Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Analysis

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Poole. It was registered in July 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00538351). It says it provides services and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra reported income of £8.6m and spending of £8.5m, spending 99% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £5.8m to £8.6m (+48%), an average of +10% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 21%. Over the whole period it spent 93% 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, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (£8.6m), The English Stage Company Limited (£8.6m) and The Thursford Collection (£8.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 61%, donations and legacies 17%, trading 1.6% and investments 1.4%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £506k. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 5.6%. Reserves of £5.9m would cover about 8 months of spending at that rate. It employed 90 people.