The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)".
DanceSyndrome’s objective is “to advance education in the art of dance for the public benefit and in particular, but not exclusively, for the learning disabled.” The primary activities undertaken to meet this objective are delivering public dance workshops in the community setting; training dancers to be able to co-deliver dance workshops; developing and performing dance pieces; providing training to organisations on inclusion through lived experience and speaking at conferences, universities and other organisations about DanceSyndrome’s work. All these activities are co-delivered and lead by people with learning disabilities. A major theme for the charity is to improve people’s health and wellbeing and raise the profile of people with a learning disability in society and provide leadership skills. As part of the Company’s advocacy work, individuals and groups from the Dance Company are invited to give presentations to various audiences about the work that they do and the benefits that it brings to the community. This can range from both dancing and presenting to an international conference, presenting to students, or talking to a local interest group.
Trustees and advisers to the Board, including some who have learning disabilities, are focussed on delivering benefit to the learning-disabled sector of the public. The Board of Trustees maintain an awareness of the risks involved in running the charity and specifically of dealing with this vulnerable sector of the community. Policies and procedures have been implemented that mitigate these risks and the Company’s performance is reviewed regularly (at least annually) against them. Where necessary, further mitigating actions are introduced to minimise the probability and/or impact of additional risks identified. An important role of the Trustees is to ensure sufficient funds are available to promote and carry out the objectives of DanceSyndrome as laid out above.
DanceSyndrome’s work is co-developed and co-delivered alongside dancers with learning disabilities. They work side by side with non-disabled Dance Artists who have formal dance or drama training. Through weekly development workshops, dancers with learning disabilities develop their skills in leadership, workshop delivery, choreography, and performance. Workshops are delivered in towns across Lancashire on a weekly basis. DanceSyndrome is growing its pool of Dance Artists and Dance Leaders so it can continue to expand its reach. The Dance Artists and Dance Leaders that deliver DanceSyndrome’s workshops and training form the Dance Company. This group meets weekly to enhance its dance skills and to develop performance dance pieces that it can showcase to demonstrate what can be achieved by people with learning disabilities given the right opportunities. Often these performances are commissioned in recognition of the quality of dance performance.
As part of the Company’s advocacy work, individuals and groups from the Dance Company are invited to give presentations to various audiences about the work that they do and the benefits that it brings to the community. This can range from both dancing and presenting to an international conference, presenting to students, or talking to a local interest group.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
During this year, we marked our 12-year anniversary of becoming of registered Charity, the second year of our Arts Council England, ‘National Portfolio’ year and the third year of our National Lottery ‘Reaching Communities’ funded programme.
We also developed our ‘Children & Young People’s’ strategy to run in parallel. Our ambitions for Children & Young People are to establish ‘Community – Everybody Dance’ provision for all ages. We will work backwards from Adulthood and create sessions for Teens, Juniors, Infants and Tots creating a pathway of inclusive dance and progression providing co-led sessions for children with learning disabilities which do not exist anywhere else.
Across the 2024-2025 year, we delivered an incredible number of projects whilst managing an ever-changing fundraising landscape, along with some personnel changes but in true DanceSyndrome style, we embraced all and pivoted where we needed.
Some highlights: -
We continued to make great progress in delivering our community work supported by The National Lottery Community Fund
We performed SENse at the Storyhouse in Chester
Our DS Youth reached the National Finals of UDance
Our Zoom participants met for the first-time in person and enjoyed a fabulous weekend of dancing together with our DS Collective at ENCORE 24 in Birmingham
We launched a series of videos for the NHS to promote Learning Disability Nursing as a career option
We developed our first post Level 2 qualification (which required a rigorous assessment process) in Teaching Dance to Children & Young People. This is an Assured Certificate with City & Guilds
We delivered Year 1 of a pioneering Choreographic project – iCreate putting Dance Leaders with disabilities at the helm of the choreographic process, and we showcased this work at a wonderful event at the University of Central Lancashire
We established our first Kitemark organisation in St Helens and began the process for them to work towards achieving the DanceSyndrome Kitemark for Everybody Dance.
