BRAINFOOLS CIC

Company limited by guarantee

Company Registration Number:
13545156 (England and Wales)

Unaudited statutory accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025

Period of accounts

Start date: 1 September 2024

End date: 31 August 2025

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Contents of the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

Directors report
Profit and loss
Balance sheet
Additional notes
Balance sheet notes
Community Interest Report

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Directors' report period ended 31 August 2025

The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 August 2025

Principal activities of the company

The principal activity of the company during the year under review was Circus and Theatre Performance.



Directors

The director shown below has held office during the whole of the period from
1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025

C. Paulweber


The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the board of directors on
29 May 2026

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: C. Paulweber
Status: Director

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Profit And Loss Account

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

2025 2024


£

£
Turnover: 54,320 21,981
Cost of sales: ( 51,724 ) ( 42,438 )
Gross profit(or loss): 2,596 (20,457)
Distribution costs: ( 2,475 ) ( 2,906 )
Administrative expenses: ( 28,266 ) ( 15,140 )
Other operating income: 30,925 40,441
Operating profit(or loss): 2,780 1,938
Interest payable and similar charges: ( 53 )
Profit(or loss) before tax: 2,780 1,885
Tax: ( 795 ) ( 57 )
Profit(or loss) for the financial year: 1,985 1,828

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Balance sheet

As at 31 August 2025

Notes 2025 2024


£

£
Fixed assets
Intangible assets: 3 321 479
Tangible assets: 4 798 1,007
Total fixed assets: 1,119 1,486
Current assets
Debtors: 5 4,524 7,829
Cash at bank and in hand: 2,857 14,379
Total current assets: 7,381 22,208
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: 6 ( 4,822 ) ( 21,985 )
Net current assets (liabilities): 2,559 223
Total assets less current liabilities: 3,678 1,709
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year: 7 ( 179 ) ( 179 )
Provision for liabilities: ( 170 ) ( 187 )
Total net assets (liabilities): 3,329 1,343
Members' funds
Profit and loss account: 3,329 1,343
Total members' funds: 3,329 1,343

The notes form part of these financial statements

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Balance sheet statements

For the year ending 31 August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 29 May 2026
and signed on behalf of the board by:

Name: C. Paulweber
Status: Director

The notes form part of these financial statements

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

  • 1. Accounting policies

    Basis of measurement and preparation

    These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 1A (Small Entities) of Financial Reporting Standard 102

    Turnover policy

    Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. Turnover is reduced for estimated customer returns, rebates and other similar allowances. Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when all the following conditions are satisfied: the Company has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods; the Company retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold; the amount of revenue can be measured reliably; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Company; and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

    Tangible fixed assets depreciation policy

    Tangible fixed assets held for the company's own use are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. At each balance sheet date, the company reviews the carrying amount of its tangible fixed assets to determine whether there is any indication that any items have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off the cost or valuation less the estimated residual value of each asset over its estimated useful life: Plant and machinery 25% reducing balance Furniture, fittings and equipment 25% reducing balance

    Intangible fixed assets amortisation policy

    Intangible fixed assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

    Other accounting policies

    Taxation Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from the surplus as reported in the income and expenditure account because of items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and items that are never taxable or deductible. The Company's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax is recognised on timing differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are generally recognised for all deductible timing differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which those deductible temporary differences can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Current or deferred tax for the year is recognised in the income and expenditure account, except when they relate to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, in which case, the current and deferred tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively. Trade and other debtors Trade and other debtors are initially recognised at fair value and thereafter stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Trade and other creditors Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

  • 2. Employees

    2025 2024
    Average number of employees during the period 0 0

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

3. Intangible assets

Goodwill Other Total
Cost £ £ £
At 1 September 2024 1,269 1,269
Additions
Disposals
Revaluations
Transfers
At 31 August 2025 1,269 1,269
Amortisation
At 1 September 2024 790 790
Charge for year 158 158
On disposals
Other adjustments
At 31 August 2025 948 948
Net book value
At 31 August 2025 321 321
At 31 August 2024 479 479

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

4. Tangible assets

Land & buildings Plant & machinery Fixtures & fittings Office equipment Motor vehicles Total
Cost £ £ £ £ £ £
At 1 September 2024 1,911 1,911
Additions 57 57
Disposals
Revaluations
Transfers
At 31 August 2025 1,968 1,968
Depreciation
At 1 September 2024 904 904
Charge for year 266 266
On disposals
Other adjustments
At 31 August 2025 1,170 1,170
Net book value
At 31 August 2025 798 798
At 31 August 2024 1,007 1,007

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

5. Debtors

2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 3,100 0
Prepayments and accrued income 1,424 7,829
Total 4,524 7,829

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year note

2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 2,872 0
Taxation and social security 928 229
Accruals and deferred income 1,022 21,756
Total 4,822 21,985

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 August 2025

7. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year note

2025 2024
£ £
Other creditors 179 179
Total 179 179

COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNUAL REPORT

BRAINFOOLS CIC

Company Number: 13545156 (England and Wales)

