COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 02383592 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 701598
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Unaudited Financial Statements
5 April 2025
G W ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED
Independent Examiner 1 Jesmond Business Court 217 Jesmond Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1LA
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report) | 1 |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees | 12 |
| Statement of financial activities (including income and | |
| expenditure account) | 13 |
| Statement of financial position | 14 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 15 |
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Year ended 5 April 2025
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Charity registration number 701598 Company registration number 02383592 Principal office and registered 67 Westgate Road office Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE1 1SG
The trustees
The trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows:
Mr M Tilley Mrs H E Burns Mr J Skill (Retired 1 January 2025) Mr P R Grainger Mr P C Kenrick Miss K Mujde (Retired 24 January 2025) Mrs A Fuller (Retired 31 December 2025) Mr J Old Miss K Tilley (Appointed 14 January 2025)
Chairman Mr P R Grainger (until 13/01/2025 ) Mr Jon old (from 13/01/2025 )
Company secretary
Mrs H E Burns
Independent examiner GW Accountants Ltd. 1 Jesmond Business Court 217 Jesmond Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1LA
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Structure, governance and management
Governing Document
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 1985 and incorporated 15 May 1989. It is a registered charity with the Charity Commission. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the Company and there are currently eight members each of whom agree to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up.
Appointment of Trustees
As set out in the Articles of Association the trust may from time to time increase or reduce the number of trustees. The trustees have the power at any time to appoint a trustee either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the trust.
All members are circulated with invitations to nominate trustees prior to the AGM advising them of the retiring and requesting nominations for the AGM. When considering co-opting trustees, the Board has regard to the requirement for any specialist skills needed.
Trustee Induction and Training
New trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity.
Organisation
The board of trustees, administers the charity. The board meets bi-monthly and there are subcommittees covering development, membership, finance and audit which meet more regularly.
Related Parties
The charity has a close relationship with Newcastle Arts Centre Limited which shares the Trust's passion for arts development. The trust benefits from the building management and trading activity of the company. The Trust is a registered shareholder of Newcastle Arts Centre Limited.
Risk Management
The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
An annual review of the risks the charity may face; and aims to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Objectives and activities
The objectives of the charity are:
To foster and promote the maintenance, improvement and development of knowledge understanding and appreciation of the arts amongst the inhabitants of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and in particular in the North East of England and to facilitate the same, establish and artists resource centre for the community and to provide workshops, studio, educational, performance and exhibition facilities and resources as a public service.
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust programmes the gallery and Black Swan Venue. The gallery promotes wall hung work by living artists and designers and presents exhibitions of historic interest. Most shows have a strong local connection to reveal and encourage northern talent. The gallery is admission free and is open six days a week.
The Black Swan Venue is a studio theatre in the basement of the Arts Centre. It promotes music, dance, theatre and film events and presentations. It also has a 'village hall' function where it is often used for meetings, training workshops and social events.
The Jazz Café which was previously in Pink Lane is now based within the Arts Centre building, here the Trust supports a successful programme of live music events.
The trust also makes available studios and conference rooms for arts and design projects. The room hire fees are the main income of the trust which has been supplemented by donations from Newcastle Arts Centre Limited.
Achievements and performance
The trust was founded in 1989 and the Arts Centre has provided studio, exhibition and performance space for most of the significant organisations and many artists that have worked in Newcastle. The trust's studio facilities have been well used and maintained.
Forth Lane Urban Gallery
October saw the opening of the new Forth Lane Urban Gallery: "Creative Central NCL is thrilled to unveil its latest project: the Forth Lane Urban Gallery, a brand-new artistic hub featuring six talented artists, all inspired by the theme Pleasure Garden. In collaboration with Newcastle Arts Centre, Project North East, and NE1, this initiative breathes fresh life into the historic Forth Lane, bringing creativity and colour to the heart of the city." The Arts Centre was instrumental in the realising of this project, providing studio space, much practical support and expertise, as well as being part of the selection process.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Room Hire
Approximately 1/2 of the below are returning hires, and roughly 1/3 of these book block/repeating hires. In addition to the below hires there were approximately 16x private function hires in the Black Swan Bar & Venue within this period. These hires are from across the following spaces (with some hirers using multiple spaces at once).
Of note is that our buildings are often hired as filming and photography locations, this year in particular for part of the soon to be launched film Night & Day developed from a story by George Elliot. - Small Meeting Room (13 of 67, 20% of hires) *
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Conference Room (25 of 67, 37% of hires)
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Studio A & B (15 of 67, 22% of hires)
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Black Swan Bar & Venue (11 of 67, 17% [not incl. private function hires])
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The Gallery (3 of 67, 4% of hires)
Income for this period from Room Hire (excluding equipment hire), across the above spaces, was £64,179. This is approximately a 7% decrease from the previous year.
*(NB percentages are approximate rounded figures)
ARTS & CULTURE CHARITY & COMMUNITY Tyneside Mandolin Orchestra Art Class Fundraising for MND Bakehouse Factory, theatre company British Gas Energy Trust CISV Boho Arts International Community Choir & Orchestra Comfrey Project DIY Ceilidh Heart Research UK FOIA Comedy Involve Foundation Future Arts Centres Magistrates Association Independent theatre showcase Majority Generator North East North East Law Centre House of Kaos National Autistic Society In-House Films NEPACS Independent photographer Northumbrian Gardens Trust Knock & Nash Northumberland Archaeological Actors Forge Group Northumberland Pride House of Trixie Blue Northumberland Wildlife Trust Andy MacLellan OMNIBUS Seminar of Crafts-People online People & Planet North East Screen Rail Futures North Operating Theatre Stephenson Locomotive Society Painting With Skill, art classes Robert Stephenson Trust North East Vernacular Architecture National Lottery Community Fund Group Young Lives vs Cancer Woolf Comedy Production Ltd – Night Young Women's Film Academy & Day location filming. DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES/LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY Anne Frank Trust Creative Central Coram Shakespeare Schools Divest Tyne & Wear Explore Life Long Learning Lokman Training, ESOL & Job Skills Newcastle College Magistrates Association Newcastle University Ministry of Housing Communities & York Museums Trust Local Government University of Sunderland Reed Wellbeing (Diabetes Prevention)
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025 COMMERCIAL Kate Bull Therapy MHT Tour RE (homeware & interiors) Sal Seduce, salsa club and classes Woolf Comedy Productions David Gray Solicitors
Tenants
The seven Artist/Creative Industry studios were fully occupied during this period with a rental income of £30,400 an increase of the previous year £28,477 of 6.75%
Studio holders for this period included:
The North of England Art Club continues to be a supporter of the Trust in their continued tenancy at the Arts Centre. The Club has over 80 members and has a full programme of artistic activities, workshops, discussions and exhibitions. The Club welcomes new members.
Ruth Bond & Helene Brandon - Artists
Aidan Doyle – Artist (who we remember, passed away 1[st] February 2025) Young Women’s Film Academy - Organisation Sian Jordan - Artist Ruth McCann – Bookbinder Jed Buttress - Sculptor
Programme
Art Courses
The Trust continued to run a popular programme of adult educational art courses; which during this period was managed Millie Avis who left near the start of this year and was taken up by the new Course Coordinator Rebecca Stringer from 29[th] May 2024. We see this to be an increasingly important educational role in times of diminished funding opportunities in adult education. We have been encouraged that the course programme continues to be strong, with many courses selling out and course vouchers proving popular on the run up to Christmas. The weekly life drawing sessions guided by Mark Bletcher continue to prove very popular.
Income from course fees for 2024/25 was £60,010 a 13.4% decrease on the previous years revised figure of £69,319. The majority of courses programmed within this year 2024/25 were at the £60/£95 value with life drawing classes at an increased price of £17 to cover a fee increase for the life tutors.
