OVO
to promote and advance the education of the public in the arts, in particular the performing arts.
Objects
1. TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ARTS AND IN PARTICULAR THE PERFORMING ARTS.2. TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £71,905 for the year, resulting in total net assets of £63,453. However, unrestricted funds are in a deficit of £44,005, while restricted funds stand at £107,458. The trustees confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months.
What the accounts disclose
“The Board aims to hold reserves equal to three months' operating costs in the charity's bank account, in unrestricted funds, as a contingency for normal operating purposes.” — page 5
“The Board aims to hold reserves equal to three months' operating costs in the charity's bank account, in unrestricted funds, as a contingency for normal operating purposes.” — page 5
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 36
- Government income: £30,540 — grants £30,540 (1); 4% of the £688,770 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 30
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 30
- Government income: £65,488 — grants £65,488 (1); 9% of the £757,580 total gross income on the same return
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; payments to trustees for services to the charity
Annual return filing dates (Charity Commission record)
Of its last 5 annual returns with a recorded received date, 1 was received after the due date: year ending 31/12/2024 (received 22/12/2025, 52 days after the 31/10/2025 due date).
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2025)
Trustees
- Adam Dominic Nichols
- Andrew Sawford
- Professor Timothy John Boatswain
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £689k | £617k |
| 31/12/2024 | £373k | £363k |
| 31/12/2023 | £758k | £752k |
| 31/12/2022 | £542k | £502k |
| 31/03/2022 | £542k | £502k |
Common questions
Is OVO financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £71,905 for the year, resulting in total net assets of £63,453. However, unrestricted funds are in a deficit of £44,005, while restricted funds stand at £107,458. The trustees confirm the charity has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for at least 12 months. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| ANGUISH'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | 1 | £40k |
| Norwich Freemen's Charity | 1 | £20k |
| TALBOT VILLAGE TRUST | 1 | £15k |
| THE SIR BARRY JACKSON COUNTY FUND | 1 | £9k |
| The Patricia Routledge Foundation | 1 | £5k |
| THE BRITFORD BRIDGE TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| THE ELMLEY FOUNDATION | 1 | £4k |
| BIRKDALE TRUST FOR HEARING IMPAIRED LTD | 1 | £3k |
Charities like this
- THE WEYMOUTH OPERATIC SOCIETY
- OVATION MUSIC
- VAMOS THEATRE CIO
- ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS
- DEVON ARTS IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE
- OPDA
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVO | £689k | — | 0 | below | 30000.0% | no doubt |
| THE WEYMOUTH OPERATIC SOCIETY | £87k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| OVATION MUSIC | £46k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| VAMOS THEATRE CIO | £402k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ACTIVATE PERFORMING ARTS | £642k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| DEVON ARTS IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE | £179k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |