OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-07-31-accounts

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Period 20th August 2021 to 31st July 2022

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1195576

CONCRETE YOUTH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONTENTS

CONTENTS
Report of the Trustees
Trustee Information 1
Objectives and Activities 2
Achievement and Performance 4
Financial Review 7
Future Plans 9
Structure, Governance and Management 10
Reference and Administrative Details 12
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Concrete Youth 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 19

1

TRUSTEE INFORMATION

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 20th August 2021 to 31st July 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

The Board of Trustees is made up of five individuals with their own specialist, respective skills, and expertise that support the ongoing running and development of the organisation.

Sarah Penney (Chair) is Producer of Absolutely Cultured, Hull. Previously, she has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Hull Truck Theatre, Metro Bolout Dodo, The Regional Theatre Young Director's Scheme, The Herd Theatre, Silent Uproar, Arts Council England, The University of Hull and others. She is part of a theatre company called The Roaring Girls that make fierce, feminist, fun theatre with women's stories and well-being at the core.

Andrew Smith (Vice-Chair) is the Founder of the Hull Homeless Community Project, founded in 2010 and registered as a charity in 2016 the Hull Homeless Community Project works to assist anyone effected or at risk of Homelessness, poverty and crisis in Hull and the surrounding area. Andrew also works as the Coordinator of the Humber Modern Slavery Partnership.

Dale Kay Daley (Treasurer) is a Regional Executive for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales ICAEW. Her role involves overseeing the activities and development of finance professionals working in the Hull and Humber Region. Formerly the Head of Operations for Hull Truck Theatre, Dale has previously served as Treasurer and business mentor on the board of Young Enterprise UK. Prior to this she managed national and international teams for Travelex Worldwide Money. Her wider interests include supporting local artists and developing opportunities for young people.

Anthony Dove is a writer and artist based in County Durham. Anthony has been a carer for a young man with PMLD for most of his adult life and spent his childhood volunteering in a specialist setting in East Durham.

Jamie Potter is the Audience Development Manager at local theatre company, Middle Child. He has previously worked in internal communications at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in York, following a BA (Hons) Journalism and Politics at De Montfort University and MA New Media and Society at University of Leicester. Outside of work he writes and took part in the 2018 Writers' Group with Tom Wells. He also climbs whenever he can and dabbles in acid as DJ Slow Crush.

2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

This CIO exists:

To promote the arts for persons with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) in particular, but not exclusively by:

This charity improves the quality of life for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) through multi-sensory theatre in theatres and multi-sensory educational services in education settings. The charity is also dedicated to the promotion of awareness and the visibility of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Mission: To advance sensory theatre and education for people living with profound and multiple learning disabilities in the UK and beyond.

Vision: A world where theatre is accessible for all.

Audience statement: We will provide sensory theatre and education that is accessible, enjoyable, and comfortable for people living with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Awareness statement: We will invest our time, money and resources in artists, venues, and the public to promote visibility, education and awareness of our audience, inclusivity and neurodiversity.

Values:

3

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Concrete Youth background

Concrete Youth is a trailblazing charity based in Hull, touring sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities throughout the UK. As an organisation, we have presented four original theatre productions - To the Moon and Back (2019 & touring in 2023), Shebaa's Adventure to Jopplety How (2020), Winter Wonderland (2020).

In 2021, following Concrete Youth's registration as a CIO, we also presented The ASMR Project, a national, ground-breaking research project to explore the impact of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). The touring department has engaged over 4,000 people with profound and multiple learning disabilities across 5 continents. Concrete Youth also presented The Whispering Jungle (toured in 2022 & touring again in 2023), a new, ASMR-integrated sensory theatre production for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities, that was developed following the research findings of The ASMR Project.

Concrete Youth is the only touring organisation in the country to have an exclusive education offer for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The Artsmark-accredited education department provides sensory stories, sensory workshops, sensory parties and story massage sessions for individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The department exists to increase the cultural provision of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, so they can engage in Concrete Youth's activity, when we are not able to tour. To date, the department has engaged thousands of people with PMLD across the UK in schools, libraries, festivals, aquariums, care settings and hospices.

Public benefit

The charity confirms that the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging.

Annually, the trustees review the proposed activities and strategic aims for the following financial year to ensure that it aligns with the organisation's objectives. In doing so, attention is made to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives of the charity (PB2). The trustees agree that Concrete Youth's work provides exceptional public benefit as demonstrated in the activities and achievements sections of this report.

4

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

The trustees are confident that the activities undertaken in 2021/22 directly reflect the charity's objectives.

