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 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)"
The charity's objects are:
-To advance the education of the public in the subject of documentary film, in particular by promoting public understanding and appreciation of documentary film and its capacity to raise awareness of social, historical and other issues;
-To advance the education of children and young people by developing and promoting the use of documentary film as a learning resource in schools and further and higher education institutions;
-To advance the arts and culture by promoting high standards of creativity in the making of documentary film;
-The advancement of any other charitable purposes for the public benefit by identifying, harnessing and developing the capacity of documentary film to improve the lives of people and communities affected by conflict or other social or economic disadvantage and to contribute to the protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
There was no change in the charity’s objects during the period.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Other Doc Society entities
Doc Society Charitable Trust cooperates closely with its sister entities: Doc Society in the UK, Doc Society Inc in the USA, and Stichting Doc Society in the Netherlands, and Doc Society Australia Pty Ltd. These entities are legally independent, but have identical aims and objectives and often collaborate with one another.
Film funding and sector support is the focus for all Doc Society entities. We want to support documentary filmmakers and other media makers to communicate important stories in ways that have a transformative impact at scale.
Doc Society Charitable Trust has been key in securing money from third party donors for films and projects that are already being funded by our sister entities.
During the year, the Charity and Doc Society entities pursued its objects and aims in the following areas:
Climate Story Unit
Since launching the Climate Story Fund in 2020, we have been mapping hundreds of creative non-fiction climate stories. To date, we have regranted $4.8 million to 54 climate storytelling projects.
We look for both creative excellence and high impact potential. Stories that elevate the lived experiences of communities who have historically been ignored, misrepresented, and marginalised by the media. Stories for romantics, comedians, and thrill seekers alike that demonstrate the richness and diversity possible in climate programming which will be necessary to engage publics over time.
Meanwhile, the Climate Story Lab programme goes from strength to strength, with six Labs supported this year across Africa, Asia, South America.
We have observed that the Labs are not only engaging and inspiring new communities of storytellers to lean into climate, but are also having a structural impact on our regional partners who have found in them a tool to centre climate justice as a priority for their own institutions.
Democracy Story Unit
Launched in 2023, the Democracy Story Unit ("DSU") is a cultural strategy initiative that supports transformative storytelling to advance more just and inclusive societies, and better futures for all.
The Democracy Story Unit brings storytellers into a broader ecosystem of journalists, social scientists, movement builders and academics, colleagues who are wrestling with the fundamental question: with the polycrises facing us, with the loss of faith in our existing systems of governance, how do we imagine better futures together?
The Unit consists of complementary programmes working towards the same priorities:
Expand the pipeline of compelling stories and impact activities that centre civic renewal and better futures for all.
Grow confidence in the power of cultural strategy and collaborate with civil society and philanthropy to prioritise storytelling as part of a strategy for civic renewal.
Support and develop ideas for the future of public interest media to build a healthy information ecosystem for all.
This year saw six film grants awarded under the DSU funding stream, while Queer Now, a three-day Democracy Story Lab, was held in South Africa, bringing together queer filmmakers and storytellers; five grants to support queer filmmakers’ production, impact and outreach work were awarded as part of the Queer Now activity strand, and a follow up event is planned.
BFI Doc Society Fund
This fund supports and nurtures independent non-fiction film and immersive projects by UK filmmakers, prioritising expansive, director-led storytelling.
Doc Society became the British Film Institute’s documentary partner in 2018, administering money raised through the UK’s National Lottery. There are three key funds, alongside a talent support programme:
The Features Fund provides grants of up to £150,000 for documentaries at any stage in production.
Made of Truth offers up to £25,000 to roughly 15 short-form projects per year.
The newly created RAD (Research & Development) Fund, which seeks to support the perennially under-supported R&D stage of the filmmaking process.
Together, these three funds are an essential component of the documentary ecosystem in the UK. For most awardees, Doc Society is their first source of funding and a major mark of legitimacy for their project. There is £2m per year available under this fund until 2026, with 43 awards made this year.
Field Building
In addition to grant making and supporting the creative process, Doc Society helps filmmakers develop impact strategies and connect with communities and allies beyond the mainstream media and across civil society. The organization is focused on imagining new partnership models to strengthen independent voices, to reach underserved audiences and hold public space for urgent conversations.
