## **Stretford Children’s Theatre**
**REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1175334**
# **2024 / 2025 Annual Report**
**Financial Year End 31.8.25**
**(Period covered 01.09.24-31.08.25)**
**Stretford Children’s Theatre**
## **Stretford Public Hall**
## **Chester Road**
## **Stretford**
## **Manchester**
## **M32 0LG**
**Email: stretfordchildrenstheatre@gmail.com**
**Website: www.stretfordchildrenstheatre.org.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SCTStretford/**
**Instagram: stretfordchildrenstheatre Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoAngRLXIhN6h__u57i4fA?app=desktop**
**X: @SCT_Stretford**
## _**Mission Statement:**_
To inspire, educate and enrich our community by providing high quality accessible performing arts sessions and through public productions.
## _**Our Vision:**_
To build a valued community organisation that is well-known for its high quality, inclusive, participant-led performing arts offer; an environment where everyone feels valued and supported to unlock talent and reach their potential.
## _**Our Values:**_
_Our_ **values** _, below, inform our work and guide our_ **attitudes** _and_ **behaviours** _:_
## _**Our Aims:**_
- To provide fun, creative opportunities
- • To be participant led
- • To increase confidence, resilience and independence for participants
- • To develop social and emotional skills to support mental health and well-being
- • To develop confidence and leadership skills in order to enhance employability
- • To develop skills, knowledge and appreciation of the arts
- • To promote an understanding of the significance of the arts in our shared cultural heritage
- • To encourage participants’ connection to their community: a sense of belonging
- • To provide a safe and healthy environment for all
- • To work together with residents, community users, local authorities, voluntary and other organisations to be a positive part of the community
- • To be a robust and sustainable organisation
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## **The Impact of SCT**
For over 10 years, Stretford Children’s Theatre (SCT) has been transforming the lives of local young people by giving them a stage to grow in confidence, creativity, and community.
## **Building Confidence and Creativity**
Each week, over **100 children and young people aged 4–18** take part in our workshops and productions. **87% of parents** in our recent survey said their child’s confidence has grown since joining SCT, and **9 out of 10 participants** told us they feel happier and more creative after sessions.
_“My daughter used to be so shy, but since joining SCT she’s found her voice – she even spoke in front of her whole school for the first time.”_ – Parent
## **Supporting Wellbeing and Inclusion**
We believe theatre is for everyone. Our low-cost membership, bursary scheme, and open-door policy mean children from all backgrounds can take part. Drama offers an outlet for emotions and a safe place for children facing challenges such as anxiety, bereavement, or social isolation.
_“Coming here is the best part of my week. I feel like I can just be myself.”_ – Participant, age 13
## **Strengthening Community**
Our performances reach audiences of over **200 people each year** , bringing families, neighbours, and local residents together. Alumni often return as volunteers, ensuring that SCT continues to be rooted in community pride.
_“It’s not just a theatre group – it’s a family. You can feel the love and support every time you walk in.”_ – Parent volunteer
## **Inspiring Futures**
Some of our members go on to careers in the arts, while others draw on the teamwork, communication, and resilience they gain here in other fields. Past members now work as actors, teachers, and youth workers, and many credit SCT for giving them the confidence to pursue their ambitions.
## **Lasting Change**
The true impact of SCT is seen in the everyday stories – the child who beams after their first line on stage, the teenager who finds belonging after feeling isolated, the family who discover joy and connection in the audience.
Stretford Children’s Theatre is not just about making plays – it’s about making a difference.
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## **Our Charitable Objects:**
To advance education for the public benefit among children and young people aged 4 and above and adults in all aspects of the performing arts by the provision of workshops and opportunities to participate in artistic performances.
Established in 1945 by Bertram H. Holland, Stretford Children’s Theatre became an integral part of the community for over 35 years. However, it ceased operations in the early 1980s. In 2015, a dedicated group of local individuals successfully revived the theatre, choosing one of its original venues, Stretford Public Hall, as the backdrop for its resurgence.
