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2024
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## **Transforming Lives Through Theatre**
## **Annual Report**
**For the period from 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2024**
## **Trustees**
**Alexander Schmidt (Chair) Karen Lintern Nathan Bryon Janet Ellis Colette Love**
**The Trustees of the White City Theatre Project affirm that they have taken into account the guidance provided by the Charity Commission on 'public benefit' when making decisions and regularly review the organisation's aims and objectives.**
**Charity Registration No: 1183012**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
**The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report and accounts for White City Theatre Project CIO for the 12 month period ended 31 August 2024.**
## **Objectives and Activities**
**The purpose of the Charitable company as set out in the governing documents continues to be:**
**To: Promote, Improve, Develop and Maintain Public Educaton and the appreciation of theatre, drama and the performing arts in all its aspects by, but not limited to:**
1. **The preparation and presentation of theatre and music theatre performances by primarily, but not exclusively , disadvantaged children and young people.**
2. **The provision of theatre, drama therapy workshops for children, young people and adults.**
**To provide young people, who typically lack access to contemporary theatre, with meaningful opportunities to engage with the performing arts.**
- **To deliver regular, high-quality drama workshops for young people in underserved communities, building confidence, raising aspirations, and enhancing their social and personal development.**
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**To offer a volunteer programme for members aged 18-25, providing training that encourages them to take responsibility, actively participate in organising activities, and support younger children.**
- **To create a sense of belonging and foster positive relationships between young people and their community through an active membership programme, utilising our expertise in both professional theatre and dramatherapy.**
- **To inspire WCYT members to explore beyond their immediate surroundings, leveraging the charity's connections with the theatre industry and drama schools to offer opportunities for further education and work experience, often paving the way to employment.**
- **To develop partnerships with local schools, community, and arts organisations, using drama and dramatherapy to support wellbeing and enhance the pastoral care provided to young people.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Introduction**
## **White City Theatre Project**
**This year has been a period of remarkable growth and continued success for the White City Theatre Project. As we reflect on the past twelve months, we are proud to see our programmes thriving, our partnerships deepening, and our community of young creatives expanding. From fully subscribed weekly workshops and ambitious performance projects to exciting new collaborations and alumni making waves in the industry, WCTP continues to prove the transformative power of theatre. With demand higher than ever and new initiatives on the horizon, we remain committed to providing inclusive, highquality arts experiences that inspire confidence, creativity, and connection in the heart of West London.**
**White City Theatre Project (WCTP) is an established charity in West London who believe in the therapeutic and healing power of the arts and their ability to bring young people together with a common purpose. They unite communities through drama, break down barriers, and help young people to develop lasting and transferable skills. The organisation places emphasis on accessibility and availability for all.**
**They run the White City Youth Theatre; all youth theatre activities are provided free of charge. They also provide outreach community projects in partnership with local theatres and schools and they deliver in school dramatherapy in partnership with ReAct Dramatherapy and All Child.**
**This year has been one of significant achievement and engagement for the White City Theatre Project (WCTP). Through our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality drama activities and fostering creative partnerships, we have reached over 1400 young people, including participants in our outreach schools project, the ReAct Festival 2024.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **White City Youth Theatre**
**White City Youth Theatre is buzzing with creativity and continues to thrive as a vibrant hub for young people aged 9–25. Our free weekly drama workshops, held on Monday evenings at the Bush Theatre, are fully subscribed, so much so that we now have a waiting list. Our senior group alone has 32 members and is bursting with talent, energy, and potential. While managing such a large and diverse company brings its challenges, particularly in supporting members with additional needs, the commitment and passion within the room remain electric.**
## **Performances**
## **Spring Performance Project: Noughts & Crosses**
**This spring, our senior group took on the bold challenge of staging Noughts & Crosses, adapted and directed by the brilliant Aoife Beaumont-Howell. With a cast of 26, the production packed out the Bush Theatre Studio for two sold-out performances on 25th March. Despite the tight squeeze, the energy onstage and in the audience was electric—an unforgettable night that filled everyone involved with pride.**
## **Junior Group Showcase**
**Our junior group, led by theatre maker Georgia Bliss, impressed family and friends with an original devised piece performed in March. Their showcase, full of heart, humour, and imagination, was a joyful testament to their growth and teamwork over the term.**
## **Summer Performance Project:**
**In July, we returned for our annual Summer Performance Project—this time with STRANDED, a devised ensemble piece written and directed by the inspiring Harry Jardine. Backed by the generous support of Hammersmith & Fulham, which provided daily lunches, the project ensured full access for all participants. The result? A hilarious, heartfelt performance that radiated with teamwork, imagination, and joy.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Contributions Made By Volunteers**
**This year, our volunteer programme for 18–25 year olds has thrived. Designed to build leadership, responsibility, and active engagement, the initiative offers training and supports the development of essential life skills. Volunteers play a vital role in delivering workshops and projects, mentoring younger members, and enriching the overall youth theatre experience.**
**We are especially pleased of alumni who return to volunteer after college or university, strengthening our community and often progressing into careers in the creative industries.**
## **Theatre Trips**
**We were proud to celebrate the success of Keiran, a former WCYT member and volunteer, who trained at LAMDA and made his West End debut in For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy. A group of current members saw the show and left feeling very inspired, a reminder of just how far our young people can go. We remain committed to supporting our alumni.**
**Throughout the year, both groups immersed themselves in the world of professional theatre with visits to productions including Clyde’s (Donmar), Othello (Riverside Studios), Shifters and Red Pitch (Bush Theatre), MJ the Musical and For Black Boys (West End), and Next to Normal (Wyndham’s). These trips are more than just outings, they’re windows into new worlds, sparking creativity, broadening horizons, and deepening conversations.**
**Volunteers are integral to the culture of our youth theatre, serving as positive role models while gaining invaluable experience. Their commitment and impact are deeply valued. WCTP remains committed to safeguarding, with all volunteers completing comprehensive online Child Protection Training and receiving ongoing onsite support.**
**In addition, we continue to support members’ educational and career goal, whether progressing to higher education, drama school, or employment, reflecting our dedication to nurturing talent and personal development beyond the stage.**
**Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Partnership with Broken Gods Theatre:**
**We had the privilege of collaborating with Broken Gods, a dynamic young-led company founded by WCYT alumnus Calum McArthur. Several WCYT members took to the stage in The Good, The Bad, and The Silly at Barons Court Theatre, an exciting and empowering experience that built confidence and strengthened artistic connections.**
## **Creative Minds Project:**
**In partnership with the Creative Education Partnership in Ealing and the Young Ealing Foundation, our Creative Minds Project offers an opportunity to 16-19-year-olds navigating mental health challenges. Led by our passionate practitioners, Georgia and Aoife, this eight-week programme blended creativity with care and the results spoke for themselves. Participants and referring organisations praised the project, with the final sharing session becoming a powerful and uplifting celebration of growth and connection.**
**Building on this success, Georgia and Aoife ran a new dramatherapy group this summer for primary pupils in White City, in collaboration with AllChild. This early intervention initiative deepens our roots in the community and reinforces our belief in the power of creative support from a young age.**
## **Community Engagement and Inclusivity:**
**WCYT remains committed to providing free and inclusive programming, ensuring that all young people have access to highquality theatrical experiences regardless of their background or circumstances. The summer performance project, in particular, serves as a vital outlet for creativity and self-expression, offering a meaningful alternative to the long and potentially risky days of summer holidays. Through participation in the project, young people not only develop valuable skills in drama and performance but also forge lasting friendships, gain confidence, and expand their horizons.**
**Empowerment Through Performance:**
**Performance projects are central to the ethos of WCYT, embodying the belief that the process of creating and presenting theatre is inherently empowering for young people. As participants work together towards a common goal, they learn the value of collaboration, dedication, and creative expression. The sense of pride and accomplishment that accompanies the completion of a performance project is palpable, fostering increased self-confidence and a deeper sense of belonging within the community.**
**In conclusion, the 2023-2024 season has been marked by a continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity at White City Youth Theatre. Through a diverse range of programming, WCYT remains dedicated to empowering young people and enriching the cultural fabric of our community.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **White City Youth Theatre Conclusions**
**The White City Theatre Project continues to champion access, creativity, and connection for young people through the arts. We are proud of what our participants, volunteers, and practitioners have achieved in 2023–24 and excited for what lies ahead.**
## **Quotes from participants:**
“It is a brilliant place for children who love drama. It helped me to excel in my drama lessons at school. Lovely place to meet wonderful people”
“An incredible environment! Everyone is so supportive and caring and it’s such a brilliant process to be apart of. Incredibly moving and something you can’t describe you just have to experience!”
“I would describe WCYT as a fun place to make friends and do drama but not boring drama, drama that has a fun and positive side to it!”
“The fun activities and games the directors always create that involve everyone”
“Being part of such an inclusive and great company whilst having fun developing a great story with a brilliant director”
“Such a family unit of support and you can learn from every single person!”
“The people -it’s such a nice working environment to be in , we get a lot done which is hard work but it is fun and enjoyable because of the community.”
“What I love most about being part of the WCYT is the community aspect, and how close-knit we all are, giving everyone a sense of belonging we need in this society.”
“I love the warm up games it makes me feel included and positive.”
“Our ideas and contributions were valued very well because Harry, our director, was very open to new ideas and we basically changed and wrote the script from scratch.”
“I feel our ideas and contributions were valued, I liked that feedback was taken on and we were able to include our own little jokes or lines to make our characters come to like whilst also bring as authentic to ourselves as possible.”
“Highlights were seeing all of our ideas being put together and all of us being involved and working under a great director!”
“The whole process was amazing! We had an amazing director who not only had amazing ideas but made sure to input many of our own into the play:)”
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Outreach Schools Projects**
## **ReAct Festival 2024**
**Now in its third year, the ReAct Festival Project continues to go from strength to strength, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of our outreach work. The project has once again delivered transformative experiences for young people across West London.**
**The ReAct Festival Project in 2024, was made possible through generous funding from John Lyon’s Charity, H&F, King’s Coronation Fund, John Thaw Foundation, Felix Foundation & the Young Ealing Foundation. This initiative aimed to empower young minds through immersive drama experiences. Here are the key highlights from our journey:**
## **Project Initiation:**
- **The project commenced with the confirmation of participating schools and meticulous project planning. This involved meetings with schools, practitioner interviews, and the employment of skilled facilitators, evaluators, and a drama therapist.**
## **Workshop Commencement:**
- **In 2024, all six partner secondary schools—Hammersmith Academy, Phoenix Academy, Ellen Wilkinson School, Ark Acton, Fulham Cross Academy, and Fulham Cross Girls’ School—enthusiastically returned to take part. Over 1,200 Year 8 students engaged in the Stage 1 workshop series, delivered throughout January by two of our expert practitioner teams. Across 42 workshops, students explored the theme of POWER through dynamic and immersive drama-based sessions.**
## **Selection Process:**
- **Stage 2 launched in March with full-day workshops at the Lyric Theatre, led by six practitioner teams (12 practitioners in total). Each team worked intensively with a selected group of 10 students from their designated school, guiding them through a devising process to create original theatre pieces.**
## **Devising Workshops:**
- **During the summer term, practitioner teams conducted weekly two-hour workshops in each school, guiding students in devising performance pieces for the upcoming festival in July.**
## **Festival Day:**
- **The culmination of the project was the ReAct Festival, held on Friday 12th July 2024 in the Lyric Theatre Studio. Sixty young people took to the stage, presenting six powerful, original performances inspired by the theme of POWER. The event was an overwhelming success, a vibrant celebration of creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.**
## **Impact and Continuation:**
- **The performances stood as a testament to the commitment, imagination, and bravery of the students and practitioners alike. For many, it was their first time performing in a professional theatre environment, and the sense of pride and achievement was palpable. Audience members, including parents, teachers, and community partners, were deeply moved by the confidence, cohesion, and authenticity of the work on stage.**
**To capture the essence of this journey, we partnered with Pink Static Films to create a short documentary, now available on our website. The film offers a powerful insight into the process and impact of ReAct, showcasing the joy, growth, and transformation that drama can bring to young lives.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Financial Review**
## **Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of August 2024**
**The financial position of the White City Theatre Project CIO remained stable over the year, reflecting the charity’s ongoing commitment to effective financial management and sustainable growth.**
## **Total Income**
**For the financial year 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2024, total income amounted to £151,864, representing a year-on-year increase from £137,541 in the previous year. This uplift in income is attributable to successful fundraising activities, increased grant support, and continued community engagement.**
## **Expenditure**
**Total expenditure for the year was £155,841, compared to £136,957 in the previous year. The rise in expenditure is in line with the charity’s planned programme delivery and investment in organisational capacity to support its strategic objectives.**
## **Net Movement in Funds**
**The net movement in funds for the year resulted in a deficit of £3,977 (2023: surplus of £585), reflecting the charity’s decision to utilise reserves to support core activities and project costs during the period.**
## **Net Assets**
**As at 31st August 2024, the charity’s net assets stood at £32,758, a modest decrease from £36,735 at the end of the previous financial year. These assets comprise both restricted and unrestricted funds and provide a sound basis for future planning.**
## **Conclusion**
**Despite a small in-year deficit, the White City Theatre Project CIO has maintained a healthy financial position. The income generated was sufficient to meet the year’s operational and programme costs, while still retaining a prudent level of reserves.**
**The trustees are confident that the charity remains financially resilient, with adequate resources to meet its commitments and pursue its mission in the year ahead. The increase in income and well-managed expenditure underscore the charity’s effective stewardship of funds and continued appeal to supporters and funders.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Policy for holding Reserves**
**The White City Theatre Project has a policy to maintain reserves equivalent to approximately three months of unrestricted charitable expenditure. The trustees believe that holding reserves at this level ensures that the organisation has sufficient funds to address various needs and contingencies.**
**Maintaining these reserves allows the organisation to:**
1. **Continue making a positive impact and supporting its causes.**
2. **Cover support and governance costs, including staff salaries, administrative expenses, and compliance requirements.**
**By holding these reserves, the charity ensures it has the necessary financial resources to operate effectively, maintain good governance practices, and fulfill its obligations. This approach provides financial stability and flexibility, allowing the White City Theatre Project to deliver its services smoothly. The trustees believe this prudent financial management safeguards the organisation's ability to achieve its charitable mission in the long term. Amount of Reserves held: £20,000**
## **The Charity’s Principal Sources of Funds**
**The White City Theatre Project primarily relies on receiving grants from Trusts, Foundations and the local Council as its main source of funding. The charity has established strong relationships with several local funders over the years who consistently provide support, playing a crucial role in sustaining its activities and initiatives.**
**The charity is continuously working towards actively focusing on seeking new grant income and fundraising opportunities to diversify its funding sources to ensure a sustainable and stable financial base to enable the White City Theatre Project to continue its operations, fulfil its charitable objectives, and make a positive impact in the community it serves.**
## **Principal Risks and Uncertainties**
**The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, particularly those related to the operations and finances of the White City Theatre Project CIO. Systems and procedures have been established to manage these risks, and the risk register is reviewed and updated regularly. The principal risks identified during the reporting period, together with the mitigation measures in place, are as follows:**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Principal Risks and Uncertainties. Continued...**
## **Funding Instability**
- **The charity is primarily dependent on voluntary income, including grants and donations. Economic uncertainty, shifts in donor priorities, and public funding changes present a continued risk to financial sustainability. To mitigate this, Trustees actively pursue diverse income sources, maintain strong relationships with funders, and review financial forecasts regularly.**
## **Governance and Regulatory Compliance**
- **Trustees acknowledge the importance of robust governance and full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Risks include failure to meet charity law obligations, safeguarding responsibilities, and data protection standards. To address these, Trustees ensure regular training, policy reviews, and oversight of all reporting obligations.**
- **Economic Conditions**
- **Broader economic pressures may reduce the availability of charitable funding from individuals and institutions. The charity maintains prudent financial controls, reserves, and scenario planning to manage potential reductions in income.**
## **Relevance and Public Engagement**
- **Changing community needs or a decline in public engagement could reduce participation in our programmes. Trustees monitor trends and feedback to ensure programming remains responsive and aligned with the interests of our local audiences.**
## **Legislative and Regulatory Change**
- **Ongoing changes in the legal landscape—particularly regarding employment, safeguarding, fundraising, and data protection—require active monitoring. The charity seeks external advice where appropriate and updates policies and procedures in line with best practice.**
## **External and Environmental Disruption**
- **Events such as pandemics or other unforeseen disruptions present risks to continuity of operations. The charity has contingency and safeguarding plans in place and holds appropriate insurance coverage to reduce the potential impact.**
**The Trustees are satisfied that appropriate systems are in place to monitor, manage, and mitigate the charity’s exposure to these key risks. Through continued oversight and adaptive planning, we aim to protect the charity’s assets and ensure its continued ability to serve the community.**
## **Trustees Annual Report 2023/2024**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
**The White City Theatre Project is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission on 17 April 2019. The charity operates under the Foundation Model Constitution, which defines its legal structure and governance framework. Under this structure, the only voting members are the charity trustees. This model ensures that strategic and operational decisions are made solely by the board, providing a clear line of authority and accountability.**
**The charity trustees are responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction, and financial oversight of the organisation. They are legally and fiduciarily obliged to act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries. Trustees are appointed by resolution at a properly convened meeting, with due consideration given to the skills, experience, and knowledge required for effective leadership and administration.**
**No trustee received any remuneration or other benefits, including reimbursed expenses, during the reporting period.**
## **Reference and Administrative details:**
## **Charity Name: White City Theatre Project CIO**
**Registered Charity No: 1183012 Charity’s Principal Address: 21 Davis Road, London, W3 7SE**
## **Names of Charity Trustees who manage the charity:**
**Alexander Schmidt - Chair Karen Anne Lintern Nathan David Byron Janet Michell Ellis, MBE Colette Tiffany Brown**
## **Declarations:**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:**
|**Signatures**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Full Names**|Alexander Schmidt|Karen Anne Lintern|
|**Position**|Trustee (Chair)|Trustee|
|**Date**|||
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent EXaMineS Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
White Cty Theatre Project CIO
On accounts for the year
ended
31 August 2024
Charity no
(if any)
1183012
Set out on pages
1-3
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity ('the Trust") for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity twstees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 ("the Act.).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have
come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in. any material respect-.
Independent
examiner's statement
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in Connection
wtth the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the aG¢ounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
Name:
ames Moreno
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
FCCA
Address:
39 Leigh Road
Cobham
Surrey Kr112LF
IER
October 2018
CHARITY COMMIS510N
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
lllhite City Theatre Project CIO
Charity No:
1183012
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the poriod
from
To
01-Sep-23
31-Aug-24
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
Last year
tothe neoWt £ to the neare5t£
to the nearest £
to thg nearest t
to the neare$t£
A1 Receipts
1500
2,000
10.000
5,000
0315y Trust
Garfield Weston
H&F Fast Track
H&F Kin9 Charfes 111 Coronation Youth
Fund
H&F Sutnmer Giving
Hammersmrth United Charities
John Lycn's Main Grant
John Lyon's Cultural Capital Fund
John Thaw Foundation
Lanse¢
ReA¢t Fesiwal'24 x 6 Schools
plsch
The D'oyly Carte
The Groc*rs
Trafalgar Enlertainrnenl
Young Ealing Foundation
Refunds
Agents For Change
Foyle Foundation
Orange Te Trust
Oonalions
2.000
10,000
5.000
3.000
10,000
6.ODO
6,000
2.719
12,500
35.000
40.000
2,000
2.000
2.719
12.SOO
35,000
40.000
iooo
2.000
2,423
500
35,000
35,000
2,000
£3.000
18.000
18,000
15,000
3.000
4.000
3.000
4,000
2,145
5,000
2.14S
1.108
5.000
450
10,000
5,000
10,560
National Lottery Arts Council FoundatK)n
Felix Foundation
1.500
6.000
Sub total (Gross income for
AR)
2,145
149,719
151,864
137,541
A2 Asset and investment sales.
{see table).
Sub total
2.145
149,719
151.864
137.S41
A3 Pa ments
Drama Coache5 Youth Theatre x 2
PAYE I NI
Pension Paymen15 for Staff
Project Director
Finan & Administrative Manager
Aecountancy Fees
Office Use. Sofvare. SubsCriPtion5,
Phone
Professional Training
H&S Governan & Insurance
Website IT Sofvare & Email
Refreshrnents
Travel. Transport & Pathing
VolunleerTrtining & Expenses
Theatre Ticket5 1 Trip5
Guest Artists Fees
AIIChild WLZ
ReAct Festival 2024
Spring PerforrnanTr Project
Summer Perfomance Project
Perf0rrnan I prop5 1 equipment
Young Ealing Creative Minds Project
Agents For Change project Costs
13,285
5.060
923
27.411
15,304
13,285
5.060
923
27,411
15.304
634
3,190
13.150
4,411
1.295
23,769
14.472
536
2,546
3.190
436
662
436
662
150
796
618
446
49
192
580
356
471
46
83
471
83
1,558
2,500
65.363
5.918
S.729
2,500
65.363
5,918
5.729
60.506
7,245
5,390
5.600
5,600
450
Sub total
155.841
155,841
136,957
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Sub total
155,841
155,841
136,957
Net of receiptsl(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
2.145
6.122
3,977
28,304
30,449
8,431
2,309
36.735
32,758
36,151
36.735
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestrictsd
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Categories
Detal
to npare5t £
to nearest£
to nearest £
B1 Cash funds
Barclays CurrentAe¢ount
30.449
2,309
Total cash funds
30.449
2,309
cjntI$I)
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest È
Restricted
funds
to nearest£
Endowment
funds
to rtearest£
Details
B2 Other monetary assets
Fund to which
asset belon
Currentvalu8
ional
Detalls
Cost loptionall
B3 Investment assets
Fund to whi¢h
assel belon
Currentvalue
tional
Details
Cost loptionall
B4 Assets retained for the
charity's own use
Fund to whlch
relat¢5
Amount due
onal
When due
tional
Details
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
Date of
roval
Signature
Print Name
Alexander Schmidt
Karen Linlem
24th Juno 2025