## **THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON**
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 518484**
The Little Theatre Donnington Society (hereafter known as the Little Theatre) is a registered charity. The object of the charity is to promote the education of the public in the arts and in particular in music and drama.
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Contents Page
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|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|**1-5**|
|**Legal and Administrative Information**|**6**|
|**Report of the Independent Examiner**|**7**|
|**Receipts and Payments Account**|**8**|
|**Statement of Assets and Liabilities**|**9**|
|**Notes to the Accounts**|**10-11**|
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE THEATRE**
The Charity Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2024. The financial statements comply with both the Charity’s Constitution and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The objects of the Society shall be to promote the education of the public in the arts and in particular in music and drama.
In furtherance of the above, but not further or otherwise the Society shall have power:
(1) to present, promote, organise, provide, manage and produce plays, drama, comedies, operettas, concerts, ballets, pantomimes, and other public performances on premises occupied by the Society or elsewhere
- (2) to rent or lease property for use by the Society for the above object
- (3) to do all such lawful things as shall further the above object
## **Public Benefit**
The trustees continue to give regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit (Charities and Public Benefit) in the relation to the charitable purpose of the charity. In the opinion of the trustees, the objectives of the charity as detailed above fall within the remit of ‘for public benefit’.
In addition to a facility open to all who wish to benefit from being involved in the arts and theatre, we continued to offer a cost effective, varied programme of performances for the local population.
## **Membership**
Membership of the Little Theatre is open to any member of the public, aged 10 and above, who wishes to join and who is prepared to pay an agreed membership fee and abide by the rules of the Society. As at 31[st] March 2024, the Little Theatre had
- 1 President
- 6 Life members
- 70 Adult members
- 2 Volunteers
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **Shows**
This year we performed two plays, a musical and a Pantomime. These were
- **Waiting for god:** a play. Show dates 27[th] – 29[th] April 2023 A total of 381 individuals attended these performances
- **Habeus Corpus:** a Play. Show dates 21[st] – 23[rd] September 2023 A total of 285 individuals attended the performances
- **Hello Dolly:** a Musical. Show dates 26[th] – 28[th] October 2023
1
A total of 400 individuals attended the performances
- **Robinson Crusoe:** a Pantomime. Show dates 20[th] – 27[th] January 2024 A total of 940 individuals attended the performances
The Contribution towards running costs made for each performance is shown below.
|**SHOW**
Waiting for God
Habeus Corpus
Hello Dolly
Robinson Crusoe|**Receipts**
**Payments**
**Contribution**
**£**
**£**
**£**
3,951
1,147
2,805
2,827
867
1,960
6,767
4,917
1,850
10,054
4,453
5,602
**23,600**
**11,384**
**12,216**|
|---|---|
## **Social Events**
In addition to the productions, 3 social events were held for members and their friends, a fish and chip supper, and 2 quiz nights.
## **The Theatre**
Maintenance at the theatre continued, this included refurbishing the cage room to provide better storage, new shelving in the props hole and the replacement of the Emergency Exit signs for more efficient LED lit signs.
## **Plans for Future Periods**
We have the following shows planned for the coming year:
- Billy Liar: A play. Show Dates: 25[th] – 27[th] April 2024
- A Bunch of Amateurs: A Play. Show Dates: 12[th] – 14[th] September 2024
- Wizard of Oz: A Musical. Show Dates: 31[st] October – 3[rd] November 2024
- Pantomime: TBC. Show Dates: January 2025
As the Society is celebrating its 70[th] anniversary this year we also have a couple of additional events to celebrate:
- A Ball on June 15[th] to bring together current and past members and supporters of the theatre
- A Showtime Serenade, a concert showcasing songs from Movies & Musicals on 13[th] & 14[th] July.
## **Financial Review**
We started the financial year in a very healthy position, with an opening balance of £35,815. During the course of the year, our receipts totaled £30,337 and our payments £32,307. £2,917 of these payments was spend on the maintenance mentioned above.
The Theatre continues to be a recipient for the Twincl Lottery run by Telford and Wrekin Council and received £1,463 from lottery tickets purchased. We have also registered for Easy Fundraising and Amazon Smile, this year we have received £71 from Amazon Smile however Amazon Smile has now been disbanded therefore we will not be receiving anything
2
more going forward, this year has been the first year we have seen donations from easy Fundraising which have totaled £77.
