REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 |
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Page |
Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 18 |
Independent Examiner's Report | 19 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 20 |
Balance Sheet | 21 | to | 22 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 23 | to | 32 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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). |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT |
Dance Woking's Objects as seen in the company's Articles of Association are: |
To advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts particularly but not exclusively the art of dance. |
Dance Woking is a charity, changing lives through dance |
Established in 1994, Dance Woking is an innovative dance organisation that provides accessible opportunities to watch, perform and take part in dance. We have nurtured and sustained the overall dance ecology in the town benefitting many thousands of people as performers, participants or audiences. |
Our primary aim has always been to provide high quality, creative experiences that inspire artists, audiences, participants and communities. Our work is predominantly for the population of Woking and the surrounding Surrey towns and villages, achieving a regional and national impact and reputation. |
Dance Woking's vision is of a thriving and connected community of diverse, creative people, whose lives, minds and bodies are enriched through dance and movement. Our mission is to enable participation, to inspire creativity, and to connect individuals of all ages in moving and memorable creative experiences. |
Our regularly-reviewed business plan outlines seven key aims for Dance Woking: |
• DANCE FOR ALL: all levels of experience, ability and financial circumstances. |
• QUALITY FOR ALL: we strive to ensure that all our work is delivered to the highest quality professional standards |
• PARTNERSHIP WORKING: we work with organisations at local and regional levels including venues, community organisations, art galleries, museums, libraries, universities, local businesses and dance companies. |
• SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS: a vital part of dance development locally, regionally and nationally, we foster talent and encourage artists as role models |
• CREATIVITY AS A DRIVER OF CHANGE: as an essential factor in personal and organisational growth, creativity dictates the way we tackle all challenges. |
• RISK-TAKING AS A WAY FORWARD: we are open to both success and failure as long as we do not hinder the development of dance. What may at first look challenging may well turn out to be a new direction. |
• DANCE AS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE: participating in and watching dance can be inspirational, healthy, provocative and challenging. |
As a well-managed, long-standing and visible creative force in the local community, with a skilled and ambitious Board of Trustees and supportive funding partners, we are committed to growing Woking's strong local identity. Our practical projects can positively improve the physical and mental wellbeing of local residents. We offer a range of exciting dance led activities serving and supporting a diverse range of networks across Woking and Surrey. We engage people across the spectrum from schoolchildren to students and recent graduates, from dance professionals; young people outside training and education, the elderly, to those with English as a second language. Families and other intervention agencies value us for our youth projects, and we enable older people to stay active and connected with their friends and communities. |
Our affordable live public performances attract new audiences to dance as a much-loved, easily adaptable art form. Our pop-up and festival appearances, often working with partners in shopping centres or local parks, bring Woking's public spaces to life engaging whole communities, and showcasing skills in extraordinary ways. Dance Woking's ambitious and creative projects reinforce the town's appeal as a great place to live, work and enjoy life. This continues to be an important aspect of a post-Covid world as remote/hybrid working and isolation continues in some communities. |
We're committed to using our unique skills and deep-rooted understanding of the communities needs to break down barriers to arts participation and enjoyment whether they are geographical, financial, physical or cultural. |
Beyond traditional performance, Dance Woking has the potential to reach out more than ever into lifelong learning, health and sport - and through this, boost collective civic pride - whilst sourcing new funding streams and building new partnerships. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Dance Woking is an established conduit for professional dance artists and the local community. We believe in the power of dance to transform and change individuals and society for the better. Our approach is inclusive, personal and specific: we proudly provide dance access on the broadest basis and in doing so, support physical and mental well-being, confidence and self-esteem. |
Dance needs both dancers and audiences to embrace new challenges to move forward unlocking emotions, building connections, and breaking down barriers. |
Our events and campaigns bring unexpected and lasting benefits through dance to real communities at grass roots level where they have real and sustainable impact leading to and promoting new lifestyle choices. We offer extensive employment opportunities to hundreds of freelance dance artists and teachers, many of who take their experience onto other parts of the region and often run their own small businesses. For relatively modest financial investments from our funders, we received feedback of the wider valuable contribution our work makes to both the local economy and cultural ecology. The national cultural impact we have through our highly regarded reputation attracts people to want to live and work in Woking, for example feeding into the TV/film industry. |
We are determined to make dance accessible and believe it is our duty to play a part in reducing social inequality by bringing people together. Following successful decades as an organisation-promoting dance in the Borough, with Woking Borough Council (WBC) as a key partner, 2023/24 saw a key change in the way WBC managed their relationship with Dance Woking. Due to the Borough's financial woes Dance Woking was directed to take a reduced targeted approach to activities, following a cut in the grant offered and initially for 6 months worth of activity only. |
The following principles were agreed: |
• Funding must be directed at those hard to reach and targeting one of the council core groups |
• Funding must not replace other statutory or funding body requirements such as education |
• Funding must be focused towards those in Woking and in the main those areas of Woking recognised as most in need |
• The over arching focus to support place making, the local economy, health & wellbeing. |
Putting a programme together takes time to plan and organise, due to funding insecurity activity turnaround has been managed in a shorter timescale, but any community engagement really needs at least of 3 months to organise and ideally 6 months for meaningful engagement. 2023/24 saw Dance Woking work with Stanwell Events, in Spelthorne and Lakeview Community Action group in Horsell, focussing on hyper local activity. |
The programmes of work we deliver intertwine with each other giving a broader range of opportunities for participants, residents and communities. Whilst we continue to be nimble and agile to adapt to the changing environment and funding this has put added pressure on funding the core staff team, of 1 full-time (FT) and 2 part-time (PT) unsustainable. One PT post was lost in 23/24 when a staff member left the post was not replaced. Dance Woking has benefitted from prudent and careful financial management and used reserves to support the programme of work. This model has been working for a number of years, but the reserves are now at a level to support cash flow and not shortfalls in funding projects. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
Fundraising activities |
In numbers: |
4537 individuals took part in a Dance Woking workshop, leading to 8555 unique engagements. |
93 groups including after school clubs and community based dance schools took part in one of our platforms. |
55 Freelance Creatives/Pro dancers helped deliver our programme of activities; |
379 employment days for dance artists, dance companies and technicians. |
All of which supported the local economy |
Inspire Programme |
The support of our community is crucial in helping us realise our ambitions and in turn, we hope by building our family of supporters we will be able to build on our programme and offer more exciting and varied activities and events for the community. Our programme of activities is designed to reach different members of our community and has four strand1s: |
1. nspired Communities |
2. Inspired Learning |
3. Inspired Performances |
4. Inspired Talent Growth |
1. Inspired Communities |
Dance Woking seeks to engage with the diverse and unique communities that make up Woking & Surrey in innovative and creative ways, we do this by working with community leaders to create a series of engagement activities. Following the pandemic and with audiences and communities cautiously opening up, Dance Woking had to re-imagine this engagement. |
Dance Woking has continued to build relationships with local communities and the summer of 2023 saw this continue & expand: |
. Sunday 4 June - Stanwell Events - Multicultural Day, in partnership with Stanwell Events |
