**Company registration number: 10227051 Charity registration number: 1197450**
## **Saxmundham Art Station**
(A company limited by guarantee)
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30 June 2025
Triple Bottom Line Accounting (TBLA)
The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ
Saxmundham Art Station
## **Contents**
|Reference and Administrative Details|3|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|4 to 13|
|Independent Examiner's Report|14|
|Statement of Financial Activities|15|
|Balance Sheet|16|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|17 to 26|
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## **Reference and Administrative Details**
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30th June 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Companies Act 2006 and 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 published in October 2019.
Saxmundham Art Station is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 11[th] June 2016, as amended by a special resolution registered at Companies House on 18th December 2021.
**Reference and administrative details** Registered charity name Saxmundham Art Station Charity registration number 1197450 Company registration number 1022 7051 Principal office 48 High Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1AB Registered office 48 High Street, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1AB
## **Trustees**
The trustees who served us during the year and at the date of approval were as follows: Susan Barnet Lucy Holmes (Resigned 26[th] October 2024) Paul Richards Catherine Thorpe Faye Gosling (appointed 1[st] March 2025)
Established by Deed
## **Senior Management**
Clare Palmier, Director Victoria Cooke, Programme Manager
## **Bank**
Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS
## **Independent Examiner**
Triple Bottom Line Accounting, The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
## **Objectives and Activities**
The charity’s objectives (‘’Objects’’) are specifically restricted to the following:
1. To advance the arts and culture for the benefit of the public, particularly but not exclusively, by promoting and facilitating access to, creation of and exhibitions of the visual arts and other art forms;
2. To advance education for the public benefit, particularly (but not exclusively) in relation to the visual arts
3. To provide for the recreation of children, young people and adults for the benefit of the public by providing facilities, space and services to them in the interest of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life; and
4. To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and providing activities to assist their integration into society.
For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or part of society, as a result of one or more of the following: ill health (mental or physical); disability; unemployment; financial hardship; poor educational or skills attainment.
## **About Saxmundham Art Station (known as The Art Station)**
The Art Station is a dynamic, inclusive, arts organisation, offering an engaging free high-quality Art and Learning Programme - exhibitions, events, talks, screenings, tours and creative sessions and workshops for all ages in our community. Our activities bring people together around creativity, offering enjoyable new creative experiences; providing volunteering, work placements, work experience for a community that has little access to recreation, local facilities or cultural opportunities.
Our presence and activities increase the development of the creative industries and the cultural and creative economy locally and supports access to creative careers for young people.
We are developing a supportive network that pioneers creative excellence and develops creative practice. We support sustainable careers for creatives through offering affordable workspace, an engaging art and learning programme which gives access to and encourages discourse about contemporary practice, creative mentoring, local freelance employment, careers support, peer crits, and support in making applications. Our programme supports the development of creative digital technology and making this accessible to audiences and participants.
We offer activity in our base at the telephone exchange, our new ground floor space at the old bank and in other venues locally in the town and in other venues across East Suffolk as appropriate to the programme.
We work with partner organisations to ensure the impact of our work is effective and that we reach people who might experience more challenges to accessing culture and creativity.
## **Public Benefit**
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on Public Benefit including, The Public Benefit Requirement (PB1), Running a Charity (PB2) and Reporting (PB3).
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
## **Trustees’ Report**
The Art Station has continued to develop and grow, delivering our Art and Learning programme in Saxmundham and East Suffolk; engaging our audience, community and visitors in a high-quality cultural experience which offers innovative practice, connection to means of expression, and development and exploration of materials, meaning, ideas and contexts. Our programme creates a destination for visitors and is a key part of the local cultural economy at the same time characterising the town and area; where exciting and enjoyable cultural things are happening. We believe in culture and creativity as an opportunity for everyone.
We are supporting creatives through our affordable spaces, mentoring, freelance employment and opportunities to develop their work in new ways. Art Station continues to provide a strong supportive network for creatives, and acts as a catalyst for discussion about practice, for artists to meet each other and audience, community and curators to connect with artists and their work.
This year we have increased our reach across East Suffolk and linked key towns through our exhibitions. Thread Count 2 in Framlingham took place in July 2024 and was the second part of the exciting Thread Count exhibition that ran from June to August 2024 co-curated with artist Prof Freddie Robins – Royal College of Art Textiles – linking our two market towns and communities. The first stage in our project Port to Port which will connect the port communities Lowestoft, Ipswich and Felixstowe across East Suffolk from 2025 to 2026 was located in Lowestoft in June 2025.
