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2025-10-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number 1164179

Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust

!

Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] October 2025

The Board of Trustees presents its report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31[st] October 2025

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity name

Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust

Charity Registration Number 1164179

Registered Office

Stun Office Z-Arts 335 Stretford Road Manchester. M15 5ZA

Trustees

Michael Barnes-Wynters Karen Gabay Darren Jones Estelle Neuman

Chair

Principal staff

Alison Surtees

Volunteers

Markus Heithier Catherine Mullen Matthew Norman

Heather Roberts James Zeiter Dave Rofe

Richard Rowlinson Cathy Brooks

Bankers

Triodos Bank Deanery Road Bristol BS1 5AS

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust

Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025

Objectives

The Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust (MDMArchive) is a small charity which was established with the objectives of:

Purposes and Aims

Manchester Digital Music Archive is an online community archive that celebrates Greater Manchester music and its social history. It was established in 2003 and became a registered charity in October 2016.

Our mission statement is to celebrate Greater Manchester music, protect its heritage and promote awareness of its cultural importance.

Our crowd-sourced archive and website is a place for people all over the world to share Manchester music ephemera and memories, be they fans, musicians or involved with the music industry itself.

We are passionate about celebrating the hidden chapters and under-represented communities within Greater Manchester music. We believe that through crowd-sourcing artefacts we can democratise heritage and provide a platform for multiple versions of history to be shared. There is no hierarchy of 'merit' within our archive. The general public decides what is important and what is 'heritage'.

Our core values are:

Our specific aims are to:

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust

Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025 (continued)

Ensuring Our Work Delivers Our Aims

MDMArchive

they have brought to those people that the charity aims to help. This enables MDMArchive to ensure that its aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

How Our Activities Deliver Public Benefit

. Our activities are based on the provision

of education and advancement of culture for the public benefit.

Who Used and Benefited From Our Services?

area. In the year covered by this report benefits were provided to:

Achievements and performance

Piccadilly Radio Project Digitisation and Volunteer Engagement

In partnership with North West Sound Archive and Central Library, the Archive undertook the support of 20 volunteers to produce personal stories and virtual exhibitions of their memories of Piccadilly Radio. The core project activity centered on digitised tapes from Piccadilly Radio - the MDMArchive website provided a central resource for online access of this material. The programme is set to complete in December 2025, and so far, there have been two online training programmes and two in person events to support access and training. The programme is also working with volunteers on an ongoing basis to extend the collection of material, either recordings or images.

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust

Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025 (continued)

Volunteers

We have been working with volunteers across our programmes, notably in the development of new tools online to bring to life the stories of spaces old and new in various locations across Greater Manchester. This is an ongoing project, and we hope to engage some profile artists in the coming year to create their own music maps of favourite places.

In addition, volunteers from the Piccadilly Radio Project have been sub-clipping digitised recordings and creating virtual exhibitions and content for the site related to the project.

Louder Than Words (LTW) Festival

MDMArchive ran two panels at the Louder than Words festival event in November 2024 - Black Female Voices extended These events were both well attended with lots of interaction with the audience. The feedback from the weekend was fantastic, with many saying they did not know the history of the involvement of Manchester artists and the work they produced. As a result of this work, we are working with LTW again for 2025 l.

Conference

Alison Surtees and Karen Gabay presented a panel as part of a conference titled Neither Factory R ecords nor M adchester: R ethinking M anchester's M usical and Sub cultural Histories The panel T he O ther Side of Strawb erry Studios and Yellow 2 Studios - featured guests Debra Burn, Basil Clarke and Yvonne Ellis who highlighted stories outside of those who dominate the heritage of the time.

Blue Plaques Project

Our ongoing recognition of Black Artists in Manchester brought a further Blue Plaque to the city in remembrance and recognition of Diane Charlemagne.

Diane was a singer, songwriter and producer covering a wide genre of music. Her debut with 52[nd] Street saw Diane achieving chart success in the USA. She was the lead vocalist on T he Key, T he Secret s Inner C ity Life by Goldie, and travelled the world with the artist Moby.

The plaque was unveiled in a ceremony on 25[th] June 2025 and was attended by her daughter and many of the artists she worked with. This is an important part of the work we do, and is aimed at widening the perspectives of music heritage in Greater Manchester to include all those who work and have worked tirelessly as part of it. This recognition is vital, and means that the narratives are more representative of the diverse talent that exists in Manchester, to give a more rounded view of the development of the industry and the roles that everyone plays.

This work continues for MDMArchive and we are currently working on a third plaque for Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This will become a key area for us as we move into the coming years.

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025 (continued)

Manchester Mooch Dig Media

We continued our support of the Manchester Mooch app, developed by Dig Media as an ongoing project from Salford Music Map. The app launched in summer 2025.

Digital Player Development

In line with our aim for future curated content, we have started sharing content from other creators on our site, including mcrscenestories, and will look to increase this activity as well as the maps of places currently being developed by volunteers.

Financial Review

Principal Funding Sources

s of income in the year were from Manchester City Council for the delivery of the Piccadilly Radio project (£2,775) and donations from members of the public for the Diane Charlemagne Blue Pla que (£1,130). We also received ongoing contributions from regular donors (£180) a nd dona tions from users of our a rchive m a teria l (£50).

