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2025-06-30-accounts

SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 30[th] June 2025

Charity Number 515026

SHROPSHIRE MUSIC TRUST

TRUSTEES

Peter Barritt - Resigned 7[th] April 2025 Andrea Belloli Garry Churchill - Resigned 2[nd] August 2024 Simon Cousins - Resigned 19[th] February 2025 Caroline Nowotarski Jane Povey (Chair) - Appointed 8[th] January 2025 Katy Rink Christine Stephens (Secretary) Roger Terry (Treasurer)

CHARITY NUMBER

515026

REGISTERED OFFICE 17 Whitehall Street

Shrewsbury SY2 5AD

ACCOUNTANTS Community Accounting Services Redwood Park, 7 Napoleon Dr, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury SY3 5PH

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees’ Report 1
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Notes to the Accounts 12
Independent Examiners Report 18

Trustees’ Report

YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

The trustees present their annual report and the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

Charity Name: Shropshire Music Trust Registered Charity No. 515026 Charity’s principal address: 17 Whitehall Street, Shrewsbury, SY2 5AD

The trustees who managed the charity during the year were:

Chairman Jane Povey - Appointed 8thJanuary 2025
Treasurer Roger Terry
Secretary Christine Stephens
Peter Barritt - Resigned 7thApril 2025
Andrea Belloli
Garry Churchill - Resigned 2ndAugust 2024
Simon Cousins - Resigned 19thFebruary 2025
Caroline Nowotarski - Appointed 2ndAugust 2024
Katy Rink

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is constituted by Deed of Trust dated 22 March 1984, as amended 29 October 1989.

METHODS ADOPTED FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES

The existing trustees actively canvass the local community or more widely by advertisement for persons who may have an interest in the aims of the Trust and who they consider would be suitable to act as additional trustees.

RISK MANAGEMENT

A budget is set annually and progress is reviewed at trustees’ meetings which are held at least quarterly. Care is taken to ensure that the programme of concerts is varied and attractive to our potential audiences and is not so large as to be likely to put undue pressure on our resources.

1

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Charity are to advance the education of the public in the art of music and the other arts, in particular by the presentation of public concerts, recitals, lectures, master classes and similar events in Shropshire. The main activities normally undertaken are:

In setting objectives and planning activities the trustees have given due consideration to the general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit and, in particular, to its supplementary public guidance.

2

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Following the death of our former Chairman, David Waterhouse, in October 2023, the trustees had shared the chair’s duties while seeking a suitable replacement. We were delighted to appoint Dr Jane Povey as both a new trustee and as Chairman in January 2025. Jane brings a wealth of experience from her distinguished career in healthcare and a track record in integrating the arts into community well-being. A keen musician herself, and first flute at the Shrewsbury Symphony Orchestra, Jane has a passion for making creative arts more accessible to her local community in Shropshire.

Jane Povey, SMT Chair

The Trust has been pleased to welcome another new trustee, Caroline Nowotarski, in August 2024. Caroline is an accomplished teacher and performer on Violin and has taken the lead on our programme to make more music education available to young people.

Peter Barritt resigned as a trustee owing to health concerns in April 2025. He had combined his own promotion of piano concerts with the Trust’s programme and assisted our Musical Director John Moore in setting up and delivering the concert programme for 2024-25. trustees Garry Churchill and Simon Cousins also resigned during this season. We are grateful to all three for their work in support of the Trust and wish them well.

During this financial year the Trust has continued its concert promotion programme. The programme for the year consisted of 14 concerts, curated and presented by the Trust’s Artistic Director John Moore. John is a driving force and inspiration of so much music-making in Shrewsbury and we are privileged to work with him. As well as planning the season he takes

3

great care to ensure that the venues are well prepared and that the artists enjoy performing for us.

John Moore introducing the members of Duo Arpeggi

This season our audience numbers have been consistently high, with two concerts sold out. The feedback from these concerts demonstrates the appreciation by Shropshire citizens for the concerts and activities which the Trust promotes.

We are most grateful to those of our supporters who have tirelessly worked to set up, manage, and publicise our events. We are also most grateful to our many supporters and sponsors who donate money to the Trust. It is only through their generosity of time and money that we are able to bring outstanding artists to perform in Shropshire while keeping our ticket prices low.

This season we have increased our outreach activities to encourage music making among young people. We have provided funds to the Shropshire Young Musician's Parent Helpers Association - SYMPHO – for the group tuition of brass / woodwind instruments for 12 pupils at Greenacres School for 3 terms. We also funded members of the Dante String Quartet to provide a masterclass to pupils of Belvidere Secondary School.

The 2024-25 concert season was launched in September with a reception for supporters in St Mary’s church, Shrewsbury, after which the Dante String Quartet, performed in nearby St Alkmund’s church. Zoë Beyers, an Honorary Patron of the Trust, led the quartet in a programme of music by Haydn, Janáček, Walton, and Judith Weir.

In October we promoted three concerts of classical music from Latin America and Spain by the Catalan cellist Francois Ragot and guitarist Nathalie Menguel, who perform as Duo Arpeggi. This was a late addition to our programme, where John Moore was able to take advantage of their visit to the UK, and arrange concerts in Shrewsbury, Whitchurch, and Bridgnorth.

4

The Dante String Quartet, who opened the season in September at St Alkmund’s Church

In October we also welcomed Kazakhstan-born pianist Alim Beisembayev who performed the first of our two International Piano Recitals.

In November a concert given by Gabriel Fauré biographer Jessica Duchen, Fenella Humphreys (Violin) and Viv McLean (Piano) marked the centenary of the composer’s death. A concert of French fin-de-siècle music formed a musical love story, drawing on Fauré’s letters to his fiancée, Marianne Viardot, and on Turgenev’s novella The Song of Triumphant Love.

The outstanding Brimingham based choir Ex Cathedra returned to Shrewsbury in December for their concert of Christmas music and readings, always a favourite for Shropshire residents who filled St Chad’s church to capacity. The Trust was pleased to provide complimentary tickets to some Ukrainian refugees living in the town.

Our second International Piano Recital was held in January when the brilliant Georgian pianist Mariam Batsashvili playing music by Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schuman, and Liszt.

In February the Dante String Quartet returned with a programme which included quartets by Shostakovich and Brahms. The following month we were delighted to welcome the GermanBritish lyric baritone Benjamin Appl, who was one of the last pupils of the legendary German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and who based his programme of songs around FischerDieskau’s life story, narrated by John Moore.

5

Pianist James Ballieu, Benjamin Appl, and narrator John Moore with Benjamin’s portrait of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

The Trust sponsored a concert given in Market Drayton in March by Alis Huws, the official Royal harpist. This reflected a desire of the trustees to advance our charitable aims by assisting other organisations to promote concerts in Shropshire where we did not have the capacity to do so ourselves.

The outstanding Carducci String Quartet returned in April with clarinettist Julian Bliss to perform Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, and were joined by guest players in a performance of the Schuber octet.

The Trust always like to include in its annual programme some more eclectic concerts, to delight and hopefully to widen our audiences. This season our audience was thrilled by the group Hejira whose music celebrates the jazz period of the career of Joni Mitchell. The seven outstanding musicians included the extraordinarily talented Hattie Whitehead who recreated Joni’s pitch-accuracy, and poise.

6

Hejira performing at Shrewsbury School’s Barnes Theatre

Our other jazz concert followed in May when clarinettist Julian Bliss returned with his own jazz band to perform music by Gershwin, Benny Goodman, and from the great American musicals.

Ex Cathedra returned for our final concert in May to perform their Summer Music by Candlelight choral concert.

7

FINANCIAL REVIEW

During this financial year the Trust has delivered a season of 13 concerts which have been well attended. The directs costs of promoting concerts (i.e. artists’ fees, venue hire, event-specific promotion) were higher than last year, reflecting a more ambitious programme, but also including an increase in the changes due to the Performing Rights Society for permission to perform works in copyright. These costs were matched by an increase in the corresponding direct income from ticket sales.

Our Information technology & Marketing costs increased to £2,265 (2023-24: £719) due to higher use of social media advertising.

We increased this year a programme of outreach activities to encourage music making among young people, resulting in expenditure under “Donations Made” of £4,375 (2023-24: £1040)

Our overall deficit on Unrestricted Funds was £815 (2023-24: surplus of £8,846). The reduction, compared with FY 2023-24, was due to two main factors:

  1. A decision by trustees to use some of our reserves to advance music education among young people

  2. Income from donations from our supporters and sponsors (including gift aid) has decreased to £11,192 (2023-24: £14,999), due in part to generous donations received last year in tributes to our late Chairman David Waterhouse following his death.

RESERVES POLICY

Unrestricted funds

The trustees are of the opinion that at least £20,000 is needed in unrestricted funds to enable the Trust to continue its programme at a level consistent with recent years.

The current value of unrestricted reserves, £88,703 (2023-24: £89,517), exceeds this amount. The trustees will make further efforts to use them for the Trust’s charitable objectives during the 2025-26 financial year.

Designated funds

The Designated Development Fund balance of £10,387 (2023-24: £10,387) is carried forward for future use against development work to be identified.

Restricted funds

The remaining balance of the Helen Saunders bequest, £891 (2023-24: £891) will be carried forward.

TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees 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).

Charity 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 Charity and of the income resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

8

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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 2011 Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the trustees

Chair – Jane Povey Date: 20/9/25

9

Statement of Financial Activities

(INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Please note that, in all of the following tables, numbers may not precisely add up due to rounding to pounds of values held as pounds and pence.

Note Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Income From:
Donations 3 11,192 - - 11,192 14,999
Charitable Activities 4 52,465 - - 52,465 46,117
Total 63,657 - - 63,657 61,115
Expenditure
Charitable Activities 5 64,472 - - 64,472 52,269
Development Costs 6 - - - - -
Total 64,472 - - 64,472 52,269
Net Income/
(Expenditure)
(815) - - (815) 8,846
Transfers between funds 12 - - - - -
Net movement in funds (815) - - (815) 8,846
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought
forward
13 89,517 10,387 891 100,795 91,949
Total funds carried
forward
88,703 10,387 891 99,981 100,795

10

Balance Sheet

AS AT 30 JUNE 2025

~~a~~ Note
~~ee~~
£
~~ee~~
y/e 2025
£
~~ee~~
£
~~ee~~
y/e 2024
£
~~ee~~
Fixed Assets
~~a ~~
~~a~~
~~——~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~——~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~ee ~~ ~~ee~~
Equipment
~~a~~
~~——~~
9
~~a~~
~~——~~
~~a~~
~~a~~
-
~~a~~
-
~~a~~
~~——~~
~~a ~~
~~——~~
~~a~~
~~a~~
~~a~~
Current Assets
~~——~~
~~ee~~
~~——~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~
Debtors
~~——~~
~~ee~~
10
~~——~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
868
~~a~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~ee~~
1,410
~~e~~
~~e~~
Balance at Bank -
Lloyds
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
101,569
~~e~~~~e~~
~~e~~ 100,946
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
Balance at Bank -
Sumup
~~e~~
~~ee~~
~~e~~
~~ee~~
28
~~e~~~~e~~
~~e~~ 27
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
~~e~~
Stock
~~a~~
~~———~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
243
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ -
~~e~~
~~e~~
Total
~~a~~
~~———~~
~~a~~ 102,707
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ 102,382
~~———~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~
Liabilities
~~———~~
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~
Creditors: amounts
falling due within one
year
~~———~~
~~ee~~
11
~~ee~~
2,727
~~ee ~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
1,587
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
Total
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ 2,727
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ 1,587
~~ee~~
~~ee~~
~~a~~
~~oT~~
~~oT ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Net Current Assets
less Current Liabilities
~~oT~~
~~oT ~~ ~~ ~~ 99,981
~~
~~oT~~
~~a~~
~~Ce~~
~~oT ~~
~~a~~
~~ ~~
~~a~~
~~
Total Net Assets
~~a ~~
~~Ce~~
~~a ~~
~~a~~
99,981
100,795
~~Ce~~
~~a~~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
The Funds of the
Charity
~~CeECT~~
~~a~~
12
~~ECT~~
~~
~~ ~~ECT~~
~~
~~ ~~ECT~~
Unrestricted funds
~~a~~
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ 88,703
Designated funds
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ 10,387
~~ee~~
10,387
Restricted funds
~~ee~~
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ 891
~~ee~~
891
~~a~~ ~~a~~
Total Funds
~~a~~
~~a~~ 99,981 100,795

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 20/9/25 and signed on behalf of the trustees

Jane Povey (Chair)

Roger Terry (Treasurer)

The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements.

11

Notes to the Accounts

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective October 2019) – (second edition Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Fund Accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not yet been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds relate to future Development Expenditure which has been set aside by the trustees from unrestricted reserves if needed to contribute to the aim of securing the longterm future of the Trust.

Restricted funds represent a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest, and b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the charity for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the year-end must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.

INCOMING RESOURCES

Recognition of Income

All incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time of the donation.

Grants

Grants are received from various bodies annually to support the work of the Trust in staging concerts throughout a season which normally runs for 9 months from October to June. Grants are normally credited to income in the year in which the corresponding expenditure on concerts is paid out.

No grant income was received in FY 2024-25.

Fixed Assets

Provision for depreciation of fixed assets held for use by the Charity is charged on the assets over their estimated useful life.

ASSETS

12

Debtors

Debtors include amounts receivable for charitable activities undertaken, the balances due on grants receivable for the period covered by these accounts, and donations from sponsors.

Balances at Bank

Balances at bank are short term highly liquid investments and are held at par value.

EXPENDITURE & LIABILITIES

Liability Recognition

Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under various expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to Charitable Activities. Expenditure includes irrecoverable VAT and irrecoverable liabilities.

3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Donations from supporters 9,138 - - 9,138 11,819
Income Tax refund re
donations
2,055 - - 2,055 2,879
Sponsorship - - - - 300
Total 11,192 - - 11,192 14,999

4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

~~pO~~ Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Ticket Sales
~~pO~~
~~po~~
49,758 - - 49,758 43,184
Programme Sales
~~pO~~
~~po~~
1,953 - - 1,953 1,565
Programme Advertising
~~po~~
~~po~~
~~pO~~
~~po~~ -
~~po~~
-
~~po~~
-
~~po~~
-
~~po~~
30
~~po~~
Educational Workshops
~~pO~~
~~po~~
- - - - -
Grants
~~pO~~
~~po~~
~~pO~~
- - - - -
Refreshment Sales
~~po~~
~~pO~~
~~po~~
755 - - 755 1,338
Total
~~pO~~
~~po~~
52,465 - - 52,465 46,117

13

5. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Artists fees & expenses 37,739 - - 37,739 30,999
Programme Production 900 - - 900 613
Printing & publicity 2,677 - - 2,677 2,647
Hall Hire 4,437 - - 4,437 4,514
Staff 7,477 - - 7,477 7,752
Administration expenses and
stock write down
1,060 - - 1,060 1,152
Postage & telephone 7 - - 7 53
PRS Payments 1,725 - - 1,725 1,024
Subscriptions 411 - - 411 392
Insurance 155 - - 155 151
Information technology &
Marketing
2,262 - - 2,262 719
Governance costs 425 - - 425 400
Refreshment Expenses 804 - - 804 814
Donations Made 4,375 - - 4,375 1,040
Fundraising 18 - - 18 -
Grant Repayment - - - - -
Total 64,472 - - 64,472 52,269

6. DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Organisational Review - - - - -
Development - - - - -
Management - - - - -
Total - - - - -

7. EMPLOYEES’ REMUNERATION

There were no paid employees of the Trust during the year (2024-25: nil).

14

8. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION EXPENSES

No remuneration or expenses have been made or are due to any of the trustees in respect of the year, except for reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust. (2024-25: nil).

9. FIXED ASSETS FOR USE BY THE CHARITY

The Charity has no fixed assets.

10. DEBTORS

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Debtors comprise:
Sponsors - - - - -
Grants - - - - -
Others 868 - - 868 1,410
Total 868 - - 868 1,410

11. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Sundry Creditors 2,727 - - 2,727 1,587
Total 2,727 - - 2,727 1,587

15

12. STATEMENT OF FUNDS

Brought
Forward
Incoming
Resources
Resources
Expended
Transfers
between
funds
Carried
Forward
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund 89,517 63,657 (64,472) - 88,703
Total Unrestricted Funds 89,517 63,657 (64,472) - 88,703
Designated Funds
Development Fund 10,387 - - - 10,387
Total Designated Funds 10,387 - - - 10,387
Restricted Funds
Helen Saunders Bequest 891 - - - 891
Total Restricted Funds 891 - - - 891
Total of all Funds 100,795 63,657 (64,472) - 99,981

Designated Funds

Development Fund

No expenditure has been made in this financial year.

Restricted Funds

No expenditure has been made in this financial year.

13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Unrestr-
icted
Funds
£
Design-
ated
Funds
£
Restrict-
ed
Funds
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2025
£
Total
Funds
y/e 2024
£
Fixed Assets - - - - -
Current Assets:
Equity 90,561 10,387 891 101,839 100,972
Debtors 868 - - 868 1,410
Creditors due within one
year
(2,727) - - (2,727) (1,587)
Total 88,703 10,387 891 99,981 100,795

16

14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions in this year or the prior year.

17

Independent Examiners Report

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025 which are set out on pages 1 to 17.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Accounts Examiner

Community Accounting Services Redwood Park, 7 Napoleon Dr, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury SY3 5PH

Date 23/12/2025

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