People express annual report 31 3 2014

People Express

Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun!

Annual Report 2013 to 2014 Registered Charity No: 1005753

People Express | Annual Report

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People Express | Annual Report

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Contents Director’s and Chair’s Report

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Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun!

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Our programme priorities for 2012 to 2015

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Young People and the Arts

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Youth Arts Mini-Projects

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Working with Diverse Communities

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Arts in the Digital Age

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Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2014

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Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014

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Staff information

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People Express | Annual Report

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People Express | Annual Report

Chair’s Report

Director’s Report

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the staff team for all their hard work, energy and commitment in developing and delivering such an impressive programme of projects throughout the year.

Thanks also to board members for their work and contributions and a special thank you and fond farewell to Robin Gray who has stepped down from the board after 15 years. A former Chair, and ongoing board member, Robin excelled at supporting staff, board members and artists alike and has made a tremendous contribution to the continued success of People Express. Thanks also to our three main funders, Arts Council England, South Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council, not only for the continued financial support, but also for their advice, guidance and support in general.

People Express has enjoyed one of our busiest years, with a broad range of art forms, including: film-making, digital arts, print-making, music, dance, sculpture, ceramics, willow-weaving and urban arts projects, plus a growing number of young people signing up for the Arts Award.

These projects enabled people of all ages, abilities and confidence levels to express themselves via creative activities, make their own art work in whatever shape or form they chose, and provided opportunities for ‘collective production’ where groups and communities worked together equally to create their own exhibitions, films and performances. When people who feel excluded or isolated are offered this opportunity the resulting experience can produce very powerful results and moving and meaningful art work that touches and moves a wide range of participants and new audiences.

As well as managing a full programme of work this year, People Express made the time to look ahead and staff and board members worked together to revitalise our vision and develop plans for an exciting new approach for the future. We look forward to sharing this and working with you in 2014/15 and beyond.

Measuring and improving ‘quality’ is currently a key driver for the arts, and this includes participatory work. Over the last year we worked with highly regarded Consultants ‘Mind the Gap’ and Francois Matarasso to revitalise our vision and set out our own aspirations for the ‘quality’ of a participant’s experience. We want our projects to be ambitious and original, the art-work produced to be well made and inspiring so that it resonates with others.

Pat Dawson Chair

People Express is aware that pressure on public funding has affected levels of provision. Our new Business Plan for 2015 to 18 will see us move the arts in South Derbyshire and beyond into a new phase. Building on our track record of engaging excluded groups, we will develop a more ‘open’ approach that brings people into the arts through proximity, location, and their ideas, interests, aspirations and curiosity.

People Express could not engage such a diverse range of participants without working with exceptionally talented, creative and inspiring artists. We thank them for their contribution of skills and artistic ambitions, which are key to continued innovation and risk taking in our work.

Image top to bottom: Shout! Project, Boom! Project, UHT Project

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People Express is committed to continually researching new artistic possibilities, artists and cutting edge work (particularly digital) for local communities. As part of EMPAF (East Midlands Participatory Arts Forum), we took part in ICAF, a unique international community arts festival in Rotterdam that showcases exemplary projects, artists and community performances from around the world. We returned to South Derbyshire inspired! (www.icafrotterdam.com) LastIy, I would like to thank all of the partners, volunteers and community groups that have supported our work and made the projects in this Report possible.

Julie Batten Director

“I think the two main opportunities we offer are; for people of all ages, abilities and confidence levels to create and make their own art work in whatever shape or form they choose, and ‘collective production’ where groups and communities work together equally to create their own exhibitions, films and performances.”

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People Express | Annual Report

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OUR PROGRAMME PRIORITIES FOR 2012 TO 2015

Image: Shout! Filmmaking Project, Kobudo session and Pin Hole Camera workshop

Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun!

Who we are People Express is a well-established professional arts organisation based in South Derbyshire (25 years old in 2015), with far-reaching and deep-rooted relationships with the communities in the district where it has grown. We have a track record of innovative and high quality participatory and community arts projects that have attracted national and international acclaim.

undertakes fund raising for projects and it also supports community groups and partners to apply for grants.

People Express is an unincorporated registered charity run by a board of voluntary Board members. We are currently revenue funded by Derbyshire County Council, South Derbyshire County Council and Arts Council England as an NPO (National Portfolio Organisation).

Where we are

What we do People Express encourages grassroots involvement, with participants sharing responsibility for the planning and progress of projects, leading to them becoming self-sustained. The artist’s role is to pass on skills, lead and inspire when needed and then to step back, encourage and support. It is the participants (of any age or ability) and the group working together that become the writers, performers, designers, creators and makers, resulting in new artwork, exhibitions, performances and films that move, inspire and resonate with audiences. People Express

Are to increase the engagement of young people, celebrate diversity and explore the potential of new technologies to achieve creative and artistic excellence and innovation.

Projects in 2013/14

People Express believe in terms of ‘creative ability’ everyone is equal,and the arts are a universal language that should be accessible to all.

Young People and the Arts

People Express is a key member of EMPAF (East Midlands Participatory Arts Forum), championing the promotion of the region’s strength in the range, quality and diversity of arts engagement.

People Express is based in a two storey building on West Street, the emerging ‘cultural quarter’ of Swadlincote. We are alongside Sharpe’s Pottery Heritage and Arts Centre.

The building has full disabled access and parking. The first floor space is purpose built for workshops with a separate small media/training room. The space is available to hire, please refer to the website details.

UHT (Uniting Hatton Together) People Express worked with Heath Field Primary School to set up a year long, hugely popular, programme of family friendly after school arts activities that included working across visual and performance artforms, with culturally diverse artists, and the creation of permanent artistic landmarks for the village and school.

The name UHT refers to the village’s milk train heritage, supplying the local Nestle factory.

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Arts Award

SHOUT!

In December 2013 People Express anxiously held our first Arts Award moderation. Entering 18 young people for their Bronze level Award, we were over the moon that all of their hard work paid off and they all passed with flying colours! A special award celebration ceremony was set up in February attended by families and friends.

SHOUT! is a voluntary run community support group for disabled children and young people, their parents, carers and siblings. Our ongoing relationship SHOUT has now reached its third year and the group continues to go from strength to strength, (their membership has risen from 40 to 170 families) and they are looking to register as a Charity in 2014.

People Express has an ongoing rolling programme of Arts Award opportunities for young people aged between 11 and 25 of all abilities. Please contact Hema or Kalila for more details.

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Youth Arts Mini-Projects

Young People and the Arts

The Arts Award is a flexible, accessible, creative and fun qualification in the arts (accredited by Trinity College) that involves practical workshops, developing leadership skills and research.

People Express | Annual Report

The Feel Good Project

Taking promoting healthy eating as their theme, ceramic artists Julia and Rob Webster worked over the summer with children, young people and their families to create over 100 pieces for a unique tiled wall hanging for display at a community centre in Newhall.

In April 2013, to celebrate the group’s huge achievements and year longs arts programme, SHOUT set up an ambitious sculpture based four-day residency with Lincolnshire artist James Sutton at People Express.

Themed as ‘Things that Fly’, James led open workshops and sessions for younger ages groups covering several techniques enabling participants to create over 150 lightweight sculptures that were exhibited together suspended ‘flying’ from the ceiling, including; birds, superman, dragons, life size people and cherubs (to name a few).

Older members of SHOUT went on to work with Film City to devise, film, star in and edit their own short horror film ‘Trick or Treat’. Watch it on our website if you are brave enough…

Newhall Arts Project – Time for a NAP/BOOM! Street Dance Project

People Express continued to work with talented local professional street dance tutor Christina Drew in this year to complement the District Council’s successful development of dance opportunities in the area (particularly for young women).

By targeting sessions at neighbourhoods with little or no access and groups with issues around low confidence and self-esteem, People Express supported many first time young excited but nervous participants to progress to performing on stage to an audience of over 400 at Dance in the Forest (something they told us they never thought possible!).

