The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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 charitable objects as set out in the Memorandum and Articles are: “To promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, by encouraging and fostering the understanding, knowledge, appreciation and development of folklore music and its associated artistic forms and folklore tradition.
To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society through folklore music and related arts activities, (being excluded from society, or part of society, as a result of being a member of a socially and economically deprived community).”
The charity’s objects are achieved through bringing people together to experience the transformative power of engaging with the arts, especially as active participants.
In the year ending 31 March 2025 the charity worked towards five strategic priorities:
1. A clear delivery plan
Community arts activities are more widespread now than at any time in our history. Where before we could turn our hand to any type of activity, in this year we shifted our energies to move away from trying to be ‘all things to all people’.
2. Develop an impact framework
Design and implement new systems, that enable staff, trustees and other supporters to more confidently articulate the charity’s impact.
3. Plan for succession and implement a new staffing model
Planning for succession across all roles and diversifying our team, with internal and external recruitment to new roles including the Board
4. Develop a role as a sector leader
Promote and celebrate our activity areas, and an increased focus on partnership building and raising our profile leading towards more partnership projects
5. Develop environmental and financial sustainability
Be proactive and disciplined in retaining the financial progress made, to ready us for the future.
In 24/25 our activity plan was arranged in four areas:
1. Working with people with special education needs and/or disability, at all ages
2. Sector leadership and reaching wider
3. Place making in Okehampton
4. Widening access and deepening progression in participatory folk music
1. Working with people with special education needs and/or disability, at all ages
Young people: Our partnership with InFocus Charity in Exeter has developed with two groups of young people on Monday mornings working closely with musicians, creating new songs, tunes and dances in the folk style, which are showcased each term to the community at whole school events.
We continued to build on our relationship with The Pelican Project – an Exeter-based group of young people with learning-disabilities. As well as regular workshops, we helped with their other initiatives and used the partnership to signpost to our other creative offers.
Our own Devon Inclusive Folk Ensemble (DIFE) continued to grow and was the only opportunity in Devon for disabled children and young people and their families to join together to make music.
Singing for Wellness (respiratory choir): A focus for 2024/25 was the continuation and consolidation of our Singing for Wellness programme. Three groups met weekly, one in Honiton (East Devon) one in Torquay (Torbay) and one in Okehampton (West Devon). These weekly meetings were augmented by three ‘gathers’ where members came together to share food, conversation and songs.
Over 60 adults living with long-term respiratory conditions enjoyed the weekly singing activities, which supported maintenance of their lung function as well as raising their spirits and introducing them to people with a similar lived experience.
The support from Kath Donohue, Respiratory Physiotherapist from University of Plymouth has been invaluable in helping develop our Song Scale of Efforts. A system whereby singers can judge their level of their breathlessness as they tackle each song. The participants have been contributing ideas for the content of the songs. This resource will be launched later in 2025.
2. Sector Leadership and reaching wider
Sidmouth Folk Festival. A nine-month long project involving all the whole Wren Music community along with the people of Sidmouth. Commissioned by the festival and designed to help celebrate the festival’s 70th Anniversary. The project had two major outputs:
Folk Festival in a Day at the local primary school. Artists visited the school, delivering 16 workshops in song, music and dance, and the children showed off their skills at a fun packed afternoon to family and friends. Guest appearances by Sidmouth Steppers display dance side and our men’s choir MenSing. The event saw 220 children and families enjoying the activities.
Unearthing: The stories of Sidmouth. The finale concert was at lunchtime on the first weekend of the festival in the Ham Marquee – the festival’s main concert stage. The show explored Sidmouth both through its social history, the festival’s history and the area’s geological history. The programme and concert themes were informed by discussions with Sidmouth residents and Wren Music group members. 45 people contributed their memories. Tony Lidington was appointed Performance Advisor and attended regular meetings with our team in the run-up to the performance. Six new pieces were commissioned especially for the concert.
Bellringing Day: Devised as part of the centenary celebrations to mark the anniversary of the death of folksong collector Revd. Sabine Baring-Gould. Wren Folk Chorale sang the Devon Bellringing song as the Devon Association of Ringers reenacted the competitions depicted in the song. It was a glorious autumn day as a coach load of audience members and the Folk Chorale toured the churches in Northlew, Ashwater, Broadwoodwidger, Launceston, and Callington.
Westcountry Midwinter Music: Funded by the National Lottery Project Grant programme from Arts Council England this project was a celebration of local carol and wassail traditions. An extensive programme across West Devon, North Devon and Exmoor. The project involved teaching carols and wassail songs to nine schools, three community groups and three choirs. The schools contributed to writing new songs about midwinter. A book of songs and an online resource are due to be published early 2025/26.
3. Place making in Okehampton
Okehampton remained our hometown, and the location of our office, store and main premises. All year round we delivered regular activities which served local people while also attracting people into the area for opportunities to make music with us.
West Devon Folk Choir enabled 32 adults who wanted to sing; Okehampton Street Band got 16 teenagers and adults playing brass, woodwind or percussion outdoors; Mixed Monthly Orchestra allowed more than 30 adults who were total beginners to try playing an instrument in a band for the first time; Folk Sinfonietta got 22 highly proficient instrumental players performing orchestrated folk tunes; MenSing provided a safe space for 18 people who identify as male to try singing together; and Sing & Play helped 31 children under five and their adults to have permission to play around with songs, dances, rhymes. We also hosted children and families’ summer music sessions.
Okehampton Community Arts Network: This year we launched this local network for arts and cultural organisations in and around Okehampton. This has resulted in new ideas together, progress towards anti-clash programming, and we are looking at bigger partnership projects for the future.
4. Widening access and deepening progression in participatory folk music
Devon Youth Folk Ensemble: It has been another exciting year for the Devon Youth Folk Ensemble. Numbers have increased and after a conversation with the band we decided to cap the numbers at 25. This means we now have a waiting list! They have had many performances across the Southwest, highlights were The Ham Marquee at Sidmouth Folk Festival where they premiered their composition Norman’s Hornpipe (commissioned by the festival) and the Main Stage at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival.
Weekly participation for adults: We have delivered the Devon Folk Orchestra, Exeter Folk Choir, North Devon Folk Choir, Torbay Folk Choir, and West Devon Folk Choir – each having over 25 members weekly. This year we evolved the way the groups interact and they have worked towards more joint projects with more prestigious performances.
Folk Chorale: A new project for adults who wish to sing in an advanced singing ensemble. The Folk Chorale is open to confident singers, learning songs by heart, performing without music. They learn specially orchestrated arrangements of more complex pieces for mixed voices. Their first ever performance was as part of the Bellringing Day in October.
Folk Sinfonietta: The Folk Sinfonietta is a group for highly proficient players, playing specially orchestrated folk music together at the highest level. This year the 25-strong membership worked on a piece for the Sidmouth Unearthing Concert, a 15-minute fantasia on the East Devon tune collection, ‘Dances for a Party’.
Mixed Monthly Orchestra: This supportive group is for adult complete beginners and improvers. They meet monthly and have access to our instrument store room and subsidised hire scheme so that adults can try something new. More than 20 people came each month and enjoy their first experiences with playing folk tunes.
Partners 2024/25
In this financial year the charity delivered music and arts activities in contracts, commissions, or partnerships with the following organisations:
Baring-Gould Centenary Committee
Beaford Arts
Beer Quarry Caves
Big Noise Chorus
Boasley Cross Primary School
Bovey Tracey Academy
Budleigh Literary Festival
Callington Mayfest
CEDA
Cornwall County Council: Tamar River Festival
Courtenay Players
Cutcombe Primary School
Devon and Torbay Music Education Hubs
Devonshire Association of Ringers
Dolton & Dowland Carnival
Dunster Carollers
Everything Okehampton
Exeter Phoenix
Exford Primary School
Friends of Throwleigh Church
In Fous Charity
Lampard Community School
Landkey Community Primary Academy
Landkey Sings!
Moretonhampstead Community Development Trust
Moretonhampstead Primary School
Northlew Primary School
Nympton Church
Okehampton Community Garden
Okehampton Friendly Circle
Okehampton Primary School
Plymouth Urban Tree Fair
Promenade Productions
Sidmouth Folk Festival
Simonsbath Festival
Sound Storm
South Zeal Carnival
St Sidwell's Community Centre
Teignmouth Folk Festival
Teignmouth Folk festival
The Libre School
The Pelican Project
The Rise Care Home
Timberscombe Primary School
Torre CofE Academy
University of Plymouth: Faculty of Heath
Wood Fair
Looking ahead to 2025/26, we continue working to our three-year strategic plan (2024-2027). We intend to be focused with our energies and to confidently celebrate our impact. Business as usual will continue to evolve as we work towards reviewing our main premises, creating new job roles, and recruiting a Chair of Trustees. We will continue to build strong partnerships and connections with the sectors in which we operate.
The charity generated incoming resources of £232,693 (2024: £213,143) in the year, of which £90,916 (2024: £56,280) derived from restricted grant funding and restricted donations. Against this it incurred total costs of £205,065 (2024: £222,773) resulting in a net surplus of £27,628 (2024: deficit of £9,630).
The trustees reviewed their Reserves Policy and adopted a target figure for unrestricted reserves (i.e. those funds which have not been designated for a specific purpose) at £50,000 or three months running costs (whichever is the greater).
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
In the year ending 31 March 2025, the charity delivered activities which were supported by grants or donations from the following partners:
Arts Council of England: National Lottery Project Grant
Devon and Torbay Music Education Hubs
Devon Community Foundation
John Lewis
National Lottery Community Fund: Reaching Communities
Okehampton United Charity
The Clare Milne Trust
The Ragdoll Foundation
West Devon Borough Council
Wren Music is a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales and is a registered charity. Wren Music is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The trustees (who are also directors of Wren Music for the purpose of company law) have given due consideration to the Charity Commissions published guidance on Public Benefit as required by the Charities Act.
Directors (the charity trustees) are recruited through advertisement and direct approach. They are invited to submit an expression of interest and to complete a skills audit. Potential directors are subsequently interviewed by a director (trustee) and their appointment is considered at the next Board meeting. In this financial year, the Board undertook a governance review, referring to the National Council for Voluntary Organisation's Governance Wheel. In accordance with the aim to diversify the Board, a new director was appointed taking the total to six.
Directors are appointed for an initial term of three years and may be appointed for a further term or other period as determined by resolution of the Board. New board members receive copies of the governing document, trustee role description, board of trustees terms of reference and the company handbook and associated policies. The induction process is led by an existing director with support from senior staff.
The Board meets quarterly to review financial and business issues, including the risk register and cash flow. These meetings are augmented with training and away days with staff to examine strategic plans and policies. The trustees undertake quality assurance visits to the charity's activities throughout the year, making a written report to the staff, and a verbal report at the following meeting of the Board of Trustees.
To assist with decision making, the Board has established a structure of sub-committees. The membership of each consists of one trustee, one suitably qualified expert volunteer advisor, and one senior member of staff. In 2024/25 the Board had four such sub-committees: Compliance, Communications, HR, Impact and Capital Development (Ebenezer Hall). Each committee meets when deemed necessary by any sub-committee member, or when requested by the Board of Trustees. They report to the Board at quarterly meetings.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Wren Music (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Wren Music is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Ebenezer Hall, North Street, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1AR.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
Income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.
Limited by Guarantee
Wren Music is a company limited by guarantee and accordingly does not have share capital.
Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such an amount as may be required, not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of its being wound up while he or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Charitable Income
Charitable Income
Provision of educational and community musical services
Charitable Expenditure
Charitable Expenditure
Project costs
Marketing services
Motor expenses
Wages and salaries - admin staff
Training and welfare
Rent
Light, heat and water
Premises repairs and renewals
Insurance
Telephone
Postage
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Ragdoll Foundation
Funding for music activities for pre-school children and their families plus older volunteers in Okehampton.
National Lottery Arts Grants
Funding for a community arts project to celebrate Westcountry village carol singing and wassailing traditions.
National Lottery Communities Fund - Singing for Wellness
Singing workshops are provided for people living with respiratory conditions, to connect adults living with the conditions and give them new ways to understand, manage and communicate their condition in three localities in Devon.
The Clare Milne Trust
Funding towards a partnership project with InFocus to enable students to undertake work experience with Wren Music.
West Devon Borough Council
Funding to purchase portable IT equipment.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
During the year ended 31 March 2023, one trustee gave the charity a loan of £10,000 to cover unexpected one off expenditure. The loan is interest free and repayable upon demand. As at the balance sheet date, the outstanding balance owed by the charity was £Nil (2024: £1,000).
One trustee made total donations to the charity of £102 (2024: £102) during the year. The donation was received without condition.