enriching life through music
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements
31 December 2024
MusicAbility Foundation | Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity Number 1197197
MusicAbility Centre, 10 Parade Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4BU
Trustees’ Annual Report
| Contents |
|---|
| Trustees’ report Page |
| Reference and administrative details 4 |
| Structure, Governance and management 5 |
| Objectives and activities 6 |
| Review of achievements and public benefit for the year 6 |
| Financial review and results for the year 8 |
| Reserves policy 8 |
| Fundraising policy 9 |
| Investment policy 9 |
| Statement of trustees’ responsibilities 9 |
| Statement of disclosure to independent examiner 10 |
| Independent examiner’s report11 |
| Charity statement of financial activities 12 |
| Charity balance sheet 13 |
| Notes to the financial statements 14 |
TRUSTEES' REPORT
For the year to 31 December 2024
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the independently examined financial statements of the MusicAbility Foundation CIO ("the charity") for the year to 31 December 2024 and can confirm that the latter comply with the requirements of the Charities SORP 2019.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective I January 2019)."
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 3 of 17
Reference and Administrative Details
| Registered name | MusicAbility Foundation | MusicAbility Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1197197 | ||
| Trustees | |||
| The Trustees at 3I December 2024 | |||
| Terry Jane Binns | |||
| Dr Mimi Jade Samantha Bird | |||
| Jowanna Bridget Conboye | |||
| Michael Anthony Conboye | |||
| Edward Nicholas Francis-Smith | |||
| Julia Havard | |||
| Trustee resignations during 2024 | |||
| Dr Paul James Hodson | Resigned 31 August 2024 | ||
| John Joseph Maggs | Resigned 25 July 2024 | ||
| Chantelle Louise Moore | Resigned 12 December 2024 | ||
| Tanya Maria Ellen Moore | Resigned 12 December 2024 | ||
| Trustee appointments during 2025 | |||
| Amelia Brewer | Appointed 16 January 2025 | ||
| Richard Davies | Appointed 16 January 2025 | ||
| Dr Cheryl Teresa Day | Appointed 16 January 2025 | ||
| Officers | |||
| Chair Michael Anthony Conboye |
|||
| Secretary Julia Havard |
|||
| Treasurer Amelia Brewer (Appointed 27 February 2025) | |||
| Senior Management Team | |||
| Chief Executive Officer | Tim Boulton | ||
| Chief Operations Officer | Ruth Boulton |
The principal and operating address of the charity :
MusicAbility Foundation, MusicAbility Centre, 10 Parade Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4BU
Bank: The Cooperative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
Mounts Bay Accountants , 16 Kenstella Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 5AY
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 4 of 17
Structure, Governance and management
Governing instrument
The charity, which is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, is governed by its Constitution dated 17 December 2021.
Recruitment and induction of trustees
Following a skills audit, trustees are sought whose skills, knowledge and experience are relevant to the administration of the charity and complement the skills of the existing trustees.
New trustees must be appointed by resolution at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. The Chair of trustees is responsible for the induction of new trustees.
Trustees on appointment are given a Welcome Pack with details of the charity’s operation, what involvement is expected of them and what guidance and support is available to them. They are also given on-line access to all the relevant charity documentation, including:
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the Charity Commission's publication "The Essential Trustee: What you need to know",
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the charity's current governing document.
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the charity's latest Trustees' Annual Report and statement of accounts.
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the minutes of recent meetings.
They are given a tour of MusicAbility Centre, 10 Parade Street, Penzance and meet the
trustees and the senior management team.
Organisation
The trustees formulate policy.
The Chair of trustees is responsible for the administration of the charity.
Operational control is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operations Officer.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is currently exposed, in particular those relating to its finances and its operations (including health and safety) and they are satisfied that systems are in place to monitor and mitigate the charity's exposure to such risks.
They are also satisfied that a robust procedure is in place for identifying and evaluating the risks associated with new areas of activity.
The risk management action plans are reviewed each year.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 5 of 17
Objectives and activities
The objects of the charity are:
To advance education by providing access to music education services and resources for the general public and for young people in particular but not exclusively, in Cornwall and elsewhere in England.
The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial or other social disadvantage by the provision of music therapy services in Cornwall.
To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in particular but not exclusively by presenting concerts, lectures and workshops for the general public in Cornwall.
The trustees are granted wide powers to achieve these objects, which are set out in the Constitution.
Inter alia these relate to:
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borrowing money
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buying, leasing or hiring property selling leasing or otherwise disposing of property employing and remunerating staff depositing or investing funds
Review of achievements and public benefit for 2024
The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
This year has been another extremely busy one.
There were eight scheduled trustee meetings during 2024 and, as these were held in the early evening, light refreshments were made available for those attending directly from work.
In this third year of the charity’s operation, the trustees continued to devote a significant amount of time and effort to drafting, approving and reviewing essential policies and codes of practice. More policies and codes are still at the draft stage, and the trustees have set themselves a target to formally approve them in the year ahead.
During the year, the trustees were able to deliver on our charitable objects, for the public benefit, in the following ways:
Music Therapy has been provided through collaboration with -
several local primary and secondary schools
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private clients
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Social care
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Adult day care centres
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Penzance Town Council funded weekly groups for clients with learning difficulties
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MusicAbility CIC funded Music After Work, a weekly Pan Art well-being group.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 6 of 17
Our music education objective has been delivered in the following ways:
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continuing support across the whole year for a trainee cello teacher to grow cello playing locally and support local youth and amateur music making
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establishment of a string quartet residency, allowing the young professional Elmore Quartet to provide opportunities for people of all ages, including playing to over 2000 young people
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rehearsal base for Elmore Quartet and for musicians playing in the local Golowan Festival concerts.
termly concerts for children of both primary and secondary age
weekly ensembles for youth orchestras and a monthly ensemble for adults
individual violin, viola, cello and double bass lessons for young people and adults
We have also been able to provide use of the building for the public benefit in the following ways:
- weekly rehearsal space for Penzance Young People’s Theatre
space hired by Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for rehearsals
Youth Bands Day sponsored by Golowan Festival
- Learn to Play day sponsored by national charity ‘Music For All’
One room rented to a local accountant
There has been ongoing planning for the development of the building to better support the charity’s aims and restore it in an historically sensitive way.
Funding has been awarded by Architectural Heritage Fund to employ a project coordinator / fundraiser and by Cornwall Council (Town Deal Fund) for the restoration of the building.
In recognition of the importance of further developing strong links and relationships with local charities and the local community, we have continued our successful collaboration with the local Community Interest Company - MusicAbility CIC - to deliver services in music therapy and music education, providing a venue where therapy and education services take place.
The trustees consider that the charity is very fortunate in this continuing close relationship with MusicAbility CIC - which has an outstanding reputation, in particular for delivering music therapy.
This relationship has been of huge benefit to the charity, and the trustees consider that it has been a significant factor in our achieving so much in delivering our objectives in this third year of our operation and they look forward to many more years of such a productive relationship.
Finally, in this Review of 2024, the trustees wish to record, once again, their sincere thanks to both the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operations Officer who fulfil these roles on a voluntary basis.
Without their immensely valuable contribution, the charity would not have been able to achieve so much in its third year of operation.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 7 of 17
Financial review and results for the year
In the charity’s set of accounts for the period ending 31 December 2024 the Net Income was £11,857 [2023: £23,352].
Total income of £90,220 [2023: £61,151] comprised donations of £34,447 [2023: £7,320], rental income of £23,127 [2023: £20,611] and grants of £29,426 [2023: £33,220].
Expenditure totalled £78,363 [2023: £37,799].
In the balance sheet, our total charity funds, £21,340 of which is restricted funds, comprised Fixed Assets of £548,857 [2023: £559,336], cash at the bank of £72,972 [2023: £41,022], less current creditors of £10,750 [2023: £1,136]
The trustees confirmed that funds which had been donated from Penzance Youth String Orchestra Society and Concerts Penzance are put to one side – ringfenced not restricted funds.
Reserves policy
The charity has just completed its third financial year and therefore does have a limited history of income and expenditure to which it can refer.
There are, at present, two primary financial risks that the charity faces for which there is a need to have a level of reserves.
The first is that the rental income from the charity’s two buildings falls short of expectations due either to tenants leaving and the property being empty for an unspecified period and/or to tenants not paying their rents. The likelihood of all units being empty/non-yielding at the same time should be slim but is not beyond the realms of possibility.