The Theatre has been lucky enough in 2023/24 to have been able to qualify for a grant from Telford and Wrekin Council of £500 which along with the £1,000 received last year, shall shortly be using this to do improvements to the carpark.
In November 2022 we sold Calendars during the Calendar girls performances, it was advertised that 50% of the profit from these would be donated to a charity of our choice. As a result of these sales The Theatre have been able to make a charitable donation to Leukemia UK of £273.97 which was paid over in April 2023.
## **Reserves Policy**
With regard to reserves, we aim to maintain a level commensurate with the running of the Theatre for 12 months including enhancement expenditure and maintenance.
The trustees continue to review the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risk to the organisation, a reduction of income. At the end of March 2024, the charity’s total reserves were £33,546, £31,608 of which is unrestricted. Against the unrestricted spend of £31,948, the level of free reserves available to the charity is equivalent to just under 12 months running costs meaning this year we have dipped into our reserves by £334, this is the first time this has happened in recent years. This drop is due to increased costs electric being the main one and a reduction in ticket sales.
The following mitigations should prevent the society from dipping into reserves in 2024/25:
- Audience numbers are expected to increase for some shows and we have added 2 additional matinee performances to our Musical to encourage families & those not able to attend evening performances.
- Ticket sales for the Ball will cover the costs for planning the ball therefore it should be cost neutral however there is a raffle planned for the event to raise additional funds, local businesses are being approached to donate prizes.
- The concert in July will also bring additional income through both ticket and Bar sales.
- One theatre hire is booked in and the committee are working with Telford Theatre to see if the Little Theatre can accommodate any shows during their renovations, no dates have been agreed yet but this could be a useful additional source of income.
- Electricity costs should reduce due to moving on to a cheaper contract also the committee are starting to look at possible options for replacing the existing heating system with something more energy efficient and suitable to heat the theatre.
- However the trustees cannot be complacent and need to monitor the spend closely over the next year to ensure reserves do not need to be used.
The financial strategy is to maintain the level of the reserves by continually reviewing overheads and ensuring an adequate level of income is maintained through membership, charitable donations, show and bar revenue and fundraising activities.
## **Investment Policy**
The Trustees and Management Committee have taken a low risk approach to investment, and maintain all the Society’s liquid assets in a bank account.
3
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **The Structure of the Little Theatre**
The Trustees delegate the running of the Little Theatre to a committee which runs the affairs of the charity. The committee meet on a monthly basis to discuss all aspects of the Little Theatre, including its finances, its productions, its maintenance, its fundraising and its membership. Committee members are nominated from within the membership and appointed at the AGM.
## **Governing Document**
The Little Theatre is an unincorporated registered charity based in Donnington in Shropshire. It is governed by a Constitution adopted on 21[st] October 1986 and was entered on the Register of Charities by the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 17[th] February 1987. The constitution was amended on 24[th] February 1988 and 23[rd] May 2017
## **Organisational Structure**
The charity has a Board of Trustees consisting of at least 4 but no more than 10 individuals. The board consists of a president, a chair, a treasurer, a secretary and up to 6 elected trustees. The charity trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity.
## **Appointment of Trustees**
All Trustees are required to be members of the Theatre prior to being recruited as a charity trustee. At the AGM in July 2019, it was agreed that all trustees would be made up of members of the Little theatre committee. All Committee members are appointed or reelected at the AGM by the current membership in attendance and are then appointed as Trustees.
## **Recruitment and Trustee Induction and Training**
Whilst there is no formal induction process in place, trustees for The Little Theatre upon appointment are encouraged to read through the literature available on the Charity commission website to ensure they know their responsibilities. Existing trustee will discuss the following aspects of the organisation with potential new trustees and answer any questions arising.
- The role, responsibility and obligations of the charity trustees
- The main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity
- The current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts
- Future plans and objectives of the charity
In addition to the above, a copy of the latest Annual Report is given to all new trustees along with a charity trustee role description, a copy of the constitution, the Charity Commission’s Trustee Handbook, the organisation’s main policy documents and the latest financial statement.
Trustee training is provided as and when required.
4
## **Risk Management**
The trustees review its key risks during the course of the year and established a risk register of the major risks to which the charity may be exposed and systems have been established to mitigate any identified risks. The risk of not being able to adequately fund the charity is the biggest risk which is why the trustees try to maintain a minimum level of unrestricted equivalent to 12 months expenditure as a contingency for emergencies
Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with Health and Safety for all visitors whilst visiting the theatre. Disclosure and Barring checks are made on all potential new volunteers where appropriate. General Data Protection Regulations, Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection policies are adhered to.
## **Responsibilities of the Trustees**
The trustees must hold a minimum of nine meetings a year, there must be a quorum of two elected Officers and 3 elected Executive Committee members present at each (all of which are Trustees for the Theatre).
Charity 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 its financial position at the end of that year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended
- practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is appropriate to
- presume that the charity will not continue in existence.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008. They 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.
## **Acknowledgements**
Little Theatre Donnington would like to thank all of their members, volunteers and supporters for the skills, commitment and time that they have contributed throughout the year. Without your support we simply would not be able to do the work we do.
**The Trustee Annual Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on the 28[th] June 2024 and were signed on their behalf by**
………………………………………………….… Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies, Chair
………………………………………………. Mrs Sarah Bishop, Treasurer
5
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
Charity Name: The Little Theatre Donnington Charity Status: Unincorporated Registered Charity Number: 518484 Registered Office and The Little Theatre Operational Address: Wellington Road Donnington Shropshire TF2 8AW Telephone Number: 07971993802 Email Address: thelittletheatredonnington@gmail.com Website: www.thelittletheatredonnington.co.uk
## **Charity Trustees:**
Chair Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies Secretary Mr Dale Pritchard Treasurer Mrs Sarah Bishop Trustees Mrs Carol Robertson Miss Jessica May Bracken (Stepped down July 2023) Miss Vicki Stevens Miss Leigh Kendal Miss Annika Dixon Ms Joanne Petford (Stepped down July 2023) Miss Kimberley Cassells (Appointed July 2023) Mrs Deborah Ann Taylor (Appointed July 2023)
**President:** Mr Cyril Cox **Independent Examiner:** Bev Richardson M.A.A.T Charity AID Accountancy Services Woodland Lodge Dunston Business Village Stafford Road Dunston Staffordshire ST18 9AB **Bank:** Lloyds Bank 113 The Border Telford Shopping Centre Telford Shropshire TF3 4AE
6
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LITTLE THEATRE, DONNINGTON**
I report on the financial statements of The Little Theatre, Donnington for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 11.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity’s 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 required.
It is my responsibility to:
- Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act 2011
- To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- To state whether any particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 the 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
- To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- - To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
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.
Bev Richardson M.A.A.T.
Date: 28[th] June 2024
On Behalf of Charity AID Accountancy Services Woodland Lodge Dunston Business Village Stafford Road, Dunston Staffordshire ST18 9AB
7
## **THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON**
## **Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1[st] April 2023 – 31[st] March 2024**
|**Notes**
**RECEIPTS**
Grants & Donations
1
Membership
2
Charitable Activities
3
Generating Income
4
Investment Income
5
Other Income
6
**PAYMENTS**
Generating Income
7
Charity Running Costs
8
Charitable Activities
9
Maintenance
10
Governance
11
Other Expenditure
12
**ASSETS &**
**INVESTMENTS**
Fixed Assets
13
Investments
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
Net incoming resources
Transfer between funds
Cash Funds from Last year
**TOTAL CASH FUNDS**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**2024**
**2023**
£
£
£
£
935
500
1,435
1,422
2,866
0
2,866
1,957
17,660
385
18,045
18,993
7,990
0
7,990
8,178
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
50|
|---|---|
||29,452
885
30,337
30,549|
||2,791
0
2,791
2,786
11,771
0
11,771
8,748
9,937
385
10,322
10,391
5,031
0
5,031
4,641
366
0
366
496
2
274
276
9|
||29,899
659
30,558
27,071|
||2,049
0
2,049
3,347
0
0
0
0|
||2,049
0
2,049
3,347|
|||
||31,948
659
32,607
30,418|
|||
||(2,496)
226
(2,269)
131|
|||
||0
0
0
0|
||34,103
1,712
35,815
35,684
31,608
1,938
33,546
35,815|
8
## **THE LITTLE THEATRE DONNINGTON**
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31[st] March 2024**
|**ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**CASH FUNDS**||||
|Petty Cash (General)|421|0|421|
|Petty Cash (Bar)|180|0|180|
|Lloyds Bank|31,007|1,938|32,945|
|**OTHER MONETARY ASSETS**|0|0|0|
|**INVESTMENT ASSETS**|0|0|0|
|**ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE**||||
|**CHARITIES OWN USE**||||
|Fixtures, Fittings, Equipment|2,549|0|2,549|
|Sound System|2,678|0|2,678|
|Bar Stock|539|0|539|
|**LIABILITIES**||||
|Independent||||
|Examination|250|0|250|
|Subscribers Advanced tickets sales|772|0|772|
|Anniversary Ball Deposits|697|0|697|
**The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 28[th] June 2024 and were signed on their behalf by**
………………………………………………….… Mr Stephen Oliver-Davies, Chair
………………………………………………. Mrs Sarah Bishop, Treasurer
9
## **Notes to the Accounts**
|**1**
**Grants & Donations**
Grants
Donations
**2**
**Membership**
Membership
Subscribers
Socials
**3**
**Charitable Activities**
Box office
Programmes
Calendars
Pianist Fund
Branded clothing
**4**
**Generating Income**
Raffles
Refreshments & Bar Sales
Advertising
Sale of Scripts
Theatre Hire
Twincl Lottery
Amazon Smile
Give as you live
Easy Fundraising
**5**
**Investment Interest**
Building Society Interest
**6**
**Other Income**
Miscellaneous
**7**
**Cost of generating Funds**
Refreshments & Bar Stock
Raffles
Socials|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
0
500
500
1,000
935
0
935
422|
|---|---|
||**935**
**500**
**1,435**
**1,422**|
||1,095
0
1,095
1,220
772
0
772
667
1,000
0
1,000
70|
||**2,866**
**0**
**2,866**
**1,957**|
||16,129
0
16,129
17,141
950
0
950
642
20
0
20
770
0
385
385
440
562
0
562
0|
||**17,660**
**385**
**18,045**
**18,993**|
||1,088
0
1,088
1,047
4,942
0
4,942
5,516
300
0
300
0
0
0
0
0
50
0
50
50
1,463
0
1,463
1,459
71
0
71
106
0
0
0
0
77
0
77
0|
||**7,990**
**0**
**7,990**
**8,178**|
||0
0
0
0|
||**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**|
||0
0
0
0|
||**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**|
||2,393
0
2,393
2,614
93
0
93
171
305
0
305
0
**2,791**
**0**
**2,791**
**2,786**|
10
## **Notes to the Accounts continued**
|**8**
**Charity Running costs**
Insurance
Telephone
Postage, Stationery, Printing
Rent
Water Rates
Electricity
IT/Website
Electrical Equipment
Other Equipment
Publicity
**9**
**Charitable Activities**
Programmes & Posters
Calendars
Scripts
Costumes, Props, Materials
Theatre & Bar Staff Hire
Licences & Rental Fees
Technical Fund
Musician Fees
Performing rights
Branded Clothing
Misc. Show Expenses
**10**
**Maintenance**
Fire & Safety Inspection
General Maintenance
Cleaning & Hygiene
Refurbishment
**11**
**Governance**
Independent Examination
Trustee Expenses
**12**
**Other**
Miscellaneous
**13**
**Fixed Assets**
Emergency Exit signs|2,697
0
2,697
2,378
0
0
0
0
236
0
236
327
3,000
0
3,000
3,000
267
0
267
192
4,195
0
4,195
531
759
0
759
1,009
385
0
385
374
145
0
145
938
87
0
87
0|
|---|---|
||**11,771**
**0**
**11,771**
**8,748**|
||910
0
910
1,000
0
0
0
262
1,046
0
1,046
434
2,137
0
2,137
1,504
0
0
0
29
2,666
0
2,666
3,634
0
0
0
46
1,458
385
1,843
2,040
379
0
379
370
388
0
388
0
952
0
952
1,072|
||**9,937**
**385**
**10,322**
**10,391**|
||1,327
0
1,327
1,210
1,991
0
1,991
2,089
845
0
845
478
868
0
868
863|
||**5,031**
**0**
**5,031**
**4,641**|
||250
0
250
250
116
0
116
246|
||**366**
**0**
**366**
**250**|
||2
274
276
9|
||**2**
**274**
**276**
**9**|
||2,049
0
2,049
3,347
**2,049**
**0**
**2,049**
**3,347**|
11