Charity Number: **1158781** ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** (Registered under the Charities Commission for England and Wales) Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Legal and Administration information** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**Company Number:**|08313916| |---|---| |**Charity Number:**|1158781| |**Trustees:**|Miss Sharan Jaswal| ||Mr Federico Bolza| ||Mr James Nicholas Emtage| ||Ms Collette Philip| ||Miss Nana-Efua Lawson| ||Mr Simon Marlow (appointed 19thFebruary 2024)| |**Secretary:**|Jennie Cashman Wilson (resigned 31stAugust 2023)| ||Felix Andrew (appointed 1stJune 2024)| |**Registered Office:**|Piccadilly Business Centre Unit C Aldow Enterprise Park| ||Blackett Street| ||Manchester| ||M12 6AE| |**Independent Examiners:**|Spicer & Co UK Limited| ||Staple House| ||5 Eleanor’s Cross| ||Dunstable| ||LU6 1SU| |**Bankers:**|Barclays Bank| ||18 Islington Green| ||London N1 8EH| ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** **Contents for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Page Number** 1-4 Report of the Council - 5 Independent Examiners' Report 6 Income and Expenditure Account - 7 Balance Sheet - 8 to 11 Notes to the Financial Statements **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Trustees Report** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Trustees Report** The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in the planning and delivery of our current and future activities. ## **Our purpose and activities** Our mission is to inspire, connect and open doors to the music industry so that minoritised talent - from young people in schools to emerging and mid-career musicians - has an equal chance to realise their creative potential. We advance the education and training of the public by promoting, fostering and encouraging the knowledge, understanding, performance and appreciation of music and the arts in all their forms. We design and deliver our programmes to level the playing field for aspiring musicians from minoritised backgrounds to build a sustainable career in the music industry. From their very first time playing in a class ensemble, right up to headlining a critically acclaimed venue, we seek to remove systemic barriers so that the next generation are equipped and inspired to pursue their music careers. We make progress towards our mission through two core programmes: - Future Sound: our award-winning schools programme, a national artist-led programme which places racially minoritised and working-class musicians at the heart of school music-making, providing them with creative employment while improving access to music for minoritised young people from marginalised communities, - Career Development Programme ## **Key Achievements and Performance** 2024 was a year of strategic transition following the departure of our founder and previous CEO, Jennie Cashman Wilson, in 2023. In June 2024 we welcomed Mercy Welbeck, our new Creative Director and Joint CEO. Mercy undertook a review of our Career Development Programme in her first six months developing a 3-year strategic vision for the organisation and the redesign of our career development offer. Together with interim Executive Director Oliver Carruthers, Mercy oversaw the growth of our Future Sound programme, which was redesigned in 2023 following feedback from partner schools and pupils. With a new pedagogy written by music education specialist Adam Saunders, designed to improve accessibility for young people with no prior experience in music education the programme grew from delivery in 3 schools in 2023 to 8 schools in 2024. ## **House of Jazz** In March we delivered our second House of Jazz event, this time hosted in the Worshipful Company of Saddlers’ at Saddlers’ Hall in Central London. The night featured performances by Career Development programme alumni Sans Soucis and Emma Johnson. Also supporting the lineup were five jazz musician students from London’s Guildhall School of Music. Through ticket sales, an auction, and sponsorship the night successfully raised more than £10,000. Page | 1 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Trustees Report** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Programme Delivery** ## **Future Sound** - This year our Future Sound programme expanded significantly. - We reached over 3,118 participants aged 11 – 16 through in-school workshops and live performances. - We partnered with 8 schools in Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, Oldham, Wirral, Stoke-on-Trent and London. - Just over 50% of the 264 young people participating in our small-group workshops were eligible for free school meals or in receipt of the Pupil Premium, 52% were from racially minoritised communities, and 21% had a disability or learning need. - In London we delivered 2 Assembly days and 6 Skills workshops in Plashet School and Brampton Manor School. - In the North of England, we delivered 12 Assembly days, 37 Skills workshops, 4 Play day workshops and 6 Experience day workshops. - 2024 was the second year of a multi-year partnership with the Co-op Academies Trust and we are on target to deliver the Future Sound programme to 13 Co-op schools by the end of 2026. - In 2024 we began a new collaboration with Newham Music Service, targeting the programme to young people facing the highest barriers to participation in the London borough. Outcomes for Future Sound participants are: ## 1. Musical - Improved aural and composition skills. - Improved self-belief and confidence in their musical abilities and performing. - A greater understanding of the music/creative industries as a whole. ## 2. Personal - Increased communication and teamwork. - Increased resilience and self-confidence. - Increased aspirations and broader horizons. ## 3. Social - More positive peer networks and relationships ## **Career Development Programme** In 2024, we supported 22 artists and Musicians through: An opportunity to perform at We Out Here Festival. We held an open call competition for emerging musicians to apply. Two winners were selected by a panel which included AW Ambassadors Sans Soucis, Ashley Henry and Reuben James. The two winners, 10:32 and RYBES, joined Career Development alumna Emma Johnson and her band the Gravy Boat on the stage at We Out Here. This provided a paid platform for artists at one of the UK’s most prestigious Jazz, Soul, Electronica festivals, with over 15,000 attendees. Delivery of 2 days of training and 2 further days of support for 10 musicians employed as workshop leaders for Future Sound. Page | 2 **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Trustees Report** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** A workshop for artists to learn about pitching to festivals, led by a member of the We Out Here production team and by Oliver Carruthers, a highly experienced artistic consultant, with a background as a festival and venue programmer and Director. Outcomes for our Career Development Programme are: - 1) Increased understanding of how to develop and manage their career - 2) Increased confidence in their ability and upskilling as music educators. ## **Fundraising and Financial Review** We are especially grateful to our funders for supporting our work during this year where fundraising continues to be competitive across the sector. Our heartfelt thanks go to: - Arts Council England - Postcode Neighbourhood Trust - Shears Foundation - Youth Music Trailblazer Fund - Youth Music Recharge Fund - Garfield Weston Foundation - The Foyle Foundation - Victoria Wood Foundation - 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust - Worshipful Company of Saddlers - Virginia House Trust - Big Give - Trullo Ltd - Garrick Charitable Trust - The Childhood Trust - ShareGift Income generation additionally included earned income from the Co-op Academies Trust and individual donations from our pool of wonderful and committed supporters. Thank you. Our financial year closed with a surplus of £21,112 (2024 £23,022 deficit). ## **Governance and Structure** Abram Wilson is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Our board of trustees meets quarterly, providing oversight on finance, risk and programme strategy. In 2024, we began a process of board renewal and skills audit. We welcomed one new trustee, Simon Marlow to the board, to broaden our strategic capabilities in finance and risk management. Trustees undertook training in safeguarding. We remain committed to inclusive and representative leadership across our team and board. ## **Our Partners** We continue to benefit from a network of professional musicians who are employed by us as workshop facilitators and school partners who share our mission. We are grateful to all these people who make our programmes possible. Page | 3 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Communications and Public Profile** Newsletter subscribers base and social media followers were maintained across all platforms. Our monthly e-newsletter consistently achieved an open rate of around 50% demonstrating a high level of engagement from among our supporters. In September we were selected to participate in Stronger Voices, a 6-month training course for not-for-profits in the equality sector run by the Media Trust. The insights gained from the course will inform a new communications strategy, set to be developed in early 2025. ## **Plans for the Future** Looking ahead to 2025, we are focused on sustaining an outstanding and impactful Future Sound programme, ensuring stable and sustainable finances as we navigate an extremely challenging fundraising environment for arts organisations, designing, Beyond the Mix, a new career development programme for minoritised emerging musicians while remaining rooted in community need. To support this, we have recruited an Executive Director who joins Abram Wilson in early 2025. Our priorities include: - S cale Future Sound’s reach and impact by expanding the programme through new partnerships with local music venues in Manchester and Newham, introducing a live performance strand in 2026 that will showcase emerging talent and give young people a platform to share their voices, build confidence, and gain real-world experience of performing in professional settings. - Plan the launch of Beyond the Mix for early 2026, a programme which will foster entrepreneurial mindsets and equip minoritised musicians with the professional and creative practice skills needed to navigate the industry and build sustainable careers. - Develop a detailed delivery plan for Encore, a programme for mid-career musicians and artists. - Develop our M&E framework to better measure our effectiveness and long-term impact - Protect existing income streams and develop new ones to future proof our organisation. We are setting intentional participation targets in line with our mission and values. At least 50% of our Future Sound participants will be minoritised by race or class and we will collect data on the interaction of these two characteristics. Our target cohort for the Beyond the Mix pilot will be 8-12 musicians 100% minoritised by race or class, with 75% racially minoritised, and 25% minoritised by both. Page | 4 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Independent Examiners ’ Report to Abram Wilson Foundation for Creative Arts** ## **Year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS ('the Company')** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charitable Company for the period 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 which are set out on pages 3 to 8. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity's trustees of the Charitable 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 charity'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** 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: 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. � ���� � ��� Suzanne Spicer FCA Spicer & Co UK Limited Staple House 5 Eleanor's Cross Dunstable Bedfordshire LU6 1SU ��1&� Date: ............................................. Page | 5 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Income and Expenditure Account** ## **for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Other trading activities
3
**Total Income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising Funds
4
Charitable activities
**Total Expenditure**


