2025-03-31-accounts - Invisible Palace

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Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2024 to March 2025

Trustees' Report

For the period from: 1st April 2024 To: 31st March 2025 Charity Name: Invisible Palace

Charity registraDon no.: 1165888

Registered address: 23 Dulwich Wood Avenue London, SE19 1HB

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Trustees

Trustees
Julianne (Jules) Hussey	Reappointed 26/08/2020	Resigned 11/04/2024
Rosalind (Rosie) Hunter	Reappointed 26/08/2020	Resigned 03/01/2024
Gail Rowe	Appointed 26/08/2020	Later resigned 27/09/2024
Ayesha Begum	Appointed 01/11/2022
Sarah PaZerson	Appointed 01/11/2022
Isabelle Mae Skelly	Appointed 01/11/2022	Later resigned 04/08/2024
Katerina Kantalis	Appointed 13/12/2023	Resigned 07/01/2024
Aoife Dawe	Appointed 06/02/2025
Mary Lines	Appointed 06/02/2025
Catherine O’Connor	Appointed 06/02/2025

trustees Rosie Hunter and Jules Hussey. Over many years, the founding trustees provided excepDonal commitment and support, forming the bedrock of the charity’s work and governance.

trustees. In response, four new trustees were recruited by November 2024 and, following appropriate checks, were formally appointed on 6 February 2025.

The Trustees are pleased to present this Report for the charity’s ninth full year of operaDon.

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Summary

This reporDng period marks the start of the most challenging Dme that Invisible Palace has faced. A significantly changed context for heritage projects alongside economic downturn making funding scarce. ParDcipants conDnue to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis and volunteering paZerns conDnue to vary.

From the point of wriDng now in January 2026 the climate for small arts and heritage chariDes is harder than it has ever been in the 10-year life of the charity. However, looking to the future there is hope for collaboraDve opportuniDes between Invisible Palace and Crystal Palace Park Trust.

Introduction

Context

to fragmented services, compeDng prioriDes, and long-term underinvestment. Cultural provision and public services are oeen concentrated within individual boroughs, leaving boundary areas with limited access and fewer opportuniDes. As a result, value is lost for both people and place.

Invisible Palace works with communiDes across these borough boundaries to reduce barriers to parDcipaDon in arts, heritage, and nature-based acDviDes.

Crystal Palace Park, the focus of much of the charity’s work, came under the management of the Crystal Palace Park Trust in September 2023. Over the long term, a dedicated organisaDon stewarding this significant social-value asset has the potenDal to bring meaningful improvements to the local area.

What we do

Invisible Palace create accessible and welcoming acDviDes where a broad range of people can come together through shared interests for collecDve acDvity.

accessible to everyone.

Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham, focusing on neighbourhoods surrounding Crystal Palace Park.

Our programmes emphasise experienDal learning, rooted in the history of the local area and people’s relaDonship to it. AcDviDes are parDcipant-led, with a small team developing and delivering programmes that respond to local needs at both an individual and community level.

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

demographic, background or life stage.

Invisible Palace currently delivers work across three strands: heritage, gardening, and circus . These include volunteering opportuniDes, creaDve sessions, trips and visits, and walks and talks.

This year in numbers

Invisible Palace delivered over 265 hours of ac4vity , engaging more than 350 people from local communiDes in one or more events.

This is a 43% increase in ac4vity hours masks a significant decline in the heritage programme following and end of funding from the NaDonal LoZery Heritage Fund and the Mayor of London.

The increase in hours delivered is largely due to higher aZendance within the circus programme, with children taking part in more sessions than in previous years. In contrast, reduced heritage provision resulted in a loss of value within this strand, with 177 fewer par4cipants taking part overall.

