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← Bloomsbury Music Group

2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

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. 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 2024 to March 2025, Bloomsbury Music Group presented five concerts. This included three concerts by the Bloomsbury Woodwind Ensemble and two by the Bloomsbury Band. 4. We regularly organize concerts to raise money to support other charities. Our two ensembles also participate in community events that advance the wellbeing of local people. In addition to the above concerts, Bloomsbury Music Group took part in a Christmas carols charity event at St Pancras Station in December 2024. In total, BMG donated £1,400 to charity in this financial year. 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
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 The charity does not give grants.
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 2024
and March 2025. The group also performed
Christmas 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 help 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 in the financial
year can be found on our website:
https://www.bloomsburymusicgroup.org.uk/
dbpage.php?pg=pastevents

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 At the AGM, there was broad consensus that
the Chairty was achieving its objectives.
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 £32,625
and our expenditure was £22,771. We were
therefore able to further enhance our
reserves, giving reserves at the end of the
period of £29,379.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 Trustees normally maintain a modest
reserve equivalent to about 100% of annual
expenditure in the Bloomsbury Music
Group’s bank account. We plan to discuss
the use some of the excess reserves at the
AGM.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £29,379
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.

Additional information (optional)

You 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

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name The Bloomsbury Music Group
Other name the charity uses -
Registered charity number 1139541
Charity’s principal address C/O Chris Woodroofe
Olympic House

Manchester Airport MANCHESTER M90 1QX

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 Director), Chris Spencer (BWE Deputy Director) and David Morris (BB Director). ~~PO~~

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

~~OC~~ Other optional information ~~ee~~

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) Chris Woodroofe

Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc)

Date 11/01/2026

BLOOMSBURY MUSIC GROUP

Final accounts for year to 5 April 2025

INCOME
Event Sales
Event Donations
Gift Aid Receipts
Bank Interest
Members Subs
Others (inc OTR)
Total Income
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
Total Expenditure		 2025
£
1,764
845
3,403
0
21,193
5,420
32,625
8,185
76
1,100
583
6,830
1,685
1,155
1,400
103
86
1,568
22,771
9,854
19,525
29,379
9,854		 2024
£
2,597
0
3,505
0
17,596
6,711
30,410
8,693
102
4,155
336
5,010
1,483
1,192
998
106
95
2,498
24,668
NET GAIN/LOSS 5,742
MEMO: Cash balance
Opening cash balance
Closing cash balance		 13,783
19,525
NET GAIN/LOSS 5,742

BMG 2024-25: Income mix, %

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17%, Others (inc
OTR)
5%, Event Sales
3%, Event Donations
10%, Gift Aid
Receipts
65%, Members Subs
BMG 2024-25: Expenditure mix, % 7%, Event Venue
Hire
5%, Other Event
Costs
30%, Rehearsal
Premises Costs 6%, Charity donation
1%, Bank/finance
charges
7%, Others
3%, Refreshments
5%, Music
Purchases/
arrangements
36%, MD
Fees/expenses
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x: CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A

Independent Examiner's Report

Report to the trustees/ ; members of | Bloomsbury Music Group

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On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
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5 April 2025

| 1

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Charity no | 1139541
(if any)
|
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| 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, | have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Ac.

| have no concerns 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.

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signed:[ 4 eb _| _ ate: | 06/08/2025
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Name: | Michael John Winterburn

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):

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Address: | 58 Lammas Park Road
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a
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London W5 5JB

IER

1

October 2018