We joined a 3-year, multi-million-pound Research project with Edge Hill University looking at the impact of the Arts on the Mental Health of Children between the ages of 9-13.
We launched our partnership with FONS – The Foundation of Nursing Studies to support 180 in-patient Ward Mangers working on the frontline in the NHS across Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism services.
We began working with several schools and colleges testing out our Everybody Dance model with Children & Young People.
We won several Awards including a Commended Inclusive Innovation Award at the Northern Power Women’s Awards, the Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award at the Northern Music Awards, and a plethora of both International Business and Women in Business, Gold and Silver Stevie Awards.
We went global when we presented in Bilbao, Spain as part of an international panel at the 2nd Congress on Entrepreneurship & Disability.
And at the same time, four of our DanceSyndrome Team went to Tokyo in Japan for 12 days to share the DanceSyndrome approach around Co-Production and our Everybody Dance Methodology.
We have experienced more than ever before, a challenging and competitive Grants & Trusts fundraising landscape and so have been extremely conscious of how we diversify our income to continue to be able to grow and execute our ambitious strategy. This approach will continue be a priority in 2025-2026.
This year’s accounts show that the financial position of DanceSyndrome is satisfactory for the period reviewed.
During 2024 total income amounted to £419,353 (2024: £366,137). Of the income, a total of £287,019 (2024: £296,579) was received by way of voluntary income and grants. Income from charitable activities totalled £129,438 (2024: £67,989), this income relates to workshop income. There was also further grants totalling £85,339 (2024: £67,506) which were received in 2025 but relate to projects after the year end and have therefore being deferred. These grants are not included within the income of the year of £419,353.
Expenditure totalled £415,999 compared to £370,890 in 2024. The main items of expenditure for the charity are staff costs of £210,306 (2024: £182,401) and freelance fees and expenses of £115,774 (2024: £105,263).
Net income, therefore, was £3,354 (2024: net expenditure £4,753) and results in a in a net increase in funds for the year of £3,354 (2024: decrease in funds £4,753).
Our goal is to ensure we have a diverse income stream through growing our earned income and donations alongside strategically securing significant long term grant funding to ensure our sustainability.
If you have an opportunity to meet Jen, Peter, Becky and the team you’ll want to support them, maybe with funds (large or small) or maybe by spreading the word to others who may wish to donate, move in philanthropic circles or have the ability to open doors.
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 month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee guarantee incorporated in England and Wales on 14th February 2013. DanceSyndrome was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the Charity, which is governed by its Articles of Association.
DanceSyndrome was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales February 2013.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Trustees are normally elected at the Company AGM for a period of three years. At the first AGM, held on 6th June 2014, all trustees were required to resign and were re-elected.
Trustees may be appointed by agreement of the existing trustees at other times but must resign at the next AGM when they may be re-elected for a three year term.
Vacancies are advertised based on identified needs for skills and or demographic mix and applicants are subject to DBS checks, references and interview by other trustees before recommendation for election. DanceSyndrome aims to have a significant proportion of trustees who represent the Company’s prime beneficiary, the learning disabled community.
New trustees are provided with an information pack including the latest business plan and accounts, relevant policies and procedures, copies of the Memorandum of Association and directed to become familiar with either of the Charities Commission publications “The essential trustee: what you need to know(CC3)” or “Being a trustee (CC3-EASYREAD)”.
The day to day management of the Company rests with the Managing Director, who is not a trustee but holds a salaried position and reports to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of DanceSyndrome (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements 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 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.
DanceSyndrome is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Globe Centre, St James Square, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 0RE.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)". 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 or grantors 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 once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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 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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
It is the policy of the charity and at the request of the Trustees that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three- and six-month’s expenditure’ which amounts to between £73,000 and £147,000.
The remaining unrestricted funding (approximately £28,000) has been designated to improve our digital infrastructure (including access for people with learning disabilities), a DanceSyndrome Retreat, and equipment for dancers.
Included within the unrestricted funds incoming resources of £263,987 is a £100,000 grant from Arts Council England. This is allocated to expenditure in line with delivering the outcomes of their 'Lets Create' strategy.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).