Orchestras Live

Analysis

Orchestras Live is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Leeds. It was registered in December 2006, 20 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 05988211). It says it makes grants to organisations, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2026, Orchestras Live reported income of £1.1m and spending of £1.1m, spending 95% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2022 to March 2026, income grew from £833k to £1.1m (+36%), an average of +8.0% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 32%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Orchestras Live sits at the 95th percentile: it is larger than about 95% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 94th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include British Ballet Organization Limited (£1.1m), Pavilion Dance South West Limited (£1.1m) and Army Flying Museum Limited (£1.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 81%, charitable activities 11% and investments 7.6%. Charitable activities took 92% of spending and raising funds 6.8%. Grants to other organisations totalled £233k. Reserves of £212k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 15 people.