## Trustees’ annual report for the period
Period start date 01 09 2 0 2 3 Period end date 31 08 2 0 2 4 Charity name Dance Creative Charity No 1 1 9 6 3 0 9 (if any)
## Objectives and Activities
SORP reference Summary of the Para 1.17 purposes of the charity as To advance the arts for the public benefit by the promotion in set out in its governing particular, but not exclusively, of the art of dance. document Our **vision** is to: Change lives through dance, for people living across Oxfordshire and beyond Our **mission** is to: Deliver dance projects, classes and productions that:
● are creative, innovative, and best practice ● enhance people’s health and well-being ● care for people’s physical and emotional needs
- connect people and communities
- raise awareness of issues
In order to achieve our vision and mission, we **aim** to:
- Create opportunities for everyone to experience the benefits of dance
- Specialise in working with older people, developing and sharing our expertise with others
- Offer opportunities for everyone to improve health and wellbeing through dance, including others with health needs such
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
August 2024
|||as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, long-term health
conditions, and mental health issues
● Be a voice for individuals and communities who may feel less
visible to society, raising awareness of issues which need
bringing to the forefront of people’s recognition and
understanding, and championing and celebrating the people
who are affected by them
● Offer a creative and empowering approach to dance which
draws on people’s individual stories, building and nurturing
relationships and social confidence, reducing social isolation
and loneliness, supporting family connections, and creating
opportunities for people of all ages to dance together
● Bring dance to people who may ordinarily be prevented from
participating because of financial, social, age or physical and
emotional barriers, including those living in care homes and
supported living
● Place the people we work with at the heart of everything we
do, listening to their expertise, advice and experience, and
working in close collaboration with other organizations and
individuals so that our work is fully embedded in local
communities and agendas|
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the
main activities in
relation to those
purposes for the
public benefit, in
particular,the
activities, projects or
servicesidentified in
the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**Our aims for 2023-24 were to:**
1) Develop our organization
2) Increase participation in dance across Oxfordshire, especially
amongst older adults aged 65+, including those from at risk or
vulnerable groups.
We delivered these aims through the following activities:
**1)** **Organizational Development**
**A) Capacity Building**
**i. Growing and developing our team**– we recruited 3 new
Assistant Dance Artists and supported 1 Assistant Artist to step
up to the role of Lead Artist for our online and Witney groups.
This means we have almost doubled our team of artists, assistant
artists and volunteers delivering and supporting our Dance for|
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
August 2024
Life project, from 5 in December 2024 to a total of 9. This has enabled us to have greater capacity to sustain and develop the county-wide program and has freed up the Artistic Director to oversee and manage the program, develop the organisation and fundraise. We have also planned regular team training/planning days for 2024-25, where we will be able to share ideas and develop practice. **ii. Developing the Board of Trustees** – we recruited a new Chair of the Board of Trustees who will be officially appointed in September 2024 after a period of mentoring with Oxfordshire Mentors. The Chair’s first priority will be to expand our existing Board by assessing skills/knowledge gaps and recruiting additional members, including a new Treasurer. **B) Developing partnerships and infrastructure** We consolidated strong working relationships with Dance Oxford (Oxford City Council), Mumo Creative and The Mill Arts Centre through establishing regular cross-county Celebrating Age through Dance network meetings, with a focus on a funding application to Arts Council England for a cross-county showcase and professional development project for artists and volunteers. **C) Fundraising** In addition to Year 2 grant funding from the Reaching Communities program (The Community Fund), we received grants from Oxfordshire Community Foundation to enable us to support the Oxford based group Silver Shakers and incorporate it into our Dance for Life program me, and from Bicester Village to support the Bicester and online Dance for Life groups. We also planned fundraising activities for Year 3 of the Reaching Communities program, including submitting applications to Arts Council England (see above), and Sport England to support the Dance for Life program. **2) Artistic Programmed i) Dance for Life Oxfordshire** We expanded our flagship, county-wide program me of Creative Dance Hubs (weekly dance class followed by social time with refreshments) across the county, with the Silver Shakers group in Wood Farm, Oxford, run initially as a joint pilot
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
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project with Oxford City Council, becoming part of our regular Dance for Life programme. This means that we now have 5 regular hubs serving each local authority district within the county – South and Vale (Abingdon), West (Witney), Oxford (Wood Farm), and Cherwell (Bicester). We also developed our relationship with Age UK Oxfordshire and county-wide local authorities, participating in a number of local events in Didcot, Abingdon and Bicester, and working with local social prescribing teams to introduce more isolated and vulnerable older communities to the Dance for Life programme. This was particularly successful in Bicester and led to a growth in participant numbers; we aim to develop these partnerships further, in other local authority areas in 24-25. We also continued to distribute our Home Dance packs as a way of encouraging more isolated/housebound adults to engage in dance within their own homes. **ii) Dance Projects a) Outreach sessions** - we ran a number of dance taster and information sessions at a number of locations across the county, including: Abingdon Health Fest (September 2023); Langford Village Community Association, Bicester (March 2024); Age UK Mental Health and Well-being Market, Bicester (April 2024); Museum of Oxford workshop, Botley (June 2024); Clean Slate project in Bicester (July 2024); Didcot Garden Party (August 2024). **b) Abingdon Community Hospital project** (February – March 2024) – we received additional funding from the Vale of White Horse District Council to run a 6-week dance project for older residents in Abingdon Community Hospital, as part of their rehabilitation programme. We also distributed our home packs to project participants and other residents at the hospital as part of their discharge packages. **c) Waterside Court Care Home, Wallingford** (January – July 2024) – we delivered regular sessions for residents of Waterside Court,
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
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|||supported by care home staff. Participants included those living
with dementia, and we used the multi-sensory props from our
home dance packs as a way of engaging with residents who found
verbal communication a challenge.
**d) Situating Ecologies project, Oxford**(July – August 2024) – in
partnership with Modern Art Oxford, participants from our Silver
Shakers project in Oxford took part in a number of summer
workshops, public showcase and intergenerational workshop,
exploring the themes of seen/unseen, storytelling and ageism
through dance.
**e) Swan Lake trip, Oxford**(February 2024) – 50 older adult
participants from across our county-wide Dance for Life
programme took part in a group outing to see Swan Lake at the
New Theatre in Oxford. Themes and ideas from the ballet were
explored with all our participants in classes during Spring 24.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether thetrustees
have had regard to the
guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit|Para1.18|The trustees regularly review the guidance.|
## Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para1.38|n/a|
|Policy on social investment including
program related investment|Para1.38|n/a|
|Contribution made by volunteers|Para1.38|The Dance for Life program is strengthened and
enhanced by our regular volunteers who have been
supporting groups across the county since the
program’s inception in 2016. The volunteer’s role is
to provide one to one support for vulnerable
participants e.g. adapting movements for people
with mobility issues, or acting as a 'buddy' for
people with confidence/anxiety challenges. They
also coordinate the social/refreshment time
following class - a vital part of the project for
developing peer support/friendships. Our
volunteersperform this role with unwavering|
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
August 2024
|||patience, kindness and good humor and have
created a strong bond of trust with the participants
- as peers, they often share issues/ideas with
volunteers which are fed back to management,
championing their needs. Our volunteer in for the
Bicester Dance for Life group also organizes
additional cultural/social activities, e.g. cinema
trips/afternoon tea parties, attending events as
group representative, and is constantly seeking
ways to offer both the participants and the
company further support, attending meetings,
offering ideas and working with the Artistic Director
during a period of Board development. She is the
glue which holds the Bicester group together and
her kind, positive and committed presence has
made a huge impact on the way participants feel
included, welcomed and heard – crucial in a society
where ageism is prevalent and older communities’
voices are often unheard. She says,
“Every class is doing each person so much good,
both physically and mentally. We have seen
participants return after breaks from class, for
different reasons in their lives, but they say that the
desire to feel their bodies moving creatively with
increasing stability and strength again, remains a
goal. They also appreciate the laughter, fun and
company of others in this joyful activity.
