ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2022-MARCH 2023
Name of Charity: DRAMA CIRCLE THEATRE TRUST
NI Charity Commission Number: 103761
The purpose of the Trust is to promote and advance the education, technique and appreciation of drama and theatre for students of the dramatic arts and of theatre by grants to enable study and/or travel in the furtherance of such studies.
The names of the Charity Trustees at the date of the report and all individuals who served as Trustees during the year as follows: Mrs B. Kinch, Ms D. Wiley, Mrs M. McClelland, Mrs G. Beresford. Mr P. Cavan, Mr A. Marshall, and Mr H. Montgomery.
All the above-named functioned as Trustees, attending joint discussions during 2022 to 2023, except Mrs B. Kinch who, though confined to bed, was kept fully up-to-date and was involved in all decisions.
The financial year is from 6th April 2022 to 5th April 2023.
By the middle of April, 2022, the accumulated interest was over three thousand, mainly due to the fact that the Trustees did not award any grants in the previous year.
Only one grant was made in the current year which was for the sum of £2000 to a drama student from NI studying in England towards continuing his second year of study.
The Trustees did not gather together, formally, during the year but kept in touch by e-mail, telephone or individual small meetings.
After the Secretary attended a seminar run by Evelyn Partners regarding charities and the NI Commission, it was agreed by the Trustees that the Secretary would contact our investment managers to discuss whether our investments were reasonably ethical.
The Secretary did so and it was accepted by the Trustees that a mix of types on investments was suitable to allow a certain level of return on our capital.
It was with deep regret that Mrs B Kinch, one of our original Trustees, died in June, 2022, at the age of 96. Always able to offer wise and realistic advice, even in later years when confined to her own home. She will be greatly missed by all the remaining Trustees.
The Trustees have had regard to the Charities Commission's Public Benefit requirement that grants are openly on offer to any applicant successfully meeting the requirements to satisfy the Trustees of said applicant's passion in the furtherance of study and education in Drama and Theatre.
The Trustees take Health and Safety issues seriously. All applicants make contact and present applications through e-mail or post and are contacted regarding interviews and results in the same way. All interviews are carried out by a panel of, at least, four Trustees. The Board of Trustees believe they are complying with these issues.
With regard to the Trust's financial position, the capital invested by the Trustees, under the guidance of our financial advisers, Cunningham Coates, now Evelyn Partners, has been performing as well as possible in the current times. As our overheads are relatively low, most of our income can be offered as grants. We try to retain a small reserve in case of an emergency.
T H Montgomery (Honorary Secretary)