Finance Score: -1
Governance Score: 6
Support Score: 11
  • Spending declining: -1
  • Multiple Deficits and declines: -5
  • Future income +5
  • No PartB
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Overall weighted support: +11
Overall GiG Score: 16 ?

THE BUBBLE THEATRE COMPANY LIMITED

We make theatre with and for children, teenagers and adults of South London. Speech Bubbles helps children in primary schools who have problems communicating. YTM sees at risk teenagers develop as workshop leaders. Intergenerational projects share the stories of our place. Fan Made Theatre invites audiences to select professional outdoor family theatre, and year round we run workshops.
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government and there are significant future grants due to be received
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • Over half the Board have joined recently

Financial issues to consider:

  • Spending is declining
  • Income has been volatile and on several occasions in recent years less than spending
  • A PartB annual return has not been required and so detailed financial information is not available from the online data

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/03/23£366£413£-47n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/22£454£494£-41n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/21£592£517£75£21£315£601.493
31/03/20£531£601£-69£21£240£470.91218
31/03/19£627£626£1£20£309£961.8964
31/03/18£632£602£30£21£308£721.480
31/03/17£499£483£16n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/16*£584£617£-33£0£262£330.6100
31/03/15*£501£501£0£56£295£481.170
31/03/14£462£439£23n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/13*£613£381£232£17£271£63260
31/03/12£296£374£-78n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/11£424£499£-75n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/10£346£445£-98n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/09£507£308£199£10£290£27610.740
31/03/08£846£792£54£13£91£841.3100
31/03/07£728£772£-44£23£37£270.4100
31/03/06*£753£755£-2n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£825£721£104n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04*£715£721£-6n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Highest pay bracket: less than £60,000
Balance Sheet History
Established: 52 years

www.londonbubble.org.uk

admin@londonbubble.org.uk

02072374434

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies House
UN SDGs
?
Listed activities
  • Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science
  • Education/Training
GiG Classification
  • Performing and visual arts
How it operates
  • Provides buildings/facilities/open space
  • Provides human resources
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Throughout London,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Elderly/Old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • The General Public/Mankind

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
Paul Hamlyn Foundation£178,000
DCMS£120,000
Mercer's Charitable Foundation£119,000
Henry Smith Charity£98,000
London Borough of Southwark£95,581
United Saviours Charity£60,000
City Bridge Trust£51,600
National Lottery Community Fund£4,582
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Mercer's Charitable Foundation - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Co. Ltd
£119,000 29/11/2023
Older Adults’ Programme to provide opportunities for self-expression and creativity.
National Lottery Community Fund - MH- Acting Up! Youth Project
£4,582 28/07/2023
The funding will be used to deliver a theatre programme for young people including opportunities to learn about the industry and theatre technology. The project aims to improve young people's life chances.
Haberdashers' Company - Uplift grant
£509 10/05/2023
Contribution to core costs in Cost of Living crisis
Haberdashers' Company - Bubble’s Older Adults' Programme
£2,544 19/04/2023
Support for salary costs of resident artist
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble
£13,776 31/03/2023
Culture Together grant from the Environment, Neighbourhoods & Growth department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£2,500 31/03/2022
Neighbourhoods Fund - North East grant from the Environment & Leisure department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£3,500 31/03/2022
Neighbourhoods Fund - North East grant from the Environment & Leisure department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£28,000 31/03/2022
Culture Grants grant from the Environment & Leisure department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£1,947 31/03/2022
Cultural Celebrations Fund grant from the Environment & Leisure department for South London Stories Live
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - Speech Bubbles Covid-19 Recovery Model
£158,000 23/11/2020
This proposal will adapt the highly successful Speech Bubbles drama for communication programme to support children in Key Stage 1 who have been negatively affected by the Covid pandemic. Since reopening, schools are identifying increased numbers of ....more
City Bridge Trust - Grant to London Bubble
£51,600 17/09/2020
24
£51,600 over a further and final two years (£24,400, £27,200) towards the salary of a project coordinator and evaluation lead, freelance artists and associated costs, to deliver creative sessions for older people on Southwark.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company
£98,000 16/09/2020
36
towards three years' continuation funding for the Speech Bubbles, Bubble Young Theatre Makers and Creative Elders’ projects delivering creative workshops to disadvantaged people in London.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation - COVID19 Emergency Funding
£20,000 04/06/2020
3
Support to aid the organisation in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID19.
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£28,000 01/04/2020
Culture Grants grant from the Environment & Leisure department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble
£17,858 01/04/2020
Southwark Mayflower 400 grants fund grant from the Environment & Leisure department
DCMS - Bubble Bounce Back
£120,000 01/04/2020
To support Arts and Culture throughout England
United Saviours Charity - Playing Safe (Brandon)
£60,000 27/02/2020
30
This theatre making project creates opportunities for year 6 pupils to explore serious youth violence, safety in their community and barriers to feeling safe. It is designed and delivered in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police, Southwark ....more
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£3,000 01/04/2019
Neighbourhoods Fund: Bermondsey & Rotherhithe grant from the Housing & Modernisation department for Creative volunteers
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£28,000 01/04/2019
Culture Grants grant from the Environment & Leisure department
Walcot Foundation - Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication (2019-20 to 2021-22))
£33,000 12/03/2019
36
Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication (2019-20 to 2021-22))
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£25,000 25/09/2018
London Bubble Theatre Company - 2018 and beyond
National Lottery Community Fund - Bubble Creative Elders Programme (CEP)
£221,704 10/07/2018
36
This is an art project for people in sheltered housing that will enhance wellbeing. It will offer regular free of charge sessions co-created by its participants. Creative collaboration will utilise interpersonal skills, encourage mutual trust and ....more
BBC Children in Need - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company Ltd
£24,910 08/05/2018
36
Drama workshops for young people who are economically disadvantaged and who may be NEET (not in employment, education or training) and who may have mental health needs. Benefits include improved relationships and confidence and greater independence.
Walcot Foundation - Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication 18/19
£8,250 24/04/2018
12
Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication 18/19
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£28,000 01/04/2018
Culture Grants grant from the Environment & Leisure department
United Saviours Charity - Creative Volunteers Chart the Mayflower
£60,000 01/08/2017
23
2020 is the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower leaving the UK to take settlers to America.  In the run up to this event, the grant will create opportunities for local people to research, discuss and creatively develop workshops relating to the ....more
Walcot Foundation - Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication
£3,750 25/07/2017
12
Speech Bubbles, Drama For Communication
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£28,000 01/04/2017
Arts & Culture grant from the Environment & Social Regeneration department
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company
£5,377 01/04/2017
Neighbourhoods Fund: Bermondsey & Rotherhithe grant from the Housing & Modernisation department
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Bubble Theatre Company
£66,000 20/03/2017
36
£66,000 over three years (£20,000; £22,000; £24,000) towards 50% of the full-time Project Coordinator’s post; activity costs for Creative Homes and The Rotherhithe Shed and a contribution to overheads. Funding in the final year to be ....more
Greater London Authority - Grant to The London Bubble Theatre
£8,000 17/03/2017
Team London small grants - supporting 59-69 year olds to volunteer and/or elderly pople to have improved access to community services.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company
£90,000 09/03/2017
36
towards three years' running costs of a theatre company that works with disadvantaged people in the London Borough of Southwark
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company
£11,500 22/04/2016
Roof repairs for a youth arts charity
London Borough of Southwark - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£34,532 01/04/2016
Arts & Culture grant from the Environment & Leisure department
National Lottery Community Fund - Creative Homes
£288,439 26/01/2015
36
Not Available
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to The Bubble Theatre Company Limited
£74,000 05/11/2014
Grandchildren of Hiroshima, how Londoners responded to the Atomic Bombing of 1945
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Bubble Theatre Company Ltd
£30,000 29/04/2014
This is an arts based organisation that delivers projects to address the needs of those that are most disadvantaged. The funding will allow them to continue delivering projects to the elderly, NEETs and young people.
National Lottery Community Fund - LB+
£97,335 17/04/2013
36
This is an expansion of a project by The Bubble Theatre Company Limited (London Bubble) that aims to offer significant, lasting and material difference to the life-chances and choices of young people aged 16 to 21 years from Southwark who are NEET ....more
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to London Bubble Theatre
£40,000 29/08/2012
Towards supporting access to the participation programme including the yearly community production and associated activity.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to London Bubble Theatre Company
£75,000 13/06/2012
36
towards three years’ core costs of a theatre company working with deprived communities in the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (11)
Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 26-57
  • ANNA MARY SHIELDS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Group Singing Leader
  • ABIMBOLA APALARA Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Director
  • CHRISTOPHER SONNEX Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Artistic Director/Joint Ceo
  • DR OURANIA PAULINE MARANDOS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Independent Consultant
  • ELIZABETH HOLDEN Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Lawyer
  • GEORGIA GRACE BOWERS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Academic Researcher
  • GRACE AROGUNDADE Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Actor
  • KAYEYE NTUMBA (Chair) Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Chartered Accountant
  • MILES JASON WEBBER Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Retired
  • TINASHE SITHOLE Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Consultant
  • TRACEY CHELTENHAM Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Svp - Uk & Canada
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 21/08/1972, number: 264359
  • Registered at Companies House on 16/06/1972, number: 01058397
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
20 returns made; AR16: 1 days late, AR15: 2 days late, AR13: 1 days late, AR06: 1 days late, AR04: 26 days late,
Main office

Kehryse Johnson-Fraser
3-5 ELEPHANT LANE
LONDON
SE16 4JD

Objectives

THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE PROMOTION AND SUPPORT OF THE ART OF THEATRE AND MUSIC (INCLUDING THEATRE, MUSIC HALL, OPERA, MUSIC, DRAMA, BALLET AND ALL ART FORMS CONSISTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF WORDS AND/OR MUSIC) PARTICULARLY BY THE PROMOTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THEATRICAL COMPANIES.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

Tips for Selecting Charities

Which areas of philanthropy are most effective?
The text of this post is taken from an article on the Effective Altruism forum. It suggests that you can achieve the most impact by supporting causes that fight extreme poverty, improving animal welfare....more
Our Top Tips for Philanthropy
Here are some ideas to help you gain more satisfaction from your philanthropy and confidence that the causes you have selected are impactful. Engage your brain, as well as your heart You....more
How to become a Philanthropist
In this Blog we outline a strategy to help people who are new to philanthropy and for those who feel dissatisfied with the impact they are having. Effective philanthropy is immensely rewarding for donors,....more

Giving is Great