The Dance Creative teachers plan and evaluate
their classes together and this year the volunteers
have taken part in meetings with the team when
planning overall strategies, they are developing,
such as a large intergroup presentation. This means
we hear the direction and activities they are hoping
to achieve and being included in the preparation
and being well informed makes this role even more
stimulating. I feel lucky to be part of this group as
well as a helpful member of societyin this role.”|
|---|---|---|
|Other||**Our new Assistant Dance Artist in Bicester and**
**Abingdon explains what her new role means for**
**her:**
“Following my first full term with Dance Creative I
have thoroughly enjoyed working with both the
staff and participants. The preparation and
choreography keep my creative brain active and
allows me to incorporate my passion for arts for
health in to my career. The highlights are seeing|
|||how fulfilled the participants are and how much joy|
|||they get out of these sessions. The social aspect
both in the dance work and the cup of tea after is|
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report for the period
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incredibly valuable. Many a time I have had a participant come up to me and say that they weren't sure if they wanted to come to class today but they feel great having done it. One participant has booked a taxi in advance for their sessions because they can be inclined to stay in bed but they know how good they will feel once they have done the class. It's an honor to be part of it.”
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## Achievements and Performance
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main achievements
of the charity, identifying the
difference the charity’s work has
made to the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider benefits
to society as a whole.|Para1.20|Measuring against our objectives and impact
indicators for 2023-4 (see Para 1.41 below), our key
achievements were:
1. Increased participation in dance for older adults
(aged 65+) across Oxfordshire – 6% increase in
regular participation during the year.
2. Increased the total number of older adults from
vulnerable and at-risk groups engaging in dance in
Oxfordshire – 57% of regular participants have a
disability or long-term health condition; 21% live in
areas of income deprivation.
3. Developed a cross-county network of
organizations which deliver dance for older adults.
4. Artist and participant feedback has evidenced
that the project is meeting participant need,
improving physical and mental wellbeing, and
building community.
**Our Lead Dance Artist for the Silver Shakers group**
**in Oxford, explains what difference the project has**
**made to the lives of participants:**
“The Silver Shakers class has positively impacted
the lives of its participants in myriad ways. Firstly,
members have enjoyed the immense physical
benefits that dancing brings. Regularly dancing and
engaging in movement practice builds core
strength, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular
endurance. The proven benefits that dancing has in
the areas of posture, mobility and coordination go
a long way towards building and maintaining
physical confidence. Furthermore, the Silver
Shakers dance classes are completely accessible,|
## 3 of
and my specialism in inclusive practice means they are geared towards members of every physicality (disabled and non-disabled), abilities and fitness levels. All movement can be done within an individual’s range of motion and at their own pace, while seated or standing. Alongside the physical benefits, Silver Shakers has provided a healthy and rewarding mental workout for the participants. Continuing to learn, prioritising different types of brain use and engaging in creative activities all promote healthy brain function for people over 50. Silver Shakers provides a creative outlet, in which participants have space to engage in abstract thought and respond in individual ways. Creative endeavours such as this engage cognitive stimulation, and have proven benefits towards mental agility, sharpness and focus. Another major positive aspect to come out of the dance classes is the social interaction and sense of being part of a community. For example, over the past year, two members of the group have experienced bereavement of their lifelong spouses. I was moved to see the extent to which the group supported both these individuals emotionally as they processed this profound loss. Certain members emerged as uniquely placed to offer support, as they had experienced similar bereavements themselves in previous years, and therefore had informed approaches in supporting those experiencing bereavement. Silver Shakers also has six members who have serious long-term illnesses, for whom the group serves as a contact point and social support hub. They regularly receive peer support throughout their health journeys,
4 of
with Silver Shakers remaining inclusive and accessible to them at all times. The Silver Shakers dance classes have also had a tangible positive effect on the wider community. We had the privilege of being the first group to use the Bullingdon Community Association since it reopened in January 2023. Since then, our members have gone on to frequent other clubs that use the space and some have gone on to spread the word about what these groups are doing. Representatives from other organisations such as Age UK and Modern Art Oxford have also come in to speak with our members, demonstrating the potential the shared space has for cross pollination of projects and ideas.” A regular participant of the Silver Shakers group says: “I have been a member of Silver Shakers since early 2023, enjoying the regular meetings and trips, and making friends within this friendly, sociable group. I originally came to the class to stay as active as I could and to try out a local dance group. The class helped me to stay active, but after a year I became seriously ill and that’s when some of its additional benefits became even more apparent. The gentle warm up exercise that Jane had taught me became invaluable, helping me to start moving each day and giving me the motivation to keep active. And as I struggled with muscle weakness, I was able to use the exercises Jane taught me to regain my strength and rebuild muscle tone. Although my initial aim had been to keep active, I hadn’t realised how important and beneficial that would become. I was able to use the gentle warm-up exercises to help get me moving at
