# **Annual Report and Financial Statements** ## **Year ending 31[st] March 2021** ## **CIO: registered number: 1166244** Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 1 ## **Ava Hunt Theatre: Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31[st] March 2021** The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with statement of financial accounts for the purposes of the Charities Commission. ## **Purpose and activities** In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Ava Hunt Theatre's purpose is to advance education in the arts for the public benefit primarily throughout the East Midlands and nationally by producing education workshops, theatre performances and training by creating: - New theatre for young people to explore areas of PHSE and citizenship in the school curriculum - Performances, workshops and training to a wide range of users with little or no access to high quality arts experiences due to either rural isolation, social deprivation, or because of being from a marginalised community/group or sector of society i.e. in relation to sexual orientation, disability, class, religion, ethnicity or gender. ## **1. Trustees** Richard Hall Jessica Harris Rafia Hussain Philip Moss Anthony Watts OBE ## New Trustees: Adei Bundy was formally welcomed as Trustee following her acceptance 17th September 2020. Proposed by PM and seconded AH ## **2. Secretary's Report** Ava Hunt reported that 2020/21 had, as for all theatre companies in the UK, been one of the most challenging years due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The company had to put on hold various projects and invent new ways of working. We were able to raise additional funding from ACE Cultural Emergency Fund, and find innovative ways to create theatre using on-line platforms to deliver workshops, and make digitalised material. This additional funding also not only ensured that Frances Watt and Ava Hunt were funded to produce and manage the company during this difficult period, but also to ensure that freelance artists, wherever possible, were employed to facilitate a number of new initiatives that was hugely beneficial. ## **Awards/Company Profile** One example was to offer a six month contract to a University of Derby (UOD) journalist graduate, (Becky Tombs) as a trainee Press Officer. Becky was able to focus on writing articles, research and submit applications to various award schemes etc. Becky was mentored by Tony Watts and Ava Hunt. This initiative led to the company being awarded Children & Young People Now Awards 2020: Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 2 The Arts and Culture Award for Journeys of Destiny and Destinies. The judges were quoted saying ‘the passion really comes across'. ## **Website** The ACE funding also facilitated the company's upgrade of the website. AHT commissioned Rainbow Web Services to create a new website for the company. Again with support from Trustees and the hard work from Frances Watt populating the website with content we are delighted with the results. ## **a) Companies Activity and Delivered Programme 2020-2021:** ## **Bridges: Cultural Recovery Funding** **Destinies** , as a live theatre performance, was delayed due to COVID restrictions. However, as a result of ACE Cultural Recovery funding we continued to deliver sessions on Zoom, and when it was safe in August, to deliver writing (Lin Coghlan), animation (Nick Hersey), singing (Frances Watt) and filming (Adam Robertson, Rich Swainson) workshops. This material was edited and produced the **Destinies: The Trailer/Documentary** which can be seen on the AHT website. The screening of this ten minute trailer was launched as Curious Monkey's on-line In Care Conference in October 2021. The conference was accessed by young people and professionals nationally. Prior to the conference looked after young people/unaccompanied asylum seekers, Sinfonia Viva musicians, and actor Karim Hayada were invited to come together during October half term and enjoy a day on the main stage at Derby Theatre and to watch a premiere of the footage. Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 3 **New Inspirations** funding will support Destinies which will now culminate with a new script being filmed in July 2021. ## **National Refugee Week. June 2020** With some additional funding from UOD AHT was able to stream a digital version of **Acting Alone** with Tilly Branson (Director) and Ava Hunt (Performer) giving an introduction and ensuring that no faces were visible in the recording. Monies raised during National Refugee Week were sent to Derby Refugee & Advice Centre and to the Alrowwad Arts Centre in Bethlehem, Palestine. ## **3. Governance:** Ava Hunt Theatre is a Charitable Incorporated Company and registered charity. It is governed by a constitution, which was passed on 29 March 2016. Trustees met regularly throughout the year, due to the pandemic and as allowed in the companies constitution all meetings were