**Net (Loss)/Profit**


Total funds brought
forward
7
**Total funds carried**
**forward**
7|Unrestricted
Funds
£
90,868
31,123
**121,991**

2,397
89,589
**91,986**
||Restricted
Funds
£
75,588
5,000
**80,588**

5,000
84,481
**89,481**|2024
£
166,456
36,123
**202,579**
7,397
174,070
**181,467**|2023
£
168,878
35,402| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| ||||||**204,280**| ||||||1,031
226,271| ||||||**227,302**| ||**30,005**||**(8,893)**|**21,112**|**(23,022)**| ||
32,635||26,705|59,340|82,362| ||**62,640**||**17,812**|**80,452**|**59,340**| The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements Page | 6 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2024** ||**Notes**|2024|2024|2023|2023| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Current Assets**||£|£|£|£| |Debtors|5|6,715||1,041|| |Cash at bank and in hand||97,167||67,840|| |||103,882||68,881|| |**Creditors**|||||| |Amounts falling due within one
year|6|(24,430)||(9,541)|| |**Net Current Assets**|||80,452||59,340| |**Total Assets Less Current**
**Liabilities**|||80,452||59,340| |**Net Assets**|||80,452||59,340| |**General Funds**|||||| |Unrestricted income funds|7||62,640||32,635| |Restricted income funds|7||17,812||26,705| |**Total Funds**|||80,452||59,340| These financial statements were approved by the Committee members below on behalf of the Committee on 28[th] May 2025. ## COON **----- Start of picture text -----**
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C Philip (Chair) The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements Page | 7 **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Notes to the accounts** **for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **1. Accounting Policies** ## **Basis of Accounting** The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and in compliance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 (The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and the requirements of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. ## **Revenue recognition** Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents the amount received for services rendered, net of returns, discounts and rebates allowed by the society and value added taxes. ## **Grants** Income from grants are shown as amounts actually received. Income from grants for assets are shown in the year received, where the assets are purchased in the same year. Government grants are recognised when there is reasonable assurance that the entity will comply with the conditions attaching to the grant and the grant will be received. ## **Debtors** Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. ## **Creditors** Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method. ## **2. Income from donations and legacies** |Donations received
Grants received

|Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
9,641
55,109
64,750
62,529
81,227
20,479
101,706
106,349| |---|---| ||90,868
75,588
166,456
168,878| Page | 8 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Notes to the accounts** **for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **3. Income earned from other activities** |Fund raising events
Other activities for generating funds

|Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
20,000
5,000
25,000
2,934
11,123
-
11,123
32,468| |---|---| ||31,123
5,000
36,123
34,402| ## **4. Expenditure on other trading activities** |Fund raising events

**Debtors**
Prepayments and accrued
income|Unrestricted
funds
£
2,397|Restricted
funds
£
5,000|2024
2023
£
£
1,031
1,031| |---|---|---|---| ||2,397|5,000
2024
£
6,715
6,715|7,397
1,031
2023
£
1,041
1,041| ## **5. Debtors** **6. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one-year** |Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income

Other taxes and social security

Other creditors
|2024
£
6,097
1,500
15,100
594
139
24,430|2023
£
8,041
1,500
-
-
-| |---|---|---| |||9,541| Page | 9 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **7. Movement in Funds-Current Year** |Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**|Balance at
01/01/2024
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources
Balance at
31/12/2024
£
£
£
£
32,635
121,991
(91,986)
62,640
26,705
80,588
(89,481)
17,812| |---|---| ||**59,340**
**202,579**
**(181,467)**
**80,452**| ## **Movement in Funds- Previous Year** |Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**|Balance at
01/01/2023
Incoming
Resources
Outgoing
Resources
Balance at
31/12/2023
£
£
£
£
54,965
132,676
(155,006)
32,635
27,397
71,604
(72,296)
26,705| |---|---| ||**82,362**
**204,280**
**(227,302)**
**59,340**| Page | 10 ## **ABRAM WILSON FOUNDATION FOR CREATIVE ARTS** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements** **for the year ended 31 December 2024** |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations received
Grants received
**Other trading resources**
Fund raising events
Income from other activities for generating funds
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charitable activities**
Cost of direct charitable activity
Other expenses
**Other trading activities**
Fund raising event costs
**Raising donations and legacies**
Consultancy fees
Advertising and marketing
Subscription, cultivation, travel and entertaining
**SUPPORT COSTS**
**Management**
Management
Staff costs-wages & salaries
Staff costs- social security costs
Staff costs- other
Insurance
**Governance costs**
Accountancy fees
Legal fees
Motor and travel expenses
Total resources expended
**Net (Deficit)/Surplus**|31.12.24
Unrestricted
Funds
£
9,641
81,227|31.12.24
Restricted
Funds
£
55,109
20,479
**75,588**
5,000
-
**5,000**
**80,588**
60,974
-
**60,974**
5,000
**5,000**
-
92
-
**92**
-
10,000
-
12,900
-
**22,900**
-
-
515
**515**
**89,481**
**(8,893)**|31.12.24
Total Funds
£
64,750
101,706
**166,456**
25,000
11,123
**36,123**
**202,579**
73,642
1,309
**74,951**
7,397
**7,397**
24,000
357
239
**24,596**
16,830
16,000
59
33,989
957
**67,835**
1,860
37
4,791
**6,688**
**181,467**
**21,112**|31.12.23
Total Funds
£
62,529
106,349| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**90,868**
20,000
11,123|||**168,878**
2,934
32,468| ||**31,123**|||**35,402**| ||**121,991**
12,668
1,309|||**204,280**
85,241
4,887| ||**13,977**
2,397|||**90,128**
1,031| ||**2,397**
24,000
265
239|||**1,031**
29,600
1,638
5,439| ||**24,504**
16,830
6,000
59
21,089
957|||**36,677**
25,751
48,152
2,101
14,968
494| ||**44,935**
1,860
37
4,276|||**91,466**
6612
30
1,358| ||**6,173**
**91,986**|||**8,000**
**227,302**| ||**30,005**|||**(23,022)**| Page | 11 ## **Issuer** ## **Document generated** ## **Document fingerprint** ## **Parties involved with this document** **Document processed Party + Fingerprint** ## **Audit history log** **Date** ## **Action**