## **HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES** !" **REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
**Charity Number 1175769 HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM TRUSTEES** !" **ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2021**
In accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Constitution
_2_
## **Chairs Report - Tony Skipper**
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity for the year ending 30 August 2021 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a director’s report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
The year September 2020 - August 2021 has continued to be difficult for the charity with the covid pandemic persisting into a second year. The pandemic has been testing for all of us. Each time there was a change in circumstances in the country with coronavirus we have had to restructure our business plan and work out a new way of continuing operations and projects under different circumstances. Essentially, we were only operational for 4 months during this financial year.
Sheena Tomlinson was appointed as Trustee with financial oversight and Mike Browne was appointed on 5 May 2021
We continued to amend the layout of the studios to aid social distancing and everyone in the organisation worked hard; being flexible and accommodating to further the aims of the charity.
Despite the difficulties, the charity continues to thrive, largely through the exceptional efforts of the CEO, our trusted collaborators and volunteers and my fellow Trustees.
In closing, I would like to also thank our members, volunteers, tutors, artists and freelance managers who make our work at the studios possible.
Should you wish to follow our news as it happens, please feel free to visit our website at www.inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
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## **Objectives**
The purpose of the Charity is:
" _To advance the education of the public in the Arts, Science and the History and Heritage of Altrincham by the provision of public events including performances, exhibitions, workshops, talks and by other means as the Trustees may determine.”_
As an organisation we aim to deliver quality arts appreciation, education and training to the local community to help people practice good mental health and well-being. We focus on motivating passion and creativity in people, with the aim of bringing people together for enjoyment and social engagement, encouraging them to be imaginative, creating things that are new and different in a supportive environment.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The year from September 2020 to August 2021 was a particularly difficult year.
## **Covid Restrictions during our Financial Year September 2020- August 2021**
- 14 September ‘Rule of six’ – indoor and outdoor social gatherings above six banned in England
- 5 November Second national lockdown comes into force in England 2 December Second lockdown ends after four weeks, and England returns to a stricter three-tier system of restrictions
- 6 January England enters third national lockdown 1 June Phased re-opening of schools in England 15 June non-essential shops reopen in England 23 June PM says UK’s "national hibernation” coming to an end – announces relaxing of restrictions and 2m social distancing rule
- 29 June Matt Hancock announces that the UK’s first local lockdown would be applied in Leicester and parts of Leicestershire
- 14 August Lockdown restrictions eased further, including reopening indoor theatres, bowling alleys and soft play
At the start of the financial year more restrictions came into place combined with at the beginning of November a second short lock down. After that, a strict tier system comes into place followed by another lockdown, just after Christmas. It wasn’t until 6 months later in June that restrictions are finally lifted.
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
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Our effective operating year was reduced to 4 months, with those months severely restricted operationally and as a result we were unable to hold classes for much of that time.
Evidenced in the Financial Report 20/21 there is little or no classes, our building was
closed and there was no use of the studios as a result of the national pandemic.
With the population coming out of hibernation very cautiously, this had a huge detrimental effect on activities and operations in the studios. The only area that saw an increase in income was the rental income of the studios and the co-working space which provided a steady income throughout the year.
## **Classes, Workshops and Groups**
With every lockdown we had to close the building and investigate any possible ways of changing how we ran our educational program and try to work to a new way of continuing our work under the different covid circumstances.
We encountered many disadvantages to working on zoom:
- Art is a 3d subject and internet and computers are a poor imitation of real life.
- Technology, software and internet connectivity in the home restricted some members from participating.
- Some participants disliked the complexity and difficulty of participating online.
- Separation between the student and the tutor. Students don’t have to show their work
- and it’s very difficult to see and judge from their viewpoint, especially remotely.
However, there were a few advantages including:
- Weekly contact between members of groups which was good for health and well-being.
- We have persevered and found different ways to work with students that were not possible in the classroom. For example, different camera angles that can’t be achieved in a classroom environment.
- Attending classes virtually means people could meet on a weekly basis; practicing Health and Well-being, they are less socially isolated.
Even after the lifting of the lockdown over the summer months, numbers, were still extremely low. Older people who mainly attend the classes were extremely nervous of going out for fear of catching covid. Staff were also concerned about mixing in spaces.
It was helpful to meet (on zoom) with members of the South Manchester Community Collective. Their feedback from other Local VCSE networking group and organisations are all reporting similar problems.
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
_5_
## **Refurbishment**
We completed the refurbishment of the gallery; the new recording studio and two new studio spaces during this year. The two additional studios are now complete and provide space for aspiring artists at an affordable and nominal charge. The aim is for us to become more sustainable. All the studios have slowly been taken by artists in this year and are now fully let. With demand high and occupancy rates good, we are confident our revised business model is relevant and appropriate for the communities which we serve and validates our drive for financial sustainability as set out in our original business plan.
## **Exhibitions**
The refurbishments have made the space more inviting and functional allowing shows, events and exhibitions to be shown in the context of a live working studio environment.
With another lockdown in November 2021, we hosted an exhibition called “Closed shop”. We built boxes to represent presents and each artist was able to use the box to show their work. A QR code linked the artist to the customer walking past thereby allowing window shopping on the high street during the pandemic. Some used tv screens on a loop playing images of their work. It put artists in direct contact with customers in a unique and engaging way.
The work of one of the Artist’s in the exhibition, Ruth Fildes, was outstanding. We had been following her progress and she had won lots of praise in the Manchester Open Exhibition and had also had work in the Portrait for NHS Heroes,
_“I_ ’ _m absolutely thrilled that one of my #portraitsfornhsheroes paintings has been selected for the front cover of @artisttalkmagazine"_
We invited her to complete an exhibition in May entitled, “ _Don’t worry Mum I’m Fine_ ”, to take us out of lockdown. The exhibition showed her journey through the previous year of lockdown with a series of self-portraits! She investigates her face from every angle and composition. She is prolific and the exhibition was covered in her pictures showing different guises and angles, working her media into various surfaces using many application methods. The exhibition was a huge success and has been much commented on.
## **Music Recording Studios**
Having a new Music Recording Studio was a great new asset but we were unable to open the building and market the recording studios for use by the general public. So, whilst
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
_6_
waiting we investigated grant bids with different organisations. We were keen to work with Trafford Young Carers to complete a singer song writing course, but we were unfortunately unsuccessful in our application.
## **Skills & Training**
The Skills and Training Course appointed 2019, slowly continued between the many lockdowns over the year finally finishing in August 2021. The course had proved successful in helping people to gain confidence and finding new directions in their careers.
Tutoring this project, we had to alter our perception of how to work with and encourage people back into work or education. The key, we found, was to keep the course very flexible and not to be too specific, working with individuals on their particular needs.
Most people attending suffered from a complete lack of self-confidence and as a team we had to quickly understand each person’s needs and to help them practically. We have found our post -session discussions useful to gain an insight into individual needs and the best approach to tutoring and learning.
People have very different goals and many different reasons to enrol on the course. The participants learned a lot in a relatively short space of time about the new and different career options open to them.
There have been many success stories; some have found new work and new opportunities, some not always in the areas of work that they wanted, but we are reassured that the experience they have had with us will have inspired them to take the necessary steps in the right direction towards a purposeful life. Others have been fortunate to find jobs they are excited and thrilled with and others have returned to education. We had a few that started new small businesses being able to prototype some of their products whilst they were with us. Many connections arose from conversations with each other.
Whether individuals work in similar subjects or in an entirely different field, by sharing news on opportunities to apply for; events to attend or even insights into professional connections to work with, all studio occupants’ practice will benefit from increased exposure and awareness of key "players” in their shared arts community.
## **Membership**
The members have been incredibly loyal to the charity and many maintained Membership payments throughout lockdown. Understandably, our membership however decreased.
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
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We cannot offer any of the usual benefits to members. We will re-establish membership when we are able to offer membership benefits.
## **Makerspace**
In the Makerspace this year we have worked hard, and all the machines are now working efficiently and ready to use by the public during the skills and training course.
With the new studios created we now have 7 rooms that we are able to let out under licence providing much needed income to subsidise other charitable activities. There are many benefits for artists and makers having a studio to work in. A studio is much more social than working at home. The charity operates a membership system that gives discounts within the organisation, for example, workshops, commission on artists work and this encourages people to attend classes regularly.
## **Financial Review**
Accounts have been prepared under Charity Commission CC16A Receipts and Payments
## **Accounts**
Although we have had to contend with coronavirus this year, we have been successful in obtaining grants which has helped support us whilst all the other activities have stopped. We also received the Covid Grant which we have used to support people renting studios; our own organisation and operating costs and to part-fund the refurbishment of space. The Grant from ESF caused cashflow concerns which needed to be managed because expenditure is paid before grant money is finally received. Under normal circumstances this would have been easier to manage, but with reduced overall income and a final payment of 40% representing nearly £8,000 required careful planning and under the circumstances we achieved a small surplus of £1000.
## **Work Completed During Lockdowns**
From November 2020 Jo Cushing the CEO worked reduced hours. The Studios had already closed due to Government Lockdown due to Covid Numbers being high.
