Charity registration number: 1190327
BRIGHTSPARKS ARTS IN MENTAL HEALTH TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 19 JULY 2025
I Hate Numbers
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 1—3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Comparative Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8—12 |
| The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts: | |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 13 |
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Trustees' Report For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 19 July 2025.
Objectives and Activities
Aims and Objectives
Our mission is to challenge stigma and advocate for the social value of therapeutic creative health by building supportive groups, through a range of creative projects and events informed by our community. We will deliver regular accessible opportunities. Generating positive stories using a service user led creative health approach with our projects and events. Where we showcase talents. Offering opportunities to share and celebrate our community
Achievements and Performance
Main Achievements
This financial year has seen further development within BrightSparks Arts. We have been able to build upon the brand and reputation of BrightSparks Arts and working in partnership and co-creating our projects and delivery with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and other key partners and funders.
The Arts in Mental Health Coordinators at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), Tim Sayers and Lydia Towsey (also the founders of BrightSparks Arts), have been in post since 2007 and much of the work on the wards at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit and in the broader BrightSparks Arts mental health community led by them both continues to flourish. Delivering programmes and projects with Music, Writing and Poetry, visual arts, photography, gardening and comedy.
In addition, the Comedy Asylum team (Rob Gee, Oli Sheridan and Sam Kitson) have further developed the team and reach of comedy asylum. In Kettering in collaboration with Loz Anstey, a spoken word artist based in Northamptonshire, to deliver and grow the reach of our programme, funded by The Big Lottery, and with Anna Leigh Knight and team delivering Comedy Asylum to Melton Mowbray. Now in its eighth year, the Comedy Asylum is well established in Leicester, Leicestershire and Kettering and has formed the basis of a new Creative Health service that we are developing with NHS and community partners in Northamptonshire. We plan to extend our fundraising into the coming year to support this expansion of provision.
We have extended our comedy offer to include Humour Hubs, which are rurally based comedy workshops in Leicestershire, funded by the Integrated Care Board for the fourth year. Through this project, we’ve established two groups in Melton Mowbray and offer regular sessions in three other locations, with plans for a third group in collaboration with the Community Mental Health Employment Team in South Wigston.
From a governance and strategic direction, we continue to have a user group committee which decides on the future direction of BrightSparks, and this remains a well-attended meeting by twenty mental health service users, three times a year and allows focus for the future to come from the users of BrightSparks work.
Building on 2023/24, we delivered a more ambitious programme at the Leicester Riverside Festival which gives all our users and community a chance to come and showcase and celebrate their work with a broader audience in a safe environment. Having secured the next 2 years funding for the festival we are hopeful we will continue to stage the amazing work and talent of the BrightSparks Arts user community. The festival showcases our participants’ work in music, poetry, gardening, arts/design and photography, as well as offering opportunities for the public to engage in our work. The festival has significantly expanded due to the partnerships we’ve developed with Leicester City Council, Handbeam (a deaf artist collective), Leicester College, the Creative Health and Heritage Centre at UHL and creative producer Emma Fay. Through this work we’ve secured sponsorship from three organisations and plan to develop this income stream in the coming year.
We are proud to be running all the projects and art streams we described in 2023/24’s annual report and with the ongoing hard work of Sallie Varnam and the business development team we are continuing to build more opportunities to a diverse mental health community, their families, friends and colleagues and continue the positive impact this has on the local communities.
Financial Review
Page 1
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
Financial Position
The results for the year ending 19 July 2025 are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities.
This, together with the Balance Sheet, should be read with the related notes which have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102).
Total income for the year amounted to £125,501 (2024: £102294). The principal funding source continued to be grant income. The charity does not carry out significant fundraising activities.
Total expenditure for the year amounted to £112,746 (2024: £102630). A breakdown of expenditure is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
After transfers between funds, there was a surplus on unrestricted funds for year totalling £5,815 and a surplus on restricted funds totalling £6,940. This has resulted in a total increase for the year of £12,755.
The funds of the charity at the year-end totalled £189,813 which comprise restricted funds of £146,381 and unrestricted funds of £43,432.
Reserves Policy
Reserves are needed to cover items of expenditure not covered by project income. The reserves policy of the Board of Trustees is to designate funds for ongoing projects which are not funded through grant income (£10,343) and to cover c.6 months of a project worker salary (£18,000), this currently equates to £28,343. This leaves an unrestricted (free) reserves balance of £15,089.
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees
J Nixon N Leet S Elliott S Dyers E Haynes N Chhatralia (appointed 06/12/2024) G Paton (appointed 07/03/2025) D Hazzan (appointed 07/03/2025) J Sheridan (appointed 07/03/2025) C Richardson (appointed 07/03/2025)
Charity Number
1190327
Principal Address
Suite P1 Bridge Park Road Thurmaston LE4 8PQ
Independent Examiner
I Hate Numbers ACCA I Hate Numbers ACCA 29-35 Forester Building St. Nicholas Place Leicester Leicestershire LE1 4LD
Page 2
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
E Haynes Trustee 17/05/2026
Page 3
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health (the Trust) for the year ended 19 July 2025.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation 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.
Independent Examiner's Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
I Hate Numbers ACCA 17/05/2026 29-35 Forester Building St. Nicholas Place Leicester Leicestershire LE1 4LD
Page 4
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities: Development & Fundraising EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities: 4 Project & Workshop Delivery NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds 10 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS: Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 10 |
Unrestricted funds £ 1,225 934 |
Restricted funds £ 1,886 121,456 |
2025 Total funds £ 3,111 122,390 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,598 99,696 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,159 | 123,342 | 125,501 | 102,294 | |
| (1,219) (5,475) |
(8,783) (97,269) |
(10,002) (102,744) |
(13,474) (89,156) |
|
| (6,694) | (106,052) | (112,746) | (102,630) | |
| (4,535) 10,350 |
17,290 (10,350) |
12,755 - |
(336) - |
|
| 5,815 37,617 |
6,940 139,441 |
12,755 177,058 |
(336) 177,394 |
|
| 43,432 | 146,381 | 189,813 | 177,058 |
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Comparative Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities: Development & Fundraising EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities: 4 Project & Workshop Delivery NET EXPENDITURE NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS: Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 10 |
Unrestricted funds £ 1,671 20 |
Restricted funds £ 927 99,676 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,598 99,696 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,691 | 100,603 | 102,294 | |
| - (1,741) |
(13,474) (87,415) |
(13,474) (89,156) |
|
| (1,741) | (100,889) | (102,630) | |
| (50) | (286) | (336) | |
| (50) 37,667 |
(286) 139,727 |
(336) 177,394 |
|
| 37,617 | 139,441 | 177,058 |
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Statement of Financial Position As At 19 July 2025
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible Assets 7 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 9 NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds TOTAL FUNDS 10 |
Unrestricted funds £ 283 |
Restricted funds £ - |
2025 Total funds £ 283 |
2024 Total funds £ 423 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 283 591 47,023 |
- - 145,825 |
283 591 192,848 |
423 5,797 174,718 |
|
| 47,614 (3,909) |
145,825 - |
193,439 (3,909) |
180,515 (3,880) |
|
| 43,705 | 145,825 | 189,530 | 176,635 | |
| 43,988 | 145,825 | 189,813 | 177,058 | |
| 43,988 | 145,825 | 189,813 | 177,058 | |
| 146,381 43,432 |
139,441 37,617 |
|||
| 189,813 | 177,058 |
From £43,432 Unrestricted funds: £28,243 has been allocated as designated reserved, reaming £15,089 as unrestricted reserves.
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 17 May 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
E Haynes Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
Page 7
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
1. General Information
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission, registered charity number 1190327. The principal address is Suite P1, Bridge Park Road, Thurmaston, LE4 8PQ.
2. Accounting Policies
2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "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) (effective 1 January 2019)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities Act 2011.
The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
2.2. Incoming Resources
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.
2.3. Resources Expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Expenditure on raising funds
These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, fundraising trading costs and investment management costs
Expenditure on charitable activities
These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs.
2.4. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures & Fittings
33% Reducing balance
2.5. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.
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BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
3. Income from Donations and Legacies
| . Income from Donations and Legacies |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations and gifts . Analysis of Expenditure Raising funds Project & Workshop Delivery Raising funds Project & Workshop Delivery . Support Costs General administration Depreciation General administration Depreciation |
Unrestricted funds £ 1,225 |
Restricted funds £ 1,886 |
2025 Total funds £ 3,111 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,598 |
| Activities undertaken directly £ - 100,004 |
Support costs (see note 5) £ 10,002 2,740 |
2025 Total £ 10,002 102,744 |
||
| 100,004 | 12,742 | 112,746 | ||
| Activities undertaken directly £ - 84,858 |
Support costs (see note 5) £ 13,474 4,298 |
2024 Total £ 13,474 89,156 |
||
| 84,858 | 17,772 | 102,630 | ||
| Raising funds £ 10,002 - |
Project & Workshop Delivery £ 2,600 140 |
2025 Total £ 12,602 140 |
||
| 10,002 | 2,740 | 12,742 | ||
| Raising funds £ 13,474 - |
Project & Workshop Delivery £ 4,090 208 |
2024 Total £ 17,564 208 |
||
| 13,474 | 4,298 | 17,772 |
-
Analysis of Expenditure
-
Support Costs
Page 9
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
6. Average Number of Employees
Average number of employees during the year was: NIL (2024: NIL)
7. Tangible Assets
| Cost As at 20 July 2024 As at 19 July 2025 Depreciation As at 20 July 2024 Provided during the period As at 19 July 2025 Net Book Value As at 19 July 2025 As at 20 July 2024 8. Debtors Due within one year Other debtors 9. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Accruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 591 2025 £ 3,909 |
Fixtures & Fittings £ 1,406 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,406 | ||
| 983 140 |
||
| 1,123 | ||
| 283 | ||
| 423 | ||
| 2024 £ 5,797 |
||
| 2024 £ 3,880 |
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BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
10. Movement in Funds
| Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Designated: Designated Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Green Room Gardeners House of Circus Pictures + framing All for One Vaccine All Together National Lottery Arts Workshops Attenborough Art BLF Comedy Asylum Comedy on the Bus MHSCE Arts Workshops MHSCE Sounds Inc. Painting for Wellbeing Remote art Riverside Festival 2022 School of Comedy Smoothie Launch Fund Comedy Wellbeing Hubs Community Matters Humour Hubs Other Funds MishMash Save The World Word! Total restricted funds Total funds |
As at 20 July 2024 £ 37,617 - |
Income £ 2,159 - |
Expenditure £ (6,694) - |
Transfers £ (17,993) 28,343 |
As at 19 July 2025 £ 15,089 28,343 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37,617 | 2,159 | (6,694) | 10,350 | 43,432 | |
| 7,021 110 3,066 6,042 2,739 2,048 1,904 48,686 3,509 660 3,523 1,202 3,593 3,044 11,300 5,685 120 1,911 25,449 6,129 - - 1,700 |
168 20 500 - - 1,880 - 61,884 - - - - - 6,629 - - - - 31,755 - 20,000 500 6 |
(1,801) 1 (96) - - (3,234) - (58,720) - (194) (33) - - (7,669) (6,306) (2,980) - - (21,417) (1,923) (1,680) - - |
- - - - - - - (13,350) - - - - - 3,000 - - - - - - - - - |
5,388 131 3,470 6,042 2,739 694 1,904 38,500 3,509 466 3,490 1,202 3,593 5,004 4,994 2,705 120 1,911 35,787 4,206 18,320 500 1,706 |
|
| 139,441 | 123,342 | (106,052) | (10,350) | 146,381 | |
| 177,058 | 125,501 | (112,746) | - | 189,813 |
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BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
| Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Restricted funds Green Room Gardeners House of Circus Pictures + framing All for One Vaccine All Together National Lottery Arts Workshops Attenborough Art BLF Comedy Asylum Comedy on the Bus MHSCE Arts Workshops MHSCE Sounds Inc. Painting for Wellbeing Remote art Riverside Festival 2022 School of Comedy Smoothie Launch Fund Restricted Cash Comedy Wellbeing Hubs Community Matters Humour Hubs Other Funds Total restricted funds Total funds |
As at 20 July 2023 £ 37,667 3,762 291 2,407 6,042 6,570 960 1,904 25,589 3,509 922 3,618 1,202 3,593 2,102 36,220 13,580 1,700 19,876 581 - 5,299 |
Income £ 1,691 5,292 19 659 - - 1,963 - 57,379 - - - - - - - - - (292) 1,750 29,507 4,326 |
Expenditure £ (1,741) (2,033) (200) (1) - (3,831) (875) - (34,282) - (262) (95) - - 942 (24,920) (7,895) - (19,464) (420) (4,058) (3,495) |
As at 19 July 2024 £ 37,617 7,021 110 3,065 6,042 2,739 2,048 1,904 48,686 3,509 660 3,523 1,202 3,593 3,044 11,300 5,685 1,700 120 1,911 25,449 6,130 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 139,727 | 100,603 | (100,889) | 139,441 | |
| 177,394 | 102,294 | (102,630) | 177,058 |
11. Transactions with Trustees
None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current or previous year.
No trustee expenses have been incurred.
- Related Party Disclosures
Page 12
BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 19 July 2025
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies Donations and gifts Charitable Activities: Development & Fundraising Funding Grants Income from shows / performances Sales EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Advertising and marketing costs Development + fundraising costs Sundry expenses Charitable Activities: Project & Workshop Delivery Project & Workshop Delivery Venue cost Materials Other direct costs Insurance Staff-Training Accountancy fees Refreshments and hospitality Depreciation NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
2025 Total funds £ 3,111 |
2024 Total funds £ 2,598 |
|---|---|---|
| 3,111 7,898 113,639 269 584 |
2,598 66,811 32,615 270 - |
|
| 122,390 | 99,696 | |
| 125,501 (2,614) (7,389) 1 |
102,294 (13,474) - - |
|
| (10,002) (96,054) (3,443) (507) - (572) (837) (816) (375) (140) |
(13,474) (78,546) (3,312) - (3,000) (582) (2,954) (554) - (208) |
|
| (102,744) | (89,156) | |
| (112,746) | (102,630) | |
| 12,755 | (336) |
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