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 sin￿re
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
fO￿ard 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[re*ffje￿$llU(k
20.4%
InSlrLNYthtMI
Wutkshps
• iyoNNon%1Frf￿d1
• T.ShlrtslHotyJ*s
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

EmpendI￿re
• SknITifo
• thJlMxhSlail¢rli*oTS
ax
• ShEet￿5*
• UaW4r*￿¥I￿￿r4•
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