. Saturday 1 July - Woking Town Centre - Jubilee Square, Dance Woking Encounters |
. Tuesday 18 & Wednesday 19 July - Dance Woking's Social Travelling Tea Dance, visiting 4 venues |
. Saturday 12 August - Lakeview Community Fun Day,, in partnership with Lakeview Community Action Group, Horsell, Woking |
. Dance Woking on the Road Residency in August in Kingsmoor Park, community event on 24 August |
Dance Woking spent the summer months working with different communities, bringing them together in a shared experience. We provided opportunities for the audiences to watch and take part, working with a range of partners to deliver hyper local events. |
4 June 2023 - Stanwell Events - Multicultural Day: Dance Woking has continued to work with Stanwell Events following a successful partnership celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Dance Woking produced the programme featuring Folk Dance Remixed Ceilidh Jam, Sonia Sabre's Miniature Mughals and led Woking's Maypole Dancing participation activity. Alongside this Dance Woking led weekly outreach activity in advance of the day with Stanwell Youth group who then performed on the day. DW continuing developing links deepening engagement within the Stanwell community Dance Woking partnered Spelthorne Bcrough Council to lead the Surrey Youth Games Group (SYG) who then performed in Guildford at the Surrey Youth games alongside Woking Borough Council's group, also led by Dance Woking. In July Dance Woking led a Maypole dancing workshop at Town Farm Primary School, Stanwell at their summer fair a link made through the multicultural day. |
1 July 2023 - Dance Woking's Encounters: Dance Woking produced a free one-day family festival celebrating dance and the positive & empowering impact it can have. A large well-engaged audience enjoyed the different elements of the day in Jubilee Square, Woking Town Centre. Not deterred by the showery start, 80 dancers performed in the two platforms, the dancers hailed from nine dance groups. Alexandra Dance School opened the first community dance platform with a highly polished piece called 'A test of time'. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Following them were three Dance Woking Hunky Dory dancer school groups from: Westfield Primary School with a street dance style inspired energetic, fun piece. SYG dance, (who trained out of Eastwood Leisure Centre, in Sheerwater and represented Woking Borough at the Surrey Youth Games, hence the name SYG). Their piece was sports inspired and performed with great confidence. The Park School closed this session, having used their weekly dance club, to help the group get fit, improve teamwork, have fun and most importantly get the opportunity to perform. |
Dance Woking's hugely popular Maypole workshop followed, with 24 enthusiastic audience members taking part, led by outreach team member Nicky Norton. Michaela Cisarikove Dance Company (MCDC) closed the morning session with their family-friendly outdoor piece 'Fish Out of Water' which used hip-hop, interactive sculptures & responsive music to explore themes of belonging, otherness, displacement & migrancy. An engaging piece where the audience followed the dancers in a strange new place and helped them overcome bizarre, colourful obstacles, with lots of audience participation. |
The afternoon activities included a community platform led by Beeja Dance Adults, from Croydon, with an energetic Bollywood piece using music from Pinga and Dholida, followed by local dance company First Dance Studios performing an entertaining jazz number 'Take me or Leave me'. Beeja Dance Juniors followed with a fun Bollywood piece using music from a popular Bollywood movie. Cremona School of Dance performed a modern jazz piece 'Proud Mary'. With bright sunshine now on the square Beeja Dance Adults took to the stage again delighting the audience with another Bollywood piece followed by Alexandra Dance School's 'I Will Survive' closing the community dance platforms. More Maypole Dancing followed and a second performance by MCDC |
Sam McCaffrey CEO/Artistic Director, Dance Woking said, 'I was really heartened to see such large numbers support the day, as the clouds and weather forecast weren't the best for an outdoor festival like this. We were mopping down the stage at the start of the day and looking for shade in the afternoon due to the sunshine. We estimated that there were over 1000 people either watching, performing or taking part in the dance led activities today. Dancing is such fun and today showed that no matter how old or young you are it really is for everyone.' |
Feedback from School Teachers: |
Dance Surrey Youth (Secondary level Dance Club): Teacher, The Park School |
'Thank you so much for the fantastic opportunity that you gave our students on Saturday. They obviously loved it & we were so proud of them, Their families all came out in force, as well as a few Park School faces, which was amazing to see..' |
Hunky Dory Dancer (Primary level Dance Club): Teacher, Westfield Primary School |
'Thanks so much for your hard work in continuing the relationship between Westfield and Dance Woking, it was clear to see on Saturday the brilliant impact you and the rest of the team are having on the community and the confidence of children who take part in your events and clubs'. |
12 August 2023 - Lakeview Community Fun - Dance Woking partnered with Lakeview Community Action Group's (LCAG) Community Fun Day to bring both professional dance theatre, and community participation to the event. In the week leading up to the event Dance Woking engaged with children aged 8 to 11 at a dance focussed holiday club funded by Active Surrey's Club4 programme. Hosted at Horsell Village Hall it enabled children to learn how to dance the Maypole and take part on 12 August with their families. |
Dance Woking curated the programme, which featured dance and live music (musicians hailing from St Andrew's music club) to produce a balanced and lively performance programme that included opportunities to watch, perform and participate. Following their success earlier in the summer MCDC Dance, were back with 'Fish Out of Water'. Alongside the professional performance Dance Woking delivered intergenerational Maypole Dancing workshops and a community dance element that featured Amala Belly Dance, a modern fusion style Bellydance Troupe and Bellytricks Belly Dance. |
Dance Woking partnered with The Linus Project through our partnership with Women's Liaise Centre Woking, who kindly donated two handmade blankets to the raffle to support the fundraising efforts on the day |
https://www.dancewoking.com/newslisting/fantastic-fun-at-lakeview/ |
Kingsmoor Park Residency |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Dance Woking led a dance focused 3 week residency on Kingsmoor Park Estate in August, targeting young residents living in the estate, funding support from Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH), building on activity in 2022. The aim to engage young people in organised activity, to reduce anti-social behaviour. |
Whilst the sessions were promoted to residents only, anyone in the area could join in. 17 young people signed up from the estate; eight others joined in; 4 Freelancers were employed to support the activity |
Kingsmoor Park weekly Dance Club |
Following the August residency, Dance Woking partnered with MTVH to pilot a weekly Dance Club at Moorcroft CC, which is situated next to Kingsmoor Park Estate. ?A local resident provided volunteer support. 9 young people aged 8 to 12plus group took part regularly. |
Dance Woking's Travelling Social Tea Dances: July & December 2023 & March 2024 |
This work focused on the older members of the community, aged 65plus, to support their well being through connectivity. Having a focus and event to look forward to, encouraging those who are less mobile to be encouraged to participate safely through offering both standing and seated dance. This work designed to support 5 ways to wellbeing: |
• By connecting with others |
• Being active |
• Take notice through the themes and dance styles |
• Learning through new dance steps and styles |
• Give - through shared memories support |
This work targeted those disadvantaged by services they would previously have enjoyed, disrupted by Covid-19, as well as other factors such as poor physical health and mobility limitations; Fear of their area after dark; Lack of social support; Psychological health problems - through loneliness; Lack of financial resources |
July 2023 - Dance Woking's Travelling Social Tea Dance: The Travelling Tea Dances are becoming well known with a high repeat booking rate. Both staff and residents remember and welcome the team back and look forward to the next tour. Seasonal tours work well as they fit in with the other activities the Care Home co-ordinators are timetabling and are used to mark occasions and special events. Many of the staff at the residential centres commented on how the seasonal element of the tours helps to encourage residents to notice the weather, the changes outside, to delve into memories and talk about the themes as well as the dance and music. We added some new props for the summer tour, including claves, a successful addition to the Morris dance number and alongside tennis inspired dance to link in with the recent Wimbledon tennis tournament. 89 participants in 3 care homes and a community centre took part. |
Feedback from Staff member, St Mary's Community Centre |
'These events are vital. They are all enjoying it. Even the ones who are not giving too much away, we can see that they are enjoying it. This will have been a highlight for them. You can see them all getting the bus and their spirits are lifted. This work is amazing. We definitely would like the event again at Christmas' |
Staff turnover continues to be the main factor a venue does not rebook. Christmas is a particularly popular time of year when venues want events that encourage participation and connectivity. The December 2023 tour included two new venues. The programme included a variety of dance styles, props and costumes from gold sparkly candy canes for a 'Candy Cane Lane' Charleston, striking red tango skirts and a ballet solo from The Nutcracker - the Sugar Plum Fairy. Sleigh bells, rhythm bands, parachutes and scarves added to the props. Well known Christmas Songs were included as part of the set to encourage singing as well as movement. 192 participants in 8 care homes took part. |
Brockhill Residents feedback |
'Thank you for coming, It has lifted my spirits. I feel ready for Christmas now, and I've had many" |
"This was really good entertainment. I would like to have this more often. I nearly didn't come today as I wasn't feeling great but I am glad I did now". |
Kingsleigh Care Home staff feedback |
'the lady over there never joins in with the activities and entertainment we offer. She refuses to leave her room. Look at her now! That's brilliant' 99year old female resident, fully engaged and joined in fully from her wheelchair |
Bernard Sunley Care Home staff feedback |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
'You could really see the gentlemen's faces lighting up with joy when they were watching the performance. We have a few entertainers come in, and yes they do enjoy listening to the music etc. but with this event, there was a whole new level of interaction. These people are neighbours/family - they all have to live together - and to see them chatting and laughing together was just wonderful. There was a happy energy in the room. I have not experienced this before. We really think it was very, very, good. Please could we book this again'. |
March 2024 Easter theme enjoyed by 76 participants from 3 care home settings and a community centre |
Kingsleigh Care Home staff feedback |
'This is my mother's first week at Kingsleigh and I can see how happy she is joining in with events like this. It's wonderful. The dancers really engage with all the residents' |
St Mary's Community Centre participant |
'this was really good fun. It gave me a reason to pop out (the house) today'. |
West Hall Care Home Staff member feedback:?'It was very enjoyable, they had a good time and even the people who didn't join in at the beginning, were smiling and joining in at the end'. |
2. Inspired Learning |
Dance Woking seeks to increase audiences through an exceptional, engaging, creative and learning participation programme where young people and adults get access to outstanding professional dancers and dance companies. Participation can be through a series of workshops culminating in sharing's / platforms/ or personal development; where participants learn new skills and ways of moving and doing, choreography and teamwork. The projects may be linked to platforms and celebrations events taking place in a variety of different settings including indoor and outdoors. |
Hunky Dory Dancer & Dance Surrey Youth Programme |
The Hunky Dory Dancer programme focuses on health and well-being, dancing for fitness, health, wellbeing and enjoyment at primary level and Dance Surrey Youth at Secondary level. The programme has both a performance and non-performance approach and is designed to be accessible and inclusive, tailored to explore, inspire and boost confidence and self-esteem. We have developed a number of simple trackers as part of the club that helps evidence the impact of those attending regular dance sessions on their health, fitness and well-being. This afterschool outreach programme is funded through various models including a grant from Sports England, 'Sported' managed by Active Surrey. Dance Woking worked with 174 individuals, 1286 unique engagements, on a weekly basis in 12 schools at both Primary and Secondary Schools in the Summer Term. Seven groups took part in the May Platform week held at Rhoda McGaw Theatre, providing an inspiring and enriching experience the platform introduced families and children to the ATG theatre complex. |
Wednesday 24 May 2023, Dance Woking's Surrey School's SLAM, an urban street style dance platform, groups from 10 different schools across Woking and Surrey featuring 118 dancers performed to the theme 'Royal Remix'. The dancers ranged in age from Primary, Secondary to Sixth Form College. The platform showcased an eclectic mix of dance experiences and standards from Monarch Studios Great British Squad, who opened the platform, to students from New Monument and Broadmere Primary Academy's taking the stage for the first time. ?Other schools taking part were Beaufort Primary School, Woking High School; Horsell code Junior School, Clavate Primary School, Esher High School, Priorities School and Woking College. |
Dance Woking's CEO/Artistic Director Sam McCaffrey said, 'I was knocked out by Monarch Studios dance group who opened the platform with their piece 'Warriors'. With jaw dropping stunts, and a highly ?choreographed routine, seeing a dance squad performing at international level was truly inspiring. The audience was made up of family and friends and dancers taking part in the second half of the platform and I was initially concerned that students performing for the first time might be put off by such a slick routine. I didn't need to worry. This set the standard for the platform and the rest of the dance groups raised their game. I was so impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the dancers. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Performing in front of an audience can be extremely daunting and whilst there were a few pre-show nerves, all of the dancers really excelled on stage. The platform was a great opportunity for students to build confidence and self-esteem as well as develop great teamwork skills. With a very tight turnaround on the day to get the show ready, literally dress/technical run/perform, it was such a privilege to see groups take over the stage.' |
Dance Woking's Young Daydreamers Platform - 30 November: Ten local schools from across Woking and Surrey took part, the stimulus Recycle, Renew & Reuse which focused on the environment and sustainability to create imaginative and dynamic dance pieces that linked with issues affecting the world around us. 111 students took part from nine schools: Horsell Village School, New Monument Primary Academy, Westfield Primary School, Beaufort Primary School, Frogmore College alongside guest groups from Woking College, Guildford College, Kings International College and Ibstock Place School. Highlights included Horsell Village School with 'My Heart was a Tree', the group used Michael Morpurgo's Poem Driftwood as their stimulus looking at the life cycle and uses of a tree. New Monument Primary Academy performed a piece 'Where do the toys go' as they explored the unloved, broken and old toys. Beaufort Primary School's piece 'Weather Storm' explored extreme weather caused by climate change. Guildford College explored the theme of recycling passing hand-me- downs between siblings |
Westfield Primary School explored recycling, this time taking steps from the 1950's and 1920's called 'Recycling the ages', supported by Woking College's Dance Leaders throughout the process. Woking College closed the show with their piece 'Reflecting thinking'; Year 13 dancers used work with Rhythmic Collision to create 'Man in the Mirror' which included signing within the piece. |
Funding support to enable Dance Woking to deliver this work: Shanly Foundation, Community Foundation for Surrey, Arts Council England; and Active Surrey |
Dance Woking produced Surrey Schools SLAM - 26 March 2024: Five school groups were joined by three community dance groups, creating an eclectic and dynamic showcase of dance to the delight of a sold out Rhoda McGaw Theatre. |
93 students took part from Westfield Primary School, Beaufort Primary School, The Park School and Trumps Green Infants School alongside guest groups Vital Signz, Dance Woking's Eastwood Dance Club, and Woking Stage Coach. |
Guest artist, Yolanda Newsome, opened the show demonstrating typical Boy Blue signature dance moves. This solo was quickly followed by a fun and upbeat dance piece from Trumps Green Infant School taking to the stage for the first time. Stage Coach Woking took the audience on a delightful musical journey with a mix of classic tunes from the 70's through to the naughty's. An interesting piece called Connections exploring the way we connect to each other, our bodies, and the world, performed by The Park School followed. Dance Woking's Eastwood Club performed a mash-up made up of short solos and movement made-up by the four talented dancers. Beaufort Primary School KS1 and KS2 breakfast club groups took to the stage with lively dance movement to a pop mix titled "I Just Got Paid' and 'Roar' inspired by The Lion King Musical. Westfield Primary School used boxing movements as their stimulus with each movement symbolising strength and determination. Closing the platform was Vital Signz's New Wave group, their youngest team, performing at Rhoda McGaw Theatre for the first time with a lively fun piece called Let's Dance that had the audience clapping to the beat. |
Feedback: The Park School teacher said of the experience |
'Absolutely amazing! All the projects with Dance Woking have always been great'. |
Inspired Learning in Community settings |
Sheerwater Youth group: Dance Wokd a Surrey Youth Games group in Sheerwater, at Eastwood Leisure Centre, called Surrey Youth Games Dance Group (SYG). Students had no or little dance experience and were not attending an afterschool dance club. The SYG group represented Woking Borough at the Surrey Youth Games on 17 June in Guildford. Dance Woking partnered with Freedom Leisure, and WBC Sports Officer Jack Gallop and secured funding from Sport England Fund 'Sported'. 15 participants came from 9 different schools across Woking to take part, of these 10 took part on 17 June in Guildford at the Surrey Youth Games, and 8 attended, Encounters in Woking Town Centre. |
Sheerwater Youth group feedback from the group about their experience taking part in the Surrey Youth Games for Woking Borough and the dance sessions: |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
• Was good we had our own input into the Dance |
• Performing was joyous with great judges |
• Made new friends |
• Loved being at the club, a fun way to spend time afterschool |
• Enjoyed the experience |
• Got to watch others Dance Woking I liked the build up to the dance event |
• Was quite anxious before and was then a little bit proud of myself afterwards |
School Enrichment- Dance Woking Dazzle Days |
Dance Woking's Dazzle Days are full school immersive days, designed as end of term enrichment days involving multiple groups or classes, all participating in short workshops based on one of the themes provided. Suitable for both Primary and Secondary Schools, the days help promote teamwork, resilience and new experiences. The themes delivered this year were linked to our other programmes of work, 'Carnival','Kings Coronation', and 'Plastics & Pollution'. |
Dance Woking produced & delivered 10 Dazzle Days six Woking based schools in July, engaging 1,830 students |
Plastics/Pollution: An interactive workshop using a large stretchy rhythm band and attachable/removable plastics. Ocean themed with addition resources to highlight the length of time plastics take to break down and how we can move away from single use plastics and protect our oceans, linking to Autumn programme |
Carnival: An opportunity to learn all about the vibrant celebrations of Carnival Dance through dance, music and movement. Lively, fun and accessible workshops for all ages, including colourful props and shakers; culminating in a carnival procession |
King's Coronation: An opportunity to delve into the traditions of English Folk Dance and Morris Dance, in celebration of English cultures as we move into a new era of King Charles. |
'Our dazzle day was great - the children thoroughly enjoyed it and we will definitely look to book another one for next year'. Teacher, Maybury Primary School (this led to a regular club starting as a follow on in the Autumn term) |
Brookwood Primary Dazzle Day (Plastics/pollution) |
Children engaged across each session some of their feedback: |
'I enjoyed your talk at the beginning' |
'The elastic release is lots of fun' |
'I loved dancing with others' (student wheelchair user) |
Active Surrey Club4 Holiday Programme |
Dance Woking has continued to take-part in this programme of work and skilled up our team to be able to deliver this activity. Target children are aged 8-11 years, programme managed and funded by Active Surrey. This has enabled us to broaden our reach to children who would otherwise not get access to high quality dance during the school holidays. |
Club4 works towards the following outcomes |
• Creating a stronger connectivity with target families |
• Increased community led provision |
• Better connecting the hard to reach into the system |
• Building capacity into the SEND and youth systems |
• Promote participation in healthy, active lifestyles |
Our aim to build memorable experiences that form a positive legacy with dance and health that lasts beyond the holiday club. To create a relaxed, fun and safe environment, where new friendships were encouraged and participants get to thrive and shine and grow both their self-esteem and confidence. The children made healthy snacks as part of encouraging healthy eating. |
The Hunky Dory Easter Holiday Club was themed to celebrate spring and included decorating individual plant pots, creating a small herb garden, learning about herbs and their uses in baking as well as dance and games centred on the seasons. Venues: Lakeview CC & Horsell Village Hall; 31 children aged 8 to 11 year olds attended |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
We partnered with Katie Dale-Everett, KDE Dance, (who received funding from Arts Council England's project fund to pilot her new interactive performance 'Playscape: How to Build a Galaxy!'). We themed the clubs to explore outer space in a creative and imaginative way that was both exciting and inspiring to the participants, creating rockets and exploring gravity using balloons and movement. KDE Dance lead a workshop that combined dance, motion capture technology and visuals to open up new possibilities for physical, social and digital connection between people. Interacting with projected graphics whilst wearing motion capture suits beneath a sky, participants will work together to build a shared universe. This was followed by a performance attended by participant's families. |
Feedback from participants when asked: 'How did this activity make you feel?': |
'happy'; 'crazy'; 'dizzy'; 'good intense'; better than PE, 'very, very, very, very, very good'; 'exhausted'; 'excited' 'it's one of many dreams to do this' [to go on the moon] |
'I went on the moon!' 'this feels cool' [wearing the suit] |
'My 2 children have had the loveliest 2 days at Dance Woking Hunky Dory Easter Holiday Club. They've come out of the club both days so happy, full of excitement and stories about the amazing activities they've taken part in. They have learnt healthy facts and have come away with new snacks they now like and a positive attitude to drinking plenty of water and eating well. More importantly they felt safe, secure and the club was very personal with small numbers. They've made friends and fitted in right away. They've made some lovely arts and crafts, learnt dance routines and had some lovely chats and experiences. They've never fed back so much about their days spent away from us and we are so appreciative and grateful they've had such an impactful me at the club. We will definitely sign them up again in the future. Thank you!' Woking Parent April Club4 |
Hunky Dory Summer Holiday Club delivered a 4-week Club4 programme at 3 venues in July and August: The Maybury Centre, Lakeview Community Centre & Horsell Village Hall. |
240 children, aged 8 to 11 years were engaged in this activity over 12 days |
Case Study: Child A, is age 8 and autistic, she sometimes gets overwhelmed & struggles to control her emotions; she loves dancing and wanted to learn some new moves to show her school dance teacher. On the first day said 'I'm having so much fun, I want to come back next year' after only a few hours. If Child A were at home, she would be tidying up or on her I Pad. The feedback has highlighted that Child A can cope in a challenging environment, in that she didn't ?know anyone or what to expect, she made new friends and grew in confidence. Child A really loved learning a dance routine that was completely new to her, ?she felt really good about the whole club, 'because of dancing, it's really fun!' |
Hunky Dory Christmas Holiday Club: December - The Maybury & Lakeview CC. The activity centred on dance, themed after the works of Roald Dahl. The professional theatre company, Get Lost & Found, presented an interactive show, 'Roald Dahl and the Imagination Seekers' on Tuesday 19 December as part of additional enrichment activity supported by funding from Arts Council England. 35 children aged 8 to 11 years, attended. |
Case Study: Child D, booked for two-days, we were advised in advance that she had recently being told her father has a terminal illness; it is suspected but undiagnosed that she has learning difficulties: dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism. We had a plan in place to support her with an additional staff member assigned to help her integrate. She was initially hesitant; she clung to the adult staff member supporting her during the dance activities on the first day. Apart from this behaviour she managed the day very well. By the middle of the second day there was a significant change in her outward confidence. |
During her short time on the program she blossomed, forming strong friendships with other participants, actively engaging in the creative dance session, and requesting to sit with her new friends at the lunch break. Child D thoroughly enjoyed the interactive professional theatre performance, speaking highly of it afterward. Alongside the other activity it helped bring a positive transformation in terms of her self- esteem and confidence during her time at the club. Additionally, she found solace in the end- of-day meditation, further contributing to her overall positive experience and giving her an additional tool to help manage her anxiety. Asked what her favourite part was of the club & she said 'everything' |
3. Inspired Performances |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Dance Woking seeks out exciting and innovative companies to present work at various locations and events in Woking & Surrey to engage with the diverse local communities that make up Woking & Surrey through a programme that enables them to watch, perform and take part in activity. |
May 2023 Platforms Dance Woking hired the Rhoda McGaw Theatre for a week in May instead of March due to lack of availability then, which presented logistical challenges, end of term works better for schools. London Dance Studio (LDS) shared the week, which added greatly to the offer, bringing their third year students to perform. We hosted a Surrey Dance Network event supported by LDS, which helped raise the profile of Dance Woking and the network, London Dance Studio & Rhoda McGaw Theatre to the wider Surrey Dance community. |
