Charity number: 1196646
ARTS4WOKINGHAM CIO
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers | 3 |
| Chair’s Foreword | 4-5 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 6-12 |
| Independent Examiner ’s Report | 13-14 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 15-16 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 17 |
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Trustees
Charlotte Jacqueline Louise Haitham Taylor, Chairman- Appointed on 18.11.2021 for a term of 4 years
Robin Cops, Vice Chairman – Appointed on 18.11.21 for a term of 3 years
Patrick Haycocks- Appointed on 18.11.21 for a term of 4 years
Timothy James Lloyd- Secretary, Appointed on 18.11.21 for a term of 3 years
Jane Anne Bonney- Appointed on 18.11.21 for a term of 3 years. Resigned 14.2.24
Jeremy Giles Seacome Garfield-Davies- Appointed on 18.11.21 for a term of 2 years. Reappointed for a term of 4 years on 31.7.24
Martin Haslam- Appointed on 25.1.23 for a term of 4 years
Carrollanne Hillary Athene Lindley Vass – Appointed 25.1.23 for a term of 4 years
Karen Mahoney – 14[th] February 2024 for a term of 4 years
Principal Registered Office
1 Peach Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1XJ
Registered Charity Number
1196646
Independent Examiner
Kelly Wilcox, Claritas, 1 Peach Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 1XJ
Bank
NatWest Bank, 5 High Street, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 1DH
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Foreword by the Chair of Arts4Wokingham
It is my great pleasure to present the Annual Report for Arts4Wokingham, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
The report looks back on the Charity’s third year since its launch. Charities across the UK and much further afield continue to operate in challenging times, due to the very difficult economic climate within the UK as well as global influences such as ongoing conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and in Israel/Gaza.
In the UK, we continue to observe that while the cost of living is going up, many people are being cautious with spending as they feel uncertain about the future. Meanwhile, an emerging adverse personal taxation environment has been influencing the outlook of High Net Worth Individuals. Towards the end of the year, many of this latter cohort were further alarmed by increases in employment costs, such as through Employer’s National Insurance Contributions, announced during the October Budget. All of these factors continue to affect our efforts to raise the larger sums of funding that we are seeking for our initial landmark project, however we remain focused on seeking out other revenue streams as well as fostering our great relationships with the local business community, who have given sponsorship and grants not only for new events we have put on this year, but also towards The Arc.
Despite these tough times, the Board of Trustees and our committee volunteers have worked relentlessly to continue towards delivering our vision, which is to build a landmark work of art in Wokingham, to put the charity’s finances on a more stable footing and provide our community with free and truly accessible public art. Due to all of the collective endeavours, this year we have been able to take part in the Wokingham Fun Day, the Brighton Marathon and be a new participant in The Wokingham Arts Trail, as well as put on events like a cinema evening and a free dance session with our Patron and Strictly Come Dancing Star, Ian Waite.
We are incredibly grateful not only to Ian Waite, but also to the support and patronage of Lucy Zeal, Deputy Lieutenant of the County and former High Sheriff of Berkshire, and Professor John Gibbs, Head of the School of Arts and Communications at the University of Reading and Professor in Film at the Department of Film, Theatre and Television. Their assistance has been tremendous and unwavering.
A4W continues to ensure we maintain the charity’s good and user-friendly governance whilst seeking out further skilled trustees and patrons to join the charity. This year, we have
recruited Karen Mahoney as a new Trustee to the Board. Karen brings with her an abundance of energy and a wealth of experience from her former role in Marketing in the financial
ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
services industry. In her free time, Karen collects modern and contemporary art, volunteers for WADE, a local charity for the elderly, and has lived in Wokingham with her family for 20 years.
Looking forward, 2025 will be a busy year for Arts4Wokingham. The Charity has more events lined up and we have just signed a new agreement to work in partnership with Shinfield Parish Council, advising them on how to deliver a new public artwork in this parish. We will be working closely with them from the very start of this project, advising them on how to run a competition to find the best artist, work with local stakeholders and raise funds; how to select the right artist to deliver, and ultimately, install the work on time and on budget.
We will continue working with new local partners and businesses. We embrace our challenges and look forward to bringing more accessible arts and culture to our communities within Wokingham Borough.
As a final point, I would like to sincerely thank all of our Trustees, volunteers, patrons and sponsors for their unwavering support and dedication in helping continue to develop this young organisation, and keeping us moving in a positive direction, which will ensure Arts4Wokingham can deliver its full potential long into the future.
Charlotte Haitham Taylor – Chair, Arts4Wokingham
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees present their Annual Report together with the Examined Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024. This report serves as the Trustees’ report under charitable law for Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO) and has been prepared following the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Commission guidance.
Structure, Management and Governance Reference and administrative details
Arts4Wokingham ('the Charity') is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission in 2021. Our Charity number is 1196646.
Appointment of Trustees
The Charity is governed by a Board of Trustees. Apart from the founding Trustees, every Trustee must be appointed by election to the Board at Formal Board Meetings for a term of four years. Trustees are eligible for re-election. None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the Charity.
Induction and training of Trustees
Potential Trustees are selected on the basis of their personal and professional qualities, commitment and familiarity with the issues involved in running a charity such as A4W. New Trustees learn about the Charity’s vision, operations and goals through dialogue with existing personnel and literature pertaining to the Charity’s activities.
Upon election, Trustees are provided with a copy of the Charity’s constitution and Charity Commission guidance material for Charity Trustees. The Charity organises regular Trustee training initiatives and signposts Trustees to further appropriate training opportunities as they arise. All new Trustees submit a Declaration of Interest form, which all Trustees renew annually, or more often if necessary.
Organisational Structure
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the general management and control of the Charity. The day-to-day operational jobs and responsibilities are delegated to working groups and individuals to ensure the effectiveness and smooth running of the organisation. All major strategic, governance and structural changes are presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Policies
Risk Management Policy
The Board of Trustees has assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity, and are satisfied that measures, procedures and policies are in place to mitigate our exposure to major risks.
Reserves Policy
The Board of Trustees has a Reserves Policy. In assessing the financial risks associated with potentially having to wind down the charity, with due regard to best practice, current economic circumstances and lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board agreed to hold 6 months of total organisational operating costs in reserve to mitigate such risks.
Investment Policy
The Charity currently does not hold any investments. The Trustees will develop and adopt a policy should they decide that in the future the Charity should look to hold investments, securities or properties.
Safeguarding Policy
The Charity has a Safeguarding policy.
Other Policies
The Charity has adopted a number of other policies including:
Ethical Fundraising Policy Conflict of Interest Policy Privacy Policy Complaints Procedure Social Media Policy Cookies Policy Data Retention Policy Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Collaborative Working Policy AI Policy
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Objectives, Activities and Performance
Objectives of the Charity
The object of the CIO is the advancement of arts and culture for public benefit to the residents of the Borough of Wokingham, in particular but not exclusively by the creation of projects that support: (a) the enhancement of cultural identity and place-making (b) the advancement of opportunities for all people within arts and culture and (c) the promotion of access to arts and culture.
Main activities undertaken to further the Charity's purposes for the public benefit
A4W is now in its third year of operation. It has been a busy twelve months for Trustees and volunteers, and we continue to work collaboratively with partners in our community to not only raise awareness of A4W but also deliver arts and cultural events and activities that the community across Wokingham Borough can attend alongside our fundraising.
Our Trustees and volunteers have continued to work together to ensure that A4W becomes an established charity in the community. This year, the creation of the partnership with Shinfield Parish Council represented a major initiative. Our advice concerning running a competition to provide art for the public realm not only brought in valuable funds for the Charity, but it also constituted an activity aligning perfectly with A4W’s mission of spreading accessible art throughout the borough. We continued to raise the funds necessary to deliver our landmark project, The Arc, as well as supporting local activities that increase accessibility to arts and culture.
Over the last year A4W has recruited new volunteers and one new Trustee. The latter individual, Karen Mahoney, has led on the Charity’s new involvement in the field of marathons, with four runners representing A4W in the Brighton Marathon. Karen has also made an energetic start in engaging with local businesses and other grant-awarding partners.
As a locally valued stakeholder in the Arts and Cultural sector in the borough, A4W had its first involvement with the Wokingham Arts Trail. Here, we partnered with the charity PACT (Parents and Children Together) to create artworks with adopted children and their families, which were exhibited and sold to the public during the Arts Trail weekend, alongside other artists’ work. A highly successful Private View, attended by The Mayor, and Patrons, brought together sponsors, donors and buyers with the artists and their families. A4W furthermore
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won a Lions Golden Award Grant, which contributed greatly towards our work with PACT for the Arts Trail.
A4W continues to take part in the Wokingham Positive Difference Business Breakfast meetings monthly. A local business generously provides sponsorship for A4W to attend, and we send representation to these meetings to help raise awareness of A4W, shape and enhance the arts and cultural offer within the Borough, and forge new partnerships within the business community. Trustees also attend and present on behalf of A4W at other networking events throughout the year.
