Charity registration number: 1191068
## Sky Full of Stories
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Contents**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 4|
|Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities|5|
|Independent Examiner's Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|9 to 16|
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Trustees** Mr A Ronchetti Mr P Arlborough Reverend H E Sherman **Charity Registration Number** 1191068 **Principal Office** 2 Western Terrace West Street Sompting Lancing BN13 0AU
Page 1
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Public benefit**_
For the benefit of the public, to promote social inclusion of those who are in need by reason of physical or mental disability, age, social or economic position or some other disadvantage by: - The advancement of education and participation in the performing arts, in particular but not exclusively through music and multi-sensory storytelling and practitioner training workshops; - The active promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit by deterring people from becoming socially excluded, assisting the needs of those people who are socially excluded and supporting them to integrate with society.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
## **Achievements and performance**
SFOS continued weekly sensory storytelling and music sessions at West Worthing Baptist Church, comprising a session on Monday afternoon, two sessions covering all day Tuesday and a Wednesday afternoon dedicated music session. A fortnightly session took place on Thursday afternoons. The Thursday afternoon session had to close in January 2024. One of the participants wanted to change to the music group and one of the participants moved away from the area to attend college.
All sessions (apart from the dedicated Wednesday music group) featured a mix of sensory storytelling, music, drumming, sound therapy and relaxation. An average of 30 participants attended sessions across the week, with two participants attending two different groups and one participant attending online. Some participants came from the area local area around Worthing, while others travel further afield from Midhurst, Steyning and Chichester.
A Christmas party was held on 7 December at West Worthing Baptist Church. This was the first Christmas party for a few years due to personal circumstances and Covid concerns. There was live music, a sensory disco, food, and quiet chill out spaces. Feedback from participants and carers showed the value of having a larger social event where there was space and accessibility for people in wheelchairs to move and dance. Almost all attenders at the different sessions were able to socialise and celebrate together.
In Spring 2023 in response to enquiries from regular participants about organising outdoor events in the summer, Sky full Of Stories began preparations for a one-day music festival scheduled for Summer 2023. Highdown Gardens, Worthing were interested in collaborating and hosting the event at their venue. In order to fund the event successful grant applications were made to Sussex Community Foundation (who awarded £1500) and Postcode Society Trust (who awarded £2057). The event was scheduled to be a music festival in an outdoor performance space, specifically for a learning disabled audience. It became clear that there many potential difficulties with the logistics of the event, including accessing the outdoor space for people in wheelchairs. The grant awards bodies agreed that the funds could be used for another event at an outdoor space to be rescheduled for a later date.
In May 2023 Paul was inspired and encouraged by attending The Sensory Symposium, an event in Norwich UK, organised by the acclaimed sensory theatre charity ‘Frozen Light’. This brought the opportunity to meet sensory practitioners from the UK and New Zealand and to network and share skills and information about sensory projects.
Page 2
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
In June 2023 Sky Full Of Stories was awarded £500 from a programme called ‘Magic Little Grants’. This is an award that simplifies the grant system to get small pot of money out to community groups quickly without excessive administration. Sky Full Of Stories used the grant to purchase new drums and music tech equipment including wireless microphones and wireless speaker connectors, thus helping participants to be involved in sessions and share and use equipment without being constrained by cables.
Paul continued to find new ways to bring sensory and music experiences to the groups throughout the week. This included attending workshops in African drumming and percussion techniques. These were effective in learning how to bring new ways to teach timing and rhythmic understanding to the group. The participants really enjoyed listening to and playing basic African rhythms.
In December 2023 the delivery of the service was threatened when Paul’s mobility was affected by planta fasciitis, a painful inflammation in a muscle on the sole of the foot. However, potential temporary closure of some of the sessions was avoided with intervention from a sports therapist.
From January 2024 preparation and planning continued for the Sky Full Of Stories 10 year Anniversary Party, as the Summer event postponed from 2023. The venue was confirmed as the Atrium room of the Pavilion Theatre run by Worthing Theatres and Museums. A beautiful, historic venue just by Worthing Pier and close to the ocean with magnificent views across the sea and beach. Acts and musicians were booked to perform including an African drum workshops and jugglers and circus performers.
