CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER : 1202238
THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details | 1 |
| Trustees’ annual report | 2 - 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8- 12 |
THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
REGISTERED CHARITY NAME
The Living Theatre Whitwell
CHARITY 1202238 REGISTRATION NUMBER
REGISTERED OFFICE 15 High Street AND OPERATIONAL Whitwell ADDRESS Hitchin Hertfordshire SG4 8AJ
TRUSTEES
The trustees who served during the period and since the period end were as follows:
Imogen Powell Monika Skwierczynska Andrew Barker Julia Louise Fisher
All were appointed on 8 March 2023
BANKERS
The Co-operative Bank
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Living Theatre Whitwell (TLTW) is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), number 1202238. The governing constitution was adopted on 8th March 2023. The organisation began as a limited by guarantee company The Living Theatre Whitwell Ltd company number 13964908 incorporated in March 2022 which is due to be dissolved.
The governing body of TLTW is the board of trustees whose members are non-executive and unpaid. The constitution specifies that the number of trustees is at least three with a maximum of twelve, the current number of trustees is four. The board meets at least four times a year and retains full and effective control over the TLTW. The board delegates the day to day management and artistic operation of the CIO to Emma Fisher, Stephanie Booth and James Schofield; the Artistic Directors. They attend meetings of the board. The Artistic Directors who attend board meetings do so as non-voting participants.
The board of trustees takes responsibility for appointing the Artistic Directors and will determine the contract of employment and monitor the performance of individuals undertaking these roles. Any remuneration is reviewed to ensure that it is fair and not out of line with similar roles. The responsibility for the appointment of other staff would normally be delegated to the Artistic Directors.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Living Theatre Whitwell is an outdoor theatre and arts organisation, with community, sustainability and creativity at the heart of all we do. Nestled in a beautiful corner of the St Paul's Walden Bury estate, we host workshops, community events and create shows that run all throughout the year. Through rain, wind and shine we endeavour to make theatre and events that are immersed in our natural environment and that engage and excite a wide demographic.
As written in our constitution our charitable objectives are
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1) To advance the education of the public in the arts with a focus on theatre and the performing arts and to promote art, in particular, but not exclusively by: (a) the presentation of public performances (b) facilitating educational workshops (c) developing artistic works, for the benefit of the public.
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2) In the interests of social welfare to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity, illness, physical or mental disability, poverty or severe social and economic circumstances, provided that nevertheless such facilities shall be available to members of the public at large
The trustees take seriously the Charity Commission's guidance on Public Benefit and believe the activities of the charitable company are in line with that guidance.
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
This season we transitioned from the limited by guarantee company to the CIO. The year began with the CLBG producing a Summer Ball and another Summer Festival featuring a wide range of workshops and productions with the main event being a two week run of Twelfth Night. The CIO on the back of the wonderful work of the CLBG began its first official project of a tour of A Reading of ‘A Christmas Carol’ in December, touring to a diverse list of venues from both large stately homes to smaller community venues and churches. A Christmas Carol began a touring model of visiting a combination of higher profit commercial venues alongside community venues, with the outcome that the income from the larger venues subsidise the shows at smaller venues. This model enables community spaces that can’t buy in shows to access the production on a profit share basis with no financial risk, while still ensuring costs are covered for the CIO. An immersive production for families ‘Through The Wardrobe’, was also run in tandem with the tour in the outdoor theatre space to capitalize on new audiences found by touring to different locations.
Accessibility was a big focus this year. The Summer Festival, being supported by the Henry Smith fund, had ‘pay what you can’ tickets throughout the programme and many heavily subsidised ticket prices. We also had support in-kind of rubber matting that has enabled our space to be fully wheelchair accessible for the first time. During our winter production ‘Through the Wardrobe’, we trialled a secondary concession ticket that was for those receiving universal credit. Due to the successful uptake we will be carrying this forward in all future events, ensuring as many people as possible have access to our work.
Twelfth Night was our first in-house production that didn’t have a sound or lighting set up. Using smaller battery powered lights and scheduling the show earlier in the summer to have natural light. This meant we were able to drastically reduce our power outage and use a much smaller generator, making it the most sustainable summer production yet and giving us a more sustainable blueprint for future shows.
Post December, in our down-time before the season began again, we were able to dedicate time to planning a varied and community centered season. We laid the ground for a sustainable art trail beginning in May 2024 and programmed the whole of the 2024 season.
The events throughout the year brought in a total of 1208 attendees and worked with roughly 40 volunteers, which the whole team was very proud of.
Our new CIO status has helped us to secure funding pots and to help solidify our charitable endeavors to our audience. Both the CLBG and CIO successfully managed to break even on all projects run in the theatre and the activities led to us securing grants from the Locality Budget, the Henry Smith Foundation and the Makin Foundation which will be received annually for the next 3 years as well as our first business sponsor IDNET for the following tax year.
