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2025-03-31-accounts

Skimstone Arts Annual Report and Accounts 2024 - 2025

Photos: Mark Savage, Top Image: Claire Webster Saaremets

Our Mission: To support diverse artists, people and communities at risk of social isolation to create work with, for and about the world that matters to them.

About Skimstone Arts 04
Our Activities and Aims 06
Report From Our Chair of Trustees 08
Artistic Director’s Report
Leadership Team Report		 10
12
UNITY Festival
Holocaust Memorial Day		 14
20
Reality Boots
The Upstartz
Refugee Week		 22
24
26
Legal and Administrative
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
Independent Examiner’s Report
Statement of Financial Activities		 28
30
31
32
Statement of Financial Position 33
Thank You Funders & Partners 36
Contact 38

Skimstone Arts Registered Charity: 1182284

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01

About Skimstone Arts

Skimstone Arts is a welcoming, safe yet risk taking charity, passionate about promoting equality and visibility in the arts and society. Established in 2007 by Claire Webster Saaremets and lead musician Peter Saaremets.

“I believe this organisation continues to make a genuine difference to the people they work alongside, rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems, they successfully do this by: continuing to champion the arts as a way of giving positive recognition, active voices, opportunities to those who have been forgotten, neglected, unpopular, addressing social injustice and isolation ... enabling groups to visit their accessible Studio space in the city ... and beyond.”

Our mission is to support diverse artists and communities and those at risk of social isolation to create work with, for, and about the world that matters to them.

We produce and embed social action, equality and visibility in our

PROGRAMME

We produce an annual programme of accessible live, radio and online events, with local, national and international communities for: regional UNITY Festival exploring the (themes of humanity and our environment), National Holocaust Memorial Day, and national Refugee Week.

COMMUNITIES

We collaborate with local, national and international artists, co-creators and audiences with skills, talents, ideas and potential and are living with life challenges, needs and societal isolation, to work with us and create authentic artworks for our annual programme.

- Arts Development Officer, Newcastle City Council

Image: Mark Savage

The process of hearing stories, exploring themes, and working together with such a rich diversity of voices to create this work has been a very powerful journey. We hope that audiences are moved by our songs, performances, images, films, poetry and events, which respond to lived experiences.

We support our Young Artists Collective and their band Reality Boots run by our young people’s Leadership Team. The Lead Musician supporting our young people is Peter Saaremets, funded by Youth Music.

Our bands create and record original work about what they want to say about the world for our programmed events.

We invite people who have a right to be visible to join us in being positive activists, nurturing and recognising humanity and our living world... to bring peace, respect and open hearts.

PARTNERSHIPS

We work with regional universities, cultural venues and a range of partners regionally, nationally and internationally to create work that contributes to important research, festival events and invites audiences to think about and respond to arts and social action.

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02

Our general aims include:

· Creating a voice for our diverse artists, communities and all those we work with to promote inclusion, collaboration, ownership and respect, for anyone who has a social and political right to make artwork but may face barriers to do so.

· Making accessible artistic work including performances, exhibitions, radio broadcasts and gigs, that reflect current stories and themes that engage diverse audiences.

· Being actively inclusive and supporting and nurturing opportunities for all those made isolated by society; recognising and celebrating skills and talents, despite the multiple life challenges they may be experiencing.

· Presenting free events throughout the year, giving audiences the chance to enjoy: live music, performance, arts, exhibitions, stories and workshops, that celebrate humanity, the environment and positive social action.

Our Activities and Aims

How we do this

We bring the artworks created by the different artists and co creator communities into the same public platform e.g. our young people’s band Reality Boots, commissioned artists, photographers, musicians etc and community members perform original songs, poetry, exhibit work from creative sessions for our UNITY Festival/Holocaust Memorial Day Events and Refugee Week. This creates equal visibility and invites audiences to be inspired and engage with a broader spectrum of experiences, stories and social action.

Why do we do this

We believe in equality of opportunity, of being curious and playful about the world, and expressing ideas and thoughts in different art forms that help us to think more deeply about humanity and the environment. We are passionate about travelling together, listening, responding and learning about the diversity of voices, ideas and artworks. Then we can begin to change individual, community and world perceptions, and recognise how artistic processes and artworks can reinforce equal worth, visibility, and appreciation of a new lens on the world, and positive relationships that make us feel good TOGETHER.

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Report From Our Chair 03 of Trustees

wheels turning. A huge thank you to all of you. You’re part of this story too.It’s not always easy out there for the arts – or for the communities we work with – but the creativity, resilience, and hope I see here every day tell me we’ve always been on the right track. As the time comes when we move on from this chapter, I know these moments will remain – in the art, in the friendships, and in the changes we’ve helped make together. Here’s to the unexpected magic that happens when people come together.

When I think about this past year at Skimstone Arts, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t a single event or performance – it’s the shared atmosphere we’ve helped to create. Whether that’s the buzz of a festival stage, the quiet focus of a creative workshop, or the spark of ideas flying in rehearsal, there’s been a sense of something alive and deeply connected. That’s what we’re here for. We’ve had a year full of those moments. UNITY Festival brought people together to celebrate humanity and the natural world. Holocaust Memorial Day asked us to pause, listen, and reflect on how we can help create a better future. Refugee Week reminded us that community really can be a superpower. And through it all, our Young Artist Collective and Reality Boots kept making bold, original work – saying what they want to say about the world in their own voices.What I love about Skimstone is that it’s never just about putting on an event. It’s about relationships – listening, collaborating, making sure people who are often unheard get to shape the conversation. It’s about saying, “Your story matters, and we want to share it.”

Simon James Chair of Trustees

Simon James Chair

Talha Ozleblebici Trustee

Jess Johnson Secretary

Angela Mortimer Trustee

Lya Vollering Carol Candler Trustee Trustee

None of this would happen without the amazing people who make up our team – Claire and Peter, our staff, trustees, associate artists, volunteers – and of course, the audiences, partners and funders who keep the

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04

“Some years just stand out. They stand out because an experience, a happening, an exchange has meant something, something deep and long lasting, that I will remember, long after it’s time. This has been a year full of those experiences.”

Claire Webster Saaremets

Perhaps one of the biggest highlights of my 18 year Skimstone Arts journey was our UNITY Festival 2024. We were supported by all our funders (see our special Thank You to them later in this report) and this helped myself and the staff and community members to commission and produce such a varied diverse programme of performances, talks and workshops. There we all were, 3,500 audience members from so many different backgrounds and experiences in one place, delighting in the artists and speakers and workshop leaders provocations and offers. Watching new audience visitors listen to Harkling’s extensive vocalisations and samples about trees’ mycelium, printing slogans together to create

Artistic Director’s Report

and wave proudly our unity banners, seeing Bilai reveal ways of magically portraying sand stories, all to explore themes of the world that matters to us. I loved the whole programme! We felt so supported by our venues — Great North Museum: Hancock and Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar I found myself just smiling almost incredulously at how all these people - artists and communities, audiences of all ages, many of who were performing or coming to those venues for the first time. It was so full of joy, and hope, and connection.

Our world continues to feel very precarious and trying to reinforce division, so continuing to be committed to Refugee Week and national Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 gave an opportunity for our bands Shirley And The Gang and Reality Boots, to share their original songs with such intensity, alongside our poets and story sharers, after recording their work in the ever supportive Blank Studios professional recording venue. We can always gauge how audiences have been inspired from the conversations that happened afterwards. We often hear how they had felted really deeply connected with the lyrics of a song or elements of a performance such as UNITY Tree’s Turning to Face the Sun.

So it is timely then that this year, being such a positive year should bring with it the news that

Image: Mark Savage

we have decided to celebrate the 18 years of Skimstone Arts with a final journey. This means that Skimstone Arts will close in December 2025.

after major events, Peter and I will continue to have a studio at NewBridge and consider and develop our practice as artists and collaborators. We will also host monthly gatherings to listen to how people from the Skimstone community are doing. We want to see people fly and flourish in new ways.

I have to acknowledge that post my brain surgery and other tumour removals from years ago,have brought risks and I think it’s only fair that the art charity should always be at its best.

During this celebratory and final year we are thrilled to be making a special zine of the stories of impact. And of course, in true Skimstone Arts style … we’re having a party! and it will be free as all our events have been, and it will celebrate everyone and our many many projects with all the diversity of people that we’ve been honoured enough to work with…. so watch this space !

It was a very hard decision, but it’s the right one. I want to acknowledge the amazing support of our Chair and current Trustees who have helped us to make this careful decision. Peter and I have been able to feel their diligence, care, commitment and understanding has meant so much to us.

Although we are closing Skimstone Arts, to alleviate some of the demands and challenges of continual fund raising and the exhaustion

Claire Webster Saaremets

Artistic Director/CEO

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Leadership Team 05 Report

“A significant milestone for me was making my film Ordinary Oppression. There was a time constraint to get it finished but I got to make a film I was very proud of and had total creative control over. It was also great to collaborate with all the other YAC members”

This year was a year of even more extensive collaboration with other bands and groups of young people, alongside the artistic development of Reality Boots. We saw this in the way the bands worked together to write songs, for example one of the songs spoke deeply about the frustration of the way the world is moving to less tolerance and those marginalised groups. These were performed to new audiences especially for our UNITY Festival. Some bands members were challenged in their musical abilities and expand their musical skills. Preparing to record at Blank Studios meant that band members were then well prepared for live performances.

– Phillip

Having the opportunity to explore print making with Northern Print really helped to develop the identity of the band and we were all very proud of the finished design.. which made it to the T-shirts. It’s being further developed for the forth coming album cover.

We’d also like to mention our new band song Eye to Eye. This was a great example of how much the band work so competently together, and respond in a short timescale, to the national Holocaust Memorial Day theme – A Better Future. Audience feedback showed how much this song moved them.

“We are looking forward to recording our final album with partners at Blank Studios in the coming year.”

“A highlight for me was seeing the song “Innocence” come together as it had the most complex arrangement we’ve had for a song so far. The challenge of the involved wind section parts and the satisfaction of seeing the songs performed.”

A big journey of recognition this year was earned by Phillip as he rose to meet the demands, opportunities and challenges of completing his Gold Arts Award.

Claire and I really respected the tenacity and self development of leadership skills that Phillip showed during the process.

Peter Saaremets

Lead Musician with Reality Boots and Young Artist Collective (YAC)

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UNITY Festival 06 2024

“I was overcome with deep emotion... I felt grief and I felt hope and a deep space for how we feel about the earth.” Audience Member

A FREE music and arts festival celebrating humanity, nature and social action.

UNITY Festival took place at Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle Upon Tyne 18, 19 and 20 October and Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar 26 and 27 October.

Audiences joined us for a free festival of music and arts celebrating community, nature and social action. UNITY Festival proudly premiered newly commissioned performances celebrating a range of diverse regional and international musicians and performers. Skimstone Arts’ free UNITY Festival 2024, was made in partnership with Great North Museum: Hancock and Kirkleatham Museum Redcar, and presented two weekends of free live music, performance, arts, exhibitions, creative workshops and exciting talks, something for everyone.

The festival, co-created with diverse community groups across the North East, offered a platform for artists and audiences to uncover the often-overlooked aspects of humanity and nature. From hidden voices within our communities to the unseen wonders of the natural world, festivalgoers will embarked on a journey of discovery, connection, and hope.

Watch the UNITY Festival ‘24 Magic Moments Impact Film, filmed and produced by Chad

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4*• ' RFfvCE Skimstone Arts Imag•s: Mark Savag• skimstone.org.uk 17

sl Tts Skimstone Arts Imag•.' Mark Savag• skimstone.org.uk 19

08

“So many stories to ground us in the human impact of what blasts out at us from the news everyday making us compassionate again.” Audience Feedback

Holocaust Memorial Day

Skimstone Arts presents Turning to Face The Sun as part of the National Holocaust Memorial Day Programme and Newcastle City Council’s Holocaust Memorial Day Events.

Turning to Face The Sun was a live story sharing and performance event. Audiences witnessed audio and film recordings of songs and poetry and live performances, inspired by Ukrainian, Syrian, Bosnian, Palestinian, Kurdistan Iraq and other war testimonies. Audiences were invited to help us explore what it means to look for hope, resolution, and dream of a better future. What part can we play individually and collectively to make a difference?

Skimstone Arts is committed to national Holocaust Memorial Day Events programme, supported by Newcastle City Council and Newcastle City Library, to support artists and contributors who have been affected by oppression. All members of the public were welcome to come and experience this event together in peace, solidarity and positive social action.

“Being part of HMD 2025 with this year’s theme of ‘For a Better Future’ could not be even more timely. With the rise of disturbing far right presence in Europe and globally, ongoing crisis’ including Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, we need to remember, respect and acknowledge the importance of diversity and seeing each of us… equally… as a human being. Our performance, song, poetry, film and recorded voice event Turning to Face the Sun, brings together

performers, poets, musicians who seek to create a space for us all to listen, reflect and act for a better world, one we all dream to be part of.”

Claire Webster Saaremets - Artistic Director of Skimstone Arts.

Contributors included;

Hosted by Claire Webster Saaremets.

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09

“I enjoyed the process of learning to play drums and sing at the same time. It was a challenge but has inspired me in my musical journey outside of Skimstone Arts in another band.”

Raf

Another busy year for Reality Boots with both musical and visual art collaborations. April and May saw the band head over to Northern Print for print making workshops and work on various print making processes. Working through designs lead to one of the prints becoming the design for the new Reality Boots T-shirt. During this time the band also worked on and performed a song dedicated to Claire for her birthday celebration. Nicole mentioned how difficult it was to keep this a secret! (Claire was thrilled with her surprise song)

During the summer months we visited Jack Drum Arts to work on a new song “Blood Boiler”, a song about the representation of minorities in the media. During this period, band members also visited the Great North Hancock museum as a stimulus for another new song “Hidden Worlds”.

Reality Boots

During autumn the band recorded 2 new songs at Blank Studios both of which had been started earlier but put on the back burner - “Innocence” and “Landslide” a commentary on the inaccuracy of media reporting and the potential consequences of a skewed public opinion.

Reality Boots biggest event of the year was UNITY Festival with 2 live performances debuting 4 new songs and a practice sharing workshop on “the Journey of the song” detailing the song writing process from members points of view.

The winter of 2025 brought another new song and a recording session at Blank Studios. “Eye to Eye” was played for an audience at Newcastle City Library for Skimstone Arts Holocaust Memorial day event in January 2025.

Finally March saw all the band members support and take part in Phillip’s film Ordinary Oppression which was posted to YouTube as part of his Gold Arts award.

All in all a busy and vibrantly creative year for the band who are now looking forward to recording their final album with partners at Blank Studios later this year.

“The highlight for me was seeing the song “Innocence” come together as it had the most complex arrangement we’ve had for a song so far. The challenge of the involved wind section parts and the satisfaction of seeing them performed.” - Keith

“For me collaborating to write 3 different songs over a short period of time in June and July was both interesting and challenging in a good way as the songs were stylistically different. Nice to see the creative processes such as the feel Verity brought to a particular song and the wind arrangement for another.” - Nicole

“I enjoyed the opportunity to bring the

Saxophone into the band and the how it has motivated me to practice. Teaching Clarinet and playing sax has helped me develop my use of music theory by having to think in different keys.” – Verity

We are looking forward to recording our final album with partners at Blank Studios in the coming year.

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10

“It was the way you coordinated and helped them to produce what they did. To achieve that level of performance you held them together but you didn’t take away from what they did, that it was their production.”

Audience Feedback

From our weekly vocal warm up and song writing sessions at St Anthony’s, we now have a band called The Upstartz. Friday mornings have now become band practice sessions and from these The Upstartz recorded their original songs at Blank Studios in May 2024, and then

launched their EP at UNITY Festival ‘24 Great North Museum: Hancock.

The EP launch included an amazing performance from the band where they had their audience up and dancing and even got an encore!

They are now working on their second album exploring myths, legends and fairy tales that inspire social action today.

Helen Woods Waters, CEO of St Anthony of Padua Community Association says

The Upstartz

“Over the last few years as we have been embedding new ways of working, it has been inspiring to watch how people we support grow and flourish as part of the journey with Claire and Peter.

Being part of the band, being involved in writing and composing and performing has had a significant impact on their lives, which they can tell you themselves. It reaches far beyond the rehearsal studio into other aspects of people’s lives which has brought about positive change. For many this is the first time they have had the opportunity to create.“

The Upstartz performed at the UNITY Festival in October 2024, the first time performing away from St Anthony’s. We shared with Claire and Peter at the time that it had been the best Upstartz performance we had seen to date, all members of the band really rose to the occasion and yes, the turnout was fabulous. What Claire and Peter have created is amazing, for all those that had perhaps doubted the power of musical engagement and performance are now converts!! At the time we were worried that the band hadn’t rehearsed for a week, but we had nothing to worry about. The question at the time for the band was, when is our next gig!!! This is why the journey with Skimstone Arts is and continues to be important to us all at St Anthony’s. Thank you, Claire, and thank you Peter.”

For Peter and I and also Rafael and Verity who lead and facilitate band practice, this partnership is very special to us for a number

of reasons. ALL staff are supportive, helpful, engaging and motivating with us and The Upstartz band members. Dedicated time and space is valued for band practice each week. Helen and her team work with all of us to have and make happen a joint vision of creativity and visibility to ensure that ensure older people are recognised for their skills, knowledge and ability to write and perform great songs!

Quotes from The Upstartz band members:

“It’s about coming together and contributing, and we’ve all contributed to the songs.”

“We work together as a band, this creates inclusivity and it doesn’t matter about your age, ability or background, we’re all members of the one band. Even if it’s just one word we contribute.”

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

“I live on my own and feel lonely so it helps to be part of something. In this band I don’t feel so lonely.”

“I liked it when we performed in front of people, I was glad. I was proud of myself.”

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“I really liked it as I am Ukrainian so I felt everything that they were showing us, I felt all the emotions... It made such a big impact on different people who are not from Ukraine, because not everyone truly understands what’s happening right now, it was a nice way to show how it actually feels.”

Audience Member

“...It was really important for me as I can say, professionally t I was part of a performance e and spiritually... helped me to recharge myself.”

Rini, member of UNITY Tree

Refugee Week 2025

For Refugee Week 2025 Skimstone Arts worked in partnership with the Fine Art Department of Newcastle University. We explored the theme Community as a Superpower through live performance and a mixed media exhibition from Ukrainian artists including their newly printed book, alongside diverse artists from around the world.

Community is the incredible everyday. Ordinary and extraordinary. Simple acts of shared generosity. Kindness multiplied to become an unstoppable force!

“We can begin the process of making

community wherever we are. We can begin by sharing a smile, a warm greeting, a bit of conversation; by doing a kind deed or by acknowledging kindness offered to us.” - bell hooks, American Author.

Communities can bring people together. Bridging divides and offering support. Spaces of resilience and places for healing. This Refugee Week everyone was invited to spend time with friends and build new connections in and beyond our neighbourhoods. From communal meals and open air film screenings, to football matches and music making, we’ve shared the feelings of welcome and belonging. Listening, learning, laughing together.

Take a look at our Associate Artist Ako Ismail’s video where he has beautifully captured our event.

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Images: Ako Ismail

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29

Legal and 14 Administrative

“ The venue is an amazing choice; it brings both the worlds together. Great North Museum, the public and artist. Also easy to access.”

Rapasa

Registered office address

Skimstone Arts, The Newbridge Project, Clarence Walk, Shieldfield Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1AL

Directors

Simon James - Chair Jessica Johnson - Secretary Angela Mortimer Alida Vollering Talha Ozleblebici Carol Candler (Appointed 4th Sept 2024)

Bankers

Co-operative Bank

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Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

16

Independent Examiner’s Report

Independent Examiners Report

Skimstone Arts – Company No. 06221728 Charity No. 1182284 - Year end 31 6261728[st] March 2025 The directors for the purposes of company law have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited financial statements of Skimstone Arts (The Company) for the period ended 31[st] March 2025

I report on the financial statements of The Company for the period ended 31[st ] March 2025.

Independent Examiners Statement

Objects

Skimstone Arts is established to advance the arts, particularly but not exclusively, the visual arts, drama, music and film, by the production of plays, exhibitions, concerts, films and performances involving diverse groups of disadvantaged people for the benefit of the public.

Statement of trustee’s responsibilities

The directors for the purposes of company law are responsible for preparing the Directors Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting standards.

Company Law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the company for that year preparing the financial statements the directors are required to:

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

Signed Date 11 July 2025

Mark Thompson MAAT

42 Lesbury Road Newcastle upon Tyne

The Directors are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

NE6 5LB

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within part 15 of the companies Act 2006.

On behalf of the board

Director Signature …………………………………………………………. Name ………………………………………………….. Date …………………………………………………………………………………

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17

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Financial Activities

18

Statement of Financial Position – 31[st] March 2025

Statement of Financial Activities – 31[st] March 2025

Note
Income
Donations and Legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Other Trading Activity
4
Total
Expenditure
Raising funds
Charitable activities
5
Donated services
Total
Net
income/(expenditure)for the
reporting period
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Adjustment to Opening
Reserves
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024 2025
Total
2023 2024
Total
£
£
£
£
817
0
817
340
0
139,827
139,827
113,154
14,710
0
14,710
13,950
15,527
139,827
155,354
127,444
0
0
0
38,384
138,554
176,938
107,932
0
0
38,384
138,554
176,938
107,932
-22,857
1,273
-21,584
19,512
0
0
0
0
-22,857
1,273
-21,584
19,512
0
259
39,776
36,852
76,629
56,858
16,920
38,125
55,045
76,629
Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
6
Total fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
7
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year
8
Net current
assets/(liabilities)
Total assets less current
liabilities
Funds of the Charity
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 31
March
2025
At 31 March
2024
£
£
- -
--
2,760
960
58,605
85,577
61,365
86,537
-
6,320
-
9,907
55,045
76,630
55,045
76,630
38,125
36,853
16,921
39,777
55,045
76,630

FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31/03/2025 THE COMPANY WAS ENTITLED TO EXEMPTION FROM AUDIT UNDER SECTION 477 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006 RELATING TO SMALL COMPANIES

THE MEMBERS HAVE NOT REQUIRED THE COMPANY TO OBTAIN AN AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 476 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

THE DIRECTORS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR REPSONSIBILITY FOR COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIRMENTS OF THE ACT WITH RESPECT TO ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND FOR THE PREPERATION OF ACCOUNTS

THESE ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COMPANIES SUBJECT TO THE SMALL COMPANIES REGIME

Approved by the Board for issue on _______

Director Name ………………………………………………………. Director Signature …………………………………………………….

Company No. 06261728

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Statement of Financial Position

Skimstone Arts – Company No. 06221728 Charity No. 1182284 - Year end 31[st] March 2025

1. Accounting Policies

1.1 Accounting Convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008)

1.2 Income

Income from fees is recognised in the accounts when invoiced unless it relates to future accounting periods, in which case it is deferred and included in creditors

Grants / Income receivable are credited to incoming resources on the earlier date of when they are received or when they are receivable, unless they relate specifically to a future accounting period, in which case, they are deferred.

Where a grant is received relating to a future accounting period, the profit and loss account shows the gross amount together with the changes in the amount deferred to future accounting periods. Deferred grant income at the year-end is included in creditors.

1.3 Expenditure

Expenditure is brought in to the financial statements on the accruals basis

1.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Fixed Assets are initially recorded at cost

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of the assets, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

20% straight line

2. Donations and Legacies
Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted Funds 2024 2025
Total
2023 2024
Total
Skimstone Arts – Company No. 06221728 Charity No. 1182284
£		 - Year end 31st
£		 March 2025
£		 £
Donations and gifts 817 817 340
0
Total 817 0 817 340
3. Charitable Activities
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted Funds		 2024 2025
Total		 2023 2024
Total
£ £ £ £
NCIF 25,000 25,000 25,000
Youth Music 42,327 42,327 42,327
Arts Council England 65,000 65,000 4,327
The Newcastle Fund 6,000
Newcastle City Council
HMD Fund		 1,500 1,500
Garfield Weston 0 0 20,000
High Sheriff 0 0 1,000
Ringtons 0 0 5,000
Passionist Fund 6,000 6,000 0
Ouseburn Trust 0 0 9,500
Total 0 139,827 139,827 113,154
4. Other
Trading
Activites
15,527 0 15,527 13,950
Total income 15,527 139,827 155,354 127,444

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Thank You 19 Funders & Partners

My Voice Found A Home

We wish to acknowledge the tremendous support from funders for the period covered by this Annual Report. In this ever challenging landscape of growing demand for diminishing funds, we were thrilled and grateful to have been supported for core funding from Garfield Weston and both core and project funding from our long-term funders Youth Music and Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund, managed by Community Foundation. Our significant Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant alongside smaller grants from Ringtons, once again enabled us to commission artists and community involvement on a bigger scale.

At first,

It was about playing a part In a community of creatives. But then, I found the perfect medley— Voices soft as a lily. Here, art is a tool,

A channel, a call to action. Skimstone Arts gave me a platform, A rare privilege to collaborate. My journey became clearer, like a blue lake. From workshops to grand stages— The Great North Museum—my words Found a place with historical memories. To Kirkleatham Museum—oh, please take me back

We must also thank our venue partners such as Newcastle City Library (and especially Andrew Scrogham), Great North Museum: Hancock and Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar and Newcastle University (especially Theresa Easton) for their enormous amount of dedicated in kind support.

To this surreal experience.

Honouring and advocating for a better tomorrow

All the above is much appreciated.

At the Holocaust Memorial—my heart was overwhelmed.

A stranger from across the ocean, now more than acquainted.

My work mattered.

I was heard. I felt the freedom to express.

For once in my life, saying thank you didn’t feel enough.

Skimstone Arts is home.

I was embraced with tenderness and kindness.

Lanre Sonde

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skimstone.org.uk 37

Skimstone Arts

Contact

Freelance Staff

The NewBridge Project Art Centre Clarence Walk Shieldfield Centre 4-8 off Stoddart Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1AL

Online www.skimstone.org.uk

@SkimstoneArtsEnsemble

Artistic Director/CEO Claire Webster Saaremets claire@skimstone.org.uk 07803670654

Lead Musician/Operations (Re: Reality Boots band, Young Artist Collective, young people) Peter Saaremets peter@skimstone.org.uk 07855674012

Finance Administrator Julie Maxwell julie@skimstone.org.uk

Assistant Project Managers Verity Alderman verity@skimstone.org.uk

Rafael Bagott rafael@skimstone.org.uk

Design Andrew Hardie

@Skimstone_Arts

@skimstonearts

Registered Charity: 1182284

All photo credits Skimstone Arts unless otherwise specified.

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