Live
Music
Now
TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
Annual Report
2023- 2024
## Contents
- 4 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE TRUSTEES 7 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE 8 MUSIC IN EDUCATION 18 MUSIC IN HEALTH 42 MUSIC IN PLACE 44 OUR MUSICIANS 54 LOOKING FORWARD 56 FUNDING & FUNDRAISING 58 CONTACT US
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## Message from the Chair of the Trustees Sir Vernon Ellis
In 1977, Sir Ian Stoutzker, alongside his close friend Lord Yehudi Menuhin, founded a groundbreaking organisation to bring live music to those who had little access to it. The vision laid out by Ian and Yehudi has touched the lives of countless individuals over the past 47 years. Live Music Now has brought joy, comfort and healing to those in need through over 100,000 interactive music workshops led by thousands of specially trained musicians. His passing in April 2024 leaves a legacy of improved well-being and community connections, which will continue to grow. Ian’s vision and commitment will always be seen as the sine qua non.
This was a challenging year for the charity. The continued funding and financial pressures affecting the entire charity sector have been juxtaposed against an everincreasing need for our work. Adapting to these challenges, Live Music Now has undertaken a restructure to both improve our economic outlook and support the development of our impact.
The Board remains committed to Live Music Now’s role as a leader, working locally and nationally in collaboration with others to forge a unified strategy for change. The evolution of Live Music Now will enable us to continue in that role, driving forward research, building deep expertise, and supporting our partners across Education, Health and Place. Work with Arts Councils across the UK has focused on diversifying our musicians’ workforce, increasing employment for disabled and neurodivergent musicians’ and better reflecting our participants in our workforce.
Live Music Now is thinking carefully about our role across the sector, and how our 47 years of experience and knowledge can be shared more broadly. The changes made in this year will enable us to take a causebased approach. Over the next year we will step up our work to articulate that impact and advocate for the role music has to play in addressing significant social needs.
This has not been an easy year for our staff, and I commend their continued dedication to musicians, our participants and each other. Our funding partners have shown flexibility and openness, and an ongoing commitment to delivering change alongside communities.
I remain deeply convinced that music provides a unique role in our society, providing joy, inspiration and opportunity, speaking across all facets of our community. The changes undergone by Live Music Now will enable us to adapt to the continuously evolving landscape and ensure that, as with Sir Ian and Yehudi’s vision, everyone has access to the life-changing power of music.
_Sir Ian Stoutzker and Sir Vernon Ellis in 2018. Read more about Sir Ian Stoutzer’s remarkable contributions to the music and art world here._
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## Total Sessions 2023-24
## Total Audience 2023-24
## Message from the Chief Executive Janet Fischer
Reflecting on this past year at Live Music Now, I am struck by both the challenges we've faced and the moments of
profound joy we've witnessed through the transformative power of music. Though we've had to make some difficult decisions in an increasingly challenging landscape, our impact has never been stronger – delivering more sessions than ever before alongside our trusted partners and exceptional musicians.
Our dedicated staff team and deeply invested board have shown unwavering commitment to our mission of championing social impact through music. Together, we've grown and diversified our musicians' workforce, making it more representative of the communities we serve and evolved our programmes to leave a legacy of music and impact, empowering others to use music for change.
Working alongside our partners in education, health, and place, we continue to witness how music builds agency, connection, and resilience. Leading this remarkable team is a profound privilege, yet I'm acutely aware of how much more we must do to support our communities during these challenging times.
_Chief Executive Janet Fischer about to run the TCS London Marathon raising funds for Live Music Now._
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## Music in Education
## Sessions 2023-24
During 2023-24, Live Music Now’s Music in Education work continued to focus on expanding access to music for children and young people with additional learning needs.
Recognising that many Disabled children lack access to specialist music provision, our programmes connect skilled musicians with schools and communities to bridge this gap. Through creative music projects and participatory concerts, students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are supported to work with their peers to explore and create their own music, as well as experience different styles of music performed by Live Music Now musicians.
## Reach 2023-24
The sessions offer opportunities for personal, social and musical growth, as well as supporting broader goals such as environmental awareness and cross cultural connections.
As a result, Live Music Now’s efforts have been recognized with multiple nominations in The Music & Drama Education Awards 2024, celebrating our progressive and inclusive impact in music education.
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AUTISM RESOURCE BASES MUSIC PROGRAMME
Research shows that many autistic children appear to have a special affinity for music, which can be used to support language development, social skills and emotional regulation. It’s thought that around 5-10% may have unusual musical potential through exceptional auditory development that occurs in the early years. However, nationally, music provision in Autism Resource Bases is inconsistent.
of the music sessions on children’s levels of confidence and enagement, alongside communication skills.
With our partners Resonate Music Hub (Liverpool), Sound Foundation Somerset Music Hub, Harrow Music Hub, and the music education charity Music Masters, we remain committed to advocating for the vital importance of tailored music provision for autistic children and young people.
Thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Youth Music and the National Lottery through Arts Council England, and the Vernon Ellis Foundation, we are piloting a music programme with Autism Resource Bases in England and Northern Ireland. The aim is to increase opportunities for children and young people to engage and interact through creative music activities.
“The pupils have benefitted so much, their confidence has sky-rocketed! They were so happy with the end result.”
In 2023-24,the second year of the
programme, 140 children from 10 schools in Liverpool, Somerset, Belfast, Islington and Harrow worked alongside their teachers and Live Music Now musicians to explore, create and perform their own music. Schools consistently reported the positive impact
TEACHER
Read more about our work in Autism Resource Bases here _._
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## MUSICAL MONDAYS
Live Music Now’s Musical Mondays reached an impressive 17,441 children across England and Wales in 2023-24, using music to support mental health, cultural connection, and emotional expression among young people. Through virtual concerts featuring Live Music Now musicians, pupils across Manchester, Cumbria, Merseyside, Norfolk & Suffolk, Essex and Wales, engaged with live music directly from their classrooms. These interactive sessions, supported by local music hubs, allowed students to experience the joy and relaxation of music, with many describing the concerts as “calm”, “exciting” and “joyful.”
INSPIRE: MUSICIANS IN RESIDENCE IN DERRY
In 2023/24, jazz musician John Leighton served as “Musician in Residence” at Ardnashee College in Derry as part of Live Music Now’s Inspire programme, which enhances musical opportunities for children and young people with additional learning needs. Supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Ulster Garden Villages, the residency allowed John to work with 45 students in small groups, tailoring sessions to their musical interests and accessibility needs. Through these sessions, students explored, created, and performed their own music, while developing communication skills, self-expression, and confidence.
In May 2023, Musical Mondays Eurovision Special connected 73,000 students from Liverpool City Region, Ukraine, and Poland in a unique celebration. Folk trio Fernleaf led a lively mix of UK and European songs, followed by 180 pupils joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in a powerful crosscultural exchange. Part of the “United By Music” initiative, this event showcased music’s role in fostering connection and unity across borders. Through programmes like these, Live Music Now continues to demonstrate the power of music to enrich lives and build global connections.
Read more about our Musical Monday series here.
The entire school also enjoyed participatory concerts by Live Music Now groups throughout the year, showcasing a variety of musical styles. Teachers observed remarkable engagement, including students with complex needs, noting the joy and connection music brought to their lives. BBC Radio’s Mark Patterson visited a session in December, capturing the positive impact on students and staff alike.
Listen here.
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## HARMONY IN THE DUNES IN SOUTH WALES
Harmony in the Dunes was an innovative project by Plantlife Cymru and Live Music Now, designed to connect primary school students in South Wales with nature through music.
The pilot took place across four schools, where students visited local dune ecosystems to discover the rich biodiversity within these landscapes. Inspired by their experiences, each class collaborated with Live Music Now musicians to create original songs that reflected the beauty and importance of these habitats.
The project blended environmental education with music, encouraging students to express their newfound
knowledge through melody and rhythm. The compositions ranged from lively pieces to tranquil tunes, mirroring the dynamic dunes.
The initiative concluded with a showcase where students performed their pieces, promoting both artistic expression and environmental awareness.
Supported by the EU LIFE Programme, National Lottery Heritage Fund, and A&B Cymru’s CultureStep, Harmony in the Dunes demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary learning to inspire and educate. This project was nominated for an Environmental award at the 2024 Arts and Business Cymru awards.
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H A R M O N Y I N T H E D U N E S I N S O U T H W A L E S
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Watch the Musical Dunes video and read more here.
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HARMONI YN Y TWYNI: MAE PLANTLIFE CYMRU A LIVE MUSIC NOW YN DECHRAU’R PROSIECT ARBROFOL ‘TWYNI CERDDOROL’ SY’N CYSYLLTU MYFYRWYR A NATUR
Mewn menter arbrofol, mae Plantlife Cymru a Live Music Now wedi ymuno i gyflwyno ‘twyni cerddorol’ i ysgolion cynradd yn Ne Cymru gan greu cyswllt cytûn rhwng addysg, ymwybyddiaeth amgylcheddol a byd cerddoriaeth.
Cynhaliwyd y prosiect peilot ar draws pedair ysgol gynradd yn Ne Cymru lle’r oedd myfyrwyr yn mynd ar ymweliadau â systemau twyni lleol oedd yn agoriad llygad iddyn nhw. Roedd y teithiau’n datgelu byd cudd o fywyd planhigion gwyllt yn byw o fewn y tirweddau naturiol hyn.
Wedi cael eu trwytho gyda gwybodaeth newydd am bwysigrwydd cynnal yr ecosystemau eiddil hyn, gofynnwyd i bob Dosbarth gyflawni her unigryw - i gyfansoddi caneuon gwreiddiol oedd yn cael eu hysbrydoli gan eu profiadau. I sicrhau bywyd i’w gweledigaethau cerddorol, roedd cerddorion Livee Music Now yn cydweithio gyda’r myfyrwyr gan drawsnewid eu hymwybyddiaeth amgylcheddol newydd i alawon oedd yn adleisio harddwch y twyni.
Roedd y prosiect ‘twyni cerddorol’ nid yn unig yn pontio’r gofod rhwng addysg amgylcheddol a’r celfyddydau ond hefyd yn rhoi cyfle uniongyrchol i fyfyrwyr ymchwilio a gwerthfawrogi rhyfeddodau naturiol yn eu hardal nhw eu hunain. “Y syniad oedd creu profiad synhwyraidd ar gyfer y myfyrwyr gan uno hud natur gyda phŵer cerddoriaeth,” meddai Jen Abel Cyfarwyddwr Live Music Now Cymru. “Roedd y twyni’n datblygu nid yn unig yn ystafell ddosbarth ond hefyd yn llwyfan
i greadigrwydd lle ‘r oedd myfyrwyr yn darganfod rhythm y byd naturiol.”
Roedd y cyfansoddiadau oedd yn dilyn yn ymestyn o alawon hyfryd oedd yn adleisio egni’r twyni i alawon mwy tawel oedd yn adleisio tawelwch y dirwedd arfordirol. Roedd mynegiadau cerddorol y myfyrwyr nid yn unig yn arddangos eu talentau artistig ond hefyd yn cynnig iddyn nhw gyfrwng pwerus i gyfathrebu pwysigrwydd cynnal ecosystemau lleol.
Ar ddiwedd y prosiect, cafwyd arddangosfa lle’r oedd myfyrwyr yn perfformio eu cyfansoddiadau ar gyfer eu cyfoedion a’u hathrawon. Roedd y prosiect ‘twyni cerddorol’ nid yn unig yn meithrin cysylltiad dyfnach rhwng myfyrwyr a natur ond hefyd yn amlygu’r potensial ar gyfer ymagweddau posibl ar gyfer agweddau rhyngddisgyblaethol, newydd i addysg.
Cefnogir ‘Darluniau Deinamig y Twyni’ gan y Rhaglen EU LIFE a Chronfa Treftadaeth y Loteri Cenedlaethol. Partneriaid y Prosiect yw Bywyd Planhigion Naturiol Lloegr, Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol ac Adnoddau Naturiol Cymru a’r Ymddiriedolaethau Bywyd Gwyllt. Mae Cysylltiadau Gwyrdd Pen y Bont ar Ogwr yn cael eu cefnogi gan Gronfa Cymuned Loteri Cenedlaethol. Mae Bywyd Planhigion Cymru a Live Music Now wedi derbyn buddsoddiad gan A&B CultureStep Cymru i atgyfnerthu a datblygu eu partneriaeth greadigol.
Gwelwch a chlywch mwy isod!
Gwyliwch Fersiwn isdeitlau Cymraeg y ffilm yma.
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## Music in Health
## Total Sessions 2023-24
Live Music Now’s needs-based, impactful Music In Health programme offers support for people in health, community and care settings across the life course. Our models, delivered by trained professional musicians:
- Animate Spaces
- Support Individuals & Communities
- Address Medical Needs & Life Challenges
- Empower Health and Care Professionals
‘The staff have seen first-hand the impact music can make – we’ve always known but for staff to witness the impact there’s not one staff member that wouldn’t say the same thing – they were all buzzing.’
CARE HOME MANAGER
As a UK-wide charity we also play a leading role in National Creative Health Initiatives.
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Music in Health Live Music in Care
Reach 2023-24
Our _Live Music in Care_ model integrates live music with workforce development and wellbeing initiatives to create a holistic approach to care. Developed in partnership with the University of Winchester, this model brings professional musicians into care settings for residencies where they work alongside staff and residents, including people living with dementia. Through activities such as making music, skills training, co-delivery, planning,
## Impact 2023-24
OUR PARTICIPATORY PERFORMANCES IN CARE HOMES HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE MOOD AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE RESIDENTS.
In 88 feedback responses from care staff, 97% reported positive responses from the residents to the performances, with a demonstrable shift from reserved, quiet, passive/still to interested, entertained, chatty, friendly, enthusiastic or appreciative.
Top level mood ratings, as observed by staff, went up from 14% before the activity to 90% during the activity and 94% after the activity ended.
Observed engagement with the performance and musician increased from a top level baseline of 16% to 87% during the performance and 92% afterwards.
and reflection, the model nurtures and
enhances "Musical Care" across the setting. Outcomes include increased understanding, confidence, and skills for care teams, alongside improved well-being and engagement for residents. The whole care environment benefits as music becomes an integrated part of daily life, enriching relationships and supporting individual health benefits for residents.
97% reported positive responses
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## MUSIC IN DEMENTIA CARE: THE BEECHES CARE HOME
In Spring 2023, Live Music Now delivered a ten-week Live Music in Care project at The Beeches Care Home in Merseyside to support residents living with dementia. Funded by Parkhaven Trust through the PH Holt Foundation, musicians Elfair Dyer (harp) and Ste Forshaw (guitar/vocals) led weekly interactive music sessions across three units, engaging up to 15 residents per session.
The impact was profound, with staff noting that music brought joy and helped lessmobile and non-verbal residents to sing and move along with the music, enhancing their daily lives and connection to the group. Staff also benefited from the sessions, gaining confidence in using music as a tool for dementia care and experiencing boosted morale from seeing the positive effects on residents.
Through music, the project successfully lifted residents' moods, encouraged participation, and improved their relationships with each other and staff.
The Beeches team has since integrated more music into daily routines, demonstrating the long-lasting benefits of this project.
“To see the change in people’s faces and to see those who have got up, who usually choose not to walk, moving their legs and having a dance… it had a real positive effect on our unit.”
SAM BRADLEY, CARE STAFF MEMBER, ELM WING
Read more here.
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## BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION AT THE PARAMS
In Winter 2023-24, Live Music Now delivered an 11-week music project at The Params, a family-run care home in Purley, London, with funding from the City Bridge Foundation.
Evaluation feedback from staff who
had taken part in our Live Music In Care workforce development residencies confirmed a positive impact on their ability to use music in their care work. On a 1-5 rating (with 5 being the highest impact) 75% rated their understanding, confidence and skills in use of music in care as 5 ‘Very Good’ and 25% rated as 4 'Good'.
Duo Furioso, two skilled cellists, guided residents and care staff in interactive music sessions, focusing on empowering staff to lead these activities independently.
By the end, staff had fully embraced the music-making process, enhancing the residents' lives.
The project highlights the transformative power of music in care, fostering connection and creativity that continues even beyond the programme’s conclusion.
“Doing the music sessions had a huge impact. They helped to get the connections back. Not only for the relationships with residents, but also as a team as well; lifting the energy of the team and the energy of the room. After you had done that session, if you had to go and sort out the washing or do other jobs you are feeling energised by it and feel good.”
## STAFF MEMBER
Learn more about our work in care homes here.
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## Music in Health
## Community Concerts
Reach 2023-24
Loneliness significantly impacts health, posing a risk even greater than obesity and physical inactivity, with strong evidence linking social isolation to increased premature mortality. Regular cultural engagement, like attending musical events, has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, especially for older adults. Live music plays a unique role in fostering social bonding by creating a welcoming and relaxed environment where people feel safe to connect.
Our _Songs and Scones_ programme, monthly memory cafés, and _All Together Now_ series for families with additional needs are designed with this in mind. These programmes bring people together through live music, offering inclusive spaces where attendees can enjoy beautiful performances, socialise, and build meaningful connections.
Live Music Now musician Louis Bingham performs at the Eden Project. Event hosted in collaboration with Memory Matters Cornwall and the Cornwall Memory Cafe Network. Hosted and funded by Nature’s Way.
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## SONGS & SCONES
## BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND ALLEVIATING LONELINESS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
The Songs & Scones programme offers live music socials for people facing loneliness and isolation, especially older adults. Monthly sessions combine live music with social time and refreshments, fostering a warm, safe environment for community connection.
that 85% of participants felt more connected to their community, with 80% reporting improved positivity.
These events are often fully booked, underscoring their popularity and impact. Medway Council’s support reflects the programme’s alignment with local priorities in social engagement and community building.
Recent evaluations of our partnership programme with Medway Libraries showed
“Medway Council is delighted to be a partner and support Song & Scones. This programme has helped create a community safe space for older people living independently in the community who may feel isolated, to come together and meet new people in a welcoming and accessible environment. The benefits and the outcomes of the project are far reaching across multiple Council services.”
ROBYN GOLDSMITH, MEDWAY COUNCIL CULTURE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.
Find out more about Songs & Scones here.
“Songs and Scones makes me feel happy and part of a social group. I have reduced my anti-depressants since coming here. It is the highlight of my week.”
PARTICIPANT
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## COMFORTED BY THE COMPANY
## NEWHAM COMMUNITY SONGWRITING PROJECT UNITES OLDER RESIDENTS IN A MUSICAL CELEBRATION
In a heartwarming showcase of community spirit, residents of Newham came together for the end-of-project performance of a unique songwriting initiative with Live Music Now.
of participants either “Agreed” or “Strongly Agreed” with the statement, “Taking part in the music sessions [this project] has made me feel more positive.” One participant even shared that the experience had made her feel “Alive and wonderful".
The project, a collaboration between Community Transport Newham and two talented Live Music Now musicians, Ainsley Hamill and Toby Shaer, unfolded over six weeks, culminating in the creation and recording of a song titled “Comforted by the Company".
The collaborative effort of Live Music Now, Community Transport Newham, and the talented musicians not only resulted in a beautiful musical composition but also left a lasting imprint on the well-being and positivity of those involved.
Aimed at fostering connections among older members of the community, the songwriting project saw participants from diverse backgrounds joining forces to share their stories and create music. Despite many having migrated to Newham from different places, the participants expressed a shared sense of belonging and warmth through the project, echoing sentiments of unity in the song’s lyrics:
As the song “Comforted by the Company” resonates through the community, it stands as a testament to the transformative power of music and community engagement, proving that in Newham, harmony can be found in the shared experiences of its residents.
“I feel comforted by the company, I’m comforted with you here. It feels like home.”
The impact of the project extended beyond the music, as revealed in the end-of-project evaluation forms. An overwhelming 100%
Find out more about Comforted by the Company here.
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## ALL TOGETHER NOW
## CONCERTS FOR FAMILIES WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS
Live Music Now’s All Together Now concerts offered a welcoming social morning of live music, conversation, and refreshments for Medway families with children and young people with additional learning needs and disabilities. These relaxed events provided a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, enjoy interactive music sessions led by Live Music Now musicians, and share in a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Following the music, families had time to socialize over free refreshments, creating a space for connection and enjoyment. As one participant put it, “I am full of sunshine because I am enjoying the music.”
“I really enjoyed in and felt it benefitted all three of my children, two who have SEND and one who doesn’t. It was lovely to watch them be able to participate in something together”
## 2024 MEDWAY PARENT
Read more here.
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A L L T O G E T H E R N O W
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Music in Health Live Music in Hospitals
Live Music Now works in hospitals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our musicians take live music to public and clinical spaces; in waiting areas, on wards and at bedsides. The work has an animating, positive impact on hospitals, changing the experience of staying in, working in and visiting them; bringing relief from anxiety and loneliness.
Feedback from 12 hospital arts coordinators this year highlighted that our work significantly boosts staff and patient morale while alleviating anxiety and loneliness among patients.
Reach 2023-24
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Boosts
patient, staff
and visitor
mood
Reduces
patient
anxiety
Reduces
patient
loneliness
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## MUSICIANS IN HOSPITALS
Live Music Now musician Maz O’Connor brought warmth and connection to stroke wards at Lewisham Hospital through a residency in Spring 2023. Engaging patients with live music tailored to their tastes, Maz helped lift spirits, reduce loneliness, and bring comfort to patients. Her sensitive
approach fostered emotional moments, including singing an Australian sea shanty for a patient who became visibly moved. These interactions illustrate how music can touch lives deeply, providing solace and companionship in challenging times.
Read more about Maz' experience here.
Violinist Henry Webster spent the summer of 2023 performing at North Middlesex and Basildon hospitals, with a focus on creating personal musical connections with patients and staff. Henry’s interactions ranged from improvising personalized pieces to playing Bach for classical music enthusiasts. His
experience emphasizes how live music can alleviate anxiety, uplift spirits, and foster unexpected, joyful interactions in hospital settings, transforming the hospital environment for patients and healthcare workers alike.
here. Read Henry's full reflection
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## CELEBRATING NHS 75: A MILESTONE OF MUSIC AND CARE
On July 5, 2023, Live Music Now celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS, recognizing its vital role as the UK’s universal healthcare provider since 1948. Live Music Now has been partnering with the NHS since 1977, bringing live music into healthcare settings to support the well-being of patients, visitors, and staff.
In Wales, our musicians Seren Winds opened the NHS 75 celebrations at the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament, reflecting over 30 years of collaboration with NHS Cymru to use music for health outcomes.
At Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, a two-year programme funded by Youth Music focuses on mental health support for young patients, with nine musicians observing significant improvements in children’s well-being and confidence.
Our partnership with North Bristol NHS Trust’s Fresh Arts programme, established in 2018, brings music to the wards of Southmead and Cossham hospitals, benefiting both patients and staff.
In Calderdale and Dewsbury, we work with the South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation in care settings for older adults, younger adults with learning disabilities, and forensic health services, where music is used to uplift and connect residents.
Our Lullaby Projects, delivered in partnership with NHS and community organizations, support maternal mental health, early childhood development, and family well-being, with projects like the one in Toxteth, Liverpool, reaching families from the Sudanese community.
At Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, we provide weekly live music sessions, bringing comfort and connection to patients, visitors, and staff.
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FEEDBACK FROM OVER 100 SURVEYS CONDUCTED AT THE BELFAST DAY CENTRE EVENTS SHOW:
## BELFAST DAY CENTRES WITH BELFAST HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE TRUST
In Northern Ireland, Live Music Now collaborated with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to deliver concerts for older people attending day centres across Belfast, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Arts and Older People Programme, marking three decades of music-making in the region.
Live Music Now's enduring partnership with the NHS demonstrates the powerful role of music in enhancing healthcare environments and supporting the mental and emotional well-being of all who experience it.
Read more about our NHS collaborations here.
97% 52% 57% RATED THE EVENT AS NEVER OR RARELY GO NEVER OR RARELY GOOD OR EXCELLENT TO A PUBLIC SOCIAL GO TO CULTURAL EVENT EVENTS
69% 85% 86% TALKED TO SOMEONE SAID THAT ATTENDING SAID THAT ATTENDING THEY DIDN’T KNOW THE EVENT MADE THEM THE EVENT MADE THEM BEFORE FEEL MORE CONNECTED FEEL MORE POSITIVE. TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
“I loved the relaxed atmosphere and the easy humour. It's also great to have a live music event of such quality presented so close to home. Thank you!”
“Brilliant idea to develop for older people who can interact and enjoy music - keep these activities going.”
“It was a most enjoyable experience. Felt very welcome. Really enjoyed the musician’s interaction”
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## Music in Place
Live Music Now’s Music in Place strategy integrates musicians as vital contributors within communities. This approach connects with local authorities, NHS Integrated Care Boards, social care, children’s services, music education hubs, and other cultural organisations to deliver equitable access to music and address local social issues. By positioning musicians as key figures in their own communities, the programme promotes economic and cultural engagement while nurturing local talent and fostering long-term relationships.
Focused on co-creation, our strategy prioritizes communities facing social exclusion and health inequalities. Currently, research and development pilots are underway in Medway, Merseyside, Neath Port Talbot in Wales and Limavady in Northern Ireland—areas marked by high deprivation and significant health challenges. Partnerships with universities support long-term evaluation and learning, ensuring community-driven outcomes are tracked and met through collaborative, impactful interventions.
## THE LEAP - CELEBRATING LIMAVADY’S HERITAGE THROUGH MUSIC
Award-winning Live Music Now musicians Conor Lamb and Deirdre Galway of Réalta performed at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in April 2023, premiering "The Leap," a piece inspired by Limavady and commissioned by Live Music Now Northern Ireland. Over the past five years, the musicians have connected with the community by performing in local schools, centres, and care homes. The performance
included young musicians from Jimmy O'Hara Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and poet Anne McMaster. Supported by the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund, in partnership with Business to Arts and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this project connects residents to their heritage and fosters a sense of pride in local traditions.
Read more about "The Leap" here.
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## Our Musicians
## Musicians 2023-24
Our musicians are at the heart of everything we do; without them, the transformative impact we bring to communities wouldn’t be possible. We continuously invest in their development through robust training and mentoring programmes, designed to build their confidence and equip them with a versatile toolkit of skills they can rely on throughout their careers.
The progression opportunities we offer are guided by our Competency and Training Frameworks: Inspire, for working with children and young people, and Live Music in Care, for work in adult social care settings. These frameworks provide benchmarks for musicians’ growth, encourage selfreflection, help identify training needs, and enable us to assess and foster quality practice.
Following an induction and foundational training supported by their initial community performances in a variety of settings, each musician embarks on a unique development journey shaped by their personal interests and experiences.
To further enhance diversity, we work with partners like Diverse Artists Network to increase the representation of artists in our programme.
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## FILKIN'S DRIFT
## 870 MILES – 2 MUSICIANS – 40 SHOWS
reflected in the Welsh words Cerdd (music) and Cerdded (to walk). By traveling on foot, the duo integrated the experience of the landscape into their music, gathering songs, stories, and sounds from the people and places they encountered. These experiences enriched their performances, creating a musical tapestry of the Welsh coast.
“Is there a way to tour where we can get a sense of the places we're visiting, and approach touring in a more sustainable way?”
## SETH BYE, FILKIN'S DRIFT
The tour, called CERDD // ED, addressed global environmental concerns locally, showcasing an innovative model for low-impact touring. Supported by Help Musicians and Fusion Gig Bags, and fundraising for Live Music Now, Filkin’s Drift’s journey highlighted a creative and sustainable approach to touring, demonstrating how music and community engagement can thrive with minimal environmental impact.
To celebrate the release of their album, Rembard’s Retreat, Live Music Now musicians Seth Bye and Chris Roberts of the folk duo Filkin’s Drift embarked on a unique and ambitious journey. They walked the entire 870-mile Wales Coast Path, performing nightly shows along the way. This approach not only showcased their music but also redefined sustainable touring.
Amidst the ongoing climate crisis and a renewed desire for connection in a postCOVID world, Filkin’s Drift explored a bold alternative to conventional music tours. Their journey drew inspiration from the ancient Welsh bardic tradition, in which music and walking are deeply connected—
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F I N K I N S D R I F T
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Watch and listen to Filkin's Drift incredible journey through their weekly video blogs here.
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MUSICIANS’ LISTING 2023-2024
|CYRMU
Luke
Adams
Voice, Guitar - Ukulele,
Guitar - Acoustic
Michael
Blanchfeld
Piano
Lizzie
Bonsell
Flute, Saxophone, Piano
Emma
Craig
Saxophone
Lowri
Evans
Guitar - Ukulele, Piano,
Guitar - Acoustic,Voice
Daisy
Evans
Clarinet
Giordano
Ferla
Piano
Amruta
Garud
Harmonium
Michael
Gibbs
French Horn
Polly
Gibbs
Bassoon
Sam
Green
Drum Kit
Harry
Greenway
Percussion
James
Harrison
Congas
Tom
Harvey
Guitar - Acoustic, Guitar -
Electric
Katie
Hole
Bass Clarinet
Delyth
Jenkins
Piano, Harp
Angharad
Jenkins
Fiddle
Maddie
Jones
Piano, Guitar - Acoustic,
Voice
Aneirin
Jones
Fiddle
Richard
Jones
Voice
Eryl
Jones
Voice, Guitar - Banjo,
Mandolin,Guitar - Acoustic
Nils
Kavanagh
Piano
Richy
Lewis
Voice, Piano
Katie
Lower
Flute
Andy
Mackenzie
Guitar - Ukulele, Guitar -
Banjo,Guitar - Acoustic
Kirsten
Miller
Cello
Corey
Morris
Trumpet
Megan
Morris
Harp
Shelley
Musker Turner
Harp
Tom
Owen
Guitar - Acoustic, Violin|Gruffudd
Owen
Drum Kit|
|---|---|
||Laura
Potter
Clarinet|
||Greg
Robley
Guitar - Acoustic, Piano,
Voice - Bass|
||Megan
Rushbrook
Piano|
||Cameron
Saint
Double Bass|
||Clement
Saynor
Guitar - Bass Guitar,
Double Bass|
||Dora
Seaton
Piano|
||Bethan
Semmens
Harp|
||Rachel
Starritt
Piano|
||Tom
Taffnder
French Horn|
||Dafydd
Thomas
Trombone|
||Lowri
Thomas
Flute, Viola|
||Billy
Thompson
Violin|
||Siobhan
Waters
Saxophone, Voice|
||
Josh
Whyte
Guitar - Acoustic|
||Jordan
Williams
Cello|
||Eric
Wolfe-Gordon
Oboe|
||Dean
Yhnell
Voice - Beatboxer|
||ENGLAND: NORTH EAST|
||Sam
Barrett
Mandolin, Guitar - Banjo,
Guitar - 12 string|
||Emily
Bowden
Piano, Voice, Violin|
||Ford
Collier
Tabla, Penny Whistle,
Guitar - Acoustic,Voice|
||Matthew
Cotterhill
Sousaphone|
||Andrew
Cox
Saxophone|
||Simon
Czestochowski
Trumpet|
||Will
Fletcher
Percussion|
||David
Gray
Melodeon|
||Katie
Griffn
Guitar - Banjo, Voice|
||Merle
Harbron
Voice, Violin|
||Jade
Harris
Voice|
|||
|Tom
Hawthorn
Drum Kit
Samuel
Hodgson
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Rosie
Hood
Violin, Voice
Ruth
Lee
Voice, Harp
Nicolas
Lewis
Guitar - Acoustic
Katie
MacLeod
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice,
Cello
Joss
Mann-Hazell
Double Bass
Michael
McLernon
Piano, Cajon, Drum Kit,
Piano Accordion
Harry
Orme
Guitar, Vocals
Samuel
Partridge
Duet Concertina
Graziana
Presicce
Piano
Matt
Quinn
Duet Concertina
Jamie
Roberts
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Simon
Robinson
Banjo
Chris
Ruffoni
Guitar - Bass Guitar
Suzi
Saperia
Voice
Joe
Skelton
Guitar
Grace
Smith
Fiddle
Michael
Thacker
Clarinet, Double Bass,
Guitar - Acoustic
Stephen
Travers
Voice, Bouzouki, Guitar -
Acoustic
Joanne
Veal
Recorder, Clarinet
ENGLAND: NORTH WEST
Sarah
Austen
Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone
Jonathan
Bates
Tenor Horn
Emma
Black
Guitar - Acoustic
Gillian
Blair
Saxophone
Nicole
Boardman
Voice - Mezzo-Soprano
Adam
Bowman
Oboe
Mickey
Bryan
Piano, Saxophone
Philippa
Bryan
Voice, Flute
Michael
Cavanagh
Baritone Horn
Elfair
Dyer
Harp
Tom
Edwards
French Horn
Steven
Forshaw
Guitar - Acoustic, Vocals
Rachel
Fright
Piano
James
Girling
Guitar - Classical
Ben
Gorb
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice
Abigail
Hammett
Viola
Esme
Higgins
Guitar - Acoustic, Ukulele
Cara
Houghton
Flute
David
Kelly
Drum Kit|Borna
Kuca
Mandolin, Guitar -
Classical|
|---|---|
||Leila
Marshall
Piccolo, Flute|
||Rebecca
McIlroy
Harp|
||Eleanor
Mills
Saxophone, Clarinet,
Bassoon|
||Elinor
Nicholson
Harp|
||Lucy
Nolan
Harp|
||Rafael
Onyett
Guitar - Classical|
||Iwan
Owen
Piano|
||Alice
Phelps
Voice, Double Bass|
||Hedi
Pinkerfeld
Guitar|
||Chris
Robertson
Euphonium|
||Edward
Robinson
Voice - Baritone|
||Sam
Rodwell
Guitar - Classical|
||Ben
Sayah
Guitar - Bass Guitar|
||Jamie
Smith
Cornet|
||Jessica
Tomlinson
Saxophone, Clarinet|
||Dan
Walsh
Banjo, Guitar, Vocals|
||ENGLAND: SOUTH EAST|
||Jernej
Albreht
Clarinet|
||Gavin
Alexander
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic|
||Charlotte
Badham
Voice|
||Jali
BakaryKonteh
Kora|
||Luke
Baxter
Marimba|
||Rosie
Bergonzi
Steelpan/Handpan|
||Daria
Bitsiuk
Piano|
||André
Borges
Flute, Saxophone|
||Dunia
Botic
Voice|
||Jonatan
Bougt
Guitar - Classical, Theorbo|
||Rosie
Bowker
Piccolo,Flute|
||James
Bramley
Theorbo, Lute|
||Gideon
Brooks
Trumpet|
||Ben
Brown
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice|
||Josh
Brown
Saxophone|
||Harry
Buckoke
Viola da Gamba|
||Seth
Bye
Fiddle|
||Joseph
Cavalli-Price
Voice - Tenor, Piano|
||Marie
Cayeux
Voice|
||Adam
Clark
Guitar - Banjo, Voice, Guitar
- Acoustic|
||Chris
Claxton
Tuba|
||Georgina
Dadson
Guitar - Acoustic|
||Glain
Dafydd
Harp|
| 48
| 49
|Reuben
Dakin
Saxophone
Fernando
de Morais
Machado
Percussion, Guitar -
Acoustic
Dominic
Degavino
Piano
Sian
Dicker
Voice - Soprano
Alua
Do Nascimento
Vibraphone
Twm
Dylan
Guitar - Acoustic
Llinos
Emanuel
Voice
Fábio
Fernandes
Lute, Guitar - Classical
Carys
Gittins
Flute
Konstantinos Glynos
Qanun/Kanun
James
Goodwin
Trombone
Karla
Grant
Voice - Soprano
Rudy
Green
Kora
Simon
Guémy
Cello
Ainsley
Hamill
Voice
Emma
Harding
Flute
Charlotte
Hardy
Flute, Voice
Thomas
Harvey
Piano, Voice, Guitar -
Acoustic
Rachel
Hayter
Flute
Todd
Henkin
Harmonica, Guitar -
Acoustic
Urska
Horvat
Cello
Alis
Huws
Harp
Michael
Iskas
Viola
Charlotte
Jolly
Guitar - Acoustic, Bass
Clarinet,Clarinet
Timothy
Karp
Lute, Guitar - Classical,
Guitar - Acoustic
Saki
Kato
Guitar
Lydia
Kenny
Saxophone
Ellie
Knott
Flute
Helen
Lacey
Voice - Soprano
Charlie
Law
Piano, Guitar, Voice
Joseph
Leighton
Guitar - Acoustic
Edward
Leung
Piano
Clea
Llewellyn-Hurst
Piano, Guitar - Acoustic,
Voice
Stella Marie
Lorenz
Piano
Nicola
Lyons
Fiddle, Vocals
Meera
Maharaj
Flute
Camilla
Marchant
Piccolo, Flute
SydneyGrace Mariano
Violin, Violin
Andrew
Mellor
Clarinet
Inigo
Mikeleiz-Berrade
Accordion|Hugh
Millington
Guitar - Classical|
|---|---|
||Lance
Mok
Piano|
||Luiz
Morais
Classical Guitar|
||Elliott
Morris
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice|
||Aleksandra
Myslek
Piano|
||Emily
Newman
Bassoon|
||Miriam
Nohl
Viola da Gamba, Cello|
||Maz
O'Connor
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic|
||Emily
Owen
Voice - Soprano|
||Anna
Phillips
Harp|
||Magnus
Pickering
Cornet|
||Daniel
Pickering
Trombone|
||Tom
Pickering
Traverso, Harpsichord,
Recorder|
||Joe
Pollard
Saxophone|
||Clara
Pople
Voice, Electronic -
Loopstation|
||Alice
Poppleton
Violin|
||Aeron
Preston
Voice - Tenor, Organ, Piano|
||Mared
Pugh-Evans
Harp|
||Suzie
Qiu
Viola, Violin|
||Holly
Redshaw
Bassoon|
||Mary
Reid
Harp|
||Patrick
Rimes
Violin, Viola|
||Noga
Ritter
Voice|
||Chris
Roberts
Guitar - Acoustic|
||Mark
Rogers
Piano|
||Hollie
Rogers
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic|
||Jacob
Rosenberg
Trumpet|
||Katie
Sazanova
Flute|
||Toby
Shaer
Fiddle|
||Amelia
Shakespeare
Recorder, Cornet, Flute|
||Alise
Silina
Accordion|
||Julia
Solomon
Voice - Mezzo-Soprano|
||Joe
Steele
Saxophone|
||Helena
Svigelj
Cello|
||Anwen
Thomas
Harp|
||Peter
Thornton
Guitar - Electric|
||Akeim
Toussaint Buck
Voice|
||Janice
Tsui
Piano|
||Lise
Vandersmissen
Harp|
||Alba
Viana Costa
Cabral
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice|
||Naomi
Warburton
Violin|
||Claire
Ward
Voice - Soprano|
|Dan
Watt
Percussion
Kristiina
Watt
Voice - Soprano, Theorbo,
Lute
Henry
Webster
Fiddle
Alexander
Willett
French Horn
Karen
Wong
Piccolo, Flute
Teresa
Wrann
Recorder
Zoë
Wren
Piano, Voice, Guitar -
Acoustic
Nic
Zuppardi
Guitar - Acoustic, Guitar -
Banjo,Mandolin
Agnieszka
Zyniewicz
Viola
SOUTH WEST
Louis
Bingham
Cittern, Guitar - Acoustic
Alison
Boden
Viola, Violin
Holly
Carter
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Aaron
Catlow
Violin
Archie
Churchill-Moss
Accordion
Lorna
Davis
Cello
Josh
Doughty
Kora
Ali
Elmubarak
Oud
Sadie
Fleming
Voice, Guitar
Alex
Garden
Fiddle
Alexander
Gichohi
Drum Kit, Guitar - Acoustic
Simon
Gilliver
Flute, Piano
Nadine
Gingell
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Roland
Harrad
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice
Kit
Hawes
Mandolin, Voice, Guitar -
Acoustic
Lucy
Hewson
Viola, Violin
Natalie
Holmes
Guitar - Ukulele, Guitar -
Acoustic,Piano,Voice
Elly
Hopkins
Voice
David
Hughes
Piano, Guitar - Acoustic
Daniel
Inzani
Harp, Piano, Accordion
Danielle
Jones
Cello
Nathaniel
Jones
Violin
Jim
Jones
Voice, Drum Kit, Guitar -
Acoustic
Phil
King
Guitar - Acoustic
Anna
Ling
Guitar - Acoustic, Voice
David
Little
Piano, Guitar - Acoustic
Caelia
Lunniss
Violin
Bryony
Middleton
Piano, Oboe|Ruth
Molins
Piccolo, Flute
Servo
Mputu
Percussion, Congas, Guitar
Stuart
Oliver
Guitar - Acoustic
Jacob
Perry
Euphonium, Saxophone,
Clarinet
Polly
Phillips
Saxophone, Clarinet,
Bassoon
Sebastian
Poznansky
Cello
Harriet
Riley
Xylophone, Vibraphone,
Marimba
Alain
Rouamba
Kora, Djembe
Katy
Rowe
Violin
Jo
Silverston
Cello
Emma
Stansfeld
Violin, Viola
Kitty
Stewart
Guitar - Ukulele
Knud
Stuwe
Oud
Chris
Webb
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Alex
Wilson
Voice, Violin, Piano
BexX
Woodward
Guitar - Acoustic
NORTHERN IRELAND
Paddy
Anderson
Piano, Guitar - Spanish/
Flamenco
Rohan
Armstrong
Drum Kit, Guitar - Acoustic,
Double Bass
William
Brown
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Neil
Burns
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic,
Piano
Ellen
Campbell
Voice - Soprano
Ailbhe
Clancy
Violin
Martin
Coyle
Mandolin, Guitar, Bouzouki
Aoife
Dennedy
Cello
Deirdre
Galway
Voice, Guitar - Acoustic
Victoria
Geelan
Percussion, Voice
Meilana
Gillard
Voice, Saxophone
Jared
Green
Piano, Voice, Guitar
Ciara
Jackson
Flute
Karen
Jennings
Guitar - Ukulele, Piano,
Violin
Conor
Lamb
Uilleann Pipes
John
Leighton
Piano
Kevin
McCullagh
Fiddle
Annemarie
McGahon
Viola,Violin
Aideen
McGinn
Voice
Ryan
McGroarty
Voice,Guitar
Lorna
McLaughlin
Accordion,Piano,Voice
M U S I C I A N S L I S T I N G S|
|---|---|
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| 51
|Joleen|McLaughlin|Mandolin,Piano,Harp|
|---|---|---|
|Louis|McTeggart|Guitar - Acoustic|
|Ceilin|Murphy|Violin,Voice,Piano|
|Rebecca|Murphy|Voice|
|Hannah|Murray|Voice,Trumpet|
|Fióna|Ní Mhearáin|Flute|
|Anna|Nolan|Guitar,Voice|
|Vourneen|Ryan|Flute|
|Amanda|St. John|Voice,Guitar - Acoustic|
|Rowan|Warner-Leicester|Guitar - Ukulele, Guitar -
Acoustic|
|Cindy|Yung|Piano|
More information on our musicians can be found on our website here
SCAN THE QR CODE TO READ MORE.
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| 53
## Looking Forward
As Live Music Now evolves alongside our communities, we have a taken a significant step towards a more sustainable and impactful future. Our deep regional partnerships and focus on connecting local musicians with their communities remains essential, underpinning all our work. The establishment of three core strands - Music in Health, Music in Education, and Music in Place - represents a strategic evolution that will enable us to build deeper expertise whilst maintaining our vital local connections across the three nations we serve. This new structure reflects our commitment to developing specialist knowledge and excellence in each area of our work. By moving away from a purely geographic approach to one that combines specialist expertise with local delivery, we are better positioned to respond to the complex challenges facing our communities.
Our Music in Health strand will strengthen our partnerships with the health and social care sector, whilst our Music in Education strand will deepen our role in inclusive education. The Music in Place strand will look at addressing wider determinants of health in Medway and Northern Ireland, alongside expanding our work in Heritage and place-building.
In response to the challenging economic climate and increasing operational costs, we have taken decisive action to ensure our long-term sustainability. While the difficult decision to reduce our core costs resulted in farewells to valued colleagues, it has enabled us to create a more resilient organisation better equipped to weather future challenges. This restructuring maintains our commitment to supporting regional musicians and local project delivery whilst streamlining our operational model.
Looking ahead, we recognise that the social issues we address - isolation, mental health challenges, and inequality - are likely to intensify. Our adapted business model positions us to respond effectively to these growing needs whilst ensuring our own sustainability. We are focusing on developing longer-term partnerships and leading research across the cultural, heritage, public health, and education sectors, creating collaborative solutions to endemic social issues.
Our commitment to maintaining strong local and regional partnerships remains unwavering. These relationships are fundamental to our impact and effectiveness, enabling us to deliver programmes that truly respond to local needs while benefiting from our enhanced organisational expertise. By combining deep specialist knowledge with strong local connections, we are building an organisation that can both survive and thrive in challenging times.
As we implement these changes, we remain focused on our core mission of bringing the transformative power of music to those who need it most. Through this period of evolution, we are creating a more resilient, expert, and impactful organisation that can continue to serve our communities effectively for years to come.
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| 55
## Funding & Fundraising
Live Music Now is deeply grateful for the generous support we receive from trusts, foundations, institutional funders, and individual donors. Many of our supporters contribute regularly, helping us cover essential running costs, launch new initiatives, provide musician training, and sustain our ongoing programmes. This year, we extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us—whether through donations in memory of loved ones,
organising fundraisers, taking on personal challenges, or giving anonymously. From funding a warm drink for an isolated older adult to sponsoring a full series of concerts for children in special schools, every contribution makes a meaningful impact. We also thank the music hubs, schools, and health and care partners who collaborate with us to bring the power of music to those who need it most. Thank you for making a difference in people’s lives.
||||
|---|---|---|
|F U N D I N G & F U N D R A I S I N G|CENTRAL
Backstage Trust
Big Give Trust
Constance Travis Charitable Trust
Daniell Trust
Headley Trust
John Lewis Partnership
Leathersellers' Company
Linbury Trust
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Rank Foundation
Rayne Foundation
Sir Ian Stoutzker
UtleyFoundation
Vernon Ellis Foundation
Youth Music
CYMRU
Arts & Business Cymru
Arts Council of Wales
Awen Cultural Trust
Between the Trees Festival
Cardiff and Vale UHB
Cardiff CityCouncil
Castle Dairies|Criccieth Festival|
|||ICF Dementia FriendlyCommunites Fund|
|||Isle of AngleseyCountyCouncil|
|||Moondance Foundation|
|||National Lottery- Awards for All|
|||National LotteryCommunityFund (People's Projects)|
|||Neath Port Talbot Council|
|||Newport Live|
|||North Wales International Music Festival|
|||PlantLife Cymru|
|||Simon Gibson Charitable Trust|
|||Swansea BayUHB|
|||TŷCerdd|
|||Volant Covid-19 Fund|
|||ENGLAND|
|||Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation|
|||Ann Duchess of Westminster's Charity|
|||Arts Council England|
|||Boshier Hinton Foundation|
|||Bryan Foster Charitable Trust|
|||Burges Salmon Charitable Trust|
|||BurghleyFamilyTrust|
|||BurghleyFamilyTrust|
|||Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust|
||||
Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust CHCP Foundation Cherry Family Foundation City Bridge Foundation Clare Milne Trust
Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust David Family Foundation David Solomons Charitable Trust Devon Music Education Hub Dowager Eleanor Peel Charitable Trust Dr & Mrs A Darlington Charitable Trust Eveson Charitable Trust Fairfield Charitable Trust Garrick Charitable Trust Gibbons Family Trust Golsoncott Foundation Hays Travel Foundation Hendy Foundation Hull & East Riding Charitable Trust Ironmongers' Company J & M Britton Charitable Trust John Horseman Trust John Lyon's Charity Kathleen Beryl Sleigh Charitable Trust Kathleen Hannay Memorial Charity Keith Howard Foundation KH Foundation Lanyado Fund Leeds City Council London Community Foundation Lord & Lady Lurgan Trust Lord Cozens Hardy Trust Loudon Charitable Trust Lucille Graham Trust Maingot Charitable Trust Marjorie Green Charitable Trust Mayfield Valley Arts Trust Medway Council Millichope Foundation Millichope Foundation Mrs Pat Ripley's Charitable Trust National Lottery Community Fund
Noël Coward Foundation Norman Family Charitable Trust North Yorkshire County Council Northbrook Community Trust NYMAZ Percival Whitley Educational Trust Portal Grant Trust Rhododendron Trust
Shared Prosperity Fund Medway Singer Foundation
Sir George Martin Trust Sound Foundation Somerset SoundStorm St Hilda's Trust Sylvia & Colin Shepherd Trust Valentine Charitable Trust Veronica Awdry Charitable Trust Viscount Amory Charitable Trust Wade's Charity
Westminster Council
Whitaker Charitable Trust Whitwam Family Charitable Trust Wixamtree Trust
## NORTHERN IRELAND
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts and Older People Programme Arts Council of Northern Ireland Rural Engagement Arts Programme Arts Council of Northern Ireland Young People and Wellbeing Arts Programme
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Project Funding Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Black Santa Appeal
Business to Arts - Bank of Ireland Community Foundation Northern Ireland Derry City and Strabane District Council Keadue Community Grants Fund Public Health Agency Ulster Garden Villages
| 56
| 57
## CONTACT US
Live Music Now 46 Montclair Drive Liverpool L18 0HB 0151 222 0018 info@livemusicnow.org.uk www.livemusicnow.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 273596 (England & Wales) Live Music Now Limited is registered in England and Wales No.1312283
livemusicnowuk
livemusicnow livemusicnowuk
live-music-now
| 58
| 59
blg)n
## Trustees’ Annual Report
Live Music Now is a registered charity in England and W ales (273596).
Reference & Administrative Details of the Charity, its T rustees & Advisers:
Charity Name LIVE MUSIC NOW LIMITED (Live Music Now)
Charity Registration number 273596 (England and W ales)
Company Registration number 1312283
The trustees are pleased to submit their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements (Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011), the Memorandum and Article s of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) issued by the Charity Commission.
## Directors and Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees are the directors of the charitable company (‘the charity’) and are trustees for the purposes of charity law. Throughout this report members are collectively referred to as the trustees. Those serving on the date this report was approved are:
- Patron HM King Charles III
- • Founder President Sir Ian Stoutzker (21 January 1929 - 6 April 2024)
## Sir Vernon Ellis
-
- Mr Michael Bass (appointed October 2024)
- • Ms Lisa Calmiano
- Mr Edward Charlesworth (appointed October 2024)
- Mrs Lowri Clement
- Mr Malcolm Emery (appointed April 2023; resigned January 2024)
- Dr Peter Freedman
- Ms Colleen Keck
- Mrs Caroline Llewellyn (resigned March 2024)
- • Mr Peter McInerney (appointed October 2024)
- • Mr Simon Millward
- Professor Adam Ockelford
- Dr Rumina Önaç (appointed October 2024)
- • Lady Charlotte Tyrwhitt (resigned July 2023)
- Chief Executive Officer Janet Fischer FRSA (appointed Company Secretary October 2024)
- Executive Director Nina Swann (appointed Company Secretary January 2023; resigned October 2024)
Auditor Kate Taylor FCA Simpson Wreford LLP Wellesley House
Duke of Wellington Avenue Royal Arsenal, London, SE18 6SS
Bankers
NatWest, PO Box 1357, 169 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5BT
In addition to the main central fund banks
above, each branch has its own banking arrangements.
Structure, governanc e and Management Constitution
Live Music Now Limited (“Live Music Now”) is a charity governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on
3 May 1977 and revised on 10 January 2006, 10 March 2008,
6 March 2012, 3 April 2017 and 7 March 2019, and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.
As of 31 March 2024, 7 members had guaranteed £1 each in the event of the winding up of the company.
Registered address: Live Music Now, 46 Montclair Drive, Liverpool L18 0HB
| 1
| 2
## Selection of Trustees
The first trustees were appointed by a majority of the subscribers to the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Every trustee has the power to nominate another trustee who must then be approved by the trustees. The minimum number of trustees is 5 and the maximum is 20.
Induction and T raining of Trustees New trustees are recruited via an open application recruitment process or in partnership with specialist organisations. Potential new trustees are interviewed by the Chair and members of the Nominations committee before being invited to stand as candidates. Once appointed, new trustees are provided with and inducation pack which includes a copy of the Constitution, the description of trustees' roles and responsibilities, background information and internal documents relating to the principal activities of the charity.
New trustees are supported during their induction by the Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Operations Manager and relevant Branch/Strategic Director. Relevant external training opportunities for trustees are brought to the attention of trustees by the Chief Executive.
## Organisational Structure
Live Music Now Limited operates on a national, regional and local level and is comprised of four English branches covering North East, North West, South West and South East England and national branches in Northern Ireland and Wales. The registered office was, until October 2021, in London where the acting Executive Director was based, and has been moved to Liverpool in line with the charity’s new strategic intent. As of the 1 April 2013, Live Music Now Scotland operates as a devolved charity registered in Scotland. Governance and finance of Live Music Now Scotland is the responsibility of the Live Music Now Scotland Board of Trustees, and the Scottish charity continues to work within the framework of Live Music Now.
- Chaired by Sir Vernon Ellis, the charity’s
trustees take final responsibility for the general and financial wellbeing of the scheme.
Sir Ian Stoutzker was appointed Founder President of the charity on his retirement from the Board in 2018.
## Objectives & Activities
The trustees meet at least three times a year, the AGM held not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding AGM to approve the independently examined accounts. The Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Director are responsible for the management and support of the team of Directors; overview of the financial position nationally, including branches; management of central tasks; development of the scheme nationally and development and coordination of national policies; reporting to the Board of Trustees on behalf of the team of Directors. The Senior Management Team (comprising of the CEO, Executive Director, National Directors and Strategic Directors) are also responsible for raising funds to support the core costs of the organisation, reporting to the Chairman and Board of Trustees.
## Two Strategic Directors lead the
development of Live Music Now’s work in the areas of Adult Social Care and Healthcare, Children & Young People, and Musicians’ Development delivered through the branch network across the UK.
Each branch is run by a Director. Branch Directors are responsible for raising funds to support activities of the charity in their region, and overall financial and project management of their branch. They are supported by a network of voluntary advisors, grouped by branch into committees, chaired by the Trustee based in their region.
The Operations Manager supports the Senior Management Team and coordinates external and internal communications and information systems, and the role holder is the stated Data Protection contact. International activity across the UK
(including Scotland) is coordinated by the International Development Director who is currently also the Director of Live Music Now Scotland.
## Risk Assessment
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks. This assessment is undertaken on an annual basis. The major risk to which the charity is exposed is a failure in raising sustainable core income, and the Trustees are exploring new streams of fundraising to address this. The impacts of inflation remained challenging during this year. The Senior Management Team reviewed the ongoing risks and issues monthly and the Finance and Risk Committee reviewed the ongoing risks and mitigations at each meeting. In particular:
- Increase in costs due to the cost-of-living crisis, impacting on the Live Music Now’s expenditure, but also placing significant pressure on partners and musicians.
- Loss in revenue due to a challenging fundraising climate.
- Staff wellbeing and burnout, including in our musicians workforce. The charity continues the musicians’ wellbeing and training programme through support from the Backstage Trust, John Lewis and Arts Council England.
- The lack of Unrestricted Reserve held by the charity. The organisation is supported by a letter of underwrite by the Chair but rebuilding the Unrestricted Reserve is a key priority.
## Objects
The objects for which the Company is established are:
- To advance the education of the public and promote their health and wellbeing, by providing high quality interactive
music performances, in particular among those members of the public who would otherwise be deprived of the benefit of performances of live music and other performing arts.
• To advance the musical education of musicians at the outset of their careers as performing artists by providing them with support, specialist training and the opportunities to perform and work in public.
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Live Music Now relies on grants and the income from fees and charges to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of Live Music Now activities for those on low incomes but balances this against the necessity to pay the musicians on our scheme a living wage, in line with the Musician Union’s guidance ‘Fair Pay for Fair Play’.
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular,
- the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
## Aims
Live Music Now aims to provide high quality participatory performances and workshops in community settings, especially for those who are normally excluded from opportunities to experience live music through ill health, disability, isolation or poverty. Live Music Now activities are intended to be entertaining, educational and therapeutic; the majority of its work is delivered within projects featuring
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regular music sessions and working over the medium to long term to provide lasting benefits for participants. It also provides a wide variety of paid performing experiences for exceptionally talented professional musicians. Musicians are supported through an induction and training programme to equip them with the necessary skills to act as music leaders, both during their work with Live Music Now and subsequently, in the wider profession.
In 2021, after several months of consultation internally and with partner organisations, public agencies, and communities at large, we developed an ambitious new Strategic Intent for Live Music Now. The core of our new strategic intent is the belief that Live Music Now is an organisation delivering social impact through music. We create that social impact through musicians, whom we consider to be our most valuable partners and our greatest asset. We seek to serve the ever-increasing need from communities facing social exclusion and disadvantage, both across the UK and internationally.
## In summary, it includes the following:
- Live Music Now aims to expand its Live Music in Care programme, working with leading care sector partners. We will ensure our work reaches those most in need and is based on the very latest neurological evidence concerning music and dementia.
- Live Music Now aims to develop its programme for children with SEND and their families, through specialist support for Autism Resource Bases and the continued work on our Inspire programme.
• Live Music Now will continue to diversify and develop the musicians on its scheme. They will all receive a high standard of care from recruitment, through to induction, specialist training, mentoring and further development. We will provide an even wider range of specialist training options.
Strategies for implementation Project Delivery
Live Music Now delivers projects of local, regional and national significance through its UK branch network, targeting two priority beneficiary groups to maximise impact:
- Older people (including those living with dementia)
- Children & Young People (particularly those with Disabilities or additional learning needs)
In addition, Live Music Now branches respond to local need in devising specific programmes to provide access to the benefits of live music for other disadvantaged groups, such as isolated rural communities, refugees, those living with mental illness, the homeless and adults and young people in the justice system.
Live Music Now has prioritised the development of long-term, progressive projects with partners, and programmes of repeat visits with established settings, to maximise the impact of live music for our beneficiary groups.
Trustees work closely with Directors as appropriate to support and develop activity.
Trustees review summary reports of branches’ progress on a regular basis. Live Music Now branches have scope to respond to local circumstances and funding opportunities to deliver projects with the 2 beneficiary groups and develop new work.
## Musicians
Musicians are recruited from a wide variety of musical genres and backgrounds, and selected through an open and inclusive recruitment process to ensure best fit. Musicians recruitment is coordinated by the Executive Director with direct support from regional Branch Directors.
Musicians joining the scheme are taken through a comprehensive induction process and offered training opportunities in order to
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provide continual professional development in the area of music leadership. Training, also a significant central activity, is led by the Branch Directors, with specialist input from the Executive and Strategic Directors.
## Monitoring
Live Music Now monitors its activities closely in order to be as accountable as possible, and to use feedback from musicians and participants to inform future work.