Tuesday 23 May - IMAGES Ballet Company showcased their brightest stars of tomorrow and highlighted the dynamic range and versatility of ballet today. Olivier Award winning Director and Choreographer Will Tuckett joined former Royal Ballet Soloist Jennifer Jackson, Constant Vigier; former Scottish Ballet and Jenna Lee; former soloist for the English National Ballet to create a diverse programme of four newly commissioned dance works. |
Directed by former Royal Ballet dancer Larissa Bamber and presented by London Studio Centre, one of the UK's foremost conservatoires for the performing arts, IMAGES Ballet Company's performance entertained and surprised ballet lovers and newcomers alike. |
Notable quotes: |
'London Studio Centre is delighted to be able to fund tickets to the opening night of our tour for school, college and youth and community groups as part of our drive to increase access, participation and engage with local communities.' |
London Studio Centre Tour Manager |
'The students found it really lovely to watch - the programme was very varied. This opportunity really helps the students, as it enables them to access high quality dance that they wouldn't otherwise be able to do due to financial barriers.' |
Head of Dance, Woking College |
Moving Beats Dance Platform produced by Dance Woking focused on Boys Dance. Groups travelled across the South East to perform. Nine different groups featuring 68 dancers took part. Southampton based FuzzyLogic Dance, attended with choreographer Zoie Golding, MBE. Brighton based Smikle Dance Studio Boys Company joined them. Leading vocational college, Artemis College, based in Bracknell, brought 26 dancers led by Woking based choreographer, Carla Crowley (Streetvibes Dance). The college brought two very different pieces; the first group 'Artemis Legion' used Hip- Hop dance style, and the second group a musical dance piece, 'Backstage Romance' from Moulin Rouge. Both celebrated boys in dance with lively energetic performances. Soloist, Adi Detemo, an Ethiopian refugee, showcased his skills using a traditional Ethiopian dance style incorporating it with Hip-Hop. Jakob Ujczak, from Kingston University, on a work placement with Dance Woking, created a very moving duet called 'The Choice' with a fellow dance student. Vital Signz Dance also hailing from Kingston-Upon-Thames took part with two male duets, 'Everybody Dance' & 'Stronger than ever'. Tom Brown, a student from The Brit School, on a school placement with Dance Woking, showed his multiple talents by jointly compering the night with Jakob; reading a very moving piece he wrote about the stigma he experienced as a male dancer; and sang a very powerful version of 'Proud of Your Boy'. |
https://www.dancewoking.com/newslisting/boys-take-to-the-stage/ |
Notable quotes: |
Dance Woking Trustee Lisa Samos said 'Moving Beats was an incredibly enjoyable and enlightening evening of dance, presenting sophisticated choreography with inspiring content and young male performers' dedication to their craft. Each voice on the stage was bursting with enthusiasm that connected with the audience. Exhibiting movement from a brave and personal speech about the stigma of boys' dancing, to a solo Abyssinian hip hop piece, and a wonderfully creative moving forest; Sam (CEO/Artistic Director) brought together an excellent diverse talent pool. In my opinion Moving Beats deserves to grow as an important annual event to highlight the thought-provoking progress and celebration of boys in dance'. |
Notable quotes: |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
'It was just wonderful watching such a wide range of performances.?It was of course amazing to see Adi perform and great to mix things up a bit.?He gave his guest tickets to two of our YMCA residents both from Ethiopia and they were truly inspired, not just to see all of the male dominated performance but to see someone that they can related to dancing to music from their home country'. Jessica, Refugee Support worker |
'....I just wanted to express my gratitude to you and the Dance Woking team for all of the support and encouragement you gave Tom during his time with you. He absolutely loved it! Giving him the opportunity to perform was also wonderful as it has really boosted his confidence. His first performance outside (Brit School) for over three years. It was a huge step for him, thank you so much.' Parent, child on work experience |
Dance Woking ended a great week of dance with the highly popular and sold out Dance Woking produced platform 'Woking SLAM' at Rhoda McGaw Theatre on Saturday 27 May. An urban style dance platform for Dance Schools based in Woking & Surrey who use an Urban/Street style dance form. The dance schools took advantage of this highly valued platform, with three of the dance schools bringing their age based performance groups to perform. The dancers performing were highly experienced with some of the groups representing Great Britain in international competition. |
Thirteen groups from seven different dance schools, with over 210 dancers took part; Dance Schools featured were Vital Signz Dance, Holly's School of Dance & Hip Hop, Alexandra School of Dance, BKD Performers, Tuffney Performing Arts Academy, Street Vibes Dance School and First Dance Studios. |
https://www.dancewoking.com/newslisting/dance-wokings-woking-slam-is-back/ |
Alan Sutherland, Chair of Dance Woking, compering the platform said, 'I am truly blown away by the standard and focus of the dancers and the way they work together to ensure that they make the most of the space on stage, but are also aware of their team mates positions to allow difficult jumps, tricks and moves. They make it look easy and effortless. A joy to compere and watch. It was inspirational and motivational, dance has so many benefits in all its forms, I look forward to continuing to get more people dancing.' |
Dance Woking's CEO/Artistic Director Sam McCaffrey said, 'this was an amazing end to a great week of dance. On Tuesday we partnered with London Studio Centre to bring Images Ballet Company to Rhoda, enabling local communities to see great dance. A schools platform followed with students performing that were new to the theatre. Thursday saw us celebrate and encourage boys in dance, whilst today we celebrated dancers performing at very high levels, some at an international level. With over 400 dancers taking to the stage this week, I am truly heartened by the breadth and depth of dance we have locally and more widely in Surrey and the South East. Woking is a hub for dance and we as an organisation want to celebrate and share the joy of dance. Tonight we saw Carla Crowley, Street Vibes Dance School, move to a new chapter in her dance delivery. We look forward to continuing to showcase her amazing dancers' |
13 July 2023 - Matthew Bourne's New Adventures 'Doorstep Duets 2023' aim to bring joy, escapism, and connection to those most at risk of loneliness and remove barriers to accessing great art, by offering free opportunities where people can enjoy performances in their local neighbourhood. This year, the company created a brand-new short piece 'Back to Us' by New Adventures Dance Artist Glenn Graham, that explored the importance of friendship and the need for connection. Dance Woking toured the show to 5 communities, reaching 600 people. |
Deputy Head teacher Sythwood Primary School Mrs Rashbrook, 'I love this, feeling emotional, excited seeing children smiling, very grateful, very inspired, dancing this weekend and enjoying the show, very lucky, big thank you' |
31 October/1 November 2023: Dance Woking brought Akademi Dance's: 'Plastic Drastic Fantastic' to Buzz Studio in Woking. Dance Woking was keen to see how dance can be used to explore STEM subjects and introduce new audiences to the theatre and see different dance styles. This show explored humanity's complex relationship with plastics - the fantastic possibilities they offer, as well as the drastic consequences to the environment. Drawing from the Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam and South Asian dance techniques, the artists investigated plastics and the dangers of their misuse through intricate movement, gestures and play, infused with interaction with the audience |
Dance Woking scheduled a programme with the company that included a schools workshop attended by 30 primary school students, a professional CPD workshop attended by 5 Creative Freelance Dancers, a Q&A with Artistic Director Suba Subramaniam, 2 performances of 'Plastic Drastic Fantastic' |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Student feedback 'I need to reuse plastic more' |
Outreach CPD feedback: 'Was great to do a different style', 'They had good strategies to get them (students) to join in' |
November/December 2023 Platforms overview: Dance Woking hosted its annual series of platforms, where 294 dancers took to Rhoda McGaw Theatre stage from 32 different dance and school groups. The platform series included Young Dance Makers for schools & colleges; Step UP a new platform presenting a highly eclectic mix of dance styles and Innovate, a contemporary led dance platform. This series was hosted by Dance Woking, supported by funding from Arts Council England; to enable local dancers platform opportunities to showcase their work. |
30 November 2023 - Step UP Dance Platform |
