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← Brighter Sound Ltd

2025-03-31-accounts

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR

THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

Company number 05100495 Charity number 1154803

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

INDEX

Chair’s statement 1
Administrative information 2
Trustees’ and Directors’ annual report 3 – 9
Independent examiner’s report 10
Statement of financial activities 11
Balance sheet 12
Statement of cash flows 13
Notes to the financial statements 14 - 25

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD CHAIR’S STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

2024-25 has been a busy year at Brighter Sound and a year of change and growth. Headline highlights include the successful delivery of WOMEX 2024 (Worldwide Music Expo) in Manchester with a community-rooted wraparound programme to support young and emerging creatives in the region. We received the award for Promotion of Talent and Leadership at the Manchester Culture Awards and have delivered a wide-reaching programme of community outreach and engagement with activity for young people taking place in boroughs across Greater Manchester as well as the city centre.

Our practice has evolved through a deeper understanding of a trauma-responsive pedagogy which has enabled us to work in a meaningful way with young people who have experienced or are experiencing additional challenges in their lives.

Our work with emerging artists has included a range of innovative commissions and events inspired by the presence of WOMEX, supporting new work that examines or challenges the future of the music industry and global music cultures.

Our gender equality work has focussed on leadership development through a new partnership with the Sony Justice Fund. The programme offers online workshops, action learning sets, a leadership retreat and community building events. We have expanded this area of our work further, through a partnership with the British Council, to offer a worldwide leadership development programme.

Alongside this broad and exciting programme of activity we continue to work strategically as the sector lead for Manchester Music City. Following the successful delivery of WOMEX, our focus turns to the development of a music strategy for the city.

Looking beyond Manchester our work as co-founders of the Northern Music Network has continued as we work to develop a collective strategy for talent development in the region: creating a blueprint for the way in which the sector can work more cooperatively in order to make a greater impact for artists in the region.

Across all our work we are bringing together local and global conversations, opening up new dialogues and finding points of connection and collaboration for people who are passionate about creating change and making our sector more accessible and equitable. This work wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support and advice of my fellow board members, the inspired and energetic Brighter Sound team including freelancers and for all our partners and funders: thank you to you all.

Dr Virginia Tandy - Chair, Brighter Sound

1

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

DIRECTORS M Ball
R Davies
J Harvie (resigned 31 January 2025)
W H A Lee
A G Lovatt
T F Rabbani
L O Shaw
R M Shaw
Dr V A Tandy - Chair
M Wilde
K Lowes Chief Executive
G Davies (resigned January 2025) Head of Operations & Finance
KEY STAFF
R Horn Head of Marketing & Communications
REGISTERED OFFICE AND Green Fish Resource Centre
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS 46-50 Oldham Street
Manchester
M4 1LE
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Stacy Mason
& ACCOUNTANTS HGA Accountants & Financial Consultants Ltd
t/aChittenden Horley– Chartered Accountants
Hyde Park House
Cartwright Street, Newton
Manchester SK14 4EH
BANKERS Lloyds Bank Plc
42-46 Market Street
Manchester M1 1PW

2

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended March 31 2025 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

REPORTING FRAMEWORK

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019), referred to as the Charities SORP (FRS 102) (second edition – October 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable objects

  1. The Charity is established to act as a resource for young people, living in the UK by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a means of:

  2. a. advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals;

  3. b. advancing education, particularly in music;

  4. c. relieving unemployment;

  5. d. Providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for young people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth. Age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons.

  6. Advancing education in the Arts by providing training in music, including working with emerging musicians who have been unable to find, or need support in finding employment.

Aims and Objectives for the year ending 31st March 2025

3

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Objective 1: To act as a resource for young people living in the UK by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational or other activities:

Highlights for this year include:

Objective 2: Advancing education in the Arts by providing training in music including working with emerging musicians who have been unable to find or need support in finding employment.

Highlights for this year include:

Manchester Music City

Brighter Sound continues to be the sector lead organisation for Manchester Music City (MMC). MMC is a member of the international Music Cities Network and represents Manchester at their regular meetings and summits across Europe.

Highlights for this year include:

4

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

Public Benefit

The Charity has concern for the guidance for the charity commission guidance on Public benefit and Trustees and Management Personnel act and make decisions accordingly in line with this guidance. The Charity delivers a wide range of activities in the Public Benefit, described in detail above. In summary, our work in the public benefit includes reaching children and young people through music in order to give them personal, musical and life skills that can enable them to pursue a personal passion with support and training, improve their personal wellbeing, engage with other like-minded young musicians, and become aware, social, skilled and confident people.

Reach, Marketing and Communications

Brighter Sound had a strong presence at WOMEX 24 (including countless mentions in speeches). There is no doubt that being at the front and centre of such a large international event elevated Brighter Sound publicly - giving us the opportunity to reach new audiences, strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, and make connections with new potential partners and supporters.

WOMEX also reiterated the importance of clarity around our USP, value and impact - in order to better advocate and communicate moving forward. Post WOMEX the comms team have developed systems and processes (including improvements in internal comms) to ensure ‘business as usual’ tasks such as call-outs and events are delivered in the most efficient way, freeing up time to progress in other areas of our communications strategy. We have explored a more strategic approach to video content and PR to better tell the story of Brighter Sound, demonstrate our impact and reposition the organisation in its 25th year. We will look to work with suppliers on a regular retainer basis, rather than contracting videographers/PR on a project by project basis which can lead to communication about our work being too focused on one area, and not representing what we do more broadly.

5

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview

This year we are reporting a small surplus of £7,440 on unrestricted funds and combined with the continued amortisation of the website - which is our fixed asset included in unrestricted funds - means our unrestricted fund stands at £57,760 – with free reserves comprising £38,201 of that figure. Alongside depreciation of our new website, something pivotal to our operations, we will aim to continue rebuilding free reserves in the upcoming financial years.

Core expenditure has remained largely similar to prior years and given the continued challenging funding environment, decisions were made in early 2025 to reduce committed core expenditure, giving the opportunity to increase flexibility of resource capacity and skillset going forward to match demand. We continue to practice close cost management, and review our fixed vs discretionary spend on a regular basis to ensure that costs remain within target.

We continued to deliver restricted fund activities for which surplus funds were accrued in prior years including Sony Social Justice fund and funding in relation to delivery of WOMEX 2024, which explains the in year restricted funds deficit for the year and reduced restricted reserves at year end.

Given what has been a busy and challenging year, we are pleased to have navigated this period positively, from a financial perspective, with a good amount of secured income and a stable core cost base, which will provide a strong base on which to build our delivery plans.

Risk management

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises: a rolling review of the risks the charity may face; the establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan; and the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise. The full board reviews this plan on a quarterly basis, focusing on new items and on anything scored as high risk.

During the financial year, our Finance Sub-committee has continued to meet monthly to provide increased scrutiny of our finances, and to ensure that risk is effectively managed in a timely manner. This forum has continued to provide invaluable advice and ensured that decisions could be stress tested before implementation.

Reserves

The company has targeted a level of free reserves (unrestricted reserves not invested in fixed assets or otherwise designated) of £60,000, approximately three months fixed running costs. At the end of the year of this set of accounts (2024/25) the unrestricted fund sat at £57,760, with free reserves comprising £38,201 of that figure. As we continue the depreciation of our website, the balance of free reserves improves in terms of readily realisable funds, but we are aware that, although improved, free reserves remain lower than target. Given our limited fixed liabilities, and flexibility around certain secured funds and contracts, we are comfortable that alongside strategy work we are doing to review the structure of our work and the team needed to deliver it, we can continue to rebuild reserves over the next couple of years to the level we have targeted.

Going concern

Whilst the changes to our relationship with historical regular funders continue to be embedded, they also help create opportunities to refocus our multi-year funds. As we approach the third year of these agreements, we continue business planning to ensure that we have plans which are not solely reliant on trusts and public funding, or indeed any one individual funder. Diversifying our income streams and looking at more opportunities for earned income and donations has continued to be a particular focus. With work secured, and a revised business and fundraising plan we have no issues around declaring the organisation a viable going concern.

Pricing policy

Wherever possible, we offer our provision - workshops, residencies, masterclasses, mentoring, and support – Free of Charge to the end user. This is to ensure that finance is not a barrier to access, and to allow us to broaden the reach of our work.

6

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

FUTURE PLANS

We are looking forward to an inspiring 2025-26 as we continue to grow our work on a local, national and international scale. We plan to:

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENTS

The Brighter Sound strategic vision for 2026 – 2030 sets the direction for over the next five years. Built on 25 years of experience, learning and sector insight, it is our ‘North Star’; a tool to guide us, unite us, and keep us moving forward together. Organised around three interconnected outcomes New Voices, New Work, and Next Steps – it is grounded by a Theory of Change that shows how our programmes, partnerships, and ways of working combine to create real impact.

We will use this strategic vision to further develop our business plan to focus on our key priorities: Financial and operational stability, Refining key messages, Programme delivery and evaluation, and Research and business development.

For Manchester Music City (MMC), the priorities for 2025-26 include:

7

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee governed by its memorandum and articles of association dated April 13 2004, as amended by special resolution(s) dated October 11 2013. It is a registered charity with the Charity Commission.

Members of the company

The members of the company comprise the Directors and such other persons who have been admitted to membership by the Directors in accordance with the Articles of Association. The minimum number of members is three and the maximum eleven.

Appointment of trustees/directors

The Trustees (who are also directors of the company) are appointed by the members in general meetings. The Directors have the power to co-opt.

Co-opted directors/trustees hold office until the next AGM and are then eligible for election.

No Director can serve for more than six years, unless as a serving director they are elected chair in the fourth year of serving as a Director. In which case they may serve for up to a maximum of eight years providing they continue as chair of the Board.

New Trustees are nominated by existing Trustees and can be put forward by the company’s executive team for consideration by the board.

Trustee induction and training

Potential trustees are invited to meet the board and the executive team before attending a trustees’ meeting as an observer. Following this process, suitability is assessed, and suitable candidates are invited to become Trustees. On joining new Trustees are given an induction and a set of resources to support their introduction to the company and provide guidance on their obligations and responsibilities as a trustee, and their role for the Charity including the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Trustees are expected to attend training when requested including whole company visioning, and fundraising training relevant to their role as trustees.

Organisation

The minimum number of directors is three and the maximum fourteen. The board meets quarterly and there is a finance subcommittee.

An executive Director is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity.

To facilitate effective operations, the executive Director has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment and artistic performance related activity. The Director leads the executive team consisting of two senior managers (Head of Programmes and Head of Operations) three project managers associated with activity delivery, a communications coordinator, projects coordinator and a digital marketing apprentice

Pay and remuneration for senior staff

Pay and remuneration of key management personnel is agreed by trustees by ordinary resolution in relation to a company pay scale. Any changes to the level of pay or significant changes in working hours are agreed by trustees by ordinary resolution.

Related parties

None of our trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their trustee role with the charity other than travel expenses which must be claimed. In the current year, two trustees claimed expenses.

Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity with a production company, contracted supplier, practitioner or beneficiary must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. The Charity has a Conflict-of-Interest Policy which is provided to all Trustees and adhered to by all parties.

If trustees undertake work for the charity outside of their role as trustees, they may not in any way influence or take part in the decision of trustees to engage their services and must declare in full any arrangements with the charity.

8

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD TRUSTEES’ AND DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The trustees (who are also directors of Brighter Sound Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

SMALL COMPANY PROVISIONS AND APPROVAL

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies’ exemption.

Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Dr Virginia Tandy - Chair, Brighter Sound

Date: 19/12/2025

9

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRIGHTER SOUND LTD FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended March 31 2025 which are set out on pages 11 to 24.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Stacy Mason

Stacy Mason For and on behalf of: HGA Accountants & Financial Consultants Ltd t/a Chittenden Horley - Chartered Accountants Hyde Park House Cartwright Street, Newton Manchester SK14 4EH Date: 18/12/2025

10

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (including the income and expenditure account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

Notes
Incoming resources from generated funds:
Donations
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading income
4
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Costs of raising funds
5
Expenditure on charitable activities
6
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
BEFORE TRANSFERS
Transfers between funds
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
TOTAL FUNDS :
BROUGHT FORWARD
14
CARRIED FORWARD
14		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
174,469
13,204
-
187,673
14,687
165,546
180,233		 Restricted
Funds
£
20,000
423,883
-		 Total
Total
2025
2024
£
£
194,469
241,110
437,087
417,100
-
-
443,883 631,556
658,210
-
471,792		 14,687
14,242
637,338
693,343
471,792 652,025
707,585
7,440
-		 (27,909)
-		 (20,469)
(49,375)
-
-
7,440
50,320		 (27,909)
101,611		 (20,469)
(49,375)
151,931
201,306
57,760 73,702 131,462
151,931

The notes on pages 14 to 24 form part of these financial statements.

11

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD BALANCE SHEET AS AT MARCH 31 2025

Notes 2025 2025 2024 2024
£ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets 10 -
Intangible Assets 11 19,555 27,124
19,555 27,124
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 12 74,518 72,173
Cash at Bank and in Hand 61,720 93,144
136,238 165,317
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due in one year 13 24,331 40,505
NET CURRENT ASSETS 111,907 124,812
NET ASSETS 131,462 151,936
FUNDS
Unrestricted
General fund 14 57,760 50,320
Restricted 14 73,702 101,611
TOTAL FUNDS 131,462 151,931

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

For the year ending March 31 2025, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and no notice has been deposited under section 476 requiring the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question.

Directors’ responsibilities

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The notes on pages 14 to 24 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the Board and authorised for issue on: 19/12/2025

And signed on their behalf by:

Company registration number 05100495

12

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AS AT MARCH 31 2025

notes
Cash used in operating activities
16
Cashflows from investing activities
Purchase intangible fixed assets
Cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Cashflows from financing activities
Repayment of borrowing - Finance lease
Cash used in financing activities
Increase/(decrease) in cash & cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Cash and cash equivalents consist of:
Cash at bank and in hand		 2025
£
(31,418)
(6)
(6)
-
-
(31,424)
93,144
61,720
61,720
61,720		 2024
£
40,210
-
5
-
-
40,215
52,929
93,144
93,144
93,144

Details of the movements in net debt are given in note 18.

The notes on pages 13 to 24 form part of these financial statements.

13

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared: under the historic cost convention; in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) effective January 1 2019 (second edition – October 2019); FRS102; and the Companies Act 2006. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.

The accounts are prepared in £ sterling, which is the functional currency.

Income recognition

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. The following applies to particular types of income:

Grants , whether of a capital or revenue nature, are recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions have been met and it is probable that the income will be received.

Donations from individuals and other bodies (not being of the nature of a grant) are recognised when receivable.

Earned income is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for services and goods supplied, net of discounts and VAT.

Deferred income

Income is only deferred and included in creditors when:

Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions which assist the work of the charity either by supporting the delivery of charitable activities or by supporting the generation of funds. They include staff costs; depreciation; legal and financial costs; marketing, network, research & organisational costs; office, equipment & IT cost; and property costs. The basis of allocations is set out in note 6.

14

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Individual fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis as set out below.

Depreciation rates are as follows:

Equipment 10% p.a Computer equipment 33%pa

Intangible fixed assets

Intangible assets costing more than £500 are capitalised. The charity’s website is classified as an intangible fixed assets and the costs of its development have been capitalised. The website is being amortised over its useful economic life of five years on a straight-line basis.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due and prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.

Financial instruments

The charity has only basic financial instruments which are initially recorded at cost, subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

15

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

2 DONATIONS
ACE
EsmeéFairbairn
GMCA - grant re staffing
MCC
Donations
General donations		 Unrestricted 2025
Restricted		 Total 2024
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
£
170,234

-

-

-

4,235

174,469
 £
-
-
20,000
-
-		 £
£
£
£
170,234
213,766
-
213,766
-
-
-
-

20,000
-
22,488
22,488
-
2,000
-
2,000
4,235
2,856
-
2,856
194,469
218,622
22,488
241,110
20,000

16

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

3 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Youth Music
Emerging Musicians
Workshops, consultancy & other
Income is analysed as follows:
Youth Music
Granada Foundation
Youth Music Grant
D'oyly Carte
Fees and other income
Emerging Musicians
ACE - WOMEX Symposium
Manchester CC
MCC - Danish Cities
PRS New music Biennial
PRS Foundation
Other grants
Workshops, consultancy & other activities
British Council
Manchester Music City / GMCA - WOMEX
MCC - Danish Cities
My Hub Music trust - Manchester
Experimental orchestra
National Lottery Community Fund
Other income
4 OTHER TRADING INCOME
Sponsorship - mentoring programme		 Unrestricted 2025
Restricted		 Total 2024
Unrestricted Restricted		 2024
Unrestricted Restricted		 Total
£
-

-

13,204
13,204		 £
79,681
89,787
254,415		 £
79,681
89,787
267,619		 £
-
-
70,413		 £
79,700
115,336
151,651		 £
79,700
115,336
222,064
423,883 437,087
-

74,700
4,981
-

79,681
17,370
31,217
-

15,200
26,000
-

89,787		 70,413 346,687 417,100
-
-
-
-		 -
74,700
4,981
-		 -
-
-
-		 5,000
74,700
-
-		 5,000
74,700
-
-
- 79,681 - 79,700 79,700
-
-
-
-
-
-		 17,370
31,217
-
15,200
26,000
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-		 -
31,217
-
-
12,000
72,119		 -
31,217
-
-
12,000
72,119
- 89,787 - 115,336 115,336
-
-
-
-
-
13,204		 6,640
235,574
3,081
-
-
9,120
-		 6,640
235,574
3,081
-
-
9,120
13,204		 -
-
-
-
-
70,413		 50,000
92,614
-
2,000
7,037
-
-
 50,000
92,614
-
2,000
7,037
-
70,413
13,204 254,415 267,619
 70,413 151,651 222,064
- - - - -
- - -
 - - -

17

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

5 COSTS OF RAISING FUNDS
Direct costs
Support costs
6 CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE
Youth Music
Emerging Musicians
Workshops, consultancy & other
Staffing funding
Expenditure is analysed as follows:
2024/25
Youth Music
Emerging Musicians
Workshops, consultancy & other
2023/24
Youth Music
Emerging Musicians
Workshops, consultancy & other		 Unrestricted 2025
Restricted		 Total 2024
Unrestricted Restricted
Total		 2024
Unrestricted Restricted
Total
£
1,941
12,746		 £
-
-		 £
1,941
12,746		 £
216
13,996		 £
£
-
216
-
13,996
14,687 - 14,687 14,212 -
14,212
59,722
11,863
113,961
(20,000)		 75,457
95,621
280,714
20,000		 135,179
107,484
394,675
-		 130,172
231,778
(60,047)
(22,488)		 119,615
249,787
73,894
305,672
197,931
137,884
22,488
-
165,546 471,792 637,338 279,415 413,928
693,343
Direct
Costs
£
28,322
38,262
158,965		 Direct
Salaries
£
44,135
6,500
118,979		 Support
Costs
Total
£
£
62,722
135,179
62,722
107,484
116,731
394,675
225,549 169,614 242,175
637,338
96,427
136,238
46,578		 70,066
58,375
19,738		 83,294
249,787
111,059
305,672
71,568
137,884
279,243 148,179 265,921
693,343

18

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

7 SUPPORT & GOVERNANCE COSTS

SUPPORT & GOVERNANCE COSTS
2024/25
Support costs
Staff costs
Depreciation & amortisation
Legal & financial
Marketing
Network, research and organisational
Office, equipment and IT
Property costs
Governance costs
Staff costs
Professional fees
2023/24
Support costs
Staff costs
Depreciation & amortisation
Legal & financial
Marketing
Network, research and organisational
Office, equipment and IT
Property costs
Governance costs
Staff costs
Professional fees		 Fundraising
£
7,918
378
290
462
1,231
520
1,495		 Youth Music
£
39,590
1,892
1,451
2,310
6,155
2,598
7,476		 Emerging
Musicians
£
39,590
1,892
1,451
2,310
6,155
2,598
7,476		 Other
Total
Activities
2025
£
£
71,261
158,359
3,406
7,568
2,612
5,804
4,158
9,240
11,079
24,620
4,676
10,392
13,457
29,904
12,294 61,472 61,472 110,649
245,887
250
202		 1,250
-		 1,250
-		 2,250
5,000
3,832
4,034
452 1,250 1,250 6,082
9,034
12,746 62,722 62,722 116,731
254,921
Fundraising
£
9,498
378
33
1,306
700
458
1,260		 Youth Music
£
56,986
2,271
199
7,833
4,199
2,745
7,561		 Emerging
Musicians
£
75,982
3,028
265
10,444
5,599
3,660
10,081		 Other
Total
Activities
2024
£
£
47,489
189,955
1,892
7,569
166
663
6,528
26,111
3,499
13,997
2,288
9,151
6,301
25,203
13,633 81,794 109,059 68,163
272,649
250
113		 1,500
-		 2,500
-		 750
5,000
2,155
2,268
363 1,500 2,500 2,905
7,268
13,996 83,294 111,559 71,068
279,917

Support costs are allocated on the following basis:

Area

Staff costs, training and recruitment

basis

estimate of staff time

Office rent and service charge

head count based on estimate of staff time.

Other costs

estimate of resources used.

19

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

8 STAFF INFORMATION
a Employees
Salaries and wages
Employer's pension contributions
Employers NI allowance
Employer's NI contributions
No employees earned more than £60,000 p.a. in either year.
b Key management personnel
The key management of the charity comprise the trustees and senior staff (as set out on page1).
The trustees do not receive any remuneration for their services.
The total employee benefits, including employer pension and NI contributions, of other key management w
c Average staff numbers
The average number of employees was as follows:-
9 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE TRANSFERS (for the Group)
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
Independent examiners & accountants fees:
Examination
Accountancy fees
Other services
Depreciation of fixed assets
Amortisation of intangible assets
Trustees remuneration
Trustees expenses
Trustees claiming expenses		 2025
2024
£
£
304,936
320,203
5,897
6,190
(5,000)
(5,000)
27,140
27,931
332,973
349,324
ere as follows:
136,643
114,167
Average
Average
number
number
12
13
2025
2024
£
£
850
850
1,000
970
180
180
-
-
7,569
7,569
-
-
311
-
Number
Number
2
-

b Key management personnel

20

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025 10 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

GHTER SOUND LTD
TES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Cost or valuation
As at April 1 2024
Additions
As at March 31 2025
Depreciation
As at April 1 2024
Charge for the year
As at March 31 2025
Net Book Value
As at March 31 2025
As at March 31 2024
INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Cost
As at April 1 2024
Additions
Disposals
As at March 31 2025
Amortisation
As at April 1 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
As at March 31 2025
Net Book Value
As at March 31 2025
As at March 31 2024		 Equipment
£
16,624
-		 Computers &
Office
Equipment
Total
£
£
24,034
40,658
-
-
16,624 24,034
40,658
16,624
-		 24,034
40,658
-
-
16,624 24,034
40,658
- -
-
- -
-
Website
Total
£
£
37,845
37,845
-
-
-
-
37,845
37,845
10,721
10,721
7,569
7,569
-
-
18,290
18,290
19,555
19,555
27,124
27,124

11 INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

12 DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Income receivable
Prepayments
13 CREDITORS falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxes and social security
Accruals
Finance lease creditor
Income and grants in advance		 2025
2024
£
£
53,671
42,513
19,000
27,766
1,846
1,894
74,517
72,173
16,315
32,685
5,242
5,820
2,774
2,000
-
-
24,331
40,505

21

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

14 STATEMENT OF FUNDS

Unrestricted funds:
General fund
Total unrestricted funds
Restricted Funds:
GMCA - staffing
Youth Music
Emerging Musicians
Other activities
Total restricted funds		 01/04/2023
£
51,447

51,447

-
66,995
3,005
79,859		 Income
£
289,035		 Expenditure
transfers
£
£
(290,162)
-
2023/24		 Expenditure
transfers
£
£
(290,162)
-
2023/24		 b/f and c/f
31/03/24
01/04/24
£
50,320		 Income
£
187,673		 Expenditure
£
(180,233)		 transfers
31/03/2025
£
£
-
57,760
-
57,760
-
-
-
27,809
-
38,613
-
7,280
-
73,702
2024/25
289,035 (290,162) - 50,320 187,673 (180,233)
22,488
79,700
115,336
151,651		 (22,488)
(123,110)
(73,894)
(197,931)		 -
-
-
-		 -
23,585
44,447
33,579		 20,000
79,681
89,787
254,415		 (20,000)
(75,457)
(95,621)
(280,714)
149,859 369,175 (417,423) - 101,611 443,883 (471,792)
201,306 658,210 (707,585) - 151,931 631,556 (652,025) -
131,462

Restricted funds

All the grants will be used to support the ongoing projects in 25/26

22

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

14 STATEMENT OF FUNDS (continued)

Youth Music
Granada Foundation
Prince's Trust
Youth Music Grant
D'Oyly Carte
Donations
Emerging Musicians
ACE - WOMEX Symposium
Manchester CC
PRS new music biennial
PRS Foundation
Other grants
Other activities
British Council - Womex
British Council - We are equals
Manchester Music City / GMCA - WOMEX
MCC - Danish Cities
National Lottery Community Fund
Experimental orchestra
My Hub		 01/04/2023
£
-
2,495
64,500
-
-		 Income
£
5,000
-
74,700
-
-		 Expenditure
transfers
£
£
(1,000)
0
-
(2,495)
-
(119,615)
-
-
-
-
2023/24		 Expenditure
transfers
£
£
(1,000)
0
-
(2,495)
-
(119,615)
-
-
-
-
2023/24		 b/f and c/f
31/03/24
04/01/2024
£
4,000
-
19,585
-
-		 Income
£
-
-
74,700
4,981
-		 Expenditure
£
(4,000)
-
(67,976)
(3,481)		 transfers
31/03/2025
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
26,309
-
1,500
-
-
2024/25
66,995 79,700 (123,110) - 23,585 79,681 (75,457) -
27,809
-
-
3,005
-		 -
31,217
-
12,000
72,119		 -
(31,217)
-
(15,005)
(27,672)		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
44,447		 17,370
31,217
15,200
26,000
-		 (17,370)
(31,217)
(9,629)
(26,000)
(11,405)		 -
-
-
-
-
5,571
-
-
-
33,042
3,005 115,336 (73,894) - 44,447 89,787 (95,621) -
38,613
-
3,220
74,261
2,378
-
-		 50,000
-
92,614
-
7,037
2,000		 (50,000)
(3,220)
(137,023)
(2,876)
(2,812)
(2,000)		 -
-
(498)
498
-
-		 -
-
29,354
-
4,225
-		 6,640
-
235,574
3,081
9,120
-
-		 (6,640)
-
(264,858)
(3,081)
(1,910)
(4,225)
-		 -
-
-
-
70
-
-
7,210
-
-
-
79,859 151,651 (197,931) - 33,579 254,415 (280,714) -
7,280

23

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

15 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Company fund balances at March 31 2025
are represented by:-
Intangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Free Reserves:
Net current assets
Company fund balances at March 31 2024
are represented by:-
Tangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Creditors due in more than one year		 Restricted
Total
General
Designated
Funds
£
£
£
£
19,555
-
-
19,555
38,205
-
73,702
111,907
Unrestricted
57,760 - 73,702
131,462
38,205
50,325 - 101,611
151,936

16 RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASHFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income/(expenditure)
Add back depreciation
Add back amortisation intangible assets
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities		 2025
2024
£
£
(20,469)
(49,370)
-
-
7,569
7,569
(2,344)
80,332
(16,174)
1,684
(31,418)
40,215

17 MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT

MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand
Debt
Finance lease obligations
Cash and cash equivalents net of debt		 at 31/3/24
£
93,144		 cashflows
£
31,424
-		 finance
leases
£
-		 other non
cash
as 31/3/25
£
£
-
61,720
- - - -
-
93,144 61,720

24

BRIGHTER SOUND LTD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025

18 CONSTITUTION

The Company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. In the event of the Company being wound up the members are committed to contributing £1 each.

19 TAXATION

The company is a registered charity and is entitled to claim annual exemption from UK corporation tax under sections 466 to 477 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010.

20 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

The company had no capital commitments at the year end (2024 - none)

21 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions in either year which are required to be disclosed.

22 LEASE COMMITMENTS

The company had no commitments under operating leases (2024 - none).

The company has the following commitments under finance lease:

Payable within one year
Payable between 2 and 5 years
Less interest		 -
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-

25