## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** **ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024** Registered Charity No: 1001958 1 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** ## **INDEX TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024** Trustee’s Report 3 Independent Examiner’s Report 6 Income & Expenditure Account 7 Balance Sheet 8 Concert Accounts 9 Notes 10 2 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024** ## **Reference and Administration** Benson Choral Society is a Registered Charity (number 1001958, registered on 19[th] February 1991). Principal address of the Charity: Witta’s Ham Cottage High Street Long Wittenham Abingdon, OX14 4QH Bankers: Lloyds Bank, Newmarket Branch The Charity is administered by a Management Committee listed below, who are all Trustees, recruited from and elected by the Membership. There are no other Trustees. There are no employees of the Charity. Kevin Lawson Chairman Charlotte Kerr Secretary Martin Mellor Treasurer Celia Barnshaw Sara Boorman Beatrice Earland Gillian Nahum (Co -opted) Claire Speirs Philip Smyly Anthony Winters There were 120 Members as at 31[st] August 2024 ## **Aims and Objectives** The objects of the Charity shall be to advance, improve develop, and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music, in all its aspects by any means the Trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals. ## **Review of the Year’s Activities** The members attended rehearsals for each of three Concerts for two hours on Tuesday evenings throughout September to June. The concerts staged were: ## 25[th] November 2023 Performance of Mass in B Minor by J S Bach 3 23[rd] March 2024 Performances of: Pietà by Richard Blackford Requiem by Gabriel Fauré ## 15[th] June 2024 Performance of The Creation by Joseph Haydn The three concerts in this year were very successful in fulfilling our aims in terms of musical appreciation and education. A generous donation enabled us to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor with a professional orchestra at the original baroque pitch using first class soloists. The packed audience fully appreciated the very high quality performance which ensued. This, together with the open choral workshop we held a few weeks before the performance, enabled us to recruit some new, younger members. The choir’s reputation was now such that we also succeeded in attracting a new musical director of the very highest standard, head of music at one of the country’s most successful summer opera festivals. Our spring concert mixed the very popular (Fauré’s Requiem) with a recent work by local composer Richard Blackford, Pietà. This imaginative programming attracted an audience who would otherwise not have encountered Blackford’s uplifting work which has been only rarely performed. The excellently prepared choir, under the direction of our new music director gave a committed performance which moved many members of the audience and resulted in a rave review in the press. We also held an open workshop for the Fauré which attracted several members of other choral societies and was particularly successful in increasing attendees’ understanding and appreciation of this very popular work Our summer concert, Haydn’s Creation was a joyous occasion for choir and audience – an experience in which we were all reminded of the power of classical music to positively affect the lives of performers and audience alike. ## **Financial Review** Our Accumulated Fund at 31[st] August amounted to £17,034, after incurring a deficit of £83 for the year. All funds are unrestricted. There are no fixed assets. The funds are required to satisfy our cash flow needs and to cover the risk of a loss of income, whether through a drop in membership or a poorly attended concert, and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur. A main source of funds is from the sale of tickets for our concerts. However, in September 2023 a sponsor donated £5,000 with instructions that it should be applied to the Winter Concert. Including ancillary concert income, concerts are usually in deficit after applying direct costs in staging them. The deficits are for the most part funded by other main sources of income ─ Membership Fees and the related Gift Aid claimed from HMRC. 4 5 6 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** ## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2024** |£
£
15,017
2,558
270
18,524
679
226
480
32
470
953
20,685
2,850
3,383
1,731
8,062
98
1,688
401
19
387
408
20
205
854
4,979
4,675
(1,158)
15,865
4,820
2023|£
£
INCOME
Interest Receivable
216.43
-
Subscriptions
15,395.00
Gift Aid