This strand of our work includes one off projects and ongoing initiatives, including:
Design of impact tools, guides and best practise for the field. These include the Impact Field Guide, and Safe and Secure.
The Independence Project, a study of the issues facing independent documentary filmmakers.
Good Pitch programmes which connect the world's best social justice films with new allies and partners.
DISCO (Decentralised Independent Story and Culture Organizers) is a network of cultural organisations advocating for the unique importance of independent documentary to culture, society and democracy.
The Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA) is a community-led network, nurturing impact producers and amplifying their work.
Climate Reframe an initiative aimed at supporting the climate and environment movement by modelling a more intersectional, intergenerational and equity-focused movement.
In 2024/25, the Charity’s main activities were focussed on climate project funding. We also did an increased proportion of pass through funding – money we secure from third party donors for films or projects we are already supporting.
Other film funds and impact work was a low proportion of our funding and spending this year.
The Charity had income of £152,120 in the year (2023/24: £1,646), of which £144,542 was restricted (2023/24: £Nil). Total expenditure was £158,624 (2023/24: £8,652), of which £144,542 was restricted (2023/24: £Nil). At 31 March 2025, the Charity had Restricted Funds of £116,067 (2023/24: £116,067) and Unrestricted Funds of -£1,635 (2023/24: £4,869).
The Charity outsources project management to Doc Society and therefore has low core operating costs. These consist of accountancy fees, bank charges, and statutory filing fees. Trustees estimate these are unlikely to significantly exceed £5,000 annually. Additionally, the charity would be supported by its sister companies if required. Therefore, Trustees are comfortable with a low level of unrestricted funds and have no issues around going concern.
Funders have continued to support the Trust generously, and enabled it to offer further support to new documentary films and filmmakers.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its memorandum and articles of association. The trustees who served during the year, and who are also the Directors for the purpose of company law, were:
Robert Dean Joseph Berkeley, Dr (Chair)
Sandra Claire Whipham
Shanida Annika Scotland
Matthew Adedaio Abimbola Ajanaku
Stephen Philip Dunbar Johnson
Peter Noorlander
Anuradha Rosamund Vir Henriques (resigned on 6 November 2024)
Fatima Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim
Dilhani Pranila Wijeyesekera
Kuntal Biswas (appointed on 6 December 2024)
None of the Trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. None of the Trustees are members of the company. The sole member of the company is Doc Society, which has guaranteed to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Doc Society Charitable Trust is a grant-making entity which itself has no employees: project management together with financial and administrative services are provided by Doc Society, a separate company limited by guarantee (company registration number 05278207).
During the year, two of the charity’s Trustees, Sandra Whipham and Shanida Scotland, were employed by Doc Society, hence Doc Society is a related party. Sandra Whipham and Shanida Scotland are also a Directors of Doc Society.
Potential conflicts of interest are managed through the structure of the Charity’s Board, as specified in its Articles. The Articles state that “No person may be appointed as a Trustee if as a result of their appointment the number of Doc Society Trustees would equal or exceed the number of Independent Trustees.” A Doc Society Trustee is a Trustee who is either an officer or director of Doc Society, or a person connected to such employee or director, or who has been appointed by Doc Society. An Independent Trustee is a Trustee other than a Doc Society Trustee. In addition, at the start of each Board meeting each Trustee must declare any interests in the items to be discussed at the meeting; such interests, if any, are minuted.
The Charity’s current Independent Trustees have wide experience in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to those risks.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees (who are also Directors for the purpose of company law) on my examination of the financial statements of Doc Society Charitable Trust (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and related notes.
This report is made solely to the Charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extend permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinion I have formed.
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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
Doc Society Charitable Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Level 5A, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF.
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 accounts 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 funds which are used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for a particular purpose. The cost of raising and adminsistering such funds are charged to the specific fund. The purposes and uses of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
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.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the heading that aggregates all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to a particular heading they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resource.
Corporate governance costs are recognised as they fall due.
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.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the Charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation are included in net income/(expenditure) for the period.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee. Doc Society Inc is the sole member of the company. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liabilities in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.
There were no employees other than the trustees.
Doc Society Charitable Trust is a charity for tax purposes. All income receivable is exempt from corporation tax.
Included in other creditors amount of £54,246 (2024: £19,655) owed to a connected party.
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.
As at the year end, the balance due to Doc Society, an associated company, is £54,246 (2024: £19,655).