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2024-03-31-accounts

J) fflAGIC ANNUAL REPORT

MAGIC ME WHO WE ARE

Our Vision: a world without ageism, where everyone can enjoy their unique creativity and full potential

Our Mission: to inspire change, for individuals, communities and systems, through extraordinary art, sparking magic between generations

Magic Me has a 35-year track record of pioneering innovative community-based intergenerational arts projects. We offer children, young and older people ways to meet, create and spend time together to develop their individual skills and build community engagement and cohesion. Our constantly renewing programme of community project work takes place in Tower Hamlets where we are located, and we also run sensory and creative activities in London and Essex care homes.

We are proud of our growing community of younger and older people, who are building vibrant creative connections across different ages, faiths, cultures and backgrounds.

Message from Chair and Director

Welcome to our Annual Report for 2023/24. After the huge upheaval of the Covid years, this has been another year of listening to and learning from our partners and communities.

The arts have the power to transport us to new places and imagined possibilities. They bring people together with common purpose and in celebration. Care homes and community groups are looking for fresh ideas and partnerships, but with budgets and staff teams stretched like never before, activities need to match their priorities, needs and interests.

We are excited to report on the innovative, creative projects we have co-created with partners in our home base of Tower Hamlets, across London and in Essex. We’ve carried out sensory experiments using colour and light in care homes, we’ve delivered intergenerational visual arts and making sessions in sheltered housing schemes with college students, and published new research and resource packs raising expectations of what the arts can be and do for people in later life.

April 2023 marked a fresh new era for Magic Me. We were welcomed into Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of Organisations: the only intergenerational arts specialist in the group. We’re grateful for ACE’s substantial three year unrestricted grant and the connection to other organisations and initiatives that Portfolio membership brings.

This core financial support has enabled us to plan ahead with new confidence, and to develop and deliver a growing programme of high quality arts opportunities within east London and Essex communities. We’ve also been able to invest in our organisation, its people, practice and systems.

All our work is informed by our four organisational Values: Creativity, Collaboration, Inclusion and Thoughtfulness.

This year, we have also made good progress on delivering our Three Year Strategic Plan. This report describes our achievements under the plan’s three objectives: Depth & Inclusion, Increased Reach and Leadership & Activism.

The needs of our communities are growing and urgent. We are very grateful to our many funders and supporters who have partnered with us this year and made our work possible: thank you all for your support. And to everyone who has been part of Magic Me through this year — we look forward to our continuing work together.

David Russell, Chair of Trustees

Susan Langford MBE, Founder/Director

“ You are the magic to bring these places to life.” Creative Mix participant

DEPTH & INCLUSION

Communities in Tower Hamlets, our home borough, have been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis — even as many were still dealing with the after-effects of the pandemic. Despite living next door to the City and Canary Wharf, 1 in 2 children and 1 in 3 older people here live in poverty, exacerbating social isolation and loneliness. Poverty impacts people’s confidence and ability to participate fully in education, community and social activity.

Our work is to break down those barriers to participation. Magic Me’s intergenerational practice has always been grounded in strong co-working with partners and professionals across care, education, the arts and more.

Again this year, we harnessed the power of the arts to improve wellbeing for our diverse local communities, all the while using intergenerational activism to fight ageism and grow mutual understanding across generations.

Creative Mix

Growing out of pilot projects in 2022 and 23, Creative Mix brings together students from Mulberry University Technical College and older people from in and around Bethnal Green. The goal is to grow a core community of younger and older people who will create regular intergenerational events, building connections across different faiths, cultures and backgrounds, and increasing wellbeing. Starting in January 2024, the first phase of Creative Mix, led by three Associate Artists, ran at local Gateway Housing sheltered schemes and our Pott Street base. Through visual arts activities, participants exchanged ideas and stories about what community means to them, with a first sharing event held in June 2024.

Partnerships: Gateway Housing Association and Mulberry UTC

Artists: Amy Leung, Polly Beestone Guest Artist: Georgia Akbar

Freelance specialist: Sue Mayo

Trainees: Kimberly Johnson, Rhovie Isiko Funders: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington

Artworks

Magic Me’s paid Community Arts Trainee Programme supported talented young people from Black, Asian, working-class and other minoritised backgrounds to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to access careers in the arts sector. In this third year, three cohorts of trainees living in Tower Hamlets and Hackney participated, bringing the total of trainees we have worked with so far to ten. Trainees learned much through skills development workshops, mentoring and working with our other staff and artists to deliver arts projects and intergenerational community events.

confident�and�career�driven� than I was at the beginning of the traineeship.”

Artworks Trainee

Artworks Trainees: Chloe Latchford, Isobel Lehr, Kimberly Johnson, Maryam Deria, Rhovie Isiko, Yasmin Amin

Trainer: Lewis Greener

Funders: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund, supported by Westfield Stratford City and Foundation for Future London

INCREASED REACH

Over more than three decades, Magic Me has become expert in co-design and delivery of creative arts activity with and for people living in care homes and the staff who care for them. The arts can offer joy, excitement, fresh ideas, new ways to express emotions and stories including through non-verbal means. Our highly skilled artists and arts partners have created innovative, multi-sensory experiences for older people, including those most at risk of exclusion — those who are always in bed, or their room.

“ It’s not just about ‘doing�an�activity’�–�any� moment�can�be�creative.” Lifestyle Coordinator, Artists’ Residencies in Care Homes

Care homes are just that — people’s homes. They are also busy workplaces, operating 24/7 every day of the year. While residents, staff and managers all value the chance to enjoy the arts, there are many practicalities to consider when offering a truly inclusive experience.

70% of care home residents live with dementia

40% live with with depression

Severe loneliness, a debilitating condition, affects more than 2 in 5 residents

Evaluation of our projects this year shows creative interactions have brought huge benefits in wellbeing, alertness, communication skills and sense of community for a wide range of residents.

Artists’ Residencies in Care Homes, Essex

We completed our five year long programme supporting leading arts organisations - Fevered Sleep, New Adventures, Gecko and curious directive - to bring creative activities including movement, dance, film, weaving, science and storytelling to their partner Excelcare homes in Chigwell, Colchester, Dovercourt and Maldon. Our goal was to raise expectations of what the arts can be and do in care settings.

Anglia Ruskin University researchers captured learning throughout the programme, exploring how artists can best work with care home staff to benefit older residents. Findings and practical ideas for care and arts professionals were published in Dare to Imagine , a research

report launched with two showcase events in Autumn 2023, and A Care Home’s Guide to Creativity in March 2024. In 2024/25 Excelcare are now sharing the new approaches across their 31 care homes.

Partnerships: curious directive and Longfield Care Home; Fevered Sleep and Sherrell House Care Home; Gecko and Lime Court Care Home; New Adventures and St Fillans Care Home; Anglia Ruskin University

Partner Artists: Emily Piercy and New Adventures; Helen Baggett and Gecko; Jack Lowe and curious directive; Petra Soor and Fevered Sleep

Freelance Specialist: Sally Knocker

Funders : Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Excelcare UK

Spark (formerly Magic Moments)

Spark offers high-quality, creative, sensory activities, which improve the quality of everyday life for older care home residents. Activities are delivered by care staff, who are trained and supported by our skilled Associate Artists. Initially invented to combat loneliness and social isolation during lockdown, our artists and staff continue to develop this innovative, distance learning model, which reaches the often most isolated residents — those always in bed or living with dementia.

In Summer 2023, the artists co-designed new sensory activities using colour, light and touch with two London Borough of Waltham Forest care homes, then introduced these to staff and residents at 14 more homes across

London and Tendring in Essex, serving 200+ older people. Activities were published online and shared with 79 care professionals at four training days in Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Epping run in partnership with Essex County Council. On these days, colleagues from Gecko and New Adventures also shared ideas and approaches from their Artists’ Residencies.

Artists: Georgia Akbar, Lily Ash Sakula Partnerships: Agincare, Central & Cecil Housing Trust, Essex County Council Freelance Specialist: Sally Knocker

Funders: The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, The Childwick Trust, Essex County Council, Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, The Rayne Foundation

MAGIC ME 6 local 2023-4 15 authorities associate artists 403 project 20 participants care home 4,754 partners online followers and friends 6 79 artworks training day trainees participants

understanding�of�creativity�in�care�homes�for�70-100%�of�residents� and staff with both groups wanting to see and do more in the future.” Magic Moments / Spark in Essex evaluation report

LEADERSHIP & ACTIVISM

Magic Me believes in the power of intergenerational work and the arts as tools to challenge ageism, a prejudice which limits and undermines people across their lives. As our society continues to age and change, Magic Me remains pioneering — constantly inventing fresh approaches to emerging situations and dynamics. Our Anti-Racism Action Plan keeps us focused on making our programme and organisation truly inclusive and relevant.

Associate Artists

Our Associate Artists co-design and facilitate our projects and are the face of Magic Me for our many participants. To support our growing programme we reviewed the role of Associate Artist, ran an extensive open recruitment process and selected eight new artists to join our cohort of seven experienced Magic Me creatives, thus increasing the cultural diversity of our Artists’ group to better reflect east London’s communities. We are excited to be working with specialists across many artforms including puppetry, writing, theatre, visual arts, dance and combined media — that’s a wealth of options to offer our partners and participants.

With interest in intergenerational work increasing, our goal is to remain a leader within this field — sharing our expertise, and demonstrating its full potential.

Artists & Practice

Artists & Practice is a newly launched series of four annual Learning & Development days for Associate Artists and our Programme team colleagues. Sessions enable us to examine and remake our shared intergenerational arts practice, ensuring it is inclusive and fit for the next phase of Magic Me’s development. Building on our 35 years’ practice, we are adding into the mix our learnings from lockdown and the vast range of experience brought by our Associates and current staff team.

Associate Artists: Amanda Mascarenhas, Amy Leung, Arji Manuelpillai, Carolene Yawa Ada, Charlene Low, Chuck Blue Lowry, Georgia Akbar, Laila Nadia Sumpton, Liane Harris, Lily Ash Sakula, Polly Beestone, Ruan Murphy, Shabnam Shabazi, Skye Baker, Sue Mayo

Funder: Arts Council England

Sharing the Learning

Keen to learn and exchange ideas, Magic Me has always shared our practice and experimental work with peers, professionals and activists across many sectors. This year we launched three best practice publications from our care home programme, all available online at www. magicme.co.uk. Project Managers and other staff presented at the UK Dementia Congress in Birmingham, the National Creative Ageing Conference in Newcastle and a range of seminars and events.

of�abundance�–�that�there� is enough and more can be�generated�by�working� together.” Magic Me Artist

Thank you

~~Thank you for in-kind support~~

34SP for website hosting

Thank you to the many trusts, foundations and other funders whose support enabled our work this year. Our sincere thanks also to all the individuals who generously supported our work in 2023/4. Your many named and anonymous regular and one-off gifts are greatly appreciated

Louisa Joseph of BAME to Boardroom, for Anti-Racism training for staff and artists

Janice Salem of Pepper Money UK, for office furniture and computer screens A&O Shearman, for printing our Research Report, Resource Books and Annual Reports

~~Grants & donations in 2023/4~~

and

Excelcare French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust

GET INVOLVED

If you’re inspired by our work and would like to support it, we’d love you to get involved.

Click, follow, comment

If you’re on Instagram, Twitter / X, Facebook or LinkedIn, come and talk to us online. Sharing our posts is an easy way for you to help spread news of our work far and wide. @MagicMeArts

We have regular, occasional and mystery donors, and we’re very grateful to them all! If you’d like to join our donor community, visit www.magicme.co.uk and click the ‘donate’ button. We also take cheques, made out to ‘Magic Me’. If you take part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge (5-10 December 2024) every £1 you donate to us will be doubled. Sign up on our website in December.

Donate

From a Facebook Birthday Fundraiser to a bake sale to a sponsored funrun, we welcome all your ideas for fundraising support. £5 buys a set of paint brushes, £50 pays for some natural inks, £500 pays for a couple Fundraise of artist-led intergenerational sessions: every amount you contribute makes a difference. Talk to Julia, our Fundraising & Development Manager, about your ideas or questions – fundraising@magicme.co.uk

Volunteer

As our programme develops through 2025, we’ll be promoting new opportunities for hands-on help at events. We also welcome professional or admin support behind the scenes. Keep an eye on our newsletter, website and social media for details, or contact info@magicme.co.uk

Our Finances

This summary is taken from Magic Me’s full, independently examined accounts. If you would like a copy, please visit www.magicme.co.uk or contact Magic Me on info@magicme.co.uk or 020 3222 6064.

Income during the year 2023/4 was £435,978. As you can see from the pie charts, the majority of our expenditure of £413,798 is on people – the staff and freelance artists who make our programmes possible.

Income 2023/24

Expenditure 2023/24

Arts Council England, National Portfolio Organisation 36% Trusts & Foundations 32% Local Authorities 15% Livery Companies 12% Individual donations 4% Other 1%

Staff costs 58%

Artists fees, materials & project costs 15% Fundraising 14% Administrative expenses 6% Rent, office and communications 5% Governance including accountancy 2%

OUR PEOPLE po

~~Associate Artists [|~~

Amanda Mascarenhas Amy Leung Arji Manuelpillai Caroline Yawa Ada Charlene Low Chuck Blue Lowry Georgia Akbar Laila Nadia Sumpton Liane Harris Lily Ash Sakula Polly Beestone Ruan Murphy Shabnam Shabazi Skye Baker Sue Mayo

~~Current Staff Lo~~

Audrey Aidoo-Davies, Project Manager Ben Butcher, Head of Operations Chloe Latchford, Project Coordinator Julia Bird, Fundraising & Development Manager Kate Hodson, Programme Director Natalie Golding, Development Coordinator Priyanka Chauhan, Project Manager Susan Langford MBE, Founder / Director

~~[Lo~~ ~~Former Staff during 2022/23~~

Catherine Connell, Senior Project Manager Chloe Davies, Head of Operations Emily Bird, Project Manager Tham Huynh, Fundraising Coordinator Veena Joseph-McBride, Fundraising & Development Manager

~~Freelancer staff~~

Asma Istwani, Communications Officer Emma Mulligan, Bookkeeper Lewis Greener, Artworks Trainer

~~EES~~ ~~Trainees during 2023/24~~

Chloe Latchford Isobel Lehr Kimberly Johnson Maryam Deria Rhovie Isiko Yasmin Amin

~~Po~~ ~~Trustees during 2023/24~~

David Russell, Chair Dominique Moore Harriet Cheng Hugh Blacklock, Treasurer Jimena Meza Mitcher Louisa Joseph Thomas Nowacki Yaa Adansi-Pipim

~~EEE~~ ~~Trustees who stood down during the year~~

Afsana Begum Damian Hebron Hazel Gould

~~Lo~~ ~~Thank you to~~

Our good neighbours: Praxis and our landlords at Bethnal Green Meeting House, Pott Street

D.R. ink

~~Photo credits Ld~~

Chloe Latchford Georgia Akbar Kimberly Johnson Lily Ash Sakula Mark Wilkinson Rhovie Isiko Susan Langford

way�I’ll�be�able�to�do�that�but�I�did.”� Spark participant

“ The room is so much brighter when�you�are�here.”� Creative Mix participant

Care home artist residency feedback

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

As we head into 2024/25 and beyond, exciting project plans are bubbling to the surface.

Creative Mix will continue in Pott Street, welcoming more students and older Bethnal Green residents to try out new creative techniques and experiments. Our film made in collaboration with Mulberry School for Girls and local older women will premiere in the Autumn, and we hope to build on our relationship with the school to create a new photographic exhibition in 2025. Our Lab project is an ambitious 5 year scheme, which will take us back out into local community spaces in ways we haven’t been able to do confidently since the pandemic. Artistled consultations sessions followed by

residencies will result in a mix of arts projects that inspire shared creativity, expression and positive social action around the issues and ideas which matter most to individuals in their own communities.

We are particularly proud of the pioneering work we’re doing around freelance artist support. Working as a freelance artist can be a precarious way of making a living, without access to the professional development opportunities often enjoyed by salaried employees. When designing our projects for the years ahead, we will include paid time for our associate artists to experiment, skillup and reflect so that they can bring their brightest and best new ideas back to the Magic Me community.

The wider wellbeing of our staff and artists is important to us too: we design our projects and processes with their welfare in mind. Walking meetings are great for getting a new perspective on an issue. Weekly shared lunchtimes and caring for the plants in the Pott Street garden provide calming intervals on busy work days. Underpinning this wellbeing-focus is our commitment to the London Living Wage. We’ve been signed up to the scheme since 2019, and as soon as any new rate is announced, we adjust our pay rates immediately rather than waiting for the official deadline.

Aware of the national and global context in which we operate, we seek to play our part in minimising systemic harms and marginalisations, from our company-wide Anti Racism Action Plan to our Green Team staff committee. Our staff book club is part of this plan: we meet monthly to discuss a book, film or exhibition that deepens our understanding

of the racist pressures prevalent in society. We’re always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint: we use refurbished tech and keep as paper-free as possible, and when we transform a creative space for project participants, we use light, colour and shadows rather than physical materials which can be environmentally costly to produce and hard to recycle.

Magic Me is a values-driven organisation – we strive to be collaborative , inclusive , creative and thoughtful in everything we do, and we are looking forward to the year ahead informed by these values.

Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on social media and you’ll be the first to know about all our forthcoming plans.

Artwork: Creative Mix project participants

Thank you to A&O Shearman for printing this report.

26 Pott Street, London E2 0EF Tel: 020 3222 6064 info@magicme.co.uk www.magicme.co.uk Registered Charity No. 328331

Company no. 02394189 Charity no. 328331

Magic Me

Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

Magic Me

Reference and administrative details

For theyear ended 31 March 2024
Company number 02394189
Charity number 328331
Registered office and 26 Pott Street
operational address London
E2 0EF
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:
Yaa Adansi-Pipim
Afsana Begum resigned 21 June 2023
Hugh Blacklock
Harriet Cheng
Hazel Gould resigned 1 October 2023
Damian Hebron resigned 1 October 2023
Louisa Joseph
Jimena Meza Mitcher
Dominique Moore
Thomas Nowacki
David Russell
Company secretary Ben Butcher appointed 17 June 2024
Susan Langford
Bankers CAF Bank Ltd
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
Independent Godfrey Wilson Limited
examiners Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

1

Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

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 are: the improvement and advancement of the education of children and adults towards a better understanding of ageing and the needs of elderly people, and methods by which those needs may best be met.

Magic Me’s vision is “A world without ageism, where everyone can enjoy their unique creativity and full potential”. We believe everyone has a past, present, future and an imagination — a wealth of stories, ideas and dreams to inspire art making.

Our mission is “To inspire change - for individuals, communities and systems - through extraordinary art, sparking magic between generations” .

Magic Me works for the benefit of the public both now and for future generations. Statisticians predict that perhaps 1 in 4 children born this year in the UK will live to be 99, though many will experience poor health in later life.

For more than 35 years we have pioneered intergenerational arts practice, encouraging dialogue between generations and across cultures. In east London and Essex our artists have partnered with care homes and schools to create powerful artworks and performances which challenge how society thinks about ageing.

By bringing younger and older people together in shared creative activities, we bring enjoyment, improved wellbeing and greater mutual understanding across generations, today. Longer term we support individuals and organisations to imagine different ways of growing older, and to design the future society we need to build for our ageing and increasingly diverse population.

Our activities, exhibitions and performances challenge both participants and audiences to reconsider ageist expectations and stereotypes, which can limit the aspirations and lives of younger and older people. All our projects are designed and facilitated by our skilled, professional Associate Artists, working across the performing, visual, literary, media, combined and other artforms.

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Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future actions.

Who used and benefitted from our activities?

Magic Me benefits people of all ages at many different levels, increasing individual and community wellbeing. Young and older participants enjoy new opportunities, learn and grow skills and form new friendships. Our partners - for example care home staff and teachers - gain new insights and skills, and form deeper and more rewarding relationships with those with whom they work. Artists and creative practitioners develop new skills and expertise in working with communities; our volunteers gain skills and confidence in communicating with older and younger people. Whatever their age and role, individuals form wider connections and social links within their communities, finding new ways to contribute and a fresh understanding of their neighbours.

Magic Me is based in Tower Hamlets, east London, however the activity we deliver and our influence on other people benefits people and communities much more widely.

During the year 2023/24, Magic Me

Overview of the year

Through 2023/24 the communities we serve and work within were hard hit as the cost of living crisis bit deep for individuals, households and public services - many still dealing with the effects of the pandemic. More than 1 in 2 children and 1 in 3 older people in Tower Hamlets live in poverty, impacting their physical and mental health, confidence and ability to participate in education, cultural and community life.

Though very keen to work with us, many partner care and community organisations are coping with growing demand, tight budgets and staff shortages. Our projects are therefore flexible and codesigned with local partners and regular participants, taking into account their current situations and priorities.

On 1 April 2023 Magic Me became one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations, benefitting from a substantial three year unrestricted grant and other practical support and resources. This core financial support is enabling us to plan ahead with new confidence, to develop and deliver a growing programme of high quality arts opportunities within communities in east London and Essex and invest in our organisation — its people, practice and systems. We have continued to rebuild connections and relationships interrupted by the pandemic and incorporated learning from that intense time of change into the design and piloting of new projects and approaches.

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Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Key projects and highlights included:

Depth & Inclusion

Creative Mix: growing out of pilot projects in 2022 and 2023, Creative Mix brings together students from Mulberry University Technical College and older people from in and around Bethnal Green. The goal is to grow a core community of younger and older people, who will create regular intergenerational events, building connections across different faiths, cultures and backgrounds, increasing wellbeing. Starting in January 2024, the first phase of Creative Mix, led by two Associate Artists, ran at local Gateway Housing sheltered schemes and our Pott Street base. Through visual arts activities participants exchanged ideas and stories about what community means to them, with a first sharing event held in June 2024.

Artworks: Magic Me’s paid Community Arts Trainee Programme supported talented young people from Black, Asian, working-class and other minoritised backgrounds living in Tower Hamlets and Hackney to gain knowledge, skills and confidence to access careers in the arts sector. In this third year a total of six trainees participated, in three cohorts, bringing the total to ten so far. They learned much through skills development workshops, mentoring and working with our other staff and artists to deliver intergenerational community arts events.

Increased Reach

Spark (formerly Magic Moments) : offers high-quality, creative, sensory activities, which improve the quality of everyday life for older care home residents, delivered by care staff, trained and supported by our skilled Associate Artists. Initially invented to combat loneliness and social isolation during lockdown, our artists and staff continue to develop this innovative, distance learning model, which reaches the often most isolated residents — those always in bed or living with dementia. In Summer 2023 the artists co-designed new activities using colour, light and touch with two London Borough Waltham Forest care homes, then introduced these to staff and residents at 14 more homes across Tendring, Essex and London, serving 200+ older people. Activities were published online and shared with 79 care professionals at four training days run in partnership with Essex County Council.

Artists’ Residencies in Care Homes: We completed our five year long programme supporting leading arts organisations - Gecko, curious directive, New Adventures and Fevered Sleep - to bring creative activities including movement, dance, film, weaving, science and storytelling to their partner Excelcare homes across Essex. Anglia Ruskin University researchers captured learning throughout the programme, exploring how artists can best work with care home staff to benefit older residents. Findings and practical ideas for care and arts professionals were shared in Dare to Imagine, a research report launched with two showcase events in Autumn 2023, and A Care Home’s Guide to Creativity in March 2024. In 2024/25 Excelcare are sharing the new approaches across their 31 care homes.

Leadership & Activism

This work grows out of our Anti-Racism Action Plan and our belief in the power of intergenerational work and the arts as tools for challenging Ageism.

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Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Our Associate Artists co-design and facilitate our projects and are the face of Magic Me for our many participants. To support our growing programme we reviewed the role of Associate Artist, ran an extensive open recruitment process and selected eight new artists to join seven experienced ones continuing with Magic Me. We increased the cultural diversity of our Artists group, to better reflect east London’s communities. Through launching Artists & Practice, a regular series of four annual Learning & Development days for Associate Artists with our Programme colleagues, we are now examining and remaking our shared intergenerational arts practice, ensuring it is inclusive and fit for the next phase of Magic Me’s development.

Sharing the Learning: as our society continues to age and change, Magic Me remains pioneering: inventing fresh approaches to emerging situations and dynamics. With interest in intergenerational work increasing, our goal is to remain a leader within this field: sharing our expertise, and demonstrating its full potential. To this end we launched three best practice publications, presented at the UK Dementia Congress, National Creative Ageing Conference and a range of seminars.

Looking ahead

We are excited to build on these key projects in east London and Essex in 2024/25 and to grow our relationships with new and existing partners. We will also pilot The Lab, a new multi-layered, community-led creative programme, inviting older and younger residents to be creative, contribute ideas and play a fuller part in their communities. We look forward to exploring with them the diversity of intergenerational dynamics across Tower Hamlets and the power of generations working together.

More details of our activities and their impact are given within our Annual Report 2023/24.

This will be available on-line at www.magicme.co.uk following our AGM in October 2024 and in printed format on request from our office via info@magicme.co.uk or 020 3222 6064.

Financial review

The financial transactions of the charity during the year and the position at the end of the year are set out in the attached accounts.

