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2021-03-31-accounts

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Strike A Light (Gloucester)
Annual Report 2020-21
Charity number: 1178449
Registered address: Enterprise Hub,
10 Commercial Rd,
Gloucester, GL1 2EA
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“To build beautiful community like this, especially during a national lockdown, is certainly a gift from above. Thank you all for sharing so much”

- SheSpoke participant

Contents

Welcome

2020 was an extraordinary year for Strike A Light.

The chance to re-evaluate and reimagine has given us new energy, direction and purpose to deliver our charitable objects. We have been extremely grateful for our relative financial security and the incredible support and flexibility from funders. This safe place to operate from, combined with the fact that we actively enjoy questioning the status quo, allowed us to respond to the most central of questions.

Our charitable purpose is:

TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN AND INCREASE APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF ALL FORMS OF THE ARTS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THEATRE AND DANCE. TO PRESENT, PRODUCE, ORGANISE AND PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARTS ACTIVITY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF THE CITY OF GLOUCESTER

In this context, then: ~~What~~ ~~is the arts for?~~ ~~Who~~ ~~is it for?~~

We reviewed that original purpose, of public benefit, of education and of the benefits of high quality arts activity when it’s made accessible to everyone and we found new ways to deliver against our charitable objects. Ways which place the public our charity was set up for and the artists who create the art we exist to promote, at the centre of decision making and of delivering those charitable objects with us.

We spent 2020 working with artists, communities and young people , articulating our ideas and testing them out further. These have become the basis for our 7 ingredients and our methodology for creating powerful, relevant cultural events, with artists and local communities at the heart. We believe this way of working will do more to build the fair, adventurous, inclusive world we want to see.

Over the last year, we have worked alongside community producers, local and national artists to craft a creative response to their community's needs , co-creating a programme of events, workshops and films which continued in and out of lockdown, addressed isolation and platformed underrepresented voices.

This has included: a community song with outdoor beatbox workshops and lyrics collected from people on their doorsteps, a fashion show with local dancers and designers working alongside a professional choreographer, telephone conversations with the city’s Black elders turned into an audio archive and film, a chat show hosted by a nationally significant spoken word artist and profiling figures in the city’s Black communities, and a poetry group platforming Muslim women’s voices whose words were then embroidered onto a banner created by a further 25 women who received hand delivered packages of materials and a video tutorial.

The Common Vision Think Tank’s report on what enabled arts organisations to work during the COVID-19 pandemic articulated both why Strike A Light has been successfully delivering over the past year but also provides a checklist of the qualities that we want to retain as an organisation going into 2021-22:

“Cultural work had a specialised role to play in sustaining creativity, hope, and human connection through lockdown, and developing humancentred, bottom-up, and imaginative solutions to collective problems.”

About the charity

Strike A Light (SAL) began in Gloucester in 2013 as part of the Collaborative Touring Network (CTN), initially funded by Arts Council England (ACE) Strategic Touring Fund and Esméee Fairbairn Foundation amongst others, spearheaded by Battersea Arts Centre. CTN was a new touring programme bringing national touring work to cultural cold spots. In 2018 SAL became a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funded by ACE. We are still the only organisation in the city regularly programming professional performance work.

SAL is a registered charity with a board of diverse and active trustees. The 2020-21 trustees are:

SAL’s vision is of world changing culture and creativity for all. We work towards this through:

It is key to our work and community impact that we are not venue based. We work across the city, with communities, programming work into community venues and working with community leaders, building diverse audiences for cultural programming, supporting diverse artists and delivering participation projects for children and young people that are financially accessible.

Gloucester is a diverse city and we make sure that the people we work with, the shows we programme and the companies we support reflect this. Our approach is to build long term relationships with communities who are least represented in arts engagement and the cultural industries nationally. We have made an ongoing commitment to working in the Matson, Barton and Tredworth estates in Gloucester, with a particular focus on working with communities who are living in social deprivation, working class communities and those from Black, Caribbean, African and South Asian backgrounds.

Vision, Mission and Values Our vision

World-changing culture and creativity for all

Mission

Creating social change through extraordinary performance events, creative projects with communities and participation opportunities for young people.

What we do

Our values

~~Diversity~~

~~Generosity~~

~~Change~~

Delivering against our charitable objects

Our programme of projects and events over the year reached 147 live audience members with 22,824 online engagements. We partnered with Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Culture Trust and other city partners on large scale public art events which reached at least a further 27,000 people.

