Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
Charity registration number 1209512 (England and Wales)
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees Asma Hussain Matthew Jones Andrew Calvert Dr Mohammad Al Ramahi Dr Nazia Cheesman OBE (Appointed 6 March 2025) Shana Kiely (Appointed 9 March 2025) Charity registration England and Wales 1209512 Principal address Marsh House Community Centre Bramingham Road Luton LU3 2SR Independent examiner Tom Wilcox Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HH
Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 8 |
| Independent examiner's report | 9 |
| Statement of financial activities | 10 |
| Statement of financial position | 11 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 12 - 19 |
Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the 7 months period ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
Objectives and activities
Revoluton Arts is a Luton-based arts organisation. We work with artists and communities across a range of art forms and disciplines to produce creative work that promotes positive futures for people and place. We provide support, resource and mentoring to artists and emerging creative practitioners and facilitate pathways for people to engage with creativity, as professional practitioners, participants and audience members.
Revoluton Arts was initially established in 2015 as Luton’s Creative People and Places (CPP) project funded by Arts Council England (ACE) and hosted by The Culture Trust. In 2020, Revoluton Arts became an independent organisation and was incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC). An intensive period of business planning for organisational growth followed in 2022/23 – 2023/24. In 2024, Revoluton Arts was successful in its application to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), and on 08 August 2024 the organisation changed its legal structure to CIO.
Charitable objects:
For the public benefit to promote the performing, visual and other arts, particularly but not exclusively by:
a) developing public participation in creative events, live, digital or otherwise;
b) offering learning opportunities and workshops to communities with limited access to the arts;
c) partnering and commissioning collaborative projects.
2024/25 activity was guided by the following strategic aims:
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Increase our creative programme and establish Revoluton Arts as a producer of bold new work
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Strengthen Revoluton Arts’ position as a leader in socially engaged creative practice with super-diverse communities
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Enhance and utilise our resources and networks to promote growth and resilience
Aim 1: Increase our creative programme and establish Revoluton Arts as a producer of bold new work
1.1 Deliver standout creative and cultural programming online and offline, collaboratively producing work that contributes to positive place-making
1.2 Build ambitious partnerships with local, national and global organisations, raising the profile of Luton’s creative communities and building cultural affiliations
- 1.3 Developing our positioning and profile, locally and globally
Aim 2: Strengthen Revoluton Arts’ position as a leader in socially engaged creative practice with superdiverse communities
2.1 Increase opportunities for communities to connect with and through culture and creativity - in particular, young people and under-served communities in Luton
2.2 Evolve models of co-creation that amplify the voice, choice and power of communities
- 2.3 Nurture and develop creative talent to enable them to create work that connects locally and globally
Aim 3: Enhance and utilise our resources and networks to promote growth and resilience
3.1 Ensure our work is resilient, sustainable and accountable
3.2 Build and enhance mechanisms to support the development of the Board and Core Consortium, staff team and associates
3.3 Implement a framework to evidence impact and a plan to advocate for our work
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Achievements and performance
2024/25 saw many significant successes across team performance and programme delivery. It was a powerful year in establishing Revoluton Arts’ reputation as a producer of bold new work, within our Partnerships and Commissions activity. Activity within our Residencies strand further strengthened our position as a leader of socially engaged practice with super-diverse communities.
Prior to the start of the CIO 2024/25 accounting period, following a process of restructure aimed to build capacity within the team, the 2024/25 year began with appointments to new posts – Marketing Manager and Programme Assistant - alongside appointments to existing roles that had changed from freelance to employee contracts.
Organisational development work, supported by an ACE National Lottery Project Grant secured in 2023/24, continued into 2024/25. This enabled continuing work with consultants, spanning business planning, development of evaluation frameworks, governance training, alongside mentoring and coaching for the staff team.
2024/25 marked the third year of three-year investment, totalling £90,000, from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EFF). Investment continued to support exciting opportunities for local and emerging artists. This included the Young Revolutonaries micro-commissioning strand for 16 – 30-year-olds. It also included Revoluton Associate commissions for local artists to deliver socially engaged activities and co-create new work within Luton’s neighbourhoods. Crucially, resource made possible through EFF investment enabled the organisation to take a coproducing approach, to support the development needs of local artists and communities, through the delivery of activities with social change at the core.
Three-year EFF investment enabled Revoluton Arts to support a total of 42 emerging artists across the funded period, five of whom continued work into 2025/26. 12 of the 42 emerging artists were commissioned and supported to produce digital content, much of which is showcased on the PLATFORM section of Revoluton Arts’ new website launched at the start of 2024. Over three years, nine Revoluton Associates were commissioned to deliver creative projects co-created with Luton’s residents. Over the three-year EFF investment, 1,810 residents participated in creative workshops led by Revoluton Associates and a further 1,098 residents participated in Creative Assemblies - creative and social gatherings that act as the main vehicle in establishing models of co-creation in the programme: amplifying the voice, choice and power of communities.
Considerable focus was given to future planning for the CPP programme. 2026-29 plans were ultimately submitted to ACE in January 2025 with notification of a successful outcome following in October.
CIC activity laid a strong foundation for the artistic ambition of the CIO, building new programme activity beyond the CPP programme. This included delivery of a research project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a new programme strand titled Undercurrent – Revoluton Arts’ first creative venture beyond the geographical boundaries of Luton. Through Undercurrent, the CIO will deliver commissions, activities and events focused along the River Lea, co-delivered with partners from Luton to east London. The catalyst for this ‘spirit of Luton’ project was the heritage of activism associated with Lea Marsh at the source of the river – from Neolithic beginnings to the music sub-cultures of punk and rave. Q3 and Q4 of 2024/25 included delivery across two ambitious projects – Rave New World and Luton Henge - informed by the themes of Undercurrent.
The 2024/25 programme was well delivered with many notable successes. At year-end, the programme achieved a total of 27,647 engagements. This includes 25,335 audience engagements for live and digital work, plus 2,312 participant engagements in workshops and Creative Assemblies.
Artistic programme
The programme provides multiple entry points and different ways to engage, as a participant, audience member, cocreator, artist, producer, decision-maker and/or facilitator.
The programme is built on 3 pillars:
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Partnerships and Commissions
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Residencies
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Capacity Building
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Partnerships and Commissions:
Through Partnerships and Commissions, we engage world-class partners to present and/or make work in Luton, attracting cultural investment into the town, as well as offering local audiences the opportunity to engage with worldclass work.
In September 2024, we presented Public Trust as part of our Global Streets activity – a national network of organisations programming outstanding international work, led by FESTIVAL.ORG. This international touring art installation by American artist, Paul Ramírez Jonas, is a creative promise-making process, where oaths are sworn over a range of meaningful objects. Public Trust was a Fierce production uniquely presented by Revoluton Arts to include multilingual delivery, relevant to Luton’s super-diverse communities. Local speakers of other languages were employed to support engagement of diverse participants. Additionally, a henna artist and Islamic calligrapher gave opportunity for participants to receive a copy of their promise in a format relevant to their culture, alongside a rubbing of their promise in English language. Over 1,200 audience engagements were achieved in two days, with 90 people making a public promise.
Inspired by the vibrant rave scene of the 80s and 90s, Rave New World was a Revoluton Arts outdoor theatre coproduction with Tangled Feet that delved into the history of the Exodus collective, a pioneering group based in Luton’s Marsh Farm. Co-created with communities and taking inspiration for the Undercurrent Digital Archive, the production was shaped through a process of open rehearsed readings and a gig theatre sharing. Through Rave New World, producing partners collectively demonstrated that co-created place-based work can be national-level in terms of ambition, artistic delivery and production values. This production massively piqued the interest of local audiences, with tickets selling out (pay what you like offer). The show performed over two nights to an audience of 715.
Luton Henge was a project where art, history and nature came together – a commission within the National Landscapes’ national art programme. Inspired by ancient Henges and the Neolithic beginnings of Marsh Farm, an outdoor community meeting space was reimagined for today. This partnership project with Chilterns National Landscape, led by artist Matthew Rosier with preceding creative writing commission to local poet Lee Nelson, was commissioned by an advisory group panel including local residents. In 2024/25, planning permission was granted for Luton Henge to be built adjacent to the Neolithic site of Waulud’s Bank in our Residency location of Marsh Farm. Activity continued into the summer of 2025, engaging communities in the build and ultimate launch at the Luton Henge Festival.
