SHEPPEY ENTERTAINMENTS ASSOCIATION Annual Report 2023-2024
Secretary’s Annual Report
This is the Secretary’s report for the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Sheppey Entertainments Association on Monday 7 October 2024.
This year we paid tribute to Barry Barnes who sadly died in November 2023. Barry was involved with many of the theatre groups and had been a member of the SEA committee for a long time.
Our talks continue to be popular and our audiences for them continue to grow. We’ve had a number of tribute acts appearing at the theatre - some new, others returning. The Jerseys, and On Thin Ice – Pink Floyd, who donated a large proportion of their takings from their show and Sandy Smith returned and new tribute acts included the Everley Brothers, Hank Marvin and Elvis and Billy Fury. Our member groups continue to perform here. We’ve had some very healthy audiences for shows this year. We also had some other different acts including wrestling and Dame Dolly and the Tuck Shop Boys supported by the Jo Eden Blues Band. Later in the year we’ve a Fleetwood Mac tribute act performing which sold out quickly.
When we book shows we listen to audiences – they’ve told us who they loved, so we’ve booked them again for next year. Hank Marvin, the Jerseys, the Everleys and Elvis Presley/Billy Fury are all back by popular demand. People are already buying tickets for future shows. We try to offer diverse acts, and sometimes take a chance with new shows. Next year we’ve got an ABBA tribute band, Anthems of Rock and Rewind to 70’s Diva’s. We need to keep theatre audiences up so we can keep the theatre going and provide member groups with rehearsal space and somewhere to perform here at our Little Theatre.
We’re just about to enter our 50[th] Anniversary year. Fifty years is a fantastic achievement. We opened in 1975. So, in 2025 we’ll have played to audiences 25 years in the twentieth century and 25 years in the 21[st] century. We plan to celebrate this in a variety of ways including:
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putting on a 50[th] anniversary show,
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producing a booklet to celebrate our 50[th] Anniversary
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publicise our anniversary in the media so everyone knows.
We thank our benefactors, committee and show night volunteers. We always look for new volunteers to help us. Thanks to Brenda Munday for the Facebook page and Tanya from Sheppy Glass for her help/support this year. Thanks to Janet Walton for cleaning the theatre.
Special thanks to:
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Derek for his work maintaining/improving this lovely building
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Pam for doing the staffing for all our shows
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Martin and Yvonne for all their work stocking the bar
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Janys accounts, paying performers and bills, getting grants- this year she
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has been very successful to get the money for the air conditioning system to be installed
- Andy for leading the lighting team so our lighting is fantastic.
This year we’ve seen new people coming to our shows. Most of our audiences live on the island but sometimes they come from Sittingbourne, Medway and beyond and they often say how lovely the staff are here and how friendly everyone is. The theatre is infectious for many people in a good way they come in and look around and say “I didn’t know about this place” or “I’ve not been here since I was a kid it’s lovely isn’t it”. Covid caused us to close our doors a few years ago, like many other venues but we’re now back. Places like this are rare, we should do our best to improve the theatre to pass it on to the next generation. If you know people who can help us run the theatre by volunteering please let us know. Last Saturday Janys, Donna, Charlotte and myself represented Sheppey Little Theatre at a community event at the Dockyard Church. We plan to do more of this next year.
Treasurers Annual Report
Janys Thornton reported that:
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Income was up due to more shows with bigger audiences resulting in bar takings up considerably. Theatre takings were slightly down but fund raising was up.
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Sue Bale had shown grants as fund raising for the air con. 2022/23 we were raising money for the air con which we spent in 2023/24 hence the smaller profit and higher expenditure on property improvements
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Programme sales at shows were down
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Other income listed as “ misc” includes things like book sales etc
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Utilities went up massively in 2022/23, but have now stabilised.
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Last year we had a refund as compensation on the water rates when there was no water to the Island, as a consequence this year it looks like the expenditure was higher.
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she didn’t know why the professional theatre fees didn’t include Harbledown (Steptoe) in 2023. Perhaps Sue Bale hadn’t known that is what it is.
