Family Thing Trustee Annual Report 2024 - 2025
Contents -
| Administration | ……………………… | 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure, Governance and Management | ……………………… | 3 |
| Charitable Object | ……………………… | 4 |
| Activities | ……………………… | 4 |
| Main Achievements | ……………………… | 5 |
| Financial Review | ……………………… | 6 |
| Declaration | ……………………… | 7 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | ……………………… | 8&9 |
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Trustee’s Annual Report for the period 6th April 2024 - 5th April 2025
Administration:
Charity name. Family Thing Charity registration number. 1203834
Address - 128 Carden Hill
BN1 8DD
Structure, Governance and Management:
CIO governed by constitution adopted Thursday 29th June 2023.
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees, in accordance with the constitution.
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Trustees:
Kate Busaka (Chair) Jo Lake Mark Bond Mags Flanagan (retired Oct 2024)
Senior Staff:
Samantha Simson (Operations Manager)
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Charitable Object
The object of the CIO is to advance performing arts for the public benefit by providing dance and performing arts classes for people with learning differences and diverse abilities.
*For the purpose of this object, ‘Learning differences and diverse abilities’ means people who have been diagnosed, or are recognised, as having learning, mental and/ or physical disabilities.
Activities
We provide opportunities for people with learning differences and diverse abilities to feel empowered, to be supported and to have a sense of belonging. We also improve physical and mental health and well-being for this population of individuals. We do this through the provision of dance classes and workshops with a base in commercial dance, and by supporting our dancers to take part in performances throughout the year.
All trustees have read and understood the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
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Main Achievements
In April 2024 a new youth group was started as our first youth class, supported by The National Lottery, continued to be an enormous success. A fantastic new member of support staff, Cheyanne, joined us to help with these growing classes. She has been a truly wonderful addition to our Family Thing family. We also look forward to welcoming another member of support staff, Cat, who will add to the youth group team.
In October this year we were thrilled to welcome our new trustee, Mark Bond, who has been a great addition to our board. Mark is an expert in fundraising and we are benefitting greatly from his insight when it comes to thinking strategically about finances.
We were very sad to have to say goodbye to one of our founding trustees, Mags. Her impact on Family Thing, particularly as we gained charitable status, will not be forgotten, and we are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her. She has moved on to greener pastures in terms of her career and we are deeply happy for her and wish her the very best always.
Our Family Thing dancers performed 6 times, which is twice more than the previous year. These included performances at Unity Clubnight, Woodingdean Carnival, Hill Park School fair, Dance Active and Let’s Dance.
Family Thing also held our annual Christmas Party where dancers performed, and for the first time, had the opportunity to watch videos of their previous performances. This was a huge hit with supporters and dancers alike!
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Financial Review
Cash in the bank at the end of this financial year is £256.
This year we were grateful to be able to support the charity with last year’s grant of £10,000 from the National Lottery. This has been an enormous support to us and we hope to receive another grant from the National Lottery next year. The rest of our income was from our activities and classes. We aim to continue to increase the number of dancers we have the opportunity to work with in coming years.
This year also, Family Thing had a raffle where we raised £160, and another event later in the year where we raised an additional £100.
In order for the charity to continue to run successfully other grants will need to be sourced in the next financial year as continuation funding is not guaranteed. The board continues to try to plan strategically for success in this area and hope to sustain the great work of Family Thing with continued financial growth and support from partner organisations.
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Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees -
Full name:
Joanna Lake
Signature:
Date:
5/10/25
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