The Charity held a successful cinema event – a screening of the psychological thriller See No Evil , much of which had been filmed in Wokingham borough in the 1970s. The Wokingham Film Society generously donated the proceeds of this screening to A4W.
During the summer, Wokingham Fun Day provided a further opportunity for the Charity to deliver on its mission and provide free art provision for children and young people attending the fair. One of our volunteers, on behalf of A4W, also provided access to a free workshop for the Climate Action Week organised by Woodley Town Council.
A4W continues to increase awareness of the Charity and The Arc Project through our dedicated PR campaigns, with thanks to our Trustees and volunteers who are constantly updating the online social media feeds and articles as well as keeping supporters up to date through regular newsletters. There are frequent articles in the local print media, as the charity garners superb support from the local press. The Charity has continued to attract more followers through user-generated content around its events and campaigns over the course of the year.
The Trustees continue towards their ambition to deliver The Arc, the landmark sculpture project for Wokingham. This will be a statement piece of public art in a prime location, accessible to all, engaging the greatest possible number of beneficiaries. During the year, The Arc’s sculptor, Nicola Anthony, was awarded an Arts Council England grant, further raising her profile. In May, A4W were delighted to celebrate Nicola becoming a mother for the first time.
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Financial Review
During this financial year A4W have raised £9,603, of which £5,000.00 came from grants, with the remainder being made up of sponsorship and community fundraising. However, as already mentioned in the Chair’s Foreword, A4W, together with much of the charitable sector, are finding it tough working in these straitened economic times, compounded by government cuts that have directly affected the arts and culture sector.
The Board of Trustees are not complacent about achieving the targets set out in our Financial Strategy, yet remain realistic as to the challenges we face. We continue to raise funds, principally for our primary project, The Arc, a landmark sculpture for Wokingham.
The Board of Trustees, in light of these factors, will continue to review closely the Financial Strategy first developed in 2022. The Strategy focuses on raising funds from three main areas: grant-giving bodies, sponsorships from business and donations from individuals in the community.
Looking forward to our next financial year, there is likely to be little change in the challenging economic environment. Fundraising, via multiple revenue sources and activities, remains our primary focus to enable us to continue delivering our vision.
Our team of volunteers and Trustees are ready and prepared for a busy and productive 2025, despite the difficulties that undoubtedly lie ahead.
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Plans for the next year and future development of the Charity
Throughout A4W’s third year, the charity has been forging strong relationships with important stakeholders and other charities that align closely with the Charity’s objectives.
Over the next twelve months, A4W looks forward to reporting on exciting new projects that have been developed by collaborating with other organisations. By working with these groups, A4W aims to provide more opportunities for vulnerable people as well as free access to art and cultural events in and around the borough. Events will include workshops, a theatre night, an art exhibition and much more to enable people to reap the positive benefits that arts and culture offer.
Building on the very early work that the Charity has started with Shinfield Parish, A4W looks to work more closely with other town and parish councils and developers within the borough to deliver public artworks. There are opportunities that the charity can exploit where large quantities of new homes are being built, and where the expertise of A4W can be called upon to help developers with placemaking using arts and culture to assist not only the new community moving into the borough, but also the existing population. The Charity hopes to do more work over the next year within this area.
A4W is still in its early days as a charity. Therefore, the Board of Trustees will continue to work hard to raise the profile of the Charity and understand the needs of our community, and reach out to meet them. The Charity will continue to explore new and different methods of fundraising as well as raising the recognition of A4W with potential donors.
The Charity will continue to seek out more volunteers and recruit additional skilled Trustees to ensure its success long into the future.
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Annual Report above on 14[th] October 2024. Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:
Charlotte Jacqueline Louise Haitham Taylor (Chair)
Robin Cops (Vice Chair),
David Canning (Treasurer).
Date: 10[th] October 2024
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER‘S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS YEAR END 31 DECEMBER 2024
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER‘S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS YEAR END 31 DECEMBER 2024 (continued)
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 24
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 24 (continued)
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ARTS4WOKINGHAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 24
Notes:
Income
All Income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income.
All income arose within the United Kingdom.
Staff Costs
The Charity employs no staff.
Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Independent Examiner ’s remuneration
The Independent Examiner ’s remuneration amounts to a fee of £360 for the Examination of the Charity’s accounts.
Gift Aid
Gift Aid relating to this financial year has not been claimed, therefore it does not show on these accounts.
Document Ends.
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