OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-09-30-accounts

The Raze Collective

Charity Registration No.1167655

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements Year ended 30 September 2022

The Raze Collective

Status: Charity Registration No.1167655 Govening document: The Raze Collective is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered on 16 June 2016 governed by its trust deed. Registered Office: 84 Bethune Road London N16 5BA Trustees who served since the start of the year upto today : Tamsin Vibert (Chair) Tim Crocker-Buque (Treasurer) Steve Hignell Krishna Istha Beck Tadman Florent Trioux Tracy Gentles Independent examiner: Shruti Soni ACCA Shruti Soni Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 117a St. John's Hill, Sevenoaks TN13 3PE

1

The Raze Collective Charity registration number 1167655

Trustees Report for 12 months ending 30 September 2022

Introduction

Raze Collective is a charity established in 2015 dedicated to nurturing and developing innovative queer performance in the UK. We create cultural opportunities for LGBTQIA+ artists, audiences and the wider public. We value the diversity of the queer cultural scene and work with artists, producers and organisations who share our values and ethos. Raze was formed by grassroots performers, producers and audience members in the face of the closure of LGBTQIA+ venues. We are called Raze as the organisation was established in response to those queer spaces being razed.

We bring together people and organisations working in different aspects of the queer performance community, including performers, producers, promoters, directors, venue owners, academics and audience members. The charity protects and promotes queer performance for everyone through artist development, events, workshops, meet ups and commissioning new work. Find out more at www.razecollective.com

Charitable Objects

Our charitable objects are as follows:

A. To promote, maintain, improve and advance performing arts, defined as art forms involving voice and/or movement alone or in relation or other objects to convey artistic expression, undertaken by people who identify as Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Intersex (LGBTQI) or that contains LGBTQI themes, content or context, through the provision of workshops, training and cultural events for the benefit of the LGBTQI community and the public.

B. The advancement of education of the public in relation to LGBTQI performing arts through the provision of workshops, seminars, discussions, lectures, screenings and live performances.

2

Board of Trustees

Board Observers

Staff

Artist Steering Group

CHAIR’S REPORT

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30[th ] September 2022. This report covers a substantial body of diverse activities across live performance and digital live performance, covering the period October 1st 2021 to September 30th 2022.

Public benefit

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

3

Related party relationships

The Charity has considered the disclosure requirements of the Charity Commission for related party relationships. The Charity has no related party connections with other organisations. The Trustees consider the members of the Board of Trustees and their close connections to be the only related parties of the Charity. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity of any kind. No expenses were claimed from the Charity by any Trustees in the reporting year. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Chair of Trustees and to withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.

Managing risk of harm

In carrying out the charity’s purpose to achieve public benefit the trustees have managed risk of detriment or harm to the charity’s beneficiaries or to the public in general (which they feel is minimal). This has been achieved by identifying such risks where possible, minimising them and making sure any harm that might arise is of a minor consequence to the carrying out of such purpose.

Going Concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.

Financial Position

Total receipts for the year ended 30 September 2022 were £144,808, an increase of £39,620 on the previous year from £105,188. Of the total receipts £106,286 were from restricted grants. Total payments for the same period were £155,723, an increase of £54,225 on the previous year from £101,498. Of the total payments £143,137 was from restricted grants. This includes payments for artistic and creative costs of £45,640, production and management costs of £62,308 and £4,018 on office expenses. The charity had net payment during the year of £10,915, details of which are shown in the Receipts and Payments account on page 10. Unrestricted cash funds of £30,846 and restricted cash funds of £39,804 are held as at the year end.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees acknowledge that the reserves should only be used in relation to strategic actions, and that they should be maintained at a level to cover the following financial year’s budgeted minimum operational costs, with ability to maintain current staffing levels for a 3-month period, calculated to be £10,000 in addition to any other unrestricted funds available.

4

Remuneration policy for key management personnel

The remuneration of all staff is reviewed annually. The Trustees review the remuneration of key management personnel, and draw on their knowledge of the sector, the formal appraisal process, and common practice in other charities of similar size, to ensure that the remuneration set is fair and not out of line with that generally paid for similar roles.

Principal Funding Sources

These are:

ACTIVITIES

Period 1 October 2021 - 30th September 2022

Throughout this entire period Raze continued to run the Elevate funded Queer Arts Consortium. The programme supports Raze, Queer Youth Art Collective, Prim. Black, the Cocoa Butter Club & Fringe! Queer Art & Film fest with a bespoke package of organisational develooment support. This Programme has been managed by Operation Manager Lucy Hayhoe. During this period training and support for the QUAC organisations has been supplied by Adapat For Arts, ITC, City Lit, AMA, Jonathan Buckerfoeld, Mel Larson and more. Organisation has utilised funds to set up accounting relationships, purchase software and access paid time to write funding applications. This project continues until the end of March 2023.

From December to May, we ran a pilot digital storytelling project called Raze Sounds. Raze Sounds intended to build a series of podcasts that feature short stories by emerging queer writers. Theese stories are bought to life via a creative soundscape. We ran an open call to find writers, and received just over 40 applications. From which we selected one writer, who worked with a Director and sound designer through a series of workshops and sharings. The result is a 30 min podcast featuring a story and interview with the writer.

