2025-02-28-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 20[th] November 2023 To 28[th] February 2025

Reference and Administrative details

Charitable Incorporated Organisation: Penkhull Festival of Music and Art

Charity registration number: 1205806

Charity principal address:

13 BARNFIELD Penkhull STOKE-ON-TRENT ST4 5JF

Phone:

01782848812 Email: [e-mail]

Website:

www.penkhullfestival.com

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Name	Role	Date of appointment
Sue Pantin	Chair	20 November 2023
Susan Freda Hallam	Trustee	20 November 2023
Rhoda Christine Bailey	Trustee	20 November 2023

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Dr Christopher David Brammeld	Artistic Director	20 November 2023
Anne Honaria Thompson	Trustee	20 November 2023
Dr Charles Pantin	Treasurer	20 November 2023

Structure, Governance and Management

Penkhull Festival of Music and Art follows the Charity Commission’s constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organization whose only voting members are its charity trustees

The trustees who take office as provided by the Constitution elect new members to the Board. The Board decides the artistic content of the Trust’s activity but consults widely before coming to a decision. Trustees are provided with the Charity Commission advice to trustees on the nature and extent of their duties and thereafter expected to keep abreast of what they need to know.

Objectives and Activities

Purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document

For the public benefit to advance education and promote music, art and culture in particular but not exclusively by the organising of an annual festival in Penkhull, Stoke-on-Trent

The main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.

Beneficiaries are the public, and modest charges ensure that no section of the community is unduly restricted from benefiting. No private benefit is derived from this activity. Trustees have decided that the best way to achieve the aims of the charity, consistent with present resources, is to promote an annual festival of music and other arts in Penkhull in the autumn of each year.

Each year the festival brings high quality performances to the local area at a fraction of the cost of venues in Manchester/Birmingham – thus broadening the opportunities for local people to hear and develop an appreciation of a varied classical repertoire. The charity funds singing workshops lead by experts for local primary schools which are free to the schools

Contribution by volunteers and others

The trustees thank St Thomas’ Church, Penkhull, for use of its church and the Penkhull Village Hall Community Trust for use of the Village Hall, both venues are very important to the success of this venture and gratefully received.

They thank the volunteers who steward, provide refreshments etc during the festival.

Achievements and Performance

The Penkhull Festival of Music and Art 2024: Review

The festival began with a new venture – an afternoon in the Village Hall with Art Historian, Michael Howard. He gave a most interesting talk on the links between art, music and poetry.

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We learned so much in one afternoon and even had a go at writing a Japanese Haikuhaving been inspired by Bel Canto, a small ladies’ vocal ensemble, who performed “In the Stillness” - a beautiful arrangement of a Haiku. The afternoon was complete with tea and the most delicious cakes.

Our musical performances began with a clarinet duo – Fiona Mitchell on clarinet and Louisa Lam on piano. They chose an interesting repertoire and their playing was sublime.

The Scott brothers entertained a very full audience with The Power of Piano. Their combined four hands on one piano delighted and stunned us. Jonathan Scott had recently returned from his Organ Prom in the Royal Albert Hall having performed to an audience of 4,500. How lucky are we in Penkhull to have them in the middle of our lovely village?!

Saturday afternoon brought some incredible stormy weather along with four opera singers and a pianist from The Opera Makers. These are singers at the top of their game performing solos, duets, trios and quartets from our best loved operas. Every part of St. Thomas’ Church became their stage. It was such a fun and entertaining evening.

Trent Art Gallery from Newcastle is our artistic partner – presenting a very interesting collection of art by the Penkhull mystery artist who, we think, was named Jo Herman. He worked alongside Arthur Berry at the Burslem School of Art for a short time in the 1960s and then disappeared! If any of you have even a small amount of information Ruth and Henry would love to hear from you.

Our Festival wouldn’t be complete without visits from our President and BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom McKinney. He is a great advocate of the festival – enjoying the quality of musicianship of all our performers and the fascinating art talk (including the cake!)

On Friday lunchtime 12 musicians from Newcastle-under-Lyme School, along with their Director of Music, Mrs Stephanie Burns, really impressed us with their well-honed instrumental and vocal performances. The standard of their performances was very high and the annual May Walley Award was presented to pianist, Elodie Davies by Bob Dulson, May’s son. In addition, two students were named as Highly Commended performers – saxophonist Oskar Kajek and pianist Chloe Lin. Mr Tim Sagar, who has supported this performance each year, accompanied the students on piano.

Two singing workshops were presented by experts from Ex Cathedra. Suzzie Vango, vocalist, and pianist, Rob Challinor, gave all the Year 5 pupils and their teachers from the Willows Primary a wonderful morning of singing new songs. They gave another workshop in the afternoon for 100 pupils from 6 local primary schools. These opportunities were supported by funding from our local Ward Budget - and the schools have benefited from a pack of information and songs to develop further singing opportunities in their schools.

It has been a wonderful week. If you haven’t been to the Penkhull Festival before then please make a note of next year’s dates 18-20 September 2025 - and do come and join us – fabulous music and art right on your doorstep.

Financial Review

The trustees are accountable for preparing accounts to which they consider audit requirements do not apply

The Artistic Director was paid £500 towards his time developing the musical programme and contracting artists for the festival.

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Accounts have been drawn up on a receipts and payments basis. They were approved by trustees on 27/05/25 No unusual or exceptional expenses are foreseen in the coming year.

20th November 2023 To 28th February 2025	20th November 2023 To 28th February 2025	20th November 2023 To 28th February 2025
Income
Donations		4452.90
Grants		500.00
Fundraising		1387.41
Ticket sales (Festival only)		5612.49
Other trading (refreshments/programmes)		830.60
Total		12783.40
Payments
Artistic Director expenses		513.00
Artistic Director payment		500
Venue (Festival)		1353.00
Concerts		5710.20
Publicity		1725.67
Refreshments/decorations		650.45
Insurance/accountancy/stationary/PPL		1499.13
Total		11951.45
Surplus/Loss		831.95
To start the next year		10811.03

Reserves

In the light of the uncertain nature of subscription and ticket revenue and the short period during the year when all activity happens, giving little chance to correct any difficulties, trustees have decided to maintain financial reserve approximately equivalent to a year’s projected turnover (approximately £10-12K) both to supply working capital and as insurance against losses.

Assets

Financial reserves accumulated from earnings, grants and donations are the sole asset of the Trust.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

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Signature(s)

Pantin Full name(s) Charles Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer/trustee Chair, etc)

Date 27/05/2025

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