2025-11-07-accounts - Arch Sinfonia

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CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 07 NOVEMBER 2025

Registered Charity No. 1205630

Trustees

Martin Arnaud Lucy Drever Bobby Leaf Fergus Marr Anna Williams – Chair (appointed in November 2024)

Registered Address

32 Danesfield Close Walton-on-Thames Surrey KT12 3BP

Bankers

National Westminster Bank Plc Parklands De Haviland Way Horwich Bolton BL6 2SD

CONTENTS
Report of Trustees Page 3
Financial Review Page 7
Balance Sheet Page 8
CC16a Receipts and Payments Accounts Page 9

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

For the year ended 7 November 2025

The Trustees of Arch Sinfonia are delighted to present the charity report and accounts for the period ended 7 November 2025. The Trustees confirm that this document complies with the CIO’s governing document.

Structure, governance and management

The CIO was established on 8 November 2023 governed by its constitution (Foundation model) with solely charitable objects and has operated within these since incorporation.

Prior to this, the founder of the orchestra was the sole Director of a separate entity (private company limited by guarantee without share capital), Arch Ensemble Limited (company number 10978630). Arch Ensemble Limited was dissolved as of August 2024.

The Board of Trustees is made up of 5 individuals drawn from across the finance and arts sector, with skills and experience in charity administration, accounting, digital, learning and public engagement. Trustees meet quarterly with the Founder and Artistic Director to review charitable activity, giving their time and expertise on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration or other benefits. Trustees are responsible for the strategic management of the charity and for setting policy. The day-to-day operational management is delegated to the Founder and Artistic Director and a freelance advisor and any necessary operational specific freelancers as and when needed.

The Board of Trustees were appointed on incorporation. An annual skills audit is taken to assess where there may be gaps in the expertise on the Board and subsequent Trustees can be appointed by the Board of Trustees. There must be at least three Trustees at any given time, and a maximum of eight. Any new appointment henceforth must be for a term of three years.

The skills audit suggested recruitment of new Trustees with expertise in fundraising, marketing and/or legal would be beneficial to Arch Sinfonia. Trustee vacancies were advertised in August 2025.

Anna Williams was appointed as Chair on 11 November 2024.

Objectives and activities for the public benefit

The overarching objects for which the charity is established is to:

1. Advance public education & appreciation of the art of orchestral music in all its aspects & the wider arts through cross-arts collaborations, in particular by the provision of live concerts & recitals

2. The promotion of equality and diversity in the arts & music for the public benefit by providing opportunities for women and non-binary artists, & others who are underrepresented in the sector.

Three guiding principles help set the framework for Arch Sinfonia activity in response to its charitable mission:

To be Daring: Arch Sinfonia aims to bridge the gap between audience and orchestra by pioneering a unique audience participation and engagement model. Audience members are invited to sit interspersed amongst the musicians to gain a different perspective of the music and instruments around them, giving concerts an immersive feel, akin to a sound bath.

Additionally, each season is also shaped by Arch Sinfonia audiences. People are invited to vote on music they would like to hear performed, giving agency to concertgoers and building longer-term two-way relationships. This new method seeks to understand what music makes people tick and ensures Arch Sinfonia stays relevant to audiences today.

Arch Sinfonia presents a platform to rediscover and reinterpret lesser-known repertoire in its concerts and educational projects, particularly championing historic and new works written by women and non-binary composers.

To be Inspiring: Made up of around 40 early career musicians, Arch Sinfonia pools this collective energy, bringing youthful exuberance to all performances at the very highest degree of excellence with an entrepreneurial mindset which cultivates innovation in performance.

Through the vision of its founder and conductor Chloe van Soeterstede , Arch Sinfonia takes an ' if you can see it, you can be it ' approach to programming, championing women in music and leadership, including women composers historically and today, and commissioning works from underrepresented groups.

To be Accessible: Led by the belief that there is room for everyone in this sector, Arch Sinfonia strives to represent diversity in its programming and activities, showcasing soloists and composers so that audiences may see themselves reflected.

Our education/learning programmes aim to reach into pockets of communities which are often overlooked in society with partnership working to strengthen meaningful connections.

We seek to break down barriers to music participation, through commissioning works with audience involvement, and performing music that people want to hear. Creating a balanced programme of popular and less known works to broaden horizons.

A Community Access Scheme offers free/heavily subsidised tickets for families using food banks, those on universal credit and in receipt of other benefits, and students.

Activity: Activity during the period 08 November 2024 - 07 November 2025 was lower due to maternity leave. However, it responded to Arch Sinfonia’s charitable mission in the following ways:

1. To advance public education & appreciation of the art of orchestral music in all its aspects & the wider arts, through cross-arts collaborations, in particular by the provision of live concerts & recitals

Arch Sinfonia produced ‘String Serenade’ on 25 June 2025. Held at Greenwich-West Community and Arts Centre, an ensemble of 12 string players collaborated with dancer Salvatore De Simone (Studio Wayne McGregor) who responded to three of the works performed and a poetic translation of the Polish poem Modlitwa was recited by orchestra leader, Emily Davis.
Founder and conductor Chloé van Soeterstède verbally introduced each of the works, addressing the audience more informally to set the historical context as well as highlight key musical themes the audience could listen out for.

2. Promote equality and diversity in the arts & music for the public benefit by providing opportunities for women & non-binary artists, & others who are underrepresented in the sector.

Arch Sinfonia signed up to the Key Change pledge in July 2025, joining a network of over 700 organisations committed to transforming the gender balance in the music industry. With this, Arch Sinfonia endeavours to have at least 50% representation of women composers, 76% representation amongst its musicians and artistic collaborators

and going forward, with the recruitment of new Trustees, 50% women on its Board and Executive Committee.

50% of the composers represented at ‘String Serenade’ were female, with works by Jessie Montgomery and Roxanna Panufnik.
‘String Serenade’s orchestra was 75% woman led, and with conductor Chloé van Soeterstède at the helm, the concert was a demonstration of women in leadership.
Founder and Conductor Chloé van Soeterstède was selected amongst heavy competition to be a Franco British Council Young Leaders laureate for 2025, recognising her vision and work with Arch Sinfonia.

Achievements and public benefit: ‘String Serenade’ welcomed an audience of 48, which included 10 audience members taking up the subsidised Community Access Scheme which supported financial access for students, 18-30 year olds, over 65s concessions, family passes and under 18s.

It was noted by an audience member that it was ‘ great to see the hall being used for how it was intended ’, and that it would be beneficial to have Arch Sinfonia return more frequently. Positive conversations were had with various stakeholders, indicating interest in potential future partnerships with Greenwich-West Community and Arts Centre. Additionally, Arch Sinfonia has also engaged with Creating Ground CIC, a social enterprise working with migrant women in the local area through engagement with the arts.

Across the year, a total of 7 volunteers supported Arch Sinfonia activity giving a total of 21 hours: 5 at ‘String Serenade’ in the capacities of box office, photography and hosting, and an additional 2 volunteers supported general operations throughout the year in design and marketing.

Future Plans: Continuing Arch Sinfonia’s ongoing focus on building reach, reputation and resilience Arch Sinfonia hopes to adopt Greenwich-West Community and Arts Centre as its home to build relationships with communities in the area and to present an immersive ‘in the round’ performance as part of its wider ‘Surround Sound’ strategy.

Workshops with Arch Sinfonia musicians and Creating Ground CIC will explore themes of roots through orchestral instruments, writing and drawing.

Fundraising efforts will continue seeking support from individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporate entities, alongside careful management of financial resources.

Financial Review

Arch Sinfonia’s 2024/25 financial year welcomed a £500 donation from an individual in May 2025 towards our ‘String Serenade’ project and £430 in ticket revenue and an £80 cash donation from an audience member from the performance of ‘String Serenade’ in June 2025. This income was critical in the current economic and fundraising landscape.

The majority of expenditure during this year has been on freelance musician fees and other artists, as well as direct operational freelance staff.

Total cash at bank and in hand as of 7 November 2025 was £4,808.

This is £192 below Arch Sinfonia’s target reserve level of £5,000. This is due to timing difference between the end of our financial year and the receipt of Orchestral Tax Relief of £5,717 for the previous financial years’ ‘Surround Sound’ concert, the receipt of which we had anticipated would fall within the 2024/25 financial year but arrived several days into the new financial year beginning 8 Nov 2025. Therefore no amount has been included in the CC16a as the claim had not been received by the year end. Additionally, since this date but relating to the period in question Arch Sinfonia expects to submit an Orchestra Tax Relief claim in respect of qualifying expenditure incurred during the year (anticipated to be around £1,000.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have agreed the Risk Reserves level will be set at £5,000. As a new charity, this is deemed adequate regarding the level of activity being currently carried out by Arch Sinfonia and will be reviewed by Trustees on an annual basis in line with the charity’s operational outputs.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees on 07 August 2026 and signed on their behalf.

Anna Williams Chair of Trustees

Balance Sheet Arch Sinfonia As at 7 November 2025 Cash Basis 7 NOV102S CurrentAssets Cashat bankand in han Arch Sinfonia Natwest Totalcash at bank ln hand 4,808.36 4,808.36 Tot•1 Cyrr¢ntA¥xtS 4008.36 Net CurrentAssets ILiabilitiesl 4008.36 Total Assets less Current Liabilities 4M08.36 Net Assets 4008.36 Ca ital and ReseNes Cvrrenryear Eamings Free ReseNts 18.401 1183.241 Rlsk Reserye 5,000. Tot•1 Capital •nd R•xr¥•s 4M08.36

CHARIIY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ch ThfOrti Recei ts and ments accounts CC16a For the trom To 7111QS Section A Receipts and payments UnrÉsttlCl¥d A1 Re¢eiNs Sub iolal(GrnssinGome lorARI i.fyn 31.112 iabl• Sub 1?1 AJP 17 1166 t27 210 210 Sub tal 19 Sub lotal Nei of receipt(PaYmentS} 9.909 9.909 A6 Cash fwKls lajt Ye eThJ Cash lunds this yearend 14.717 14.717 717

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Lnrsiri¢td Rp5¢n¢¢fr ds to Tr•ar••tt EThdoY4Trlt)I Jnd5 tt B1 C•h fvnd• u0• Total c•$h funds fund5 Oetai Dets45 83 Invt•tm¢nt ••¢ Fumto Cwfbftl ¥AW• DetJiTr5 84 A¥sets r•taln•d forthe ch•rrty'• own u•e •J• D*lai15 85 Ll•bllits• Prnt Nwr Date c4 val 10