2025-04-30-accounts - The Lindow Ensemble

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025

Charity name: The Lindow Ensemble

Charity registration number: 1189479

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	(1) To advance the arts and culture for the benefit of the public in Greater Manchester and Cheshire and (2) to advance education for the benefit of current students and recent alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music (‘RNCM’) and other institutions of higher musical education.
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 ensemble is a string ensemble that typically consists of 12 players. They include full-time professionals, students or recent alumni of the RNCM and amateur players of a high standard. Its main activities are to perform concerts of chamber music and to deliver educational and community projects. In 2024-25 it has performed three concerts, one in Didsbury, Manchester, one in Kendal, Cumbria and one in Bollington, Cheshire. It has also delivered educational workshops at 17 primary schools in Bolton, Blackburn and Tameside, the Bolton and Blackburn workshops in partnership with Bolton Music Service.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees confirm that, in giving these concerts and delivering the educational workshops, they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

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	As stated above, in 2024-25 the ensemble has given three concerts, one in Didsbury, Manchester, one in Kendal, Cumbria and one in Bollington, Cheshire. In total some 400 members of the public have attended. All the programmes have included a lesser- known work by a 21st century composer as well as more familiar repertoire. The ensemble believes that thereby it has given members of the public both enjoyment and a wider appreciation of chamber music. Several have made generous donations to assist in the future development of the ensemble. As regards students and recent alumni of the RNCM, five have participated in the ensemble’s activities: Four have rehearsed for and performed in the above concerts as players. Two of these have also participated in the educational workshops referred to below. One has participated in the workshops alone. The ensemble believes that thereby it has given all five RNCM students and alumni substantial assistance in the transition to a musical career. This year the ensemble has delivered educational workshops at 17 primary schools in Bolton, Blackburn and Tameside, the Bolton and Blackburn workshops in partnership with Bolton Music Service. Bolton, Blackburn and Tameside are all Levelling Up for Culture Places as defined by Arts Council England, meaning that they are currently underserved in the arts. At these 17 schools the ensemble delivered interactive string quartet workshops of two kinds; the first aimed at developing children’s knowledge and appreciation of music and its cultural and geographical origins; and the second aimed at showing how music can benefit children’s mental health (year 6 only). In total 2891 children experienced the workshops.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	As shown by its accounts, the ensemble had cash funds of £11,116 at the end of the period. The concerts and the educational project were all delivered within budget. (Most of the remaining £11,116 then went towards the costs of three further concerts given in June 2025, leaving £3005.33 in cash funds at the date of this report.)
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The ensemble became a CIO in May 2020 and to date has no reserves policy. It will review the situation as it becomes more firmly established.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£3005.33
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	None
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	The annual accounts of this and earlier years show that the ensemble requires an annual income of £15-20,000 to sustain its educational and concert programme at the current level. If the ensemble is to continue as a going concern, and in particular if it is to deliver further educational projects, it will require a regular annual income of that amount. It will pursue all appropriate fundraising activities to achieve this.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Foundation model for 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	A 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	The ensemble has four trustees, three of whom were first charity trustees. They were appointed by personal recommendation. The constitution provides that, apart from first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of charity trustees. In doing so the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Lindow Ensemble
Other name the charity uses	None
Registered charity number	1189479
Charity’s principal address	30 Broadway Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 1NB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	John Andrew Phillips	Chair
	Adrienne Patricia Spilsbury	Secretary
	Joanna Ceri Wood	Treasurer
	Michael Andrew Sambrook

Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	None
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	N/A
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	N/A

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

N/A

Other optional information

N/A

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 Andrew Phillips Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair Date 4 September 2025

	The Lindow Ensemble Charity Name	The Lindow Ensemble Charity Name	The Lindow Ensemble Charity Name	1189479 No (if any)	CC16a
	For the period from	01-May-24 Period start date	To	30-Apr-25 Period end date

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ £1,860 £8,377 £2,000 £7,000 £422 - - - 19,659 - - - 19,659 3,482 5,705 4,156 100 100 - - - - 13,543 - - - 13,543 6,116 - - 6,116	Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - 5,000 - - - - - 5,000 - - - 5,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,000 - - 5,000	Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total funds to the nearest £ 1,860 8,377 7,000 7,000 422 - - - 24,659 - - - 24,659 3,482 5,705 4,156 100 100 - - - - 13,543 - - - 13,543 11,116	Last year to the nearest £
Bank a/c openingcredit	£1,860				-
Income from Arts Council England	£8,377				-
Income from trust funds	£2,000				-
Concert fees	£7,000				-
Donations	£422				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	19,659				-

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
	-
	-				-
~~*Sub total*~~	-				-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
					-

Artistic director fees	3,482				-
Section leader fees	5,705				-
Student and alumni fees	4,156				-
Marketing (Social Sparks Marketing)	100				-
Piano hire(deposit)	100				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
	-				-
**Sub total **	13,543				-

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*
					-

	6,116	5,000	-	11,116	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	-	-	-	-	-
	6,116	5,000	-	11,116	-

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

10/09/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Signature John A Phillips Details Details Bank account closing credit Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details	Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 6,116 5,000 - - - - 6,116 5,000 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 John Andrew Phillips	Endowment funds to nearest £
		-
		-
		-
		-
		OK
		Endowment funds to nearest £
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		Current value (optional)
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		Current value (optional)
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		When due (optional)






		Date of approval
John A Phillips	John Andrew Phillips	13-Aug-25

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

10/09/2025