Summer Vibe For the second year running, as part of the Positive For Youth Partnership’s summer holiday provision, People Express set up ‘strategically placed’ drop in spray art and pottery workshops in Hatton and Newhall.

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People Express | Annual Report

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Working with Communities Targeted Arts Engagement

Over this year People Express continued to work closely with our partner Reach the People Charity to engage women and their families in the arts affected by domestic abuse. It remains a very important area of work for us, and here are some reasons why: The art work created and exhibited through these projects has the potential to reach and touch many in the audience, as sadly, abuse continues to be widespread and often hidden. Even if people have not experienced it themselves, many know someone who has.

Saltbrook Hatton Heritage Trail

In response to local people voicing their concerns that their village lacks any visible ‘landmarks’ to its industrial heritage (which has included global leaders in engineering and technology), People Express is supporting them to develop their own heritage trail on the site of a recently restored bridle path. The Trail will include a series of original, large scale, and interpretive landmarks and sculptures that tell the stories of local manufacturing, transport, farming and engineering and the ‘Salt Brook’ itself, raising awareness of and celebrating how significant and influential Hatton has been to the district and beyond for generations to come.

The landmarks will be designed and made by leading artists and craftsworkers and local people (of all ages) working together.

To kick-start the project Nestle has supported practical creative workshops as part of the consultation process resulting in the creation of a stunning 12ft willow bottle structure symbolising the contribution the bottle works has made to the heritage of the village. Nestle has also sponsored a beautiful scale model of the bridle path to help the community visualise and plan the Trail.

Some participants feel they have achieved ‘social good’ for others by sharing their experience and they develop new skills and interests at a vulnerable time in their lives and this positive experience becomes part of who they are as they move forward into their new lives.

Our work is called HOPE because it focuses on the woman or man’s journey moving on from abuse (not on the perpetrator actions), gives a positive message and it uses the arts to tell often difficult and painful stories that could inspire others.

This year Reach the People continued to tour the portable multi-media version of HOPE, our contemporary art exhibition (premiered in 2011) throughout the East Midlands. People Express set up arts workshops with families at the refuge to improve the garden area and a programme of drop in workshops based at their charity shop in Swadlincote.

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Arts in the Digital Age ‘Bricked’ – hard hitting and provocative film action

When your friends and peers don’t keep you safe, who does?

‘Bricked’ is one of a series of small-scale projects over recent years, initiated by People Express, that uses film-making and digital arts to enable young people at risk of exclusion to reflect on and share their experiences, pressures and aspirations.

‘Famous at Last!’ – older people star on the silver screen

‘Bricked’ is two 3-minute films with two different endings, that looks at betrayal, consequences and choice. Made over four days, professional film makers Deb Haywood and Film City supported the young people to write the screenplay, act in, direct, film, produce and edit the work. (Bricked can seen on our website, suitable for viewers 13+).

Over eight months Writer Kevin Fegan and Film Maker Adam Robertson met with around 30 local participants aged from over 50 to over 90, who shared their stories, thoughts and wisdoms on camera about what it is to be an older person living in South Derbyshire today. Full of energy, fighting spirit and naughtiness the participants in the film definitely break the stereotype that they feel most people hold of them.

Alongside the touching and at times deeply moving interviews the Famous at Last film, which had an ‘Oscar style’ premiere at Oaklands Village, includes archive footage of the District and we thank Magic Attic Archive for their support with this. The full-length film (1 hour) and the extract (16 mins) can both be viewed on our website. Financially supported through an “All Our Stories” Heritage Lottery Grant.

Operation Beautiful – young people creating digital storybooks

Girls from Granville Sports College worked with Community Outreach Manager, Dimple Patel from BBC Local Radio/ CSV UK to breakdown and challenge modern stereotypes of beauty, media and peer pressure and issues around body image. Using online project ‘Operation Beautiful’ as a starting point the group created their own, more positive, media campaigns becoming young health champions to their peers.

Festival of Leisure 2013

In 2013 we took our brand new marquee (thanks to sponsorship by East Midlands Airport) to the District Council’s Festival of Leisure at Maurice Lea Park, that attracts thousands over the weekend. The highlight for us was exhibiting new work by The Culture Club young people from the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) community.

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People Express | Annual Report

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People Express | Annual Report

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Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2014 Restricted Funds 2014

£41,033

£ 127,377 £41,033

£ 127,377

Unrestricted Funds 2014

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013

£

£

£

£

Voluntary income

-

103,252

103,252

105,499

Investment Income

-

18

18

14

Incoming resources from charitable activities

41,033

-

41,033

21,864

Total

41,033

103,270

144,303

127,377

£

£

£

£

39,284

116,954

156,238

126,848

-

600

600

600

39,284

117,554

156,838

127,448

1,749

(14,284)

(12,535)

(71)

(11,984)

11,984

-

-

10,235

(2,300)

(12,535)

(71)

13,603

24,580

38,183

38,254

3,368

22,280

25,648

38,183

Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds:

Restricted Funds 2014

Unrestricted Restricted Funds 2014 Funds 2014 Resources Expended

£103,270 £103,270

Funds UnrestrictedTotal Funds 20142014 Total Funds Total 2014 Funds 2013 Total Funds 2013

£144,303

Charitable activities Governance costs Total Net incoming resources before transfers Transfer between funds for overheads Net movement in funds for year

£144,303

Total funds at 1 April 2013 Total funds at 31 March 2014 All activities relate to continuing operations

£25,648

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People Express | Annual Report

People Express

People Express

Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014

Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014

Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014

2014

2014 £

£

Fixed Assets 1,539

Debtors Cash at bank and in hand

£25,648

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current Assets 2014 Total assets less current liabilities

2014

300 26,174 26,474 (2,365)

£

Current assets

-

300 26,174 26,474 (2,365)

36,784 38,183

Charity (1) funds W hich gives us reasonable cause to believe that in 36,784 Restricted funds 3,368 any material respect the requirements 38,183 Unrestricted funds 22,280 T o keep accounting records in accordance with section Total• funds 25,648

13,603 24,580 38,183

3,368 22,280 25,648

130 of the 2011 Act: and

Independent examiner’s statement 13,603 •T o prepare which accord with the accounting In connection with ouraccounts examination, no matter has come to our attention: 24,580 records and comply with the accounting requirements (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements 38,183 Act.records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: and  of tothe keep2011 accounting  to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the Have not been met; or accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: (2) T o which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the to requirements Have not met; or inbeen order enable a proper understanding of the  to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of accounts the 2011 Act: and to be reached.

(2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the 2014 2013  to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounts to be reached. accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

1,539 Have not been met; or

Current Assets

£

£ £ £ Chartered Accountants (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order toCrowfoot enable a proper understanding of the and Company accounts to be reached.

Chartered Accountants Date: 17th June 2014

Amounts falling due within one year

£

£

£

-

1,399 Crowfoot and Company

26,174

-

37,384

-

26,474

-

37,384

-

£

£

-

(600)

-

24,109

-

36,784

£ (2,365)

Crowfoot and Company £ Accountants Chartered Date: 17th June 2014

Net current Assets

-

Total assets less current liabilities

-

Charity Funds

£

£

£

£

Restricted funds

-

3,368

-

13,603

Unrestricted funds

-

22,280

-

24,580

Total funds

25,648

37,384 37,384 (600)

Creditors: amounts falling due 37,384 within one year 37,384 Net In current Assets 24,109 no matter has connection with our examination, Total assets less current liabilities 25,648 (600)

-

Creditors

1,399

come to our attention:

24,109 25,648

£

1,399

Tangible Fixed Assets

Cash at bank and in hand

£

1,539

£

300

£

£

Fixed Assets

Debtors

2013

Independent examiner’s statement

2013

Charity funds Restricted funds 2013 Unrestricted funds Total funds

183

Fixed Assets

£

Debtors Cash at bank and in hand

Current assets

£38,183

2013

Tangible Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed Assets

£25,648

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Full copies of the independently examined accounts are available upon request.

Gillian Swindell Gillian Swindell Treasurer Treasurer People Express

People Express

Date: June 2014 Full copies of the independently accounts are available upon 17th request.

25,648 - examined 38,183

38,183

Gillian Swindell Treasurer People Express

Full copies of the independently examined accounts are available upon request.

People Express | Annual Report

Thank you to the Artists:

Adam Robertson (Film City), Kevin Fegan, Artcore, Christina Drew, Robert Webster, Andy Mac, Deb Haywood, Adam Watkins, Peter Wood, Julia Webster, Dimple Patel, Hema Acharya, James Sutton, Kelly Crow, Todd Wood, The NAK (Newhall Arts Kollective), Zantium Arts, Baby People, Richard Brighton, The Biz, Dan Wheeler, Dylan Jones( Kudize), Jennifer Jarvis (Kashmir Arts), Steve Nutter, Julian Mushuku (Afrizim), James Burrow, Claire Williamson, Pauline Fitzpatrick, Richard Arter, Urban Canvas Graffiti Artists, Kate Webborn (Four Beat Walk).

Thank you to our wonderful School Work Placements:

Talia Allsobrook, Alex Heale, Georgina Bateman.

Thank you to our partners and community groups:

Culture Club, Choosing Health Partnership, CAL-XL (Holland), DCC Children and Young People’s Services, EMPAF Partnership, Friends of Lemon Grove, Granville Sports College, Heathfields Primary School, ICAF (International Community Arts Festival - Rotterdam), Oaklands Village, Reach the People Charity, Safer Neighbourhood Partnership, SDDC Sports Development Team, South Derbyshire Mental Health Association, SHOUT!, Techno Tyros, The Old Post Centre.

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Staff Team:

Julie Batten – Director julie.batten@people-express.org.uk Julie Goodwin – Finance and Programme Support Officer (p/t) julie.goodwin@people-express.org.uk Hema Majithia – Project Manager (p/t) Hema.majithia@people-express.org.uk Kalila Storey – Arts Engagement Co-ordinator (p/t) Kalila.storey@people-express.org.uk

Trustees:

Robin Gray until 29th July 2013 Gillian Swindell – Treasurer Keri Lawrence Patricia Dawson – Chair Cllr John Lemmon Cllr Pat Murray Helen Baker Katy Russell Elliott Wheatley from 13th June 2013 Cllr Paul Dunn from 1st July 2013 Ian Reid from 18th November 2013

People Express projects were financially supported by:

Special thanks to:

Danyl Walton, Ellie Walton, Angie Archer, Sarah Humphries, Gail Smith, Katy Russell, Helen Baker, Kay Phipps and Gladys Pickering (and the Luncheon Clubs), Kate Bateman, Susanna Konowalik, Teresa Croft and Youth of Hatton, Elliott Wheatley, Shannen Merwick, Chris Lees (Nestle), Graham Nutt and Magic Attic, Helen Litherland, Tony Hurrell, Ruth Buttery and all the staff at Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, Gail Archer and all the Sharpe’s Tourism Staff, Newhall Day Centre, Gina Barsby, Kate Allies (Rosliston Forestry Centre), Rachel Searcey, Ian Hey (SDDC), Andi Woodruff, Roger Platt (Crowfoot and Company), Pam Wood and South Derbyshire CVS, South Derbyshire Mental Health Assocation, Julian, John, Andy and Ian from Whitaker Brothers Builders.

With thanks to: Derbyshire Constabulary Safer South Derbyshire Partnership Derbyshire Community Health Services East Midlands Airport Community Fund Photographs courtesy of the People Express

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People Express Sharpe’s Pottery, West Street, Swadlincote, South Derbyshire DE11 9DG www.people-express.org.uk

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