2026-01-31-accounts - Drybrook And District Silver Band

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Annual Report Trustees’ Report | Finance Report 1[st] February 2025 – 31[st] January 2026

ANNUAL REPORT 2026

Trustees’ Report: Charity Overview

Structure & Management

Charity Details

Since 2013, the band has been registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with the Charity Commission.

Name: Drybrook & District Silver Band

Registration Number: 1154033

The organisation’s Constitution clearly denotes the roles of Trustees & Members. The terms ‘players’ and ‘Musical Director’ are also frequently used, though do not form part of the Constitution.

Contact: Mr Hugh James

Contact Address: 36 Swallow Road, HR9 7WS

Trustee Names as of 31/01/26: Hugh James (Chair), Andrew Jones, Elizabeth Forster, Hannah Bandy, Liz Sheridan, Kevin Warren. Members as of 31/01/26: 20

The Trustees use five Strategic Objectives to monitor performance of the organisation (as shown within this report).

Activities & Objectives

The following are listed on the Charity Commission website…

Activities

Provision of regular rehearsals, musical tuition and instrument hire in support of musical learning and enjoyment.
Provision of concerts, local events and participation in contests for enjoyment of players and audiences.
Active role in furthering local brass banding, through the organisation of an annual contest and summer concert series.

Objects

The objects of the CIO are to advance the education and appreciation of the public in the art and science of brass band music, in particular but not exclusively by the presentation of concerts and similar activities.

ANNUAL REPORT 2026

Trustees’ Report: Performance against Strategic Objectives

WE ARE…FOCUSED ON SUCCESS

We engage in regular competition and work hard to win prizes through high-quality rehearsals and commitment from our players and Musical Director, supported by good facilities and equipment.

WE ARE…FOSTERING TALENT

We support efforts to bring new players into brass banding and encourage development. We ensure safety and security in our own settings & offer opportunities within our organisation for young players to perform.

Contesting

The band retained its Championship Section status with a 7[th] place finish at the Regionals in 2025, one place higher than in the previous year.

Further contesting followed in June with a return to Bugle, where the band secured 2[nd] place prizes.

In November the band took part in the local GBBA event, winning the March contest and taking the 3[rd] place trophy for the Test Piece, with Liz Sheridan taking the Best Flugel Horn prize.

Regionals	Bugle	GBBA
#7(from 12)

Bailey Lane End Music Festival

The band once again held a successful Festival in April 2025, with over 45 entries taking part in this impactful event. This time we secured the services of Ellie Carlson, an experienced Euphonium soloist and music graduate, as adjudicator for the event.

Opportunities to Perform

The band were able to offer younger players the opportunity to perform at Championship Section level during 2025. Players from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff University and from other local bands all took part in concert and contest performances with us.

We were also pleased to offer a full-time seat to one of our younger members and hope to help his musical progression over the coming years.

MD Changes

The band continued to prioritise the funding of expert Musical Direction. Joshua Ruck kindly returned to prepare the band for the 2025 Regionals and the band secured the services of Alan Gifford for the contest itself. Joshua Ruck has since returned to provide Musical Direction on a regular basis.

Musical Instrument Purchases

The band were able to avoid significant expenditure in 2025 though maintenance was prioritised, with repairs to the marching Eb Bass taking place.

Band Room Maintenance

Our facilities continued to be maintained and provided a high standard rehearsal space.

One of our younger cornet players departed to take on a Principal Cornet seat with a Midlands band. While its always sad to see a player leave, this was a fantastic opportunity to further his brass playing and we were pleased to have played a part in his musical development.

Safeguarding

The band maintained its commitment to managing Safeguarding appropriately, with an appointed Safeguarding Officer and adherence to guidelines from Brass Bands England.

ANNUAL REPORT 2026

Trustees’ Report: Performance against Strategic Objectives

WE ARE…OPEN & FRIENDLY

We are a supportive and sociable organisation that players want to be a part of and want to suggest to others. We encourage our players to support neighbouring bands and offer opportunities for non-members to perform with us.

WE ARE…VALUED BY OUR COMMUNITY

We are well known in our local communities, support local causes and engage with neighbouring musical organisations to sustain our musical heritage.

Welcoming Deps & Signings

The band continued its rebuild during 2025 following the departure of several key players in 2024, after years of service. The open and positive nature of the band was evidenced by the number of deps willing to help at events in the interim and the band were buoyed by nine full-time signings during the year, putting us in a good position for 2026. At the end of this period all “end seats” – Principal Cornet, Soprano Cornet, Flugel Horn, Solo Horn, Principal Euphonium, Solo Trombone and Solo Eb Bass - were all filled with committed and skilled players.

Rehearsal Changes

In 2025 the band decided to reduce to a once-weekly rehearsal schedule, from the traditional twice-weekly arrangement. Having observed changes within banding more generally and listened to feedback from current and past players, this was deemed to be a positive step to help members balance their time, avoid burnout and present a more attractive offering to new players. Since its introduction in September 2025, feedback has been positive and rehearsal attendance has been high.

Supporting other Groups

Many of our players are members of multiple musical organisations and we remain sympathetic to this, as it builds a network of mutually supportive groups in the local region.

