The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 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)".
Chairman's statement
The year ended 31 December 2025 was one of sustained effort to secure a credible and lasting route for Shelley Theatre. The theatre remained closed to the public, but it would not be accurate to describe the year as inactive. The Trustees continued to safeguard the building while devoting considerable time to testing whether a transfer, long lease, funded development programme or new operating partnership could provide a responsible route to reopening.
For much of the year, the Trustees and owners were engaged in detailed discussions with a prospective purchaser and operator. The party considered both the possible purchase of the theatre interests and a long-term lease under which the venue could be reopened and operated. The process required substantial discussion, the provision and consideration of information, access to the venue and examination of the practical and financial requirements of taking the project forward.
No transaction was concluded. In or around October 2025, the prospective party decided not to proceed. This was disappointing after the time and work invested by those involved, but the process was not without value. It reinforced the conditions that any future arrangement must satisfy: a capable and accountable operator; adequate working capital; a realistic programme and hospitality model; clear responsibility for compliance, repair and maintenance; and an arrangement that protects both the historic building and the Trust's charitable purpose.
Following the end of those discussions, the Trustees began to widen their search for a viable route forward. The possible sources considered included public and charitable funding, philanthropy, commercial and community partnerships and a new operating structure. This work was at an early stage by 31 December 2025 and continued more substantially after the year end.
During the latter part of the year, meetings were also held with people bringing experience of theatre, cultural activity, community organisations, fundraising, commercial operation and hospitality. These conversations were exploratory. Their purpose was to test possible operating structures, identify people and organisations who might contribute to the next stage, and avoid entering another arrangement before responsibilities and resources were properly understood. No new operator had been appointed and no binding partnership commitment had been made by 31 December 2025.
Throughout the year, the venue continued to be maintained, cleaned, secured and protected. Essential costs and works continued to be supported by the sponsor Trustees and the Dunne and Proctor families. The Trustees again record their thanks to Roger Eede for his continuing practical oversight and assistance in maintaining the building and supporting the trades engaged there. The Trust had no employees at the year end.
The Trustees are conscious that the continuing cost of safeguarding the closed venue has increased the Trust's balance sheet deficit. These costs are properly treated as expenditure of the year and cannot be presented as capital assets merely to improve the balance sheet. Nevertheless, the Trustees consider that continuing the charity remains appropriate. Essential expenditure has continued to be supported by the sponsor Trustees and families, while costs and new commitments are kept under close review. Retaining the Trust preserves the charitable vehicle through which Shelley Theatre may again deliver public benefit; closing it before a sustainable operator, funding structure and reopening plan have been secured would remove that opportunity rather than resolve the underlying challenge.
The Trustees remain committed to the Trust's objects and to the long-term future of Shelley as a theatre and cultural asset. The continued closure necessarily restricts the public benefit that can presently be delivered within the building. However, simply opening the doors without the people, working capital and operating structure needed to sustain the venue would place both the charity and the theatre at risk. The Trustees will not recommence public operations or take on material new commitments unless they are satisfied that a credible structure, capable operator and adequate working capital are in place. The work during 2025 was therefore directed towards finding a route by which the next reopening can endure.
I would like to thank my fellow Trustees, the sponsor families, those who maintained the venue and everyone who gave time, advice and encouragement during the year. The outcome sought was not achieved by 31 December 2025, but the Trust ended the year with a clearer understanding of the structure, capacity and partnerships required for the next stage.
The ultimate Objects and Activities of the charity have not changed, although cannot be fully implemented until the Theatre re-opens.
The Objects of the charity as set out in its Articles of Association are, the advancement of the education of the public in visual, performing, cinematic and literary arts including, without limitation, drama, ballet, music, singing, literature, sculpture and painting; and any other charitable purpose that may at the discretion of the Trustees be considered ancillary to the Articles above or which can conveniently be carried on in conjunction with the Articles.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The Trustees consider that activities in 2025 and objectives remain fully appropriate for the Theatre to retain its current charitable status.
As such the Trustees believe that the charity meets the public benefit requirements and have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2011 Act.
The focus in 2025 has been to continue seeking suitable opportunities which will provide an acceptable way for the Theatre and its venue to re-open
To repeat the views of the Trustees for the past three years, the requirements for reopening have not changed and will not change until adequate funds and the economic situation achieves an equilibrium that gives the Trustees confidence that the venture will not fail due to lack of financial support. This means that the Theatre cannot offer employment without enough funds in place to pay a necessary team for the long lead-in time it takes to set up a Theatre programme, secure shows wishing to perform, contracting with them, also setting up the marketing and selling of tickets. We have not been successful in this endeavour of securing the necessary support but are spreading our search net wider in the immediate future.
The Theatre still has no employees currently.
As in previous years the key roles that would be to any opening activity will include:
Fund raising / Bid writing team This is generally a success rewarded driven role or formed from a volunteer team group that can derive value for the Theatre from the group activity.
Food and Beverage Team Leader. Enthusiastic driven motivated self-starter. We can offer a two-bedroom high-quality on-site accommodation as part of the package should this be an important element to attract the right individual or couple.
Venue Manager, Theatre Programmer, Office Administration team leader, Volunteer Team Leader.
The Trustees are further reviewing options to invite outside investment into the Charity to secure the necessary funding that will provide an income stream for all of the above individuals and have enough money on deposit to demonstrate that if they have faith in their skills we have enough money set aside to give them a decent lead-in time to generate that cash flow to secure their continued occupation of the position they hold.
Whilst yet to re-open, great progress has been seen in remedying the badly rundown and decaying areas of this historic Theatre, with many derelict areas of the venue rebuilt and fully fitted.
During the year The Charity has received a total income of £32,946 (2024: £24,272).
Total expenditure amounted to £38,680 (2024: £39,315).
Therefore there is a deficit for the year of £5,734 (2024: £15,043) resulting in a deficit on the balance sheet of £15,364 at 31 December 2025 (2024: £9,630).
During the year all expenditure was closely monitored by the Trustees.
The Trustees fully understand how the negative net capital has arisen, however, as stated elsewhere in the report any deficit will be underwritten by the Sponsors/Trustees.
The Trustees are confident that with no external debt and with the support of the sponsors, the Trust will continue to operate.
Risk assessment
The Trustees continually review risk throughout the year and consider those to which the charity would normally be exposed, particularly business, operational and financial. The Trustees consider the principal risks to the charity against which it cannot be insured remain as:
Extraordinary cost of repair of equipment or property failure which would result in part or full closure.
Funding short-term adverse economic conditions affecting the local area.
Inadequate growth in usage of the property and related income to support objectives.
In developing Shelley Theatre, a firm policy has been agreed that the Trust, other than by short term “trading” liabilities, will not take on any external debt or liability. As mentioned in this report the sponsor Trustees are willing to and have the means to continue financial support as needed.
A formal policy on cash reserves will be agreed in due course.
These measures and policies will ensure that Shelley Theatre Trust’s core activity could continue during any further period of unforeseen difficulty, income support from the use of other rooms will add strength to the Theatre’s growth.
Governing document
Shelley Theatre Trust is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Articles of Association dated 17 February 2014. The Trust is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The Trustees have been appointed as Directors and Trustees in accordance with the Articles and within the meaning of the Companies Act and charity law. Their purpose is to establish strategies and lead the Theatre and its development within the terms of the Articles.
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 Board of Trustees consisting of not less than four members with no upper limit administers the charity and monitors, although does not directly control - Shelley Theatre Company Limited. Shelley Theatre Company Ltd is a wholly independent trading entity which works with the Trust managing food, beverage, and other activities to assist in the raising of funds for the ongoing work of the Theatre.
The board of the Trust meets as required to discuss, activity, development, finance and all aspects of the charity's work. It is intended that in line with the rate that the Theatre grows the responsibilities of the Trustees will in due course be boosted by new appointments of suitable persons who can provide the necessary expertise and support required.
All Board Directors are company directors and charity Trustees.
The Theatre is run under the guidance of the Trustees.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Shelley Theatre Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Shelley Theatre Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 4 Brackley Close, Bournemouth International Airport, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6SE.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". 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 applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 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.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
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.
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met . Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable . A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.
expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
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).
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all of its financial liabilities.
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 trust benefits greatly from the involvement of its many volunteers. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
Theatre
Flat rental
Flat rental
Venue hire
Theatre
Flat rental
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Flat rental
Governance costs includes payment of £3,065 (2024- £2,760) for independent examination fees.
None of the trustees received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
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.
During the year the charity entered into the following transactions with related parties:
At the balance sheet date £14,524 (2024 - £21,081) was owed to two trustees, Mr S J Dunne and Mr A P Proctor.
Estante 032 Limited is a company with common directors. During the year rent of £1 (2024 - £1) was paid. An informal lease is in place with Estante 032 Limited which allows Shelley Theatre Trust to benefit from the rental income received in respect of flats owned by the company.