Payments £ £ £
Artists' andproject management fees 29,425 0 29,425
Equipment and materials 3,472 219 3,691
Volunteers' Expenses 798 11 809
Publicity&promotion 2,404 0 2,404
Bank charges 0 96 96
Administration/Overheads 444 467 911
Total netpayments for theperiod 36,543 793 37,336
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total
£ £ £
Openingbalance 1,426 3,519 4,945
Cash funds at end ofperiod 24,266 4,712 28,978
Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
for theperiod 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022
Assets Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total
£ £ £
Restricted Funds held 24,266 4,712 28,978
Other monetaryassets 0 0 0
Investment assets 0 0 0
Assets retained for the charity's own use 0 0 0
Liabilities
anyinvoices outstandingat 31 March 2022 0 0 0
Total Assets at end ofperiod 24,266 4,712 28,978
APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON
Signed
Rosalind Hunter,trustee date 13th November 2022
Signed
Julianne Hussey,treasurer date 13th November 2022

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru8teo81 members of Invisible Pal On accounts for the year onded 31 March 2022 CharSty no (If any) 1165888 Set out on pages 10 I re￿rt to the trustees on my examinatlon of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusy,) for the year ended Responslbllltlos and basls of report As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of tha accounts in ac£onl8nce witn the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('Ihe Acr,). I report in ￿SpeCt of my examlnation of the Trust's accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followgd all the appllcable Directions gNen by the Charity Commisslon under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. Independent examln•rf8 Statsment I have ccxnpleted my examination. I confimi that no material mallers have come to my att8nlM)n In Connecti￿ wllh the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives rne cause to believe Ihat In, any material the accountlng records were not kept Sn accordance wlth sedlon 130 of the Charities Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accountin9 reccds', or the accounts did nol comply with the appllcable requirements concèming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charitles (Accounts and Rep￿s> Regulations 2C(J8 other than any requirement that the acLX)unls give a 'true and fair. view which Is not a matter considewed as part of an independent exarnination. I have no con¢ems and have come across no 0th9r matters in Connoction with the examination to whth attention shwld be drdwn in this report In ordw to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. . Please del le Ihe words in tho brackets if they do not apply. Slgned." Date: 30 January 2023 Nam•: Slefan Bort Relevant wof•ssional quallflcation(s) or body {11 any): Asscciate memter of Ihe Corporate Govemanc Institute (fornerly Instilute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) Address: 3 Dulwich Wocxl Avwue, London SE19 1HB IER Oct 2018