Berkshire Chamber Music Festival Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 2024/2025 Registered Charity Number: 193457
1. Introduction from the Chair of Trustees
As the Chair of the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival, I am pleased to present the Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 2024/5. This report reflects on the achievements, challenges, and key developments of the charity during the year, as well as providing an overview of our governance, financial position, and the impact of our work in the community.
The year 2024/5 has been one of consolidation and resilience. Despite a variety of challenges we have remained steadfast in our commitment to bring the finest chamber music to everyone, especially those who might not otherwise have access to it.
We have collaborated well with volunteers, partners and donors to deliver again both an
extensive outreach programme and an excellent series of concerts, ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our beneficiaries and maintain the trust of all those who support us.
2. Charity Objectives and Activities
Mission Statement
The Berkshire Chamber Music Festival aims to bring outstanding classical music to all, overcoming any barriers which might stop an individual from accessing it.
Main Objectives for the Year
In line with our mission, the charity reset the following key objectives for the year:
-
Expand our outreach programs to reach new establishments and a wider audience.
-
Engage local primary schools in one of our professional concerts with an extensive composition project.
-
Develop our audiences so that our concerts benefit even more people.
Key Activities Undertaken
To meet our objectives, the charity has again carried out the following activities:
-
An extensive schools project with eight primary schools giving the opportunity to collaborate with professional musicians and the opportunity to see their work performed in a professional context.
-
Provided music to those who are physically unable to reach a concert, in care-homes, hospices, SEN schools and hospitals.
-
Put on a concert series for the community with free tickets for anyone affiliated with a charity or who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.
The charity has remained focused on delivering services that directly benefit our target groups, particularly those most in need.
3. Achievements and Impact
Over the past year, the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival, has made a measurable impact in our area of work. Key achievements include:
-
Carrying out a successful project in a number of local primary schools.
-
Taking concerts to eight facilities where the residents would be unable to travel to our concerts.
-
Hosting four excellent concerts in local venues to increase community ties and bring classical music to the community.
-
We continually assess the impact of our programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our beneficiaries. Some key outcomes include:
Engaging children in primary schools with live classical music.
-
Exclusively positive feedback from our concerts.
-
Bringing live music to residential facilities
These results demonstrate the positive difference our charity is making, and we remain committed to expanding our reach and improving lives.
We continue to work on and expand our local connections with the aim of making BCMF better known, more accessible and with a view to improving our funding sources.
4. Financial Review
Financial Performance
During the year, the charity received total income of £23,383.73
an increase/decrease of 69 % compared to last year. The charity’s expenditure was £15,463.87 resulting in a surplus/deficit of £7919.86
- Income Breakdown:
| | Income Breakdown: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| | Donations and Match | ||
| Funding: | £12,928.75 | ||
| | Ticket Sales: | £944.95 | |
| | Interest: | £10.03 | |
| | Grants: | £9,500 | |
| | Expenditure Breakdown: | ||
| | Artist Fees and | ||
| Expenses: | £13,605.86 | ||
| | Venue Hire and PRS: | £1,483 | |
| | Account Fees: | £60.00 | |
| | Website Hosting: | £50.28 | |
| | Publicity: | £265.23 |
At the beginning of the reporting period our bank balance in the account was £ 8,198.07, at the close it stood at £16,117.93
Reserves Policy
Our policy is to maintain unrestricted reserves at a level that allows us to manage unexpected financial challenges. We always make sure to keep £1000 in the account for these reasons.
Future Financial Strategy
The charity continues to seek long-term funding and improve the profile of its activities to ensure financial sustainability in the coming years.
5. Governance and Management
Berkshire Chamber Music Festival is governed by a Board of Trustees, all of whom give their time voluntarily. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the charity’s activities and ensuring it is run efficiently and in accordance with our charitable objectives.
Trustees
The Board now consists of 4 Trustees. We are grateful for the expertise, experience, and commitment they bring to the charity. The Trustees are as follows:
-
Martin Beddoe, Chairman
-
Martin Beddoe, Chairman appointed December 2024
-
Daisy Greenland appointed September 2020 Lesley Philpot appointed December 2022 Ruth Steedman appointed Decmeber 2025
But for Martin Beddoe (a former resident of the County) the other three trustees are all permanently resident in Berkshire and the Charity benefits enormously from this connection.
Governance Structure
The Trustees aim to meet (remotely) bi-annually to review progress against objectives, discuss financial matters, and assess the charity’s strategic direction.
Day to day management of the Charity is undertaken by Poppy Beddoe. She is the daughter of the current chairman.
Trustee Recruitment and Induction
We are committed to ensuring that our Board has the right mix of skills and experience. New Trustees are recruited based on a skills audit, and all new Trustees undergo an induction process to ensure they understand the charity’s operations, governance, and legal obligations.
6. Risk Management
The Trustees have reviewed the major risks facing the charity and have established systems to mitigate those risks. These include:
-
Regular financial reviews to manage the risk of budget shortfalls.
-
A safeguarding policy to protect vulnerable beneficiaries.
We continue to monitor these risks and take steps to address emerging issues, ensuring that the charity operates effectively and responsibly.
7. Plans for the Future
In the coming year, Berkshire Chamber Music Festival plans to focus on:
-
Expanding our outreach programme to include prisons and more SEN schools within our region.
-
Developing and establishing a long term project with local primary schools, creative hubs and local venues.
-
Further expanding our concert series and improving on our publicity to increase audience numbers and the extent of our outreach.
We are committed to adapting to the needs of our beneficiaries and ensuring that our charity remains sustainable, impactful, and relevant in the years ahead.
8. Acknowledgments
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported the charity throughout the year. This includes staff, volunteers, trustees, donors and partners. Their generosity, time and commitment enable us to continue to fulfil the charity’s purposes vital services and to try to make a difference to the lives of those it serves.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees of Berkshire Chamber Music Festival
Martin Beddoe Chair of Trustees IDatel 0510212026
| 4/15/2024 | |
|---|---|
| 5/10/2024 | £3,050 |
| 5/15/2024 | |
| 5/15/2024 | |
| 5/17/2024 | £68.75 |
| 6/7/2024 | £152.37 |
| 6/7/2024 | £2,728.75 |
| 6/10/2024 | £9.83 |
| 6/10/2024 | |
| 6/10/2024 | |
| 6/11/2024 | £122.88 |
| 6/13/2024 | |
| 6/13/2024 | |
| 6/13/2024 | |
| 6/14/2024 | £525 |
| 6/17/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/21/2024 | |
| 6/24/2024 | £659.87 |
| 6/26/2024 | £4.63 |
| 7/11/2024 | |
| 7/11/2024 | |
| 7/11/2024 | |
| 7/11/2024 | |
| 7/11/2024 | |
| 7/15/2024 | |
| 8/15/2024 | |
| 9/16/2024 | |
| 9/26/2024 | £1.63 |
| 10/15/2024 | |
| 10/31/2024 | |
| 10/31/2024 | |
| 11/15/2024 | |
| 12/16/2024 | |
| 12/19/2024 | |
| 12/27/2024 | £1.21 |
| 1/15/2025 | |
| 2/14/2025 | £5,000 |
| 2/17/2025 | |
| 2/17/2025 | |
| 2/17/2025 |
| 2/17/2025 | |
|---|---|
| 2/17/2025 | |
| 2/17/2025 | |
| 2/27/2025 | |
| 3/6/2025 | £2,500 |
| 3/11/2025 | |
| 3/11/2025 | |
| 3/14/2025 | £5,850 |
| 3/17/2025 | |
| 3/21/2025 | £706.25 |
| 3/26/2025 | £2.56 |
| 3/27/2025 | £2,000 |
£5 Greenham Trust £265.23 £5.00 Greenham Trust Ticket Sales Greenham Trust Ticket Sales £1,570 £1,396.45 Ticket Sales £196.99 £1,748.90 £665.95 Greenham Trust £5 £887.45 £1,089.22 £220 £300 £400 £454 Online Ticket Sales Interest to date £432 £421.10 £672.30 £196.10 £1,952.30 £5.00 £5.00 £5.00 Interest to date £5 £50.28 £250 £5 £5 £23 Interest to date £5 Greenham Trust £5 £180 £180
£180 £180 £180 £690 Old Possum's Practical Trust £323.10 £300 Greenham Trust £5 Greenham Trust Interest to date HGH Wills Grant
Monthly Account Fee
Publicity Monthly Account Fee
Tom Hignam Fee Poppy Beddoe Fee
Franklin Onyeso Fee Connaught Brass Fee Angus McCall Fee
Income:
Donations and Match Funding: Ticket Sales: Interest: Grants:
Total
Monthly Account Fee Poppy Beddoe Fee Roelof Temmingh Fee East Woodhay Hire Fee Windsor Hire Fee Pedro Lopez Fee Antonia Lazenby Fee
Expenditure:
Artist Fees and Expenses: Venue Hireand PRS: Account Fees: Website Hosting: Publicty:
Outgoings:
Emily Lanning-Penn Fee Alex Willett Fee Emma Lisney Fee An-Thien Do Fee Poppy Beddoe Fee Monthly Account Fee Monthly Account Fee Monthly Account Fee
Monthly Account Fee Website Hosting Fee St James Pangbourne Fee Monthly Account Fee Monthly Account Fee PRS Windsor
Monthly Account Fee
Monthly Account Fee James Flannery Fundraiser Fee Henry Chandler Fundraiser Fee
Emma Lisney Fundraiser Fee Poppy Beddoe Fundraiser Fee Ben Michaels Fundraiser Fee Hattori Foundation Fee
Poppy Beddoe Carehome and Rehearsal Fee Abby Bowen Carehome and Rehearsal Fee
Monthly Account Fee
£12,928.75 £944.95 £10.03 £9,500
£23,383.73
£13,605.86 £1,483 £60.00 £50.28 £265.23
£15,463.87