Thornbury Area Youth Music
Charity Number 1160302
Report of the trustees for the year ending 31 August 2024
Our Aims
Our charity was established in February 2015 and is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Our Charitable Objects are :
To advance education in and the art of music amongst children and young people in Thornbury and the surrounding areas, in particular but not exclusively by:
1. Maintaining and enhancing the provision of collective youth music making;
2. Promoting and encouraging the achievement of excellence in youth music making;
3. Broadening the range of vocal and instrumental music genres; and
4. Networking with music provisions in other regions to provide the widest possible range of musical experiences for students.
Review of Activities and Achievements
This year we delivered activities against all of our charitable objects.
Every Saturday morning during school term time we run a music centre at Manorbrook Primary School, with over 120 children aged from 4 to 18, delivering :
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Foundation music classes
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Group instrument lessons on trombone, cornet, clarinet, cello, saxophone, flute and violin through our Let’s Play scheme
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Our Let’s Play orchestra to give the first experience of playing in a group
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Junior training groups for strings and wind
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Senior training groups for strings and wind
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Junior and senior orchestra
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Swing Band
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Choir
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Composing and Improvising
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Music theory support and tuition
We had concerts at the end of each term to demonstrate and celebrate the students’ achievements. At Easter we had a special concert with all the children involved and set to a narrated story, with a theme of space. It was supported by an outreach team from the UK Space Agency leading to valuable extra publicity.
We are really grateful for the hard work of our amazing team of music tutors, parent volunteers, administrator and treasurer. Without them none of our work would be possible.
Impact of our Work
We increased the number of students this year. Now over 120 children, aged from 4 to 18, have had the opportunity to enjoy collective music making which otherwise would not be available in our immediate area.
Our work is a direct and practical response to the decline in funding and emphasis on musical education activities in local primary schools
Through our Let’s Play scheme we have delivered elementary instrumental tuition. This innovative scheme is designed to take away the barriers to learning an instrument and gives children with no musical background a fun and rewarding grounding in playing their first “real” instrument. The groups also encourage self-confidence and esteem in the children, supporting their general social development and education.
We also provided instrumental tuition for those students unable to access it in schools or privately. It has been popular with parents and successful for the children.
We have worked in partnership with other local music education providers to provide broader experiences for our students, for example with the outreach musicians from the Rockhampton Folk Festival.
Our charity and its activities are as inclusive as possible. We believe strongly that music can have a positive impact on all children, whatever their academic or social background. We also offer financial support so that money is not a barrier to participation in music and provide free places and instruments to children of Ukrainian refugee families.
Future Plans
We will look to increase the numbers of students in the centre through active marketing, open mornings and publicity. We will particularly target younger primary school children to join our Let’s Play and Early Years activities, they will become the junior and senior musicians in our centre in the years to come.
Our Finances
Our activities are funded through a combination of fees paid by students, grants, fundraising and donations. Trustees set an annual budget which aims to keep student fees as low as possible.
Our costs are mainly fixed, related to tutor fees and hire of facilities. In contrast our income depends heavily on student fees, making it very sensitive to changes in student numbers. This requires Trustees to make prudent budget assumptions to ensure that the centre remains financially sustainable.
We have been successful this year in obtaining grants from local charitable organisations and businesses. We have used these for specific purposes, for example to purchase instruments to rent to our students on the Let’s Play scheme.
We claim Gift Aid on eligible income.
Trustees regularly review the finances, budgets and spend against a budget cost model. We have invested in new instruments for our Let’s Play scheme and will repay this through rental fees from students.
Trustees recognise the need to maintain a cash reserve to ensure the future financial sustainability of the charity and provide a safety net in case student numbers or grant income does not meet our budget.
Structure, Governance and Management
At the conclusion of this year there were five trustees. The Trustees met approximately twice per academic term.
All Trustees give of their time freely and no remuneration or expenses were paid for their activities as Trustees.
Management of the Saturday music centre is delegated to the Head of Centre. She is responsible for the delivery of the programme of music activities agreed by the Trustees, management of the team of tutors and ensuring the safety and safeguarding of the children at the centre.
Trustees regularly review the risks faced by the charity.
