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2024-08-31-accounts

THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION

REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION

CONTENTS

Page
Legal and administrative information 3-4
Trustees' report 5-7
Independent Examiner's report 8
Statement of financial activities 9
Balance sheet 10
Notes to the accounts 11-13

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THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Constitution

The British Suzuki Music Association is a CIO and a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles of association. Charity number 278005.

Directors and Trustees

The directors of the charitable company ("the charity") are its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees.The directors and trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees ( * ) and Executive Committee

Michelle Bernard Hannah Biss (Chair) Helen Brunner Lauren Cannon Paola DeCarolis Wendi Lewitt Jane Panter* Jamey Whitnall CA(SA) CIMA CISA *

Directors of Training Courses:

Director of Violin: Heather Clemson, Mysie Ferguson, Margaret Parkin Director of Piano: Sue Bird Director of Cello: Tessa Oakley Director of Recorder: Nancy Daly

Office Staff: Nickie Chapman

Secretary Jamey Whitnall

Registered Office Unit C Q West 1110 Great West Road Brentford TW8 0GP

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Bankers CAF (Charities Aid Foundation)
25 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JK
Independent Examiner Andrew Thurburn
Andrew Thurburn & Co
38 Tamworth Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR0 1XU

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British Suzuki Music Association Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] August 2024

Principal aims and activities

The principal objects of the British Suzuki Music Association (“BSMA”) are ‘to advance education in the art and science of music by the promotion of the methods of education developed by Dr Shinichi Suzuki with particular reference to the musical education of children in the United Kingdom’. We continue to operate in accordance with those charitable objects.

The Suzuki teaching method developed in Japan by Shinichi Suzuki is founded on the belief that every child can learn and emphasises the advantages of providing an environment in which every child’s ability can flourish. An early start for the child at three or four years old, with a qualified Suzuki teacher and the involvement of parents in daily practice, step by step learning, repetition, group lessons and listening all contribute to the success of Suzuki teaching.

The main focus of the BSMA is on teacher training. We currently hold part-time courses in violin, viola, piano, cello, flute and recorder which lead to the Certificate and Diploma of the European Suzuki Association. Additional courses are held for trained teachers. There are also short courses, demonstration days and meetings for parents.

As the national association, the BSMA is the umbrella organisation for trained teachers and their students throughout the UK. The BSMA promotes the Suzuki approach by providing information to the public and the media. Members receive the BSMA journal Ability three times a year. Repertoire and publications are available from the BSMA bookshop at a discount for members. Events are held around the country, including concerts, workshops and conferences. Funds and donations provide scholarships and bursaries for teacher training. The BSMA also maintains links with other Suzuki organisations throughout the world, including the European Suzuki Association and International Suzuki Association.

Organisation

The BSMA is Charitable Incorporated Organization and registered as a charity in October 2020.

The Executive Committee (which includes the Trustees of the charity) consists mainly of Suzuki teachers and parents. It is responsible for governance and policy making. The School Committee, a standing committee of qualified teachers and teacher trainers from various parts of the country, has an important advisory role. The Chair of the School Committee is also an elected member of the Executive Committee. The School Committee advises the Executive Committee on policies relating to teacher training and implements the BSMA policy in the regular organisation of teacher training courses. The directors of the principal teacher training courses are ex officio members of the School Committee. Sub- committees are also set up from time to time to report to the School Committee or the Executive Committee.

The day-to-day management of the BSMA is undertaken by full time staff at the BSMA office. Volunteers, many of them members of the committees, also play an important role in individual projects.

Membership of the BSMA is largely made up of Suzuki teachers and pupils’ families but is also open to anyone with a general interest in music and education.

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Public benefit

To enable wider public access to the benefits of a music education, the BSMA continues to take its Suzuki teaching into Local Authority schools on the basis of a heavily subsidised membership arrangement. It also makes a number of bursary awards annually to deserving trainee teachers. In addition, all BSMA concerts are open to the public with seats priced below normal commercial levels.

Financial results for the year

Following on from the highly successful Gala year in 2023, the BSMA has enjoyed a stable and prosperous year during 2024 as a result of a number of highly successful events and concerts including the National Children’s Workshop. Collectively, these events generated funds of £85,804 (2023: £306,108). Combined with an increase from Subscriptions to £103,650 (2023: 100,800) and the regular support form the LSG, the funds generated amounted to £314,067 for the year. (2023: £542,342)

As expected, the absence of the Gala resulted in a decrease in costs of hosting increased to £69,065 (2023: £230,011). Office, Staff and Governance costs were in line with expectations, leading to a surplus of £7,392 for the year (2023: £70,761). On a like-for-like basis, after adjusting for the 2023 Gala surplus of £83,158, the 2024 surplus represents a £19,789 increase.

The surplus has further strengthened the BSMA balance sheet with a pleasing increase in the cash balances to £119,280 (2022: £100,112).

Investment policy

The policy is to invest monies which are surplus to immediate requirements in suitable investment funds.

Restricted scholarship fund

The BSMA offers bursaries and scholarships to assist trainees in meeting the costs of teacher training and, in certain instances, to assist with travel costs. The scholarship fund is a restricted fund, which represents an accumulation of donations received by the BSMA specifically for the purposes of funding teacher training bursaries and scholarships. Bursaries and scholarships are generally awarded annually and the Trustees consider that the level of funding is sufficient for current purposes

Reserves policy

The general fund is considered to be a prudent reserve to give confidence in the future of the BSMA for teacher training and to encourage more pupils to study by the Suzuki method.

Accounting and reporting responsibilities

The Charities Act 2006 requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the BSMA’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.

In preparing the financial statements the Trustees should follow best practice and: select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent; follow applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP, disclosing and explaining any departures in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which are such as to disclose, with

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reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity at any time, and to enable them as trustees to ensure that the financial statements comply with charity law. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the charity’s assets, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Approved by the Executive Committee of the BSMA on 23 February 2025 and signed on its behalf by

Hannah Biss

Chair of the Trustees

20 April 2025

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION

I report on the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 9 to 13.

Responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner and basis of report

As the trustees of the charitable company (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b)of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner's Statement

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

Andrew Thurburn FCA Andrew Thurburn & Co. Chartered Accountants 38 Tamworth Road Croydon CR0 1XU

20 April 2025

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THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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There were no recognized gains or losses other than those stated above.

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THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024

Approved by the Trustees on 20 April 2025

Jamey Whitnall Trustee

The notes on page 11-13 form part of these accounts

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THE BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

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  1. (￿rIte andc(mnmuni(ai￿S expEntSture TL*al Tot 2024 2023 Legal and PrOfes￿Onal fee5 Rent. rates. light and heatirE stationeryy equipment and copylr Post and telephone Insjrance Web4te &¥penses staff travel andwelf are 4&014 779 Z44l 3454 953

    703 SubSLription5and Seminars Bank Charges 274 120

  2. Casth and In•estments Trtal Trtal 2￿24 ROZ3 Investmentsa58t IApril Net addtlons/lwlthdr8w8151 Investmentsasat 31 Marth Z012 Cash and bank 35 at 31 March Short term depolts ènd c85h at bank li 931 The investment5 of the are held in COIF Charity Funds whith are investment fund5rnanwged by CCLA Investment M8n*aernent.
  3. Reserves TcQal Trtal 2￿24 ROZ3 Restiirted sthdarshipfund andsthdarship5 Schol8rshlpfund 8t l Apnl Intere 4392 392 Donions Bursades Scholarshipfund at 31Marth £332 General Fund Balan￿ as at IApril Surplu51 (Defiotl Balance 85 at 31M8rch 142 7.￿1 761 2C&533 1142 Trta Fundsas31 Mwth 21 925 534
  4. Fixed Assets Fillings 2￿￿4 2073 C05t Openirg Balan￿ at LApril Additions Clo*ry B81ance 8t 31 Marth Deweciatio OpenirE Balan￿ 8t IApril Closr% Balance at 31 Marth Netknkvalue Opening Balan￿ at IApril Clostw B81ance 8t 31 Marth

  5. t￿￿orS Trtal 24 TLrt 2023 Trade Debtors 1fj691 13 Prepayment5 GlftAld

  6. Creditor5 Total Tot•1 Trade C￿dItorS Attruals and deferred income 1&334 255 255 stock comprlses goods for resale 14