PERSONA ARTS
a charity with purposes of providing opera and choral arts to the diverse communities of the West Midlands
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CIO ARE: TO ADVANCE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AND APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, IN PARTICULAR THE ARTS OF OPERA, CHORAL AND CLASSICAL MUSIC, IN THE COMMUNITIES OF THE WEST MIDLANDS AUTHORITIES, BIRMINGHAM,COVENTRY, DUDLEY, SANDWELL, SOLIHULL, WALSALL AND WOLVERHAMPTON BY PROMOTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARTS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE STAGING OF PERFORMANCES, MUSICAL ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTATIONS.
Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts
The accounts state that the charity had no live events during the year, focusing instead on infrastructure development and digital outputs. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £28,214 with total cash of £33,751, supported by a significant Theatre Tax Relief claim. The charity holds no investment assets and has no official reserves policy in place.
What the accounts disclose
“For the year ending 2026, Byron Jackson was paid £1650 for consultancy work and reimbursed £110 for expenses connected to Persona Arts. James Oldham was paid £300 for extra work as subtitles editor for the Dutchman performance video.” — page 7
“For the year ending 2026, Byron Jackson was paid £1650 for consultancy work and reimbursed £110 for expenses connected to Persona Arts. James Oldham was paid £300 for extra work as subtitles editor for the Dutchman performance video.” — page 7
“Andrew Simpson remains our finance officer on a very modest fee basis and Rahel Schweizer is our designated safeguarding officer on a similar premise.”
“For the year ending 2026, Byron Jackson was paid £1650 for consultancy work and reimbursed £110 for expenses connected to Persona Arts. James Oldham was paid £300 for extra work as subtitles editor for the Dutchman performance video.” — page 7
“Andrew Simpson remains our finance officer on a very modest fee basis and Rahel Schweizer is our designated safeguarding officer on a similar premise.”
Policies the charity declares
- Conflicting interests
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2026
- Volunteers: 2
- 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 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 109
- 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 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 4
- Trustee benefits, answered Yes to: any trustee benefit; other trustee benefit
Funders the charity credits
- Operamus
Trustees
- Byron Jackson FRSA
- Claude Daka-Hunter
- James Holmes
- Toni Perry-Thomas
- Vincent Robert Edwards
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2026 | £28k | £8k |
| 31/03/2025 | £25k | £101k |
| 31/03/2024 | £79k | £15k |
| 31/03/2023 | £26k | £2k |
Common questions
Is PERSONA ARTS financially healthy?
Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that the charity had no live events during the year, focusing instead on infrastructure development and digital outputs. Per the trustees' report, unrestricted reserves stood at £28,214 with total cash of £33,751, supported by a significant Theatre Tax Relief claim. The charity holds no investment assets and has no official reserves policy in place. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds PERSONA ARTS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name PERSONA ARTS as a grant recipient include MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND, THE MILA CHARITABLE ORGANISATION, THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST, THE EDWARD AND DOROTHY CADBURY TRUST, JERWOOD FOUNDATION.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND | FY2023 | £5k | |
| MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND | FY2022 | Unverified read£3k | |
| THE MILA CHARITABLE ORGANISATION | FY2022 | £3k | |
| THE MARY KINROSS CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £2k | Small grant |
| THE EDWARD AND DOROTHY CADBURY TRUST | FY2023 | £1k | Arts and Culture |
| JERWOOD FOUNDATION | FY2023 | £1k | Flying Dutchman opera project |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postcode Lottery | 30/09/2024 | £8k | Unrestricted Funding |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| CYNGOR CELFYDDYDAU CYMRU | 1 | £110k |
| COLWINSTON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £80k |
| Laidlaw Opera Trust | 1 | £22k |
| MARGARET DAVIES CHARITY | 1 | £22k |
| THE MILLICHOPE FOUNDATION | 1 | £15k |
| FRAZER TRUST | 1 | £5k |
| FRIMLEY FUEL ALLOTMENTS CIO | 1 | £3k |
| THE THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- THE COMPANY PRESENTS LIMITED
- MID WALES OPERA LIMITED
- PEOPLE'S THEATRE ARTS GROUP LIMITED
- THE WOMBWELL AND DISTRICT AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
- FRIENDS OF DIVA OPERA LIMITED
- HODDESDON (COMMUNITY) SOCIETY OF PERFORMING ARTS LTD.
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERSONA ARTS | £28k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE COMPANY PRESENTS LIMITED | £36k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MID WALES OPERA LIMITED | £183k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| PEOPLE'S THEATRE ARTS GROUP LIMITED | £345k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE WOMBWELL AND DISTRICT AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY | £35k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| FRIENDS OF DIVA OPERA LIMITED | £255k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |