REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1198476
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
for
Playground Proms
Ark Accountancy Limited Chartered Certified Accountant 56-58 High Street Ewell Epsom Surrey KT17 1RW
Playground Proms
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 | ||
| Chairman's Report | 2 | ||
| Report of the Trustees | 3 | to | 6 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 7 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 9 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 | to | 13 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 |
Playground Proms
Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| TRUSTEES | T A Sharrott |
|---|---|
| Ms H Spencer-Biggs (appointed 25.4.24) | |
| Ms E Thomas (appointed 25.4.24) | |
| N MacLennan | |
| Ms Y Hulme | |
| S Sundarraj | |
| K Sansum | |
| Ms S Stapely Chair | |
| PRINCIPAL ADDRESS | 1 Malden Park |
| New Malden | |
| Surrey | |
| KT3 6AS | |
| REGISTERED CHARITY | 1198476 |
| NUMBER | |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER | Ark Accountancy Limited |
| Chartered Certified Accountant | |
| 56-58 High Street | |
| Ewell | |
| Epsom | |
| Surrey | |
| KT17 1RW | |
| BANKERS | National Westminster Bank |
| Chatham Customer Service Centre | |
| Western Avenue | |
| Watersde Court | |
| Chatham Maritime | |
| Chatham | |
| ME3 4RT |
Page 1
Playground Proms
Chairman's Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
This has been the second fully operational period of Playground Proms and the third since the charity's registration.
Playground Proms was formed in 2021 by Cathal Ó Dúill, concerned that many children in the maintained educational sector had little or no access to classical music and that this particularly applies in schools in areas of deprivation. This problem was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the vision of taking high-quality professional music workshops into schools became a reality.
A pilot project by Graffiti Classics in Barrow-in-Furness in May 2021 working collaboratively with Cumbria Music Hub soon led to an expansion of the project to other areas of Cumbria. The workshops were very enthusiastically received and it was then decided to acquire charitable status for Playground Proms in order to emphasise the charitable nature of its work and to broaden the appeal of its fund-raising activities with trusts, foundations and high-net-worth individuals. A countrywide project was then undertaken in the spring and summer of 2024. A subsequent project in 14 regions, some of which falls outside the scope of this reporting period, was ongoing during the period covered in this report, details of which laid out under Achievements and Performance below. These projects have all been supported by Arts Council England.
Playground Proms workshops include classical (and other) music being played by professional musicians, the instruments being explained and participation in an anthem specially composed for the project by composer Emily Leather, with the children invited to compose their own second verse. Cathal O'Duill, founder of Playground Proms and its artistic director, invited the manager of Graffiti Classics, Derek Warby, a manager of several decades experience in the music profession who has managed Graffiti Classics for many years, as well as several classical ensembles, to continue his administrative work for Playground Proms, while continuing to manage and represent Graffiti Classics. Now in semi-retirement since October 2023, Derek Warby is been able to commit to represent Playground Proms and Graffiti Classics, enabling him to dedicate much of his working time to the development of Playground Proms in the future. A third member of staff, Caroline Gormally, a former teacher and administrator of some experience joined Playground Proms in the New Year 2025 to share the workload of an increasingly busy charity. Although there is some overlap in the two organisations and their administration, Graffiti Classics and Playground Proms are kept separate, with the latter regulated by the Charity Commission and its related legislation.
Since the time of the previous report, Playground Proms' board of trustees has been expanded to eight with the election of Nigel MacLennan on 23 October 2023 and Holly Spencer-Biggs and Estella Thomas on 24 April 2024. The search for more board members with complementary skills and contacts remains ongoing.
Sue Stapely Chair, Playground Proms
Page 2
Playground Proms
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
To promote the advancement and improvement of general education in relation to all aspects of the art of music education for all in various communities around the United Kingdom.
Public benefit
In setting the charity's objectives and activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit
Page 3
Playground Proms
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Report of the Trustees
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities
Based on the success of three Playground Proms projects by Graffiti Classics in 2021, 2022 and 2024, it was decided to plan an extended nationwide project collaborating with several more music hubs around the country.
The first tour of Playground Proms' main project for 2023-24 in Norfolk, in collaboration with Norfolk Music Hub, fell within the previous reporting period. Subsequent tours falling into this period then followed in April, May and June 2024 as follows:
-
April/May 2024 - Lancashire (10 schools in Arkholme, Bacup, Carnforth, Chorley, Lancaster and Rochdale), with a pop-up in Burnley Market
-
June 2024 - York (10 schools in deprived areas of the city), with a pop-up at the Museum Park at the Explore Library
-
June 2024 - Cumbria (10 schools in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Kendal and Penrith), with a pop-up in Penrith
-
June 2024 - East Riding (10 schools in Beverley, Bridlington, Goole and Hull), with pop-ups in Bridlington Market and the Central Library
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July 2024 - Portsmouth (10 schools in deprived areas of the city), with a pop-up at Gunwharf Quays Shopping Centre
These projects began with online CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions for teachers in the participating schools, led jointly by Dalcroze Eurythmics specialist Monica Wilkinson and Playground Proms director Cathal Ó Dúill. There were then visits to 10 schools in each region by Monica or another Dalcroze specialist. The following week, the same 10 schools received Playground Proms performances led by Graffiti Classics, again to much acclaim. Various community pop-up performances were also offered.
