2024-12-31-accounts - Conquest Art CIO

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 Jan 2024 Period start date To 31 Dec 2024 Period end date

Charity name: Conquest Art CIO

Charity registration number: 1171582

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The Charity aims to assist and encourage people with a wide range of health problems and disabilities to overcome adversity through engaging in artistic activities by using their imaginations creatively at their own pace.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	• To provide groups in various UK locations where members can gather together to produce art in relaxed and friendly surroundings. The groups build members’ self- confidence and stimulate their creativity. They are also able to make friends with those with similar interests within the group. • To organise annual exhibitions where members can show and, if possible, sell their work. • To produce magazines and newsletters at regular intervals which showcase members’ work and give information about the activities of the various groups.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	Not applicable

Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	An investment policy, effective from 17th January 2023, covers legal requirements, Including an annual review.
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Conquest Art is very reliant on its volunteers i.e. Trustees, Group Leaders and helpers. The Charity Coordinator is the only paid member of staff.
Other		—

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	By the end of 2024 15 groups were open throughout the UK. The one in Worcester Park, Surrey had been temporarily closed because of the need to find volunteers and a new Group Leader but towards the end of the year there were plans to reopen it. As always those attending the groups had been very enthusiastic about the benefits they had gained. A number of newsletters and magazines were produced throughout the year. These were circulated, by email and, in hard copy (as appropriate), to volunteers, members of groups and other people connected with Conquest Art (“CA”). The Annual Exhibition was held for the first time at the Horton Art Centre, Epsom from 16th to 26th October 2024. The impressive venue proved the ideal place for CA members to exhibit and also sell paintings, 3D artworks, silk scarves, Christmas cards and blank cards with pictures created by CA members on them. The Mayor and Mayoress of Epsom and Ewell visited the exhibition and were very impressed by the talent on display. They chose their favourite painting and visitors to the Exhibition also voted for theirs as a separate exercise. There was favourable comment about the Exhibition both verbally and on the feedback sheets. During the year the Charity Coordinator organised a number of very successful Zoom meetings where group leaders could discuss various issues with her and with each other. Separate meetings were arranged for the leaders of the groups in the different areas.

Three CA trustees took part in an all-day event in Rosebery Park, Epsom organised by the Rotary Club. Conquest Art was one of a large number of local charities which set up stalls at the event. Some contacts were made with local organisations and members of the public who were interested in joining CA as volunteers or members. Overall the event was an excellent opportunity to introduce CA to the wider community. The Trustees continued to have regular meetings on Zoom to discuss issues related to the running of the charity.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	In a period of sharply increased costs, especially in rents, the objective of maintaining support of 15 Groups within the charity’s limited means was achieved (deficit only 22% of that budgeted).
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	Fundraising exceeded the budgeted target of £20k by £3.6k (18%)
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	Investments in M&G Charifund and with Hampshire Trust Bank delivered an income yield of over 3.5% with flexibility of access to funds if necessary.
Other		Income included increases in both donations and funds raised from various events.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	After two years of volatile costs and unpredictable fundraising in 2022 (deficit of £19k) and 2023 (surplus of £7k), 2024 considered a successful year with a small deficit of just under £2k achieved on turnover of £53.5k.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves equivalent to nine months expenditure (minimum £30k) maintained to meet unexpected circumstances.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£42k of total year end fund balance of £96k

Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Annual grant from Ursula Hulme’s 1998 Charitable Trust. Fundraising from other trusts and companies.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The Trustees complete an annual risk assessment. The main risks are loss of income and of rented premises, together with a change of staff.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution dated 10th February 2017 when the charity was set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Members agreed to accept constitution and transfer assets from Conquest Art to Conquest Art CIO at an SGM on 30th March 2017. Transfer deed dated 30 June 2017.
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Nomination by a Trustee, visits to groups, attendance as an invited guest at Trustee meetings, checks of eligibility, references and potential conflicts of interest before agreement of appointment by all Trustees. During the latter part of 2024 Trustees did discuss whether new members should be appointed to cover particular roles (e.g. finance or IT).

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	New Trustees are encouraged to learn from Charity Commission circulars including ‘The Essential Trustee’, documents on Conquest Art policies and procedures, minutes of meetings and accounts.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	Conquest Art has one part-time employee, the Charity Coordinator. This person is responsible for all routine administrative tasks, general support and visits to groups.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	None
Other		—

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Conquest Art CIO
Other name the charity uses	Conquest Art
Registered charity number	1171582
Charity’s principal address	Room 2, SMC Centre, Stoneleigh Crescent, Stoneleigh, Epsom KT19 0RT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
John Gumbel	Chairman
Brian Tanner	Treasurer
Anne Bland- Botham	Vice-President
Robert Jones	Secretary
Charlotte Atkinson
Jennifer Farthing		Appointed 7 February2024
Christine Loizou		Appointed 26 March 2024

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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name

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Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Nil Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the Nil assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and N/A segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Legal	Helen Harvie	1, Oak Place,
	(H3 Solicitors)	Rosier Business Park,
		Coneyhurst Road,
		Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9DE

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

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Declarations

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees

Signature(s)	Signature on file	Signature on file
Full name(s)	John Ernest Gumbel	Brian Derek Tanner
osition (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	Chair	Treasurer
	30thApril 2025
	30thApril 2025

BALANCE SHEEr BALANCES AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024 Bank Balances HSBC Current Account M&G Charifund (see Note l) Trojan Ethical Fund Hampshire Trust Bank 2024 25942 40000 30001 95943 FUND BALANCES General Fund Restricted Funds (see Note 2) Designated (Groups Support) Fund 28829 4573 62541 95943 Notes to Accounts l. The total value of the investment in the Charifund Account with M&G as at 31st December 2024 was £41,782; the unrealised gain of £1,782 is not reflected in these Accounts. 2. Restricted Funds comprise the unspent balances of amounts received from donors for spending on, or following closure of bank accounts: Ashtead - £2,002 Carshalton £100 Cheam- £315 Halesworth - £300 Kingston - £355 Malvern - £472 Reigate Park - £1,029 3. In addition to these accounts, each of 15 local groups have small amounts for day to day expenditure. I certify that the Accounts shown above and on the preceding page agree with the books as shown and explained to me. C A Wandless Date

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A .Indepèndent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees CONQUEST ART CIO On accounts for the year ended 31 DECEMBER 2024 Charity no (if any) 1171582 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity ("the Trust") for the year ended i i/ 1 1/2L"LLk 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"}. Responsibilities and basls of report I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than Ihat disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did 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 ex8mination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connedion 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. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Ao. Name: CAQuLshJL AN L¢SS Relevant professional IER Oct 2018

quallficatlon(s) or body (if any): Address: yo Yc lfl LT,q Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts". directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018