SOUTHWOLD MUSIC TRUST
A Charitable Investment Organisation
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
for the reporting period ended 30[th] June 2025
Southwold Music Trust
Trustees Nathan Paul Maturin Williamson Anthony John Raymond Newhouse Samuel George Anthony Newhouse Charity Number 1159521 Office Address Lighthouse Cottage North 3 Stradbroke Road Southwold Suffolk IP18 6LW Bankers Lloyds Bank plc
The Southwold Music Trust was founded to place concerts, community music-making and music education at the centre of Southwold and the surrounding communities. We facilitate musical activity of all kinds, working closely with key partners in the local area. Visit www.southwoldmusictrust.co.uk for details of our recent activity and future plans, as well as how to support us.
Southwold Music Trust
The Trustees present their report and accounts for the financial reporting period ended 30[th] June 2025. The accounts have been prepared on the basis set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the trust deed and the Charities Act 2011.
Status and Administration
The Trust was constituted by a deed dated 23[rd] April 2014, as amended by resolution of the trustees dated 30[th] November 2014, and is a registered Charitable Investment Organisation, number 1159521.
Objectives
The objects of the Trust are:
the advancement of the arts in Southwold and its environs through the promotion and presentation of music to the highest possible standard, including: instrumental; choral; orchestral; vocal; sacred; and secular music in Southwold and its environs and elsewhere; and
the advancement of community development and the musical education of the public in Southwold and its environs through facilitating and community and schools participation in public performances of and other community and educational activities and events associated with that music.
The Trustees confirm that they have reviewed the outcomes and achievements of their activities for the period under review to ensure they are focused on their charitable aims and to deliver benefits to the public. The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commissioners in deciding what activities the trust should undertake.
A statement of the aims of the Trust is on page 1.
Review of Activities, Developments and Achievements
2024/2025 was a momentous year for the Trust, and as well as being a record of the year’s activities this report is an expression of thanks for all those who helped us to achieve so much: our sponsor, the Mayor of Southwold, who chose us his nominated charity; our donors; our audiences, and our many volunteers.
In summary:
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our education project with Southwold Primary School continued apace with excellent results;
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the now annual New Year’s Day Concert attracted an even bigger audience;
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the Mayor’s Concert, foreshadowed in last year’s report, was performed entirely by local amateur musicians, children and adults alike. The event attracted enthusiastic and generous support from concert-goers and donors in the creation of a genuine community-led event.
Education
The year was another busy year for The Southwold Primary School choir which now encompasses half the school (years 3 to 6) numbering around 25 children. The choir played a key role in the town’s VE Day celebrations on May 8th, leading everyone in a rendition of some classic wartime songs. On 27th June they gave their annual concert as part of the Southwold Arts Festival in St Edmund’s Church, Southwold. They also sang at various school events around major festivals – Harvest, Christmas, St. Edmund’s Day, as well as other school assemblies – and the rising confidence of singing within the school is apparent and much appreciated at these occasions.
New Year’s Day Concert
St. Edmund’s Church was full to capacity for the New Year’s Day Concert. Extra chairs were accommodated in the chancel, south nave and around the font, with nearly 350 tickets sold. All audience members aged 16 or under were admitted free.
Soprano Elinor Jane Moran and baritone Robert Gildon, both familiar to local audiences, were joined by violinist Caroline Speca, who lives in Bungay, accompanied by pianist Nathan Williamson for a varied musical take on the theme of New Year featuring a range of songs, opera arias, scenes from musicals, and instrumental interludes.
The Mayor’s Concert
The Mayor’s Concert on May 9[th] , also held at St. Edmunds Church, Southwold began with a reception for some 60 guests of the Town Mayor and Town Council, who were treated to a special musical 'cameo' by Southwold Primary School Choir. The concert itself was attended by an audience of 300.
The programme was comprised of 14 different numbers ranging from the classics to a world premiere by a local young composer specially written for the occasion. All the performers were from the local community, ranging in age from 8 to 80+ including those who have just begun learning, those who have returned to music after a long absence and 6[th] form students on the cusp of music college and a professional career. There were
soloists, duos, trios, quartets, quintets, local instrumental ensembles and choirs. The performance concluded with a congregational 'performance' of a hymn written by Martin Shaw, the distinguished composer and conductor who was Director of Music at St. Edmund's in the mid 20th century and whose sesquicentennial was celebrated this year. The St. Edmund's Bell Ringers rang the audience out into the night.
In financial terms the concert had a significant impact on the Trust’s position: including contributions from Trusts and Foundations over £4000 was raised.
Donors
Substantial donations were received from three trusts and foundations: The Rainbow Dickinson Trust, The Purcell Club, and The Viscount Mackintosh Charitable Trust, which has long standing connections with Southwold. Their generosity has given a tremendous boost to the fortunes of the Trust, enabling us to look forward with confidence and to an expanding horizon.
Volunteers
Staging concerts is complex and demanding much work, with preparation of the venue and booking dates, scheduling artists, publicity, and the organisation of the performance and hosting large audience numbers on the day. We are extremely grateful to all those who worked hard to support our events, many of whom are volunteers. Our thanks also to the Rev’d Russ Gant and the Southwold PCC for allowing us to host our concerts in the magnificent Church.
Forthcoming Activities
The Trustees are committed to the continuation of the education project in its fifth year and plans have been made for another New Year’s Day Concert with ticket sales already well underway.
Both activities fulfil the Trust’s aim both of the staging live music and the development of music-making within the community.
Review of finances
The Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 30.06.25 is set out on page 6.
Total Income in the reporting period under review was £14361.29, boosted by the donations of £4000 from Trusts and Foundations and also by £1424.87 of Gift Aid in respect of this and previous financial reporting periods. Ticket sales from both the New Year’s Day Concert and the Mayor’s Concert totalled £7141.62 which fulfilled our expectations.
Expenditure in the reporting period under review was principally divided as between the staging of the New Year’s Day Concert and the Mayor’s Concert, including the preperformance reception, totalling £5516.16 and the education project totalling £2562.94. In contrast to the small deficit last year, the New Year’s Day Concert resulted in an encouraging surplus of over £1000. The Mayor’s Concert too resulted in a surplus, of over
£1500 to which, as noted above, related donations from Trusts and Charities should be added.
Expenditure on the education project with Southwold Primary School was maintained at the same level as in previous years and was funded mainly from unrestricted reserves, with the explicit approval of certain donors. The Trustees have again determined to continue funding the project for the whole of the academic year ending in June 2026 and to this end, as noted in the accounts, £2500 of the unrestricted reserves have again been earmarked as a designated reserve for that purpose.
Reserves Policy
The level of reserves at 30.06.25 is, for the reasons described above, markedly higher than at the end of the previous financial reporting period. Consequently the Trustees believe that unrestricted reserves are at level which allows the Trust to engage in its activities on a continuing basis and to consider the expansion of its future plans. The Trustees intend to draw upon reserves with caution. As noted in previous years, The Trustees foresee that the education project will make demands upon the unrestricted funds in the current and future reporting periods and are aware that the timing and amount of any future donations is not predictable.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Trustees are shown on page 2 of the accounts.
The trust deed provides for a minimum of 3 trustees. Any new trustees must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the trustees.
On the approval of the Trustees, in which he took no part, Nathan Williamson received £1250 for his work in preparation for and performance at the New Year’s Day and Mayor’s Concerts; otherwise the Trustees received no remuneration or other benefits during the period under review.
The Trustees met during the period on 2 occasions to review the current position of the Trust and to plan future activities, the initiative for which is taken by Nathan Williamson. Additionally The Trustees consult on specific issues as and when they arise.
Southwold Music Trust
Statement of Financial Activities For the financial reporting period ending 30[th] June 2025
Incoming Resources Individuals Trusts and Foundations Tickets and Other Income Gift Aid & Financial Total Outgoing Resources Concerts Education Misc Total Surplus/Def Transfers Net Movement in Funds Brought Forward 01.07.24 Carried Forward 30.06.25 Balance Sheet at 30.0.25 Assets Cash at Bank Cash in hand Total Funds Designated General Total |
Yr to 30.06.25 Yr to 30.06.24 Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £ £ 1039.36 250.00 1289.36 2007.30 4000.00 - 4000.00 7141.62 500.00 7641.62 3290.45 1430.31-1430.31- 13611.29 750.00 14361.29 5297.75 5516.16 - 5516.16 3423.56 - 2562.94 2562.94 2635.95 361.00-361.00 177.00 5877.16 2562.94 8440.10 6236.51 7734.13 (1812.94) 5921.19 (938.76) (1812.94) 1812.94- - 5921.19 - 5921.19 (938.76) 4386.80 - 4386.80 5325.66 10307.99 - 10307.99 4386.80 £ £ £ £ 9601.99 - 9601.99 4386.80 706.00-706.00- 10307.99-10307.99 4386.80 2500.00 2500.00 1950.00 7807.99 7807.99 3375.76 10307.99-10307.99 4386.80 |
|---|---|
Notes to Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet
Note 1. The above statements are prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
Note 2. There were no guarantees or debts outstanding
.
Note 3. As its income for the period under review is less than £25,000 the Trust has not submitted its accounts for audit or independent examination.
Note 4. The Statement of Financial Activities for Yr to 30.06.24 is appended.
Note 5. Donations
Individuals : All those who contributed to the New Year’s Day Concert Collection; all those who contributed to the Mayor’s Concert Collection; Anthony Newhouse, Dinah Weiner
Trusts & Foundations : The Rainbow Dickinson Trust, The Viscount Mackintosh Charitable Trust, The Purcell Club
| Note 6. Concerts | Yr to 30.06.25 | |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day £ | Mayor’s £ | |
| Collections | 371.65 | 607.71 |
| Tickets | 3682.62 | 3459.00 |
| 4054.27 | 4066.71 | |
| Musicians | 1840.00 | 500.00 |
| Venue and Equipment | 690.72 | 614.72 |
| Publicity and Concert Management | 465.92 | 1404.80 |
| 2996.64 | 2519.52 |
Note 7. Gift Aid & Financial Includes interest £5.44
Note 8. Unrestricted Fund
£1950.00 of unrestricted funds were designated at 30.06.24 as available for future outgoings of the current education project all of which £868.65 were utilised in the year to 30.06.25.The project is planned to continue for the current year and the Trustees have determined a total of £2500.00 should be similarly designated. The balance of £7807.99 remains available for general purposes.
APPENDIX
Statement of Financial Activities For the financial reporting period ending 30[th] June 2024
| Year to 30.06.24 Year to 30.06.23 | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted Total | |
| £ £ £ £ | |
| Incoming Resources | |
| Individuals | 240.00 1767.30 2007.30 310.00 |
| Institutions | - - - 1832.44 |
| Tickets and Other Income | 3290.45 - 3290.45 250.00 |
| Gift Aid | - - - - |
| Total | 3530.45 1767.30 5297.75 2392.44 |
| Outgoing Resources | |
| Concerts | 3423.56 - 3423.56 - |
| Education | - 2635.95 2635.95 2112.01 |
| Misc | 177.00-177.00 115.20 |
| Total | 3600.56 2635.95 6236.51 2227.21 |
| Surplus/Def | (70.11) (868.65) (938.76) 165.23 |
| Transfers | (868.65) 868,65- - |
| Net Movement in Funds | (938.76) - (938.76) 165.23 |
| Brought Forward 01.07.23 | 5325.66 - 5325.66 5160.33 |
| Carried Forward 30.06.24 | 4386.80 - 4386.80 5325.66 |
| Balance Sheet at 30.06.24 | |
| Assets | £ £ £ £ |
| Cash at Bank | 4386.80-4386.80 5325.66 |
| Funds | |
| Designated | 1950.00 - 1950.00 1950.00 |
| General | 2436.80-2436.80 3375.66 |
| Total | 4386.80-4386.80 5325.66 |