CHARITY TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Wells City Band: History, background, and operaFon of our charity
Being among the ten oldest brass bands in Britain, Wells City Band can trace its history right back to 1839, when a band with that name entertained the ‘City and Corpora>on’ of Wells in Somerset at a civic dinner with music played on brass instruments. Giving amateur musicians the opportunity to learn to play - to a high standard - a wide range of music, and perform for public audiences at such events was, and s>ll is, at the heart of the work of Wells City Band. Throughout this long period, the Band has gone under several different names, has had many musical directors, has fluctuated in numbers of players, and was completely revived at one point, about 40 years ago.
In recent decades a ‘training band’ led by experienced Band members introduced new players of all ages and abili>es to playing brass instruments and learning the rudiments of music theory to support their musicianship. These trainees, in >me, took their places in the ‘Main Band’, playing in public.
The Band’s records show performances at a large range of local public and civic events over many years: na>onal commemora>ons, mayor-making, Somerset carnivals, Christmas carolling, summer bandstand concerts, as well as more formal concerts in local parish churches, Wells Town Hall and, more recently, Cedars Hall (the state-of-the-art concert venue aRached to Wells Cathedral School).
Recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic prompted a re-think of all our ac>vi>es, and spurred us to establish a ‘Brass Academy’. Star>ng with just a couple of keen, complete beginners our Wells City Band Brass Academy (WCBBA) grew to around 30 in liRle over a year. Alongside offering regular musical educa>on - hardly available at all in most schools in the 2020’s - the Academy also began to supply a steady stream of players promoted to playing with the Main Band.
Although Wells City Band in the past very occasionally competed in local and regional brass band contests, approaching 200 years aXer our first documented performance, we are quite definitely now a community band, with the people and events of our local area at the core of our existence and purpose.
In 2022 we engaged a new musical director with a strong background in professional music-making and specialist brass educa>on. This has given us fresh inspira>on and put us on our current journey towards high-quality rehearsal and performance of a wide repertoire, embracing tradi>onal brass band standards, arrangements from many genres, and original composi>ons. Now, every rehearsal is a masterclass!
Our rising profile and wider appeal in our local area, coupled with our clear focus on public service through accessible teaching and performance, led us to register as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisa>on) with the Charity Commission in early 2024.
As stated in our cons>tu>on, adopted when we registered our charity, our objects are: ‘To promote, improve, develop, and maintain public educa>on in, and apprecia>on of the art of music, especially brass band music, in and around the City of Wells, and in the United Kingdom more generally by: opera>ng an amateur brass band open to the widest possible membership; facilita>ng the musical educa>on of band members of all abili>es; presen>ng performances in public, including for civic occasions; entering into affilia>on, associa>on or collabora>on with organisa>ons for the support and promo>on of musical educa>on and performance, as the trustees shall determine from >me to >me’.
At the outset our charity appointed (a maximum of) 9 trustees, all of whom also play important roles in the day-to-day running of the Band. The rou>ne opera>on of the Band is delegated by the trustees to a small ‘Execu>ve CommiRee’ which is in regular, close contact via electronic media, and
a larger ‘Full CommiRee’ represen>ng the wider membership (of our Main Band and Academy). Each commiRee meets periodically (at least once every couple of months), in addi>on to the mandatory AGM. Occasionally, the Execu>ve CommiRee meets at short no>ce to consider an urgent maRer arising.
The officers of the Execu>ve CommiRee are: chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, band manager, safeguarding officer, and musical director. Of these, all are volunteers except the musical director, who is paid at professional rates per rehearsal and concert for his services. The Full CommiRee includes all the ‘Execu>ve’ members plus roles such as bookings officer, membership secretary, and publicity officer.
The general conduct of all members is regulated by our ‘Code of Conduct’ which clearly sets out the responsibili>es and benefits of membership of Wells City Band. We are proud that our organisa>on works with a wide range of people of all abili>es from age 8 upwards, including members with neurodivergent condi>ons and disabili>es, providing a safe and suppor>ve social and cultural outlet, in which all can thrive and reach their poten>al.
