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OPEN UP MUSIC

Registered charity 1167028 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NATIONAL OPEN YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Open Up Music empowers young disabled musicians to build inclusive youth orchestras. Together we develop accessible musical instruments and repertoire, challenge expectations and forge new progression routes through the creation of great music.

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

Latest income
£982k
Latest spending
£851k
Registered
2016
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted free reserves were £423,076 at the end of the year, which exceeds the trustees' stated policy target of £277,131 (representing three months of average operating costs). The charity reported a net income increase to £982,070 and maintains a stable financial position despite reliance on grants.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months of average operating costs (held: £423k)
“The charity aims to hold free reserves covering three months’ average operating costs. The budgeted expenditure for 2025/26 is £1,108,523 and therefore the target is £277,131.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustees donated to the charity
“The trustees donated a total of £700 (2024: £nil) to the charity during the year. There were no other related party transactions in the current or prior year.” — page 55
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Open Up Music (matched by registered charity number).

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

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)

Total income
£982k
Total spending
£851k
Cost of raising funds
£114k
Reserves (reported)
£423k
Employees
13

Reported reserves equal ~6.0 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Donations and legacies (86% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 11.7% of total income — above the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£982k£851k
31/08/2024£833k£801k
31/08/2023£764k£723k
31/08/2022£631k£697k
31/08/2021£561k£565k

Common questions

Is OPEN UP MUSIC financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted free reserves were £423,076 at the end of the year, which exceeds the trustees' stated policy target of £277,131 (representing three months of average operating costs). The charity reported a net income increase to £982,070 and maintains a stable financial position despite reliance on grants. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds OPEN UP MUSIC?

Funders whose own accounts filings name OPEN UP MUSIC as a grant recipient include THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST, The Ashley Family Foundation, THE NORTHWICK TRUST, JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATION, DR RADCLIFFE'S TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUSTFY2021£10kMusic Education & Engagement (children)
The Ashley Family FoundationFY2022£10k
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2022£10k
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2023£10k
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2025£8k
THE SCOPS ARTS TRUSTFY2022£8kGrants awarded and paid during the period
JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATIONFY2022£6kHealth
DR RADCLIFFE'S TRUSTFY2022£5kThe National Open Youth Orchestra
THE BORROWS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
THE BORROWS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£5k
JOHN JAMES BRISTOL FOUNDATIONFY2024£5kChildren and young people
DR RADCLIFFE'S TRUSTFY2024£5kNational Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO): the next phase
KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£5k
KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£5k
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATIONFY2023£2kPublic Performance
CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£1k
THE ASSOCIATED BOARD OF THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSICFY2025£10Music Education / Sponsorship