In 2021/22, Concrete Youth has:

Awards

During the year of 21/22, Concrete Youth was nominated for a prestigious National Diversity Award in the Community Organisation category for its work with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The team attended the award ceremony in Liverpool in September 2021.

The charity's 2020 digital production of Winter Wonderland was also nominated for, and subsequently made a finalist of, an OffWestEnd Award.

The ASMR Project

The ASMR Project was a major project undertaken by Concrete Youth from September 2019 until August 2021. The project was mounted to explore the impact and benefit of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) on people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

The project, overall, engaged 800 people with PMLD across the country. All of which played an integral part in examining the impact of ASMR on people with PMLD. It culminated in a large-scale research and development project in August 2021, funded by Arts Council England and Hull City Council. Cocommissioned by Back to Ours and Stratford Circus. In partnership with Leeds Playhouse, Stratford Circus, Sheffield Theatres, Mencap and Goodwin Development Trust. Supported by Hull Truck Theatre and York Theatre Royal.

Following the project, various individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities have contacted Concrete Youth to inform them that, due to the outcome of the project, they continue to use ASMR in their daily practice with the people that they care for. They inform the Concrete Youth team of the impact that the project has had on them, and that the new sensory experience for them continues to increase relaxation and stimulation within them.

We have used ASMR every day since September 2021 after we participated in Concrete Youth's ASMR project. We use it as a start of day activity and a way to calm students down before the go to their bus home. It's perfect for our group of kids with PMLD and we owe that to Concrete Youth and their fantastic team." - Sally, Teacher

11 I

5

The Whispering Jungle 2022 UK Tour

Following the success of The ASMR Project, Concrete Youth launched a pilot touring production of The Whispering Jungle in summer 2022. The production, integrating ASMR and live foley sound, was developed off the back of the research and findings compromised from the project the previous year.

The production toured to Hull, Leeds, Colchester, and Dorchester and engaged 108 audience members with profound and multiple learning

The Whispering Jungle was supported by Arts Council England, National Lottery Community Fund, Ashley Family Foundation, Back to Ours, Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust, Hull City Council, and Hull Truck Theatre.

" Every special needs setting in the country needs their students to witness the magic of Concrete Youth ." The Reviews Hub for The Whispering Jungle (2022)

" In The Whispering Jungle, there is a magic that stretches far beyond the practicalities of excellent stage production." Hull Is This for The Whispering Jungle (2022)

" Magic! More theatre should be as accessible as this was. It was a beautiful journey from start to finish with the actors as a guide. Just fantastic !” Graham, Carer

3.3 Education/Engagement Department

Sea Sense & Sensory Storybook

Sea Sense and Sensory Storybook were the first of Concrete Youth's major public education programme offers. In partnership with major Hull-based venues, the two sister projects were developed and presented to provide regular, exceptional arts provision for local people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Both projects were funded by Arts Council England and True Colours Trust.

Sea Sense, in partnership with The Deep, is a monthly story massage session for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities in the Hull and East Yorkshire area. All sessions will consist of an original, sea-themed story, surrounded by the animals of The Deep, immersed in the sensory world of story massage.

Sensory Storybook, in partnership with Hull Libraries, is a monthly sensory story programme for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities in the Hull and East Yorkshire area, the session will consist of an original story, complemented with immersive sensory engagement and craft activities.

The sessions are free and accessible to 15 people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers per month. Since its launch, the sessions have engaged families, schools, care settings, support groups and various others.

" Super sensory stories, just the right length and good prop ideas " Laura, Carer

6

School & Care Setting Sessions

2021/22 has been a strong year for the education department's sessions in schools, care settings and homes across the UK. The department offers fully bespoke sensory workshops, sensory stories, story massages and sensory birthday parties in various settings across the country. The sessions are available for a small fee. These fees support staff costs and the ongoing development and operation of the charity.

This year, the education department have run sessions including themes of Shakespeare, friendship, sharing, the Suffragette movement, religious holidays, and many others. The sessions are aligned with the curriculum. Schools, care groups, and other settings that book the sessions have complete control of what the bespoke sessions entail. The sessions align with the national curriculum and/or the schools/care setting's aims and targets per term and are designed to support the development of the individuals they engage.

" A lovely little Christmas sensory story :) Lovely way to be able to connect with friends and others. Great that these virtual options are available to still access. We all enjoyed it very much and will look forward to future sessions when available :) " Sophie, Parent

7

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

Charity law requires any income received by a charity to be spent within a reasonable period of receipt. Trustees should be able to justify the holding of income as reserves. A reserves policy explains to existing and potential funders, donors and other stakeholders why a charity is holding a particular number of reserves.

