**ANNUAL REPORT 2022//23 STRIKE A LIGHT (GLOUCESTER)**
## **TRUSTEES**
**The 2022-23 Trustees are:**
** I Oakes**
** D Drew (Chair)**
** B Haynes**
** J May**
** A Byard**
** R Bell**
** F Francis (Secretary)**
**Executive Director: Kadisha Williams (through the UP NEXT scheme)**
**Interim Executive Director: Shine Dugal (January to March 23)**
**Co-Artistic Directors: Emma- Jane Benning and Sarah Blowers**
**Charity number: 1178449 Registered address: Enterprise Hub, 10 Commercial Road, Gloucester GL1 2EA**
## **CHAIR’S REVIEW OF 2022//23**
**This last year has been one of great change and growth for Strike A Light and as their acting Chair I could not be more proud of what we have achieved as a team.**
**An outward measure of that success is demonstrated in the uplift received in our NPO application from Arts Council England. The cultural sector is still recovering from the huge impact of COVID. SAL has not only navigated the immense challenges that COVID threw up but we have taken the time to listen and adapt the way we work to do things better and more inclusively for all.**
**The impact of what takes place in Gloucester through the delivery of our work has lasting and profound effects on our community. Whether that be 100+ people dancing in Kings Square, community producers programming world renowned artists into the city or young people taking part in weekly theatre and dance sessions.**
**This work changes lives, it changes people’s perceptions of what is possible here in Gloucester and crucially it changes perceptions of what people can do when power is shared.**
**– Debra Drew, Acting Chair, Strike A Light**
## **ARTISTIC DIRECTORS’ REVIEW OF 2022//23**
**2022-23 has been focused on embracing and embedding our revised approach to delivery through four key, clear strands of work. These four strands were formally adopted as our vehicle of delivery and all of our work now falls within these delineated strands:**
**1 // Co-created programmes in community spaces 2 // Let artist be artists 3 // Learning and development**
**4 // Sharing methodology**
**These four strands formed the basis of our successful ACE-funded NPO application. Testament to our vision and track record, we received a signifcant uplift – moving our NPO status from £85,000 annually to £249,534 annually. This has fnancially underpinned and secured the organisation for the next 3 years and given us a clear direction of travel.**
**Our four strands of work and how we deliver them is guided by our 7 step recipe, the ingredients of which make for powerful, relevant and cultural events in our city. And we believe this way of working will do more to build the fair, adventurous, inclusive world we want to see.**
**The seven ingredients are:**
**1. Work “with”, not “to”**
**2. Put in time**
**3. Invest in artists**
**4. Amplify underrepresented voices**
**5. Do it in unexpected places**
**6. Be open, responsive and f exible**
**7. Share power in the process**
**There are many highlights from the last year for us to draw upon but for us as Co-Artistic Directors jostling for top positions were:**
** The opening of Kings Square (April 2022). Avant Garde Dance company performed a new piece of work with over 100 local participants having been embedded in the city for 8 weeks prior to the event. This tested delivery in a newly refurbished public space, and demonstrated how to engage communities and animate public spaces using high quality art with local participants, leading to co- ownership and buy-in from our communities**
** Let Artists Be Artists . We explored new ways of working over the year; testing methods of breaking the norm and developing thinking with artists to create more equitable models for the future**
** Collectively devising our NPO strategy and development of us as an organisation to deliver smarter and better for the city of Gloucester and it’s communities. We feel positive about not returning to normal and accepting there are no blueprints for forging new ground**
**We extend our gratitude to the kindness of our funders, whose support has allowed us to grow this model of working, run a co-created programme and improve the arts for the communities we serve.**
**We are excited for the years ahead and what we can continue to achieve and grow in Gloucester.**
_**– Emma-Jane Benning and Sarah Blowers, Co-Artistic Directors**_
## **ABOUT THE CHARITY 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.**_
**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 and received an uplift in 20232026 to continue our groundbreaking work with artists and community producers.**
**SAL is a registered charity with a board of active trustees with a diverse range of knowledge and expertise.**
## **VISION, MISSION AND VALUES**
## **OUR VISION**
**World-changing culture and creativity for all.**
## **OUR MISSION**
**Creating social change through extraordinary performance events, creative projects with communities and participation opportunities for young people.**
## **What we do**
- **We co-create and collaborate whenever possible; we ‘work with’ not ‘do to’**
- **We let our community lead the way with programming**
- **We create a city where extraordinary things happen in unexpected places**
- **We bring people together to share eye-opening experiences that they talk about for ages afterwards**
- **The people we bring together are**
**from diverse backgrounds and many of them wouldn’t normally attend an ‘arts’ event**
- **People feel welcomed and represented and that their voices are heard**
- **Our staff, our board, audiences, participants and creative leaders refect the diversity of Gloucester**
- **We create brilliant opportunities for young people which encourage them to dream big**
- **We support artists and producers to create amazing work and to get paid for it**
- **We share unheard stories and we champion under-represented voices**
- **We produce shows that can change our world**
- **We work with national partners and local grassroots organisations to make things happen**
- **We embrace the idea of necessary radical social change and the role that arts can play in that**
## **OUR VALUES Diversity**
- **Stories shape how we see the world and therefore which stories get heard is important**
- **Everyone, regardless of background and circumstance, should have opportunities to watch, create, lead and participate in culture**
- **Relevance is as important as excellence**
- **Communities are better with culture and culture is better when all communities can create and access it**
## **Generosity**
- **When you work in partnership with people things get better**
- **We get stronger by sharing resource, handing over power and multiplying leadership**
## **Change**
- **It is important to challenge ways of working, including our own, and to think about who created those structures and who they serve**
- **Arts can change the world and make people’s lives better**
- **The climate crisis should be at the forefront of our decision making**
**We achieve our objectives through these strands of delivery that were re-codifed half way through 2022-23 following a re -articulation of delivery for our NPO application.**
**We’re changing the way the arts work, to address systemic inequality . We share power and decision-making, collaborating with communities who are least represented in the arts. We give artists paid time to build meaningful relationships here, and bring in key partners in the city (Gloucester Council, Cathedral, Culture Trust), delivering against the city’s cultural strategy. We know that unlike ‘traditional’ programmes, this approach reaches people who never normally engage in arts activity.**
**This work is all underpinned and driven forward by our Community Producers, representatives from the community who work with SAL to create events, see national touring work and programme shows/events with and for communities. This is a measured shift away from the traditional Artistic Director-led programming to devolve decision making and ensure that communities have their say in programming.**
**Our approach is deliberately non-venuebased. We work with our Community Producers to programme work across Gloucester into unconventional spaces that:**
- **Provides a supportive and empowering environment for a rich and diverse range of artists**
- **Delivers participation projects for children and young people that are fnancially and geographically accessible**
- **Build diverse audiences for cultural programming**
**It is important for all of the work that we deliver to refect the rich diversity of the Gloucester community. We build long-term and sustainable relationships with our local communities that are least represented across the national arts landscape and are dealing with signifcant social and socio-economic deprivation. We have continued to uphold our commitment to working in the Matson, Barton and Tredworth estates - focusing on creating work with communities who are from working class communities, and those from Black Caribbean, African and South Asian backgrounds.**
- **Soumik Datta’s Hope Notes- toured to the Guildhall and was coprogrammed with our Community Producer Halima Malek**
## **WHAT WE DID**
**In 2022/23, we staged 13 productions in unexpected locations – with an estimated total audience of 4,900 across the events.This included:**
**We co-created brand new pieces of work with our young people and communities. We work with our young people, activists, communities, to tell the stories they want to tell. This included:**
- **New Art Club Cupid’s Revenge at the Guildhall as part of Rural Touring Dance Initiative**
- **Co-commissioned Club Origami (GL4)- toured to Matson Library as part of Little Big Dance with South East Dance**
- **Hungry Nation- A co-created new performance in partnership with Coventry City of Culture. Created with and performed by a cast with lived experience of food poverty.**
- **Avant Garde Dance piece Scrum plus large scale participation pieceSAL produced event as part of the Kings Square launch in partnership with Gloucester City Council**
**We supported the creation of new works including:**
- **WCID?- a SAL produced event, created with and by young activists. We staged this at The Music Works Hub.**
- **Co-commissioned Bootworks Theatre Nine (GL4)- a touring show adapted with and performed with local nine year olds at Robinswood School, Matson.**
- **MSO in-possible-event created with and performed by school children of Robinswood School**
- **Co-commissioned Little Big Dance and South East Dance Club Origami (GL4)-performed at Matson Library**
- **Is My Microphone On? We were part of National Theatre Connections and our youth theatre performed this show at Gloucester Guildhall and Bristol Old Vic.**
**Through this work we tell new stories and animate Gloucester with them, creating a vibrant ecology that works towards our long-term goals.**
- **Our Future Producer’s created Queer Watch performed at Pilgrims Yard**
## **Partnership programming**
**In 2022-23, we continued to focus on programming and commissioning events people could never have imagined coming to their city.**
**We wanted these events to enable residents to:**
- **see the city in a new light**
- **be uplifted**
- **feel more positive about where they live**
- **bring about a shift in perceptions and different ways of thinking**
**This included:**
- **Light Games : a large-scale international public installation as part of Global Streets, in partnership with Festival.org (GDIF), Gloucester City Council and GL4.**
**As a part of the Light Games project, we delivered an outreach project with children from Matson designing fre pits & supported GL4 to deliver a large-scale outdoor event/Groupe Laps**
** Club Origami : a piece of early years dance as part of the South East Dance Partnership. CTN supports Bunker of Zion & Burnt Out in Biscuit Land support around marketing and artists call out for both shows. Supporting GL4 to continue their year round programme of artistic work on the Matson estate**
## **GL4 and the Matson estate**
**SAL have been supporting GL4 since their inception in 2016. In that time through careful collaboration and cocreation. GL4 is an arts organisation on the Matson estate in Gloucester run by two residents of the estate Sarah and Naomi. On a recent visit to Gloucester, Darren Henley, CEO of Arts Council England, coined the phrase #MatsonModel to describe this model of using community-driven creative activity to change the experience of a place and the people who live there. Below is a snapshot of the impact of the work.**
**The focus of these events was spectacle, on large scale and usually outdoor work, staged with local and national partners.**
**Over the next three years, GL4 plans to fund its programme with a mixture of project and core funding from local and national sources, after which it plans to apply to join Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation.**
## **Our programming approach**
**Following a radical reshape from pre-pandemic and articulated in our 2021-22 annual report we are working towards moving from our previous model of delivering up to 24 events a year to 12 planned events a year with an additional 3 public facing Participation events. This is the model that will build our programme of delivery for strand one in 23-24.**
**In 2022-23 we started to further consider how we further integrate our community into all aspects of our work. This means doing less, better. The year provided valuable time in a postpandemic landscape to re-evaluate, refect and consider how we best work with and for the communities of Gloucester.**
**‘Gloucester Presents…’ is our new model for community co-created cultural activities, mobilising community skills and interests to create arts for social change. It has produced remarkable results so we wanted to invest in it further and change our approach to how we work. To deliver high quality, relevant**
**arts programmes and events in Gloucester, we team up community leaders as project producers with nationally-signifcant artists, to cocreate experiences which involve local residents as participants and audiences.**
**This year we worked with 3 paid Community Producers to consult with their community and develop relationships with artists before cocreating cultural activity alongside local and national artists. This work will be built on going forward in 23-24.**
**Example: High Street Heritage Action Zone**
**Strike A Light are a lead partner for the Artists in Residence and Co-Creation strand of the High Street Heritage Action Zone project, led by Gloucester City Council.**
**In 2022/23 we worked with our partners to provide:**
** 2 x Cathedral Quarter Artists in Residence (selected by the Consortium and community) employed to co-create and develop**
**work with local communities, with Westgate heritage and local stories as inspiration. To be presented at events across the city centre.**
- **A Community Producer post flled by a Westgate resident who connects to their community and engaging in development opportunities with professional artists, supported by a developing network of peer mentors and other community organisations across the city (convened and supported by SAL)**
** 40 x local residents will be**
**engaged in co-creating events to be showcased on Westgate Street. They will be supported by the Community Producer (see above) and by SAL’s specialist Producer, the local and national artists.**
**Strike A Light offers opportunities for diverse and emerging artists and producers to progress their careers. Through residencies, employment training and artist support, we develop local and national talent and advocate for new ways of supporting careers in the industry.**
**‘Working with SAL has given me the skills, conf dence, experience & knowledge for this project”** _**– LABA alumnus Flo Espeut-Nickless, on adapting The Odyssey for the National Theatre**_
**This strand ensures that Goucester and SW creatives can start and sustain careers, particularly those underrepresented in the sector.**
## **WHAT WE DID Artist Development // Residency Programme**
**“It gave me the space that I needed! And I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity!”**
**We awarded money, time and resources to our residency programme. We trained 53 practitioners based in the UK and gave resources of the value of £23,127 for practitioners to have time, space and accommodation to work on their creative practice.**
**In 2022/23 we had:**
- **35 artists took part (across 7 weeks)**
- **16 different Companies/ groups attended (5 groups dropped out, primarily due to Covid)**
- **Around 50% of the artists who took part were from the global majority**
- **A mix of local artists and national professional artists including Dani Harris Walters, Conrad Murray, Tom Marshman, Saili Katebe, Deepraj Singh and Yolanda Mercy.**
**We found the residencies have provided a springboard; giving the ability to bring in more partners onto projects and leverage more funding.**
**“100 percent benefcial, as now, I have progressed artistically and have moved a step up the ladder. From this 5 days residency, I have got another 6 months residency in London with Theatre Deli, to further develop my artistic inspiration.”**
**We also invested in the development of our Participation Producer, Charlene Olaleye, to step into a senior leadership role & build cross-sector partnerships.**
## **Let Artists Be Artists**
**We reshaped our ‘Let Artist Be Artists’ offer following the end of the pilot in May 2022. 2022-23 gave us the space to refect and reshape with the artists and apply for funding to allow a longerterm offer. This was successful and we now approach 23-24 with a recruitment process to employ 3 artists (1 full-time and 2 part-time) over 2 and a half years to be artists. This scheme leads the national conversation of how artists should be supported.**
**This will focus on artists who will work in Gloucester, have community at the heart of their work and who are currently underrepresented in the art sector.**
**“This is a new model for artist employment, which fundamentally ‘changes who can be an artist”** _**- Flo Espeut-Nickless, LABA 2021-22**_
**We continued to support the artists who took part in our pilot Let Artist be Artist scheme by bringing in their touring work to Gloucester:**
- **Florence Espeut Nickless’ show Destiny which we co-programmed with our partner GL4 to tour to Robinswood School, Matson**
- **Tom Marshman’s show Jenny which we co-programmed with our partner Gloucester Guildhall**
**Provides year-round opportunities for Gloucester residents from all backgrounds to actively participate in regular creative activity. Our participation work develops new skills, improves wellbeing & nurtures our next generation of creatives.**
**‘I feel like I’m on an adventure!’** _**– youth theatre participant**_
## **WHAT WE DID**
**In 2022/2023 we continued to deliver weekly classes for children and young people in Gloucester including;**
- **Youth Theatre for 7+ in Matson**
- **Youth Theatre for 11+ in Matson and City Works**
- **Youth Dance Juniors at GL1 Leisure Centre**
- **Youth Dance Company at the University of Gloucestershire**
**We employed 22 artists to deliver work to CYP between April-May 22-23, offering vital support and employment opportunities in Gloucester.**
**Below shows the impact of the weekly sessions by our participation work:**
**As part of our weekly participation we have been able to:**
- **Secure a bursary from the national Theatre for our 11+ Youth theatre groups in Matson and City works to take part in their annual Connection Festival, performing Jordan Tannerhill’s ‘Is My Microphone On?’ at Gloucester Guildhall and Bristol Old Vic**
- **Received a second commission from Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership (GCRP) and CrossCountry to work with our Youth Rail Company of young people to create a performance aimed to encourage confdent youth travelling by train, as part of an ongoing**
**GCRP strategy to improve health and wellbeing through connecting urban youth with rural places and environments.**
**Building upon our commitment to sharing power and aspiring younger generations to be leaders and cocreators we;**
** Launched our pilot of Strike A Light in Schools Program which placed three national organisations, Coney Theatre, Multistory Orchestra and ACE Dance and Music in Robinswood Primary school. Each genre had a callout for a local practitioner at the start of their career to work with one of the organisations to be able to develop their skill set and provide on the job training. For an academic year we provided a continuation of co-creating work with 60 young people, developing audiences and providing training opportunities for 3 local practitioners (two of which have since been able to access paid work with SAL) and built the performances into a program of work.**
** Delivered Event Design workshops for young people in Newent Secondary School and Chosen Hill Secondary School as part of their career day’s.**
## **Internships**
**We have hired 2 full time interns and 2 part time interns. These internships gave Gloucester based young people a foot into the door of the creative industries, offering opportunities that were once not there.**
**Case study: Elisa // Marketing Intern “It has made me strive higher and not put myself in a box. When I normally look at a job application I think it will ask me for certain things and I didn’t have the experience. But now because I learned along the way, I can see that I can achieve things I thought I couldn’t”**
**Outside of weekly participation we have focused our engagement in specialised workshops, participation for large scaled events and programing through:**
- **Kings Square launch, working with over 100 participants to create a spectacle performance with Avant Garde Dance Company performed to 1500+ members of the public**
- **Supported workshops in schools with playwright Florence EspeutNickless on her show ‘Destiny’**
- **Partnership with GL4 to program ‘Nine’ and work with participants to create the content for the show.**
**We have been increasingly asked for the, and know the importance of, sharing our methodology regarding cocreation, artist support and community engagement. We share the work we do, involve ourselves in spaces of important debate and push for Gloucester.**
**In 2022-23 this looked like:**
- **Supporting Gloucester in developing the cultural sector. We have supported the Gloucester Culture Trust CEO recruitment. SAL have offered peer support to the team through the process, including supporting the interim CEO and sharing our recruitment process which we know has been successful in our own recruitment.**
- **We continued our work with Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol, and the national Co-Creating Change team to support the development of the next iteration of the Co-Creating Change Network.**
- **Paid consultancy for other art organisations who want to develop their own work using the above.**
- **We continue to develop strategic partnerships with Gloucester**
**Cathedral, Gloucester City Council, Gloucester Culture Trust, University Of Gloucestershire, Kings Square Culture sector group, NPOs from Gloucester (Guildhall, Create Gloucestershire, Gloucester Culture Trust), The Music Works, 100 Heroines, Your Next Move & those from outside of the city (Coney, Avant Garde, Soumik Datta)**
- **We attended conferences to discuss, change and infuence the narrative on co-creating change. This included:**
- **Emma-Jane and community producer, Halima Malek, spoke at BAFA Conference for Festivals: The Place to Connect 22/23rd Nov How do you move away from Artistic Director led programming if you’re an Artistic Director?**
- **Our Co-Artistic Director, Emma-Jane, spoke at the Clore Leadership Governance Now conference 8th Feb 23 Case Study: ‘Flashmobs and VR - Place-making and community Participation in Gloucester’**
**Our work continues to reach a range of communities over Gloucester.**
**In 2022-23 we:**
- **reached over 5500 live audience members from our events**
- **partnered with Gloucester Bright Nights and GL4 to bring Groupe Lap’s Light Games to Matson, which reached around 2000 visitors over two nights**
- **delivered a participatory project with Avant Garde Dance as part of the Kings Square Launch in Summer 2022, which reached around 1500 audience members**
**For Strike A Light ticketed events:**
- **51% of audience members rarely or never attend arts events**
- **26% of audience members identify as having a long-term health or mental health condition**
- **26% of audience members from**
- **global majority backgrounds across whole programme**
- **56% of audience members lived in postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices**
**We continued programming in partnership with GL4 in Matson. This included the following shows:**
- **Light Games - 43% of attendees lived in a GL4 postcode. 61% lived in postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices**
- **NINE - 55% of audiences live in GL4 postcode. 60% lived postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices**
- **Destiny - Groups from Gloucester Academy and The Venture attended. 50% lived in postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices.**
- **Club Origami - 39% of audiences lived in GL4 postcode. 56% lived in**
**postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices**
**Our Youth Theatre took part in National Theatre Connections and performed ‘Is My Microphone On?’ at Gloucester Guildhall.**
- **76% live in postcode areas in the top 20% of deprivation on national indices.**
- **52% of audiences rarely or never attend arts events**
- **36% identify as disabled, having a long-term health or mental health condition**
**Through our Gloucester Future Producer scheme and Let Artists Be Artists associate artist connection we programmed LGBTQ+ themed shows:**
- **Jenny (created by LABA alumnus Tom Marshman): 58% of audience members identify as LGBTQ+. 31% disabled, having a long-term health or mental health condition. 73% frst time at SAL.**
- **Queer Watch (Future Producers created event): 78% LGBTQ+. 61% disabled, having a long-term health or mental health condition. 72% frst time at SAL**
**We are a registered charity (we reviewed our structure and governing document for suitability, re-registering as a CIO in 2018) and have a well established independent, voluntary board. Our diverse, active trustees ensure we deliver against our arts and education objects, with a particular focus on Gloucester communities.**
**Communication is based on real conversation and relationships of trust between board, staff, artists and freelancers.This is underpinned by a rigorous structure of accountability and reporting, ensuring compliance, that we deliver against our funding agreements and that decision making is data informed. This includes:**
- **Monthly fnancial reporting**
- **Quarterly board reports on programme, accounts, funding and partnerships**
- **Quarterly updated risk register**
- **Regularly reviewed policies which include a robust confict of interest policy**
- **A paid secretary to the board to ensure compliance and accurate record keeping**
**Board and staff work closely together, and establish working groups for key funding agreements or big decisions. Our business plan is created collaboratively in away days with the board and wider staff team, with trustees overseeing, feeding into and signing off an annual plan, fundraising strategy and budget. Our board terms of reference and scheme of delegation refect this.**
## **New governance models**
**We have developed a governance structure so that more diverse voices are heard at board level. We run workshops on focus topics and pay people for their time, to level the playing feld of who can participate. These workshops are attended by the board and staff and followed by a board meeting, informed by the workshop content. Attendees have included artists, lawyers, climate experts, civil servants, voluntary and commercial sector professionals, young people and local residents.**
**This is also modelled in our planning, for example in our work on Environmental Responsibility. Our**
**board and whole team staff away-day kickstarted our Investment Principles plan, all informed by an ongoing relationship with young climate activists in Gloucester and a board workshop with Carbon Literacy trainers, climate academics, scientists, and arts organisations with a track record in netzero work.**
## **Staff and Board structure**
**The team of 8 core staff and wider community based freelancers refect the diversity of Gloucester in terms of age, faith and ethnicity, and are part of the communities our programme serves. In our 22-23 survey we found half (52%) of our staff and freelancers are under 35, 24% are LGBTQ+ and 30% are from global majority backgrounds.**
**The artists we supported in 22-23 to address underrepresentation are: 50% Global Majority artists**
- **32% Disabled artists**
- **18% trans or gender identity different from assigned at birth**
- **44% LGBTQ+**
**This stafng structure allows us to be fexible and posts are developed**
**and structured in response to funding opportunities, making our stafng commitments manageable. All staff work part-time and we share ideas and work collaboratively towards our aims. We also work with other freelance staff and artists throughout the year. We have a leadership team of 3 who share creative and strategic decision making.**
**Below are our responses from the Arts Council England (ACE) annual survey 22-23 of staff and freelancers. Please note that this is on the basis of 26 responses.**
**The total funds carried forward for 2023-24 was £96,845, this includes £80,000 of restricted funds for our company reserves. This leaves a surplus of £16,845. The board have committed an additional £5,000 to company reserves (£85,000) and the remaining surplus has been used as additional funding towards HR support.**
**The fnal annual accounts presented show our current position. SAL has a reserves policy of £80,000 (3 months running costs).**
**The year 22/23 accounts detail an expected defcit of £47,546 on the year. This is due to the lack of fundraising capacity in the team and staff sickness. As in previous years, the majority of our income came from trusts and foundations and funding through partners. Following a pay-what you-can model for our ticketing and alternative formats of events meant that our earned income was lower than previous years.**
**The organisation remains in a solvent and healthy position.**
**We’re excited to keep growing on these ambitions for the new year, and to see Gloucester continuning to change and develop. If you are interested in supporting this work, please do get in touch. We hope to be able to report more progress towards ‘world-changing culture and creativity for all’ in our city in the year to come, too!**
**Lynette, Emma-Jane and Sarah (Strike A Light directors)**
**Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
**Report of the Trustees and**
**Unaudited Financial Statements**
**for the**
**Year Ended 31 March 2023**
**for**
**Strike a Light (Gloucester)**
**Strike A Light (Gloucester) Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **Contents of Financial Statements**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|2|
|Report of the Trustees|3|
|Statement of Financial Activities|4|
|Balance Sheet|5|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|6 to 7|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|8|
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Strike A Light (Gloucester) for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 2 to 8
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:-
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosure in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to the matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:-
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Jon Harris, ACMA, CGMA, MA (Cantab.), FRSA Suite LP61812, 20 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU
7 July 2023
## **Independent Examiner**
Page 2
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in January 2019.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Charity Number**
1178449
## **Trustees**
I Oakes A Woods Resigned 05/07/2022 D Drew J May B Haynes R Bell Appointed 05/07/2022 A Byard Appointed 05/07/2022
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing Document**
The charity is controlled by its constitution and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
## **Risk Management**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on…6 July 2023…… and signed on its behalf by:
## `Idda Oakes`
………………………………..
## **I Oakes Treasurer**
Page 3
## **Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Incoming Resources from generated**
**funds**
Voluntary income
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Charitable activities**
Production
Governance costs
**Total resources expended**
**NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING)**
**RESOURCES**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
3,878
51,306
118
51,424
(47,546)
144,391
96,845|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
420,314
420,314
-
420,314
-
-
-|**31.03.2023**
**Total Funds**
**£**
424,192
471,620
118
471,738
(47,546)
144,391
96,845|**31.03.2022**
**Total Funds**
**£**
702,569
647,400
99|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||647,499|
|||||55,070
89,321|
|||||144,391|
Page 4
## **Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors and prepayments
3
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
4
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
5
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
112,242
-
112,242
(15,397)
96,845
96,845
96,845|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
120,164
15,978
136,142
(136,142)
-
-
-|**31.03.2023**
**Total Funds**
**£**
232,406
15,978
248,384
(151,539)
96,845
96,845
96,845
-
96,845
96,845|**31.03.2022**
**Total Funds**
**£**
379,447
69,283|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||448,730
(304,339)|
|||||144,391|
|||||144,391|
|||||144,391|
|||||-
144,391|
|||||144,391|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on……6 July 2023… and were signed on its behalf by:
## `Idda Oakes`
……………………………………
## **I Oakes Treasurer**
Page 5
**Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the Charities Act 2011 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting Charities.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## **Resources expended**
Expenditure is accounted for on a cash basis and have been classified under the headings that aggregate all the cost relating to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
## **Trustees remuneration and expenses**
There were no trustees’ remuneration or expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 or 31 March 2022.
## **3. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade debtors
Accrued income|**2023**
**£**
15,978
-
15,978|**2022**
**£**
34,283
35,000|
|---|---|---|
|||69,283|
Page 6
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **4. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**5.**
**STATEMENT OF MOVEMENTS**
**Unrestricted funds**
Designated fund
Core fund
**Restricted funds**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are
**Unrestricted funds**
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
Core fund
**Restricted fund**
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**As at**
**01.04.2022**
**£**
80,000
64,391
-
144,391
as follows:
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
5,000
-
3,878
415,314
424,192||**2023**
**£**
8,840
142,699
151,539
**Net**
**movement in**
**funds**
**£**
5,000
(52,546)
-
(47,546)
**Resources**
**Expenses**
**£**
-
-
(56,424)
(415,314)
(471,738)||**2022**
**£**
168
195,891|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||196,059|
||||||**At**
**31.03.2023**
**£**
85,000
11,845
-|
||||||96,845|
||||||**Movement**
**in funds**
**£**
5,000
-
(52,546)
-|
||||||(47,546)|
Page 7
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Voluntary income**
Grant income from Trusts
Arts Council NPO Grant
Julia and Hans Rausing Trust
Fundraising
Earned Income
Corporate Donations
**Other income**
Government furlough payments
Bank interest received
**Total incoming resources**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Charitable activities**
Production costs
**Governance costs**
Accountancy
**Total resources expended**
**Net Income/(expenditure)**|**2023**
**£**
**£**
323,750
86,564
10,000
296
2,968
-
423,578
-
614
614
424.192
471,620
118
471.738
(47.546)|**2022**
**£**
**£**
575,633
87,564
10,000
6,045
23,227
-
702,469
-
100
100
702,569
647,400
99
647,499
55,070|**2022**
**£**
**£**
575,633
87,564
10,000
6,045
23,227
-
702,469
-
100
100
702,569
647,400
99
647,499
55,070|
|---|---|---|---|
||||702,569
647,400
99|
||||647,499|
|||||
||||55,070|
Page 8
**Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
**Report of the Trustees and**
**Unaudited Financial Statements**
**for the**
**Year Ended 31 March 2023**
**for**
**Strike a Light (Gloucester)**
**Strike A Light (Gloucester) Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **Contents of Financial Statements**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|2|
|Report of the Trustees|3|
|Statement of Financial Activities|4|
|Balance Sheet|5|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|6 to 7|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|8|
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Strike A Light (Gloucester) for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 2 to 8
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:-
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosure in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to the matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:-
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Jon Harris, ACMA, CGMA, MA (Cantab.), FRSA Suite LP61812, 20 Wenlock Road, London N1 7GU
7 July 2023
## **Independent Examiner**
Page 2
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in January 2019.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Charity Number**
1178449
## **Trustees**
I Oakes A Woods Resigned 05/07/2022 D Drew J May B Haynes R Bell Appointed 05/07/2022 A Byard Appointed 05/07/2022
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing Document**
The charity is controlled by its constitution and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
## **Risk Management**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on…6 July 2023…… and signed on its behalf by:
## `Idda Oakes`
………………………………..
## **I Oakes Treasurer**
Page 3
## **Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Incoming Resources from generated**
**funds**
Voluntary income
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Charitable activities**
Production
Governance costs
**Total resources expended**
**NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING)**
**RESOURCES**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
3,878
51,306
118
51,424
(47,546)
144,391
96,845|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
420,314
420,314
-
420,314
-
-
-|**31.03.2023**
**Total Funds**
**£**
424,192
471,620
118
471,738
(47,546)
144,391
96,845|**31.03.2022**
**Total Funds**
**£**
702,569
647,400
99|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||647,499|
|||||55,070
89,321|
|||||144,391|
Page 4
## **Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors and prepayments
3
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
4
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
5
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
112,242
-
112,242
(15,397)
96,845
96,845
96,845|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
120,164
15,978
136,142
(136,142)
-
-
-|**31.03.2023**
**Total Funds**
**£**
232,406
15,978
248,384
(151,539)
96,845
96,845
96,845
-
96,845
96,845|**31.03.2022**
**Total Funds**
**£**
379,447
69,283|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||448,730
(304,339)|
|||||144,391|
|||||144,391|
|||||144,391|
|||||-
144,391|
|||||144,391|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on……6 July 2023… and were signed on its behalf by:
## `Idda Oakes`
……………………………………
## **I Oakes Treasurer**
Page 5
**Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the Charities Act 2011 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting Charities.
## **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## **Resources expended**
Expenditure is accounted for on a cash basis and have been classified under the headings that aggregate all the cost relating to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
## **Trustees remuneration and expenses**
There were no trustees’ remuneration or expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2023 or 31 March 2022.
## **3. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade debtors
Accrued income|**2023**
**£**
15,978
-
15,978|**2022**
**£**
34,283
35,000|
|---|---|---|
|||69,283|
Page 6
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
## **4. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**5.**
**STATEMENT OF MOVEMENTS**
**Unrestricted funds**
Designated fund
Core fund
**Restricted funds**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are
**Unrestricted funds**
Designated fund
Designated fund 2
Core fund
**Restricted fund**
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**As at**
**01.04.2022**
**£**
80,000
64,391
-
144,391
as follows:
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
5,000
-
3,878
415,314
424,192||**2023**
**£**
8,840
142,699
151,539
**Net**
**movement in**
**funds**
**£**
5,000
(52,546)
-
(47,546)
**Resources**
**Expenses**
**£**
-
-
(56,424)
(415,314)
(471,738)||**2022**
**£**
168
195,891|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||196,059|
||||||**At**
**31.03.2023**
**£**
85,000
11,845
-|
||||||96,845|
||||||**Movement**
**in funds**
**£**
5,000
-
(52,546)
-|
||||||(47,546)|
Page 7
**Strike A Light (Gloucester)**
## **Registered Number:- 1178449 / CE014141**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2023**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Voluntary income**
Grant income from Trusts
Arts Council NPO Grant
Julia and Hans Rausing Trust
Fundraising
Earned Income
Corporate Donations
**Other income**
Government furlough payments
Bank interest received
**Total incoming resources**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Charitable activities**
Production costs
**Governance costs**
Accountancy
**Total resources expended**
**Net Income/(expenditure)**|**2023**
**£**
**£**
323,750
86,564
10,000
296
2,968
-
423,578
-
614
614
424.192
471,620
118
471.738
(47.546)|**2022**
**£**
**£**
575,633
87,564
10,000
6,045
23,227
-
702,469
-
100
100
702,569
647,400
99
647,499
55,070|**2022**
**£**
**£**
575,633
87,564
10,000
6,045
23,227
-
702,469
-
100
100
702,569
647,400
99
647,499
55,070|
|---|---|---|---|
||||702,569
647,400
99|
||||647,499|
|||||
||||55,070|
Page 8