The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 11 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Stellar Quines is a touring theatre company for Scotland, dedicated to exploring the role theatre has to play in creating a gender equal society.
Our work is fuelled by artists, audiences and communities who want to see a better future for women, non-binary people and people of other marginalised genders. We create opportunities for them to flourish through our theatre productions and creative engagement programmes including our free-to-access youth theatre.
Our Vision
A world where the lives, needs and dreams of all women and people of other marginalised genders are valued and celebrated.
Our Mission
Stellar Quines believes in the potential of theatre as a creative, social and political force for gender justice. We create opportunities onstage, backstage and in the community for those who experience inequalities to share their stories, create strong inclusive partnerships and take positive action.
As intersectional feminists, our work addresses gender inequality and the ways this interacts and overlaps with other forms of social, economic and political inequality to produce different kinds of discrimination (racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, classism, etc).
We create spaces for learning, participation and collaboration. We believe in the transformative possibilities of making, sharing and responding to performance in an ever-changing world.
In 2023-2024 our focus was to:
Create shows led by and exploring intersectional voices rarely heard on stage
Create shows which can generate conversations and questions relating to the national discussion on gender justice
Use our engagement programmes to widen participation and deepen engagement with underserved communities
Commit to building the youth theatre - developing work, sharing shows, engaging the young people in the work of Stellar Quines as a whole.
And explored the things they wanted from the future of Young Quines:
Spend more time developing ideas and rehearsing
Make a ‘proper show’ (with full production values etc)
Develop confidence in performing
Explore specific skills such as singing, dancing etc.
Using this knowledge, we have developed a new plan for the programme with a focus on creating work for performance and integrating the project and participants into the wider Stellar Quines programme, whilst continuing to offer wellbeing and personal development opportunities for young people.
Disciples Engagement Programme
To accompany our production of Disciples, and to support disabled people who attended the show, we delivered a series of theatre and dance workshops for young disabled adults.
The workshops explored the show’s themes of faith, trust and community through movement, supporting the mission of our partner organisations The Yard to create opportunities for fun, friendship and community building.
We have long-term relationships with Shakti Women’s Aid, Edinburgh’s the Welcoming and the YMCA Women’s group which we also supported to attend.
Participant feedback
‘Last night at Disciples, was truly spectacular! An unforgettable evening!’
Inspiring Scotland: Stepping Up, Stepping Out
We continued to work with Edinburgh based Stepping Stones this year, an organisation that supports young single mums. Artist Rebecca Livesey-Wright developed a project called Tomorrow is a New Day encouraging the participants to explore the theme of parenting through a range of artistic responses.
CREATIVES
Maker Spaces
This year, we piloted our first Maker Space, following one of over 120 one to one meetings, Stellar Quines, Artistic Director/CEO Caitlin Skinner held with Scottish artists, facilitators and creatives. A small group of 3 artists with chronic health conditions met online over the course of the year; creating the space for peer learning and for the group to explore radical access methods and to design a programme of activity for 2024/2025.
IMPACTS AND ACHEIVEMENTS
Stellar Quines is committed to the transformational potential of theatre as a tool for social change. Our work begins in the creative sector, but extends far beyond: we raise awareness, shift understanding, and change behaviour.
Since our inception, we have produced 37 plays and toured to 109 venues the length and breadth of Scotland, visiting 26 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. We have tackled the lack of representation for women as lead artists of theatre productions with 34 full productions of work written by women and 37 productions directed by women. We have provided 112 roles for women in our plays and over 355 creative team roles for women. We also saw the development of 68 scripts through public sharings with our Rehearsal Room programme between 1997 and 2016, leading to 16 new productions, all written by women.
Through all the opportunities we provide, we seek to empower and nurture artists to work towards systemic change, as the next generation of cultural leaders.
In 2023/2024, we employed 76 artists and practitioners across our programme of work. Of those who opted to provide their equal opportunities data, 98% identified as women or non-binary people. 30% identified as BPOC (against 4% of the population (2011 census data), 38% identified as disabled (20% of population in 2011 census data) and 31% identified as being LGTBQ+ (against 2011 data collected only for LGB of 4% in Scotland’s Annual Population Survey 2020).
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Climate Emergency
We have continued to develop our work on reducing carbon emissions by adopting the Theatre Green Book guidance. We are working towards a year of climate emergency focused activity in 2026 and have commissioned Isla Cowan to develop a new work on this theme.
Fair Work
Stellar Quines is committed to implementing Fair Work principles and in consultation with our office-based staff look forward to piloting a four-day week in 2024/2025. Should the trial of the four-day work week be successful, we will develop a plan and recommendations for implementing the scheme into productions and projects.
We have strengthened our family-friendly provisions by introducing paid care leave, and by removing the qualifying period for enhanced maternity pay and paternity/partner pay. We have also improved security for employees by providing a contractual entitlement to up to four weeks of paid sick leave. We provide flexible and family friendly working practices for all the team from day one of employment.
Building on our learning from the Marilyn Imrie Fellowships of 2022-23, we will develop a Code of Care for the organisation. Working in collaboration with staff, board and artists, we will work with industry experts such as wellbeing practitioners, intimacy co-ordinators and those experienced in trauma informed and anti-oppression practice. This Code of Care will be rolled out across the company and become a key tenet of our organisational culture.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
This year we have continued to focus on the following areas of activity: improving disabled access both creatively and in terms of audience engagement and marketing - through our work on Disciples and working with artists and participants with experience of migration and developing anti- racism practice in the organisation. As a Board and staff team we have co-created an Anti-Racism Strategy and Action Plan to embed a Cycle of Practice across the organisation.
Stellar Quines is funded in part by Creative Scotland through its Regular Funding programme alongside earned income from our shows and projects, support from trusts, foundations and from Quines Collective, our individual giving programme.
In 2023/2024, the Board increased the salaries of the staff team by 3% to address inflation, with a further review to be undertaken when Creative Scotland conclude the multi-year funding process.
In April 2024, we increased the employer pension contribution for employees’ pensions to 5% to match the 5% employee contribution and help to contribute to staff being able to build up a reasonable pension during their working lives. We have also extended pension enrolment to day one of employment.
Of fund balances carried forward to 2024-25, £18,383 represents restricted funding, £54,788 represents designated funding for future projects, and £60,057 is unrestricted reserves.
It is the policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months’ core expenditure. This equates to between £35,000 and £70,000 of reserves. The Directors consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant change in circumstances, they will be able to continue the Charity's current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year with the charity ending the year with unrestricted reserves of £60,057, which is within its target level of reserves for 2022-2023. The Directors are content with this level of closing unrestricted reserves.
The Directors have assessed the major risks to which the Company is exposed and are currently reviewing systems to mitigate exposure to major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
OUR PEOPLE
In everyday working, productions, engagement and campaigns, Stellar Quines endeavours to model our feminist values – inclusivity, collaboration, economic justice, recognising and celebrating diversity, mobilising resources for positive change. Our partners, participants, audiences, funders, freelance artists and the larger constellation of our supporters are vital. We’ve shared and learnt so much from so many as we conclude our 30th birthday year.
Our Quines staff and Board are the beating heart of the company, and we’re grateful for their commitment, integrity and manifold skills.
Staff Team April 2023 - March 2024
Caitlin Skinner Artistic Director and Chief Executive
Barbie Lyon General Manager
Beth Godfrey Associate Director: Engagement
Erin McGee Company Administrator
Board April 2023 - March 2024
Lesley Orr Chair
Brenna Hobson Vice-chair (resigned 8 May 2024)
Natasha Lee-Walsh
Gail Preston (Resigned 13 October 2022)
Ann-Christine Simke (Resigned 26 January 2024)
Zoe Farruiga
Leigh Robieson-Cleaver (Resigned 1 March 2024)
Rachel Edgar (Vice chair from 8 May 2024)
Linton Zhang Board Pioneer (Resigned 7 February 2024)
Shasta Hanif Ali (Appointed 18 July 2024)
Miranda Barty-Taylor (Appointed 4 May 2023)
Clementine E Burnley (Appointed 18 July 2024)
Tamara Zimet
The Board is appointed under the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.
None of the Board has any beneficial interest in the Company. All of the Board are members of the Company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The day to day running of the organisation is delegated to the Artistic Director and CEO, assisted by the General Manager and Company Administrator. All major decisions, including the review and approval of budgets, are made by the Board at meetings.
Charity number (Scotland) | SC023628 |
Company number | SC157796 |
Registered Office | 30B Grindlay Street |
| Edinburgh |
| EH3 9AX |
Independent Examiner | Thomson Cooper Accountants |
| 3 Castle Court |
| Carnegie Campus |
| Dunfermline |
| KY11 8PB |
We would like to thank the Quines Collective, our group of individual donors, for their ongoing support of our work.
Jackie Crichton, Elspeth Macarthur, Ishbel McFarlane, Erin McElhinney, Sarah Marie Mooney, Rachel O'Regan, Deborah Ritchie, Kathryn Welch, Alice Donnelly, Marilyn Wilson, Nikki Macdonald, Lesley Orr, Thom Schuman, Leigh Robieson Cleaver, Andrew Grant, Sarah Keir, Natasha Lee Walsh, Rosie Kellagher, Anne Hart, Sarah Scott, Brenna Hobson, Miranda Barty-Taylor, Hilda Hudson, Shona White. Michaella Fee, Emma Ruse, Shirley Monteith, Harry Mould, Hayley Blakeman, Rachel Edgar, Cynthia Chung
Thank you to Creative Scotland for supporting our programme and to Culture Collective for supporting our Young Quines youth theatre programme in Fife.
To the PRS Foundation, our Crowdfunder supporters including the National Emergencies Local Action Trust and the BA Better World Community Fund for the support of Disciples.
Thank you to Inspiring Scotland’s Creative Communities Fund for their support of Stepping Up, Stepping Out.
Image credits: Mihaela Bodlovic, Willie Christie, Stuart Armitt, Christina Brownlee Cox, Alice Mary Cooper, Kat Gollock.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Stellar Quines for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (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 incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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 Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Companies Act 2006. 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.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 16 to 30.
The charity’s trustees, who are also the directors of Stellar Quines for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investments (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1)(a) to (c) of the 2006 Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the financial statements as required under section 44(1)(c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 8 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations;
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Stellar Quines is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is 30B Grindlay Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9AX.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association , the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred.
Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the staging of productions and include both direct and support costs relating to these activities.
Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to the charitable activity on a basis consistent with their use.
Tangible fixed assets over £1,000 are initially capitalised at cost, plus any incidental costs of acquisition, and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Grants
Grants
During the year to 31 March 2024, other income related to a HMRC Theatre Tax Relief Claim. There was no such claim during the year to 31 March 2023.
Production & Projects
Production & Projects
Production fees
Production costs
Engagement and creative costs
Fundraising Consultancy and Activities
Insurance
Direct
IT & Office costs
Direct
Printing, postage & stationery
Direct
Telephone & fax
Direct
Subscriptions and memberships
Direct
Rent (non-operating lease)
Direct
Staff Training and Expenses
Direct
Accountancy
Insurance
Direct
IT & Office costs
Direct
Printing, postage & stationery
Direct
Telephone & fax
Direct
Subscriptions and memberships
Direct
Rent (non-operating lease)
Direct
Staff Training and Expenses
Direct
Accountancy
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration for their services as a Trustee during this or the prior year, no trustees were reimbursed travel expenses during the year (2023 - none).
In addition, the trustees donated a total of £465 (2023 - £102).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The key management personnel of the charity, comprise the Artistic Director/CEO and the General Manager. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £75,260 (In 2023 the figure was £68,841, with unpaid leave to the value of £2,152 also taken in this period.)
The above funds have been restricted for the following purposes:
Inspiring Scotland: funding for the Stepping Up, Stepping Out project with young women in North Edinburgh
Culture Collective/Creative Scotland: funding for Young Quines Youth Theatre groups in Fife.
People's Postcode Trust: funding to deliver Sister Radio Engagement projects
Disciples Crowdfunder: funding towards the tour of Disciples
Idlewild Trust: funding for M*****Classes in lighting design
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society/Through The Mud: Funding for the production of Through The Mud as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase.
City of Edinburgh Council Diversity and Inclusion Fund: Funding for the development of For us girls of colour making half notes into song when the haar is all.
Quines Cast donation for playwrights
The above funds were also restricted during 2023 for the following purposes:
People’s Postcode Trust/Muslim Women Writers: funding for writing workshops at Glasgow Women’s Library
Inspiring Scotland: funding for the Stepping Up, Stepping Out project with young women in North Edinburgh
Culture Collective/Creative Scotland: funding for Young Quines Youth Theatre groups in Fife.
People's Postcode Trust: funding to deliver Sister Radio Engagement projects
National Emergencies Local Action Trust: funding for research and development of Disciples
Disciples Crowdfunder: funding towards the tour of Disciples
The income funds of the charity include the following unrestricted and designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Transfers
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Transfers
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).