## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024**
## **Charity name: The Bloomsbury Music Group**
## **Charity registration number: 1139541**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the Bloomsbury Music Group
(BMG) are to advance, improve, develop
and maintain public education in, and
appreciation of, the art and science of music
in all its aspects including through the
presentation of public concerts and recitals.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The benefits to the public from the Group fall
into five categories.
**1. For participants, we involve wind**
**players at all levels of competence and**
**experience in a creative, enjoyable and**
**fulfilling educational activity, providing**
**them with opportunities to develop their**
**instrumental technique and their**
**understanding of the musical repertoire**
**for wind groups large and small.**
The membership of both ensembles has
remained consistent throughout the year.
The Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble
(BWE) had 40-45 members and the
Bloomsbury Band had around 20 members.
In London, where people come and go, we
always expect a steady turnover of members
which means that we provide opportunities
for a substantial number of people to
develop their playing skills on wind
instruments during each year.
Potential members email us throughout the
year and they are usually put on a waiting
list. The Group does not audition for either
ensemble. We generally recruit in the order
that people contact us. Potential new
members are invited to a trial rehearsal
which allows them to decide whether or not
they are suited to the music we play, the|
style of the rehearsals and the character of the membership. Both ensembles rehearse on regular evenings in Bloomsbury – the Bloomsbury Band rehearse on Mondays and the Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble rehearse on Tuesdays. Over the year, the two groups each held approximately 40 rehearsals. **2. For ourselves, and for other wind ensembles, we increase the repertoire of music available by commissioning new arrangements and original compositions.** The majority of music performed by the Bloomsbury Music Group consists of arrangements specially commissioned from a large team of musicians. Our musical directors contribute arrangements and so do members of the Bloomsbury Band. Further information is available on the music section of our website. Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble celebrated their 30[th] anniversary in 2023. While the ensemble did not commission new music during this period, the concert in May (titled “Looking Back”) consisted only of works that had been commissioned or specially arranged for BWE since 2006. Bloomsbury Band premiered two new works during this period – both composed for the band by their musical director: IoW Suite, composed by David Morris and inspired by the band’s annual trips to the Isle of Wight. Wildwood Waltz, composed by David Morris and inspired by the band’s 2021 to the Wildwood Vineyard in Kent. **3. For audiences, we present exciting, innovative and high quality performances which should always be a pleasurable cultural experience, but will sometimes challenge them and educate them by extending their musical knowledge.** From April 2023 to March 2024, Bloomsbury Music Group presented five concerts. This included two concerts by the Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble and three by the Bloomsbury Band. In addition to these concerts, Bloomsbury Music Group took part in a Christmas carols event at St Pancras Station in December 2023. Unfortunately the Bloomsbury Woodwind
|||Ensemble’s annual July bandstand
performance could not take place due to wet
weather.
See ‘Achievements and Performance’ below
for more information on our performances.
**4. We regularly organize concerts to raise**
**money to support other charities. Our**
**two ensembles also participate in**
**community events that advance the well-**
**being of local people.**
The Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble
raised just under £1000 for University
College London’s Dementia Research
Centre at their May 2023 concert.
In December 2023, members from both
Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble and
Bloomsbury Band raised money for Crisis by
playing Christmas carols in St Pancras
Station. The total amount raised was £1174,
which was one of Crisis’s best collections in
2023.
Also in December, some members took part
in the Big Christmas Wind Orchestra and
Choir’s annual performance. Here hundreds
of musicians came together and put on a
performance in Coal Drops Yard.
**5 In addition to the public educational**
**benefits mentioned above, the Trustees**
**are committed to ensuring that the**
**Society’s activities are affordable, and so**
**concessionary rates are available for**
**both membership subscriptions and**
**audience tickets. Any member with**
**financial difficulties can privately discuss**
**a special reduced subscription**
**arrangement with the Treasurer.**
The principle of offering concessionary rates
was applied to membership subscriptions
and concert tickets. Special arrangements
were made, in confidence, to help a very
small number of individual members.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In carrying out the duties, the Trustees of the
Bloomsbury Music Group have had regard to
the guidance on public benefit issued by the
Charity Commission.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference The charity does not give grants. Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
||||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|Social investments are not included among
the activities of the charity.|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The charity is run by volunteers drawn from
its membership.|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Bloomsbury Music Group organised and
performed five concerts between April 2023
and March 2024. The group also performed
Christas Carols at St Pancras Station to
raise money for charity. At these events, the
members and musical directors of the two
ensembles shared their enthusiasm for a
range of musical styles with a public facing
audience.
Concerts are promoted and tickets are
available on BMG’s
website
and
Facebook
page
.These two platforms also helps people
decide whether to join the Group and keeps
members and the public well informed about
the activities of the two ensembles.
