SOUNDCAFE LEICESTER ANNUAL REPORT 2024- 2025 FINAL Reglslerad Chority No. 1162987 November 2025 oundcafe Lrl¢4Ster
Soundcufr Leicesteris o unique and dlversefomily, built on trust, support, cure & compassion for one onother. l. Introduclion Chair of Trvsteos R•port The report lasl yeor identif led several Importont matters on which ihis report wlll proyide an updote. The f Inancial environment contlnues lo be dlf f Icult but, In these clrcumstonces, the flnonclal pertormance was reasonabl• th15 year. We w•re Yery sod io hear of the death of Dovld Peakei he had be•n suf ferlng f rom 111 h•olth for som• tim• d•5pli• which he gave our dlr•ctor Ra¢h•l Grif f Iths excellent svpport In relatlon to th• slgnif icant work Involv•d In bld f undlng. Both Rochel and ovr tr•o$ur•r (Llso Parkesl are to be thanked f or all th• •xc•ll•nt work th•y hava done In thls area. Chang•s wer• made th1$ year In the way we dellver our s•rvlc•s. As th• numbers altendlng football have signlf Icontly dlmlnlsh•d, we stopp•d w•ekly football wlth thè focvs belng on fun ploy ses51ons and onè-off events Ilke the Football Fesilval h•ld In May Ihls y•a r. We 0190 chunged when we hold th• caf é and ¢holr sesslons $0 that thes• are now both h•ld al Si Mory de Caitro on o Monday In term tlme. Thls change hu¥ b••n v•ry successful wlih enthusia51ic suppori from both *he guesls and th• volunte•rs. The cholr hud v•ry succ•ssf ul perf ormonc•s In March Itogeth•r wlih Sem per Slngers), ut the Ing•vs of f Ic•s Sn July ond Decemb•r, as part of th• l O-y•or calebrotlon In October, and for th• Chrlstmas eelebratlon In D•c•mber. W• ar• Yery grot•ful to Emma Trounson for her out$tandlng l•ad•rshlp of the cholr ond to Andrew Green f or bèing her o¢¢ompanlsl. Sofeguardlng and o Rlsk Register continue lo be regulor Items on Trust•• Board ag•ndos. As In pr¢vious yeors, vurlous dlff Icult Issues hoye b•en well handled by our team wlih the assislgn¢• of the saf eguurdlng $pecioligt$ •mploy•d by th• Lelcester dlocèse. We were d•li9hted thai Tony Leighion agreed to become our Chgir of Trvstees. whlch allows Alon Fletcher to take up the rol• of Secrelarlol Truslee. It wa$ 0150 exc•ll•nl th¢1 Iwo of our ¥olunl•er5 became trustees und w• welcomed Andr•w Scotl and Martln Furnlss on the trvstee board. In th• report last yeor, It wos noled ihol 'we were very pleosed to be nominated by J onaihan Kerry {CEO of Leicester Diocese) f Qr u Kings Aword f or Voluntary S•rvice. www.soundcafe.org.uk
The nomlnotlon Involved a rlgor¢vs asses5monl proce55 Wlth our Dire¢tor and Trustee Tregsurer led by two of thè deputy lieutenants (Dlana Brook5 and John Aldrldgel. In order for the Ileulenoncy to recommend Sovndcafé f or thls award to ih• National A$sessment Commltl••, it was necesso ry for Diana and John to be $atisf led ihol oll aspects of the chorily's governance were of o hlgh standard. As part of ihls process, we were delighied to welcome both Dlana ond John to o SoundCof• session io meet wlth our yolunieers ond gvest5. They were extremely Impr•ss•d wilh all thai Is done In relotlon lo governan¢• and, when they altended a Soundcafé s•sslon, they com• oway with o very clea r undersiondlng of what Soundcof é m•ans to our guests. As a result of ihis, the Il•utenancy enthusiostlcol ly recommendèd Soundcafé for o Klngs Award f or Voluntory Servic•. We were obsolutely dellghted to b• Informed in Novembor that we had received Ihls exlr•m•ly pr•stigi¢us oword. Looking aheod, we hope lo expund our reach by •nsurlng those who can benefli from our s•rYlcés ore oble to occess U5 