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2023-09-30-accounts

Company Registration Number : CE023674 Registered Charity : 1191002

SKAPED

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

Year ended 30[th] September 2023

CONTENTS

1. Objectives & Activities 3
2. Statement of Trustee Responsibilities 10
3. Independent Examiner’s Report 11
4. Financial Statements 13

Skaped - Trustee’s Annual Report 2023

The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year 01[st] of October 2022 to 30[th] of September 2023.

Objectives and Activities

a. Policies and Objectives

The objectives of Skaped, as set out in our governing document are:

To advance the education of young people aged 11-30 years old- primarily (but not exclusively) those that reside in the UK- on the subject of Human Rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and subsequent United Nations Conventions and Declarations), through the provision of arts-based educational workshops and other activities as a mean of:

b. Activities for achieving objectives

Skaped was set up as a volunteer-led organisation in 2017 and converted to a registered charity in August 2020, during the middle of the pandemic, after establishing proof of concept. Set up by Sandy AbdelRahman and Thayna Graciano, Skaped is a community led Artivist charity based in East London that supports young people aged 11-30, mainly from marginalised communities, to engage with community building and social change through the creative arts. Through our unique delivery of creative workshops, art projects and educational programmes, we foster empowerment among young individuals, encouraging the exploration of unique identities/intersectionality and addressing social issues such as gender inequality, gentrification, migration, anti-discrimination, and the like, in non-judgmental peer-group settings, promoting community building and societal change.

Skaped’s ethos is around building strong and more equal, sustainable communities. At the core of our work is to empower young people to learn about their rights, develop the confidence to speak up, raise awareness on issues in their communities, and create community coherence.

We actively encourage young people to participate in social action while equipping them with the confidence to be effective changemakers. We do that by providing young people with the support they need to harness their self-worth and self-awareness, ensuring they engage with their community and develop their own artistic expression of social change. Our principle revolves around being unconventional and creating an organisation prioritising care, empathy, and acceptance within our activism, programmes, and general workspace. We do that by following Skaped’s Strategy for Social Change:

Step 1: Reflect on your identity, intersectionality and personal values. Step 2: Come together to build community, finding power within the collective. Step 3: Use artistic expression to create social change.

All of our workshops, educational programmes and art projects have been co-designed with our volunteers and young people to ensure we meet the needs of our community and that our work is accessible to all. Our piloting, testing and monitoring system ensures our programmes are transformative for young people from all backgrounds. Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life, cultures, and ethnicities; this includes- but is not limited to- care-givers, immigrants, YP who lack education and employment opportunities, LGBTQIA+, YP with mental health issues and disabilities, and those with experience of systematic discrimination due to race, religion, class, gender et cetera.

Our Mission: Our mission is to equip young people with the tools needed to create social change by using the creative arts to reflect on their strengths and the collective power of community.

Our Vision: Our vision is an empathetic world in which young people use artistic expression to gain the skills and confidence needed to create and lead social change.

Our Values: Skaped’s values are at the heart of everything we do: Creativity, Inclusivity, Empathy, Intersectionality, Community Empowerment and Social Justice.

Our work:

Decolonise Women’s Spaces: ‘Decolonise Women’s Spaces’ programme is one of our continuously yearly tailored programmes that aims to raise awareness of gender issues and boundaries to achieve and recognise gender justice. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we run a 5-week programme for the Skaped community and the alumni. The programme’s aim is to educate and make aware of the ways in which colonialism and its consequences have infiltrated women’s spaces. We looked at different topics in relation to decolonising our minds, sharing our own experiences and learning new perspectives. The programme concluded with a community potluck comprising dishes made by each person, which were added to our community recipe zine.

This programme offers a safe space for group learning, an opportunity for lived experiences to be celebrated and documented, provide practical tools for how to Decolonise spaces, and to educate and spread awareness about unvisited parts of history and culture. We cover topics such as self-care, art & literature, and food. The 5 weeks programme, run by the Skaped team and volunteers delivering 12 hours of workshops for 25 dedicated young Skaped alumni and members of the Skaped community who identify as women, gender fluid and/or non-binary.

