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2023-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2023

Charity name: Creative Opps CIO

Charity registration number: 1190916

Objectives and Activities

SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The object of the CIO is to advance in life and relieve
the needs of young people aged 6-30, with a focus on
young people who are socially and/or economically
disadvantaged, through:
(a) facilitating their access to knowledge, learning
opportunities and experience;
(b) providing support and activities which develop
their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them
to participate in society as responsible individuals.
Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.		 Para 1.17 and
1.19		 Through our 2023 Mentoring Programme, we
matched 12 young people from underrepresented
communities with creative professionals to work
together on the next steps for their creative industry
and academic goals. Mentors and mentees met for
two hours a month either remotely or in person, over
a six-month period. We provided both parties with
training and ongoing support, as well as food and
travel costs for those who met in-person.
We also brokered paid creative industry work
placements for 10 young people facing barriers to
participation in the creative industries. We partnered
with organisations including Box to Box Films, DRIFT
Studio, Voices Radio, Woodburner Music, Poet in the
City and Orbital Sound. We secured an expansion of
the Box to Box internship offer from 4-week part-time
to 6-month full-time placements and worked with
Islington Giving to provide 200-hour long placements
for young people from the borough.
Building upon our strategic aim to deliver user-led
programmes, designed by and for young people, our
staff team, Trustees and Youth Board engaged in
sociocracy training, and we have secured funding to
pay our five Youth Board members to continue to
develop our strategic vision for the year ahead.

Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public ~~benefit~~

Para 1.18

The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.		 Para 1.20 Through our 2023 mentoring programme, mentees
took part in activities ranging from attending
photography events, gigs and exhibitions to BBC work
shadowing and running on film shoots. Mentees have
consistently reported increased levels of confidence
and emphasised how the programme has given them
the means to pursue their creative dreams, which they
wouldn’t otherwise have had access to. Through their
participation, multiple mentees have gone on to secure
paid work in film and non-profit sector organisations,
as well as enrolling on university courses and
producing their own creative output.
Our work placements have primarily been offered to
young people living in Islington, which ranks within the
top 16.7% most deprived local authorities (IMD 2019).
The difference made to participants circumstances is
evidenced not only through several young people
gaining paid roles in the film and music industries but
in how they have taken the skills and confidence
gained through the placements back into their own
communities. For example, one participant is now
helping to provide guidance and support to another
young person who is passionate about documentary
making. Another participant recently founded a mutual
support group for black and queer people interested in
music production and poetry. Our five Youth Board
members continue to be instrumental in driving
Creative Opps’ strategic vision, supporting with
recruitment, interviews and safeguarding training, as
well as researching potential partner organisations. As
they continue to build upon their previous experience
and develop leadership and decision-making
capabilities, we are confident that they will take these
skills into wider society.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period		 Para 1.21 The remaining funds for this reporting period are
designated for completion of our 2023 Mentoring
Programme, funding of the CEO’s salary and to
sustain our reserves. We actively seek to diversify our
income streams and have a robust strategy in place to
ensure that we are financially sustainable. The key
areas we consider in this regard are grants from trusts
and foundations, partnerships with creative industry
employers to generate charitable income and regular
donations. The Trustees are confident that we can
continue to maximise our impact and deliver
sustainable programmes that serve the young people
we work with.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 The Trustees have established a reserves policy
whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or
invested in tangible fixed assets (‘the free reserves’)
held by the charity should be kept at the equivalent of
three months running costs. At this level, the Trustees
feel that they would be able to continue the current
activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop
in funding. If this happens, it would then be necessary
to consider how the funding would be replaced or
activities changed.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £9,500
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/a
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern		 Para 1.23 The Trustees are confident that there are no ongoing
concerns and will be able to sustain the organisation.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)		 Para 1.47 We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the
following funders who have enabled us to grow our
work over this reporting period: The Blagrave Trust,
National Lottery Awards for All England, Zing, The
Lovington Foundation, Islington Community Chest,
Islington Giving & Owl Inc.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s
~~t~~
~~t~~
Type of governing document		 Para 1.25 Constitution
How is the charity
constituted?		 Para 1.25 CIO
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees		 Para 1.25 The charity trustees may at any time decide to
appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a
charity trustee who has retired or been removed.
A new trustee is selected via an open recruitment
process, whereby a specific role (for example, Chair)
is advertised. Applicants take part in an interview, and
one person is selected provided there is a quorum of
the sitting Board.
The charity trustees will make available to each new
charity trustee, on or before their first appointment:
(a) A copy of the constitution and any amendments
made to it.
(b) A copy of the CIO's latest trustees' annual report
and statement of accounts.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Creative Opps CIO
Other name the charity uses Creative Opps
Registered charity number 1190916
Charity’s principal address MILDMAY COMMUNITY CENTRE
WOODVILLE ROAD
LONDON
N16 8NA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for
whole year		 Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20		 Lucy Rolington Co-Chair ~~(if any)~~
Edi Whitehead Co-Chair
Joshua Pugh
Emer May Morris

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted rf not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets
held in this capacity		 N/a
Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects		 N/a
Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets		 N/a

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/a

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) EDI WHITEHEAD Position (eg CO-CHAIR Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 25 JANUARY 2024

Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO No (if any) No (if any) CC16a
Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period
from		 Period start date To Period end date
1/9/2022 31/8/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted funds Endowment
funds		 Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Grants 36,125 29,162 - 65,287 10,170
Charitable Activities 3,000 - - 3,000 -
Access to Work Payments - 0 16,978 - 16,978 -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
Sub total_(Gross income for AR) _
39,125		 46,140 - 85,265 10,170
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- 0 - 0 - 0 -
- 0 - 0 - 0 - - 0
Sub total
- 0		 - 0 - 0 - - 0
**Total receipts **
39,125		 46,140 - 0 85,265 10,170
A3 Payments
Salaries and Employer's costs 15,275 32,471 - 47,746 -
Dues and subscriptions 1,396 - - 1,396 -
Other expenses 96 - - 96 -
Small Equipment 300 - - 300 -
Other professional services 6,739 - 6,739 -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
- 0 - - - -
**Sub total **
17,067		 39,210 - 56,277 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- 0 - 0 - 0 -
- 0 - 0 - 0 -
**Sub total **
- 0		 - 0 - 0 - - 0
**Total payments **
17,067		 39,210 - 0 56,277 - 0
**Net of receipts/(payments) **
22,058		 6,930 - 28,988 10,170
A5 Transfers between funds - 0 - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - 0 - - - -
**Cash funds this year end **
22,058		 6,930 - 28,988 10,170
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories Details Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted funds Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Cash at Bank £30,831 - -
- - -
- - -
Total cash funds - - -
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))		 Agreement Error OK
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted funds Endowment
funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Details Fund to which asset
belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B3 Investment assets - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which asset
belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
liability relates		 Amount due
(optional)		 When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities -
-
-
-
-
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the trustees		 Signature Print Name Date of approval
EDI WHITEHEAD 25 JAN 2024

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/
members of
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages		 Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO Creative Opps CIO
31stAugust 2023 Charity no
(if any)		 1190916
1-3

Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Signed:
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:		 25/01/2024
Genevieve Jones
Association of Accounting Technicians
71 St Marks Avenue

IER

1

Gravesend Kent

DA11 9LN

Section B Disclosure

N/a

IER

2

Give here brief details of N/A any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

IER

3