by knowlng who and wh•r• we are. li Is vltal ihal we occess secvre fundlng for our core costs $0 ihot we can have a hlgher degree of cerialnty to be abl• lo dell¥er our servlces. We ar• commltled to worklng wlth both •xlstlng partners ond deyeloplng new ones In order to embrace Ideos and explor• opportvnliles. Such p¢rln•r5hip5 are po rticularly posslble wlth organlsailons who ore u port of the Lelcester Homelessness Charler network. We wll I contlnue lo support our guests to 'f Ind thelr voice, through slnglng und cr•atlve arls and writing. The SoundC¢fé Choir leonslstlng of our guests and volunteersl Is ovr blggesl '$hop wlndow. and we wlll contlnue to organise our own conc•rls and olso perform lolntly wlih other local community choirs. We ore awore thot there arè u number of peopl• who hove b••n Volunteers wlth u5 In the post and together wlth ou r current Yolunte•r5 we alm to encou rage a network of Ilf elong advocates f or the servicès thut SCL proyldes f or those who ar• vvlnera bly hovsed ond socially Isolated. Alon Fletcher, Choir of Trustees (Morch - Dec 20241 Rev'd Tony Lei9hton Chair of Trustees (Jon 25 onwurdsl www.soundcafe.org.uk
- Execulive Overvi•w 2024/25 marked some key mllestone5 for SoundCof• ISCLI, the first being September 2024 with the Introdvttlon of a new servlce model of d•liveryi followed by ihe celebrolion of ten yeurs as a charlty In Octob•r 2024. Tf4 211E: di SCL would not be able to conllnv• wlthovt the wpport of Its Trustees, Volunteers, Patrons, gront & foundatl¢Jn organliatlons, Lelcester Dloce5e, frlend5 and donork Th• ) oih anniversary provlded the opportunlty to reflKt on th• lourney ihat SCL has been on. Partnerthlpi has always been ot the v•ry haari of whai Sovndcafe dellYer5 and we have be•n fortunalo with our purtnership worklng with: Lelcesler Samarilans 11 Ingeus Leice5terthSr¢ Cares. Whi15t we looked back on the last ten years and reflecled on what has been achleved, w• also now look forward to whai Ihe fulvre moy hold and ensuring w• are her¢ for the next ten years. Fundlng remains our biggesi thulienga, like $0 mony oth•r charities ond we have hod to make some difficult deeisi¢)ns on ihe woy to ensure thot wè ore still here todoy. www.soundcafe.org.uk
CrlIve café and Cholr are now combined onto one oftemoon delivered ot St. Mary de Caslro Church, Loicester and os o chorily we ore privileged to call St Mary de Costro ovr home ond have all been welcomed by the cornmvnlty there. Soundcafe is bulli on o family ethos r•cognising that for many guests SCL is their only fomily. In lost yeur's report l shured th• importance of volunteerlng and il playing such a vital role in supporling charltle5 like Soundcafe. 14 biDwAI'pnlX ¥dl 11. W• were d•lighted thot thls was recognised wlth Sovndcafe belng oward•d the K5ngs Aword for Volunteerlng In th• Klng's birthdoy honovrs Ilst In November 2024. Thls Is the hlghest award o local volvntary group can rèceive In the UK and Is eqviwulent lo an M8E. '11 is a gregl prtvile9e to be oble lo eontribule, in o smoll WOy* to engblrng Guesls to express their creutivi ly. I feel passionalely Ihol the Arts (ond Faoibull) should be for everyone, not just f or an elile fe w. Everyone should hove o chonce, if Ihey wish, IG wrile, drrjw, muk¢ thtngs, sing ond experience the enjoymenl of expression ond creotion. Volvnleer SCL www.soundcafe.org.uk
Chrisimus 2024 wg5 kindly supported by Leicestershire cares with thelr Wlnter wurm bag5 and donation5 fr¢)m h&r svpporter5. We also welcomed bock Drum54Fun at th• end of Morch 2025 for u wond•rful upllfting afiern¢)on of drummlng enloy•d equally by guests and volvnteers ollke. Rochel Griffiths, Director. www.soundcofe.org.vk