Our exhibition stand I Never Promised You at Rose Garden took brilliant works by Suffolk artists to London for The London Art Fair to connect with new audiences and to profile and highlight the exciting work being made here in Suffolk; offering a clear signal and welcome for visitors to Suffolk over the coming year as to what The Art Station is and the quality of the programme that they will find in this small market town; as part of growing our profile and audience both regionally and nationally.
Poor Form, our large exhibition of fascinating and playful ceramics by award-winning artist Karen Densham was her largest solo exhibition so far, and delighted a wide range of visitors, connecting us to the new entity Clay 1A in Ipswich through an In Conversation talk between Karen Densham, Crispin Kelly – Clay 1A founder and academic Tessa Peters who leads research at the Ceramics Research Centre, University of Westminster.
This year we decided not to offer Sax Arts Fest which demands a high level of resource - in order to focus on our regional Port to Port project which began its journey in June 2025 as part of First Light Festival in Lowestoft and was located in The Battery – the experimental space – a giant disused Tesco store – inhabited by First Light Festival in order to develop cultural opportunities ahead of the new large scale cultural quarter which will open in 2028.
Our activities support the aims and policies of East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council around cultural and visitor economy and support the Investment Principles of Arts Council England. Our Creative Health activities create and develop activities to meet the current and growing needs of our community around physical and mental wellbeing identified by East Suffolk Community Partnerships, Integrated Care Boards and Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Mind. From the Marmot Reviews published over the years and The Creative Health Review, recently published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, amongst other research that has taken place, there is increasing evidence on the vital role cultural and creativity activity plays in developing and maintaining wellbeing and building a cohesive, well connected community and society. We continue to offer our hands on activities in other venues/sites – Saxmundham market hall, Fromus Green, Fromus Centre, Saxmundham Community Fridge, The Old Theatre in Framlingham and this enables us to connect with people in different spaces and to make them aware of the activities across Art Station’s programme.
The need to secure consistent and long-term funding as well as making our buildings fit for purpose remains a constant demand and challenge. To meet these challenges The Art Station will work with consultants over the next year to put in place a long-term organisational strategy and clear messaging and to develop an achievable fundraising strategy. With support, the organisation can review and explore long-term options regarding the buildings it inhabits as a base for its organisation, team and activities. Negotiations continue on a twenty-year extension of the lease at First Floor, 48 High Street which would give the organisation long term security there and enable capital fundraising for a lift – making both spaces accessible.
Art Station has occupied the ground floor space at the Old Bank since April 2024 and has access to a large and
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
wonderful riverside garden enabling us to offer fully accessible activities at ground floor level and this has really enriched our programme as activities have become more focused around the garden and our natural heritage and environment. 2025 will be another year in which artist gardener Jevan Watkins Jones leads volunteers and our community groups to engage in the development of the garden – increasing biodiverse habitats, enjoying creative activities and being outside in nature while making lasting social connections.
The Art Station has delivered a high-quality programme this year and receives positive feedback from our community, participants, creatives and visitors/audience. Art Station is associated strongly with a much more and increasing positive characterisation of Saxmundham and this rural area in East Suffolk as somewhere that interesting cultural activities are taking place and therefore a good place to visit, work and live. The strength and benefits of strong and positive placemaking are needed to support the town’s identity and community wellbeing through the fastapproaching extended period of construction of local power station Sizewell C and potentially other large scale infrastructure projects, currently proposed.
We really appreciate the hard work of all the team and understand the challenges of running a busy programme while being under resourced. Recruiting another part-time role to support general management and day-to-day accounting as well as having a permanent programme co-ordinator in place will really benefit the team and allow more time for strategic work and long-term planning.
We are grateful to all our funders who have invested in our activities during this year, some for the first time, and acknowledge their vital support and recognition. Securing longer term and multi-year core funding remains a priority. Core funding in tandem with increasing potential income streams and developing new partnerships over the next year could enable us to grow our programme and offer more to our community. Increasing our reserves remains a longterm aim once regular core funding is achieved.
## **Director's Report**
What an energetic and successful year we’ve had! Art Station has delivered a lively and culturally invigorating programme of activities across the year. Working with new partners, The Art Station has engaged with our community, strengthening our profile and extending our reach to audience regionally; with **6043 people engaged in our programme** this year. Our activities create a positive impact through creative opportunities; people of all ages here in rural Suffolk engaging with interesting high quality visual art and other arts including music; opportunities for creatives to exhibit, work within our programme, receive mentoring and become part of a dynamic and connected network, people taking part in creative activities that support their wellbeing.
