## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From: 01/01/2024 To: 31/12/2024** **Charity name: Hitchin Thespians** ## **Charity registration number: 1005332** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**To educate the public in the dramatic and**
**operatic arts and to further the**
**development of public appreciation and**
**taste in said arts.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**To promote plays, drama, comedy, opera,**
**operettas, choral works and other**
**dramatic and operatic works of**
**educational value.**| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**Confirmed**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference| |---|---| ||Para 1.38| |Policy on grant making|| ||Para 1.38| |Policy on social investment|| |including program related|| |investment|| ||Para 1.38| |Contribution made by|| |volunteers|| |Other|| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|1 full scale musical theatre production
2 youth musical theatre productions
3 concerts
A series of educational workshops| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements||where relevant about:| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**Net receipts of £961**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**The Committee reviews the level of**
**reserves from time to time to ensure an**
**operational buffer is maintained.**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**A reserve of £20,000 is held for**
**unexpected interruptions to operations to**
**enable the ongoing expenses of the**
**charity to be paid**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Other ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution / Rules**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Society/Club**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Elected by Membership**| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Hitchin Thespians| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|Young Thespians| |Registered charity number|1005332| |Charity’s principal address|Woodside Hall
Walsworth Road
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG40SP| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Ian Hamilton|Chair|01/01/2024-24/06/2024|| ||Marianne Bond|Treasurer||| ||Melanie Plowman-
Cobb|Social and
Fundraising
Manager|01/01/2024-24/06/2024|| ||Claire Bailes|Young Thespians
Manager||| ||Philippa Tadman|General member||| ||Alexandra Evans|Secretary|01/01/2024-29/02/2024|| ||Anne Passmore|Choral manager|01/01/2024-24/06/2024|| ||Sarah Bailes|Production manager
/ Chair||| ||Charlotte Brennan|Social, Fundraising
& Development
Manager|25/06/2024-31/12/2024|| ||Rachel E Hill|Secretary|25/06/2024-31/12/2024|| ||John Walden|General member|25/06/2024-31/12/2024|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year **|| |---|---|---| |**Brenda Cundell**||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |**Financial**|Len Seymour|| |||| |||| |||| ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** JANINE AISHA REYNOLDS **Full name(s)** JANINE AISHA REYNOLDS **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary **Chair, etc) Date** 10/09/2025 **HITCHIN THESPIANS CHARITY NUMBER 1005332 RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS** **Page 1** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** |**NOTES**
**RECEIPTS**
**PRODUCTION RECEIPTS**
Hitchin Thespians
**1**
Young Thespians
**2**
**FUNDRAISING RECEIPTS**
Donations
Donations made to YT
Fundraising receipts
**3**
**SUBSCRIPTION RECEIPTS**
Members subscriptions
Junior members subscriptions
Patrons donations
**OTHER RECEIPTS**
Bank interest
Rehearsal refreshments
Gift Aid
Sundry receipts
**WOODSIDE HALL**
Woodside Hall lettings income
**4**
Bar receipts
**4**
**PAYMENTS**
**COST OF PRODUCTIONS**
Hitchin Thespians
**1**
Young Thespians
**2**
**COST OF FUNDRAISING EVENTS**
Cost of fundraising events
**3**
**WOODSIDE HALL**
Woodside Hall running costs
**4**
Bar costs
**4**
**ASSETS & INVESTMENTS**
Purchase of fixed assets
**OTHER PAYMENTS**
NODA Subscription
Spotlight
Postage & Stationery
WiFi & video conferencing
Photocopying
Advertising
Website
Insurance
Committee insurance
Sundry Payments
Bank interest & charges paid
**TOTAL NET RECEIPTS / (PAYMENTS)**
Cash funds last year end
**CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END**
_Represented by:_
General funds
Restricted funds
**5**|£
£
12,434
8,898
21,332
169
42
873
1,083
2,945
790
789
4,524
1,599
76
664
25
2,364
15,425
4,263
19,688
48,991
13,373
5,326
(18,699)
56
(56)
20,366
1,223
(21,589)
5,712
(5,712)
199
17
29
-
85
66
289
814
263
210
2
(1,975)
(48,031)
961
85,183
**86,144**
84,700
1,444
86,144
**31 DEC 2024**|£
£
17,008
8,659
25,667
507
30
435
972
2,710
800
734
4,244
453
112
639
-
1,205
16,640
7,122
23,762
55,850
14,106
2,808
(16,914)
140
(140)
10,083
2,568
(12,651)
-
-
135
90
14
60
213
50
1,439
774
181
10
-
(2,966)
(32,671)
23,179
62,004
**85,183**
83,541
1,642
85,183
**31 DEC 2023**| |---|---|---| **Page 2** ## **HITCHIN THESPIANS CHARITY NUMBER 1005332 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** |**CASH FUNDS**
Current account
Savings deposit account
Savings bond fixed 2Y
Cash
Young Thespians current account
**OTHER MONETARY ASSETS**
Debtors
**ASSETS RETAINED FOR USE**
Leasehold property (Woodside Hall)
Equipment, fixtures & fittings
**LIABILITIES**
Creditors|**31 DEC 2024**
£
4,733
60,068
15,748
401
5,193
86,144
1,356
672,036
38,097
228| |---|---| **HITCHIN THESPIANS CHARITY NUMBER 1005332 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **Page 3** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** ## **1 PRODUCTIONS ACCOUNT - HITCHIN THESPIANS** |**2024**
**2024**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
Spring into Summer
1,158
(1,151)
Kipps
8,210
(6,690)
Bring & Sing G&S - Trial by Jury & HMS Pinafore
729
(365)
Summer workshop series 2024
275
(162)
Christmas at Woodside 2024
1,608
(1,088)
9 to 5
440
(4)
Scrooge
(2,557)
Young Frankenstein
(500)
Let the People Sing
Honk!
Gloria
Summer workshop series 2023
Unlimited
(122)
Christmas at Woodside 2023
15
(86)
The Best of Times
Sing a Song for Christmas
Summer sounds
TicketTailor costs
(648)
12,434
(13,373)
Net receipts/(deficit) from productions - HT
(939)
**2**
**PRODUCTIONS ACCOUNT - YOUNG THESPIANS**
**2024**
**2024**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
Frozen Jr
Shrek Jr
2,216
(3,052)
Nemo Jr
3,363
(1,365)
Aladdin Jr
3,320
(699)
Twenty Years of Young Thespians
Other production costs
(210)
8,898
(5,326)
Net receipts/(deficit) from productions - YT
3,572
**3**
**FUNDRAISING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES**
**2024**
**2024**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
A Little Planet concert
(35)
A Night at the Woodside evening
873
(20)
Christmas in April concert
Sundry
873
(56)
Net receipts for fundraising activities
817|**2023**
**2023**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
(500)
(506)
489
(54)
8,345
(8,638)
1,754
(1,438)
645
(459)
3,285
(335)
2,490
(1,569)
(160)
(17)
(17)
(414)
17,009
(14,106)
2,903
**2023**
**2023**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
2,887
(977)
5,772
(1,138)
(495)
(50)
(148)
8,659
(2,808)
5,851
**2023**
**2023**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
£
£
429
(82)
(46)
(12)
6
435
(140)
295| |---|---| **HITCHIN THESPIANS CHARITY NUMBER 1005332 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **Page 4** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** ## **4 WOODSIDE HALL** |**Income**
Woodside Hall lettings income
Bar receipts
**Expenses**
Caretaking, Cleaning & Gardening
Council Tax
Bar expenses
Equipment
Fire extinguishers contract plus repairs
Gas & Electricity
Buildings & Contents Insurance
First aid training and equipment
Music royalties for external hires
Piano tuning
Refuse collection
Repairs and renewals
WiFi & radio licences
Entertainment licence
Water & Sewerage
Window & gutter cleaning
Net receipts / (payments) for Woodside Hall|**2024**
**2024**
£
£
15,425
4,263
19,688
3,950
569
1,223
574
156
6,815
4,976
11
260
-
947
853
241
180
558
275
(21,589)
(1,901)|**2023**
**2023**
£
£
16,640
7,122
23,762
2,548
391
2,568
409
138
4,361
-
-
220
70
891
459
-
180
323
95
(12,651)
11,111| |---|---|---| - **5** During 2022, the Crane Fund for Widows & Children donated a sum of £1,975 to be used for the purposes of providing access to Young Thespians activities for families that may otherwise be unable to pay the costs of participating. During 2024, £198 of this fund was used, leaving a balance of £1,444 at 31 December 2024. These are the only restricted funds managed by the charity. - **6** Where figures have been corrected to the nearest pound there may be occasional apparent errors in totals of plus or minus £1. In each case the total is correct to the nearest pound. - **7** This financial statement has been prepared on a cash basis and under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charity Commission Statement of Recommended Practice together with applicable accounting standards. Income is recognised when it is received. Expenditure is accounted for on payment. ## **Accounting Policy** The Trustees are required by the Charities Act 2011 to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the affairs of the Trust and of the surplus or deficit of the Trust for that period. In preparing these accounts the Trustees are required (1) to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently (2) to make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent and (3) to prepare the accounts on a going-concern basis. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act, SORP and FRS (102). The Trustees are responsible also for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Hitchin Thespians (the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2024. As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 does not apply. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached L I Seymour Date: 10/06/2025 Len Seymour ## **Accounting Policy** The Trustees are required by the Charities Act 2011 to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the affairs of the Trust and of the surplus or deficit of the Trust for that period. In preparing these accounts the Trustees are required (1) to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently (2) to make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent and (3) to prepare the accounts on a going-concern basis. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act, SORP and FRS (102). The Trustees are responsible also for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Independent Examiner’s Report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Hitchin Thespians (the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2024. As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 does not apply. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached L I Seymour Date: 10/06/2025 Len Seymour