A summary of the events organised by the
Bloomsbury Music Group are summarised
below:
**Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble**
**concert (13 May 2023)**
This was the first concert celebrating the
ensemble’s 30
th
anniversary and had the
theme “Looking Back”. The programme
included works commissioned by the
ensemble since 2006, as well as pieces
specially arranged for the ensemble.|
|**Bloomsbury Band concert (24 June 2023)**|**Bloomsbury Band concert (24 June 2023)**|**Bloomsbury Band concert (24 June 2023)**|
|---|---|---|
|The band performed a programme of light|||
|music at Wildwood Vineyard in Kent, which|||
|included the premiere of Wildwood Waltz,|||
|composed by David Morris (Music Director).|||
|This piece was inspired by a previous visit|||
|by the Band to the vineyard in|2021||
|**Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble**|||
|**concert (22 November 2023)**|||
|The second concert marking the ensemble’s|||
|30
th
anniversary had the theme “Looking|||
|Forward”. The programme featured a range|||
|of contemporary music as well as chamber|||
|group performances by members of the|||
|ensemble. The ensemble invited a guest|||
|soloist, Stephen Shepherd, who performed|||
|the solo part in Hilary Tann’s In the Frist,|||
|Spinning Place.|||
|**Bloomsbury Band concert (2 December**|||
|**2023)**|||
|The winter concert included a|programme||
|that cycled through the four seasons with|||
|pieces from classical composers such as|||
|Purcell, Bridge, Vivaldi, Grieg,|and||
|Tchaikovsky as well as more modern|||
|contributions from Gershwin and Bernard &|||
|Bernhard Smith.|||
|**Joint carols – Bloomsbury Woodwind**|||
|**Ensemble and Bloomsbury Band (14**|||
|**December 2023)**|||
|Members of both ensembles played a varied|||
|programme of seasonal music for two hours|||
|from 5pm to 7 pm to entertain|passengers at||
|St Pancras Station. The aim was to bring the|||
|two ensembles together while|raising money||
|for Crisis. The total amount raised for Crisis|||
|was £1174.|||
|**Bloomsbury Band concert (16 March**|||
|**2024)**|||
|In their spring concert, the Band explored|||
|the theme of “Islands in the Sun”. A highlight|||
|of the concert was a work inspired by the|||
|Band’s annual trip to the Isle of Wight – the|||
|premiere of David Morris’s three movement|||
|“Isle of Wight Suite”. As well as music, the|||
|programme included readings|of poems||
|related to islands.|||
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|The charity does not engage in fundraising
apart from putting on charity concerts as
described above.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|The charity has no investments.|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Our income during this period was
approximately £30,400 and our expenditure
was £24,600. We were therefore able to
replenish our reserves, giving reserves at
the end of the period of about £19,500.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Trustees normally maintain a modest
reserve equivalent to about 20% of annual
expenditure in the Bloomsbury Music
Group’s bank account. Reserves this year
are greater due to the unexpected Orchestra
Tax Relief uplift to 50%. We plan to use
some of this increased surplus for events
during 2024-2025.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£19,500|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Not applicable|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|Not applicable|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|The charity is confident that it will continue to
thrive.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
The main income of the charity comes from
members’ subscriptions with the associated
gift-aid. Further contribution come from
Orchestra Tax Relief (paid by HMRC to the
company, BMG Productions Limited) and
ticket sales at concerts.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|The charity does not make investments.|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Maintaining a full membership of both
ensembles is crucial to the financial health of
the charity. The large population of London
means that recruitment has not been a
problem throughout the life of the charity but
this is an issue that the trustees attend to
carefully. Any changes to Gift Aid or
Orchestra Tax Relief policies could have a
significant impact but not big enough to
imperil the stability of the charity.|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?|Para 1.25|Society|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Appointed as committee members by
election at the Annual General Meeting of
members.|
|**dditional information (optional)**
ou may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|The charity has detailed guidance
documents for new trustees. In this small
charity, other induction and training is carried
out on a one-to-one basis with the more
experienced members of the BMG
Committee.|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|In the period covered by this report the
Group ran two wind ensembles:
The Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble
(BWE), founded in 1993 for about 45
adult amateur players of flute, clarinet,
oboe, bassoon and saxophone.
The Bloomsbury Band of flutes and
clarinets (BB), formed in 2010 for about
25 adult players in response to the
growing demand for opportunities to
play from players of these two popular
wind instruments.
The charity is overseen by the members of
the Bloomsbury Music Group committee.
Separate committees of volunteers work
with the two music directors to manage the
operations of the two ensembles.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|Not applicable|
|Other|||
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The Bloomsbury Music Group|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|-|
|Registered charity number|1139541|
Charity’s principal address Tower Mill Newchurch Romney Marsh TN29 0EB
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Christopher
Woodroofe|BMG Chair|||
||Liz Watson|BB Chair|||
||Colin Izod|BWE Chair|||
||Sarah Kirk|BMG Treasurer|||
||Clare Thompson|BMG Secretary|||
||||||
## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
## Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Musical Directors: Michael McGowan (BWE) and David Morris (BB).
**Exemptions from disclosure**
## Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **Other optional information** ~~BS OS~~ **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Clare Thompson **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary **Chair, etc)**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Date
**----- End of picture text -----**
29/09/24
**Bloomsbury Music Group**
|**Final accounts for year to 5 April 2024**
**INCOME**
Event Sales
Event Donations
Gift Aid Receipts
Bank Interest
Members Subs
Others (inc OTR)
**EXPENDITURE**
MD Fees
MD Expenses
Music Purchases/Arrangements
Refreshments
Rehearsal Premises Costs
Event Venue Hire
Other Event Costs
Charity donation
Bank charges
Finance costs
Others|
£2,597.13
£0.00
£3,505.30
£0.00
£17,596.00
£6,711.41|
|---|---|
||£30,409.84|
||£8,692.60
£102.15
£4,155.48
£336.16
£5,010.00
£1,483.02
£1,191.50
£998.30
£106.40
£94.53
£2,497.60|
||£24,667.74|
|||
|**NET GAIN/LOSS**|**£5,742.10**|
|Opening Balance:|£13,790.92|
|---|---|
|ClosingBalance:|£19,533.02|
|Net Gain/Loss|£5,742.10|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
Bloomsbury Music Group
On accounts for the year
ended
5 April 2024
Charity no
(if any)
1139541
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
chanty (Yhe Trusf) for the year ended 0510412024.
Responsibilities and As the charity trUStS of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
basis of report 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charty 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 telieve that in, any material respect"
accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of
the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
Independent
examiner's ststement
I have no cOnmS and have come across no other matters in connection
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
2810812024
Name:
Michael John Winterbum
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:
58 Lammas Park Road
London
W5 5JB