Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
**Company number 1962946 Charity number 293201**
**Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
**(Limited by Guarantee)**
**Report and Financial Statements**
**for the year ended 31 March 2024**
**Breckman & Company Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants 49 South Molton Street London W1K 5LH**
Docusign Envelope ID." E936D30(k86DE4167-BF82-BB4DDOAC83F2
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|Trustees' Report|2 - 9|
|Independent Examiner's Report|10|
|Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)|11 - 14|
|Balance Sheet|15|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|16 - 25|
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
## **Constitution**
The company is a private company limited by guarantee and registered in EW - England and Wales, company number 1962946, incorporated under the Companies Act and its governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The company is a registered charity, number 293201.
## **Directors and trustees**
The directors of the charitable company (Trestle Theatre Company Limited) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees.
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees are ongoing and incorporated indirectly into the regular trustees meetings.
The trustees during the year and since the year end, were:
Andrew Chaloner appointed 7 December 2023 Maria Cullimore appointed 7 December 2023 Amlet David Claire Godden appointed 7 December 2023 Samantha Lane (Chair) Sarah Pepper Kathryn Rogers resigned 19 September 2024 Olivia Tetlow Tom Watkins (Vice Chair)
## **Secretary**
Clare Winter
## **Executive Director**
Clare Winter
## **Creative Director**
Helen Barnett
## **Independent Examiners**
Breckman & Company Ltd, Chartered Certified Accountants, 49 South Molton Street, London W1K 5LH.
## **Bankers**
Barclays Bank Plc, Whetstone Business Centre, 1250 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 0PB.
## **Registered office and operation address**
Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0JQ.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements of a directors' report for Companies Act purposes.
The reference and administrative details set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and 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).
## **Principal activity**
The principal activity of the company during the year continued to be delivering educational performances, resources, workshops and training in mask and physical theatre: running Trestle Arts Base as a community and professional arts resource and making theatre masks for educational purposes.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
Trestle Theatre Company Limited is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 21 November 1985. It is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. It is governed by a Board of voluntary non-executive directors who are Trustees of the charity. The Board delegates the day-to-day management to its employees led by the Artistic Director and Finance and Operations Director. Members' liability is limited to one pound should the company be wound up while they are a member or during the year afterwards.
## **Appointment of Trustees**
In order to obtain a wide spread of experience and appropriate skills the recruitment of Trustees is usually through advertisement and personal contacts.
## **Trustee induction and training**
New Trustees are provided with an information pack including: History and activities of the Company Role of Trestle Trustees Responsibilities of Charitable Trustees (Charity Commission publication CC3 and summary CC3a) Current Trustees Memorandum and Articles of Association Most recent accounts Most recent annual budget and management accounts Three year plan Company policies Organisational chart and current staff
New Trustees have a meeting with the Chair of the Board and/or another member, then with the Executive Director and Creative Director to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities and legal obligations to the Company and their role as Trustee.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Organisation**
The Board of Trustees shall be not fewer than 2 and not more than 30 members. Each year there will be 4 Board meetings, the AGM and usually one extraordinary meeting. One Saturday a year is scheduled for a Board 'Away Day'.
Each Board member serves a term of 3 years, at the end of which they can stand for re-election to a further term of 3 years, if they wish to do so and there are no objections, after which they must stand down for at least 1 year.
## **Risk management**
The Trustees continue to monitor risk including:
- An annual review of the risks the charity may face; physical, financial and business.
- The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those identified risks.
- The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the Company should those risks materialise.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
Trestle Theatre Company creates unique masks for use in participation, performance and professional development. Trestle works in partnership with established and new arts companies, educational establishments and creative businesses.
Since 1981, Trestle has toured new productions and from 2002 the Company has run Trestle Arts Base in St Albans as a welcoming space valued by local, diverse communities, a training and performance venue loved by artists, teachers and businesses and a home to Trestle's internationally successful mask making operation.
The beneficiaries are:
- Students in formal and informal education activity from early years to higher education
- Young people and adults with disabilities and mental health issues
- Local community members of all ages
- Professional artists
- Teachers
## **Public Benefit**
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'. In particular the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to aims and objectives they have set.
## _From the Memorandum of Association_
_"The objects for which the Company is registered are to promote, maintain, improve and advance education, particularly by the encouragement of the Arts including the arts of drama, ballet, music, singing, literature, sculpture and painting."_
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **The Company achieves the objectives through strategies to:**
- Offer opportunities for the widest range of people to participate in high quality arts activities.
- Eliminate barriers to participation.
- Celebrate the diversity of cultures within our society.
- Deliver training opportunities and facilities for professional and amateur artists to develop and present their work.
## **The areas of activity are:**
- Creating productions with educational resources, participation programmes and training.
- Delivering a mask and physical theatre workshop programme throughout the UK and abroad.
- Offering professional development opportunities for artists and for teachers through CPD training courses, MA and PGCE level training.
- Running a creative learning programme of project-specific workshops and other activities in St Albans, throughout Hertfordshire and beyond and being an Artsmark partner for schools.
- Manufacturing and supplying mask sets for educational and social use in the UK and around the world.
- Managing Trestle Arts Base as a local arts resource which also supports emerging and established artists from regional and international networks.
- Reducing isolation for local people with disabilities through offering weekly inclusive singing and acting groups.
- Running Trestle's School of Drama for young people.
- Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people and adults through ongoing projects, some of which, where appropriate, deliver Arts Award.
-
- Running community activity in partnership with local professional companies and artists.
## **Major achievements of the year were:**
- Continuing our Paul Hamlyn Teacher Development Funded project 'Create, Speak, Thrive' in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, ROH Bridge and 7 primary schools in Luton and Stevenage.
- Successfully partnering with Haringey Shed for a performance project.
- Finalised the testing of our brand new mini mask set by running workshop in 5 local primary schools.
- Continuing to deliver our community groups and provide performance opportunities within the local area partnering with BEEE Creative and other local projects.
- Continuing to deliver our School of Drama and producing our own 24 Hours of Drama event to great success.
- Launching our Youth Board.
- Providing training opportunities for staff on Equality and Diversity and Sustainability to support our continued company aims.
- Strengthening our learning and education offer through continued partnerships with the Royal Opera House Bridge and the Herts Cultural Education Partnership.
- Taking part in Beam Theatre's 'The Listening Project' working on dramatic enquiry with our young people.
- Running a successful collaboration with Joy of Drama in India to perform at the Arts Base both with their young people and their one woman show, Gandhari.
- Delivering a successful project with Flamstead Heritage at St Lukes school exploring the local history through drama.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Trestle's year in figures**
This year we delivered approximately 165 workshops for around 1,500 participants including 10 training sessions for 110 teachers and artists at CPD, PGCE and NQT level. At the Arts Base we delivered 252 sessions for 330 participants. In total we delivered around 500 workshop / training sessions and engaged around 2,500 people in our activity.
Overall 291 sets of masks were sold, with 85 sets sent abroad to 28 countries, including many European places as well as Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Romania, and UAE. (Year end 2022/23 398 sets were sold).
## **Cost of Living Crisis**
The cost of living and energy crisis continues to see a negative financial effect on the charity. This resulted in the reduced sale of masks, not just in the UK but across the world and workshop income is still roughly half to what it was prior to Covid-19.
## **OUR WORK**
## **WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING**
## **Secondary Schools Workshops**
Workshop numbers have stayed the same, it was lovely to do a series of workshops in Round Diamond school as an addition to their involvement in our Create, Speak, Thrive project.
## **International**
We were delighted to partner with Joy of Drama and run another workshop for the British School of Dharan.
## **Higher Education**
We continued to deliver workshops for Drama Studio London and our contributions to the PGCE at Middlesex University.
## **Arts On Prescription**
We delivered a successful 4 week session with Haringey Shed and continue to deliver workshops as part of the Freshlife programme at Beyond Food.
## **Trestle School of Drama**
Trestle School of Drama had another good year seeing some new faces. We were able to run 4 holiday projects throughout the year. We were also thrilled to launch our youth board and run our inaugural 24 hours of drama event planned by a steering group of our participants.
## **Trestle's Community Groups**
Our community groups remain very popular and we were thrilled to be part of the BEE Creative Dance ReIgnite project and to partner with the Cathedral for some special poetry workshops.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **TRESTLE PARTNERSHIPS**
## **St Albans Museum Commissions**
We were pleased to continue our relationship with St Albans Museum and Galleries by starting work on their Catching the Chain project.
