Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
Charity name: West Meon Music Festival
Charity registration number: 1185082
Objectives and Activities
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
To advance the education of the public in the appreciation and knowledge of the art and science of music by the presentation of public concerts and workshops including the West Meon Music Festival. |
| 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. |
The charity’s primary activity is preparation for and presentation of the annual West Meon Music Festival, including its concerts and workshops, which is held in September each year. The public concerts which are presented at the festival are designed not just to educate, but also to entertain and inspire, the wider public, including the elderly, children and students in world class chamber music. Workshops and masterclasses are also held. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
The trustees confirm that they have been fully briefed on the trustee guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
West Meon Music Festival would not happen without its volunteers. The volunteer effort goes into programme planning, sales and marketing, operational preparation and execution, administration and financial management. |
Achievements and Performance
| 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. Achievements against objectives set |
The charity successfully presented the West Meon Music Festival in September 2024, with a world class roster of musicians. Our education activities included: collaborating with the West Meon Primary School to showcase pictures of musicians and instruments specially drawn by the children for the festival; putting on a sold-out avowedly populist music concert by Red Priest, a baroque quartet recently described by BBC Music Magazine thus: “For sheer technical wizardry, charismatic showmanship and expressive devilment, Red Priest is in an exhilarating class of its own”; and holding a late night concert and talks, “American Road Trip”, to spread the word about 20th and 21st century music by American composers. To extend our community involvement, we had a stall at the West Meon village fête which attracted a lot of interest; collections were held at all the concerts to contribute to another local charity, The Elizabeth Foundation, the UK’s leading charity for pre-school deaf children, helping them to talk and communicate; and we commissioned, sponsored and supported a jazz concert in the West Meon pub The Thomas Lord, to raise more money for the Elizabeth Foundation. Feedback on the festival, from artists, audience and the local community has been extremely positive and confirms that the charity is delivering well against its objectives. |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | |
|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
The charity retained sufficient funds at the end of the period to cover expenses to be incurred in advance of a 2025 festival. Further financial planning for 2025 took place in the spring of 2025 so that initial programme planning could be carried out, the possible operating environment in September 2025 could be clearer, and operational costs could be better estimated. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Sufficient funds at the end of a period are held to cover expenses to be incurred in advance of a subsequent future festival. |
| Amount of reserves held | Cash £2,253 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
While there are always uncertainties around the effects of staffing and economic restraints on hospitality, entertainment and events, the trustees believe that these uncertainties do not pose a going concern risk for the charity as festival planning is always carried out on a year by year basis to stay within the current resources of the charity. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Structure, Governance | and Management |
|---|---|
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
The charity has no subsidiaries. |
| Type of governing document | Charitable Incorporated Organisation constitution dated 29th August 2019. |
| How is the charity constituted? |
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 |
New trustees are appointed by the current trustees taking into account interest, knowledge, skills and experience. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | West Meon Music Festival |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | None |
| Registered charity number | 1185082 |
| Charity’s principal address | Millbarrow Barns Beauworth Alresford SO24 0PB |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (ifany) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Scholes | Chair |
| 2 | Penelope Clive | Trustee |
| 3 | Virginia de Cosson | Trustee |
| 4 | Andrew Fuller | Trustee |
| 5 | Susanne Stanzeleit | Trustee |
| 6 | Cecilia Thompson | Trustee |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others: None
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) John Richard Scholes Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) 28[th] October 2025
West Meon Music Festival
1185082 Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
01/01/2024 31/12/2024 For the period To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 12,695 2,399 2,580 - 17,674 - - - 17,674 11,250 4,443 917 624 69 - - - - 17,303 - - - 17,303 371 - 1,882 2,253 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 12,695 2,399 2,580 - - - - - 17,674 - - - 17,674 11,250 4,443 917 624 69 - - - - 17,303 - - - 17,303 371 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 12,695 2,399 2,580 - - - - - 17,674 - - - 17,674 11,250 4,443 917 624 69 - - - - 17,303 - - - 17,303 371 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event - Ticket Sales | 12,695 | - | ||||
| Event - other income | 2,399 | - | ||||
| Friends/Benefactors/Patrons | 2,580 | - | ||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
17,674 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| Artists' Fees | 11,250 | - | ||||
| Other Event Costs | 4,443 | - | ||||
| Marketing | 917 | - | ||||
| Organisation & Management | 624 | - | ||||
| Finance charges | 69 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 17,303 | - | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| 371 | - | - | 371 | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1,882 | - | - | 1,882 | - | ||
| 2,253 | - | - | 2,253 | - |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/10/2025
1
| 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 Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Bank Details Details Operating expenses payable Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 2,253 - - - - - 2,253 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted funds 298 - - - - Print Name John Scholes |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
|||
| John Scholes | 28/10/2025 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/10/2025
2