Heritage

14 hours of acDvity across 7 events
73 parDcipants
All acDvity was self-funded by Invisible Palace
Represents a 70% reduc4on in both acDvity and parDcipaDon without major funder support

Gardening

91 hours of acDvity across 44 events , including 3 visits and 1 plant sale
41 people took part in volunteering, with a further 7 people joining trips
Up to 100 added aAendees at the Spring plant sale

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

A modest increase in hours delivered, with twice as many volunteers compared to last year

Circus

30 hours of aeer-school Circus Club
8 hours of Summer Intensive sessions
6 hours of aerial circus taster sessions for youth groups
95 hours subsidised classes delivered at My Aerial Home
129 children took part an increase of 22 from last year

The year April 2024 to March 2025

Heritage work

The 2023–24 reporDng year marked a peak in the delivery of heritage events by Invisible Palace, both in terms of the number of acDviDes delivered and the quality of engagement. Events that used creaDve approaches to explore challenging or complex heritage themes received parDcularly strong audience feedback.

Photos by Jules Hussey and Sue Giovanni

A small, self-funded programme of heritage events was delivered during the year:

Secrets of the Sculptures walk – 24 April, led by Andrea Vail
World on the Upper Terrace – 2 June, led by Manasi Pophale
Palace People Place – 23 June, led by Carlos Cortes
Drawing from Life – 30 June, led by Dawn Pereira
Secrets of the Sculptures walk – 14 July, led by Andrea Vail
Visit Dulwich Picture Gallery sculpture trail – 13 August, led by a Dulwich Picture Gallery volunteer guide
Secrets of the Sculptures walk – 16 November, led by Andrea Vail

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Due to limited funds, these events relied primarily on digital markeDng through Eventbrite and social media. In the previous year, Invisible Palace had also used printed flyers distributed through local libraries, cafés, and community noDceboards. The absence of printed markeDng in 2024–25 had a noDceable impact on both aZendee numbers and the diversity of audiences at some events.

During the reporDng year, the operaDng context for heritage acDvity changed. In December 2024, the Crystal Palace Park Trust introduced a policy that groups could no longer apply independently for park-related heritage grants. As a result, planned project development was paused, including acDvity intended to build on pilot work delivered through Untold Stories , funded by the Mayor of London. The policy change also led to the withdrawal of Heritage Compass fundraising strategy support, and Invisible Palace concluded its parDcipaDon in the programme earlier than expected.

Looking ahead, there is an intenDon to work collaboraDvely with the Crystal Palace Park Trust on future projects and funding bids, as opportuniDes arise.

Gardening

a Friday morning. People of all ages, from a range of backgrounds, come together in the heart of Crystal Palace, through a common interest in gardening. Volunteers build connecDons, learn skills, and improve the local area both for people and wildlife. The project is supported by a professional gardener who leads the volunteering sessions. Sessions during this financial year were funded by Building strong CommuniDes – Mayor of London Dll June 2024 then by Hubbub and self-funded by Invisible Palace.

Invisible Palace has kept a similar model of delivery since 2021:

fortnightly volunteer sessions over the winter months
weekly sessions from spring Dll autumn
a minimum of one plant sale per year
trips to other gardens or museums for volunteers and friends

April 2024 and March 2025 Invisible Palace ran 44 different gardening-related sessions, 48 people got involved in one or more session, with a core group of 8 gardeners.

Invisible Palace has conDnued a relaDonship with Turner Townsend corporate volunteers, one team from this company use their individual volunteering days with our gardening project. Two new relaDonships were developed this year – a bespoke session was offered for Family Volunteering Club and disabled students from Shaesbury Nash College joined our regular sessions during the summer months to gain gardening experience.

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

From June onwards, funding from Hubbub enabled Invisible Palace to transform an overgrown and neglected area of Crystal Palace Park near the Crystal Palace Museum. The project focused on regeneraDng exisDng flowerbeds to create a more aZracDve, biodiverse, and accessible space.

The redesigned planDng scheme has introduced year-round seasonal interest, with a greater range of flowering plants including early, late, and winter-flowering varieDes. Mahonia plants, which are typically pruned back in winter, were retained to allow berries to remain available for wildlife. The improved space has also provided volunteers with a quieter, more relaxing environment in which to work.

through site clearance, planDng design, and installaDon. This visible change was welcomed by volunteers, with one commenDng: “It’s nice to see something come to frui6on.” Within six months, the project demonstrated tangible outcomes, offering a posiDve and self-contained example of regeneraDon in a park where change is oeen long-term and incremental.

Updates posted on social media were very well received showing this type of work is backed by park and museum visitors alike.

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Defy Gravity Social Circus in partnership with My Aerial Home

Text in this secDon is drawn from a report wriZen for the NaDonal LoZery Community Fund by Niki Lavithis and Sue Giovanni.

their charitable purposes by providing opportuniDes for children and young people in Penge, Anerley, and Lewisham to experience circus arts. Those taking part have had fun, made social connecDons, achieved the unexpected, and built confidence.

How does the project work?

There are several entry points on the Defy Gravity project:

Circus Club - aeer school club at St John's CE Primary - 30 sessions per year for up to 16 people

Summer Intensive - dayDme sessions at St John's CE Primary for KS2 - 4 x 2-hour sessions Taster session - aimed at youth groups - between 3 and 4 sessions per year

ParDcipants who have enjoyed taking part and shown apDtude have been able to conDnue lessons by taking up regular circus places on Monster Club or the Summer Camp at My Aerial Home. This is possible due to a combinaDon of discounts offered by My Aerial Home and support from NLCF.

Families of children aZending Monster Club at My Aerial Home have told us:

mee8ng other people from different culture and she really loved it."

"We are very happy that N is a?ending these classes. [She is] very ac8ve physically and she is fi?er. [The best thing has been] physical development and great sa8sfac8on."

"My daughter enjoys the ac8vi8es and also making new friends. She also talks about the staff to be friendly and warm. She is more flexible on/or her body weight."

"The best thing has been learning a new art craK. I have no8ced she is more confident in undertaking new things. More adventurous. Really amazing undertaking, a new/ different type of sport which is not normally taught or seen. Excellent for fitness and crea8ng."

"She has improved a lot in a social life. We have no8ced that she likes doing sport ac8vi8es at home and with her friend. We encourage the staff to con8nue to do the good work that helps the children develop. Good job to you all."

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Delivery Output and Dates

Defy Gravity Social Circus Project runs from March 2023 to March 2026, this is the second year of the NaDonal LoZery Community Fund grant

Planned outcomes that will help the project achieve the impact targets for each year are as follows:

15 young people will go on to take up sessions at My Aerial Home circus school

Year 2 March 2024 to March 2025 has seen:

30 Aeer School Club sessions at St John's CE Primary School, 10 per term
3 Aerial Taster sessions at My Aerial Home, 2 with CPCT Youth and 1 with Carers Lewisham
4 Summer Intensives at St John's CE Primary School during the school day – KS2 classes parDcipated in different elements of the programme
15 funded places on My Aerial Home’s weekly Monster Club classes or Summer School
20 low-cost Dckets for CPCT Youth to aZend Revel Puck Circus show in Beckenham Place Park

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

key areas of impact were idenDfied for reporDng:

Increased parDcipaDon in physical acDvity
Increased social inclusion

Increased participation in physical activity

Various tools are used to measure this including ParDcipatory AcDon Research, quesDonnaires and direct feedback.

Newcomers were asked about their parDcipaDon in physical acDvity

----- Start of picture text -----
62% agreed 76% agreed
that they did their
enjoy running favourite
around during thing to do at
playDme. home was
----- End of picture text -----

This shows that when given a chance, the young people do enjoy taking part in physical acDvity, but that maybe the opportuniDes at home weren’t as reachable and so screenDme became the favoured acDvity.

Over 65% of KS2 students at St John’s CE Primary reported that they took part in physical acDvity outside of school (mainly football), however Circus Club parDcipants stated they did no other physical acDvity clubs outside of school hours. Families of this group were encouraged by their child’s improved interest in physical acDvity and planned to capitalise on this – hoping to take up opportuniDes for more circus, along with gymnasDcs clubs.

A posiDve note in observaDons from class teachers (also noted last year) regarded levels of engagement in physical acDvity during PE improving for the circus session. 3 out of 4 class teachers saw some improvement in their student’s willingness to take part and 1 out of 4 saw great improvement.

Increased strength, flexibility, and balance

In the year 1 of the project, we decided that circus facilitator assessment would be right for this measure. During the first two years of the project findings showed clear improvements in all 3 areas.