The course programme for 2024/25 ran 82 courses (103 last year) plus 56 Life Drawing classes. This year 11 (18 last year) part time course tutors were employed by the Trust as detailed in the table below. Tutor fees amounted to £24,115 (includes £1,981 of Life Model fees) a decrease of 6.35% on the previous year.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
COURSES 2024/25
STEVE LYON BOWES Portrait Painting Like the Old Masters Art Essentials: Acrylic Painting Skills (x3) Art Essentials: Basic Drawing Skills (x3) Introduction to Life Drawing (x2) Landscape Painting in Oils Tonal Portrait Drawing Seascapes in Oils
DR CHUN CHAO CHIU
Spring Landscapes in Chinese Brush Painting Northumberland in Watercolours Urban Sketching: Line & Watercolour Chinese Brush Painting: Trees Introduction to Watercolour Painting (x2) Painting Figures in Pen and Watercolour Introduction to Drawing in Colour Treey Study in Watercolour An Introduction to Painting Portraits in Watercolour Introduction to Flowers in Drawing and Watercolour Landscapes in Chinese Brush & Watercolour (x2) Introduction to Botanical Art Introduction to Pets in Watercolour Introduction to Lino Print
JOANNA BOURNE Woodcut Printmaking in colour (x2) Tetra Pak Intaglio Printmaking (x2)
HANNAH FOULDS Botanical Mixed Media (x2)
ISABEL GOTTI
Portrait Drawing: Fundamentals in Charcoal (x2) Figure Drawing: Fundamentals in Charcoal Portrait Drawing: Features Portrait Drawing: Lay ins in Charcoal Life Drawing Now (Facilitator Cover)
DR AIDAN DOYLE Working with the Sketchbook Pastel Painting Confidence with Colou.
JENNI MAC On and Beyond Drawing Self Portrait: A Sense of Perception (x2) Life Drawing Now (Cover) Life Drawing Late (Facilitator Cover)
JED BUTTRESS Monster Making Sculpting Dioramas Winter Miniatures Sculpt from Life EDWIN MORETON Learning to Paint Like Gwen John Painting Like Matisse Frank Bowling A ‘Touch of Zen’ Drawing Workshop
MARK BLETCHER
Life Drawing Late – Weekly facilitator Oil Painting: Using Colour Life Drawing Now (x3.) Seasonal Watercolours (x2) Expressive Inks Lovers Portraits
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
| Trustees' Annual Report (Incorpor | ating the Director's Report)(continued) |
|---|---|
| **Year ended ** | 5 April 2025 |
| BETHANY STEAD Ceramic Sculpture Beginners Ceramics |
NICK CHRISTIE Screen-print with Paper Stencils (x3) Life Drawing with Printmaking Introduction to Gelli Plate printing |
| BEX MASTERS An Introduction to Gold Leaf (x3) |
SEAN ALEC AULD Back to the Mud: Working with Story & Nature (x2) |
| MILLIE AVIS Methods in Monoprint (x2) Printing Festive Cards Styling Stencils in Printmaking Embossing: Introduction to Texture |
AILISH HENDERSON People & Place: Stitched Collage Portrait Characters |
The Late Shows Saturday 18[th] May 2024
This year the Arts centre hosted in the gallery “The Ballad of the Underwater Daughter” a performance by Marc Parrett and the Object Project. The Ballad of the Underwater Daughter is a woozy universe of messy minds and monstrously fishy metaphors, and overloaded with puppets, props and machines. The stage is an animated installation. At the end of the show the audience were invited to view the mechanical set up close and talk to the performers.
The Black Swan presented a celebratory Jam to mark a decade of the popular jazz sessions followed by a Late-Night Special with singer Ruth Lambert compering surprise guests from over the years. Street food and outdoor seating were on offer in the courtyard.
Heritage Open Days 14th September 2024
For Heritage Open Days the Assembly House at 55/57 Westgate Road was open to the public. Mike Tilley gave 3 tours for 30 people around the building and gave an informative talk titled Tour & Talk: ‘ From a Home of Political and Industrial Power to Art House’. Visitor were invited to hear the surprising history of a home of Political and Industrial power whose occupant’s had a key role in the development of Tyneside, and to see an unrestored 18th Century interior that is homage to two Empires.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
EXHIBITION PROGRAMME
We had a full programme of exhibitions this year, the Course and Exhibitions Co-ordinator worked along with the gallery programme team worked hard to produce an interesting and varied programme in both the gallery, showcase and Assembly House.
EXHIBITIONS 2024/25
WATER & PEOPLE + CONFLUENCES WORKSHOPS
Supported by the UKRI GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub and Newcastle University. 23rd March – 13th April 2024
Featuring Christie Chan, Aidan Doyle, Ellen Harrold, Maura Hawkes, David de la Haye, Hazel Soper, Sue Spence
Curated by Helen Underhill and Cat Button
Alongside creative outputs from community-focused research from the UKRI GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub by our partners in Colombia, Ethiopia, India, and Malaysia.
