2025-03-31-accounts - Friary Brass Band

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Quen Trustees’ Annual Report for the period COMMISSION. Period start date Period end date A ee 01 04 2024 31 03 2025 yp From To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name| FRIARY BRASS BAND

Registered charity number (if any) | 1137290

Charity's principal address |C/O 37 PONDTAIL ROAD

PLEET

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

[NameDates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) om of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

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March 2025

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

How the charity is constituted Unincorporated association

Trustee selection methods Election by members in General Meeting

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You ia choose . eee The trustees, who also constitute the Band’s management team, are elected by additional information, where the members in General Meeting relevant, about:

en The management team meets monthly.
e policies and procedures adopted for the induction and | a risk management policy is in place, together with a risk register. The policy and training of trustees; risk register are reviewed regularly by the management team.
e the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
e relationship with any related parties;
e trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C

Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

To promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of brass band music in all its aspects.

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March 2025

The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

The Friary Brass Band undertakes a wide variety of activities aimed at increasing public awareness and appreciation of brass band music. These activities include self-promoted concerts, concerts and other events to raise funds for other charities, outside engagements for individuals, organisations and events and public engagements, as well as contests. The Band is keen to encourage all players to develop their musical skills. Summary of the main Potential new ein aoe welcomed to dase ae i public benefit in relation to , es prep } : these objects (include within The Band is also keen to maintain and develop links with educational this section the statutory establishments for mutual benefit in developing musical skills. declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Friary Brass Band does not make grants, although as stated above, some events raise funds for other charities.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

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e policy on grantmaking;
e policy programme related investment;
e contribution made by volunteers.

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March 2025

Section D

Achievements and performance

2022-2023 was another successful year for the Band, with notable successes on the contest stage, although the number of other engagements was down on the previous year. The following engagements were undertaken by the full Band unless otherwise stated:

Concerts and other engagements:

2024 £ Armed Forces Day (cornet player) £ Great Bookham concert £ British Bandsman concert, Reading

Lewes Bonfire parade
f Guildford Remembrance events & Joint concert with Vivace Chorus, Guildford # Carol concert, Hogs Back Brewery, Tongham

2025

£ \bstock School Brass Day, Roehampton

Contests:

2024 # British Open Spring Festival, Grand Shield, placed 9" f National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, placed 11'

2025

London & Southern Counties Regional Championship, placed 8th

As far as concerts were concerned, we were delighted to return to St Nicolas Church, Great Bookham and once again, the event was sold out. We were invited to return later in June this year. The carol concert at Hog’s Back Brewery - a new engagement in 2021 — was yet again so successful that a repeat booking was made for December 2025. A return concert with the Vivace Chorus at Guildford’s premier venue, G Live, was extremely well-received and we hope to arrange another joint concert with them in the next few years. The Band was also pleased to be asked to perform at the traditional Lewes Bonfire parade, again with a subsequent request for 2025.

Other than the Band’s equal best result of 11" place at the National Championships, on the contest stage, Friary’s results were somewhat disappointing, in particular at the regional championship where the Band failed to qualify for the National Championships for only the second time since 2013.

Friary was ranked 43% in the world as at 31st March 2025 (2024: 31‘) according to www.4barsrest.com, but remains the highest ranked band in London & Southern Counties region. The www.brassstats.com table ranks the Band at 33" as at 31st March (2024: 28*)

The Band’s Management Team continually reviews progress against the Band’s objectives.

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March 2025

section D

Achievements and performance

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Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year
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March 2025

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Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the The Band’s Reserves Policy was revised in January 2022 and is still considered
charity’s policy on reserves to be appropriate. In summary, reserves should normally be maintained at a
level between 70% and 100% of forecast annual running costs, excluding
members’ expenses. They should not be allowed to fall below 50%, and any
amount above 100% should be deemed to be surplus reserves with a clear plan
in place for their utilisation.
Sustainability of the Band is of paramount importance. External charitable or
other grant support for running costs is not generally available, hence the need
to maintain a prudent amount in the Band’s reserves to ensure short term
continuity.
The Reserves Policy is re-examined annually, in conjunction with the Band’s
annual budget and forecast, with any changes to be approved unanimously by
the entire Management Team.
Friary Brass Band remains well funded, unlike many brass bands - including
some major names - which have been pushed to the brink of closure over the
past three years due to the lack of income from engagements, contests and
recordings. That said, reserves were utilised to subsidise running costs for the
previous three years to the extent of some £12,000 in total, but the past year
shows a welcome return to an annual surplus.
Details of any funds materially None
in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include The Trustees are pleased to report a surplus of £10,085 for the past year
additional information, where (2023/24: shortfall £2,830)
relevant about:
e the charity’s principal Principal sources of income were GiftAid on donations of members’ expenses
sources of funds (including £16,013 (2023/24: £19,171); engagement fees £9,800 (£6,400) and members’
any fundraising): subscriptions £8,125 (£7,355). £960 was also obtained from the sale of acoustic
, panels which the Band had purchased for a previous rehearsal venue.
e how expenditure has
supported the key objectives | The major items of expenditure were for the Band’s Musical Director's fees
of the charity; £12,517 (2023/24: £14,458): rehearsal venue hire £7,647 (£4,615 — new venue
higher costs only applied for three months January to March 2024) fees for guest
e investment policy and players £875 (£4,963 — seats vacant in previous year now filled; equipment hire
objectives including any and maintenance £1,540 (£463).
ethical investment policy
adopted. Members’ travel expenses are donated back to the Band and GiftAided): these
totalled £29,9339 in 2024/25 (2023/24: £93,257 — exceptionally high because of
catching up on previous years post Covid). The higher than usual level of
expenditure on music in 2023/24 was mostly on new commissions for the Brass
in Concert contest; the Band did not compete in this last year.
The Band does have an investment policy but in view of the possible need to
access its reserves at short notice, these are maintained in the form of cash
deposits. These totalled £42,066 at the end of the financial year (2023/24:
£44 896). There are no long term investments.
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Section F Other optional information
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March 2025

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Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
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Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) | NA y) i CL (THIMaL YY Full name(s) |David Wicks Lauren Straker Position (eg Secretary, Chair, |Chairman Secretary etc) Date 27.08.2025 27.08.2025

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March 20247

FRIARY BRASS BAND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3110312025 RECEIPTS PAYMENTS INTEREST SUBSCRIPTIONS ENGAGEMENTS Full Band SolpJErwble 823.37 8,125.00 CONDUCTORS Ge[al 9.140 00 3,377.LK) 788.60 108.90 12,517.00 9.250 00 550.IKS GUEST PLAYERS Ccffltests 9.8CK).00 425.00 327.45 875.50 188.90 1,025.00 754.94 289.94 1,537.21 CONTEST PRIZES CONCERT INCOME CONTEST ADMIN CONTEST ENTRY FEES INSURANCE CONCERT COSTS ADMINISTFLATION HALL HIRE FUNDRAISINGIDONATIONS R•freshments Easy Fundrai8¥VJ Donati3 31.27 R*lar Ccffltests 5.886.24 1.761.64 19.84 1.050 Cil 7,647.88 255 11 253 00 1.101.11 UNIFORMS EQUIPMENTIACCESSORIES Purchases INSTRUMENT PURCHASES EQUIPMENTIACCESSORIES Hirelservicing VANICOACH HIRE MUSIC GIFTS TRAVEL EXPENSES GIFT AID TO CHARITY AJC SALE OF ACOUSTIC PANELS 1,540.34 599.38 347.66 174.37 29,339.83 284.25 CHARifY AIC DISBURSEMENT GIFT AID TRAVEL EXPENSES DONATIONS CD SALES 710.78 16,013.55 29,339.83 67,716.09 57,630.31 BalanS brought forward 202312024 Balanrm caffled foNrdrd 2025r2028 Lloyds AJC No 1 Lloyds Alc No 2 Deposit Alc Notice A¢nt Supporters, AJC Cash Float 241.10 225.34 41.6tM).c LEoyds Ajc No 1 Lloyds Wc No 2 Deposii WC Notice Account Supporters. Alc Cash Float 975.56 275.13 16.868.60 34.014.93 0.00 18.00 42,066.44 52,152,22 109,782.53 109.782.53 Treasurer . C Straker Independent Examiner .' M Keates FCA

FRIARY BRASS BAND- Supporters, Club RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3110312025 RECEIPTS PAYMENTS 0.00 BalanS brought fop•vard 2023r2024 BalanS caffied forward 2025r2026 Treasurer '. C Straker IndeperKJent Examiner: M Keates FCA FRIARY BRASS BAND- Charity Account RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3110312025 RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Collection- The Meadi)ws- Dec 24 Gift 'd daimed on Meadows (GASDS) 1,137.43 284.25 Disbursement to Main Band funds Donabon paKI to Macmillan Can¢er Support 710.78 710.90 1.421.68 1,421.68 Balances brought fOard 2023r2024 BalanS carried forward 202512026 0.00 1,421.68 TreaSUr . C Straker IndeperKJerrt Exarniner . M Keates FCA