City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Analysis

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Birmingham. It was registered in May 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01262018). It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra reported income of £8.6m and spending of £10.7m, spending 124% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £6.9m to £8.6m (+25%), an average of +5.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 35%. Over the whole period it spent 112% 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, City of Birmingham 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 The Thursford Collection (£8.6m), Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (£8.6m) and The Gloucestershire Everyman Theatre Company Limited (£8.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 72% and charitable activities 27%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £1.2m. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 5.5%. Reserves of £4.7m would cover about 5 months of spending at that rate. It employed 118 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline. Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.