Website & Social Media

We remain active online, with a regularly updated website and with news published on social media feeds, to maintain engagement from supporters and attract new players and occasional deps.

Local Performances

In 2025 the band continued to prioritise local events. Regular performances at Fownhope Club March and the Remembrance Service at Forest Church were

supplemented with spring concerts in Ross-on-Wye with the Ross Folk Choir and in Drybrook at the Hearts of Oak Pub. The Christmas season was enjoyable, with events in Hereford & Mitcheldean, as well as an extended evening of carolling around Drybrook.

Availability of Band Room

We continued to make our facilities available to the Drybrook & District Ladies Choir for regular rehearsals.

Ross-on-Wye “Bands in the Park”

The band continued to manage the programme of concerts over seventeen Sundays in 2025, meeting the Council’s request to widen the genres on show with the inclusion of choirs and contemporary bands along the usual core of brass and big bands.

GBBA Membership

The band maintained its membership of the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association, which organises events in the region and represents local bands on the West of England Council. We also attended the annual GBBA contest.

Coleford Festival of Brass

Having been involved in the organisation of the event, the band performed at the first Coleford Festival of Brass in June and were pleased to further support the event by providing a full suite of percussion for the Baptist Church stage. We look forward to attending again in 2026!

ANNUAL REPORT 2026

Trustees’ Report: Performance against Strategic Objectives

WE ARE…FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE

We are financially secure due to prudent spending and the support of our players and local sponsors, who support our aims. We are legally compliant and transparent in our management.

Good Governance

Late 2025 saw the departure of long-term Trustees Lesley Harding and Hannah MacMillan, following many years of service to the band. Thanks are noted to them for their enduring commitment to the organisation.

Hannah was also awarded Life Membership having served the band, as player and then trustee, for 20 years.

Throughout the year, the Trustees were able to manage MD changes, significant player churn and continue the organisation of Ross Bands in the Park and the Bailey Lane End Music Festival, in addition to core band management and legally required charity matters.

Sponsorship

The continued sponsorship from A. W. Parker Coal Merchants is a key enabler for the work of the band and we remain very thankful for their generosity over many years.

Financial Stability

While the band finished 2025 with a slight deficit, it was much reduced from prior years following a concerted effort from the Trustees to control costs and increase income. This positions the band well for 2026 with the aim of breaking even.

ANNUAL REPORT Finance Report: Headlines 2026

The Band ended FY25/26 with a deficit of £1,771, the fourth annual deficit in succession, though much reduced from previous FYs. This was primarily driven by a continued need to draw in deps for important contests, alongside a lack of income from several regular events, such as Pershore and Ross Bands in the Park, during 2025.

The Balance of Funds at the end of FY25/26 was £15,253.

The treatments applied to reduce the deficit in 2025 will have a continuing impact into future FYs. Current forecasting suggests the band may be able to break even in 2026.

Income Headlines

Expenditure Headlines

One-off Instrument purchases were avoided entirely to suppress costs, though we progressed with repairs to an Eb Bass.
The move to one rehearsal per week during the FY reduced Conductor Fees, though the financial impact of this will be more fully felt in 2026.
Musician Fees (deps) increased compared with last year.
Though we actively covered more expenses in 2025, this was offset by generous donations.

Look Ahead to FY26/27

Initial forecasting suggests the band may be able to break even for the first time in five years. Notable expected changes include…
- an increased regular level of member subs,
- the first full year of once weekly rehearsals
Member Subscription income dropped further in 2025 but is on an upward trajectory heading into 2026.
Bugle Prize money of £1,000 was the largest contest income in the last decade.
A reduction in the need for contest deps (assuming attendance at the Regionals and at a November contest).
Enduring increased Band Room hiring fees
Avoidance of significant instrument purchases.
Donations increased sharply, due both to an increase in general donations and thanks to those returning expenses payments to the band in the form of donations. This will increase Gift Aid claims next year.
Musical Performance income remained broadly level and would have been higher if we had not missed out on Pershore Midsummer Brass income (as the event did not make a profit in 2025) and had to cancel our Ross Bandstand performance (£330 missed).
Christmas 2025 saw £777 raised. This was less than 2024 but more than 2023. It should be noted that we had to cancel one gig due to availability. The Trustees are keen to improve our income from Christmas events in 2026.
Ross Bands in the Park Concert Promotion income increased but so did expenditure.
Long-term Band Hall hiring income increased, offsetting the loss of income from using the Band as an Election venue.
The band is very fortunate to have had reserves to cover recent deficits, but this cannot continue indefinitely. The Trustees are focused on improving the financial position and reaching a break even point for FY26/27. This will be monitored through regular reforecasting and corrective action will be taken where possible.

Thanks

The band continues to be very grateful for the long-term sponsorship from AW Parker, which accounts for 15% of our annual income!
The Trustees also record their thanks to Lesley Harding for her many years work as Treasurer of the band. Having stepped down during FY25/26, she handed over the accounts in good order and supported the current Trustees in taking on new financial responsibilities.
Final thanks go to Tim Riley who took on Inspection of the accounts this year.

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