South Po s Youth Music Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 at August 2024
Index to the report and the financial statements for the year ended August 31st 2024 Paga Informatlon about the Charity Report of the Trustees Report of the Chair Financial Report Independent review of accounts 10-16 17
Information about the charity TRUSTEES: Nicholas Gedge (Chair) Fiona Corbett Flora York Skinner Melanie Newton Barney Sampson Sally Raikes REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1121625
Report of the Trustees For the year ended August 31$t 2024 structure Governance and Management Governin Document South Powys Youth Music is a registered charity governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 21 May 2007. It was granted charitable status by the Charity Commissioners in 2007 under registered charity number 1121625. The charity's registered address is Ty Mawr, Bwlch, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7SQ. The charity's bankers are (i) Lloyds TSB, 54 Cross Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshlre, NP7 5HB and (li) The Charity 8ank. Trustees The Trustees who served in the year ending 31AI August 2024 were: Nicholas Gedge (Chair) Martyn King (until 30,05.24) Fiona Corbett Flora York Skinner Jodine Fec (until 17.06.24 - Treasurer) Melanie Newton (from 22.01.24) Barney Sampson (from 17.06.24 - Treasurer) Sally Raikes (from 17.06.24) Mana ement and Or anisation The managernent consists of a board oftrustees and a management committee. They are assisted in the week to week running of the charity by a number of music tutors together with a number of volunteers most of whom are parents of members of South Powys Youth Music. The management cornmittee meets on average once per temi - and apart from these meetings, any issues arising are dealt with usually by email
communication. The board of trustees meets annually - and moTe often as and when required If particular issues arise. The ob'ectives and activities of South Po The aim of South Powys Youth Music (SPYM) is to provide the children and young people of South Powys with the opportunity to meet on a regular basis to make music together. In Ihe early 1990s Powys disbanded its county music service and South Powys Youth Orchestra was started by a group of parents anxious that the children of the area should not be denied the opportunity to make muslc together. South Powys Youth Music (SPYM) grew out of this and is now an umbrella organisation for regular youth muslcal activities in the area. SPYM meets every Wednesday afternoon in school term times at Brecon High School. South Powys (comprising the old counties of Breconshlre and Radnorshire) is a very large and sparsely populated rural area and in an effort to make SPYM accessible to as many children as po8slble, bus transport is provided (funded by SPYM) for children coming from the Hay, Gwernyfed and Talgarth areas. Each of SPYM'S groups is coached by members of a team of experienced and dedicated music teachers. A team of adult volunteers also assists. The work of each term is focussed on an erKI of term concert. s Youth Music SPYM also periodically partlcipates in roadshows which visit schools in the area to give children taster sessions on instruments in the hope that many will be encouraged to start learning an instrumenl. In past years there were also very constructive joint projects with SPYM'S counterparts at North Powys Youth Music - this collaboration has unfortunately ceased due to funding issues but it remains a hope that one day it may be possible to resume joint ventures. Public Benefit The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on publiG benefit.
REPORT OF THE CHAIR 2023 - 2024 Shortly before the start of the autumn term Tim Cronin, Musical Director of SPYM for many years, decided to step down from his role at SPYM. Tim had been an integral part of SPYM for around twenty years and had been musical director for more than half of that time. Under his expert direction SPYM made great progFess and the quality and size of SPYO grew - especially in the heady days of around 2012 to 2014 when SPYM held residential courses with their counterparts from north Powys and would get together to form an all Powys Youth Orchestra - to a point where it could barely fit on the stage at Theatr Brycheiniog. Many young musicians in South Powys owe Tim an enormous debt of gratitude as indeed does SPYM and everyone associated with SPYM. He was an inspirational leader and a tireless champion for the cause of promoting musical education and musical opportunities for children and young p@ople in the area. SPYM was enormously lucky to have him for that period and his departure was of course keenly felt. SPYM'S excellent team of tutors stepped up to fill the gap left by Tim's departure and worked - as ever- wlth tireless enthusiasm and dedication. We had some new recruits as well with Pedro Goncalves, Joanna Azevedo and Sue Bird all joining the team. Pedro and Joanna are both violinists and Sue a pianist. With her particular expertise and experience in teaching and enthusing young people Sue (who is director of Suzuki Piano for Wales and the UK) plays a vital role in accompanying and assisting in the work Jeni Stokes does with SPYM'S youngest string players. Angharad McGreevy and Sarah Emmerson have also come into the tutor team. Both were previously SPYM volunteers who proved themselves to be essential to the running of the Percussion Group and Stringtastic and we are very lucky to have them on board. There have also been change5 of personnel behind the scenes with Jodine Fec departing from her role as trustee and treasurer and with Barney Sampson joining to replace her in those roles and with Sally Raikes and Mel Newton also joining us as trustees. All at SPYM have cause to be very grateful to Jodine for the work that she so kindly did and all at SPYM also are very grateful to Barney, Mel and Sally for coming on board too. SPYM has, as usual, had a busy year. It started with SPYM tutors attending two days of Contlnuing Professional Development at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. It is - we
think-the first time that SPYM tutors have collectively had this opportunity and sinre thanks are due to Lynsey Mccrohon, Powys Strategic Lead for Music and the Expressive Arts, for maklng this possible. Later in the autumn term SPYO, directed by Berri Munn, played at Theatr Brycheiniog in the Monday evening concert at the Brecon Baroque Festival. This was the first time they had done so since the 2019 Festival not long after which the activities of SPYM were so disrupted by the Covid pandemlc. It is excellent that SPYM has resumed its association with this acclaimed festival and it is hoped that Ihis will continue in the future. The autumn term also featured Kath Davies running an outreaoh workshop for pupils and staff at a special school unit in Ystradgynlais for children with social, emotional and behavioural difflculties. There was also the usual end of term SPYM Christmas concert, with a special rendition for Tim of 'Thank you for th8 Music, performed by all SPYM attendees, wilh words written by Kath and Alan Davies. That concert didn't bring the auturnn term activities to an end as it was followed soon afterwards by SPYM'S now annual appearance playing at the Brecon Chrlstmas Farmers, Market. It was excellent also to see some of the younger children performing in small groups and also as soloists on this occasion. This is the first time that this has happened at that event and the children are to be applauded for their courage and confidence In performing on such a public stage. SPYM'S activities continued as usual in January 2024 with the term's work culminating in an end of term Easter concert, SPYM'S AGM in January found itself in a new home at Brecon Guildhall. It was a venue which worked really well and, whether coincidentally or not, attendance at the AGM was significantly higher than it had been for many years. The summer term included an appearance by SPYM Choir, led by Kath and Alan Davi8s at a Welcome Event at Brecon High School, organised by Hay, Brecon & Talgarth SanctuaTy for Refugees. The choir sang to the visiting families and not only did the choir give them a warm and lovely welcome, they also invited them to join in with some of the singing. The term concluded with a Summer concert at which the annual SPYM Trophy was awarded jointly to Lewis Papageorgiou and Catherine
Morris both of whom had been keen SPYM members for some time and who were both leaving school to head for pastures new. Later in the summer members of SPYM choir, along with olher children from local primary schools, met in The Foundry in Brecon over three weeks to rehearse songs to perform at the Brecon Choir Festival. Much hard work was done and much fun was had learning new music In such a short time, and the resulting 'Foundry Choir, led by Angharad sang in St Mary's Church over the Brecon Choir Festival weekend in July. This was a free event for the families involved. Further summer activities included a holiday workshop in Kensington Chapel led by Jeni Stokes and Louise Hogan that was open to all our young violinists, This also focused on musical notation and theory, and at the end of the session there was a short perfOrrnan for parents. This, again, was an event that was free for families. Also during Ihe summer Sue Bird held a series of lunchtime concert8 in Brecon Cathedral, one of which also featured Alan Davies and it was excellent to see young SPYM members in the audience at these concerts. Shake, Rattle & Roll also, under the inspirational leadership of Kath and Alan Davies, continued to hold regular weekly sessions in Kensington Chapel throughout the year. These session8 are immensely popular, and are regularly booked up within 10 minutes of the booking opening each week and provide an important "way In" to music for toddlers in the area, SPYM also has a stock of instruments which has over time grown In slze thanks to various donations. Many are stored in Brecon Guildhall, and our thanks go to Brecon Town Council for helping SPYM in this way. J8ni Stokes, Alan Davies and Sally Morris have made a start on cataloguing and auditing SPYM'S instruments and ensuring that they are in good repair and arranging for any necessary repair work to be carried out. The full audit will take some time to complete but il is an important task given the importance of SPYM having instruments available for youn9 leaneTS to hire. Thanks rnusl go to Jeni, Alan and Sally for Iheir work in this regard.
SPYM has also been fortunate to receive some very generous donations this year. The most significant of these has been a commilment by Di Walker - originally from the Brecon area bul now living elsewhere - to give SPYM £10,000 in thls year and in each of the next four years. This extraordinarily generous gift has, as it is a long term commitment, given SPYM a good deal of confidence to plan for - and hopefully expand in- the coming years. There have also been very kind donations from Brecon Baroque Festival, Aberhonddu and District Male Choir and Crickhowell Choral Society. There was also an extremely generous donation of £5,000 from an anonymous donor. In addition to Ihis there are a number of regular friends and supporters of SPYM who gave generously too. SPYM is enormously grateful to all of these extremely kind and generous donors, In terms of numbers the autumn term of 2023 saw twenty new recruits joining SPYM following the first "try it for free. week to which twenty four chlldren had responded. SPYM'S regular Wednesday groups consisted of choir, percussion, stringtastic (beginner strings), String Machine (intermediate strings), beginner cello group and orchestra (SPYO). SPYM ended the Spring term wlth a healthy number of71 mernber8 attending regularly. That number inevitably fell a Ilttle in the summer due to fewer older members attendiiig because of impending GCSES and A levels but SPYM looks fOard with confidence to the year starting in September 2024. As ever I would like to express my thanks to the excellent group of tutors that SPYM is so lucky to have. Thanks are due too to the dedicated group of adult volunteers who do so much to help SPYM function as it does. I would also Ilke to express my thanks to SPYM'S trustees who do so much work- often unseen - in the background. Finally I would like lo express my very personal thanks to Sally Morris who is really the rnost superb administrator. She is hugely efficient and extraordinarily adept at identifying issues - or polential issues - long before they arise. SPYM really is extremely lucky to have her. NICK GEDGE CHAIR OF SPYM JANUARY 2025
SPYM Treasurer's Re ort 2023 24 South Powys Youth Music | Profit and Loss Account for year ended 31 August 2024 Un-restrlcted Restrlcted Income Subs Powys CC Funding Other Grants Total £ 10,213 10,213 4,995 2,500 1,627 6,352 620 4,995 2,500 1,627 6,352 620 Concert Income SRR Refreshments/Tuck Instrument H ire Workshops Donations/ Friends T-Shirts/Hoodies Tim's Collection moneys (not for P&LI Gift Aid Ba roque Festival Raffles Farmers Market fee 1,380 1,380 333 333 17,930 S50 17,930 550 1,561 743 1,561 743 120 120 Farmers Market collection Bank interest 97 713 713 ITOTAL 44,405 5,328 49,733, Un-restricte Restricted Expenditure Total £ SPYM Tutors 23,231 23,231 SRR Tutors 5,810 5,810 Outreach & Taster tutors 1,472.00 1,472 First experiences tutors 1033 1,033
Instruments Purchase / Repair 247 247 Miloage/Transport 11,746 226.00 11,972 Sheet Music io io Stationery & Copying 98 98 Support & Admin 4,227 4,227 Tuck & Refreshments 369. 369 Venue Hire BHS Venue Hire SRR 645 645 Venue Hire outreach T shirts/Hoodies 617 617 Liabi lity i nsu rance 600 600 DBS checks 295 295 Training/First Aid/Chi Id protection 124 124 Other 40 40 ITOTAL 48,288 2,731 51,018 Restrlcted n-restricted £ £ Total £ |surpluslDeficlt for the yéar (8,653) 2,598 16,055} Balance at sta rt of year 71,823.84 SurplLES / deficit {1,285.08) Closing bala nce 70,538.76 Summary of Income The majority of income received came from weekly subs from SPYM and Shake, Rattle and Roll, and also from donations from friends of SPYM, including one very generous donation of £10,000, the first of five similar consecutive annual donations. The balance of the large private restricted fund donation received during the year 2018/19 has been partly used this year to continue to offer outreach sessions.
Core fund(ng Funding from Powys County Council was specifically for the 'First Experiences, programme, part of the National Plan for Music Education, and delivered by SPYM tutors in Llangynidr, Crickhowell, Llanidloes and Maesydderwen. This accounted for IO¥o of the income. No core funding wa5 received for regular or outreach sessions. Remaining income comprised 50A other grants (see below) 20Yo SPYM subscriptions 13% Shake Rattle and Roll subscriptions 36% Donations/Friends of SPYM 16% income from concerts, instrument hire, Gift Aid and other small amounts Grants A further grant of £2500 was received from the Mid Wales Muslc Trust towards tuition in SPYM sessions and subsidised music lessons. We are most grateful to the MWMT for their continuSng support. Summary of Restrlcted Income Restricted income is made up of the remainder of the £30k received from a private estate donation In the financial year 2018/19, in addition to funding for specific purposes received during this fi nancial year. A balance of £18,174 remains available entering the financial year 2024125. South Powys Youth Music Profit and Loss Account - Restricted funds for year ended 31 August 2024 Income First experiences outreach - tutors First experiences outreach- mileage Workshops TOTAL Restricted £s 4769 226 333 5328 Expenditure First experiences tutor5 First experiences - mileage Workshops- tutor costs TOTAL 1033 226 1472 2731 Balance Sheet Balance at start of year Surplus/deficit Closing balance 15577 2598 18174
Income • Svbs rfCtedGrantlundl.Ftt otherGranl .3.1% •&gR Re[reffje$llU(k 20.4% InSlrLNYthtMI Wutkshps • iyoNNon%1Frfd1 • T.ShlrtslHotyJs TlmcdlKNtyi • O•roqueFe¥ • loo • FrnM•thtCdh(tloTh 10.0% JS.fA 12.7% Summary of Expenditure 440A of expenditure was spent on tutoring fees during regular SPYM sessions 5% on Outreach including First Experiences Il% on Shake, Rattle & Roll {SRR) tutors 8Yo on management, support and administration I'A on venue hire for SRR Ino invoices were received from BHS during this period) 24% on mileage & transport (this includes the Hay bus hire for two years} 2% on insurance & DBS 5% on other item5
EmpendIre • SknITifo • thJlMxhSlail¢rlioTS ax • ShEet5 • UaW4r*¥Ir4• J% IAX Shake, Rattle & Roll SRR £ Expendlture £ Income Income - Subs 6352 Expenditure - tutors 5810 Expenditure - venue hire 645 Expenditure - admin 584 Expenditure- TOTAL 7039 Surplus/Deficit (687)
Wednesday sess5ons Regular Wednesday sessions- direct costs £ Expenditure £ Income Income - Subs 10,213 Concert income & raffles 2,370 Tuck income 620 Income- TOTAL 13,203 Expenditure - tutors 23,231 Expenditure - venue hire Expenditure - rehearsal supervisor 1280 Tuck expenditure 369 Expenditure- Hay bus {1 year) 5,100 29,980 Surplus/Deficit {16,7771 Observations SPYM'S cash position remains healthy with a closing balance of £65,538, largely thanks to two extre.mely generou5 donations, one of which is the first of a series of f ive similar donations, giving us confidence to plan, and expand where we can. It should be noted however, that the expenditure shows two years, of costs for the Hay bus; this is for the two years ending August 2023, as no invoice has as yet been received for 2023/24. In addition, no invoices were received for the hire of Brecon High School for the weekly SPYM sessions; this is contrary to expectations. The above table of expenses for the Wednesday sessions show a large deficit of over £16K; this would not be sustainable without our generous donors, who allow us to keep our weekly subs low, making our sessions as accessible as we can. In addition through the year we have supported between five and seven families eligible for free school meals whose children have attended sessions and borrowed instruments at no charge. Furthermore, there is no charge for the use of the bus which brings children from Fairfield and Hay schools every week,. this again has been to aid accessibility. Between 11 and 14 youngsters use the bus. However, the trustees have agreed that in future. parents of children using the bus will be invited to make a donation towards the cost, if they would like and are able to do so. It is widely acknowledged that many schools are unable to provide a broad musical education, and there have been no 5ubsidised instrumental lessons, nor a county music service in Powys for some years. SPYM has been working closely with Lynsey Mccrohon, the Powys Strategic Lead for Music and the Expressive Arts, to give all children the opportunity to experience making music together. Continued efforts must now be made to increase the number of children attending SPYM, to
experience the joys and benefits of music making, and in so doing increasing our weekly income allowing us to continue our low cost, high quality, group music provision.
I have examined the accoun18 for South Powys Youth Muslc, and hav8 obtalned all the Informatlon and èxplanaflon8 I have sought. In my opinlon, Iho aocounts arc properly drawn up so as to give a f£lr refloction of the charity's affalrs for thg ygar ended 318t August 2024. 4LoM_ Mlchael A,W.Jon98 MA {C?ntab) FCCA February 3rd 2025