JOHN BROOKS MARC PARRETT AND THE OBJECT PROJECT ‘MAN ABOUT TOWN’ ‘THE BALAD OF THE UNDERWATER DAUGHTER’ 16th April – 11th May 2024 17[th] – 18[th] May 2024 (LATE SHOWS) THE SHOWCASE GALLERY One of Newcastle’s most talented street photographers, A woozy universe of messy minds and monstrously John Brookes’ keen eye for fleeting moments and rarely fishy metaphors, and overloaded with puppets, props noticed viewpoints imbues his striking photographs with and machines. The stage is an animated installation. At a unique sense of time and place. the end of the show the audience were invited to view the mechanical set up close and talk to the performers. PUPPETS FROM NEAR AND FAR NEWCASTLE COLLEGE CURATED BY CALLUM BRUCE ‘BA FINE AND APPLIED ARTS DEGREE SHOW’ 15[th] May – 5[th] June 2024 24[th] May – 20[th ] June 2024 THE SHOWCASE THE ASSEMBLY HOUSE This showcase featured puppets loaned from Final degree project work exhibited and curated by Moving Parts Arts CIO and Life and Limb the fine art students from Newcastle College. Puppets, highlighting diverse styles and origins 10 different creative arts degrees installed their from Gateshead to Indonesia. Puppetry, a work across our spaces, covering subjects from universal language of storytelling and emotion, animation and illustration via fashion and revealed the artistry and talent of makers who photography and fine art. brought expressive characters to life. ANNETTE CHEVALIER NORTHERN SUMMER EXHIBITION ‘A WALK BY THE RIVER’ PRESENTED BY THE NORTH OF ENGLAND 29[th] June - 20[th] July 2024 ART CLUB AND NEWCASTLE ARTS CENTRE. GALLERY 5[th] – 31st August 2024 GALLERY
This series of mixed media works evoked walks by a Northumbrian river, exploring its movement This now annual exhibition presented works and terrain. Built from acrylic, sand, and collage, submitted by the public and chosen by a selection the pieces reflected elemental effects and panel. The opening event was very well attended embedded clues to surrounding environments. and gave the opportunity for amateur artists to Painter Annette Chevalier exhibited widely and display their work (some for the first time) received major awards. alongside more established artists. The NOEAC volunteers had the challenge of hanging this show of the many and varied artworks which culminated in a successful event for all involved.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
CJ
CJ GRACE BREDAEL (STAFF) ‘SOLACE’ ‘Mind and Judgement’ 27[th] June – 20[th] July 2024 22[nd] July – 17[th] August 2024 SHOWCASE SHOWCASE CJ is a self-taught North East artist specialising in A Newcastle-based painter and sculptural artist, acrylic painting. Influenced by Asia and Tibetan Grace Bredael’s work is both highly varied and folk art, her bold, gold-accented works feature highly experimental. Fascinated by all things birds, flowers, and exotic animals. Formerly a horror and gore, her striking new Show Case hand poked tattooist, she has embraced painting exhibition blended realism and surrealism, with playful exploration. focusing on themes of neurodivergence, judgement and self-worth. KATHERINE TYRRELL-LEWIS THE DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY ‘ZING’ AWARDS by The Royal Photographic Society 20[th] August – 2[nd] October 2024 7[th] – 28[th] September 2024 THE SHOWCASE GALLERY Katharine Tyrrell-Lewis, a Yorkshire born artist, The RPS Documentary Photography Award is an considers organic matter, such as the fluctuations international competition attracting exceptional in forms and structures within natural landscapes visual storytellers from across the world, and the and spaces. Katharine practices the habit of society was touring the winners of 2023's Award. casual magic, curiously observing the beauty in The competition celebrates photographers who the overlooked and here, takes inspiration. Zing. have used a distinctive personal approach to celebrates and explores themes of potential documenting conflict, social, political and growth, life force and the nostalgia of her rural, environmental issues affecting communities and folk-infused childhood individuals. They provide an insight into the range of what can be documentary and how it can be used to tell stories.
PAUL HARVEY ARTISTS OF NEWCASTLE ARTS CENTRE ‘BURNING UP TIME’ WINTER EXHIBITION 2024 5[th] October – 9[th] November 2024 16th November 2024 – 4th January 2025 GALLERY GALLERY This project consists of a painting representing An opportunity for the various Artists of the every year from 1960, the year Paul was born, to Newcastle Arts Centre community, Course Tutors, 2000, each a snapshot of the people, the objects, Studio Holders and Arts Centre Staff and Trustees the events, the memories. to exhibit and sell their work in a group show.
