Audiovisability
(Charity Registration Number: 1195285)
Annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 July 2022
Audiovisability
For the period ended 31 July 2022
Contents
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Trustees’ Report | 3-5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8-11 |
Audiovisability
Trustees’ Report for the period ended 31 July 2022
The full title of the trust is “Audiovisability”, Charity No. 1195285.
The trustees present their statutory report with the accounts of Audiovisability for the period ended 31 July 2022.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 8 therein and comply with the Charity’s Trust Deed, applicable laws and the requirements of FRS 102, Charities SORP (FRS 102), and Charities Act 2011.
Structure, governance and management
Status and administration
Audiovisability was founded as a charity governed by a Trust Deed dated 23 July 2021. Audiovisability is registered as an incorporated charity in England and Wales under the Charity Commission reference number 1195285. The trustees are responsible for the administration and decisions of the Charity in accordance with the Trust Deed.
The trustees have adopted the elements of accounting policies recommended in the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
The Trustees
The trustees, who held office during the period and subsequently were:
Lucy Dunkerley Bryony Parkes Nnaemeka Martin Glover Lawrence Abramson Catherine Taylor Alan MacKillop (resigned 11 January 2023)
The trustees are appointed in accordance with the Trust Deed. The day-to-day running of the charity is delegated to Ruth Montgomery, Artistic Director and CEO.
Principal address
Coltsfoot, Cherry Orchard Lane, Wyddial, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0EN
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
Objectives and Activities
The object of the charity is to advance education in the arts by delivering projects that bring the highest quality classical and world music to deaf people by advancing the education of the public about how deaf people can participate in the arts and public events and to help young deaf people, especially but not exclusively through music and arts activities, so as to develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.
The trustees shall apply the clear income of the charity for the above-mentioned object. The board met regularly throughout the year, including a strategic planning day.
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Audiovisability Trustees’ Report for the period ended 31 July 2022
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policy for the period.
Artistic and Educational Achievements
The period has been extremely busy with many projects coming to fruition. The company has continued to be led by Ruth Montgomery supported by additional freelance contractors who undertook work with the company as required by projects and allowed by funding.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted face-to-face project work, and as an organisation we had to adapt to remote ways of working. This was not unique to Audiovisability and, like many other organisations, our projects were delayed and funding affected by cancellations owing to the pandemic. In spite of this, Audiovisability delivered a series of high-profile projects as detailed below:
Two Hearts/Dressage
This project had three outcomes:
1. Creation of Dressage music for Paralympics
We worked with Dressage music specialist and renowned composer, Tom Hunt, Laurentia Tan and Dame Evelyn Glennie to create a new track which explored the contrasting themes of sound and silence, hearing and deafness, and East and West. Composed with significant deaf input it was truly a unique piece full of deaf culture. The track was performed at the Paralympics and broadcast to a world audience.
2. Training of musicians
We collaborated with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) musicians to improve their education practice for deaf young people and deaf audiences. The musicians were taken to Braidwood school for the Deaf, where they experimented with the same vibrio-tactile technology and composition that Deaf para equestrian Laurentia Tan used to compete in the Dressage 2021 Paralympics Olympics in Tokyo.
3. Live stream concert
We were joined by musicians Evelyn Glennie and Nao Masuda and CBSO musicians for a live stream concert. Arts Council England funded the live stream to allow pupils in schools across England to watch. The project included 10 deaf artists going into 10 different schools to promote the project. 300 deaf children and young people watched the live stream concert.
4. Calypso (Barbados)
Calypso brought together deaf and hearing musicians, artists, film makers, and writers from across the UK, USA and Barbados, drawing on the vibrant history of Calypso music to emphasise the island’s culture as well as looking at deafness and the world at large. The first phase of the project we travelled to Barbados to engage with the deaf community based there and to design the latter stages of the project. We met with local deaf schools, policy makers, the deaf community, and representatives from the government.
5. Listen to me conference Wells Cathedral School
Working with Wells Cathedral school this conference showcased some of the UK’s top deaf musicians. A first of its time, this conference brought together 75 leading music organisations and deaf practitioners to facilitate a constructive discussion of the music education of deaf children. Post-conference a series of recommendations were made with the hope of shaping future policy.
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Audiovisability
Trustees’ Report for the period ended 31 July 2022
6. Nua Dance London company
We translated the audio of a performance into English text which was projected live in order to give deaf audiences an understanding of the sounds that hearing audiences experience. This made the audio ‘visual’ and allowed for both hearing and deaf audiences to experience the performance on an equal footing. This pioneering approach has been replicated across a number of subsequent performances.
7. The Imagine Project (Part 1)
Produced by Roehampton University and funded by Youth Music and Roehampton University, a series of resources were designed (including songs, leaflets and music videos) to be shared with parents of deaf children to encourage them to include music in their child’s play. As a consultant, we piloted these materials, visiting 12 families in their own home across 4 months. Feedback was gathered, areas of development identified and a series of lessons learned. In the second phase of this project we became the project lead.
8. Kids Classics Ireland (KCI)
In collaboration with KCI we developed a methodology to enable classical music and popular songs to be better interpreted into sign language. This work was done remotely and shared with the local deaf community of Ireland. This led to invitation to Dublin in Feb 2023 to deliver the next phase face-to-face. .
Additional Artistic and Educational Work
During 2021/22, Audiovisability was involved in a range of smaller activities and partnerships. Ruth Montgomery was invited as a guest speaker at the Arts Accessibility International Symposium 2023 hosted by Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) where she shared her vision of accessibility for deaf people working within the Arts.
We delivered a training workshop for Camden music service for 30 teachers on deaf awareness and the specific methodology of educating deaf children to improve their access to music education. We were invited to be part of a podcast. An Interview between a producer from Propella Orchestra and Ruth Montgomery on the subject of the deaf community’s needs and access to music. As a deaf musician, Ruth spoke of her own experience and the work of Audiovisability. We were invited to be involved in his next major audio-visual project with Propeller Orchestra (contemporary music) in Kendall, October 2022.
Working with NK Projects on this Arts Council England funded project ‘The Singing Room’ in Dalby forest, we provided consultancy services to ensure that the space was accessible for deaf audiences. This project focussed on making sound visual through light and vibro-technology. The structure is planned for opening in 2023/24.
Volunteers
There were no volunteers in the period.
Risk assessment
The major risks, to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems and controls have been established to mitigate these risks.
Financial Review
The income for the first year was £15,935, with expenditure of £11,823, giving rise to reserves carried forward of £5,112. The policy towards reserves, which are the unrestricted funds of £5,112), is to ensure that they do not fall to a level that would mean curtailing charitable objectives.
As at 31 July 2022 the reserves are £5,115 which is sufficient to sustain future obligations.
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Audiovisability
Trustees’ Report for the period ended 31 July 2022
Safeguarding
The safeguarding policy can be found on the Charities website:
https://www.audiovisability.com/safeguarding
Future Plans
The Charity will continue to look for ways to fulfil its charitable objectives. Some of the work undertaken since the year end is summarised below:
The Imagine Project (Part 2) - June 2022 to June 2023
For Part 2 of this project, we designed new materials and songs for Early Years families including British Sign Language. Building on feedback from Part 1, the project now includes deaf musicians in the performance of the new songs, supported by Sound of Intent Charity this stage was funded by the Ovingdean Trust, the Birkdale Trust, Private donations and support in kind. There were 500 copies of the materials which were made available free of charge to deaf children via the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) network. Materials will be available for free download via the Audiovisability website and hosted on our YouTube channel.
