2024-08-31-accounts - Wooler Arts

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REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1198557

Wooler Arts

Report of the Trustees

and

Financial Statements for the year to 31 August 2024

Wooler Arts

Contents of the Financial Statements For the year to 31[st] August 2024

Report of the Trustees	1-6
Independent Examiner’s Report	7
Statement of Financial Statements	8
Balance Sheet	9
Notes to the Financial Statements	10-12
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	13

Wooler Arts Report of the Trustees For the year to 31 August 2024

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present the financial statements of the charity for 31 August 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the ’ Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005.

Registered Charity Number 1198557

Correspondence Address PO Box 134 Wooler Northumberland NE66 9ES

Trustees Professor John Casken Alison Dorothy Davies Janyce Muriel Davies

Independent Examiner Caroline Foreman

Objectives and Activities (SORP Para. 1.17 and 1.19)

Wooler Arts aims to enhance the provision and appreciation of creative activity in Wooler and Glendale in North Northumberland for the benefit of those attending concerts, workshops, exhibitions, poetry meetings, art classes and musical groups for their personal development, experience, well-being and engagement with artistic activities. Our philosophy is to promote ‘ Arts for Everyone ’ , sharing our knowledge, passion and enthusiasm especially with those who may not before have 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 the barriers to access art in a wide variety of forms, both financially and geographically by providing high quality, memorable, life-enhancing experiences in our rural community.

Statement regarding Public Benefit (SORP Para. 1.18)

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.

Summary of Main Achievements September 2023 – August 2024 (SORP Para. 1.20)

In the period in question, Wooler Arts has gone from strength to strength. It has become better organised, clearer about the longer-term vision, and more efficient in organising and marketing events. Significant numbers of the community are now aware of our activities and attendances of people from Wooler and across the region are growing steadily. The reputation of Wooler Arts Summer Concerts is spreading, often by word-of-mouth, and audience numbers are increasing. Concert programmes continue to be varied and wide-ranging, and audiences are not put off by new and sometimes challenging programmes. Other concerts, such as those by Royal Northern Sinfonia, serve to boost the reputation of Wooler as a place to enjoy a wide range of music.

Glendale Ceilidh Band has a large membership and is much in demand for both performances and ceilidh dances. The recent development of new pieces (in one case an actual suite of pieces) being written especially for the Band is an exciting development. Other main activities include the Open Exhibition, now an important event in the visual arts diary for North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, and the Poetry Café, which is well supported at its monthly meetings by poets and those interested in poetry. Occasional talks create further opportunities to bring different aspects of the creative arts to Wooler.

As we look forward to the future, there is much solid achievement on which to build new ideas and new strategies.

Wooler Arts Summer Concerts and other concerts

Sunday 31 March 2024

Royal Northern Sinfonia Ensemble – Richard Strauss, Beethoven and Brahms – Audience 128

– Saturday 4 May 2024 Wooler Arts Summer Concerts (WASC) 1 Joyful Company of Singers conducted by Peter Broadbent – Audience 135

Saturday 18 May 2024 – WASC 2 Slide Action Trombone Quartet – Audience 72 Workshop with children of Glendale Community Middle School on Friday 17 May

Sunday 2 June 2024 – WASC 3 Quatuor Danel – Audience 149

Saturday 22 June 2024 – WASC 4 Nigel Clayton and Imma Setiadi, piano four hands – Audience 55

Sunday 23 June 2024 – WASC 5

Matt Carmichael jazz trio – Audience 187

The reputation of Wooler Arts in presenting top-quality concerts in St Mary ’ s Church, Wooler has been greatly enhanced by the announcement that Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS) regards the location to be an ideal venue. It is their intention to return on a fairly regular basis. As the region ’ s international chamber orchestra, the presence of RNS greatly enhances the work of Wooler Arts in bringing top-quality musical performances to North Northumberland. Furthermore, it is an expression of confidence in the ability of the organisation to stage such highly prestigious concerts to a high standard, to market them efficiently, and to attract good audiences. RNS players who came on Easter Day 2024 to perform a programme of string chamber music by Strauss, Beethoven and Brahms were greeted by a large, enthusiastic audience and warm hospitality, and it was at this point that the decision was made that plans would be put in place to host RNS on a regular basis.

Wooler Arts Summer Concerts went extremely well in 2024. The opening concert on Saturday 4 May featured Joyful Company of Singers (JCS), a very good amateur London choir of about 34 people, all of whom organised their own transport and accommodation. It was a Northumbrian tour for the choir, with school workshops in Alnwick on the Friday in which Wooler Arts ’ Chairman John Casken played a part, a ‘ taster concert ’ in the atrium of Wooler ’ s new Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery on the Saturday afternoon, and a concert to a large audience in St Mary ’ s Church on the Saturday evening. This featured music related to the sea, and on Sunday 5 May, JCS and their conductor Peter Broadbent performed a similar, though not identical programme at St Paul ’ s Church in Alnwick.

The second Summer Concert was a very special evening. The four young trombonists of Slide Action arrived on the Friday and gave a marvellous and inspiring workshop involving the children of Glendale Community Middle School. The afternoon workshop involved Wooler Arts ’ new Junk Orchestra, a collection of metal objects donated by Glendale Engineering, a local firm, to create a unique percussion orchestra.

Wooler Arts had been successful in receiving Rural Challenge funding to pay for the construction of frames on which to hang the metal pieces, to buy mallets and sundry items, and to pay for professional workshop leaders to work with the children in exploring ways of playing the Junk Orchestra. Arising out of this initiative, the children had been prepared for the visit by Slide Action and a newly-composed piece was created for Junk Orchestra and four trombones. Slide Action ’ s evening concert on the Saturday, as well as presenting both old and new music for trombone quartet, included the piece prepared by the children and their workshop leader. It was the first time that a number of the children had performed in public for the first time and it proved a huge hit with the audience.

Quatuor Danel is one of the very best string quartets working in Europe and the UK. Their programme of Janàč ek ’ s First String Quartet (Kreutzer Sonata) was then followed unusually with two string quintets, the quartet augmented by guest cellist Petr Prause. John Casken ’ s challenging quintet Inevitable Rifts was well received by an audience seemingly undaunted by the new and less familiar. In a remote, rural setting, this is not something that can be taken for granted and is an indication that our supporters are not put off by the new. After the interval, the performers gave a once-in-a lifetime interpretation and performance of Schubert ’ s arguably greatest work, his Quintet in C, D956. At the end, the audience in its entirety leapt to its feet in loud appreciation.

The fourth concert was an unusual performance of orchestral works in transcription for piano duet. Nigel Clayton and Imma Setiadi were outstanding in bringing well-known orchestral scores by Chabrier, Debussy and Holst to life in ways that made us hear the music in a new and fresh light. In particular, Holst ’ s The Planets came as something of a revelation.

The final concert featured the young Scottish saxophonist Matt Carmichael and his two colleagues, the pianist Fergus McCreadie and fiddler Charlie Stewart . Matt had been a runner-up in the 2022 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year and Fergus McCreadie was already building a very strong reputation as one of our leading jazz pianists (BBC Young Generation Artists 2022-2024). Their concert drew a large audience and the mixture of jazz and Scottish folk music proved a fitting end to a successful series.

Glendale Ceilidh Band

Membership of the band hovers at around 40 with weekly two-hour Thursday night rehearsals continuing to be well-attended. The band had a busy year (Sept 23 – August 24) performing at a wide variety of events, including local summer shows at Glanton, Etal and Glendale. Our ceilidhs also supported local charities by helping to raise much needed funds for their causes. Particularly memorable ceilidhs were held at:

Horncliffe (in aid of the Chain Bridge)
Paxton House
Wooler (in aid of Mountain Rescue team)
Glanton
’
Wooler (Children s Ceilidh)

The band is fortunate to be able to call on two of its members, Cheryl and Mike, to call dances but it also uses experienced callers Alistair Anderson and Cathy Beal when necessary.

In January 2024 acclaimed accordionist, Ian Lowthian, gave a workshop to the band, bringing along tunes specially written for the group.

In March, the Ceilidh Band collaborated with the Poetry Café and the Wooler and District Camera Club in a performance of Wooler Water, a suite of pieces composed by Band member Kate Bagenal-Lowe specially for the Ceilidh Band. The performance also included members of the Poetry Café reading their own compositions based around Wooler Water and images of the local area. The event was a sell-out.

Funding for the band continues to be generated from members ’ £2 weekly subscription and donations from performance venues.

Poetry Café

The Poetry Cafe is now in its second year and has established itself as a popular part of the community. We continue to meet at the Warm Hub where we invite people to come and read their own poetry, share a favourite poem or just listen. We have a short discussion after each poem which is supportive and beneficial. We meet on a Friday night, at the end of the working week; the atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed and attendees feel free to express themselves through the written and spoken word. Our numbers are steady ranging from 15 to 20 and approximately 40% are men. We offer tea, coffee and home-made truffles and people often bring wine and beer.

We have welcomed two guest poets and one guest speaker this year and have participated in three community events:

A celebration of Wooler Water in collaboration with local composer, Kate Bagenal-Lowe, Glendale Ceilidh Band, and the Camera Club.
An Evening of Remembrance in collaboration with the Ceilidh Band and members of the farming community.
A collaboration with the Drop In Centre (a social club for Wooler youth) and the Open Art Exhibition to create a ‘ Flaiku ’ piece of artwork composed of self-penned Haiku poems on paper planes attached to a structure suspended from the ceiling.

We are looking at hosting ‘ WORD ON THE STREET ’ communal poetry sessions in the coming year.

Open Exhibition 2023

Each November Wooler Arts presents an Open Exhibition and this was our third. Local artists within a 20mile radius of Wooler were invited to submit works in a variety of mediums – paintings, prints, drawings, photography, sculpture, basket work, tapestry, ceramics and glass work. Some of the works were offered for sale and the Exhibition ran from 17 November to 22 December.

A Selection Panel of professional artists was brought together to view the works anonymously for inclusion in the Exhibition. There were about 70 submissions and 45 were selected. In addition, and for the first time, the children ’ s category attracted a large number of works, some from a local children ’ s art group called Inky Fingers, and some from Glendale Community Middle School. Altogether there were 49 artworks from the children and the decision was made to display all of them because, without exception, they were all interesting.

There was a special Preview event where all artists and their guests were invited, and the atmosphere was extremely positive and lively. During the Exhibition members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite piece of work and the winner of The People ’ s Prize is announced at a Closing Party and given a modest prize. There was also a People ’ s Prize for the best of the children ’ s work.

Funding for publicity and sundries comes from a small hanging fee that is charged for successful adult artists and the Gallery space is donated free by the owner.

Wooler Arts as Highlights Rural Touring Scheme promoter in Wooler

In March 2024 it was agreed that Wooler Arts would take over the booking, promotion and hosting of Highlights events from the Glendale Gateway Trust (GGT). Highlights Rural Touring Scheme supports rural venues such as village halls and community hubs to put on events with quality performers and artists. With the retirement of the contact person at GGT responsible for their organisation, it was felt that Wooler Arts was best placed to continue bringing different forms of live arts and events to Wooler and rural Glendale in conjunction with Highlights. GGT paid the Highlights membership fee for 2024 and also contributed £500 to underwrite the Autumn programme with Wooler Arts as promoter.

Two acts were chosen for the Highlights Autumn season: James Rowland Dies at the End of the Show (a one-man theatre show) and Maddie Morris, folk singer songwriter. It was agreed to continue to use the Cheviot Centre as the venue to host these performances.

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, 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 second 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.

Funding Report (SORP Para. 1.47)

The funding strategy focused on projects and the Summer Concerts in the short term, with a mid- to longer-term aim of applying for larger grant(s) to support the organisation ’ s core running costs and the strategic plan for consolidation and growth in the future.

During the reporting period we were completing a project funded by the Creative UK Rural Challenge Fund, awarded in February 2023 for completion by December 2023. The grant covered the set-up costs for a Junk Orchestra, a new wing of the organisation ’ s music offerings. A second successful bid came from the Coop Local Community Fund in March 2024. This grant went towards the core running costs with a small portion

reserved to go towards the costs of a Celebration Event planned for June 2025. Funding was also secured for the Summer Concerts Programme in 2024. These funds came from various sources, including the Hadrian Trust, The Henfrey Charitable Trust, The Hugonin Family Trust and private donations.

Wooler Arts will always be grant-dependant to a greater or lesser extent, a situation recognised in the strategic plans which include widening the pool of organisations we apply to, as well as preparing to apply to funders who support organisations with multi-year grants to underpin and facilitate the business plan.

Reserves Policy (SORP Para. 1.22)

We are currently holding a low level of reserves. We are looking to build up reserves, but at this stage most of the funds coming in are restricted income streams for particular projects. We are, however, actively seeking opportunities in the current year to secure further 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.

Declarations

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees ’ Report above.

Signed on behalf of the Charity ’ s Trustees:

Wooler Arts

Independent Examiner ’ s Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ( “ the Trust ” ) for the year to 31 August 2024.

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ( “ the Act ” ).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust ’ s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) 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 give 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.

Wooler Arts Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating an Income & Expenditure account) For the year to 31 August 2024

Total Funds 8,289.00 17,814.42	Unrestricted Funds 40.00 2,168.14	Restricted Funds 8,249.00 15,646.28

26,103.42	2,208.14	23,895.28
21,715.74	707.90	21,007.84
21,715.74	707.90	21,007.84
4,387.68	1,500.24	2,887.44
8,310.81 4,387.68	708.18 1,500.24	7,602.63 2,887.44
12,698.49	2,208.42	10,490.07

Wooler Arts Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024

Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 7 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 9 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS Restricted Funds Unrestricted funds 10 TOTAL FUNDS	31.8.24 31.8.24 31.8.24 Total Funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 1,736.98 - 1,736.98 367.89 - 367.89 10,593.62 2,202.48 8,391.14
	10,961.51 2,202.48 8,759.03
	- - -
	10,961.51 2,202.48 8,759.03
	12,698.49 2,202.48 8,759.03
	12,698.49 2,202.48 8,759.03
	10,490.07 - 10,490.07 2,208.42 2,208.42 -
	12,698.49 2,208.42 10,490.07

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year to 31 August 2024.

The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024, in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

a) Ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the 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 to small charitable companies and with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective January 2015).

Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements for the year to 31 August 2024

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 & Exhibitions Donations	31.8.24 18,726.42 7,377.00 26,103.42		31.8.23 21,250.24 17,482.84
			38,733.09

Please note: 2023 accounts covered two series of Summer Concerts and two years of associated donations (including a transfer of residual assets from the dissolved charity, Alwinton Summer Concerts). 2024 accounts are for only one series of concerts.

3. COSTS OF GENERATING VOLUNTARY INCOME

Expenditure on Fundraising Activities	31.8.24 21,007.84	31.8.23 30,264.46

Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year to 31 August 2024 – continued

4. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES Net resources are stated after charging/(crediting):

Depreciation – owned assets

31.8.24 31.8.23 1,251.95 1,304.61

5. TRUSTEES ’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

No trustees ’ remuneration or benefits were paid for the period ended 31 August 2024 or 2023.

Trustees ’ expenses

No trustees ’ expenses were paid during the period ended 31 August 2024 or 2023.

6. STAFF COSTS

No staff were employed during the period.

7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

ANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
	Equipment
		& Tools
COST
Brought forward		2,988.93
		2,988.93
DEPRECIATION
Charge for the Year		1,251.95
At 31 August 2023		1,251.95

NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 August 2023		1,736.98

8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

	31.8.24	31.8.23

Payments in Advance	367.89	400.70

Wooler Arts Notes to the Financial Statements For the year to 31 August 2024 – continued

9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.8.24

Trade Creditors & Amount received in Advance Nil

10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

OVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds Restricted fund TOTAL FUNDS	B/Fwd Net Movement At 31.8.24 708.18 1,500.24 2,208.42 7,602.63 2,887.44 10,490.07
	8,310.81 4,387.68 12,698.49

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

	Incoming resources Resources expended Movement in funds

Unrestricted funds	2,208.14 707.90 1,500.24
Restricted funds	23,895.28 21,007.84 2,887.44
TOTAL FUNDS	26,103.42 21,715.94 4,387.68

Wooler Arts Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 August 2024

31.8.24 Total 7,377 8,340.55 2,633.24 1,672.22 2,340.00 732.27 800.00 2,208.14 26,103.42 20,463.79 1,251.95	Unrestricted - - - - - - - 2,208.14 2,208.14 707.90	Restricted 7,377 8,340.55 2,633.24 1,672.22 2,340.00 732.27 800.00 - 23,895.28 19,755.89 1,251.95
21,715.74	707.90	21,007.84

4,387.68	1,500.24	2,887.44