The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
THE COMMON GROUND COLLECTIVE
CHARITY NUMBER 1181481
TRUSTEES REPORT AND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 APRIL 2023 TO 31 MARCH 2024
1
The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees present their report and unaudited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024
Charity reference and administration details
Charity name: The Common Ground Collective Other names: Common Ground Plus Registered Charity number: 1181481 Charity principal address: c/o Emmaus Chartered Accountants 377-399 London Road Camberley Surrey GU15 3HL Names of Trustees: Valerie Hunt Carole Blunden-Lee Bank: Santander UK Bridle Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L30 4GB Senior Management: Gabriella Croci (Founder and Workshop Facilitator)
1
The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
Structure, governance and management
The charity Common Ground Collective is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), incorporated and registered as a charity on 8 January 2019. The charity is governed under its constitution. The trustees oversee the charity, and the day-to-day management of the charity is performed by the Charity workshop facilitator. The workshop facilitator books venues, markets the charity services to the public, teaches at workshops during the year and arranges for other artists to teach at workshops. The workshop facilitator also fulfils the role of marketing and fund-raising coordinator for the charity, reporting back to the trustees regularly. During the year ended 31 March 2022, the workshop facilitator was a paid staff member.
There is a child protection policy in place and DBS checks are done prior to commencement of employment or trusteeship and checks are carried out again in line with statutory requirements.
All trustees have given their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
Trustee recruitment
Trustees are appointed or reappointed every three years at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Charity.
Objectives of the charity
The charity objects as set out in the governing constitution document are:
(1) To advance the education of the public in the arts, including (but not limited to) young people and disabled people.
(2) To promote the relief of disabled people.
(3) To advance for the benefit of the public such other exclusively charitable purposes (in accordance with the laws of England and Wales) as the Trustees of the charity shall from time to time select. The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022
Activities of the charity
2
The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
In planning our activities for the year, the trustees kept in mind the Charities commission guidance on public benefit.
During the year ended 31 March 2024, the main activities held were as follows:
-
Collaborated with local charitable organisations, designing in person art sessions specifically for those of the neurodiverse community.
-
In person sessions, teaching creative and mindfulness based practices, designed to support young people with social anxiety and lack of self-esteem.
-
Gave access to participants to a library of on-demand tutorials to practice in their own time.
-
Held guest facilitated in person workshops
-
Held art sessions for participants in assisted living.
Achievements and Performance
During the year, our charity has made significant strides in promoting mental health and well-being through the transformative power of the arts. We have successfully created opportunities for individuals to express themselves, connect with others, and develop essential skills within our community.
This year, we achieved the following:
-
Leadership Development through Pottery: Our group of compassionate and skilled young makers led a pottery workshop at Frimhurst Family House. This event not only showcased their leadership abilities but also fostered a sense of community. The workshop was warmly welcomed by the wonderful folks at Deepcut Church and the ATD fourth world, who graciously host a tea and coffee morning for local refugees.
-
Fundraising through Creativity: Our young makers dedicated themselves to honing their creative skills, culminating in an exceptional workshop where they ran the event seamlessly. The little plant pots they crafted will be sold to raise funds for the community at Amber Fundation. It is truly inspiring to witness how small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in the lives of others.
-
Outreach Programme with Amber Foundation: We collaborated with the Amber Foundation to create mini ceramic cottages. Our team enthusiastically learned the art of kurinuki while creating these beautiful planters, which, along with vital
3
The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
seeds, will be available for sale this spring. Notably, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Amber Foundation, exemplifying our commitment to supporting those in need.
-
Gordon’s School Outreach Project: At the outset of our program, our young makers participated in skills-based training sessions designed to equip them with core creative skills. Our gordons art and photography Saturday Club has been diligently learning the art of Lino printing. Recently, they facilitated a cardmaking workshop at Frimhurst enterprises, where they produced festive cards for the community. Their hard work resulted in raising £338 for Frimhurst enterprises, demonstrating the impact of their creative talents. This project was made possible thanks to our generous sponsor, Atomus Ltd.
-
Bookbinding and Mindfulness: We introduced bookbinding and mindfulness sessions for children at the Village Cultural Education, further expanding our offerings to promote mental well-being through creative expression.
Through these initiatives, we are proud to continue making a positive impact within our community, providing essential support and creative opportunities for all. Our focus remains on fostering an inclusive environment where art serves as a catalyst for personal growth and community connection.
Financial Review
The principal source of charity funds for the year ended 31 March 2024 were from donations, and grants from grant making organisations.
Expenditure during the year was principally on the workshop facilitator salary and purchases and supplies for charitable activities. Governance services were donated.
The expenditure has supported the objectives of teaching arts to the public and specifically benefitting disabled persons by the provision of subsidised or free workshops for those with severe learning difficulties and donated art kits to those with learning difficulties and those with mental health difficulties.
Donated services were received in the form of governance services.
Reserves
4
The Common Ground Collective Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024
It is the policy of the Charity to aim for 3 months of expenditure is in the bank at all times, working towards 6 months.
Cash at bank on 31/3/2024 was £3,223 (2023 £3,677).
Declaration
The trustees declare they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees
Signature _____ Name Valerie Hunt
Signature _____ Name Carole Blunden-Lee
Date: 29/02/2025
5
The Common Ground Collective Receipts and payments accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024
Income and Expenditure For the year ended 31 March 2023
| Receipts Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Total receipts Payments Charitable activities Total payments Net of receipts and payments Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestric ted Funds £ 1,793 1,279 3,072 3,526 3,526 (454) - (454) 3,677 3,223 |
Restrict ed Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - |
Total Funds 2024 £ 1,793 1,279 3,072 3,526 3,526 (454) - (454) 3,677 3,223 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 4,433 5,195 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9,628 | ||||
| 9,300 | ||||
| 9,300 | ||||
| 328 | ||||
| 328 | ||||
| 3,834 3,677 |
6
The Common Ground Collective Receipts and payments accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024
Statement of assets and liabilities As at 31 March 2023
| Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Total Net Assets Fund Balances Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds |
Unrestric ted Funds £ 3,223 3,223 - 3,223 |
Restrict ed Funds £ - - - - |
Total Funds 2024 £ 3,223 3,223 - 3,223 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 3,677 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,677 | ||||
| - | ||||
| 3,677 |
The receipts and payments accounts were approved by the Board of Directors and were signed on its behalf by:
Signed on behalf of one or two of the charities trustees
Signature
Name Valerie Hunt
Date: 29/01/2025
7