REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1198557
Wooler Arts
Report of the Trustees
and
Financial Statements for the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
Wooler Arts
Contents of the Financial Statements For the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
| Report of the Trustees | 1-8 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 9 |
| Statement of Financial Statements | 10 |
| Balance Sheet | 11 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 12-14 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 15 |
Wooler Arts Report of the Trustses For the period 7 April 2022 31 August 2023 The trustees, who are also directors of the charity, for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present the finanaal statements of the charity for the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), Accounting and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005 Regislered Charity Number 1198557 Correspondence Address PO8ox 134 Wooler Northumberfand NE66 9ES Trustees Janyce Muriel Davies Professor John Casken Alison Dorothy Davies appointed 29106122 appointed 07104122 appointed 07104122 Independent Examiner Caroline Foreman STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND k4ANAGEMENT Goveming document The charity is controlled by tts governing document, a de&J of trust, and constitutes a CIO as defined by th8 Charities Commission. Risk management The trustees have a duty to idenllfy and rev5ew the rlsks to whlch the charlty is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to prowde reasonable assurance against fraud and error. 22 Approved by order ofthe board oftrustees on ................ ..and signed ty.. Mrs Alison Davfies-Trustee Page 1
Wooler Arts
Trustees Annual Report
for the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
Objectives and Activities (SORP Para. 1.17, 1.18 and 1.19)
Purpose of the Charity as set out in the Constitution
The advancement of the visual arts, the arts of music, dance, the written and spoken word for the benefit of the public in Wooler and the surrounding area of Glendale by organising and presenting public events including concerts, performances, exhibitions, classes and creative workshops to enable local people to experience and encounter different art forms and to participate in new forms of artistic expression.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit
Our philosophy is to promote ‘ Arts for Everyone ’ , sharing our knowledge, passion and enthusiasm especially with those who may not have before had the privilege, facility or opportunity to engage with and appreciate the visual arts, music, dance, the written and the spoken word.
Wooler Arts selects, organises, manages and presents events and activities for the enjoyment of the community.
It is well known that access to and inclusion in the arts creates a sense of well-being and is beneficial to physical and mental health. At Wooler Arts we aim to remove barriers so that people can access art in a wide variety of forms, both financially and geographically by providing high quality, memorable, lifeenhancing experiences in our rural community.
Wooler Arts Summer Concerts – international series of 4-5 concerts in May and June held in St Mary ’ s Church, Wooler. Income from fundraising, donations and Box Office sales.
Ceilidh Band – local musicians from North Northumberland playing a variety of instruments learning new pieces in the folk-ceilidh tradition. Income generated from £2 per week for those attending (about 20) and from Box Office sales for events and performances.
– Open Exhibition exhibition of artwork by artists from across North Northumberland, selected by an invited Panel. Submission is free, a hanging charge of £6 for works accepted contributes towards the cost of publicity and expenses. Gallery space donated by the owner.
Poetry Café – monthly meetings of local people interested in and writing poetry. £2 for those attending to cover costs of room hire and refreshments.
Statement regarding Public Benefit
We confirm the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and this is at the heart of our purposes as stated above.
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Achievements and Performance (SORP Para. 1.20)
– Wooler Arts Summary of Main Achievements, April 2022 August 2023
Wooler Arts Summer Concerts
This is an annual series in May and June bringing major international and national musicians to perform in the excellent acoustic and space of St Mary ’ s Church. The benefits to the public are being able to experience top-quality musical performance in a local venue at an affordable price (currently £15 Standard, Students/Unwaged £5, U18 Free, Series Discount £60).
Local people and those coming from farther afield are offered a wide range of music from classical chamber, instrumental and choral music (often including the work of living composers), to jazz, folk and folk-jazz, which increases their knowledge and awareness of music, and brings the benefits of feeling enriched by these experiences. Details of all our events and booking for the concerts are on the Wooler Arts website (www.woolerarts.org.uk) for which we receive many positive comments and which we continue to work hard to improve.
