2025-03-31-accounts

SOUND CONNECTIONS (A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Charity number 1095947 Company number 04561825 (England & Wales)

SOUND CONNECTIONS

Contents

For the Year Ended 31 March 2025

	Page
Legal and Administrative Information	2
Report of the Directors (Trustees)	3 to 12
Independent Examiners’ Report	13
Statement of Financial Activities	14
Balance Sheet	15
Notes forming part of the Financial Statements	16 to 23

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Legal and Administrative Information

Year ended 31 March 2025

Charity Legal Name: Sound Connections Charity registration number: 1095947 Company registration number: 04561825 (England & Wales) Trustees N York – Chair, stepped down 4 November 2025 E Bokuma Lenda A Frame – resigned 1 February 2025 G Knox S Mattock N Senok M R Rubin M Taylor F Schroeder – appointed 19 July 2024 S Spence-Stimpson – appointed 2 August 2024, appointed Chair 4 November 2025 Company Secretary P Flood – resigned 30 September 2024 P Layne – appointed 17 October 2024, resigned 29 July 2025 E Coomb – appointed on 29 July 2025 Senior Management Team P Flood – Director to 30 September 2024 P Layne – Deputy Director to July 2024 Co-Director from July 2024 E Coomb – Co-Director from July 2024 Registered office & operational address: 1[st] Floor Rich Mix 35-47 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6LA Independent Examiners: Simpson Wreford LLP Chartered Accountants Wellesley House Duke of Wellington Avenue Royal Arsenal London SE18 6SS

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic or Ireland (FRS102).

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Sound Connections is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14 October 2002. The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the Company being wound up each of the Members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. Its operational address is currently at 3[rd] Floor, Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA

The charity is managed by its trustees who constitute the board of directors and have been appointed in accordance with the charity’s Articles of Association. The directors in office during the year ended 31 March 2025 were as follows:-

N York – Chair, stepped down 4 November 2025 E Bokuma Lenda A Frame – resigned 1 February 2025 G Knox S Mattock N Senok M R Rubin M Taylor F Schroeder – appointed 19 July 2024 S Spence-Stimpson – appointed 2 August 2024, appointed Chair 4 November 2025

The day-to-day management is carried out by P Layne, P Flood (to September 2024), E Coomb (from July 2024).

The registered office is disclosed on the information page.

SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Directors of the Company are also Charity Trustees for the purposes of charity law. Trustees may be nominated by existing Trustees. Each appointment is based on an individual’s commitment to Sound Connections charitable objectives, relevant skills, and experience necessary to support its governance.

New Trustees undergo an induction process to ensure they understand Sound Connection’s objective, vision and operational structure, as well as their legal obligations under charity law. This includes a review of the charitable documents, policies, financial procedures, and governance principles.

Staff

During the year we had several staff changes and developments. After 14 years as Director, Philip Flood stepped down to pursue new opportunities, we thank Philip for his hard work and dedication over the years and look forward to continuing to work with him in the future. We welcomed internal staff members Liz Coomb and Wizdom Layne as the Charity’s first Co-Directors in July 2024 and they had an extended handover with Philip before he finished at the end of September 2024.

Jasmine Padda, Emily Perryman and Tee Peters were all promoted to the role of Programme Producer within their respective strands as part of our goal to develop younger members of the team, and Helen Evans continues with us as Programme Coordinator. Previous Wired4Music Assistant Producer Perri Wickham joined us as Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator and we welcomed Olubanji Ibidapo, Laura Clavier and Chase Watsonas our Wired4Music Assistant Producers. We also continued our relationship with Vanessa Stansall as Early Years Lead on our Training and Professional Development strand of work, Alison Porter as Associate Programme Manager on Sector and Consultancy, Wired4Music Associates Shakira Alleyne and Yasmine Dankwah supporting Sector development and Shakira Walters joined us as Programme Lead for Cultivate

Organisational Structure

Sound Connections currently has a board of eight Trustees who meet (at least) quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. All Trustees have considerable experience and expertise related to the charity’s business and needs.

Responsibility for the provision of services and the general running of the Charity rests with the CoDirectors. The Co-Directors are responsible for ensuring key performance indicators / targets are met and that funders are kept fully appraised of the results of their projects. The Managers are responsible for the day to day running of the various programmes and the supervision of staff and contracted workers employed to deliver those services.

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Objectives and activities

Our vision and mission

Our vision is for a fair and equitable world in which music and creativity support children and young people to thrive as active, happy, and fulfilled people.

Our mission is to ensure that all children and young people can experience music and creative opportunities that are relevant to them and responsive to their needs in a changing world.

Our values

• We are collaborative : We believe learning from others and sharing power creates the biggest change.

• We are inclusive : We demonstrate our genuine commitment to inclusion and equity inside out.

• We are innovative : We seize opportunities for change through our dynamism and flexibility.

Our context

Our work strategically responds to the existing landscape:

• The lack of diversity and representation across music education and wider cultural opportunities for children and young people.

• The prevalence of systemic injustice and discrimination across music education and opportunities.

• The lack of widespread effective youth voice practice.

• Evidence that many people beyond the music sector don't understand, value or invest in the holistic benefits and importance of music and creativity in young people's lives.

Who we work with

• We collaborate with young people. We listen to and amplify their voices, so they are at the heart of decision-making. We support a diverse community of young creatives through training, bursaries, mentoring and paid work experience.

• We equip the music workforce with knowledge, skills, and confidence so they can be inclusive, relevant, and engaging in their work with children and young people. We do this through training, networking, bursaries, mentoring and resources.

• We support and challenge the music and creative sector to innovate and evolve. We support music education and community organisations, and those in the wider creative and cultural sector, through consultancy, organisational development and thought leadership.

Achievements and Performance – the year in brief

Our work with children and young people

Wired4Music our creative network for 16–25+ year-olds, has continued to thrive connecting young people across London to a supportive community and providing music-making opportunities and professional development activities. Over 1,200 young people engaged with us through Wired4Music’s events, grants, mentoring, and our community. Activity included:

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Wired Up - our live events series providing a professional platform for emerging performers and producers to get real-life experience both on and offstage. In 2024-2025 we:

• Delivered eight events at our partner venue Rich Mix.

• Hosted 14 partners and their young people, providing opportunities to perform and connect with young people from other organisations and other parts of the country. Partners included: Rich Mix New Creatives, YUAF, Kids on the Green, Yeah Youth, Crossword Lyric, SILKFUTURES, XLP, ELAM, Spit Game, Arts Train, CDR, Access Creative College, Rhythm Studio, Circle of Light.

• Welcomed over 60 young artists ranging from rappers, producers, instrumentalists, bands, and vocalists, and 100s of young people as audience members to support their peers and network.

• Provided opportunities for young musicians as the house band, hosts, photographers and videographers, and a team of young Event Producers who took on weekly production responsibilities, developing skills in programming, marketing, and producing.

“It’s given me confidence to perform live and see myself as a professional artist, not just a student.” Participant

Generate - our micro-grant programme continued to support young creatives to realise self-directed projects. For 2024-2025 we:

• Supported nine projects with grants from £300-£1000 on a range of activity including recording and releasing EPs and albums and creating music videos, to community projects and events exploring accessibility, spaces for female musicians, identity and the impact of global conflict and local knife crime.

• Provided all project grantees with networking, 1-1s, peer led monthly meet-ups and free studio time.

“Generate helped me bring my idea to life and taught me how to manage a creative project from start to finish.” Participant

Collaborate – our music creation and experimentation programme provided young artists and musicians free studio time and the space to work with others from different backgrounds, genres and disciplines. We delivered four day-long sessions, supporting 40+ young people.

Our Trainee Producer scheme provided hands-on, paid and professional experience for young people through two pathways – Events Producers working on WiredUP, and an Assistant Producer role working across Wired4Music and learning how to run a young people’s music programme. We supported 10 young people this year (seven event producers and three assistant producers), supporting them into new roles and next steps once their time with us is complete.

In early 2025, the team began redesigning the membership model to further build an active community with a new digital system being piloted.

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

“It feels like we’re part of something bigger now - not just projects, but a movement that helps us grow.” Participant

Our work with practitioners

Our Training and Professional Development strand has continued to deliver high-quality, inclusive learning for music educators, practitioners, and emerging and established leaders across England. Activity included:

Training sessions – we welcomed over 250 practitioners and professionals working in the sector to 14 events on topics including:

• Early Years

• ‘Anti-Racist Practice in Early Years Music’ with Dr Shaddai Tembo

• ‘Come and Chat networking session’ with Joss Cambridge-Simmons

• Cross Arts and ‘Creative Practice for Musicians; Perspectives from the Nursery Floor’ with Kate Comberti

• Youth voice and inclusive practice

• ‘Working with chaos: bridging the gap between young people and the creative industries’ in collaboration with Bollobrook Youth Centre

• ‘Authentic decision making with young people’, ‘From co-production to autonomy – supporting young people to take the lead’ and ‘Ageing upwards not outwards: exploring the progression routes from participant to practitioner with Wired4Music Associates Yasmine Dankwah and Shakira Alleyne

• How to evaluate your impact with Jenn Raven and Yasmine Dankwah

• Supporting young people from underrepresented groups in their journey toward a music career’ with Natasha Hendry

• Film screening and Q&A of Shakira Alleyne’s film ‘Neurodiveristy in Music: Improving Access’

• ‘Managing mental health and finding boundaries in the arts’ with Soundcastle

• ‘Plotting creative career paths’ with Phil Nelson and Chris Cooke

Inclusive Practice in Action – our flagship annual gathering acts as a culmination of our annual training programme and a catalyst for change, by bringing together young people, practitioners and organisations from across the country to grapple with what being inclusive looks like. We collaborated with a team of young people again to produce this year’s event, and the theme was ‘Unlocking Musical Futures: Overcoming Barriers to Progression for Young People’. For 2025’s event we:

• Welcomed over 100 delegates from across the country

• Heard from over 15 speakers on topics including: ‘Navigating pathways to musical progression’, ‘Freelancing and building a career for young creatives’ and ‘Alternative pathways in orchestral music’ alongside keynote speakers, networking and surgeries

• Brought our programmes together as Wired UP followed the day event.

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Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

“The mix of young and experienced voices was refreshing — it reminded us why this work matters.” Delegate

London Early Years Music Network – led by our Early Years Lead Vanessa Stansall, and delivered in collaboration with Creative Futures, this year we delivered 3 training and networking sessions as detailed above and supported 15 emerging leaders through a scheme of training, networking and mentoring.

Mentoring – we supported nine practitioners’ development by pairing them with industry professionals to support them with career development, inclusive practice and pastoral care. “The transformation in confidence and clarity from our mentees has been incredible.” Mentor

Innovate – we supported four Innovate projects, including three in Levelling Up areas, through a mix of investment of £2,000 per project, mentoring, networking and training. Projects explored different ways of working with young people including using music therapy techniques with children with special needs and disabilities, creating instruments with children and young people, composition, music technology and nature and supporting young adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Our work with organisations

Our Sector Support and Consultancy strand has continued to strengthen our national role as both a learning partner and advocate for inclusive music education. Activity included:

Activate – we relaunched our Activate grants programme for Music Hubs and worked with Lewisham Music, Leicestershire Music, Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub and Sheffield Music Hub, providing investment of £1,750 per project alongside mentoring, networking and training. Project focused on different approaches to youth-led work including radio production, industry training, SEN/D creative industries, and youth community gatherings.

Youth voice and participation and Wired4Music Associates – our first cohort of trainee Associates Shakira Alleyne and Yasmine Dankwah co-designed and co-led this year’s youth voice training and network activity as detailed in our training activity above, and produced creative resources exploring young people’s perspectives in relation to access, inclusion and careers. Yasmine created the Pathways podcast and Shakira created a short film on neurodiversity.

“It’s rare to see projects where young people are shaping the conversation about access — this felt authentic and powerful” Event attendee

Cultivate – in January 2025 we launched a new national capacity-building programme delivered in partnership with the Ed Sheeran Foundation. The programme brings together six small-to-medium organisations from across the UK including CC Foundation (London), Girl Grind UK (Birmingham), Silk Futures (Cardiff), In The Making (East London), Pattern+Push (Sheffield), and NxGen Music

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Group (Belfast). Each organisation received £2,500 micro-grants, mentoring and a year-long professional development programme.

Consultancy – work with partners this year included projects spanned evaluation, strategy, and research for organisations including Anthem Wales, Basildon County Council, Brent Music Academy English Heritage, London Music Fund, MOBO Organisation, Paraorchestra, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Ballet and Opera, Royal National Institute of the Blind, Sing Up, Sound Minds and Swansea University Hospital Board.

Our strategic work and funding

As a National Portfolio Organisation, Arts Council England continues to be a major supporter of our work, as does our founding funder Youth Music via their Catalyser Programme. We also started new funding partnerships with Paul Hamlyn Foundation as part of their Arts Fund, Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation as part of their Signatur programme and the Ed Sheeran Foundation.

Sound Connections continues to be a member of Music Mark, the subject association for Music, and the Music Education Council, the national body representing music education in the UK. This enables the organisation to contribute to the national debate on music in the UK and advocate for the support of young people who face barriers to music.

Financial Review

The attached financial statements show the current state of the charity’s finances for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Incoming resources for the year totalled £425,591 of which £105,000 were for restricted purposes. Outgoing resources for the year totalled £427,893 of which £112,596 were attributable to restricted funds. Overall the accounts show a surplus for the year on unrestricted funds of £5,294. Unrestricted funds at the year-end totalled £207,504 of which £29,000 is designated.

Reserves policy

The trustees have considered the charitable company’s need for reserves with reference to the major risks it faces. It has established a policy where unrestricted funds not invested in fixed assets should be at least enough to cover six months’ core running expenses.

Forecast expenditure for 2025/26 on core costs is £321,679 and a surplus of £5,655 and therefore the target reserves are £160,840 in general funds. A designated fund was established in 2007 to provide for redundancy payments. This has remained at £29,000 this year.

Principal funding sources

In the year ended 31 March 2025, Arts Council England funded 28% and the National Foundation for Youth Music funded 21% of the overall charitable income.

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation, Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust, Harriet’s Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Ed Sheeran Foundation and The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation funded 27%. Course fees, training, consultancy work, commissioned work and other income accounted for the remaining 24%.

Plans for future periods

We successfully delivered the final year of our three-year business plan (2022-2025). Our five priorities in the business plan are:

1. Youth Voice

2. Inclusion and Access

3. Diversity

4. Structural and systemic injustice and discrimination

5. Sector relevance, resilience, and sustainability

And over the final year of the plan we aim to:

1. Continue to use our independent status to champion change across the music education sector in order to achieve more inclusive and equitable opportunities for young people.

2. Develop our work on a national and international basis, specifically through becoming a new Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation

3. Explore new digital approaches to delivery to extend our reach and broaden participant base.

Risk management

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks. The principal external risk continues to be the loss of funding that supports ‘core’ or fixed costs including senior staff and work continues to aim to reduce this risk by diversifying the company’s funding and income base. Internal risks are managed by the established procedures for the authorisation of all transactions as well as a detailed system of financial and budgetary control, all of which are reviewed annually by the Senior Management Team and Trustees.