In July 2024 **Thread Count 2** offered artist **Sophie Giller** the opportunity to develop a large-scale textile work and for The Art Station to present **this site-specific work which filled The Old Theatre Framlingham.** Here we offered an In Conversation between Woo Jin Joo, Freddie Robins, Clare Palmier and Sophie Giller to talk about all the works shown across Thread Count’s two exhibitions. As part of our ethos and mission we support artists to develop their work and career and this large-scale work was the catalyst for a new opportunity for Sophie and The Art Station to work together with partners to create a regional touring project, a large-scale installation, Port to Port in 2025.
**Hedging Around Our Heritage** in October 2024 also located in The Old Theatre Framlingham was an opportunity to showcase and profile **the unknown work and underrepresented creative voice of William Wallace** , whose unique life journey within the traditions of leather workers, Romany culture and the world of horses, dogs, plus many close encounters with rock n roll, has resulted in an original way of seeing, making, while remaining staunchly on the outside of everyday life. William’s incredible enclosure took five years to make, and was a feat of many skills – joinery, leatherwork, textiles, metalwork, painting and his imagination. This installation captured the audience’s imagination and we celebrated the work. We also acknowledged the genocide the work alluded to with a candlelit vigil that included soulful music created on cello, saxophone and flute by live musicians. A documentary about William Wallace was also screened across the road in St Michael’s Community Centre and it was a welcome opportunity to use this adjacent space for the first time and connect with people who popped in from the street.
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## **Feedback on Hedging Around Our Heritage:**
“Interesting and unique.” “Love the embroidery skeletons and all, amazing.” “Fabulous show, thank you!” “After hearing about the installation, I’m very happy to have seen it, a very powerful piece.”
“Interesting views on life/death and loving it in general.”
“Very interesting, thought-provoking, and the work scales so well in this space.”
In November we partnered with First Light Festival to offer **two large scale digital installations** by **artists’ Emily Richardson and Henry Driver at The Battery of Ideas** – a new experimental space introducing the audience to cultural experiences and creative interventions as a precursor to and engagement with the new cultural quarter being built in Lowestoft. Two large scale moving image projections filled the huge purpose-built screens, creating their own environments. The soundtrack was available on blue tooth headphones so that audience could both listen and retreat into the work This project is in line with The Art Station’s commitment to developing and supporting creative digital across Suffolk and bringing this innovative work to audiences.
In January we took Suffolk artists’ work to London to showcase and profile the brilliant art being created here at The London Art Fair on our exhibition stand **I Never Promised You a Rose Garden** . This was the only charity stand in the whole fair so we were very pleased to be selected. There was a positive response from the audience and it was a great opportunity to introduce people to the art, artists and The Art Station. Our stand was praised by one visitor as being what you might expect to see at The Armory show in New York! It was also exciting to be part of a strong East Anglian presence – Sainsbury Centre and Caroline Fisher projects. As a group we profiled the interesting and innovative work happening here and the strong cultural network which is developing and that provides new opportunities for audience and creatives.
In February we showed an exhibition of Rebecca Riess’ paintings – **Scenes From a Place Called World** – 75 paintings filled our lobby salon style from floor to ceiling – in an exhibition that was arresting in its exploration of psychological states and memory. An In Conversation between Rebecca and Dr Susan Barnet which we live streamed offered access to the artist/ practice and process, thoughts and ideas.
In May– we offered **Poor Form** the largest exhibition of ceramic work by **artist and ceramicist Karen Densham,** who lives and works in Ipswich. The audience was delighted with this intriguing body of work – over 100 works which pushed the boundaries of what is possible to make and communicate through clay – all with a wry observant humour and irony. Karen was awarded **a Henry Moore Foundation award** in recognition of this excellent exhibition. The live **In Conversation** talk, also live streamed between Karen, Crispin Kelly, collector and founder of Clay 1A in Ipswich and Tessa Peters, Senior Lecturer, Ceramics Research, University of Westminster was an opportunity to explore the context for making ceramics in the 21[st] century and its history and to connect with both Clay 1A and CREAM and for our audience to be part of this conversation both live and digitally. The impact of livestreaming an interesting and engaging cultural conversation is to offer a wider reach across the UK and internationally and we often have several hundred people who join online.
Integral to all our exhibitions are many hands-on artist-led sessions that we offer to the groups we work with regularly in order to give direct experience of different practices, different materials and approaches and to introduce our community and audience to the artists, their ideas and motivations.
Our **Art Station Bus Tour** connected people to artists and three different contemporary art venues across Suffolk – Asylum Studios in Bentwaters, The Art Station and Graham Crowley’s annual group exhibition Silent Disco at his large studio in Wickham Market. This personalised tour gave our audience the opportunity to meet and hear from artists first hand.
In June 2025 we partnered with First Light Festival and supported artist Sophie Giller to create her largest work yet – **Port To Port** – an installation consisting of 5 huge printed patchwork sails supported on boat like curved hardwood benches – located in The Battery of Ideas in Lowestoft. **Community workshops engaged 60 people from the port communities** both Lowestoft and Ipswich who brought their personal objects, memories and photos and printed images of these into the fabric that became the patchwork sails and painted tiles embedded in the benches. We worked with asylum seekers and refugees, women and children from Syria, The Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, supported by Suffolk Refugee Support who were enthusiastic and excited to be
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
part of the project. The project team and community participants also took part in a day sail on the good ship Excelsior- the last boat left in the former herring fleet which really brought everyone together in a wonderful celebration of the project and voyages taken.
Our **Creative Health activities** have developed around **our large riverside garden,** creating opportunities for people of all ages to take part in artist-led activity outside and engaging community in enjoying and understanding our local natural heritage especially the Fromus Valley area and National Landscapes coastal area – both local areas supporting rare and precious habitats, flora and fauna.
We’ve engaged people of all ages in our **River Walks** alongside creative activities and different experts and local people sharing knowledge. Our short 15 min film about tracing the journey of the River Fromus has now been screened at different talks and used by the local biodiversity groups to raise awareness. Having taken part, people now know more about their local natural heritage, the role the river plays in the landscape, and what the river offers as a habitat.
_“I had heard of the River Fromus, but I didn’t realise how far it went, and how far across the fields it would go as well.”_
_“I've enjoyed all of it. I think it’s really interesting to find different places, even if you live in an area, find different places that you wouldn’t naturally come to, and explore. Sometimes I think we get stuck in a rut, where you’re going to go for a walk but always go to the same place, so this has been fascinating.”_
_“So well organised, informative and fun. A great opportunity to find out more about the river, and the work to prevent flooding while creating spaces for nature to thrive._
Our **Welcome Walks** invited participants supported by Suffolk Refugee Support – women from The Ukraine many who have found themselves quite isolated in Suffolk. Max Clements who has undertaken Beach Workshop training led the Welcome Walks within the National Landscapes coastal area and it was a moving opportunity for these women to reconnect with nature, each other and their culture.
**Artist gardener Jevan Watkins Jones** has been leading the development of **The Art Station garden** with a group of committed volunteers who work across the seasons. The garden has transformed over the last three years into a creative space supporting many habitats and increased biodiversity through careful planting and the creation of turf and dry walls, insect pyramids and allowing areas of grass to grow which in itself provides a more biodiverse habitat for invertebrates, small mammals, amphibians and seed for birds. People of all ages really enjoy seeing the seasonal changes and being part of developing the garden as well as gaining new understanding and knowledge about biodiversity.
‘So lovely to see children using the garden. It’s a beautiful, natural, safe green space in the town’s centre. They can tell that the garden is being look after and loved. Often we’re totally unaware of what’s living around us and here in the garden we can see it and experience it.”
Our volunteers, some of whom have a wide knowledge of local wildlife and plant life have carried out plant and grass surveys - 40 wild plant species have been noted. In July 2024 we carried out a moth count with a group of children as part of our holiday activities – all of whom had never touched or seen a beautiful moth up close. The impact of this extraordinary experience has stayed with these children and with it a greater understanding of how preserving habitats will also protect these creatures.
“‘The moth trap at Old Bank Garden was set in order to demonstrate to the local community the huge variety of night-flying moths living and feeding in an urban garden, in particular to inspire children with the colours, forms and habits of these rarely observed creatures. Those attending the workshop were able to handle large Elephant Hawkmoths, Oak Eggars and Ruby Tigers, among many others, and to locate them all within the confines of this historic community garden.”
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
We worked with Benhall Primary School to plant **a mini orchard which is now flourishing** and the volunteer gardeners have espaliered fruit trees along the garden wall. Blossom and fruit will provide both habitats and enjoyable engagement as the trees continue to grow and start to bear fruit. During the year we have also welcomed many others to the garden including: Saxmundham Primary School, Easton Primary, Lowestoft College, Top Time – a group of women aged 70-95, Suffolk Poverty Action Group, Leading Lives – a group supporting adults with disabilities. The garden has become the key location for our holiday activities, offering space to run, play and hide, surrounded by nature.
_“Really enjoyed the hands-on workshop, I don’t get the chance to work with clay and get messy at school.”_
_“Had fun exploring the garden, discovering insects, spiders, and bits of broken pottery.”_
_“Loved creating small clay medals and using natural, found materials to make things.”_
_“Enjoyed being surrounded by nature and seeing all the plants.”_
_“Walking and playing in the garden was a highlight.”_
_“Would love to return for more activities, especially gardening!”_
After all this amazing hard graft to develop the garden we’re very much looking forward to welcoming our community and audience to **LAND** in July 2025 which will be our first exhibition to include the garden as a focus and location for art and making art and this feels like a significant milestone.
Our first **Creative Environment Event –** the first in a series of three events across our market towns bringing together creatives, environmentalists and community, exploring how to engage people in our local environment. The first session focused on young people and their interaction with nature and took place as a workshop at **CYDS – a youth organisation in Leiston** and also **The Longshop Museum,** with artist **Henry Driver** introducing the young people to his digital work that focuses on the environment and **Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination** offering insight into their experience and approach working with children and young people. This was a poignant opportunity to hear from young voices and to initiate new productive relationships with local and regional organisations.
We’ve supported **20 volunteers** across the year who have become valued members of the team – with different levels of commitment from one or two days a week to occasional volunteering with an age range from early 20s to people in their mid to late 70s. Volunteers have opportunities to focus on specific areas like the garden, marketing, strategy, fundraising, event delivery or building maintenance and to also learn new skills including presentation, IT and software. Everyone has enjoyed being part of delivering the programme either supporting the hands-on activity or learning more about the many creative approaches and artist’s motivation and practice. Younger volunteers have benefited from support around cvs and interview preparation in order to transition into paid employment and its rewarding for the team to be part of that journey _._
_“There was daily support, learning different things every day and a wide variety of work which made volunteering interesting and educational. The Art Station gave good access to Skill Share and the team were always on hand for guidance. It’s led to employment! I wasn’t expecting for this to happen so soon! Thank you for all your support in helping me get this job.”_
**Art Station Film** curated by film-maker Emily Richardson continued to introduce our audience to artist’ film from archives and collections, films that wouldn’t be screened in mainstream local cinemas. The work of Rhea Storr, a black film-maker who grew up in Norfolk, who explores her world through carnival, is both entrancing and intriguing – and work still relatively unknown. In June 2025 Emily curated **a special Art Station Film at Seagull Theatre in Lowestoft** in parallel with Port To Port. The programme of films included **Oysterland by Matthew Harrison** , a beautifully observed documentary about the oyster farmers of Mersea Island in Essex.
**PhotoShed** , our wonderful community group of local people who walk and photograph together continues led by **The Suffolk Project, photographer Richard Allenby-Pratt.** This group has formed its own close and supportive community – mainly of people 50 – 75 years old, many of whom have been previously isolated and we’re trying hard to find multiple year funding to support its continuation.
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Our afterschool activities in Saxmundham library were relocated to Benhall primary school in order to create a close relationship with the children and school team and Max Clements, our Community Co-ordinator has worked closely with Neil Hanger an experienced art lead to create a series of enjoyable innovative creative sessions. We’re working with the staff team to explore how they can fund a longer-term project embedding creativity in their curriculum. Our **creative holiday activities** for children which are regularly oversubscribed received 100% from all the East Suffolk Council external assessors and continue to offer a full day’s activity with a freshly cooked meal which the children help to prepare. We also offered **the Art Tent** at the **annual Sax Music Fest,** engaging 60 children in enjoyable activities focusing on insects and biodiversity.
We continue to support our 8 creatives in their **affordable workspace studios** and have created **a new studio in the Old Bank overlooking the garden** . Monthly community breakfasts have become a regular feature, supporting all the creatives, volunteers and The Art Station team to feel connected.
We need long term core funding going forwards to ensure the organisation can continue to grow and thrive and that the team and venue is adequately resourced. We need our buildings to be fit for purpose so we’re no longer perching in them and making do. We need renewable energy sources for our power and heating. We’ve established a great inclusive programme and profile and a strong team of people with a supportive committed board of trustees. We’re now at a good point to develop and plan for the future of the organisation and to seek external support to put plans in place and develop a fundraising strategy that will ensure the organisation carries on into the future.
I would like to thank all our brilliant staff, trustees, freelance artist educators, volunteers, community, audience, participants, partners and our funders. Art Station happens because of everyone’s contribution. Together we can create enjoyable inclusive, positive cultural experiences that bring people together, great moments that enhance our life, new friendships that form, volunteering and employment, opportunities for new skills and learning and a celebration of curiosity and the means of expression about what it means to be human, in our world, and at this time.
**Clare Palmier, Director**
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
## **ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE**
**Art and Learning Programme Participation Numbers Year End June 2025 – summary**
**Overall Engagement across the programme: 6043 people**
## **Breakdown:**
Exhibitions: Audience/visitors 5102
PhotoShed: 122 people x 30 sessions across the year Holiday Activities: 120 children Welcome Walks: 40 people x 2 walks River Walks: 60 people x 3 walks School Visits: 90 children x 8 visits Art Station Film: 60 people x 3 screenings Risograph Workshops: 10 people x 2 workshops Creative Environment Series: 20 people x 1 event Garden Visits: 254 people Sax Music Fest: 60 children over 2 days Creative Workshops: 60 people x 6 sessions After School Activities: 25 children x 30 weeks Volunteers: 20 across the year Freelancers Employed: 52 across the year
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The trustees are able to report that Saxmundham Art Station is a going concern.
Income received was £248,251 (2024: £217,717). This includes £190,044 of restricted and unrestricted grant income and donations this financial year.
The Statement of Financial Activities records a surplus in the year of £16,731 (2024: £669 surplus restated): net assets and total funds have increased by this amount on the Balance Sheet. This balance is made up of £20,899 in restricted funds and a small deficit of £4,168 in unrestricted funds.
## **Balance Sheet**
Current assets have increased over the year by £46,715 and stand at £117,873, and net assets have increased by £16,731 to £93,936.
The reserve of unrestricted funding stands at £30,601.
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
Turnover on charitable activities was £224,978 (2024: £200,685).
Income from space hire and licence fees of £34,934 was up on last year (2024: £27,954), while direct expenditure decreased by £7,156.
Overheads had increased this year by £21,628 to £102,462 compared with £80,834 (restated) in 2024.
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees' policy is to build adequate reserves in 2025/2026 in order to cover three to six months’ unrestricted expenditure. Because of the wider context of increased competition for funding and decreased amounts of funding and our lack of core funding – gathering reserves has proved too difficult since our relaunch in 2021.
## REVIEW OF ACCOUNTS AND ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
The trustees review Art Station’s finances at quarterly board meetings. Senior management were supported by external accountants Triple Bottom Line Accounting to manage day to day accounting. The board will prioritise in 2025/2026 recruiting a trustee with accountancy and finance skills to support the board and the Director.
## **Prior Year Correction**
The Trustees recognise that there are two corrections to the prior year. The amount of loan interest accrued had been over-estimated, and the restricted fund balance had not been carried forward in the brought forward funds. These corrections have been made to the accounts and re-stated.
## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Saxmundham Art Station is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 11th June 2016 and registered as a charity on 11th January 2022. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association amended by special resolution on 18th December 2021. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £5.
The Trustees of the company are also directors for the purposes of company law. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association the Trustees are elected to serve for a period of three years after which they must be reelected at the next Annual General Meeting. The Trustees of the charitable company during the year are as described on the reference and administration details page of these financial statements.
## PRINCIPAL FUNDING SOURCES
The main sources of income for the charity are from trading income: studio licence fees, space hire, and coworking fees and from grants from national organisations, local authorities and trusts and foundations. The charity currently has no investments.
## ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
The Trustee Board comprises of five members who meet quarterly and are responsible for overall governance and policy of the charity. The Trustees are from a variety of backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity.
The Board is supported by the Director, who leads and manages the organisation day-to-day and plans strategic direction, programming, fundraising and a Programme Manager and Programme Co-ordinator who supports delivery of the programme.
Trustees are recruited through an open recruitment process and formal interview. The process includes an outline of the Trustees' roles and responsibilities. Training will be offered as required for each Trustee and may include training for specialist roles such as the Trustee safeguarding lead.
## **Pay and Remuneration**
The pay of the senior staff is reviewed annually by the Trustees and where relevant normally increased in accordance with average inflationary increases for similar roles, in the same sector, in the locality.
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## TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
## **Small company provisions**
This report has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies' exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006
The trustees' annual report was approved on 30th March 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of Trustees by
.........................................
Paul Richards (Trustee)
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## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of Saxmundham Art Station**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025 which are set out on pages 15 to 26.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) 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. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, 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 charity 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:
-
-
- which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
......................................
Claire Atkinson ACMA CGMA Date: 30[th] March 2026
On behalf of: Triple Bottom Line Accounting The Enterprise Centre University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ
14
Saxmundham Art Station
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2025**
|**Notes**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Grants & Donations
3
Interest Received
Charitable activities
4
MGETR
Total Income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
5
Support costs
6
Governance costs
7
Total Expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
14
Total funds carried forward
14|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**2025**
**Total**
**2024R**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
81,824
108,220
190,044
172,731
59
-
59
40
34,934
-
34,934
27,954
23,214
-
23,214
16,992|
|---|---|
||140,031
108,220
248,251
217,717|
||51,552
90,183
141,735
101,645
49,710
38,875
88,585
114,203
1,200
-
1,200
1,200|
||102,462
129,058
231,520
217,048|
||37,569
(20,838)
16,731
669|
||(41,737)
41,737
-
-|
||(4,168)
20,899
16,731
669|
||34,769
42,436
77,205
76,536|
||30,601
63,335
93,936
77,205|
All of the Charity's activities are classed as continuing.
The Charity has no recognised gains or losses other than those shown above.
The notes on pages 17 to 26 form part of these accounts.
15
Saxmundham Art Station
## **Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2025 Registered Number 10227051**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible Assets
13
**Current assets**
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
11
**Net Current Asset**
**Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**
12
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Restricted Funds**
**Unrestricted General Funds**
**Total funds**|**2025**
**2024 Restated**
**£**
**£**
63,697
71,634|
|---|---|
||63,697
71,634
34,048
28,861
83,825
42,297|
||117,873
71,158
(46,648)
(50,097)|
||71,225
21,061|
||(40,986)
(15,490)|
||93,936
77,205|
||63,335
42,436
30,601
34,769|
||93,936
77,205|
For the financial year ending 30 June 2025, the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors' responsibilities:
- The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476; and
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements on pages 15 to 26 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 30th March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
.........................................
Paul Richards (Trustee)
16
Saxmundham Art Station
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025**
## **1 Charity status**
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the trustees is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £5 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.
- **2 Accounting policies**
## **Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates**
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis of preparation**
Saxmundham Art Station 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.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement**
The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements
## **Judgements**
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
## **Income and endowments**
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 the income receivable can be measured reliably.
## **Donations and legacies**
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
## **Grants receivable**
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised unless it is deemed that the conditions will not be met.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement
17
## Saxmundham Art Station
is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Where expenditure is eligible to be claimed on a future grant claim which is certain to be received, it is deferred and matched to the receipt of funds when received.
## **Charitable activities**
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
## **Governance costs**
These include the costs attributable to the charity's compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees' meetings and reimbursed expenses.
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for services performed in the ordinary course of business. Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Trade creditors**
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognized initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future projects or commitment. Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
18
Saxmundham Art Station
## **3.Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations
Grant Income|**Unrestricted**
**General Funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total 2025**
**Total 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
81,824
-
81,824
81,698
-
108,220
108,220
91,033|
|---|---|
||**81,824**
**108,220**
**190,044**
**172,731**|
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
|Space Hire and Licence Fees|**Unrestricted**
**General Funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total 2025**
**Total 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
34,934
-
34,934
27,954|
|---|---|
||**34,934**
**-**
**34,934**
**27,954**|
19
Saxmundham Art Station
## **5.Expenditure on charitable activities**
|Art and Learning Programme
Bank Charges & Interest Payable
Utilities
Repairs and Maintenance
Insurance
Telephone & Communications
Depreciation
Advertising & Fundraising
Subscriptions
Travel & Subsistence
Other Expenses|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total 2025**
**2024 Restated**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
90,183
90,183 59,275
930
-
930
1,525
7,187
-
7,187
2,183
7,231
-
7,231
6,779
2,280
-
2,280
2,463
7,457
-
7,457
9,345
8,350
-
8,350
7,550
2,947
-
2,947
2,650
1,016
-
1,016
1,306
3,727
-
3,727
2,342
10,427
-
10,427
6,227|
|---|---|
||**51,552**
**90,183**
**141,735**
**101,645**|
Prior Year adjustment Interest payable has been reduced by £964 which had been over-accrued.
