**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**<br>**Leadership Team Report**|**10**<br>**12**|
|**UNITY Festival**<br>**Holocaust Memorial Day**|**14**<br>**20**|
|**Reality Boots**<br>**The Upstartz**<br>**Refugee Week**|**22**<br>**24**<br>**26**|
|**Legal and Administrative**<br>**Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities**<br>**Independent Examiner’s Report**<br>**Statement of Financial Activities**|**28**<br>**30**<br>**31**<br>**32**|
|**Statement of Financial Position**|**33**|
|**Thank You Funders & Partners**|**36**|
|**Contact**|**38**|



**Skimstone Arts Registered Charity: 1182284** 

**2** Skimstone Arts 

skimstone.org.uk **3** 



## **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. 

**6** Skimstone Arts 

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**Image:  Mark Savage** 

**7** 



## **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 

**8** Skimstone Arts 

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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 

**10** Skimstone Arts 

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**11** 



## **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.”**_ 

- Reality Boots 

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. 

- Keith (Music Leader) 

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) 

**12** Skimstone Arts 

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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 

**14** Skimstone Arts 

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**Image:  Mark Savage** 

**15** 



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**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;** 

- Manifestation2 by UNITY Tree -Ukrainian performance group (Live performance) 

- Canvas of Freedom - Lanre Sonde (poet) 

- Dream for Syria (Film testimony) by Balsam Ahmed 

- Hope by Omed (Film testimony) by Ako Ismail and Shaho Omar 

- Future Gaza? (Film testimony) by Dr Rima Hussein 

- I am Hopeful, What is life? by Shirley & the Gang (Original songs) 

- Eye to Eye (Original song) by Reality Boots 

- Small things (True story audio) by Olha 

- A Better Future (Audio Testimony) by Smajo Beso OBE 

Hosted by Claire Webster Saaremets. 



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**20** Skimstone Arts 

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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. 




**22** Skimstone Arts 

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**Images:  Mark Savage** 

**23** 



## **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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**11** 

**“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. 





**26** Skimstone Arts 

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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 

**28** Skimstone Arts 

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**15** 

## **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: 

- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently 

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

- (1) Which gives me  reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: i. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and ii.To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (the FRSSE) (effective January 2015); 

- **(2)** To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable to proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Signed Date  11 July 2025 

Mark Thompson MAAT 

_42 Lesbury Road Newcastle upon Tyne_ 

- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent 

- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in operation 

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<br>**Income**<br>Donations and Legacies<br>2<br>Charitable activities<br>3<br>Other Trading Activity<br>4<br>**_Total_**<br>**Expenditure**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities<br>5<br>Donated services<br>**_Total_**<br>**Net**<br>**income/(expenditure)for the**<br>**reporting period**<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>**_Net movement in funds_**<br>**_Reconciliation of funds:_**<br>Adjustment to Opening<br>Reserves<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**_Total funds carried forward_**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024 2025**<br>**Total**<br>**2023 2024**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>817<br>0<br>**817**<br>**340**<br>0<br>139,827<br>**139,827**<br>**113,154**<br>14,710<br>0<br>**14,710**<br>**13,950**|
|---|---|
||**15,527**<br>**139,827**<br>**155,354**<br>**127,444**|
||0<br>**0**<br>**0**<br>38,384<br>138,554<br>**176,938**<br>**107,932**<br>**0**<br>**0**|
||**38,384**<br>**138,554**<br>**176,938**<br>**107,932**|
||-22,857<br>1,273<br>**-21,584**<br>**19,512**<br>0<br>0<br>**0**<br>**0**|
||**-22,857**<br>**1,273**<br>**-21,584**<br>**19,512**<br>**0**<br>**259**<br>39,776<br>36,852<br>**76,629**<br>**56,858**|
||**16,920**<br>**38,125**<br>**55,045**<br>**76,629**|



|Note<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>6<br>**_Total fixed assets_**<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>7<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**_Total current assets_**<br>Creditors: amounts falling<br>due within one year<br>8<br>**_Net current_**<br>**_assets/(liabilities)_**<br>**_Total assets less current_**<br>**_liabilities_**<br>**Funds of the Charity**<br>Restricted income funds<br>Unrestricted funds<br>**_Total funds_**|**At 31**<br>**March**<br>**2025**<br>**At 31 March**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br> - -<br> **--**<br>2,760<br>960<br>58,605<br>85,577<br>**61,365**<br>**86,537**<br>-<br>6,320<br>-<br>9,907<br>**55,045**<br>**76,630**<br>**55,045**<br>**76,630**<br>38,125<br>36,853<br>16,921<br>39,777<br>**55,045**<br>**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**<br>**Funds**||**Restricted Funds**||**2024 2025**<br>**Total**|<br>**2023 2024**<br>**Total**||
|Skimstone Arts – Company No. 06221728|Charity No. 1182284<br>**£**||- Year end 31st <br>**£**||March 2025<br>**£**|**£**||
|Donations and gifts|817||||**817**|340||
||||||**0**|||
|**Total**|**817**||**0**||**817**|**340**||
|**3. Charitable Activities**||||||||
||**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**|<br>**Restricted Funds**||**2024 2025**<br>**Total**||**2023 2024**<br>**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<br>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**||
|||||||||



**34** Skimstone Arts 

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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 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. 

**38** Skimstone Arts