The time spent up until April 2024 was busy with promotion and organisation of this event and also of continuing Sky Full Of Stories weekly group sessions.
## **Financial review**
## _**Policy on reserves**_
Sky full of stories requires a level of free reserves to safeguard the operation of the charity from unexpected delays in the receipt of grants, donations and other funding and unforeseen expenditure.
The Trustees are working towards improving the level of free reserves and having reviewed the risks to which the charity might be subject to, have decided that the current level of reserves are sufficient.
## **Going concern**
There are currently no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Nature of governing document**_
Sky Full of Stories was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) on 28 August 2020.
## _**Organisational structure**_
The charity is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and its Governing Document is filed with the Charity Commission.
The day-to-day provision and management of services is in the hands of the Creative Director. The charity trustees, through regular meetings to receive reports from the Creative Director, exercise critical support and ensure due diligence in the charity’s affairs. They jointly have responsibility for seeking trustees with appropriate skills as and when the services provided by the charity expand.
Page 3
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Major risks and management of those risks**_
1. Risk of break in the charity’s services due to sickness or absence of the Creative Director and small number of paid workers/volunteers
2. Risk of drop in income due to reduced financial circumstances of participants, thus preventing the charity from fulfilling its aims and objectives.
Good communication with the trustees, together with networking and relationships with others working in the field, provide potential to draw on support if needed
04/02/2025 The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Reverend H E Sherman Trustee
Page 4
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 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 then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity 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 enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by: 04/02/2025
......................................... Reverend H E Sherman Trustee
Page 5
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Sky Full of Stories**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sky Full of Stories for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of Sky Full of Stories 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 Sky Full of Stories's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Sky Full of Stories as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content 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.
...................................... Matthew Hodson BSc FCA Independent Examiner ICAEW
Wiston House 1 Wiston Avenue Worthing West Sussex BN14 7QL
Date:.............................
Page 6
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investment income
4
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Other expenditure
6
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
15
**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Charitable activities
Investment income
4
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net expenditure
Gross transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
15|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
31,067
49
31,116
(20,842)
(11,400)
(32,242)
(1,126)
(1,126)
230
(896)
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
28,638
1
28,639
(29,129)
(29,129)
(490)
1,215
725
(495)
230|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
4,057
-
-
4,057
(500)
-
(500)
3,557
3,557
-
3,557
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,215)
(1,215)
1,215
-|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
4,057
31,067
49|
|---|---|---|---|
||||35,173|
||||(21,342)
(11,400)|
||||(32,742)|
||||2,431|
||||2,431
230|
||||2,661|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
28,638
1|
||||28,639|
||||(29,129)|
||||(29,129)|
||||(490)
-|
||||(490)
720|
||||230|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 15.
The notes on pages 9 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **(Registration number: 1191068) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
12
**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
13
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
14
**Net current assets/(liabilities)**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Restricted income funds**
Restricted funds
15
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**
15|**2024**
**£**
999
4,450
(2,788)
1,662
2,661
3,557
(896)
2,661|**2023**
**£**
1,674
1,774
(3,218)|
|---|---|---|
|||(1,444)|
|||230|
|||-
230|
|||230|
The financial statements on pages 7 to 16 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on .................... and signed on their behalf by: 04/05/2025
......................................... Reverend H E Sherman Trustee
The notes on pages 9 to 16 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
Sky full of stories meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. These accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised on a receipts basis.
## _**Grants receivable**_
Grants are recognised on a receipts basis.
## _**Investment income**_
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
## **Expenditure**
All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## _**Charitable activities**_
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.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
Page 9
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **Governance costs**
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.
## **Government grants**
Government grants are recognised on a receipts basis and are measured at the fair value of the asset received. Grants are classified as relating either to revenue or to assets.
