## Annual Report 2023-2024 _REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER – 1175507_ Kirkby Stephen Community Arts (KSCA) was founded in September 2016 to bring high quality activities and events to the rurally isolated community of Kirkby Stephen. KSCA became a Registered Charity on 1st November 2018, and this is the Annual Report to the Charity Commission on activities, objectives and finances for the period September 2023 to September 2024. KSCA is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered charity number 1175507, and the objects of the CIO are: “To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation for the inhabitants of Kirkby Stephen and the Upper Eden Valley in the interests of social welfare for the said inhabitants with the object of improving their conditions of life.” During the period of this report the trustees were: _Kate Lynch_ _Linda Walker_ _Vicki Bertram_ _Deborah Coleman_ _John Ockenden_ The trustees manage the CIO according to the constitution dated 1 July 2017. The address of KSCA for correspondence is Dalton House, Winton, Kirkby Stephen, CA17 4HL ## _**KSCA Account Summary Sept 2023-Sept 2024**_ |_Income_|_£2,760.60_|_Opening Balance Current A/c_|_£1,021.45_| |---|---|---|---| |_Interest_|_£330.26_|_Opening Balance Deposit A/c_|_£26,650.31_| |_Plus Cash in hand_|_£0.00_||| |_Total_|**_£3,090.86_**|_Total_|**_£27,671.76_**| |_Less Outgoings_|**_£11,972.28_**|_Closing Balance Current A/c_|_£509.77_| |||_Closing Balance Deposit A/c_|_£18,280.57_| |||_Total_|**_£18,790.34_**| |_Income/Expenditure_|**_-£8,881.42_**||**_-£8,881.42_**| ## _**Current Account Summary**_ ||**_Income_**||**_Expenses_**| |---|---|---|---| |_Cinema_||_£1,510.00_|_£1,305.00_| |_Theatre Shows/Talks_||_£939.00_|_£1,013.60_| |_Grants_|||| |_Donations_||_£239.30_|| |_Refreshment sales_||_£72.30_|| |_Storytime/Toddlers_|||_£667.40_| |_Songbirds_|||| |_RENatured Workshops_|||_£3,716.60_| |_Insurance_|||_£96.00_| |_Premises Costs_|||_£600.00_| |_Equipment_|||| |_Marketing_|||_£120.00_| |_Workshops_|||_£750.00_| |_Fun Palace_|||_£400.00_| |_Flag Project_|||_£3,303.68_| |||**_£2,760.60_**|**_£11,972.28_**| ## _**Notes on the accounts**_ - _Expenditure exceeded income this year which was covered by our reserves._ - _The two major expenses are for community projects which KSCA is providing free of charge to the community through workshops at the Westmorland Dales Weekend and the Flag Project with schools and community groups through 2024._ ## **Report on Performance and achievements through the year** Our regular programme has continued with much success: ## **Telling Tales, Little Wrigglers and Song-time** KSCA offers the only provision for 0-3 year-olds in the town of Kirkby Stephen with three informal groups for parents and children from birth to school age. We continue to offer a weekly Storytime, Song-time singing session and Little Wrigglers toddler group where parents and children can socialise together. This is particularly important in a rural area where public transport provision is lacking so that parents without a car would find it very difficult if these local groups did not exist. The groups are run by the Mothers & Carers and are helped every week by an enthusiastic group of ladies from the local WI who help with refreshments and lots more! ## **Remote Cinema** During the season we screened 11 films attracting audiences of 24 to 48, generally covering the licensing costs. Ice cream sales at the interval help finances! We have set up a mailing list for the audience and this is helping to market our films. Clashes of dates have been an issue and bookings have now been made until the end of 2026 to allow screenings on the 3[rd] Friday each month, except October, when the Tup Sales Disco has priority. The audience continues to be dominated by older residents, although several younger people have attended. Occasionally visitors to Kirkby Stephen have attended, drawn in by the external advertising board outside The Club. We have a loyal team of volunteers assisting with equipment setup and have also been helped by a young volunteer using Remote Cinema as his volunteering activity for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Changes to the licensing regime at the Club has eliminated the need for KSCA to have a separate licence for cinema and theatre