All players, from the newest beginner to the most experienced soloist, are expected to show each other equal respect. Safeguarding is of paramount importance to us, in all sedngs where we meet to rehearse or perform. Furthermore, the Band is well-known for taking good care of members, especially if they are struggling musically or personally. Wells City Band goes well beyond statutory responsibili>es in considering members’ welfare, and this is an important and much-valued aspect of our community band.
The same open and inclusive adtude is always extended towards the other, equally important beneficiaries of our Band ac>vi>es - our audiences. Whether at large civic func>ons or in the rela>ve privacy of care homes, we look to engage our audience in our music making. As conductor and compère, our musical director shares stories and reflec>ons with audiences, many drawn from his vast professional musical experience. He also oXen tells our listeners that without them we would have nobody to perform for!
Wells City Band financial acFvity in 2023-2024
RECEIPTS: What funds did our charity receive, and what were the sources of those funds?
During the financial year 2023-24 Wells City Band registered as a charity. To begin with, this new status did not make a big difference to our funding, but we expect this to change gradually. We intend to register with HMRC for GiXaid, and possibly also for VAT. We are devising a sponsorship scheme which we hope will aRract more interest because we are now a registered charity. In the same period the Band had its secondhighest ever total of money incoming and outgoing, reflec>ng the bigger scale of our ac>vi>es. Some details of our income and expenditure are set out below.
FUNDRAISING
This year >cket sales and fees for public performances became our largest single source of income (nearly £5000, around 1/3 of total income). We are keen to keep a balance between genuinely affordable >cket prices and genera>ng a surplus from concerts. Our recently formed close rela>onship with Cedars Hall in Wells (through which we benefit from their online marke>ng) has widened our appeal and greatly boosted our >cket revenues. We performed at several public events for the first >me, including the Bath and West Show and 'Stokefest', a village gala day. Fees paid by event hosts and surpluses from >cketed concerts allow us to provide more performances for the general public free of charge, such as bandstand concerts in Wells and nearby towns, and musical aXernoons for local care home residents.
Other significant fundraising included: social events such as quiz and skiRles evenings for our informal 'supporters group' (which we have decided to transform into a more formal and self-sustaining 'Friends of Wells City Band' during next financial year); our '100 Club' loRery brought in a modest income which has not increased over recent years, promp>ng us to consider either re-launching or scrapping it; moving money from our current bank account to instant savings not only allowed us to monitor our cash reserves easily, but also raised a small amount in interest.
GOODS SALES
We sold a small amount of branded Band merchandise (e.g. history books, printed music, >es, sta>onery). In future, with our increasing presence and popularity in the community and wider area, we hope to considerably increase the range and amount of merchandise we sell.
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS
In the previous year we set a new rule that members' subscrip>ons should cover all essen>al outgoings. These subs totalled around £3000 (for a half-year). Please see 'PAYMENTS' (below) for what we iden>fied as essen>al outgoings.
DONATIONS and GRANTS
Tradi>onal Christmas carol 'busking' ou>ngs and similar informal open-air playing con>nued to bring in substan>al small dona>ons, on which we intend to claim government GiXaid in future. We believe we could increase such informal 'bucket' collec>ons, perhaps by sending out small groups of players to more loca>ons or on more occasions.
Our recently formed 'Wells City Band Brass Academy' aRracted over £2000 in funds, much of which was spent on equipping this rapidly growing sec>on of the band with instruments and printed music, and occasional professional group tui>on.
Around £350 was raised in (mainly) small dona>ons specifically for 'Beckington Bandits', an accessible music group overseen by Wells City Band, which gave opportuni>es to young people who found it difficult to take part in conven>onal bands. During the year their low-cost rehearsal premises were closed, and the group could not afford to con>nue, though some of their former members had already joined Wells City Band, where they were able to further develop their musicianship. Beckington Bandits had small residual funds, held within Wells City Band's bank accounts. With the consent of a few iden>fiable donors, a decision was made to make this money available to our Brass Academy, with its similar charitable purposes.
We obtained one small local authority grant (of £500), which contributed to a musical instrument for one of our improving young musicians, enabling them to progress to playing with our main Band. Now that we have registered our charity, we have begun to find we are more likely to secure funding from a wide range of local and general grant-makers. So, in the next couple of years, we intend to focus grant bids on some of the most important costs of carrying out our purposes, such as musical direc>on (at full professional rates), and maintenance and replacement of instruments.
Some Band members own their instruments, but many players require us to supply them with a decent, playable instrument. It is important to point out the very high cost of quality musical instruments. Some of our most expensive instruments were bought over 20 years ago with generous grants. Brass and percussion instruments tend to have quite a short useful life>me. We monitor wear and tear carefully and periodically maintain and service selected instruments. However, one by one they need to be replaced. To fully equip a complete brass band at today’s prices could easily cost around £ 1/4 million! So, clearly, we accept that replacements and addi>ons to our stock are a major expense which must be carefully planned and budgeted for over years rather than months. Whenever Wells City Band has needed new instruments they have generally been bought with targeted fundraising or grants. We expect this to con>nue in the long term, since our rou>ne income is unlikely to cover the large outlay for these essen>al assets.
PAYMENTS: How did our charity spend its funds, and what was the beneft to the public?
As referred to above under 'MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS' we iden>fied the following outgoings as 'essen>al' (or 'unavoidable'): 'rent' (hire of rehearsal premises); licences (PPL / PRS, small loRery); insurance of our inventory of musical instruments and sundry performance equipment (valued, in total at around £120,000); safeguarding (health and safety equipment, first aid and safeguarding training, DBS checks, associa>on fees); instrument repairs and maintenance; professional fees for musical direc>on of rehearsal and concerts. Over many years Wells City Band's income has usually exceeded outgoings, allowing a variable cash 'buffer' to be available. As a registered charity we will, however, formally set aside a reserve fund (probably within our instant savings bank account) to cover unavoidable costs for a minimum of six months of opera>on of our charity.
Rent has increased drama>cally in recent years, to this year's peak of £7000 (admiRedly including £2000 due, but not invoiced, from the previous year). It is very important to have long-term use of high-quality premises for teaching and rehearsing. With our Brass Academy growing so quickly, alongside recrui>ng and keeping a full Main Band, we planned to find a new rehearsal space. While we will try to limit the cost of suitable rooms, this is likely to be a considerable cost in coming years.
Safeguarding is central to all our ac>vi>es, so our Safeguarding Officer sits on our Execu>ve CommiRee and is a trustee. Safeguarding and related costs (itemised above) are, therefore, substan>al. We firmly believe that it is very much in the public interest that we take the best possible care of all Band personnel in all the varied sedngs where we meet, whether among our own group of adult and junior players, or in performance spaces.
When we first engaged our present Musical Director he received no payment from us, but this was not sustainable, and so, more recently, we have made formal arrangements to pay for rehearsals and concerts. Recognising the importance of high quality, professional musical leadership to the musical educa>on and training we provide, we expect this to be a significant cost over the long-term.
ASSET (AND INVESTMENT) PURCHASES
Apart from the running costs explained above, we made various purchases which added to our stock of Wells City Band assets. In 2023-24 we bought several new instruments (and sundry equipment) to supply our growing Academy and players promoted to Main Band. With a full band including some 'addi>onal' players, we were able to offer more public performances. At the same >me, the availability of small ensembles enabled us to provide music for more restricted sedngs, such as local care homes. We also bought many new sets of printed music to add to our library; this increased our ac>ve repertoire and, thereby, our appeal to a wider public audience.
