Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Also known as: Bournemouth Orchestras, The Western Orchestral Society Ltd

Provision of Orchestral performances, education and community projects nationally and internationally.

Activities & Mission

Provision of Orchestral performances, education and community projects nationally and internationally.

Areas of Operation

Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.

Show all 10 areas of operation

Local Authority

Bournemouth Bristol City Cornwall Devon Dorset East Sussex Hampshire Surrey West Sussex Wiltshire

Financial Information

Latest Income

£8,617,484

Latest Expenditure

£8,529,739

Financial Efficiency

Program Ratio 93.5%

% of income going directly to charitable activities

Higher than 55% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 780). How is this calculated?

Overall Efficiency 94.4%

% of expenditure going to programs (vs overhead)

Higher than 47% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?

Administrative Ratio 5.8%

Overhead (fundraising + governance) as % of total expenditure

Lower overhead than 46% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?

Latest Financial Breakdown

Income Sources

Donations & Legacies £1,430,227

Charitable Activities £5,285,959

Other Trading £141,202

Investments £118,545

Other Income £1,641,551

Expenditure Categories

Charitable Expenditure £8,055,140

Raising Funds £474,599

Governance £20,806

Grants to Institutions £0

Other Expenditure £0

Financial Trend

Annual Returns

As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.

Financial Year	Income	Expenditure	Charitable Spending	Net Assets	Reserves	Staff
2025	£8,617,484	£8,529,739	£8,055,140	£5,947,910	£5,947,910	90 / 17
2024	£8,449,917	£7,742,131	£7,403,402	£5,760,165	£5,760,165	87 / 12
2023	£7,555,685	£7,602,834	£7,223,042	£5,052,379	£5,052,376	87 / 11
2022	£6,260,217	£5,840,719	£5,516,037	£5,099,528	£5,099,528	86 / 6
2021	£5,806,529	£4,274,188	£3,983,041	£4,680,030	£4,680,030	86 / 5

Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers

Frequently asked questions about Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

What does Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra do?

Provision of Orchestral performances, education and community projects nationally and internationally.

How much income did Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra report in 2025?

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra reported total income of £8.62m and reported expenditure of £8.53m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.

How efficient is Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra?

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has a program ratio of 93.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 55% of UK Arts charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 780 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.

When was Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra registered as a charity?

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 July 1962 as charity number 208520. It has been registered for 64 years.

Who runs Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra?

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is governed by a board of 11 trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.

Where does Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra operate?

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra operates across 10 areas, including Bournemouth, Bristol City, Cornwall and 7 others. The full list is shown on its profile.

Is Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra a registered charity?

Yes — Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 208520.