Royal Leamington Spa Brass & The Band Factory Annual Trustees Re ort 2024-2025 p
January 2026
Aims and Purposes
Royal Leamington Spa Brass and The Band Factory (the Charity) have a responsibility to promote community music-making in Leamington Spa through involvement in Royal Leamington Spa’s town band and/or development bands, or through the use of the rehearsal facilities at The Band Factory.
The charitable objects as stated in the Charity’s constitution are:
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To provide musical education and activities for the community, with particular emphasis on (but not limited to) Royal Leamington Spa and the surrounding area.
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To provide rehearsal, meeting, workshop and performance facilities for community groups, with a special emphasis on music and arts groups.
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To encourage the enjoyment of music and the arts by all people irrespective of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.
Objectives and Activities
In furtherance of its charitable objects, the charity has undertaken detailed planning during the year on the Charity’s direction of travel, having due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and the objectives detailed in the Charity’s Constitution. These considerations have informed both the strategic direction of the charity and the delivery of its activities.
The charity’s purposes fall within the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage, and (to a lesser extent) science, as well as the advancement of community development. In particular, the charity seeks to promote access to music education and participation by providing opportunities for individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to engage in musicmaking.
The charity delivers public benefit by supporting and facilitating a range of musical activities, including the direct delivery of three brass bands (Senior Band, Buddin’ Brass and Brass Roots), and working with other community arts groups (such as LeamProv, Cubbington Silver Band and Sambassadors of Groove), who rehearse, perform, and call The Band Factory home.
Charity Number: 1169205
January 2026
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Through the provision of affordable rehearsal, workshop, and performance facilities, the charity removes barriers to participation and enables community groups to develop musical skills, confidence, and social connections.
A key objective of the charity is to encourage broad engagement from the local community of Royal Leamington Spa, to support inclusion, lifelong learning, and personal development through music. The charity seeks to create a welcoming and supportive environment for members and users of our facilities, the charity also promotes cultural enrichment, community cohesion, and the enjoyment of music for both participants and audiences.
The Band Factory
Following the purchase of the freehold in 2023, the charity was able to secure planning permission for the proposed improvements to The Band Factory, aimed at enhancing the venue’s suitability for the delivery of its charitable purposes as outlined above (Warwick District Council Planning Reference: W/24/0054). Planning permission was granted in June 2024.
The planning permission included two conditions: the installation of a bat box and the completion of an acoustic report to ensure that neighbouring properties are not adversely affected by noise generated by the charity’s activities. Both conditions are due to be satisfied by the end of the third quarter of the 2025/26 reporting period.
Despite the current and evident need for facility upgrades, The Band Factory continues to attract a strong and growing base of users.
To support the delivery of the project and to secure the necessary funding, the Trustees appointed Julie Crawshaw as a freelance consultant to assist with fundraising and grant applications.
Band Reports and Events
In April 2024, the Trustees confirmed Jon Lambdon as Musical Director of the Senior Band. Jon had been undertaking the role on an interim basis since July 2023, following the resignation of the previous Musical Director.
Towards the end of the reporting year in March 2025, Emily Stewart-White resigned from her role as Musical Director of the Development Bands in order to pursue her work in
Charity Number: 1169205
January 2026
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schools and the wider local area. The Trustees wish to formally place on record a thank you to Emily for her significant contribution to the Development Bands over more than a decade of service.
Following Emily’s resignation, Mark Scott was appointed as Interim Musical Director of the Development Bands.
Events and Public Appearances
It was a particularly busy and productive year for all three bands in the organisation, with a full programme of performances and community appearances. Highlights included the annual Carols at Warwick Castle, a prestigious seasonal engagement which in 2024 was also filmed for inclusion in a documentary titled Christmas at Warwick Castle, scheduled for broadcast during the Christmas 2025 season.
The traditional Christmas period remained especially active, with the bands delivering a wide range of performances across the local area. These included appearances at shopping centres, Christmas markets, and supermarkets, enabling the charity to bring live music to a broad and diverse audience. These performances not only provided festive entertainment but also supported the charity’s objective of increasing public access to music and strengthening its presence within the local community.
All bands in the organisation also made use of the facilities at The Band Factory And performed concerts there which were open to the wider community.
New Members
All bands are continuing to attract new members, and the bands continue to thrive.
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Charity Number: 1169205
January 2026
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Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is structured and governed as follows:
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Board of Trustees
a
es
Royal Leamington Spa The management team The Band Factory User
Brass Committee of RLSB & TBF Group
a es |
Buddin' Brass and
Brass Roots
(Development bands)
i
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RLSB = Royal Leamington Spa Brass, TBF = The Band Factory
Members of the Trustee Board are all active members of RLSB or users of TBF. They were appointed at the AGM in February 2023. They are responsible for the governance and strategic overview of the charity. They met four times in 2024-25.
