Bradwell Silver Band Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024
Registered Charity number 1200333
19 Longfellow Drive Newport Pagnell MK16 8PQ
Bradwell Silver Band is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation was created in Sept 2022 reflecting the role that Bradwell Silver Band plays in the local community. This marks the second Trustees Annual report summarising the period 30[th] September 2023 to September 30[th] 2024.
Introduction to Bradwell Silver Band
Bradwell Silver has a long history in the area stretching back to 1901. It is a traditional brass band performing public and private engagements for the enjoyment of both players and audiences alike. The band also embraces the challenge offered by the regional brass band competitions and strives to improve their position in the national rankings and is currently looking towards possible promotion to the 2[nd] section in the National Brass Band rankings in the coming years.
The band offers brass tuition and performances for the local community, supporting individuals new to banding and established musicians through individual tuition, group band rehearsals as well as performing at a wide range of community events.
Aims
During the period Bradwell Silver Band has kept to its commitments and acted responsibly in carrying out its charitable purposes for public benefit, as set out in the Charity Commission guidance. The Band’s aims are to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in Brass Band music. It does this by giving performance to the general public and by offering training and tuition to all age groups promoting appreciation of the art of the Brass Band.
Management
Both the main band and Development band of Bradwell Silver Band are managed by a committee of volunteers made up from members. The committee was elected at the Nov 2023 AGM and the following were in post at the end of the year:-
Chair : Stephanie Chappell, Secretary : Robin Allen, Treasurer : Karen Wilson.
Other members of committee:
Lucy Davies, Sam Lawrie, Gareth Mitchell, David Sanderson, Charles Leslie and Cheyenne Wilson
The Trustees of the Bradwell Silver Band Charitable Incorporated Organisation at the year end were:
Stephanie Chappell, Robin Allen, Cheyenne Wilson, Graham Crisp, Karen Wilson, Sam Lawrie, David Sanderson, Brin Carstens, Lucy Davies.
Review of the year
During the period up to the end of September 2024 the main band performed a number of public concerts, park performances and Christmas carolling jobs in and around Milton Keynes and the surrounding area. Most of these are paid events raising funds to support the band throughout the year. However, some of these were non funded for the benefit of the New Bradwell Community (May Day at the Mill & St James Summer Churchyard Concert) so that they were free for the general public to enjoy.
As well as our regular attendance at the New Bradwell Remembrance Parade and Service, many of our players take part and play the Last Post and Reveille at many of the Remembrance services throughout the area.
In March 2024 the band managed to achieve 12th place at the Regional Brass Band Championships, placing us 7th in the 3rd section of the National gradings. This means we are sitting in the upper half of the table and we are hoping to improve our position, striving to gain promotion if we perform well in the next couple of years. This is testament to the hard work put in by members and musical director and a demonstration of the band’s commitment to deliver a high standard of musicianship.
Development band
Every year the band performs at St James’s Church 3 times throughout the year and the Development band play a big part in these concerts, performing in their own right under the baton of Keith Jones (Solo horn of the main band).
Currently the Development Band consists of 30 players and boasts a wealth of progressing talent. With experienced players from the main band assisting in the teaching and development of new recruits, we offer tuition, instruments and music to those taking their first steps in learning how to play a brass instrument, with the aim of progressing and joining the Development Band. In fact, many of our senior band have started their musical journey through the Development Band.
Financial summary
For the period of 30[th] Sept 2023 – 1[st] Oct 2024 the income was £11,852 (including a grant from the MK Community foundation for £1575 for the purchase of a set of waterproof band jackets) and the expenditure was £9637. Overall profit of £2214. The finances reflect core operations that are financially sustainable made possible by the support of the New Bradwell School allowing us rehearsal and storage space, along with the generous services of our Musical Director.
This year we have enhanced our percussion section, purchasing a set of tubular bells along with a Tam Tam, both of which are significant investments to the band’s instrument repertoire and boost our performances.
We are very fortunate to have a full diary of events and much support from our local community. This has enabled us to ring-fence £12,000 and build up our reserves to enable us to replace, repair and maintain many of the Band’s instruments and follow a program of reinvesting in the instruments many of which are now over 30 years old.