Monitoring of branches’ activity in terms of recruitment, performances/workshops delivered, musicians’ fitness for purpose, training offered and development of new projects (principally through the Annual Review process) aims to provide the organisation with an overview of activity, areas of weakness and opportunities for development.
The Strategic Directors lead on the development of new monitoring and evaluation tools to embed expertise and inform future delivery.
Policies are reviewed annually with regard to Safeguarding Children, Working with Vulnerable Adults, Cultural Diversity and Equal Opportunities, Disability/Access and Data Protection in order to work as effectively as possible with our beneficiaries.
## Promoting the charity
The charity works to raise its public profile, with a view to supporting fundraising and public awareness of its activities and may from time to time employ PR consultants to assist on specific projects. A regular e-newsletter and social media communications are produced and managed centrally with additional printed materials relating to specific areas of work.
## Finances
The Executive Director holds the key responsibility for coordinating and generating fundraising for central funds. Strategic Directors focus on raising development funds such as grants supporting new activity at a national level and funds for expansion of the work with the core beneficiary groups.
Branch Directors focus on raising project funds on a regional basis, coordinated via a central funding database, and in liaison with the Executive Director and the wider Director team. Quarterly budgets and financial reports, showing branch performance as well as consolidated figures, are produced for the Trustees’ monitoring purposes.
The charity fosters relationships with key partners including NHS trusts, education authorities and independent agencies in order to develop new areas of work, led by the Strategic Directors in concert with the network of Branch Directors.
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## Financial Review
_Chairman’s statement on Reserves Policy_
The accounts as presented according to the Statement of Recommended Practice – Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2015) show a consolidated position across all the charity’s activities.
The trustees have reviewed the charity’s needs for reserves in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. It is the policy of the charity to carry forward sufficient funds in reserve to cover any anticipated shortfall within the year over the organisation’s running costs, in excess of income. This takes into account the current level of our core support and delays or changes in receipt of grants or donations towards core costs.
In the past, we have raised substantial sums to reserves through major charitable events which have enabled us to grow and to support our core costs, which are always under review to ensure that they remain modest considering the scope of our activities, but which are essential to the success of our scheme. Whilst every effort will be made to continue this activity, in the present economic circumstances this is much more difficult. The charity now operates a full cost recovery policy, and the key priority is to restore a positive balance in the unrestricted reserve.
Reserves at the year-end within the branches’ separate General Funds will be used for project delivery in the coming year. The year-end level of unrestricted general reserves is -£60,445. Restricted reserves are
£455,455. The trustees would ideally like to build general unrestricted reserves to equate to 6 months running costs at current levels, in monetary figures this would amount to about £450,000. The trustees continue to plan to mitigate any potential risks to the charity’s finances.
Live Music Now has undertaken a redundancy and restructure process to reduce core expenditure by 15% and improve efficiency alongside implementing mandatory full cost recovery across all programmes. There has been a particular focus on unrestricted and core fundraising and work towards reducing dependence on in-year fundraising. The charity expects to return to a positive unrestricted reserve at the end of 24/25.
As in previous years, the trustees have been comfortable that the charity is a going concern despite its negative unrestricted reserves on the basis of confirmed donations into the unrestricted fund for the next financial year and ongoing support from Trustees and donors.
## _Principal Funding Sources_
Funds are drawn from charitable trusts, public funding bodies and local authorities, private donations, corporate donors and sponsors, and payments for services from project partners.
The trustees (who are also directors of Live Music Now Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Through our social media, website, events, and other communications, we regularly tell our supporters about how their funds are making a difference through music to people’s lives. We strictly adhere to the Fundraising Regulator’s code of fundraising practice. All fundraisers representing us receive training to understand the standards we expect when representing us externally, to ensure a positive experience for everyone. We will always take action if those acting on our behalf fail to meet our high standards, and we will never sell data to anyone else without their express permission. LMN
has a procedure for handling complaints and we are committed to dealing with all complaints constructively, impartially, and promptly.
## _Trustees’ responsibilities_
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## _Public Benefit Statement_
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit “Charities and Public Benefit”.
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## _Sir Vernon Ellis_
Chairman
Date: 29/01/25
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##
## INDEPENDENT A UDITO R’S REPO RT
## TO TH E MEMBER S OF LIVE MU SIC NOW FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MA RCH 202 4
## _Opinion_
## _Basis for opinion_
We have audited the financial statements of the Live Music Now (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Statement of Cashflows, Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and the United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In our opinion the financial statements:
## _Conclusions relating to going concern_
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions, that individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## _Other information_
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
- In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
_Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006_
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the trustees’ report (incorporating the strategic report and the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the trustees’ report (incorporating the strategic report and the directors’ report) have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## _Matters on which we are required to report by exception_
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us;
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns;
- certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the purposes of our audit.
## _Responsibilities of the trustees_
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 10 the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
- In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless
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the trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## _Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements_
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: [www.frc.org.uk/ auditorsresponsibilities]. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## _Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud_
- the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the computer software and support sector;
- we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, data protection and safeguarding;
- we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
- identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
## _Audit response to risks identified_
- We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
- making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
- considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations.
- To address the risk of fraud through manage -ment bias and override of controls, we:
- performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
- tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
- assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in Note 1 were indicative of potential bias; and
- investigated the rationale behind
significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and;
- enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
## _Use of our report_
This report is made solely to the Charityʼs trustees, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charityʼs trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorʼs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charityʼs trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
_Kate Taylor FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Simpson Wreford LLP, Statutory Auditors and Chartered Accountants_
Wellesley House Duke of Wellington Avenue Royal Arsenal London SE18 6SS
Date: 31 January 2025
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STATEMENT OF FINA NCI AL A CTI VITIES INCLU DING INCOME AND EX PENDITURE ACCOUNT. FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 20 24.
BAL ANC E SHEET AT 31 MARCH 202 4
|_Notes_
_Income from:_
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Investments
4
Other income
4
_Total_
_Expenditure on:_
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
_Total_
_Net income/ (expenditure)_
Transfers between funds
_Net movement in funds_
_Reconciliation of funds:_
Total funds brought forward
_Total funds carried forward_
16|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_Restricted_
_funds Total funds_
_Total funds_
_2024_
_2023_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
377,830
783,215
1,161,045
870,356
331,735
51,680
383,415
411,196
286
-
71
-
-
286
-|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_Restricted_
_funds Total funds_
_Total funds_
_2024_
_2023_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
377,830
783,215
1,161,045
870,356
331,735
51,680
383,415
411,196
286
-
71
-
-
286
-|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_Restricted_
_funds Total funds_
_Total funds_
_2024_
_2023_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
377,830
783,215
1,161,045
870,356
331,735
51,680
383,415
411,196
286
-
71
-
-
286
-|_Unrestricted_
_funds_
_Restricted_
_funds Total funds_
_Total funds_
_2024_
_2023_
_£_
_£_
_£_
_£_
377,830
783,215
1,161,045
870,356
331,735
51,680
383,415
411,196
286
-
71
-
-
286
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||_709,851_
_834,895_
_1,544,746_
_1,281,623_||||
||48,778
71,336
760,811
744,607
55,834
104,611
1,505,418
1,503,110||||
||_809,588_
_800,441_||_1,610,029_|
_1,574,445_|
||_(99,737)_|_34,455_|_(65,283)_
-|_(292,823)_
|
||_(99,737)_|_34,455_|_(65,283)_|_(292,823)_|
||39,292|421,000|460,292
753,115||
||_(60,445)_
_455,455_||
_395,010_
_460,292_||
All amounts relate to continuing activities within the United Kingdom.
There are no recognised gains and losses other than those included in the statement of financial activities.
The notes on pages 18 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
|_2024_
_Note_
_£_
_Fixed assets_
12
3,082
_Current assets_
Debtors
13
210,285
Cash at bank and in hand
348,059
_Total current assets_
_558,344_
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year
14
(166,416)
_Net current assets_
391,928
_Net assets_
_395,010_
Creditors: Amounts falling due
after more than one year
14
-
_395,010_
_The funds of the charity:_
Restricted funds
455,455
Unrestricted income funds
16
General funds
(60,445)
_395,010_|_2023_
_£_
4,680
99,562
526,053|
|---|---|
||_625,615_
(70,002)
555,612|
||_560,292_
(100,000)|
||_460,292_|
||421,000
39,292|
||_460,292_|
Approved by the board of trustees on 29th January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
_Sir Vernon Ellis Chairman_ Company Number - 1312283
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| 16
ST AT EMENT OF CA SH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MA RCH 202 4
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4
|_Notes_
_Cash used in operating activities_
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
17
_Cash fows from investing activities_
Interest income
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Loan converted to donation
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
_Cash provided by/(used) in investing activities_
_Cashflows from financing activities_
_Cash provided by/(used) infinancing activities_|
_2024_
_£_
(78,280)
286
-
286
(100,000)
526,053
348,059
(100,000)
(177,994)|_2023_
_£_
(207,784)
71
-
71
(207,713)
733,766
526,053
-
-|
|---|---|---|
## 1 ACCO UNTI NG PO LICIES
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year.
## _Company information_
Live Music Now is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The registered office is 46 Montclair Drive, Liverpool, L18 0HB
## _Basis of preparation_
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the financial Report Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015), (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in the financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
## _Going concern_
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
## _Fund accounting_
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Unrestricted designated funds – these are funds that the Trustees have designated, to support the running costs of the Charity.
Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular purposes with the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted activities.
The effects of events relating to the year ended 31 March 2024 which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 31 March 2024 and the results for the year ended on that date. The Live Music Now meets the definition of
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NOT ES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
1 - A CCO UNTI NG PO LICIES
( CONTI NUE D)
## _Incoming resources_
Incoming resources are from donations, grants, sponsorship receipts, gift aid, and bank interest and are credited gross in the year in which they are receivable. If expenditure has been incurred for which sponsorship income or similar is expected to cover it then the associated income has been accrued.
Certain fundraising events are designated to provide reserves for future recurring costs. Such income is credited to the general fund. Other minor fundraising events are carried out by the branches and the income is in the general fund.
## _Resources expended_
All expenditure is charged in the year in which it is incurred.
Project delivery costs are the costs associated with arranging and holding a musical event other than musicians’ fees and expenses which are under performance costs.
Certain support and administration costs are allocated to project delivery costs using a set percentage. For the head office, 25% of costs are allocated in this way, whilst for other branches the percentage is 85%. Fundraising activities are an allocation of staff time, derived in the current year by the percentage of staff time spent fundraising. Rental costs are charged to the SOFA on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
## _Tangible fixed assets_
All tangible assets are stated at cost less depreciation
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:
Computer equipment 5 years straight line
## _Pension costs_
The charity operates a personal pension plan scheme for several employees. The contributions payable for the year are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities.
## _Termination Benefits_
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committee to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits
## _Taxation_
The company is a registered charity and therefore is not liable for income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.
## _Financial instruments_
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measure at their settlement value.
- 1 - A CCO UNTI NG PO LICIES
- ( CONTI NUE D)
## _Debtors_
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## _Creditors and provisions_
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliability. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## _Cash at bank and in hand_
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
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| 20
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MA RCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MA RCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
## 2 - INCO ME FRO M D ONATIONS & LE GA CIES
|Government & other public authorities
Supporters, including corporate sponsors
& general public
Charitable institutions|_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_£_
_£_
142,467
26,095
164,668
3,244
70,695
753,876|_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_£_
_£_
142,467
26,095
164,668
3,244
70,695
753,876|_2024_
_Total_
_£_
168,562
167,912
824,571|_2023_
_Total_
_£_
102,866
111,274
656,215|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||337,830|783,215|1,161,045|870,356|
||||||
|3 - INCOME FROM CHARITABLE AC TIVITIES
_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
_£_
Earned income
331,735||_Restricted_
_Funds_
_£_
51,680|||
||||_2024_
_2023_
_Total_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
286
71||
|4 - INCOME FROMINVESTMENTS & OTHER INCOME
_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_£_
_£_
Bank interest
286
-
286
-|||||
||286
-||286
71||
||||||
|5 - RAISING FUNDS EXPENDIT URE
Fundraising consultant
Fundraising costs
Community fundraiser
Development costs|||||
||48,778
55,834
104,611
71,336||||
## 6 - A NA LYSIS OF EXPE NDITURE ON CH ARITABLE A CTI VITIES
|Musicians fees and
expenses
Recruitment, auditions and
training
Project expenses - other
Project delivery costs
Governance costs
Administration and office
costs|_2024_
_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
_£_
295,939
313,320
609,259
1,541
44,360
45,901
51,474
42,532
94,006
176,906
269,675
446,581
16,679
44,069
2,661
19,339
44,069
-|_2024_
_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
_£_
295,939
313,320
609,259
1,541
44,360
45,901
51,474
42,532
94,006
176,906
269,675
446,581
16,679
44,069
2,661
19,339
44,069
-|_2024_
_Unrestricted_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Funds_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
_£_
295,939
313,320
609,259
1,541
44,360
45,901
51,474
42,532
94,006
176,906
269,675
446,581
16,679
44,069
2,661
19,339
44,069
-|_Unrestricted_
_Funds_
_£_
316,873
13,503
68,352
189,716
12,055
305,206|_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
292,998
609,871
41,663
55,166
47,041
115,393
215,702
405,418
-
12,055
-305,206|_2023_
_Restricted_
_Funds_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
292,998
609,871
41,663
55,166
47,041
115,393
215,702
405,418
-
12,055
-305,206|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||760,811|744,607|1,505,418|905,705|597,405|
1,503,110|
||||||||
|7 - ANAL YSIS OF GOVERNAN CE COSTS
Board meeting costs
Accountancy fees
Audit fees
Independent examiners
fees|||||||
||||13,832
5,508
19,339
12,055||||
||||||_2024 Total_
_2023_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
38,076
24,406
56,788
60,418
3,063
2,384
2,667
1,752
663,535
669,646
11,443
9,174
921
2,570
1,598
1,598||
|8 - ANAL YSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS
Rent, rates, heating &
lighting
Office expenses (including accountancy)
Insurance
Bank charges
Staff Salaries and NI costs
Staff expenses
Sundry
Depreciation
Allocated director and project costs to project delivery costs
Allocated development directorand community fundraiserto fundraising costs
Administration and office support|||||||
||||||778,090
771,948||
||||||453,188
405,418
78,641
61,324||
||||||246,261
305,206||
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NOT ES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
## 9 - A NA LYSIS OF STAFF CO STS & E XPE NS ES A ND TH E CO ST O F K EY MA NA GEMENT PE RS ONNE L
|Wages & Salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|_2024 Total_
_2023 Total_
_£_
_£_
598,085
598,572
53,158
59,292
12,292
11,782|
|---|---|
||663,535
669,646|
The number of higher paid employees was:
In the band £60,001 to £70,000 – 1 (2022: £60,001 to £70,000 - 1).
## 10 - STAFF N UMBERS
|- STAFF N UMBERS||
|---|---|
|Charitable activities and fundraising
Management|_2024 Total_
_2023 Total_
15
14
2
3|
||17
17|
Staff numbers represent the full time equivalent, total headcount was 23 (2023: 22)
In addition to the normal staff the charity uses musicians on a short-term contract basis from a pool of approximately 310 approved musicians. The numbers used fluctuate according to the type of concerts provided throughout the year. Musicians are paid fees and subsistence expenses and in the year a total of £609,259 (2023: £609,871) was paid.
The key management personnel remuneration totals £130,000 (2023: £130,000).
No special retirement or leaving payments were made during the year (2023: £nil). Pension contributions totaling £12,291 (2023: £11,782) were made during the year. As at the 31 March 2024 there was £2,831 in outstanding contributions payable (2024: £2,728).
Redundancy payments totalling £44,069 have been accrued during the year (2023: £nil), all payments were made in 2024/2025 from unrestricted funds.
## 11 - TRUSTEE REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
|Expenses reimbursed|_2024 _|_Total_
_£_
373|_2023 _|_Total_
_£_
364|
|---|---|---|---|---|
No trustees received any remuneration during the year (2023: £nil)
## 12 - TANGI BLE FIXE D ASSETS
|_Cost_
At 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
_Depreciation_
At 1 April 2023
Depreciation charge
At 31 March 2024
_Net book values_
31 March 2024
31 March 2023||_Total_
_£_
7,988
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||7,988|
|||3,308
1,598|
|||4,906|
|||3,082|
|||4,680|
|13 - DEB TORS
Sundry debtors
Accrued income|||
||210,285
99,562||
||||
|14.1 - CREDIT ORS: AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Other creditors
Accruals
Taxation and social security|||
||166,416|
70,002|
|||100,000|
|14.2 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS DUE AFTER ONE YEAR
Loan|-||
During the year to 31 March 2024 an interest free loan of £100,000 which was received from the Chair (The Vernon Ellis Foundation) in the year to 31 March 2020 was converted to an unrestricted donation. As at 31 March 2024 £nil was outstanding (2023: £100,000).
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| 24
NOT ES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
NOTES TO TH E FINAN CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 202 4 (CONTINUED…)
## 15 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
|Carrying value of fnancial assets measured at amortised cost
Carrying value of fnancial liabilities measured at amortised cost|Carrying value of fnancial assets measured at amortised cost
Carrying value of fnancial liabilities measured at amortised cost|_2024_
_Total_
_2023_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
204,305
93,582
128,647
152,532
_Resources_
_expended_
_Transfers_
_Balance at 31_
_Mar 2024_
_£_
_£_
_£_
(800,441)
455,455
(809,588)
(60,445)
(1,610,029)
-
395,009|
|---|---|---|
|16- FUNDS
Restricted funds
General fund|_Balance at 1 Apr_
_2023_
_Incoming_
_resources_
_£_
_£_
421,000
834,895
39,292
709,851||
||460,292
1,544,746||
£62,584 £46,788
There is a negative balance on unrestricted general funds at the year end of (£60,445). This is mostly due to the timing of redundancy payments, for the year ended 31 March 2024 total redundancy payments of £44,069 have been recognised as an accrual, whilst the planned timing of these payments is in 24/25, unrestricted funds have been raised in 24/25 to cover these payments. The charity expects to return to a positive Unrestricted Reserve at the end of 24/25.
|17- RECONCILIATION OF NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS TO NET CASH FLOW FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
_2024_
_Total_
_2023_
_Total_
_£_
_£_
Net movement in funds
(65,283)
(292,823)
Add back: Depreciation
1,598
1,598
Deduct: interest shown in investing activities
(Increase) in debtors
(110,722)
(71)
48,929
(Decrease) in creditors
96,414
34,583
(78,280)
(207,784)
(286)|
|---|
## 18 - CONTROLLING PARTY
The trustees of Live Music Now Limited are considered to be the controlling party of the company.
## 19 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the year a payment of £554.68 (2023: £1,501.72) was received from Live Music Now Scotland, a charity with a number of common trustees. During the year Live Music Now also received donations on behalf of Live Music Now Scotland, totaling £450 (2023: £186), these were paid direct to Live Music Now Scotland in full.
During the year to 31 March 2020 an interest free loan of £100,000 was received from the Chair (The Vernon Ellis Foundation). In the year to 31 March 2024 this loan has been converted to an unrestricted donation.
The Vernon Ellis Foundation also made a donation in the year ended 31 March 2024 of £11,522 (2023: £1,700).
During the year total donations of £5,100 (2023: £15,057.25) were received directly from the trustees.
## 20 - CAPITAL
ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
Live Music Now Limited is a charitable company, limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The members have agreed to contribute £1 each to the Charity’s assets in the event of it winding up, if its assets should prove insufficient to cover its liabilities, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company
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## CONTACT US
Live Music Now 46 Montclair Drive Liverpool L18 0HB 0151 222 0018 info@livemusicnow.org.uk www.livemusicnow.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 273596 (England & Wales) Live Music Now Limited is registered in England and Wales No.1312283
livemusicnowuk
livemusicnow livemusicnowuk
live-music-now
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