2020/21 ## **Annual Report** CreateBolton **Creationships that make a difference…** ## **Contents** 1. Introduction 2. The Vision ## 3. Resources ## 4. Claremont 5. The Services 6. The Future (2021/22) and beyond….. 2030…….. 2 ## **1. Introduction** CreateBolton has had a year like no other. The global Pandemic greatly affected our service delivery in so many ways. From the end of March 2020 like so many other charities, we had to suddenly stop doing what we do, the way we’ve always done it. Our strapline is ‘Creationships that make a difference’…for a reason. We are created by God to be in relationship with Him and with each other and that has been sorely tested during this most recent period. ## **Statement from our Chair** Alison Lomax - Chair of Trustees _I’d like to start by saying a huge thanks to all our customers, our volunteers and our supporters for staying with us during this difficult period. Without you, there would be no charity called CreateBolton. Without you we wouldn’t be able to do what we do and do it so well and without you we wouldn’t be able to make the difference we are reliably told we are making._ _Like many other organisations, we’ve needed to make significant changes to how we work, some temporary, others permanent but we firmly believe that we will grow into a stronger organisation, more resilient and even more acutely aware of the needs of the people we support. As we look back over the last year, we can see many examples of just how important the support we provide is to more and more people. However, we must be honest, we lost resources, we weren’t able to open Cafe Create, we lost volunteers and momentum and it was far from easy returning to support people in person. We are_ 3 _stronger pulling together and will continue to respond to the need before us. We look forward to the year ahead and hope that you will continue to journey with us._ This annual report reflects the fact that we have just entered **Year 9** as a charity registered with the Charity Commission and this report covers the period September 2020 through to August 2021 as we are now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation CIO (1179761) and these dates define our accounting year. We have not added any projects in this year, and yet we grow in other ways as we believe God is leading us. We have also taken steps with our trustees to refresh our values, mission and our vision as follows: ## **2. The Vision** – Why does CreateBolton exist? Having reviewed our **Objectives,** they remain consistent with the Charity Commission Objects originally submitted within our application: _To advance and promote the use of the ‘Creative Arts’ in their widest sense, as a way of:_ - _Providing support and creative experiences for young people that develop their skills, capacities, and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible creative individuals._ - _Reducing social isolation and building confidence in both vulnerable adults and older people._ - _To preserve and protect the health of those caring for people with physical, mental or sensory impairment within the family or home by offering a creative break from caring through the provision of a creative experience away from the home._ - _To advance the Christian faith lived out in practice for the benefit of the public in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ._ ## **Vision** 4 Our vision is a Bolton Community where everyone is included, and where everyone’s creative talents and contributions are welcomed, utilised, and celebrated. ## **Mission** We use multiple forms of creative arts to bring out the gifts and talents of those people who face barriers to being able to confidently play an active part in their community. Through workshops, support groups and one to one mentoring we build confidence, trust, and an aspiration to both create and to contribute. We refer to this as **‘creationships that make a difference’** . ## **Values** Our values reflect who we are and are synonymous with CreateBolton: ## · **Inclusion** - We are a charity that includes all, that actively seeks to attract all and will bring all together ## · **Integrity** - We are a charity that is authentic in all that we seek to accomplish; acting in our communities’ best interests,’ and we can be trusted and relied upon to honour our commitments. ## · **Identity** - We value all people as unique individuals with something to give. We are a Christian charity, and the teachings and person of Jesus are core to our identity Within this difficult year, we have been particularly struck by verses in Isaiah 43 v 18-19 ## _18 “Forget the former things;_ 5 _do not dwell on the past._ _19 See, I am doing a new thing!_ _Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?_ _I am making a way in the wilderness_ _and streams in the wasteland_ . ## **3. Resources** Section 4 will update you on the use of the CreateBolton space at Claremont House, however, there have been significant changes to our resources in the last 12 months: a) **People** – Our staff team (2) has changed during this year. We started with a leadership of three, but for a number of reasons, our friend and colleague Ann Lowton decided that God was calling her in a different direction. Our volunteer numbers continue to be fluid and very flexible. During the year we have been blessed with more than 40 different volunteers at different points, and although our numbers did reduce noticeably during this pandemic period, we are seeing signs of new growth, in those supporting us to deliver services. We continue using younger volunteers from 14+ in the Café and most of them either come to us through word of mouth, or through one of the local colleges. We cannot exist without our volunteers as they are the heart and soul of what we do. At the height of the pandemic we were restricted on the numbers of volunteers we could utilise as we have needed to rearrange the layout within the café in particular to allow for appropriate social distancing. 6 As Cafe Create was closed from March 2020 until June 2021, we were unable to deploy many volunteers at that time. Since reopening, we have returned to providing a placement for a young person with a learning disability in our kitchen, this time from Bury College. In January 2021, we held two volunteer briefings where we shared updates on what's going on in CreateBolton, shared Policies and listened to ideas from our volunteers around areas we could improve. This has been a wonderful experience, planned and purposeful and helping all concerned. We needed to hold further volunteer briefings with a specific focus on Covid prior to the cafe reopening in June 2021. During this year, we have also cemented our working relationship with a growing number of local artists who have become associates with CreateBolton. This has been a blessing to CreateBolton, and we can see more fruit to come in the years ahead. - b) **Financial** – CreateBolton continues to operate in line with Charity Commission guidelines, holding enough reserves which are currently slightly greater than we require which is a healthy position to be in. As we approach the end of this reporting year, we are about to switch over to a new accounting system called ExpensePlus. - i. We continue to rent space at Claremont House for many of our services but specifically for Café Create, and for all our activities that take place within the café, the Rudkin Room and the Create Studios on the mezzanine level. - ii. We continue to bid for grants to help achieve our financial targets and have signed up to a partnership arrangement with **Chell Perkins** fundraisers to help us achieve sustainable 7 funding options at the same time as supplementing the annual grants or one-off commitments. - iii. We have been blessed again by some amazingly generous donations and kindness this year, increased regular giving and by funding raised through our various fundraising events. We have had a significant increase on the levels recorded in the previous year, although this has again been affected by Covid. - c) **Physical** – CreateBolton has needed to acquire many other physical resources during this year. In particular we have added more equipment to the kitchen, namely a new cooker and purchased other equipment in the Create Studios, namely a new kiln. As we speak, we are operating with three kilns and five pottery wheels. Our izettle card payment machine is invaluable especially during these contactless times. We take payments more reliably which is critical now that we need to serve and take payment from café customers at their table. We will continue to upgrade and improve as money and good wisdom suggests in 2021/22. ## **4. Claremont** We continue to creatively use the space we rent at Claremont House which currently stands at Café Create, the kitchen, The Rudkin Room, and the Create Studios on the mezzanine. Up until Covid and the restrictions, we had continued to provide a break for parents of some children with a learning disability in partnership with the Octagon Theatre (Little Bridges), however we mutually agreed to end our partnership for a number of reasons. It’s been great working with the Octagon and we will follow the progress of the young people in their drama adventures. We’ve not really been able to make much use of the gallery space for exhibitions of work due to the pandemic, however since we have returned, we have been exhibiting the 8 wonderful artwork of Gerry Maloney. The Boltones use the Rudkin Room as the Band Room. We continue to benefit greatly from additional storage space within Claremont and continue to maintain good relationships with the Church. ## **5. The Services** The following update on services reflects the extent of the work during the last 12+ months (Sept 2020 - August 2021) and forms the basis of how we hope to grow during 2021/22 and beyond. We are very mindful as we celebrate each year as a charity that change always lies ahead and that we need to seek God’s will not ours as we move forward. Never has this been more important than at this time of Pandemic. We will constantly review what we do and why we do it to ensure that it meets the needs of those we support and continues to be viable. ## a. Café Create - i. Café Create continues to be the central meeting place at the heart of CreateBolton. As we approached lockdown at the end of March 2020, we were consistently serving between 70 and 80 people across Friday and Saturday between 10am and 2pm every week except Easter and Christmas. The café wouldn’t exist without our regular willing and very able band of volunteers. We have benefited from a very static team of approx. 15 volunteers across Fridays and Saturdays. This continues to be an answer to prayer and we now have a Cafe Manager in Carol Hardman. The cafe was closed throughout the pandemic and only reopened in June 2021. - ii. We continue to function as a 5* café which is well deserved recognition for all the volunteers’ hard work. 9 - iii. We have just refreshed our volunteers' Food Hygiene training in preparation for the reopening of the café in June 2021. - iv. Up until Covid we continued to support University of the Third Age (U3A) every third Friday through both the café and the studios. We are sadly no longer able to pursue this partnership. ## b. Create Experience - i. As we reach the end of this reporting period, we have been able to facilitate more creative workshops, with a mix of art/craft and paid and free sessions. We noted that many people had been supported during the pandemic through craft projects and really enjoyed it, and as the world began to open up again, this stopped and people were left isolated and lacking in creative stimulation. It’s been vital that we have provided weekly sessions for people that don’t necessarily have the resources to access such activities. - ii. One of our Associated Artists Andy has continued to run pottery courses when the rules allowed it, from which he chooses to make a donation to CreateBolton. - iii. We continue to be blessed by a range of Associate Artists that often give of their time and skills for free, so that others may experience the joy of art, craft and creating. ## c. Create Schools This is an area that sadly had to drop off during the pandemic, schools and colleges were understandably keen to limit the potential for the virus to spread and had enough going on in their own world, without Create coming 10 into the school environment. We are confident that this will pick up again when the time is right. ## d. Create Boltones It must be said that the pandemic has been tough for the Boltones, difficult to meet over Zoom and hard to maintain the buzz that exists when face to face, however, we continued to provide weekly sessions for the members that still felt able to engage. We took instruments out to them at home and set music challenges. Someone wrote a piece of music for/with the Boltones during this period and we established our own **YouTube** channel, hosting Christmas concerts in December 2020. We now have a dedicated newsletter called **The Bugle** . We are optimistic that we will adapt and support people in new and different ways. We should also say thanks to **Youth Music** as they have continued to provide us with a grant until the end of March 2022 to support the Boltones in their journey. ## e. Create Community The Create Community is now in its third year of a grant from the **National Lottery Community Fund** . The Community continues to utilise the Create Studios space in Claremont and the Rudkin Room. Pre-pandemic they meet regularly every Tuesday, Wednesday, (Thursdays and Fridays), with the numbers growing. However during the pandemic, most of the support has been provided in communities, in the homes of our members. The number of people supported in March/April 2020 was 15-20 and by November 2020 this had risen to 56 people at its peak. They are producing work of a very high standard and this in turn is supporting the retail range and once again we have a stock of very encouraging stories about the difference this project is making in the lives of its members. Covid and the lockdown required a different approach to reducing isolation and combating loneliness. Joy was 11 able to provide **Create@Home challenges** to an increasing number of people, to their doorstep, and when the restrictions allowed, we were able to test out meeting face to face again in the building (socially distanced). ## f. Studio Create Studio Create is an offshoot from the Create Community, a group of younger people with a learning disability, creating their own range of work and in the process growing in confidence, communication and social interaction. There is so much potential in the people involved and they are supported by Suzanne, Andy and Carol. ## g. Create Retail Create Retail has changed during this year. Even prior to lockdown, we spent some time purposefully reviewing who and how we support local artists and craftspeople, creating an opportunity for them to promote their work and in return donations are made back to CreateBolton. Our focus has become more directed towards people that better fit our charitable objects. As the pandemic dictated we were unable to hold Christmas@Create in 2020. The cafe was closed and the retail space in the café has sadly had to reduce to allow for better social distancing. Since we have reopened in June 2021, we have streamlined the creations on sale and have still been able to generate a good experience for everyone concerned, in fact some would say it’s even better. ## h. Even more….. Alpha – We have continued to meet over Zoom with some of our Alpha course group for people with a learning disability during this period and in effect 12 created a ‘house group’ exploring the Parables, breaking down the Christmas story and even adapting Pete Greig’s Prayer course. We have continued to maximise funding to help support this development from the **Henry Smith** charity. In the lead up to Christmas 2020, we received a small grant from **Bolton CVS** , enabling us to deliver an **Amaryllis** plant to some of our more isolated customers and we were able to keep in touch via email, text, What’sApp and photos to see whose was growing fastest. Our thanks must also go out to Adrian Nottingham from Bolton CVS, who has helped our Trustee Board and continued to support us in many ways during this difficult period. ## **6. The Future (2021/22)** ## **In Summary** - ❖ Continue to raise awareness of CreateBolton across Churches, Community groups, the general public and of course the Town Centre of Bolton as an integral part of the Bolton 2030 vision. - ❖ Expand the number and range of praying partners - in particular through our **Create Prayer Facebook** page - ❖ To continue to increase the pool of volunteers and the range of gifts they bring to enable CreateBolton to be all that God wants us to be. - ❖ To develop new partnerships that align to our charitable objects. - ❖ Revisit the Alpha course and bible stories group we have been running with people with a learning disability/difficulty. Look to promote and run a new course in 2022 13 - ❖ Work with Chell Perkins on a more sustainable funding strategy for CreateBolton - maximise the funding opportunities available to us to enable us to sustain and multiply that which God has already provided. - ❖ Continue to build up a stock of ‘good news’ stories through the work we are doing and use them to raise awareness of our work and to encourage others. This ninth Annual Report owes thanks and appreciation to our Trustees as they continue to serve God through this position. We continue to appreciate all the support from everyone