REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1168909
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 8 August 2025
for
Colab Charitable Foundation
Grant Harrod Lerman Davis LLP Chartered Accountants Second Floor, Kirkland House 11-15 Peterborough Road
Harrow Middlesex HA1 2AX
Colab Charitable Foundation
Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 8 August 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 6 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
Colab Charitable Foundation
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 8 August 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 8 August 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
To advance the arts for the public benefit by producing, presenting and facilitating immersive and participatory theatre and by supporting artists through training, workshops and access to space and resources.
Significant activities and achievements (2025)
Establishing COLAB Tower as our flagship venue
2025 was a milestone year as we consolidated operations at the new COLAB Tower, transforming it into a year-round home for immersive work and community activity. We invested in flexible performance spaces, audience flow, accessibility improvements and technical infrastructure aligned to our participatory practice.
Christmas Pantomime at COLAB Tower
We opened the year with a festive Christmas pantomime at COLAB Tower, introducing local families and new audiences to our venue. The production combined interactive storytelling with live performance, offered family-friendly pricing and free/discounted tickets for community partners.
Invitational Theatre Festival (at COLAB Tower)
We curated and hosted the inaugural Invitational Theatre Festival at COLAB Tower, a celebration of "invitational theatre" that foregrounds audience agency. The festival platformed new and established companies, labs and sharings, artist talks, and audience workshops-deepening sector understanding of this emerging practice and expanding access for the public.
Year-round immersive programme
Beyond headline seasons, we delivered a whole programme of immersive work across 2025, including scratch nights, residencies, rehearsed sharings, networking events and developmental runs. This pipeline supported artists to prototype ideas, receive feedback and reach audiences at different stages of creation.
Halloween season at COLAB Tower
Our Halloween season returned with new site-responsive work and atmospheric audience journeys through the Tower, employing integrated design, sound and lighting. Alongside ticketed performances, we ran outreach tasters, accessible performances and post-show discussions on making safe, consent?led immersive horror.
Expansion to Bow Lane (Photography Workshops)
We expanded into a small office in Bow Lane to pilot photography workshops and small-group training. This hub broadens creative pathways into immersive practice (documentation, promo, and scenographic photography), with subsidised places for early-career artists and local participants.
Community, access and artist development highlights
-
Concession and community ticketing across major seasons.
-
Open rehearsals and post?show conversations to demystify immersive creation.
-
Workshops/masterclasses on devising, consent & care, technical design and producing.
-
Mentoring and space support for early-career makers.
-
Strengthened safeguarding, accessibility and H&S practice across venues.
Public benefit
In setting our strategy and planning our activities, the trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. Our programme prioritises accessible pricing, community participation, artist development and outreach, ensuring that beneficiaries include audiences, emerging practitioners and local communities.
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 8 August 2025
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
Establishing COLAB Tower as our flagship venue
2025 was a milestone year as we consolidated operations at the new COLAB Tower, transforming it into a year-round home for immersive work and community activity. We invested in flexible performance spaces, audience flow, accessibility improvements and technical infrastructure aligned to our participatory practice.
Christmas Pantomime at COLAB Tower
We opened the year with a festive Christmas pantomime at COLAB Tower, introducing local families and new audiences to our venue. The production combined interactive storytelling with live performance, offered family-friendly pricing and free/discounted tickets for community partners.
Invitational Theatre Festival (at COLAB Tower)
We curated and hosted the inaugural Invitational Theatre Festival at COLAB Tower, a celebration of "invitational theatre" that foregrounds audience agency. The festival platformed new and established companies, labs and sharings, artist talks, and audience workshops-deepening sector understanding of this emerging practice and expanding access for the public.
Year-round immersive programme
Beyond headline seasons, we delivered a whole programme of immersive work across 2025, including scratch nights, residencies, rehearsed sharings, networking events and developmental runs. This pipeline supported artists to prototype ideas, receive feedback and reach audiences at different stages of creation.
Halloween season at COLAB Tower
Our Halloween season returned with new site-responsive work and atmospheric audience journeys through the Tower, employing integrated design, sound and lighting. Alongside ticketed performances, we ran outreach tasters, accessible performances and post-show discussions on making safe, consent?led immersive horror.
Expansion to Bow Lane (Photography Workshops)
We expanded into a small office in Bow Lane to pilot photography workshops and small-group training. This hub broadens creative pathways into immersive practice (documentation, promo, and scenographic photography), with subsidised places for early-career artists and local participants.
Community, access and artist development highlights
-
Concession and community ticketing across major seasons.
-
Open rehearsals and post?show conversations to demystify immersive creation.
-
Workshops/masterclasses on devising, consent & care, technical design and producing.
-
Mentoring and space support for early-career makers.
-
Strengthened safeguarding, accessibility and H&S practice across venues.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
-
Financial Review
-
Income Generation: Principal income streams comprised ticket sales, venue hire, workshop fees and donations/grants. Earned income from seasons at COLAB Tower underpinned core operations, while philanthropic support enabled outreach and artist-development activity
-
Expenditure: Major costs included venue rent and utilities, staffing, production materials, technical equipment, insurance, safeguarding and access provision. Inflationary pressures and sector-wide cost increases were managed through prudent budgeting, phased investment in venue infrastructure and cost-sharing with partners where appropriate.
Reserves policy
The trustees aim to hold free reserves equivalent to 3 months of recurring operating costs to ensure resilience against income volatility and to meet commitments. At year-end, free reserves stood at £72,000 the target range.
Going concern
Given current plans, pipeline and confirmed funding, the trustees consider the charity to be a going concern for at least twelve months from the date of approval of these statements.
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 8 August 2025
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE (2026 AND BEYOND)
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Deepen COLAB Tower's year-round programme with accessible pricing and targeted community invitations.
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Grow the Invitational Theatre Festival as an annual platform for new work and sector knowledge-sharing.
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Expand Bow Lane photography workshops, outreach with schools/colleges, and entry-level skills pathways.
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Develop touring/partnered presentations to reach new communities.
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Continue investment in accessibility, safeguarding, environmental sustainability and artist support.
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Diversify income through strategic partnerships, trusts & foundations and individual giving.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1168909
Principal address
28 Balham Park Road London Wandsworth SW12 8DU
Trustees
B H Watkins Mrs C Chase T Davies Ms A Sanford
Independent Examiner
Jeremy Harrod Grant Harrod Lerman Davis LLP Chartered Accountants Second Floor, Kirkland House 11-15 Peterborough Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 2AX
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ B H Watkins - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Colab Charitable Foundation
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Colab Charitable Foundation
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Colab Charitable Foundation (the Trust) for the year ended 8 August 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Jeremy Harrod
Grant Harrod Lerman Davis LLP Chartered Accountants Second Floor, Kirkland House 11-15 Peterborough Road Harrow Middlesex HA1 2AX
Date: .............................................
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 8 August 2025
| 2025 Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 848 Investment income 2 - Total 848 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 3 61,148 Charitable activities Charity Donation 606 Total 61,754 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (60,906) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 150,643 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 89,737 |
2024 Total funds £ 127,266 3,544 130,810 62,136 2,180 64,316 66,494 84,149 150,643 |
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Balance Sheet 8 August 2025
| 2025 Unrestricted fund Notes £ CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 15,566 Cash at bank 76,843 92,409 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 7 (2,672) NET CURRENT ASSETS 89,737 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 89,737 NET ASSETS 89,737 FUNDS 8 Unrestricted funds 89,737 TOTAL FUNDS 89,737 |
2024 Total funds £ 15,566 138,011 153,577 (2,934) 150,643 150,643 150,643 150,643 150,643 |
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
.............................................
B H Watkins - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 8 August 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| INVESTMENT INCOME | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Rents received | - | 3,544 |
continued...
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 8 August 2025
3. RAISING FUNDS
Raising donations and legacies
| Raising donations and legacies | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Support costs | 61,148 | 62,136 |
4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 8 August 2025 nor for the year ended 8 August 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 8 August 2025 nor for the year ended 8 August 2024.
5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | Unrestricted fund £ |
|---|---|
| Donations and legacies | 127,266 |
| Investment income | 3,544 |
| Total | 130,810 |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |
| Raising funds | 62,136 |
| Charitable activities | |
| Charity Donation | 2,180 |
| Total | 64,316 |
| NET INCOME | 66,494 |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |
| Total funds brought forward | 84,149 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 150,643 |
continued...
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 8 August 2025
| 6. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other debtors 7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other creditors 8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 9.8.24 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 150,643 TOTAL FUNDS 150,643 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 848 TOTAL FUNDS 848 Comparatives for movement in funds At 9.8.23 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 84,149 TOTAL FUNDS 84,149 |
2025 2024 £ £ 15,566 15,566 2025 2024 £ £ 2,672 2,934 Net movement At in funds 8.8.25 £ £ (60,906) 89,737 (60,906) 89,737 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (61,754) (60,906) (61,754) (60,906) Net movement At in funds 8.8.24 £ £ 66,494 150,643 66,494 150,643 |
|---|---|
continued...
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Colab Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 8 August 2025
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 130,810 130,810 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (64,316) 66,494 (64,316) 66,494 |
|---|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 9.8.23 £ 84,149 84,149 |
Net movement in funds £ 5,588 5,588 |
At 8.8.25 £ 89,737 89,737 |
|---|---|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds | Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ |
Movement in funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| General fund | 131,658 (126,070) |
5,588 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 131,658 (126,070) |
5,588 |
9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 8 August 2025.
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Colab Charitable Foundation
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 8 August 2025 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donation Investment income Rents received Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Insurance Support costs Management Rates and water Light and heat Advertising Sundries Finance Telephone Bank charges Information technology Repairs and renewals Computer cost Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net (expenditure)/income |
2025 £ 848 - 848 606 40,621 521 - 12,385 53,527 480 117 597 6,096 48 6,144 880 61,754 (60,906) |
2024 £ 127,266 3,544 130,810 - 16,039 2,000 5,023 15,713 38,775 195 - 195 19,748 - 19,748 5,598 64,316 66,494 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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