Income during the year 2023/24 was £435,978 compared with £272,092 in 2022/23. Total expenditure was also up, to £413,798 compared with £342,713 in the previous year.

We remain indebted to our many funders and supporters who throughout the past few years of the pandemic and then the cost of living crisis have, without exception, trusted us to spend their grants and donations, sometimes in new ways, to best support our communities. Their flexibility and partnership approach has enabled us to move quickly and with confidence during very difficult times.

Magic Me is enormously grateful for the very generous support received from numerous trusts and foundations, livery companies, lotteries, businesses and individual supporters – without which our work would not be possible. 2023/24 was also our first year as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation; we benefited from a substantial annual unrestricted grant of £157,994 per year for three years.

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Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Income in 2023/24 included: the third of three annual grants of £50,000 from The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, of which the Mercers’ Company is a trustee; ongoing support from Paul Hamlyn Foundation for Artists’ Residencies in Care Homes; the second instalment of a £150,000 grant over four years from the Tudor Trust and the second of two £15,000 grants from Garfield Weston Foundation.

One-off grants came from The Childwick Trust, French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust, Foundation for Future London, the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, the Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and the Rayne Foundation. Two Local Authority grants from London Borough Tower Hamlets and Essex County Council supported projects in their areas and our project partners Excelcare also contributed financially.

Regular and one-off donations from generous individuals totalled £18,318 including contributions to our Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 appeal and Gift Aid. Careful financial management enabled us to earn £4,610 in bank interest.

Further details of grants and donations are given in the Notes below.

Reserves policy and position

As is standard, the accounts have been prepared using the going concern approach, which is appropriate as there are no plans to cease Magic Me’s operations or liquidate the charity. At 31 March 2024 the balance sheet showed £183,223 cash at the bank and total net assets of £163,248, which included £124,898 of unrestricted general funds and £38,350 of restricted funds for ongoing projects. A £7,573 drop in restricted funds in hand at the end of the year reflects changed patterns of receipt of grants from different funders.

Last year, 2022/23, in order to maintain support for our hard-pressed communities when fundraising was particularly difficult, we drew down £13,603 designated reserves, bringing the total of unrestricted reserves to £95,145, which was below our target level. To address this we set a surplus budget target for 2023/24 and through very tight financial management succeeded in increasing unrestricted reserves by £29,753 to £124,898.

The trustees aim to keep a balance in reserves equal to at least three months' core and project expenditure, £103,450. This to enable the charity to continue to operate in the short term in the event of unexpected delays in the receipt of income or unexpected expenditure and to enable a wellmanaged wind-up of the charity should that ever become necessary. We recognise that this target will grow with inflation and a growth in our programme activity and associated expenditure. The reserve level is reviewed quarterly by the Finance, Audit and Risk sub-Committee.

Although inflation has come down in recent months, prices remain high, with continued national and international economic difficulties and uncertainties. Fundraising remains challenging with increasing community need and higher than ever competition for grants and donations. Magic Me has successfully managed cyclical annual fundraising for many years and we will continue to do so. The fact that our activities address pressing needs within our communities gives us confidence that funders and donors will continue to invest in our work and organisation.

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Magic Me

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The senior management team continue our regular practice, honed during Covid-19, of actively (i) modelling potential fundraising scenarios and (ii) managing cashflow, including reviewing discretionary costs and avoiding unnecessary liabilities. In order to retain a level of reserves consistent with honouring current liabilities, including to our staff and freelance artists, we continue to plan projects in such a way as to be able to pause or reschedule activity and thus reduce costs, should further grants not be secured.

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.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

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 18 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by

David Russell - Trustee

7

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

Magic Me

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Magic Me (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 10 to 23.

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

Since the charitable company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

Godfrey Wilson Limited also provides bookkeeping services to the charitable company. I confirm that as a member of the ICAEW I am subject to the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016, which I have applied with respect to this engagement.

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:

8

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

Magic Me

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.

Date: 18 September 2024 Dougal Howard 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

9

Magic Me

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

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Note
Income from:
Donations
3/5
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
Investments
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
6
7
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Net expenditure and net
movement in funds		 Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
5,784
227,063
197,959
-
-
12
-
4,610
-
550
203,743
232,235
-
56,519
211,316
145,963
211,316
202,482
(7,573)
29,753
45,923
95,145
38,350
124,898		 2024
Total
£
232,847
197,959
12
4,610
550
435,978
56,519
357,279
413,798
22,180
141,068
163,248		 2023
Total
£
128,814
140,253
106
1,247
1,672
272,092
49,113
293,600
342,713
(70,621)
211,689
141,068

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.

10

Magic Me

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

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
14
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 £
7,499
183,223
190,722
(30,002)		 2024
£
2,528
2,528
160,720
163,248
38,350
-
124,898
163,248		 2023
£
3,592
3,592
5,796
151,469
157,265
(19,789)
137,476
141,068
45,923
18,739
76,406
141,068

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 18 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by

David Russell - Trustee

11

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

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.

Magic Me 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) Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated 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 the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated 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.

e) 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.

12

Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. 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.

g) 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.

h) 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. These costs have been allocated entirely to charitable activities for the current and prior year.

i) 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, fittings & equipment 4 years IT equipment and website 3 years

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

j) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k) 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.

l) 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.

