NORTHERN CHORDS FESTIVAL

Registered charity 1172767 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NORTHERN CHORDS

Northern Chords Festival advances education by promoting and providing opportunities for the appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of the art of music in particular by the provision of a regular festival, public concerts, lectures, tuition and youth engagement programmes.

Objects

FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND APPRECIATION IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE ART OF MUSIC IN PARTICULAR BY THE PROVISION OF A REGULAR FESTIVAL, PUBLIC CONCERTS, LECTURES, TUITION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMES.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

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

Registered contact address: Gateshead, North East, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£31k

Latest spending

£29k

Registered

2017

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity made a surplus of £2,492 for the year ended 31 October 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £2,835. The trustees aim to build additional reserves as the Festival grows, and the independent examiner confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Grants (52% of income)

“Grants receivable 16,000”

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: Mr B Johnson received £1,091 for specialist services; Mr J Bloxham received £11,064 for expense reimbursement.

“An amount of £1,091 (2024 - Nil) was paid to Mr B Johnson for specialist services to the charity (professional performance) in accordance with CC guidelines.” — page 14

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee payment for services

“An amount of £1,091 (2024 - Nil) was paid to Mr B Johnson for specialist services to the charity (professional performance) in accordance with CC guidelines.” — page 14

“An amount of £11,064 (2024 - Nil) was paid to Mr J Bloxham to reimburse him for expenses incurred directly in relation to the Festival.” — page 14

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Trustee expense reimbursement

“An amount of £1,091 (2024 - Nil) was paid to Mr B Johnson for specialist services to the charity (professional performance) in accordance with CC guidelines.” — page 14

“An amount of £11,064 (2024 - Nil) was paid to Mr J Bloxham to reimburse him for expenses incurred directly in relation to the Festival.” — page 14

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Scops Arts Trust — “Festival 2026 generously supported by Scops Arts Trust and Sir James Knott Trust.” (source page)
Sir James Knott Trust — “Festival 2026 generously supported by Scops Arts Trust and Sir James Knott Trust.” (source page)

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Tony Trappchair
BEN JOHNSON
Jonathan Andrew Bloxham
Professor Garth Johnson
Sara Louise Vening

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

Operates in: Durham · Gateshead · Hartlepool · Middlesbrough · Newcastle Upon Tyne City · North Tyneside · Northumberland · Redcar And Cleveland · South Tyneside · Stockton-on-tees

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/10/2025	£31k	£29k
31/10/2024	£600	£1
31/10/2023	£20k	£22k
31/10/2022	£17k	£27k
31/10/2021	£39k	£36k

Common questions

Is NORTHERN CHORDS FESTIVAL financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity made a surplus of £2,492 for the year ended 31 October 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £2,835. The trustees aim to build additional reserves as the Festival grows, and the independent examiner confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE OLDHURST TRUST	1	£6k
THE LIZ AND TERRY BRAMALL FOUNDATION	1	£5k
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION	1	£3k
EARL OF CHESTER'S FUND	1	£2k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL.

NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL income £111k
NORTHERN ALDBOROUGH FESTIVAL income £151k
NORTH LONDON CHORUS income £50k
CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL income £59k
THE ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC AWARDS FUND income £1.9m
THE NORTH LONDON CONSERVATOIRE income £1.8m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
NORTHERN CHORDS FESTIVAL	£31k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
NORTH NORFOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL FY2025	£111k	—	—	above	—	no doubt
NORTHERN ALDBOROUGH FESTIVAL FY2025	£151k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
NORTH LONDON CHORUS FY2025	£50k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
CHESTER FOLK FESTIVAL FY2025	£59k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC AWARDS FUND FY2025	£1.9m	—	0	above	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.