The Artistic Director, John Casken, is also Chair of Wooler Arts and a Trustee.
2022 Concerts:
Steven Osborne (Piano)
A concert of music by Debussy - Audience 119
Chris Stout (Shetland Fiddle) and Catriona McKay (Scottish Harp)
Shetland-inspired music and original compositions by the artists - Audience 174
O Duo - Owen Gunnell and Toby Kearney (percussion)
Contemporary works, arrangements and an afternoon percussion workshop for families and children - Audience 83
Solem Quartet
A concert of string quartets by Bartók, David John Roche and Beethoven - Audience 78
2023 Concerts:
Mishka Rushdie Momen (Piano)
A concert of music by Beethoven, Brett Dean, Bach, Rameau, Ravel and Schubert - Audience 113
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Tim Kliphuis Trio
Trio mixing jazz, gypsy, folk and classical music – Audience 134
Aglica Trio
Trio of flute, viola and harp performing Bax, Matthias, Debussy, Tann, Takemitsu and del Aguila. This included a workshop with children from the local school and inclusion of their work in the evening concert the following day – Audience 108
Gould Piano Trio
A concert of music by Schumann, Casken and Ravel – Audience 104
Audience members come from Wooler and Glendale, from the Scottish Borders, Tyneside, County Durham and North Yorkshire. Also, visitors to the area who are on holiday often attend concerts.
Evaluation forms completed by audience members and collected after each concert show an overwhelming enthusiasm and support for the range of music, quality of the artists, value for money, and benefits to Wooler and beyond. Very many people have commented how fortunate Wooler is to have such high-quality concerts happening in the town.
Collaboration with Glendale Community Middle School has been of enormous benefit to the children and been a crucial element in their education. Workshops with artists and creative projects have resulted in their own musical compositions forming part of the main evening concert with those same artists the following day. O Duo ’ s afternoon workshop in St Mary ’ s Church saw a good number of children, from toddlers to older children and their parents discovering the joy of percussion instruments and the fun of performing together. The Aglica Trio ’ s workshop was with Year 6 of the Middle School who were engaged in Graphic Musical Composition. The benefits for the children in opening ears and eyes to the possibilities of expressing their musical ideas through graphic representation, and hearing their works (created in small groups) interpreted by this unique ensemble were immense. In the following evening ’ s concert, three of these compositions formed a major part of the evening concert, to the delight of the audience.
Glendale Ceilidh Band
Combining traditional music as well as dance, Glendale Ceilidh Band has about 20 members playing a range of string and wind instruments, accordions and percussion. Local people and those from a wider area meet each week to play familiar pieces, refining their techniques and learning new pieces arranged by the Band ’ s leader, Susie Cochrane (also on the Steering Group). They give regular performances at Ceilidhs and also in stand-alone performances in community halls and other venues.
The benefits to those taking part are that members with a wide range of ability are welcomed and encouraged to participate in a friendly and non-judgemental atmosphere. The Band includes a number of younger members and there have been occasions when the Band has collaborated with children ’ s groups. This is community-based music making in which people can develop their musical skills, with some members relatively new to such activities.
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Open Exhibition
Wooler Arts organises an annual Open Exhibition in November/December, inviting amateur artists from across North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders to submit work in a variety of mediums. This includes a children ’ s category and four children submitted five pieces in 2022. Altogether the 2022 exhibition saw 38 artists submitting 75 works. The Selection Panel chose 50 of these to hang in the exhibition which ran for six weeks in the Gallery @ No.6, High Street, Wooler.
The Wooler Drop-In Centre for young people participated in the Open Exhibition, submitting a piece of felted artwork which was created during one of the Grow and Tell workshops. The piece was auctioned to raise funds for the Centre.