## 5 of
home and to regain my strength. I was able to rebuild muscle tone through simple and familiar movement and use the resistance bands we’d been gifted to gradually regain normal mobility. It’s an area of my life where I could regain control and was instrumental in rebuilding my confidence too. I’ve really enjoyed learning how an older, less active person can participate in creative movement, both in the class and through visits to other performances which have been arranged for us. I wish we could share that message with more people. I’ve also found the social support the group has given me very important, especially during my prolonged illness. During my long illness the group has continued to give wonderful support. When I feel well enough, I call into the sessions and enjoy the chat, warmth and kindness of the group, and I love being part of it despite my absences. It’s become a very important part of my support network and gives me the motivation to get well enough to re-join the group as a regular attendee. “ Participants from across all the Dance for Life groups highlight the positive impact on their mental health, with 52% of respondents to the annual evaluation questionnaire saying that the classes improved their mood, stating that they felt ‘happier’, ‘exhilarated’, ‘energized’ and ‘better’ after coming to class: “It’s fun here - with all the girls. Gets us out to meet more people. Thank you all **”,** “Enjoy every session – laughter good for us”’ “I have enjoyed the camaraderie of the class” “Friendship and chat important afterwards”, and
## 6 of
“It has been a great way to make friends”. When asked the question, ‘What has changed for you since taking part in the project?’, as well as improvements in physical strength, balance, and mobility, there was a noticeable number of responses about improved mood and increased happiness, with participants stating that they: “Always feel happier after”, “Always feel good, energized after class”, “Feel better when I come to class”, “Improved mood - gave me a reason to get up and out”, “I feel much happier and exhilarated”, and “Attending these classes always loosens me up and brightens the day”. Many people commented on the ‘balance’ between dance, creativity and exercise, saying that the project is “Chance to do exercise in a fun way”, “Different from just fitness class”, and that they enjoyed “The variation of the music, dances and exercises”. **100%** of responding participants said that the project was meeting their needs, whether they were physical or mental health, creative or social needs.
## Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference
## 7 of
|Achievements against objectives set|Para1.41|**Measuring the above impact against our**|
|---|---|---|
|||**objectives and performance indicators for 2023-4,**|
|||**we surpassed our targets in each key area:**|
|||1) Increase the total number of older adults (aged
65+) engaging in regular dance activity by 5% year
on year, with a target of**100**participants in Year 1,
and engage**50**additional people in dance each
year either as audiences or home pack recipients
**36% annual increase**in participation in our
regular Dance for Life program from 2022-23
**110**participants in the regular Dance for Life
program, with an additional 71 participants
taking part in other workshops and projects,
bringing the total number to 181 participants
during the year
**150 Dance Home packs**were distributed
**94%**of Dance for Life participants are**aged 65+**
**208 regular sessions**were held during the year,
and we delivered an additional**15 sessions**for
projects, workshops and taster sessions across
the county
**50 participants**from all our Dance for Life
groups attended a performance to see Swan
Lake in Oxford in February 2024.
**36 participants aged 65+**from Oxford took part
in the Situating Ecologies project in Summer
2024, run in partnership with Modern Art
Oxford.|
|||2) Increase the total number of older adults from|
|||vulnerable and at-risk groups engaging in dance|
|||activities by 5% year on year, with a target of**15**|
|||adults from these groups in Year 1.Vulnerable or|
|||at-risk groups include those who:|
|||i) live with a disability, impairment or long-term|
|||health condition|
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|||ii) are socially isolated or lonely, and/or|
|---|---|---|
|||iii) live in areas of income deprivation|
||| **57%**of regular participants in the Dance for Life
program me have a disability, impairment
and/or a long-term health condition
**21%**of regular participants live in areas of
income deprivation (e.g. the Wood Farm estate
in Oxford and West Bicester)
26% of people who responded to the annual
evaluation questionnaire said that their main
aim for joining the classes was to meet more
people and make new friends.**1**participant
stated that their main reason for taking part
was**‘loneliness’**
3) Develop of a cross-county network of
organisations and individuals who support dance
for older adults, with a target of 3 organisations
within the network in Year 1, aiming to meet at
least twice per year for networking meetings.
We ran**4 network meetings**for older adults’
dance across Oxfordshire with 3 partners -
Dancing Oxford**(**Oxford City Council), MuMo
Creative, and The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury
We worked on a**funding application to Arts**
**Council England**to co-ordinate a cross-county
showcase of older adults’ dance as part of the
Dancing Oxford Festival (with the theme of
Celebrating Age), offer training and mentoring
to local artists and volunteers, and expand the
network into a county-wide steering group to
include participant representatives and other
organisations.|
|Performance of fundraising activities
against objectives set|Para1.41|The charity continues to achieve the activities it sets
out to do in accordance to the objectives set.|
|9 of|||
|---|---|---|
|Investment performance against
objectives|Para1.41|The charity invests in accordance with its mission
statement.|
|Other|||
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## Financial Review
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s financial
position at the end of the period|Para1.21|As per the filed accounts. Dance Creative has met
its financial obligations.|
|Statement explaining the policy for
holding reserves stating why they
are held|Para1.22|Holding a reserve, ensuring running costs can be
met and all other funds are ring fenced and
allocated to spend on the charitable activities.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para1.22|£11,497|
|Reasons for holding zero reserves|Para1.22|n/a|
|Details of fund materially in deficit|Para1.24|n/a|
|Explanation of any uncertainties
about the charity continuing as a
goingconcern|Para1.23|n/a|
## Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s principal sources of
funds (including any fundraising)|Para1.47|Grants and donations|
|Investment policy and objectives
including any social investment
policy adopted|Para1.46|n/a|
|A description of the principal risks
facing the charity|Para1.46|n/a|
|Other|||
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report 31 08 2024
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## Structure, Governance and Management
|Description of charity’s trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para1.25|Articles of Association|
|How is the charity constituted?
(e.g. unincorporated association, CIO)|Para1.25|Limited by Guarantee|
|Trustee selection methods including
details of any constitutional
provisions e.g. election to post
or name of any person or body
entitled to appoint one or more
trustees|Para1.25|Elected by board vote|
## Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures adopted for
the induction and training of trustees|Para1.51||
|The charity’s organizational structure
and any wider network with which
the charityworks|Para1.51||
|Relationship with any related parties|Para1.51||
|Other|||
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report 31 08 2024
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## Reference and Administrative details
DANCE CREATIVE Charity name Other name the charity uses Registered charity number 119309 Charity’s principal address DANCE CREATIVE 149 RAVENCROFT BICESTER OXON OX266YF
## Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|Trusteename|Office (if any)|Dates acted if not for
whole year|Name of person (or
body) entitled to appoint
trustee(if any)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||D L Newton||||
||Paula Har||||
||Victoria Andrews||||
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Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report 31 08 2024
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Reference and Administrative details (cont)
## Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name Donna Newton Paula Har Victoria Andrews
## Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|Trustee name|Dates acted if not for whole
year||
|---|---|---|
||||
||||
||||
||||
||||
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## Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this n/a capacity Name and objects of the charity n/a on whose behalf the assets are held and how these falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe n/a custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
## Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## Other optional information
Charity Accounts templates – Trustees’ annual report 31 08 2024
1501
Declarations
The trus18es declare that they have approved the twslees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's Irustees
Fullname1sl4xefOXfr 4PKrZ
Position (e.g. Secretary,
Chair, etc.)
Date
Charity Accounts templates- Truslee$' annual report 3108 2024
Charity Number 119309
## **DANICE CREATIVE**
## **INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024**
|**INCOME**
Fees and Donations
Gift Aid
Grants
**EXPENDITURE**
Artists Fees
Filming
Training
Administration and Management Costs
Venue Hire
Insurance
Music Licence
Bank Charges
Travel
Sundries
NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) OF INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
11,676
9,662
81
530
54,328
13,357
**66,085**
**23,549**
46,411
19,209
-
-
-
-
2,110
3,687
2,512
2,700
524
370
312
277
101
77
256
95
569
551
**52,795**
**26,966**
**13,290**
**(3,417)**
**11,497**
**(1,793)**|
|---|---|
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees/Members of Dance Creative**
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st August 2024, which are set out on pages 1 to 2.
## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and members**
As trustees of Dance Creative you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the trustees 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 you as 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 matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Daniel Ottaway FMAAT
13[th] May 2025