THE BRITISH MUSIC EXPERIENCE

Charity number: 1125752
Charity reporting is up to date (on time)

Charity overview

Activities - how the charity spends its money

The BME has a mission to advance the education and appreciation of the art, history, and science of music. The museum holds a collection of artefacts brought to life through audio-visual technology against a backdrop of Britain's social and political landscape. The British Music Experience fulfils its charitable objectives by operating a Museum housed in the Cunard Building, Liverpool.

Income and expenditure

Data for financial year ending 30 April 2025

Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure

Some charities generate all, or a substantial part, of their income from investments which may have been donated to the charity as endowment or set aside by the charity from its own resources in the past. Such investments usually take the form of stocks and shares but may include other assets, such as property, that are capable of generating income and/or capital growth.

In managing their spending and investments charities need to strike a balance between the needs of future and current beneficiaries. They also need to take account of spending commitments that may stretch over a number of future years. To do this, charities will normally adopt an investment strategy designed to generate both income and capital growth. To maximise returns trustees may commit to investment strategies for several years.

Investments can experience large swings in value so trustees may, in a particular year, decide to realise and spend part of their charity’s capital or to invest part of its income.

By clicking the investment gains checkbox the charitable spending bar is adjusted to take account of capital growth as well as income. This shows the balance the charity is striking, between spending on current beneficiaries and retaining resources for future beneficiaries.

Fundraising

No information available

Trading

This charity does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Trustee payments

One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity.

What, who, how, where

What the charity does:
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science
Who the charity helps:
  • The General Public/mankind
How the charity helps:
  • Provides Services
  • Other Charitable Activities
Where the charity operates:
  • Liverpool City

Governance

Registration history:
  • 08 September 2008: Standard registration
Organisation type:
Charitable company
Other names:
  • THE MUSIC EXPERIENCE (Previous name)
Company number:
Gift aid:
Recognised by HMRC for gift aid
Other regulators:
No information available
Policies:
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • 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
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Land and property:
This charity owns and/or leases land or property

Trustees

Trustees are the people responsible for controlling the work, management and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries. Generally trustees are treasurer, chair, board member etc. The trustees are responsible for keeping this list up to date and can do this by updating their details as they happen through the online service

8 Trustee(s)

Name Role Date of appointment Other trusteeships Reporting status of other trusteeships
HARVEY GOLDSMITH CBE Chair
None on record
Jonathan Collins Trustee 27 March 2023
None on record
LIZ KORAVOS Trustee 19 January 2022
None on record
Stuart Galbraith Trustee 07 March 2017
None on record
Kevin McManus Trustee 22 November 2016
None on record
SIR MARK PHILIP FEATHERSTONE-WITTY OBE Trustee 19 October 2015
THE CHICHESTER SOCIETY
Received: On time
CHILDREN'S BOOK FEST - CHICHESTER CIO
Received: On time
SIMON PATRICK WEIL Trustee 26 October 2012
SICKKIDS FOUNDATION UK
Received: On time
THE FOUNDATION OF SAINT FRANÇOIS
Received: On time
THE ZITA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Received: On time
BALCARRES HERITAGE TRUST LIMITED
Received: On time
THE KATHLEEN HANNAY MEMORIAL CHARITY
Received: On time
THE MICHAEL TIPPETT MUSICAL FOUNDATION
Received: On time
ARIMATHEA CHARITABLE TRUST
Received: 7 days late
THE FOUNDATION OF ST. BENEDICT OF NURSIA
Received: On time
THE NEW ENGLISH BALLET THEATRE
Received: On time
THE FRIENDS OF SOLESMES
Received: On time
MARIA BJORNSON MEMORIAL FUND
Received: On time
MAECENAS
Received: On time
OUR LADY OF GOOD HELP FOUNDATION
Received: On time
KEITH HARRIS OBE Trustee
UNIVERSAL MUSIC UK SOUND FOUNDATION
Received: On time

Financial history

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Financial period end date

Income / Expenditure 30/04/2021 30/04/2022 30/04/2023 30/04/2024 30/04/2025
Total gross income £483.63k £723.38k £775.01k £984.18k £957.59k
Total expenditure £544.95k £689.26k £865.47k £963.17k £886.66k
Income from government contracts N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Income from government grants £403.26k £221.23k N/A N/A N/A
Income - Donations and legacies N/A £221.23k £500 £0 £0
Income - Other trading activities N/A £137.33k £270.01k £335.76k £318.50k
Income - Charitable activities N/A £364.83k £504.51k £648.42k £639.06k
Income - Endowments N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Investment N/A £0 £0 £0 £26
Income - Other N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Legacies N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Charitable activities N/A £531.69k £629.16k £691.66k £592.53k
Expenditure - Raising funds N/A £157.57k £236.31k £271.51k £291.06k
Expenditure - Governance N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Grants institution N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Investment management N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Other N/A £0 £0 £0 £3.07k

Assets and liabilities

Definitions for assets and liabilities
Own use assets

These are assets, other than investments, which are held for more than 12 months and used to run and administer the charity such as buildings, offices, exhibits and fixtures and fittings.

Long term Investments

Investments are assets held by the charity with the sole aim of generating income which will be used for their charitable purposes such as deposit accounts, shares, rental property and unit trusts.
Investment assets are re-valued every year and included in the balance sheet at their current market value.
Long term investments are held for more than 12 months.

Other assets

These are assets held generally for less than 12 months such as cash and bank balances, debtors, investments to be sold within the coming year and trading stock.

Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability

This is a surplus or deficit in any defined benefit pension scheme operated and represents a potential long-term asset or liability.

Total liabilities

These are all the amounts owed by the charity at the balance sheet date to third parties such as bills due but not yet paid, bank overdrafts and loans and mortgages.

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Asset / Liability 30/04/2021 30/04/2022 30/04/2023 30/04/2024 30/04/2025
Own use assets N/A £232.36k £109.78k £4.72k £16.93k
Long-term investments N/A £0 £999 £0 £0
Other assets N/A £285.18k £340.47k £457.37k £570.77k
Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability N/A £0 £0 £0 £0
Total liabilities N/A £115.17k £139.34k £129.17k £183.85k

Accounts and annual returns

This table shows the charity's record of submitting annual returns, accounts and trustees' annual report (TAR) for the last five financial periods.
Title Reporting year Date received Received Download
Annual return 30 April 2025 10 February 2026 On time
Accounts and TAR 30 April 2025 10 February 2026 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 30 April 2024 27 February 2025 On time
Accounts and TAR 30 April 2024 27 February 2025 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 30 April 2023 28 February 2024 On time
Accounts and TAR 30 April 2023 28 February 2024 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 30 April 2022 09 February 2023 On time
Accounts and TAR 30 April 2022 09 February 2023 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 30 April 2021 14 February 2022 On time
Accounts and TAR 30 April 2021 14 February 2022 On time Download Open in new window
Submit annual return Open in new window

Contact information

Address:
The British Music Experience
Ground Floor
Cunard Building
Liverpool
L3 1DS
Phone:
0151 5190915