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SOUTH WEST MUSIC SCHOOL

Registered charity 1138482 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as SWMS

The object of the Charity is to provide music education for young people primarily in, but not limited to, the South West of England.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£293k
Latest spending
£325k
Registered
2010
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £32,164 for the year, resulting in a reduction of unrestricted funds from £87,751 to £55,587. The trustees attribute this deficit partly to the unexpected loss of DFE funding and note that they have taken steps to reduce costs and seek additional income to return to a surplus. Per the trustees' report, the charity remains on a going concern basis with cash reserves at the lower end of its stated policy target.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Charitable activities (98% of income)
“Income from charitable activities relates directly to the funding of the student places within South West Music School by the way of national grants” — page 10
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Fundraising cost ratio: 0.0% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“There were no fund-raising costs (2024: £nil).”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: two to three months of expected running costs, equating to approximately £55,000 to £85,000 (held: £56k)
“The reserves policy of the charity is to retain sufficient funds equivalent to two to three months of expected running costs, equating to approximately £55,000 to £85,000.” — page 11
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — South West Music School (matched by registered charity number).

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram · linkedin

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Bath And North East Somerset · Bournemouth · Bristol City · Cornwall · Devon · Dorset · Gloucestershire · Plymouth City · Torbay · Wiltshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£293k£325k
31/08/2024£301k£344k
31/08/2023£271k£287k
31/08/2022£241k£252k
31/08/2021£303k£197k

Common questions

Is SOUTH WEST MUSIC SCHOOL financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure of £32,164 for the year, resulting in a reduction of unrestricted funds from £87,751 to £55,587. The trustees attribute this deficit partly to the unexpected loss of DFE funding and note that they have taken steps to reduce costs and seek additional income to return to a surplus. Per the trustees' report, the charity remains on a going concern basis with cash reserves at the lower end of its stated policy target. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.