Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
Period start date: 01.10.2024
Period end date: 30.09.2025
Charity name: INK
Charity registration number:1175770
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance the Arts for the public benefit |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
To advance the arts and education for the public benefit by encouraging and supporting the creation of new short scripts for stage and radio. This will be achieved by facilitating collaboration and mentorship among emerging and established writers of all ages, with a particular focus on individuals connected to East Anglia. The charity is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, ensuring opportunities are accessible to underrepresented and marginalised voices within the writing and performing arts communities. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | To provide affordable local access to new drama and to promote greater awareness and appreciation of the performing arts within East Anglia; to advance the education of children and young people in drama and related disciplines; and to support The Cut Performing Arts Centre in Halesworth, Suffolk, along with similar venues, in their efforts to bring high-quality performing arts to their communities. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The INK Festival 2025 was held at The Cut Arts Centre and surrounding venues in Halesworth, Suffolk. What began in 2014 with just 15 original short plays has grown into a nationally recognised celebration of new writing. We now produce over 70 new plays in repertoire, selected from more than 1000 submissions annually. Originally founded as a platform to support aspiring playwrights, INK has evolved into a dynamic hub of artistic expression, buzzing with live art, new ideas, and creative collaboration. We provide a seedbed of talent, jobs, and opportunity for writers, directors, actors, and technical crew – of all ages and levels of experience. Alongside our core programme of short plays, we’ve expanded our artistic offering to include film, music, poetry and comedy, creating a vibrant and diverse cultural experience. Our festival also features workshops, readings, industry talks, and events for children, ensuring engagement across generations and backgrounds. Yet despite our growth, we remain deeply rooted in our founding purpose and place. Our commitment to Halesworth and the East Anglian community is at the heart of everything we do. Beyond the festival, we work year-round with local schools, adult writing groups, ,regional universities, and we collaborate with organisations in health, |
social care, the environment and heritage. INK also tours work to other festivals and venues across the UK, expanding the reach of East Anglian talent and reinforcing our role as a leading force in the development of new drama in the UK.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | INK’S Reserve Policy is to target a minimum freely available cash balance of £10,000 |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | After considerable consideration the Trustees agreed this to be an adequate reserve |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £24,055.75 is the carried forward funds to maintain INK activities throughout the year |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | As above |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are elected and are appointed for a term of 3yrs by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity Trustees(Para 10.1(a) of the INK constitution). |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | INK |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | INK Festival |
| Registered charity number | 1175770 |
| Charity’s principal address | INKSpot, Unit10, The Cut Arts Centre 8 New Cut, HALESWORTH Suffolk IP19 8BY |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year | Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heather Newill | Chair | 16.07.24 | ||
| Julia Sowerbutts | Artistic Director | |||
| AnthonyMackintosh | ||||
| Rob Gildon | ||||
| Ben Elder | ||||
| Simon Trewin | ||||
| Kevin Murphy | 20.05.24 | |||
| Vincent Franklin | 20.10.24 | |||
| Paul Schlesinger | 11.11.24 | |||
| Julia Berry | 11.11.24 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name n/a
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
n/a |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
n/a |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
n/a |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser |
Name Address |
Name Address |
|---|---|---|
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
| INK (From Pen to Performance) | INK (From Pen to Performance) | INK (From Pen to Performance) | 1175770 | 1175770 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
01/10/2024 | To | 30/09/2025 | |||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 9,634 5,000 7,178 53,306 16,750 3,166 95,034 - - - 95,034 25,000 12,000 5,525 31,952 18,703 591 408 - 94,179 - - - 94,179 855 - - 14,671 - 13,816 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 110,031 - 110,031 - - - 110,031 63,281 40,091 3,056 - 106,428 - - - 106,428 3,603 - 38,727 42,330 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 9,634 110,031 5,000 7,178 - 53,306 16,750 3,166 205,065 - - - 205,065 88,281 52,091 5,525 31,952 18,703 591 408 3,056 - 200,607 - - - 200,607 4,458 - 24,056 28,514 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Donations | 9,634 | 2,338 | ||||
| Grants | 65,050 | |||||
| Grants- FoyleFoundation | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||
| FundRaisingEvents | 7,178 | 5,509 | ||||
| Workshops | - | |||||
| Ticket Sales | 53,306 | 50,530 | ||||
| Sponsors | 16,750 | 10,450 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 3,166 | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
95,034 |
138,877 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 138,877 | ||||||
Production Costs |
25,000 | 68,656 | ||||
| Technical Costs | 12,000 | 46,666 | ||||
| Office Costs | 5,525 | 3,850 | ||||
| SUB CONTRACTED STAFF | 31,952 | 27,734 | ||||
| DESIGN | 18,703 | 9,913 | ||||
| Insurance | 591 | 480 | ||||
| WEBSITE | 408 | 1,613 | ||||
| Activities for Youth | 1,050 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | 94,179 | 159,962 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end **Cash funds this year end ** |
||||||
| 159,962 | ||||||
| 855 | 3,603 | - | 4,458 | - 21,085 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - 14,671 | 38,727 | - | 24,056 | 45,141 | ||
| - 13,816 | 42,330 | - | 28,514 | 24,056 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
25/03/2026
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at | the end of the period | Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Barclays Liabilities - Barclaycard Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - 13,816 42,397 - 67 - - - 13,816 42,330 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
||
| Date of approval |
||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
25/03/2026
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANO AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truslees INK (Pen to Perfomiance) On accounts for the year ended 3010912025 Charity no lif any) 1175770 Set out on pages 3and4 I report to the trustees on my examination of the aGcounts of the above charity {Yhe Trust ) for the year ended 3010912025. Responsibilities and basls of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in a¢cordanee 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{51(b) of the Act. Independant tThe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examlnerfs 3tatsment undertake the exarninalion by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete I l if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examinalion (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material spect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act- or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply wilh the applicable requirements Conrning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding oflhe accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: 2510312026 Name: Peter Hennem Relevant professional quallfication(s) or body (if any): Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Address: Bowen House, 108 Wangford Road. Reydon, Southwold, IP18 6NZ IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examinats'on of tharity accounts.. directions and guidan for examiners). Give hern brief dotails of any Items that the axamlner wl8hes to dlsclose IER Oct 2018