Theatre to reduce inequalities and increase cohesion and wellbeing.
## A NOTE FROM THE CEO
This year we have experienced the joy of a new and thriving community partnership at our new home in Aquarius, Hulme.
hugely challenging for the charity and arts sector, we are proud to continue to grow our team and reach. In early 2025 we developed an exciting 3 year business Strategy that builds on our expertise of being at the heart of some of the most pressing and complex social conversations of our time. You can look forward to us sharing compelling impact data particularly on our flagship work using arts to increase wellbeing (as well as a new website later this year); continued development of Aquarius into a sustainable community creative hub and more chances to learn and develop in Odd Arts unique skills and approaches. As always we are humbled by all that is given by our beneficiaries, volunteers, staff, freelancers, community members, funders, trustees, development committee members and donors’.
The new space provides a cultural and community hub where we collaborate with community members, volunteers, local organisations, artists and creatives; delivering meaningful programmes for young people and adults to increase wellbeing and cohesion.
Local businesses have helped us renovate a new wellbeing hub, surrounded by its own garden and seating area! Alongside this, our work remains at the forefront of some of the most pressing social issues. In the wake of the horrific racism and social unrest that surfaced last summer we’ve delved deeply with 1000s of community members and young people exploring issues relating to discrimination, division and belonging. Whilst the social and financial climate remains
Rebecca Friel MBE CEO Odd Arts
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We have loved our new home at Aquarius, and since our arrival there twelve months ago we’ve loved collaborating with the existing community members and partners, such as ‘On Top Of The World’ and one Manchester.
Last summer we delivered a free 10 session accredited leadership programme, with sixteen 11-25 year olds, in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, and 87.5% of them achieved accreditation. We ran our first ever summer activity club which was booked up every day with 20 young people, predominantly supporting those on free school meals.
The activities never stop at our new home, and since our Open Day in September we’ve run fortnightly creative coffee mornings, and welcomed a new theatre troupe made up of adults all with experience of homelessness, generously funded by Acting On Impulse. We hosted a community pantomime, performed by local residents and graduates of the acting school, to a local and packed out audience.
We continue to offer weekly sessions to young people in Moss Side, Hulme and Wythenshawe as part of our commitment to increasing opportunities for young people who might otherwise face barriers to cultural experiences. Aquarius has provided us with new opportunities for meaningfully engaging local businesses and corporate volunteers. The Castlefield Estate, Tyler Grange, Castlefield Investment, Vodafone and Business Growth Hub have delivered team away days to support the transformation of an outdoor portacabin and planted seating area into a Creative Wellbeing Cabin for our small workshops and 1:1 sessions.
## WELLBEING YOUR WAY
Wellbeing Your Way is a 12 week programme, supporting young people and adults experiencing mental health challenges. It includes 1:1 bespoke creative workshops, a creative challenge, work experience, training and as volunteering opportunities well as cultural trips. Following completion all beneficiaries then have the chance to continue with us engaging through meet and fortnightly ups supported long term volunteering. ‘Through the Wellbeing Your Way programme, the [beneficiaries] involved have secured positive outcomes associated with their confidence, self-worth, sense of community, increased capability and prospects. They also show that the longer term positive impact of these outcomes on their mental health, wellbeing and are aspirations already being realised’ (External evaluator) We used the Short Warwick and
Edinburgh Mental Health Scale (SWEMWBS) to review participant progress and the wellbeing scores increase to date have indicated that our impact is clinically significant. Data from this year also showed us that the number of participants in education, training, or employment volunteering increased by 17% by completion of the programme.
“Before these sessions, I didn’t have much confidence in myself or my ability to speak up. But the activities and role playing have made me realise that I can be heard, and I’m capable of more than I thought. It’s given me a lot more self-belief, and now I’m not as afraid to share my thoughts or take the lead." ”Usually, I self-harm when I feel trapped, like there’s no way out of my own head. But when I’m in drama, it’s like I get a break from that. I don’t feel so stuck. It’s helped me find other ways to let things out without hurting myself”
## EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH THEATRE REPORTEMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN THROUGH THEATRE REPORT
Odd Arts are proudly hosting a Creative Health Associate for three years as part of the Arts4Us Research Project led by EdgeHill University, which is exploring the possibility of a national online database for children’s arts and wellbeing projects. The Creative Health Associate’s learning within Odd Arts will contribute to national findings, and also put regional creative practice on the map.
If you would like to refer yourself or anyone you know to Wellbeing Your Way please email:
INFO@ODDARTS.CO.UK Wellbeing Your Way is generously supported by CHIMO, Henry Smith Charity and The Pilgrim Trust.
This year we have worked in more than ever prisons before, delivering theatre workshops supporting people to develop an understanding of themselves and others through creativity and increase a sense of well being.
WELLBEING YOUR WAY PRISON WORK We have regular drama projects in prisons and secure units across the North-West. 2024 saw us perform our first ever prison-led pantomime with women in HMP Styal,
Bringing in regional artists and soap actors to work alongside the women and perform a hilarious show
“It’s one of the few times in friends, prison where I feel like people actually listen and understand without judging. It makes me feel respected, which is something I don’t get often. It also creates a space where we listen to each other” “Odd Arts sessions are a great distraction from everyday life in here. They help me focus and concentrate on something positive, and I don’t want to he hurt myself as much. I really enjoy seeing other people express themselves.”
for families, prison officers and wider staff. One participant who identified as trans male had struggled with self harm and a debilitating stutter since childhood. At first the thought of performing seemed like his worst nightmare. But using trauma informed, bespoke learning styles and a playful approach, he soon was able to find his voice. With the women's support he overcame his stage anxiety and stutter, and took on two major roles as the Prince in Cinderella, and Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. He was the only participant who learned all their lines, and as a result confidently took centre stage and had the group and audience laughing at his natural clowning skills.
"I never dreamt I could do this, I'm so proud of myself and I haven't self-harmed for the whole 12 weeks, but mostly I've laughed more than I have for years"
Odd Arts has been commissioned for 3 years as part of CFO Evolution (Creating Future Opportunities) to deliver our theatre programmes in HMP Drake Hall, HMP Ranby and HMP Featherstone as well as 6 x Community hubs across East / West Midlands. Our work has been well received across the board. Our custody delivery follows a structured process, involving multiple partners, with Odd Arts forming an integral part of stage 1 of this process. After one of our Custody programmes one staff member said
“We have worked with B for a long time, and that is the first time we have ever heard him laugh during your workshop”
One of the men at HMP Featherstone who initially really struggled with trusting us, found the group dynamic challenging and has complex mental health needs said in his evaluation:
“I truly appreciate you and all you have brought for us - I 100% think this has enabled us to drop our egos and work together, this has been the best thing we have done as part of this course, I wish you could keep coming back. The way you make our brains think creatively it's so good for us and our mental health - we need this”
One of our participants from our Community hub work said: “This has been a unique experience which brought out a side of my personality that goes unnoticed quite often in life, or may not be as appreciated”
Odd Arts sits on the National Arts Alliance for Criminal Justice Advisory Group.
Odd Arts were delighted that our community-led partnership programme In Our Words, working in partnership with Moss Side Powerhouse & Hideaway Youth, Also collaborating with 84YOUTH, was funded for a further 4 years to continue addressing inequalities through creativity and youth work. The funding followed important learnings from our first three years, we created a documentary with key learnings on effective practise & Top Ten Learnings for a creative social justice partnership.
We are currently delivering projects that explore the impact of sexually explicit
imagery and harmful behaviours on phones amongst young people; Islamophobia; and barriers faced by parents.
We deliver the Wyllie Longmore Award through our In Our Words project, aiming to offer a year-long career enhancing learning experience for an emerging theatre artist. This year’s winner was the outstanding talent Sara Abanur and we can’t wait to see what she achieves in her time through this award.
## Recent projects have included:
• The establishment of a new parent support group, who have engaged in multiple theatre based sessions and training • A creative library partnership project • Additional youth provision, outreach and support for young people facing barriers in school
- Additional youth provision, outreach and support for young people facing barriers in school Regular weekly creative sessions for the community
-
- Partnering Rochdale’s Soul Sisters group we delivered a legislative theatre project addressing domestic abuse working with Muslim women with lived experience in Rochdale
- Partnering Crowning Culture we supported the delivery of a celebratory Afro hair and Black history project, that culminated with a catwalk showcase at Aviva Studios and a permanent exhibition in Whalley Range
- Partnering Show Racism The Red Card and The Royal College Of Midwifery we delivered a series of theatre based anti-racism trainings
- Partnering local authorities and Bruntwood we hosted a series of theatrical events for Black History Month
- Partnering schools, youth clubs and parent groups, we delivered projects and training exploring masculinity, male identity, and
## gender stereotypes.
- Partnering six boroughs across Greater Manchester we delivered Creative Conversations training front-line practitioners in how to hold meaningful conversations in order to prevent hateful extremism & conflict.