Year Ending: 31 August 2025

Company activities and impact

As a collective of circus artists and friends of the circus arts, run by co-artistic directors Toffy Paulweber and Jared Shanks, our ambition is to tell meaningful stories through uplifting and silly circus arts, to tour our shows to communities that rarely get to see contemporary circus, and to build a long-term home where artists can train and create their own work. This year (Sep 2024 to Aug 2025) the companys focus broadened from one touring show to a wider portfolio of public-facing activity. Our second main-house show, "Stella's Imaginarium", ran as our Christmas family show at Hoxton Hall, where we are now Associate Artists - a residency that has given us rehearsal space, mentoring and a deeper relationship with the venues east London audience. Alongside this, we developed "Balance", our new acrobatic duet, and took part in a mentorship session with Turtle Key Arts focused on company goals, mission, vision and 10-year planning, which has helped us set a clearer long-term direction. We have also been actively building relationships with the UK's rural touring networks, with the aim of bringing "Balance" into village halls and community venues outside the usual contemporary circus circuit in coming years. Locally in Hackney, we deepened our community work substantially. We delivered a large outdoor family event at Dalston Square commissioned by LB Hackney, performing as stilt-walking bees on an environmental theme, running giant-bubble play with children throughout the afternoon, and leading a street musicians band in a parade through the square - joined by local kids carrying paper puppets they had made in an earlier workshop. We ran a lantern-making and performance afternoon at Hoxton Hall as part of our Associate Artists programme. We ran a participatory project with Hackney Circle and Strictly Hoxton bringing older residents into the rehearsal room; collaborated with Ministry of Stories on a young writers / circus crossover; and hosted student visits and skills sessions with New City College. This work was supported in part by a Hackney Festive Fund award and by paid commissions from the Council, allowing us to keep activities free at the point of access for participants. We continued to run low-stakes scratch nights and R and D sharings - opportunities for emerging and established artists to test new work in front of a live audience without commercial pressure. We see these evenings as one of the most direct ways the company benefits the wider circus community: they create a pipeline of new work, give early-career artists their first public credits, and keep the form alive between major productions. Taken together, this year moved Brainfools from "a touring company with one show" to a small but more rounded community organisation - making, touring, teaching and commissioning - and laid the groundwork for further growth in 2025–26, including the development of "Wurst Ende Cabaret" and a continuation of the "Balance" tour into new regions.

Consultation with stakeholders

The stakeholders of Brainfools CIC include a range of individuals and groups who are directly or indirectly involved in the company's activities. Our key stakeholders this year were: - The collective of circus artists and friends of the circus arts who form the core of Brainfools, including the cast, creative teams and freelance technicians engaged on "Stella's Imaginarium" and "Balance". - Emerging artists who took part in our scratch nights, R&D weeks and Associate Artist sessions at Hoxton Hall. - Hoxton Hall, our Associate Artists host venue, who provide rehearsal time, programming dialogue and audience reach. - Turtle Key Arts, who delivered a mentorship session with us on company goals, mission, vision and long-term planning. - The UK's rural touring networks, with whom we are building relationships to take future work into village halls and community venues. - The London Borough of Hackney, both as funder (Hackney Festive Fund) and commissioner (Dalston Square family event), and the residents who attended those activities. - Hackney Circle, Strictly Hoxton, Ministry of Stories and New City College, our community-engagement partners working with older residents, young writers and FE students respectively. - Audiences in rural touring venues and at Hoxton Hall, whose feedback shapes how we programme and produce. - Suppliers of rigging, set, costume and technical equipment essential to delivering the work safely. Consultation has taken several practical forms across the year. With our artist collective and Associate Artists, we have held regular development sessions, R and D weeks, post-show debriefs and one-to-one conversations during the "Balance" and "Stella's Imaginarium" processes, with feedback feeding directly into casting, dramaturgy and creative decisions. The mentorship session with Turtle Key Arts gave us a structured outside-eye on our goals, mission, vision and 10-year plan, and has shaped how we are sequencing future shows and partnerships. With our community partners - Hackney Circle, Strictly Hoxton, Ministry of Stories, New City College - we have run joint planning meetings before each strand of activity and structured feedback conversations after, adjusting session formats and pacing in response. With audiences, we have used post-show conversations and informal feedback at Hoxton Hall and at the Dalston Square event, which has shaped how we frame the work to non-traditional circus audiences. With our Council and venue partners, we have held planning calls and reporting conversations attached to each commissioned project. Where this consultation led to concrete changes: we set a clearer long-term direction for the company off the back of the Turtle Key Arts mentorship; we restructured our scratch evenings to give artists longer development time before showing; and we adjusted the format of our Hackney Circle and Strictly Hoxton sessions in response to participant input on pace and accessibility. Across all our stakeholder relationships we remain committed to open, ongoing conversation, and to adapting the company's activities so they continue to meet the needs of the communities we work with as we grow.

Directors' remuneration

No remuneration was received

Transfer of assets

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration

This report was approved by the board of directors on
29 May 2026

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: C. Paulweber
Status: Director