Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 September 2024 To 31 August 2025
Charity name: Chipping Norton and District Choral Society
Charity registration number: 1005363
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the Society shall be to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of choral music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including the presentation of public concerts and recitals. |
| 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 |
Concerts Rehearsals started in September with a month spent introducing singers to the big piece scheduled for March 2025: Bach’s_St_ John’s Passion._Rehearsals were then for the Christmas ‘24 Concert on Saturday, 14thDecember in St Mary’s Church, Chipping Norton. As well as a selection of carols, old and new, some of which invite audience participation, the main work was _A Ceremony of Carols (_Benjamin Brittten 1943).The accompanists were organ: Bernard West and harp: Reuben West. _St John’s Passion, performed Saturday 12th April, 2025 at St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church, Deddington, was a great success. Soloists were: Sebastian Hill, Evangelist, Florian Stőrtz, Bass, Natasha Page, Soprano,William Prior, Alto, Tim Burton, Tenor. The Chipping Norton Baroque Players provided the orchestra. The summer concert_A Night at the Opera_ was also held at St Peter’s & St Paul’s Church, Deddington, on Saturday 28th June. The traditional picnic was held before the event and refreshments were provided during the interval. The church was full for a performance of 18 very varied songs, and orchestral pieces from operas and vocal musical pieces; many long-time favourites, others less frequently heard. The choir was accompanied by a 40-piece amateur orchestra: Trinity Camerata from Bicester |
and supported by soloists James Berry (baritone) and Hannah Fraser-Mackenzie (soprano). Supporting local events CNCS led the community carol singing for the turning on of the Christmas lights in Chipping Norton on Thursday 28[th] November. Members of the Cotswold Youth Choir were part of this choir and the Youth Choir also performed in St Mary's Church at 7.30 pm on Friday 13[th] December. CNCS sang at the Great Rollright Christmas and also sang to residents at Watson Place, Chipping Norton on Wednesday 18th December. Watson Place is a McCarthy Stone retirement complex. Cotswold Youth Choir (CYC) By summer 2025, the Youth Choir had been meeting for a year with regular rehearsals on Wednesday evenings Although the youngsters who regularly attended enjoyed the rehearsals very much, and the opportunity to sing publicly, it had proved very difficult to increase the number of regular attenders despite further workshops at local schools At the June CYC Sub-Committee meeting it was agreed that with nine singers and funds to cover costs only until the end of the term, it was currently not viable and the CNCS Committee endorsed this decision. It was always intended that membership fees, fundraising and potentially further sponsorship would grow so that CYC could be self-funding from September 2025.but that's not how things had turned out. Further funding opportunities were explored and whether any more outreach could be done to grow the numbers but it was felt that none were certain enough to generate income or members and CNCS cannot afford to underwrite CYC. The chair of CYC, and CNCS Treasurer, spoke with CYC parents to explain the choir was going to have to fold. However, within 24 hours, CNCS had an approach from one family who offered a donation which would enable CYC to continue running for a further year, with some cost changes proposed by the Committee. John Christie stepped down as CYC Chair and Mandy Williams agreed to take his place and work on outreach and building CYC numbers.
| Commissioning of a Commemorative piece for CNCS 155th Anniversary The Society plans to commission a commemorative piece to be performed on 15th May 2027, the 155thanniversary of the foundation of the Society. The piece will then be placed into the large public choral repertoire on which both the Society and other choirs rely on for performance works. The fundraising target is £12,500. Approaches to trusts and foundations, together with private donations raised £4000 up to 31 August. Discussions had taken place with composer Ben Parry and librettist Hazel Gould who have agreed to work on the piece, which will have references local to the choir and what singing means to them. Funds will also be used to print an agreed number of copies which will be available for other choirs to hire, thus cementing CNCS in the choral fabric of the UK. In the summer, the society held a self- funded Bring and Share supper as a social event and the librettist, Hazel Gould, attended to run an opening workshop brainstorming things that could be included in her libretto. The society ran an open Come and Sing Day of choruses from Haydn’s_Creation_on Saturday 12thJuly. This was attended by society members, members of other choirs and members of the local public. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees of the society are fully aware that to operate as a Charity the society must be run for “the public benefit”. The benefit aspects provided by the society are • the proven health and mental health benefits that the society members gain through singing • the positive effects of community- building provided to both members of the society and the society’s audience members. • education of both society members and audience through musical performances • establishing a children’s choir under the ‘umbrella’ of the choral society, to introduce young people aged 8 to 18 to choral singing The public aspect of the requirement is met by the fact that the society is open to all adults with no need for auditions and that concerts are available for all local community members. |
The society’s trustees have based their decisions for running the society with due regard for the public benefit requirement. We have attempted to keep ticket costs as low as possible to ensure that we make performance available to as large a section of the public as we can, and we have maintained free concert tickets for children so as not to disadvantage families. Throughout the running of CYC, there was provision for reduced cost places for families on low incomes to make the public appeal of the choir as large as possible. We have offered reduced membership fees for members on low incomes.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The entire society including CYC is volunteer run. A core group of 4-6 society members have acted as volunteers during CYC rehearsals to provide support to the young singers. Volunteers provide front-of-house and refreshment -serving during concert intervals. |
| 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 | The society provided three high quality musical performances open to the public. We provided support to the Town Council for the Christmas lights ceremony, increasing a sense of public pride and involvement for the local community. We provided free-of-charge entertainment through carol singing to local care-home residents. We ran CYC to provide musical education, confidence-building and the opportunity to take part in public performance to the CYC members. |
Additional information (optional)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements | where relevant about: | |
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The trustees believe that the society has adequately met its objectives set in providing the main choir’s performances and local public engagements, provision of CYC and fundraising, and preparation for commissioning a new piece of music for the society’s 155thanniversary and the public choral repertoire |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The trustees believe that the society has met its fundraising objectives for the year |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the year the charity had total assets of £19,156. The majority of this is money raised for the piece of music to be commissioned for the society’s 155th anniversary, which will then be added to the public choral repertoire. Remaining funds constitute the society’s reserve (see below) and funds for continued running of the choir and CYC. All monies were in restricted funds for the year 01 September 2024 to 31 August 2025, but £2000 pounds is in a restricted fund specifically for future running of CYC. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity aims to reserve the costs (musicians’ fees, soloists’ fees, venue fees) that would be incurred by the society should a single concert performance need to be cancelled (£3,500). |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £3,797 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | No funds are in deficit. The charity has no subsidiaries. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The trustees do not have any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The adult choir’s principal funding sources are membership subscriptions and concert income (tickets and refreshments). CYC’s principal funding sources are voluntary donations and membership subscriptions. Principal funding sources for the commission have been grants and donations from members. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The society does not have and investment policy or investment objectives. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Principal risks faced by the society are potential losses that would be caused through cancellation of a concert performance. This risk is mitigated through the existence of the reserve. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | The society’s Constitution is published on our website at https://cncs.org.uk |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated association |
| 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 | The Trustees are the society’s committee members. They are elected by the members at the AGM. The committee can also co-opt additional persons onto the committee and therefore as trustees |
| 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 | No formal policy exists for induction/training of trustees, but we encourage member to join the committee and learn on the job. Job descriptions are provided for the main committee posts. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity is a single organisation with no subsidiaries. A sub-committee with representation on the main committee runs the CYC part of the society. All committee members are volunteers. There are no paid staff in the charity. We commission services from a Musical Director and an Accompanist. They are both self-employed and not employees of the charity. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The society is a member of Making Music, the UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Chipping Norton and District Choral Society |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Not applicable |
| Registered charity number | 1005363 |
| Charity’s principal address | Symnel High Street Hook Norton BANBURY OX1 5NH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annabel Beach | Chair | The Society | ||
| Susan Fane | Secretary | The Society | ||
| Nicholas Watkins | Treasurer | The Society | ||
| John Christie | CYC Sub-committee chair |
The Society | ||
| Heather Jarvis | Archivist | The Society | ||
| Jane Lewis | 19/11/2024 – 31/08/2025 | The Society | ||
| Sarah Mortimer | The Society | |||
| Catherine Warrington |
Venue Manager | 19/11/2024 – 31/08/2025 | The Society | |
| Mark Walters | Membership Secretary |
The Society | ||
| Keith Ravenhill | Venue Manager | 01/09/2024 – 19/11/2024 | The Society |
– 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 | Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity | Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
| Susannah Howe | Custodian Trustee | |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
The funds held in the society’s bank accounts |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Susannah Howe, as Custodian Trustee, is solely responsible for performing second authorisation of payments being made from the society’s bank accounts when the normal second authoriser is not available. |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
All three of the society’s bank accounts are operated under a dual mandate system. |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| 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) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Watkins | Annabel Beach | |
Treasurer |
||
| 29/06/2026 | ||
| 29/06/2026 |
Charity number: 1005363
Chipping Norton and District Choral Society
Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
Chipping Norton and District Choral Society Registered Charity: 1005363
Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 August 2025
| INCOME Subscriptions Concert Income Commission Gift Aid Score Income Staging Income Raffle Friends CYC Income Other Income EXPENDITURE Concert Expenses Rehearsal Costs Score Costs Website Insurance CYC Expenses Other Surplus/(Deficit) for the Year |
2025 16,079.21 10,352.94 6,174.15 3,168.23 3,265.52 240.00 0.00 147.30 4,374.38 142.00 43,943.73 12,544.71 13,188.76 3,502.16 664.57 671.61 6,751.49 0.00 37,323.30 6,620.43 |
2024 15,337.64 7,091.11 3,531.74 4,480.12 2,586.60 100.00 74.00 50.00 9,729.12 0.00 42,980.33 14,709.14 13,547.24 4,133.25 886.43 581.00 4,522.65 164.99 38,544.70 4,435.63 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
Chipping Norton Choral Society Registered Charity: 1005363
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
| Current As Bank account - CNCS Bank account - Commission Bank account - CYC PayPal Net Assets Accumulated Fund Brought Forward Surplus/(deficit) for the year |
2025 6,204.91 3,820.70 1,226.22 7,904.58 19,156.41 12,535.98 6,620.43 19,156.41 |
2024 5,794.93 1,680.00 5,061.05 0.00 12,535.98 5,027.05 3,073.30 8,100.35 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
These accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 24 June 2026 Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by:
Nicholas Watkins
Position: Treasurer
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Chipping Norton and District Choral Society On accounts for the year 31 August 2025 Charity no 1005363 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 08 / 2025 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Date:
Signed:
Name: Dr Sian Thrasher
Relevant professional Not Applicable
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address: 10 Wellbank
Hook Norton
BANBURY
OX15 5LN
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1
October 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER