Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Trustees’ annual report and financial statements
Charity registration number 282840
For the period 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024
Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Table of contents
| Legal and Administrative information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ report | 4 |
| Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees | 8 |
| Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner | 8 |
| Basis of independent examiner's report | 8 |
| Independent examiner's statement | 8 |
| Financial report | 9 |
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Legal and Administrative information
Trustees
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Jenni Brind, Chair, appointed 07 September 2022
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Linlin Xie, appointed 07 September 2022 to January 2025
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Naomi Brind, appointed 07 September 2022
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Joan Keating, appointed 07 September 2022
Principal Address
74 Grace Way Stevenage SG1 5AD
Bankers
Barclays Bank 9-11 St Andrew's Street, Cambridge CB2 3AA
Independent Examiner
Mike Frankl, MBE Retired Management Accountant 64 Riverside Place Cambridge CB5 8JF
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Trustees’ report
For the period 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024
The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the Trust for the period ending 31st August 2024.
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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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 charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Structure, governance and management
Trustees and structure
The trustees are listed on page 3. Trustees are appointed, or reappointed, annually at the Annual General Meeting.
The Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers is an unincorporated association and its constitution was adopted 10[th] June 1981 and registered on 16 February 1982.
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Additional information
Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers, known as YAMM, provides positive and engaging musical experiences through weekly individual tuition and ensemble playing in our winter and summer concerts.
Objectives and activities
The objects of the charity are:
(I) to advance the education of young people up to and including the age of 19 in Arbury and the neighbourhood in the county of Cambridgeshire (hereinafter called "the area of benefit") in music in all its aspects and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) in performance on musical instruments
(II) to advance public education in and appreciation of music by means of public concerts, recitals and other musical events.
Achievements and performance
In carrying out our activities we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
During 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2024 our achievements included:
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2,453 music lessons offered, 88% of lessons offered were attended by students
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Winter concert - December 2023 (solo pieces by students)
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Summer concert - July 2024 (solo and ensemble pieces by students)
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New Mini Musicians session offered to children aged 3-5 who are not yet old
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enough to start formal instrumental tuition, but who can benefit from structured, play-based music making in a group setting
Tuition was offered in the following instruments:
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Clarinet
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Guitar
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Music theory
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Piano
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Ukulele
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Voice
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Violin
We hold a few instruments as assets, which we use for lessons and sometimes loan to students who are starting out with a new instrument. These include:
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1 digital piano
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● 2 flues
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● 2 clarinets ● 1 cello ● 1 guitar ● 8 violins
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Our lessons do more than just introduce children to an instrument, by offering individual lessons through a child centered approach. This allows each child the chance to explore their musicality, starting from their own interests and preferred style of learning. We endeavor to bring children on a musical journey, at their own pace, to help them to discover the joy and power of music.
Learning to play an instrument brings many other benefits to young people, such as improved mental wellbeing, literacy and numeracy, confidence performing in public, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, self-expression and sensitivity.
We welcome all young people, aged between 3 and 19, regardless of personal background, faith, disability, gender or personal circumstances.
We are grateful for the many hours our committee member volunteers have spent coordinating activities to allow the charity to carry out its work. Without this valuable contribution of time, energy and expertise we would not have been able to continue offering music lessons.
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Financial review
The total income from lesson fees was £35,229. We did not receive any other income.
The charity’s principal activity following these receipts has been the provision of music lessons. Total expenditure was £33,839.
Income exceeded expenditure by £1,396 for the year.
Risk management
The main risk to the Charity is that our income is insufficient to cover our operating costs. We manage this by monitoring our income and expenses, and having an annual financial review to ensure we are financially sustainable. We also keep reserves in the bank account to cover teacher pay for six weeks (a half term). We apply small but necessary price increases to lesson costs as needed to remain financially viable.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
Not applicable
Further financial information
Our main source of funds this year has been lesson fees. The majority of income is spent on teacher fees, rent, insurance and operating expenses. One of our trustees is also a tutor and our musical director, and was paid £4,630 for music tuition and musical direction of the concerts.
Future plans
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Make our Committee more resilient by ensuring that, where possible, Committee Members are only taking on one role. In particular, we are aiming to relieve Jennifer Brind of her additional roles, taken on after the pandemic to ensure YAMM kept running.
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Expand our instrumental provision by adding additional teachers (especially for guitar, violin and woodwind).
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Explore options for resolving the issue of the summer concert being too long.
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Explore the possibility of setting up a Rock Band group, where guitarists, drummers & singers would have the chance to perform pop & rock music together on a weekly basis.
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed for and on behalf of the trustees
Signature:
Name: Jennifer Brind Position: Chair & Musical Director
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Date: 23.08.2025
Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the period ending 31[st] August 2024.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (’the Act’)
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mike Frankl, MBE Retired Management Accountant 64 Riverside Place Cambridge CB5 8JF
Date 26th August 2025
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Financial report
Statement of financial activities for the period 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024
| 2023-24 | 2023-24 | 2022-23 | 2022-23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £’s | £’s | £’s | £’s | |
| Income | ||||
| Lesson fees | 35,229 | 17,853 | ||
| Interest received | 6 | 2 | ||
| Total Income | 35,235 | 17,855 | ||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Tutor fees | 27,635 | 14,367 | ||
| Rent | 5,011 | 1,514 | ||
| Expenses | 1,193 | 902 | ||
| Total Expenditure | 33,839 | 16,783 | ||
| Net Income (Defcit) for the year |
1,396 | 1,072 | ||
| Net Movement in Funds | 1,396 | 1,072 | ||
| Total Funds Brought Forward as at 1st September 2023 |
9,888 | 8,816 | ||
| Total Funds Carried Forward as at 31st August 2024 |
11,284 | 9,888 |
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period (balance sheet for 31st August 2024)
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £’s | £’s | |
| Cash at bank | £11,284 | £9,888 |
| Debtors | £0 | £0 |
| Net current Assets | £11,284 | £9,888 |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
£950 | £950 |
| Total Assets | £12,234 | £10,838 |
| Unrestricted funds | £12,234 | £10,838 |
| Total Funds | £12,234 | £10,838 |
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
Notes to the financial statements for the period 1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] September 2024
The principal accounting policies which are adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below;
A. Basis of accounting
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
B. 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. The charity has substantial reserves and retains control over its annual expenditure. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
C. Income
Fees receivable are accounted for as soon as they are received. All other income is accounted for under the accruals concept.
D. Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on a receipts basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to each category. Governance costs comprise all costs incurred in running the charity as a legal entity that cannot be directly allocated.
E. Taxation
The Charity is registered as a charity under the Charities Act 2011 and is not liable to UK tax on its charitable activities. The Charity is not registered for VAT. Accordingly, expenses include VAT where applicable.
F. Fund accounting
Funds held by the charity are unrestricted general funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
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Friends of Young Arbury Music Makers
Registered charity No. 282840
1. Charitable Activities
2023-24 2022-23 Payments to music tutors £27,635 £14,367
2. Governance costs
No governance costs incurred
3. Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions in the year
4. Net assets by fund
Fund balance at 31[st] August 2024 are represented by:
2024 2023 Net current Assets £11,284 £9,888 Total £11,284 £9,888
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