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Living Theatre CIO ended the period 23/24 in good financial health with a modest income of £13,510 exceeding the expenditure of £13,051 with the surplus being carried forward to the next financial year. This has been a steady first year as we transferred from a limited by guarantee into the CIO, the CIO taking on previous loans and net liabilities of the limited by guarantee company. However, as noted in the accounts report, the loans bear no interest and have no fixed term for repayment, the lenders being fully supportive of the activities of the charity. Whilst the loans are a deficit figure for the CIO, the trustees do not deem this as any kind of financial risk or concern. In the financial year we secured £250 from the council’s locality budget, £5000 annually for the next three years in unrestricted funds from the Makin Foundation as well as securing our first business sponsorship for the following year and the aim in 24/25 is to increase income in the form of grants from trusts and foundations to further deliver charitable projects. The largest funding pot (Makin Foundation) that we received due to our transition to CIO will enable us to help fund important core costs in the future.
Reserves policy
The current reserves policy is to only spend against committed Funding and Income from commissions, with an aim to build a reserve that would allow our core operating expenses to be maintained for between 3 to 6 months.
The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 2019).
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
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departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
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presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
By order of the board of trustees
Julia Fisher Dated: 4 February 2025
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| Total funds | |
| Notes | 2024 |
| £ | |
| INCOME FROM: | |
| Donations and legacies 2 |
5,000 |
| Charitable activities 3 |
8,510 |
| Total | 13,510 |
| EXPENDITURE ON: | |
| Charitable activities 4 |
10,230 |
| Other charitable activities 5 |
1,771 |
| Support and governance 6 |
1,050 |
| Total | 13,051 |
| NET INCOME | 459 |
| Transfer between funds | |
| TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 459 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 5 APRIL 2024
| AS AT 5 APRIL 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Note | |
| funds | |
| £ | |
| 100 | |
| Debtors | 1,101 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 9,016 |
| Total current assets | 10,217 |
| LIABILITIES | |
| 1,200 | |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 9,017 |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 9,017 |
| in more than oneyear | 8,558 |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 459 |
| THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY | |
| FUNDS | |
| General funds | 459 |
| Total charity funds | 459 |
These financial statements were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on 4 February 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
February 5th 2025
Andrew Barker
The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these accounts
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
1. Accounting Policies
General information
The Living Theatre Whitwell is a charitable incorporated organization (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The office address is 15 High Street Whitwell Hitchin Hertfordshire SG4 8AJ
The CIO was formed on 8 March 2023
1.1 Accounting convention
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s constitution, the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Public benefit entity
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
1.4 Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are funds that can be used in accordance with the objectives of the charity at the discretion of the trustees.
1.5 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital grants or revenue grants’, are recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Where a grant is received for a specific purpose, it is included in restricted income and any unexpended portion carried forward as a restricted fund.
1.6 Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure was incurred in carrying out the charitable activity of the charity, including the costs of operating.
The charity is not registered for VAT and therefore all expenditure is recorded inclusive of VAT.
There were no employees during the period.
1.7 Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. The charity is not registered for VAT.
1.8 Stock
Bar stocks held for sale are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value
| 2 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES Grants |
|
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| £ | |
| 5,000 | |
| 5000 | |
| 3 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Ticket sales Bar sales |
|
| 2024 | |
| £ | |
| 7,648 | |
| 862 | |
| 8,510 |
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
| 4 | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS | 2024 £ 5,020 915 896 364 545 1,009 282 720 479 10,230 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artist fees | ||||
| Director/Producer fees | ||||
| Production costs | ||||
| Costumes | ||||
| Licences,royaties | ||||
| Venue costs | ||||
| Bar stock | ||||
| Storage | ||||
| Travel | ||||
| 5 | OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | |||
| 2024 | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Donation to The Living Theatre Whitwell | ||||
| (companylimited by guarantee) | 1,771 |
This amount represented the net liabilities of that company at 31 March 2024
| 6 SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Support | Governance | Total | |
| costs | costs | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Accountancy | - | 600 | 600 |
| Marketing | 450 | - | 450 |
| 450 | 600 | 1,050 | |
| 7 TRUSTEES' EXPENSES |
|||
| No trustee received remuneration for their services during the year. |
| 8 STOCK Bar stock |
2024 £ 100 |
|---|---|
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
| 9 DEBTORS Prepayments 10 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals 11 CREDITORS:AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR Loans(see note 12) 12 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
9 DEBTORS Prepayments 10 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals 11 CREDITORS:AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR Loans(see note 12) 12 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
2024 £ 1,101 2024 £ 1,200 2024 £ 8,558 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming | Resources | At | ||||
| resources | expended | 05/04/2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General fund | 13,510 | 13,051 | 459 |
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THE LIVING THEATRE WHITWELL
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 8 MARCH 2023 TO 5 APRIL 2024
12 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Julia Fisher, trustee, was paid £720 for storage costs.
Emma Fisher, daughter of trustee Julia Fisher, was paid £1185 for the supply of artistic services and reimbursed £104 for production expenditure.
At 5 February 2024 the following loans were outstanding:
| £ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julia Fisher | 2,500 | |||
| Danny Fisher | 4,700 | |||
| Emma Fisher | 1,358 | |||
| 8,558 |
Danny Fisher is the former husband of Julia Fisher, trustee.
The loans bear no interest and are unsecured. They have no fixed term for repayment, the lenders being fully supportive of the activities of the charity.
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