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Half the money from the Talksis classed as expenditure as this is what Janys pays the speakers out of the receipts on the door.
Sue Bale has made a note regarding the PRS as there is a time delay between when we collect it and when we pay it over.
PRS 628.0 paid 3 - PRS 529.3 98.6 collected 8 5
Chairman’s Report
Derek said:-
“There is a song called ‘A Very Good Year’ and I think this is a good representation of the life of the theatre
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Came through pregnancy to have it’s birth When it was 17 growing up and finding its feet When it was 30 in its full bloom and heading for a full life. When it was 40 still pulling together.
When it was 45 Covid struck but we pulled through
When it was 48 the rebuild continued. We are on the up again. When it was 49 that was a very good year.
The futures bright. Thanks to all who have helped to achieve this, long live SLT.
| Position | Nominee | Proposed By |
Seconde d By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Derek Friday | Jeremy Thornton |
Andy King |
| Vice **Chairman ** |
Martin Walker | Janys Thornton |
Donna King |
| Treasurer | Janys Thornton | Sue Haddock | Pam Fauchon |
| Secretary | Jeremy Thornton | Janys Thornton |
Derek Friday |
| Assistant Secretary |
Vacant | ||
| Fund Raising | Vacant | ||
| Publicity | Jeremy Thornton | Janys Thornton |
Sue Haddock |
| Works Ofcer | Derek Friday (lead) Jeremy Thornton (assist) AndyKing (assist) |
Karen Houston |
Pam Fauchon |
| Position | Rep 1 | Rep 2 |
|---|---|---|
| The Meyrick Minstrels |
Yvonne Walker |
Donna King |
| The Isle of Sheppey Singers |
Su Haddock | Karen Houston |
| Sounds Familiar | SuHaddock | |
| Jo Eden Blues Band |
Jeremy Thornton |
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SHEPPEY ENTERTAINMENTS ASSOCIATION. TRADING PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE 2024.
| INCOME. £ Theatre Takings Fund Raising evnts. |
2024 £ 30684.38 3152.31 8504.96 1815.95 414.00 29.00 40.04 5000.00 257.47 ### 3323.63 298.80 6875.13 2742.97 1808.68 166.80 936.00 70.00 545.00 250.71 161.85 1926.00 1292.00 1442.96 1170.37 6910.28 -553.76 288.00 692.50 18879.50 ### |
2023 25271.71 1143.59 |
|---|---|---|
| Takings at Bar. | 6478.37 | |
| Donations Received. Grant Received. Programme Sales. interest Skipton Fund raising air con Other Income. COST OF SALES. |
3282.18 5750.00 78.00 0.00 0.00 78.74 |
|
| ### | ||
| Purchases for bar | 1763.72 | |
| Rates and Water. Heat and Light. Insurance Cleaning card machine Advertising Telephone and wif Licenses Accountancy & Professional fees Fundraising prizes Bank charges Incurred Repairs and renewals professional theatre fees Donations Equipment Sundries Property Improvements. prs Web design Printing, Postage and Stationery. First aid supplies and training speakers talk Harbledown Repay show tickets (£20.00) deposit Refunded. NET PROFIT/(LOSS) |
-62.07 6756.48 2595.69 1711.03 0.00 312.00 1677.60 337.81 200.00 192.32 166.43 1553.77 30.00 201.60 341.55 0.00 98.65 115.00 0.00 602.92 475.00 600.00 13085.50 |
|
| ### |
670.69
9327.59
SHEPPEY ENTERTAINMENTS ASSOCIATION RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024.
SUSAN BALE BOOK KEEPING AND PAYROLL.
85 Scarborough Drive Minster Sheerness Kent ME12 2NQ
SHEPPEY ENTERTAINMENTS ASSOCIATION RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024.
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of the Sheppey Entertainments Association
For the year ended 30[th] June 2024.
I report on the accounts of the Association for the year ended 30[th] June 2024 are set out below.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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. to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.
- Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the
Charities Act; and
. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 22[nd] September 2024.
Susan J Bale book keeping and payroll.