## **FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **Registered Charity number 1160096**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
|**INDEX**||
|---|---|
||**PAGE**|
|**TRUSTEES’ REPORT**|**3**|
|**INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF**|**6**|
|**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**||
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR**|**9**|
|**ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**||
|**BALANCE SHEET AT 31 AUGUST 2025**|**10**|
|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**|**11**|
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **GENERAL INFORMATION**
## **Address:**
76 St James's Lane Muswell Hill London N10 3RD
## **Independent Auditors:**
Leapman Weiss - Chartered Accountants Unit 6 30 Friern Park London N12 9DA
**Bankers:**
CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ
CCLA Investment Management Limited 85 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4ET
2
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
The trustees present their report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
## **Description of Group**
Finchley Children’s Music Group (‘The Group’) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution adopted on 22 January 2015 and entered into the Register of Charities on that date with the registered charity number 1160096.
The management of the Group is undertaken by a Board of Trustees consisting of a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and between one and nine other members. The trustees are elected by and out of the Group's members at the Annual General Meeting.
## **Objectives and activities**
The principal objective of the Group is to promote education in and appreciation of the art and science of music by the presentation of concerts and recitals.
## **Achievements and performances**
During 2024-25 the Group performed in many concerts and recordings involving singers from all of the choirs in the Group. In addition to FCMG’s own concerts the choirs performed in a number of external events.
A group of our Intermediate and Senior Choir singers joined the Aurora Orchestra to record a new commission for ‘Aurora Classroom’, which offers a library of music resources aimed to support exciting music-making in primary schools. A small group of Senior Choir recorded the Aldi Christmas advert at the Abbey Road Studios, the last group to record in Studio One before it closed for refurbishment for the first time in its history. Senior Choir also recorded Prokofiev’s Winter Bonfire with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Blackheath Halls. This unusually was a singing as live recording straight to vinyl.
At Christmas, singers from Intermediate Choir performed at the Carol Concert for the KIDS Charity for disabled children at Farm Street Church and all the Choirs joined the highlight event of the FCMG Christmas Carol Concert.
The older singers in Senior and Chamber Choirs showcased their amazing musicianship in the Spring concert with several solos and ensembles and then Chamber Choir shared a joint concert with Finchley Choral Society in the summer. Intermediate and Beginner Choir had a wonderful spring concert and then they were joined by both Senior Choir and the Dots performing for their first time in the summer concert.
Intermediate Choir joined Genesis Sixteen for a workshop at the Sounds Sublime Festival in St James, singing in a massed junior choir as well as showcasing their own work.
The Summer School residential week rounded off the year with a production of the Der Freischütz, fully staged in just a week with plenty of comedy and professional performances.
We were very thankful for the support of the Loder Family Charitable Trust for their contribution to the bursary fund to support singers, who might otherwise be unable to participate, and towards
3
## **FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
pastoral support to facilitate engagement and enjoyment for singers with additional needs. We are also very grateful to the Tioc Foundation, whose donation towards FCMG’s music library has made longer term support for music storage feasible.
## **Future Plans**
Since the end of the year a number of events have taken place including recording an advert for NSPCC Childline, performing with the English National Opera in a fully staged production of Jake Heggie _Dead Man Walking_ , and a BBC concert at the Barbican with BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers, under the baton of Martyn Brabbins, singing Julia Wolfe _UnEarth_ . In the coming months, Senior Choir singers will be performing in a celebration of Brazillian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos at LSO St Luke’s, and the summer residential course will be taking place again at Stowe School in August.
## **Financial Review**
The Group incurred a surplus on the General Fund of £5,524 (2024: surplus £4,204) and a surplus of £3,801 (2024: surplus £1,141) on the Restricted and Designated Fund which includes expenditure of £6,456 (2024: £5,448) on bursaries for membership and for the residential Summer School.
The trustees aim to maintain reserves at a level which provides for foreseeable expenditure and any significant fluctuations in receipts. Reserves were previously built up in anticipation of the 50th anniversary celebrations and were subsequently drawn down; similarly, the trustees took steps to increase reserves to allow for projects, in particular recordings and commissions, to mark the Group’s 60th anniversary. We are now planning towards requirements for 70[th] and 75[th] anniversaries.
At 31st August 2025, the level of free reserves was £53,032 (2024: £51,508).
## **Public benefit**
The Group believes that singing and musical education is of benefit to all children and should not be denied to those with low income. Funds are provided by donation and by fundraising specifically for the purpose, as well as from the Group's funds. During the year, the Group enabled twenty children to be members of the choirs through bursaries of 33-75% reduced fees and supported seven places at up to 50% cost for the residential Summer School.
## **Trustees**
The trustees who served during the year were:
Theresa Ward (Chair) Spyridoula Kalodiki (Treasurer to 18 May 2025; resigned 18 May 2025) Paul Guenault (Secretary) Michael Brookes Kunal Dutta Judith Iacovou Sarah Phillips Julian Saipe (to 15 November 2024)
The following have resigned or been appointed as Trustees since 31 August 2025: Craig Wilkie (appointed 28 February 2026) Kunal Dutta (Interim Chair from 1 March 2026)
4
FINCHLEYCHILDREIIS MUSIC GROUP
The trustee5 declare th•t they have approved the trystees, report set wt on pages three and four
atjove.
Signed on behalf of all the trustees:
Kunal Dutta
Chair Ilrrteriml
Theresa Ward
Treasurer
D*e:
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FINCHLEY CHILDREN'S MUSIC GROUP**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Finchley Children’s Music Group (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31st August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
•give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31[st] August 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
•have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
•have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the _Charities Act_ 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the
6
## **FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the _Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008_ requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
•the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees’ report;
•sufficient accounting records have not been kept;
•the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
•we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our sector experience through discussion with the Trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards).
7
FINCHLFY CHILt*EWS MUSIC GROUP
. We had regard to laws and regulations areasthat direct affertthe financial ststements.
We considered the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our procedure
on the related financial statement items.
Wfch the exceplion of any known or F)055ible non-compliance. and as required by auditing
standards. our work in respert of these was limtted to enquiry of the Trustees.
We mmmunicated identified laws and regul*k>ns and remained alert to any
indications of non-complian throughout the audit.
We addressed the risk of fraud through management override of controls. by considering the
internal controls in place to mftigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations
and testing the appropriatene55 of joumal entrles and other adj ustments.
A fUrtherde5Criptn of our responsibilit*5for the audit of the financial statements Is located on the
Flnandal Reporting Councifs webslte at: vVW.frc.o
auditorsres
onsibilities. This description
forms partof ourauditorfs report.
Use of our report
Thts report is made Soletothe charty's trustees. asa bodyi in accordance with Part4 of the Charities
(Accountsand Reports) Regulations2TrX Ourauditworkhasbeenundertakensothatwe might5t*
to thecharity'strustee5those matterswe are requiredtostatetothem w) an Auditor$,p0rtand fc
no other purpose. Tothe fullest extentpermltted by law. we do notaccept or assume responslblllty
to anyone otherthan the charity and Its trustees, as a body, forour audit work, for this report, or for
the opinions we have formed.
Pkn A.M.LJ.,
Peter Weiss BSC. Mk. FCA Isenlor Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Leapman Weiss - Ststutory AUdrtOrCharted Accountants,
Unit 6, 30 Friem Park, London, N129DA
Date:
12.05.202
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **Restricted**
|**General**
**&**
**Designated**
**Fund**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**Income from charitable activities:**
Subscriptions
72,336
(3,776)
Gift aid
12,454
148
Donations and fundraising
350
13,000
Royalties
178
-
Sundry income
1,038
-
**Total income**
**86,356**
**9,372**
**Expenditure on charitable activities:**
**Direct musical expenditure**
Summer school (Note 3)
1,905
2,680
Performances and recordings (Note 2)
(729)
-
Music
2,894
-
Rehearsal costs: hire of hall and piano
8,845
-
Rehearsal costs: fees to music staff
36,764
2,891
**Direct charitable administration**
Fees to administrator
25,428
-
Advertising and recruitment
-
-
Bank fees
60
-
Depreciation
120
-
Gifts
400
-
Insurance
289
-
Printing, postage, stationery, telephone
1,075
-
IT Cost
710
-
Sundry expenses
2,036
-
**79,797**
**5,571**
**Governance costs**
Audit
1,035
-
**Total expenditure**
**80,832**
**5,571**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**5,524**
**3,801**
**Gross transfers between funds**
(4,000)
4,000
**Net movement in funds**
**1,524**
**7,801**
**Total funds brought forward**
**51,508**
**39,931**
**Total funds carried forward**
**53,032**
**47,732**|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
68,560
12,602
13,350
178
1,038
**95,728**
4,585
(729)
2,894
8,845
39,655
25,428
-
60
120
400
289
1,075
710
2,036
**85,368**
1,035
**86,403**
**9,325**
-
**9,325**
**91,439**
**100,764**|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
62,749
12,206
12,116
179
1,560
**88,810**
5,987
2,345
3,146
8,998
35,259
18,403
2,180
74
1,006
154
283
1,556
180
2,794
**82,365**
1,100
**83,465**
**5,345**
-
**5,345**
**86,094**
**91,439**|
|---|---|---|
There were no recognised gains or losses other than the result for the period.
9
HNCHiEYCHIiDIIEpfs MUSIC GROiIP
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 AUGUST 2025
2025
2024
240
Stock
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
1.133
13,fJ)4
07
1,9)7
12,134
121,462
116,691
Creditors.. Amounts f4llln8 due
within one year
14et rrent assets
IW,524
91,439
Total assets less current Ilabllltles
ICQ.524
91,439
Net •$8•ts
Funds of the Ch•rlty:
Unrestricted fund
Restrirted funds
Designated funds
53,032
22,629
25,103
51,508
14,872
25,059
Total
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Kunal Dutta
Chair Ilnteriml
Theresa Ward
Treasurer
Datè:
io
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
- 1.1 The accounts have been prepared on the historic cost basis, in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP); applicable accounting standards and the Charities Act 2011. The following paragraphs describe the main accounting policies.
- 1.2 Income represents choir members' subscriptions and surpluses from performances, the Group's Summer School and other workshops. These incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Group becomes entitled to the income, the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the income; and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
- 1.3 Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is legal or constructive obligation committing the Group to pay out resources.
- 1.4 Depreciation has been provided on tangible fixed assets at a rate calculated to write off the cost of these assets, less any estimated residual value, over their estimated useful lives.
- 1.5 Stocks are valued at the lower of cost or market value, after making due allowance for slow moving items.
- 1.6 Unrestricted funds represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees for the furtherance of the objects of the Group. Such funds may be held for the purposes of meeting the administration and operational costs of the Group. Designated funds represent unrestricted funds that the trustees have set aside for a particular purpose. Restricted funds represent grants which are allocated by the donor for specific purposes. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.
## **2 Performances and recordings**
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
|Income||12,907|9,626|
|Expenditure before project costs||(12,178)|(11,971)|
|Surplus/(deficit)||729|(2,345)|
|**3**|**Summer School**|||
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
|Income||42,870|43,109|
|Expenditure||(47,455)|(49,096)|
|Surplus/(Deficit)||(4,585)|(5,987)|
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**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (cont.)**
|**4**
**Net income**
et income for the year is arrived at after charging:
Audit fee
**5**
**Fixed Assets**
**Cost**
As at 1 Sept 2024
Additions
Disposals
As at 31 August 2025
**Depreciation**
As at 1 Sept 2024
Charged in period
Disposals
As at 31 August 2025
**Net book value**
As at 31 August 2025
As at 1 Sept 2024
**6**
**Stock**
Choir uniforms|**2025**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
1,035
1,100
**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
4,031
360
(1,039)
3,352
4,031
120
(1,039)
3,112
**240**
**-**
**2025**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
1,133
1,907|
|---|---|
Net income for the year is arrived at after charging:
12
**FINCHLEY CHILDREN’S MUSIC GROUP**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 (cont.)**
|**7**
**Debtors**
**2025**
**£**
Gift Aid
11,785
Other debtors
1,143
Prepayments
76
13,004
**8**
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
**2025**
**£**
Other creditors
590
Accruals
20,348
20,938|**2024**
**£**
11,825
210
99
12,134
**2024**
**£**
293
24,959
25,252|
|---|---|
## **9 Restricted and Designated Funds**
||**Balance**|**Incoming**|**Outgoing**|**Transfer**|**Balance**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**01.09.24**|||**from**|**31.08.25**|
|||||**General**||
|||**£**||**fund**||
||**£**||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Big Give Fund – Restricted|12,656|148|(1,204)|-|11,600|
|TA Fund – Restricted|2,216|2,500|(1,687)|-|3,029|
|Music Library – Restricted|-|8,000|-|-|8,000|
|Recording Fund – Designated|15,000|-|-|-|15,000|
|Bursary Fund – Designated|4,000|2,500|(6,456)|4,000|4,044|
|Concerts Fund – Designated|6,059|-|-|-|6,059|
||39,931|13,148|(9,347)|4,000|47,732|
The Big Give Fund covers for a musicianship tutor who provides support to singers to develop their musicianship and singing skills. The TA Fund covers for a teaching assistant post. The Music Library Fund supports FCMG’s library storage costs. The Recording Fund has been set aside to allow completion of the recording and commissions, to mark the Group’s 60th and 70th anniversaries. The Bursary Fund provides financial support to those singers who would otherwise be unable to participate in the activities of the Group. The Concert Fund will cover future performances.
13