Company Registration Number 10599285 Registered Charity Number 1180001
FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ending 29 February 2024
FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 29 February 2024
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 29 February 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered charity name Fertile Ground Dance Limited Charity registration number 1180001 Company registration number 10599285 Registered office 2nd Floor, Dance City, Temple Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4BR
Trustees
For the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, the Board of Trustees is the Board of Directors of the charitable company and is referred to as “the Trustees” throughout this report.
The Trustees of Fertile Ground Dance Limited during the year and to the date of signing this report are as follows:
Niamh Cunningham Appointed 2 August 2023 Camille De Groote Jennifer Gabbitus Elizabeth Highmore Sue Hurrell Ann Schofield Lisa-Marie Tonelli Dora Frankel Resigned 2 August 2023 Leigh Venus Resigned 2 August 2023 Bankers Barclays Bank plc, 49-51 Northumberland Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7AF
Independent Examiner Mr P O’Hara FCA, Chartered Accountant, 26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Documents
The Company is a Company Limited by Guarantee and was incorporated on 3 February 2017 and registered with the Charity Commission on 20 September 2018.
The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, as registered with Companies House on 3 February 2017 and as amended by special resolution registered at Companies House on 25 June 2018. The Directors of the company are also Trustees of the charity.
Eligibility for membership of the charity and membership of the Board of Trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. There are no restrictions in the governing document on the operation of the charity other than those imposed by general charity law.
Governance
Fertile Ground (FG) currently has seven Trustees.
The charity regularly reviews the Board’s skillset in order to strengthen its governance, approaching individuals and advertising the opportunity through the company website and social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), alongside voluntary sector, business, and arts and culture channels when skills gaps are identified.
At the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM), founder Dora Frankel and Chair of Trustees Leigh Venus stepped down. Elizabeth Highmore was co-opted, and then formally elected as active Chair. Following a period of Board recruitment, Niamh Cunningham was recruited as a new Trustee, coopted, and then formally elected, giving the charity both continuity and a fresh perspective.
Current Board members have experience in external relations, strategic development, project management, financial management, stakeholder management, producing, programming, film production and distribution, and accessible dance, offering a wide skill set available to the charity. The Board has identified some skills gaps, notably in marketing and communication and in education and is therefore continuing its recruiting effort.
The Board meets a minimum of four times per year and conducts an AGM. The quorum is at least three Trustees and meetings may be held in person or remotely via video call.
At Trustees’ meetings, held at least quarterly, the Trustees agree on the broad strategy and areas of activity for the charity, including but not limited to the consideration of artistic activity and engagement, projects, fundraising, governance, reserves, risk management, policies, performance, and business planning.
Detailed written reports and an agenda are prepared by senior staff and these are circulated in advance of Board meetings in accordance with the notice periods defined in the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
Appointment and Induction of Trustees
The appointment of Trustees is carried out at regular Trustee meetings and is by unanimous agreement of the existing Trustees. Trustees are appointed for a three-year term and are eligible for re-election at the end of that term.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association determine that the Board is made up of no less than three Trustee Directors.
Trustees are nominated by invitation given that they have the necessary skills and expertise to contribute to the charity’s activities and to be able to discharge their obligations as Trustees. The skills and composition of the Board is reviewed on a regular basis, taking into consideration succession planning, representation and experience, empathy and knowledge of the charity.
Management and Organisational Structure
Day-to-day management is delegated to Artistic Director Renaud Wiser, who is responsible for most of the key activities of the charity including the content of the artistic and engagement programme, recruiting and appointing FG artistic and administrative freelance staff, tour booking, working with fundraising consultants and, jointly with the Finance Manager, for regulatory compliance.
Across the year, fundraising activities have been supported by Sam Hobrough, a freelance arts sector fundraising consultant who works predominantly in the North East with a range of arts and charity organisations.
Key Management Personnel
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees and the Artistic Director as comprising the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis.
All Trustees give their time freely. No Trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Details of Trustee expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.
Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Chair, and in accordance with the charity’s Conflict of Interests policy, withdraw from decisions where any such conflict of interest arises.
Grant-making
The charity does not currently engage in grant-making activity.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
Policies on Reserves
The Trustees have reviewed the charity's needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
The Trustees aim to hold a level of Unrestricted Reserves which enables the charity to have sufficient financial resources to meet various liabilities which would crystallise if FG Dance Limited were unable to continue operating, together with an allowance to enable the charity to respond flexibly to issues or appropriate initiatives which might be identified outside of its annual budgeting process.
At present, the Trustees estimate that the Unrestricted Reserves required to cover all known liabilities amount to approximately £2,500. In addition, the Trustees consider that a contingency of at least £10,000 is prudent, resulting in an optimum level of Unrestricted Reserves in the region of £12,500.
Fertile Ground Dance Limited currently holds Unrestricted Reserves of £17,776 (2023: £16,158) at 29 February 2024. Free reserves, defined as non-designated Unrestricted Reserves, minus the value of Tangible Fixed Assets, are £15,650 (2023: £15,643) which provides a small additional level of contingency.
The Trustees believe that Unrestricted Reserves should, wherever possible, be maintained at least at this level to ensure the charity can run efficiently and meet the needs of the beneficiaries. FG will continue to use reserves, where necessary, to support the annual programme, but the objective is to achieve 100% funding for each programme.
This policy will be reviewed by the Trustees on an annual basis as part of the charity’s budgeting processes.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Fertile Ground Dance Limited aims to advance the arts for the public benefit by the promotion, in particular, but not exclusively, of the art of dance.
Fertile Ground (FG) is the North East’s only contemporary touring dance company which specialises in creating opportunities for young professional dancers to develop their early careers.
FG offers performances and workshops across the North East region and beyond, showcasing great talent performing in theatres, galleries and outdoor spaces.
The vision that shapes our annual activities remains working with emerging dance artists, creating and touring contemporary dance across the North East and removing barriers for children and young people to access high quality contemporary dance.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Aims & Objectives
Our organisational objectives remain to:
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Provide professional opportunities for emerging dancers who are native to, have trained or are based in the North East;
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Inspire children and young people through engagement programmes where interaction with professional dancers and choreographers promote creativity and encourage physical wellbeing;
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Continue to increase the artistic profile and visibility of FG by working with internationally recognised collaborators
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Create, produce and present inspiring and innovative dance programmes toured in North East and beyond
Public Benefit
The Trustees understand and have discussed the implications of the provisions of the Charities Act 2006, which state that all charities must demonstrate that they are established for public benefit, and have had due regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission. The Trustees believe that the charity meets both of the key principles.
Principle 1 - There must be an identifiable benefit, or benefits Principle 2 - Benefit must be to the public, or a section of the public
The charity’s principal public benefits are:
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Education and development of young people - The charity’s participatory activities focus on strengthening the social and emotional capabilities of young people – such as confidence, resilience, creativity, communication, managing feelings, problem-solving, relationshipbuilding, responsibility and perseverance - through participation in creative activities.
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Performances for the general public - The charity produces performances and events which are delivered to a high standard by paid professional staff.
The main beneficiaries are:
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Members of the public who attend our events and performances and who engage with FG online
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Emerging dancers from the North East of England who form the FG Company
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Emerging dancers from the North East of England who are the beneficiaries of the professional development programme (360 programme)
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Children and young people and adult participants who take part in our workshops and residencies in education settings
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Artists and crew who create and contribute to our touring programmes
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Impact and Value
FG remains dedicated to creating a lasting impact and providing significant value through its focus on talent development and the empowerment of young dancers in the North East.
For each artistic programme, we make it a priority to select a minimum of four promising emerging young dancers who have strong connections to our region, either through their birthplace, training, or current residency. These talented individuals are given a remarkable opportunity to join our company as members for a 12 to 18 months intensive program. Throughout this transformative experience, they collaborate closely with experienced and acclaimed dance artists, honing their skills.
