The Dot Collective Registered Charity: 1169951 ## **THE DOT COLLECTIVE ANNUAL REPORT** The trustees, who are also the members, of The Dot Collective present their annual report together with their accounts for the year ended 30 October 2020. The Dot Collective is a charitable incorporated organisation (foundation) (CIO) and was incorporated on 31 October 2016 with registered charity number 1169951 and commenced trading on that date. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS** Charity name: The Dot Collective Charity number: 1169951 Charity’s public address: 60 Coleman Road, London, SE5 7TG Incorporation date: 31 October 2016 ## **TRUSTEES** The trustees, who are also the members, of the CIO during the year were: Ms H J Mayfield Mrs. N L Newman Mr. R C F Hickson ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** Constitution and Governance The CIO is governed by its Constitution. At 31 October 2020 there were 3 members who were all trustees of the CIO at the time. The activities of the CIO are supervised by the trustees, who meet as a Board between 4 to 6 times each year, or more often if necessary. The trustees delegate the day-today management of the CIO to its’ artistic director. The professional experience of the Board provides good support and advice to the artistic director through individual meetings, e-mail correspondence and board meetings. ## **Recruitment and appointment of trustees** The trustees recognise the need for a strong board with a broad base of skills covering theatre production management and development, artistic strategy, governance, legal expertise, human resources, development and fundraising. Potential new trustees are discussed by the board and met by at least one member of the board before consideration and appointment by approval of a simple majority of the trustees. All trustees are members of the CIO. ## **Risk management** The trustees, with the artistic director, consider risk across all areas of the CIO’s activities. Risk assessment of the operation is carried out on an ongoing basis and is reviewed annually. Where needed policies and procedures will be implemented in order to mitigate risk. Address: 60 Coleman Road, London SE5 7TG t: 07885456135 e: contact@thedotcollective.com ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** ## **Objects** The objects for which the CIO is formed are to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of the performing arts by any means its trustees see fit, including through the provision of workshops, public events and performances, particularly but not exclusively for the benefit of elderly people living in care homes, in particular those living with dementia. ## **Public benefit** The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the CIO’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. ## **Activities** In its fourth year, the CIO was severely impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic, and as a result was unable to operate to its usual capacity which would be to produce a number of creative projects for elderly people in care and those with dementia. In November 2019 the CIO was planning for a touring theatre production to visit residential care across London and the south east of England. Due to the pandemic, all plans were paused in early March 2020. From March 2020 the charity had to re-evaluate ways in which they could reach beneficiaries, and with no funding available, the artistic director worked on a voluntary basis to provide online storytelling workshops for care providers to use within their care settings. The CIO had the support of past employees who volunteered to record a music video that was shared with beneficiaries living in care to maintain our activities and reach charitable objectives. In August 2020, the CIO began to develop an idea for a new project that would be able to run under Covid-19 restrictions and beyond. The project entitled ‘A MAP TO YOU’ received initial funding from The Healthy Living Club and the Cicely Northcote Trust in order to commence. The CIO then focused on raising the appropriate funds to run the project within the next financial year, supporting care partners in delivering their work (Link Age Southwark, Dementia Action Alliances) and updating their digital presence online, making video footage of previous projects digital workshops available for viewing. ## **Future plans** For 2020/21 the CIO plans to run the project ‘A MAP TO YOU’, which will connect people with dementia to professional playwrights. The CIO will provide a series of reminiscence sessions with the beneficiaries and playwrights allowing the beneficiaries cognitive stimulation and social interaction. The playwrights will write short plays in response to the beneficiaries life stories that will then be produced as an immersive theatre production, short films, in print and audio book. All beneficiaries will be provided access to the entertainment they have helped create. This project will continue to meet the CIO’s aims and objectives by providing stimulation and social activities for those in care and with dementia as well as raising awareness of dementia to the public at large. The CIO has recognised the growing importance of digital platforms. Although the CIO will always work on a face-to-face basis (as is more beneficial for our charitable objectives) we will support our work by introducing an online hub. The online hub will be a community space for carers and those in care to access creative resources. The Dot Collective Registered Charity: 1169951 The CIO plans to develop a touring residential care production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in partnership with Open Book Theatre. The production will be developed as an aerial circus adaptation to entertain older people in care and children with complex needs. ## **FINANCIAL** The CIO’s financial status within this year is not comparable to other years due to projects unable to take place. The charity's income is mainly project funding from grants applied for, as we were unable to run our projects this is reflected in our financial records. The CIO and the trustees recognise the need for the CIO to have reserves. They aim to attain greater financial stability and sustainability through fundraising (both long term and short term) and plan to focus on raising public donations and further funding from grants to obtain unrestricted reserves. 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