A new platform, which brought different dance genres together. It gave DW an opportunity to try to increase income revenue through ticket sales by adding an additional platform to the week. The performance pieces were both joyous and diverse with some great tunes from well-known musicals, to classical, pop to original live music. We were delighted to be able to showcase a new piece by Jane Chan who has been developing her own creative practice supported by Amina Khayyam Dance, accompanied by live music from International tabla player Debasish Mukherjee. In contrast, Diana Towe, a local dancer who hailed from Dance Woking's Youth group Evolve and recently gaining the 2023 World Tap Solo Championship title, performed her winning solo. 61 dancers took to the stage from 10 different dance groups including Leanne Edwards School of dance (LESTA), Cremona School of Dance, Kidz Got Talent and Chinese Association of Woking who performed A Drop of Heaven. |
2 December 2023 - Innovate Contemporary led Dance Platform |
Brought together Dance Schools from across the county together to showcase their best work. 157 dancers took to the stage from twelve groups including First Dance Studios, Zambesi Dance Company, Cremona School of Dance, Alexandra Dance Company, Dance Shack and Betty Bloom Dance Company. The dance schools showcased a mix of works including more festive pieces as we headed towards Christmas. |
CEO/Artistic Director, DW, Sam McCaffrey said, 'as I reflect on the final months of 2023 I am very proud of how Dance Woking has used dance to change lives and navigate through a difficult year. From presenting platform opportunities, a tour to over 65's, to a holiday club for children aged 7 to 11 years. I was really inspired by the work presented at the three different dance platforms we produced in November by the dance groups. Dance is so diverse and enables truly imaginative, creative, expression, which we encourage as part of our teaching process. The opportunity to produce these platforms has been an honour and one that I hope we will be able to continue, despite a very challenging environment for us as an organisation. It amazes me how the dancers are able to come together and perform their best in front of family and friends, hold their nerves in check and use this energy to positive advantage in their performance and shine. The Young Dancemakers platform introduced children to the stage for the first time, helping to build their self-esteem, confidence, encouraged by peer-to-peer support. The Step Up platform presented an opportunity for Jane Chan, a dancer with Amina Khayyam's Dance Company, to present her own work to a new audience. It was also an opportunity to celebrate local dance talent, Diana Towe's world solo tap champion 2023's success, providing opportunities for aspiring dancers to showcase there work. I hope 2024 will continue to provide opportunities.' |
March Platforms 2024 |
24 March 2024 Woking SLAM brought together Dance Schools from across the county to showcase their best work. The dance schools shared a mix of feel good, high-energy dance pieces. The urban street genre has a plethora of styles, which were all on show. 105 dancers took part from eleven groups: Holly School of Dance: Lil Fresh & Fresh; LDA XL & LDA XLNC; Betty Bloom Dance, Dancayers Company, Urban Dance School (UDS), Alexandra Dance Company, Dance Phaze Movement and BKD Senior and Junior Street Crews. The show's finale was a fun and inclusive cypher led by Emily Haywood (UDS) that was a great way to end a thrilling and engaging dance platform. As part of the platform activity, Yolanda Newsome from Boy Blue Ents (UK's most celebrated Hip Hop Dance theatre Company), was invited to lead a dance workshop in the afternoon, attended by the dancers, it inspired and introduced the dancers to their work |
4. Inspired Talent Growth |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Dance Woking is committed to supporting the next generation of dance Creatives through a variety of pathways. We continued to support Surrey Dance Network (SDN), managing a small grant provided from seed funding from Surrey Arts Partnership, the group hope to harness and connect Surrey's talent, skill and creativity into one, efficient place to shout out and find out about opportunities for dance in the county. We hosted a few SDN network events including London Dance Studios with Images Ballet Company. Dance Woking took the decision not to focus on the dance directories as other issues became more prominent. Dance Woking has continued to up skill its freelance team through accredited training to support various projects such as Club4 and also affording opportunities such as Akademi Dance CPD and Yolanda Newsome from Boy Blue Ents. |
FINANCIAL REVIEW |
Financial position |
Overview |
2023/24 has continued to be a very challenging year for Dance Woking; the impact the pandemic has had on the local economy and communities. There was additional pressure on securing funds leading to further long term uncertainty. Dance Woking has had to continue to re-evaluate its position, how it can best support the local community, remain relevant and sustainable. Despite being a small, agile organisation, the pressure on finding core funding has meant that DW has to take stock and review its future. Woking Borough Council stopped grant-funding Dance Woking in September 2023. DW has relied on reserves to continue and try and diversify our income streams, trialling a few new initiatives from introducing new platforms to working with others to deliver events. Two successful Project Grants from Arts Council England and WBC part funding 23/24 has given Dance Woking time to look at options going forward to help better the organisations financial security. In line with Dance Woking's continuing ambition to have a broad number of funders, grants received from Surrey Community Foundation, Active Surrey Club4, Shanly Foundation, Sparks Fund and Metropolitan Thames Housing. |
Reserves policy |
Dance Woking's reserves policy is reviewed and revised annually and the sum set aside increased to manage the potential necessity to close the organisation. The reserves policy includes redundancy costs, based on Dance Woking's Redundancy Policy, for the current staff team as well as costs of winding up the organisation if the situation requires it. The reserves policy will continue to be reviewed annually and keep a minimum administration reserve of 3 months basic operating costs along with any redundancy commitments. The board sets the level of the reserve fund on an annual basis. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
Governing document |
The company is incorporated under the Companies Act, and its governing document is its memorandum and articles of association. The company is a registered charity. |
Charity constitution |
Dance Woking is a registered charity and is governed by an elected Board of Trustees who steer the organisation in its mission via the Executive Producer/Director's vision. |
Risk Management |
Dance Woking, as a charity and an arts organisation working in the performing arts, is exposed to a number of risks. The board has identified risks and undertaken steps in mitigating these. |
The risks relate to financial, managerial, compliance and programme conditions all of which are collated in a Dance Woking Risk Register. The Register, health and safety at work, safeguarding and risk management is reviewed and monitored regularly by the board at its meetings. Dance Woking undertakes a risk assessment of each project and programme related activity. |
Dance Woking's (DW's) financial period for these accounts runs from 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024 |
Principal funding sources |
" Arts Council England - Project Grants |
" Woking Borough Council |
" Surrey Community Foundation - over 65's & Strategy Grant |
" Active Surrey - Club4 Holiday Programme & Energy grant |
" Shanly Foundation |
" Surrey County Council - Sparks Fund |
" Metropolitan Thames Valley - Kingsmoor Park Estate |
" Earned income through Ticket sales, Platforms and workshops |
Arts Council England (ACE): 2023/24 saw Dance Woking successfully apply for two project grants from ACE, the first to enable Dance Woking to widen community participation focusing on targeted communities deepening our |
relationships to help inspire and increase confidence, support place making, community cohesion and develop new ways of working. The project focused on the human condition and raised awareness of socio-political and environmental issues, to help bring joy, raise aspirations and increase confidence with engaging in culture and using it as a tool for place making. The grant-supported project activity from August to December 2023. The second grant focused on a request to support urgent organisational development to enable Dance Woking to seek reliable income generation and operating model. Focusing on conversations and research with education/community/health partners. The project completion date scheduled for Summer 2024. Using DW’s 30 Year Celebration to launch or deliver an orderly wind down of the charity. |
Woking Borough Council (WBC): 2023/24 has been a very challenging year for Dance Woking as WBC, the charities core funder for nearly 30 years declared itself bankrupt through a Section 114 Notice. The impact has been devastating locally with all non-statutory provision osing vital funding including Dance Woking. WBC funded DW in 23/24 until September 2023 when funding ceased. |
Surrey Community Foundation (SCF): SCF funding has enabled DW to focus on key areas including engagement programmes for the over 65's and those who continue to be isolated post Covid-19; A repurposed strategic grant from SCF carried into 23/24 to support step change and widen participation has also enabled Dance Woking to review different ways of working as the funding climate continues to be extremely challenging. |
The Shanly Foundation supported targeted work for younger members of our community whose mental and physical health has also been impacted by Covid-19. |