## **6.Support Costs**
|Salary costs
Legal and professional costs
Other support costs|**Unrestricted**
**General Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**Total**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
38,902
38,875
77,777
102,585
7,645
-
7,645
9,297
3,163
-
3,163
2,321|
|---|---|
||**49,710**
**38,875**
**88,585**
**114,203**|
20
Saxmundham Art Station
## **7. Governance Costs**
|Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements|**Unrestricted**
**Total 2025**
**Total 2024**
**General Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
1,200
1,200
1,200|
|---|---|
||**1,200**
**1,200**
**1,200**|
## **8. Staff Costs**
|**8. Staff Costs**||
|---|---|
|Wages and Salaries
Number of staff|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
77,777
102,585|
||77,777
102,585
**2025**
**2024**
3
5|
## **9.Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation
## **10. Debtors**
|Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued Income
Other Debtors|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
5,907
987
2,918
4,069
23,214
17,009
2,009
6,796|
|---|---|
||34,048
28,861|
21
Saxmundham Art Station
## **11.Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade Creditors
Taxes and social security
Accruals and Deferred income
Other creditors|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
25,542
34,281
3,060
4,827
10,300
300
7,746
10,689|
|---|---|
||46,648
50,097|
## **12.Creditors: amounts falling due after one year**
|Other creditors|**2025**
**2024 Restated**
**£**
**£**
40,986
15,490|
|---|---|
||40,986
15,490|
Prior Year adjustment
Long term creditors have been adjusted by £964 to correct the loan interest calculated in the prior year.
22
Saxmundham Art Station
## **13. Tangible Assets**
|**Cost**
As at 1 July 2024
Additions
Less Grants
As at 30 June 2025
**Depreciation**
As at 1 July 2024
Provided during the
period
As at 30 June 2025
**Net Book Value**
As at 30 June 2025
As at 1 July 2024||**Leasehold**
**Improvements**
**Fixtures &**
**Fittings**
**Office**
**Equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
75,296
15,732
8,669
99,697
-
-
413
413
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||75,296
15,732
9,082
100,110
15,526
8,042
4,495
28,063
5,977
1,538
835
8,350|
|||21,503
9,580
5,330
36,413
53,793
6,152
3,752
63,697|
|||59,770
7,690
4,174
71,634|
23
## Saxmundham Art Station
## **14.Funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General funds
**Restricted funds**
**Total funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
General funds
**Restricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**Transfer**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at**
**01-Jul-24R**
**between funds**
**resources**
**expended**
**30-Jun-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
34,769
(41,737)
140,031
(102,462)
**30,601**
42,436
41,737
108,220
(129,058)
**63,335**|
|---|---|
||**77,205**
-
248,251
(231,520)
**93,936**|
||**Balance at**
**Transfer**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Balance at**
**01-Jul-23**
**between funds**
**resources**
**expended**
**30-Jun-24R**
**£**
**£**
**£**
76,536
(46,867)
130,934
(80,834)
**34,769**
45,000
46,867
86,783
(136,214)
**42,436**|
||76,536
-
217,717
(217,048)
**77,205**|
24
Saxmundham Art Station
## **15 Breakdown of Grants and Donations Received**
|East Suffolk Council*
National Heritage Lottery Fund
Suffolk County Council*
Arts Council Grant*
Suffolk Community Foundation
Groundwork UK
First Light Festival
Foyle Foundation
Forester Family Trust
The Big Give Trust
The Grocers Charity
John Lewis
Elizabeth Frankland Moore & Star Foundation
Alpkit Foundation
Scarfe Charitable Trust
Local Trust
Saxmundham Town Council*
National Lottery Community Fund|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
16,948
16,948
21,419
-
-
-
20,000
-
2,000
2,000
2,000
-
32,618
32,618
29,286
-
43,132
43,132
3,503
-
500
500
375
-
5,022
5,022
-
10,000
-
10,000
-
-
4,000
4,000
-
25,262
-
25,262
-
-
4,000
4,000
-
1,475
-
1,475
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
200
-
-
-
750
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
1,500
-
-
-
20,000
36,737
108,220
144,957
91,033|
|---|---|
Grants and donations marked * are government grant income.
Income is only recognised where the income recognition criteria set out in the accounting policies are met. Unrestricted grant income of £10,000 has been deferred to the next financial year.
## **16. Related parties**
There are no related party transactions.
25
Saxmundham Art Station
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2024 - Restated**
|**Notes**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Grants & Donations
3
Interest Received
Charitable activities
4
MGETR
Total Income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
5
Support costs
6
Governance costs
7
Total Expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
14
Total funds carried forward
14|**Unrestricted**
**General**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
85,948
86,783
172,731
184,292
40
-
40
24
27,954
-
27,954
28,681
16,992
-
16,992
29,438|
|---|---|
||130,934
86,783
217,717
242,435|
||42,370
59,275
101,645
127,864
37,264
76.939
114,203
90,066
1,200
-
1,200
1,200|
||80,834
136,214
217,048
219,130|
||50,100
(49,431)
669
23,305|
||(46,867)
46,867
-
-|
||3,233
(2,564)
669
23,0305|
||31,536
45,000
76,536
53,231|
||34,769
42,436
77,205
76,536|
26