The Band made no investment purchases in the repor>ng period. Furthermore, there are currently no plans to acquire investments, as income is not expected to grow enough to provide any investable surplus.
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES
ASSETS
Our charity currently owns no buildings or other large, saleable assets, and we have no plans to acquire such property. Nevertheless, we have other realisable assets, especially our large inventory of musical instruments, insured for a total of around £120,000. These instruments are mostly out on loan to Band members, with some kept in safe storage for new or improved players. Other Band assets include a stock of players' uniforms, together with music stands, stand banners, and sundry performance equipment. We are currently reviewing our Band adre for different types of performance - formal and informal concerts, and
seasonal open-air playing. Also, as a modern organisa>on with a variety of communica>on needs, we own electronic equipment such as a laptop, mobile phone, printer, card readers, and a PA system. In the decisions we come to and choices we make regarding all asset purchases, we are always mindful of our responsibility to spend charity income properly, priori>sing public benefit rather sa>sfying personal preferences.
LIABILITIES
Wells City Band had no outstanding liabili>es before registering as a charity, nor did it incur any new liabili>es in 2023-24.
Geoff Baker-Hytch, WCB Trustee and Treasurer.
Reports on aspects of our charitable work from other Wells City Band Trustees
Summary of our Chairman’s Report to AGM
In 2023-2024 Wells City Band delivered a packed programme of concerts and public performances, including a sell-out Christmas concert with a children's choir, and appearances at major regional events. We are planning to launch a sponsorship scheme to support long-term growth, and we welcomed the ‘Friends of Wells City Band’ group to lead community fundraising. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our reach through fes>vals, improved rehearsal facili>es, and investment in youth development via our academy band - ensuring brass band music con>nues to benefit and inspire the wider community in 2025 and beyond.
Ben Collins, WCB Trustee and Chairman.
Wells City Band Brass Academy (WCBBA)
The Wells City Band Brass Academy (WCBBA) completed its second successful year, and yet again exceeded my expecta>ons. Five intermediate level Academy players moved up to the Main Band where they are playing extremely well. Another five trainees moved from Beginners to the Academy Band. A further two Beginners will move from Beginners to Academy Band when our new term starts in January. We also have a new adult learner star>ng in January. Our focus for 2025 will be to increase our number of Beginners as we now have vacancies again.
Congratula>ons are due to one of our youngest players who audi>oned for and was awarded a place in the Somerset Youth County Wind Band, and has since been offered a Music Scholarship at Wells Cathedral School, specialising in brass (trumpet and cornet).
Summer 2024 saw a change of personnel in the Brass Academy teaching team. As Coordinator, I am now focussing on work with the Academy Band, and I am delighted that two very experienced musicians (who are also professional teachers) are working with our Beginners.
Our Musical Director, Paul Denegri, agreed to work with our Academy players on alternate weeks, as oXen as possible, and his knowledge and talent are invaluable to us all. I am looking forward to our new Main Band colleague, a former Coldstream Guardsman, joining the team and we welcome him to Wells City Band Brass Academy.
This change of roles, with a number of learners moving up from Beginners, and other players moving posi>ons within the Academy Band, has meant a slight change of focus. We are now working on music that the Academy Band members can play without too much help from Main Band players, and have reduced to just one Main Band player ac>ng as a sec>on coach for each instrument. We are using mostly ensemble music rather than that scored for full brass band, so that we do not require anyone to fill in missing parts. This greatly takes the pressure off of Main Band players when we have a joint performance.
Our young players very much enjoyed being part of a youth ‘scratch band’ along with students from Wells Cathedral School, as part of our Spring Concert in May 2024, raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust. The workshop with Ian Porterhouse from Tredegar Band was very enjoyable and informa>ve, and I do hope we can work with him again some>me.
Our annual ‘Chip Concert’ in July was a huge success, and band supporters really enjoyed seeing the progress of the learners. We also played in the Foyer at Cedars Hall as pre-concert entertainment for the Christmas Concert, gedng the audience in a fes>ve mood with some popular carols.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the whole Brass Academy team for their hard work and dedica>on, both at rehearsals and behind the scenes, par>cularly our two librarians, for their efforts with admin and library. Thanks to all of the Main Band members who give up their >me each week to help and support the Brass Academy. It is a team effort to teach the next genera>on of players and ensure that Wells City Band exists well into the future.
Community Outreach
Museum project 2023-2024
In 2023 Wells City Band was invited to be part of Wells Museum's ‘Search and Learn’ Project funded by the Heritage LoRery Fund. Working with their Project Manager, Victoria Northwood, we undertook to create an exhibi>on about the Band to go on display in the Museum. We decided to highlight the close links the Band has maintained over many, many years with the local community, par>cularly through some of the local people who have been involved. The exhibi>on was displayed from October 2023 to January 2024 and aRracted considerable interest from local residents and the many visitors Wells welcomes all year round.
Cubs Music Badge 2023
When we were first recrui>ng to the WCBBA , the leaders of Wells City Band Brass Academy had a great >me helping a group of cubs from (a large village near Wells) Wedmore Beavers, Cubs & Scouts to achieve their Stage 1 Music Badge. We talked about the music we like, sang a song about black socks, and learned enough about playing brass instruments to join in with a George Ezra song. Even the cub leaders had a go, much to everyone’s amusement! We finished the evening with a short performance. We intend to offer similar workshops to local schools and youth groups in our area from >me to >me in future, especially when we have several vacancies for Beginners.
Tanya Flagg, WCB Trustee and WCBBA Co-ordinator.
Safeguarding in Wells City Band
Wells City Band con>nued to address all safeguarding issues during the course of the year, in order to ensure that all children and young people (i.e. under 18) and vulnerable adults remain safe at all >mes during their banding ac>vi>es, whether they are in the Main Band, Academy or Beginners sec>ons.
All chaperones, tutors and MDs, who all work directly with young people, are required to have Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, and these are monitored regularly to ensure that they are all up to date. In addi>on all Band CommiRee members, in their supervisory capacity, also have a current DBS enhanced cer>ficate, together with all Trustees, who have overall responsibility for children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Band.
We also have several Band members who have undergone safeguarding training, either with Brass Bands England (our na>onal associa>on), or via their work in educa>on or other relevant areas.
Furthermore we con>nued to obtain, through Brass Bands England, a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) for every band event, allowing children under 16 to perform in public, and then inform the local authority (in
our case, Somerset Council), in order to make their safeguarding team aware of the details. For this we also have to make sure that the children are supervised by a chaperone at all >mes, in order to guarantee their safety during the event.
We therefore have a range of policies and procedures in place, which are available for all members via the ‘Stack Team App’ which we use for internal communica>ons , to ensure that everyone, and especially our children and vulnerable adults, can enjoy being part of the Wells City Band, learning and playing their instruments in a relaxed and suppor>ve environment.
Jim Reeve, WCB Trustee and Safeguarding Officer.
Band Management
As Band Manager of WCB, I’d like to thank everyone who showed their support to me both personally and as a member of the WCB family in 2023 - 24. It was a year full of challenges which proved, once again, that WCB is a very special group of people. In this role I think we must take >me to appreciate and reflect on the journey, and be careful not to take what we have for granted. Momentum is key and we need to keep looking forward, and be to be proac>ve to ensure that Wells City Band con>nues to thrive. We are blessed with a fantas>c Musical Director and a dedicated group of volunteers working effec>vely together to ensure the Band runs smoothly. I would like to encourage every member to consider how they are personally contribu>ng to the running of our band. As we con>nue to grow and flourish, it is vital that the load needs to be shared more equally, rather than falling to the same few people, many of whom have busy lives, with work and family commitments. I look forward to next year, with my responsibility to ensure that, at all >mes, we present the best version of our band. In this regard, it is important to have enough other members to fill key roles such as uniform, instrument, and front-of-house coordinators, enabling me to con>nue to focus on my role as Band Manager.
Musical Director’s Report
Many long-standing members of the Wells City Band family, from players to supporters, commented to me on many occasions that 2023 was the most wonderful and successful year in their >me with the band, in some cases stretching back decades. One supporter said it was probably the best year in the Band’s very long history!
Following a year like that, 2024 could easily and understandably, have felt a liRle flaRer or less exci>ng and engaging. However, 2024 proved the exact opposite and was another year full of so much that is right in a healthy brass band, or any musical ensemble - in the rehearsal room, on the concert platorm, and away from the actual music-making in the exci>ng and the good, and in the rare, more challenging, moments.
What makes our band so extraordinary (in these tough >mes for brass bands in the UK) is the following:-
(1) WCB is that rarity of a full band (minus one BBb bass, but the one incumbent player amply makes up for that!). Currently, WCB is one of only two full brass bands in Somerset, and for many a mile beyond, into Dorset and Wiltshire;
(2) We have the further joy in that we are slightly over in numbers of a standard brass band line up. This means we nearly always rehearse and perform at 90% aRendance, which is what we are close to achieving every week. This not only makes rehearsals much more interes>ng and sa>sfying because the band can work in more detail on finer points of development, it also means morale and confidence of the band stay high;
(3) The Academy band con>nues to thrive under Tanya and her team, staffed by Main Band players. This feeds into the Main Band both musically and in maintaining the full line up that we enjoy. The Academy strength and growth will provide a long- term legacy of excellent banding for others to enjoy in years to come;
(4) Musically the band is now in a place in its technique where I can go further in the nuances of the music, such as style, genre, historical connec>ons, country and composer of origin, and social influences, instead of chasing notes and correc>ng rhythms. The Band's evolu>on to this point in under three years is remarkable. The consequence is the most exci>ng of all, in the fact that the Band now has the abili>es and the confidence to ‘put the music first and music does the talking’. This is when the joy and magic of playing music become really special. I believe WCB is now at this point, and without making any changes to the playing personnel, the Band can go forth and really enjoy everything that making music offers to a good band;
(5) We have con>nued to broaden our repertoire. With a full band this opens up so many more possibili>es of rehearsing new works from our own library, and of add to the library. The Band is turning over repertoire quickly between major concerts, and linking these nicely into the summer open air events through to indoor full concerts;
(6) I'm delighted that community banding is s>ll high on our radar of importance and long may this con>nue, in care homes, at civic events, acts of remembrance, na>onal celebra>ons, Christmas carolling and services, and much more. A healthy brass band serves its community in any way it is able to. Thank you to our Care Home Coordinators, Paul and Sue, for all their efforts in pulling these events together so successfully, with the excellent support of our Bookings Officer, Caron, and Band Manager, Rachel;
(7) Probably the most significant musical barometer of how good the Band is, and how its following has grown, is our twice-a-year residence at Cedars Hall, a professional concert hall. Not only performing there, in properly staged concerts, but linking with youth performers and enabling local children to have the opportunity to perform in that environment, and also to sing with a brass band. If that wasn’t enough, to sell out the concerts is quite simply remarkable and a huge testament to just how healthy Wells City Band is in every single area of its family, on and off-stage. It is interes>ng to note that every band would jump at this chance, but only the Cory and Tredegar bands have joined WCB as brass bands accepted to play at Cedars Hall. Cedars Hall are delighted to have us, not only for a very obvious reason, but they also greatly appreciate our Band’s courtesy and considera>on towards their staff and respect for the facili>es;
(8) Rehearsal e>queRe remains very good in the band, and I have to say that I love my >me making music happen with WCB, to the standard and with the enjoyment that we do;
(9) Away from actual music making, I can not stress enough that it doesn't maRer how good the rehearsal room is if away from it behind the scenes is not running equally well and vice versa. At WCB we have very capable people undertaking the running of the band in every aspect of its opera>on including Uniform Coordinator, Band Manager, Bookings Officer, Chairman, Treasurer, Bookkeeper, Academy Coordinator, Academy staff, Safeguarding Officer (and Chaperones) , Secretary, Publicity Officer - Wells City Band is a long way ahead of most bands in how it is governed and operated, behind the scenes. This has involved some brave steps and changes, but they have proved right and the benefits are now really coming to the fore;
(10) Suppor>ng a full band every week are our two Librarians, Jane and Vikki, always on hand and running the library for both Academy and Main Band so efficiently. This is a Musical Director’s joy - quick, organised access to music. It is very rare to have non-playing members at every rehearsal, suppor>ng a band or any musical ensemble, and not just at the beginning, but helping all evening. Then we also benefit from other supporters, friends, and family helping the band with front-of-house at concerts, collec>ng funds, and so on.
Looking to 2025, a year to enjoy is ahead, with the two concerts at Cedars already booked for Spring and Christmas, a concert invita>on to The Three Towers Music Fes>val near Bath (a first for WCB, and a clear recogni>on of just how our reputa>on is growing). Plus there are our usual dates in summer and autumn, with more details to follow. We can add to all this the new moves to offer sponsorship, which are well under way. This can only happen with the Band playing as we are and, if sponsorship is successful, it will bring security to the Band’s future and feed its musical quali>es. The CommiRee are also looking to find a suitable rehearsal rooms. Finding these will be a huge step forward in so many ways, musically, financially, and logis>cally. It’s clear from the MD’s stand that WCB is in a very healthy place, across every aspect of its life. We even have the unique backdrop of being the local and only band in one of the most beau>ful and historical places in the UK, which only adds to our uniqueness as a brass band. This is why I was delighted to see us return to the band's smarter looking maroon tradi>onal colours in >es and new banners. There is no doubt, when we see pictures of the Band, how good we look. Our presenta>on looks good to our paying audiences, as well as to those many members of the public who listen to us free of charge.
Nearly every band will rightly call itself a ‘family band’, and so many are. For me personally, I feel that Wells City Band has a very special family feel that goes beyond just a band family but extends into real care for people when >mes are challenging or tough away from the band. Through my teenage daughter’s fight with cancer and the death of both my mum and my dad - all in the last two years - WCB has been a support to me that would be very difficult to find elsewhere, and not just in words but ac>ons, or a simple warm smile that said so much to me, and gave strength to the view I’ve held all my life that music and the human soul are the perfect partners, especially in a band such as WCB where it stands right now, what it believes in, and how it cares for music and people. Thank you for 2024, that moved onwards and upwards from 2023 - which wasn’t the easier route!
Paul Denegri, WCB Trustee and Musical Director.
| Wells City Band | Wells City Band | Wells City Band | Wells City Band | Wells City Band | No(if any) | No(if any) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1206500 | ||||||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | ||||||||
| For the period from |
01/09/2023 | To | 31/08/2024 | |||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
Total funds | |||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||
| Events= £412 | ||||||||
| Performance= £4984 | ||||||||
| Lottery (100 Club)= £562 | ||||||||
| Other (including bank interest)= £622 | ||||||||
| ALL Fundraising | 6,620 | 6,620 | ||||||
| Merchandise sales= £258 | ||||||||
| Music sales (printed copies)= £152 | ||||||||
| ALL goods sales | 410 | 410 | ||||||
| ALL membership subscriptions | 3,157 | 3,157 | ||||||
| Carolling= £1199 | ||||||||
| WCB Brass Academy= £2069 (restricted) | ||||||||
| Beckington Bandits= £341 (restricted) | ||||||||
| Small sundry donations= £1612 | ||||||||
| Local gov’t grant (Wells City Council)= £500 (restricted) |
||||||||
| Other grants =£0 | ||||||||
| ALL donations and grants | 2,811 | 2,910 | 5,721 | |||||
| Sub total_(Gross income for AR) _ | 12,998 |
2,910 | - | 15,908 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||||
| Sub total | - 0 |
- 0 | - 0 | - | ||||
| **Total receipts ** | 12,998 |
2,910 | - 0 | 15,908 | ||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||
| Concert expenses= £559 | ||||||||
| Lottery prizes =£165 | ||||||||
| Instrument repairs= £30 | ||||||||
| Miscellaneous= £662 | ||||||||
| Cost of fundraising events | 1,376 | 1,376 | ||||||
| Insurance (instruments and equipment) =£632 | ||||||||
| Licences =£112 | ||||||||
| Insurances / licences | 744 | 744 | ||||||
| Association fees =£211 | ||||||||
| Beckington Bandits =£65 | ||||||||
| Gifts /awards =£404 | ||||||||
| H&S, hygiene, safeguarding training =£457 | ||||||||
| Professional fees (conducting) =£2115 | ||||||||
| Personnel costs | 3,252 | 3,252 | ||||||
| Premises hire (2023-24) =£5000 | ||||||||
| Premises hire (uncharged from 22-23)=£2000 | ||||||||
| Rent | 7,000 | 7,000 | ||||||
| Postage=£87 | ||||||||
| Printing =£683 | ||||||||
| Website=£91 | ||||||||
| Stationery (incl. printing, computing) | 861 | 861 | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 13,233 |
- | - | 13,233 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||||
| Instruments (Main Band) | 1,691 | 1,691 | ||||||
| WCBBA (instruments/equipment) | 3,710 | 3,710 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
03/04/2025
1
| Uniform =£3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music purchases (band library)=£1689 | 1,689 | 1,689 | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 3,383 |
3,710 | 7,093 | |||||
| **Totalpayments ** | 16,616 |
3,710 | 20,326 | |||||
| **Net of receipts/(payments) ** | - 3,618 |
- 800 |
- | - 4,418 |
||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - 0 | - | - | - | ||||
| A6 Cash funds lastyear end | 9,197 | - | - | 9,197 | ||||
| **Cash funds thisyear end ** | 5,579 |
- 800 |
- | 4,779 | ||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | ||||||||
| Categories | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | |||||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||||
| B1 Cash funds | Bank current a/c | 1,705 | - | |||||
| Bank instant savings a/c | 3,074 | - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||||
| Total cash funds | 4,779 | - | ||||||
| (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Agreement Error | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | |||||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | ||||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | ||||||
| B3 Investment assets | - | |||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | ||||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Brass instruments | Instrument inventory | N/a | |||||
| Set of percussion instruments (kit, timpani, etc.) | Instrument inventory | N/a | ||||||
| Library of sets of printed music | Music Library inventory |
N/a | ||||||
| Stock of Band uniforms (for loan to members) | Uniform inventory | N/a | ||||||
| Sundry music performance equipment (chairs, stands, banners, mutes, etc.) |
Equipment inventory | N/a | ||||||
Miscellaneous (mostly equipment for Band management, communications, performance, e.g. laptop, mobile phone, and readers, PA system, gazebo, …) |
Equipment inventory | N/a | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
||||||
| B5 Liabilities | None | - | ||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| - | ||||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature | Print Name | ||||||
| Treasurer | Geof Baker-Hytch | Geoffrey Baker-Hytch | ||||||
| Bookkeeper | Susan Kerton |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
03/04/2025
2
CC16a Last year to the nearest £ 6,648 476 1,250 14,008 22,382 - 0 22,382 3,725 749 2,336 2,000 1,514 10,324 2,258 4,760
CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
03/04/2025
3
3,999 547 11,564 21,888 494 - 7,611 8,105 Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds to nearest £ Current value (optional) - Current value (optional) N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a When due (optional) Date of approval 27th June 2025 28th June 2025
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
03/04/2025
4