2024-2025
SWANSEA COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
REGISTERED CHARITY (CIO) IN ENGLAND AND WALES
REG: 1172508
ANNUAL TRUSTEE REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Trustee Report
Annual Review and Statement of the Board of Trustees
Contents
Introduction..……………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Governance and Structure..………………………………………………………………..3 Objectives and Activities…..………………………………………………………………..3 Performance Review…………………………………………………………………………………...4 Achievements…………………………………………………………………………………..4 Financial Review………………………………………………………………………….…….4 Past and Present Funding…………………………………………………………….……..5 Risk Management and Future Plans………………………………………………………….…….6 Trustees Responsibility Statement……….………………………………………………………...7 Administrative Details……………………………………………………………………………..……8 Independent Examiners Report…………………………………………………………………..…9 Finances for 2024-2025.……………………………………………………………………………..10
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Introduction
This Trustee Report provides an overview of the activities, financial position, and key developments of Swansea Community Workshops (SCW) for the year ending 31/03/2025.
Governance and Structure
SCW is governed by a Board of Trustees who meet regularly to oversee operations, set strategic direction, and ensure the prudent management of resources. The Trustees are appointed in accordance with the organisation’s governing document and collectively bring a diverse range of skills and experience.
Objectives and Activities
The charity provides facilities for craft therapy, hobbies and recreation in a socially interactive and practical environment, sharing and learning skills, & supporting community-based projects.
These facilities are for public benefit, specifically targeting socially excluded members of the local community – people excluded by unemployment, financial hardship, ill health (physical & mental), misfortune, and personal tragedy (bereavement, divorce, learning disabilities, behavioural problems).
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Performance Review
Achievements
The financial year began and continued under the direction of the previous year’s chair and saw a continuation of important practices like the operation of regular trustee meetings supported by FPPO (financial, property, personal and operational) subcommittees.
Early in the year the charity engaged its first major employee as Centre Manager, initially on a fixed term contract. Under the direction of this manager major work was done to improve the existing pottery, glass and wood studios (workshops). Notably, additional pottery wheels and a firing kiln were purchased, which contributed to a major improvement in studio hire income from £3860.00 (2023-24) to £11326.39.
In the wood studio a new partition wall was installed which provides a proper demarcation of class and workshop activity.
The charity further expanded its activity by starting a sewing studio. This was made possible by the acquisition of further working space vacated by a private business at the premises. This business has operated an industrial sewing and fabric-based production business in healthcare from which SCW expects to gain technical expertise.
At the same time the charity has continued its relationship with The Environment Centre which is based in our High Street shop space. Other complementary charities working with SCW are the Ibero-Latino American group & The African Community (sewing), Swansea Pottery Cooperative and parties referred by Swansea Council Voluntary Services (SCVS).
Financial Review
The Income & Expenditure statement shows that SCW made a small but satisfactory surplus of £1686.84 (2023: £333.64). More importantly, our income increased to its highest level since incorporation - £54905.24 (2023: £38005.55). Much of this increase arises from the charity’s improved ability to run courses requiring funding but it is also acknowledged that the improved fund total is mainly for restricted application and is not usable for general running (core) costs. Hence, it is the charity’s main financial task at the year end to boost unrestricted funding; and we go into the 2025-26 year with detailed plans to promote self-funded (non-grant funded) charity courses, and the promotion of income-earning studio membership schemes.
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Past Year and Present Funding
In chronological order the following restricted funding was received –
Creating Opportunities Across Swansea Together (COAST) Fund
In August we received £4937 from Swansea Council. As in the previous year this was used to provide free recreational craft activity to Swansea citizens in the 50+ age group.
Men’s Shed
In September we received £!000 from the Swansea Council programme for all men’s sheds in the region. This grant was the 5[th] Men’s shed grant received in 5 years but was also the lowest due to the increased public demand of a growing men’s shed community and a static total grant fund. Nevertheless, it signifies our early and continuous awareness of qthe health need of disadvantaged men.
The grant was used to part finance the layout of the wood studio as mentioned earlier.
Period Dignity
In September £1067 was received from Swansea Council to aid personal needs,
National Lottery Community Fund
In November we received a £20000 Award for All grant. This represents the largest grant received since inception in 2017. The grant is being used for a project titled “Let Us Introduce You” (LUIY). It is a 16-month project aimed at 18-25 year old young people with a programme of taster sessions, 12-week courses and open studio access for 6 month (2 rounds total). The ain is to develop craft and entrepreneurial skill in young disadvantaged people not in higher education.