2. Introduction

Concrete Youth is a charity providing multi-sensory theatre and education for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities in the UK and beyond. The purpose of this policy is to give confidence to stakeholders that the charity’s finances are being managed and can also provide an indicator of future funding needs.

2.1 Definitions

Free reserves:

That part of the charity’s unrestricted income funds that is freely available to spend.

Designated funds:

Unrestricted funds earmarked for essential future spending. For example, to fund a project that could not be met from future income alone.

Restricted funds:

These are monies received from supporters/grant funders for a specific area of expenditure. They are not freely available to spend.

3. Responsibilities and Accountability

3.1 Trustees

4. Procedures and Implementation

4.1 Total reserves

Includes restricted reserves, designated funds and free reserves.

4.2 Calculation of free reserves target

The charity is currently in a transitional period, with substantial grant applications being made and income increasing gradually from the charityís commercial arm. To account for the growth of the charityís income, for this financial year, free reserves should total 2 months of total organisational operating costs. This policy will be reviewed upon the completion of this financial year, when the Trustees intend to extend the free reserves target to 6 months of organizational operating costs.

4.3 Designation of funds

Funds can be designated for the following items:

8

Each item should be supported with a costed business case, be scrutinized the Trustees and developed with the CEO & Co-Artistic Director. This should take place during the budget approval process.

Designated funds should be used within 2 years of their target date, if this does not take place, they should either be released back into free reserves or reapproved for designation. The annual report and accounts should detail the amount and purpose of the designations.

5. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed every year or more frequently in response to legislation or Charity Commission Guidance.

9

FUTURE PLANS

As Concrete Youth's team always intends to remain reactive to its audience, the below mentioned aims are subject to change. With the support of the trustees, the Concrete Youth team currently plan to:

To the Moon and Back 2023 UK Tour

The team are currently preparing for its next UK tour. To the Moon and Back was Concrete Youth's first production in 2019. The show will tour the country as a revamp of the original production for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

The production will be a revamp of the original production of To the Moon and Back that opened at Hull New Theatre in 2019. The show will tour the country in an inflatable planetarium dome, enabling audiences to experience the magic of 360 projection.

The production will tour to Leeds, Salford, Dorset, Bury, Hull, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Cambridge, Colchester, Didcot, Edinburgh and Birmingham.

The 2023 UK Tour of To the Moon and Back is supported by Arts Council England, Hull City Council, Interplay Theatre, Back to Ours and Middle Child.

The Whispering Jungle 2023 UK Tour

Following the success of its pilot tour in 2022, Concrete Youth plans to tour The Whispering Jungle again in autumn 2023.

Sensory Cinders

At Christmas 2024, Concrete Youth plans to tour a sensory pantomime - the first of its kind, Sensory Cinders will integrate the well-known story with sensory engagement for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The tour will follow a large-scale research and development period in summer 2024.

10

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

In May 2023, the terms of 3 trustees will come to an end. Dale Kay Daley (Treasurer) will remain on for a second term. This extension has been agreed and voted by Trustees. Anthony Dove and Jamie Potter's term will come to an end and will not be renewed.

Prior to the terms of two trustees ending, the trustees and CEO & Co-Artistic Director will begin recruitment of three additional trustees. The trustee roles available will be: one secretary and two trustees. This recruitment process will be an open and transparent one, with the opportunity advertised on Concrete Youth's website, social media platforms and various other recruitment platforms to ensure a wide and open process. Applications will be accepted, shortlisted, and shortlisted candidate will be interviewed. Successful candidates will then be invited to a quarterly meeting of the trustees before they accept the offer of a position.

The new trustees' terms will begin in May 2023 and last for three years.

If the trustees believe that a further increase to the Board of Trustees is needed at a later date, then a further open recruitment process will be pursued.

Organisational structure

The trustees govern the charity. The Board meets at least four times a year. Financial management is undertaken by CEO & Co-Artistic Director with responsibility for oversight being delegated to the Treasurer. The CEO & CoArtistic Director is responsible for the day to day running of the charity and operational matters including employment, artistic performance, and strategy. Department specific responsibility is delegated to department heads (Co-Artistic Directors are responsible for the touring department, and the Head of Education is responsible for the education department), with oversight undertaken by the CEO & Co-Artistic Director.

Wider network

In 2021, Concrete Youth introduced a steering group programme. The three steering groups would support the Concrete Youth team and trustees in three respective areas of priority for the next year. Specialists from the respective fields sit on the steering groups and meet a Concrete Youth staff member quarterly to advise on matters arising. The three steering groups are:

Concrete Youth trustees support the staff in these meetings and minutes from the meetings are taken to quarterly trustee meetings, so that wider strategic decisions can be made, based on the discussions held in the steering group meetings.