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
_8_
## **New Cultural Policy**
We are still lobbying the local council for details of their plans for the New Cultural Policy in Trafford.
## **Plans for the Future**
We are 3.5 years through our tenancy, so we are investigating possibilities for the future in terms of space. We are looking at 2 spaces that have been advertised by the local council as “for disposal” and are mindful that business plans take time and that the future is sometimes uncertain. We are talking to several stakeholders in the town to discuss possibilities and keep our options open for the future.
## **Fundraising**
The charity does not work with a professional fundraiser or a commercial participator.
## **Pricing Policy**
Our pricing policy remains the same. We ensure that classes are affordable to enable all the community, whatever their means to take part in our activities.
- Classes are £15 per session /£10 for members.
- Young Peoples Classes £10 / session
- Exhibitions Commission 40%/ 25% for members
- Membership £5/month or £60/year.
Pricing has remained the same for the last 10 years. We will be investigating a new
pricing strategy with affordable payment to those in the next financial year.
## **Reserves**
As a policy the organisation would ideally like to see a figure of 10% of turnover. We currently hold net cash reserves of £ 147 plus awaiting our final payment from ESF of £7,900.00 leaving an overall reserve of £8,047 for the year.
The charity does not operate an Investment policy, nor do we have any current social investment policy.
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021
Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
_9_
## **Outstanding Monies**
We are awaiting our final grant payment for work completed from ESF of £7,900.00
## **Financial Controls**
During the pandemic the charity decided not to change the financial controls as there was so many upheavals. As we are a multi-purpose space and we have a gallery mainly for members to sell their work we were entitled to a Covid Lockdown Grant. This was followed in financial year 20-21 with covid grants of:
23/11/20 LRSG Payment Scheme 4 £ 2,000 17/05/21 The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) £12,000
The income and grant funding for the year was wholly received from UK Central Government or the Local Authority sources. No grants were received from outside the UK.
The Charity has no trading subsidiaries and it does not take part in Grant Making.
No charity's staff received total employee benefits of £60,000 or more.
The Trustees received no financial renumeration or benefits.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Every appointed trustee is requested to be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. However, under exceptional circumstances, trustees sometimes serve for shorter periods.
Trustees are brought into the organisation through direct invitation or by open application and only after a proper selection process. Many Trustees have historically been known to the organisation or have been recommended.
Newly appointed Trustees are inducted and given all information relating to the structure, governing and management of the Charity, including details of the Charity’s Constitution; Previous CEO Reports and Minutes and are invited to the studios to discuss how the organisation works as well as their contribution.
The composition of the Trustee group aims to bring a range of skills in Business Administration; Finance; Health & Safety; HR and Marketing and where particular skills might be lacking Trustees look for outside consultancy and assistance.
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
_10_
The Trustees also have access to good legal advice on an adhoc basis by a friend and advisor to the Charity.
At least one Trustee and the CEO are DBS checked as well as other tutors and
collaborators as necessary in accordance with the Charity’s Safeguarding Policy.
Hidden Altrincham Festival is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that is governed by it’s constitution dated 16/11/17. It is registered with the Charity Commission. The Charity only operates in England and anyone over the age of 18 can become a member.
The charity employs the CEO directly and a Maker Space Manager on an adhoc, as and when self-employed basis depending on workload and grant funding successes.
Other tutors intrinsic to the organisation, work on a freelance basis and rent the space from the charity for their classes. As grants are obtained for specific projects in the future, tutors are employed from a pool of available collaborators on a self-employed basis.
## **Risk Management**
The Charity is satisfied that it manages its risks appropriately. We adopt a low-risk strategy and identify early threats and challenges to the organisation that may pose risks to income, expenditure, health and safety or safeguarding.
The Charity has a comprehensive and high-quality all risks insurance policy and has adopted key procedural and operational policies in line with the Charity's Commissions guidance.
The previous year has not been without its difficulties, but progress is being made to continue to address and improve upon the processes, risks and opportunities to ensure a more robust and secure future for the charity.
Specifically, more stringent management, operational, communication and accounting procedures have been put in place. However, the impact of COVID has and is likely to continue to be disruptive to the smooth management and operation of the organisation at least over the short to medium term.
The situation going forward needs to be monitored closely but the Trustees are confident that significant progress is on track. Inch Arts has and will continue to find new and more value-added roles to play in helping address COVID impacts on the community and local economy.