The benefit to those taking part was the privilege of having their works on public display, the opportunity to sell works and to generate further public interest in their work as artists. The benefit to the residents of Wooler was the opportunity to see interesting and varied artwork on their doorstep, and to know that their local community could host such an activity. The Open Exhibition enhances the cultural identity of the town and the wider area and is a showcase for the rich creative imagination of the artists, some of whom challenge perceived notions of the visual arts in unusual ways. In terms of self-esteem and personal development for local artists, this is a key event in the Wooler Arts calendar.
Life Drawing Classes
These classes meet once a month in the Gallery @ No.6 on Wooler High Street. The group is about 10 in number, though it has been as many as 15. Amateur artists spend an entire afternoon sketching and drawing a live model with challenges ranging from different poses lasting 1 or 2 minutes, to ones lasting from 20 to 40 minutes.
The classes are informal and untutored, but the interaction between members of the group and discussions with those more experienced leads to mutual support and encouragement. Self-assessment of the success or otherwise of the artists ’ own work is a key feature. Some works arising from the classes were successfully submitted to the Open Exhibition.
Poetry Café
This meets once a month in the Warm Hub of the United Reformed Church where those attending are invited in a café-type atmosphere to read poems they have written, share poems they admire or to just listen and enjoy an evening of poetry. Short discussions follow and people are encouraged to comment and make observations all of which are of great benefit to budding poets.
It is encouraging that a significant proportion of attendees are men who appreciate and benefit from the group ’ s safe environment and feel able to freely express themselves through the written and spoken word.
Two of the organisers are members of the Steering Group, and one, Janyce Davies, is a Trustee of Wooler Arts.
Grow & Tell
The summer of 2022 saw the completion of a major one-off project led by Wooler Arts ’ initial Creative Producer, Jodie R. Red, who was engaged with the help of a local benefactor at the very start of Wooler Arts to develop new ideas.
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Grow & Tell was about connecting nature and creativity. This was an ambitious and inspiring project that brought together many different groups of people to engage with creative activities: willow sculpture, clay tile-making, nature photography, printmaking, watercolour painting, storytelling, music and performance. Local people from very small children to the elderly were involved in these creative activities and the results were centred on the local community Cheviot Centre Garden, an enterprise that was started perhaps 20 years ago and had gone into decline.
A significant part of the project was to rejuvenate and restore the garden, create new planting areas, work on older ones, and to fill the newer ones with new plants. Many of these were donated, and local people benefited by having talks and demonstrations by a local garden expert. The newly-transformed garden then became the focus for the exhibition of most of the creative outcomes of the Grow & Tell project and a celebratory event attended by many local people and their children took place in the summer. Ms. Red was successful in applying for a National Lottery Community Fund to facilitate the project. The benefits to the local community were enormous, with an inspiring ‘ new ’ garden space that was both an interesting playarea for toddlers as well as a calm space for those wishing to sit in the quiet atmosphere surrounded by nature. Those involved in the creative workshops were able to see their work on display, and the tiles and some willow sculptures are still there.
Junk Orchestra
A new initiative developed in 2023 was the creation of a Junk Orchestra. A major local engineering firm, Glendale Engineering, agreed to donate pieces of scrap metal to create the Junk Orchestra. Pieces of metal with an appealing and interesting sonority were selected and a successful funding application to Creative England allowed us to commission Glendale Engineering to build frames for the ‘ instruments ’ , purchase hanging wires, percussion beaters, and to provide money for workshops led by professional visiting musicians. The Orchestra was eventually housed at Glendale Community Middle School so that this could become a resource for the music teacher and the children. Recently (May 2024), the series of workshops ended, the outcome of which will form part of next year ’ s Report. It is envisaged that other members of the community will be able to enjoy participating in performances with the Junk Orchestra.
Other performances and events
Visiting speakers and performers are invited to give talks about their work, readings, or give a concert or recital. These are occasional events that supplement the main activities and are always well attended, whether in the Gallery @ No.6 or St Mary ’ s Church.
