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2024-12-31-accounts

The Hallé Endowment Trust

For the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity registration number: 286145

The Hallé Endowment Trust

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER 2024

Contents Page
Trustees and independent advisers 1
Trustees' report 2-7
Independent Auditor’s report to the Trustees of the Hallé Endowment Trust 8-10
Statement of financial activities 11
Income and expenditure account 12
Balance sheet 13
Notes 14-24

Page 1

The Hallé Endowment Trust

Trustees and independent advisers

Board of Trustees

Mr J Schultz CBE – Chair – resigned April 2025

Mr J Eckersley – Chair – from July 2025 Mr D McKeith Mr E Pysden (resigned 26 April 2024) Ms E Shepherd Ms D Francis Mr S Shelbourn (appointed 9 May 2024) Ms C Dwyer (appointed 9 May 2024)

Nominated by Manchester City Council: Mr T Seagrave

Bankers

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc St Ann Street Manchester M60 2SS

Solicitors

CMS LLP 1 The Avenue Spinningfields Manchester M3 3AP

Investment Managers

CCLA Investment Management Limited One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB

Auditor

Crowe U.K. LLP 3[rd] Floor St George's House 56 Peter Street Manchester M2 3NQ

Principal office

The Bridgewater Hall Manchester M1 5HA

Page 2

The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

The Trustees present their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, in compliance with the Trust Deed.

Reference and administrative details

The Hallé Endowment Trust (the ‘Trust’) is a registered charity, number 286145, governed by a trust deed dated 30 December 1982, as amended in a deed of consolidation and amendment dated 19 August 2021. The details of the Trustees, their advisers and other relevant information given on page 1, form part of this report.

Structure, Governance and Management

The governing body is the Board of Trustees whose members are non-executive and unpaid. All the Trustees are appointed by the Board of the Hallé Concerts Society (the Society’), other than one Trustee nominated by Manchester City Council. The Trustees delegate the day-to-day management and administration of the Trust’s affairs to the Executive of the Hallé Concerts Society. Appropriate induction is given to all Trustees.

Objectives and activities of the Trust

The objective and principal activity of the Trust is to maintain a capital endowment fund and to apply the annual income of that fund in perpetuity towards the education of the general public in the study, appreciation and practice of music and the allied arts by furthering and supporting the objects and work of the Society.

With effect from 1 January 2017, for the Main Fund and from 1 January 2023 for the Catalyst Fund, the Trustees have adopted the total return approach to investment under the powers granted in Section 4 of the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013. This allows the Funds to be invested to optimise the overall return, no matter whether it takes the form of capital or income. The Trustees then decide how much of that overall return should be allocated to meet the current charitable objectives whilst balancing their decision with the maintenance of the long-term capital value of the Funds.

The Hallé Endowment Trust holds the Catalyst Endowment Fund as a separate endowment fund within its accounts, following the Society’s successful application to the Arts Council’s Catalyst Endowment programme in 2011. The income only from the Catalyst Endowment Fund was previously used to support the Society’s educational activity at Hallé St Peter’s and ambitious artistic projects not funded by other funding agreements. The Arts Council approved the Total Return approach to be applied to the Catalyst Fund from 1 January 2023, since then allowing the trustees to decide how much of the overall return should be allocated to meet the charitable objectives of this Fund.

Further information is provided in the Financial Review section below and in the Notes to the Accounts.

Public Benefit

The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and they believe that the support provided to the Hallé Concerts Society allows the objectives above to benefit a wide section of the public. The Society’s Hallé Connect education ensembles and outreach programmes reach over 75,000 people each year, of which over 40,000 are children and young people. Membership of the Society’s youth and children’s ensembles is free. A full review of the Society’s outreach work is given in its own statutory accounts, and further details are available on the Hallé website: www.halle.co.uk. The Society’s facilities at Hallé St Peter’s and St Michael’s are enabling its education and community programme to extend to an even broader cross section of the community, and the return generated by the Catalyst Endowment Fund referred to below facilitates this work.

Achievements and performance

An Investment Committee (of which the Trustees are members, along with the Finance Director), established by the Hallé Concerts Society, reviews the investment strategy and performance of the Trust and all the Society’s other related entities. Working within the Investment Policy described below, the Investment Managers are given investment discretion which is then reported upon by them to the Investment Committee.

Page 3

The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

Achievements and performance (continued)

The investment portfolio’s objective is to generate a total return of CPI+4% per annum over the long term, without distinguishing between capital return and income return. Both the Main Endowment Fund and the Catalyst Fund have been invested in the CCLA Ethical Investment Fund for the full financial year.

CPI at 31 December 2024 was reported as 2.5%, resulting in a target for the financial year of 6.5%. The performance of the Ethical Investment Fund at 5.7% was below this target. Gross return was 6.4%, before notional fees of 0.7%.

