Agile Rabbit – South west Science and Culture CIO Trustees Report and Financial Statements
for the Year ending 04 November 2022
Charity Number 1192190
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report, together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity, for the year ending 04 November 2022.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102) together with Update Bulletin 2.
Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the charity
Professor Sir Steve Smith Stephanie Cherington-Rimmell Fintan Irwin-Bowler Charlotte Thorley Qasa Alom (appointed 01 April 2022)
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity was registered in 2020. It is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a deed. New trustees are selected by the current trustees of the charity. The day-to-day management of the charity is undertaken by two Co-Directors who are paid from the CIO’s own funds.
Chair’s Introduction
Agile Rabbit’s second year as a charity saw more growth in events and engagement across a variety of formats: in person talks, podcasts, discussions, walks and community engagement. This enabled the charity to achieve its purposes with a diverse audience across communities.
Finances are positive as Agile Rabbit provided services to other organisations and continued to strengthen its relationship with the University of Exeter, East Sussex County Council, and Standon Calling.
The charity aims to widen its work with more communities and organisations.
The charity will appoint more trustees to help with its work and enable trustee succession.
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Our Charitable Purpose
The purpose of the charity are:
The advancement of education in the subjects of science and culture by holding public events, lectures, and creating information media for the public benefit in the southwest of England, other areas of England and Wales and other countries as the board of trustees may decide from time to time.
The trustees recognise that the charity must report each year on how they have carried out their charity’s purpose for the public benefit. In shaping our objectives for the year and
planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Our Main Activities
A brief summary of the main activities normally undertaken by the charity to carry out its purposes for public benefit is as follows:
Agile Rabbit is an educational charity that produces quirky events, radio programmes, podcasts, and other experiences, often in an interactive and creative way.
We support people and organisations to communicate research and ideas, showing their relevance to lives and societies. With an informal tone, our events are inclusive and accessible, while still challenging audiences.
Achievements and Performance in 2021-22
Events and community engagement
In December 2021 we took part in Climate Change Theatre Action, a worldwide series of readings and performances of short climate change plays specially commissioned to coincide with the United Nations climate change meetings.
Our monthly events at Exeter Phoenix continued with both globally renowned figures alongside local speakers in science, culture, and global affairs. We welcomed speakers such as Martha Clokie, Derek Gow, and Beth Singler.
In July 2022 we were invited to return to Standon Calling, a music festival. Following the success of 2021, we curated a whole stage, an increase in our events. We exposed an unsuspecting audience to a wide range of topics such as food, witchcraft, and fossils with speakers such as Giles Yeo and Mys Rose-Craig. It was valuable to engage with new audiences in a non-educational setting.
In September 2022 Agile Rabbit successfully delivered the Exeter events for an engagement and education festival called Futures 2022. This was in collaboration with other partners across the South West, including universities in Bath, Bristol, and Plymouth. Originally part of the European Researchers’ Night project, it is now
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Agile Rabbit – South West Science and Culture CIO Financial Statements 2022
funded by the UKRI and delivered on behalf of the University of Exeter. Researchers from all stages of careers engaged with diverse audiences. Between the partners there were 72,000 participants and 291 researchers involved in 29 different events.
It also allowed us to reach new communities - such as Teignmouth - and new formats like Pop-up Lunch Time talks for workers.
At the beginning of 2022 we supported East Sussex County Council to produce a community engagement strategy for a DEFRA funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. We worked with Stellaria Media to use the approach known as Community Radio, which has an open and appreciative nature and encourages people to speak freely about what matters to them.
The listening exercise was a great way to explore the project area, meet local residents and business owners, and familiarise ourselves with existing networks and relationships. This exercise helped us to write the strategy ensuring that the community were at the heart of the project.
East Sussex County Council asked us to lead on the engagement and communications for the duration of the project (until mid 2027). This enabled us to employ a permanent member of staff to lead activities.
Some events were recorded and released as podcasts, which helped us meet those with accessibility issues for live events.
Finances
Agile Rabbit was funded largely through trading, that is providing services to other organisations, and in a more limited way, through ticket revenue.
Marketing
Work in new communities, on larger events, and with new partners saw the bolstering of Agile Rabbit’s reputation and a growth in the newsletter audience and across social media.
Trustees
Charlotte Thorley came to the end of her fixed term, and we’re pleased our relationship with her has continued professionally.
Risk Management
The trust maintained its risk register which was reviewed regularly at trustee meetings.
Financial Review
Results for the year
The Charity ended the 4[th] November 2022 with a surplus of £22,232 (2021 £16,400).
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Total funds at 4[th] November 2022 were £39,632 of which, all are unrestricted.
Income in 2022 was £77,018, a 39% increase from 2021. As with growth on income resulted in greater expenditure for 2022, an increase of 38% compared to 2021. The charity also employed it first member of staff during the year.
Finance, Investments and Reserves
It is the duty of the Trustees to manage the charity's reserves. The reserves policy is reviewed annually by the Trustees.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales/Northern Ireland 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:
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●select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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●observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 and (FRS 102;
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●make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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●state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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●prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They 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
Approved by the Board of Trustees on __28 March 2022______
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and signed on its behalf by
…… ……….……
CHAIR
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Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees of – Agile Rabbit South west Science and Culture CIO
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 04 November 2022, which are set out on the following pages 7 - 16
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable 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.
NAME: Sam Blackford ACA
ADDRESS: 105 Chineway Gardens, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1JJ
SIGNED
DATE: 4 September 2023
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Agile Rabbit – South west Science and Culture CIO Statement of Financial Activities for the Year ending 4th November 2022
The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these accounts.
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Agile Rabbit – South west Science and Culture CIO Balance sheet as at 4th November 2022
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on ________ and were signed on its behalf by:
Chairman
The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these accounts.
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Agile Rabbit – South west Science and Culture CIO Statement of Cash flows for the year ended 4th November
2022
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) 2[nd] edition and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Expenditure
Expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost 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. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is used to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixed assets are depreciated as follows:-
IT equipment 25% per annum on costs
Items with cost price of £500 and above will be included in fixed assets.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
The unrestricted fund has arisen through general fundraising, unrestricted donations and surplus from pursuing the charity’s objectives.
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 fund are raised for particular restricted purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022 (continued)
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022
(continued)
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022 (continued)
7 Restricted Funds
There were no restricted funds held by the company at 04 November 2022 (2021 – nil)
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022 (continued)
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Financial Statements 2021
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9 Trustee Information
Trustees remuneration and expenses
The trustees received no remuneration, except for travel and subsistence to Cornwall’s Regimental Museum meetings. CIO Financial Statements 2021
10 Pensions
The Charity operates one defined contribution pension scheme. The charge to the Statement of Financial Activities for the year is £128 (2021 – nil). There are no outstanding contributions at year end.
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 04 November 2022 (continued)
11 Related party transactions
In the year there were two related party transactions. The charity made payments to the Agile Rabbits Co-Directors for their consultancy support on event management, totaling £18,522.05.
John Puckey, Director at Agile Rabbit, received a total amount of £8,748.55 in relation to consultancy support.
Kate Baker, Director at Agile Rabbit, received a total amount of £9,773.50 for consultancy support. Within the total, £2,291.25 was due to the director, and provided for in the accrued expense at year end.
In the Prior year there were two related party transactions. The charity made payments to the Agile Rabbits Co-Directors for their consultancy support on event management, totaling £18,390.27.
John Puckey, Director at Agile Rabbit, received a total amount of £8,263 in relation to consultancy support. Within the total, £2,790 was due to the director, and provided for in the accrued expense at year end.
Kate Baker, Director at Agile Rabbit, received a total amount of £10,127.27 for consultancy support. Within the total, £2,660 was due to the director, and provided for in the accrued expense at year end.
12 Statement of Financial Activities for year ended 04 November 2021
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