REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 09679816 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1164398

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

for

Southport Dramatic Club

Page

Operating and Financial Review

1

Report of the Trustees

2

to

3

Independent Examiner's Report

4

Statement of Financial Activities

5

Balance Sheet

6

to

7

Notes to the Financial Statements

8

to

12

Overall, the club finished the year in a stable position with a surplus of unrestricted funds with a marked improvement compared to prior year.

It is evident that the improved income from our own shows has increased partially due to the increase in ticket prices but in a great part to increased audience attendance during the financial year of 2025. This has been reflected in the increase of other revenue streams.

The bank position, excluding restricted funds for the roof, has increased from prior year. It is prudent to continue with the Trustees' policy of holding reserves to protect the building in the case of future issues that could affect the existence of the club. This was obviously the case with closures due to Covid and the continuing situation in the Middle East and the global consequences could have a knock-on effect as prices potentially rise in the UK.

Fundraising is especially important for the main roof and using the reserves will keep the theatre running, protect us against any future shocks, and keep the building in good condition.

It will also be prudent to maintain a good stream of net revenue and possibly, wherever achievable, a healthy margin to keep the Southport Dramatic Club and the Little Theatre growing as well as enable us to match any grants and funding awarded.

As a not-for-profit organization the cash generated will enable us to invest back into our productions and the buildings and protect us from any future uncertainties.

Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on 13th.May 2026 and signed on behalf by:

___________________________________________________

Eve Gillow

Hon. Treasurer, Southport Dramatic Club

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 31 December 2025. 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The objectives of the Company are the production and performance of Dramatic Plays, the encouragement of Dramatic Art and the raising of funds for charitable purposes.

Public benefit

The Charity Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The Charity's unrestricted funds at the 31 December 2025 amounted to £1,168,041 (2024: £1,117,920 ) and are held for the Charity to continue its existence for the foreseeable future to accomplish its objectives and activities as outlined above.

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.

The Charity's restricted funds at the 31 December 2025 amounted to £8,578 (2024: £NIL ) and are held in respect to the "Roof Fund Appeal", for which the Charity is receiving donations in respect of the maintenance of the property roof.

Our policy on reserves is to have a strong cash position in order to deal with unexpected costs and any potential shortfall of of income, with approximately £350,000 being retained on short term deposit. On the basis that current income streams are maintained then the Trustees feel that reserves are sufficient for the next 12 months, following the end of the financial year.

Going concern

The Trustees are satisfied that they have sufficient funds to continue to meet the main objectives of the Charity.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Organisational structure

On the 10th July 2015 this Charitable Incorporated Organisation, limited by guarantee, was formed in the name of Southport Dramatic Club (Company Number 9679816).

At a Trustees' meeting, of the Southport Dramatic Club (Unincorporated Charity, No: 221585), on the 19th January 2016 and ratified at an Extra General Meeting on the 18th April 2016, it was resolved, under the terms of the Club's Trust's Deed, that the Charity, known as Southport Dramatic Club (Charity Number: 221585) be dissolved and all of the assets and liabilities of the Club be transferred directly to the new Charitable Company (Charity Number: 1164398).

As such the Club's Board of Management was dissolved, with the existing Club Trustees being appointed as Directors of the new Charitable Company.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

09679816 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1164398

Registered office

Little Theatre

Hoghton Street

Southport

Merseyside

PR9 0PA

Trustees

A V Newport

Mrs S J Unsworth

Miss T L Hirsch

Miss L D Haywood

R Roberts-Beardsell (resigned 23.6.25)

Mrs D P Hutchinson

Mrs K Miles-Roberts

S K Pritchard

Miss C E Leight

P P MacGregor-Forshaw (appointed 23.6.25)

R L Spofforth (appointed 1.6.26)

Mrs A F Ledson (appointed 1.6.26)

Independent Examiner

Topping & Company

Chartered Accountants

209 Liverpool Road

Birkdale

Southport

Merseyside

PR8 4PH

Solicitors

Weightmans LLP

100, Old Hall Street

Liverpool

L3 9QJ

Bankers

Nat West Bank Plc

130 Lord Street

Southport

Merseyside

PR9 0AB

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 1 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

S K Pritchard - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Southport Dramatic Club ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2025.

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

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, 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:

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.

Topping & Company

Topping & Company

Chartered Accountants

209 Liverpool Road

Birkdale

Southport

Merseyside

PR8 4PH

1 June 2026

31.12.25

31.12.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

1,659

8,578

10,237

886

Charitable activities

INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

452,671

-

452,671

373,834

Other trading activities

2

7,293

-

7,293

5,168

Investment income

3

19,979

-

19,979

21,086

Total

481,602

8,578

490,180

400,974

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

995

-

995

1,225

Charitable activities

INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

(1

)

-

(1

)

-

COST OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

173,610

-

173,610

144,688

GOVERNANCE COSTS

256,877

-

256,877

232,913

Total

431,481

-

431,481

378,826

NET INCOME

50,121

8,578

58,699

22,148

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

1,117,920

-

1,117,920

1,095,772

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

1,168,041

8,578

1,176,619

1,117,920

31.12.25

31.12.24

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

fund

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

6

753,674

-

753,674

753,237

CURRENT ASSETS

Stocks

7

6,248

-

6,248

4,779

Debtors

8

9,335

-

9,335

5,299

Cash at bank and in hand

449,916

8,578

458,494

400,078

465,499

8,578

474,077

410,156

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

9

(51,132

)

-

(51,132

)

(45,473

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

414,367

8,578

422,945

364,683

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

1,168,041

8,578

1,176,619

1,117,920

NET ASSETS

1,168,041

8,578

1,176,619

1,117,920

FUNDS

10

Unrestricted funds

1,168,041

1,117,920

Restricted funds

8,578

-

TOTAL FUNDS

1,176,619

1,117,920

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 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.

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 1 June 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

S K Pritchard - Trustee

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.Where income is received in advance of a performance or other specified service it is deferred until the Charity is entitled to that income. For Legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which the estate is finaliseddistribution distrubution is received from the estate.

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.

Tangible fixed assets

Land and property are not depreciated as the Charitable Company maintains the property in a state of good repair and it is considered that the residual values are such that the depreciation is not significant.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Corporation taxation

The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or Section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objectives.

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.

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.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Social & Fundraising events

4,890

3,033

Social lotteries

2,403

2,135

7,293

5,168

3.	INVESTMENT INCOME

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Rents received

9,000

9,000

Deposit account interest

10,979

12,086

19,979

21,086

4.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

In respect of their duties as Trustees, none received any emoluments in the period other than reimbursement of costs incurred, where applicable.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2025 nor for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Honorarium

As in previous years it is the practice of the Charity to offer and pay an honorarium to its chairperson.

5.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

31.12.25

31.12.24

Full time equivalent employees

2

2

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

6.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Freehold

property

£

COST

At 1 January 2025

753,237

Additions

437

At 31 December 2025

753,674

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 December 2025

753,674

At 31 December 2024

753,237

Included in cost or valuation of land and buildings is freehold land of £595,431 (2024 - £595,431) which is not depreciated.

7.

STOCKS

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Stocks

6,248

4,779

8.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Trade debtors

-

1,700

Other debtors

1,338

318

VAT

-

2,900

Accrued income

5,515

-

Prepayments

2,482

381

9,335

5,299

9.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

31.12.25

31.12.24

£

£

Trade creditors

42

16,583

Social security and other taxes

(267

)

-

VAT

2,849

-

Accruals

18,460

2,030

Deferred Subscribers' Income

30,048

26,860

51,132

45,473

10.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.1.25

in funds

31.12.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

1,117,920

50,121

1,168,041

Restricted funds

Restricted Funds

-

8,578

8,578

TOTAL FUNDS

1,117,920

58,699

1,176,619

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

481,602

(431,481

)

50,121

Restricted funds

Restricted Funds

8,578

-

8,578

TOTAL FUNDS

490,180

(431,481

)

58,699

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.1.24

in funds

31.12.24

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

1,095,772

22,148

1,117,920

TOTAL FUNDS

1,095,772

22,148

1,117,920

Comparative net movement in funds included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

400,974

(378,826

)

22,148

TOTAL FUNDS

400,974

(378,826

)

22,148

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1.1.24

in funds

31.12.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

1,095,772

72,269

1,168,041

Restricted fund

Restricted Funds

-

8,578

8,578

TOTAL FUNDS

1,095,772

80,847

1,176,619

Net movement in funds included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

882,576

(810,307

)

72,269

Restricted fund

Restricted Funds

8,578

-

8,578

TOTAL FUNDS

891,154

(810,307

)

80,847

11.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2025.

12.	LEGAL STATUS OF THE TRUST

The Trust is a Company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each Trustee member and Full Member, who has served as a Full Member for a continuous period of five years, in the event of a winding-up is limited to £1.