People express annual report 31 3 2014

Annual Report 2013 to 2014

Registered Charity No: 1005753

People Express

Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun!

People Express | Annual Report 2 People Express | Annual Report 3

Contents

Director’s and Chair’s Report 4

Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun! 6

Our programme priorities for 2012 to 2015 7

Young People and the Arts 8

Youth Arts Mini-Projects 9

Working with Diverse Communities 10

Arts in the Digital Age 12

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st March 2014 14

Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014 16

Staff information 18


Director’s Report 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.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.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.

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.”

Chair’s ReportI’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. 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.

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

Pat Dawson Chair


OUR PROGRAMME PRIORITIES FOR 2012 TO 2015

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.

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.

Young People and the Arts

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.

Empowering people through the arts, creativity and fun! Who we arePeople 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.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).

What we doPeople 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

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

Where we arePeople 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.

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


Arts Award 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.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 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.

SHOUT!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.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 ProjectPeople 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!).

Youth Arts Mini-Projects

The Feel Good ProjectTaking 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.

Summer VibeFor 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.

Young People and the Arts


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.

Working with CommunitiesTargeted Arts EngagementOver 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.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.


Arts in the Digital Age

‘Famous at Last!’ – older people star on the silver screenOver 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 storybooksGirls 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 2013In 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.

‘Bricked’ – hard hitting and provocative film actionWhen 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.‘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+).


Incoming resources £ £ £ £

Incoming resources from generated funds:

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

Resources Expended £ £ £ £

Charitable activities 39,284 116,954 156,238 126,848

Governance costs - 600 600 600

Total 39,284 117,554 156,838 127,448

Net incoming resources before transfers 1,749 (14,284) (12,535) (71)

Transfer between funds for overheads (11,984) 11,984 - -

Net movement in funds for year 10,235 (2,300) (12,535) (71)

Total funds at 1 April 2013 13,603 24,580 38,183 38,254

Total funds at 31 March 2014 3,368 22,280 25,648 38,183

All activities relate to continuing operations

RestrictedFunds 2014

UnrestrictedFunds 2014

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013

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

Restricted Funds 2014

Unrestricted Funds 2014

2014

2013

£41,033

£103,270

£25,648

£144,303

£38,183

£ 127,377

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013



2014

2013

£41,033

£103,270

£25,648

£144,303

£38,183

£ 127,377

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013


Independent examiner’s statementIn connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:(1) Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in

any material respect the requirements• To keep accounting records in accordance with section

130 of the 2011 Act: and• To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting

records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

Have not been met; or(2) To which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn

in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Crowfoot and Company Chartered Accountants

Gillian Swindell Treasurer People Express

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

People Express

Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2014

2014 2013

£ £ £ £

Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed Assets 1,539 1,399

Current assets

Debtors 300 - Cash at bank and in hand 26,174 37,384 26,474 37,384 Creditors: amounts falling due (2,365) (600) within one year Net current Assets 24,109 36,784 Total assets less current liabilities 25,648 38,183 Charity funds Restricted funds 3,368 13,603 Unrestricted funds 22,280 24,580 Total funds 25,648 38,183 Independent examiner’s statement In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the

accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

Have not been met; or (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the

accounts to be reached.

Crowfoot and Company Gillian Swindell Chartered Accountants Treasurer People Express Date: 17th June 2014 Full copies of the independently examined accounts are available upon request.

People Express


2014 2013

£ £ £ £

Fixed Assets

Tangible Fixed Assets 1,539 1,399

Current assets

Debtors 300 - Cash at bank and in hand 26,174 37,384 26,474 37,384 Creditors: amounts falling due (2,365) (600) within one year Net current Assets 24,109 36,784 Total assets less current liabilities 25,648 38,183 Charity funds Restricted funds 3,368 13,603 Unrestricted funds 22,280 24,580 Total funds 25,648 38,183 Independent examiner’s statement In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: (1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the

accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

Have not been met; or (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the

accounts to be reached.

Crowfoot and Company Gillian Swindell Chartered Accountants Treasurer People Express Date: 17th June 2014 Full copies of the independently examined accounts are available upon request.


Fixed Assets £ £ £ £

Tangible Fixed Assets - 1,539 - 1,399

Current Assets £ £ £ £

Debtors 300 - - -

Cash at bank and in hand 26,174 - 37,384 -

26,474 - 37,384 -

Creditors £ £ £ £

Amounts falling due within one year (2,365) - (600) -

Net current Assets - 24,109 - 36,784

Total assets less current liabilities - 25,648 - 38,183

Charity Funds £ £ £ £

Restricted funds - 3,368 - 13,603

Unrestricted funds - 22,280 - 24,580

Total funds 25,648 38,183

2014 2013



2014

2013

£41,033

£103,270

£25,648

£144,303

£38,183

£ 127,377

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013



2014

2013

£41,033

£103,270

£25,648

£144,303

£38,183

£ 127,377

Total Funds 2014

Total Funds 2013


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.

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.

Staff Team:Julie Batten – Director [email protected] Goodwin – Finance and Programme Support Officer (p/t) [email protected] Majithia – Project Manager (p/t) [email protected] Storey – Arts Engagement Co-ordinator (p/t) [email protected]

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:

With thanks to:Derbyshire Constabulary Safer South Derbyshire PartnershipDerbyshire Community Health ServicesEast Midlands Airport Community Fund

Photographs courtesy of the People Express

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

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People express annual report 31 3 2014

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