Our Revoluton Associate commissioning strand previously sat within Partnerships and Commissions. We took the decision, for 2024/25, to refocus this work within our Residencies strand, due to the focus on co-creation at neighbourhood level.
Residencies:
The Residency programme is designed to achieve depth of engagement in Luton’s residential areas, including through Creative Assemblies where community voice helps to shape delivery. Our 2024/25 Residency delivery comprised four geographical locations: Bury Park, Farley Hill, Leagrave and Marsh Farm.
In Bury Park, we took an action learning approach to researching appetite for multilingual delivery. We worked with Pagrav Dance Company to deliver a multilingual storytelling project with Beech Hill Primary School. This culminated in the presentation of an audio theatre installation to accompany a national tour of Kathak dance production, ROOH: Within Her - a powerful celebration of everyday female heroism.
The elders at the Farley Hill lunch club and Jill Jenkins Court engaged in a variety of activities including craft and painting. They also welcomed A Children’s Story Production to Farley Hill Methodist Church to perform ‘Luton Who?’, a reminiscence show co-created with other local elders. Farley Hill elders explored a new relationship with Leeds-based, renowned elder-led company The Performance Ensemble to develop ideas to co-create local storytelling work, including dance and movement.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
A regular presence was established for young families in Leagrave at Hockwell Ring Community Centre, which included presentation of two theatre shows in 2024/25 – Cracking Slate’s ‘Lose the Path, Find Your Way’ and Mandala Theatre’s ‘Seed Guardians’.
Marsh Farm was the home and inspiration for Undercurrent. Community engagement in this location centred on cocreation of Rave New World and Luton Henge.
Across Q3 and Q4, the third cohort of Revoluton Associates delivered strong projects in respect of the quality of the participatory experience and in artistic delivery. Dione Ible’s mosaic, designed through stories gathered to honour Luton’s Windrush generation, was compelling in artistic delivery. Haneefa Muhammad’s creative leadership and warmth of character resulted in some fantastic writing and poetry performances from women, aged 60+, of African Caribbean heritage. Hayley Bromell became the first Lutonian to progress through the stages of participant in 2022/23, to a young person’s micro commission in 2023/24, to being commissioned as a Revoluton Associate in 2024/25. As a Revoluton Associate, Hayley worked with the Irish community to gather stories for a co-created zine.
Capacity Building:
Capacity building activity is fundamental in supporting local practitioners to conceive and deliver socially engaged arts. This strand develops and delivers mechanisms for meaningful community decision-making. Capacity building has also enabled local creatives to take the lead in working within communities - creating work relevant to and resonant of the super-diversity of the town - as well as supporting new ideas and ways of working to flourish. Most importantly, the work enables sustainability through creative people devising and delivering work in partnership with communities.
We continued our year-round programme of masterclasses, selected by young people, designed to provide a regular space for learning and development. In 2024/25, we developed a new partnership with Bute Street International Film and Arts Festival, providing a professional platform for five commissioned Young Revolutonaries that presented their co-created works at the festival in August. Our Young People’s programme achieved 4,877 audience and participant engagements for live and digital activity.
Producer Hub, delivered in partnership with 1DegreeEast provided a quarterly event for Luton creatives, including Revoluton Associates and Young Revolutonaries. Part workshop, part networking, the Hub supported the creation of high-quality work and peer support, alongside a year-round offer of mentoring and fundraising support to local producers and artists.
Financial review
Robust financial and risk management procedures are effectively embedded within operational delivery. Through thorough evaluation of our existing programmes - most significantly the successful delivery of the CPP programme - we have been able to demonstrate to funders that we can be trusted to provide a good return on investment.
Most of our income comes through grant agreements, including multi-year grants. For the CIO 2024/25 accounting period, this included ACE (through the CPP fund) and EFF. These are supplemented by project-specific grants from a range of local and national funders. For the CIO 2024/25 accounting period, this included ACE National Lottery Project Grants for grant income carried forward from 2023/24.
The total income for the CIO 2024/25 accounting period amounted to £413,151 and our expenditure totalled £328,205.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Reserves policy
Our Reserves Policy outlines our approach to the setting and maintaining of a level of financial reserves that is both appropriate to the organisation’s annual turnover and allows for financial stability in the event of any major loss of income. It is reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees.
As of 31 March 2025, Revoluton Arts held a balance of £84,946. Of this, £39,068 was designated reserves for 3 months operational winding-down costs in accordance with our reserves policy. £22,205 were restricted funds, comprising the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used (see note 15). £4,302 of this total was tangible fixed assets. The remaining £19,371 were free reserves.
Risks
The Risk Register is a key document in the management of the organisation, outlining the main risks to day-to-day operations and rating these using an ‘impact x probability’ scale. The register considers risks relating to all functions of the organisation, including finance, legal, operations, engagement, governance, management and safeguarding, and attributes named owner/s for each risk who is responsible for ensuring that the identified mitigations are in place.
The risk register is updated regularly by the Executive Director and presented at each full meeting of the Board of Trustees. An awareness of both the internal and external risks faced by the organisation provides the Board of Trustees with the necessary information to make informed decisions.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Plans for future periods
Ambitious plans for 2025/26 into 2026/27 are progressing confidently, building on Revoluton Arts’ established reputation for standout productions delivered in partnership with inter/nationally renowned artists and partners.
A successful application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for £249,902 for phase two of Undercurrent was awarded in 2025/26. This will support delivery of an exciting two-year programme that will document and share real histories and personal accounts of working-class and ethnically diverse people and communities connected to the River Lea that are typically not told in post-colonial Britain.
We are thrilled to have been awarded £240,000 via the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) Arts Fund for core activity across three years, 2025-28. Investment from PHF is testament to the power of our creative endeavours, co-created by the people of Luton and the artists they commission. This endorsement of Revoluton Arts’ programme, centred on social change, brings new possibilities to deepen existing relationships and open horizons, connecting with new people and more places. It is fundamental to our vision for communities to connect through creativity, locally and globally, uniting to define their positive futures.
We are equally delighted to have been awarded a further £240,000 by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (EFF) for core activity across four years, 2026-2030.
This investment will progress EFF-supported developments to-date. The driving ambition is for super-diverse communities and creatives to unite and define their positive futures through long-term engagement and co-creation, deepening community-led creativity and strengthening professional pathways for local artists and producers.
A fourth cohort of Revoluton Associates has been recruited for delivery from Q3 of 2025/26, aligned to the continued aim to grow locally led creative programming within Residency locations and pan-Luton. Recognising Lutonians have huge appetite for multicultural homegrown art, 2025/26 will mark our first multilingual Revoluton Associate commission to artist Shemiza Rashid.
Revoluton Arts marked its tenth anniversary in December 2025 with release of a ten-year advocacy film and booklet. This will launch an ongoing advocacy plan, to celebrate and share our work, including enhanced plans to share and distribute creative digital works.
The ten-year anniversary also marked a new chapter with existing Trustee, Asma Hussain, being appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Former Chair, Matthew Jones, continues as a Trustee. Asma is a respected arts professional with significant experience in fundraising and development, including at the Royal Opera House, alongside trustee roles at London-focused youth arts charity, A New Direction, touring theatre company Paines Plough, and as a Company Director of the Pendle-based, South Asian-led arts organisation Community Arts by ZK.
Work with consultants on organisational development is continuing into 2025/26 with a focus on business planning, board and team development, development of evaluation frameworks and measuring social impact, alongside critical friend and mentor support to the Executive team.
Staff training and development takes continued focus within organisational development. Training offers have been shaped into 2025/26 through individual consultation with members of the staff team. Activity includes attendance at conferences, arts and cultural events, alongside coaching and training opportunities.
Participation in the 18-month Creating Transformation programme, delivered by people make it work, culminated in Q3 of 2025/26. The whole staff team engaged with this programme across 2024/25 into 2025/26, through in-person and online development activities, connecting with other arts organisations in England and Wales. The learning from the programme continues to inform and shape the organisation’s ongoing journey of transformation.
The journey of organisational development continues to be enriched by peer visits for the CEO, partnering with organisations with missions relevant to Revoluton Arts. This now includes development of new international relationships in India, via delegate attendance at Serendipity Exchange for the Arts, Goa, December 2025. Additionally, a British Council supported artist cultural exchange visit to Indonesia is planned for Q1 of 2026/27, in partnership with Third Version Creative.
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REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Structure, governance and management
The Charity was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission with a constitution on 08 August 2024. If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
The trustees who served during the 7 months period and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Asma Hussain Matthew Jones Andrew Calvert Dr Mohammad Al Ramahi Dr Nazia Cheesman OBE (Appointed 6 March 2025) Shana Kiely (Appointed 9 March 2025)
Methods of appointment or election of Trustees:
Trustee positions are advertised and candidates are asked to formally apply. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview with a panel comprised of members of the Board of Trustees.
Trustees are recruited based on their skills, experience and knowledge and appointed during a full meeting of the Board of Trustees, upon successful completion of due diligence checks. We seek to complement the existing Trustees to build a board that is suitably knowledgeable to steer the organisation and support the Executive team.
Following the change to legal structure to CIO in 2024/25, we undertook a period of recruitment of new Trustees, which resulted in two new Trustees joining the board in March 2025.
The Board of Trustees meets a minimum of four times a year, receiving papers from the Executive team and reviewing financial accounts, the risk register and progress against the organisation's objectives. As stated in our Constitution, no decision shall be taken at a meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the decision is taken. The quorum is two charity trustees, or the number nearest to one third of the total number of charity trustees, whichever is greater, or such larger number as the charity trustees may decide from time to time.
With the exception of the first Trustees, Trustees are appointed for a term of three years, after which they may be appointed to serve two additional terms of three years each. At the conclusion of their third consecutive term, they may only be reappointed after an interval of at least one year.
Organisational structure and decision-making
Trustees are responsible for the management of the Charity’s business, for which they may exercise all the powers of the Charity. All significant decisions are made by the Trustees.
The CEO/Creative Director is appointed by the Trustees, with delegated authority to manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity and deliver the business plan, as agreed by the Trustees.
The Charity's CPP Core Consortium oversees the delivery of activities associated with ACE CPP funding.
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REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the 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 Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these 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 of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures 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 presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
.............................. Asma Hussain Trustee
22/01/2026 Date: .............................................
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Revoluton Arts CIO (the charity) for the 7 months period ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Independent examiner's statement
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn. I understand that this has been done in order for the financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act 2011.
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2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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 financial statements to be reached.
Tom Wilcox
Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HH Date: ............................22/01/2026
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general Designated 2025 2025 2025 Notes £ £ £ Income from: Donations and legacies 3 70,063 - 313,258 Charitable activities 4 5,800 - 24,021 Investments 5 9 - - Total income 75,872 - 337,279 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 6 13,131 - 315,074 Total expenditure 13,131 - 315,074 Net income 62,741 - 22,205 Transfers between funds (39,068) 39,068 - Net movement in funds 8 23,673 39,068 22,205 Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances at 8 August 2024 - - - Fund balances at 31 March 2025 23,673 39,068 22,205 |
Total 2025 £ 383,321 29,821 9 |
|---|---|
| 413,151 328,205 |
|
| 328,205 | |
| 84,946 - |
|
| 84,946 - |
|
| 84,946 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the 7 months period. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 12 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 13 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities The funds of the charity Restricted income funds 15 Unrestricted funds - general 17 Unrestricted funds - Designated 16 |
2025 £ 105,412 (24,768) |
£ 4,302 80,644 |
|---|---|---|
| 84,946 | ||
| 22,205 23,673 39,068 |
||
| 84,946 |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .........................22/01/2026 .............................. Asma Hussain Trustee
22/01/2026
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
1.1 Reporting period
This is the first year operating as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation so the financial statements are prepared for a shorter 7 months period ended 31st March 2025. Therefore, no comparative amounts are presented in the financial statements (including the related notes).
1.2 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum of Association, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
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 £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.3 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.
1.4 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
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.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.6 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
1.7 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Fixtures and fittings 20% on reducing balance basis
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
1.8 Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
1.9 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.10 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.11 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
3 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2025 £ £ Donations and gifts 68,125 72,258 Grants 1,938 241,000 70,063 313,258 Donations and gifts Donations from Revoluton Arts CIC 68,125 71,758 Other Donations - 500 68,125 72,258 |
Total 2025 £ 140,383 242,938 |
|---|---|
| 383,321 | |
| 139,883 500 |
|
| 140,383 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
4 Income from charitable activities
| Unrestricted Restricted funds funds 2025 2025 £ £ Total Commissions 5,800 19,385 Sponsorship and business investment - 2,500 Ticket sales - 2,136 5,800 24,021 |
Total 2025 25,185 2,500 2,136 |
|---|---|
| 29,821 |
5 Income from investments
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | ||
| Interest receivable | 9 | - | |
| 6 | Expenditure on charitable activities | ||
| Total | |||
| 2025 | |||
| £ | |||
| Direct costs | |||
| Staff costs | 146,436 | ||
| Project costs | 93,166 | ||
| Project management | 3,297 | ||
| Marketing | 43,553 | ||
| Community engagement | 20,880 | ||
| 307,332 | |||
| Share of support and governance costs (see note 7) | |||
| Governance | 20,873 | ||
| 328,205 | |||
| Analysis by fund | |||
| Unrestricted funds - general | 13,131 | ||
| Restricted funds | 315,074 | ||
| 328,205 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 7 Support costs allocated to activities Health & safety Computer costs Insurance Bank charges Memberships Office costs Professional costs Telephone Governance costs Analysed between: Total Governance costs comprise: Audit fees Legal and professional 8 Net movement in funds The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting): Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial statements |
2025 £ 344 2,009 2,866 39 821 4,048 4,134 2,495 4,117 |
|---|---|
| 20,873 | |
| 20,873 | |
| 2025 £ 2,100 2,017 |
|
| 4,117 | |
| 2025 £ 2,100 |
9 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the 7 months period.
10 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the 7 months period was:
2025 Number
6
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 10 | Employees | (Continued) |
|---|---|---|
| Employment costs | 2025 | |
| £ | ||
| Wages and salaries | 131,459 | |
| Social security costs | 9,381 | |
| Other pension costs | 5,596 | |
| 146,436 |
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
11 Taxation
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
12 Tangible fixed assets
| 12 | Tangible fixed assets | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixtures and | ||
| fittings | ||
| £ | ||
| Cost | ||
| Additions | 4,302 | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 4,302 | |
| Carrying amount | ||
| At 31 March 2025 | 4,302 | |
| 13 | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |
| 2025 | ||
| £ | ||
| Trade creditors | 22,668 | |
| Accruals and deferred income | 2,100 | |
| 24,768 | ||
| 14 | Retirement benefit schemes | |
| 2025 | ||
| Defined contribution schemes | £ | |
| Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes | 5,596 |
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
15 Restricted funds
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
| At | 8 August | Incoming | Resources | At | 31 March | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | resources | expended | 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Creative People & Places | - | 302,100 | (299,291) | 2,809 | ||
| Bloomberg | - | 881 | (881) | - | ||
| Arts Council England National Lottery Project | - | 27,320 | (7,924) | 19,396 | ||
| National Lottery Heritage Fund | - | 6,978 | (6,978) | - | ||
| - | 337,279 | (315,074) | 22,205 |
Notes to the restricted funds
CPP - This is funding from Arts Council England for delivery of the Creative People & Places programme during 2025/26.
Bloomberg - This is funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the Digital Accelerator Programme, for 2023-2025.
ACE Org Dev - This is funding from an Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant for organizational development activities, 2025-2027.
NLHF - This is a project grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Undercurrent Research Phase project, 2025
16 Unrestricted funds - Designated
These are unrestricted funds which are designated for 3 months operational winding-down costs in accordance with our reserves policy
| At | 8 | August | Transfers | At | 31 | March | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Designated funds | - | 39,068 | 39,068 |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 6ABBBEEB-0C4B-4E04-99A9-959C05D13536
REVOLUTON ARTS CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 7 MONTHS PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
17 Unrestricted funds
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
| At 8 August | Incoming | Resources | Transfers | At 31 March | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | resources | expended | 2025 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | - | 75,872 | (13,131) | (39,068) | 23,673 |
| Analysis of net assets between | funds | ||||
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | funds | |||
| general | Designated | ||||
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| At 31 March 2025: | |||||
| Tangible assets | 4,302 | - | - | 4,302 | |
| Current assets/(liabilities) | 19,371 | 39,068 | 22,205 | 80,644 | |
| 23,673 | 39,068 | 22,205 | 84,946 |
18 Analysis of net assets between funds
19 Related party transactions
During the year, £7,500 was paid to 1DegreeEast Ltd, a connected company (where trustee Matthew Jones is a Director) for delivery of the Producer Hub.
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