Have improved confidence, resilience, tolerance of others

observed, circus developed a whole range of valuable, addiDonal skills: sharing; turn taking; good listening skills; paDence; teamwork; focus and de-escalaDon skills. As one circus

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

facilitator noted: “These things were not in abundance at the start of term. We work on these week by week and they have improved a lot.”

saw improvements aeer just the 4 summer intensives, with all 4 teachers who completed the quesDonnaire saying that they saw class member’s confidence growing with them taking risks and working as a group.

Really posiDve observaDons from 2 class teachers were that their pupils were “so proud” and “extremely proud” of themselves.

ParDcipants themselves commented on the improvements. A Year 6 parDcipant at St John’s CE Primary school said that circus “…affect[s] me in lessons to be beZer.” Even in a taster, one parDcipant noDced that what they loved was seeing “Everyone supporDng one another”

and sDll find structure as they remembered skills learnt, pracDsing them which - as well as a further opportunity for physical acDvity - developed their memory, and in turn - built

Increased social inclusion

“I have taught a few of the students at MAH and have found they have come out of their shell in both ability and confidence. I put this down to mee6ng a lot more children both their age and younger/older, as well as being outside of a school seEng. I see them crea6ng meaningful friendships which have a different dynamic to those we view in school.” - Circus Facilitator, Defy Gravity Social Circus

In year 1, as a baseline, we asked children in years 5 & 6 at St John's CE Primary School what was most important to them outside of school, and it was encouraging to see that they found importance in sociable acDviDes with family and friends.

Circus Club, Summer Intensives, and Taster sessions all encourage children to learn new social skills but take place within pre-exisDng social groups. Following on from these sessions 15 children aZended at My Aerial Home and it was encouraging to see them mix with other

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

by mee6ng other people from different culture and she really loved it."
"My daughter enjoys the ac6vi6es and also making new friends.”
- "She has improved a lot in a social life."

Enjoyment of Circus

Alongside the 4 main areas of focus, it’s important to summarise what the parDcipants across all acDviDes enjoyed about parDcipaDng in circus. This word cloud consists of everything parDcipants loved and how they’d describe circus posiDvely. This summarises over 170 words or phrases.

Invisible Palace Charity Commission Report April 2023 to March 2024

Financial Review

The charity's Financial Statements form pages 15 and 16 of this report.

were £58,191 and total payments were £55,606 . At the year end, the charity held £33,717 in assets, all of which was cash held at bank.

During the year, the charity received ongoing project funding of £36,538 from the NaDonal LoZery Community Fund, £7,840 from the NaDonal LoZery Heritage Fund, and £1,707 from the Greater London Authority. A new funder, Hubbub, awarded £7,500 , of which £4,500 was spent within this financial year.

The local organisaDon Friends of Crystal Palace Subway was dissolved aeer achieving its aims. Its remaining funds of £1,429 were donated to Invisible Palace.

Unrestricted funds received during the year totalled £2,928 . Unrestricted fund expenditure was £2,630 . At the end of the financial year, unrestricted funds stood at £6,453 , which includes an opening balance of £6,154 . The unrestricted fund balance has reduced compared with the previous year.

secretary for Bort Corporate SoluDons Ltd.

Declarations

report on pages 15 and 16.

Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees:

Signature(s) Full name(s) Ayesha Begum PosiDon (e.g. Chair) Chair of Trustees Date 26/01/2026

Aoife Dawe Finance Trustee 26/01/2026

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888

Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales or purchases of assets or investments.

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.

	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total
Receipts	£	£	£
Donations	1,012	615	1,627
Crystal Palace Park Trust - CPPT	250	-	250
CAF Donate	116	36	153
EasyFundraising	-	278	278
FamilyVolunteeringClub	300	-	300
Friends of Crystal Palace Subway	-	1,429	1,429
Gift Aid	-	34	34
Hubbub foundation	7,500	-	7,500
Greater London Authority- GLA	1,707	-	1,707
National LotteryCommunityFund - NLCF	36,538	-	36,538
National LotteryHeritage Fund - NLHF	7,840	-	7,840
Tickets	-	485	485
Interest Received	-	50	50
Total net receipts for theperiod	55,262	2,928	58,191

