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)".
To advance education for the public benefit by the promotion and teaching of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of dance. To provide and assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age or economic or social circumstances or for the public at large with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Activities
In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. The main objectives and activities for the year continued to focus on providing opportunities in the community for people of all ages and abilities to experience and participate in arts activities, predominantly dance activities. The strategies employed to assist the charity to meet these objectives
included the following:
Regular Classes
During 24/25 Dance Blast provided the following range of regular activities for all ages and abilities, at The Dance Centre in Abergavenny
10 weekly open access dance classes for children from 3yrs to 18. Creative and Street Dance.
2 weekly dance classes for disabled young people aged 8 plus.
13 weekly Aerial classes for young people 5 - 18 yrs
14 weekly Dance and Fitness classes for Adults (2 specifically for older adults): Street Dance, Dance Fit, Floorwork, Contemporary Dance, Ballet, Tai Chi, Yoga, Quoya & Ballroom. (7 provided by Dance Blast tutors and 7 as hires)
2 weekly Aerial classes for adults
3 weekly dance classes for disabled adults
1 weekly Aerial Circus class for disabled adults
Over 500 participants took part in the sessions at our centre each week.
In addition to the classes at our base, over 50 participants took part each week in Dance
Blast sessions in care homes, schools and community venues across the county.
Holiday classes
Dance Blast provided:-
3 days of Summer Dance activity attended by 23 7 to 12 yr olds
3 days of Aerial Circus attended by 21 5 to 7 yr olds, 26 8 to 12 yr olds and 15 teens & adults
2 days of Aerial Circus attended by 16 5 to 7 yr olds, 26 8 to 12 yr olds and 15 teens & adults
6 dance sessions for disabled youth and adults attended by 13 dancers
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Accessibility & Inclusion
Dance Blast has inclusion at its core.
Disability access
Dance Blast endeavours to provide adequate support for any participants with additional
needs to join in any of our open access classes; in particular by using adult volunteers and our more experienced youth dancers in supporting roles. For our disabled dancers andaerialists who require a more tailored class to meet their needs, we have our Diversability Programme of dance and aerial circus sessions. In 2024/25 Dance Blast provided 9 Diversability classes, in Abergavenny, Monmouth and Chepstow. It remains our aim to increase the number of children with additional needs attending our open access classes. We continue to offer a Zoom option for our open access danceability classes, if required by participants who are unable to come into the studio.
Older participants
Dance Blast provides fitness classes particularly suitable for active older adults. We also work in partnership with 4 individual care homes in the area who transport dancers to The Dance Centre for our danceability classes. In 2024/25 Dance Blast provided monthly dance sessions to older adults in 2 local care homes.
Boys Dance
Recognising how difficult it can be for a young man to join a class of predominantly young women dancers, Dance Blast continues to provide both junior and youth ‘Boys only’ dance classes, led by male dancers. This year, we have 4 boys dancing in our flagship youth dance company MYDC.
Outreach
Thanks to Arts Council funding to employ an outreach facilitator on a .5 contract for 1 yr,
Dance Blast has increased our Outreach provision in 24/25. We have successfully reinstated our pre-COVID after school classes at Cross Ash and Over Monnow Primary School. We also provided regular activities by working in partnership with:‘Building Bridges’ who provide activities, for young people with additional needs aged between 14 and 25 in Monmouthshire, ‘QB’ ( Quest Busters) who provide activities for young people with additional needs aged between 8 and 14 in Monmouthshire and ‘Sparkle’, a Gwent based organisation supporting disabled children and their families. Workshops were provided at ‘Penmaes’, a school in Brecon. ‘’Penmaes’ provides specialist education for pupils aged 3-19 with a wide range of complex Additional Learning Needs (ALN). Students from National Star college attended a weekly Danceability class at Dance Blast. National Star is a provider of specialist further education for people with physical and learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries. Plans were put in place to provide Have A Go Aerial activities for community members over the Summer of 2025 and our partnership with Abergavenny Community Enterprise was nurtured with the aim of providing a social circus for residents of Mardy in North Abergavenny. An application was made to Creative Futures Monmouthshire to fund our Outreach Manager and Facilitator for a further year. Dance Blast worked again with Abergavenny Orchestra, providing a dance workshop for their annual Christmas event.
Performance companies
Dance Blast is the home of three performance companies supporting and nurturing dancers and aerialists in the Monmouthshire area providing opportunities for young people and adults with an interest in contemporary dance and/or aerial circus to develop key technique and performance skills through weekly sessions, master classes and performance possibilities.
MYCC: Monmouthshire Youth Circus Company maintains its reputation for good quality contemporary circus with 12 regular members in 24/25 aged 11 to 16. MYCC continues to
work with Elle Kate as their regular Director.
