Charity Statutory Annual Report for financial year ending June 30th 2025 Name: London Metropolitan Brass ILMB) Charity registration number: 1198129 Address: 20 Horns Close, HertFord SG13 8HL Trustees as at current date- Lou Flandrin Ichairl Mike Hurford ITreasurerl Caroline Williams Amelia Dyer (Secretary) Christopher Burrows Christopher Lane Kate Marrs-Gant Laura Burley Other trustees dLtring the financial year. Paul Clarke Governance.. The charity is governed by constitution dated 18 July 2021 Purpose of the charity is: to advance and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music by any means the trustees see fit includin8 the presentation of public concerts; to provide facilities which promote the practice or enjoyment of music for recreation and make them available in the interests of social welfare to individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their age, infirmity, social or economic circumstances or for the PL¢blic at large with the object of improving conditions of life. Activities undertaken to further the charitable purpose are: running three brass bands with weekly rehearsals throu8hout the year to prepare music for public performance organising in excess of 30 public performance over the course of the year organising a free beginnerf5 course to introduce new players to brass banding and creation of a learnerfs band to provide tuition so that members can improve and participate in public performances Public benefit statement: the trustees can confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due re83rd to 8uidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission
Financial summary: Total revenue forthe yearwas £28598. The main source of revenue was membership subscriptions together with performance income. Total expenditure was £28692 of which the largest part is the remuneration of Musical Directors together with the hire of rehearsal venues. As such, a small deficit of £94 was recorded. LMB finished the year with financial reserves of £12721 which we judge to be adequate to cover unforeseen running costs and the potential acquisition of assets that may be needed by the band such as music libraries or instruments and to cover the initial losses of new activities such a5 our new learner's band. We do not have a formal reserves policy. The charity does not hold any funds as Custodian trustee on behalf of others. Our accounts have been reviewed by an independent examinerwho has confirmed thatthe accounts appear to be accurate and complete. Plans for the future: LMB intends to continue to deliver its charitable purpose much as it has done during the last financial year based around weekly rehearsals and a full programme of concert5 and other public performances. including around 50 separate performances of carols over the Christmas period. Since the financial year end, a further no-cost beginnerfs course has been run with most attendees going on to join the Learnerfs band. An improvisation workshop open to all was run in September 2025. Our Chair and Founder were invited to attend the 8rass Band England annual conference to present the success of our beginnerfs courses in attractin8 aspiring performers to brass bandin8 and encourage other bands to run similar activities. Signed by Mike Hurford Treasurer, London Metropolitan Brass November 2Y , 2025
London Metropolitan Brass Treasurer’s Report to AGM
July 20, 2025
I am pleased to report that London Metropolitan Brass ends our twelfth financial year in a good financial position despite the current economic environment.
Summary - we generated a small deficit of £94 (see details below and accounts overleaf) which compares to a surplus of £933 the previous year.
Revenue – Total revenue for the year was £28598. Subs were £2620 higher than last year with an average of 85 subspaying members up from about 70 the previous year, reflecting the addition of a new learners band rehearsing on Tuesdays as well as additional members in all existing bands. We currently have a record number of members paying subs – 103. As a registered charity, we also received GiftAid totalling £2466 from the government for 25% of subs paid by Wednesday and Thursday players who have completed the GiftAid form and also some GiftAid for carolling bucket collections. This is lower than last year’s claim which exceptionally covered 18 months.
NB it remains our policy that no-one is precluded from our activities due to financial hardship – please speak to a member of the committee if you are struggling to pay your subs.
Carolling income at £4657 was a record (plus GiftAid on bucket collections noted above). Gig income of £1127 was lower than last year which included our 10[th] anniversary concert. Our annual Xmas concert for the fantastic Hornsey Foodbank again raised over £2000 which does not show in our accounts as the church manages the money.
Expenditure – total expenditure was £28692 of which the largest part is remuneration / expenses of MDs. MD remuneration has increased with the addition of Tuesday band and was also revised in line with Musicians Union recommendations.
We spent £1098 on new sheet music as MDs extended repertoires across all bands. Room hire costs (£8507) increased with the addition of a fourth band. Web costs were much lower than last year which included exceptional costs for the post-covid relaunch. Equipment costs increased as we replaced worn out Wednesday band stands. The Whits and Bandamonium cost a net £628 for conductor expenses.
Other costs include £450 for tea and biscuits which includes some prior year costs as well as some exceptional costs for training and subs reimbursement.
Non-financial assets – we own non-financial assets with a cost of £17142 (mainly in music, instruments, uniforms and stand banners). We have cleaned out obsolete music from our library but do not attribute any value to this.
Outlook – the draft budget for the new financial year shows a deficit of £1000 due to the addition of Tuesday band. Currently the reserves of the band mean that we can afford this, however we will need to find ways to balance the budget to be financially sustainable.
The easiest way to avoid a deficit is for all Monday, Wednesday and Thursday players who pay income tax to complete a GiftAid form (members only playing in Tuesday band are not eligible). If you’ve not already done this, please consider it. It costs you nothing and will allow LMB to claim 25% of subs paid from the government. New members across the bands are requested to set up their standing orders as soon as they have decided to join.
Mike Hurford – Treasurer
July 20, 2025
London Metropolitan Brass Accounts – 2025 AGM
| Income Subs Subs GiftAid Gig Carols Carols GASDS Charity Other Whits/tour Total Expenditure Conductor Music Room hire Web PRS Insurance Equipment Transport Dep Gig Charity Library Whits/tour Other Total Surplus / (Deficit) |
F25 1 Jul 2024 to 30 Jun 2025 15575 1879 1127 4657 587 0 139 4635 28598 -10935 -1098 -8507 -150 -197 -155 -407 -178 0 0 0 -260 -5263 -1543 -28692 -94 |
F24 F25-F24 1 Jul 2023 to 30 Jun 2024 Total Change 12955 2620 2419 -540 2514 -1387 3709 948 795 -207 325 -325 0 139 4243 392 26959 1640 -9012 -1923 -1264 166 -6231 -2276 -2095 1945 -261 64 -151 -4 -100 -307 -814 636 -140 140 -12 12 -325 325 -150 -109 -4640 -622 -830 -713 |
|---|---|---|
| -26026 -2667 |
||
| 933 -1027 |
| Band property (equipment and music) Equipment Music Gross total Lost/damaged Net property |
-5780 -11612 |
|---|---|
| -17392 -250 |
|
| -17142 |
Confirmation of Independent Examination of Accounts to June 2025
This was completed by Luke Guymer on September 17[th] , 2025 and confirmed by email to me as copied below.
(Mike Hurford, Treasurer)
Hi Mike,
I can confirm I have reviewed the band accounts for 2024/25 and from the samples taken the accounts appear to be accurate and complete.
Many thanks
Luke