BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS

Registered charity 206801 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as Benevolent Fund of the Independent Society of Musicians

Since 2019, the ISM Members Fund has focused on delivering services and resources to help ISM members improve their physical, mental, and financial health. It operates mental health services including counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and offers a physiotherapy service, as well as discounted hearing protection and financial resources.

Causes: The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Get email alerts

Latest income

£354k

Latest spending

£198k

Registered

1962

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity achieved a strong operating surplus of £156.0k and total income of £354.4k, driven by significant increases in donations and legacies. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £669.4k, which is significantly above the stated policy target of six months of operating activities, indicating a robust financial position.

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

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six months of operating activities (held: £669k)

“The Fund’s reserves policy ensures sufficient free reserves to cover up to six months of operating activities in case of income shortfall.” — page 8

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Recharged expenses including salary costs and management charges reflecting time spent on Benevolent Fund by staff at ISM.

“Re-charged expenses totalled £34,586, including VAT, (2024: £31,138) and relate to salary costs and management charges reflecting time spent on Benevolent Fund of the Incorporated Society of Musicians by the staff at ISM. The ISM is considered to be a related party as it is the sole member of the charity's corporate trustee.” — page 27

“At the balance sheet date, the charity owed £33,348 including VAT, (2024: £3,526) to the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) in respect of expenses paid on behalf of the charity.” — page 27

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Amount owed to ISM for expenses paid on behalf of the charity.

“Re-charged expenses totalled £34,586, including VAT, (2024: £31,138) and relate to salary costs and management charges reflecting time spent on Benevolent Fund of the Incorporated Society of Musicians by the staff at ISM. The ISM is considered to be a related party as it is the sole member of the charity's corporate trustee.” — page 27

“At the balance sheet date, the charity owed £33,348 including VAT, (2024: £3,526) to the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) in respect of expenses paid on behalf of the charity.” — page 27

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by WP Audit Services LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

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

Total income

£582k

Total spending

£111k

Cost of raising funds

£7k

Reserves (reported)

£711k

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~77.1 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 7.0 months; benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

ISM Trust

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

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

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/08/2025	£354k	£198k
31/08/2024	£200k	£175k
31/08/2023	£582k	£111k
31/08/2022	£239k	£109k
31/08/2021	£102k	£258k

Common questions

Is BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a strong operating surplus of £156.0k and total income of £354.4k, driven by significant increases in donations and legacies. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £669.4k, which is significantly above the stated policy target of six months of operating activities, indicating a robust financial position. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by WP Audit Services LLP.

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
HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED	1	£204k
THE CHARLES SKEY CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£40k
THE KATHLEEN SMITH FOUNDATION	1	£30k
THE OFENHEIM CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£24k
THE REED FOUNDATION	1	£15k
WHITAKER CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£12k
CECIL PILKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£11k
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION	1	£11k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND.

MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND income £5.7m
MUSIC MINDS MATTER income £1.3m
THE BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS income £1.7m
ICE BENEVOLENT FUND income £1.7m
The Physiotherapy Benevolent Fund income £136k
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS OF GREAT BRITAIN income £1.4m

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS	£354k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
MUSICIANS BENEVOLENT FUND FY2025	£5.7m	—	14	unclear	—	no doubt
MUSIC MINDS MATTER FY2025	£1.3m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
THE BENEVOLENT FUND OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS FY2025	£1.7m	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
ICE BENEVOLENT FUND FY2025	£1.7m	£60,001 - £70,000	1	above	—	no doubt
The Physiotherapy Benevolent Fund FY2025	£136k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt

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