Trustees’ Annual Report for the period From 21st March 2024 To 30th September 2024
Charity name: The Curtains Up Project Charity registration number: 1207561
1. Objectives and Activities.............................................................................................. 3 1.1. Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document. SORP reference Para 1.17......................................................................................................3 1.2. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. SORP reference Para 1.17 and 1.19......................................................................................3 1.3. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit SORP reference Para 1.18......................................................................................................5 1.4. Contribution made by volunteers SORP reference Para 1.38......................................................................................................5 1.5. Additional information....................................................................................................6 2. Achievements and Performance..................................................................................6 2.1. Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. SORP reference Para 1.20......................................................................................................6 3. Financial Review............................................................................................................ 7 3.1. Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period SORP reference Para 1.21......................................................................................................7 3.2. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held. SORP reference Para 1.22......................................................................................................7 3.3. Amount of reserves held SORP reference Para 1.22......................................................................................................7 3.4. Reasons for holding zero reserves SORP reference Para 1.22......................................................................................................8
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 1 of 11
3.5. Details of fund materially in deficit SORP reference Para 1.22......................................................................................................8 3.6. Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern SORP reference Para 1.23......................................................................................................8 3.7. The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) SORP reference Para 1.47......................................................................................................8 4. Structure, Governance and Management.................................................................. 9 4.1. Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) SORP reference Para 1.25......................................................................................................9 4.2. How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) SORP reference Para 1.25......................................................................................................9 4.3. Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees SORP reference Para 1.25......................................................................................................9 5. Reference and Administrative details.......................................................................10 5.1. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity..........................................10 5.2. Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved 10 5.3. Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity.....................10 6. Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others............................................10 7. Declarations................................................................................................................. 11
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 2 of 11
1. Objectives and Activities
- 1.1. Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document.
SORP reference Para 1.17
The advancement of the Christian faith (in accord with the CIO’s Statement of Faith) mainly, but not exclusively, by the provision of creative arts based holidays and events for young people.
- 1.2. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.
SORP reference Para 1.17 and 1.19
Overview
In the summer of 2024 The Curtains Up Project ran “Curtains Up! 2024 - New Roots” for the 1st time as an independent event after running for another organisation since 1999.
The event was a residential event for young people aged 12-17 held at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close near Bromsgrove.
The young people stayed for 7 nights with the team arriving 1 day early for training, planning and preparation.
The team are all volunteers and pay the same as the young people (£275) to spend the week at Curtains Up!. This helps to keep the costs down to ensure the holiday is as accessible as possible. This, in addition to fundraising, helps to ensure that anyone who wants to attend the holiday can do so regardless of their financial position.
The switch to a new, smaller, less well equipped site and the move to running independently was expected to reduce the number of bookings. Despite this the event ran with a team of 18 and 11 young people. The majority of these are people from previous years who remain committed to Curtains Up! The holiday had space for an additional 9 young people which if filled would have resulted in a holiday of about the same size from the previous year.
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 3 of 11
Workshops
During the week the team ran a range of creative arts based workshops for the young people. They were able to spend time each day in these workshops, developing new creative arts skills or exploring new things. These workshops included Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre, Film Making and Visual Arts.
The team also ran one off workshops throughout the week. The included a “one shot music video”, Theme night decoration making and Backstage workshops.
Theme Nights
There were also three theme nights during the week: British Weather, Creative Olympics and Food. These nights included creative costumes, dance, drama and games.
Spiritual Program
The week's spiritual programme was themed around exploring some encounters that Jesus had with people, how he met them where they were and invited them to follow him and share in his life.
The spiritual program for the week had this simple basic aim across the whole week: “If Cast (young people) take away one thing from the meetings and bible studies this week, we want them to know that they are sincerely loved, and that Jesus invites them to come to him as they are and embrace that love.”
Each day we explored a different encounter, together as a group, in the “Main Event”. This usually included a time of sung worship and other creative ways of exploring the encounter for the day. These sessions were followed up with smaller group times where the young people were able to explore the themes for the day with the team. The small group times were designed to be flexible to allow the young people an informal and supportive place to ask questions about the day's topic or other questions around the Christian Faith.
Summary
Despite the many challenges around starting up as an independent event, Curtains Up! 2024 was a great success. The young people had a great time and adapted quickly to the smaller site. They really appreciated that they were able to once again spend a week in a supportive and now openly accepting creative Christian community. The week was a much more relaxed week which was appreciated by both team and young people. Many of whom commented on how much the venue felt like “home”.
The holiday leaders were especially encouraged by the support from the wider Curtains Up! community that has built up over the years. The move to being an independent event resulted in many messages of support and encouragement as well as financial
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 4 of 11
support through fundraising. There have also been private messages from other holidays that are looking to follow the same path to independence.
Curtains Up! continues to provide a safe and welcoming Christian environment where the young people and team are able to “come as they are” and spend time together using the creative arts to explore their Christian faith.
Looking forward
Despite recent changes in some of the larger churches in the UK, there is a clear need for Christian holidays and events that are inclusive, for both team and young people.
The surprising amount of support and encouragement from a wide range of individuals and organisations, as well as the success of the summer event gave the holiday leaders confidence to propose running the event again in 2025.
1.3. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit SORP reference Para 1.18
The trustees have held the guidance by the Charity Commission on public benefit in regard when overseeing the operations and direction of The Curtains Up Project.
1.4. Contribution made by volunteers
SORP reference Para 1.38
The Curtains Up Project is entirely reliant on volunteers.
Trustees
The trustees give their time and experience as volunteers supporting the operation of the charity. They have all either directly or through a family member been involved with a Curtains Up! event and they wanted to support its continued operation as an independent entity.
Crew (Team members)
The team members (called Crew on the event) not only give a week of their holidays to attend as a leader on the main summer event - they also pay to come. This is a huge commitment of both time and money. It reflects the huge importance that Curtains Up! has in their lives and their year on year commitment is one of the strengths of Curtains Up!
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 5 of 11
They also know it will be a busy week - with activities and sessions running for 14+ hours of the day - definitely not a holiday!
Curtains Up! could not exist without the skill, passion and experience of these volunteers. They continue to make a huge positive impact not only on the lives of the young people who attend, but also the fellow team members who often become lifelong friends.
1.5. Additional information
As noted above, the decision to run as an independent, openly accepting, Christian, creative arts holiday has had a much larger impact than was expected. Not only from the direct financial support and encouragement messages, but perhaps more importantly from the ongoing conversations with other event leaders. Through these conversations and with other conversations with organisations that were contacted in the process of setting up as an independent event - it is clear that there is a strong desire for events like Curtains Up! to run. The trustees and holiday leaders have been incredibly encouraged by this and are exploring how they may be able to support others wanting to follow a similar path.
2. Achievements and Performance
- 2.1. Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. SORP reference Para 1.20
The trustees would identify the following as the main achievements of the charity so far:
-
Providing a Christian creative arts residential holiday that is openly accepting of young people and team members who are specifically excluded from some other parts of the Christian Community. For example those identifying as LGBTQIA+ or with a different gender than assigned at birth. We believe this is still an unique offering in the UK.
-
Running a safe and successful summer event that provided an inclusive, encouraging and welcoming space for the young people to feel safe to ask questions and learn more about what it means to be a creative Christian.
-
Starting positive discussions with other holidays and events as well as larger Christian organisations about the need for inclusive Christian residentials.
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 6 of 11
● The support, both financial and practical, from the wider Curtains Up! community enabled the charity to be formed and in place to support the running of the summer 2024 event - just 11 months after the decision was made to run as an independent event.
3. Financial Review
3.1. Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period
SORP reference Para 1.21
The charity had a shorter financial year due to its formal establishment occurring partway through the planned financial year. The summer event was carefully budgeted for using experience from previous events. Additional advice was sought from other organisations for costs that had been managed previously by the partner organisation. This, combined with the ongoing fundraising enabled the summer event to cover its costs and still leave funds in the bank account to cover the initial costs for the charities ongoing activities, such as the summer 2025 event.
3.2. Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held.
SORP reference Para 1.22
Partially due to the short period of time from formation to end of financial year the charity did not have a specific reserves policy in place for the 2024 financial year. The trustees had confidence that the team running the summer 2025 event knew they had to remain in or under budget to ensure the ongoing operation of the charity. The trustees will use the knowledge gained of the actual costs associated with the operations of the charity in 2024 and the observed / expected costs during the 2024/25 financial year to inform the charity's formal approach to its reserves policy.
3.3. Amount of reserves held
SORP reference Para 1.22
N/A
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 7 of 11
3.4. Reasons for holding zero reserves
SORP reference Para 1.22
N/A
3.5. Details of fund materially in deficit
SORP reference Para 1.22
N/A
3.6. Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
SORP reference Para 1.23
As the majority of the income is generated by the fees that the young people and team pay for the summer event, the largest risk for the charity's ongoing operations is a shortfall in numbers attending the summer 2025 event.
To minimise this risk the budget for the summer 2025 event will be set to cover its costs and the charities ongoing yearly costs based on the minimum viable number of people attending the summer event.
3.7. The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) SORP reference Para 1.47
The charity's sources of funding are from the fees charged for the residential events and ongoing fundraising via the JustGiving platform. This also results in GiftAid from the donations where appropriate.
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 8 of 11
4. Structure, Governance and Management
4.1. Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)
SORP reference Para 1.25
Foundation model constitution
4.2. How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)
SORP reference Para 1.25
CIO
4.3. Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
SORP reference Para 1.25
Trustees are all individuals recruited initially for the formation of the charity from the individuals who had previous experience of Curtains Up! and wanted to support its ongoing work as an independent entity.
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 9 of 11
5. Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname: | The Curtains Up Project |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses: | **Curtains Up! ** |
| Registered charitynumber: | **1207561 ** |
| Charity’s principal address: | 222 Hillrise Cardif CF23 6UQ |
5.1. Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Ofce (if any) |
Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Rogerson | n/a | Whole Year | n/a |
| Mike Robinson | n/a | Whole Year | n/a |
| Jenny Cheung | n/a | Whole Year | n/a |
| Anna Williams | n/a | Whole Year | n/a |
| Emma Rogerson | n/a | Whole Year | n/a |
5.2. Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
No Directors
5.3. Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
No titles to property held by the trustees. Charity owns no property.
6. Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
No funds held by trustees on behalf of others
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 10 of 11
7. Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Matthew Paul Rogerson Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair Date 24/07/2025
Approved by Trustees on 28 Jul 2025
Written by: Matt Rogerson
Trustee Annual Report 2024 - Page 11 of 11
| Charity Name The Curtains Up Project |
Charity Name The Curtains Up Project |
Charity Name The Curtains Up Project |
Charity Name The Curtains Up Project |
Charity Name The Curtains Up Project |
No (if any) 1207561 |
No (if any) 1207561 |
No (if any) 1207561 |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
Period start date 21/03/24 |
To | Period end date 30/09/24 |
||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||||
| Summer 2024 event team and young people fees | 7,875 | - | - | 7,875 | - | ||||
| Donations | 613 | - | - | 613 | - | ||||
| Income from Tuck shop at summer 2024 event | 202 | - | - | 202 | - | ||||
| CLI Refund | 48 | - | - | 48 | - | ||||
| Gift Aid | 90 | - | - | 90 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total (Gross income for AR) |
8,828 | - | - | 8,828 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| A3 Payments Total receipts |
|||||||||
| 8,828 | - | - | 8,828 | - | |||||
| Hire of Summer 2024 event site | 3,235 | - | - | 3,235 | - | ||||
| Food at Summer 2024 event | 930 | - | - | 930 | - | ||||
| DBS / Safeguarding Services | 189 | - | - | 189 | - |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
| Total receipts | 8,828 | - | - | 8,828 | - | |||||||||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hire of Summer 2024 event site | 3,235 | - | - | 3,235 | - | |||||||||||||
| Food at Summer 2024 event | 930 | - | - | 930 | - | |||||||||||||
| DBS / Safeguarding Services | 189 | - | - | 189 | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
28/07/2025
1
| Insurance | 630 | - | - | 630 | - | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment Hire | 656 | - | - | 656 | - | ||||
| CLI Licence | 97 | - | - | 97 | - | ||||
| Bank Fees | 203 | - | - | 203 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 5,940 Sub total A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
5,940 | - | - | 5,940 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - Sub total Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds this year end A6 Cash funds last year end A5 Transfers between funds 5,940 2,888 - - 2,888 |
- | - | - | - | |||||
| 5,940 | - | - | 5,940 | - | |||||
| 2,888 | - | - | 2,888 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| 2,888 | - | - | 2,888 | - | |||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |||||||||
| Categories B1 Cash funds |
Bank Balance at end of 30/09/24 Outstanding Deposit Details |
to nearest £ 2,811 78 - Unrestricted funds |
to nearest £ - - - Restricted funds |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||||
| Bank Balance at end of 30/09/24 | 2,811 | - | - | ||||||
| Outstanding Deposit | 78 | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 2,888 | - | - | ||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
OK | OK | OK |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted | Restricted funds | Endowment | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | ||||||||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||||||
| B1 | Cash | funds | Bank Balance at end of 30/09/24 | 2,811 | - | - | |||||||
| Outstanding Deposit | 78 | - | - | ||||||||||
| - | - | - | |||||||||||
| Total cash funds | 2,888 | - | - | ||||||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments | |||||||||||||
| account(s)) | OK | OK | OK |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
28/07/2025
2
| B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details | Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - |
CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
28/07/2025
3
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| - | - | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | ||||||||
| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | |||||||
| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | ||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| Signature | Name | Date of approval | |||||||
| Matthew Paul Rogerson | 28/07/2025 |
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
28/07/2025
4