Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] August 2024 to 31[st] July 2025
Charity name: Wigton Theatre Club
Charity registration number:
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To educate the public in dramatic arts and provide a community hub for people interested in live drama and music. |
| 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 |
We offer membership to everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability or any other protected status, and we produce good quality live drama and music over a wide variety of genres at an affordable price, in a comfortable and non intimidating venue. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have always had regard to the Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Indeed all our practice, policies and decisions have public benefit, as well as benefit to our members. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Wigton Theatre Club is entirely volunteer-led. No-one takes a wage. Members enable the charity to exist and make positive impact. They range from children who attend clubs and ‘volunteer’ as young actors on the stage in the panto, in other productions throughout the year, and in end of term showcases, to adults giving their time as actors, technicians, directors, stage |
managers, musicians, MCs, workshop leaders, front of house managers, fundraisers, caretakers, chaperones. Other
Achievements and Performance
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SORP reference
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| Achievements and Performance | Achievements and Performance | 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 | Wigton Theatre Club has continued to entertain and educate local audiences with four in house productions. In December 2024 we produced an extremely popular Xmas themed Murder Mystery, followed in February 2025 by a completely new and innovative Pantomime devised and written by members. In March we continued to innovate with a 60s classic two hander- Pinter’s the Dumb Waiter. Although this had much smaller audiences, it attracted great praise and signalled the club’s ability to widen its appeal and cater for minority audiences. This trend continues, with sufficient financial stability to allow experimental and innovative work, alongside of productions with a wider and more popular appeal. The commitment to excellent and near professional quality was continued and confirmed by all productions. Good Night Mister Tom proved extremely popular and showcased our increasingly sophisticated lighting and sound systems, as well as the skills of our volunteer tech team, and the growing competence and skills of our multi generational company of actors. Both the panto and Good Night Mister Tom also included many of our younger members, continuing our policy of treating our children and young people as an integral part of our company. We continued to put on monthly in person Open Mic Nights and bi-monthly on-line Open Mic Nights. We continued our outreach into the community with a substantial presence in Wigton’s annual Carnival. Our float won best in show, and our Carnival Dancers led the procession, dancing in the rain with smiles on their faces. |
Our series of professional folk concerts has continued, each concert bringing in new audience members to widen our reach. The Committee as a whole, but also the separate teams within, have spent lots of time producing and developing several key policies, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding as well as Finance. We have introduced Xero, an accounting tool, as well as production budgets and a rolling three-year budget to give us a better understanding of our spending and profits, and help us make long term financial decisions. Our fundraising team has had a successful year raising money, including a large grant from the UKSP Fund which has enabled us to invest in repointing and damp proofing our building, which has halted its deterioration and ensures that our theatre club has a long time future in the building. We have also been successful in securing some revenue funding from Cumbria Community Foundation, which has contributed greatly to our financial security.
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 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity holds reserves in a separate account to indemnify us against the eventuality that we have to cancel a professional concert. We have also built our reserves by an extra £4,000, which is received in the bank post year-end. This is ring fenced for paying possible future bills. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £4,643 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| 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 |
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 | Ticket and refreshment sales, Membership fees and grants. Occasional fundraising evenings- concerts, quizzes etc. An in-house monthly lottery is also under development. We rely on grants from both local and national bodies to help with running costs and major improvements to our building. |
| 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 | Constitution reviewed annually |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| 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 members of the committee who hold significant offices- eg, Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and those who have been long term past members, having similarly held significant offices. Trustees are reviewed every year, after the AGM and election of officers and committee members. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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
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Charity name Wigton Theatre Club
Other name the charity uses The John Peel Theatre 1178881
Registered charity number 1178881
Charity’s principal address The John Peel Theatre
Station Road
Wigton
CA7 9AE
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled to
Trustee name Office (if any)
year appoint trustee (if any)
Aaron Peter Co Chair
1
Cockbain
Elinor Katharine Co Chair
2
Jensen
David Stephen Treasurer From July 2025
3
Haigh
Joseph Andrew Secretary From November 2025
4
Cosby
Eleanor Constance Past Chair
5
Jensen
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
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 |
|
|---|---|
Kate Jensen Aaron Cockbain |
|
Co-chair Co-chair |
|
10th February 2026 |
|
10th February 2026 |
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Wigton Theatre Club 1178881
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period
01/08/2024 To 31/07/2025
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Production Takings 26,093 - - 26,093 20,789
Member Subsciptions 743 - - 743 1,079
Grants and Donations 5,455 39,695 - 45,150 21,752
Hire 485 - - 485 -
Interest 142 - - 142 36
Credit card fraud refunded - - - - 2,197
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 32,918 39,695 - 72,613 45,853
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 32,918 39,695 - 72,613 45,853
A3 Payments
Production, Lighting Tech 2,044 - - 2,044 4,275
Bar Supplies 3,240 - - 3,240 3,648
Maintenance & Building Supplies 1,482 25,218 - 26,700 4,412
Licences 369 - - 369 437
Electricity, Water & Rates 6,693 1,200 - 7,893 8,871
Insurance 1,511 - - 1,511 1,559
Stationary & Signage 77 - - 77 758
Professional Services 3,263 - - 3,263 -
First Aid Course - - - - 15
Computer costs & Website 583 - - 583 -
Workshop teaching - - - - 289
Security 2,272 2,793 - 5,065 -
Safeguarding 108 - - 108 194
Broadband 873 - - 873 1,250
Health and safety 892 - - 892 1,144
Concert performance fees 5,261 - - 5,261 6,110
Show expenses 45 - - 45 544
Misc 88 - - 88 578
Credit card fraud refunded - - - - 2,425
Advertising 347 - - 347 824
Fees 114 - - 114 92
Sub total 29,262 29,211 - 58,473 37,425
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table)
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 29,262 29,211 - 58,473 37,425
Net of receipts/(payments) 3,656 10,484 - 14,140 8,428
A5 Transfers between funds - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 987 19,813 - 20,800 12,372
Cash funds this year end 4,643 30,297 - 34,940 20,800
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B1 Cash funds |
Coop Details Details Details (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Total cash funds Details Folk at the John Peel Cash Savings account |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 1,511 534 - 2,599 4,643 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - 7,574 22,723 30,297 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) |
||||
| - - - - - |
||||
| Signature | Print Name Aaron Cockbain Kate Jensen |
Date of approval 10/02/2026 10/02/2026 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report |
Charity Name Wigton Theatre Club |
|---|---|
| 31 July 2025 Charity no (if any) 1178881 |
|
| (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) | |
| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2025. As the charity's trustees, 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. |
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
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 with the applicable requirements concerning the form 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 fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 17/02/26
Signed: Name: Joanne Thomlinson Relevant professional FCA qualification(s) or body (if any):
1
Oct 2018
IER
Address:
Dodd & Co Ltd, FIFTEEN, Rosehill, Montgomery Way, Rosehill Industrial Estate, Carlisle, CA1 2RW
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
Oct 2018
IER