The current Trustee Board comprises of:
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Annette Cairns (Chair)
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Andrew Webber (Treasurer)
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Andy Stevenson (Secretary)
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Kirsty Hooper
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Mark Scott
The RLSB committee reports to the Trustee Board and is made up from members of the senior band. All are volunteers. The RLSB committee is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the band including deciding how finances are to be spent, the maintenance of instruments and equipment, events, membership, safeguarding and data protection of members. They met four times last year and report to the Trustee Board.
The management team of RLSB is responsible for all day-to-day matters arising from the band. They meet regularly after band practice to discuss matters regarding music, events and attendance at events.
The Band Factory has a User Group made up from volunteers from all groups using the Band Factory. Day to day running is managed by Trustees with help from members of the user group
Skedda continues to be used for booking rooms by all members and users.
Charity Number: 1169205
January 2026
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Charity Name|No (if any)|
|Royal Leamington Spa Brass & The Band Factory|1169205|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|Period start date|Period end date|
|To|
|from|5th April 2024|4th April 2025|
|ee|ee|ee|ee|
|a|Section A Receipts and payments|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Total funds|Last year|
|funds|funds|funds|
|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|
|Bank Charges|6|-|-|6|-|
|Bank Interest|321|321|458|
|Donations|1,602|-|-|1,602|2,092|
|Events|6,012|-|-|6,012|7,887|
|Gift Aid|2,291|-|-|2,291|-|
|Grants|-|-|-|-|20,000|
|Instrument Hire|1,170|-|-|1,170|1,080|
|Membership|7,782|-|-|7,782|8,511|
|Parking Rental|-|-|-|-|1,250|
|Room Hire|12,356|-|-|12,356|10,764|
|Uniforms|-|-|-|-|645|
|Sub total|(Gross income for|
|-|-|31,540|52,687|
|AR)|[ 31,540 ]|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|(see table).|
|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|I5|ES|ES|
|Total receipts|31,540|-|-|31,540|52,687|
|coo|
|eo|Ld|
|A3 Payments|
|Bank Charges|96|-|-|96|86|
|Council Tax|2,977|-|-|2,977|2,466|
|Events|-|-|-|-|603|
|Instrument Repair|1,306|-|-|1,306|384|
|Insurance|1,184|-|-|1,184|1,151|
|Library|81|-|-|81|773|
|Maintenance & Cleaning|3,736|-|-|3,736|55,390|
|MD & Musician Fees|5,915|-|-|5,915|4,538|
|Office & Marketing|1,084|-|-|1,084|1,011|
|Professional Fees|1,415|-|-|1,415|9,639|
|Room Hire|-|-|-|-|18|
|Subscriptions|140|-|-|140|140|
|Telephone & Internet|578|-|-|578|509|
|Uniforms|-|-|-|-|1,795|
|Utilities|3,251|-|-|3,251|4,416|
|Sub total|21,764|-|-|21,764|82,920|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases, (see table)|
|The Band Factory - Freehold|-|-|-|-|7,895|
|Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|7,895|
|ee|
|Total payments|21,764|-|-|21,764|90,815|
|| a|||||||
|Net of receipts/(payments)|9,776|-|-|9,776|- 38,127|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|- -|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|21,253|- -|21,253|59,380|
|Cash funds this year end|===|31,029|-|- 31,029|>=|21,253|>|
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
14/11/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~Ce~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~Ce~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~Ce~~ |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
||
| Categories | Details | funds funds funds |
| to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ |
||
| B1 Cash funds | HSBC Charitable Account | 13343 - - |
| HSBC Savings Account - Membership | 10606 - - |
|
| HSBC Savings Account - Project Account HSBC Savings Account - The Band Factory |
5877 1203 - - |
|
| Total cash funds | 31,029 - - Total cash funds |
|
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
OK OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ (agree balances with receipts and payments |
|
| B2 Other monetary assets | - - - |
|
| - - - |
||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) |
|
| B3 Investment assets | - - |
|
| - - |
||
| B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) Restricted funds - 330,000 - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) When due (optional) - Details Details The Band Factory, Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa — |
|
| - | ||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Date of approval 04/07/2025 04/07/2025 Print Name Andrew Webber - Treasurer Annette Cairns - Chair Signature Piet —1 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
14/11/2025
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Royal Leamington Spa Brass & The Band Factory On accounts for the year 4 April 2025 Charity no 1169205 ended (if any) Set out on pages One and Two (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 04 / 04 / 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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 4 November 2025
Signed: Name: Sue Bluteau ~~Pe~~ Relevant professional CIMA (Retired) qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 4 Charles Street Warwick CV34 5LE
1
October 2018
IER
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).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER