Trustees' Annual Report # **HAVEN YOUNG CREATIVES - A DIFFERENT LIGHT** Trustees' Annual Report _For the year ended 31 August 2025_ ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details** |**Charity name**|HAVEN YOUNG CREATIVES - A DIFFERENT LIGHT| |---|---| |**Previous name**|HAVEN YOUNG CREATIVES| |**Charity number**|1209588| |**Legal form**|Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)| |**Principal address**|63 LAWES AVENUE
NEWHAVEN
EAST SUSSEX
BN9 9SB| |**Financial year**|14 August 2024 to 31 August 2025| ## **Trustees** The following trustees served during the year: Lesley Boniface Scarlet Stefanie Scardanelli Eileen Reiner The following trustees were appointed after the year end: Jane McMorrow (appointed 15 September 2025) Spike Padley (appointed 15 September 2025) ## **Professional Advisers** Sandra Hawkley (independent examiner) Page 1 Trustees' Annual Report ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing Document** The charity is governed by its constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. ## **Conversion from Not-for-Profit Limited Company** During the reporting period, the organisation completed its conversion from a not-for-profit limited company to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The remaining funds held by the limited company were transferred to the CIO in full, with all existing grant conditions maintained and honoured throughout the transition. This conversion provides a more appropriate legal structure for the charity's activities and offers trustees the benefit of limited liability, as well as increasing the number of funding bodies and organisations available to the charity. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** All trustees in position during the financial year were formerly directors of the limited company. As set out in the constitution of the CIO, the trustees have been initially appointed for the following terms: Eileen Reiner - 2 years expiring 27 July 2026 Lesley Boniface - 3 years expiring 27 July 2027 Scarlet Stefanie Scardanelli - 4 years expiring 27 July 2028 ## **Organisational Structure** Day-to-day management of the charity is delegated to the Executive Director, Siou Hannam, who previously served as a director of the predecessor not-for-profit limited company. Siou Hannam leads a small team comprising a General Manager, a drama tutor, and a drama assistant. Additional freelance practitioners are engaged on a project-by-project basis to deliver specialist workshops/events and support the charity's programme of activities. The board of trustees meets quarterly to provide strategic oversight, receiving updates and reports from the Executive Director at each meeting. Page 2 Trustees' Annual Report ## **3. Objectives and Activities** ## **Charitable Purposes** The object of the CIO is to act as a resource for children, young people, and others living in Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford by organising programmes of arts, educational and other activities as a means of: (a) advancing in life and helping children and young people by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals; (b) providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its activities. The charity’s work delivers clear public benefit in two ways. First, by organising programmes of arts and educational activities for children and young people in Newhaven, Peacehaven, and Seaford, the charity advances participants’ skills, capacities, and capabilities, enabling them to develop as independent, mature, and responsible individuals who are able to participate fully in society. Second, the charity provides recreational and leisure-time activities and arts events in the interests of social welfare for young people and others in the area who may face barriers by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances, with a view to improving their conditions of life. ## **Summary of Activities** The charity acts as a resource for children and young people living in Newhaven, Peacehaven, and Seaford, delivering a programme of arts, educational, and recreational activities. Its core provision includes regular weekly drama sessions and outreach workshops delivered in partnership with local schools and youth organisations. Through these activities, the charity works to develop children and young people’s skills, confidence, and creativity, supporting them to participate in society as capable and engaged individuals. The programme also serves those who may face social, economic, or personal barriers to participation, providing accessible and inclusive activities that contribute to improved wellbeing and conditions of life for people across the area of benefit, including the regular lantern procession event Harbour Lights. Page 3 Trustees' Annual Report ## **4. Achievements and Performance** ## **Weekly Drama Sessions** The charity delivered 60 weekly drama sessions during the year at the Hillcrest Community Centre, across two groups (8-12 year olds and 13-19 year olds). A handful of sessions were attended by parents, carers, and children together, with a distinctive and valued approach in which young people themselves facilitated the sessions, developing their leadership and communication skills alongside their creative abilities. In June 2024, participants created and performed a small devised piece, sharing their work with an audience and celebrating the progress made throughout the year. ## **Harbour Lights Community Event** The annual Harbour Lights event (a lantern procession) was originally planned for November 2024 but was postponed due to Storm Bert. The event took place in January 2025 and included: - 2 lantern-making workshops (40 attendees) - 1 singing workshop (26 attendees) - 1 drumming workshop (28 attendees) - 1 lantern procession through Newhaven town centre (119 participants and 80 attendees) ## **Outreach and Partnerships** In addition to its core programme, the charity delivered a range of workshops in partnership with local schools and organisations: ## **Seahaven Academy** Three workshops were delivered at Seahaven Academy — one per school term — bringing the charity's participatory arts approach into a secondary school setting. ## **Newhaven Youth Centre** Two workshops were delivered at Newhaven Youth Centre, extending the charity's reach to young people engaging with youth services in the town. ## **InRoads Productions — Stories Workshop** The charity collaborated with writer Sara Clifford as part of Chalk Land, delivering a sharing stories workshop with participants drawn from the charity's drama groups. This project gave young people the opportunity to explore and share personal stories about their experiences of the natural landscape in Newhaven & the South Downs, through creative writing and performance. ## **Guest Practitioner Workshops** The charity also brought in a number of specialist practitioners to work with its groups during the year: - Graham Shackell led a stage combat workshop in October 2024 with both age groups. Page 4 Trustees' Annual Report - Xanthe Gresham led two storytelling workshops, working with both age groups. - Charlotte Vincent of Vincent Dance Theatre (VDT) led a movement workshop with the drama groups. Page 5 Trustees' Annual Report ## **5. Financial Review** ## **Principal Funding Sources and Activities Supported** During the year, the charity received funding from the following sources: ## **National Lottery — Awards for All** A two-year grant from the National Lottery Awards for All programme supported the weekly drama sessions at Hillcrest Centre, covering costs including the session facilitator, venue hire, and an administrator. ## **Sussex Community Foundation** Funding from the Sussex Community Foundation enabled the charity to pay a young person as a Drama Assistant within the weekly drama sessions, providing a meaningful paid opportunity and investing in the development of a young local practitioner. ## **Towner Growth Fund** A grant from the Towner Growth Fund contributed to the delivery of the Harbour Lights community event. ## **Chalk Cliff Trust** Funding from the Chalk Cliff Trust also supported the Harbour Lights event. ## **Newhaven Town Council** A grant from Newhaven Town Council funded professional development activity. The charity engaged Ned Glasier of Company Three to provide professional development support, strengthening the skills and practice of those working with the charity's groups. ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees recognise that the charity's work depends significantly on grant funding, which can be subject to fluctuation. It is therefore the aim of the trustees to build up a significant level of unrestricted financial reserves over time. These reserves would be used to sustain the charity's activities in the event of a shortfall in funding, ensuring continuity of provision for the children and young people the charity serves. The trustees review the level of reserves held at each quarterly meeting and will continue to work towards this goal as the charity's financial position develops. ## **Financial Position** The charity ended the year in a strong financial position. Total income for the year was £28,006 against expenditure of £9,176, resulting in a surplus of £18,830. Of the total funds held at the year end, £1,330 represented unrestricted cash funds, available at the trustees' discretion, and £17,500 represented restricted cash funds held from various grants. All restricted funds have been carried forward to the next financial year to be applied in accordance with the relevant grant conditions. The unrestricted balance provides the beginning of the reserves the trustees are actively seeking to build. Full details of the charity's income, expenditure, and financial position are set out in the financial statements accompanying this report. Page 6 Trustees' Annual Report ## **Going Concern** The trustees have considered whether it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. Having reviewed the charity's current financial position, including the surplus generated during the year, the restricted funds carried forward, and the pipeline of anticipated income, the trustees are satisfied that the charity has adequate resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. Page 7 Trustees' Annual Report ## **6. Plans for Future Periods** The trustees look forward to building on the progress made during this period and have identified a number of priorities for the coming year. The weekly drama clubs will continue as the cornerstone of the charity’s provision, and the trustees intend to increase the number of workshops delivered in local schools, extending the charity’s reach to more children and young people across Newhaven, Peacehaven, and Seaford. Building on the success of Harbour Lights, the trustees plan to develop the annual event further, improving and expanding the experience for participants and the wider community. Work will begin on planning the next iteration with the aim of making it an even more significant fixture in the local calendar. The charity will begin preparatory work towards a research and development application to Arts Council England. The proposed project will be rooted in Newhaven’s heritage and developed in collaboration with the young people in the drama clubs, placing them at the heart of the creative process. Fundraising activity to support this application will be a key focus during the year. Financially, the trustees will continue to build unrestricted reserves while also working towards a more sustainable income model that reduces reliance on grant funding alone. In an increasingly competitive fundraising environment, the charity recognises the importance of developing non-grant income streams to strengthen its long-term financial resilience and ensure the continuity of its work for children and young people in the area. Page 8 Trustees' Annual Report ## **7. Trustees' Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved this report and confirm that it gives a true and fair view of the charity's activities and financial position. **----- Start of picture text -----**
27/05/2026
Lesley Boniface ____________________ on ____________________
27/05/2026
Jane McMorrow ____________________ on ____________________
29/05/2026
