Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1/11/2024 Period start date To 31/10/2025 Period end date
Charity name: Corbridge Chamber Music Festival
Charity registration number: 1171185
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The advancement of public education in the arts, in particular the art of chamber music, by the organisation of chamber music festivals in Corbridge in the county of Northumberland. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
A fund raising concert in March and the Festival 24-27 July were held in Corbridge. 2025 marked 1350 years since the founding of our venue St Andrew’s Church by St Wilfrid and we contributed significantly to the celebration including a concert in Hexham Abbey and guided walk back to Corbridge remembering the monks St Wilfrid sent to found the church. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers
Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of is beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The Corbridge Chamber Music Festival continued its long held mission to bring top- quality chamber music to a rural Northumberland audience and to work alongside local arts practitioners in groundbreaking ways. This was a particularly significant festival as 2025 marked the 1350th anniversary of St Wilfrid founding our venue, St. Andrew’s church. The Festival became part of the village’s yearlong celebration of this milestone. The Festival’s artistic directors commissioned a work from composer Piers Hellawell to mark the occasion, taking the travels and the buildings of Wilfrid as inspiration. Hellawell’s master stroke in making this a true community project was to write a part for the audience, contributing communal singing as an integral part of the piece. This was a truly unique way for our audience to be a contributing feature of a contemporary work of art. Local artist, Jo Westgate, who specialises in woodcut prints, was also commissioned to create an accompanying exhibition, which was displayed in the church to compliment the musical premiere. Our audiences hugely appreciated this collaboration with a North- east based creative. We also premiered a work by Diana Burrell and Diana, Piers and Jo all took part in a ‘Meet the Creatives’ discussion which shed light on what can seem the mysterious world of artistic creation. This talk was hosted by musicologist Richard Wigmore, who also gave explanatory talks about the pieces in each concert, to make the music more intelligible to those unfamiliar with it. Our festival ethos is centred around approachability. To this end we presented a cafe style concert once again, late night and |
with table and chair seating and refreshments to create a relaxed environment. This helped the audience get ‘up close’ to some cutting edge contemporary music alongside some baroque classics. Also new to our audience was the concert by ‘Flutes and Frets’ which covered music from the renaissance to the modern day on a huge array of flutes and guitars of the appropriate period. Again, this was a highly educational event presented in an entertaining fashion. For the first time we introduced a Festival Walk, in which audience members were invited to walk between the venues of Hexham Abbey and Corbridge Church along the Tyne Valley in the company of the musicians, making it an ideal opportunity for them to ask questions of the musicians. The walk was arranged with the local Ramblers Association increasing our links with local community organisations.
This was a festival firmly rooted in the local community and much enjoyed by them, as well as attracting visitors from the rest of the UK and beyond to sample Northumbrian life and culture.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The ambitious programme for the Festival with the extra contribution to the celebration of the founding of St Andrew’s Church meant a significant loss was made. However we had sufficient funds to cover this. . |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held to cover any losses incurred by employing world class musicians in future years. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £12,418 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by existing Trustees |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Corbridge Chamber Music Festival |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1171185 |
| Charity’s principal address | 71 Heath Road Glossop SK13 7BA |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Frith | Chairman | |||
| Maureen Cox | Secretary | |||
| Robert Plane | Treasurer | 1/11/2024 - 15/1/25 | ||
| Ellen Arkless | ||||
| Tim Cox | ||||
| Jane Dickinson | ||||
| Jo Winstanley | ||||
| LucyGould | Treasurer | 15/1/25 – 31/10/25 | ||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Maureen Cox
Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc)
Date 04/06/2026
4
Charity Name No (if any) Corbridge Chamber Music Festival 1171185 Receipts and payments accounts For the period To from 01/11/24 31/10/25
CC16a
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts Fund RaisingConcert 940 Donations 6,560 Commission Donations 3,480 Gift Aid 1,085 Trusts 4,000 Festival Tickets 15,881 Programmes & Interval Drinks 1,702 - 33,648 - - Sub total - Total receipts 33,648 A3 Payments Fund RaisingConcert Expenses 517 Artists Fees & Expenses 24,154 Venue Hire 2,444 Piano Hire, Insurance & Tuning 2,466 Drinks for Interval & Receptions 820 Food for Artists & Receptions 504 Website 634 Publicity& Programmes 2,415 Admin & Sundries 1,115 Insurance 146 Commissions 5,171 Fundraiser Fee - Overpayment Error on CDs 90 Sub total 40,475 - - Sub total - Total payments 40,475 Net of receipts/(payments) - 6,828 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 19,246 Cash funds this year end 12,418 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 940 6,560 3,480 1,085 4,000 15,881 1,702 - 33,648 - - - 33,648 517 24,154 2,444 2,466 820 504 634 2,415 1,115 146 5,171 - 90 40,475 - - - 40,475 - 6,828 - 19,246 12,418 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - |
940 | 1,163 | ||
| 6,560 | 4,469 | |||
| 3,480 | - | |||
| 1,085 | 1,983 | |||
| 4,000 | 14,500 | |||
| 15,881 | 13,235 | |||
| 1,702 | 1,589 | |||
| - | - | |||
| 33,648 | 36,939 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | 33,648 | 36,939 | ||
| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
517 | 745 | ||
| 24,154 | 21,392 | |||
| 2,444 | 1,788 | |||
| 2,466 | 1,770 | |||
| 820 | 831 | |||
| 504 | 951 | |||
| 634 | 2,235 | |||
| 2,415 | 3,776 | |||
| 1,115 | 1,134 | |||
| 146 | 215 | |||
| 5,171 | - | |||
| - | 2,347 | |||
| 90 | - | |||
| 40,475 | 37,184 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| - | - | |||
| - | 40,475 | 37,184 | ||
| - | - - - - |
- 6,828 | - 245 | |
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 19,246 | 19,491 | ||
| - | 12,418 | 19,246 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Details Details Details Details Signature Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - 12,418 - OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Maureen Cox Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
|||
| Maureen Cox | 04/06/26 | ||
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Corbridge Chamber Music Festival On accounts for the year 31/10/2025 Charity no 1171185 ended (if any) Set out on pages 10-11 (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 31 / 10 / 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 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: 03/07/2026 Signed: Name: Aidan Beck Relevant professional Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification(s) or body (ICAEW) (if any): Address:
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