held on zoom. Finance Officer Pat Mee was able to attend all meetings to provide a full and accurate breakdown of budgets, cash flow projects and up to date expenditure. ## **Policies** The company continued to work closely with Trustees to consider policy reviews. Again funded by ACE New Inspirations the Trustees participated in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training delivered by Tonic Theatre. A sub-committee has been set up to review EDI policy for ratification at September Trustees Meeting 2021. ## **Volunteers** As part of the companies continued membership of NCVO (National Council Volunteers) AHT continues to receive valuable support from volunteers. However, due to the reduced amount of work delivered by the company during 2020 the total number of hours has be dramatically reduced. Indeed less than fifteen hours of voluntary time and only two volunteers were able to contribute to AHT's work during the year. Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 4 ## **4. Financial Report** As has been mentioned due to the pandemic **Destinies** was not completed. Therefore, monies were carried forward into 2021. These held funds will be spent on completion of **Destinies** which is now projected to be July 2021. Although the company was successful in both Arts Council England applications (Cultural Emergency **Bridges** project and **New Inspirations** ), attracting any additional funding from other sources was very difficult. Indeed, looking forward the company's ability to attract funding from other charitable organisations, aside from ACE, continues to look challenging. Despite these challenges, the company managed budgets for all the projects. The secretary and finance officer, Pat Mee (PM), worked hard (remotely) to maintain balanced budgets, produce full financial reports to ACE and ensure that Trustees are fully informed of the company's financial position. The company developed its digital accounting system, using Zoom etc, but also by making PM a signatory on the bank account means that we are now able to abandon cheque payments and go to fully automated BACS payment system. This is not only better for all freelance artists during the continued pandemic, but also enables PM to have full access to the bank account to review the balance in accordance with cash flow and budget forecasts. ## **Auditor and report for annual return** Peter Rimmington of HSKS Greenhalgh produced a final set of accounts representing an accurate account of the company's finances for the year ending 31[st] March 2021. ## **Registered Office** C/o University of Derby Theatre Ltd, Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, Eagle Centre, Derby, DE1 2NF ## **Appendix:** ## **Signed Accounts as prepared by Appointed Accountants** ## **Two Pages** Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 5 IHARITY (OMMISSION F￿r ENGIPtr40 WAIE5 VAMUPflKATr Receipts and pa￿nentS accounts CC16a the wriod frrAn 01D4LYL To 31mY3￿1 Section A Receipts and pawnents fu hmd5 Total fthjs last￿ar 33.15$ OTq£e REC-IPT 14•• Sub totsI(Gfi￿l￿¢Th for Aff) IsE*taL*I. rthtotsi Totdrecwpts JT.056 17. 17.ws OTyEq ?ROJECT CO 4theKpriF￿ & ?￿O￿T￿)N P1-￿PAYCE S￿lIard 22.861 1$4 17.415 Il19 Cash I￿￿ts this 2181 2£s 22.815 CCYX RI x¢w45lS51 Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 **----- Start of picture text -----**
ADEI BUNDY 04/06/2021
RICHARD HALL 10/06/21
**----- End of picture text -----**
Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 7 Ind•p•nthntExarrAn•r's Rwrttolhv T￿￿¥t•¢# of Ave HuntTh•*Te I tD the charty on ry &vammath)n ol tr• aC¢￿Trts ofthB for th8 s¢areMeJ 31 ilaryth 2021 As Ihe chanty'5 Iwstees YOU pwraton of 9c¢ounts In tho reqUI￿￿en￿oI11E ch?￿be5￿t￿lI lthe I in ol my ¢hgty$ cathgd 145 of ihB ￿ $nd In L¥rrylng out my eiwnln¥oon I hW9fo1￿d ￿1 ts appl￿1￿ 9iwn Chartty secDon 1495Kbl oflheAct I neve comph)teJ my examlnabon. I matt￿ MVB eome to In eonnectlon MB CEUSPtu bEliÈve thatin 2ny maiem¥ r96peu". a¢counDro rKor¢$wgr8 ￿t k8piin ￿pÉ￿orth&￿￿fy a8rewiou by8£cILW l30ortr￿AcI..or the £0￿7ts aoftotaCCQTd*4th th059 I ntrC4n¢*ms an4 have ¢Om9 3¢y￿s￿0th￿rM￿arE lffl canrthwlihthe yth￿th thltion tholdd ardqrto•nai* a ￿tr￿de￿I￿Oi￿OI1h9 xc4uni$tob9 l FCA HSKS Grternh￿qh Fknor. BuMDyke Hau5B 33 Path Row PIG1 6EE Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 # **Annual Report and Financial Statements** ## **Year ending 31[st] March 2021** ## **CIO: registered number: 1166244** Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 1 ## **Ava Hunt Theatre: Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31[st] March 2021** The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with statement of financial accounts for the purposes of the Charities Commission. ## **Purpose and activities** In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Ava Hunt Theatre's purpose is to advance education in the arts for the public benefit primarily throughout the East Midlands and nationally by