Our young dancers not only gain invaluable artistic growth, but they also have the chance to showcase their talent on a regional or national tour, bringing their innovative performances to audiences across the country. Moreover, they actively contribute to our educational initiatives by assisting in the delivery of workshops and educational programs. As believers in the value of ethical employment practices, we ensure that our dancers receive professional fees.
In our ongoing efforts to break down barriers and make high-quality dance accessible to all, we offer a range of free educational activities in local schools, community centres, and in collaboration with our partners. These initiatives aim to eliminate obstacles that may prevent young people from accessing the transformative power of dance. By engaging directly with professional dancers, our programs inspire young individuals, promote their overall well-being, and nurture their creativity.
Recognising the challenges that newly trained dancers aged 18-25 often face when trying to establish themselves in the industry, we have established the '360 professional development program.' This unique initiative is specifically designed to provide support to young dancers including those who may struggle to secure their first professional job due to a variety of socio-economic factors. By offering comprehensive assistance and mentorship, we equip these individuals with the resilience and essential skills needed to navigate the early stages of their careers successfully.
Through our unwavering commitment to talent development and the provision of inclusive opportunities, we create a profound impact on the lives of young dancers in our community. By investing in their growth, we not only foster the next generation of exceptional dancers but also contribute to their personal and professional development, ultimately enriching the cultural landscape of the North East.
The work of FG is rooted in its artistic programme. The Artistic Director collaborates with diverse international guests each year to curate a fresh repertoire, delving into various cross-genre art forms such as film, theatre, digital media, and live music. These guest artists actively participate in our engagement initiatives, infusing their specialised expertise into workshops and school residencies.
Our ultimate goal is to produce exceptionally high-quality work that is both captivating and unpredictable. We aspire to present dance that pioneers unexplored territories, captivating audiences through a multitude of formats and venues, and challenging their preconceptions of contemporary dance.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 29 February 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Testimonials
“Our third-year students have thoroughly enjoyed working with Fertile Ground and their associated artists/choreographers over their three-week residency. Feedback has included how the experience has enabled each individual to grow in confidence, foster more collaborative relationships between each other and has encouraged a sense of empowerment in co-authoring a new work. Fertile Ground guest artist Patricia Okenwa's approach has enabled students to grow in confidence in their contact work and improvisation, their choreographic thinking and their understanding of the rigour required in creating new work at a professional level. As a staff team, we are thrilled to see a cohort who have benefitted so significantly from their time with the company, and look forward to supporting these students in their final year performances of the work later this academic year.” Sophie Douglas, Youth and Education Coordinator at Dance City.
“It was a joy to be so very close up to the dancers: to be able to see the movement of individual toes, and the wonderful eye contact and facial expressions between them. I loved the moments of tenderness between individual dancers and how very different their bodying forth of movement was. It was also a delight to see such gentleness and flow after a lot of contemporary dance in recent years has seemed to exhibit a lot of anger, angst and dystopia. Thank you for a wonderful evening. We used to go to everything at NSCD before we moved to live in Scotland and we miss good contemporary dance. More please!” Audience member, the Maltings in Berwick
"I developed a sense of trust and confidence in my performative and creative contributions which comes from working in a small group alongside encouraging dancers and choreographers - it is rare to have such an intimate time in the creative process. ... I want to perform in North East venues with Fertile Ground, this excites me! I feel a sense of need for this to happen, to solidify the dance identity of the region. To show that dance can exist in these spaces." Rebecca Douglass, FG cast member
Wider Operating Context
In the past year, the cultural sector in the North East and in England more generally has remained a difficult environment, with challenges including the cost-of-living crisis, the continuous impact of Brexit, inflationary pressures on salaries and freelance pay, energy costs, static performance fees, the lingering effects of Covid-19, and increased production expenses, circumstances particularly challenging for touring companies like FG.
Audience attendance has increased but not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Booking behaviours have become less predictable, presenting venues with multiple challenges, including static funding or limited increases, soaring inflation and operating costs, uncertain local authority support, and the conclusion of the UK's participation in Creative Europe. Venue and festival programming has become more risk-averse overall, with static fees (amounting to real terms reductions) and fewer commissions.
The fundraising landscape remains difficult. While overall, the generous UK public donated an estimated £13.9 billion to charity last year – up 1.2 billion on 2022 - and this despite the financial pressures on households, there is an overwhelming volume of applications, resulting in wildly reduced success rates as reported by specialist fundraising consultancies.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)
Wider Operating Context (Cont.)
The number of programmed events at venues has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, meaning there are fewer opportunities to present dance works. Independent artists and companies therefore remain vulnerable, with limited access to financial support.
In this challenging context, Fertile Ground was able to continue artistic and engagement activities, developing and fundraising for a new artistic programme and strategizing for the future.
Risk Management
The Trustees regularly review the major governance, operational and financial risks which the charity faces as part of its annual business planning process and confirm that systems have been established to mitigate these risks.
The charity has a risk management strategy in place which comprises:
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an annual review of the strategic risks the charity may face via the business plan
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the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified
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the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
Trustees are satisfied that appropriate financial systems and controls and employment policies and practices are in place. They consider the key risks facing the charity at this time to be:
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Financial capacity - New sources of income are needed to make give the charity’s operations long term security, however the risk here is a lack of available funds to support research, investment, and speculative ideation
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Increased competition for funding - This applies to most of our funders who experience significant oversubscription to their programmes (resulting in project funding success rates being highly reduced)
The Trustees have managed the potential impact of these risks by ensuring that:
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A Board Away Day took place with an external facilitator and kicked off the next round of business planning and the identification of skills gaps within the Board. It led to the development of an artistic vision, governance and management development plan that is considering organisational continuity as well as resilience, income streams, development opportunities, and partnerships.
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Conservative budgets have been set for the next financial year which recognise a difficult funding landscape for the cultural sector;
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The charity maintains a low-cost base, using freelancers and minimising liabilities;
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Regular management accounts are produced, demonstrating performance against budget, allowing for interrogation, challenge, and advice from Trustees;
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Contingency plans and alternative ways forward are discussed among the Executive and Trustees ahead of major commitments on spend and activity
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A reserves policy is in place providing for an appropriate amount of uncommitted reserves to enable the charity to meet all liabilities if income targets are not achieved
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE YEAR
Artistic Achievements
For every new artistic programme, Fertile Ground aims to commission newly choreographed works or stage a revival of existing acclaimed works by international choreographers and focus on a new collaboration that can enhance the programme – for example, engagement with the digital world. We work with guest artists to create new choreography and to partner with us on our engagement activities. This year, Fertile Ground was awarded the Dance City and the Gillian Dickinson Trust commission, which gave us the opportunity to develop an ambitious artistic programme of stage works and engagement activities titled Play, Pause, Repeat.
To achieve this, Fertile Ground held an audition for a new cohort of dancers in April 2023. In July, the company employed 4 emerging artists from the North East to research the new artistic programme. They worked with established choreographers Patricia Okenwa and Jamaal Burkmar, taking part in daily training and sharing the result of the research to a selected audience of programmers and peers.
In February 2024, three of the emerging dancers returned to work with the company and we employed a new emerging dancer to complete the cast of four. They resumed their work with choreographer Patricia Okenwa and Jamaal Burkmar to create two new dance pieces:
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How to Decouple in an Ethical Way : Choreographed by international award-winning choreographer Jamaal Burkmar, this work is a millennial love story told in 3 sessions and 3 songs. In a mix of improvisation and choreography, music and text, the piece goes on a journey exploring the short life of a new relationship.
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The Messiest Drawer : Choreographed by former Rambert Dancer Patricia Okenwa, this work is a tender look at the objects, memories, sensations, that we have tucked away in our secret drawer. In The Messiest Drawer we find clutter, tangles, precious knick knacks - all the things we hang on to, as well as the many stories that tell us why and how. As we unpack, rediscover, and reposition, memories bubble up and move us in many ways: from getting stuck in a moment to holding them dear to our heart.