It is important to note that there have been significant market movements since the balance sheet date, due to the global trade tariffs imposed by the USA administration.

The Main Fund saw an increase of £116,001 in investment value (2023: increase of £387,009) whilst the Catalyst Fund saw an increase of £84,817 (2023: increase of £249,057). When investment income is taken into account, the overall return over the 12 months to 31 December 2024, net of fees, is 5.7% (2023: 11.1%) return for the Main Fund and 5.7% (2023: 12.6%) return for the Catalyst. This compares to the target return of CPI+4% which is 6.5% for 2024.

Financial Review

Main Endowment Fund overview - During the year the Main Fund received donations and legacies of £nil (2023: £nil), investment income of £123,304 (2023: £140,935) and short-term deposit interest of £1,375 (2023: £1,659). There was an unrealised gain on investments of £116,001 (2023: gain of £387,009). A grant of £244,430 was made to the Society (2023: £229,000). The grant in 2024 to the Society reflects the power to distribute cumulative investment gain as well as investment income under the total return approach.

At 31 December 2024, the endowment fund of the Main Fund stood at £4,361,479 (2023: £4,383,143) and the restricted funds of the Main Fund stood at £nil (2023: £nil).

Catalyst Fund overview - Regular donations are normally received into the Catalyst Fund rather than the Main Fund. The Catalyst Fund received donations and legacies of £77,694 (2023: £26,363). The higher level in 2024 is due to legacy income. Investment income for the Catalyst Fund amounted to £90,157 (2023: £101,641) and short-term deposit interest of £nil (2023: £1,655). A grant was made to the Society of £86,320 (2023: £83,000).

At 31 December 2024 the endowment fund of the Catalyst Fund stood at £3,279,594 (2023: £3,115,157) and the restricted funds of the Catalyst Fund stood at £0 (2023: £0). The grant in 2024 to the Society reflects the power to distribute cumulative investment gain as well as investment income under the total return approach.

Total fund balances at the year-end were £7,641,073 (2023: £7,498,302).

Total return approach to investment

A resolution to adopt the total return approach to accounting for the Main Fund was made by the Trustees on 8 February 2018, effective from 1 January 2017. The Catalyst Fund initially remained under permanent endowment rules as it is an Arts Council based fund and subject to different arrangements from the Main Fund. A proposal to the Arts Council for the Catalyst Fund to be managed on a total return accounting basis was agreed in a Declaration of Trust signed 1 January 2023 and the Trustees implemented this approach for the Catalyst Fund for the financial year ended 31 December 2023.

The Trustees’ decision to move to total return was taken in order to enable increased flexibility in the financial support provided by the Endowment to the Hallé Concert Society. Under the original rules, there could be significant variation of the income available to distribute, depending on whether investment returns are derived from income or capital gains, even though the overall return may be the same. The total return approach enables the focus to be on overall best return for the investment portfolio rather than focusing on investments to produce investment income. It also facilitates a more planned approach

Page 4

to grant making because the impact of year-to-year variation in investment income can be smoothed The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

through the application of part of the Unapplied Total Return fund (UTR). It is important to note that although the total return approach provides more flexibility, the Trustees are mindful of their legal responsibility to take a sustainable approach in determining the way that investment returns are allocated between current and future needs. The Trustees will therefore retain resources in the UTR fund to support the future needs of the Society and furthering the objectives of the Hallé Endowment Trust. Further details are provided in note 12.

Investment Policy

The investment strategy reflects the investment focus on total investment return rather than investment income.

The target return of the investment strategy is CPI +4% per annum for both funds, by definition without distinguishing between capital return and income return. The investment objective is to maintain the real capital value of the investment portfolio above inflation whilst generating a sustainable and reliable income.

Investment risk:

The key risk to the long-term sustainability of the funds is inflation, and the strategy is that assets should be invested to mitigate this risk over the long term. The trustees understand that this is likely to mean that investment will be concentrated in real assets and that the capital value will fluctuate. The trustees are able to tolerate volatility of the capital value of the funds as long as they are able to meet current expenditure from investment returns. The trustees acknowledge that they accept some investment risk in order to maximise total return and refer to this as a “balanced attitude towards risk”.

Restrictions on the Trustees’ power to invest:

Benchmark and Performance Measurement:

Page 5

The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

Investment Committee:

The trustees will work with their Investment Manager to review the Investment Policy and Strategy with the overall intention of maintaining the current target return of CPI +4% aligned with a robust and transparent ESG focused approach.

Investment Performance

For the Financial Year to December 2024, both the Main Fund and Catalyst Funds have been invested on a total return basis with all assets under management with CCLA and invested in the COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund.

The overall investment return, including unrealised gains and distributions for the year, was 5.7% net of charges (2023 11.7% overall – made up of 11.1% for the Main Fund and 12.6% for the Catalyst Fund). This is compared to a target of CPI + 4% - which in 2024 was 6.5%.

It should be noted, however, that the target return of CPI+4% is an average target per annum over the longer term and the graph below illustrates performance compared to this target, on a cumulative basis, since January 2018. There can be annual periods where the returns achieved by the Funds are lower or higher than the target of CPI +4%.

Hallé Endowment and Catalyst Funds - Cumulative Return January 2018 to December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24
-10%
Endowment Catalyst CPI + 4%
Cumulative Return
----- End of picture text -----

The large difference between cumulative actual returns achieved and the target is a result of inflation rising significantly during the COVID pandemic to historically high levels, with the most significant increases observed between 2021 and 2023, peaking at 11.1%.

Page 6

The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

In December 2023, the Catalyst Fund investment policy was changed to a total return basis and returns since then have been the same for both the Main and Catalyst funds. Before this, the Catalyst Fund investments were aimed at providing income, and this led to a greater allocation to UK investments, explaining the difference in return to the Main Fund prior to this change.

The priority for the Trustees remains the longer-term performance of the investments to provide support for the Society in the future. The Trustees are confident that the investment policy provides a good basis to achieve the investment objective over the medium and longer term and to secure this outcome.

Reserves policy

Main Fund: the Trustees have considered their reserves policy in respect of the Main Endowment Fund with regard to their responsibility to adopt a sustainable balance between the current and future needs of the Society.

The Trustees consider that reserves should be maintained as protection for the Endowment Trust against a fall in the value of investments which would impact the ability of the Endowment Trust to support the Society and its objectives in future periods. On the basis of information from the Investment Managers the trustees have set the target level for this “Buffer reserve” at 20% of the market value of investments and this will be reviewed at least annually. The Unallocated Total Return (UTR) Fund provides this “Buffer reserve”. At 31 December 2024 the UTR stood at £1,409,075 (2023: £1,480,114) which is 32% of investment value (2023: 35%) and therefore achieves the reserves target. In addition, the current level of reserves is considered reasonable to enable the Trustees to smooth the pattern of grant making to the Society in years when investment returns may be low. The indicative annual grant level to the Society from the Main Endowment is £200,000 (at 2020 level) plus CPI and the UTR at this level enables the Trustees to provide assurance to the Society that the annual grant can be relied upon for planning purposes.

The Trustees will also take account of the sufficiency of the Catalyst Fund UTR and its ability to support the indicative level of grant to the Society in any particular year and will consider providing a shortfall of the indicative grant from the UTR of the Main Fund, thus re-balancing the grant to the Society between the two funds.

In making decisions on grant making to the Society, the Trustees will take account of the return on investment for the year, the long-term sustainability of the investment fund after considering various levels of transfer to income and the income needs of the Society. As part of this review the trustees will also consider whether a transfer of the UTR to the original Endowment is appropriate. Under the regulations (Section 4 of the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013) charities have the power to add part of the UTR to the original endowment. The amount that can be added annually is capped and is calculated by reference to the increase in inflation and the value of the original endowment. The purpose of such a transfer is to maintain the real value of the original endowment fund. The Trustees have agreed that they will consider on an annual basis whether to make such a transfer and that the appropriate inflation index to use is CPI. Although it is important for the value of the original endowment to be protected, the trustees would not expect to use this option in a situation where market values had fallen, as this would seem to be inconsistent with the underlying general intention of a total return approach.

Catalyst Fund:

The Trustees have considered the reserves policy in respect of the Catalyst Endowment Fund with regard to their responsibility to adopt a sustainable approach between the current and future needs of the Society. The Fund is held as a permanent endowment until 29 October 2037 with its own particular charitable purposes. Thereafter, the Fund – both capital and interest – is available to the Society for the furtherance of its own charitable purposes. Until then, the objective is to maintain a positive UTR fund on the basis that, on average and with target investment returns, it should be possible to fund the target grant level to the Society. A specific target reserves level has not been set for the Catalyst Fund. At 31 December 2024 the UTR stood at £507,677. (2023: £420,938)

Page 7

The Hallé Endowment Trust

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

Reserves policy (continued)

In making their decisions on grant making to the Society, the Trustees will take account of the return on investment for the year, the long-term sustainability of the investment fund after considering various levels of transfer to income and the income needs of the Society. The Trustees will also take account of the sufficiency of the Main Fund UTR to cover any shortfall in the ability of the UTR of the Catalyst Fund to support the indicative level of grant to the Society in any particular year, thus re-balancing the grant to the Society between the two funds.

At the end of the Catalyst Fund’s 25-year term in 2037, the Fund will become expendable for both capital and income, at the discretion of the trustees. In April 2024, the trustees agreed that the priority for the Catalyst Fund is to build up its Unallocated Total Return (UTR) and therefore not to have increasing the capital endowment capital by the CPI index as an implicit objective for the fund. This reflects the fact that the Catalyst, as a newer fund, has not had the opportunity to build up a significant UTR.

The current level of reserves is considered reasonable to enable the Trustees to smooth the pattern of grant making to the Society in years when investment returns may be low. The indicative annual grant level to the Society from the Catalyst Fund is £80,000 (at 2023 level when total return commenced for Catalyst Fund) plus CPI.

Fundraising Practices

The Endowment Trust’s fundraising is delegated by the Trustees to the Hallé Concerts Society Development Team which also fundraises more widely on behalf of the Hallé Concerts Society as a whole. Regular reports are received from the Development Team with assurance that fundraising activity is conducted in compliance with the Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice and all relevant regulations. Implementation of the Society-wide fundraising strategy is mainly delivered by the in-house fundraising team with support from a professional fundraiser on bids to charitable trusts and foundations. This person does not carry out fundraising with the general public on behalf of the Hallé Concerts Society or the Endowment Trust.

The Trustees acknowledge that as part of the wider fundraising strategy of the Halle Concerts Society, there is currently little active fundraising specifically for the Hallé Endowment Trust. This reflects the focus of the Society on raising funds, without restrictions, to fund core activities. The main source of funds is legacies where the gift is specifically allocated to the Trust by the donor. In the financial year to 31st December 2024 no donation or legacies were received attributable to the Main Fund and donations and legacies of £77,694 were received for the Catalyst Fund.

Plans for future periods

The move to a total return approach to accounting and to a total return investment strategy were introduced by the Trustees in order to provide more secure and sustainable financial support to achieve the Trust’s objectives, in particular the financial support provided to the Hallé Concerts Society. Now that the Arts Council have confirmed approval for the Catalyst Fund to adopt the total return approach, the Trustees will work to optimise this flexibility for both funds.

The Trustees will continue to work with the Investment Managers in maintaining the investment strategy to reflect ESG challenges and opportunities, whilst achieving the target return.

Risk management

A risk management strategy has been implemented for the Hallé Concerts Society group, of which the Hallé Endowment Trust is a part. A review of overall financial controls is undertaken annually by the Society’s Audit Committee. The last risk review was completed in July 2024. A more detailed explanation is contained in the accounts of the Hallé Concerts Society.

Page 8

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities in respect of the Trustees' annual report and the financial statements

Under the Trust Deed of the charity and charity law, the Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with FRS 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, generally accepted accounting practice requires that the Trustees:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• state whether the financial statements comply with the trust deed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• 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 required to act in accordance with the Trust Deed of the charity, within the framework of trust law. They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, sufficient to disclose at any time, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity at that time, and to enable the Trustees to ensure that, where any statements of accounts are prepared by them under section 132(1) of the Charities Act 2011, those statements of accounts comply with the requirements of regulations under that provision. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to independent auditor

The Trustees who held office at the date of approval of this Trustees’ ’report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Trust’s auditor is unaware; and each Trustee has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the trust’s auditor is aware of that information.

Auditor

Crowe U.K. LLP is the appointed auditor and has indicated its willingness to continue in office.

Approved on behalf of the Trustees on 29 October 2025.

J Eckersley

Page 9

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of The Hallé Endowment Trust

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Hallé Endowment Trust (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 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).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

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 United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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.

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 on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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 other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual report. 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. 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 course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we

Page 10

Independent Auditor’s report to the Trustees of The Hallé Endowment Trust (cont’d)

identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

Opinion on other matters

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our 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' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for such internal control as the Trustees 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 the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's 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.

Page 11

Independent Auditor’s report to the Trustees of The Hallé Endowment Trust (cont’d)

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Charities Act 2011.

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be the override of controls by management and completeness of income. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals and reviewing accounting estimates for biases. Our audit approach for income was to begin our testing from source documentation such as grant agreements and donation documentation.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non compliance and cannot be expected to detect non compliance with all laws and regulations.

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.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's 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 Charity and its trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Crowe UK LLP Statutory Auditors 3[rd] Floor St George's House 56 Peter Street Manchester M2 3NQ

Date: 31[st] October 2025

Page 12

The Hallé Endowment Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 December 2024

Note
Income
Donations and legacies
3
Investment income
Short-term deposit income
Total incoming resources
Expenditure
Charitable Expenditure
Investment management costs
4
Governance and support costs
4
Depreciation
Grant to Hallé Concerts Society
5
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure)/income and net
movement in funds before gains
and losses on investments
Net (losses)/gains on investments
Net (expenditure)/income before
transfers
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Fund balances brought forward at
1 January 2024
Fund balances carried forward at
31 December 2024
2024
Endowment
Catalyst
Endowment
Total
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
-
77,694
77,694
123,304
90,157
213,460
1,375
-
1,375
124,679
167,850
292,530
-
-
-
(1,913)
(1,912)
(3,827)
(16,000)
-
(16,000)
(244,430)
(86,320) (330,750)
(262,343)
(88,234) (350,577)
(137,664)
79,617
(58,047)
116,001
84,817
200,818
(21,663)
164,434
142,771
-
-
-
(21,663)
164,434
142,771
4,383,142
3,115,160 7,498,302
4,361,479
3,279,594 7,641,073
2023
Total
£
26,363
242,576
3,314
272,253
(49,632)
(3,708)
(16,000)
(312,000)
(381,340)
(109,087)
636,066
526,979
-
526,979
6,971,323
7,498,302

The notes on pages 14-24 form part of the financial statements.

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.

There are no gains or losses other than those recognised in this statement of financial activities.

Page 13

The Hallé Endowment Trust

Balance Sheet

at 31 December 2024

Balance Sheet
at 31 December 2024
Notes Endowment Catalyst 2024 2023
Total Total
£
£
£
£
£ £
Fixed assets
Instruments 6 272,000 272,000 288,000
Investments
Investments atmarketvalue 7 4,343,153 3,175,615 7,518,768 7,317,950
Current assets
Short-termbankdeposits 184,340 10,343 194,683 151,370
Debtors andAccruedincome 8 30,896 80,591 111,487 63,244
IncomeTax Recoverable 8 - 1,207 1,207 587
215,236 92,141 307,377 215,201
Current Liabilities
Due from/(to) 13,270 (454,178)

Hallé Concerts Society
(467,448) (320,118)
Othercreditors and accruals (1,462) (1,432) (2,894) (2,730)
9 (468,910) 11,838 (457,072) (322,848)
Net current assets/(liabilities) (253,674) 103,979 (149,695) 107,647
Net assets 4,361,479 3,279,594 7,641,073 7,498,302
_Represented by: _
EndowmentFund 4,361,479 - 4,361,479 4,383,142
CatalystEndowmentFund - 3,279,594 3,279,594 3,115,160
4,361,479 3,279,594 7,641,073 7,498,302

The notes on pages 14-24 form part of the financial statements. The accounts on pages 12-24 were approved by the Trustees on 29 October 2025.

J Eckersley

Page 14

The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (forming part of the financial statements)

1 Trust activities

The Hallé Endowment Trust was established to further the education of the general public in the study, appreciation and practice of music and the allied arts by endowing, furthering and supporting the work of the Hallé Concerts Society and the Hallé Orchestra.

The Trust is a subsidiary of the Hallé Concert Society which includes the Trust in its consolidated and aggregated financial statements. The consolidated and aggregated financial statements of the Hallé Concert Society are prepared in accordance with FRS 102 and are available to the public and may be obtained from Hallé Concerts Society, The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester M1 5HA. The Hallé Endowment Trust is considered to be a qualifying entity (for the purposes of this FRS) and has applied the exemptions available under FRS 102 in respect of the following disclosure:

Cash Flow Statement and related notes: The Trust proposes to continue to adopt the reduced disclosure framework of FRS 102 in its next financial statements.

2

Accounting policies

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Trust's accounts.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and the Trust Deed.

The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Cash flow statement

The charity is exempt from the requirement to prepare a cash flow statement as it is a qualifying entity under FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Income

Donations are recognised when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution, the grant of probate where known or the legacy being received. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution.

Investment income is accounted for in the period in which the Trust is entitled to receipt.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

All assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and valued at historic cost. The revaluation model is applied for musical instruments. Depreciation is provided in order to write off tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives in equal instalments as follows: Musical instruments – 25 years.

Investments

There are no restrictions on the Trust’s powers to invest. Investments are included at fair value at the balance sheet date. The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) includes the net gains and losses arising on valuations and disposals throughout the year.

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

2 Accounting policies (continued) Funds structure

The charity has two permanent endowment funds. The principal activity of the Trust is to maintain a capital endowment fund and to apply the annual income of that fund in perpetuity towards the education of the general public in the study, appreciation and practice of music and the allied arts by furthering and supporting the objects and work of the Hallé Concerts Society.

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed, transfers of income can be made to the Trust’s Main Fund at the discretion of the Trustees.

Following the Society’s successful application to the Arts Council’s Catalyst Endowment programme, the Hallé Endowment Trust is the recipient of the Catalyst Endowment Fund and holds that fund as a separate endowment fund within its accounts, the income from which will be used to support the Society’s educational activity at Hallé St Peter’s and its undertaking of more ambitious large-scale artistic projects not funded by other funding agreements.

The Catalyst Endowment Fund is held as a segregated fund, separate from the Main Fund, within the overall Hallé Endowment Trust under the terms of a Trust deed dated 29 October 2012 between the Hallé Concerts Society and Arts Council England.

The Trustees have adopted the total return approach to investment accounting for the Main Endowment Fund, under the powers granted in Section 4 of the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013. Permission was given by Arts Council England to adopt the total return approach for the Catalyst Fund from 1[st] January 2023. This allows any increase in the value of an investment to be treated as income.

Preparation of accounts on a going concern basis

Taking into account the position on reserves (as explained in the Trustees’ report on page 4), the current cash balances and forecast income and expenditure flows, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. They therefore consider the going concern basis to be appropriate for the preparation of these financial statements.

Accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the Trust’s accounting policies, which are described above, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Trustees consider that there are no estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

Taxation

The Hallé Endowment Trust is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore to meet the definition of a charitable trust for UK income tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Part 10 Income Tax Act 2007 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

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NOTES (continued)

3. Donations and Legacies

2024 2024 2024 2023
Endowment Catalyst Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Donations - 19,694 19,694 9,995
Legacies - 58,000 58,000 16,368
- 77,694 77,694 26,363

4.

Investment Management & Governance/Support Costs

2024
2024
2024
2023
Endowment
Catalyst
Funds
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
InvestmentManagement -
-
-
49,632
Governance/Support Costs 1,913
1,913
3,826
3,708
1,913
1,913
3,826
53,340

In 2024, investment management costs are not separated out from the total performance of the fund. CCLA states that the notional percentage fee charged is 0.72%. The estimated cost of these nominal fees is £54,168. In 2023 investment management costs from Cazenove (the immediately preceding investment manager) were allocated as follows: £28,275 was attributable to the Main Endowment fund and £21,357 to the Catalyst fund, totaling £49,632.

In 2023 governance and support costs were allocated as follows: £1,854 was attributable to the Endowment fund and £1,854 to the Catalyst fund.

Allocation of governance and support costs

Directly attributable costs are allocated to the restricted charitable activities of the Endowment or Catalyst endowment as incurred. Other costs are apportioned equally between the two funds.

2024
2024
2024
2023
Endowment
Catalyst
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
1,431
1,431
2,862
3,256
177
177
354
452
305
305
610
-
1,913
1,913
3,826
3,708
Auditfees
Bankcharges
Sundryexpenses

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

5 Expenditure on charitable activities
2024
2024
2024
2023
Endowment
Funds
Catalyst
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
£
£
£
£
Grants to the Hallé Concerts
Society
244,430
86,320
330,750
312,000
Expenditure on charitable activities
2024
2024
2024
2023
Endowment
Funds
Catalyst
Funds
Total
Funds
Total
Funds
£
£
£
£
Grants to the Hallé Concerts
Society
244,430
86,320
330,750
312,000
2024
2024
2024
2023
Endowment
Catalyst
Total
Total
Funds

Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
244,430
86,320
330,750
312,000

6 Fixed assets

Fixed assets
Musical
Instruments
£
Cost
At1January2024 400,000
400,000
At 31 December 2024
Depreciation
At1January2024 112,000
Charge forperiod 16,000
At 31 December 2024 128,000
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2024 272,000
At 31 December 2023 288,000

The Hallé senior management team revalued the musical instrument to £400,000 at 1 January 2017 by reference to the Coutts index. It was agreed that the fee for a professional valuation was not an effective use of charitable funds, particularly given the volatility of this market over recent years.

All tangible assets are used for direct charitable purposes.

Depreciation amounted to £16,000 (2023: £16,000) and is allocated to the Endowment Fund.

7

Investments

Investments
Main Fund
Catalyst
Combined
MarketValue

MarketValue
Market Value
£
£
£
Balance at1January2024 4,227,152
3,090,798
7,317,950
Net additions / (disposals) -
-
-
Investmentmanagementfee -
-
-
Changein marketvalue 116,001
84,817
200,818
Balance at 31 December 2024 4,343,153
3,175,615
7,518,768

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

7 Investments (continued)

The following table shows the valuation and asset allocation of assets at 31 December 2024.

Main
Fund
%
Catalyst Fund
£
%
Total
£
Asset class £
CCLA Ethical InvestmentFund 4,343,153
100
3,175,615
100
7,518,768
Balance at 31 December 2024 4,343,153
100
3,175,615
100
7,518,768

All investments are held at fair value.

Investments are held in a single common investment fund and valued at a single, mid-price.

8 Other debtors and accrued income

8
Other debtors and accrued income
Endowment
Funds
2024
Catalyst
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
2023
£
£
£
22,591
30,896
53,487
53,244
Investmentincome
Legacies -
58,000
58,000
10,000
Income Tax Recoverable -
557
557
587
22,591
89,453
112,044
63,831
9
Other Creditors and Accruals
Audit Fee
Bank Charges
HCS Intercompany
Endowment
Catalyst
Total
Total
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
1,431
1,431
2,862
2,700
30
-
30
30
467,448
(13,270)
454,178
320,118
468,909
(11,839)
457,070
322,848

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

10 Analysis of net assets between funds

Endowment
Funds
Catalyst
Funds
Total
Funds
£
£
£
Balances at 31 December 2024
represented by:
Tangible assets 272,000
-
272,000
Investments 4,343,153
3,175,615
7,518,768
Current assets 215,236
92,140
307,376
Currentliabilities (468,909)
11,839
(457,070)
4,361,479
3,279,594
7,641,073

Analysis of net assets between funds

Endowment
Funds
Catalyst
Funds
Total
Funds
£
£
£
Balances at 31 December 2023
represented by:
Tangible assets 288,000
-
288,000
Investments 4,227,152
3,090,798
7,317,950
Current assets 121,109
94,091
215,200
Currentliabilities (236,118)
(86,730)
(322,848)
4,383,143
3,115,159
7,498,302

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

11 Statement of Funds

At 1 January
2024
Income
Expenditure
Transfers,
Gains and
Losses
At 31
December
2024
£
£
£
£
£
Main endowment
Restricted funds -
-
-
-
-
Endowment funds 4,383,142
124,679
(262,343)
116,001
4,361,479
Total main
endowment funds
4,383,142
124,679
(262,343)
116,001
4,361,479
Catalyst
endowment
Catalyst restricted
funds
-
-
-
-
-
Catalyst
endowment funds
3,115,160
167,850
(88,233)
84,817
3,279,594
Total Catalyst
endowment funds
3,115,160
167,850
(88,233)
84,817
3,279,594
Total funds 7,498,302
292,530
(350,577)
200,818
7,641,073

The purpose of the Main Endowment is to maintain a capital endowment fund and to apply the annual income of that fund in perpetuity towards the education of the general public in the study, appreciation and practice of music and the allied arts by furthering and supporting the objects and work of the Hallé Concerts Society.

The purpose of the Catalyst Endowment Fund is to apply the income from the endowment to support the Society’s educational activity at Hallé St Peter’s and its undertaking of more ambitious large-scale artistic projects not funded by other funding agreements.

Both funds are now accounted for on a total return basis.

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

12 Total return investment

With effect from 1 January 2017 for the Main Fund and 1 January 2023 for the Catalyst Fund, the Trustees have adopted the total return approach to investment, under the powers granted in Section 4 of the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013.

The Trustees identified the value of the gifts of permanent endowment received since the establishment of both funds and this set the baseline value of the gift component of the endowment to which any subsequent gifts of endowment are added. Within each of the Main Fund and the Catalyst Fund this is referred to as the “original endowment” and forms the initial “Investment Fund”. The difference between the total value of endowment funds and the value of the gift component at the point when total return was adopted represents the opening balance of Unapplied Total Return (UTR) for each fund. The UTR is classed as part of the Endowment fund until it is allocated to income.

The Trustees are now empowered to invest the permanently endowed funds of the Main Fund and the Catalyst Fund to maximise total return and to apply an appropriate portion of the UTR to income each year. Until the power is exercised to transfer a portion of UTR to income, the UTR remains invested as part of the permanent endowment.

The Trustees decide annually how much of the UTR is transferred to income funds and so available for expenditure as grants to the Society. In 2024 the Trustees made a transfer of £244,430 (2023: £229,000) from the Main Fund and £86,320 (2023: £83,000) from the Catalyst Fund from the respective UTR in each fund to unrestricted income funds, enabling the making of grants to the Society of £244,430 from the Main Fund and £86,320 from the Catalyst Fund. In making this decision the Trustees have taken account of the return on investment for the year, the long-term sustainability of the investment funds after considering various levels of transfer to income and the income needs of the Society.

Under the regulations (Section 4 of the Trusts (Capital and Income) Act 2013) charities have the power to add part of the UTR to the Investment Fund. The amount that can be added annually is capped and is calculated by reference to the increase in inflation and the value of the Investment Fund. The purpose of such a transfer is to maintain the real value of the Investment Fund. The Trustees have agreed that they will consider on an annual basis whether to make such a transfer and that the appropriate inflation index to use is CPI. For 2024 the trustees agreed to transfer £65,376 from the UTR of the Main Fund to the Endowment Investment Fund of the Main Fund and not to make a transfer from the Catalyst UTR to the Catalyst Investment Fund. The latter decision reflects the differing reserves policies of the Main and Catalyst Funds – in turn arising from their different duration and background.

With in-year donations to the Main Fund of £0 the balance of the Investment Fund at 31 December 2024 is £2,952,405 of which £272,000 is the net book value of the Amati violin at 31 December 2024. (£120,000 original gift value £152,000 revaluation less depreciation). The violin is accounted for and revalued separately and shown in the following table to reconcile the overall value of the Endowment Fund.

With in-year donations and legacies to the Catalyst Fund of £77,694, the balance of the Endowment Investment Fund at 31 December 2024 is £2,771,918.

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

12 Total return investment – Main Endowment (continued)

Total return investment – Main Endowment (continued)
The investment fund and application of total
return to permanent endowment funds
Trust for
investment
£
Unapplied
Total
Return
£
Total
Endowment
£
Opening value of endowment:

Gift component of permanent endowment (incl.
£120k instrument)
2,735,029
-
2,735,029
Unapplied total return
-
1,480,114
1,480,114
Total
2,735,029
1,480,114
4,125,143
Revaluation reserve–Instrument
168,000
-
168,000
Total Endowment 1/1/2024
2,903,029
1,480,114
4,383,143
Movement in unapplied total return and
endowment in the year:
Gifts received
-
-
-
Investment return: dividends and interest
-
124,679
124,679
Investment return: recognised and unrecognised
gain
-
116,001
116,001
Investment / management costs
-
(1,913)
(1,913)

Allocations of Unallocated Total Return (UTR) in
the year: -

Unapplied total return allocated to income
-
(244,430)
(244,430)

Unapplied total return allocated to Investment
Fund
65,376


(65,376)
-
Net movement in the reporting period
65,376
(71,039)
(5,663)
Revaluation reserve–Instrument
(16,000)
-
(16,000)
Total Endowment movement in year
49,376
(71,039)
(21,663)
Gift component of permanent endowment
Investment Fund
2,800,405
-
2,800,405
Unapplied total return
-
1,409,075
1,409,075
Total
2,800,405
1,409,075
4,209,480
Revaluation reserve–Instrument
152,000
-
152,000
Total Endowment 31/12/2024
2,952,405
1,409,075
4,361,480

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

12 Total return investment – Catalyst (continued)

The investment fund and application of total
return to permanent endowment funds
Trust for
investment
£
Unapplied
Total
Return
£
Total
Endowment
£
Opening value of endowment:

Gift component of permanent endowment (incl.
£120k instrument)
2,694,224
-
2,694,224
Unapplied total return
-
420,937
420,937
Total Endowment 1/1/2024
2,694,224
420,937
3,115,161
Movement in unapplied total return and
endowment in the year:
Gifts received
77,694
-
77,694
Investment return: dividends and interest
-
90,157
90,157
Investment return: recognised and unrecognised
gain
-
84,817
84,817
Investment management costs
-
(1,913)
(1,913)


Allocations of Unallocated Total Return (UTR) in
the year:-
Unapplied total return allocated to income
-
(86,320)
(86,320)


Unapplied total return allocated to Investment
Fund
-
-

-
Total Endowment movement in year
77,694
86,740
164,434
Gift component of permanent endowment
Investment Fund
2,771,918
-
2,771,918
Unapplied total return
-
507,677
507,677
Total Endowment 31/12/2024
2,771,918
507,677
3,279,595

13 Financial instruments

Financial instruments
2024
2023
Financial assets measured at amortised cost 307,376
215,200
Financial assets measured at fair value 7,518,768
7,317,950
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost (457,070)
(322,848)

Financial assets measured at amortised cost are cash, trade and other debtors. Impairment losses charged to financial assets measured at amortised cost in the year amounted to £nil (2023: £nil).

Financial assets measured at fair value are the investments. Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost are trade creditors, other creditors and accruals.

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The Hallé Endowment Trust

NOTES (continued)

14 Remuneration of the Trustees and employees

The Trustees received no remuneration nor reimbursement of expenses and derived no financial benefit from their services to the Trust.

No staff were employed by the Trust during the year (2023: none).

15 Related Parties

The Hallé Endowment Trust is a subsidiary of the Hallé Concerts Society and is aggregated in the group accounts of the Society. The Society is a registered charity (number 223882) and a company limited by guarantee (number 62753), incorporated in the UK.

The Hallé Concerts Society’s registered office is: The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester M1 5HA and consolidated accounts can be obtained from this address.

The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 and have not disclosed related party transactions with fellow group undertakings.

There have been no individual donations by Trustees to the Hallé Endowment Trust during the year.