producing education workshops, theatre performances and training by creating: - New theatre for young people to explore areas of PHSE and citizenship in the school curriculum - Performances, workshops and training to a wide range of users with little or no access to high quality arts experiences due to either rural isolation, social deprivation, or because of being from a marginalised community/group or sector of society i.e. in relation to sexual orientation, disability, class, religion, ethnicity or gender. ## **1. Trustees** Richard Hall Jessica Harris Rafia Hussain Philip Moss Anthony Watts OBE ## New Trustees: Adei Bundy was formally welcomed as Trustee following her acceptance 17th September 2020. Proposed by PM and seconded AH ## **2. Secretary's Report** Ava Hunt reported that 2020/21 had, as for all theatre companies in the UK, been one of the most challenging years due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The company had to put on hold various projects and invent new ways of working. We were able to raise additional funding from ACE Cultural Emergency Fund, and find innovative ways to create theatre using on-line platforms to deliver workshops, and make digitalised material. This additional funding also not only ensured that Frances Watt and Ava Hunt were funded to produce and manage the company during this difficult period, but also to ensure that freelance artists, wherever possible, were employed to facilitate a number of new initiatives that was hugely beneficial. ## **Awards/Company Profile** One example was to offer a six month contract to a University of Derby (UOD) journalist graduate, (Becky Tombs) as a trainee Press Officer. Becky was able to focus on writing articles, research and submit applications to various award schemes etc. Becky was mentored by Tony Watts and Ava Hunt. This initiative led to the company being awarded Children & Young People Now Awards 2020: Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 2 The Arts and Culture Award for Journeys of Destiny and Destinies. The judges were quoted saying ‘the passion really comes across'. ## **Website** The ACE funding also facilitated the company's upgrade of the website. AHT commissioned Rainbow Web Services to create a new website for the company. Again with support from Trustees and the hard work from Frances Watt populating the website with content we are delighted with the results. ## **a) Companies Activity and Delivered Programme 2020-2021:** ## **Bridges: Cultural Recovery Funding** **Destinies** , as a live theatre performance, was delayed due to COVID restrictions. However, as a result of ACE Cultural Recovery funding we continued to deliver sessions on Zoom, and when it was safe in August, to deliver writing (Lin Coghlan), animation (Nick Hersey), singing (Frances Watt) and filming (Adam Robertson, Rich Swainson) workshops. This material was edited and produced the **Destinies: The Trailer/Documentary** which can be seen on the AHT website. The screening of this ten minute trailer was launched as Curious Monkey's on-line In Care Conference in October 2021. The conference was accessed by young people and professionals nationally. Prior to the conference looked after young people/unaccompanied asylum seekers, Sinfonia Viva musicians, and actor Karim Hayada were invited to come together during October half term and enjoy a day on the main stage at Derby Theatre and to watch a premiere of the footage. Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 3 **New Inspirations** funding will support Destinies which will now culminate with a new script being filmed in July 2021. ## **National Refugee Week. June 2020** With some additional funding from UOD AHT was able to stream a digital version of **Acting Alone** with Tilly Branson (Director) and Ava Hunt (Performer) giving an introduction and ensuring that no faces were visible in the recording. Monies raised during National Refugee Week were sent to Derby Refugee & Advice Centre and to the Alrowwad Arts Centre in Bethlehem, Palestine. ## **3. Governance:** Ava Hunt Theatre is a Charitable Incorporated Company and registered charity. It is governed by a constitution, which was passed on 29 March 2016. Trustees met regularly throughout the year, due to the pandemic and as allowed in the companies constitution all meetings were held on zoom. Finance Officer Pat Mee was able to attend all meetings to provide a full and accurate breakdown of budgets, cash flow projects and up to date expenditure. ## **Policies** The company continued to work closely with Trustees to consider policy reviews. Again funded by ACE New Inspirations the Trustees participated in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training delivered by Tonic Theatre. A sub-committee has been set up to review EDI policy for ratification at September Trustees Meeting 2021. ## **Volunteers** As part of the companies continued membership of NCVO (National Council Volunteers) AHT continues to receive valuable support from volunteers. However, due to the reduced amount of work delivered by the company during 2020 the total number of hours has be dramatically reduced. Indeed less than fifteen hours of voluntary time and only two volunteers were able to contribute to AHT's work during the year. Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 4 ## **4. Financial Report** As has been mentioned due to the pandemic **Destinies** was not completed. Therefore, monies were carried forward into 2021. These held funds will be spent on completion of **Destinies** which is now projected to be July 2021. Although the company was successful in both Arts Council England applications (Cultural Emergency **Bridges** project and **New Inspirations** ), attracting any additional funding from other sources was very difficult. Indeed, looking forward the company's ability to attract funding from other charitable organisations, aside from ACE, continues to look challenging. Despite these challenges, the company managed budgets for all the projects. The secretary and finance officer, Pat Mee (PM), worked hard (remotely) to maintain balanced budgets, produce full financial reports to ACE and ensure that Trustees are fully informed of the company's financial position. The company developed its digital accounting system, using Zoom etc, but also by making PM a signatory on the bank account means that we are now able to abandon cheque payments and go to fully automated BACS payment system. This is not only better for all freelance artists during the continued pandemic, but also enables PM to have full access to the bank account to review the balance in accordance with cash flow and budget forecasts. ## **Auditor and report for annual return** Peter Rimmington of HSKS Greenhalgh produced a final set of accounts representing an accurate account of the company's finances for the year ending 31[st] March 2021. ## **Registered Office** C/o University of Derby Theatre Ltd, Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, Eagle Centre, Derby, DE1 2NF ## **Appendix:** ## **Signed Accounts as prepared by Appointed Accountants** ## **Two Pages** Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 5 IHARITY (OMMISSION F￿r ENGIPtr40 WAIE5 VAMUPflKATr Receipts and pa￿nentS accounts CC16a the wriod frrAn 01D4LYL To 31mY3￿1 Section A Receipts and pawnents fu hmd5 Total fthjs last￿ar 33.15$ OTq£e REC-IPT 14•• Sub totsI(Gfi￿l￿¢Th for Aff) IsE*taL*I. rthtotsi Totdrecwpts JT.056 17. 17.ws OTyEq ?ROJECT CO 4theKpriF￿ & ?￿O￿T￿)N P1-￿PAYCE S￿lIard 22.861 1$4 17.415 Il19 Cash I￿￿ts this 2181 2£s 22.815 CCYX RI x¢w45lS51 Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 **----- Start of picture text -----**
ADEI BUNDY 04/06/2021
RICHARD HALL 10/06/21
**----- End of picture text -----**
Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 7 Ind•p•nthntExarrAn•r's Rwrttolhv T￿￿¥t•¢# of Ave HuntTh•*Te I tD the charty on ry &vammath)n ol tr• aC¢￿Trts ofthB for th8 s¢areMeJ 31 ilaryth 2021 As Ihe chanty'5 Iwstees YOU pwraton of 9c¢ounts In tho reqUI￿￿en￿oI11E ch?￿be5￿t￿lI lthe I in ol my ¢hgty$ cathgd 145 of ihB ￿ $nd In L¥rrylng out my eiwnln¥oon I hW9fo1￿d ￿1 ts appl￿1￿ 9iwn Chartty secDon 1495Kbl oflheAct I neve comph)teJ my examlnabon. I matt￿ MVB eome to In eonnectlon MB CEUSPtu bEliÈve thatin 2ny maiem¥ r96peu". a¢counDro rKor¢$wgr8 ￿t k8piin ￿pÉ￿orth&￿￿fy a8rewiou by8£cILW l30ortr￿AcI..or the £0￿7ts aoftotaCCQTd*4th th059 I ntrC4n¢*ms an4 have ¢Om9 3¢y￿s￿0th￿rM￿arE lffl canrthwlihthe yth￿th thltion tholdd ardqrto•nai* a ￿tr￿de￿I￿Oi￿OI1h9 xc4uni$tob9 l FCA HSKS Grternh￿qh Fknor. BuMDyke Hau5B 33 Path Row PIG1 6EE Annual & Finance Report YE March 2021 Independent Examinerfs R¢port to th• Trustees of Ava Hunt Thèatre I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the receipts and payments accounts of the ch8nty for the year ended 31 March 2021 ResponslbSlltles and basis of report As ihe charity's trustees you 8re responsible for the Preparation of the accounts in a¢¢ordance with the requirements of the Charitie5 Act 2011 Ilhe Acl'l- I report in respect of rny exarninalion of the charity's accounts carried out under sgction 145 of the Act and In carrying out my ex8min8lion I have foll¢)wed all the applicable Directions given by th8 Chanty Commission under secb'on 1495Xbl of the Act. Independent examin¢r'$ ststèm•nt I have cornpleled my examination. I confim that no material matters hav¥ ¢omo lo my attention in connects'on with the 8xaminabon giving me cause to believe that in any material resp8cl'. aecounting records were not kept in respect of the charity 8s required by section 130 of the Act., or the accounts do not accord with those records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whictrt attèntion should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper undersianding of the accounts lo bg reached. Niih Neil Burgin FCA HSKS Greenhalgh 3rd Floor, Butt Dyke House 33 Park Row Nottingham NG1 6EE Date..