- Slrategic & Operutionul Highlights 3.1. Foolball Fpt In May 2024 SCL hosted onother successful footbull toumam•nt with 8 teams ocr0$5 Ihe county coming together In pursuit of the FalTplay Cup. Th• flrst homeless ond wellbelng football lourngment was hosled by SCL In July 2022 ai St Morgaret's Pa51ur?s Sports Centre. Thls hos now been e5tobllsh•d os an annuol evonl, brlnglng log•thor homeless charltle5 In Lelcesler and other comm(ltY and buslness teoms from across tha Easi Mldlgnds. FOXIS hil In September 2024 SCL moved from w•ekly sesslons lo monthly Fun Frlendly Footboll. NberS cc*mmltt•d io a w•ekly sesslon had be In declin• over th• procedlng months and It was no longer Ylable to conilnv• wlth thls modol. LeS¢ester Clty In the C¢)mmunlty contlnvéd wlth weekly St10n5 In the clty whlch The inlroduttion of the fun play sessions gove guests of SCL and neighbourlng communlty-based leom$ the chance lo come together ond play friendly motche5 and socioli5e over lunch, whlch was provided for both ieams. Mario 0'8rten, Servi¢e Co-ordinotor WWW.sovndcofe.org.uk
3.2. Choir It's been o portl¢ularly busy ond excltlng year for the Soundcafe Cholrl The Summer term had an 'Arovnd the World In Sth)g' theme and saw the choir singlng ot Ingev$ and at ovr $wnmer concert ot St Mary de Coslro. We performed In three ond four part horm¢)ny wlth all the dlfferent contlnents represented In 50ng. We performed some Soundcafe choir favovriles al the I Iyh Anniversary celebrailon5 In Ociober. For th• Chrlsknos concert, W• 50ng a mlx of cholr only pl?¢•$ gnd Chrlslmas caro15 and songs for the ovdlence 1¢ loln In wlth. We al performed uguln ut Ingeui for thelr Chrlslmos Purty. In th• Sprlng Term. w• prepored songs along the iherne of 'Together' whlch we performed In o Joint Concert at 51 Mary d• Castro with Semp•r Slng¢rs. Th• ¢hoir $ang songs on thelr own and f¢)vr lolnt Ilems with both cholrs comblned. Th• massed choir went down especially well with the audi•n¢e who Couldn't belleve we'd got the two ¢hoir5 singing logether so harmonlov51y Sn svch a 5horl space of lime. They ore laoklng forward to thelr Summer Term pro5ect singing Joseph and the Amaz5ng Technlcolor Dr8amcoat. The Sovndcafe cholr hove once ogaln grown In ()fIdence ond ability - the gutrsts focus and work hard, supported by ¢)ur volunteers. I'd like to thank Andrew Green, our uc¢¢mp¢nlst, for glvlng vp hls time lo practlce olongslde hls commitment lo rehearsals and performonces, he Is really such an osset to the Soundcufe cholr. Also, lo the peTCU55ion section who enhance our sovnd and help us keep In tlme. I om $0 proud of oll the progress every*3ne has ochleved over the course of the year ond especlolly of all the wonderfvl performances we have glven. l om gratef ul lor all the sUPPOrt of the S¢JundCafe staff, trUstS and volunteers who enoble the smooth running of the thoir. Emma Trounson, Soundcofe Chorr Leod www.soundcafe.org.uk