In addition to those listed above, a pilot project in schools in Dover and Folkestone/Hythe in Kent was also delivered 15-18 April 2024 (workshops only). Playground Proms received advice and administrative 'in-kind' support from Kent Music, but the project needed to be self-funding. To this end, grants were received by Kent County Council, Dover and Folkestone & Hythe Town Councils and the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust. Eight schools were visited and feedback was universally very positive. It was frustrating, then, when Kent Music declined the invitation to enter into a more formal partnership with Playground Proms in favour of other projects they had mooted for a planned reorganisation of their activities. This will be revisited in subsequent years.
As he had done during spring/summer of 2023, Derek Warby wrote to music hubs in England during summer 2024, both to ascertain which existing partner hubs wished to continue as partners in Playground Proms' work and whether there were new ones who would like to collaborate in the project. This work yielded 14 partners for the 2024-25 project in Barnet, Cambridgeshire (Fenland-two projects), Croydon, Cumbria (2 projects), Derbyshire, Haringey, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Lancashire (2 projects), Leicestershire, North Somerset, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Tower Hamlets. Following the usual consultation with Arts Council England, several months' work and negotiations, and the consequent writing of an Expression of Interest, an application was eventually submitted to Arts Council England on 8 October 2024 for a grant of £204,955, which was granted on 24 December 2024, allowing the project to go ahead. Pledges of contributions totaling £56,000 were received from music hubs and schools, plus a grant of £5,000 from the Fenland Community Fund. Other fundraising for this project was ongoing at the time of this report, but grants have also been applied for from the Hadfield Trust, Heathrow Community Fund, Lancashire County Council and Somerset County Council.
The first three of the projects planned for Playground Proms' 2024-25 season fell within this reporting period:
" January 2025 - Westmorland, Cumbria (10 schools in Barrow-in-Furness, Carnforth, Grange-over-Sands, Flookburgh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Penrith and Ulverston)
" March 2025 - Two projects in Fenland, Cambridgeshire (20 schools in Benwick, Chatteris, Ely, Littleport, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech), with pop-ups in March and Wisbech Libraries
" March 2025 - Suffolk (10 schools in Beccles, Felixstowe, Lowestoft, Saxmundham, Stowmarket and Sutton Heath), with pop-ups at the East Pavilion, Lowestoft and Needham Lake, near Stowmarket
The remaining projects fall into the 2025-26 reporting period.
In line with our stated intention in Playground Proms' Arts Council England application to invest in PR to raise awareness of the tour, and after a fruitful collaboration in 2023-24, it was decided to again engage the services of the public relations company Mobius Industries. Playground Proms received the following media coverage:
Page 4
Playground Proms
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
2023-24 project
22 January 2024 - Online feature in Arts Professional 23 January 2024 - Online feature in Broadway World
24 January 2024 - Feature in The Stage 1 March 2024 - Interview with Ink Pellet (arts magazine for teachers) 22 March 2024 - Interview on BBC Look East
2024-25 project 15 April 2024 - Feature on BBC Radio Kent 16 April 2024 - Feature in Lancashire Post 18 April 2024 - Arts & Entertainment article in Newbury Weekly News 4 (recording)/9 July 2024 - Feature on BBC Radio Solent
As a result of Playground Proms' subscription to Arts and Business Cymru, two new trustees, Holly Spencer-Biggs and Estella Thomas, were elected to the board on 24 April 2024. It is hoped they will be able to help Playground Proms break into schools in Wales.
With Graffiti Classics having a long and successful history of delivering workshops in the Republic of Ireland, they visited schools in and around Dublin in November 2024. Following an unsuccessful bid for funding from the Irish Arts Council in November 2023, Playground Proms applied again for funding to tour Irish schools in deprived areas where DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools could not afford to pay for workshops. Unfortunately, this application was also rejected.
Having continued to budget for administrative costs in the ACE bid, Playground Proms was able to pay for more management time from both Derek Warby and Kyra Williams (left September 2024) and new member of staff Caroline Gormally (commenced work New Year 2025).
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The reporting period falls near the beginning of the delivery of Playground Proms' 2024-25 project in 14 regions around the country. A substantial amount of grant revenue is therefore already shown, which will be balanced by expenditure during the 2025-26 report period. At the time of this report, income had totalled £199,338.02, some of which represented advance payments for Playground Proms 2024-25 activities. As at year end, only £61,725.78 had been spent, as some the activities towards which these funds were awarded would take place in the next accounting/reporting period. This means that a balance of £137,612.24 was carried over to the financial year 2025-26.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
Playground Proms is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its Constitution was adopted on 7 March 2022 and registered as a charity on 31 March 2022. Playground Proms was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the charitable company's winding up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The Trustees are shown on Page 3. In addition to the six trustees listed on last year's Report, new trustees Holly Spencer-Biggs and Estella Thomas were appointed by the board on 24 April 2024.