Stretford Children’s Theatre [SCT] is dedicated to offering accessible, high-quality drama experiences for individuals aged 4 and above, extending to adults within our community. Our drama sessions are delivered by professional theatre practitioners, specialists at working with our different age groups. We think we meet our aims at every session we deliver and hope that everyone feels the same. If you feel differently, please speak to the any member of the Board or staff and highlight any concerns you may have.
As a foundation CIO, we are governed by our Constitution. If you wish for a copy of the
Constitution which details more information about our group’s governance and rules, please ask any of the Board Members who can give you a copy, it can also be found on our website.
We have had no serious or reportable accidents or incidents this year.
Our public liability insurance is held with Markel Insurance.
All our drama practitioners are DBS checked and follow our child protection policy and procedures. All our policies can be found on our website.
We conduct risk assessments for each group, and each place we visit to ensure everybody’s safety.
We continuously review policies during the year, our financial controls are monitored and adjusted accordingly to ensure robust processes are adhered to and trustees remain accountable.
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Our registered address is: Stretford Public Hall, Chester Road, Stretford, M32 0LG
## _**Our active bank details are:**_
Natwest, Trafford Park, Third Avenue, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1NW
- General Account Name: Stretford Children’s Theatre
- General Account Number: 56126778 Sort Code: 010881
**Thank you from us all for helping to make Stretford Children’s Theatre work.**
_**If you are able to support us any further, through donations, volunteering your time or offering specific skills that might be useful, please do get in touch via email at stretfordchildrenstheatre@gmail.com or get in touch through our Facebook page (Stretford Children’s Theatre), or speak to any of the Board Members, staff, volunteers, or leaders.**_
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## **Group Structure 2024/2025**
## **Our Charity Trustees / Board Members are:**
_A charity Trustee who has served for 3 consecutive terms may not be reappointed for a 4th consecutive term but may be reappointed after an interval of at least 1 year._
|**Trustee**|**Date of**
**Appointment to the**
**board**|**Term of**
**Office**|**Date of office up**
**for renewal**|**Number**
**of terms**
**served**
**currently**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|KirstyThomas|23.10.17|3years|23.10.25|3|
|Sophie Bowden|21.02.22|3years|21.02.28|1|
|ShellyQuinton-Hulme|23.10.17|3years|23.10.26|3|
|Niall Brennan|19.01.23|3years|19.01.26|1|
|Michael Mitchell|19.05.25|3years|19.05.28|0|
|Chloe Quinton-Ward|19.05.25|3years|19.05.28|0|
|Hazel Gibb|19.05.25|3years|19.05.28|0|
|||3years|||
|Ian Beard|08.02.24|3 Years|Retired 12.06.25|0|
|Rachel Stevens|08.02.24|3 Years|Retired 04.07.24|0|
|Michelle Calame-Bell|12.08.20|3years|Retired 19.05.25|1|
|Janice Rendel|23.10.17|3years|Retired 28.12.23|2|
|Jessica Loveday|29.04.20|3years|Retired 30.10.23|1|
|Keith Broom|10.05.18|3years|Retired 17.01.24|2|
|Michelle Darwin|21.02.22|3years|Retired 03.08.23|0|
|Kathleen Repper-Day|29.04.20|3years|Retired 26.10.21|0|
|Emma Towler|29.04.20|3years|Retired 26.04.22|0|
|Laura Riley|23.10.17|3years|Retired 09.07.20|1|
|Adrian Hall|29.04.20|3years|Retired 14.07.20|0|
|Sinead Reynold|08.02.18|3years|Retired 17.01.19|0|
|Rosarie Walsh|17.01.19|3years|Retired 03.05.19|0|
|Alison Rocca|29.04.20|3years|Retired 20.09.21|0|
|Andrew Appleby|23.01.20|3years|Retired 18.10.21|0|
|Annika Edge|08.02.18|3years|Retired 12.09.22|1|
|Ali Dunican|23.10.17|4years|Retired 11.11.21|1|
**Charity Offices**
Page **6** of **20**
||**Name**||**Dates**||**Chair**||**Secretary**|**Treasurer**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Ali Dunican||23.10.17 - 11.11.20|||Y||||
|Laura Riley||23.10.17 - 25.04.20|||||Y||
|KirstyThomas||23.10.17 - Present||||||Y|
|Shelly Quinton-Hulme||11.11.20 - 21.07.21 &
19.05.25 - Present|||Y||||
|Vacant|||||||Y||
|Michelle Calame-Bell||21.07.21 - 19.05.25|||Y||||
|Kathleen Repper-Day||29.04.20 - 26.10.21|||||Y||
|Ian Beard||08.02.24 - 12.06.25|||||Y||
|Shelly Quinton-Hulme||06.10.22 - 08.02.24 &
26.10.21 – 06.10.22|||||Y||
No changes to the Board are known about at this time but strengthening our capabilities is on the agenda and this may mean increasing the number of Trustees to the Board. We will advertise for new trustees looking for skills we need that have been identified using a trustee skills audit and any appointments will be made by the current board members.