- Keeping Everyone safe- SoFeguarding & Pa$loral Car• Sofegvordlng is the Tesponslbllily of everyone Involv•d in the charily to prolect the health and wellbeing of our guest5 who are r•cognised as vulneroble advSts. Safeguarding Is especlolly important due to the increosed vvlneroblllty of the guests we support, many of wh¢Jm foc• a number of risk5 Includlng obvs•, exploitation, n•gl•ct, menlol heolth challenge5, ond substance mlsus•. Key Prln¢ipl•i PMv•nti•ni Crealing a sale envlronment where Indlvlduals are respected and protacled. Prot•¢ll•n: Identlfying ihose ot rlsk and taklng approprlote action lo prolecl them. empow6rm•nt: &Jpporting individuals lo make th•lr own infomied chokes. Proportlonollly: Respondlng to safèguurdlng concérns In o tlmelyi approprlot•, and s•rtsltlve mann•r. Portn•rship.. Working wlth other agencle5, to ensur• approprlote support and prolectlon. A¢¢•untqbllliy: Ensvrlng staff and volunteer5 vnderglqnd ih•lr r•sponslbilities and have undertaken the relovant tralnlng. Whal Th1$ M•oTrs In Pracli¢• All stoff and volunieers musl undergo safeguardlng tralnlng. Concerns about obu5e, neglecl, or •xploilatlon musi be reported Immedlately to the de51gnatèd Truslee $ofegvordlng lead or sesslon lead. Cl•ar pollcles ortd procedures mvst bo followed to onsure the safety of our gu•sls as Yvlneroble adults. o¢kground DBS checks or• requlred for all sloff and volvnte•r5. A culfvre of respect, dlgnliy* ond confidentlollty must be molntained ot oll tim•s. Over the Igst year we have contlnved to work wlih the Leicester bosed Somarilans lo off•r direct Samoritan support ot sassions. Sondie Sobierajl Mortin Furniss Soundcofe Trustee Safe9uarding Leads www.soundcafe.org.uk
10 5. Finan<ial Summary Ovr incem• in thè finoncial year lo 31 March 2025 was £46,05512024 - £39.8531. We are tremendovsly groteful to the Friends of Soundcofe Lelcester; those who hove donoted through the Parith Giving Schemè; those orgonisations which hov• given u5 grants; and those orgunisatiiJns and indlviduals who have donated money. The Albert Hunt Trust: The George Eme5t Elli5 Foundatlon; Th• Floren¢e Turner Trust. The Horomead Trust} The Leicesler, Leicestershire & Rutlond Communlty Fovndoilon. The Ladbrokes Corul Tru. The Moud Elklngt¢)n Charltable Trust: The P05t Code Loll•ry¥ The Truemark Twst. Our expenditure for ihe yeor wos £37,571 12024 £60,024). The redvcilon In •xp•ndlture wa5 In relation lo woges ond s•ssion cost5 as a result of the chonoes to our service dellvery ihroughoui ihe year. All ¢osls were Carefully monoged, ond some servlces were only delivered 51 ¢¢sts could be met f rom ovoilable unr•stricl•d fund5. Oyerall, the net re5uli for the year was o svrplus of £8,48412024 - d•flcit Of £20,1711. Th• funds ¢arrl•d over frorn th¢ pr•Ylous year, the total assels brovght forward on l Aprll 2024 were £32,299. At the 31 March 2025 we hold total funds of £40,783, of whlch £1 1,112 is classlfled os reslrlcted und £29,671 as restrlct•d. It has be&n onother y•ar of greal change, but w• remaln extremely ihankful to all those who have helped us to support many of Ihe mosl vulnerable in our sociely. Lisa Porke5, Treasurer www.soundcafe.org.vk
- Financial Slalftments Slatemenl of Financial Adivilie$- Year ended 31 Morch 2025 Year End 31 Marth 2025 rounded to nearest £ Year End 31 Mar¢h 2024 rounded to nearest £ Unrestrl¢ted I Funds Restrirted Fund Retelpts Donation5 Par15h Gbvlng Scheme Friends of Soundcafe Grants Soundcafe Events &fund ralsing Other- bank interest Total Income 5,864 10,956 2,683 2,583 240 240 20,535 15,257 35,792 1 23,959 1 1.792 123 39,853 30,798 £ 15,257 £ 46,055 Year End 31 March 2025 rounded to nearest £ YearEnd 31Marth 2024 rounded to nearest £ Unrestrlcted Funds Restrl¢ted Fund Payments Manager Salary. NIC, Payroll SeNlce Co-ordlnator Salary, NIC, Payrol Activity Co-ordlnator Salary, NIC, Payrol Professlonal fee5 and penslon Parklng 17,210 2,628 636 4,714 17,8A6 7,342 28,889 11,221 4,731 998 490 io 294 Room Hire,Arts & Crafts, Refreshments Ch¢lr Football Soundcafe Events Icr, statlonery & postage Equipment Insurance Fundraising. Medla Sundries & Volunteers Bank charges Arts Council Pro Total Expenditure 754 1,025 1,779 1,740 2,492 550 1,707 1,667 2,897 2,492 140 410 479 520 26 $83 1,931 549 549 747 1,555 ioi 3,2CQ fA),024 25,115 £ 12,456 E 37,571 Net lexpenditurellincome 5,683 £ 2,801 £ 20,1711 www.sovndcafe.org.uk
12 Balanr? Sheel- as al 31 Mar¢h 2025 Net Incomellexpenditurel Income 2024-2025 Less Expenditure 2024-2025 Net deficit for the year 202¢2025 Funds brought foar(l at 1 Aprll 2024 Amount 46,055 37,571 32,299 Total Funds carried forward at 31 March 2025 £ 40,783 Asset5 CAF Bank Balance at 31 March 2025 Co-op Bank Balance at 31 March 2025 Petty Cash, held by Trustee at 31 March 2025 Pet Cash, held b Director at 31 March 2025 Total Bank and Cash htsld at 31 Maich 2025 Amount 40,266 455 58 40,783 Details Restricted Funds Brou8ht Forward Restricted Income reoived Restricted Expenditure Transfer from Unrestrided Funds Restrirted Funds at 31 March 2025 Amount 8,071 15,257 12,4561 240 11,112 Details Amount Unrestricted Funds Brought Fotwafd Unrestricted Income received Unrestricted Expendlture Transfef to Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds at 31 March 2025 24,228 30,798 25,1151 2401 29,671 Restrlcted Funds at 31 March 2025 Unrestricted Funds at 31 March 2025 Total Funds at 31 Marth 2025 11,112 29,671 40,783 www.soundcafe.org.uk
13 7. SCL Governance Framework 7.1. Sovndcafe Is governed through ts Trustee Board. ihe member5 ond roles ore outlin•d b•low Role S¢op• of Role Chalr Lead the Trustee Board in en5urlng the eHedive perfomionce of its, gov•rnanc•, ensurlng there is an effettive relutionship betwe•n the Boord and SCL slaft, volunteers und $tok?holders. Leod on the CS5essm•nt of SCL'S corporate and operotl>nul risks,. ond ensurlng rlsk Is approprlat•ly assessed und mltlgot•d wher• appropriate. Chalr Trustee meetlng5 50 thai the 8oard funrtlon5 eff•ellv•ly ond ¢urrl•s out Its dud•s; ond the flnonces of SCL ur• syslernotically accounted for, oudlt•d, Ind•pendenily exgmln•d and publldy avollabl•, Altsn Fletcher Appolnted March 2021 Resignod tss Chuir Dec 2024 Rev'd Tony Lelghton AppolThled Jonuary 2025 Trus1•• S•<r•tarlal Ensurlng the admlnlslrollve affalrs of SCL gre condvded wlthln l•gal r•qulr•ments.. Tru3tee Boord m••tlngs af• properly organls•d and udmlnl¥tratlv•ly s•rvlced and the Board fulf115 Its admln15trottve responslbllltiès ond1•g01 obllgotlons. Rlik M•n•g•m•nt & L•qol Alan Fletcher Janu¢ry 2025 Deal wlth Trust•• Board corrosponden¢•i ktep u th•d( on th• progress of woth 0$ ogr••d by th• Truste• Board. Appolnted os a Trvstè• Mar<h 2021 L•ad ¢x ihe 0$5•Ssmnt of SCL'S corporot• und oporational rlsks: ond •n5ure r15k 15 approprlat•ly asse55ed ond mitigafvd where approprlat•. Responslblllty for th? Charlty'5 c¢mpllanco and wbrnis5ion of docunts to thè Charlty Commls3lork Vi¢• Chair Depvfi51ng for the Choir ot m••tlngs ond ev•nts and ocllnq us o rèpr•sentative of SCL on oth•r bodle Alan Fl•tcher Treosurer Overseeing SCL'S finoncial reporting: plonnlng and rnanag•ment agreeing target5 and evoluoting performance ugolnst them. Ex•rdse firbancial controls in order lo ensure the flnunclol stabillty of the Llso Parkes www.soundcafe.org.uk
14 Ro Scope of Role Churlty ond to scrulinlzè ond thollertge the truslees In plannlng, odvising on flnondol matters, overseelng Strategy on development motter Appolnted Seplember 2022 Business Munogemenl Pete Miller Provldlng u buslnéss ptsr5pectl¥e to ihe bourd. networklng with local businesses to enVrage further support- both financial and pro¢tlcol. Prornollng SCL'S of social media to acilvely engage wlth Ils publlc and th• busin•s5 communlty. Appolnl•d Marth 2019 Pastoral/Sof•guardlng Sandle Soblerul L•ad on SCL'5 gvesl pastoral support, sp•clflctslly gddr•sslng: uwor•ness ond appr•datlon tst guèsts ne•ds Supportlng ¥olth)t••rs In thelr p¢3tor¢l core of qu•sts Nvrlvrln9 by ernpowwlng guesls to s••k asslsiunce and achl•v• thelr polentlal Ensurlng the Trustee Board are awor• of the k¢y 15311e3 gnd how SCL can develop lo oddr•$8 lh• needs ol guests. Truil•• Board leod for Sofegvurdlng ucross SCL. Member of th• Op•rutl•ntsl Monggent Group. Appoinled Morch 2015 Soclal Medlu Advlslng on th• sociul mèdlo formut ond communlcoilons for th• thority. Lucy Collins Appo5nted Junuory 2023 Reslgned November 2024 Operational Delivery Jenny Borrett En5urlng SCL mts the heolth & wèll-b•lng need5 of guests ond gpproprlately mtasvr•s th• ourcomè of Its servlce5 ond prolects. Advlsè on spèclfic operationul luues ond pollel•s Ihat may affètt SCL 59rvice dfjlivery. Member of thè Opèrational Management Group. Appointed December 2023 Saf•gvardingl Bid Support Mortln Furnl Svpport SCL'S sofeguordlng pollcles & procèdurès worklng In partner5hlp with the current Trusi•• lèad for safegugrding. WWW.50undcafe.org.uk
Role Scop• of Role Ensuring the Trustee Boord are kept up to dale with any key reporting Incidents und future achon reqviied. Work with the Direttor in the developmeni of SCL'5 approath io bld writing and reviewing potentiol bids as tspproprlate. Appointed November 2024 Health & $4l•ty Andrew Scott Responsibility for en5urlng SCL udheres to opproprlote heolth & safety l•9151allon; advlse on speclflc sofety ond op•rotionul 155WS thot moy off•ct SCL sesslons und péiftsm)ances/events. Ensure the Trvste• Boord are awore of any key rlsk i55$ and Impod for SCL. Worl¢ wlth th? Dlrettor to ensure the 50f• operutional rvnnlng of SCL se551ons. Appolnted November 2024 www.soundcafe.org.uk
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tho trustsesl members of Charrty Name Soundcafe Leicester On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Charity no (if any) 1162987 Sèl out on pag l TO If Imber to Indude tha p•ge nUrnr$ of ad¢rtlonal sh8&t$l I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (°Ihe Trust.) for th8 year ended3EP l 6 J i fD2,r Ro8ponslbllltles and As the charity trustees of th8 Trust, you are responsible for the preparatlon basls of report of the accounts in accordance wlth the requirements of the Charitles Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my axamlnalion of the Trust's accounts carried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have follow8d the applicable Dlrections glven by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matter8 have Gome to my attention (other than that d18c108ed below ") In connectlon with the examination which gNes me cause to believe that In, any material respect.. accountlng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or thé 8ccounts do not accord the accounting records Independent examinerf8 atatsment I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should b8 drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgnèd: Dat•: Name.. SIM Orl Relovant professlonal qualificatlonlsl or body Ilf anyl: AddroS8: cLG£cF IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to hhlIght matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examlners). Give hore bri•f dotsils of any Items that the examiner wlshes to di6closa. IER October 2018