| Trustees' Annual Report | Trustees' Annual Report | Trustees' Annual Report | Trustees' Annual Report | Trustees' Annual Report | Trustees' Annual Report | for theperiod | for theperiod | for theperiod | for theperiod | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | Period start date | T o |
Period end date | |||||||||
| 06 | April | 2024 | 05 | April | 2025 |
| Charity name | Grooveschool CIO | Grooveschool CIO | Grooveschool CIO | Grooveschool CIO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other names charity is known by | Grooveschool | |||||
| **Registered charity number(if any) ** | 1183789 | |||||
| Charity's principal address | 1st Floor, Youth Innovation Hub, 3Space International House, 6 CanterburyCrescent |
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| Brixton | ||||||
| Postcode | SW9 7QD |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward Quinlan | Chair | April 24 - April 25 | |
| 2 | James Kay | n/a | April 24 - April 25 | |
| 3 | Cheryl Vidal | n/a | April 24 - April 25 | |
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| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | ||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |||
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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n/a |
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Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution Type of governing document
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
Trust How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Appointed by founder and trustee majority Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
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You may choose to include The trustees note that activity during the year was delivered with limited
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additional information, where unrestricted funding. Delivery relied on volunteer support, partnerships
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relevant, about: and careful management of resources.
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● policies and procedures adopted for the induction and These challenges highlighted the importance of strengthening
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training of trustees; governance processes, formalising quality frameworks, and developing
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● the charity’s organisational sustainable income streams.
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structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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● relationship with any related parties;
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● trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C Objectives and activities
Grooveschool’s objectives are to advance education in music and arts technology and to promote social inclusion for public benefit.
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
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The objects of the CIO are— (a) To advance education for the public benefit, particularly but not exclusively in music, digital arts and creative technologies, by providing accessible learning opportunities, resources and experiences that encourage personal growth, creative expression and skill development.
(b) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by working to prevent and alleviate social exclusion and its causes and by supporting individuals and groups who are socially excluded, enabling them to participate more fully in society through engagement with music, the arts and related educational activities.
For the purposes of this clause, ‘socially excluded’ refers to individuals or communities who are marginalized or isolated due to factors including (but not limited to): unemployment; financial hardship; age (youth or older age); physical or mental ill health; neurodivergence or disability; substance misuse or recovery; discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, or ethnicity; poor educational or skills attainment; involvement in the criminal justice system; insecure housing or homelessness; and family or relationship breakdown.
During the reporting period, the charity delivered a range of music education, mentoring and community engagement activities, including workshops, tutoring, podcast production, live DJ events and public performances. Activity was delivered in community settings, educational contexts and public events, often in partnership with other organisations.
The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Grooveschool’s activities provide public benefit by increasing access to creative music opportunities, supporting skills development, confidence and social connection, and offering positive pathways for engagement through music technology. Activities are designed to be accessible and Summary of the main activities inclusive, supporting individuals from a range of backgrounds and undertaken for the public circumstances. benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
Grooveschool benefits from the ongoing support of volunteers who contribute to the delivery and sustainability of the charity’s activities. Volunteers include friends of participants, parents, and members of the wider community, who support activity in practical ways such as assisting at events, transport to performances, and helping with set-up and delivery.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
Volunteers also support fundraising and community engagement by promoting events within their networks. In addition, when funded programmes are delivered, tutors and practitioners often contribute additional unpaid time to support participants and ensure continuity of provision, helping the charity to offer accessible and free or low-cost community activity where possible.
- contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
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Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
During the year, Grooveschool continued to deliver a wide range of creative and educational activities.
Key activity included:
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Delivery of 11 episodes of the Steele Got It podcast , recorded and produced in the Grooveschool studio.
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Provision of sound system and DJ services for community and private events, including St Matthew’s Project 20th anniversary celebrations.
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Delivery of tutoring and mentoring sessions through Noise Academy.
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Hosting a Grooveschool stage at the Lambeth Country Show , providing live performance opportunities and introducing new participants to DJing.
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Participation in Lambeth Town Hall engagement events.
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Delivery of a mentoring project commissioned by High Trees , alongside development support to strengthen the charity’s Mentoring Quality Framework.
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Community podcasting and event support, including work with Marcus Lipton Community Enterprise.
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Launch of the Grooveschool merchandise shop as a new unrestricted income stream.
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Establishment and use of a recording and live-streaming unit to capture DJ sets and tutorials.
The charity also recruited new participants during the year, including individuals who first engaged with Grooveschool through public events and have since continued their involvement.
Section E Financial review
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The trustees’ policy on reserves is to maintain a modest level of Brief statement of the unrestricted funds, with a target of approximately £3,000, to support charity’s policy on reserves short-term cashflow and enable the charity to meet match funding or upfront cost requirements associated with grant-funded activity.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
None
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
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how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
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investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F Other optional information
Following the end of the reporting period, the trustees identified a number of priorities for the coming year. These included completing and embedding the charity’s Mentoring Quality Framework, relaunching live-streamed and recorded educational content using the existing recording unit, strengthening governance and financial oversight processes, and continuing to develop sustainable income streams and funding applications to support ongoing delivery.
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Edward Quinlan
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Trustee
Date 27/01/2026
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Grooveschool CIO
Financial Summary
Period: 6th April 2024 – 5th April 2025
Overview
This financial summary provides an overview of Grooveschool CIO’s income and expenditure for the reporting period April 2024 to April 2025. It is intended to support the Trustees’ Annual Report and Charity Commission annual return and has been prepared in line with Charity Commission guidance and SOFA principles, proportionate to the size and activity of the charity.
Income
During the reporting period, the charity received income from a combination of grants, earned income, and donation-led fundraising activity.
Grants – Restricted: £7,100 Grants – Unrestricted: £3,000
Donations & Fundraising Income (including campaign-led, donation-based events): £1,643 Income from Charitable Activities (workshops, tutoring, education delivery): £4,439 Trading / Earned Income (merchandise, events, DJ / sound system commissions): £2,519 Other / Miscellaneous Income: £0
Total Income: £18,701
Restricted grant income was received to support specific project activity. Unrestricted income supported core operating costs and delivery where required.
Expenditure
Expenditure during the year supported both the direct delivery of charitable activities and the core costs required to operate the charity.
Expenditure on Charitable Activities
Wages / Tutor Fees: £1,390 Lead / Management Wages (delivery-related): £7,180 Equipment & Repairs: £3,771 Software & Subscriptions and tutorial packages: £4,273 Travel Expenses : £1,974 Miscellaneous / Project Delivery Costs (including venue hire, participant support and delivery costs): £3,628
Subtotal – Charitable Activities: £22,216
Support and Governance Costs
Rent / Studio Costs: £5910 Insurance: £636 Marketing & Promotion: £388 Professional Fees (accountancy, reporting, compliance): £0 Administration & Office Costs: £208 Bank Charges: £0
Subtotal – Support & Governance: £7,142
Total Expenditure
Total Expenditure: £29,358
Net Movement in Funds
Surplus / (Deficit) for the period: - £(10,657)
Reserves
The trustees’ policy on reserves is to maintain a modest level of unrestricted funds, with a target of approximately £3,000, to support short-term cashflow and enable the charity to meet match funding or upfront cost requirements associated with grant-funded activity.
Notes
Priority figures (income totals, wages, rent and insurance) are confirmed. Remaining category totals relate primarily to subscription costs and will be finalised prior to submission. This summary is intended to accompany the Trustees’ Annual Report and does not replace statutory accounts.