MYDC: In 24/25 Monmouthshire Youth Dance Company consisted of a foundation group of ten 8 to 11 year olds, an intermediate youth group of ten 12 to 16 yr olds plus an advanced youth group of six 12 to 16 yr olds. MYDC continues to work with Kim Noble as their regular choreographer. Three of our young dancers from MYDC danced with National Dance Company Wales associates during 2024/5
MCDC: Monmouthshire Connected Dance Company is Dance Blast’s adult, inclusive dance company. MCDC meets regularly at our Abergavenny base with 13 regular participants and enjoys masterclasses and performance projects alongside the youth company when funding allows. Our Chepstow based dancers are invited to join us in Abergavenny for special projects when the cost of transport is available. Sarah Rogers, Artistic Director, Ransack Dance company continued as the regular choreographer for MCDC in 24/25.
Greenman Festival: Following the success of Greenman 2023, our youth dance company (MYDC) were invited to perform again in the evening show, ‘Quantum Queendom’ on the Back of Beyond stage at Greenman festival, devised and directed by Kitsch & Sinch dance company. Another great profile raiser for Dance Blast in the outdoor arts & circus sectors
To the Sea, Penarth, Splatch Splatc.: Both our youth companies, circus and dance, were invited back to perform at the ‘To the Sea’ festival in Penarth. This year, the weather was better and everyone got to perform, including our foundation dance group ( 8 to 11 yrs). This was the first time the foundation group performed in an external event for Dance Blast. Our contribution included Aerial performance, hanging from the trees, walkabout, dance and acro in addition to a flash mob on the pier.
Ransack Dance/ Artis Community, Gyda’n Gilyyd/Together Project: Dance Blast took part in this Arts Council of Wales funded project. Members of MYDC and MCDC worked with Ransack’s Artistic Director, Sarah Rogers to create a dance piece that was performed at YMA in Pontpridd
Launch, NDCW: MYDC was chosen to perform ‘The Timekeeper’, choreographed by Faye Stoeser, at ‘Launch’ the National Dance Company of Wales Youth Dance platform, November 23. The Timekeeper was first performed as part of our ACW funded project 'Reignite' earlier in 2023.
‘UDance, Liverpool 2024: MYDC was also chosen to represent Wales for the U Dance National Youth Dance Festival organised by One Dance UK.
Abergavenny Arts Festival: MYDC, MYCC and our advanced Streetdancers ‘Atomic’ all performed at the festival and Dance Blast provided ‘Have A Go’ sessions in aerial circus and street dance.
‘Inspire’ Arts Council funded project: Dance Blast was fortunate to receive further funding from the Arts Council of Wales for a year-long project. This project was in partnership with Abergavenny castle and museum. We performed in Abergavenny castle grounds over the Easter weekend of 2025. The project included a commission from dance theatre company ‘Joli Vyann’ who choreographed for MYDC and Kevin Turner, Artistic Director of Company Chameleon, who choreographed an inclusive piece with MCDC and MYDC members. There were additional performances from MYCC, MCDC and MYCC choreographed/directed by their own Artistic Directors. The project also included performances by our advanced street dances ‘Atomic’, Chepstow DanceAbility group and our boys youth group ‘Boys Blast’. It was a very successful event that introduced stiltwalking to the repertoire of our youth circus company, MYCC. They learnt to stiltwalk and worked with theatre and circus designer, Rhi Matthews to design and make stilt costumes. The theme of the project was ‘Inspire’; the pieces and characters created for the event were mostly inspired by local historical characters after research visits to the museum. As part of the ‘Inspire’ process, MYDC and MYCC enjoyed workshop auditions with eight high quality professional dance artists from across the country.
Dance leadership Programme
Eight young leaders completed the second stage of their Dance Leadership journey. All receiving Dance Leadership qualifications with the Youth Leadership Foundation.
Other performance opportunities:
All Dance and Aerial classes across the timetable were given the opportunity to perform to family and friends in informal, Christmas showings at The Dance Centre and in outreach venues. Dance Blast performed at The Borough Theatre for our Dance Summer showcase 2024. All our regular Dance classes performed. The show was well received
Creative Futures Project
Dance Blast continued to work in partnership with The Borough Theatre and Melville Centre for the Arts to deliver the Creative Futures project funded by The Social Prosperity Fund (SPF), enabling the young people of Abergavenny to have their say using a variety of artforms, including dance. The young technicians from the 23/24 project returned to work as stage managers for our Inspire project at Abergavenny Castle.
Professional Artist Support
Dance Blast continued to support professional Artists with studio space when possible including: Gabriella, Krystal Lowe, Jessie Brett, Charlie White, Bee Kirkwood, Catherine Wynne Paton.
Events
Dance Blast used the ACW Night Out Scheme to host SHED by Northern Rascals in March 2025.
Welsh Policy
Dance Blast’s Welsh Policy became a standing item on the Trustee Board Agenda. Our website was made bi-lingual and a commitment to promote Welsh language and Culture was made. Welsh Ambassadors were established amongst the staff and young people.
Environmental Policy
Dance Blast’s Environmental policy became a standing item on the Trustee Board agenda with a commitment to make every effort to decrease our environmental footprint.
Principal funding sources
As expected, Dance Blast received a further cut in funding for our main funder Monmouthshire County Council. We received 2 Create grants from Arts Council of Wales in 2024/5 for our youth and disability programmes, through the Inspire project and for our outreach programme including a .5 outreach post for 12 months. Dance Blast received additional funds through a legacy gift in 2024/5. Adding these additional funds to our income from regular participants and hires, Dance Blast is therefore in a sustainable position for the coming year
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.
Dance Blast has a reserve policy to build its reserves over the coming years with an aim to hold reserves amounting to 3 months of core costs.
Regular classes
The continued delivery of a wide range of open access dance classes. The continued delivery of open access Aerial Circus. To nurture, train and encourage our young dancers and aerialists to become members of our youth dance and aerial circus companies, MYDC and MYCC.
Outreach Programme
To seek out further funding to continue the post of Outreach Project Manager and Facilitator beyond 25/26 in order to provide high quality dance and aerial activities to the members of our community who are currently not accessing the opportunities we provide due to barriers such as, disability, rural geography and socio economics. To develop sustainable outreach projects that will continue beyond the initial funding used
to launch them. To nurture relationships with all our outreach partners cited in this report.
Danceability development
To continue to develop the organisation’s Disability Dance programme. In particular, younger members of our disabled community. To nurture, train and encourage our young disabled dancers to become members of our inclusive dance company MCDC.
Older People
To continue Dance Blast’s provision for older people and develop outreach to local care homes to engage those older people who are unable to travel.
Develop our Aerial Circus Provision
Dance Blast has future plans to develop our Aerial Circus provision including:
● Providing more ‘social circus’ in the community via our outreach programme
● Finding a new training space that will 1. enable our company to undertake more advanced aerial circus skills including Swinging trapeze, cloud swing and flying trapeze 2. provide training space for professional aerial artists. 3. provide a suitable space for more sophisticated Aerial performance.
To secure a stable funding base.
To seek further performance opportunities for MCDC and MYDC.
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 20th November 2002 and registered as charity on 18 March 2009. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
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:
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the
company's Articles, are known as members of the management board. Under the requirements of the
Memorandum and Articles of Association people with relevant knowledge, expertise and interest in the
company are invited to become member of the management board.
Board
Dance Blast's management board 24/25 consists of 7 voting members and a non-voting secretary. The board meets quarterly and is responsible for the strategic direction and policies of the charity. New board members are issued with an induction pack which includes:
- Articles of Association
- Responsibilities of trustees
- Latest statutory accounts
- Latest annual report
- Information on recent projects
- Most recent quarterly report
- Welcome letter (which includes frequency of meetings details)
Board members are encouraged to attend Dance Blast activities to see the work in action. The board is responsible for ensuring that the company director continues to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice plus the Induction and training of new trustees.
Staff
Thanks to an Arts Council grant, there was a change of staff in 24/25 which entailed the
recruitment of a part time Outreach Project Manager and Facilitator staff to add to the one full time Company Director, one part time administrator and a part time cleaner
The Company Director is responsible for:-
- Ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified
- Ensuring that the financial requirements are met
- Ensuring that the strategic direction of the organisation is carried out
- The Artistic Direction of the organisation
- Management of staff & volunteers
- Developing relationships with community organisations in and around Monmouthshire
The Outreach Project Manager is responsible for:-
- Management of existing activities in the community, beyond our building
- Developing and managing new activities in the community
- Delivering these outreach activities or recruiting freelance artists to do so
- Developing our website and social media content
- Working with the company director to develop relationships with community organisations in and around Monmouthshire.
Volunteers
We currently have: 13 volunteers. 10 young people and 3 adults. Volunteering an average of 20 hrs per week.
In so far as is complimentary to the charity's objectives, the charity is guided by both local and national policy. The company works in partnership with many local organisations and charities with similar objectives.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Dance Blast (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.
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.
Dance Blast is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is .
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, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. 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.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the Charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The Charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the Charity's balance sheet when the Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
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.
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.
Open access dance classes
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 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.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).