3,387.81
Donations
710.81
Friends
970.00
20,680.05
Profit on Rehearsal Refreshments
261.00
Staging Hire & Scores Loan
512.41
Profit on Sale of Scores
-
Profit on Parties
_Note 4(a)_
307.77
Profit on Workshops
_Note 4(b)_
935.25
22,696.48
EXPENDITURE
**General**
Musical Director's Fees
3,300.00
Accompanist's Fees
3,400.00
Guest Conductor
2,490.00
Guest Accompanist
253.60
9,443.60
Hire of Rehearsal Venues
1,883.50
Subscriptions & Insurance
618.72
Printing, Stationery & Postage
19.20
Website & IT Expenses
791.28
New MD Selection Costs
-
Advertising
-
Staging
525.55
Sundry Expenses
232.70
**Concerts**
Loss on Winter Concert
2,574.79
Loss on Spring Concert
3,649.11
(Profit)/Loss on Summer Concert
3,041.14
9,265.04
22,779.59
Surplus / (Deficit) for the year
(83.11)
2024|£
£
INCOME
Interest Receivable
216.43
-
Subscriptions
15,395.00
Gift Aid
3,387.81
Donations
710.81
Friends
970.00
20,680.05
Profit on Rehearsal Refreshments
261.00
Staging Hire & Scores Loan
512.41
Profit on Sale of Scores
-
Profit on Parties
_Note 4(a)_
307.77
Profit on Workshops
_Note 4(b)_
935.25
22,696.48
EXPENDITURE
**General**
Musical Director's Fees
3,300.00
Accompanist's Fees
3,400.00
Guest Conductor
2,490.00
Guest Accompanist
253.60
9,443.60
Hire of Rehearsal Venues
1,883.50
Subscriptions & Insurance
618.72
Printing, Stationery & Postage
19.20
Website & IT Expenses
791.28
New MD Selection Costs
-
Advertising
-
Staging
525.55
Sundry Expenses
232.70
**Concerts**
Loss on Winter Concert
2,574.79
Loss on Spring Concert
3,649.11
(Profit)/Loss on Summer Concert
3,041.14
9,265.04
22,779.59
Surplus / (Deficit) for the year
(83.11)
2024|£
£
INCOME
Interest Receivable
216.43
-
Subscriptions
15,395.00
Gift Aid
3,387.81
Donations
710.81
Friends
970.00
20,680.05
Profit on Rehearsal Refreshments
261.00
Staging Hire & Scores Loan
512.41
Profit on Sale of Scores
-
Profit on Parties
_Note 4(a)_
307.77
Profit on Workshops
_Note 4(b)_
935.25
22,696.48
EXPENDITURE
**General**
Musical Director's Fees
3,300.00
Accompanist's Fees
3,400.00
Guest Conductor
2,490.00
Guest Accompanist
253.60
9,443.60
Hire of Rehearsal Venues
1,883.50
Subscriptions & Insurance
618.72
Printing, Stationery & Postage
19.20
Website & IT Expenses
791.28
New MD Selection Costs
-
Advertising
-
Staging
525.55
Sundry Expenses
232.70
**Concerts**
Loss on Winter Concert
2,574.79
Loss on Spring Concert
3,649.11
(Profit)/Loss on Summer Concert
3,041.14
9,265.04
22,779.59
Surplus / (Deficit) for the year
(83.11)
2024| |---|---|---|---| |20,685|||22,696.48| |8,062
1,688
401
19
387
408
20
205
4,675|||9,443.60
1,883.50
618.72
19.20
791.28
-
-
525.55
232.70
9,265.04| |||2,574.79
3,649.11
3,041.14|| ||||| |15,865|||22,779.59| |4,820|||(83.11)| 7 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** |**2023**
**£**
14,587
38
3,027|**£**
**ASSETS**
Balance at Bank
Deposit Account
10,216.43
14,587
Current Account
5,387.97
Subscriptions Account
-
Cash in Hand
Concert Wine Stock
Debtors and Payments in Advance
Less Creditors
**REPRESENTED BY:**
**Accumulated Fund**
Balance at 1 September 2023
Surplus / (Deficit) for the year
**BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31stAUGUST 2024**|**£**
**ASSETS**
Balance at Bank
Deposit Account
10,216.43
14,587
Current Account
5,387.97
Subscriptions Account
-
Cash in Hand
Concert Wine Stock
Debtors and Payments in Advance
Less Creditors
**REPRESENTED BY:**
**Accumulated Fund**
Balance at 1 September 2023
Surplus / (Deficit) for the year
**BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31stAUGUST 2024**|**2024**
**£**
15,604.40
16.00
-
1,421.73| |---|---|---|---| ||||| |17,652
535|||17,042.13
7.86| |17,117|||17,034.27| |12,397
4,720|||17,117.38
(83.11)| |17,117|||17,034.27| 8 Page 3 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** ## **CONCERT ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st] AUGUST 2024** |**RECEIPTS**|||**PAYMENTS**|| |---|---|---|---|---| |_2023_
**2024**
_2023_
_£_
**£p**
_£_
Sponsor(Restricted Fund)
5,000.00
_3,376_
Orchestra
_5,970_
Ticket Receipts
6,049.94
_780_
Conductor's Fee
_132_
Profit on Score Hire
3.79
_1,800_
Soloists
_13_
Loss on Programmes
(30.07)
_40_
Orchestral Scores
_433_
Profit on Interval Drinks
490.43
_720_
Venue & Facilities Hire
_425_
Instrument Hire
_37_
Printing & Advertising
_125_
Gifts
_99_
Staging
_6,548_
Total Receipts
11,514.09
_7,402_
Total Payments
_854_
Loss on Concert
2,574.79
_7,402_
14,088.88
_7,402_
_4,774_
Orchestra
_3,731_
Ticket Receipts
4,395.36
_700_
Conductor's Fee
_(10)_
Profit on Score Sales/Hire
181.08
_2,000_
Soloists
_24_
Profit on Programmes
32.50
_302_
Orchestral Scores
_230_
Profit on Interval Drinks
286.32
_909_
Venue & Facilities Hire
Organ Hire
_132_
Staging
_37_
Printing & Advertising
_100_
Gifts
Sundry Expenses
_3,975_
Total Receipts
4,895.26
_8,954_
Total Payments
_4,979_
Loss on Concert
3,649.11
_8,954_
8,544.37
_8,954_
_3,451_
Ticket Receipts
3,969.76
Orchestra
_254_
Profit on Score Hire
41.30
_700_
Conductor's Fee
_42_
Profit on Programmes
73.36
_800_
Soloists
_290_
Profit on Interval Drinks
273.23
Orchestral Scores
_1,008_
Venue & Facilities Hire
_52_
Hire of Piano
_35_
Printing & Advertising
_85_
Gifts
_99_
Staging
_100_
Sundry Expenses
_4,037_
Total Receipts
4,357.65
_2,879_
Total Payments
Loss on Concert
3,041.14
_1,158_
Profit on Concert
_4,037_
7,398.79
_4,037_
**Winter Concert**
_(see Note 5(a))_
**Spring Concert**
_(see Note 5(b))_
**Summer**
**Concert**
(see Note 5(c))|**2024**
**£p**
**Winter Concert**|||**2024**
**£p**
8,762.38
700.00
2,500.00
-
1,136.00
750.00
37.00
104.50
99.00| |||||14,088.88| |||||14,088.88| |||||4,060.00
700.00
1,975.00
353.50
939.00
51.50
99.00
117.00
117.20
132.17| |||||8,544.37| |||||8,544.37| |||||3,409.00
772.00
1,500.00
335.37
1,051.50
-
117.00
105.92
108.00
-| |||||7,398.79| |||||7,398.79| 9 ## **BENSON CHORAL SOCIETY** ## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] AUGUST 2024** ## 1. **Committee Responsibilities** - (a) The Committee is required to prepare accounts for each financial year which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and the results for that period. - (b) The Committee confirms that appropriate accounting policies have been used and applied consistently, and reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates have been made in preparation of these accounts. - (c) The Committee also confirms that the applicable accounting bases set out in note 2(a) have been followed. - (d) The Committee is responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records, for safeguarding the assets of the Charity, and for taking steps to prevent and detect fraud and other regularities. ## 2. **Accounting Policies** ## **(a) Accounting Bases** The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Charities SORP. - **(b) Income** Income is accounted for in the year to which it relates. - **(c) Expenditure** is accounted for on an accrual basis in the year to which relates. - **(d) Restricted Funds** There were no restricted funds. all funds being unrestricted. ## 3. **Payments to Trustees** The only payments to Trustees were to reimburse them for expenses incurred on behalf of the Charity. 10 ## **4 Income and Expenditure Account** |**Description**
**Income**
**£**
**a) Profit on Parties**
Summer Party
Tickets
468.52
Raffle
201.00
Hire of Hall
Food and Wine
669.52
Christmas Party
Wine
-
**b)**
Fees
1,537.35
Hire of Hall
Musical Director
Accompanist
1,537.35
Fees
1,335.40
Hire of Hall
Musical Director
Accompanist
Soloist
1,335.40
**Concerts**
**a) Winter Concert**
( Profit on Music Hire
Sales
139.79
Hire charge
139.79
( Profit on Programmes
Sales
389.93
Printing
389.93
4th November 2024
**Profit on Workshops**
9th March 2025|**Description**
**Income**
**£**
**a) Profit on Parties**
Summer Party
Tickets
468.52
Raffle
201.00
Hire of Hall
Food and Wine
669.52
Christmas Party
Wine
-
**b)**
Fees
1,537.35
Hire of Hall
Musical Director
Accompanist
1,537.35
Fees
1,335.40
Hire of Hall
Musical Director
Accompanist
Soloist
1,335.40
**Concerts**
**a) Winter Concert**
( Profit on Music Hire
Sales
139.79
Hire charge
139.79
( Profit on Programmes
Sales
389.93
Printing
389.93
4th November 2024
**Profit on Workshops**
9th March 2025|**Expenditure**
**£**
126.00
206.49|**Profit (Loss)**
**£**
307.77| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||669.52|332.49|337.03| |||29.26|| ||-|29.26|(29.26)| |||165.00
412.50
275.00|935.25| ||||| ||1,537.35|852.50|684.85| |||165.00
450.00
300.00
170.00|| ||1,335.40|1,085.00|250.40| |||136.00|| ||139.79|136.00|3.79| |||420.00|| |||420.00|(30.07)| ## **5 Concerts** 11 |( Profit on Interval|Drinks||| |---|---|---|---| |Sales|662.10||| |Purchaes||171.67|| ||662.10|171.67|490.43| ## **b) Spring Concert** |( Profit on Music Hire|( Profit on Music Hire||| |---|---|---|---| |Sales|1,301.50||| |Hire charge||1,120.42|| ||1,301.50|1,120.42|181.08| |( Profit on Programmes|||| |Sales|282.50||| |Printing||250.00|| ||282.50|250.00|32.50| |( Profit on Interval|Drinks||| |Sales|389.88||| |Purchaes||103.56|| ||389.88|103.56|286.32| |**Summer Concert**|||| |( Profit on Music Hire|||| |Sales|137.30||| |Hire charge||96.00|| ||137.30|96.00|41.30| |( Profit on Programmes|||| |Sales|248.36||| |Printing||175.00|| ||248.36|175.00|73.36| |( Profit on Interval|Drinks||| |Sales|379.07||| |Purchaes||105.84|| ||379.07|105.84|273.23| ## **c) Summer Concert** 12