events and allows public purchases of drinks before during and after our screenings. The use of a cleaner’s cupboard at The Club for secure storage of our equipment has proved to be very successful, although a leaking tap gave some cause for concern. A tap guard has been fitted to eliminate this problem. Some equipment is now showing wear and tear. The screen frame has had a minor repair, and the screen sheet has a minor tear at one edge. This may be repairable. The front speaker stands also need replacing. ## **Live events with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme** We hosted four events during the year bringing professional theatre and comedy to Kirkby Stephen. We can do this by working closely with Highlights Rural Touring Scheme. Without the financial subsidy they provide we could not bring such highquality cultural events to our local community. ## 5 October 2023 Every Brilliant Thing from Theatre by the Lake A beautiful and poignant play about depression, suicide and the lengths people go to for those they love. Included a powerful post-show discussion. Audience of 58 3 November 2023 Beyond Caring A new play, looking behind the doors of a care home. Audience of 42 ## 7 March 2024 Help! I Think I’m a Nationalist A one-man comedy show about identity, Cornwall, second homes and bagpipes. Audience of 37 ## 25 April 2024 Patrick Monahan’s Exclusively Edinburgh fringe favourite brought his award-winning comedy to Kirkby Club. Audience of 37 ## **Flags Project - Drawing Hope with Ursula Hurst** In July /August 2024, flags were put up in Kirkby Stephen as part of our year-long Drawing Hope project. People of all ages were involved in making felt bunting and silk flags to express their feelings and hopes for their community Bunting was put up around the town, in Jubilee Park, Silver Street Gardens, Mill Gardens, Frank's Bridge. Large silk flags were put up on buildings in and around town. In early August, we had an article in the Westmorland Herald. The full project has engaged 1000+ people and included: Workshop at Fun Palace, Sept 2023 6 days of school workshops (Brough, Warcop, Kirkby Stephen) took place during March/April 2024 Workshop at Kirkby Stephen Youth Club - March 24 Workshop at Upper Eden Day Care, Soulby - May 2024 Workshop at Kirkby Stephen Scout Group for all sections (beavers, cubs and scouts) - July 2024 - 2 days of workshops at the Westmorland Dales Festival, July 2024 ## **Outdoor events** ## **Summer School with Stomping Ground** In July/August 2024, KSCA delivered Stomping Ground 3 days of summer play days at Jubilee Park, Kirkby Stephen 21 children aged 6-13yrs attended across the three days - 75% of whom are eligible for pupil premium, young carers, SEND or living with long term health conditions. ## **Westmorland Dales Festival - July 2024** Stomping Ground, long established partners and supporters of KSCA, once again provided a day of wild play by the River Eden for the Westmorland Dales Festival and confirmed their place as Festival favourites. They delivered another brilliant event with around 50 happy and absorbed children plus parents / carers – around 90 in total. It attracted a healthy mix of locals and visitors, including a large contingent from Barcelona, with spin off benefits for the wider Festival and the town itself. The Stomping Ground team’s own obvious enjoyment and organisational skills, combined with a light touch, contribute greatly to the overall success of the event. They are self-contained, turn up, get on with the job, conduct all the necessarily rigorous risk assessments and health and safety checks, all without detracting from children’s enjoyment. Their adaptability is also commendable: we asked them to avoid the water this year because of pollution concerns, and apparently the children didn’t even notice – a considerable sleight of hand on a hot day. The projects above illustrate the Kirkby Stephen Community Arts programme. If you would like any more information on our full programme, please visit www.kirkbystephencommunityarts.co.uk Many thanks to the Trustees and the Volunteers who have worked so hard to help us achieve our aims. Access to the arts enhances communities and creates social bonds and a sense of communal identity across generations, incomes and abilities. This is what KSCA aims to do in Kirkby Stephen.