'SIGNALS' ESSEX MEDIA CENTRE LTD
Signals provides the opportunity for everyone to participate in media production. Through courses, exhibition, and projects. This work encourages participation & understanding & develops technical & personal skills.
Latest income
£191k
Latest spending
£200k
Registered
1990
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total funds decreased to £89,189, with unrestricted reserves rising to £8,284. The trustees report that the charity will be able to maintain positive cash flows for the foreseeable future based on secured grants and expected new funding. The going concern basis of accounting has been adopted.
What the accounts disclose
Fundraising cost ratio: 8284.0% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“Signals total reserves decreased in the financial year from £98,451 to £89,189, with restricted reserves decreasing from £90,041 to £80,905 and unrestricted reserves increasing from £410 to £8,284.” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy (held: £8k; policy: three months operational costs)
“Signals strives to ensure that it develops an unrestricted reserve fund of 3 months operational costs. At this time, it has not achieved this figure.” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Key management personnel include trustees, CEO, Operations Co-ordinator, and Creative and Learning Producer. Total employee benefits for these individuals were disclosed.
“The key management personnel comprise the trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Operations Co-ordinator/ Company Secretary and the Creative and Learning Producer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £86,416 (2024: £83,824)” — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trustees
- Sarah Jane Davieschair
- DEBORAH ANN ROOME
- Derek Wotton
- Jonathan Mark Saward
- Julien Mery
- Mei-Fung Greenhalgh
- Rebecca Kate Winward
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £191k | £200k |
| 31/03/2024 | £208k | £164k |
| 31/03/2023 | £171k | £148k |
| 31/03/2022 | £151k | £148k |
| 31/03/2021 | £122k | £125k |
Common questions
Is 'SIGNALS' ESSEX MEDIA CENTRE LTD financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total funds decreased to £89,189, with unrestricted reserves rising to £8,284. The trustees report that the charity will be able to maintain positive cash flows for the foreseeable future based on secured grants and expected new funding. The going concern basis of accounting has been adopted. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds 'SIGNALS' ESSEX MEDIA CENTRE LTD?
Funders whose own accounts filings name 'SIGNALS' ESSEX MEDIA CENTRE LTD as a grant recipient include THE DULVERTON TRUST, CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE DULVERTON TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | To provide a yearlong programme of creative digital workshops, including 12 Autism-friendly sessions, for children and young people aged seven to 19 in Colchest |
| CHARLES S FRENCH CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £3k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/09/2025 | £14k | Autism friendly holiday workshops |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 27/09/2023 | £105k | Digital Community - Tendring |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 20/01/2023 | £94k | "Peoples of Essex" |
| UK government | 13/10/2022 | £65k | National Portfolio Organisations |
| UK government | 13/10/2022 | £65k | National Portfolio Organisations |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 07/10/2022 | £4k | Online Communications |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/01/2020 | £41k | "Talk Time: History of Commuication Technology" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/01/2018 | £31k | "The Year: A seasonal exploration of the natural heritage of Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 21/03/2016 | £27k | "Dig Deeper: The Archaeology of Colchester's Roman Circus" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 02/09/2015 | £5k | A4A - Net Working – Digital Resources and Education |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 29/04/2014 | £6k | Community Cameras |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 16/01/2014 | £44k | "Essex Girls - women's history in Essex" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/03/2012 | £6k | Pack for the journey |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/01/2012 | £23k | "Turning Tides" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 16/09/2010 | £23k | "Polish Connections" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 18/04/2008 | £10k | workstations |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 30/08/2005 | £70k | APERTURE - A programme of issue based film and media productions by young p |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| SANTANDER UK FOUNDATION LIMITED | 1 | £264k |
| THE MERCERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £197k |
| THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF MARKETING CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £112k |
| SCREENSKILLS LIMITED | 1 | £103k |
| THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £100k |
| TEAM FORCES FOUNDATION | 1 | £97k |
| THE CRUCIBLE FOUNDATION | 1 | £50k |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | 1 | £50k |
Charities like this
- SIGNAL FILM & MEDIA LIMITED
- SIGNALONG The Communication Charity
- The Royal Signals Charity
- SIGNPOST (COLCHESTER) LIMITED
- THE MEDIA TRUST
- SOMERSET FILM AND VIDEO LTD
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'SIGNALS' ESSEX MEDIA CENTRE LTD | £191k | — | 0 | below | 8284.0% | no doubt |
| SIGNAL FILM & MEDIA LIMITED | £1.5m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SIGNALONG The Communication Charity | £214k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| The Royal Signals Charity | £1.5m | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | above | — | no doubt |
| SIGNPOST (COLCHESTER) LIMITED | £394k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE MEDIA TRUST | £1.9m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |