Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 September 2024 To 31 August 2025
Charity name: Stafford Sinfonia
Charity registration number: 1196465
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS 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. |
| 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 |
Two ‘Play Days’ with free public sharings and four public concerts of orchestral music held in Staffordshire: Play Day - Rachmaninoff 2nd Symphony & free public sharing Romance & Revolution The Great Turkish Delight Eccleshall Summer Concert Play Day - Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony & free public sharing |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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SORP reference |
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| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Stafford Sinfonia does not make grants. |
| Stafford Sinfonia does not make social investments. |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Stafford Sinfonia is supported by volunteers other than its trustees. Ten individuals volunteered their time to support Stafford Sinfonia during the reporting period, undertaking tasks such as preparing refreshments at concert intervals, publicising concerts and assisting with box office duties at events. |
| Other | N/A |
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 | Stafford Sinfonia continues to make significant progress against its aims and objectives, namely to provide playing opportunities for people in Staffordshire and to present high-quality non-professional classical music events in the region. Before 2019, Sinfonia presented three concerts per season averaging around 350 audience members between the three performances; in 2024-25, the orchestra presented four concerts to a combined audience of c700, more than double our audiences of six years ago. We have continued our relationship with Eccleshall’s Holy Trinity Church. We have founded our annual Play Days, two of which fall into this reporting period. 73 musicians joined us for Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony in September 2024, and 90 musicians joined us for Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony in August 2025. These Play Days give amateur musicians the opportunity to tackle large symphonic works rarely programmed. The Play Days welcomed musicians from as far afield as Devon, London and Grimsby demonstrating Stafford Sinfonia’s growing reputation. The Play Days were in partnership with English Symphony Orchestra, whose musicians tutored sectionals throughout the day and played alongside amateur musicians - a unique offer rooted in providing the very best musical experiences for amateurs right here in Stafford. In 2024-25, Stafford Sinfonia presented two ‘Play Days’with free public sharings and |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
four public concerts of orchestral music held in Staffordshire: Play Day - Rachmaninoff 2nd Symphony & free public sharing. 73 musician participants + c.20 audience for the sharing. Romance & Revolution c.200 audience The Great c.250 audience Turkish Delight c. 150 audience Eccleshall Summer Concert c. 100 audience Play Day - Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony & free public sharing. 90 musician participants + c.20 audience for the sharing. Total audience: c.740 (2023-24 c.730) The artistic quality of the orchestra has continued to rise, driven by ambitious repertoire selection, member dedication and recruitment of high-quality musicians to its ranks. Music Director Jack Lovell-Huckle (CBSO Assistant Conductor, Music Director Spires Music) led all our projects this season. We have continued our programme of inviting esteemed professionals from top-level orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of The Swan to coach our members in sectionals. In November 2024, clarinettist Nathan Isaac performed Weber's first clarinet concerto. In March, CBSO leader Eugene Tzikindelean and CBSO violist David BaMaung performed Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. And in March BBC Philharmonic, English Symphony Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia leader Zoe Beyers performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major. Audience feedback from Stafford Sinfonia concerts during the 2024–25 season highlighted consistently high levels of satisfaction with the orchestra's musical standard, ambitious programming and welcoming atmosphere. Audiences particularly praised the quality of the guest soloists, the professionalism of the
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
orchestra, and the opportunity to experience live orchestral music in an intimate setting at Rising Brook Church. Many comments also highlighted the friendly volunteers, approachable atmosphere and sense of community, with several first-time attendees expressing their intention to return. Feedback also identified practical improvements around ticketing, queue management and audibility of spoken introductions, which will inform future audience experience planning. The orchestra has no vacancies to fill in its core membership but continues to welcome violinists and violas. 2023-24 is the first full season using our new website (launched April 2023). Engagement online has increased, with over 2600 site visitors (23-24: 2500), more than 5200 site sessions (23-24: 4500) and 12600 page views in the period. Financially, overall income remained stable, and expenditure was slightly less than in 2023-25. This resulted in a surplus of £4,014.03 for the year (2023-24: £2,481.26). This surplus will be invested in further “Play Day”s with professional sectional tutors from the English Symphony Orchestra of greater ambition (An Alpine Symphony, 22 August 2026), high-quality soloists in future seasons and mitigating uncertain cost inflation such as venue hire which has increased significantly due to rising utility costs for the venues Sinfonia uses. We were devastated that our trustee, Treasurer and long time principal flautist Kerensa Guest died in May 2025. We wish to pay our sincere respect to Kerensa and her memory in our forthcoming season. We are grateful to Stephanie Owen, cellist in the Sinfonia and an experienced trustee and organiser of amateur orchestras and music charities based in Staffordshire who has joined the Board, and to Reece Galley, our principal viola who will now act as our Finance Manager. In the 2025-26 season, the orchestra plans to hold a concert in memory of our former principal flute and Treasurer for many years, Kerensa Guest, in November 2025 (Weber Overture to Der Freischütz, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23, Schumann Symphony No. 3
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
in E-flat major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”; piano soloist Milda Daunoraite). Three programmes with four concerts are planned: in December 2025, a Christmas Concert at St John’s in Stafford, in March a programme called ‘Unveiled Classics’ (Gabriel Fauré Masques et Bergamasques, Op. 112, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 and Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92; cello soloist Dr Richard Jenskinson), and a Summertime Classics programme of Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K.525, Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, Hob.VIIe:1 and Beethoven Symphony No.2, Op.36). Former CBSO and BBC Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet Alan Thomas will be soloist in Stafford, and Stafford Sinfonia Principal Trumpet Colin Moody will be soloist in Eccleshall.
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
The Trustees budgeted for a modest surplus in 2024-25. This has been achieved. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Stafford Sinfonia continued its recruitment campaign for playing members and achieved sponsorship via Tim Toft Violins. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Stafford Sinfonia does not make investments. |
| Other | N/A |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Stafford Sinfonia is in a good financial position, with sufficient reserves and an operating surplus for the period. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Stafford Sinfonia holds reserves to cover the costs associated with a need to cancel activity at short notice as happened in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Trustees have |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
| determined reserves should be set at 2 concerts’worth of lost income: £1,800. |
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| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £2,154.02 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The trustees are satisfied that Stafford Sinfonia is a going concern, with sufficient operational funds and reserves to plan and deliver future activity. |
| Additional information (optional) Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatementswhererelevant about: |
Additional information (optional) Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatementswhererelevant about: |
Additional information (optional) Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatementswhererelevant about: |
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| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Earned income: concert tickets, programme sales and programme advertising. Donations: member musicians and Friends of Stafford Sinfonia |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | Stafford Sinfonia does not make investments. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The main risk to the charity is an inability to give concerts, or to hold rehearsals, as happened in the COVID-19 pandemic. The trustees consider this a medium risk and monitor the situation carefully. A low risk is that the Music Director may resign from Stafford Sinfonia. Such a situation may lead to a fall in playing standards. The Music Director has occasionally been unavailable for rehearsals but a suitable deputy has been engaged (as happened in summer 2023, when a very high quality deputy was sourced in Melvin Tay). A low risk is that of losing key musician members, for example the leader or wind principals. During the absence of activity due to COVID-19, some musicians decided not to re-join Sinfonia on its return. Sinfonia has now recruited excellent musicians to all positions and has implemented a deputy list where, should a musician need to be absent or resigns their position, deputy musicians of a high standard are ready to join the orchestra. This deputies scheme has been very successful, allowing Stafford Sinfonia to programme for larger forces than its membership on occasion. |
| Other | N/A |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | 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 | As described in article 13 of Stafford Sinfonia’s constitution (“Appointment of Charity Trustees”): a. At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire; b. The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot; c. The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting; any vacancies not filled at the annual general meeting may be filled as provided in sub-clause (e) of this clause; d. The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed in accordance with clause 15 (Retirement and removal of charity trustees), or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit specified in clause 12(c) (Charity trustees)on the number of charity |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
trustees would not as a result be exceeded; e. A person so appointed by the members of the CIO shall retire in accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (b) and (c) of this clause. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | Trustees must read Stafford Sinfonia’s constitution and affirm they are legally permitted to act as a trustee of Stafford Sinfonia. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The members of Stafford Sinfonia appoint the trustees. The trustees appoint the Music Director. The members also appoint among themselves officers as desired. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The chair of Stafford Sinfonia is married to the Music Director, who is a paid freelancer who provides conducting services to the CIO. The chair is not permitted to be present when discussing the Music Director’s contract, including whether the Music Director’s contract may be extended, the fees and expenses due to the Music Director or whether to terminate the Music Director’s contract. |
| Other | N/A |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Stafford Sinfonia |
|---|---|
Other name the charity uses |
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| Registered charity number | 1196465 |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
| Charity’s principal address | 26 Spiceland Road Birmingham B31 1NJ |
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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 Nam e of pers on (or bod y) entit led to app oint trust ee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Lovell-Huckle |
Chair | Whole year N/A |
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| Simon Coombs | Secretary | Wholeyear N/A |
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| Kerensa Guest | Treasurer | Until 15 May2025 N/A |
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| Stephanie Owen | Trustee | 15 May2025 topresent N/A |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. |
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Jack Lovell-Huckle: Music Director
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) Stephanie Jill Owen Full name(s) Sebastian Lovell-Huckle Position (eg Secretary, Chair Trustee Chair, etc) Date 29 June 2026
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2024-25
Stafford Sinfonia Accounts 2024/2025
| (Accounts 2023/2024) | (Accounts 2023/2024) | (Accounts 2023/2024) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money In | Subs | £4,604 | £4,543.00 |
|
| Door (inc programmes) | £6,763 | £7,505.59 | ||
| Advertising Revenue | £1,059 | £775.00 | ||
| Friends of the Sinfonia | £0 | £190.00 | ||
| Social Events | £0 | £0.00 | ||
| Subsidiaries | £40 | £225.00 | ||
| Donations | £0 | £174.56 | ||
| HMRC Gift Aid Charities | £1,404 | |||
| Total Money In | £13,869 | £13,413.15 | ||
| Money Out | Hire of Stafford Grammar | £1,616.00 | £1,191.00 | |
| MD's fees | £2,850.00 | £3,600.00 | ||
| Making Music Membership | £213.00 £266.09 £1,150.00 |
£181.00 | ||
| Publicity | £143.74 | |||
| Hire of Venues | £1,625.00 | |||
| Payments to Players | £3,179.38 | £1,753.49 | ||
| Refreshments | £85.81 | £47.62 | ||
| Programme Printing | £184.92 | £285.05 | ||
| SumUp/Website Fees | £0.00 | £270.43 | ||
| Social Events | £0.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Ticket Revenue Share | £309.75 | £1,153.00 | ||
| Misc | £681.56 | |||
| Total Money Out | £9,854.95 | £10,931.89 | ||
| Opening Bank | Balance 01/09/24 | £6,500.33 | £4,019.07 | |
| Closing Bank Balance 31/08/25 | £10,514.36 | £6,500.33 | ||
| Surplus for Year | £4,014.03 | £2,481.26 | ||
| Business Saver Account Balance | 2,154.02 | £2,110.36 |
£6,047 £7,822 13869 13869