## **Video Feet (VF)**
In terms of VF rent in kind for 2023-24, VF created a brilliant film as part of our Create, Speak, Thrive project.
## **Hertfordshire Cultural Education Partnership**
Trestle continue to be part of the steering group for the Hertfordshire Cultural Education Partnership.
## **Research**
Trestle are leading on the 'Create, Speak, Thrive' research project exploring the impact of Drama and Storytelling on SLCN (Speech, Language and Communication). We are pleased to work with the University of Hertfordshire as evaluation partners. Dr Catherine Rees continues to develop a bid to the Arts and Humanities Research Council to look at the social impact of working with mask in Indonesia.
## **Developing Artists**
We continued to work with Jenny Ayres as our current new resident artist supporting her Stranger In My Shoes project designed with and for adults with dementia.
## **OUR MASKS**
Although sales are affected by the cost of living crisis, we are happy to report that they continue to remain popular both in the UK and internationally.
## **Mini Masks**
We finalised and tested the mask set with an ambition to launch for sale next financial year.
## **OUR VENUE**
We continued to manage the Trestle Arts Base and have seen a rise in regular and one-off hires.
## **Performances and Events**
We were delighted to have a series of performances and events during the year. They were:
Performances by Trestle School of Drama Trestle Adult Master Class courses Singing from Mama's with Voices Live music performance from The Hanging Bandits 'Your Biggest Fan' By Bethan Hughes, an ex-employee of Trestle William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' by Joy of Drama 'Gandhari' by Joy of Drama 'Guru Charana Smaranam' by Divya Kasturi Company 'Treasure Island' by Lamphouse
The Dacorum & Chiltern Potters Guild's had their Potters Open Day which was an in person and live streamed event.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **Hires**
Trestle Arts Base has three rooms for hire; The Theatre, The Apex and The Dance Studio. The Drama Studio has been divided into a small office and larger versatile space which has now been hired out to Herts Inclusive Theatre and Young People's Puppet Theatre. Our venue is supported by the Spotlight Café (which later transferred to Fade to Black). The rooms are normally hired to professional and amateur arts companies, community classes and groups all of which are now back to capacity since the Covid-19 pandemic.
## **Building Work**
The roof needs further work to be carried out and we have been fortunate to secure funding from the Theatres Trust for this purpose. The work was carried out September 2024. Further leaks were identified and these have also now been repaired.
## **STAFFING**
Helen Barnett, Creative Director, started her maternity leave in December and we are delighted to report that she and her partner welcomed their baby in January. We reorganised the staffing structure to manage Helens absence by recruiting a part time Creative Manager whilst Clare Winter and Muneerah Yate increased their hours by one day per week during this period.
After 10 years of service Joe Martin handed in his notice to further his career with Everyone Active. We employed Bob Wright as our new Operations and Maintenance Manager. Bob knows Trestle very well and he has settled in seamlessly.
## **IN KIND SUPPORT**
Trestle received in-kind support from St. Albans City & District Council in the form of peppercorn rent of Trestle Arts Base, valued at £20,000 per annum. The Council also gave Trestle Theatre full rates relief (80% mandatory and 20% discretionary), valued at a further £15,000 per annum.
We would like to thank the teachers on our Create, Speak, Thrive Project who gave us their time to help ensure the success of the project.
## **JUSTICE, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND BELONGING**
Engagement with culturally diverse and disabled artists, adults and young people continued through Trestle's participatory work across the UK, in particular with our Community Groups Sing Out, Act Up and Dance Now.
We were nominated for the Diversity and Inclusion category at The Inspiring Herts Awards and although we did not win we were very proud to be included.
Muneerah Yate became a Community Diversity Champion for St Albans District Council and received her Level 2 training in Equality and Diversity meaning we now have three staff members trained to that level.
In January 2024 launched our Classroom mask set which offers a discounted price when purchasing three sets of masks bought in all three tones. To support, we offer best practice guidance on the use of the different toned masks and why we have them.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY**
We were successful in a number of funding applications has continued to help us keep financially positive during the year.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The financial system in place was continued with close regulations of finances and a well-monitored cash flow situation for the Company. The challenge of being a small team running a complex organisation was achieved through clarity of mission and vision and hard work by employees able to meet the demands of their roles and responsibilities.
## **Earned Income**
We have tried to minimise our price increases this year despite the cost of utilities and raw materials rising. Like all businesses, we have seen a negative impact on the bottom line. We have, however, kept the fees of all our participatory groups the to the same as the previous year to try to encourage access. We do still, however, provide bursaries where there is financial hardship.
Mask set sales and merchandising income showed a small decrease to £71,923 (£78,509 in 2022/23).
Trestle Arts Base venue hire saw a decrease in income to £96,352 (£100,333 2022/23). In addition to our long-standing hirers we have further been able to create a more stable hire base by welcoming Young Peoples Puppet Theatre and Herts Inclusive Theatre to Trestle Arts Base.
Education and Outreach Programme saw an increase to £55,760 (£55,710 2022/23).
## **Fundraising**
We would like to thank all our funders who generously gave financial support to our charitable aims. This year these were:
Arts Council England project grants £20,260 to support us in developing our Mini Masks Paul Hamlyn Foundation £79,650 part of 2-year funding for our Create, Speak, Thrive Project St Albans District Council £7,960 towards our Community Groups and School of Drama Herts Community Foundation £1,000
Herts Community Foundation £2,000 for Warm Spaces
Garfield Weston Foundation £15,000 towards our core costs to ensure that we continue to offer a quality experience to all our customers and participants
Community Fund National Lottery £2,917 towards our Community Groups Tesco Community Fund £500 towards our Community Groups
## **Expenditure**
The budget was carefully monitored to ensure that it was managed within the agreed budget. All expenditure was to promote the Charity's interest.
## **RESERVES POLICY**
The Charity aims to hold a minimum reserve. This total is made of the equivalent of 3 months running costs. There were no restricted funds carried forward. Designated running costs and buildings repairs reserves of £50,000 were also carried forward. Total available funds were £71,378.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Trustees' Report**
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
To develop a strategy to save the company from closure which is likely to be a modified version of our current business model and may involve joining forces with like minded companies.
If the rescue plan is successful we will:
- Develop an Action Plan for our Equality and Diversity work.
- Review our sustainability policy.
- Develop a toolkit to support the legacy of our Create, Speak, Thrive project.
- Continue to deliver and develop our M-ask Wellbeing programmes, in particular looking for new partners.
- Continue to grow our School of Drama and Community Group engagement.
- Continue to grow our engagement and hires at the Arts Base as a community venue.
- Continue to design and develop new co-created projects with schools.
- Launch our Mini Mask set.
- Explore new partnership possibilities with local charities and organisations.
- Further stabilise our fundraising efforts, building relationships with new funders.
- We will welcome our new partner, Fade to Black, who will take over the running of the café and refurbish the space.
- To continue with our roof and heating refurbishment at Trestle Arts Base.
If the rescue plan is unsuccessful, we will seek advice from an insolvency specialist to close the business in a measured and orderly manner. Our priority will be to ensure that staff are supported throughout the process and that all financial liabilities are fully met.
We are acutely aware of the negative impact this decision will have on our community partners. As part of our efforts, we will explore ways to support them and work towards ensuring the continuity of the vital services we provide by transitioning these to another charitable organisation, if possible.
## **SMALL COMPANY EXEMPTIONS**
This report is prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. companies.
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 20 December 2024 and signed on its behalf by
## **Samantha Lane (Chair) Trustee**
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 25.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to an audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
ꞏ examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
ꞏ follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
ꞏ state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general 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 disclosures 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 required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
ꞏ to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
ꞏ to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Graham Berry FCCA Breckman & Company Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants**
49 South Molton Street London W1K 5LH
20 December 2024
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income and endowments from:**
**2**
Donations and legacies - page 12
22,372
-
Charitable activities:
Production/project income - page 13
224,035
114,287
**Total**
246,407
114,287
**Expenditure on:**
**3**
Charitable activities:
Production/project costs - page 14
241,735
121,837
**Total**
241,735
121,837
**Net (expenditure)/income**
**4**
4,672
)
(7,550
**Net movement in funds**
4,672
)
(7,550
**Reconciliation of funds:**
**Total funds brought forward**
66,706
7,550
**Total funds carried forward**
**15, 16**
71,378
-|**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
22,372
20,412
-
338,322
234,352
117,632
360,694
254,764
117,632
363,572
290,032
115,215
363,572
290,032
115,215
)
(2,878
)
(35,268
2,417
)
(2,878
)
(35,268
2,417
74,256
101,974
5,133
71,378
66,706
7,550|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
20,412
351,984
372,396
405,247
405,247
)
(32,851
)
(32,851
107,107
74,256|
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 16 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
11
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
|**Year ended 31 March 2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**Income from donations and legacies**
**Grants**
Garfield Weston Foundation
15,000
15,000
**Donations**
General donations
2,372
Support in Kind - VIDEOfeet
5,000
7,372
22,372|**2023**
**£**
8,333
7,079
5,000|**£**
8,333
12,079|
|---|---|---|
|||20,412|
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Income from charitable activities**
**Production/project income**
Our Work
Our Masks
Our Venue
**Project specific funding**
**Grants**
ACE project grants
St Albans District Council
Herts County Council Locality Budget
HCF/Herts County Council (Note 1)
HCF/St Albans Fund for the Future (Note 2)
Luton & Beds Community Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Royal Opera House
Community Fund National Lottery
Tesco Community Fund|**2024**
**£**
55,760
71,923
96,352|**£**
224,035
20,260
7,960
-
2,000
1,000
-
79,650
-
2,917
500
114,287
338,322|**2023**
**£**
55,710
78,509
100,133|**£**
234,352
29,650
7,846
900
2,000
2,000
9,900
53,500
11,253
583
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||117,632|
|||||351,984|
## **Note 1**
Herts Community Foundation Community Spaces Grants on behalf of Herts County Council as part of the Government Household Support Fund.
## **Note 2**
Herts Community Foundation Grants on behalf of St Albans Fund for the Future towards the running of Community Groups.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Charitable activities**
**Production/project costs**
**Our Work**
Direct Costs
Support costs
**Our Masks**
Direct Costs
Support costs
**Our Venue**
Direct Costs
Support costs
Governance costs|**2024**
**£**
**£**
140,168
44,013
184,181
63,940
18,863
82,803
30,712
62,876
93,588
360,572
3,000
363,572|**2023**
**£**
**£**
160,134
42,716
202,850
60,244
18,307
78,551
59,767
61,023
120,790
402,191
3,056
405,247|**2023**
**£**
**£**
160,134
42,716
202,850
60,244
18,307
78,551
59,767
61,023
120,790
402,191
3,056
405,247|
|---|---|---|---|
||||402,191
3,056|
||||405,247|
Total support costs of £125,752 (2023 - £122,046) are apportioned to charitable activities on a usage basis - see note 3 (page 19).
## **Governance costs**
|**Professional/financial**
Accountancy/consultancy
Board expenses|3,000
-
3,000|3,000
56|
|---|---|---|
|||3,056|
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Balance Sheet 31 March 2024**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**9**
**Current assets**
Stocks
**10**
Debtors
**11**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year
**12**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current**
**liabilities**
**The funds of the charity:**
**Unrestricted funds**
**15**
General fund
Designated funds
Restricted income funds
**16**
**Total charity funds**|**2024**
**£**
4,595
13,946
107,277
125,818
)
(57,135|**£**
2,695
68,683
71,378
21,378
50,000
71,378
-
71,378|**2023**
**£**
5,436
11,704
81,952
99,092
)
(29,448|**£**
4,612
69,644|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||74,256|
|||||16,706
50,000|
|||||66,706
7,550|
|||||74,256|
For the year ending 31 March 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## Directors' responsibilities:
ꞏ The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
ꞏ The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 20 December 2024 and signed on its behalf by
**Samantha Lane (Chair)**
**Trustee**
**Tom Watkins (Vice Chair) Trustee**
The notes on pages 16 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **1.1. Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (issued October 2019) applicable to charities 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)), and the Companies Act 2006.
The charity 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 notes.
## **1.2. Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis.**
The charity is dependent on the continued support of grant funding. The trustees believe that the charity will continue to receive this support, and consider that it is therefore appropriate to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis.
The charity is actively looking at a new business model and taking advice so as to ensure its continued operation. Should it cease to trade, the trustees are satisfied that it will have the resources available to settle any financial liabilities arising.