This programme is actively running now and is due to complete February/March 2026.
Austin Bailey Foundation
Finally, £2000 was received in November. This grant was sought to research and identify the personal needs of society that the charity needs to be able to meet and address. It is currently being used to explore widening opportunities and the organisational development of a 3-year business plan of the charity.
Whilst external grant funding is the major source of funding, the charity continues to receive regular income from the Environment Centre in the shop who operate an Energy Awareness Hub and a Repair Space to improve resource recycling.
Income, similar in amount to the shop income, is received from hiring out the studios. This is split in two ways – firstly, income from classes and workshop activity run by the charity’s tutors and local artists, and, secondly, independent rent paid by members for small workshop rooms.
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Risk Management & Future Plans
The prime risk facing any charity is financial. The risk of failure is measured by the risk of having insufficient funds to meet core costs plus a margin of safety. Hence, the trustees through to management pursue a minimum cost mode of operation. In other words, all costs, depending on size and importance, are approved and monitored through a Cost Scheme of Delegation.
In addition to cost control the charity seeks to finance itself through self-generated income as much as possible. For SCW self-financing is by ticket-sale classes/events, studio & room letting, and shop rental.
In the last year the charity self-financed 48% total income through all of the above routes, compared to 30% in 2023-24. The board consider this to be a significant income which is going to be advanced further in 2025-26 by more ticket-sale courses and membership schemes.
The strength of self-generated income will also be judged by the technical level of our workshops and potential cross-fertilisation between them. New activity at a highr level, driven by society rapidly advancing in social media and AI, are currently being researched. We expect that SCW will match fund new areas co-operatively with other local charities/ bodies.
It is also planned that new developments will be parcelled within a long term business plan supported by core membership and a broadwr volunteer/staff structure.
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Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for preparing this report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. They confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the information provided gives a true and fair view of the organisation’s affairs, and, along with staff, volunteers and supporters, look forward to building on this year’s achievements.
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Administrative Details
Registered Office
Swansea Community Workshops (SCW)
208 High Street
SWANSEA
SA1 1PE
Trustees (as of 31 March 2025)
Bradley Ewers (Chair)
John O’Brien
Key Management Personnel
Sarah Symonds (Centre Manager) John O’Brien (Accounts)
Paul Munn
Chris Day
David Priscott
Independent Examiners
Harris Bassett Ltd
5 New Mill Court, Phoenix Way
Enterprise Park
SWANSEA
SA7 9FG
Bankers
The Co-operative Bank
1 Balloon Street
MANCHESTER
M4 4BE
Santander
2 Triton Square Regent’s Place
LONDON
NW1 3AN
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Ir#JepeThknt Exanine¢s Rewr to the Tnffltts of Swartsea Comnwniry W¢xkshop For the ar ended 31 March 2025 Mr Nh(S Bassett Harris Bassett "ted 5 Ilew Mil S47 9FG
2024-2025 INCOME & EXPENDITURE
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| INCOME | |||
| Grants - Unrestricted | 10,760.00 | - | |
| Grants - Restricted | 15,930.00 | 29,004.00 | |
| Studio Hire | 3,860.00 | 11,326.39 | |
| Shop Hire | 3,060.00 | 9,924.00 | |
| Room Hire (Corridor) | - | 1,540.00 | |
| Product Sales | 2,870.00 | 1,605.00 | |
| Membership Fees | - | - | |
| Course Fees | 1,090.00 | 667.34 | |
| Donations | 435.55 | 838.51 | |
| Total Income | 38,005.55 | 54,905.24 | |
| EXPENDITURE | |||
| Rent | - | - | |
| Salaries | 5,932.80 | 25,516.88 | |
| Project Costs | 1,140.00 | 3,679.05 | |
| Utilities | 7,521.80 | 7,264.03 | |
| Insurance | 1,648.84 | 1,098.32 | |
| Subscription & Fees | 7,150.00 | 575.95 | |
| Equipment & Supplies | 7,993.29 | 10,358.85 | |
| Postage & Packing | 241.46 | 494.84 | |
| Marketing/Publicity | 534.62 | 755.58 | |
| Property Maintenance | 5,509.10 | 2,799.90 | |
| Training | - | 675.00 | |
| Total Expenditure | 37,671.91 | 53,218.40 | |
| Profit/(Loss) | 333.64 | 1,686.84 | |
| Cash at Bank at end of year | 37,580.01 | 39,266.85 | |
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