BRITISH SUZUKI MUSIC ASSOCIATION CIO

Registered charity 1186062 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BSMA

The main focus of the BSMA is on teacher training. It promotes the Suzuki approach by providing information to the public and the media and support to its members. Repertoire and publications are available from the BSMA Shop. Events are held around the country, including concerts, workshops and conferences. Funds and donations provide scholarships for teacher training.

Objects

TO ADVANCE EDUCATION IN THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MUSIC BY THE PROMOTION OF METHODS OF EDUCATION DEVELOPED BY DR SHINICHI SUZUKI WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE MUSICAL EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

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

Causes: Education/training · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £11,039 for the year ended 31 August 2025, resulting in a reduction of unrestricted funds to £94,811 following a prior period adjustment. The charity's reserves policy describes the general fund as a prudent reserve to give confidence in the future, but the current unrestricted balance is below the previous year's total funds of £213,926. Cash and short-term deposits stood at £69,957, with no stated reserves policy target defined in monetary or time-based terms.

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

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 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.

• Complaints handling
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Conflicting interests
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investment
• Paying staff
• Risk management
• Safeguarding policy and procedures
• Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
• Social media policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2023)

Reported reserves equal ~5.0 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (75% 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: 21.7% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 3.0%) (benchmarks).

Register events

• Received assets from another charity (13/02/2024) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees · trustee networks

• HANNAH O'DELLchair · trustee of 1 other charity
• HELEN URSULA BRUNNER · trustee of 2 other charities
• Lauren Noon · trustee of 1 other charity
• Lirong Chen
• MICHELLE BERNARD
• Paola de Carolis
• Teresa Ana Chick

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

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

Income and spending

Common questions