Both pieces premiered at Dance City on 8 March 2024 and are scheduled to tour to 6 more venues in Spring and Autumn 2024.
The company also had the opportunity to present They Went To Sea , a film created by choreographer Malgorzata Dzierzon and film maker Yola Kudela, at the Serious Nonsense Festival in Prescot (Liverpool). This activity contributed to showcasing the work of emerging dancers from Newcastle to a wider audience and to establish Fertile Ground's reputation beyond the North East. The festival was attended by 17,000 visitors and we estimate that most visitors saw the film as it was projected in a loop all three days of the festival.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE YEAR (CONTINUED)
Engagement
During the year, the company conducted 98 engagement sessions for young dancers in training or in search of employment aged 12 to 25 (93 in Newcastle, 5 in London for a total of 866 participants over all the sessions). They consisted of:
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open company classes, experiencing training with our professional dancers delivered by our guest choreographers and FG artistic director Renaud Wiser
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a three-week residency by guest choreographer Patricia Okenwa with Dance City BA students.
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6 creative sessions delivered by guest choreographer Jamaal Burkmar with Dance City Centre for Advance Training students
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a week-long residency with Benfield School students delivered by company dancers and FG artistic director Renaud Wiser, creating a short work with a group of 15 children (12-16 years old) and delivering tester sessions to 6 additional groups.
Emerging Artists Professional Development
360 Programme - FG recruited for the 2023/24 cohort of our professional development programme, the “360”. Four NE emerging dancers were selected and completed the scheme over the year, by attending professional classes with the Company and through observerships, sessions on marketing and finance and one to one mentoring sessions.
Emerging professional dancers - This year five emerging professional dancers were able to join the company as paid cast members. One had been a member of FG’s 2023 360 professional development programme and was able to successfully start her professional career as a performer, testimony of the programme’s success as a pathway into the professional world.
Fundraising
Working with freelance fundraising consultant Samantha Hobrough in 2023/24 and Trustee Camille De Groote, we submitted 7 funding applications to trusts and foundations to support Fertile Ground’s charitable activities. In addition, we continued to receive support from the Newcastle Culture Investment Fund 2022 - 2025 and were awarded an Arts Council Projects Grant and a Dance City and Gillian Dickinson Trust commission.
In 2023/2024 Fertile Ground received:
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£2,000 from Barbour Foundation towards support of our core costs over the next 12 months
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• £19,630 from Arts Council England Project Grant for creation, production and 2024 tour of Play, Pause, Repeat programme, alongside learning and participation activities
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£10,000 from Newcastle Culture Investment Fund (awarded for three years until 2025) towards artistic and outreach programmes in Newcastle, in recognition of the vital part Fertile Ground plays in delivering the cultural vision for the city.
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£20,000 from the Dance City and Gillian Dickinson commission for the creation of a new artistic programme
Fertile Ground are deeply grateful for the support from all these organisations.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE YEAR (CONTINUED)
Financial Review
The financial out-turn for the year is an overall unrestricted deficit of £(382) (2023: Unrestricted deficit of £3,675), leaving a balance on Unrestricted Funds of £15,776 at 29 February 2024.
The Trustees consider the financial performance of the charity to be satisfactory.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
In summer 2023, Fertile Ground took the opportunity of a Board Away Day, facilitated by Theresa Beattie OBE, to reaffirm shared purpose; take a longer-term view of FG’s ambitions and how Trustees can contribute; reimagine a more stable and sustainable structure with reduced ACE dependency; map realistic activity and baseline support 2024/25; and identify high level objectives and priorities for the next three years.
The work achieved during the away-day led into the development of a refreshed vision synthesised into a new company Manifesto and shaped our artistic and business plan intended to deliver stability and financial resilience for the next 3 years.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
For the year ended 29 February 2024
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees (who are also the Directors of Fertile Ground Dance Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed by order of the Trustees
Jennifer Gabbitus Chair of Trustees Company Registration Number 10599285
15 July 2024
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
I hereby report to the Trustees of Fertile Ground Dance Limited (Charity Registration Number 1180001) on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 29 February 2024 set out on pages 14 to 24.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s Trustees (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods or principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102)).
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.
Pete O’Hara, FCA, Chartered Accountant
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
26 La Sagesse, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AF
15 July 2024
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| Note Income Income from Investments 3 Income from Donations & Legacies 4 Income from Charitable Activities 5 Other Income 6 Expenditure Expenditure on Raising Funds 7 Expenditure on Charitable Activities 8 Net Income/(Expenditure) Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ - - - - 69 - 69 - 17,250 12,000 29,250 20,300 8,879 - 8,879 627 |
|---|---|
| 26,198 12,000 38,198 20,927 750 - 750 1,000 25,830 14,000 39,830 30,602 |
|
| 26,580 14,000 40,580 31,602 |
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| (382) (2,000) (2,382) (10,675) 16,158 4,000 20,158 30,833 |
|
| £15,776 £2,000 £17,776 £20,158 |
The notes on pages 16 to 24 form part of the financial statements.
All of the activities of the company are classed as continuing.
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION/BALANCE SHEET AS AT 29 FEBRUARY 2024
| Notes Fixed Assets Tangible Fixed Assets 11 Current Assets Debtors 12 Cash At Bank & In Hand Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year 13 Net Current Assets/(Liabilities) Total Assets less Current Liabilities Total Net Assets 14 Represented by: Unrestricted Reserves 15 Restricted Reserves 15 |
2024 2023 £ £ 126 515 17,508 888 13,966 21,891 |
|---|---|
| 31,474 22,779 (13,824) (3,136) |
|
| 17,650 19,643 |
|
| 17,776 20,158 |
|
| £17,776 £20,158 |
|
| 15,776 16,158 2,000 4,000 |
|
| £17,776 £20,158 |
The notes on pages 16 to 24 form part of the financial statements.
The Trustees are satisfied that for the year ended 29 February 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption under section 477(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
The Trustees also confirm that the Members have not required the charity to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
(i) ensuring that the charity keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and
(ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 15 July 2024 and signed on their behalf:
Jennifer Gabbitus Chair of Trustees Company Registration Number 10599285
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of Accounting
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 – 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' ('FRS 102'), and with the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value.
Advantage has been taken of the provisions in the SORP for Charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a statement of cashflows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.
Taxation Status
Fertile Ground Dance Limited is a Charity registered under the 1960 Charities Act and is accorded exemption from liability to taxation on its income under S505 Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.
Going Concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Income
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income, any performance related conditions attached have been met or are fully within the control of the charity, the income is considered probable and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
-
Donations and legacy income is received by way of donations, legacies, grants and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Where legacies have been notified to the charity but the criteria for income recognition have not been met, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
-
Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
-
Investment income is included when receivable.
-
Income from charitable trading activity is accounted for when earned.
-
Other income is accounted for when receivable.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
1. Accounting Policies (Continued)
Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:
-
Costs of raising funds comprise the costs associated with attracting donations, grants and legacies and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
-
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
-
Other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Capital items costing over £250 are capitalised and included in fixed assets.
Depreciation is provided on any fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the assets over their remaining useful lives as follows:
IT Equipment – 3 years
Impairment of Fixed Assets
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
Financial Instruments
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost where there is a material adjustment.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
1. Accounting Policies (Continued)
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the purposes of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for specific purposes.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor.
Judgements and Key Sources of Estimation Uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
There are no significant judgements or estimation uncertainty included within the financial statements.
2. Legal Status
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.
