THE MUSICAL BRAIN (Registered charity no. 1159843)
Annual report and accounts for the period ended 31[st] December 2024
Schedule of information:
| Principal address: | Flat One |
|---|---|
| 2, Montpellier Spa Road | |
| Cheltenham | |
| GL50 1UL | |
| Governing document: | CIO Constitution dated 8thJanuary 2015. |
| Trustees: | Hilary Bartlett, MBE |
| Greg Harradine | |
| Michael James Pugh | |
| Professor Michael Trimble | |
| Marina Vaizey, CBE | |
| Fiona Wilson, MBE | |
| Bankers: | CAF Bank Limited |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME19 4JQ |
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Annual Report
The trustees present their annual report for the year ended 31[st] December 2024.
Trustees – The trustees, who signed the ‘Transfer of Charitable undertaking from an unincorporated charity’ were Hilary Elizabeth Bartlett, Michael James Pugh, Marina Alandra Vaizey, Ian Ritchie, Michael Trimble, and John Cox. Ian Ritchie resigned as a trustee in 2015. John Cox resigned as a trustee in 2017. Fiona Wilson MBE was appointed as a trustee in 2015. Greg Harradine was appointed as a trustee in 2018, since when there have been no further changes.
Objects – The objects of The Musical Brain are to encourage, foster, assist and promote the advancement of public understanding of the effects of music and other art forms upon the human mind, brain and body, including the scientific, historical and cultural context of music and its potential therapeutic value.
Carrying out the Objects – In order to give effect to its Objects, The Musical Brain’s core aim is to organise conferences, study days, performances, lectures, and discussions, which facilitate debate among and between the general public, musicians and artists, neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and the medical profession, thereby disseminating information concerning the effects of music and other art forms upon the human mind, brain and body. A key element of this core aim has been that the organisation’s events, whilst being both readily accessible and likely to attract broader audiences than would normally attend scientific lectures, should be of the highest standard, both scientifically and artistically. The trustees have had due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission when designing and carrying out the charity’s activities.
Retirement of the charity’s Director
Hilary Bartlett, who served as the charity’s Secretary and Director since its foundation in 2010, retired from these roles in September 2017. Working in a voluntary capacity, she had had responsibility for the assembly and delivery of events as approved by the trustees, financial control, and initiating and programming conferences, working together with a salaried part time Administrator. In addition, she provided office space in her home and acted as financial guarantor as and when necessary.
Self-evidently, finding a replacement for Hilary, willing to undertake all of these roles, has been far from straightforward and the trustees have adopted a flexible approach, being willing to consider changes in the charity’s management structure in order to secure its future operation. Thus far, no new Director has been found and, since the event based on the life and work of Ivor Gurney held in September 2018, there have been no further Musical Brain activities.
Whilst the Trustees are still convinced that the charity’s objects remain worthy of pursuit, no suitable replacement Director or management structure have been found and the future of the charity should be regarded as in doubt.
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The Musical Brain’s finances
The main source of The Musical Brain’s income has been the sale of tickets to its conferences and concerts, though vital additional income has been provided by grants and other donations and by membership subscriptions. Since 2018, these sources of income have inevitably either ceased or dramatically reduced.
Included in the income for 2019 is the sum of £2,000, received into the charity's bank account anonymously during the year and assumed to be a donation. At the start of 2020, the same amount was withdrawn from the charity's bank account. No explanation for the receipt or its subsequent withdrawal has been forthcoming and the Trustees feel bound to conclude that these funds were placed in the charity’s bank account in error and subsequently withdrawn.
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The Musical Brain
Receipts and payments account for the period ended 31st December 2024
| Year Ended 31-Dec-24 £ |
Year Ended 31-Dec-24 £ |
Year Ended 31-Dec-23 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | |||
| Ticket, book & CD sales Grants Donations / sponsorship Gift Aid Membership subscriptions Bank interest |
0 0 0 0 195.34 3.09 |
0 0 0 0 256.56 2.72 |
|
| Total Receipts | 198.43 | 259.28 | |
| Payments Artists' fees and expenses Artistic Director's fee Speakers' fees and expenses Hire of premises / AV etc Speech to text, transcripts Advertising costs Printing and copying costs Catering costs Staff Salaries Office and administrative costs Website Ticket sale fees & refunds Trustee & staff expenses |
|||
| 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 0 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 0 0 0 |
||
| Total Payments | 60 | 60 | |
| Net surplus (deficit) | 138.43 | 199.28 |
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The Musical Brain
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2024
| Year Ended 31-Dec-24 £ |
Year Ended 31-Dec-24 £ |
Year Ended 31-Dec-23 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | |||
| Cash Funds - Bank Account | 1,648.57 | 1,510.14 | |
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Assets | 1,648.57 | 1,510.14 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Admin expenses carried over | 0 | 0 | |
| Other Creditors | 0 | 0 | |
| Reserves | 1,648.57 | 1,510.14 | |
| Total Liabilities | 1,648.57 | 1,510.14 | |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | 0 | 0 |
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This report and accounts, having been approved by the trustees, were signed by them on 31 October 2025.
……………………………. ……………………………. Michael Pugh Hilary Bartlett ……………………………. ……………………………. Marina Vaizey Michael Trimble ……………………………. ……………………………. Fiona Wilson Greg Harradine
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