Reserves policy and designated funds

MDMArchive is committed to maintaining unrestricted reserves at a level that covers three has no premises or employees, nor any ongoing contractual commitments, so ongoing operating costs are minimal (less than £300 a yea r).

The charity had unrestricted reserves at 31[st] October 2025 of £10,377 (2024 - £12,328). The trustees ha ve designa ted £10,000 of this to future growth and development including:

The MDMArchive Board regularly reviews sufficient unrestricted funds are available to support planned activities. In doing this Trustees take account of the risks facing the charity and consider whether any adjustment to the level of reserves or designated funds is appropriate.

The charity will continue to manage its resources prudently, seeking cost-effective ways to deliver its charitable objectives and working to diversify income streams whilst ensuring that core objectives are met.

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025 (continued)

Plans for Future Periods

Structure, Governance and Management

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a meeting of the charity trustees. Individuals are selected for appointment as trustees with regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity and are sought through the networks of existing Board members. Skills represented amongst the trustee body include digital technologies, music and cultural history, arts administration and finance management. Trustees who retire can be reappointed or up to three consecutive terms but may only be reappointed for a fourth term after an interval of one year.

Governing Document

The charity was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only establishes the objects and aims of the charity and how it is governed. In the event of the charity being wound up, the members are liable to contribute no more tha n £1 for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the CIO.

Induction and Training of Trustees

Prospective new trustees are introduced to the work of MDMArchive by attending meetings with the Chair of the trustees and other board members. These briefings also cover the legal obligations and responsibilities of trustees.

New trustees are referred to the Charity Commission's "The Essential Trustee: What you need to know" resource, the Charity's constitution and the latest published accounts.

Risk Management

The Board of Trustees has conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of volunteers, young people, other service users and visitors. Internal financial risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for the authorisation of all transactions, and systems are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation.

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31[st] October 2025 (continued)

Organisational Structure

The only members of MDMArchive are its charity trustees. The trustee body meets as required to agree the charity's programme of activity. The general day-to-day administration and management of finances are undertaken by board members and volunteers. Other project activities are und -founders working in

a voluntary capacity, other volunteers, and freelance staff.

Statement of Board of Trustees responsibilities

The Board of Trustees is responsible for preparing the Report of the Board of Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Charity law requires the Board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under Charity law the Board of Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the income and expenditure of the charity for that period.

T he cha rity ha s a gross incom e of less tha n £250,000 a nd ha s prepa red receipts a nd payments accounts using the Charity Commission charity accounting template CC16a.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are financial position of the charity and to enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Estelle Neuman Chair

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Independent Examiners Report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 October 2025.

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

and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. 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

an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Paul Cowham FCA DChA Withington Works Withington Baths 30 Burton Road Manchester, M20 3EB

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Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust Manchester Digital Music Archive Trust 1164179 1164179 CC16a
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
01-Nov-24
For the period
from		 01-Nov-24 To 31-Oct-25
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest
£		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £		 Total funds
to the nearest £		 Last year
to the nearest £
Fundraisingevents - - -
Donations 180 1,130 - 1,310 299
Heritage EmergencyFund - - -
Bank interest 58 - 58 44
Project income 2,825 - 2,825 18,750
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)

3,063		 1,130 - 4,193 19,093
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
**Total receipts ** 3,063 1,130 - 4,193 19,093
A3 Payments
Staff costs 3,375 - 3,375 -
Travel/subsistence 105 - 105 -
Trustee expenses - - 127
Trustee meetings - - -
Volunteer expenses - - -
Website 817 - 817 5,667
Bank charges 47 - 47 14
Events inc exhibitions & workshops 504 2,363 - 2,867 4,213
Archive films - - -
Advertising&promotion - - -
Equipment - - -
Evaluation - - -
Accountancy 200 - 200 200
Stationery/post 6 - 6 -
Sundry - - -
**Sub total ** 5,054 2,363 - 7,417 10,221
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - - -
- - - - -
**Sub total ** - - - - -
**Total payments ** 5,054 2,363 - 7,417 10,221
Net of receipts/(payments) - 1,991 - 1,233 - - 3,224 8,872
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end		 - - -
12,328 1,233 - 13,561 4,689
Cash funds this year end 10,337 0 - 10,337 13,561

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
B1 Cash funds		 Details Details Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
Triodos Bank 10,097 - -
Trustee remuneration
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B5 Liabilities
B4 Assets retained for the
B3 Investment assets
B2 Other monetary assets		 PayPal 240 - -
- -
Details
Total cash funds
Details		 10,337 - -
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
Large screen iPad/wall mount Heritage Lottery
Fund		 898
Rugged hard-drive Unrestricted 330
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
Unrestricted
200
Onetrustee (Karen Gabay) received remuneration of £3,375 for work on the RNCM 'Throwing
Doors'podcast series (2023: £350). Remuneration of trustees is permitted in the constitution
circumstances and when considered necessary is authorised by the other trustees.
Signature
Print Name
Details
Independent Examination of 2024/25
accounts		 When due
(optional)
31 August 2026
Date of
approval
Open the Concert
in certain
Estelle Neuman

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