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Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

m) Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA.

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 effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are depreciation as described in note (i) above.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net expenditure and net movement in
funds		 Restricted
£
£
8,765
120,049
140,253
-
-
106
-
1,247
-
1,672
149,018
123,074
-
49,113
208,063
85,537
208,063
134,650
(59,045)
(11,576)
Unrestricted		 2023
Total
£
128,814
140,253
106
1,247
1,672
272,092
49,113
293,600
342,713
(70,621)

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Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

3. Income from donations

£
£
Grants and donations > £1,000
Arts Council England
-
157,994
Tudor Trust
-
37,500
Garfield Weston Foundation
-
15,000
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
-
4,000
Gift aid
-
1,295
Total income from donations
5,784
227,063
Restricted Unrestricted
5,784
11,274
Grants and donations < £1,000, individual
donations		 2024
Total
£
157,994
37,500
15,000
4,000
1,295
17,058
232,847

Arts Council England: This is a three year programme, with an invitation to extend for an additional year, supporting the full breadth of Magic Me’s creative arts activities. In 23/24 this grant directly funded project work including Artists and Practice, Artists Residencies, Creative Mix, LAB, and Spark (formerly Magic Moments).’

Prior period comparative:

Prior period comparative:
Grants and donations > £1,000
Tudor Trust
Expat Foundation
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
Garfield Weston Foundation
The Edward Gostling Foundation
Arup
Anonymous
Gift aid
Total income from donations
Grants and donations < £1,000, individual
donations		 Restricted
£
£
-
37,500
-
20,000
-
18,000
-
15,000
-
10,000
-
1,200
-
1,028
-
813
8,765
120,049
16,508
Unrestricted
8,765		 2023
Total
£
37,500
20,000
18,000
15,000
10,000
1,200
1,028
813
25,273
128,814

15

Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

4. Income from charitable activities

Grants > £,1000
Mercers' Company
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Essex County Council
Rayne Foundation
Foundation for Future London
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Players of the People's Postcode Lottery
The Childwick Trust
French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust
Excelcare
Total income from charitable activities
Prior year comparative:
Grants > £,1000
The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Foundation for Future London
Bancroft Tenants Management Cooperative
London Community Foundation
French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust
Excelcare
My Home Life
The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
Tudor Trust
Total income from charitable activities		 2024
Total
£
50,000
32,747
30,000
20,000
17,942
16,500
15,270
7,500
6,000
2,000
197,959
2023
Total
£
32,000
27,596
25,000
17,942
9,625
9,464
6,000
5,000
3,125
2,500
2,000
140,253

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

5. Government grants

The charitable company receives government grants, defined as funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Essex County Council and Arts Council England to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2024 was £220,741 (2023: £27,596). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants in 2023/24.

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Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

6. Total expenditure

Raising
funds
£
Staff costs (note 8)
47,877
-
Administrative expenses
-
Premises and insurance costs
-
Other staff costs
-
Fundraising expenses
8,642
Accountancy expenses
-
Depreciation
-
Annual report and AGM
-
Trustees expenses
-
Sub-total
56,519
-
Total expenditure
56,519
Total governance costs were £4,476 (2023: £4,352).
Prior period comparative
Raising
funds
£
Staff costs (note 8)
36,617
-
Premises and insurance costs
-
Fundraising expenses
12,496
Administrative expenses
-
Accountancy expenses
-
Other staff costs
-
Depreciation
-
Annual report and AGM
-
Trustees expenses
-
Sub-total
49,113
-
Total expenditure
49,113
Allocation of support and governance
costs
Allocation of support and governance
costs
Artists' fees, materials and other
direct project costs
Artists' fees, materials and other
direct project costs		 Charitable
activities
£
136,118
63,637
-
-
13,424
-
-
-
-
-
213,179
144,100
357,279
Charitable
activities
£
115,893
47,006
-
-
-
-
4,425
-
-
-
167,324
126,276
293,600		 £
89,085
-
25,460
17,460
-
-
8,336
2,163
1,586
10
144,100
(144,100)
-
£
83,020
-
17,421
-
11,849
10,769
-
1,505
1,335
377
126,276
(126,276)
-
Support and
governance
costs
Support and
governance
costs		 2024 Total
£
273,080
63,637
25,460
17,460
13,424
8,642
8,336
2,163
1,586
10
413,798
-
413,798
2023 Total
£
235,530
47,006
17,421
12,496
11,849
10,769
4,425
1,505
1,335
377
342,713
-
342,713

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Independent examiner's remuneration (excluding VAT):
Independent examination
Other services		 2024
£
2,163
Nil
Nil
2,400
6,636		 2023
£
1,505
Nil
Nil
2,200
5,858

8. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
248,707
18,813
5,560
273,080		 2023
£
214,908
15,763
4,859
235,530

No employees earned more than £60,000 in the current or prior year.

The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the Trustees, Director, Programme Director and Head of Operations. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £138,821 (2023: £125,958).

Average head count 2024
No.
8		 2023
No.
8

9. Taxation

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

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

10. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions in year
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023		 Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£
1,173
239
(1,173)
239
1,173
90
(1,173)
90
149
-		 Restated
IT
equipment
& website
£
19,833
1,251
(5,797)
15,287
16,241
2,073
(5,406)
12,908
2,379
3,592		 Total
£
21,006
1,490
(6,970)
15,526
17,414
2,163
(6,579)
12,998
2,528
3,592

IT equipment & website cost and accumulated depreciation at 1 April 2023 have been restated to recognise an additional £983 of fully depreciated laptops previously omitted from fixed assets that are still in use and controlled by the charity. There is no net impact on the opening balance sheet position.

11. Debtors

Prepayments
Other debtors		 2024
£
5,378
2,121
7,499		 2023
£
4,930
866
5,796

12. Creditors : amounts due within 1 year

Trade and other creditors
Accruals		 2024
£
26,180
3,822
30,002		 2023
£
15,941
3,848
19,789

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2024
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2023		 £
-
49,958
(11,608)
38,350
£
-
45,923
-
45,923
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
-
-
-
-
£
-
18,739
-
18,739
Designated
funds
Designated
funds		 £
2,528
140,764
(18,394)
124,898
£
3,592
92,603
(19,789)
76,406
General
funds
General
funds		 Total
funds
£
2,528
190,722
(30,002)
163,248
Total
funds
£
3,592
157,265
(19,789)
141,068

20

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14. Movements in funds

Restricted funds
Artists Residencies
Artworks
Creative Mix
Spark (Formerly
Magic Moments)
The Charity of Sir
Richard Whittington
Tudor Wellbeing
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Equipment
Office renovations
Staff cover
Safeguarding
Training
Total designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1 April
2023
£
12,814
21,898
-
72
9,139
2,000
45,923
1,000
2,522
8,000
2,500
4,717
18,739
76,406
95,145
141,068		 Income
£
18,500
34,040
22,649
78,554
50,000
-
203,743
-
-
-
-
-
-
232,235
232,235
435,978		 £
(21,816)
(51,403)
(12,717)
(78,551)
(46,804)
(25)
(211,316)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(202,482)
(202,482)
(413,798)
Expenditure		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,000)
(2,522)
(8,000)
(2,500)
(4,717)
(18,739)
18,739
-
-		 £
9,498
4,535
9,932
75
12,335
1,975
38,350
-
-
-
-
-
-
124,898
124,898
163,248
At 31 March
2024

Purposes of restricted funds

Artists Residencies Five year programme which paired four leading arts companies to work with four care homes across Essex, introducing dance, virtual reality, immersive theatre and other forms, challenging the arts and care sectors to raise expectations of what older people will enjoy and understand. Evaluation partner Anglia Ruskin University published Dare to Imagine, their research findings in Year 5, and our Care Home Guide to creativity shared activity ideas and approaches with care home professionals.

Artworks

A four year project to provide placements, supporting Tower Hamlets and Hackney residents to pursue careers in the arts, focused on those who currently face barriers e.g. Black, Asian and other racially minoritised people and those from working-class backgrounds.

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Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14. Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of restricted funds (continued)

Creative Mix A new three and a half year project, which brings generations together through creative activities and celebratory events, combating social isolation, increasing individuals' confidence and wellbeing whilst building connections across different faiths, cultures and backgrounds. Spark (Formerly Programme of sensory arts activities for older people living in 16 care homes Magic Moments) in Tendring, north Essex and London. Spark is delivered by Magic Me artists working in partnership with care home staff through training opportunities, resources and visits, in person and remotely, supporting everyone's right to creative expression.

The Charity of Sir A grant from the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, supporting range of arts Richard Whittington projects and development of future work with and for older people in London. In 23/24 this grant directly funded project work including Artists and Practice, Creative Mix, LAB and Spark (formally Magic Moments). Tudor Wellbeing Fund provided by Tudor Trust to be used to support staff wellbeing during the four years of their unrestricted grant.

Transfers between funds Designated funds All designated funds have been moved into general funds as expenditure will be managed through the unrestricted budget going forward.

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Magic Me

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

14. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2022
£
Restricted funds
Artists Residencies
47,485
Artworks
40,448
Essex
5,000
Magic Moments
-
The Charity of Sir
Richard Whittington
12,035
Bancroft 2022
-
Pott Street +
-
Tudor Wellbeing
-
Total restricted funds
104,968
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Equipment
1,000
Office renovations
2,522
Staff cover
8,000
Safeguarding
2,000
Training
2,695
Total designated funds
47,820
General funds
58,901
Total unrestricted funds
106,721
Total funds
211,689
ACE
Cultural
Recovery
Fund
31,603		 Income
£
30,000
45,539
-
10,890
-
9,625
50,964
2,000
149,018
-
-
-
-
500
2,022
2,522
120,552
123,074
272,092		 £
(64,671)
(64,089)
-
(15,818)
(2,896)
(9,625)
(50,964)
-
(208,063)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(134,650)
(134,650)
(342,713)
Expenditure
-		 Transfers
£
-
-
(5,000)
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(31,603)
31,603
-
-
(31,603)		 £
12,814
21,898
-
72
9,139
-
-
2,000
At 31 March
2023
45,923
1,000
2,522
8,000
2,500
4,717
-
18,739
76,406
95,145
141,068

15. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the current or prior year.

23