London City Brass
Annual Report
0110112025 - 3111212025
## Reference and administration
## Charity name and number
London City Brass (1186265)
## Principal address
249 Buckhurst Way Buckhurst Hill Essex IG9 6JB
## Trustees
Jack Boyles 11/11/2019-04/03/2026 Chair Josephine Ashdown 11/11/2019-current Secretary till 04/03/2026 Chair thereafter Hannah Scales 11/11/2019-current Treasurer Laura Kirk 26/01/2022-04/03/2026 Laura Fox 08/02/2023-current Secretary from 04/03/2026 James Charnock 04/03/2026-current Jack Kay 04/03/2026-current
## Structure and governance
London City Brass (LCB) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charities Commission, registration number 1186265.
LCB is governed by a Constitution adopted 11 November 2019.
Trustees are appointed or re-appointed by election at an annual general meeting.
London City Brass
## Charitable objectives
LCB set out the following charitable objectives in their constitution:
- To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals.
- To support such other purposes deemed to be exclusively charitable within the laws of England and Wales as the trustees in their absolute discretion from time to time determine.
## Activities undertaken for public benefit
In planning the activities of London City Brass, the Trustees have taken into account the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Over the course of 2025, we carried out a large number of performances for public benefit, as well as our usual schedule of rehearsals. Regular rehearsals are an essential feature for all members to feel part of a welcoming and sociable community. We also gained four new band members this year.
Our first performance of the year was at the London Landmarks Half Marathon, providing entertainment and encouragement to those running on behalf of charities; we were asked to perform by Tommy’s, a pregnancy and baby loss charity. This year was no different to any other in our support for and collaboration with other charitable organisations.
This year, we put on three free indoor concerts in the heart of the City of London, the first of which was in the Spring. These concerts brought varied and entertaining programmes of music to a public audience, with free entry and informative, educational introductions to each piece from our conductor. Concerts are greatly enjoyed by members as they get a chance to learn new music to a high standard and to perform.
In the Summer, we performed on two bandstands in London, returning to Victoria Park and Clapham Common and bringing varied, entertaining programmes to audiences in different parts of London for free. Building on existing relationships with the community organisations and authorities that organise the musical events in these areas greatly benefits the band as well as the local areas. Each bandstand had a substantial audience of all generations who were introduced to the sounds of a brass band through popular music alongside traditional repertoire. The band was also booked to play Deal Memorial Bandstand, but unfortunately this was cancelled due to the weather.
This year, as well as playing for Victoria Park’s LGBTQ+ Picnic, we provided music for Croydon’s Pride March. As a band (with several LGBTQ+ members), we are proud to support these events that promote inclusivity and equality in our local area.
This year we travelled again to Devon for Bandamonium, a rapidly growing brass band festival which invites bands from around the country to tour around villages bringing music to the area. This was greatly enjoyed by members both with the social aspect and the musical opportunities. Thanks to fundraising throughout the year, the band was able to subsidise accommodation for the trip, which was already relatively affordable and accessible.
In October we held an Autumn concert, which gave the band an opportunity to refresh the repertoire and learn some new music between the summer bandstand programme and the Christmas season. All our larger-scale indoor concerts were held at St Mary-at-Hill church, with whom we have a positive, long-standing and mutually-beneficial relationship. In November, we were able to travel down to Lewes for Bonfire Night, a significant cultural event in the South of England which also enabled us to practice our marching, another brass band tradition. We joined a local band in the procession - this year with Bandamonium as well, we have really enjoyed meeting and playing with other bands around the country.
Christmas brought some of our traditional annual gigs and the opportunity to share our hard work with the public and with friends. Our free annual Christmas concert had another huge audience - once again, because of our central location and free entry, we attracted many audience members who had never heard of us before, as well as regular supporters. Other Christmas events included carolling at the O2 shopping centre, Stepney City Farm, St Margaret Pattens and St Barnabas’ churches, and the Famous Royal Oak pub in Muswell Hill. Once again, we also supported other charities by playing for the Cricket Builds Hope and Surrey Cricket Foundation carol service. We really value these community events, which were attended by people of all ages and backgrounds. Children were able to take part with percussion, contributing to their understanding and enjoyment of music and brass bands. Members of the public could also join in with singing, giving them an opportunity to take part in the music-making. Our Christmas performances brought musical enjoyment and education to the public, as well as chances to perform for our members, which is a valuable part of musical education and personal development. With so many events in 2025, we learned lots of new music of different genres and styles, widening and growing members’ musical skills and knowledge. We were also able to raise money through donations which support the activities undertaken by the band to benefit the public.
As well as our in-person engagements, we continued to foster a thriving online community through social media and our website. Sharing videos of rehearsals and performances helped to bring brass band music to a wider audience. Evidence of our extended reach includes over 1,100 Facebook followers and over 750 Instagram followers. We also continued to run our Friends of LCB programme. This initiative allows more of our followers to feel involved and engaged in the band’s activities through our regular updates and quarterly newsletters, while providing financial support for our activities.
