BML Annual Report 8 August 2024
On 17 July, we finished our 2023-24 programme of four workshops, each meeting for 34 sessions, with 88 writers in the four groups. This was our fifteenth year. Once again, sessions were held in rented space at the Central YMCA at 111 Great Russell Street, WC1. We have already auditioned for next year’s new cohort (following two ‘Taster’ sessions in the spring) that should be a bit larger; and that will begin sessions in mid-September, running through July 2025.
We also scheduled special events and services to enhance the programme. We have an extensive reference library, which is housed in a local lockup as we have no permanent office space. This we opened to the participants on 11 May to borrow books, and again on 20 July and then again once more at the end of September (the space has no electricity and no heating, so is impractical during the winter months). We held an industry showcase for work from the Advanced group on 24/25 October at the prestigious Crazy Coqs cabaret in Piccadilly (with the space donated by their management); and internal showcases for work by the Second Year group during July to share their work with the other members of the programme at the same venue. As a windup to the year, on 18 July, we held an online Zoom Q&A with LA songwriters Amanda McBroom (who is one of our Patrons) and Michele Brourman, a rare female team of successful writers who have been working together for fifty years, and this was especially valuable and motivating for our female members. We also held mixer social events for all the members to mix with each other (and, hopefully, plant the seeds for future collaborations) before sessions began last summer, and at Christmas with another planned for the coming September before we begin our autumn term.
The Board has spent the year recruiting for a new chair, and this will come to fruition before the next board meeting in October.
The programme produces impressive results while run on our very modest resources. Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York ) by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan played to capacity audiences at the Kiln and has now transferred to the Criterion Theatre: our first West End transfer! The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by Darren Clark will also come into the West End this autumn after a repeat successful run at Southwark Playhouse. Lyricist Richy Hughes is in the midst of his third collaboration for West End producer Kenny Wax. And In Clay , with book and lyrics by Rebecca Simmonds, has been selected for the prestigious NAMT Festival in New York this autumn. Other members have individually applied for and received small ACE grants to further develop their work, as well as scheduling Edinburgh Festival slots to begin next week.
It has been a challenging year, as it has been for most charities. We try to support the diversity of all the groups, some of whom also have various neurodiversity. Many of them are thriving, but the after the effects of COVID are still stark, and we had 3-4 dropouts last year citing mental health challenges. We do our best to support all.
Signed by Wendy E Gill on behalf of the Board of Trustees
30 September 2024
Charity Name No (if any) BooksMusicLyrics 1197930 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/08/2023 31/07/2024
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 25,750 32,470 - - - - - - 58,220 - - - 58,220 25,836 6,268 27,258 - - - - - - 59,362 - - - 59,362 - 1,142 - 30,802 29,660 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 6,485 - - - - - - - 6,485 - - - 6,485 3,500 - - 4,084 - - - - - 7,584 - - - 7,584 - 1,099 - 1,099 - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 32,235 32,470 - - - - - - 64,705 - - - 64,705 29,336 6,268 27,258 4,084 - - - - - 66,946 - - - 66,946 - 2,241 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 32,235 32,470 - - - - - - 64,705 - - - 64,705 29,336 6,268 27,258 4,084 - - - - - 66,946 - - - 66,946 - 2,241 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and Donations | 25,750 | 53,727 | ||||
| Fees | 32,470 | 28,989 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
58,220 | 82,716 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 82,716 | ||||||
| Coursepayments | 25,836 | 35,253 | ||||
| Workshops/auditions,etc. | 6,268 | 1,550 | ||||
| Administration and other | 27,258 | 24,013 | ||||
| Arts Council England Program | - | 25,770 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 59,362 | 86,586 | ||||
| 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 |
||||||
| 86,586 | ||||||
| - 1,142 | - 1,099 | - | - 2,241 | - 3,870 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 30,802 | 1,099 | - | 31,901 | 35,771 | ||
| 29,660 | - | - | 29,660 | 31,901 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
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 Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Metrobank Details Details Details Deferred income - fees 2024-2025 Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 29,660 - - - - 29,660 - 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) General 1,050 - - - - Print Name Wendy E Gill |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| 01 August 2024 | |||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Wendy E Gill | 30.09.2024 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
Jarka Ronchetti ACCA Flat 4. 5-6 Myddelton Square London EC1R IYE email: jarka.ronchetti@gmail.com Independent Examiners Report on the Accounts Report to thè Trustaos of Book Music & Lyric Icharity no. 1197930) On the account for the yoar ended 31 July 2024 Respectivo responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's truslees are responsible for Ihe preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (the Act}. The harity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charilies Act, to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(51{bl of the Act, and to slate whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions examiner's statement given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of Ihe accounts presented wilh those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanalions from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the slatement below. Independent In conneclion with my examination, no material matters have come to examinerfs statement my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounls did nol accord with Ihe accounting records., or the accounts did nol comply with the accounting requiremenls of the Char¢ties Act. 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 in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 17 September 2024 Name: Jarka Ronchetti ACCA