Payments	£	£	£
Artists' and Project Management Fees	42,875	1,450	44,325
Equipment and Materials	3,175	61	3,236
Training	100	-	100
Volunteers' Expenses	684	45	729
Staff Expenses	44	7	51
Publicity& Promotion	3,075	527	3,602
Event Costs	-	24	24
Administration / Overhead	2,983	345	3,328
Bank Charges	-	60	60
FundraisingCosts	40	111	151
Total netpayments for theperiod	52,976	2,630	55,606

	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total
	£	£	£
OpeningBalance	24,978	6,154	31,133
Cash Funds at end ofperiod	27,265	6,453	33,717

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888

Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

Statement of Assets and Liabilities for theperiod 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

Assets	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total

	£	£	£
Funds held	27,265	6,453	33,717
Other monetaryassets	-	-	-
Investment assets	-	-	-
Assets retained for the charity's own use	-	-	-

Liabilities
Anyinvoices outstandingat 31 March 2025	-	-	-

Total Assets at end ofperiod	27,265	6,453	33,717

ACCOUNTS PREPARED BY

Marcella Caramba-Coker MACC Services

APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON

Signed
Aoife Dawe	Date	30th October 2025
Signed
Mary Lines	Date	3rd November 2025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinefs Report Report to the Irusteesl members of Iwrfi s io&& PIFL4C On accounts for the year ended I i ffliirbcrf Zo Z? Charity no lif any) Set out on pages 15£1 ITine,1 fo IiKliiKJe Iliep Trage TriifflrS Df addilk)nal thèétsi I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity rthe Trusn for the year ended l { 05 20 2? Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance vth the requirements of the Charities Aci 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in spe of my examination of the Trusf$ a¢Unts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in c2ffyiro out my examination. I have followed the applicable Direclions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below") in connection Nlith the examirkgtion vknich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting reccfts were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Aci or the accounts do r¥)t accord Wbth the accwnting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come across Th) other matters in connection th the examination to bthich attention should be dra in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please lete the words in the brackets rf theydo not apy. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant prolesslonal quallficatlon(s) or body (if any): Address: LWICII IER October 2018

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888

Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales or purchases of assets or investments.

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.	Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888 Receipts & Payments Account for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 The charity holds no endowment funds at present There were no sales orpurchases of assets or investments.

	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total
Receipts	£	£	£
Donations	1,012	615	1,627
Crystal Palace Park Trust - CPPT	250	-	250
CAF Donate	116	36	153
EasyFundraising	-	278	278
FamilyVolunteeringClub	300	-	300
Friends of Crystal Palace Subway	-	1,429	1,429
Gift Aid	-	34	34
Hubbub foundation	7,500	-	7,500
Greater London Authority- GLA	1,707	-	1,707
National LotteryCommunityFund - NLCF	36,538	-	36,538
National LotteryHeritage Fund - NLHF	7,840	-	7,840
Tickets	-	485	485
Interest Received	-	50	50
Total net receipts for theperiod	55,262	2,928	58,191

Payments	£	£	£
Artists' and Project Management Fees	42,875	1,450	44,325
Equipment and Materials	3,175	61	3,236
Training	100	-	100
Volunteers' Expenses	684	45	729
Staff Expenses	44	7	51
Publicity& Promotion	3,075	527	3,602
Event Costs	-	24	24
Administration / Overhead	2,983	345	3,328
Bank Charges	-	60	60
FundraisingCosts	40	111	151
Total netpayments for theperiod	52,976	2,630	55,606

	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total
	£	£	£
OpeningBalance	24,978	6,154	31,133
Cash Funds at end ofperiod	27,265	6,453	33,717

Page 1 of 2

Invisible Palace Registered Charity no. 1165888

Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

Statement of Assets and Liabilities for theperiod 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025

Assets	Restricted Funds	Unrestricted Funds	Total

	£	£	£
Funds held	27,265	6,453	33,717
Other monetaryassets	-	-	-
Investment assets	-	-	-
Assets retained for the charity's own use	-	-	-

Liabilities
Anyinvoices outstandingat 31 March 2025	-	-	-

Total Assets at end ofperiod	27,265	6,453	33,717

ACCOUNTS PREPARED BY

Marcella Caramba-Coker MACC Services

APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES ON

Signed
Aoife Dawe	Date	30th October 2025
Signed
Mary Lines	Date	3rd November 2025

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