The second is that ongoing expenditure related to the two buildings cannot be covered by regular rental income either because the rental income is interrupted (as above) or an unexpected expense arises, e.g. a major repair/maintenance bill.
Given that uncertainty is going to be at its highest in the charity’s first few years of existence, there is a need to be prudent in setting the initial level of reserves. It is worth noting that Office for National Statistics figures show that in the UK only 40% of business start-ups survive their first five years.
The amount held in reserve will be regularly monitored during the course of each year as the charity’s knowledge and experience of its income and expenditure increases and develops.
The level of reserve will be formally reviewed by the trustees at the financial year-end and thereafter at six monthly intervals.
Annual reviews of our Financial Reserves Policy include the consideration of each section of the policy and deciding whether any changes should be made as a result of the charity’s experience or in the light of any other changing circumstances or any updated guidance from the Charity Commission or other sources.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 8 of 17
Fundraising policy
A Funding Options Report, produced by a local fundraising consultant, was received in May 2023 and the trustees have been following up on the recommendations made by the consultant.
The charity has not, as yet, carried out any other formal fundraising activity, but occasionally members of the public do make donations which are accounted for through the charity's financial management systems and the charity has more than reached its desired reserve figure.
Investment policy
The trustees are entitled to place funds in any kind of investments that they see fit.
The current policy of the trustees is to hold any surplus funds on short term deposit, applying the income generated to charitable purposes for which the funds are intended.
The trustees recognise that a higher level of return could be obtained by placing funds in riskier equity or other investments. This is outside the parameters of the current investment policy.
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and group, and of the financial activities of the charity for that year.
In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are required to act in accordance with the Constitution of the charity, within the framework of charity law.
They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
They are also responsible for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 9 of 17
Statement of disclosure to independent examiner
So far as the trustees are aware, there is no relevant information of which the charity's examiner is unaware.
Additionally, the trustees have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of all relevant information and to establish that the charity's examiner is aware of that information.
By order of the trustees:
M. A. Conboye
Chair of trustees
For and on behalf of the trustees of MusicAbility Foundation
25 September 2025
MusicAbility Foundation, MusicAbility Centre, 10 Parade Street, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4BU Bank: The Cooperative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
Mounts Bay Accountants, 16 Kenstella Road, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 5AY
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 10 of 17
MUSICABILITY FOUNDATION
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO
THE TRUSTEES OF MUSICABILITY FOUNDATION
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 12 to 17.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination].
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I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed …… Stuart Arrandale …… Date …25/10/2025…………….
STUART ARRANDALE Chartered Accountant 23-25 Gwydir Street Cambridge CB1 2LG
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 11 of 17
Statement of Financial Activities [including Income and Expenditure Account] for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Notes 2024 £ 2024 £ 2024 £ Income from Donations 19,447 15,000 34,447 Donated assets Charitable activities: Rent and room hire - 23,127 - - - 23,127 Grants 1,500 27,926 29,426 Miscellaneous 3,220 - 3,220 Total Income 47,294 42,926 90,220 Expenditure on (7) Charitable activities 50,777 27,586 78,363 Net income/[expenditure] (3,483) 15,340 11,857 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 593,222 6,000 599,222 Total funds carried forward 589,739 21,340 611,079 |
2023 £ 7,320 - 20,611 33,220 - 61,151 37,799 23,352 575,870 599,222 |
|---|---|
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 12 of 17
Balance sheet as at 31st. December 2024
| Notes Fixed assets £ Tangible assets 2 Current assets Debtors and prepayments 3 Cash at bank and on hand Total current assets Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within 12 months 4 Net Current assets Net assets The funds of the charity: Unrestricted funds 7 General funds Designated Funds Restricted funds 7 Total charity funds |
2024 £ 548,857 - 72,972 72,972 (10,750) 71,836 611,079 41,818 547,921 21,340 611,079 |
2023 £ 559,336 - 41,022 41,022 (1,136) 39,886 599,222 33,886 559,336 6,000 599,222 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
These financial statements were approved by the trustees on 25 September 2025
M A Conboye Chair of trustees
For and on behalf of the trustees of MusicAbility Foundation
The notes on pages 14 to 17 form part of these financial statements.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 13 of 17
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024
(1) Principal Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below and have remained unchanged from the previous years.
(a) Basis of preparation
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) as updated by Update Bulletin 2, and the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
(b) Fund accounting
[i] Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
[ii] Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Management Committee for particular purposes.
[iii] Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
(c) Income
Income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income.
[i] Income received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
[ii] Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.
[iii] The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
[iv] Investment income is included when receivable.
[v] Income from charitable trading activity are accounted for when earned.
[vi] Income from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
(d) Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered
[i] Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
[ii] Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them
[iii] All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the SoFA on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis.
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 14 of 17
(1) Principal Accounting Policies
(e) Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are written off over the expected useful life of the asset, at 25% per annum on the reducing balance method.
Items costing over £500 are capitalised.
Property is written off over the expected useful life of the asset, at 2% per annum on the straight-line basis
(2) Fixed Assets
| (2) Fixed Assets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | Property | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Balance brought forward | 0 | 570,751 | 570,751 |
| Additions in the year | 1,248 | 0 | 1,248 |
| 1,248 | 570,751 | 571,999 | |
| Depreciation brought forward | 0 | 11,415 | 11,415 |
| Depreciation for the year | 312 | 11,415 | 11,727 |
| 312 | 22,830 | 23,142 | |
| Net book value as at 31st December 2024 | 936 | 547,921 | 548.857 |
| Net book value as at 31st December 2023 | 0 | 559,336 | 559,336 |
The Old Church House was valued by David Marshall F.N.A.E.A. at £350,000 on 21 January 2022.
Parade Chambers [The Centre] was valued by Miller Commercial Valuers at £200.000 on 14 April 2022.
| (3) Debtors 2024 £ Sundry debtors - (4) Creditors Amounts falling due within 12 months Sundry creditors 10,750 (5) Employee information Number of employees - (6) Trustees information £ Trustees remuneration and expenses 49 Expenses relate to Trustees' travel and subsistence at meetings. Payment of £180 was also made to a trustee for 12 hours admin support. |
2023 £ - 1,136 - £ 124 |
|---|---|
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 15 of 17
| (7) Movements in funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | Balance | |||||
| 31st. Dec | Income | Expenditure | Balance | 31st. Dec | ||
| 2023 | Transfers | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Restricted funds | ||||||
| Trainee Teacher | - | 10,000 | (10,000) | - | - | |
| Children’s bursary | - | 8,500 | (2,956) | - | 5,544 | |
| Building works | - | 10,000 | - | - | 10,000 | |
| Frost Music Trust | 6,000 | 14,426 | (14,630) | - | 5,796 | |
| 6,000 | 42,926 | (27,586) | - | 21,340 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| General Fund | 33,886 | 47,294 | (50,777) | 11,415 | 41,818 | |
| Designated funds | 559,336 | - | - | (11,415) | 547,921 | |
| Total funds | 593,222 | 90,220 | (78,363) | - | 611,079 |
The Land & Building Designated Fund was created in 2023 and represents the Net Book Value of the property.
| (7) Charitable expenditure | Total | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Administration costs | 7,901 | - |
| Centre building and repairs costs | 2,435 | 1,250 |
| Rented property building and repairs costs | 13,500 | 6,750 |
| Centre utility costs | 2,295 | 3,768 |
| Rented property utility costs | 3,526 | 4,017 |
| Office costs | 432 | 1,012 |
| Trustees meeting refreshments | 49 | 124 |
| Insurance | 4,218 | 2,796 |
| Publicity | 352 | - |
| Miscellaneous | 654 | 1,124 |
| Depreciation | 11,727 | 5,915 |
| Independent examination | 750 | 775 |
| Cleaning and laundry | 1,099 | 1,053 |
| Travel costs | 0 | 1,964 |
| Frost Quartet Residency | 14,426 | - |
| Trainee Teacher | 11,936 | 4,000 |
| Legal and professional | 3,063 | 3,249 |
| 78,363 | 37,799 |
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 16 of 17
(8) Analysis of net assets between funds
| General | Designated | Restricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | 936 | 547,921 |
- | 548,857 |
| Current assets | 51,632 | - |
21,340 | 72,972 |
| Current liabilities | (10,750) | - | - | (10,750) |
| Net assets at 31st December 2024 | 41,818 | 547,921 |
21,340 | 611,079 |
MusicAbility Foundation | Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements | 31 December 2024 | Page 17 of 17