Report of the Trustees and
Financial Statements
for the Period Ended 31[st] May 2024
for
Derby Choral Union
Derby Choral Union Report of the Trustees For the Period Ended 31[st] May 2024
Chairman’s AGM Report
My records for 2020, just before the pandemic started, show that we had 29 Sopranos, 35 Contraltos, 8 Tenors and 22 Basses, a total of 94 members. As we go into the 159[th] Season we have 28 Sopranos, 29 Altos, 9 Tenors and 16 Basses, a total of 82 members.
We have managed to be involved in 3 successful concerts this season. In November an Autumn Concert of Classical Greats with the Mozart Requiem and Haydn Theresienmesse; in December a Christmas Festival Concert with Derby Concert Band; and in April Feel the Spirit by John Rutter with Andrew Carter’s Benedicite and Moses Hogan’s Spirituals; all in Derby Cathedral. We were very keen to get back to the Cathedral but, although its central location and prominence is a good selling point it does have its limitations as a concert venue, and I was more aware of this for our last concert in April. Despite extending behind the gates, we seemed very cramped for seating space with an orchestra of about 30. We would love to do ”bigger” works with larger orchestras and I’m wondering how we managed this in the past. Only 60 singers took part in our April concert, and it would have been very difficult if we had full attendance. The Mozart/Haydn concert in November was much easier.
A new venture for us at Christmas was a collaboration with Derby Concert Band. We knew that space would be a problem, but we made it work and it turned out to be a very enjoyable experience.
We started the year, or rather finished last year, with our first Singing Day for a number of years, and a great success it was too, both from the point of view of numbers and from recruitment. We were perhaps unfortunate to have chosen one of the hottest days in the year, but it was a very enjoyable day. The numbers for this year’s Singing Day are much lower, but still increasing.
Concert success is only achieved by careful practice and thorough preparation. In that, Paul has again been outstanding, ably assisted by Kate Baker for several rehearsals and by Tom Corfield, who we were delighted to welcome back last year as our accompanist. And, a complete surprise responding to a crisis, Neil Taylor, who stepped in when Tom was delayed one Tuesday and proved so versatile that he kindly agreed to learn the Carter and played for the whole practice the following week.
There are always changes in personnel and our thanks this year go to Margaret Cowley and Enid Ball, who have overseen the production of our programmes for a number of years, but feel that it is now time to relinquish their responsibilities; to Lesley Billet who has been responsible for tickets sales for a number of years; and to Phil Royle who has been on the committee in various roles for most of the time I’ve been in the DCU, but has decided not to stand for re-election.
My thanks, in addition to those already mentioned of course go to the members of the elected Committee, Pat, Graham, Antony, Viv, Alun and Phil who each have worked very hard to support me and the choir, and to Val who was co-opted earlier this year. I am indeed very grateful to them all. As I say each year, I must especially thank Alun who week after week has unlocked St John’s, set up and then packed away and locked up again at the end of practice. In addition are the unsung heroes; Alison and Ian, Phil and Julia our librarians, Val our registrar, Viv supported by Jacqui for coffee and tea, Adrian and Andy for front of house, Margaret and Enid our programme editors, Lesley and Karen our ticket sellers, and Phil for publicity.
You may have noticed that I haven’t thanked Pat Lunn, who, as you know, is finally standing down as secretary. Her absence from recent Committee Meetings meant that we able to pass – but not minute – a motion to award her life membership of Derby Choral Union.
I finish by repeating my thanks, especially to Paul, but also to all of you for your support and encouragement. The number of little messages of encouragement and thanks that I regularly get from you are always very much appreciated.
John Maxwell-Jones Chair
Derby Choral Union Report of the Trustees For the Period Ended 31[st] May 2024
Treasurer’s AGM Report
The re-build post-Covid continued this year with a more ambitious programme of concerts and returning to the larger Cathedral venue. The Committee recognised that this would mean committing to higher costs, but also that this was necessary to attract the larger audiences that are essential to achieve Derby Choral Union’s stated aim of “providing high quality concerts with professional orchestras and soloists”.
The resulting budget showed that break-even was possible if we could achieve an income for the year of £26,162. To put this in context, this compares to income of £31,278 in our last “normal” season of 2018/19, but only £12,600 in 2021/22 during the pandemic.
The Accounts for the year show our actual total income was £24,647. This compares well to £20,891 for the previous year and shows good progress in growing our audience numbers and ticket receipts back to pre-pandemic levels. But this was £1,515 lower than budget.
The main reason for the lower income was ticket sales being £1,600 below budget, but subscriptions being lower than hoped and donations being down also had an impact (both also being reflected in lower Gift Aid recoveries).
Our policy is to use Receipts and Payments accounting where income and expenditure is taken in the year it occurs irrespective of what it is for. This means that Singing Days had an in-year deficit – last year we had quick sales which pulled income into the previous year, but the costs were in this year. This year sales have been slower which pushed the income in the next financial year. Taken in isolation each Singing Day makes a surplus and is a good thing for the choir both financially, and also for recruitment, but timing of income has an impact.
One final comment on income, I must also say that we are very grateful to Liz Fairfield for her determined work in seeking out and applying for Grant funding. Her efforts resulted in our target of £1,000 being exceeded by £525 which went some way to making up the difference.
Once the season programme is fixed, our costs are also quite fixed with only minor cost adjustments being possible, so the lower income resulted in a deficit for the year of £1,188.
On 31[st] May our bank accounts had £16,427 in cash deposits which gives us a buffer to support the choir going forward but obviously to make us sustainable in the long term, we need to return to running at a surplus by increasing our income from concerts, and this is something the committee will need to focus on for the coming season.
Our aim must be to make the choir sustainable for the long term whilst still being able to offer high quality music supported by professional orchestras and soloists. From a treasurer’s perspective this is very achievable if we continue to focus on the 3 key areas identified last year. These are:
-
member retention and recruitment
-
concert promotion and ticket sales
• sponsorship and grants
On subscriptions, the Committee has tried to balance between the current cost of living situation and the fact that subscriptions were held at £110 for 5 years throughout the pandemic, and since 2017. Last year we considered bringing the rate towards parity with 2017 (which would mean an increase to £140) but decided to hold the increase back to £120.
For the 2024/25 season we recommend that we continue to move back towards parity and that the full subscription increases to £130, with a reduced rate of £65 for members under 30. Although this is part of bringing our finances back in line with pre-pandemic levels, we recognise that this might be challenging to some, and would not want this to deter anyone, so we will offer the possibility of paying monthly to anyone in this position. Please speak to John or I if you would like to pay in this way.
With this the key headlines for our proposed budget for 2024/25 are:
| • | General Expenditure | £10,905 | £9,797 in 23/24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| • | Concert Expenditure | £20,077 | £16,038 in 23/24 |
| Giving | a Total Expenditure | £30,982 | £25,838 in 23/24 |
| • | General Income | £16,876 | £15,888 in 23/24 |
| • | Concert Income | £14,140 | £8,759 in 23/24 |
| Giving | a Total Income | £31,016 | £24,647 in 23/24 |
The increase in both Income and Expenditure is mainly due to having an additional concert. The two together mean we have a Break-even Budget.
Graham Scott Treasurer
| Charity Name | No (if any) | No (if any) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby Choral Union | 1010174 | |||||||||||
| Section A Receipts and payments 01/06/2023 31/05/2024 Receipts andpayments accounts Period start date Period end date To For the period from ~~a a~~ |
CC16a | |||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds | Endowment funds |
Total funds | Total funds | Last year | |||||||
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||||
| Subscriptions from Members | 9,190 | - | - | - | 9 | 9,190 | 7,295 | |||||
| Donations | 1,319 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,319 | 1,438 | |||||
| Gift Aid | 1,798 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,798 | 3,042 | |||||
| Fund Raising | 981 | - | - | - | 981 | 981 | 732 | |||||
| Grants | 1,525 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,525 | - | |||||
| Income from Music Hire | 1,500 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,500 | 348 | |||||
| Bank Interest | 289 | - | - | - | 289 | 289 | 7 | |||||
| Concert Ticket Sales | - | 8,583 | 583 | - | 8 | 8,583 | 7,750 | |||||
| Concert Programme Sales | - | 176 | 176 | - | 176 | 176 | 279 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | (Gross income for AR)16,601 | 8,759 | 8,759 | - | 25,361 | 25,361 | 20,891 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Aged Creditor written back - 1,100 - - - 1,100 - Ladies Concert Dress Fund written off 387 - - 387 - Sub total- 713 - - - 713 - Total receipts 15,888 8,759 - 24,647 20,891 ~~—_——————~~ |
||||||||||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||||
| Musical Director - Rehearsals | 3,585 | - | - | - | 3 | 3,585 | 2,558 | |||||
| Musical Director - Concerts | - | 948 | 948 | - | 948 | 948 | 1,122 | |||||
| Accompanist | 1,880 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,880 | 1,320 | |||||
| Rehearsal Room Hire | 1,550 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,550 | 1,160 | |||||
| General Advertising | 220 | - | - | - | 220 | 220 | 199 | |||||
| Music Hire | 1,616 | - | - | - | 1 | 1,616 | 259 | |||||
| NFMS Fees & Insurance | 419 | - | - | - | 419 | 419 | 543 | |||||
| SundryExpenses | 103 | - | - | - | 103 | 103 | 430 | |||||
| New Website | - | - | - | - | - | - | 208 | |||||
| Archive Storage | 425 | - | - | - | 425 | 425 | 425 | |||||
| Lost deposit for cancelled concert | - | - | - | - | - | - | 100 | |||||
| Orchestras | - | 8,000 | 000 | - | 8 | 8,000 | 7,857 | |||||
| Organists/Pianists | - | 460 | 460 | - | 460 | 460 | 684 | |||||
| Soloists | - | 2,000 | 000 | - | 2 | 2,000 | 1,900 | |||||
| Concert Advertising | - | 151 | 151 | - | 151 | 151 | 344 | |||||
| Ticket Printing | - | 64 | 64 | - | 64 | 64 | 28 | |||||
| Programme Printing | - | 361 | 361 | - | 361 | 361 | 349 | |||||
| Venue Hire | - | 3,410 | 410 | - | 3 | 3,410 | 1,695 | |||||
| PRS Fees | - | 84 | 84 | - | 84 | 84 | 40 | |||||
| Ticket Sales Fees | - | 127 | 127 | - | 127 | 127 | 145 | |||||
| Flowers / Wine / Other | - | 434 | 434 | - | 434 | 434 | 83 | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 9,797 | 16,038 | 16,038 | - | 25,835 | 25,835 | 21,449 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Lost deposit -prepayment written off - - Ladies Dress Fund shrinkage - - Sub total - - - Total payments 9,797 16,038 - ~~SSS ~~ |
- - - 25,835 |
- - - 25,835 |
- 100 - 6 - 106 21,343 ~~=~~ |
|||||||||
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
1 29/01/2025 6,091 - 7,278 - - 1,188 - 452 - 7,278 7,278 - - - 17,615 - - 17,615 18,066 16,427 0 - 16,427 17,614 ~~=S=S=~~ |
- 452 - 18,066 17,614 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| CCXX R2 accounts (SS) Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
~~2~~ Signature Petty Cash (held by Treasurer) Details Details Lloyds Bank Business Account Nationwide 35 Day Saver Account Details Nationwide 1 Year Saver Account Paypal Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 5,987 - 5,157 - 5,138 - - - 145 - - - 16,427 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval | |||
| ~~2~~ | ~~29/01/2025~~ |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Indèpendent Examiner's Report Report to the trustses Derby Choral Union On accounts for the year ended 31st May 2024 Charlty no (if any) 1010174 Set out on pages 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination o the accounts of the above Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 ("the Ad"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried OLrt under section 145 of the 2011 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 trhe charity's s income exceed ,000 and l am qu to examiner's statement undert8 e examination by a qualified mem Insert name of appli le listed body]]. Del e [ ] if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I confirm Ihat no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (Oth•ts ') which gives me cause to believe Ihat In, any material respect.. Ihe accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with Ihe accounting records; or Ihe accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming 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 faiv 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. ' Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: Gillian Chatto Relevant professional quallficatlonlsl or body (if any): