THE BRITISH BMG FEDERATION Registered Charity SC038957 Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2024 2023 2024 Accumulated Fund 17,589.14 13.56 Balance at 1 January Surplus/Deficit of income over expenditure 17,602.70 200.90 17,602.70 17,803.60 Represented by: 22,793.22 7,828.20 0.00 Bank Balance: HSBC Paypal Balance Debtors and Prepayments 27,152.10 54.30 0.00 30,621.42 27,206.40 13,018.72 Less Creditors and Accruals 9,402.80 17,602.70 17,803.60 The balance in the accounts includes £962.76 in the Youth Fund The Youth Fund includes £150 remaining of the £400 donation from the Leigh on Sea BMG Orchestra set aside to fund the youth workshop at BMG Federation Festivals Treasurer 15th January 2025 ## Chair’s Report for the year 2024 Membership Numbers 2024 Honorary 4 Adult 220 Junior 4 Overseas 11 (USA 4, Germany 3, France 2, Australia 1, Spain 1) Given the numbers above it seems particularly pleasing that we had almost 150 people attend our Festival in Cambridge in April this year with additional people on site who were running workshops and performing. It had a great atmosphere and clearly was very successful from many perspectives and for many attendees. Especial thanks must go to Moonlight Mandolin Orchestra who provided a lot of support to ensure it’s smooth running and to the BMG Federation Committee members who were fundamental to its success. The British Fretted Orchestra, (BFO) met for a weekend in Leeds in February and performed at the Festival. BFO has proved a very worthwhile initiative and continues to engage players from the length and breadth of the country – certainly Glasgow to Brighton and Shropshire to Norwich. The possibilities of a presence in Bruchsal, Germany for the Federation of German Plucked String Musicians (BDZ) 2026 eurofestival are now being more actively followed up as a focus for the BFO’s development. Summer School was at Higham Hall in 2024 and this is now becoming one of the two venues together with Halsway Manor that we can currently find suitable to run the event. It proved a very successful weekend for all three groups of players and the interaction between the different classes also adds considerably to the benefits and enjoyment of the weekend. It is easy to take for granted the work that BMG Federation Committee members do on your behalf, but I would like to specifically thank for his work on our website over the past year. has now returned to Australia for a time and has passed this work on to joined the Committee in July to take responsibility for our website and digital presence, and we are very grateful for his support. also leaves behind an archive of music gleaned from a number of orchestras. This music is available to orchestra/group leaders, and we would be delighted if it proves of interest. The Treasurer’s report is also attached to this email and it’s so easy to take this function for granted, so I would like to extend particular thanks to too, where the volume of work during a Festival year is particularly demanding. continues to bring a real professionalism to the look and content of our Newsletter, and has taken on organising their printing and posting so thanks again to them and to Martyn Workman as well for managing the membership so efficiently. , have all made most valuable contributions to the Committee and I am personally grateful to them. We look forward to a successful year in 2025 and welcome your support and engagement with you at our activities over the year to come. British BMG Federation Financial Report. For The Year Ended 31° December 2024. Subscription Income. The total received for the year was up by 8% on the sum received in 2023. This is not as a result of an increase in the annual cost, but the interest shown in our bi-annual Festival. The Festival. The overall income from participants, traders and members of the various audiences, amounted to just over £18,200. Total expenditure was just under£24,300. This resulted in a loss of approximately £6,080. There have been significant cost increases since the Federation held the last festival, particularly in respect of the type of accommodation needed to stage such an event. In addition, the cost of hiring top quality musicians for the concerts has increased. The loss mentioned above, would have consumed a fair proportion of the Federation's reserves, and taken some time to replace. Fortunately had previous experience in applying for grants from Arts Council England. She submitted a claim in advance of the Festival, and her application was successful. Arts Council England gave the Federation a grant of £5,000, which reduced the loss to just over £1,000. We are most grateful fo efforts in making the claim, and to Arts Council England for their support in enabling us to host the event for the benefit of a wide range of musicians. Overheads. There are two specific running costs that are worthy of comment. They are: l. The cost of membership of "Making Music" and the insurance cover that we enjoy through our membership has increased by approximately £450. This is as a result of the extra insurance cover required for the Festival, and £211 paid to the performing Rights Society for the use of copyrighted music. 2. The combined cost of Bank charges and PayPal fees has fallen by £420 compared with 2023. Bank charges have fallen by £675 having moved the account to HSBC. PayPal fees have increased in the year by £250. This being the handling charges of bookings for the Festival. Profit and Loss. Despite the loss sustained from hosting the Festival, the overall profit for the year amounted to £200 after taking into account the other income received by the Federation. Financial Position. The overall results for the year do not show large sums of money generated for the Federation. This is far outweighed by the success of the Festival in Cambridge in April. The small profit earned in the year leaves the Federation in a good position to carry on with its aims during 2025. th Treasurer. 15 January 2025. APPENDIX 3 OSCR Scottsh Chm Re Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Report to the Chty name trUSts￿lmembers of The Brits'sh BMG FetsratK)n R•ghtsred chadty PK038957 On tho accounts of th• charlty for tho pfrrfod peri<￿ stat dats Period and date Klonlh 12 Day 01 Y•*r Ythar 31 2024 8•t out on pa9M Th¥1 r•wl R••pocthi• Tne chartry's trustees are responslble forthe weparatlon of the a￿Unts In a￿ordance r•8pon*lbllttlM of wath the of t￿ Cbart)es and Tr￿tee Investsnent (SCtX1a￿jl 2005 Act and the tru$t•K Ind •xamkn•r Charitie5 Acoy)unts IEcoUandl R￿ula￿.0￿5 20C6. The ctharity tiustees con5Kler thal tt audit fequwerrent of Regulation 10(1) Idl of the kcounts RegulalK)ns thjes ￿t app¢y It is my responsibility to examine the aGGounts as required under section 44(1) Ic} of the Act to state whether p8rtKular mattern have come lo my attentk?n. Ba61s ot Ind0p￿thnt My examinats'on is carried out in ac£ordance wrth Regulation 11 ofthe Ch8ritss •xamlneV8 •tatsff•nt Accounts ISo)tland) RegulalKJns 20c￿ examinatR)n i￿lLYAeS a ￿VIew of the counbng rerords kept by the chaty aTrJ a coThyanson of the acrnunts presented with those records It also Indudes consKlerabon of ary ￿n￿$ual *ems or di%losures In the ounts and seeks expkqnabons from the trustees corcwning any such matters. The prwedures undertaken do prnV￿e all the that would be requtred in an audll and, consequenty. I do express an aud* otynk)n on ts accounts. Indopendent examin•¢• In the course of my eXaminat￿n. no nwttèr ha8 come to my attents'on1gth*** which gives me reasonable ouse to ts￿￿¥& trtat In any matedal ￿pect the ulreffEnts.' tD keep acc¥)unting reaxds ￿ aGo)r(Sarce wilh •ethn 44(1) (a) of the 2005 AGI and Regulation 4 of the 20(E Accounts RegUlat￿nS. and to prepare accounts which xcord the acccyJnting rec*rds and compty with Regulation 9 of the 20(E Acownts Rewlation8 hwe not been met. or 2. to which. in my opinion. attention should be (trawn in ordw to enab￿ 8 propèr Slgnèd.. Name.. Ro1ovJnt professlonal qualMcatk>rfs) or body Irf any): Oat•: 08'oH.23 Addr•ss: Fi fe Vol untrary Action Calcdonia Houae Pentland Park, Saltire Centre Glenrothes KY6 2AL folbwin9 pag•. THE BRITISH BMG FEDERATION Registered Charity SC038957 Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31st December 2024 2023 2024 Income 4,345.39 Subscriptions 4,692.61 0.00 Festival Income 18,217.73 794.16 Donations: Arts Council England, Gift Aid, etc 6,396.12 5,832.00 BFO Project 2024125 1,813.00 2,210.00 BFO Project 2023/24 0.00 45.00 Donations for Young Persons Fund 0.00 72.50 Newsletter Income (adverts & sale of back issues) 67.50 0.00 Sundry Sales 0.00 13,299.05 31,186.96 less Expenditure 349.63 Festival Expenditure 24,296.69 1,105.71 BFO Project 2024125 1,232.62 6,687.40 BFO Project 2023124 652.75 334.08 Administrative Expenses/Donations Made 307.08 0.00 Committee Expenses 50.00 3,098.57 Cost of Newsletter 2,668.76 345.00 Grants Awarded from Young Persons Fund 350.00 35.02 Membership Cards 0.00 323.00 Making Music Membership, Insurance & PRS Fees 777.56 1,007.08 Bank Charges and Paypal Fees 588.20 0.00 Website 62.40 13,285.49 30,986.06 13.56 SurpluslDeficit of income over expenditure 200.90 ## Trustees’ Annual Report ## For the Year Ended 31 December 2024 The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31 December 2024 ## Reference & Administrative Information Charity Name The British BMG Federation Charity No SC038957 Address The Ramblers, Furze Lane Stock Essex CM4 9RW ## Current Trustees Member Chair Secretary Treasurer Member Member Member Independent Examiner : ) Fife Voluntary Action, Craig Mitchell House, Flemington Road Glenrothes KY7 5QF ## Structure Governance & Management ## Constitution The Charity is an unincorporated association, which was founded at a Rally in Blackpool in 1929. It is governed by its constitution dated March 2004, which was last amended in 8[th] November 2007. The Federation was granted charitable status by OSCR 16[th] November 2007. Appolntment of Trustees The management of the Federation shall be vested in the Executive Committee and shall comprise of the following office bearers: Chairperson. Vice Chairperson. Secretsry. Treasurer and not more than five Executive Members. Committee members are elected for a period of two years and shall retire at the end of that period but be eligible for re-election at an Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to Co-opt members and to form sub-committees. Objectives & Activities Charitable purposes To promote, improve. develop and maintain public education in music and in particular banjo. mandolin and guitar music and other associated instruments. a} To promote the music of banjos. mandolins and guitars to the inhabitants of the United Kingdom bl To encourage interest in the named instruments and to assist in the musical and instrumental education of banjo. mandolin and guitar players c} To encourage all levels and abilities of players to join a fretted instrument orchestra. including the young. elderly and disabled citizens of the United Kingdom dl To provide information. support and assistance to the public and to members of the Federation in all matters relating to the named instruments el To organize events which will further the objects of the Federation. Activities Given that there were just under 240 members of the Federation in 2024. it seems particularly pleasingthat we had almost 150 people attend our Festival in Cambridge in April 2024. There were additional people on site who were running workshops and performing- It had a great atmosphere and clearly was very successful from many perspectives and for many attendees. Special thanks must go to Moonlight Mandolin Orchestra who provided a lot of supportto ensure its smooth running and to the BMG Federation Committee members who were fundamental to its success. We continue to look for another person to take over other on-going responsibility which is to organise the Summer Schoo . rganisations like ours rely on the goodwill of members and I would be delighted to hear from someone prepared to carry out this task. British Fretted Orchestra (BFO) The British Fretted Orchestra, (BFO) met for a weekend in Leeds in February and performed at the Festival. BFO has proved a very worthwhile initiative and continues to engage players from the length and breadth of the country – certainly Glasgow to Brighton and Shropshire to Norwich. The possibilities of a presence in Bruchsal, Germany for the Federation of German Plucked String Musicians (BDZ) 2026 Eurofestival are now being more actively followed up as a focus for the BFO’s development. Summer School 2025 Summer School was at Higham Hall in 2024 and this is now becoming one of the two venues together with Halsway Manor that we can currently find suitable to run the event. It proved a very successful weekend for all three groups of players and the interaction between the different classes also adds considerably to the benefits and enjoyment of the weekend. Halsway Manor has been booked for June 2025. BMG Federation Newsletter The quarterly newsletter continues to be very popular with members. It is our main means of informing members on events, publications and other news. Various articles and the sheet music is well received. I would like to express my thanks to and who oversee the newsletter and who has kindly taken on the task of posting the newsletters to the members. ## Members Finally, I would like to thank all members for your continued support of the Federation, and for the invaluable time spent by , our Membership Secretary. ## Financial Review Subscription Income. The total received for the year was up by 8% on the sum received in 2023. This was principally due to the interest shown in our bi-annual Festival ## The Festival. The total income from participants, traders, members of the various audiences, amounted to just over £18,200. Total expenditure was just under £24,300. This amounted to a loss of approximately £6,080. There have been significant cost increases since the Federation held the last Festival, particularly in respect of the type of accommodation needed to stage such an event. In addition, the cost of hiring top quality musicians for the concerts has increased. The loss mentioned above, would have consumed a fair proportion of the Federations reserves, and taken some time to replace. Fortunately, had previous experience in applying for grants from Arts Council England. She submitted a claim in advance of the Festival, and her application was successful. Arts Council England gave the Federation a grant of £5,000, which reduced the loss to just over £1,000. We are most grateful for Nicki’s efforts in making the claim, and to Arts Council England for their support in enabling us to host the event for a wide range of musicians. Overheads. There are two specific running costs that are worthy of comment. They are: 1. The cost of membership of “Making Music” and the insurance cover that we enjoy through our membership has increased by about £450. This is as a result of the extra insurance cover required for the Festival, and £211 paid to the Performing Rights Society for the use of copyrighted music. 2. The combined cost of Bank charges and PayPal fees has fallen by £420 compared to 2023. Bank charges have fallen by £675 having moved the account to HSBC. PayPal fees have increased in the year by £250. This arose from the handling charges of bookings for the Festival. Profit and Loss. Despite the loss sustained from hosting the Festival, the overall profit for the year amounted to £200, after taking into account the other income received by the Federation. Financial Position. The overall results for the year do not show large sums generated for the Federation. This is far outweighed by the success of the Festival in Cambridge in April. The small profit earned in the year leaves the Federation in a good position to carry on with its aims in 2025. Treasurer