We created opportunities for 2,139 children and young people to take part in dance and drama classes and workshops, with an estimated further 2,744 school pupils taking part in our online Strike A Light in Schools programme. We delivered 38 artist support sessions and offered 10 artist residencies.

After cancelling live events on 17 March 2020, our response went through 3 key stages:

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Managing the Supporting artists
immediate and companies
situation and whose livelihoods
ensuring we are have been
communicating decimated, Re-imagining our
all changes providing help 2020 programme,
to audiences with accessing with communities
and funding, and artists at the
stakeholders. honouring heart of it.
Setting up financial
home working commitments,
and assessing our giving advice
financial position and support.
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To be able to promote the arts and benefit the public, there needs to be an arts ecology, there need to be diverse artists making accessible, relevant work. With the significant threat that the pandemic posed to the future of this work, our work against our charitable objects in 2020-21 has included both work with artists on how the arts charity sector operates and working with communities to address hyper-local needs. Through bringing artists and communities together to create arts projects and events we address both of these issues and were able to deliver against our charitable objects continually throughout the year.

Arts performances, projects and events

Our summer 2020 programme was delivered digitally, with a focus on commissioning local artists, sharing unheard voices and offering creative opportunities for those who are isolated. In the brief period where restrictions were relaxed we were able to deliver one live, socially-distanced event and also partnered on large scale installations and visual arts projects. As our response developed over Autumn 2020 we delivered a new model of working, Gloucester Presents, which teamed up community members as producers, with local artists and national artists to develop creative projects responding to community needs and interests.

Our programme of projects and events over the year reached 147 live audience members with 22,824 online engagements. We partnered with Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Culture Trust and other city partners on large scale public art events which reached at least a further 27,000 people.

During 2020-21 we:

Through Gloucester Presents we worked with 11 artists, 5 community producers, 127 community participants, 65 young people and more than 14,000 online audience.

30% of community members are Deaf, disabled or living with a long term health condition. 41% Black, British Indian, British Asian or mixed heritage. 57% living in postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on the IMD.

We believe that the arts need to tell everyone’s stories and that people need to see themselves represented and heard in cultural programmes. All the national artists involved in ‘Gloucester presents’ were people of colour. 50% of all the artists we worked with across the year were people of colour.

Sharing our methodology to promote the arts

Over the last year we have been increasingly asked to share our methodology regarding co-creation and community engagement. We believe this is vital to continue to deliver against our charitable objects and promote the arts for the public benefit. Artists and communities need to be at the centre of decision making in order to ensure that arts activity is truly for the public benefit- that it responds to communities needs, addresses barriers to access, reaches diverse communities and provides educational and reflective opportunities. We are addressing this in our own work and sharing this with the wider arts and charities sector to expand the reach.

In 2020-21 we:

Participation, Learning and Development

This work underpins and interacts with all our other strands of work and is a vital core part of delivering against our objects.

We focus on learning and development opportunities for young people and for new diverse cultural leaders throughout our work.

In 2020-21 we:

‘I think it's boosting confidence and he seems to be very happy there. Obviously now it's remotely, he seems to be very happy and willing to volunteer. And at school I've noticed that he puts his hand up a lot now.’ ‘The girls have more confidence, they express themselves more.’ ‘Developed more confidence in themselves in terms of speaking and sharing ideas.’

‘SAL have been fantastically helpful. I really feel that they have believed in me and that has helped me to believe in myself. Overall, I feel like being part of Future producers has been a turning point for me in my career, and so many opportunities have opened up for me. I really am so glad I applied!’ - Hannah, Future Producer

Our provision within youth participation has been an area of growth, which has continued through this year. This can be seen particularly in our schools work where we have been able to support the national curriculum with physical activity through a series of online dance resources as well as provide a live digital music tour delivered by Multi-Story Orchestra which enhanced what schools could offer to children whilst home learning. With an emphasis on Maths, English and Science in home learning teachers identified the need to use professional resources to provide a substructure of the arts. As a result we had 32 teaching professionals sign up for our weekly dance sessions, because of this we had to increase our capacity and employed two freelancers to help choreograph and deliver the sessions online.

Weekly youth arts delivery has been sustained continually within Youth Theatre and partially through Youth Dance Company. We worked with RISE youth dance to create weekly sessions on zoom for a period. We extended this to a one off project, 'Striking Space' which encouraged young people to learn a choreographed dance, get outside and use the rural and urban landscapes around them to create their own performance which we then transformed into a dance film. All of the children who engaged with the film were new contacts to Strike A Light.

All of our weekly delivery offers free places for any young people living in postcode areas in the city in the top 20% of deprivation, including Matson where we hold our Youth Theatre for 7-11 year olds. We are currently full to capacity in this group and have a waiting list, demonstrating the need for these activities.

We have supported young people to attend workshops delivered by both local and national artists and subsidised the cost to parents who would have been financially impacted by their children taking part. Throughout the year our commitment to engage with young people and develop their creativity has not subsided and we have only seen an increase in the importance and demand for such provision within Gloucester.

Financial and reserves position

Strike A Light ended the year in a secure financial position, thanks to the support of trusts and foundations. We were able to utilise the government furlough scheme where staff were unable to work due to homeschooling responsibilities and where our workload, activity and income were reduced due to cancelled live events. We curbed spending and made savings on some overheads and staff expenses. We were therefore able to make an end of year contribution to our reserves, taking the total to £65,000 which is in line with our reserves policy to hold three months running costs. The policy will be reviewed in light of the current fundraising landscape and is evaluated by the board annually as a minimum. We were also able to bring forward a contribution to our core running costs of approximately £9,322 which given the current economic environment will prove invaluable.

We have reviewed our fundraising strategy and are working with a consultant to develop individual giving and corporate giving fundraising strands to broaden our fundraising and income base.

Governance, management and staffing SAL has a part time staff team of 15. Of these posts 2 are internships funded through Big Lottery Community Fund and 2 are leadership associates as part of Women Leaders South West. Of the remainder, 5 are freelance project-based staff. There are then 6 part time PAYE staff members who run the charity on a day to day basis.

This staffing structure allows us to be flexible and posts are developed and structured in response to funding opportunities, making our staffing commitments manageable. We also work with other freelance staff and artists throughout the year.

From our annual staff and freelancer survey (38 responses)

The board meets quarterly to ensure activity is monitored and SAL’s financial and risk positions regularly reviewed. We have recently undergone a period of review of our governance, resulting in a smaller, more focused board and a new plan for opening up and diversifying our governance.

Unrestricted Restricted 31.03.2021 31.03.2020
Funds Funds Total Funds TotalFunds
£ £
INCOMING RESOURCES
IncomingResourcesfromgenerated
funds
Voluntaryincome 37,270 273,749 311,019 531,595
RESOURCESEXPENDED
Charitableactivities
Production
Governancecosts
23,378 273,749 297,127 455,916
250
Total resources expended 23,378 273,749 297,127 456,166
NETINCOMING/(OUTGOING)
RESOURCES 13,892 13,892 75,429
Total funds brought forward 75,429 75,429
TOTALFUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD 89,321 89,321 75,429

Unrestricted Restricted 31.03.2020 31.03.2020
Notes Funds Funds TotalFunds TotalFunds
£ £
CURRENTASSETS
Cashatbankandinhand 89,321 186,199 275,520 171,747
Debtors and prepayments 3 9,860 9,860 12,020
89,321 196,059 285,380 183,767
CREDITORSs
Amounts falling duewithin oneyear 4 (196,059) (196,059) (108,338)
NETCURRENTASSETS 89,321 89,321 75,429
TOTALASSETS LESSCURRENT
LIABILITIESs 89,321 89,321 75,429
NETASSETS 89,321 89,321 75,429
FUNDS
Restrictedfunds
Unrestricted funds 89,321 75,429
TOTAL FUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD 89,321 75,429

2021 2020
Tradedebtors 9,860 9,020
Accruedincome 3,000
9,860 12,020
Page 6

2021 2020
£ £
Tradecreditors 168 16,530
Accruals anddeferredincome 195,891 91,808
196,059 108,338
5. STATEMENTOFMOVEMENTS
Asat Net At
01.04.2020 movementin 31.03.2021
funds
£
Unrestricted funds
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000 15,000
15,000
65,000
15,000
Corefund
Restricted funds
25,429 (16,107) 9,322
TOTALFUNDS 75,429 13,893 89,322
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000
Corefund
25,429
Restricted funds
TOTALFUNDS
75,429
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000
Corefund
25,429
Restricted funds
TOTALFUNDS
75,429
15,000
15,000
(16,107)
13,893
65,000
15,000
9,322
89,322
Netmovementinfunds, included intheaboveareas follows:
Incoming Resources Movement
Resources Expenses infunds
£
Unrestrictedfunds
Designatedfund 15,000 15,000
Designatedfund2 15,000 15,000
Corefund 12,271 (28,379) (16,107)
Restrictedfund
TOTALFUNDS
268,748
311,019
(268,748)
(297,127)
13,893