Trustees have developed and regularly review policies for example related to Child Protection and Safeguarding and Anti Bullying. These policies are implemented through operating procedures that are agreed by the Trustees. Appropriate DBS checks are carried out on all Tutors and Trustees.
Approved by the Trustees 18 November 2024
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of
Thornbury Area Youth Music
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Thornbury Area Youth Music
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Thornbury Area Youth Music (the Trust) for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records; or
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The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ken Mitchell ACA (ICAEW)
19 Davids Close,
Alveston
Bristol
BS16 7FS
Thornbury Area Youth Music
Statement of Financial Activities Year ending 31[st] August 2024
Summary of Financial Activities
| INCOME | Year Ending 31/08/2024 £ |
Year Ending 31/08/2023 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Grants,Donations and Gift Aid | 6,575.95 | 11,229.42 |
| Charitable Activities | 37,063,95 | 34,794.73 |
| Interest on Cash Held | 280.11 | 83.98 |
| TOTAL | £43,920.01 | 46,108.13 |
| EXPENDITURE | Year Ending 31/08/2024 £ |
Year Ending 31/08/2023 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Management Costs | 5,609.47 | 4,584.59 |
| Music Tutors | 30,645.45 | 28,302.35 |
| Other | 7,240.54 | 5,471.06 |
| TOTAL | £43,495.46 | 38,358.00 |
| RECONCILATION | Year Ending 31/08/2024 £ |
Year Ending 31/08/2023 £ |
| Net Income inyear | 424.55 | 7,750.13 |
| Total Funds brought forward | 28,072.06 | 20,321.93 |
| TOTAL Funds at Year End | 28,496.61 | 28,072.06 |
Current Assets
| Cash held at the Bank | Year Ending 31/08/2024 £ |
|---|---|
| Current Account | 4,477.57 |
| Deposit Account | 1,550.00 |
| Grant Account | 750.00 |
| Savings Account | 21,719.04 |
| TOTAL Funds at Year End | 28,496.61 |
Thornbury Area Youth Music holds instruments for use by the students. These have an estimated replacement value of £17,058. These are written off in the accounts at the time of acquisition.
Detailed summary of Financial Activities
| INCOME | UNRESTRICTED £ |
RESTRICTED £ |
TOTAL £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and Donations | 50.00 | 2,000.00 | 2,050.00 |
| Gift Aid | 4,525.95 | 4,525.95 | |
| MembershipFees | 33,588.10 | 33,588.10 | |
| Fundraising | 2554.85 | 2554.85 | |
| Exam Fees | 51.00 | 51.00 | |
| Instrument Deposits | 600.00 | 600.00 | |
| Sale of Hoodies | 270.00 | 270.00 | |
| Interest | 280.11 | 280.11 | |
| TOTAL | 41,920.01 | 2,000.00 | 43,920.01 |
| EXPENDITURE | UNRESTRICTED £ |
RESTRICTED £ |
TOTAL £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head of Centre | 1,706.28 | 1,706.28 | |
| Administrator | 2,312.53 | 2,312.53 | |
| Treasurer | 1,590.66 | 1,590.66 | |
| Music Tutors | 30,645.45 | 30,645.45 | |
| Venue Hire | 2,293.00 | 2,293.00 | |
| Insurance | 275.81 | 275.81 | |
| Website | 167.56 | 167.56 | |
| Other Business Costs | 1,085.28 | 1,085.28 | |
| Musical Instruments | 228.50 | 228.50 | |
| Music | 108.12 | 108.12 | |
| Fundraising | 602.27 | 602.27 | |
| Hoodies | 302.00 | 1,200.00 | 1,502.00 |
| Deposits returned | 800.00 | 800.00 | |
| Fees returned | 127.00 | 127.00 | |
| Exam Fees | 51.00 | 51.00 | |
| TOTAL | 42,295.46 | 1,200.00 | 43.495.46 |
Bank Account Opening and Closing Balances
| Account | Opening Balance 01/09/2023 £ |
Closing Balance 31/08/2024 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Account | 7,333.35 | 4,477.57 |
| Deposit Account | 1,850.00 | 1,550.00 |
| Grant Account | 1,927.20 | 750 |
| Savings Account | 16,961.51 | 21,719.04 |
| TOTAL | 28,072.06 | 28,496.61 |