Examples include a fundraising jazz evening with local musicians (two of whom are on the Steering Group) and a visit by Berwick Male Voice Choir. A reading by the Northumbrian poet Katrina Porteous ( Under the Ice ) was the first public performance of the work with electronic music by Peter Zinovieff. Piero Gasparini (Viola, Hallé Orchestra) gave a talk about his professional career as a viola player, and Robert Gower gave an organ recital in St Mary ’ s Church.
In April 2022 Darren Hill, who describes himself as The Story Pilgrim, came on an organised walk in the Cheviot Hills, sharing and telling stories as the walk progressed, and then in the evening there was a meeting in St Mary ’ s Church where people (including four American holiday-makers who came across the Pilgrim on his hill walk) were encouraged to gather and tell stories important to themselves. The challenge of speaking publicly and the sharing of unknown stories was felt to be a most rewarding and unusual experience.
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Volunteers (SORP Para 1.38)
All members of Wooler Arts Steering Group and the Trustees are volunteers and give many hours of their time to ensuring that activities are safe, well run and are successful. In addition, we have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteers for the larger events such as the Summer Concerts who help with staging and lighting, stewarding at concerts, ticket management, financial management, hospitality and accommodation, transport, and publicity. Members of the Steering Group play their part but others are needed to augment the team for such large-scale events. In addition to the 9 members of the Steering Group, as many as 20 people will have been involved over one season of Summer Concerts.
Financial Review (SORP Para 1.21 – 1.24)
Wooler Arts is in a sound position at the end of its first financial period as a registered charity, as can be seen in our Financial Statements attached. We are continuing to seek funding to enable us to enhance the activities we offer. It is our policy to have funding in place prior to commitment to deliver.
Reserves Policy
We are currently holding zero reserves. We are looking to establish reserves, but at this stage the majority of funds coming in are restricted income streams for particular projects. We are, however, actively seeking opportunities in the current year to secure some unrestricted funds and will then establish a reserves policy.
Structure, Governance and Management (SORP Para 1.25)
Wooler Arts is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its CIO Constitution.
Trustee selection method
Original Chair, Rev. Suzanne Cooke, the originator of Wooler Arts, has now left the area.
New Chair, John Casken, was elected by members of Wooler Arts Steering Group based on his wider experience in music and the arts, and his contacts. He was Chairman and Artistic Director of Alwinton – Summer Concerts (registered Charity No. 1140527 now dissolved).
Alison Davies was appointed Treasurer from the outset based on her experience in the arts and financial management. She was elected as a Trustee of Wooler Arts by the Steering Group.
Janyce Davies was invited to join the Steering Group and become a Trustee based on her interest and experience in creative writing, her participation in literary festivals in Birmingham, Worcestershire and Shropshire and her trusteeship of other charities.
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Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Slgnaturds) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) John Arthur Casken Alison Dcfothy Davies Chair Treasurer Date 2£. 06.2 Page 8
Wooler Arts Inde endent Examinerfs Re ort I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity 1.the Trust") for the period 7 April 2022 to 31 Au8U5t 2023. As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charitie5 Act 20111"the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sectioll 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which 8ives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act.. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date 25 2¥ Name.. Cally Foreman Independent Examiner Page 9
Wooler Arts Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating an income & expenditure account) For the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
| Notes INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary Income Activates for generating funds 2 Total incoming resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of generating voluntary income 3 Total resources expended NET SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward Surplus for the Year TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Total Funds 17,482.85 21,250.24 |
Unrestricted Funds 1,510.53 |
Restricted Funds 17,482.85 19,739.71 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38,733.09 | 1,510.53 | 37,222.56 | ||
| 31,569.07 | 802.35 | 30,766.72 | ||
| 31,569.07 | 802.35 | 30,766.72 | ||
| 7,164.02 |
708.18 |
6,455.84 | ||
| 1,146.79 7,164.02 |
- 708.18 |
1,146.79 6,455.84 |
||
| 8,310.81 | 708.18 | 7,602.63 |