Looking forward to 2024/2025
The new financial year 2024 will start with the run up into our Christmas Season with many concerts, events and carolling sessions. We will then continue into contesting season, making our regular journey to Stevenage for the Regional Brass Band Championships to see if we can manage to gain promotion to the Second section – the first time in our history.
Unfortunately our nomination for The Kings Award for Voluntary Service (a honours system which recognises groups and organisations run by volunteers) was not successful this time. However, it was an incredible honour to have been picked out of 100's of other community groups in MK and we are so grateful to have been part of the process.
The band are now looking forward to the 125[th] Anniversary in 2026 and are working towards a program of events and occasions to commemorate this.
Bradwell Silver Band 123rd Balance Sheet
Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ending 30th September 2024
| Income Concerts Christmas concerts & collec Donations Total Interest Easy Fundraising.org CD sales Raffle Sum-up test Social Insurance refund Contest Bb Bass case refund MK Community Foundation Grant for purchase of waterproof jackets Magic Little stars Lottery award - for Dev band Instrument sales Local giving National Finals Tickets National Finals Poloshirts Expanding music folder refu 20.00 HMRC Charities Gazebo covers refund |
2024 2023 2022 £2,850.31 £3,335.04 £2,011.68 t £4,362.05 £4,459.06 £3,145.64 £348.00 £504.00 £603.50 £208.20 £124.24 £11.77 £46.21 £113.09 £121.12 £5.00 £40.00 £5.00 £475.00 £311.00 £432.01 £0.98 £3.92 £73.71 £52.99 £37.03 £200.00 £596.03 £1,575.00 £500.00 £400.00 £215.87 £823.84 £1,791.56 £164.00 £490.00 nd £26.23 £880.00 £1,547.98 £216.18 |
Expenditure 2024 2023 2022 Instrument purchase/Maintenance £4,225.88 £11,094.92 £1,148.33 First aid/Covid Expenses £31.60 Trailer, lock-up & PA £15.47 £70.41 £508.88 Uniform £80.43 £9.30 £676.64 Music £338.86 £428.57 £1,069.50 Fees £175.86 £159.88 £257.52 Insurance £1,100.79 £994.16 £829.59 Contest Expenses £549.70 £1,105.60 £2,007.04 Chelsea Pensioners concert coach £705.00 Website £47.99 £47.99 Musical Director Expenses Finals Poloshirts £505.00 Archiving £244.18 Tickets for Finals £203.00 Band Gifts £425.49 £275.74 £177.35 Stationery/coin sorter £13.49 £20.00 Donations & wreaths £28.99 £100.00 £80.00 Raffle & Props £64.94 £20.49 £3.00 Proceeds to St James £1,195.84 £1,068.03 £1,116.78 Brass Bands England £470.60 £210.60 £146.25 Muzodo £56.37 £40.63 £41.14 Sum-up card reader £1.00 £118.80 Engraving £41.96 £51.95 £42.00 HMRC Charities repayment £771.99 Local Giving subscription £180.00 £180.00 Gazebo covers £395.86 |
|---|---|---|
| Total | £11,851.56 £11,312.22 £9,943.46 |
Total £9,637.31 £16,630.26 9,703.81 |
| Profit for the year ended 30.09.2024 £2,214.25 -£5,318.04 239.65 |
||
| Bank and Cash in Hand | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | I have examined the books and records for Bradwell Silver Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| for the year ending 30th September 2024 and find all correct. | ||||
| Cash | £160.00 | 160.00 | £110.00 | |
| NatWest High Interest Accou | £15,280.30 | 14,247.10 | £18,372.86 | Clive Keech |
| NatWest Current Account | £2,857.95 | 1,676.90 | £2,919.18 | 20th October 2024 |
| Total Cash | £18,298.25 | 16,084.00 | £21,402.04 | |
| Represented by : | ||||
| Balance previous year | £16,084.00 | 21,402.04 | £21,162.39 | |
| Profit/Deficit for year | £2,214.25 | -£5,318.04 | £239.65 | |
| Total | £18,298.25 | 16,084.00 | £21,402.04 | |
| Available funds | 6,298.25 | |||
| Reserved funds - instrument renewal |
£12,000.00 |