YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST

Registered charity 326490 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as YCAT, YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS TRUST

YCAT was set up in 1984 to identify, nurture and promote outstanding young soloists and ensembles at the outset of their professional careers. As an artist management service YCAT liaises with promoters in the UK and abroad. YCAT also presents concerts to showcase the artists it represents. After three years of representation YCAT aims to introduce the artists to suitable commercial management.

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

Latest income
£815k
Latest spending
£634k
Registered
1984
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity holds £376,627 in general unrestricted funds, which the trustees consider sufficient to maintain operations for at least 12 months. Cash at bank increased to £832,466, representing 131% of annual expenditure, indicating a healthy liquidity position. The charity reported a net surplus of £205,011 for the year, supported by strong investment gains and stable fundraising income.

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

What the accounts disclose

Highest-paid employee band: £90,001 - £100,000 — above the 90th percentile for charities its size (median £60k)
“One employee earned between £90,000 and £100,000 during the year” — page 37
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 1
“One employee earned between £90,000 and £100,000 during the year” — page 37
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: 9 months of core operating costs (held: £377k)
“The trustees have agreed to ring fence an annual target level of general free reserves equating to 9 months of core operating costs.” — page 17
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant received from Ann Driver Trust, where CEO is a trustee.
“A Tait, the CEO, is also a trustee of The Ann Driver Trust. During the year YCAT received a grant of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) from the Ann Driver Trust.” — page 45
“A Tait, the CEO is also a trustee of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During the year the charity received a grant of £24,676 (2024: £23,622) from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Grant received from Countess of Munster Musical Trust, where CEO is a trustee.
“A Tait, the CEO, is also a trustee of The Ann Driver Trust. During the year YCAT received a grant of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) from the Ann Driver Trust.” — page 45
“A Tait, the CEO is also a trustee of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During the year the charity received a grant of £24,676 (2024: £23,622) from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Rent paid to Wigmore Hall, where CEO's partner is Executive Director.
“A Tait, the CEO, is also a trustee of The Ann Driver Trust. During the year YCAT received a grant of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) from the Ann Driver Trust.” — page 45
“A Tait, the CEO is also a trustee of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During the year the charity received a grant of £24,676 (2024: £23,622) from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Insurance premiums paid to Howden Insurance, where trustee J Webb is Client Director.
“A Tait, the CEO, is also a trustee of The Ann Driver Trust. During the year YCAT received a grant of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) from the Ann Driver Trust.” — page 45
“A Tait, the CEO is also a trustee of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During the year the charity received a grant of £24,676 (2024: £23,622) from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Donations from trustees and close relatives.
“A Tait, the CEO, is also a trustee of The Ann Driver Trust. During the year YCAT received a grant of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) from the Ann Driver Trust.” — page 45
“A Tait, the CEO is also a trustee of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust. During the year the charity received a grant of £24,676 (2024: £23,622) from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.” — page 45
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Godfrey Wilson Limited. Discloses 6 of 6 completeness components.

Funders the charity credits

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

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

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

Total income
£815k
Total spending
£634k
Cost of raising funds
£122k
Reserves (reported)
£371k
Employees
8

Reported reserves equal ~7.0 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 14.9% of total income — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 4.9%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

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

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/08/2025£815k£634k
31/08/2024£539k£501k
31/08/2023£531k£467k
31/08/2022£419k£462k
31/08/2021£525k£413k

Common questions

Is YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity holds £376,627 in general unrestricted funds, which the trustees consider sufficient to maintain operations for at least 12 months. Cash at bank increased to £832,466, representing 131% of annual expenditure, indicating a healthy liquidity position. The charity reported a net surplus of £205,011 for the year, supported by strong investment gains and stable fundraising income. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Godfrey Wilson Limited.

What does the highest-paid employee of YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST earn?

Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £90,001 - £100,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.

Who funds YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST?

Funders whose own accounts filings name YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST as a grant recipient include BACKSTAGE TRUST, JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST, KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST, THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION, MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND.

Known funders

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

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.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with YOUTH MUSIC CENTRE.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
YOUNG CLASSICAL ARTISTS TRUST£815k£90,001 - £100,0001unclear—no doubt
YOUTH MUSIC CENTRE FY2025£114k—0unclear—no doubt
KEYBOARD CHARITABLE TRUST FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS FY2025£130k—0unclear—noted
ARTSWORK LIMITED FY2025£1.9m——unclear—no doubt
NATIONAL YOUTH STRING ORCHESTRA FY2025£186k—0unclear—no doubt
THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FOUNDATION FY2024£2.2m——below—no doubt

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