2021 2020
£
INCOMINGRESOURCES
Voluntaryincome
Grantincomefrom Trusts 158,885 371,111
Arts Council NPOGrant ,564 85,000
The JuliaandHans Rausing Trust 10,300
TheSummerfieldTrust 8,000
The Foyle Foundation 10,000
Donationfromprevious SALentity 52,181
Fundraising
EarnedIncome
1,746
2,278
2,471
15,719
CorporateDonations 857 5,000
278,630 531,482
Other income
Governmentfurlough payments 32,146
Bankinterest received 243 32,389 113 113
Totalincomingresources 311,019 531,595
RESOURCESEXPENDED
Charitableactivities
Productioncosts 297,127 455,916
Governancecosts
Accountancy 250
Totalresourcesexpended 297,127 456,166
Net Income/lexpenditure) 13,892 75,429

Unrestricted Restricted 31.03.2021 31.03.2020
Funds Funds Total Funds TotalFunds
£ £
INCOMING RESOURCES
IncomingResourcesfromgenerated
funds
Voluntaryincome 37,270 273,749 311,019 531,595
RESOURCESEXPENDED
Charitableactivities
Production
Governancecosts
23,378 273,749 297,127 455,916
250
Total resources expended 23,378 273,749 297,127 456,166
NETINCOMING/(OUTGOING)
RESOURCES 13,892 13,892 75,429
Total funds brought forward 75,429 75,429
TOTALFUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD 89,321 89,321 75,429

Unrestricted Restricted 31.03.2020 31.03.2020
Notes Funds Funds TotalFunds TotalFunds
£ £
CURRENTASSETS
Cashatbankandinhand 89,321 186,199 275,520 171,747
Debtors and prepayments 3 9,860 9,860 12,020
89,321 196,059 285,380 183,767
CREDITORSs
Amounts falling duewithin oneyear 4 (196,059) (196,059) (108,338)
NETCURRENTASSETS 89,321 89,321 75,429
TOTALASSETS LESSCURRENT
LIABILITIESs 89,321 89,321 75,429
NETASSETS 89,321 89,321 75,429
FUNDS
Restrictedfunds
Unrestricted funds 89,321 75,429
TOTAL FUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD 89,321 75,429

2021 2020
Tradedebtors 9,860 9,020
Accruedincome 3,000
9,860 12,020
Page 6

2021 2020
£ £
Tradecreditors 168 16,530
Accruals anddeferredincome 195,891 91,808
196,059 108,338
5. STATEMENTOFMOVEMENTS
Asat Net At
01.04.2020 movementin 31.03.2021
funds
£
Unrestricted funds
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000 15,000
15,000
65,000
15,000
Corefund
Restricted funds
25,429 (16,107) 9,322
TOTALFUNDS 75,429 13,893 89,322
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000
Corefund
25,429
Restricted funds
TOTALFUNDS
75,429
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
50,000
Corefund
25,429
Restricted funds
TOTALFUNDS
75,429
15,000
15,000
(16,107)
13,893
65,000
15,000
9,322
89,322
Netmovementinfunds, included intheaboveareas follows:
Incoming Resources Movement
Resources Expenses infunds
£
Unrestrictedfunds
Designatedfund 15,000 15,000
Designatedfund2 15,000 15,000
Corefund 12,271 (28,379) (16,107)
Restrictedfund
TOTALFUNDS
268,748
311,019
(268,748)
(297,127)
13,893

2021 2020
£
INCOMINGRESOURCES
Voluntaryincome
Grantincomefrom Trusts 158,885 371,111
Arts Council NPOGrant ,564 85,000
The JuliaandHans Rausing Trust 10,300
TheSummerfieldTrust 8,000
The Foyle Foundation 10,000
Donationfromprevious SALentity 52,181
Fundraising
EarnedIncome
1,746
2,278
2,471
15,719
CorporateDonations 857 5,000
278,630 531,482
Other income
Governmentfurlough payments 32,146
Bankinterest received 243 32,389 113 113
Totalincomingresources 311,019 531,595
RESOURCESEXPENDED
Charitableactivities
Productioncosts 297,127 455,916
Governancecosts
Accountancy 250
Totalresourcesexpended 297,127 456,166
Net Income/lexpenditure) 13,892 75,429