If you need to contact any of the Board Members please email: stretfordchildrenstheatre@gmail.com stating who you would like the email to go to.
Natwest Cheque Signatories are: Kirsty Thomas; Shelly Quinton-Hulme; Niall Brennan
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## **A Year in Review –**
## **Message from the Chairperson**
This past year has been one of energy, creativity, and growth for Stretford Children’s Theatre. At its heart, our organisation continues to provide a welcoming space where young people can explore their imagination, build confidence, and create lasting friendships through the magic of drama.
We are proud to have delivered a diverse programme of workshops, productions, and community projects. Highlights included our show Shakespeare Rocks, which gave children and young people the chance to perform on stage and share their hard work with families and the wider community. Our outreach activities in schools and local groups have also helped us extend the joy of drama to new audiences and participants, many of whom are discovering live theatre for the first time.
Behind the scenes, our volunteers, trustees, staff, and creative practitioners have worked tirelessly to ensure sessions are safe, inclusive, and inspiring. We know how much young people benefit from a space where they can freely express themselves, and our commitment to nurturing creativity, collaboration, and wellbeing has never been stronger.
We are also deeply grateful to our funders, partners, and supporters – your generosity enables us to continue offering affordable and accessible theatre opportunities in Stretford. Whether through grants, ticket sales, or donations, your support makes a direct impact on the lives of local children and families.
Looking ahead, we are excited to expand our programme with new workshops, intergenerational projects, and opportunities to showcase young talent. We are determined to ensure Stretford Children’s Theatre remains a creative home for the next generation, where every child has the chance to shine.
On behalf of the board, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to another successful year. Together, we are building not just a theatre, but a community.
With gratitude and excitement for the year ahead,
**Shelly Quinton-Hulme MBE** Chairperson, Stretford Children’s Theatre
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We have opportunities for volunteering within our groups, as well as wider opportunities within the charity, and we love assisting our volunteers to be the best they can be and for what they help us to achieve.
## **Volunteers, we need you!**
We're on the search for volunteers to help our fabulous facilitators deliver our fun, energetic drama sessions.
Sessions run each Thursday during school term times
from 4-8pm hourly for our infant and junior classes
Seniors run from 6-7.30pm
Youth Theatre and Adult Community Theatre run from 7.30-9pm
If you're looking to learn new skills, work with your local community, and have a passion for drama then get in touch! Contact us via our website or email us
at stretfordchildrenstheatre@gmail.com
We can't wait to hear from you. We will carry out all DBS checks.
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## **Stretford Children’s Theatre - 12 week Young Person Volunteer Programme**
This programme will give a minimum of 22 hours volunteering over 12 weeks. There will be more opportunities for the young person to volunteer if they so wish such as coming to observe a board meeting, or carrying out a fundraising project for the group, and the programme can be extended to 6, 12 months or longer if so desired.
Our experienced Board members, Sessional Leaders, Sessional Manager and Fundraising Staff will support the young person whilst they are volunteering with us and ensure they are well looked after, safe, happy and learn as much as they can. You can find more information at our website: www.stretfordchildrenstheatre.org.uk
We are based at Stretford Public Hall in the heart of Stretford town centre and the building is fully accessible.
This would be a perfect placement for those doing the Duke of Edinburgh scheme or a young person wishing to enhanc their CV for college or university or their first job. We ask that the young person is aged 14 years as a minimum.
|Week||**More Detail**|
|---|---|---|
|1|Initial Meeting with
Board Member – 1 hour|This meeting will be about what the young person hopes to achieve whilst
volunteering with us, and how we can best support them, and introductions to the
team and sessions themselves. Plus identifying any specific additional areas they
are interested in, planning how they might gain experience in those areas with
SCT.|
|2|Understanding our
charity – 2 hours|Who we are; why we formed; our history; vision/values/aims; what we do; what a
board does; our constitution; The Charity Commission & our responsibilities;
policies and procedures; managing personnel/ volunteers; management systems
[OSM, Go Cardless ,iZettle]; financial management; funding/ fundraising; health
and safety;safeguarding;monitoring,evaluation;measuringimpact.|
|3|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours|These weekly volunteering sessions will be spent in either the infant or junior
drama sessions assisting the Sessional Leaders and the attending children.
The young person will never be left alone with the children and will not be
responsible for anything other than their own behaviour. We would expect them
to follow all our policies and procedures as discussed with them in weeks 1 and 2.
These sessions are fun and consist of drama games and often involve producing
pieces leading up to a performance – we hope the young person would get fully
involved in these sessions.
A board member is usually available weekly and as such progress reports will be
gathered and any issues for the young person or Sessional Leader will be
addressed as they arise.
All Sessional Leaders are DBS checked, and SCT is fully insured and has strict H&S
and safeguarding policies in place.|
|4|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|5|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|6|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|7|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|8|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|9|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|10|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|11|Sessional Volunteering
– 2 hours||
|12|Close out meeting with
Board Member – 1 hour|This meeting will be to evaluate how the sessions have gone from the volunteer’s
perspective, and provide feedback from the Sessional Leaders and the Board to the
young person and complete some impact monitoring forms and case study
information and complete anydocumentation required.|
The sessional volunteering hours are either Thursdays from 4-6pm or Thursdays from 5.30-7.30pm.
We can accommodate 2 volunteers on each of the sessions at any one time. Other volunteering opportunities are also available that do not involve being in the sessions, such as communications & social media, fundraising, policies and procedures if that is of interest to any of the young people.
Please get in touch if you wish to discuss any of the opportunities with us: stretfordchildrenstheatre@gmail.com
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S1'011'1C;
SURVEY SAYS
Stretford Children's Theatre 1175334
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/09/2024 To 31/08/2025
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Subscriptions 14,055 - - 14,055 16,240
Grants - 21,000 - 21,000 12,500
Donations 1,806 - - 1,806 2,770
GiftAid - - - - 3,869
Charitable Activities 1,369 - - 1,369 -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) [ 17,230 ] 21,000 - 38,230 35,379
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 17,230 21,000 - 38,230 35,379
A3 Payments
Session Leaders 9,076 7,000 - 16,076 20,615
Session Managers 2,109 - - 2,109 2,924
Hall Hire 5,595 - - 5,595 5,820
Performances - 1,737 - 1,737 100
Insurance 363 - - 363 361
Administrative Charges 1,091 - - 1,091 1,516
Payment Charges 243 - - 243 650
- - - - -
Sub total 18,477 8,737 - 27,214 31,986
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 18,477 8,737 - 27,214 31,986
Net of receipts/(payments) - 1,247 12,263 - 11,016 3,393
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 3,393 - - 3,393 -
Cash funds this year end 2,146 12,263 - 14,409 3,393
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Categories Details funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank 2,146 12,263 -
- - -
- - -
Total cash funds 2,146 12,263 -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
Details Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
Details Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the - -
charity’s own use - -
Fund to which Amount due When due
Details liability relates (optional) (optional)
B5 Liabilities -
-
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name approvalDate of
Kirsty Thomas 01/06/2026
Shelly Quinton Hulme 01/06/2026
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page **19** of **20**
**Annual Report accepted at the Annual General Meeting of Stretford Children’s Theatre on 29[th ] June 2026 Signed: Full Name: Shelly Quinton-Hulme MBE Position: Chairperson Signed: Full Name: Kirsty Thomas Position: Treasurer**
Page **20** of **20**