The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Although conditions continue slowly to recover after the significant disruption to the performing arts in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, when coupled with recent economic and political events the challenges faced by organisations whose work comes predominantly from touring are still considerable. Budgets almost everywhere remain very tight, and are frequently subject to late change, resulting in forward planning being far more complex than in the past. To make budgets work, projects at all scales almost invariably need to be performed for more than one presenter: tessellating different repertoire wishes and available dates across different presenters, often in different countries, brings further challenges which, combined with the long lead times involved in creating and bringing projects to fruition, have resulted in the international touring model that worked successfully for many years being much changed.
In parallel with the difficulties faced in the live classical music world, the recorded music industry has substantially changed direction. Sales of physical product continue to decline, but the rise of streaming has not replaced that lost income stream. New methods to gain digital attention and traction have constantly to be devised and revised. Nonetheless, recordings on our Vivat label and commercial studio recordings have continued our objective to promote new and rising talent, benefitting careers by setting tomorrow’s performers alongside established artists.
At the year end, unrestricted financial reserves were £48,396 (2024: £50,086): a deficit of £1,690 (2024: deficit of £8,607).
We are very grateful to the benefactors who generously make possible our recordings, and who also support the charity’s fixed costs. We also pay tribute to the talented musicians from Vivat's orchestra and choir, The King's Consort, who despite the difficult conditions have maintained their excellent standards. We thank manager Viola Scheffel and artistic director Robert King for their work managing the charity and its administration. Finally, we extend our appreciation to all our listeners for their continuing enthusiastic support for the charity's work, both live and through digital channels.
Looking ahead, financial pressures continue to alter audience attendance patterns, further curtailing Arts budgets across Europe. Additionally, there is an understandable desire for European presenters in the first place to support their local, regional and national ensembles and orchestras, rather than bringing in international names. The UK's exit from the European Union, which brought tighter regulation and increased bureaucracy, especially around work permits and visas, makes UK performers less attractive to already-pressured EU presenters. The combination of these factors creates significant challenges for future touring. However, thanks to its prudent financial planning and low fixed costs, the global brand of our ensemble, the ability of the charity to react rapidly to changing circumstances, and our ever-increasing digital presence, Vivat remains in a good position to weather this unprecedented coincidence of adverse global events.
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 articles of association, 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 objects of Vivat Music Foundation are “to advance the education of the public in the art and science of music and in particular of historically aware musical performance, by the presentation of concerts, recitals and lectures, publication of materials and other activities”. This is achieved through concerts, recordings both audio and video, an increasingly active digital presence, publication of performing editions, and through other relevant activity, primarily but not exclusively by its renowned performing ensemble The King’s Consort, aiming to reach the widest possible audience with performances of world class musical standards.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Live performance, broadcast and digital activity
The international touring model that has worked successfully for many years is now much changed. Presenters see budgets trimmed, sometimes at relatively short notice, and the ever-growing need to link concerts together to make a tour economically viable means that the postponement or cancellation of one performance in a planned tour can make the other performances uneconomic. This was especially keenly felt during the 2024-25 season, with a number of projects postponed or unable to come to fruition, resulting in a very slight season. However, we further extended our online, recorded and digital performances, aiming to reach the widest possible global audience. More than three million streams and downloads have now been made of recordings on the Vivat label, with our fifteen informative video ‘shorts' for our recorded projects additionally receiving tens of thousands of further views through a wide variety of digital distribution channels.
Vivat recording label
There were no new recordings issued during the year. However, across the twelve months, more than half a million new streams were made of existing recordings. Streaming and other downloads remain a vital tool in generating live performance opportunities, as well as helping to maintain our wider profile. Broadcasts in the UK on the BBC and elsewhere across the globe on many radio stations and other platforms help in turn to stimulate growth in our digital and download activity. 3,115,000 reported streams and downloads have now been made of recordings on the Vivat label (2024: 2,552,000), although it should be noted that even large streaming figures generate very low financial returns. Additionally, tens of thousands of viewings of the “video shorts” which accompany most of our CD releases have been recorded.
The catalogue of releases at 31 March 2025 included twenty-three titles. Further projects are planned for when finances make these possible. As well as continuing to develop physical and digital distribution networks for these recordings, a priority over the coming years is to continue to further develop a digital strategy that allows Vivat to reach greater audiences worldwide with its core product, through its recordings, website, video films and other digital content.
Audience enrichment and artist development
Our continuing aim is to enrich the lives of audiences through our performances of repertoire both familiar and lesser known, whether in concerts, recordings, broadcasts, or on-line. We also continue to aim to discover and nurture especially talented musicians towards the start of their professional careers, providing them with enviable performing and recording opportunities.
The net result for the year for the unrestricted fund was a deficit of £1,690 (2024: a deficit of £8,607). Total income amounted to £6,892 (2024: £47,089) and expenditure to £8,582 (2024 £55,696).
Fundraising
Voluntary income for the year, comprising gifts from individual donors, and grants from trusts and foundations, stood at £1,874 (2024: £6,776). Whilst modest fundraising during this year was commensurate with slight performance activity, it remains our intention to source gifts and donations from private funders, trusts and foundations to support both costs of new recordings and also to support core costs. The Trustees remain grateful to all our supporters, current and recent, for their generosity, without which the orchestra's work and future plans would not be possible.
Reserves and investment policy
It is the policy of the charity, especially in view of fluctuations in concert and other income from year to year, that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to six months' support costs together with three months' expenditure on own-promotion concerts. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves amounts to approximately £30,000 and has been maintained throughout the year. Total unrestricted reserves at 31 March 2025 were £48,396 (2024: £50,086).
The tight economic conditions which have been felt during the last few years across the UK and mainland Europe have seen audience numbers reduce which, combined with reduced sponsorship and regional and government subsidy, have put considerable strain on the delicate ecosystem by which international touring has long been enabled. These adverse factors look set to affect the provision of live performances for some time to come. Additionally, the extra bureaucracy involved with work permits, visas and transportation of equipment for UK artists following the UK's exit from the EU continues to have a disadvantageous effect on the frequency and volume of work in mainland Europe. The continued combination of these factors looks set to see another year of very sparse engagements during the 2025-26 season.
However, looking further ahead, positive discussions with presenters during the past year, face-to-face, online and at the IAMA and Classical:Next conferences, have generated interest in performance projects for the 2026-27 season: consequently that season looks more promising. Vivat also continues to plan for the seasons beyond, working with presenters to create projects that are artistically attractive to audiences yet fit within strained economic conditions. We also will continue our long-standing aims of:
developing the orchestra's artistic excellence through concerts, recordings, broadcasts and digital content;
developing period instrument performance for a global audience by investing in our digital content (through Vivat Records) and using the web to distribute that content, whilst also enhancing our traditional forms of communication;
educating and nurturing the audiences and artists of the future;
maintaining Vivat's performing ensemble The King's Consort as a world-class ensemble capable of achieving its ambitious vision.
Vivat Music Foundation (Vivat) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 8 February 2010 and governed by a memorandum and articles of association.
The activities of Vivat are controlled by the Board of Trustees, which meets at regular intervals to provide strategic direction and to monitor the work of the management and the orchestra. During the year here reported there were three formal Board meetings. The artistic director and manager attend meetings as appropriate. Trustees receive regular updates on the orchestra's progress from the artistic director and manager. Prior to being proposed for election to join the Board, new Trustees have meetings with existing Trustees, are provided with a detailed induction pack and meet the artistic director and manager. The Trustees ensure that procedures are in place for the nomination and selection of new members of the Board of Trustees, taking especial account of the required balance of skills, knowledge and experience. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees (who are also the directors for the purpose of company law) who served for the year ending 31 March 2025 and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Fundraising
Trustees work with the management on the development of Vivat's fundraising strategy, and play a leading role in soliciting contributions from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors. No professional or external fundraisers were engaged or worked for or with the charity during the period reported.
Audit and risk
The Board of Trustees oversee the accounting systems, accounting policies and financial reporting.
Working with the management, trustees review significant risks to the organisation, assess their likely impact (probability and magnitude), and agree on the best ways of mitigating the risk. They are also responsible for reviewing and approving the orchestra's key performance indicators. The Board of Trustees review the accountants and/or auditors and if necessary make changes which are ratified at the annual general meeting. The Board reviews financial performance at each Board meeting. The Trustees are satisfied that all major risks have been identified and that systems are in place to mitigate those risks.
Appraisal of the Board
The Board reviews its own performance on an annual basis. It assesses how the Board functions as a whole, assessing individuals' contribution and possible further development of their skills, and, where appropriate, making changes.
Executive staff
The Artistic Director and Manager are vested with day-to-day responsibility for the running of the charity. They report regularly to the Board.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees regularly review the charity's activities to ensure the highest benefit to the public. The Trustees confirm that they have considered the guidance contained in the Charily Commission's general guidance on public benefit in setting the charity's aims and objectives and in planning particular activities. The charity exists to educate and enrich people's lives through historically informed performance of music at the highest standards in live and digital performances, and by nurturing the audiences and artists of the future, ensuring that the charity's activities are accessible to all members of the public.
Examples of steps taken to ensure broad public accessibility include:
Freely accessible videos on the Vivat website;
Regular broadcasts of concerts and recordings on national radio stations both in the UK and abroad, making the music widely accessible through radio and internet;
Programmes at own-promoted concerts which contain detailed notes on the music being performed as well as biographies of the principal performers;
Making available editions of music prepared for TKC.
Privacy and Data Protection
The Board and executive staff continue to ensure that the General Data Protection Regulations are fully complied with, reviewing and updating the Foundation's privacy and data protection policy, which is clearly stated on the website. The Foundation remains committed to protecting all personal information and being transparent about what it processes, how it does so, and why it does so, conducting all its operations, including fundraising, marketing, general administration and all other management in compliance with the key GDPR principles of data privacy and security
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Vivat Music Foundation for the purpose of company law, 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).
Company 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 incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, 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 operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Vivat Music Foundation (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.
FCCA
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Vivat Music Foundation is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Old Rectory, Alpheton, Suffolk, CO10 9BT.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's articles of association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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 charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities 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. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
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.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
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.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
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.
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 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.
During the year, Robert King Ltd, the personal service company of the artistic director, received £350 in performance fees and £958.50 in reimbursed expenses.