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2023-03-31-accounts

Company no. 01896672 Charity no. 291476

Gathering Voices Limited Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2023

Gathering Voices Limited

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Company number 01896672 Charity number 291476 Registered office 39 Quantock Road Bristol England BS3 4PQ Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: Isobel Beazley resigned 31 March 2023 Elspeth Eastwood Clive Harry Hannah Klewin Chair Nicholas Spollin Secretary Sophie Townend Bankers Triodos Bank CAF Bank Ltd 11 The Promenade 25 Kings Hill Avenue Clifton Kings Hill Bristol West Malling BS8 3NN Kent ME19 4JQ Solicitors Faegre & Benson LLP 7 Pilgrim Street London EC4V 6LB Independent Godfrey Wilson Limited examiners Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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Gathering Voices Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

Objectives and activities

The charity's objectives and principal activities are:

The advancement of education and learning amongst the public generally and more particularly amongst those engaged in the fields of training and education, whether general, professional or technical.

The main objectives and activities for the year, as previously, are to continue to focus upon the provision of high quality creative projects for children, young people and creative adults focussing primarily, but not exclusively, on music, performing arts, creative expression and cultural participation.

The fundamental ethos of the charity's work is to provide children, young people and creative adults with educative and inspirational creative experiences that significantly improve learning capabilities, creativity, group working, leadership, communication skills and self esteem.

Public benefit

The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake and confirm that all the charity's activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Achievements and performance over this financial period Covid-19

All Covid-19 restrictions were lifted at the end of February 2022 which enabled Gathering Voices to fully recommence in person delivery and support to existing beneficiaries including delivering the ongoing creative programmes and supporting our current Creative Associates.

Factory 8

Factory 8 is Gathering Voices’ centre of creativity and wellbeing in the heart of BS3 and the base for much of our work with children and young people. The ground floor accessible Bonus Room is a community hireable space which hosts regular evening and weekend users with activities including community choirs, adult and youth theatre workshops and rehearsals, community meetings and personal and professional development workshops.

Having secured a new 10 year lease at Factory 8 in May 2022 the focus for this financial year has been to bounce back from the Covid-19 closures - developing and re-strengthening our existing initiatives and planning for new projects to be delivered alongside our Creative Associates in the arts and education. Alongside several community theatre companies that have worked at Factory 8 this year, have been projects from the School of Social Enterprise ( who help people develop the skills, strengths and networks they need to tackle society’s biggest problems ), The Actors Workshop ( working with young people aged 14+ in regular workshops and performances), Tobacco Factory Theatres ( delivering activities for young theatre makers aged 5 +), Bristol Show Choir ( Bristol’s leading musical theatre community choir ) and Bristol School of Acting ( developing young people through drama and dance through high quality training opportunities ).

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Gathering Voices Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The Works - Creative Associate, Outreach and Leadership Programme

The Works consists of diverse disused light industrial and commercial sites (empty awaiting development) that provide a base for much of Gathering Voices’ Creative Associate, Outreach and Leadership Programme. This Creative Development programme has been bringing life back to underused and vacant spaces in the heart of Bedminster since 2014 - re-purposing them to strengthen, diversify and regenerate this area of South Bristol by forming and supporting creative communities.

Through creative workshops, master classes, supported spaces, mentoring, residencies, exhibitions, productions, screenings, professional development sessions and advocacy at The Works, Gathering Voices works alongside our Creative Associates to enable and promote sustainability amongst artists, makers and creatives. We provide opportunities for creative development across a wide range of disciplines including textiles, fine art, fashion, illustration, craft making, sculpture, visual and music production and performance.

Having handed back the buildings that had housed PrintWorks, Fabrication and Paradise Studios in June last year as the developer started demolition, we took on a new site, No.57 East Street in April 2022, to form the base for our continued delivery of the ongoing Heritage Lottery funded project 'Futures Past.’

Singing and musical delivery to promote healthy creative and cohesive communities:

Our plans to bounce back from the Covid-19 closures of the last 2 years got underway during the summer with 3 high profile performance opportunities for our youth groups at Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, WOMAD World Music Festival and Shambala Festival where the young people delivered 10 X2 hour performances and ran a one hour workshop for 150+ people.

Heritage Lottery Grant – Futures Past

In March 2022 the ‘Bedminster Now and Then’ aspect of the HLF funded ‘Futures Past’ began after all remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. A series of local community meetings where held where people were invited to be photographed, bring photographs of their neighbourhood and families, and once again begin planning the heritage research part of the project. As a means of further engagement, a regularly changing exhibition of photographs was created on the high street increasing the local community’s awareness of the project and willingness to take part. This part of the project ran until the end of December 2022 and engaged approx. 100 people.

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Gathering Voices Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

NGO Eye

During this period Gathering Voices set up this project, in response to requests from small and modest-sized aid and development charities, as part of our ongoing creative outreach work. The result was to design a media-arts training initiative for UK and other agencies that work in East Africa. The first series, based in Kenya, included in-the-field training sessions and online follow-up support for local NGO staff enabling them to gain skills in project documentation and visual storytelling.

The programme has been set up on a consortium basis, with each NGO contributing a share towards project costs in relation to their size/ability to do so, enabling organisations that could not usually afford to take part in such a project to do so.

To date we have been able to train and support project staff and volunteers from a wide range of organisations including:

Financial review

Income for the year totals £123,052 which is a 81% increase on the previous year. Expenditure increased by 64% to £116,950 giving rise to an overall surplus of £6,102 in the year ended 31 March 2023. There are net current assets of £115,027 as at 31 March 2023, and £128,971 of unrestricted funds.

Principal funding sources

The principal funding sources for the charity are currently fees receivable from services rendered, donations, grants and traded services as well as subscriptions from participants. The charity is in a continual process of investigating new grant possibilities from organisations that share a similar ethos.

Reserves policy

The charity's only fixed overhead commitment is the rental of Factory 8 (£3,500 per annum). The trustees have increased the level of unrestricted reserves carried forward in order to maintain readily available reserves equivalent to 6 months of unrestricted expenditure. In a normal year this amounts to approximately £40,000 which has been met this year.

4

Gathering Voices Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Plans for the next financial period

Factory 8

Securing the new 10-year lease at Factory 8 has given us a further guaranteed period to deliver our programmes and continue to rebuild following the Covid-19 shut downs. We will continue to develop Factory 8 as a base for our partnerships and Creative Associate Programmes in addition to delivering our singing, musical and leadership programmes from young people.

The Works

The intention is to continue our past decades work of seeking and responding to opportunities to secure vacant industrial, retail and office sites and to re-imagine and repurpose them as creative hubs as part of our Creative Outreach and mentoring work.

Heritage Lottery Grant – Futures Past

Gathering Voices were initially granted an extension to this funded project to the end of December 2022 due to the pandemic and all activities were finished at that stage. However, we are currently in discussions with HLF to secure a further extension to allow us to fully deliver the second year of Futures Past and are confident that we can re-engage with local delivery partners to make this happen.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law 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 the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The trustees 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 are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

5

Gathering Voices Limited

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Independent examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as independent examiners to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 29 November 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Hannah Klewin

Hannah Klewin - Chair

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Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

Gathering Voices Limited

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Gathering Voices Limited (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 17.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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 accounts to be reached.

William Guy Blake

Date: 29 November 2023 William Guy Blake ACA Member of the ICAEW For and on behalf of: Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

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Gathering Voices Limited

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Restricted Unrestricted
Note
£
£
Income from:
Donations
3
-
43,887
Charitable activities
4
-
78,979
Investments
5
-
186
Total income
-
123,052
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
13,281
103,669
Total expenditure
7
13,281
103,669
8
(13,281)
19,383
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
13,281
109,588
Total funds carried forward
-
128,971
Net income / (expenditure) and net
movement in funds		 2023
Total
£
43,887
78,979
186
123,052
116,950
116,950
6,102
122,869
128,971		 2022
Total
£
18,270
49,812
47
68,129
71,218
71,218
(3,089)
125,958
122,869

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 14 to the accounts.

8

Gathering Voices Limited

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2023

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
12
Net current assets
Net assets
13
Funds
Restricted funds
14
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 £
875
115,472
116,347
(1,320)		 2023
£
13,944
115,027
128,971
-
128,971
128,971		 2022
£
18,286
844
106,689
107,533
(2,950)
104,583
122,869
13,281
109,588
122,869

Total charity funds

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477(2), and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on 29 November 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Hannah Klewin

Hannah Klewin - Chair

9

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Gathering Voices Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

d) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

e) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

10

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

g) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. All costs have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities as there were no fundraising costs during the year.

h) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Fixtures and fittings 4 years straight line Leasehold improvements 10 years straight line

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500.

i) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered.

j) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

k) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

l) Financial instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

m) Operating leases

Lease payments under an operating lease are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

11

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

n) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying 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 if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant impact on the financial statements are depreciation as described in note 1h above.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) and net
movement in funds		 Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
-
18,270
-
49,812
-
47
-
68,129
10,276
60,942
10,276
60,942
(10,276)
7,187		 2022
Total
£
18,270
49,812
47
68,129
71,218
71,218
(3,089)

12

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

3. Income from donations

Subscriptions
Grants
Gift aid
Total income from donations		 2023
Total
£
43,887
-
-
43,887		 2022
Total
£
3,556
14,150
564
18,270

All income from donations was unrestricted in the current year and prior year.

4. Income from charitable activities

Creative resources and mentoring
Grants
Total income from charitable activities		 2023
Total
£
78,979
-
78,979		 2022
Total
£
46,812
3,000
49,812

All income from charitable activities was unrestricted in the current and prior year.

5. Income from investments

Income from investments
2023 2022
Total Total
£ £
Interest received 186 47

6. Government grants

The charitable company received no government grants in the current year. In the prior year, the charitable company received a government grant from Bristol City Council to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2022 was £14,150. There were no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to this grant.

13

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

7.
Total expenditure
Premises costs
Project costs
Depreciation
Travel and subsistence
Accountancy
Insurance
Publicity
Professional fees
Bank charges
Other governance
Maintenance and repairs
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Prior period comparative
Project costs
Premises costs
Depreciation
Accountancy
Insurance
Publicity
Professional fees
Maintenance and repairs
Bank charges
Other governance
Travel and subsistence
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 Charitable
activities
£
55,308
52,633
-
-
-
-
418
-
-
-
34
108,392
8,558
116,950
Charitable
activities
£
48,673
14,994
-
-
-
536
-
192
-
-
-
64,395
6,823
71,218		 Support
costs
£
-
-
4,342
1,590
-
747
-
326
207
-
-
7,212
(7,212)
-
Support
costs
£
-
-
4,226
-
732
-
349
-
166
-
73
5,546
(5,546)
-		 Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
1,320
-
-
-
-
26
-
1,346
(1,346)
-
Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
1,200
-
-
-
-
-
77
-
1,277
(1,277)
-		 2023 Total
£
55,308
52,633
4,342
1,590
1,320
747
418
326
207
26
34
116,950
-
116,950
2022 Total
£
48,673
14,994
4,226
1,200
732
536
349
192
166
77
73
71,218
-
71,218

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Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

8. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Operating lease payments
Depreciation
Trustees' remuneration (note 16)
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Independent examiners' remuneration:
Independent examination (including VAT)		 2023
£
3,500
4,342
44,750
Nil
1,320		 2022
£
1,750
4,226
42,050
Nil
1,200

9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

10. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 £
6,902
5,396
464
5,860
1,043
1,506
Fixtures and
fittings		 £
38,786
22,006
3,878
25,884
12,902
16,780
Leasehold
improvements		 Total
£
45,688
27,402
4,342
31,744
13,944
18,286

11. Debtors

Gift aid
Prepayments		 2023
2022
£
£
-
844
875
-
875
844

15

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

12. Creditors : amounts due within 1 year
Accruals
13. Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2022
14. Movements in funds
At 1 April
2022
£
Restricted funds
Heritage Lottery
13,281
Total restricted funds
13,281
Unrestricted funds
General funds
109,588
Total unrestricted funds
109,588
Total funds
122,869		 £
-
-
-
-
£
-
13,281
-
13,281
Income
£
-
-
123,052
123,052
123,052
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 2023
£
1,320
£
13,944
116,347
(1,320)
128,971
£
18,286
94,252
(2,950)
109,588
£
(13,281)
(13,281)
(103,669)
(103,669)
(116,950)
Unrestricted
funds
Expenditure
Unrestricted
funds		 2022
£
2,950
Total
funds
£
13,944
116,347
(1,320)
128,971
Total
funds
£
18,286
107,533
(2,950)
122,869
£
-
At 31 March
2023
-
128,971
128,971
128,971

16

Gathering Voices Limited

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds

Heritage Lottery

This grant is restricted to the approved purposes and project costs for the Futures Past project; an inclusive, intergenerational, heritage based creative social documentation project in the mixed demographic area of Bedminster. Gathering Voices is currently in discussions to extend the grant.

Prior period comparative

Restricted funds
Heritage Lottery
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1 April
2021
£
23,557
23,557
102,401
102,401
125,958		 Income
£
-
-
68,129
68,129
68,129		 £
(10,276)
(10,276)
(60,942)
(60,942)
(71,218)
Expenditure		 £
13,281
At 31 March
2022
13,281
109,588
109,588
122,869

15. Operating lease commitments

The charity had operating leases at the year end with total future minimum lease payments as follows:

Amount falling due:
Within 1 year
Within 1 - 5 years
More than 5 years		 2023
£
3,500
14,000
15,750
33,250		 2022
£
1,750
14,000
19,250
35,000

The charity has entered into a 10 year lease with Bristol City Council for the provision of premises to enable the charity to carry out its charitable objectives.

16. Related party transactions

During the year, two of the trustees, Hannah Klewin and Nick Spollin, invoiced the charity a total of £44,750 (2022: £42,000) for services provided. These payments are permitted within the charity's Memorandum of Association.

17