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 Memorandum and 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).
Yorkshire Youth & Music is a community music and education company working across the whole of Yorkshire. We aim to be as diverse in both perspective and people as the communities we work in, and to reveal unheard talent, voices and stories. We offer high quality creation, participation and learning opportunities in music making and creative arts for disadvantaged young people in challenging circumstances, across all music styles, and according to young people’s needs and aspirations, alongside excellent training and development opportunities for musicians, teachers and others who work in young people’s music making and learning.
Young people who participate in our projects make and learn about music that is relevant and meaningful to them. We encourage young people to explore, discover and find inspiration across all kinds of music and to widen their musical horizons and raise their aspirations. We want music making to be enjoyable, creative and for it to make a positive contribution to young people’s lives, and we find the best music creators, producers, instrumentalists, and singers to be our Music Leaders.
We address regional priorities and local needs through Yorkshire-wide partnership projects. We work in partnership with other music organisations, local authorities, arts venues, schools, children's centres, voluntary organisations, Arts Council England and Youth Music.
We use the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The trustees regularly review our Business Plan and consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set, how they align with our values and how they contribute to our Vision; We want young people to be inspired to lead musical lives, because music makes lives better.
Our production facility in Huddersfield, Safe Space Studio, had its first full year of operation. At the beginning of the year it was in use three days a week, and this had increased to four days a week by March 2025. The studio is used by a young people from all parts of Kirklees, who work with our Music Leaders to create original tracks, and cover songs by their favourite artists. They learn to play instruments; we have guitars, drum kits, keyboards, brass, woodwind and string instruments on offer. They also learn to work with the digital music-making equipment we have; synthesisers, drum pads, DJ decks and to use microphones, amps, interfaces and the professional standard software systems we have available.
The young people are often in residential care or foster homes, are neuro-divergent, attend a Pupil Referral Unit, or are under the supervision of Youth Justice or Youth Engagement Services; working with us, they’re able to explore their creativity in a supportive environment, tell their stories and express their feelings.
At Dewsbury Moor we were asked to establish a music project for young people in an area of Kirklees has few local services and includes many low-income families. In particular, there was very little for young people to do once school was over. The project ran for most of the year; there were Mother and Baby sessions (‘Baby Disco’) in the early afternoon, followed drop-in after school sessions from 4-7 pm that young people could attend at a time they chose; some came straight from school, others came later. With DJ decks, keyboards, a drum kit, guitars and music software, and two music leaders, young people were able to try their hand at music for the first time, and a few who had some previous experience were able to refresh and develop their skills. The sessions also provided drinks and sandwiches, for that all-important after school gap before tea.
In the Secure Children’s Homes Aldine House and Adel Beck, music continued to be a feature of everyday life for residents. Every new resident is offered the opportunity to make music, and most residents make the most of the offer. There were four music leaders with different skills working across both homes, so that young people could learn the music they wanted to learn, from making original music and writing their own raps, through learning to sing cover versions of their favourite artist’s work, through to some serious guitar practice.
Our visits continued all year to the Mother and Baby Units at HMPs New Hall and Askham Grange. Our musician made regular visits to each unit with her ukulele, shakers and puppets, encouraging babies and toddlers to shake, rattle, roll (and sing!) with musical games and nursery rhymes. She also visited for Family Day visits when older children who have a Mum in prison visit for an afternoon of activities.
At Wetherby Young Offenders Institution our musician visited once every two weeks to work with groups of residents on their music skills; learning production and editing skills, using Cubase software, learning to set up a live PA system and sound engineer for each other’s performances. Some residents arrived with little or no previous music experience, but for the most part they had good digital skills and understanding, which they were able to transfer to digital music making quickly.
At Becton Centre, Chapel House School and Sheffield Children’s Hospital our musicians worked for three and a half days each week during term time. All the participants have significant health needs and Nexus Academy School supports their education in NHS settings. Our musicians visited wards and rooms in the Children’s Hospital and Becton Centre to offer music to young people who were very ill, and Chapel House School for young people who are medically unable to attend mainstream school.
Our Refugee and Asylum Seeker project in Calderdale was in it’s final year, working in Calderdale College and Halifax Academy. At Calderdale College, young people made and released an EP, complete with artwork, of the best songs they thought they’d made over the school year. At Halifax Academy the group formed a band, learning 12 bar blues and other standard band forms so that they could make original work.
Over the course of the year we reached over 570 young people, with well over 60% having a minimum of 5 sessions and around 35% having more than 20 sessions.
There were many factors affecting young people’s ability to access music-making, which our music leaders worked hard to overcome with imaginative activities and endless care. They included physical or mental ill-health, being Looked After, at risk of criminal exploitation, being neuro-divergent, having a learning or physical disability, needing protection from others, being an asylum seeker or refugee, or being a young offender. Many young people had more than one factor affecting their life.
We provided 13 music leaders with regular paid work, including 5 who were new to YY&M. Of those, 3 were female, 10 male, and 1 trans. Almost all were white, with 6 in their 20s, 4 in their 30s and 3 over 40. Over the course of the year our music leaders were paid over £155,000, delivering almost 800 full days of music making to disadvantaged young people across the region.
We received anonymous donations and grant funding that enabled us to invest in new equipment, including an Ableton Push controller, an additional set of DJ Decks, a Drum Pad and mini-synthesiser. We also received donations of instruments including a drum kit, guitars and amps, and an electric violin.
As in previous years, many of the young people who came to us had missed substantial parts of formal education and had limited social and community engagement. We supported them to re-engage with formal learning, finding courses and institutions they could apply to, and working with others as they found their first employment.
We strengthened our relationships with funders, including West Yorkshire Combined Authority who supported our community work with young people at risk of becoming involved in violence or crime and foundations including Keith Howard Foundation, who supported our mental health work. The National Lottery Community Fund supported Safe Space Studio, and Youth Music supported our work in youth justice. A grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation supported our core costs, and a grant from Creative Minds supported our work in Pupil Referral Units. A grant from the Hedley Foundation paid for additional visits to the Mother and Baby Units.
Finally, Rebeka Haigh, who has worked with us for 17 years in a variety of roles, and has been our Communications Officer for the last five years, left us to pursue her career as an artist.
The charity had income for the year totaling £279,902 (2024: £222,339), expenditure for the year was £262,058 (2024: £243,909) leaving a surplus for the year of £17,844 (2024: £21,570 deficit), the surplus is split between unrestricted funds, £6,508 and restricted funds £11,336.
The fund balances carried forward at the year end were unrestricted funds of £84,078 (2024: £82,683) and restricted funds of £47,539 (2024: £31,090), totaling £131,617 (2024: £113,773).
It is proposed that the company will endeavour to maintain a minimum of £51,000 in reserve.
This is an estimate of core costs for a 6 month period of £34,000, total redundancy costs of £12,000 and £5,000 required as a contingency.
The level of reserves at 31 March 2025 is £131,617 with unrestricted reserves being £84,078 (2024 : £82,683).
A summary of reserves is as below:-
£
Total Reserves per Statement of Financial Activities 131,617
Less : Restricted Reserves (47,539)
Less : Unrestricted Reserves held as Fixed Assets (4,329)
Less : Designated Reserves (29,309)
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Amount Available as Unrestricted Reserves 50,440
Reserves Policy - Wind Down Costs (46,000)
Reserves Policy - Contingency (5,000)
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Deficit Reserves (560)
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The reserves are currently in deficit of the minimum requirement of £51,000 by £560, however the board are satisfied that this is sufficient to provide additional resources to ensure the smooth running of the charity in an uncertain economic climate.
Our work in Youth Justice services will continue in 2025-6 across Wetherby YOI, Secure Children’s Homes, the Mother and Baby Units and in the community in Kirklees, and our partnerships will continue.
We will continue to grow and develop the use of Safe Space Studio for young people from Kirklees and beyond, offering flexible use depending on young people’s own skills, experience and confidence. All sessions will be supported by a music leader, and individual or small group sessions for young people in challenging circumstances.
Our project a Dewsbury Moor will continue, moving to a new partnership with Kirklees Youth Alliance, who support and run youth clubs and activities across the borough.
We will be continuing our work at Becton Centre, Sheffield Children’s Hospital and Chapel House School for the next year.
We have plans to train more music leaders throughout the year, with training, placements and mentoring on offer for up to 9 trainees over the year.
Our Refugee and Asylum Seeker project will end in July 2025.
Yorkshire Youth and Music became a registered charity on 14 January 1982, charity number 512222, it is also a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 2 December 1982, company number 01601451.
Governance
The board of trustees meet quarterly and communicate via email and telephone on an ad hoc basis. The Director and Deputy Director report to the Board and Acting Chair who maintains liaison with them.
All trustees are appointed on a voluntary basis, and do not receive any remuneration for their time. All expenses reimbursed to trustees are disclosed in the accounts.
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:
New board members are given company policies and information to familiarise themselves with the charity, and opportunities to discuss the work with the Director and Deputy Director. They are invited to spend time viewing project work and in the charity offices - their induction process is then reviewed, assessing their needs and ensuring they have been met.
Appointment of council or management
The members of the council of management have the authority to appoint new members either to fill a casual vacancy or to provide additional members. A member so appointed shall retain their office only until the next Annual General Meeting, but will then be eligible for re-election.
Key Management
The key management personnel of the charity has been identified as the Director. The salary of the key management is set and reviewed by the trustees.
The Organisation
The staff of Yorkshire Youth and Music, report to the Council of Management ("the board") at quarterly meetings and to subcommittees on an ad-hoc basis. All project participants are asked to review and evaluate project work, and regular reports on each project are prepared for funders, project steering groups and the Board.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Yorkshire Youth And Music Limited (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.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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.
Yorkshire Youth And Music Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Lg31 Kirklees Media Centre, Huddersfield, Northumberland Street, HD1 1RL.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and 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.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation 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.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
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.
Grant income
Partnership Fees - Schools and Local Partners
National Foundation for Youth Music
Partnership Fees - Schools and Local Partners
National Foundation for Youth Music
Partnership Fees - Schools and Local Partners
Premises costs
Office and administration costs
Repairs and maintenance costs
Motor and travel costs
Artists fees
Marketing and PR
Training and placements
Finance costs
Other costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
Included in wages and salaries costs above are costs relating to freelance and temporary project staff.
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
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.
A description of each restricted fund is included in within the trustees report, explaining the nature of activities undertaken during the year.
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.