## **1.3. Incoming resources**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when:
- the charity is legally entitled to the funds
- any performance conditions attached to the income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity
- there is sufficient certainty that receipt of the income is considered probable
- the amount can be reliably measured
## **- Donations and legacies**
Grants/donations are recognised in incoming resources in the year in which they are receivable, except as follows:
- when donors specify that grants/donations given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods
- when donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in incoming resources until the preconditions for use are met.
## **- Charitable activities**
Production income - income from performances, merchandise, hires, workshops and sundry other earned income is included in incoming resources in the period in which the relevant activity takes place.
Project specific funding - when donors specify that donations and grants are for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to pre-conditions regarding entitlement, this income is included in incoming resources of restricted funds when receivable.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **- Donated services and facilities**
Donated services or facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. On receipt, donated services and facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
## **- Investment income**
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.
## **1.4. Expenditure**
All expenditure is included on an accruals basis inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered and is recognised when:
- there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment
- it is probable that settlement will be required
- the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably
## **- Charitable activities**
Costs of charitable activities include direct costs plus an apportionment of overhead and support costs as shown in note 3 on page 18.
## **- Support costs**
The administrative and overhead costs associated with running the office from which the company operates as well as governance costs. Support costs are wholly attributable to theatre production costs.
## **- Governance costs**
Costs associated with the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity.
## **1.5. Fund accounting**
Funds held by the charity are either:
- Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
- Designated funds - these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects.
- Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
**(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **1.6. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost.
Depreciation is provided at annual rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Fixtures/fittings/equipment - 10% to 25% on cost
## **1.7. Stock**
Merchandise stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **1.8. Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
## **1.9. Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and 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.
## **1.10. Creditors and provisions**
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.
## **1.11. Pensions**
The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable are recognised as expenditure when due.
## **1.12. Financial Instruments**
The charity 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.
## **1.13. Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements**
In determining the carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities, the charity makes assumptions of the effects of uncertain future events on those assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. The charity's estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and expectation of future events and are reviewed annually.
## **2. Incoming resources**
The total incoming resources for the year has been derived from the principal activity undertaken wholly in the UK.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**3.**
**Allocation of support costs and overheads**
**Cost type**
Indirect wages costs
Equipment/maintenance
Office costs
Recruitment cost
Telephone
Staff costs
Premises costs
Subscriptions/licences
Insurance
Marketing/PR
IT/payroll support
HR Support
Bank charges
Legal expenses
Depreciation|**2024**
**£**
46,035
8,437
3,973
-
1,898
763
47,621
2,129
7,698
-
1,424
895
2,132
32
2,715
125,752|**2023**
**£**
44,117
32,370
5,887
39
1,668
399
15,623
17
11,215
503
2,130
899
2,207
2,250
2,722|
|---|---|---|
|||122,046|
The total support cost attributable to charitable activities is apportioned on a usage basis between Our Work, Our Masks and Our Venue.
|Our Work
Our Masks
Our Venue
**4.**
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year is**
**stated after charging:**
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Independent Examiner's remuneration:
- independent examination|**2024**
**£**
44,013
18,863
62,876
125,752
**2024**
**£**
2,715
3,000|**2023**
**£**
42,716
18,307
61,023|
|---|---|---|
|||122,046|
|||**2023**
**£**
2,722
3,000|
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **5. Trustees' emoluments and reimbursed expenses**
The trustees received no remuneration during the year (2023 - £nil).
The aggregated amount reimbursed to trustees during the year was £nil (2023 - £nil).
|**6.**
**Staff costs and numbers**
**Staff costs**
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension contributions|**2024**
**£**
189,663
9,560
5,396
204,619|**2023**
**£**
196,666
10,589
5,462|
|---|---|---|
|||212,717|
No employee earned £60,000 or more during the year (2023 - £nil).
The key management personnel of the charity comprises the trustees and the Senior Management Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity during the year were £54,398 (2023 - £52,800).
## **Staff numbers**
The average number of employees (including casual and part time staff) during the year was made up as follows:
||**2024**||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Number**||**Number**|
|Admininstration/Venue||4|3|
|Artistic||3|3|
|Merchandise||2|2|
|Cafe||-|2|
|||9|10|
## **7. Pension costs**
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme in respect of its employees. The scheme and its assets are held by independent managers. The pension charge represents contributions due from the company and amounted to £5,396 (2023 - £5,462).
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **8. Corporation Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
|**9.**
**Fixed assets - tangible assets**
**Long**
**Fixtures/**
**leasehold**
**fittings/**
**property**
**equipment**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
1 April 2023
1,595,362
250,260
Additions
-
798
Disposals
-
)
(1,046
31 March 2024
1,595,362
250,012
**Depreciation**
1 April 2023
1,595,362
245,648
On disposals
-
)
(1,046
Charge for year
-
2,715
31 March 2024
1,595,362
247,317
**Net book values**
31 March 2024
-
2,695
31 March 2023
-
4,612
**10.**
**Stocks**
**2024**
**£**
Stocks
4,595
**11.**
**Debtors**
**2024**
**£**
Trade debtors
13,223
Prepayments and accrued income
723
13,946|**Total**
**£**
1,845,622
798
)
(1,046
1,845,374
1,841,010
)
(1,046
2,715
1,842,679
2,695
4,612
**2023**
**£**
5,436
**2023**
**£**
6,019
5,685
11,704|
|---|---|
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**12.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due**
**within one year**
Trade creditors
Other taxation/social security
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 13)
**13.**
**Deferred income**
Balance at 1 April 2023
Amount released to incoming resources
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at 31 March 2024|**2024**
**£**
12,240
8,123
5,764
3,048
27,960
57,135|**2023**
**£**
5,054
86
3,788
4,020
16,500
29,448
**£**
16,500
)
(16,500
27,960
27,960|
|---|---|---|
Deferred income relates to production income received in advance.
## **14. Limited by guarantee**
The private limited company is limited by guarantee, is registered in EW - England & Wales, and does not have a share capital. Each member gives a guarantee to contribute a sum, not exceeding £1, to the company should it be wound up. At 31 March 2024 there were 9 members.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **15. Unrestricted funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**|**Brought**|**Incoming**|**Outgoing**|**Carried**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**forward**|**resources**|**resources**|**forward**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|General fund|16,706|246,407|)
(241,735|21,378|
|Designated funds:|||||
|Running costs reserve|30,000|-|-|30,000|
|Building repairs reserve|20,000|-|-|20,000|
||66,706|246,407|)
(241,735|71,378|
The Running costs and Building repairs reserves are funds designated to cover the criteria laid down in the Reserves Policy detailed within the Trustees' Report.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**16.**|**Restricted funds**|**Brought**|**Incoming**|**Outgoing**|**Carried**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**forward**|**resources**|**resources**|**forward**||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||
||Create Speak Thrive|7,550|79,650|)
(87,200||-|
||Community Groups|-|4,417|)
(4,417||-|
||School of Drama and Community|-|7,960|)
(7,960||-|
||Groups||||||
||Community Spaces|-|2,000|)
(2,000||-|
||Mini-Mask development project|-|20,260|)
(20,260||-|
|||7,550|114,287|)
(121,837||-|
## **Create Speak Thrive**
The Create, Speak, Thrive project is a two year teacher development research project on the impact of drama and storytelling on speech, language and communication delivered in partnership with seven primary schools, University of Hertfordshire, ROH East and a speech and language specialist.
## **Community Groups**
These are our three weekly community groups for adults and four weekly youth theatre groups for young people aged 4 to 18. This also contributes towards our three weekly community groups for people who want to participate in acting, dancing and singing with a particular focus on combatting social isolation in vulnerable adults.
## **School of Drama and Community Groups**
Restricted funding towards the running costs of our School of Drama and Community Groups.
## **Community Spaces**
A Herts Community Foundation Community Spaces Grants on behalf of Herts County Council as part of the Government Household Support Fund restricted towards running costs and free drinks to support vulnerable people within the community to give them a safe place to go.
## **Mini-Mask development project**
Restricted funding to help develop a set of smaller masks suitable for primary-aged school children.
Docusign Envelope ID: E936D300-B6DE-4167-BF82-BB4DD0AC83F2
## **Trestle Theatre Company Limited**
## **(Limited by Guarantee)**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **17. Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Analysis of net assets between funds**||
|---|---|
|**General**
**Designated**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
Fund balances at 31 March 2024
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
2,695
-
Net current assets
18,683
50,000
21,378
50,000|**Total**
**£**
2,695
68,683|
||71,378|
## **18. Related party transactions**
During the year the company had no related party transactions that require disclosure.