Spike Padley ____________________ on ____________________
30/05/2026
Eileen Reiner ____________________ on ____________________
31/05/2026
Scarlet Scardanelli ____________________ on ____________________
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 9 ||**Trustees' Annual Report**|**Trustees' Annual Report**|**Trustees' Annual Report**|**Trustees' Annual Report**|**Trustees' Annual Report**|**for theperiod**|**for theperiod**|**for theperiod**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**From**|Period start date||||Period end date||| |||Day
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2025| ## Section A Reference and administration details **Charity name** Haven Young Creatives – A Different Light **Other names charity is known by** Haven Young Creatives **Registered charity number (if any)** 1209588 **Charity's principal address** 63 Lawes Avenue Newhaven BN9 9SB **Postcode** **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** ||1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Lesley-Anne
Boniface||16 August 2024 - present|| |||Scarlet Stefanie
Scardanelli||16 August 2024 - present|| |||Eileen Reiner||16 August 2024 - present|| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| |||**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**|||| |||**Name**||**Dates acted if not for wholeyear**|| ||||||| March **2012** **TAR** 1 ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of adviser Name Address Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** Susan Hannam, David Barnstorm **Section B Structure, governance and management Description of the charity’s trusts** Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisatio How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by trustees Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by) **Additional governance issues (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:  policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;  the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;  relationship with any related parties;  trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. ## **Section B Structure, governance and management** ## **Section C Objectives and activities** March **2012** **TAR** 2 |**Summary of the objects of the**
**charity set out in its**
**governing document**
**Summary of the main**
**activities undertaken for the**
**public benefit in relation to**
**these objects (include within**
**this section the statutory**
**declaration that trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit)**|THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS TO ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR CHILDREN
AND YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN NEWHAVEN, PEACEHAVEN AND
SEAFORD BY ORGANISING PROGRAMS OF ARTS, EDUCATIONAL AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES AS A MEANS OF: (A) ADVANCING IN LIFE AND
HELPING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE BY DEVELOPING THEIR
SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO
PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS INDEPENDENT, MATURE AND
RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS; (B) PROVIDING RECREATIONAL AND
LEISURE TIME ACTIVITY IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE
FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT WHO HAVE NEED BY
REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, POVERTY
OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO
IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF SUCH PERSONS.| |---|---| ||| **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)** March **2012** **TAR** 3 You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about: - policy on grantmaking; - policy programme related investment; - contribution made by volunteers. Section D Achievements and performance March **2012** **TAR** 4 Section D Achievements and performance **Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year** **Section E Financial review** March **2012** **TAR** 5 **Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves** **Details of any funds materially in deficit** ## **Further financial review details (Optional information)** You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about: - the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); - how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; - investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. ## **Section F Other optional information** ## **Section G Declaration** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** March **2012** **TAR** 6 To the Trustees of Haven Young Creatl¥es l ￿port on the Receipts and Payments Accounts set out in the Financial Ststement for the year ended 31 August 2025. Respertive responslbilJ¥es of trustees and examiner The trustees are ￿SponSIble for the p￿paration of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not reqUI￿d for this year under section 144{21 of the Chartties Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied rnyse￿that the charity is eligible for independent examination. tt is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. follow the procedures laid down in the generdl Directions given by the Charity Commission under settion 145{5llb) of the 2011 Art. and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 8asls of Independent Examlnerfs report My examination was carried out in accordance with the generdl Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosu￿S in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be reqUI￿d in an audit and consequently no opinion is grven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair Vie￿ and the report is limited to those matter5 set out in the next statement. Independent Examinerfs Ststement In connectron with my examination no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that. in any material respect. the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordan￿ wvth Sectron 130 of the Charities Act 2011: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Art have not been met: or to which in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed". 7 May 2026 Sandra Hawkley 58 Valley Road Newhaven BN9 9XB