BRISTOL NOISE
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Charity Number 1134099
BRISTOL NOISE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
| CONTENTS | Pages |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Bristol Noise | 1 |
| Trustees’ report | 2-4 |
| Financial Review | 5 |
| Reference and Administration Details | 6 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 7 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 8 |
BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Bristol Noise
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2025, which consist of the Receipts and Payments Account for the Year and the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at the End of the Year...
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
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.
David Biddel 12 The Newlands Frenchay Bristol BS16 1NQ
26 June 2026
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Objectives and activities
The purpose of the Charity is:
To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances or for the public at large with the object of improving their conditions of life, motivated by Christian compassion.
Changes to operation
Bristol Noise is now operating 52 weeks of the year, and no longer holding the large once a year event on the May Bank Holiday. This allows the charity to respond more appropriately to the needs and project referrals which arise all year around. It also allows Bristol Noise to champion and encourage churches and communities to host events and engage on a weekly basis with their wider community.
February 2025 saw a part time Communications and Operations Assistant being appointed and the Noise365 Development worker role came to an end in July 2025.
Following the 20 year legacy of Bristol Noise bringing together 100s of volunteers of all generations to help run community events (such as family fun events, community BBQs, and practical community projects in neighbourhoods across the whole city) Noise 365 Project continues to be run by Bristol Noise. This enables the charity to further that legacy all year round not just focussing on one large event once a year.
Resourcing and enabling
Noise 365 has focussed on building on the expertise of Bristol Noise in terms of resourcing and enabling others to run community events. The tool sheds are now available in Horfield and Knowle West with equipment available for community and church groups to borrow all year around. Over 20 groups borrowed from these tool sheds in the year. It is suggested that each group pay a donation but no charges are set to ensure no-one is excluded from borrowing.
The website has been updated and improved with resources now available for immediate download, for community and church groups to refer to and use when hosting their own events. There is also a well used feature for project referrals, this is where the majority of the practical projects come from and are then responded to by the team.
Social Media has been a big focus, to disseminate information for volunteers in the form of signposting to resources, training, events and linking groups together working in the same areas. Bristol Noise would like to continue to build on this role as enabler and encourager of community cohesion in the city.
Practical Projects
Referrals from statutory agencies and charities have continued at a steady pace. It was initially hoped that individual churches would be able to take on projects under their own responsibility but this has
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
not worked out. It has become apparent that to continue to respond in a meaningful way there will need to be a Project Co-ordinator role under the Noise 365 Project to oversee these practical projects.
Applications for funding to allow this position to come to fruition has begun and the job advert is being discussed to be advertised at the end of 2025 for appointment in 2026.
Partnership Development and Ongoing Conversations
Sixty-One – MentorMe
Sixty-One approached Bristol Noise to explore future collaboration opportunities through the MentorMe initiative. Initial conversations have begun and will be explored in detail going forward, given the sensitive nature of the individuals involved there will be a requirement for a higher level of pre-project planning.
Alongside these discussions, Bristol Noise has continued offering practical support to Sixty-One through creative media assistance, including Advent video editing and production support.
North Bristol and South Glos Foodbank
During the year, Bristol Noise started a partnership with the foodbank to help advise and resource the 9 foodbank outlets to move towards becoming foodbank community connect spaces. Using the experience of Bristol Noise charity, we worked closely with a few of the outlets initially. A small amount of funding was obtained by the foodbank to resource this project but this is on pause now since the Noise365 Development worker finished.
Good Faith Partnership – Thriving Communities Report
Following the inclusion of Bristol Noise as a key delivery partner in church and community partnerships and Projects in Bristol in the The Good Faith Partnership Thriving Communities report, Bristol Noise has identified valuable opportunities to build on this recognition in future years.
The report highlighted Bristol Noise’s strength in bringing organisations, churches, and local communities together, affirming the charity’s distinctive role as a connector and encourager across the city. This external recognition has reinforced confidence in the charity’s developing Noise 365 vision, particularly around supporting churches and organisations to engage more effectively with their local communities.
Achievements and Performance
Bristol Noise continues to work closely with organisations and networks across the city, encouraging churches to collaborate around a shared vision of building Bristol as a city of hope and Good Faith Partnership.
Bristol Noise has resourced and equipped over 20 organisations to host community events through practical equipment hire and also advice. This continues the legacy which has been built of ‘Showing God’s love in practical ways’ through resourcing others.
Plans for Future Periods
During this period, Bristol Noise has transitioned fully to operating under the Noise 365 model - all year round resourcing and equipping.
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
The charity’s medium and long-term aims include:
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Building up the practical project resources of the charity to allow for responses to projects which are referred to us.
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Reviewing the staffing and resourcing requirements for Noise 365, including the recruitment of a Community Practical Project Co-ordinator.
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Continuing discussions with church leaders across Bristol to explore how Bristol Noise can support local community vision and action.
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Supporting churches and local communities to establish their own local Noise days or weekends in the future.
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Continuing to strengthen partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations across Bristol.
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Inspiring and facilitating community projects throughout the year by providing churches with practical tools, guidance, and health and safety support.
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Developing fundraising strategies and building more sustainable income streams for the charity.
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Continuing to lead and develop the “Building Bristol as a City of Hope” initiative in partnership with churches and organisations across the city and building on the goals set out in the Good Faith Partnership Report.
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Financial review
The charity's income for the year ended 31[st] August 2025 was £30,085 (2024: £38,356) and consisted principally of grants and donations from charitable trusts and supporting churches.
Expenditure was £22,342 for the year (2024: £28,466).
This year, the charity received donations from various churches and other charities, and a significant one-off donation from the Quartet Community Foundation. A significant portion of the expenditure in the period relates to salaries in respect of experienced staff who have been required to help grow Noise 365 as the charity grows away from an annual event.
Basis of Accounts
For the year ended 31[st] August 2025, we have continued to prepare accounts on a cash basis rather than on an accruals basis, available to any entity in the UK with turnover/income under a £150,000 limit.
Reserves
The Trustees’ long-term policy on free reserves has been to maintain sufficient funds to meet the dayto-day costs of developing the long-term vision and strategy of the charity’s work and to seek to meet the costs of the annual Bristol Noise weekend from grants and donations raised in that financial year rather than from free reserves. As the Bristol Noise weekend no longer takes place, and following the changes to the charity’s activities, the Trustees have reviewed the reserves policy during the year. In light of the strategic uncertainty surrounding the future direction and development of the Noise 365 programme, together with the continuing uncertainty within the wider economic climate, the Trustees now consider it appropriate to maintain free reserves sufficient for approximately one year’s operating expenditure, with a revised target reserve level of £35,000. At the balance sheet date, the charity held reserves of £43,160, which exceeds this revised target.
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Reference and administrative details
Charity number: 1134099
Registered office: 286 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0BA
Website address: www.thenoise.org.uk
Bankers: The Co-operative Bank, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester, M60 4EP
Directors and Trustees:
The Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
S D North (Chairman) T J Dobson G M Sims M O A Deniran R Brown
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
On 5 November 2018, the Charity converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation having previously been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 7 November 2009 and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 4 February 2010. The Charity is now governed by its Foundation Constitution dated 5 November 2018.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
New Trustees are recruited on the basis of the knowledge of the existing Trustees of suitable candidates. In selecting persons to be appointed, the Trustees shall take into account the benefits of appointing a person who is able by virtue of his or her professional qualifications or experience to make a contribution to the pursuit of the objects or the management of Bristol Noise. Selected candidates are appointed by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Trustees at a meeting.
New Trustees receive an Induction pack appropriate to their level of existing knowledge of and involvement with Bristol Noise. As a minimum, new Trustees receive a copy of the Charity Commission publication CC3 – The Essential Trustee: what you need to know together with the charity’s governing document and latest annual report and accounts.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
S D North Chairman of Trustees
26 June 2026
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Bristol Noise
YEAR TO 31 AUGUST 2025 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS FROM: | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Donations | ||||
| Grant Income | 472.50 | - | 472.50 | 27,730.00 |
| Gifts & Donations | 743.54 | - | 743.54 | 207.91 |
| Gift Aid received | - | - | - | - |
| Church Donations | 20,200.20 | - | 20,200.20 | 4,990.00 |
| Individual gifts | 3,706.04 | - | 3,706.04 | - |
| Other Income | 650.27 | - | 650.27 | 800.34 |
| Charitable Activities | ||||
| Banner Sales | - | - | - | - |
| Volunteer Signups | - | - | - | 4,628.15 |
| Consultancy Activities | 4,312.50 | - | 4,312.50 | - |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | 30,085.05 | - | 30,085.05 | 38,356.40 |
| PAYMENTS FOR: | ||||
| Charitable Activities | ||||
| Bristol Noise Weekend | - | - | - | 7,416.25 |
| Long term development | 11,987.33 | - | 11,987.33 | 11,579.14 |
| Other costs relating to | 10,354.48 | - | 10,354.48 | 9,450.98 |
| community projects | ||||
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | 22,341.81 | - | 22,341.81 | 28,446.37 |
| NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) | 7,743.24 | - | 7,743.24 | 9,910.03 |
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BRISTOL NOISE
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
YEAR ENDED 31 August 2025
Bristol Noise AT 31 AUGUST 2025 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash funds | ||
| BOS Current account | 435.00 | 35,444.73 |
| Co-op Credit Card | - | -34.72 |
| Paypal Account | - | - |
| Affirmative Deposit Fund | 6.56 | - |
| iZettle Account | - | 6.30 |
| Co-op Savings Account | 30,000.00 | - |
| Co-op Current Account | 12,717.99 | - |
| Total Cash at Bank | 43,159.55 | 35,416.31 |
| Total Assets | 43,159.55 | 35,416.31 |
| CASH RESERVES | ||
| Unrestricted | ||
| Brought forward | 35,416.31 | 29,176.28 |
| Net receipts/(payments) | 7,743.24 | 6,240.03 |
| 43,159.55 | 35,416.31 | |
| Restricted | ||
| Brought forward | - | -3,670.00 |
| Net receipts/(payments) | - | 3,670.00 |
| - | - | |
| Total cash reserves | 43,159.55 | 35,416.31 |
| Signed on behalf of the trustees on 26 June 2026 | ||
| …………………………. | ||
| S D North (Chair of Trustees) |
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