connected with **Claremont Church** ; in particular in this strangest of years, without their understanding of our financial predicament we would not be in the position we are today. We give thanks to the growing range of partners linked to Create; to the partners within Claremont House that we have got to know better and of course to the volunteers that give of their time and resources out of their desire to serve, and ultimately to our wonderful Creator God for His faithful provision every day. We thank God for those that have supported us financially by providing us with grants, with donations, and with regular pledges. These people know who they are, and they know the difference this makes – thankyou. Our desire through 2021/22 is to continue establishing Creationships that make a difference… If you want to see more of what we’re about, please go to our web-site **www.createbolton.org.uk** or view us on Facebook **@createbolton** or on Twitter **@BoltonCreate** 14 Financial Statements For Year Ended 31st August 2021 Report to Board of Trustees Create (Bolton) Ross Pyle PRINCIPLE BOOKKEEPING SERVICES 07713461214 Year Ended 3LIK2020 31.0&2021 Recelpts &ds Donatlons Café Retail Workshops Fund Raiser Income 32940 IIK2 2822 1547 1202 270 57528 11632 6603 4248 1803 8081 49413 89895 Cost of Re￿Ipts Purchase5 2467 4554 Gross Recelpts 85341 ExPendI￿re Rent & Rate5 Office Costs Arts & Crafts Outreach Work Fundraising Costs Insurance Retailer Costs Equiprnent Costs Premises Costs Artist & Support Payments Advertising Costs Subscription General Expenses Computer & Software Bank Charges Travel Charges Depreciation Cost 7129 277 11791 35 57Q) 165 267 1560 532 2356 363 2050 32191 592 628 261 496 454 818 1025 532 562 3545 42877 220 876 82 1762 1258 57945 79243 Net Recelpts (Defidt) Create (Bolton) Balance Sheet for the Year Ended 31° August 2021 Year Ended 31.1￿.21 Year Ended 31.0&20 Flxed Assets Tangible Assets NIL 1025 rrentAssets Stock HSBC Account CO-OP Account 310 9571 310 8671 65702 75708 Current iiabllltles Accrued Expenses 11822 17667 Finance bv 50685 Surplus /IDefecit) {9974) 7356 Create (Bolton) Notes to the financlal statements for the Year Ended 31° August 2021 A¢countlng pollcies The finanoal statements have been complied on a basis which enables receipts to be calculated in accordan￿ with 8enerally accepted accountin8 practices and which provides sufficient and relevant Information to enable the completion of a tax return. Tangible flxed assets Depreciation is provided at the following annual ratss in order to write off the cost less estirnated residual value of eath asset over its estimated useful life. Plant and mathinery- cost Plant & Machinery At August 2021 4195 Depredallon Charge for year at 31.08.2021 Depreciation Value5 previous year5 1025 3170 Total Depreciatlon 4195 Net Book Value At 31.08.2021 NIL Unaudlted Flnandal Statements for the Year Ended 3141 August 2021 Report to Board of Trustees Create (Bolton) This report is made solely to you, in accordance with our tern)s of engagement. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial ststements of Create {Bolton)- To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than you for our work or thi5 reporL You have approved the financ?al statements for the year ended August 2021 and have acknovAedged vour responsibility for them, for the appropriateness of the financial frame¥￿rk adopted and for providing all inforrnation and explanations necessary for their compilation. We have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or infomiation and explanations you have given us and we do noc therefore, express any opinion on the financial ststements. The trustees acknowledge their respon5ibilityforc0mp￿.ne with the requirements of the Art with respect to acc¢)untin8 records and for the preparation of accounts. Including complying with the Charities commission rules on Independently Examined Attounts. These actt*unts have been prepared in accordano with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small Companies regime. These financial ststements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on i* November 2021 and s￿ned on its behalf. Mrs A Lomax thair of Trustees Charity Registration number. 1179761 Mr A Kilpatrick Lead OffKer Charity Registratlon number: 1179761 SmlthK4s CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report rnernbers of Crn* (B(hkn) On accounts forthe year •ndod 31qt August 2021 Charlty no (If any) 1179761 S•t out on pag 1}4 NIA I report to the trustees on nry examination of the ac￿Unts of the above charity (Ihe Twsf) for the year ended Rosponslbllltles and As the d￿lIty trustees olthe Tfust. you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the accounts in ￿CordanCe with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe A￿). I reKMxt in tespe(a ca my examin*ion Tn&s &xx)unts canied out uThJer sed1[￿ 145 rf the 2011 Aci and in Ca￿1ng out my examination, I have followed the appRcable Diredion8 gi%En by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL Independent I have comwed my examination. I CA)nfimi that no Mat￿la1 matters have examiner's statement cJ)me lo my attention in conrth with the examination whth gives m8 cause lo l*lieve thal in, any maknia resFect: accounting records were not kept in accordance wtth section 130 of the Act or the accounts th) rM)t xcord with the accounting records with the examination lo whith attents'on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the &counts to b8 reached. ' Please delete the in the brdckets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: 2022 Name: Relevant profe5slonal qualificationls) or body ck4c lero J Ins4 Od Mqnogemont ￿artIs Address: 15 Slco BLI 8 Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs lo highlight matters of concem (se8 CC32, IrKleperKlent examination of tharity xcourrts: directions and guidan￿ for examinets). IER October 2018