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets costing £100.00 or more are initially recorded at cost.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
|**Asset class**|**Depreciation method and rate**|
|---|---|
|Plant & Machinery|25% Straight Line|
|Office Equipment|50% Straight Line|
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Borrowings**
Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the charity has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Page 10
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
## **Financial instruments**
## _**Classification**_
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2 Income from donations and legacies**
|Grants, including capital grants;
Grants from other charities
**3**
**Income from charitable activities**
Primary purpose trading
**4**
**Investment income**
Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits
**Total for 2024**
**Total for 2023**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
31,067
31,067|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
4,057
4,057
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
31,067
31,067
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
49
49
1|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
4,057|
|---|---|---|---|
||||4,057|
||||**Total**
**2023**
**£**
28,638|
||||28,638|
||||**Total**
**funds**
**£**
49|
||||49|
||||1|
Page 11
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **5 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|Music sessions
Staff costs
Allocated support costs
Governance costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
8,843
819
9,272
1,908
20,842|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
500
-
-
-
500|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
9,343
819
9,272
1,908
21,342|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
19,642
215
7,920
1,352|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||29,129|
## **6 Other expenditure**
|Staff costs
Wages and salaries
**Total for 2024**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
11,400
11,400|**Total**
**funds**
**£**
11,400|
|---|---|---|
|||11,400|
## **7 Analysis of governance and support costs**
## **Governance costs**
|Staff costs
Other staff costs
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Legal fees
Depreciation, amortisation and other similar costs
Other governance costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
283
528
266
675
156
1,908|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
283
528
266
675
156
1,908|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
145
500
(20)
592
135|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,352|
## **8 Net incoming/outgoing resources**
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year include:
Page 12
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
|Depreciation of fixed assets|**2024**
**£**
675|**2023**
**£**
592|
|---|---|---|
## **9 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **10 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
|The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|**Staff costs during the year were:**
Wages and salaries
Other staff costs|**2024**
**£**
11,400
1,102
12,502|**2023**
**£**
-
360|
|||360|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year expressed as full time equivalents was as follows:
## Full Time Employees
**2024 No** 1
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
Page 13
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
## **11 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **12 Tangible fixed assets**
|**12 Tangible fixed assets**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2023
At 31 March 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
**13 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash at bank
**14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals||**Furniture and**
**equipment**
**£**
2,553
2,553
879
675
1,554
999
1,674
**2024**
**£**
4,450
**2024**
**£**
180
1,314
1,294
2,788||**Total**
**£**
2,553
2,553
879
675
1,554
999
1,674
**2023**
**£**
1,774|
|||2,553|||
|||879
675|||
|||1,554|||
|||999|||
|||1,674|||
|||**2024**
**£**
4,450
**2024**
**£**
180
1,314
1,294
2,788|||
|||||**2023**
**£**
-
2,718
500|
|||||3,218|
Page 14
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
|**15 Funds**
**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**Balance at 31**
**March 2024**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General Fund
230
31,116
(32,242)
(896)
**Restricted funds**
Postcode Society Trust
-
2,057
-
2,057
Sussex Community Foundation
-
1,500
-
1,500
Magic little grants
-
500
(500)
-
**Total restricted funds**
-
4,057
(500)
3,557
**Total funds**
230
35,173
(32,742)
2,661
**Balance at 1**
**April 2022**
**£**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**Transfers**
**£**
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General Fund
(495)
28,639
(29,129)
1,215
230
**Restricted**
Sussex Community
Foundation
1,215
-
-
(1,215)
-
**Total funds**
720
28,639
(29,129)
-
230
**16 Analysis of net assets between funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**General**
**£**
**funds**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
999
-
999
Current assets
893
3,557
4,450
Current liabilities
(2,788)
-
(2,788)
Total net assets
(896)
3,557
2,661|**Balance at 31**
**March 2024**
**£**
(896)
2,057
1,500
-|**Balance at 31**
**March 2024**
**£**
(896)
2,057
1,500
-|
|---|---|---|
|||3,557|
|||2,661|
|||**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
230
-|
|||230|
||2,661||
Page 15
## **Sky Full of Stories**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
1,674
1,774
(3,218)
230|**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
1,674
1,774
(3,218)|
|---|---|---|
|||230|
Page 16