TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT
Financial Year Ending 16/08/2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity name: Co Align Registered charity number: 1210408
Registered address: 5 Brayford Square, London, E1 0SG Legal structure: Charitable Incorporated OrganisaEon (AssociaEon) Date of registraNon: 9 October 2024
Trustees: Jennifer Farmer (Chair), Eleanor Swan, Cristyn Sharkey (as at the date of approval of this report). There were no other trustees during the financial year.
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CHARITABLE PURPOSES
The objects of Co Align are to advance the arts for the public benefit by the promoEon in parEcular, but not exclusively, of the art of opera. Co Align was founded in 2024 by PJ Harris and Hannah Kumari with the mission of reaching new audiences for opera.
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ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR
Overview
Co Align's primary focus during the year has been the development of Displaced: A Woolwich Arsenal Opera , a new opera set in Woolwich in 1913, exploring themes of displacement, idenEty and belonging. The producEon is scheduled for performance in February 2027. Much of the community acEvity undertaken this year supports the development of this work and the building of relaEonships with the communiEes whose stories it tells. Two main strands of community workshop acEvity were delivered during the year:
- Roots: Royal Borough of Greenwich Community Arts Fund Project
Co Align delivered Roots , a programme of community songwriEng and creaEve workshops, funded by the Royal Borough of Greenwich Community Arts Fund (£3,000).
Six workshops took place between February and March 2025 at Tramshed, Woolwich. This as the first Eme using Tramshed, which enabled the workshops to be rooted in the heart of old Woolwich. Eighteen parEcipants took part, with a closed sharing session at the final workshop.
5 BRAYFORD SQUARE, LONDON, E1 0SG WWW.COALIGN.ORG.UK | INFO@COALIGN.ORG.UK CO ALIGN IS A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES. CHARITY NUMBER: 1210408
ParEcipants reflected a diverse cross-secEon of the Woolwich community, including students from Trinity Laban and local residents from both old and new Woolwich. The material produced was of a high standard and authenEcally represented the changing face of Woolwich. Key partnerships included Tramshed Theatre and Royal Borough of Greenwich. Trinity Laban and Blackheath Halls contributed parEcipants through their mailing list.
ParEcipant feedback included:
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"I really enjoyed the session, it was great to talk about Woolwich and make a song."
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"I really enjoy the singing, it was excellent. I look forward to the next session."
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"I had a really nice Cme. It was nice meeCng others too."
A key learning from this strand was that Co Align wishes to focus on community parEcipaEon that is integrated into its main stage work, rather than standalone projects. RelaEonships built through Roots will conEnue to be developed as part of the Displaced programme.
- Islington Community Singing Workshops: Peabody Community FoundaEon
Co Align delivered a programme of community singing workshops in Islington, funded by the Peabody Community FoundaEon (£4,815), which started in February 2025 and is ongoing.
The workshops were held at Hugh Cubia Community Centre and were delivered in partnership with ‘Help on your Doorstep’ Each session lasts 1 hour. Sessions were designed to engage residents with the story of Displaced and introduce the community to singing.
Outcomes for parEcipants included increased confidence in using their voice, new friendships, engagement with the art form of opera, and signposEng to further opportuniEes on the Displaced project. The programme also built skills and improved access to employment, addressed mental health and wellbeing, and contributed to stronger community cohesion. Co Align developed a clear structure and framework for future session delivery and grew its local network of residents interested in future work.
ParEcipant feedback included:
"I feel a huge difference since aEending. Not just with singing technique which has I think improved quite a lot, but mainly the breathing techniques and all the emoConal resilience that comes with this and with overcoming challenges, group cohesion, etc. The tutor was very engaging and created a non-judgemental playful set of sessions."
5 BRAYFORD SQUARE, LONDON, E1 0SG WWW.COALIGN.ORG.UK | INFO@COALIGN.ORG.UK CO ALIGN IS A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES. CHARITY NUMBER: 1210408
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | ||||
| Peabody Community Foundation | 4,815 | 4,815 | ||
| Royal Borough of Greenwich | 3,000 | 3,000 | ||
| Golsoncott Trust | 1,000 | 1,000 | ||
| The Leche Trust | 4,000 | 4,000 | ||
| Total Income | 1000 | 11,815 | 0 | 12,815 |
| Expenditure | ||||
| Freelance artist fees & facilitators | 11,240 | 11240 | ||
| Workshop Materials | 24 | 24 | ||
| Venue Hire Costs | 525 | 525 | ||
| Marketing | 26 | 26 | ||
| Total Expenditure | 11,875 | |||
| 60 | 11,815 | 0 | ||
| Cash funds this year end | 940 | 940 | ||
| 0 | 0 |
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IN KIND SUPPORT
Co Align received in-kind support during the year with an esEmated value of £360. This comprised use of Hugh Cubia Community Centre, provided through the Peabody Community FoundaEon at an esEmated value of £30 per hour for 12 hours. This support is not included in the financial statements.
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PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Co Align's primary objecEve for the coming year is the conEnued development and producEon of Displaced: A Woolwich Arsenal Opera , scheduled for performance in London in February 2027. This will include conEnued community engagement workshops in Woolwich, developing delivery partnerships with venue Woolwich Works and the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the
5 BRAYFORD SQUARE, LONDON, E1 0SG WWW.COALIGN.ORG.UK | INFO@COALIGN.ORG.UK CO ALIGN IS A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES. CHARITY NUMBER: 1210408
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recruitment of community performers to perform alongside professional singers in the producEon.
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RISK MANAGEMENT
The trustees have given consideraEon to the major risks to which the charity is exposed. The principal risks idenEfied include funding dependency on one-off grants, the capacity of codirectors Hannah Kumari and PJ Harris to deliver the day-to-day acEvity. Systems and procedures have been put in place to manage these risks, including the exploraEon of new funding strategies, the future benefit of Theatre Tax Relief ager the charity’s first full producEon in February 2027 and the partnerships with larger organisaEons such as Woolwich Works & the BBC Concert Orchestra. The charity is also offseing the workload of the co-directors by appoinEng PR, MarkeEng, Producing and AccounEng freelancers/consultants to support.
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Co Align is a Charitable Incorporated OrganisaEon (AssociaEon), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 October 2024. The charity is governed by its consEtuEon adopted on that date. The charity is managed by its board of trustees, who are responsible for the strategic oversight and financial management of the organisaEon. Day-today operaEons are led by co-founders and co-directors PJ Harris and Hannah Kumari. Trustees are appointed by the membership of the CIO in accordance with the charity's ConsEtuEon.
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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulaEons. The trustees confirm that the financial statements give a true and accurate view of the charity's receipts and payments and its cash balances for the period ending 16 August 2025, and have been prepared in accordance with the ChariEes Act 2011 and the Receipts and Payments basis.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
______ Name: Jennifer Farmer PosiEon: Chair of Trustees Date: 16/06/2026
5 BRAYFORD SQUARE, LONDON, E1 0SG WWW.COALIGN.ORG.UK | INFO@COALIGN.ORG.UK CO ALIGN IS A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES. CHARITY NUMBER: 1210408