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
_11_
The trustees confirm they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
## **Reference and Administrative details as of 01/09/21**
**Charity name:** Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO **Trading as:** Inch Arts **Address:** 20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ
**Contact Number:** 07873263271 **Email:** info@inch-arts.co.uk **Current Website:** inch-arts.co.uk
## **Current Trustees**
Anthony Skipper (Chair) February 2019 Sheena Tomlinson, Treasurer Steve Sheppard Mike Browne
## **Chief Executive** Jo Cushing
## **Declarations**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees ’report above.
Anthony Skipper - Chair of Trustees Signed on behalf of the board of Trustees
Date 30 May 2022
HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM CIO TRUSTEES!"ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021 Trading as Hidden Altrincham Festival CIO Charity Number: 1175769
20 Stamford New Road Altrincham Cheshire WA14 1EJ 07873263271 info@inch-arts.co.uk
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HIDDEN ALTRINCHAM FESTIVAL CIO FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021**
## _12_
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended August 31 2021, comprising the statement of receipts and payments and the statement of assets and liabilities ~~.~~
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## _Peter Smith_
## **Peter Smith BA FCA DChA**
HGA Accountants & Financial Consultants Ltd T/A Chittenden Horley -Chartered Accountants 456 Chester Road Old Trafford Manchester M16 9HD Date:1/06/22
**HIDDEN ALTRICHAM FESTIVAL CIO STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31 2021**
_13_
|**Income**
**Art Projects**
**Classes & Workshops**
**Covid Grant**
**Donations and legacies**
**Facilities income**
**Furlough**
**Gallery Sales**
**Grant**
**Membership**
**Services**
**Studio Rental**
**Other Income**
**Total Income**
**Total**
**Expenditures**
**Advertising/Promotional**
**Bank charges**
**business rates**
**Canteen**
**Commission**
**Computer Costs**
**Entertainment**
**Exhibition Expenses**
**Expenses**
**Facilities equipment**
**Gallery Artist Payment**
**HMRC earnings payment**
**Insurances**
**Interest Payable**
**Jo - Salary**
**Marketing 2**
**Materials & Equipment**
**Office/General Administrative Expenses**
**Other professional services**
**Parking**
**PPE supplies**
**Printing, Postage and Stationery**
**Raising funds**
**Refreshments**
**Refuse collection**
**Repair & Maintenance**
**session worker**
**Sessional Worker**
**Sundries**
**Teaching materials**
**Utilities**
**charged to restricted funds**
**Sub total**
Purchase of fixed assets
**Total payments**
**Net receipts**
**balances brought forward**
**Balances carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**total**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**_£_**
866
-
866
_-_
277
-
277
_7,459_
26,571
-
26,571
_-_
110
-
110
_-_
120
-
120
_-_
5,634
-
5,634
_-_
522
-
522
_3,178_
-
6,912
6,912
_40,418_
1,658
-
1,658
_8,456_
51
-
51
_-_
3,085
-
3,085
_4,612_
93
-
93
_2,070_
38,987
6,912
45,899
_66,193_
186
-
186
_622_
11
-
11
_50_
1,821
-
1,821
_2,370_
1,031
-
1,031
_-_
-
-
-
_4,695_
281
-
281
_3,015_
60
-
60
_-_
236
-
236
_-_
27
-
27
_1,590_
3,220
-
3,220
_125_
(459)
-
(459)
_-_
165
-
165
_-_
1,486
-
1,486
_1,576_
-
-
-
_91_
12,119
-
12,119
_15,243_
1,038
-
1,038
_-_
1,176
-
1,176
_-_
1,967
-
1,967
_685_
-
-
-
_2,238_
-
-
-
_54_
-
-
-
_10,544_
179
-
179
_285_
-
-
-
_49_
-
-
-
_942_
-
-
-
_706_
265
-
265
_2,661_
11,920
-
11,920
_-_
3,415
-
3,415
_-_
342
-
342
_5,654_
-
-
-
_2,433_
1,265
-
1,265
_740_
(6,912)
6,912
-
_-_
34,839
6,912
41,751
56,368
-
-
-
_782_
-
-
-
_782_
34,839
6,912
41,751
_57,150_
**4,148**
**-**
**4,148**
**_9,043_**
13,027
13,027
3,984
**17,175**
**-**
**17,175**
13,027|
|---|---|
## **HIDDEN ALTRICHAM FESTIVAL CIO STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT AUGUST 31 2021**
_14_
|**AS AT AUGUST 31 2021**
_14_|||
|---|---|---|
|cash at bank
Assets retained for charty's own use
**Liabilities**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
17,175
-
17,175
972
-
972
18,147
-
18,147
-
-
-
-
-
-|**total**
**2020**
**_£_**
_13,027_
_972_|
|||_13,999_|
|||_-_|
|||-|