Organisational structure
The Board of Trustees administer the charitable company, and meets four times per year, in addition to an Annual General Meeting. Working groups are set up when appropriate and necessary. The charitable company's day-to-day activities are run by the project manager and administrator, overseen by the artistic director, with bookkeeping done in-house. Other freelance professionals are engaged as and when necessary.
Page 5
Playground Proms
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Senior Staff
Cathal O'Duill (artistic director) Derek Warby (project manager)
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 15 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Ms S Stapely - Trustee
Page 6
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Playground Proms
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Playground Proms
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Playground Proms (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
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.
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.
Mary Ryan FCCA, DChA
Ark Accountancy Limited Chartered Certified Accountant 56-58 High Street Ewell Epsom Surrey KT17 1RW
16 December 2025
Page 7
Playground Proms
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 23,657 Charitable activities Art of music education 12,075 Other trading activities 3 3,668 Other income 375 Total 39,775 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Art of music education 6,734 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 33,041 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 15,185 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 48,226 |
Restricted fund £ - 159,563 - - 159,563 170,292 (10,729) 10,729 - |
31.3.25 Total funds £ 23,657 171,638 3,668 375 199,338 177,026 22,312 25,914 48,226 |
31.3.24 Total funds £ 8,257 65,086 - 1,125 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 74,468 | |||
| 48,620 | |||
| 25,848 66 |
|||
| 25,914 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 8
Playground Proms
Balance Sheet
31 March 2025
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| fund | fund | funds | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Cash at bank | 48,946 | - | 48,946 | 25,914 | |
| CREDITORS | |||||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 6 | (720) | - | (720) | - |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 48,226 | - | 48,226 | 25,914 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||||
| LIABILITIES | 48,226 | - | 48,226 | 25,914 | |
| NET ASSETS | 48,226 | - | 48,226 | 25,914 | |
| FUNDS | 7 | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | 48,226 | 15,185 | |||
| Restricted funds | - | 10,729 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 48,226 | 25,914 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 15 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
S Stapely - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 9
Playground Proms
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
1. GRANTS RECEIVABLE
The grant income was from the Arts Council for England. As the 2023/24 accounts were being done on a cash basis only the first tranche of the grant due on 13.11.23 of £57,086 was recognised in the 2023-24 accounts.The remaining instalments of £45,668 (due 30.3.24 but paid 18.4.24) and £11,417 were recognised in the 2024/25 accounts along with the payment due on 24.12.24 of £102,478 giving a total of £159,563 for that year.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
| OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Fundraising events | 3,668 | - |
continued...
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Playground Proms
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fund | fund | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 8,257 | - | 8,257 | ||
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Art of music education | 8,000 | 57,086 | 65,086 | ||
| Other income | 1,125 | - | 1,125 | ||
| Total | 17,382 | 57,086 | 74,468 | ||
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||||
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Art of music education | 2,263 | 46,357 | 48,620 | ||
| NET INCOME | 15,119 | 10,729 | 25,848 | ||
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 66 | - | 66 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 15,185 | 10,729 | 25,914 | ||
| 6. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Other creditors | 720 | - |
continued...
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Playground Proms
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Arts Council England TOTAL FUNDS Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Arts Council England TOTAL FUNDS Comparatives for movement in funds Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Arts Council England TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.4.24 £ 15,185 10,729 25,914 Incoming resources £ 39,775 159,563 199,338 At 1.4.23 £ 66 - 66 |
Net movement At in funds 31.3.25 £ £ 33,041 48,226 (10,729) - 22,312 48,226 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (6,734) 33,041 (170,292) (10,729) (177,026) 22,312 Net movement At in funds 31.3.24 £ £ 15,119 15,185 10,729 10,729 25,848 25,914 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
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Playground Proms
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 17,382 | (2,263) | 15,119 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Arts Council England | 57,086 | (46,357) | 10,729 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 74,468 | (48,620) | 25,848 |
8. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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Playground Proms
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Donations | 23,657 | 8,257 |
| Other trading activities | ||
| Fundraising events | 3,668 | - |
| Charitable activities | ||
| Local Authority funding | 12,075 | 8,000 |
| Grants | 159,563 | 57,086 |
| 171,638 | 65,086 | |
| Other income | ||
| Earned income | 375 | 1,125 |
| Total incoming resources | 199,338 | 74,468 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Marketing & developing audiences | 6,007 | 6,490 |
| Subcontractors | 4,965 | 2,200 |
| Travel & accommodation | 19,536 | 5,878 |
| Artistic spending | 114,532 | 24,434 |
| Developing the organisation | 14,624 | 7,355 |
| 159,664 | 46,357 | |
| Support costs | ||
| Management | ||
| Insurance | 859 | 210 |
| Postage and stationery | 143 | - |
| Office/general costs | 14,971 | 750 |
| 15,973 | 960 | |
| Information technology | ||
| Computer costs | 24 | 3 |
| Governance costs | ||
| Accountancy fees | 720 | - |
| Legal & professional fees | 645 | 1,300 |
| 1,365 | 1,300 | |
| Total resources expended | 177,026 | 48,620 |
| Net income | 22,312 | 25,848 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14