CHARITY NUMBER: 1206519
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12TH DECEMBER 2024
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details 3 |
|
| Trustees’ Report 4 - 8 |
|
| Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) 8 - 12 |
|
| Balance Sheet 13 |
|
| Notes to the Financial Statements 14 - 17 |
2
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
TRUSTEES
The Trustees during the year and since the year end, were:
Alona Fogel Christopher Warrack James Dacre Michael Levy
REGISTERED OFFICE
Studio 48, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
CHARITY NUMBER
1206519
BANKERS
MetroBank, 1 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5HA
3
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 12 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102 Charities SORP) on "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", effective 1 January 2019, in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the Foundation. The reference and administrative details set out on page 3 forms part of this report.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY
Polyphonic is an international collective of artists premiering exceptional spoken word, live music and dance. We produce an annual season of readings, workshops, films and performances that introduce audiences to the work of renowned writers, pioneering artists and innovative interdisciplinary performance practice. Alongside, we run community and education projects designed to develop new audiences for the arts and provide meaningful opportunities for creative participation. Through committed, long-term engagement, we seek to provoke and inspire audiences and communities, ignite conversations, foster connections, and introduce compelling stories to the national and international stage.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Organisational structure
Polyphonic Collective was incorporated on 12 January 2024 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission in England. The charity registration number is 1206519 and the CIO number is CE034878. The Charity is governed by its Constitution dated 12 January 2024. The registered and the principal office are situated at Studio 48, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA.
The Trustees have no liability to contribute to the Charity’s assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities. The number of trustees shall not be less than three. There is no maximum number. The Charity is under the overall control of the trustees who conduct the affairs of the charity. The trustees meet to set the policy and overall direction of the Charity, to review its plans and to discuss the management of the charity's affairs.
The Charity is run by two Creative Producers who implement the artistic programme and oversee the day-to-day general management of the organisation. They work alongside an evolving freelance collective of twenty associate artists who propose, lead and deliver creative projects. Artists in the collective are deeply involved in the development of performance and the means of production. An open, inclusive and non-hierarchical approach to collaboration ensures an equitable culture of dialogue, experimentation and innovation is embedded in our work, both within the organisation and outwardly in engagement with audiences.
Related charities
4
There are no legally related charities. The charity works with different funding bodies and organisations all concerned with promoting the arts and education. Decisions taken by the charity are autonomous of these organisations.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE 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 guidance ‘Public Benefit: Running a Charity (PB2)’.
Polyphonic Collective is dedicated to staging the highest quality performances of poetry, theatre, music and dance. Through our work, we provide access to the performing arts to the general public, including those who have little history of engaging with the arts. Our commitment to affordable and free ticketing means these benefits are widely accessible to the public. We also run workshops with under-served and disadvantaged communities and youth groups, and co-create participatory productions with the input of local audiences in order to build a sense of ownership and equitable dialogue within our local community. We also provide training opportunities that provide work experience for young people to gain their first insight into professional arts practice.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Overview
This year, Polyphonic Collective focused on developing new artistic projects, building audiences and strengthening partnerships through the creation of films, performances, workshops and residencies:
-
We produced the short film Pike , funded by British Film Institute and Northern Ireland Screen, which will have its World Premiere at Aesthetica Festival before screening on BBC and Network Ireland Television. The film featured professional and community actors working with artists of the collective.
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We began pre-production on the short film Lullaby , with development support from British Film Institute, Screen Ireland and National Talent Academies.
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We started development on an interdisciplinary film, Strange Beach, bringing together artists of the collective and community performers working in spoken word, dance, music and film.
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We staged interdisciplinary performances, Almost Like Falling, Essex Clay, Uncertain Ghosts and The Trees Witness Everything with the support of Arts Council England, Garrick Trust and Society of Authors.
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We took part in residencies to develop new work at Snape Maltings, Sadlers Wells, Richter Studio, Regional Cultural Centre, Studio Wayne McGregor and Somerset House.
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We began development on a large-scale sound and music project with Monom, a 4D Sound Studio in Berlin in partnership with Cove Park.
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We ran a series of open house events for collective artists to seed new collaborations, and developed a program of meet-and-greets to bring new artists into the organisation.
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We developed a program of community workshops and events with the support and training of Westminster Council and Create:Westminster.
-
We took part in organisational and leadership training with Global Leaders Institute and Deutsche Bank to help develop our long-term planning, strategy and management.
Artistic
5
FILMS
The Charity produced Pike , a 12-minute short narrative film funded by British Film Institute and Northern Ireland Screen. The film will have its premiere at BAFTA, IFTA and BIFA Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival before screening on BBC and Network Ireland Television. Alongside the screenings, the producers have organised talkback, round-table events and workshops to further engage audiences. In Autumn 2024, the Producers began pre-production on Lullaby , a 15-minute short film, with support from British Film Institute and Screen Ireland. In Winter 2025, they began early development on Strange Beach , a 10-minute dance film based on the poetry of collective artist Oluwaseun Olayiwola, the first poet published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, with support from Sadlers Wells East.
PERFORMANCES
The Charity produced three live performances in partnership with the Goethe-Institut, Royal Academy, Courtauld Institute and Somerset House:
-
Essex Clay by Andrew Motion examined parenthood, the formation of identity, and how time and loss impact the nature of human connections.
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Uncertain Ghosts explored memory, love, grief and remembrance through personal testimony and life writing.
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The Trees Witness Everything by Victoria Chang was an ecosophical work examining themes of grief within the larger cycles of nature.
Each of these performances were part of a larger investigation into inter-disciplinary working practice supported by a programme of engagement workshops. We worked with 35 artists, 352 audience members attended our three sharings and 4396 audience members engaged online.
In Spring 2024, we also produced Almost Like Falling , an anthology performance of poetry by winners of the TS Eliot and Forward Prizes. Funded by Arts Council England and the Garrick Charitable Trust, the performances included work by Lavinia Greenlaw, Mary Jean Chan, Zaffar Kunial, Richard Scott, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe and Katie Farris, among others. We worked with 22 artists, 155 audience members attended the performances. The project will tour further venues in 2025.
RESIDENCIES
We undertook a series of residencies throughout the year to develop new work, support collaborations between the artists of the collective, and share practice with audiences, communities and participants. These took place at Snape Maltings, Sadlers Wells, Richter Studio, Regional Cultural Centre, Cove Park, Company Wayne McGregor and Somerset House.
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY
This year, the Charity has produced an initial programme of open access participation events, including readings, workshops, classes and discussions. These events have taken place in schools, colleges, universities, community centres and performance venues. Workshops are free to all participants and have taken place in accessible venues. The Producers also secured grant funding for upcoming workshops and events in 2025.
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
6
Polyphonic Collective is in a strong position moving forward. The Producers have two funded films in pre-production; a large-scale interdisciplinary performance project in development in partnership with Monom 4D Sound Studio in Berlin; and two live performance projects. The Charity will also partner on residencies at Cove Park, National Parks Alliance, Macdowell Foundation and Vermont Studio Centre. Polyphonic Collective has developed a strategy for its education and community work in 2025. The Charity has successfully sought grant funding for the next financial year to run a program of artist and community development workshops, readings and events.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The trustees have conducted a risk analysis to identify the major risks to which the company is exposed. Systems have been put in place to mitigate these risks and are reviewed at trustee meetings. To prevent injury or harm, Polyphonic Collective maintains policies which ensure that the highest standards of health and safety provision are in place during all of its work and processes.
An organisational risk register is kept under regular review; a designated production manager completes a specific full risk assessment before every event, workshop or rehearsal. Employers Liability, Trustees Liability and Public Liability insurance policies are maintained. A trained First Aid responder is present at rehearsals and public events. Freelance artists in leadership positions receive an induction in rehearsal and performance safety before beginning work. All artists who work with the organisation are required to comply with our safe working policies and guidelines.
Polyphonic Collective works with young people and vulnerable adults and the Charity has rigorous organisational safeguarding policies and procedures. New staff and freelancers must provide a DBS disclosure before starting work and receive both in-house and NSPCC training. Staff receive a safeguarding handbook and have clear verbal and written guidance on how to respond to safeguarding concerns and who to inform within the organisation should issues arise. Rigorous oversight of these policies and procedures ensures a culture of trust and accountability within our organisation for all staff and participants.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total income for the year was £24,320, and total expenditure was £20,090. Reserves at the end of the year were £4,000.
Principal funding sources
At present, the Charity’s principal sources of income are performance fees, ticket sales, donations and grants from trusts, foundations, local councils and government organisations.
Investment policy
Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year, most of the Charity’s funds are to be spent in the short term so there are few funds for long term investment. Given this, the Trustees have decided that there is no meaningful advantage to be gained by making any long term investments and deposits. This approach will be reviewed annually as the receipt of any large grants may change the situation.
Reserves policy
7
Polyphonic Collective aims to secure reserves to cover three months of expenditure. At current, the Charity maintains a reserve of £4,000 in its contingency fund.
TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial period. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).
Under the applicable law trustees must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the income or expenditure of the company for that period. In preparing these accounts, 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 of Charities SORP
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
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state whether applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Constitution and with the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005) Accounting and Reporting by Charities, as well as that that they are prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Foundation and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Charity's website.
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 8 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by
Michael Levy - Trustee
8
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
9
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 £ INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
2024 £ INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
2024 £ INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | ||
| Sundry 1000 |
||
| In-kind - |
||
| ------------- | ||
| 1000 | ||
| ======== | ||
| INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||
| Theatre income | ||
| Ticket Sales 1,820 |
||
| Workshops - |
||
| Merchandise - |
||
| ------------- | ||
| 1,820 | ||
======== |
||
| PROJECT SPECIFIC FUNDING | ||
| Grants/Donations | ||
| British Film Institute / Northern Ireland Screen 8,000 |
||
| Arts Council England 7,500 |
||
| Westminster Council 4,000 |
||
| Society of Authors 2,000 |
||
| ------------- | ||
| 21,500 | ||
======== |
10
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 £ EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
2024 £ EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|
| Film and Digital | |
| Production/project costs | |
| Fees 5,500 |
|
| Production costs 2,500 |
|
| ------------- | |
| 8,000 | |
| Live Performance | |
| Production/project costs | |
| Fees 2,000 |
|
| Production costs 3,000 Marketing 1,560 Travel 320 ------------- |
|
| 6,880 | |
| Education And Participation | |
| Production/project costs | |
| Fees 800 |
|
| Production costs 400 |
|
| ------------- | |
| 1,200 | |
| Support And Governance Costs | |
| Support costs - page 11 4,010 |
|
| Governance costs - page 11 - |
|
| ------------- | |
| 20,090 |
|
| ======== |
11
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
| 2024 £ SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS |
2024 £ SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS |
|---|---|
| Office Overheads | |
| Office Space 1,440 |
|
| Insurance 320 |
|
| ------------- | |
| 1,760 | |
| Administration Costs | |
| Fees 2,000 |
|
| Hospitality - Printing/Postage/Stationery 250 Sundries - ------------- |
|
| 2,250 | |
| Professional/Financial | |
| Legal Fees - |
|
| Bank Charges - |
|
| ------------- | |
| - | |
| Governance Costs | |
| Accountancy - |
|
| ------------- | |
| - | |
| ------------- | |
4,010 |
|
| ======== |
12
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
BALANCE SHEET - 12 DECEMBER 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Notes|2024|2023|
|£|£|£|£|
|Current assets|
|Debtors|6|-|-|
|Cash at bank and in hand|8,230|4,000|
|-------------|-------------|
|8,230|4,000|
|Liabilities|
|Creditors: amounts falling|
|due within one year|7|-|-|
|-------------|-------------|
|Net current assets|8,230|4,000|
|-------------|-------------|
|Total assets less current|
|liabilities|8,230|4,000|
|========|========|
|The funds of the charity:|
|Unrestricted funds|10|4,000|4,000|
|Restricted income funds|11|4,230|-|
|-------------|-------------|
|8,230|4,000|
|========|========|
----- End of picture text -----
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For the year 12 December 2024 the Charity was entitled to exemption under the Charities Act 2011: - The Trustees have not required the Charity to obtain an audit in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
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The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 8 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by.