It is aimed that, once steering group specialists have worked with the team for a certain period of time, they would

11

then endeavour to move further with Concrete Youth by applying to join the Board of Trustees, when applications open.

The future of the steering group programme will be subject to further funding and trustee agreement to further extend the scheme.

PMLD Steering Group

It is the ambition of the Concrete Youth team and trustees to recruit a small number of individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities to support the development of the charity's yearly programme.

As part of the organisation's values of integrating its audience into the development of its work and putting them solely at the steering wheel, the group would be responsible for supporting the team in agreeing on the future touring programme and the output of the education department.

The trustees acknowledge that this is currently extremely complicated to pursue due to the barriers to communication that people with profound and multiple learning disabilities often face. However, there is currently ground-breaking research and development projects being undertaken across the sector exploring co-creation and collaboration with learning disabled audiences. The Concrete Youth team intend to utilise the findings of these projects once they conclude, to develop this steering group.

12

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity number 1195576

Principal address Norwich House Saville Street Hull HU1 3ES

Trustees

Miss S A Penney (appointed 20.8.2021) Mr A Smith (appointed 27.10.2021) Mr A G Dove (appointed 20.8.2021) Ms D Daley (appointed 20.8.2021) Mr J Potter (appointed 20.8.2021)

Independent Examiner

Dymond Accountants Office F1, Beverley Enterprise Centre Beck View Road Beverley Easy Yorkshire HU17 0JT

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 4th May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Ms D Daley - Trustee

13

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CONCRETE YOUTH

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Concrete Youth (the Trust) for the period 20th August 2021 to 31st July 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 the Trust 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 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.

Rebecca Dymond

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Dymond Accountants Office F1, Beverley Enterprise Centre Beck View Road Beverley Easy Yorkshire HU17 0JT

Date: 5[th] May 2023

14

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD 20TH AUGUST 2021 TO 31STJULY
2022
Unrestricted
funds
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 8,201
Charitable activities
Charitable Activity 76,807
Other trading activities 2 12,264
Total 97,272
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds 63,003
Charitable activities
Charitable Activity 16,343
Total 79,346
NET INCOME 17,926
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 17,926

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.

15

BALANCE SHEET 31[ST] JULY 2022

BALANCE SHEET
31STJULY 2022
Unrestricted
funds
Notes £
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 4 900
Cash at bank 18,526
19,426
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 5 (1,500)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 17,926
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 17,926
NET ASSETS 17,926
FUNDS 6
Unrestricted funds 17,926
TOTAL FUNDS 17,926

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 4th May 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:

Miss S A Penney - Trustee

Ms D Daley - Trustee

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.

16

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 20[TH] AUGUST 2021 TO 31[ST] JULY 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical 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 a 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 the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals 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.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from 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 funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

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

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

Event Income

£ 12,264

17

3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the period ended 31st July 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the period ended 31st July 2022.

4. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

£
Trade debtors 900

5. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

£
Other creditors 1,500
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net Transfers
movement between At
in funds funds 31.7.22
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund (6,222) 24,148 17,926
True Colours Trust 5,000 (5,000) -
Ashley Family Foundation 5,000 (5,000) -
Arnold Clark Community Fund 1,000 (1,000) -
Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust 2,250 (2,250) -
Unity Theatre Trust 600 (600) -
Community Fund 6,548 (6,548) -
Two Ridings Community Foundation 3,750 (3,750) -
17,926 - 17,926
TOTAL FUNDS 17,926 - 17,926

6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

18

6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 14,198 (20,420) (6,222)
Arts Council England 52,676 (52,676) -
True Colours Trust 5,000 - 5,000
Ashley Family Foundation 5,000 - 5,000
Arnold Clark Community Fund 1,000 - 1,000
Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust 2,250 - 2,250
Unity Theatre Trust 600 - 600
Community Fund 6,548 - 6,548
Two Ridings Community Foundation 10,000 (6,250) 3,750
97,272 (79,346) 17,926
TOTAL FUNDS 97,272 (79,346) 17,926

7. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the period ended 31st July 2022.

19

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD 20[TH] AUGUST 2021 TO 31[ST] JULY 2022

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS

Donations and legacies
Donations
Other trading activities
Event Income
Charitable activities
Grants
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Raising donations and legacies
Wages
Direct costs of performances
Travel costs
Charitable activities
Rent
Insurance
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Advertising
Sundries
Support costs
Governance costs
Accountancy and legal fees
Total resources expended
Net income
8,201
12,264
76,807
97,272
44,832
11,745
6,426
63,003
8,048
25
47
117
3,669
2,937
14,843
1,500
79,346
17,926

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements.