## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 24[th] April 2025 to 30[th] April 2026** ## **Charity name: Emerging Voices** ## **Charity registration number: 1183043** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote social inclusion among people who
are socially excluded from society, or parts of
society, as a result of their negative mental
health, to relieve the needs of these socially
excluded people and assist them to integrate
into society through the development and
delivery of music-based activities and
experiences.| |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|The charity has supported and / or directly
delivered the following activities: one to one
music tuition, concerts and open microphone
events, interactive hospital performances, two
songwriting & recording projects, two choirs,
percussion workshops.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The charity trustees confirm that they have
complied with the duty in section 4 of the
Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the
public benefit guidance published by the
Charity Commission.| ## **Additional information (optional)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The charity has four volunteers who have
music group support and administrative
support roles. The trustees would like to take| this opportunity to express their gratitude to the 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 its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|The choir for adults with lived experience of
mental ill health in Selby and choir for adults
with lived experience of mental ill health in
Harrogate have benefitted from ongoing
support. The choirs provide both physical and
psychological benefits to the beneficiaries.
Two songwriting courses have been provided
for adults with lived experience of mental ill
health, including the recording of individual
songs with EV Records. This allows musicians
to show case their talents and help build self-
confidence.
Eight percussion workshops were delivered
using Ghanaian hand drums, kit drums or
Gamelan percussion. These provided benefits
to beneficiaries such as improved wellbeing
and social interaction.
One to one instrumental tuition is provided for
adults with mental ill health. This tuition has
enabled musicians to progress and access
performance opportunities.
Three performance events (acoustic concerts
and open mic night) have been funded for
those with lived experience of mental ill health,
once again to develop skills and build
confidence.
Nine performances have been delivered by the
choirs and monthly performances are
undertaken in an inpatient mental health unit.
These help build confidence and social
cohesion.| ## **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|£14,791 restricted funds
£5,266 unrestricted funds
£20,057 total funds| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|As a charity supporting people experiencing
mental ill health through ongoing musical
activities, continuity of support and security of
provision is critical to achieving our vision of
empowering people and promoting social
inclusion.
With a growing and successful programme of
activities, and a new strategy in development
that addresses identified unmet needs, the
trustees have reconsidered the level of
unrestricted reserves now required.
The updated reserves policy for 2026/27 is to
achieve a year-end position of £8,000 of cash
reserves which represents six months of core
costs and six months of the Harrogate choir
costs as the Harrogate choir is now considered
core activity. These reserve funds are required
to provide sufficient time to seek additional
funds if direct grant funding ceased to be
continuous.
This policy will be reviewed annually.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£5,266| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|No deficits| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|The trustees are confident that the charity is
solvent and can continue as a going concern,
able to deliver all its objectives| **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 Para 1.46 adopted Para 1.46 A description of the principal risks facing the charity Other Expenditure Categories ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated
Organisation whose only voting members are
its charity trustees| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)| |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|Open advertisement and interview process for
all trustees leading to recommendation to the
board.
(a) Apart from the first charity trustees,
every trustee must be appointed for a
term of two years by a resolution
passed at a properly convened meeting
of the charity trustees. All founding
trustees have now resigned.
(b) In selecting individuals for appointment
as charity trustees, the charity trustees
must have regard to the skills,
knowledge and experience needed for
the effective administration of the CIO.| ## **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 trustees will make available to each
new charity trustee, on or before his or her first
appointment:
(a) a copy of the current version of the
constitution; and
(b) a copy of the CIO’s latest Trustees’
Annual Report and statement of
accounts
All trustees are required to have an enhanced
DBS check.| |---|---|---| |||| |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** |Charityname|EmergingVoices| |---|---| |Other name the charityuses|| |Registered charitynumber|1183043| |Charity’s principal address|6 Willis Street
York
YO10 5BE| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Simon Thomson|Chair||| ||John Ashton|||| ||Simon John Taylor|||| ||Derrick Nicholson|||| ||Simon Procter|||| ||Rebecca Ostrowska||Appointed 20/03/2026|| ||Robert Christian
Farrell||Appointed 06/03/2026|| ||Sally Robinson||Resigned 07/10/2025|| ||Laurie Farnell||Resigned 04/02/2026|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** nil Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year **|| |---|---|---| |nil||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets No assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A 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 Full name Mr. Simon Thomson Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair of Trustees Date 23[rd] July 2026 NB. Please see additional Chair’s Report, included below **Chair’s report** ## **Summary of Activities and Achievements** In the 2025 / 26 year the charity has directly delivered - The Harrogate Wellbeing Choir throughout the year including weekly rehearsals, seven performances, and two songwriting & recording projects - The Selby Wellbeing Choir throughout the year including weekly rehearsals and two concerts - Eight percussion workshops in association with the York Mental Health Hubs. These have included gamelan, kit drumming and Ghanaian drumming genres. and in partnership with York St John University - Individual vocal and instrumental tuition - Monthly performances at Foss Park mental health hospital - One open-mic night and two acoustic concerts - A songwriting & recording course The trustees have prioritised building collaborative relationships with other educational, charitable and statutory organisations notably York St John University, The University of York, York CVS and Up for Yorkshire. ## **Financial Review** In the 2025 / 2026 year, grant income was £41,535 (2024 / 2025: £20,745) and the charity further diversified its income raising £3,321 (2024 / 25: £2,234) in non-grant income. In 2025 / 2026 the charity had additional costs associated with its charitable activities including running two choirs and eight percussion workshops. More freelance administrative, fundraising and musical leadership was also required. Unrestricted year end funds have risen to £5,266 (2024 / 25: £2,118). The charity has identified the need to increase the reserves to £8,000 by the end of the 2026/27 financial period to fund 6 months of core costs and the Harrogate choir which has become a core activity. ## **Public Benefit** The charity’s activities build confidence, lessen social isolation and provide skills for people with mental ill-health. In 2025 / 2026 the Harrogate and Selby choirs and percussion groups have been attended by 74 (2024 / 2025: 51) individuals and funding for the partnership project supported 69 (2024 / 2025: 60) individuals. Concerts have been provided to diverse audiences including the public, Foss Park hospital and a drug and alcohol recovery forum. ## **Governance and Management** The charity is a CIO governed by its governing document. In 2025 / 26 two new trustees have been appointed and two have resigned. Trustees have a broad range of skills, meetings are held every 6 weeks with a meeting in June designated as the Annual General Meeting. The charity has up to date and regularly reviewed policies on safeguarding, GDPR, volunteering and Equality and Diversity. The charity is currently reviewing and updating its strategy document. In 2025 / 2026 the charity has maintained its website and run social media accounts on facebook, Instagram, you tube and linked in. ## **Thank You** The trustees would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of the charity’s administrator, volunteers, fundraiser and musicians. We are grateful to all the foundations and individuals who have supported the charity in all its valuable work throughout the year. ## **Outlook** The charity is well positioned to deliver its charitable objectives over coming years. The choirs and percussion groups are expected to continue to grow and the York St John partnership will also continue. These projects will include regular rehearsals, concerts, performance opportunities, recording and songwriting. Financially the charity will focus on continuing to diversify income streams and increasing income from grants and trusts. Costs will remain as low as possible.