3. Income from Investments
| Bank Interest Receivable | Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2024 £ 2023 £ - - - - |
|---|---|
| £- £- £- £- |
4. Income from Donations & Legacies
| Donations - General Gift Aid |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2024 £ 2023 £ 69 - 69 - - - - - |
|---|---|
| £69 £- £69 £- |
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
5. Income from Charitable Activities
| Grant Income Barbour Foundation Community Foundation – Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund Garrick Charitable Trust Sir James Knott Trust Earned Income Performance Fees/Commissions Ticket Sales Workshop/Residency Fees |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2024 £ 2023 £ - 2,000 2,000 - - 10,000 10,000 10,000 - - - 5,000 - - - 2,500 |
|---|---|
| - 12,000 12,000 17,500 16,500 - 16,500 2,800 - - - - 750 - 750 - |
|
| 17,250 - 17,250 2,800 |
|
| £17,250 £12,000 £29,250 £20,300 |
The 2023 total of £20,300 comprises £2,800 relating to Unrestricted Funds and £17,500 relating to Restricted Funds.
6. Other Income
| Theatre Tax Relief | Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2024 £ 2023 £ 8,879 - 8,879 627 |
|---|---|
| £8,879 £- £8,879 £627 |
The 2023 total of £627 relates wholly to Unrestricted Funds.
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
7. Expenditure on Raising Funds
| Fundraising Consultancy The 2023 total of £1,000 relates wholly |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ 2024 £ 2023 £ 750 - 750 1,000 |
|---|---|
| £750 £- £750 £1,000 to Unrestricted Funds. |
| 8. | Expenditure on Charitable Activities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Funds | Funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Production & Activity Costs | |||||
| Bursaries/360 Programme | - | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,645 | |
| Freelance Fees | 14,105 | 11,920 | 26,025 | 19,582 | |
| Advertising, Marketing & PR | 646 | - | 646 | 591 | |
| Travel & Subsistence Costs | 4,087 | - | 4,087 | 1,524 | |
| Other Direct Costs | 1,150 | 1,080 | 2,230 | 2,766 | |
| Support Costs | |||||
| Premises Costs | 2,000 | - | 2,000 | 1,848 | |
| Office Costs/Other Overheads | 749 | - | 749 | 547 | |
| Depreciation | 389 | - | 389 | 389 | |
| Governance Costs | |||||
| Accountancy & Book-keeping Fees | 1,440 | - | 1,440 | 1,710 | |
| Consultancy Fees | 955 | - | 955 | - | |
| Trustee Meeting Costs | 309 | - | 309 | ||
| £25,830 | £14,000 | £39,830 | 30,602 |
The 2023 total of £30,602 comprises £6,102 relating to Unrestricted Funds and £24,500 relating to Restricted Funds.
9. Net Movement in Funds
| et Movement in Funds | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| The net movement in Funds is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
| Depreciation of Owned Fixed Assets | 389 | 389 |
| Independent Examiner’s Fees – Independent Examination | 1,080 | 1,080 |
| Independent Examiner’s Fees – Other Services | 360 | 360 |
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
10. Staff Costs & Directors’ Remuneration
The charity employed no staff in the year (2023: None)
No remuneration was paid to or waived by Trustees/Directors in the year (2023: £Nil) and no costs (2023: £Nil) were reimbursed to Trustees in respect of their attendance at meetings of the charity.
11. Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost At 1 March 2023 Additions At 29 February 2024 Depreciation At 1 March 2023 Charge for year At 29 February 2024 Net Book Value At 29 February 2024 At 1 March 2023 12. Debtors Trade Debtors Theatre Tax Relief Prepayments All sums are due within 1 year. |
Office & ICT Equipment Total Fixed Assets £ £ 1,447 1,447 - - |
|---|---|
| 1,447 1,447 932 932 389 389 |
|
| 1,321 1,321 £126 £126 |
|
| £515 £515 |
|
| 2024 £ 2023 £ 7,500 - 8,879 627 1,129 261 |
|
| £17,508 £888 |
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
13. Creditors – Amounts Falling Due Within 1 Year
| 2024 £ 2023 £ Trade Creditors 6,817 60 Accruals 7,007 3,076 £13,824 £3,136 14. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets 126 - 126 515 Debtors 17,508 - 17,508 888 Cash at Bank and In Hand 11,966 2,000 13,966 21,891 Creditors – Due Within 1 Year (13,824) - (13,824) (3,136) £15,776 £2,000 £17,776 £20,158 15. Analysis of Charitable Funds At 1 March 2023 £ Income in Year £ Expenditure in Year £ At 29 February 2024 £ Unrestricted Funds 16,158 26,198 (26,580) 15,776 Restricted Funds Barbour Foundation - 2,000 (2,000) - Community Foundation – Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund 2,000 10,000 (10,000) 2,000 Sir James Knott Trust 2,000 - (2,000) - Total Restricted Funds 4,000 12,000 (14,000) 2,000 Total Funds £20,158 £38,198 £(40,580) £17,776 |
2024 £ 2023 £ Trade Creditors 6,817 60 Accruals 7,007 3,076 £13,824 £3,136 14. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets 126 - 126 515 Debtors 17,508 - 17,508 888 Cash at Bank and In Hand 11,966 2,000 13,966 21,891 Creditors – Due Within 1 Year (13,824) - (13,824) (3,136) £15,776 £2,000 £17,776 £20,158 15. Analysis of Charitable Funds At 1 March 2023 £ Income in Year £ Expenditure in Year £ At 29 February 2024 £ Unrestricted Funds 16,158 26,198 (26,580) 15,776 Restricted Funds Barbour Foundation - 2,000 (2,000) - Community Foundation – Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund 2,000 10,000 (10,000) 2,000 Sir James Knott Trust 2,000 - (2,000) - Total Restricted Funds 4,000 12,000 (14,000) 2,000 Total Funds £20,158 £38,198 £(40,580) £17,776 |
2024 £ 2023 £ Trade Creditors 6,817 60 Accruals 7,007 3,076 £13,824 £3,136 14. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets 126 - 126 515 Debtors 17,508 - 17,508 888 Cash at Bank and In Hand 11,966 2,000 13,966 21,891 Creditors – Due Within 1 Year (13,824) - (13,824) (3,136) £15,776 £2,000 £17,776 £20,158 15. Analysis of Charitable Funds At 1 March 2023 £ Income in Year £ Expenditure in Year £ At 29 February 2024 £ Unrestricted Funds 16,158 26,198 (26,580) 15,776 Restricted Funds Barbour Foundation - 2,000 (2,000) - Community Foundation – Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund 2,000 10,000 (10,000) 2,000 Sir James Knott Trust 2,000 - (2,000) - Total Restricted Funds 4,000 12,000 (14,000) 2,000 Total Funds £20,158 £38,198 £(40,580) £17,776 |
2024 £ 2023 £ 6,817 60 7,007 3,076 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £13,824 £3,136 Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £ 126 515 17,508 888 13,966 21,891 (13,824) (3,136) |
|||
| £15,776 £2,000 £17,776 £20,158 At 1 March 2023 £ Income in Year £ Expenditure in Year £ At 29 February 2024 £ 16,158 26,198 (26,580) 15,776 - 2,000 (2,000) - 2,000 10,000 (10,000) 2,000 2,000 - (2,000) - |
|||
| 4,000 12,000 (14,000) 2,000 |
|||
| £20,158 £38,198 £(40,580) £17,776 |
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FERTILE GROUND DANCE LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 FEBRUARY 2024
15. Analysis of Charitable Funds (Cont.)
Name of Restricted Fund
Description, Nature & Purpose of the Fund
Barbour Foundation Towards core costs of yearly activities including the new creation Play, Pause, Repeat Community Foundation – Newcastle Towards the cost of schools work, plus a Cultural Investment Fund contribution to the posts of Development Director and Artistic Director Sir James Knott Trust To provide employment opportunities for young professional dancers
16. Related Party Transactions
There were no transactions in the year with related parties, such as are required to be disclosed under the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (Effective April 2008) (2023: Nil).
17. Financial Commitments
No material financial commitments have been made in respect of future financial periods.
18. Company Limited by Guarantee
The company was under the control of its Trustees in the current and previous financial years.
The charity is incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 and is limited by guarantee, each member having undertaken to contribute such amounts not exceeding £1 as may be required in the event of the company being wound up whilst he or she is still a member or within one year thereafter.
There are currently 7 members of the company (2023: 8).
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