Directors (Trustees) Responsibilities

The Trustees, as set out on page 3 (who are also the directors of Sound Connections for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Directors’ (Trustees) Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue on that basis.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Limited liability

Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the company in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2025 was eight.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, ‘Charities and Public Benefit’.

Sound Connections charitable purpose is to provide increased access to music and musical education to young people in London, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and provide them with opportunities to participate in a range of musical activities.

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Report of the Directors (Trustees)

Year ended 31 March 2025

Independent examiners

Simpson Wreford LLP., were appointed as Independent Examiners during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Signed on behalf of the board of directors (trustees) on 18 December 2025.

---

S Spence-Stimpson Director (Trustee)

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Independent Examiners’ Report

To the Trustees of Sound Connections for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

I report to the charity trustees on the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 14 to 23.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the ‘2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s report

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

• (1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

• (2) the accounts do not accord with those accounting records; or

• (3) the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

• (4) the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Kate Taylor FCA

For and behalf of Simpson Wreford LLP, Chartered Accountants

Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales

Wellesley House Duke of Wellington Avenue London, SE18 6SS Dated: 19 December 2025

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account)

Year ended 31 March 2025

==> picture [471 x 374] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted
Notes
Funds Funds Total funds Total funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
INCOME 4
Donations and legacies 66,750 - 66,750 151,055
Charitable activities 253,841 105,000 358,841 228,827
TOTAL INCOME 320,591 105,000 425,591 379,882
-
EXPENDITURE ON: 6
Raising funds 5,700 - 5,700 6,800
Charitable activities 309,596 112,596 422,193 413,793
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 315,296 112,596 427,893 420,593
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 5,294 (7,596) (2,302) (40,711)
Transfers between funds - - - -
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 5,294 (7,596) (2,302) (40,711)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 202,210 9,185 211,395 252,106
Total funds carried forward 207,504 1,589 209,093 211,395
----- End of picture text -----

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Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

Notes Fixed Assets Tangible assets 8 Current Assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 10 Net current assets Total net assets The Funds of the Charity 11 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds	- 56,519 194,264 250,783 (41,690) 209,093 207,504 1,589 209,093 2025 209,093	- 50,758 181,353 232,111 (20,716) 211,395 202,210 9,185 211,395 2024 211,395	- 50,758 181,353 232,111 (20,716) 211,395 202,210 9,185 211,395 2024 211,395
			211,395
			202,210 9,185
			211,395

For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The trustees have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

The financial statements on pages 14 to 23 were approved by the Trustees on 18 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

S Spence-Stimpson Director (Trustee)

Company Number – 04561825 (England &Wales)

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year.

Company information

Sound Connections is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The registered office is 3[rd] Floor, Rich Mix, 3547 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA

(a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102)– (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in the financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The effects of events relating to the year ended 31 March 2025 which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 31 March 2025 and the results for the year ended on that date.

Sound Connections meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

(b) Going Concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.

(c) Fund accounting

• Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Directors in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Unrestricted funds include donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose.

• Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. Expenditure, which meets these criteria, is charged to the fund.

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

(d) Income

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

1. Accounting Policies continued

• Grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant. Grant income is only deferred where the donor has clearly specified that it relates to a future period.

• Incoming resources from charitable consulting activities are accounted for when earned. Consultancy income is deferred where it relates to services to be carried out in the future.

• Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

(e) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

• Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

• Other costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examination and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

• All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the SOFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly; others are apportioned on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of project size.

(f) Fixed assets

Fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

It is the policy of the company to provide depreciation at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful economic life. The following rates of depreciation have been applied throughout the year.

Computer equipment - 33.3% on cost

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

Assets with a cost of £500 or more are capitalized.

(g) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

1. Accounting Policies continued

(i) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

(j) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

(j) Financial instruments

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

(k) Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

(l) Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

2. Related Party Transactions

There was no related party transactions during the year.

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Remuneration

Remuneration of key management personnel 2025 2024 £ £ Aggregate total 78,597 81,904 4 Income Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 4.1 Income from donations and legacies Donations 250 - 250 55 Grant income Harriet's Trust 5,000 - 5,000 10,000 Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust 1,500 - 1,500 - Lucille Graham Trust - - - 2,000 The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation 20,000 - 20,000 - The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - - - 4,000 Paul Hamlyn Foundation 40,000 - 40,000 - 4.2 Income from charitable activities Performance related grants Youth Music Catalyser - 90,000 90,000 100,000 Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation 15,000 - 15,000 15,000 Arts Council England - National Portfolio Organisatio 120,000 - 120,000 120,000 ESF - Ed Sheeran Foundation 15,000 15,000 30,000 - Consultancy and training income 102,661 - 102,661 128,727 Other 1,180 - 1,180 100 320,591 105,000 425,591 379,882	Remuneration of key management personnel 2025 2024 £ £ Aggregate total 78,597 81,904 4 Income Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 4.1 Income from donations and legacies Donations 250 - 250 55 Grant income Harriet's Trust 5,000 - 5,000 10,000 Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust 1,500 - 1,500 - Lucille Graham Trust - - - 2,000 The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation 20,000 - 20,000 - The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - - - 4,000 Paul Hamlyn Foundation 40,000 - 40,000 - 4.2 Income from charitable activities Performance related grants Youth Music Catalyser - 90,000 90,000 100,000 Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation 15,000 - 15,000 15,000 Arts Council England - National Portfolio Organisatio 120,000 - 120,000 120,000 ESF - Ed Sheeran Foundation 15,000 15,000 30,000 - Consultancy and training income 102,661 - 102,661 128,727 Other 1,180 - 1,180 100 320,591 105,000 425,591 379,882	Remuneration of key management personnel 2025 2024 £ £ Aggregate total 78,597 81,904 4 Income Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 4.1 Income from donations and legacies Donations 250 - 250 55 Grant income Harriet's Trust 5,000 - 5,000 10,000 Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust 1,500 - 1,500 - Lucille Graham Trust - - - 2,000 The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation 20,000 - 20,000 - The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - - - 4,000 Paul Hamlyn Foundation 40,000 - 40,000 - 4.2 Income from charitable activities Performance related grants Youth Music Catalyser - 90,000 90,000 100,000 Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation 15,000 - 15,000 15,000 Arts Council England - National Portfolio Organisatio 120,000 - 120,000 120,000 ESF - Ed Sheeran Foundation 15,000 15,000 30,000 - Consultancy and training income 102,661 - 102,661 128,727 Other 1,180 - 1,180 100 320,591 105,000 425,591 379,882	Remuneration of key management personnel 2025 2024 £ £ Aggregate total 78,597 81,904 4 Income Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ 4.1 Income from donations and legacies Donations 250 - 250 55 Grant income Harriet's Trust 5,000 - 5,000 10,000 Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust 1,500 - 1,500 - Lucille Graham Trust - - - 2,000 The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation 20,000 - 20,000 - The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - - - 4,000 Paul Hamlyn Foundation 40,000 - 40,000 - 4.2 Income from charitable activities Performance related grants Youth Music Catalyser - 90,000 90,000 100,000 Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation 15,000 - 15,000 15,000 Arts Council England - National Portfolio Organisatio 120,000 - 120,000 120,000 ESF - Ed Sheeran Foundation 15,000 15,000 30,000 - Consultancy and training income 102,661 - 102,661 128,727 Other 1,180 - 1,180 100 320,591 105,000 425,591 379,882
5 Income by activity
Donations Grant income Consultancy fees Other income	Youth Music Catalyser ESF £ £ - - 90,000 15,000 - - - -		Core 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ 250 250 55 216,500 321,500 251,000 102,661 102,661 128,727 1,180 1,180 100
	90,000 15,000		320,591 425,591 379,882

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

6 Expenditure

6.1 Charitable activities Staff costs Depreciation and impairment Delivery of training and commissioned projects Other project costs Support costs Office costs Premises costs Governance costs Accountancy 6.2 Raising funds Freelance fees Total expenditure	2025 Total 2024 Total Basis of support cost allocation 202,385 187,130 - 643 72,281 72,461 57,082 65,350 73,074 69,678 Direct 11,345 10,870 Direct 4,526 6,161 Governance 1,500 1,500 Governance 422,193 413,793 5,700 6,800 427,893 420,593

7. Staff Costs

Staff numbers Staff costs for the year were as follows: 2025 2024 £ £ Salaries and wages 190,884 172,897 Social Security costs 7,721 10,816 Staff pension costs 3,780 3,417 202,385 187,130 The average number of staff employed during the year, was as follows: 2025 2024 Direct projects 5 5	Staff numbers Staff costs for the year were as follows: 2025 2024 £ £ Salaries and wages 190,884 172,897 Social Security costs 7,721 10,816 Staff pension costs 3,780 3,417 202,385 187,130 The average number of staff employed during the year, was as follows: 2025 2024 Direct projects 5 5
Administration	2 2
Remuneration of key management personnel	7 7 2025 2024 £ £
Aggregate total	78,597 81,904

There were no employees whose annual income exceeded £60,000.

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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

8. Tangible Fixed Assets

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----- Start of picture text -----
Computer
Equipment
Cost
At 1 April 2024 11,176
Additions -
At 31 March 2025 11,176
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 11,176
-
Charge for year
At 31 March 2025 11,176
Net Book Value
-
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024 -
9. Debtors
2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 40,617 39,856
Accrued income 15,000 10,000
Other debtors 902 902
56,519 50,758
10. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due within One Year
2025 2024
£ £
Trade Creditors 8,402 10,234
Accruals 16,548 2,350
Deferred income 10,000 -
Social security and other tax 6,740 8,131
41,690 20,716
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Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

11. Movement in Funds

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----- Start of picture text -----
As at 1 April As at 31
Restricted funds 2024 Income Expenditure Transfers March 2025
- -
Youth Music Catalyser 5,710 90,000 (95,710)
ESF - Ed Sheeran Foundation - 15,000 (13,411) - 1,589
Scops 3,475 - (3,475) - -
-
9,185 105,000 (112,596) 1,589
Unrestricted funds
Core 173,210 320,591 (315,296) - 178,505
Designated funds
Redundancy 29,000 - - - 29,000
Total funds 211,395 425,591 (427,893) - 209,093
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12. Material funds during the year

Youth Music Catalyser

Youth Music Catalyser is a 3-year programme which supports organisations via grant funding to sustain work, scale-up delivery, or create change in sector practice. Catalyser programmes support children and young people who face barriers to make, learn or earn in music, and aim to make music activity more inclusive so everyone can access it.

Scops Arts Trust

The Scops Arts Trust provides funding for a 3-year training and professional development programme for music educators and facilitators in South East London. This project is delivered in partnership with the South Riverside Music Partnership.

ESF – Ed Sheeran Foundation

A support grant for up to 18 grassroots music organisations working on non-formal music education of young creatives, supported through training and mentoring. The grant is to support youth music, supporting young people in their music development as both artists and practitioners

13. Share Capital

Under the Company’s Articles of Association, every member of the Company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of the same being wound up while they are a member, or within one year after they cease to be a member, such amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

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SOUND CONNECTIONS

Notes to the financial statements – Year ended 31 March 2025

14. Taxation

The company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

15. Pensions

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension costs and charge shown in Note 7 represents the contributions payable by the company to the fund. The amount owed to the pension fund as at the 31 March 2025 is £203 (2024 – £171).

16. VAT

The charity registered for VAT. The amount owed to HMRC at 31 March 2025 is £4,851 (2024 – £3,786).

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