2023-12-31-accounts

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Poetic Unity Reports and Financial Statements for Period Ended 31[st] December 2023

Charity number: 1171832 Company number: 09882990

Poetic Unity

Contents of the Financial Statements for Period Ended 31[st] December 2023

	Page
Company Information	1
Report of the Trustee's	2-5
Report of the Independent Examiner	6
Statement of Financial Activities	7
Balance Sheet	8
Grants and Core funding summary.	9
Notes to the Financial Statements	10-11

Company Information for Period Ended 31[st] December 2023

Trustee's: Sasha Shantel Bennett Naomi Louise Matthews-Robinson Lucrecia Seline Augustin Temwani Melida Mwale Secretary: Ryan Junior Matthews-Robinson Chief Executive: Ryan Junior Matthews-Robinson

Registered Address: 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, London, SW2 1EF Registered Company Number: 09882990 Registered Charity Number: 1171832

Independent Examiner: Mr. P Okusi LCIE AFA MIPA

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Poetic Unity

Report of Trustee's for Period Ended 31[st] December 2023

Incorporation and Registration

Poetic Unity was incorporated on 20[th] November 2015 and registered with charity commission on 1[st] March 2017.

Structure, Governance and Management

Poetic Unity is governed by the board of trustees and supported by dedicated staff and volunteers to provide the following objects for our beneficiaries.

1. To advance the education of young people through the subject of poetry and spoken word

2. To act as a resource for young people up to the age of 30 living in London by organising workshops programmes and events as a means of:

(a) advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities, and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature, and responsible individuals.

(b) providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons.

Poetic Unity works with children and vulnerable adults and has safeguarding and child protection policies in place to ensure our activities are conducted in a safe and friendly environment.

The trustee board ensures Poetic Unity is run in a legal way and is in line with charity commission law. The board, staff and volunteers work together to make sure the objects carried out in the community are done so effectively and responsibly.

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Objectives and Activities

Going into 2023 the cost-of-living crisis was still disproportionately affecting the communities we support with young people still unable to afford basic costs and extracurricular activities which has had a long-lasting effect on their mental wellbeing. Due to this on-going situation we further committed to providing extra services this year to support young people through this crisis. Including our No Cost in Giving programme which provided young Black people with free access to theatres, cinemas and other cultural activities. In 2022 Poetic Unity provided 265 services and in 2023 Poetic Unity provided 307 services. We managed to provide an extra 42 services due to our dedicated team and partnering with 46 organisations throughout the year including Roundhouse, Southbank Centre, Save the Children, Penguin Books, Endeavor Impact and YoungMinds to name a few.

Poetic Unity continued to provide core services such as our regular poetry event The Poets Corner and Mandem, Lets Talk workshops in London Nautical, St Marylebone and Hitherfield schools as well as forming new partnerships with fellow charities Raw Material and Hackney Empire which helped us extend our impact. Poetic Unity continued with a hybrid service in 2023 with many of our online projects having significant uptake from young people across the UK. Our hybrid service has seen significant growth since 2021 and continues to support young people worldwide. In May, University of Aberdeen funded Poetic Unity to deliver poetry workshops in schools in Aberdeen, Scotland. These sessions supported young people’s mental health and helped them use poetry as an outlet. This project was one of the highlights of 2023 which has led to Poetic Unity building a stronger presence across the UK.

In July, Save the Children funded Poetic Unity to create a poetry film highlighting the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on young people. Poetic Unity invited a group of young people to Save the Children’s office to discuss how they feel about the crisis which informed the poetry that was created by one of the participants. This video was put on YouTube and got into many news articles with great reviews. In September, Penguin Books funded Poetic Unity to deliver workshops and performances to a group of students at their office to engage them into poetry and reading. This led to many young people performing poetry for the first time.

The following month in October, Poetic Unity were invited to speak at Lambeth Council as one of the flagship charities paying London Living Wage in the borough. Ensuring our staff and young people are paid fairly is of the upmost importance to us so to be highlighted for our role in Lambeth was a great honour. 2023 marked year three of the Poetic Relief Project with long standing partners Black Cultural Archives and Theatre Peckham. This project grew and became more impactful with the learnings from year one and two. Poetic Unity continued to lead on this project citing the long-term effects that the cost-of-living crisis will have on young people’s mental health and employment status.

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The Poetic Relief Project supported thousands of young people’s mental health, personal development, and community cohesion. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund this project also allowed Poetic Unity, Black Cultural and Theatre Peckham to hire 12 young people between them as part of the Cultural Leaders Youth Employment Scheme. 2023 was another transformative year for Poetic Unity growing our presence across the UK, adapting to the cost-of-living crisis and building long term partnerships to extend our impact and to ensure our beneficiaries have stability.

Achievements and Performance

Poetic Unity directly supported 1,375 young people in 2023, and it’s estimated that 8,141 young people aged between 10-30 years old benefited from our services in total in 2023. However, the impact of our work far exceeds the young people we help directly which includes relieving stress on the friends and family of the young people we work with and building community cohesion in boroughs such as Lambeth which has some of the highest rates of youth violence in London. These services generally provide alternative education, personal development, safe and friendly environments, and mental health support.

Financial Review

In 2023 Poetic Unity is in a healthy financial position due to the continued funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and Peabody Community Foundation. Although our finances are stable, we are constantly monitoring the cost-of-living crisis and the effect this could have on our financial status. Our National Lottery funding will come to an end next year and we are already in the process of applying for new grants to ensure financial stability. Poetic Unity’s finances in 2023 has seen

an uptake on what was made in 2022 due to securing new partners and funding streams. New funders include Paracletos and Endeavor Impact as well as building new partnerships with Save the Children and The Glimpse Network which has helped Poetic Unity build on its unrestricted income. Poetic Unity has continued to have a good balance of restricted income and unrestricted income in 2023. Although

our restricted income is greater it’s imperative for the financial health of Poetic Unity that we continue building relationships with partner organisations to receive unrestricted funding that can support Poetic Unity’s core costs and reserves. Poetic Unity has continued to receive regular donations and regular donors who support the work we do. Poetic Unity’s financial forecast is healthy, and we expect to see more financial growth in 2024 with the need for our services continuing to grow.

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Financial Reserves Policy

To ensure the future of Poetic Unity if funding difficulties were to occur, the board has agreed to keep 3 months in financial reserves an amount of £21,000 to ensure main operations can continue for this period.

The main concerns of the board are to ensure:

• Administrative services such as registered address, website, QuickBooks and monitoring systems are maintained

• Wages are covered so that staff can continue working, primarily to secure new funding and effectively execute our services

These reserves can only be spent if financial difficulties occur or otherwise agreed by the board.

This policy will be reviewed yearly and whenever there are significant changes in staffing.

Public Benefit

All the charity's activities are primarily aimed at the development of young people. In creating activities and providing services, the board have taken note of the guidance provided by charity commission on public benefit.

Risk Management

The Board has taken into consideration the major strategic risks, operational risks, and the vulnerability of our beneficiaries. We can confirm our systems have been established to ensure our policies are up to date and reports can be produced when necessary to lessen these risks.

Approved by the board on 05/04/2024 and signed on their behalf by

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……………………………..

Naomi Matthews-Robinson

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INDEPENEDENT EXAMINATION REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS OF POETIC UNITY ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023.

Respective responsibilities of the directors.

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The directors consider that an audit is not required for this year.

I report on the accounts for the Poetic Unity for the year Ended 31st December 2023 which are set out on the following pages.

This report is made solely to Poetic Unity as a body. My review has been undertaken so that I might state, those matters I am required to state to them in a report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law. I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Directors as a body for my review, for this report or for the opinions I have formed.

It is our aim to:

• Examine the accounts:

• State whether particular matters have come to our attention.

Basis of independent report

Our review was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by Companies House. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the company and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as directors concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide any of the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view”

and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent statement

In connection with my inspection, no matter has come to my attention.

1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section of the Act; and

3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the

4. accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or

5. to which, in my opinion, attention shown be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Thompson & Co Approved Independent Examiner 336-338 London Road Cricket Green Mitcham CR4 3UD ………………………

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POETIC UNITY	POETIC UNITY	POETIC UNITY	POETIC UNITY
Statement of Financial Activities
January - December 2023
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Total
Income	2023	2023	2023	2022
Advocacy Academy				318
Apples and Snakes	2,650		2,650
Arnold Clark Community Fund				1,000
Arts Bridge Charity	300		300
Arts Council				703
Black Girl Fest	1,000		1,000
Brixton House(Oval House)	175		175
Bush Theatre	110		110
BYP Network	150		150
Chiva	300		300
Clarion Housing Group	200		200
Dark Matter Agency	400		400	1,150
Donation	2,410		2,410	5,902
DTA				170
Endeavor	5,565		5,565
Greater London Authority				500
Hackney Empire	520		520
Hitherfield Primary School	400		400	300
Lambeth Council	198		198
Leaders in Sport	500		500
London Nautical School	5,175		5,175
Men-TALL				1,789
National Lottery Community Fund		120,000	120,000	120,000
Paracletos	10,000		10,000
Other Income				1
Peabody Community Foundation		22,550		9,000
Peer Power Youth	4,025		4,025	2,050
Penguin Books UK	2,710		2,710
Prince's Trust				2,905
Purpose Foundation	210	3,200	3,410	2,000
Raw Material Music & Media	695		695
Save The Children	3,765		3,765
Seven Dials Playhouse				825
Southbank Centre	1,645		1,645
St Marylebone School	3,920		3,920
Streatham Space Project	3,200		3,200	714
The Brixton Project	1,500		1,500	1,715
The Glimpse Network	3,750		3,750
The Poets Corner	3,041		3,041	2,498
Theatre Peckham(Income)	1,079		1,079
Uncategorised Income	140		140
University of Aberdeen	1,404		1,404
University of Cambridge	565		565
University of York	600		600
We Are Parable	1,350		1,350	534
We Out Here Festival	550		550	440
World Reimagined Grant				500
YoungMinds	4,371		4,371	1,250
Youth Beyond Borders				300
Total Income	68,573	145,750	214,323	156,563
Expenditures
Accountancy	24	464	488	1,478
Advertising/Promotional	31	454	485	414
Black Cultural Archives		30,000	30,000	30,000
Cultural Leader		18,662	18,662	16,973
Entertaining	225		225
Food Expenses	56		56
Insurances		304	304	304
Legal		13	13	13
Office/General Administrative Expenses		1,317	1,317	638
Other Professional Services	23,659	17,110	40,769	31,539
Payroll Expenses
Pension		2,188	2,188	842
Taxes				-4,417
Wages		50,000	50,000	43,333
Photography and Videography Services	270	840	1,110	2,610
Poetry In Motion		100	100	150
Theatre Peckham		33,620	33,620	30,000
Training & Volunteers costs				855
Travel and Accommodation	647	33	680	18
Uniform/ Merchandise	108	339	447	189
Venue Hire	2,208		2,208	4,075
Total Expenditures	27,227	155,446	182,673	159,015
Net Operating Income	41,346	-9,696	31,650	-2,452
Funds Brough Forward	38,436	19,602	58,037
Fund Balances 31st December 2023	79,782	9,905	89,687

