CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND rustees, Annual Report" rthe penod Fr¢)m 1 April 2024 Period s rt date To 31 ￿ch 2025 Period end date Cltsrity name: Water City M Charity registration number: Obiectives and Activities so refe 'Summary of the purposes of the chartiy as set out in its goveming document -17 To advancff thepducation of the pu￿￿1¢ in general on the Subject of m￿l￿aThd other performing arts as the Trustae& See fit and by prpviding opportunitie&for novi¢e or emergi)g musicians to elop their skills by p ormtng in public. Summary ofthe main activities in relation to those purposes for the public beneftt, in particular, the activtiies, projects or services identified in the accounts. Pm1.17 and 1_19 The principal focus of the Charity is to organise events where children are provlded with opportunities to perform in public in signtficant venues. Pr&pandemic the m05t 5ignrficant of these was a week-long Festival at the Tower of London arrdnged in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces. However due to Covid-19 subsequent Festivals could not be held. The Charity therefore ha5 extended its reach to altemative venues both within and outside London. Thetwo videoswe produced in 2021 continue to be available on YouTube. These are'with her head tucked underneJth.her ami. and.WBlking"in a.Winter WonderlBnd'. To fulfil our charitable objecttves and to give children the opportunity to receive excellent music tuition and to experience the thrill of performing, we continued to hold events in Southwdrk lat St George the Martyr, and more recently Friars Foundation Primary School) under our Oasis Programme. We delivered a senes of events involving early career musicians and children from three primary schools in Southwark. These events included.. School visits byWCM Tnusicians- weekly after-school music lessons of school groups run by an experienced local music teacher who mentors University students frorn Kinls College London to teach school students Ireferred to as the Academy); concerts involving WCM professional musiaans: an early career performing musician, and children singing and playing. Kin¢s College London very generously provides a donation of £5.000 a year.for the Academy projert. Also in Southwark, we organi5ed local school children to perform at the Dragon Connects Festival in June 2024. This was a great success and more than 200 children from five Southwark schools joined emerging musicians and music studEntsfor a dayof concerts dEsigned to bringthe local" communitytogether. We were delighted with the success of the day which also involved musicians. care staff and local pensioners. This was a real partnership between Water Clty Music. StGeorge the Martyr and Kinls College. During the year around 240 children from local Cotswold schools joined a professional orchestra, Orchestra Pro Anima, in three successfvl "Classical Lighv, concerts in Malmesbury, Burford, Malvern and Stroud. In Melton Mowbray we were very pleased to have the opportunity to organise the Sherriffs Shindig to honour the appointrnent of John Chatfeild-Roberts as the High Sherriff of Leicestershire. This involved a day long Series of performances from community musicians and was followed by an eveningconcert in the town centre church. It wa5 a great success with a further 120 children from 10 local Schools perfoming wtth a professional orchestra. We are very grateful to the High Sherriff for funding these events. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charily Commission on public benefft Par8 1.18 The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidanceon pjjblic benefit and believes.the charity fulfils the Commitment to public beneftt through its concerts, teaching and the opportunities gNen to children to perform music. Additional infonnation (optional) Youm choose to indude further statements where relevant about.: SOFtp reference Policy on grant making Para 1.38 The Charity does not make grants Policy on social investment including program related investment Contribution made by volunteers Not applicable Para 136 The Charity relies on volunteers for several activities and also relies on the goodwill and arnbition of many musicians, teachers and other professionals. The Charity maintains an athve social media presen￿ and as a result our public profile and reath continue to expand. The Charity continues to develop its funding strategy to include grant fvndin& corporate donations and crowdfunding oppOrtun￿e5. Para 1.38 Other Achievements and Performance SORP Ttsence The Oasis projectand the Academy project continued to give excellent teaching and performance opportunities to children from Southwark, London, The Drdgon Connects Festival and the Sherriffs Shindig provided further opportunFties for children to learn from and make music with professional musicians and music students. The concerts with the Orchestrd Pro Anima give children theopportufiityto perform in publicwitk a. professional orchestra. Summary ofthe main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the chartiy's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider beneffls to sooety as a whole. Para 120 By providing these opportunities, the charity has enabled chiltlren to widen their horizons, extend their skills and enhance their self- confidence. Additional inforniation (optional) You ma Choose to include further statements vthere relevant about: Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 The char.tty only commlts itself to.expendit.ure. where the costs can be covered by income so the charitsble activities are determined by the funds available. Performance of fundraising actiwties against objedives set Para 1.41 The only asset held by the Charity is the balance In .the.bank account. InvestFMent ￿rf0m8￿C@ against objectives Para 1.41 The Chartty has policies and procedures on: Health and Safety Safeguarding- reviewed and updated during the year GDPR and Privacy Financial procedures Risk management Equal opportunities Data sharing and memorandum of Understanding agreements with third parties and partners Other The Chartty reviews its risk register at least annually. For each event, individual risk assessments are completed. Financial Review Review of the charrvs finanaal position at the end ofthe period Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held P8ra 121 WCM'S income for the year was £56,838 while expenditure was £48.060. There was therefore an increase in our reserves. To date trustees have been able to raise