“I loved this project. It made me realise how little I know about myself and my country, and it inspired me to go back and do some research...all of a sudden, I was able to understand the dynamic relationship between my parents, I was able to see what life might have been like for them and how it affected their parenting. The programme inspired me to create a deeper relationship with my mum, asking her questions about what life was like when she was younger, etc.” - Decolonising Women’s Spaces participant

Volunteer programme: As a heavily volunteer- led organisation, we highly value and recognise the amazing work our team of volunteers do. The volunteer programme is a major part of our organisation that brings together people from different backgrounds with lived experiences and expertise surrounding the work we deliver, such as social justice, creative arts, community healing, social media, journalism etc. The programme consists of two parts: the initial ‘Inspire’ period primarily focused on learning for the volunteers; the second half, known as the ‘Create’ period, provided an opportunity to put their theories into action with 56 paid hours of work with one of Skaped’s teams. The programme offers a supportive platform to enrich their professional (and

personal) journeys, including weekly check-ins, 1-2-1 support, feedback sessions and various team training and self-care to put the individuals first.

“That community as a whole makes a big difference and an overall bigger impact. Bringing communities together, having them involved and participating is so important. Also, what I've learned and will keep forever is Skaped's special attention to detail and ethics and sensitivity regarding people, their wellbeing and the impact they can have.”- Project Beneficiary

"I was honoured to be invited to deliver a talk and workshop to Skaped's cohort of volunteers this year. The staff were more than professional, they were also incredibly passionate about their work, and it was a joy to see them encourage their participants on their own unique journeys as changemakers. The participants asked really thoughtful questions after my talk and throughout the workshop session which is a reflection on the great teaching and training they had already received from Skaped on how art and creativity, if used strategically and sensitively, can be a powerful tool for real transformational social change.” - Sarah Corbett, Founder of ‘The Craftivist Collective’

Skaped on Tour Programme:

The Skaped on Tour programme, spanning for 7 months in East London, brought together young people aged 11 to 26 from 9 distinct East London-based youth hubs and community centres. Its core purpose is to promote social justice awareness and community bonding through various creative workshops facilitated by the Skaped team. These workshops, tailored to each group's unique needs by Skaped’s expert staff, covered a range of social justice topics, such as artivism, social action, migration, gender, consent, human rights, identity, self-care, and personalised sessions. They sought to empower individuals, foster collective action, and inspire meaningful connections.

The programme concludes with an inclusive, celebratory event, where these diverse groups collaborate in a collective art-making experience, highlighting the strength of their collaboration and their dedication to various community issues. Skaped On Tour played a pivotal role in uniting young people from diverse backgrounds, nurturing a creative sense of community.

"It was great having Skaped work with our young people. The Skaped facilitators did well to engage the group, whilst exploring themes such as identity and social action. The young people left the sessions feeling empowered to speak on social issues that matter to them. Thank you Skaped!" - Partner at Hackney Quest

Artivism programme: We wrapped up our 3-month Community & Artivism programme for 18 young people (aged 16-25) from East-London. The programme featured weekly workshops, 1-1 support sessions, a full art-focused weekend, and a week dedicated to curating and crafting their exhibition. Each participant used a £100 grant to showcase their work during a collective exhibition at the Bermondsey Project Space gallery. Participants developed leadership skills and developmental prospects within the relatable learning environments of the artivist community of Skaped.

“I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Skaped (and their fantastic team!) on several projects and every time I’m constantly amazed by their positive attitude, the supportive atmosphere they create, and the genuine passion shared by everyone involved. Skaped is a phenomenal, important charity I’m proud to have worked with.” - Andrew Etherington, Gallery Director at Bermondsey Project Space

Culture exchange programme: The Cultural Exchange Programme was a project run by Social Ark and funded by the Foundation for Future London. As a partner, Skaped and a team of our young people participated in this programme to learn more about what culture means to different people across the UK. Throughout this seven-month-long programme, our young people created business plans, learned how to write funding applications and started a small socially conscious project. Our young people also have the chance to listen to a variety of guest speakers who speak about entrepreneurship and live experience.

Tailored Workshops, Inspirational Talks & Events: We have also delivered tailored workshops, events and talks for young people aged 11-30 to youth organisations and community groups across the UK. Through these tailored works we have reached over 160 young people; we partnered with E17Film, The Heritage & Honour Collection, Olympic Park, Trampery Republic, St. Margaret’s House, Allie’s Art Club and many more.

c. Contribution made by Volunteers

As a heavily voluntarily led organisation, we highly value and recognise the amazing work our team of volunteers contribute to Skaped. Our volunteers come from various backgrounds, with lived experiences and expertise surrounding the work we deliver, such as social justice, creative arts, community healing, social media, journalism etc.

Our volunteers are values-driven individuals who passionately champion our work, mission and vision to inspire and support our young people.

“The volunteer experience was a true highlight of my Summer! Not only did I get to meet and learn from peers, but there were multiple avenues for collaboration and being creative! Supervision from our Skaped mentees truly boosted our confidence and moved us past our comfort zones"- Renee Etokakpan, a Skaped Volunteer.

We openly advertise for all our volunteering opportunities on social media, non-profit platforms, university platforms and through our partners and supporting organisations. We also receive direct messages from volunteers who want to support us and organisation and learn by doing. Our volunteers are the backbone to our organisation and our work; they support us in co-designing our programmes and projects. We support our volunteers in every step we take; this includes organising training, team building activities, mentoring, 1-2-1 supports and ensuring they are all equipped to fulfil their roles. Between 2022-2023, we have directly worked with 30 volunteers, 9 of which have completed our 6 months volunteer programme. Most of our formal volunteers are still in touch with Skaped and are part of the Skaped community.

The success of the Skaped’s Volunteers approach resonates deeply with Skaped’s core values of empowering young people to become changemakers in their communities. Our understanding and enriching approach have allowed our volunteers to take the experiences we have offered them and use them to make future changes within the sector.

Achievements and Performance

a. Our Impact

From October 2022 until September 2023, Skaped has reached more than 400 young people across London, we have directly worked with over 160 young people. Our work offers a range of dynamic workshops, programmes, and events, from co-designed programmes spanning weeks to months to impactful one-off workshops relevant to the participants we work with. Our workshops are a key component, addressing crucial topics exploring self-care, community building, Artivism and Social change issues – from gender inequality to personal activism as part of social change and creating a safe community for all.

We have provided more than 55 hours of 1-2-1 support, 100 hours of tailored workshops sessions and invited over 10 expert guest speakers and artists.

We have directly benefited young people from the 7 London boroughs. We’ve worked with 30 volunteers who helped us with blog posts, outreach to co-design and deliver our art-based workshops and educational programmes to improve young people’s understanding of their rights while building confidence and soft skills.

Through our programmes and art projects young people gain various skills, these include:

Our Young people:

----- Start of picture text -----
Age Gender
14%
40% 39% 26%
60%
21%
Female
16-25 YR 11-24 YR Male
18-30 YR Queer/Non-binary/Gender-Fluid
Boroughs
4%
3%
1%
13%
37%
18%
24%
Tower Hamlets Hackney Newham waltham forest
Greenwich Islington South London
----- End of picture text -----

At the end of the programmes, our incredible participants officially became Skaped Alumni. Therefore, it’s not the end, but the beginning of their time as Skaped community members. Being part of this ongoing community means our young people get access to various support and professional opportunities. These include exclusive alumni programming, networking opportunities, access to our partner's programmes, and chances to design and facilitate future Skaped programming and events.

The impact doesn't stop there; it evolves. A testament to this is the collaboration currently underway with some of our participants, who are still volunteering with us to shape our programme for Women's History Month 2024. Here, the past programme participants are spearheading this project, embodying the collaborative spirit we foster at Skaped, empowering our young people to become community leaders.

b. Key financial performance indicators

As a recently established charity, the majority of our funding has traditionally been earmarked for project delivery, covering staff costs, expenditures, and related expenses. However, this year marked a significant breakthrough as we successfully secured capacity-building grants, enabling us to triple our income compared to the previous year. This financial boost has empowered us to expand our on-the-ground programmes and hire 6 staff members on a freelance basis, all

compensated at London Living Wages. Notably, all staff members began as volunteers or programme participants.

Aligned with our ethos of empowering young people to take the lead in creating change, we've invested approximately £2000 in supporting them through training, mentoring, paid placements, and upskilling. This investment not only fosters their personal development but also provides a platform for them to actively co-design and co-deliver our initiatives.

The ongoing support from our partners remains integral to sustaining our work and successfully running our projects; their invaluable in-kind contributions are indispensable to our operations.

At present, we hold reserve funding amounting to £13,440, strategically earmarked to bridge the financial gap between the current and upcoming fiscal years. This reserve will be allocated over the next 3-6 months based on project-specific delivery plans agreed upon with the Trustee board.

Financial Review

a. Going Concern

The board is actively engaged in securing Skaped's operational safety in alignment with the UK government's guidance. As a recently registered charity, Skaped is in the process of gradually securing core funding to cover operational and capacity-building costs. Collaborating closely with our Trustees' Board and volunteer experts, we are diligently updating our policies to meet current standards.

Key areas of focus include the refinement of our fundraising strategy and establishing sustainability measures to fortify Skaped's long-term impact and resilience.

Structure, governance and management

a. Constitution

Skaped has a Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is registered with the charity Commission. (Charity number:1191001). The principal object of the Charity is to advance the education of young people aged 11-30 years old, primarily (but not exclusively) those that reside in the UK in the subject of Human Rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions and declarations), through the provision of art based educational workshops and other activities.

b. Management Structure

Skaped has a charitable board of 4 trustees. Our ethos revolves around being unconventional, creating an organisation prioritising care and acceptance within our activism and general workspace. As a community-led entity, we take pride in fostering a non-hierarchical organisational structure, extending from our operational team to our trustee board, where co-chairing responsibilities rotate every six months.

Each trustee brings to the table a direct lived experience related to the issues addressed by Skaped in its work, ensuring a profound understanding of the challenges faced by our beneficiaries. The board collectively boasts a diverse skill set encompassing safeguarding, project delivery, creative impact, diversity, and inclusion. Reporting directly to the board of trustees, Skaped's CEO collaborates closely with the team, offering support and guidance. Notably, significant financial decisions require the agreement of at least two trustees, ensuring a collaborative and well-informed decision-making process.

c. Method of Appointment or Election of Trustees

The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees, who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 08/04/2024 and signed on their behalf by Renee de Nève:

3. Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the trustees of Skaped (Charity No 1191002) on the accounts for the period ended 30[th] September 2023.

Respective Responsibilities of the trustees and the independent 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 year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 seeking explanations from the 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Jaz Notay ACMA CGMA BEng (Hons) Zoneip Ltd

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the period ended 30[th] September 2023

Notes
Income From:
Donations & Legacies
2
Charitable activities
3		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
73,300
44,780
118,080
25,514
0
2,500
Other trading activities
Investments
Other
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising Funds
4
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Other
Total Expenditure
Net Movement in Funds
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward		 206
1,000
1,206
0
0
5,043
73,506
45,780
119,286
33,057
22,665
0
22,665
4,830
1,037
38,651
39,688
178
22,478
0
22,478
0
0
0
14,537
46,180
38,651
84,831
19,545
27,326
7,129
34,455
13,512
12,416
7,074
19,491
5,979
39,742
14,203
53,945
19,491

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities

BALANCE SHEET

As at 30[th] September 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
2023 2022
Notes £ £ £ £
Tangible Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Cash at Bank 55,805 21,346
55,805 21,346
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 5 (1,425) (1,420)
54,380 19,926
Net Current Assets
Total Net Assets 54,380 19,926
The Funds of the Charity
Restricted Funds 6 14,203 7,074
Unrestrcited Funds 39,742 12,851
53,945 19,926
----- End of picture text -----

The company was entitled to exemption from audit under s477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.

Approved by the Board of Trustees Dated: 08/04/2024

Signed: Chair of Trustees

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of preparing financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRSSE) ‘Accounting and Reporting’ by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the provisions of FRS102 Section 1A Small Entities and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when the funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purposes of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

2. Donations & Legacies

Grants
Legacies
Total		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
73,300
44,780
118,080
25,514
0
73,300
44,780
118,080
25,514

Material Restricted funds are broken down as follows LLDC – Skaped on Tour £26,780 FFL – Volunteer Program £12,000

3. Charitable Activities

Fundraising
Other
Total		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
0
2,500
0
5,043
0
0
0
7,543

4. Analysis of Expenditure

Raising Funds
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Other
Total		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
22,665
0
22,665
4,830
1,037
38,651
39,688
178
22,478
0
22,478
0
0
0
14,537
46,180
38,651
84,831
19,545

5. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year

Creditors 2023
2022
1,425
1,420
1,425
1,420

5.Restricted Funds

Restricted
Unrestricted		 Balance as at
1st October
2022
Income
Expenditure
Balance as at
30th
September
2023
7,074
45,780
(38,651)
14,203
12,416
73,506
(46,180)
39,742
19,491
119,286
(84,831)
53,945