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POETIC UNITY	POETIC UNITY
Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2023
	Total
Fixed Asset
Tangible assets
Office Equipment Cost	4,487
Total Tangible assets	£ 4,487
Total Fixed Asset	£ 4,487
Cash at bank and in hand
Bank	85,995
Total Cash at bank and in hand	£ 85,995
Net current assets	£ 85,995
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade Creditors
Creditors	795
Total Trade Creditors	£ 795
Current Liabilities
Payroll Liabilities
HMRC	0
Pension	0
Total Payroll Liabilities	£ 0
Total Current Liabilities	£ 0
Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	£ 795
Net current assets (liabilities)	£ 85,200
Total assets less current liabilities	£ 89,688
Total net assets (liabilities)	£ 89,688
Charity funds
Retained Earnings	58,037
Surplus/(Deficit)	31,650
Total Charity funds	£ 89,688

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POETIC UNITY Grants and Core funding summary

January - December 2023

Income Apples and Snakes Arts Bridge Charity Black Girl Fest Brixton House (Oval House) Bush Theatre BYP Network Chiva Clarion Housing Group Dark Matter Agency Donation Endeavor Hackney Empire Hitherfield Primary School Lambeth Council Leaders in Sport London Nautical School National Lottery Community Fund Paracletos Peabody Community Foundation Peer Power Youth Penguin Books UK Purpose Foundation Raw Material Music & Media Save The Children Southbank Centre St Marylebone School Streatham Space Project The Brixton Project The Glimpse Network The Poets Corner Theatre Peckham (Income) Uncategorised Income University of Aberdeen University of Cambridge University of York We Are Parable We Out Here Festival YoungMinds Total Income

General (Core) Funding National Lottery Community Fund Paracletos Peabody Community Foundation Purpose Foundation TOTAL

2,650.00 2,650.00 300.00 300.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 175.00 175.00 110.23 110.23 150.00 150.00 300.00 300.00 200.00 200.00 400.00 400.00 2,410.35 2,410.35 5,565.00 5,565.00 520.00 520.00 400.00 400.00 198.00 198.00 500.00 500.00 5,175.00 5,175.00 120,000.00 120,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 22,550.00 22,550.00 4,025.00 4,025.00 2,710.00 2,710.00 3,410.00 3,410.00 695.00 695.00 3,765.00 3,765.00 1,645.00 1,645.00 3,920.00 3,920.00 3,200.00 3,200.00 1,500.00 1,500.00 3,750.00 3,750.00 3,040.50 3,040.50 1,079.43 1,079.43 140.00 140.00 1,404.00 1,404.00 565.00 565.00 600.00 600.00 1,350.00 1,350.00 550.00 550.00 4,370.56 4,370.56 58,363.07 120,000.00 10,000.00 22,550.00 3,410.00 214,323.07

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Poetic Unity Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2023

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (SORP 2015 & FRS 102).

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows: Equipment & Fixtures and fittings 25% Reducing balance basis

Fund Accounting

1. Unrestricted funds are those that can be expended at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the objects of the charity:

2. Restricted funds are those that may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes.

Income recognition

Income is recognised and included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) as follows

1. (a) when the charity becomes entitled to the income, receipt is probable and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability;

2. (b) when income has related expenditure, the income and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA;

3. (c) bank interest is recognised when credited to the account.

4. (d) Income, which is subject to conditions that the charity is yet to fulfil, or which is specifically for use in a future accounting period, is treated as deferred income.

Expenditure and liabilities

1. (a) Expenditure is recognised on the accruals basis;

2. (b) The charity is not registered for VAT thus all costs are shown inclusive of VAT.

3. (c) Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay out resources.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £250. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at their market value.

Debtors

1. (a) Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due; 2. (b) Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Creditors

1. (a) Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

2. (b) Accrued charges are normally valued at their settlement amount.

Going Concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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Poetic Unity Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2023

Creditors

s
	2023	2022
	£	£
Trade Creditors	795	595
	795	595

Trustee Expenses

No expenses were claimed by Trustees in their role as Trustees, but some are also volunteers supporting the youth and also raising funds through events.

Related party transactions

During the year trustee Naomi Matthews-Robinson had a relative working for the charity as the CEO. The trustees confirm that no other payments were made to any trustees or other connected persons during the financial year.

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