- Partnering Geo Britto (of School of Popular Theatre in Brazil) and the Brazilian Theatre Practitioner, Julian Boal, we hosted two training courses in Theatre of the Oppressed with attendees from across the culture and social justice sector in the UK
- Parenting Tameside Council and a local parent support group to develop a peer-led film through holistic drama workshops, with people who have personally been affected by grooming or exploitation
Odd Arts continues to lead the way in the touring of forum theatre plays that address inequalities, discrimination, violence, mental health and wider complex social issues - this year we’ve toured 14 plays to over 30,000. Additionally, we’ve been commissioned to write a further 5 plays for partners addressing highly complex themes including neglect, victim blaming, and racism in healthcare. Below is a snapshot of a couple of our newest plays:
Is a new set of short plays and workshop addressing sexual assault and consent for high school aged children (piloted and developed in partnership with Wigan Council). 100% rated the workshop 5/5 for engagement. Prior to the workshop, most students rated their awareness at 1-2 out of 5, but after the session, this increased to 4-5 out of 5, showcasing the profound educational impact of the programme.
our students”
“That was absolutely brilliant. There’s no other way of showing the level of detail and nuance in this kind of situation. It allows for a really clever analysis of each moment, but keeps the young people engaged and interacting. I really wish I’d had this when I was young and I’m so grateful to even have it now as an adult. Thank you, it was excellent” “I just wanted to share that following your input, we have had a disclosure that has gone to external services. Whilst not good news by any means, it shows the impact of your performance.
## ONE MORE GAME...
...Is a new workshop and play developed in partnership with GamCare & YGam to educate young people about gambling and reduce risk of harm (including exploring introductions to gambling through gaming). After the workshop, of the 1070 participants, 88% felt the interactive performance was a good way to address gambling harms, 93% understood what it meant to gamble something, and 80% felt they knew how to make safe choices, and 93% understood how gambling could harm their friends or peers.
## AND IN OTHER NEWS...
We had a night of sparkle and spectacular entertainment at our Annual Charity Dinner, raising £1000s for Odd Arts projects, as well as celebrating our work. The night saw incredible performances from Dao and Stuart, who we first met as participants of one of our prison projects. Young people from Crowning Culture wowed with a catwalk, and we shared our well known play Knockout Blow (celebrating the life of legend Len Johnson). The night was expertly hosted by our patrons and introduced by Deputy Mayor Kate Green.
We held a board away day in January and did a deep dive into the challenges, opportunities and vision for Odd Arts over the next three years. We will be sharing our core pillars publicly very soon!
We were shortlisted for a Manchester Culture Award for ‘Best Business Partnership’ with law firm Shoosmiths.
We would like to remember and celebrate the life of the influential youth worker Lynne Fullard who touched so lives of the many beneficiaries and staff in Odd Arts and who tragically died. Lynne supported young people in Moss Side and Hulme over decades of tireless youth work and we learnt so much from her. She will never be forgotten by us and so many.
This year has been one of profound impact and purposeful growth for Odd Arts. Amidst a challenging economic and social climate, the team has continued to deliver life-changing creative interventions with energy, care and imagination. It is with enormous pride that I reflect on the breadth and depth of our work and the thousands of individuals we have reached through theatre, partnerships, and creative wellbeing programmes.
demonstrating that creative engagement is not a luxury, but an essential component of social justice, inclusion, and healing.
We also took time this year to look ahead, co-developing a three-year strategy that builds on Odd Arts’ core strengths: courageous creativity, community leadership, and impact that resonates far beyond the final curtain. The future is ambitious, but achievable powered by people, partnerships and purpose.
Our new home at Aquarius has become far more than a base, it is a community catalyst. We have seen it flourish into a vibrant hub where partnerships, performance, and participation meet. The transformation of physical spaces into centres of connection and wellbeing is one of many tangible signs of how Odd Arts puts its values into practice.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Rebecca and the exceptional team, our volunteers, donors, collaborators, and above all, the individuals and communities who trust Odd Arts with their stories and their growth. We are honoured to serve such a bold and compassionate mission.
From pioneering projects in prisons to long-term mental health programmes like Wellbeing Your Way, to powerful forums on discrimination, trauma and identity, this year’s delivery has been both strategic and soulful. Our evaluation data confirms what we see so often: theatre changes lives. And Odd Arts continues to lead the way in
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
**Registered Charity No: 1182477**
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**CONTENTS**||
|---|---|
||**Page**|
|Company information|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 3|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|4|
|Independent examiner’s report|5|
|Statement of financial activities|6|
|Balance sheet|7|
|Notes|8 - 11|
1
## **ODD ARTS CIO FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
Trustees: O E Napier R Potts J Parris E Sheldon MBE A Calland K Swift A Ali P Cockcroft S Oyetey A Phiri T Golaub (appointed 6 November 2024) J Knott (appointed 17 July 2024) CEO: R Friel Bankers: National Westminster Bank
2
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Organisational structure**
The charity operates through the Trustees who have board meetings every three months. The Volunteer Coordinator, Theatre Practitioners, Lead Practitioners and Freelancers report to Senior Project Managers. Senior Project Managers report to the Head of Operations. The Administration, Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator and the Bookings Coordinator report to the Head of Finance. The Head of Finance and Head of Operations report to the CEO who reports to the Board of Trustees. Trustees engage in quarterly and monthly sub committees with SLT staff representation, where recommendations are taken for approval at board level.
## **Recruitment and training of trustees**
The charity adheres to its Diversity and Equality Policy in all recruitment. They undertake interviews, references and view DBS checks.
All staff undergo regular safeguarding training as well as more specialist training in our approaches and specific safeguarding areas (such as exploitation, sexual abuse, mental health etc).
## **Reserves policy and risk management**
The Odd Arts Reserves Policy is to maintain sufficient level of reserves to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of up to 9 months should a shortfall in income occur and to take account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time. This amount would equate to approximately £386,880 (correct June 2025).
Until we reach the required reserve amount, we will keep back all surplus income each year, minus a 25 - 50% contribution of yearly surplus towards the company business plan aims in order to develop the organisation further and reach more beneficiaries thereby increasing impact.
Excluded from the Reserves Policy is income associated with: Restricted Funds (Earmarked Income from funders).
3
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (CONT…)**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The level of reserves required by Odd Arts will be monitored by the board of Trustees and reviewed annually (shortly after publication of the accounts each year).
Our current reserves stand at £178,921 (as of January 2025). To reach our target reserves, we aim to achieve a surplus of approximately 10% per year, (in accordance with our current business plan and financial forecasts, and necessary business development costs). Our current reserves position we believe places us in a safe position that will provide us with some flexibility to react to any financial challenges.
The trustees have a designated staff member to oversee project spending and any financial decisions above 20% of annual turnover must be formally agreed by the Board. The Board and CEO take joint responsibility for: Keeping finance documents in accordance with governing document and relevant legislation; reducing expenditure where possible and suitable; preventing fraud; co-design fundraising strategy; ensure financial sustainability and feasibility and put in place any measures where necessary; assisting with new project budgets where necessary; action plan for income streams and target figures; review and re-agree where necessary staff salaries.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Charitable objects**
The Trust's objects, are as follows:
- Relief of disadvantage through engagement in arts and culture by disadvantaged groups
- Advancement of education and skills through accredited artistic opportunities
- Reduced risk of offending and re-offending
- Promotion of mental well-being including increased confidence and self-worth
- Promotion and advancement of community cohesion, equality and diversity through creative engagement
4
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (CONT…)**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Achievements and performance**
The Charity commenced operation on 16 March 2019 when it took over the assets and liabilities of the Odd Theatre Community Interest Company which ceased operating on the same date.
## **Results for the period**
Incoming resources totalled £855,626 and a surplus of £43,836 was made during the period.
## **Auditors**
The trustees consider that for the period ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from a statutory audit.
Charity No. 1182477
By order of the Trustees.
Date: 20/10/25
5
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
By order of the Board
Trustee Date: 20/10/25
6
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Odd Arts CIO**
We report on the accounts of the company for the period ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
## _**Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**_
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## _**Basis of independent examiner’s report**_
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
7
ODD ART5 CIO
Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of Odd Arts CIO Icont...)
Independent examinerfs statement
In connection wlth my examination, no matter has come to my attention whSch glves rne
reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accountin8 records in accordance with settlon 130 of the 2011 Art: and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply wlth the
accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met.
Michael
by
Alexander & Co LLP
Chartered Accountants
Centurion House, 129 Deansgate,
Manchester M3 3WR
Date
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Note**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|
**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Incoming resources**||||||
|Voluntary income|2|596,319|104,371|700,690|534,158|
|Earned income|3|154,936|-|154,936|162,308|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total incoming resources**||751,255|104,371|855,626|696,466|
|||========|========|========|========|
|**Resources expended**||||||
|Charitable activities|5|711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total resources expended**||711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
|||========|========|========|========|
|**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**||40,160|3,676|43,836|(40,113)|
|Total funds brought forward||178,921|-|178,921|219,034|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total funds carried forward**||219,081|3,676|222,757|178,921|
|||========|========|========|========|
The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
9
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Note**||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**|||||
|Tangible fixed assets|6||807|1,257|
|**Current Assets**|||||
|Debtors|7|105,606||176,021|
|Cash at bank and in hand||307,019||85,919|
|||------------||------------|
||||412,625|261,940|
|**Creditors - amounts falling due**|||||
|**within one year**|8||190,675|84,276|
||||-------------|------------|
|**Net Current Assets**|||221,950|177,664|
||||------------|------------|
|**Net assets**|||222,757|178,921|
||||========|========|
|**Income Funds**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|9||219,081|178,921|
|Restricted funds|||3,676|-|
||||-------------|-------------|
||||222,757|178,921|
||||========|========|
The financial statements on page 6 to 11 were authorised for issue on
_________________________ Trustee
Date: 20/10/25
10
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## 1. **Accounting Policies**
## (a) **Basis of accounting**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
## (b) **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## (c) **Resources expended**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual 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 generating voluntary income comprises those costs incurred by the charity in raising income.
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.
|2.**Voluntary income**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Donations|9,043|-|9,043|21,546|
|Government grants|587,276|104,371|691,647|512,612|
||------------|------------|------------|------------|
||596,319|104,371|700,690|534,158|
||========|========|========|========|
11
## **ODD ARTS CIO NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONT…) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|3.|**Earned income**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Restricted**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2025**||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
||Fees received|154,396||-|154,936|162,308|
|||-------------|------------||-------------|-------------|
|||154,396||-|154,936|162,308|
|||========|========||========|========|
|4.|**Employees**||||||
||The average number of employees|during the period was||18.|||
|5.|**Costs of charitable activities**|**Unrestricted Restricted**|||**Total Funds**||
|||**2025**|**2025**||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
||Charitable expenditure|711,095|100,695||811,790|736,579|
|||------------|------------||------------|------------|
|6.|**Tangible fixed assets**|||||**Computer**|
|||||||**Equipment**|
|||||||**£**|
||**Cost or valuation**||||||
||At 1 April 2024|||||10,550|
||Additions|||||818|
|||||||-------------|
||At 31 March 2025|||||11,368|
|||||||========|
||Depreciation||||||
||At 1 April 2024|||||9,293|
||Charge for period|||||1,268|
|||||||-------------|
||At 31 March 2025|||||10,561|
|||||||========|
||Net book value||||||
||As at 31 March 2025|||||807|
|||||||========|
||As at 31 March 2024|||||1,257|
|||||||========|
12
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONT…)**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## 7. **Debtors**
|7.|**Debtors**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**2025**|**2024**|
|||||**£**|**£**|
||Trade debtors|||104,678|150,223|
||Prepayments & accrued income|||928|16,518|
||Other debtors|||-|9,280|
|||||-------------|-------------|
|||||105,606|176,021|
|||||========|========|
|8.|**Creditors - amounts falling due**|||**2025**|**2024**|
||**within one year**|||**£**|**£**|
||Trade creditors|||25,511|17,709|
||Accruals & deferred income|||165,164|66,567|
|||||-------------|-------------|
|||||190,675|84,276|
|||||========|======|
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|9.|**Opening funds**|178,921|-|178,921|219,034|
||Incoming resources|751,255|104,371|855,626|696,466|
||Outgoing resources|(711,095)|(100,695)|(811,790)|(736,579)|
|||------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
||Closing funds|219,081|3,676|222,757|178,921|
|||========|========|========|========|
13
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cost of sales**|||||
|Wages and salaries|356,341|36,450|392,791|361,966|
|Social security|29,136|-|29,136|25,396|
|Subcontractor labour|229,384|4,539|233,923|215,880|
|Staff pensions|9,626|-|9,626|7,824|
|**Overheads**|||||
|Room hire|861|537|1,398|4,054|
|General project costs|3,412|49,333|52,745|50,657|
|Accountancy|4,901|1,073|5,974|3,942|
|Bank fees|532|-|532|522|
|Consulting|3,644|2,021|5,665|5,953|
|Sundry|3,666|291|3,957|4,454|
|Insurance|139|1,115|1,254|1,004|
|Printing & stationery|1,913|140|2,053|1,899|
|IT software and consumables|2,868|381|3,249|2,211|
|Rent|423|3,889|4,312|4,896|
|Staff training|2,076|220|2,296|1,783|
|Subscriptions|1,461|-|1,461|1,403|
|Travel|58,512|706|59,218|40,978|
|Bad debt|-|-|-|300|
|Entertaining|157|-|157|279|
|Depreciation|1,268|-|1,268|1,178|
|Telephone & internet|775|-|775|-|
||-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
||711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
||=========|=========|=========|=========|
14
## Odd Arts 2025 accounts final
Final Audit Report
2025-10-19
Created: 2025-10-19 By: Char Fielden (char@oddarts.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAUfS1BrPzxPqQQgmHU1ho6jo9c8R0qb82
## "Odd Arts 2025 accounts final" History
Document created by Char Fielden (char@oddarts.co.uk)
2025-10-19 - 1:12:27 PM GMT
Document emailed to Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) for signature 2025-10-19 - 1:12:30 PM GMT
Email viewed by Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) 2025-10-19 - 1:16:53 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) Signature Date: 2025-10-19 - 1:17:22 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-10-19 - 1:17:22 PM GMT
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
**Registered Charity No: 1182477**
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**CONTENTS**||
|---|---|
||**Page**|
|Company information|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 3|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|4|
|Independent examiner’s report|5|
|Statement of financial activities|6|
|Balance sheet|7|
|Notes|8 - 11|
1
## **ODD ARTS CIO FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
Trustees: O E Napier R Potts J Parris E Sheldon MBE A Calland K Swift A Ali P Cockcroft S Oyetey A Phiri T Golaub (appointed 6 November 2024) J Knott (appointed 17 July 2024) CEO: R Friel Bankers: National Westminster Bank
2
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Organisational structure**
The charity operates through the Trustees who have board meetings every three months. The Volunteer Coordinator, Theatre Practitioners, Lead Practitioners and Freelancers report to Senior Project Managers. Senior Project Managers report to the Head of Operations. The Administration, Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator and the Bookings Coordinator report to the Head of Finance. The Head of Finance and Head of Operations report to the CEO who reports to the Board of Trustees. Trustees engage in quarterly and monthly sub committees with SLT staff representation, where recommendations are taken for approval at board level.
## **Recruitment and training of trustees**
The charity adheres to its Diversity and Equality Policy in all recruitment. They undertake interviews, references and view DBS checks.
All staff undergo regular safeguarding training as well as more specialist training in our approaches and specific safeguarding areas (such as exploitation, sexual abuse, mental health etc).
## **Reserves policy and risk management**
The Odd Arts Reserves Policy is to maintain sufficient level of reserves to enable normal operating activities to continue over a period of up to 9 months should a shortfall in income occur and to take account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time. This amount would equate to approximately £386,880 (correct June 2025).
Until we reach the required reserve amount, we will keep back all surplus income each year, minus a 25 - 50% contribution of yearly surplus towards the company business plan aims in order to develop the organisation further and reach more beneficiaries thereby increasing impact.
Excluded from the Reserves Policy is income associated with: Restricted Funds (Earmarked Income from funders).
3
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (CONT…)**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The level of reserves required by Odd Arts will be monitored by the board of Trustees and reviewed annually (shortly after publication of the accounts each year).
Our current reserves stand at £178,921 (as of January 2025). To reach our target reserves, we aim to achieve a surplus of approximately 10% per year, (in accordance with our current business plan and financial forecasts, and necessary business development costs). Our current reserves position we believe places us in a safe position that will provide us with some flexibility to react to any financial challenges.
The trustees have a designated staff member to oversee project spending and any financial decisions above 20% of annual turnover must be formally agreed by the Board. The Board and CEO take joint responsibility for: Keeping finance documents in accordance with governing document and relevant legislation; reducing expenditure where possible and suitable; preventing fraud; co-design fundraising strategy; ensure financial sustainability and feasibility and put in place any measures where necessary; assisting with new project budgets where necessary; action plan for income streams and target figures; review and re-agree where necessary staff salaries.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Charitable objects**
The Trust's objects, are as follows:
- Relief of disadvantage through engagement in arts and culture by disadvantaged groups
- Advancement of education and skills through accredited artistic opportunities
- Reduced risk of offending and re-offending
- Promotion of mental well-being including increased confidence and self-worth
- Promotion and advancement of community cohesion, equality and diversity through creative engagement
4
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (CONT…)**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Achievements and performance**
The Charity commenced operation on 16 March 2019 when it took over the assets and liabilities of the Odd Theatre Community Interest Company which ceased operating on the same date.
## **Results for the period**
Incoming resources totalled £855,626 and a surplus of £43,836 was made during the period.
## **Auditors**
The trustees consider that for the period ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from a statutory audit.
Charity No. 1182477
By order of the Trustees.
Date: 20/10/25
5
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## **PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
By order of the Board
Trustee Date: 20/10/25
6
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Odd Arts CIO**
We report on the accounts of the company for the period ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
## _**Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**_
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## _**Basis of independent examiner’s report**_
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
7
ODD ART5 CIO
Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of Odd Arts CIO Icont...)
Independent examinerfs statement
In connection wlth my examination, no matter has come to my attention whSch glves rne
reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accountin8 records in accordance with settlon 130 of the 2011 Art: and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply wlth the
accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met.
Michael
by
Alexander & Co LLP
Chartered Accountants
Centurion House, 129 Deansgate,
Manchester M3 3WR
Date
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Note**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|
**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Incoming resources**||||||
|Voluntary income|2|596,319|104,371|700,690|534,158|
|Earned income|3|154,936|-|154,936|162,308|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total incoming resources**||751,255|104,371|855,626|696,466|
|||========|========|========|========|
|**Resources expended**||||||
|Charitable activities|5|711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total resources expended**||711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
|||========|========|========|========|
|**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**||40,160|3,676|43,836|(40,113)|
|Total funds brought forward||178,921|-|178,921|219,034|
|||------------|------------|------------|------------|
|**Total funds carried forward**||219,081|3,676|222,757|178,921|
|||========|========|========|========|
The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
9
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Note**||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**|||||
|Tangible fixed assets|6||807|1,257|
|**Current Assets**|||||
|Debtors|7|105,606||176,021|
|Cash at bank and in hand||307,019||85,919|
|||------------||------------|
||||412,625|261,940|
|**Creditors - amounts falling due**|||||
|**within one year**|8||190,675|84,276|
||||-------------|------------|
|**Net Current Assets**|||221,950|177,664|
||||------------|------------|
|**Net assets**|||222,757|178,921|
||||========|========|
|**Income Funds**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|9||219,081|178,921|
|Restricted funds|||3,676|-|
||||-------------|-------------|
||||222,757|178,921|
||||========|========|
The financial statements on page 6 to 11 were authorised for issue on
_________________________ Trustee
Date: 20/10/25
10
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## 1. **Accounting Policies**
## (a) **Basis of accounting**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
## (b) **Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
## (c) **Resources expended**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual 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 generating voluntary income comprises those costs incurred by the charity in raising income.
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.
|2.**Voluntary income**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Donations|9,043|-|9,043|21,546|
|Government grants|587,276|104,371|691,647|512,612|
||------------|------------|------------|------------|
||596,319|104,371|700,690|534,158|
||========|========|========|========|
11
## **ODD ARTS CIO NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONT…) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|3.|**Earned income**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Restricted**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2025**||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
||Fees received|154,396||-|154,936|162,308|
|||-------------|------------||-------------|-------------|
|||154,396||-|154,936|162,308|
|||========|========||========|========|
|4.|**Employees**||||||
||The average number of employees|during the period was||18.|||
|5.|**Costs of charitable activities**|**Unrestricted Restricted**|||**Total Funds**||
|||**2025**|**2025**||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
||Charitable expenditure|711,095|100,695||811,790|736,579|
|||------------|------------||------------|------------|
|6.|**Tangible fixed assets**|||||**Computer**|
|||||||**Equipment**|
|||||||**£**|
||**Cost or valuation**||||||
||At 1 April 2024|||||10,550|
||Additions|||||818|
|||||||-------------|
||At 31 March 2025|||||11,368|
|||||||========|
||Depreciation||||||
||At 1 April 2024|||||9,293|
||Charge for period|||||1,268|
|||||||-------------|
||At 31 March 2025|||||10,561|
|||||||========|
||Net book value||||||
||As at 31 March 2025|||||807|
|||||||========|
||As at 31 March 2024|||||1,257|
|||||||========|
12
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONT…)**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## 7. **Debtors**
|7.|**Debtors**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**2025**|**2024**|
|||||**£**|**£**|
||Trade debtors|||104,678|150,223|
||Prepayments & accrued income|||928|16,518|
||Other debtors|||-|9,280|
|||||-------------|-------------|
|||||105,606|176,021|
|||||========|========|
|8.|**Creditors - amounts falling due**|||**2025**|**2024**|
||**within one year**|||**£**|**£**|
||Trade creditors|||25,511|17,709|
||Accruals & deferred income|||165,164|66,567|
|||||-------------|-------------|
|||||190,675|84,276|
|||||========|======|
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|9.|**Opening funds**|178,921|-|178,921|219,034|
||Incoming resources|751,255|104,371|855,626|696,466|
||Outgoing resources|(711,095)|(100,695)|(811,790)|(736,579)|
|||------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
||Closing funds|219,081|3,676|222,757|178,921|
|||========|========|========|========|
13
## **ODD ARTS CIO**
## **SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES**
## **FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cost of sales**|||||
|Wages and salaries|356,341|36,450|392,791|361,966|
|Social security|29,136|-|29,136|25,396|
|Subcontractor labour|229,384|4,539|233,923|215,880|
|Staff pensions|9,626|-|9,626|7,824|
|**Overheads**|||||
|Room hire|861|537|1,398|4,054|
|General project costs|3,412|49,333|52,745|50,657|
|Accountancy|4,901|1,073|5,974|3,942|
|Bank fees|532|-|532|522|
|Consulting|3,644|2,021|5,665|5,953|
|Sundry|3,666|291|3,957|4,454|
|Insurance|139|1,115|1,254|1,004|
|Printing & stationery|1,913|140|2,053|1,899|
|IT software and consumables|2,868|381|3,249|2,211|
|Rent|423|3,889|4,312|4,896|
|Staff training|2,076|220|2,296|1,783|
|Subscriptions|1,461|-|1,461|1,403|
|Travel|58,512|706|59,218|40,978|
|Bad debt|-|-|-|300|
|Entertaining|157|-|157|279|
|Depreciation|1,268|-|1,268|1,178|
|Telephone & internet|775|-|775|-|
||-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
||711,095|100,695|811,790|736,579|
||=========|=========|=========|=========|
14
## Odd Arts 2025 accounts final
Final Audit Report
2025-10-19
Created: 2025-10-19 By: Char Fielden (char@oddarts.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAUfS1BrPzxPqQQgmHU1ho6jo9c8R0qb82
## "Odd Arts 2025 accounts final" History
Document created by Char Fielden (char@oddarts.co.uk)
2025-10-19 - 1:12:27 PM GMT
Document emailed to Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) for signature 2025-10-19 - 1:12:30 PM GMT
Email viewed by Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) 2025-10-19 - 1:16:53 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Emma Sheldon MBE (emmasheldonmbe@outlook.com) Signature Date: 2025-10-19 - 1:17:22 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-10-19 - 1:17:22 PM GMT