Haldon Fundraising History

During our attempt to become established at Poltimore and the production of the Development Study 1998-2003, annual accounts were kept by East Devon District Council but these are now untraceable. Although registered as a Charity in 2001, CCANW’s own accounts were only first produced in the financial year 2003-4.

Having opened its Project Space at Haldon in April 2006, CCANW’s grant applications and annual accounts largely coincided, running 1 April-31 March, though some grants were paid in instalments and ran across financial years. The figures come from annual cash statements prepared by our accountants, submitted to Companies House and the Charity Commission.

As a registered charity undertaking both business and non-business activities, CCANW negotiated an arrangement with HMRC over charging and reclaiming a percentage of VAT.

The main focus of CCANW’s fundraising efforts had been on securing funding from Arts Council England (ACE), trusts and foundations, and other public income (including European funding) which made up around 90% of our overall income from 2006-10. Subsequently, we developed a range of income streams to widen our funding base. Income from donations played a significant part, particularly since 2010 when we met our target of £20,000 with contributions ranging from £5-£5,000, to provide match funding for our 2010/11 ACE Grants for the Arts re-application.

In order to cover the risk of failing to achieve annual funding and being forced to close, in 2009 Trustees resolved to develop a reserves policy to reach a target of around £21,000 by 2013, later increased to £30,000. This was intended to cover staff costs over three months, legal and professional fees, utilities, rent and other overheads. CCANW was never able to establish this fund, largely because ACE and other funders never allowed us to use any of their grants for this purpose. Every penny of our other income was needed to deliver our programme and provide match funding for applications.

Forestry Commission

A lease until 2011 was agreed with the Forestry Commission with no rent payable in the first year, and an annual rent of £2,250 (until 2012) rising to £3,000 (fixed for first three years, before a new five year lease due from 2012), based on the value of the unimproved building. As our partner and landlord at Haldon, the Commission provided very substantial ‘support in kind’ by way of services and infrastructure, all of which was eligible as ‘match funding’ to support grant applications.

Between 2005/6 and 2011/12 the Commission gave us four grants totalling £20,175, largely towards the cost of refurbishing the Project Space (£13,500) and creating the education and community Neo-Geo Dome (£5,000). On the surrender of our lease in 2013, the Commission paid us a premium of £10,000 on account of the improvements we had made to the building. It also purchased CCANW’s outdoor picnic tables, its video and sound system and other items.