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Wooler Arts Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023 31.8.23 Total Fund5 31.8.23 Unrestrlcted Funds 31.823 Restricted Funds Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 2,988.93 2,988.93 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 400.70 6,722.46 7.123.16 400.70 6,014.28 6 414.98 708.18 708.18 CREDITORS Amounts falling due wthin one year 1,801.28 1801.28 NET CURRENT ASSETS 708.18 4,613.70 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIA81LITIES 8,310.81 708.18 7,602.63 NET ASSETS 8,310.81 708.18 7,602.63 FUNDS Restricted Funds Unrestricted funds 7602.63 708.18 7.602.63 10 708.18 TOTAL FUNDS 8,310.81 708.18 The charitable company is entiued to exemplion from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Acl 2006, for the period 7 April 2022 10 31 August 2023. The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of tls financial statements for the period ended 31 August 2023, in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities fc al Ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Seclion 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2(K)6 and bl Preparing f inancial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the chaiitsble company as at Ihe end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006, relating lo small charitable Companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015). The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees ffl . signed on its behalf by-. were Mrs Alison Davies Page11
Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements for the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
1. ACCOUNTANCY POLICIES
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), the Companies Act 2006 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
2. ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING FUNDS
| Music Concerts Donations |
31.8.23 21,250.24 17,482.84 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 38,733.09 |
3. COSTS OF GENERATING VOLUNTARY INCOME
| 31.8.23 | |
|---|---|
| Fundraising expenditure | 30,264.46 |
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Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period 7 April 2022 - 31 August 2023 – continued
4. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES Net resources are stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation – owned assets
31.8.23 1,304.61
5. TRUSTEES ’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
No trustees ’ remuneration or benefits were paid for the period ended 31 August 2023.
Trustees ’ expenses
No trustees ’ expenses were paid during the period ended 31 August 2023.
6. STAFF COSTS
No staff were employed during the period.
7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| 7. TANGIBLE FIXEDASSETS |
||
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | ||
| & Tools | ||
| COST | ||
| At Cost | 3,064.08 | |
| Brought forward | 1,229.46 | |
| 4,293.54 | ||
| DEPRECIATION | ||
| Charge for the Year | 1,304.61 | |
| At 31 August 2023 | 1,304.61 | |
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||
| At 31 August 2023 | 2,988.93 |
8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUEWITHIN ONE YEAR |
|
|---|---|
| 31.8.23 | |
| Payments in Advance | 400.70 |
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Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements For the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023 – continued
9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
31.8.22
Trade Creditors & Amount received in Advance 1,801.28
| 10.MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Unrestricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS |
B/Fwd Net Movement At 31.8.23 - 708.18 708.18 1,146.79 6,455.84 7,602.63 |
|---|---|
| 1,146.79 7,164.02 8,310.81 |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming resources Resources expended Movement in funds |
|
|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | 1,510.53 802.35 708.18 |
| Restricted funds | 37,222.56 30,766.72 6,455.84 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 38,733.09 31,569.07 7,164.02 |
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Wooler Arts Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the period 7 April 2022 to 31 August 2023
| INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary Income Gifts/Donations Activities for generating funds Summer Concerts 2022 Summer Concerts 2023 Ceilidh Band Junk Orchestra– Grant Other Music Poetry Café Other Strands Organisational Total IncomingResources RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of generating income Fundraising expenditure Depreciation Plant & machinery Total resources expended Net income |
31.8.23 Total 17,482.85 6,516.21 7,059.21 3,076.76 1,617.78 521.00 608.75 340.00 1,510.53 21,250.24 38,733.09 30,264.46 1,304.61 |
Unrestricted - - - - - - - - 1,510.53 1,510.53 1,510.53 802.35 - |
Restricted 17,482.85 6516.21 7059.21 3,076.76 1617.78 521.00 608.75 340.00 - 19,739.71 37,222.56 29,462.11 1,304.61 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31,569.07 | 802.35 | 30,766.72 | ||
| 7,164.02 | 708.18 | 6,455.84 |
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