Chilli Studios Annual Report 2014-2015

Year starting

April 2014 and ending

March 2015

CHILLI STUDIOS ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31ST 2015 Newcastle and Gateshead Art Studios LTD (Trading as Chilli Studios) Registered Charity & Company limited by Guarantee Company Registration 05028177 | Registered Charity

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CONTENTS

PAGES

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Introduction

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Review of Activities, developments and achievements ! ! ! ! !

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Engagement, Participation, Development and Achievement

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Statement of financial activities

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Balance sheet

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Members of the Board

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NAGAS is a company limited by guarantee number 05028177, incorporated on 28 January 2004 and is governed by its articles and memorandum. It is a registered charity, number 1116957. The Charity’s full name is Newcastle and Gateshead Arts Studio Limited (“NAGAS”).

During the year the Charity developed the name “Chilli Studios” which it uses for branding and publicity purposes.

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A snap shot of the year 2014-2015 April 2014 to March 2015 was the year NAGAS metamorphosed into Chilli Studios and rose from the flames of possible closure to become a new stronger force in the providing high quality arts in mental health provision. The first 8 months where a combination of hard labour gathering the invaluable evidence of our service and presenting the case for continuation funding from the utterly amazing Big Lottery. In December 2014 we all celebrated our success and a great deal of thanks must be given to the wonderful Victoria Armstrong who conducted a compelling in-depth evaluation. This document has given us a platform to continue our success story long into the future.

With confirmation the last four months became a chance to smile and plan for the future. With the recent stress of possible closure our thought around sustainability came to the forefront. With this mind-set in place the concept of Chilli Seed and Chilli Bizarre where conceived.

As the year ended we got the news of Kevin’s (Assistant Manager) departure, as sad as it was to consider life post Kev we began planning for what a successor/s might look like. In hindsight I say the result was ultimately extremely positive.

Finally I would like to extend a big thank you to everyone involved in the studio; the brilliant members, dedicated volunteers, talented staff and friendly partner agents for their great support and kind words. During the dark days of insecurity their positive energy kept me going believing in the future.

Thank you." "

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Studio Manager Bob Malpiedi

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The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2015.

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES, DEVELOPMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS experiencing a wide range of diagnosed mental health problems.

Our service Chilli Studios delivers services to those who are, or are at risk of experiencing diagnosed mental health problems, and those who experience other forms of social exclusion within their communities.

Activities

Our Aim is Improving Mental Health through Creativity.

We have assisted members in developing skills in a wide range of creative based activities, these have included: Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Sculpture, Photography, Digital Media, Printmaking, Glasswork, Textiles, Creative Writing, General Arts and Crafts as well Music. Members have been given the freedom to work independently in the studio or join any of our structured workshops which we have delivered weekly.

Our project objectives are: • To widely promote our service and engage new members, supporting social inclusion • To use creative participation as an intervention to prevent deterioration

Referrals have continued come from a wide range of areas including Social Workers, Carers, Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Doctors and Support Workers. Each member was required to complete a form, which gives staff the essential information required to facilitate a safe and well informed working space. This information has continued to be stored on a secure database and is updated regularly.

• To develop members involvement in activities that support recovery • To signpost and support members to achieve goals within realistic timeframes

Additional activities and events which have been facilitated

by Chili Studios have included: Four exhibitions in local

Profile

galleries, 6 culturally relevant field trips,

Through the focused approach of the new branding as Chilli Studios is becoming more widely known. The studio’s external profile was raised to such a level that opportunities such as being featured on the Community Channel’s Brilliant Britain and Made in Tyne and Wear’s Cultural show became available.

4 information sharing sessions, Four newsletters collectively written with members and 12 monthly members meetings which have continued to greatly influence the direction of the work over the year.

Within the day-to-day service, we have continued to provide the support to those who are experiencing, or at risk of

OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY To provide a sustainable service that engages people in creative activity, which promotes social inclusion and interaction, develops skills and ability which builds resilience, enables potential and improves wellbeing.

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Partnerships

Staffing The service has been staffed by a full-time Studio Manager, Assistant Manager and a part-time User Involvement Of-

The North East Art Studios Partnership (NEASP) is a new partnership developed through a number of meetings that were initially co-ordinated by Northern Rock. The studios involved are: North Tyneside Art Studio (NTAS), North Shields; Arts4Wellbeing, South Shields; Newcastle & Gateshead Art Studio (NAGAS), Newcastle upon Tyne; Bill Quay Art Studio,

ficer. To further support our offer we have employed

6 sessional artists, worked with 13 volunteers and had the fortune to have 2 doctoral researchers engaged in evaluating certain aspects of our work.

New Projects that started development over the last year: • Chilli Seed ( Business start-up model ) which is specifically for creatively based enterprises within the studio. This has been in early development with feasibility funding applications in development.

• Chilli Bizarre – An opportunity to have a shop front has been made available towards the end of the year and was taken up at the very end of the year • Outreach – Considerable research was conducted into outreach based workshops during the final quarter of the year following confirmation of the lottery funding. Activities started in Gateshead and Newcastle • Links into Art Council – A strong partnership with an Arts Council ‘scribe’ have been developed, this partnership is specifically linked to supporting members apply for funding for their own personal creative practice and has been the precursor to the Chilli Seed model concept.

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Attendances 2014/15 *based on averages

Gateshead; The Artrium, Hartlepool; Phoenix Art Group, Stockton on Tees.

Through a successful funding application to Esmee Fairbairn, which was led by NTAS, Chilli studios will be benefitting with a number of workshops devised at culminating in the production of a piece of work that brings the studios closer together in a shared vision within the coming year.

Training Because of the lack of capacity to dedicate time for training, opportunities have been somewhat restricted however we were still able to support 6 staff and volunteers to complete the ‘Award in Education’ teaching qualification. The Assistant Manager undertook a NCG direct ‘Marketing and business’ qualification, and 4 Staff took part in a Video Production course.

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Yearly (separate attendances)" 4520

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Monthly*" " " Weekly*" " " Daily*" " " " Total recorded members "

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377 94 23 358

Evaluation Over the year, we conducted a major external evaluation that deeply reviewed our work and was ultimately the driver towards the successful bid to the Big Lottery. The finished evaluation gave the studio a range of new and exciting directions and helped the staff to develop a focus around making real achievements happen.

Our new model of delivery now is focused on E.P.D.A: Engagement – Participation – Development and now Achievement.

Our excellent external evaluation is available on our website http://www.chillistudios.co.uk/

Board Our board currently consists of 6 trustees with very strong representation from professionals working in key areas; within Senior Management, Service User Involvement, Influencing Mental Health Policy and Best Practice, Legal Practice, Personnel Management, Arts Development and Education.

Attendance The attendance in the studio has continued at a similar rate to last year despite the difficulties of the year

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Independent examiner’s statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1)! which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: • to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or (2)! to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Iain Corner FCA On Behalf Of Baker Tilly Tax And Accounting Limited - Chartered Accountants - 1 St James’ Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4AD! ------ Small Company Provision This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for the small companies under Part 15 of the companies Act 2006 Alisdair Cameron, Trustee Approved by the Board 14th October 2015

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Finally we would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in the studio 
 and creatively improving mental health; 
 to the brilliant members, dedicated volunteers, talented staff and friendly partner agents for their great support, inspiration and kind words.

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Chilli Studios | Newbridge Street | Newcastle Upon Tyne | NE1 2TQ 0191 209 4058Â | chillistudios.co.uk | info@chillistudios.co.uk

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