The Nicholas Branston Foundation
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 30 September 2024
Reference and Administrative Details
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Charity name: The Nicholas Branston Foundation
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Charity number: 1140444
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Trustees during the year:
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Rachel Branston, Paul Branston, Victoria Mavromoustaki, Katherine Woolley, Anna Brooke
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is governed by its trust deed. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing document. The trustees met formally via Zoom on 30 September 2024 and have regular contact throughout the year.
Objectives and Activities
The charity’s purpose is to facilitate music education for young people, particularly through the provision of residential music courses and the loan of instruments. Trustees confirm they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
In 2024 the Foundation continued to support students by providing access to high-quality instruments. At year-end the charity held musical instruments with a value of approximately £26,000, on free loan to students.
The Foundation also organised and funded the annual residential courses in Cheltenham for The National Youth Percussion Orchestra and The National Youth French Horn Ensemble, now in their fourth year. Three concerts were presented:
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A French Horn Ensemble concert in the Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies College.
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A Thursday evening recital of solos and quartets at St Andrew’s Church, Cheltenham, where the charity funded a pianist to accompany rehearsals and the performance.
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A percussion concert held in the Lower Hall of Cheltenham Ladies College, though trustees have agreed that future events should return to the Princess Hall due to the superior setting.
Feedback from both students and parents was highly positive, with strong appreciation for the opportunities provided. Two parents made donations totalling £5,300, including a significant gift of £5,000.
While the concerts and courses involved considerable costs, they successfully fulfilled the charity’s aim of developing musical skills, performance experience, and a supportive community for young musicians.
Financial Review
At 30 September 2024 the charity held cash reserves of £12,294.69. Instruments owned or donated to the Foundation during the year totalled £26,000 (a marimba purchased for £20,000 and a French horn donated by Paxman Horns, valued at £6,000).
There were no debtors or creditors at the end of the year.
The trustees consider this a satisfactory position that provides a sound base for the continuation of the Foundation’s objectives.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to maintain sufficient free reserves to cover annual operating costs and to provide a buffer against income fluctuations. The year-end cash balance is considered adequate to meet short-term commitments.
Plans for the Future
Trustees held extensive discussions on the way forward. RB and PB intend to step back gradually, with Tom Taffinder and Tim Thorpe expected to take greater responsibility for NYFHE, and Will Edwards and Kizzy Brookes for NYPO. The trustees believe this transition will provide continuity and fresh energy for the charity’s work.
It was agreed that holding both courses simultaneously works well, providing students with a broader social and musical experience. Future events will continue to build on this model.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
Approved by the trustees on 1 October 2024 and signed on their behalf:
Trustee
The Nicholas Branston Foundation - Balance sheet 2024
| Balance Sheet | 2024 (£) | 2023 (£) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASSETS | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | £12,294.69 | £23,609.73 | ||
| Debtors | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Musical instruments (fxed assets | £26,000.00 |
£0.00 | ||
| Total Assets | £38,294.69 | £23,609.73 | ||
| LIABILITIES | ||||
| Creditors due within one year | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Creditors due after more than on | e £0.00 |
£0.00 | ||
| Total Liabilities | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| NET ASSETS | £38,294.69 | £23,609.73 | ||
| FUNDS | ||||
| Unrestricted Funds | £38,294.69 | £23,609.73 | ||
| Restricted Funds | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Endowment Funds | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Total Charity Funds | £38,294.69 | £23,609.73 |
1
NICHOLAS BRANSTON FOUNDATION 2023 - 2024
| Statement of Financial Activities | Statement of Financial Activities | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the Year ended 30th September 2024 | ||||||
| Year ended 30th September 2024 |
Year ended 30th September 2023 |
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| RECEIPTS | ||||||
| Donations | £5,680.00 | £350.00 | ||||
| NYPO Course | £11,980.00 | £9,935.00 | ||||
| NYFHE Course | £16,010.00 | £14,310.00 | ||||
| Total receipts | £33,670.00 | £24,595.00 | ||||
| PAYMENTS | ||||||
| Teaching staf | £11,477.74 | £10,157.60 | ||||
| Music | £123.90 | £107.85 | ||||
| Shirts etc | £0.00 | £695.52 | ||||
| School facilities hire | £11,004.00 | £11,000.00 | ||||
| Concert venue hire | £100.00 | |||||
| Insurance | £273.00 | |||||
| Transport | 0 | £192.00 | ||||
| Bank charges | £10.40 | £5.60 | ||||
| Marimba purchase | £20,000.00 | |||||
| Total payments | £42,989.04 | £16,692.52 | ||||
| Current Ac. Balance brought forward 30th Sept |
£18,962.68 | £11,060.20 | ||||
| Net movement in period | -£9,319.04 | £7,902.48 | ||||
| Current Account | £9,643.64 | £18,962.68 | ||||
| Reserve Account | £2,763.05 | £2,763.05 | ||||
| Paypal Account | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||||
| Total cash reserves, end of year. | £12,406.69 | £23,609.73 | ||||
1
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Nicholas Branston Foundation I report on the accounts of the charlty for the year ended 31 Dacember 2024. The charlty S trustees are responslble for the preparation ol th8 accounts. The charity's trusts88 consider that an audlt Is not requlred for thk8 year (under section 144(2) of the Charltles Act 2011) and that an Independent 8xamlnatlon Is needed. 1118 my responslbllty to: examlne the accounts under sedlon 145 of the Charltles Act 2011, follow th8 procedures lald down In the general DlrectEon8 gIn by the Charty Commlsslon under 8ectlon 145{5)(b) of the Charltles Act 2011, and 8tate whather partlcular matters have come to my attentlon. Ba818 of Independent examlnor'8 Statsment My examlnatlon was carrk8d out In accordanc8 wlth the general Dlrectlons glven by th8 Charity Comml8slon. An examlnatlon Includes a revlew of the accountlng records kept by the charlty and a compadson of the accounts pr888nted wlth those records. It also Includes constderlng any unusual It8m8 or d18closures In th8 accounts and seeklng explanatknns from the trustsos about such matter8. Tha procedure8 undertaken do rnt provkle all the avldonce that would be requlred In an audlt and consequently no oplnlon Is glven a8 to wfkgther the accounts present a Irue and falr vlewl and the report18 Ilmlt8d to th08e matters 88t out b810w. Independent examlner'8 8tstemenl In connectk)n wlth my examlnatlon, no matters have come to my attentlon: whlch glve me reasonable cau8e to bellev• that, In any materlal respect, the requlrements: to keop accountlng records In accordancg wlth 8ectlon 130 of the Charlll88 Act 2011.and to prepare accounts whlch accord wlth the accouniiro records and comply wtth the accountlng requlrements of the Charltles Act 2011; have not been met; or to whlch, In my oplnlon, attentlon should be drawn In order to enabl8 a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Name.C£YS. i i NJA. RFTrJk.a Address . I:J f.l.¥. Date . .Q.o d4 P J.Q.hd...rtrtA.£-. Slgn