Surrey County Council Sparks Grant - supported hyper local activity in the Goldsworth Park area of Woking |
Borough. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Active Surrey – HAF4 Programme: Dance Woking has continued to deliver the HAF4 Programme during the Easter, Summer and the Christmas Holiday period providing a vital income stream to support DW and our freelance team and enable a targeted outreach programme to be delivered. Targeted at children (primary, secondary and those with special educational needs and disabilities) who receive benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM). There are more than 17,000 children who receive free school meals in Surrey. The key aims of the scheme are to provide: |
•• High quality enriching activities, which includes at least one hour of physical activity |
•• A healthy nutritious meal |
•• Skills, activities/classes aimed at helping children and their parents to make healthy and affordable choices |
•• A positive legacy that lasts longer than the experience |
•• Dance Woking also continued to build its relationship with Stanwell Events and bring creative dance activity to their Fit & Fed Clubs, delivered in the School holidays including the October break. |
Earned income |
Dance Woking was able to earn income through ticketed events and workshops. |
Governance |
Dance Woking benefits from the support of a well-engaged and active Board, comprising individuals from the arts and local communities, their experience covers a range of areas including dance education in both publicly funded arts organisations and schools, governance, fundraising, private dance sector, business development and choreography |
Changes in Management and Governance |
2023/2024 saw a few changes to the Board, with Ross Carter leaving and Claire Soutar joining the Board. Claire is an experienced Senior HR professional with over 15 years experience working alongside teams and executives across multiple sectors including FMCG, Communications, Financial Services, Charity and Recruitment. Claire now works as a Business Consultant, helping business leaders and teams develop robust commercially focused people agendas that drive growth and change. |
The organisation has been working with various external consultants including support for organisational development and fundraising strategies to look at how we can deliver our vision and mission differently, with a focus on funders aims that align with our own. |
WBC's accredited scheme reduced the cost of hiring both Rhoda McGaw Theatre and Buzz Studio. |
Board of Trustees |
Katie Paling |
Alan Sutherland |
Ross Carter (resigned December 2023) |
Karen Robinson |
Carol Deakins |
Lisa Samos |
Claire Soutar (appointed January 2023) |
Management |
Sam McCaffrey, CEO/Artistic Director has been leading the team since November 2010. Eleanor Dowling has brought further stability to the team joining in 2019 and continuing in her role as Engagement Manager. Hayley Green left the organisation in May 2023; due to financial pressures her role was not replaced to reduce overheads. The economic environment continues to be challenging and a further step change to navigate through the changed environment is required for 24/25. |
Dance Woking relies on its well-established network of creative freelancers to support our small-dedicated staff team; the pandemic particularly affected this community. 2023/24 has seen further impact on the freelance community with more leaving it to take up more regular employment. This has made it more difficult to cover some of our outreach projects. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Dance Woking, has a small-dedicated number of volunteers to help deliver our events and enable us to extend our reach and engagement. The negative effect of the pandemic continues in this area. Support through work experience student opportunities in higher education has helped enormously. |
Dance Woking is a member of NCVO, which provides support for Trustees; we list Volunteer and Trustee opportunities on websites like Better Impact, Woking Borough Council's volunteer scheme, Voluntary Action South West Surrey. |
Organisational development |
By developing more meaningful, unique and enriching engagement opportunities with different community groups we are able to build a greater level of grass roots support giving more depth to the participants experience. We want to be able to continue to inspire and surprise our audiences and supporters by our offer and have learnt that in order to do this we need to continue to innovate and develop our ideas and how we engage with different communities within Woking and Surrey. The last 12 months has continued to make this very challenging for Dance Woking, due to funding uncertainty and the sustained financial pressures the organisation continues to be under. |
The challenges we are experiencing require us to develop new strategies, new resources and approaches to try and enable us to be a sustainable and resilient organisation, but also relevant to the communities we serve. Dance Woking continues to seek to further strengthen the Board to fill some of the skills gaps identified and also seek to strengthen DW's relevance by ensuring it is inclusive and diverse and represents the community we serve. DW recently took part in a Surrey County Council initiative called 'Surrey Transforming Trustee Boards' lead by Kathryn Sullivan to support this ambition, a very well run programme by infrastructure charity 'Getting on Board'. |
1. Hybrid working: |
Dance Woking continues with hybrid working, however all activity is now delivered in person. The team recognise the benefits of face to face and the importance of face-to-face team meetings. The organisation has a storage unit in Goldsworth Park, which is currently a Woking Borough Council managed facility. |
2. Focus on skills development for the Board was on Board Diversity & recruitment: |
'Surrey Transforming Trustee Boards', led by infrastructure charity, Getting On Board was attended by Trustee Carol Deakins and CEO/Artistic Director Sam McCaffrey |
3. Brand Development |
Dance Woking's online presence has continued albeit with a lower profile following Haley Green's departure |
4. Sponsorship: |
AKIKO Ltd continued to support Dance Woking |
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
Registered Company number |
Registered Charity number |
Registered office |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
Trustees |
The directors of the company act as the trustees and are elected by the members. The directors who held office during the year are listed in the information sheet. |
Executive powers of the charity are delegated to the Executive Director and employees of the organisation. |
Company Secretary |
Independent Examiner |
Shaw Gibbs Limited |
Wey Court West |
Union Road |
Farnham |
Surrey |
GU9 7PT |
Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Dance Woking Limited ('the Company') |
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 5 April 2024. |
Responsibilities and basis of report |
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act'). |
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. |
Independent examiner's statement |
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: |
1. | accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or |
2. | the accounts do not accord with those records; or |
3. | the accounts 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 |
4. | the accounts 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. |
Lance Redman BSc ACA FCCA |
Shaw Gibbs Limited |
Wey Court West |
Union Road |
Farnham |
Surrey |
GU9 7PT |
4 December 2024 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
2024 | 2023 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | funds | funds | funds |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies | 2 |
Charitable activities |
Investment income | 3 |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities | 4 |
Other |
Total |
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 90,389 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
BALANCE SHEET |
5 April 2024 |
2024 | 2023 |
Notes | £ | £ |
FIXED ASSETS |
Tangible assets | 10 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 11 |
Cash at bank and in hand |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 12 | ( |
) | ( |
) |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
NET ASSETS |
FUNDS | 14 |
Unrestricted funds | 67,742 |
Restricted funds | 31,956 | 22,647 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 90,389 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2024. |
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. |
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for |
(a) | ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and |
(b) | preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 02963208) |
BALANCE SHEET - continued |
5 April 2024 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime. |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparing the financial statements |
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. |
Income |
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. |
Expenditure |
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. |
Charitable activities |
These are the costs of running the various projects within the charity and are made up of the marketing costs and an allocation of support costs. |
Governance costs |
These represent those costs attributed to the governance of the charity. |
Allocation and apportionment of costs |
The support costs are the costs associated with the management and administration of of the charity. These costs are apportioned on the percentage of time spent or the amount of usage. |
Tangible fixed assets |
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. |
Fixtures and fittings | - |
Assets under £500 are not capitalised and are shown as part of the project costs to which they belong. |
Taxation |
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. |
Fund accounting |
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. |
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. |
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. |
Facilities and services provided by third parties |
Certain services and facilities are provided free or subsidised by third parties such as Woking Borough Council (as referred to in note 2). For values that are quantifiable and which relate to services provided in connection with specific projects, these have been shown in the accounts as both income and costs. For more general facilities used, these have not been reflected in the SOFA, because in the opinion of the directors the impact of inclusion would make the accounts appear misleading. |
Members liability |
The company is limited by guarantee and the liability of the members is limited to £1 each. |
2. | DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Grants |
Donated services received from third parties have been included as both income and costs. However, the charitable company also receives subsidised use of rooms and facilities from Woking Borough Council mainly within Buzz Studio and Rhoda McGaw Theatre during the year for rehearsing and performing of shows. These have not been included as their inclusion would make the figures appear misleading. |
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Arts Council England | 53,996 | 28,500 |
Woking Borough Council | 22,500 | 58,000 |
Surrey Community Foundation - Strategy Fund | - | 13,587 |
Active Surrey - HAF4 Programme | 13,344 | 16,016 |
Surrey Arts Partnership | - | 1,000 |
Metropolitan Thames Valley Kingsmoor Park Estate | - | 1,055 |
Shanly Foundation | 4,000 | 1,000 |
Surrey Community Foundation - Platinum Jubilee | - | 10,000 |
Active Surrey - Together Fund | - | 4,995 |
SCF Youth | 8,220 | - |
SCF Over 65's | 4,862 | - |
Woking Sparks | 2,000 | - |
Other grants | - | 1 |
108,922 | 134,154 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
3. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Deposit account interest |
4. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS |
Support |
Direct | costs (see |
Costs | note 5) | Totals |
£ | £ | £ |
Dance events and workshops | 59,474 | 63,967 | 123,441 |
5. | SUPPORT COSTS |
Governance |
Management | costs | Totals |
£ | £ | £ |
Dance events and workshops | 59,598 | 4,369 | 63,967 |
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: |
Management |
2024 | 2023 |
Dance |
events |
and | Total |
workshops | activities |
£ | £ |
Wages | 47,847 | 56,843 |
Social security | 4,626 | 5,876 |
Pensions | 2,669 | 3,501 |
Telephone & internet | 1,074 | 713 |
Office stationery & postage | - | 19 |
Insurance | 1,883 | 1,878 |
Staff & board training | - | 6,507 |
Memberships & Fees | 335 | 609 |
Admin support | 1,104 | 969 |
Bank charges & interest | 60 | 180 |
Miscellaneous | - | 175 |
59,598 | 77,270 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
5. | SUPPORT COSTS - continued |
Governance costs |
2024 | 2023 |
Dance |
events |
and | Total |
workshops | activities |
£ | £ |
Accountancy fees | 2,083 | 2,064 |
Independent examination | 2,286 | 2,620 |
4,369 | 4,684 |
6. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Depreciation - owned assets |
Deficit on disposal of fixed assets |
7. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 5 April 2024 nor for the year ended 5 April 2023. |
Trustees' expenses |
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5 April 2024 nor for the year ended 5 April 2023. |
8. | STAFF COSTS |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Wages and salaries |
Social security costs |
Other pension costs |
74,310 | 84,562 |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
2024 | 2023 |
Management |
The total remuneration for key management personnel in the year was £57,503. (2023:£56,500) |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
9. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
funds | funds | funds |
£ | £ | £ |
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
Donations and legacies |
Charitable activities |
Investment income |
Total |
EXPENDITURE ON |
Raising funds |
Charitable activities |
Total |
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) |
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
Total funds brought forward | 79,784 | 1,478 |
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 67,742 | 22,647 | 90,389 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
10. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
Fixtures |
and |
fittings |
£ |
COST |
At 6 April 2023 |
Disposals | ( |
) |
At 5 April 2024 |
DEPRECIATION |
At 6 April 2023 |
Charge for year |
Eliminated on disposal | ( |
) |
At 5 April 2024 |
NET BOOK VALUE |
At 5 April 2024 |
At 5 April 2023 |
11. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Accrued income |
Prepayments |
12. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
2024 | 2023 |
£ | £ |
Trade creditors |
Social security and other taxes |
Accruals and deferred income |
Accrued expenses |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
13. | ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS |
2024 | 2023 |
Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total |
funds | funds | funds | funds |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Fixed assets | 516 | - | 516 | 1,898 |
Current assets |
Current liabilities | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
62,130 | 31,956 | 94,086 | 90,389 |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net | Transfers |
movement | between | At |
At 6.4.23 | in funds | funds | 5.4.24 |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 63,742 | (5,612 | ) | 4,000 | 62,130 |
IT Fund | 4,000 | - | (4,000 | ) | - |
67,742 | (5,612 | ) | 62,130 |
Restricted funds |
Active Surrey - HAF4 Programme | 3,074 | (3,074 | ) | - | - |
Metropolitan Thames Valley - Kingsmoor Park Estate |
180 |
(180 |
) |
- |
- |
Active Surrey - Together Fund Project | 4,995 | (4,995 | ) | - | - |
Surrey Community Foundation |
13,587 | (6,071 | ) | - | 7,516 |
Arts Council England - Project Grant | - | 16,220 | - | 16,220 |
Surrey Arts Partnership | 811 | (811 | ) | - | - |
Surrey Community Foundation - Project | - | 8,220 | - | 8,220 |
22,647 | 9,309 | 31,956 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 90,389 | 3,697 | 94,086 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 60,869 | (66,481 | ) | (5,612 | ) |
Restricted funds |
Active Surrey - HAF4 Programme | 13,344 | (16,418 | ) | (3,074 | ) |
Shanly Foundation | 4,000 | (4,000 | ) | - |
Metropolitan Thames Valley - Kingsmoor Park Estate |
- |
(180 |
) |
(180 |
) |
Active Surrey - Together Fund Project | - | (4,995 | ) | (4,995 | ) |
Surrey Community Foundation |
4,862 | (10,933 | ) | (6,071 | ) |
Arts Council England - Project Grant | 53,996 | (37,776 | ) | 16,220 |
Surrey Community Foundation | 226 | (226 | ) | - |
Surrey Arts Partnership | - | (811 | ) | (811 | ) |
Woking Sparks | 2,000 | (2,000 | ) | - |
Surrey Community Foundation - Project | 8,220 | - | 8,220 |
86,648 | (77,339 | ) | 9,309 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 147,517 | (143,820 | ) | 3,697 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
Comparatives for movement in funds |
Net |
movement | At |
At 6.4.22 | in funds | 5.4.23 |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 75,784 | (12,042 | ) | 63,742 |
IT Fund | 4,000 | - | 4,000 |
79,784 | (12,042 | ) | 67,742 |
Restricted funds |
Surrey Community Foundation | 1,478 | (1,478 | ) | - |
Active Surrey - HAF4 Programme | - | 3,074 | 3,074 |
Metropolitan Thames Valley - Kingsmoor Park Estate |
- |
180 |
180 |
Active Surrey - Together Fund Project | - | 4,995 | 4,995 |
Surrey Community Foundation |
- | 13,587 | 13,587 |
Surrey Arts Partnership | - | 811 | 811 |
1,478 | 21,169 | 22,647 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 81,262 | 9,127 | 90,389 |
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
Incoming | Resources | Movement |
resources | expended | in funds |
£ | £ | £ |
Unrestricted funds |
General fund | 92,210 | (104,252 | ) | (12,042 | ) |
Restricted funds |
Arts Council England - Platinum Jubilee | 10,000 | (10,000 | ) | - |
Surrey Community Foundation | - | (1,478 | ) | (1,478 | ) |
Active Surrey - HAF4 Programme | 16,017 | (12,943 | ) | 3,074 |
Shanly Foundation | 1,000 | (1,000 | ) | - |
Metropolitan Thames Valley - Kingsmoor Park Estate |
1,055 |
(875 |
) |
180 |
Active Surrey - Together Fund Project | 4,995 | - | 4,995 |
Surrey Community Foundation |
13,587 | - | 13,587 |
Arts Council England - Project Grant | 28,500 | (28,500 | ) | - |
Surrey Arts Partnership | 1,000 | (189 | ) | 811 |
76,154 | (54,985 | ) | 21,169 |
TOTAL FUNDS | 168,364 | (159,237 | ) | 9,127 |
DANCE WOKING LIMITED |
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued |
for the year ended 5 April 2024 |
14. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
A designated fund was set up tin 2019 to purchase computer equipment, this fund is no longer required and .the funds have been restored to general funds. |
15. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
16. | CESSATION OF TRADING |
Due to the reduction in core funding from Woking Borough Council after declaring itself bankrupt by issuing a section 114 notice and giving Dance Woking notice that funding will cease from September 2024 it has become difficult for Dance Woking to continue in its current form and the trustees have taken the decision to cease trading from September 2024. |