The Bristol Reggae Orchestra
Charity registration number: 1180167 Annual report and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 September 2025
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The Bristol Reggae Orchestra Contents
| Trustees Report | 4 |
|---|---|
| Statement of Receipts and Payments | 7 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 8 |
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The Bristol Reggae Orchestra Reference and Administrative Details
| Charity Registration Number | 1180167 |
|---|---|
| Patron | Gary Crosby OBE |
| Chair | Sharon Folland |
| Orchestra Leader | Norma Purnell |
| Choir Committee Chair | Elaine Davies |
| Trustees | Barrington Chambers |
| Kevin Millwood | |
| Lorna Hayles | |
| Rebecca Scott | |
| Sharon Folland | |
| Simon Patchitt | |
| Tim Kindberg | |
| Wesley Guinchard-Cox | |
| Treasurers | Sue Lamble & Dirk Walker |
| Orchestra Musical Director | Ben Jenkins |
| Choir Musical Director | Kim Samuels |
| Administrator | Bradley Greening |
| Principal Address | The Rose Green Centre |
| 65 Gordon Rd | |
| Whitehall | |
| Avon | |
| Bristol | |
| BS5 7DR | |
| Bankers | Lloyds |
| Charity Website | https://www.bristolreggaeorchestra.com/ |
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Trustees Report
The Trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Objectives and activities
Objectives and aims
The objects of the charity are to advance the art of music, particularly reggae and music of Jamaican origin for the benefit of the public by performing such music to the public and providing opportunities to develop musical skills.
Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Achievements and performance
The Orchestra and choir played in a dozen gigs over the year, including a performance at the Gordano Rotary Club, being part of the Symphony of the World, and performing at the Bristol Reggae Resonance festival. Under the direction of the MD, the choir repertoire has increased considerably, as has their membership. The choir has performed at the SS Great Britain, Wooton-Under-Edge and with The Elders at Malcolm X. The choir was also honoured to be invited to sing at the funeral of Syd Lawrence.
During the year Arusha Mckenzie stepped down as a trustee. Sharon Folland took on the role of chair with Kat Branch and Kristian Sharpe also stepping down. Simon Pratchitt joined us on the board during the year with Tim Kindberg and Catherine Lai joining us on the board after the year end.
The board of trustees met regularly, in person mostly, although remote set ups were also used.
Thanks are due to all Trustees, to orchestra leader Norma Purnell, our Orchestra Music Director, Ben Jenkins, Choir Committee Chair Elaine Davies and our current choir musical director Kim Samuels.
During the year the orchestra changed its meeting location from The Malcolm X Centre to The Rose Green Centre in St Georges. This move has ultimately been a success, saving the orchestra money and allowing easier storage of assets.
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Financial review
The total cash fund position at the end of the period was £13,981 (Unrestricted funds: £11,988 restricted funds £1,993). The Charity reports a deficit during the period of £2,017 (2024: surplus of £1,172). The deficit can be almost entirely attributed to receiving lower revenues than expected from the Reggae Resonance Festival due to it clashing with several other free events in Bristol on the same night.
This is the third full year in which the Windrush Choir’s finances have been reflected in the report and the first for which it has had its own bank account. By year-end the Choir had become financially selfsustaining this year for the first time.
Income
The Charity received total income of £23,728 (2024: £22,698) meaning that, once more, there was no need for an independent examination of the accounts.
Income from members subscriptions to the orchestra and the choir totalled £9,413 (2024: £6,609). A dramatic rise reflecting a significant improvement in the effectiveness at getting choir members to pay sub on a direct debit basis and also the steady growth of the choir.
The charity received performance income which generated £14,213 (2024: £15,522) of income, a slightly lower figure than last year. This was in part due to the larger number of community gigs undertaken by the Orchestra and the Choir for which we charge lower fees. It was also the results, in part, of lower-than-expected sales at the Reggae Resonance festival due to the clash of dates with a number of other events that night.
Expenditure
The Charity’s core operating costs were £25,745 (2024: £18,485), an increase largely driven by increased administration costs in the autumn, a rise in sound engineering costs and the event costs for the Reggae Resonance Festival. Musicians were also brought in to support the 'Preludes' project in schools increasing the expenditure in this category. The Charity incurred costs of £2,596 (2024: £3,044) in relation to the hire of rehearsal spaces.
Musical Director’s fees were £10,698 for the orchestra and the choir (2024: £9,388).
Plans for future periods
Grant funding applications
The organisation has continued to explore the possibility of grant funding to support further development during the year with a number of options being considered in this regard
Structure, governance and management
The Bristol Reggae Orchestra is a registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) and is governed by its constitution dated 2 October 2018. The CIO was registered with the Charity Commission on 2 October 2018 .
The CIO is administered by the Board of Trustees. The Board has begun to meet more frequently than its original quarterly basis to accommodate the additional work arising from the projects.
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The action groups consist of the following:
Finances and income: responsible for managing the money, generating income, pursuing funding opportunities, sales and merchandising
Membership: responsible for managing recruitment, keeping a balance of musicians, involving members and volunteers, running rehearsals with refreshments
Musical development: responsible for working closely with the Musical Director to define our repertoire, manage the music library, commission new works and arrangements, seek educational and funded projects.
Media and Marketing : responsible for publicity, recruitment strategies, managing social media and web-based activity, marketing and point of contact for bookings.
Performance logistics: responsible for maintenance and storage of all equipment, managing all aspects of performances including contracts, liaison, logistics (including transport), set-ups and takedowns.
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
Trustees are appointed at the Annual General Meeting and are appointed on the basis of their skills and relevant experience to meet the objects of the charity. Trustees are elected by the membership to serve terms of one year and are eligible for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting.
Induction and training of trustees
Once appointed, new trustees are fully briefed by the Board with regard to:
- their obligations as members of the Board of Trustees, including relevant publications from the Charity
Commission;
-
relevant documentation regarding the legal framework of the charity, e.g. Constitution;
-
relevant financial information as set out in the most recent published annual accounts;
-
strategic plans and objectives.
Reserves Policy
The Charity recognises that it requires a certain level of funding in order to meet its core operational activities. The Charity anticipates holding one year’s operating costs in reserve which will be monitored by the Treasurer and Board of Trustees on a regular basis.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Sharon Folland Chair of the board of Trustees
20 July 2026
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Statement of Receipts and Payments
| RECEIPTS Donations, legacies, grants Membership subscriptions Performance income Merchandise sales Event income Other income Asset and investment sales Total receipts PAYMENTS Musical director Musical project costs Musician fees (non-members) Rent / Hire of rooms Advertising Insurance Website maintenance / Digital media Merchandise Sundry Orchestra administration costs Sound technician costs Musical equipment Event costs Asset and investment purchases Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Transfer between funds Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
2025 2025 2025 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds £ £ £ - - - 9,41 3 - 9,413 9,83 3 - 9,833 - - - 4,38 0 - 4,380 10 2 - 102 - - - 23,72 8 - 23,728 10,69 8 - 10,698 - - - 2,97 1 - 2,971 2,59 6 - 2,596 - - - - - - 49 8 - 498 - - - 69 5 - 695 2,60 2 - 2,602 1,18 0 - 1,180 - - - 4,00 1 - 4,001 5 04 - 5 04 25,74 5 - 25,745 (2,01 7) - (2,01 7) - - - 14,00 5 1,9 93 15,998 11,98 8 1,9 93 13,981 |
2024 2024 2024 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds £ £ £ 5 67 - 56 7 6,6 09 - 6,60 9 15,5 22 - 15,52 2 - - - - - - - - - |
|---|---|---|
| - - - |
||
| 22,6 98 - 22,69 8 9,3 88 - 9,38 8 5 86 3,0 41 3,62 7 5 17 - 51 7 3,0 44 - 3,04 4 - - - - - - 6 90 - 69 0 - - - 6 82 - 68 2 2,7 48 - 2,74 8 8 30 - 83 0 - - - - - - |
||
| - - - |
||
| 18,4 85 3,0 41 21,52 6 |
||
| 4,2 13 - 3,041 1,17 2 |
||
| - - - 9,7 92 5,0 34 14,82 6 |
||
| 14,0 05 1,9 93 15,99 8 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Details Cash funds Cash at bank Other monetary assets Investment assets Assets retained for the charity's own use Merchandise Musical equipment Liabilities Creditors Details Cash funds Cash at bank Other monetary assets Investment assets Assets retained for the charity's own use Merchandise Musical equipment Liabilities Creditors |
2025 2025 2025 Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £ 11,988 1,993 13,981 |
|---|---|
| - - - - - - 1,730 - 1,730 |
|
| 8,407 - 8,407 |
|
| - - - |
|
| 2024 2024 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total £ £ £ 14,005 1,993 15,998 |
|
| - - - - - - 1,730 - 1,730 |
|
| 7,903 - 7,903 |
|
| - - - |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 20 July 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Sharon Folland Chair of the board of trustees
20 July 2026
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