Calypso (Part 2)
We returned to Barbados in November 2022 to deliver the second part of this project following the successful first research trip. We hosted a series of training events and workshops, worked with policy-makers to improve access for deaf residents, worked with pupils at Irving Wilson school and the deaf community to create three music videos as a way to share their experiences and finally hosted a high-profile concert at Frank Collymore Hall to bring the project to a conclusion.
Our primary focus for 2022/23 is to improve the strategic operations of Audiovisability. We will look at strengthening the relationships we have already established and shall move forward with our plans to improve training and access to music practice for deaf children. We shall focus on identifying and nurturing deaf musicians and widening our freelance pool for project work.
Going concern
The trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future being a period of at least 12 months from approval of the financial statements. No material uncertainties in relation to the ability of the charity to continue on a going concern basis have been identified by the trustees. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
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Audiovisability
Trustees’ Report for the period ended 31 July 2022
Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period 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;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material
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departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
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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 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.
Lucy Dunkerley Chair of Trustees Date: 21 May 2023
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Audiovisability
Statement of financial activities for the period ended 31 July 2022
| Notes Income from: Interest Received Charitable activities: Events Donations Total income Expenditure on: Bank Charges Charitable activities 3 Total expenditure 5 Net income Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 8 Total funds carried forward 8 |
2022 Unrestricted Funds 2022 Total Funds £ £ 1 1 13,004 13,004 3,931 3,931 |
|---|---|
| 16,935 16,935 (76) (76) (11,747) (11,747) |
|
| (11,823) (11,823) |
|
| 5,112 5,112 |
|
| - - |
|
| 5,112 5,112 |
The notes on pages 11 to 15 form part of these financial statements.
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Audiovisability
Balance sheet as at 31 July 2022
| Balance sheet as at 31 July 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ||
| Notes | £ | |
| Current assets | ||
| Cash at bank | 11,509 | |
| Total current assets | ||
| Liabilities | ||
| Creditors – Amounts falling due within one period | 5 | (6,397) |
| Net current assets | 5,112 | |
| Total net assets | 5,112 | |
| Funds of the charity | ||
| Restricted | 5 | - |
| Unrestricted Funds | 5 | 5,112 |
| Total funds | 5,112 |
The financial statements of Audiovisability set out on pages xx to xx were authorised for issue and approved by the trustees on 21 May 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Lucy Dunkerley
Chair of Trustees
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Audiovisability
Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 31 July 2022
1. Accounting policies
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Charities Act 2011 and the UK Generally Accepted Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Audiovisability meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
Taxation
As a charity Audiovisability is exempt from taxation of income and gains received within categories covered by The Corporation Taxes Act 2010, Part 11 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. tax charge has arisen in the period.
Going Concern
The trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least 12 months from the approval of the financial statements. No material uncertainties in relation to the ability of the charity to continue on a going concern basis have been identified by the trustees. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Income
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations are recognised on receipt unless Audiovisability has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date.
Charitable activities include income generated through fundraising events hosted by Audiovisability and income is recognised on a receipt’s basis.
Interest on money in the bank is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which the cost relates and is apportioned to cost categories based on the nature of the cost incurred. Grants are accounted for in the period in which they are made or communicated to the third party. The grant making policy is discussed further in the Trustees’ Report.
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Audiovisability
Notes to the financial statements for the period ended 31 July 2022 (continued)
Funds
Unrestricted funds can be spent on any charitable purpose in accordance with the objects of the charity at the discretion of the trustees.
2. Staff costs
There were no employees in 2022
No Trustees received remuneration for their services or were reimbursement of expenses incurred.
3. Creditors
| 3. Creditors | |
|---|---|
| 2022 | |
| £ | |
| Loan | 1,000 |
| Accruals | 5,397 |
| 6,397 |
4. Movement in funds
| Period Ended 31 July 2022 | 2021 | Income | Expenditur | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | e | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| £ | ||||
| Unrestricted | - | 16,935 | (11,823) | 5,112 |
| Total | - | 16,935 | (11,823) | 5,112 |
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