sufficient funds for planned activities throughout the year but, if in the future funds could not be raised, then the activities would be either be curtailed or reserves used to fund events. With no employees and few fixed costs apart from insurance premiums, the Charity will continue to raisefunds for. specif4¢ events. During the financial year no raseNes were drnwn on to fund activities. Pwa122 Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reseNes Details of fund materially in deficit Explanation of any un￿rtaintieS about the charity continuing as a going concem Para 122 £30,417 Para 122 Pera 124 Para 1ZJ None Ad'ditlonal"infomiation (optional) You ma choose lo indude further statements where relevant aboLrt: In the rnain the Charivs funding comes from the Arts Council England, charitable foundations, ticket sales. personal and corporate donors. The charity's prinapal sources of funds (induding any fundraising) Para 1.47 Not applicable. All funds are held in a current account. Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 1.46 The Charity is very aware of potential safeguarding issues given that we work with children. However the prime responsibility for their safeguarding lies with the schools that we work with, thus mitigating the risk to the Charity itself. A description of the principal risks fac(ng the chartty Par8 1.46 The Artistic Director of Water City Music, Michael Bochmann, is the creative inspiration of the Charity as well as the main contsct with participating schools. His work in leading the musical work of the Charity has been invaluable, and the Trustees are very gratefvl to him for his energy, enthusiasm, expersence and hard wor Dr Esther Cavett is our Associate Director and we could not function without her wis(lom, Other commitment and guidance. Thank yOLt to our dedicated part-time administrator, Caroline Bell. structure, Governance and Management Description of charitvs trusts= Type of governing documenl ItriJ¥t dsed, ro al cnar.lerl How is the chatity co[￿ltLrted? le o ljj iincgrporaied avcgci?..lion, CIO) Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or bc*Jy entitled to appoint one or more trustees P*H125 Constitution Para 125 cio Para 125 By advertising on online Charity specific websttes, word of mouth and networks according to the specific skills and experience required at the time. There are no constitutional provisions relating to trustee appointments. Additional infomiation (optlonal) You ma choose to indude further statements where rdevant about: NewTrustees are provided wth relevant Charity Commission reports and guidance, the Charitfs constitution, the most recent Annual Report and accounts as well as minutes of recent Trustee meetings. Face to face meetings are held with the Artistic Director and Associate Director and with the Chair of the Trustees. Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Paa 1.51 As a small chartty there is no organisational structure to note. The charity work in particularwith schools, music students from London conservatoires. the Orchestra Pro Anima and, where relevant, staff of churches and other public venues. The Charitvs organisational structure and any wider network wi(h which the charity works Para 1.51 Not applicable Relationship with any related parties Para I￿1 Other Reference and Administrative details Charit name Other name the cha uses Re istered Water C. Music 1166168 chari number Charity's principal The Barns, Willage Farm, Ford. Near Cheltenham, GL54 5RU 'Names of the charlty trnstees who manage the charity Name of person lor body) •rttrtlÈd to appolnt trusteè lif an Trust88 nam• Offic• Irf any) Dates acted rf not forwhole year Meriel Barday Geoffrey Keeys Christopher O'Riordan Chair and Treasurer stephanie Godwin orate trustees- names of the diredors at the date the re Direotor name None rtwasa roved Name of truslees holding tttle to property belonging to the charity Trustee nam• None Dates act￿ rf not for who[8 year Funds huld a5 Custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets None held in this capacity Narne and objects of the charity on whose behall the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charitls objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charitys own assets Additlonal Infomiatlon (optlonal) Names an(fa(t(fresses of advisers (Optional infomiation) Type of adviser Artistic Diredor Name Address Michael Bochmann The Bams, Willage Fami. Ford. Near Chettenham, GL54 5RU Associate Artistic Director Dr Esther Cavett Ananda. Seer Green Lane, Jordans, Bucks. HP9 2ST Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Opoonal Infomiation) The charity has no employees though there is one important seif*mployed administrator, Caroline Bell. Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disdosure of ke rsonnd details Other o tional information Declarations The trustees declare that thoy have approved the trustees. report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustses Signature{$) Full name(sl Position (eg Se¢Tetsry¥ Chalr, etc) Meriel Barday Trustee rey Keeys Trustee Date 11 o.trg IDI ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Water City Music **On accounts for the year** 31[st] March 2025 **Charity no** 1166168 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1 - 3 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31/03/2025** . - **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or - the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. **Date:** 17 October 2025 **Signed: Name:** F J Wilde **Relevant professional** FCCA DChA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 4 Marigold Drive Bisley, Surrey GU24 9SF ## **Section B Disclosure** Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Water Clty Music Receipts and pa ents accounts CC16a Forthe ￿rIOd from To 0110412￿24 31103r2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestri¢ted funds Restricted funds Endowment fvnds Tot•1 fund5 Last year lo Ihfr £ totheneuestÉ k+the neuestt to the neareste to the r*4rest£ Al Recei PTN&te Donation Smll Pfv*o tknnation 515 1.742 6,125 HMRQ (￿Aid EventPaTb)erthna Gt*rt Fund￿ UrkndSlS•h)urn sraniFuntkng 19 144 1&9JJ ross income for 41617 14m 14221 41617 12￿70 A3 Payments Pmgrsmme NdrnnEtsHknn-811 172 FurN1r￿n9 Wetth &T￿hnl*j 702 75 675 2&1 181 276 51$ 241 241 Venue Cr£ 1YJ 5.785 7Y) Clwt¢al L￿**PrCgrarnffle 7&1 Develo Venue Costs So(4al Mwjta & . 1A5 9$ Tetbury- Cla5slcal Llght D8V810 V*ue C(tsts Letsminsfer.Claswa L¥Jht Glos ar￿ Oxftyd O¥15 Musicians Sheffts Shin