## Main achievements
Over the course of 2025 we put on 19 successful, high-quality performances:
- London Landmarks Half Marathon
- Spring Concert
- Victoria Park Bandstand
- Croydon Pride
- Bandamonium
- Clapham Common Bandstand
- Autumn Concert
- Lewes Bonfire
- St Margaret Pattens Remembrance Service
- Chelsea Christmas Lights
- Kensington Christmas Market
- Stepney City Farm Christmas Market
- Cricket Builds Hope Carol Service
- Christmas Concert
- St Mary-at-Hill Christmas Carols
- St Margaret Pattens Carol Service
- Carolling at Famous Royal Oak
- Carols at the O2
- St Barnabus Carol Service
We reached a high standard of performance and saw members grow in confidence and in musical ability, a great achievement for us.
We have maintained a sense of community and belonging integral to our ethos as a band. This was achieved through regular social events in addition to weekly rehearsals and performances.
The continued development of our Friends of LCB scheme supports the work of the band financially as well as advancing the public understanding and appreciation of brass band music.
## Plans for the future
LCB will be maintaining our charitable objectives in 2026 and our plans for the future continue to support these objectives.
We plan to continue supporting other charitable organisations through fundraising at events, in addition to spreading awareness and appreciation of the brass band music genre through free concerts and public performances across London.
In 2026, we will be returning to perform at a wide range of venues from recent years continuing to take brass band music to audiences for free across London and further afield. Confirmed new venues / events including the Amwell Society’s 200 anniversary celebrations and a performance in Ramsgate.
We will continue to challenge and develop our members’ and audiences’ education and appreciation of brass band music with an expanded and varied repertoire and programme of events.
## Financial review
## Financial position
LCB continues to have strong finances. The band’s income continues to exceed its costs on an ongoing basis, allowing for investment in band assets and activities as the Trustees deems appropriate. This year we have invested in new music stands and a percussion set to allow for a better experience for our members and audiences, which has resulted in a smaller net income for the year.
Subscriptions from our members remain the primary income stream for the band, and adequately cover the running costs of the band whilst remaining affordable and flexible to encourage participation. Although our venue hire costs have increased again in 2025, we have been able to absorb the increases with no requirement for increased subs. Performance income has also increased again this year. All these factors leave the band in a strong position coming into 2026, despite the increased asset expenditure.
In March 2025, the trustees opened an instant access savings account to invest carried forward surplus. In accordance with the policy on reserves to maintain sufficient funds in the current account, £5,000 was moved to this interest earning account. This carried forward surplus remains accessible to management as required for larger investments or to support the day-to-day running costs of the charity.
## Policy on reserves
The trustees have set a policy to ensure an unrestricted reserve of £3,000 as a minimum is kept in the current account. This is to ensure short term commitments such as Musical Director expenses and hire of rehearsal premises can be sustained for at least 6 months.
## Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
## JBoyles
Jack Boyles (Chair)
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity Name No (if any)
London City Brass 1186265
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01/01/2025 31/12/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Subs 6,090 - - 6,090 6,075
Performance Income 4,377 - - 4,377 3,379
Gift Aid 2,422 - - 2,422 1,375
Donations 144 - - 144 258
Socials 340 - - 340 112
Competitions 1,952 - - 1,952 3,050
Miscellanous 391 - - 391 -
Savings account interest 36 - - 36 -
Sub total (Gross income for
15,753 - - 15,753 14,249
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 15,753 - - 15,753 14,249
A3 Payments
Venue Hire 4,830 - - 4,830 3,596
Staff 50 - - 50 -
Admin Costs 578 - - 578 247
Incidentals 433 - - 433 265
Charity Donations - - - - -
Socials 1,494 - - 1,494 811
Competitions 3,424 - - 3,424 3,142
Miscellanous - - - - 59
Member refunds - - - -
Sub total [ 10,810 ] - - 10,810 8,120
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Music, equipment, instruments
920
3,046 - - 3,046
Uniform 1,255 - - 1,255
Sub total 4,301 - - 4,301 920
Total payments 15,111 - - 15,111 9,040
Net of receipts/(payments) 641 - - 641 5,209
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 10,676 - - 10,676 5,467
Cash funds this year end 11,317 - - 11,317 10,676
**----- End of picture text -----**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
20/03/2026
1
## **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))
**Details**
Main Bank Account YE 2025
Savings Account YE 2025
**Details**
J Boyles
Signature
H Scales|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**6,282**
**-**
**5,036**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**11,317**
**-**
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)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Hannah Scales
Jack Boyles|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval
20/03/2026
20/03/2026|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
20/03/2026
2