Michael Levy Trustee
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
13
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparing the financial statements
- 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 2019) - Charities SORP FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.
1.2 Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
1.3 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
1.4 Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
1.5 Funds accounting
Funds held by the charity are either:
-
Unrestricted general funds: these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
-
Restricted funds: these are funds that 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.
-
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the Financial statements.
14
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
1.6 Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when:
-
the charity is legally entitled to the funds
-
any performance conditions attached to the income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity
-
there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable
-
the amount can be reliably measured
Donations and legacies
Grants/donations are recognised in incoming resources in the year in which they are receivable, except as follows:
-
when donors specify that grants/donations given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods
-
when donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in incoming resources until the preconditions for use are met.
Charitable activities
Theatre income: income from box office, performance fees and sundry other theatrical income is included in incoming resources in the period in which the relevant show takes place.
Project specific funding: when donors specify that donations and grants are for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this income is included in incoming resources of restricted funds when receivable.
Donated services and facilities
Donated services or facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. On receipt, donated services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Investment income
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.
15
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
1.7 Expenditure
All expenditure is included on an accruals basis inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered and is recognised when:
-
there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment
-
it is probable that settlement will be required
-
the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably
Costs of raising funds
Costs incurred in attracting donations, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities
Production costs: costs incurred in production and running of productions and workshops in the year.
Support costs
The administrative and overhead costs associated with running the office from which the company operates as well as governance costs. Support costs are wholly attributable to arts production costs.
Governance costs
Costs associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity.
2.
Incoming resources
The total incoming resources for the year have been derived from the principal activity undertaken wholly in the UK.
3. Trustees’ emoluments and reimbursed expenses
The trustees received no remuneration during the year (2024 - £nil)
The aggregated amount reimbursed to trustees during the year was £nil (2023 - £nil)
4. Staff costs and numbers
During the year the company had no full-time employees
Fees paid for office administration, fundraising services and performer and creative services are paid on a freelance basis.
16
POLYPHONIC COLLECTIVE
(CIO - CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 12 DECEMBER 2024
5.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 506 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
| 6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
6. Debtors 2024 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ £ |
|||||||
| Trade debtors - |
- | ||||||
| Other debtors - |
- | ||||||
| ======== | ======== | ||||||
| 7. | Creditors: amounts falling due 2024 2023 |
||||||
| within one year £ £ |
|||||||
| Trade creditors - |
- | ||||||
| Other debtors - |
- | ||||||
| Accruals - |
- | ||||||
| ======== | ======== | ||||||
| 8. | Unrestricted funds Brought |
Incoming | Outgoing | Carried | |||
| Forward | resources | resources | forward | ||||
| £ | £ | £ £ |
|||||
| General fund - |
- |
- |
- | ||||
| Operating contingency 4,000 |
- |
- | 4,000 | ||||
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------ | ------------- | ||||
| 4,000 | - |
- |
4,000 | ||||
| ======== | ======== | ======== | ======== | ||||
| 9. | Restricted funds Brought |
Incoming | Outgoing | Carried | |||
| forward | resources | resources | forward | ||||
| £ | £ | £ £ |
|||||
| BFI / NI Screen - |
8,000 | (8,000) | - | ||||
| Arts Council England - |
7,500 | (3,450) | 4,050 | ||||
| Westminster Council - |
4,000 | (3,820) | 180 | ||||
| Society of Authors - |
2,000 | (2,000) | - | ||||
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------ | ------------- | ||||
- 21,500 |
(17,270) | 4,230 | |||||
| ======== | ======== | ======== | ======== |
17