From May to July we ran our second edition of Let Us Raze You. An artist development programme for 5 mid-career artists supported with a seed commission to develop a new piece of work or evolve and adapt an existing idea. 109 artists applied 60% of artists selected were POC/part of the global majority, 60% of artists selected identify as non-binary. The programme ran from April - July featuring regular check ins, group sharings, mentoring and workshops ending with two performances at Hackney Showroom & The Glory.

5

In June we staged Queer Summer Fayre, a brand-new initiative that takes a queer spin on the traditional British Summer Fayre. The event was funded by the Jubilee Fund, administered by the East End Community Fund. The Fayre was held at Hackney Bridge and featured a queer market (hosting queer artists & makers), a series of hands-on creative workshops, two cabaret performances and an afterparty. The event was extremely successful; we had a footfall of >500 participants. When asked if QSF had benefit for the LGBTQIA+ community, 100% of those surveyed (>40) said yes, describing QSF as inclusive, welcoming & pure queer joy.

In June 2022 we worked on a couple of Brand partnerships resulting in donations from Deliveroo and Tinder. Reflection on this new avenue of income generation has led the team to develop a new Brand Partnerships policy. The policy will be used to assess further offers to ensure they match up with our aims and values.

In August Raze was commissioned by Newham Council to perform at Newham Unclocked, a series of 5 festivals staged at different parks across the borough during August & September. Raze put together a 1.5 hour queer family friendly cabaret show, featuring drag, circus and clowning. Unfortunately the last two festival dates were cancelled as a result of the death of Queen Elizabeth. Nevertheless the first 3 events were well received and the Council were happy with our performance.

During this period our staffing suture has changed somewhat. Our Digital Manager left the team after setting up our internal digital workspace & rebooting our website. From February onwards we were operating with 4 freelance members of staff: Cassie Leon - Creative Producer, Lucy Hayhoe - Operations Manager, Fraser Buchanan - Assistant Producer & Seyi Oisbamowo -Trainee Producer. At the end of this financial Year, Tim Other stepped down as Director, a position now held by Lucy Hayhoe.

Funding enabled us to continue work with our team and develop individuals, so that they may progress within Raze. Without such support, our portfolio of high-profile events and ongoing plans to continue supporting queer performance throughout England would not have been realised. Despite the challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Raze has continued to move from strength to strength with increasing activities, partnerships & income strands. Our role has expanded, and we now provide a core role in the queer arts community in both London and the UK more widely.

This year we applied to become part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Unfortunately, our application was unsuccessful. However, since receiving this news we have worked hard to secure further funding from ACE and the National Lottery and have applications pending with Paul Hamlyn & ACE.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE EXAMINERS

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

There is no relevant information of which the Charity’s examiners are unaware; and The Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the examiners are aware of that information. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Charity’s websites. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements

6

may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

PLANS FOR 2022-2023

Raze has contributed significantly to the arts landscape of England, we have continued to unearth and champion the work of marginalised performers and performance collectives, and provide opportunities through our artist development projects, performance platforms and sector support activities.

Plans for the upcoming year include:

In addition, we continue to capitalise on the many collaboration offers that we regularly receive, including collaborations with large and small venues and organisations, charities, universities, local councils, privately owned enterprises, producers and the performers themselves.

APPROVAL OF THE REPORT

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 03/07/2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Tamsin Vibert - Chair, Board of Trustees

7

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Raze Collective

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2022 which are set out on pages 9 and 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Shruti Soni FCCA FCIE Date: 15/07/2023

Shruti Soni Ltd ● Chartered Certified Accountants 117a St. John's Hill, Sevenoaks TN13 3PE

8

The Raze Collective Charity Registration number 1167655

Receipts and payments accounts For the year ended 30 September 2022

Receipts
Arts Council England grants
City of London grant
East End Community - Jubilee Fund
Donation
Deliveroo Partnerships
Newham Unlocked
Paypal donation
Income from performances & activities
Payments
Artistic & creative (commission & fees)
Production, management and design
Rent and Utilities
Website and software subscriptions
Office expenses
Marketing
Equipment and consumables
Legal & Professional fees
Training
Evaluation and other direct costs
Sub total
Net of receipts/(payments)
Transfer between funds
Cash funds last year end
Total payments
Cash funds this year end
Total Receipts		 30/09/2022
£
-
-
-
19,621
5,827
9,999
-
3,075
38,522
6,610
5,150
-
-
730
64
38
-
-
-
12,592
12,592
25,930
-
4,916
30,846



Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds
£
96,286
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
106,286
39,030
57,158
12,633
8,281
3,294
1,529
493
11,632
4,189
4,898
143,137
143,137
(36,851)
-
76,655
39,804

9

The Raze Collective

Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 30 September 2022

Unrestricted Restricted
Details funds funds
£ £
Cash at bank and on hand 30,846 39,804
Creditors 1,440

The financial statements comprising of the Receipts and Payments Summary and Statement of Assets and Liabilities were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on ________ 14th July 2023

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature Print Name
Timothy Crocker-Buque

10