This project consists of a painting representing every year from 1960, the year Paul was born, to 2000, each a snapshot of the people, the objects, the events, the memories. There is a strong autobiographical element to the work, yet also universal components that will reach out to anyone who experienced or has a relationship with these decades.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
| PAUL HARVEY AND CHRIS MORTON (C- MORE-TONE STUDIOS) ‘BEHOLD; WE WILL DO A NEW THING’ 8thFebruary - 15thMarch 2025 GALLERY New paintings by Paul Harvey from original posters and record covers by Chris Morton / c- more-tone Studios. Re-imagined and re- engineered as Graphic Art[ism], purposefully to create a series of New-Style prints and publications, disseminated in a novel and original style. |
TOM ROBINSON ‘THROUGH THE LENS AND LEAD’ 22ndMarch – 3rdMay 2025 An exhibition of the collaborative project Lens & Lead A collection of Polaroid photographs and pencil illustration books. Founded by photographer Tom Robinson. Tom and his partner photographers have collated an eclectic and intimate archive of polaroid portraits. Each being accompanied by a hand drawn self-portrait by the person photographed, composed there on the spot while the photo develops in the photographer’s hand. |
|---|---|
Live Music Programme
This year the Jazz Café programme was re branded and incorporated into a Newcastle Arts Centre Live Music programme. Live folk performances were introduced as part of this new initiative. The bi-weekly Tuesday Jam sessions organised by Paul Grainger continued to be popular. From June 2024 live jazz performances were programmed for the last Tuesday each month. Live folk performances were programmed from October for the last Thursday in each month; both as detailed below.
This year the Trust paid performer fees of £6,878 (2023/24 £3,782 revised) and received ticket sales of £3,415 (2023/24 £2,805 revised).
| of £3,415 (2023/24 £2,805 revised). | |
|---|---|
| LIVEJAZZ 2024/25 | LIVE FOLK – The F Word 2024/25 |
| The Bold Big Band Louise Dodds Alexia Gardner Quintet. |
Rachael McShane & The Cartographers Ceitidh Mac Staithe Naomi Bedford & Paul Simmons Bubamara |
Financial review
The trust ended the year with a bank balance of £88,683.
Investments powers and policy
To invest the moneys of the Arts Centre Trust not immediately required for its purposes.
The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating an arts venue and to the reserves policy have operated a policy of keeping available funds in an interest-bearing deposit account and seek to achieve a rate of deposit interest which matches or exceeds inflation as measured by the retail prices index.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Reserves policy
The trustees have established the level of reserves (that is those funds that are freely available) that the charity ought to have. The trustees therefore consider that the ideal level of reserves as at 5th April 2025 would be £80,000 they have further agreed that this amount may fluctuate during the financial year on the condition that it is restored within reasonable time on the approval of the board.
Plans for future periods
This year we have again achieved our target for reserved funds. The trust believes that it is still in a position to invest in the programme development of the Arts Centre. Towards this end the trust feels confident that it can continue to establish productive partnerships for creative activity. In support of this the trust still hopes to enlarge its membership and is working in part towards developing relationships with other arts organisations and individuals. We will continue to market the performance, conference and workshop spaces to increase their use and continue to promote adult art education courses with a developing programme. The Trust is also to work in partnership with Newcastle Arts Centre Limited in the development of 55/57 Westgate Road and its use as "Art House". In addition, the Trustees have agreed that the trust can contribute to the development of the existing spaces creating a larger accessible performance/conference space on the ground floor of the Arts Centre.
The Trust this year continued to support the employment of the Art Course Co-ordinator and Trust Administrator.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The trustees' annual report was approved on 12 December 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Mr M Tilley Trustee
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Year ended 5 April 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited ('the charity') for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
The trustees are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. 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.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
GW Accountants Ltd. Independent Examiner
1 Jesmond Business Court 217 Jesmond Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1LA
12 December 2025
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| fundsTotal funds | Total funds | |||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 5 | 9,802 | 9,802 | 14,680 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 164,096 | 164,096 | 183,514 |
| Investment income | 7 | 1,448 | 1,448 | 1,709 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| Total income | 175,346 | 175,346 | 199,903 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 8,9 | 206,545 | 206,545 | 191,807 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| Total expenditure | 206,545 | 206,545 | 191,807 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure)/income and net movement in funds | (31,199) | (31,199) | 8,096 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 193,786 | 193,786 | 185,690 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 162,587 | 162,587 | 193,786 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 15 to 23 form part of these financial statements.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Statement of Financial Position (continued)
5 April 2025
| 5 April 2025 | 5 April 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | ||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 15 | 420 | 420 | |
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors | 16 | 112,108 | 116,737 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 89,390 | 145,572 | ||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| 201,498 | 262,309 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 17 | 35,807 | 60,533 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Net current assets | 165,691 | 201,776 | ||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 166,111 | 202,196 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more than | ||||
| one year | 18 | (3,524) | (8,410) | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Net assets | 162,587 | 193,786 | ||
| ================================ | ================================ | |||
| Funds of the charity | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | 162,587 | 193,786 | ||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Total charity funds | 21 | 162,587 | 193,786 | |
| ================================ | ================================ |
For the year ending 5 April 2025 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors' responsibilities:
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The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
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The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 12 December 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
Mr M Tilley Trustee
The notes on pages 15 to 23 form part of these financial statements.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
1. General information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE1 1SG.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.
3. Accounting policies
A Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
B Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
C Disclosure exemptions
The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102.
D Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
E Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
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Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
F Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
-
income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
-
legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.
-
income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.
-
income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
G Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
-
expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, noncharitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.
-
expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
-
other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
H Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
- 16 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Tangible assets (continued)
An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.
I Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Equipment - 25% straight line
J Impairment of fixed assets
A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.
For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.
For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.
K Government grants
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable. Grants are not recognised until there is reasonable assurance that the charity will comply with the conditions attaching to them and the grants will be received.
Where the grant does not impose specified future performance-related conditions on the recipient, it is recognised in income when the grant proceeds are received or receivable. Where the grant does impose specified future performance-related conditions on the recipient, it is recognised in income only when the performance-related conditions have been met. Where grants received are prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria, they are recognised as a liability.
L Financial instruments
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
- 17 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments (continued)
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.
Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.
Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.
For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.
Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.
M Defined contribution plans
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
- 18 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
4. Limited by guarantee
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a share capital.
Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.
5. Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Donations | |||||
| Donations | – | – | 13 | 13 | |
| Grants | |||||
| Government grant income | 9,802 | 9,802 | 14,667 | 14,667 | |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ||
| 9,802 | 9,802 | 14,680 | 14,680 | ||
| ======================= | ======================= | ============================ | ============================ | ||
| 6. | Charitable activities | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Arts Courses/Events | 60,010 | 60,010 | 69,319 | 69,319 | |
| Studio & Conference Room Hire | 65,008 | 65,008 | 78,395 | 78,395 | |
| Annual Licence Fees | 30,400 | 30,400 | 28,477 | 28,477 | |
| Jazz Cafe income | 3,415 | 3,415 | 2,852 | 2,852 | |
| Gallery income | 5,263 | 5,263 | 4,471 | 4,471 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| 164,096 | 164,096 | 183,514 | 183,514 | ||
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ||
| 7. | Investment income | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Bank interest receivable | 1,448 | 1,448 | 1,709 | 1,709 | |
| ======================= | ======================= | ======================= | ======================= |
- 19 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
8. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Events & performances | 90,922 | 90,922 | 85,574 | 85,574 |
| Premises Costs | 85,745 | 85,745 | 80,195 | 80,195 |
| Jazz café costs | 6,878 | 6,878 | 5,105 | 5,105 |
| Gallery costs | 3,583 | 3,583 | 3,575 | 3,575 |
| Grants/funding | 12,330 | 12,330 | – | – |
| Support costs | 7,087 | 7,087 | 17,358 | 17,358 |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 206,545 | 206,545 | 191,807 | 191,807 | |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ |
9. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type
| Activities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | Grant funding |
Support | Total funds | Total fund | |
| directly | of activities |
costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Events & performances | 90,922 | – |
– | 90,922 | 85,574 |
| Premises Costs | 85,745 | – |
– | 85,745 | 80,195 |
| Jazz café costs | 6,878 | – |
– | 6,878 | 5,105 |
| Gallery costs | 3,583 | – |
– | 3,583 | 3,575 |
| Grants/funding | – | 12,330 |
– | 12,330 | – |
| Governance costs | – | – |
7,087 | 7,087 | 17,358 |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |
| 187,128 | 12,330 |
7,087 | 206,545 | 191,807 | |
| ================================ | ============================ | ======================= | ================================ | ================================ |
10. Analysis of support costs
| Analysis of | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| support costs | Total 2025 | Total 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Premises | 1,003 | 1,003 | 614 |
| Communications and IT | – | – | 9,570 |
| Finance costs | 3,276 | 3,276 | 3,118 |
| Accountancy fees | 2,808 | 2,808 | 3,456 |
| Legal and other professional fees | – | – | 600 |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | ---------------------------- | |
| 7,087 | 7,087 | 17,358 | |
| ======================= | ======================= | ============================ |
- 20 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
11. Analysis of grants
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Grants to institutions | |||
| Grants to institutions | 11,930 | – | |
| Grants to individuals | |||
| Grants to individuals | 400 | – | |
| ---------------------------- | -------------- | ||
| Total grants | 12,330 | – | |
| ============================ | ============== | ||
| 12. | Independent examination fees | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Fees payable to the independent examiner for: | |||
| Independent examination of the financial statements | 2,808 | 2,808 | |
| ======================= | ======================= |
13. Staff costs
| The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as | The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as | follows: |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 31,742 | 18,844 |
| Social security costs | 1,974 | – |
| Employer contributions to pension plans | 594 | 347 |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- | |
| 34,310 | 19,191 | |
| ============================ | ============================ |
The average head count of employees during the year was 2 (2024: 1). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | |
| Number of staff | 2 | 1 |
| ============== | ============== |
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
14. Trustee remuneration and expenses
- no remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees;
- 21 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
15. Tangible fixed assets
| Equipment | Work of Art | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost | |||
| At 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025 | 1,404 | 420 | 1,824 |
| ======================= | ============== | ======================= | |
| Depreciation | |||
| At 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025 | 1,404 | – | 1,404 |
| ======================= | ============== | ======================= | |
| Carrying amount | |||
| At 5 April 2025 | – | 420 | 420 |
| ======================= | ============== | ======================= | |
| At 5 April 2024 | – | 420 | 420 |
| ======================= | ============== | ======================= | |
| Debtors | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Trade debtors | 19,957 | 22,683 | |
| Amounts owed by undertakings in which the charity has a | |||
| participating interest | 34,226 | 33,263 | |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 57,925 | 60,715 | |
| Other debtors | – | 76 | |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ||
| 112,108 | 116,737 | ||
| ================================ | ================================ | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Bank loans and overdrafts | 6,390 | 6,150 | |
| Trade creditors | 11,705 | 34,000 | |
| Accruals and deferred income | 17,474 | 20,260 | |
| Social security and other taxes | 238 | – | |
| Other creditors | – | 123 | |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ||
| 35,807 | 60,533 | ||
| ============================ | ============================ | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Bank loans and overdrafts | 3,524 | 8,410 | |
| ======================= | ======================= |
16. Debtors
17. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
18. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
19. Pensions and other post retirement benefits
Defined contribution plans
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £594 (2024: £347).
- 22 -
Newcastle Arts Centre Trust Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
20. Government grants
The amounts recognised in the financial statements for government grants are as follows:
Recognised in income from donations and legacies: Government grants income
2025 2024 £ £ 9,802 14,667 ======================= ============================
21. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | At | |||
| 6 April 2024 | Income | Expenditure | 5 April 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 193,786 | 175,346 | (206,545) | 162,587 |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | |
| At | At | |||
| 6 April 2023 | Income | Expenditure | 5 April 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 185,690 | 199,903 | (191,807) | 193,786 |
| ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | ================================ | |
| Analysis of net assets between funds | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 420 | 420 | ||
| Current assets | 201,498 | 201,498 | ||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (35,807) | (35,807) |
||
| Creditors greater than 1 year | (3,524) | (3,524) |
||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Net assets | 162,587 | 162,587 | ||
| ================================ | ================================ | |||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |||
| Funds | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 420 | 420 | ||
| Current assets | 262,309 | 262,309 | ||
| Creditors less than 1 year | (60,533) | (60,533) |
||
| Creditors greater than 1 year | (8,410) | (8,410) |
||
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | |||
| Net assets | 193,786 | 193,786 | ||
| ================================ | ================================ |
22. Analysis of net assets between funds
- 23 -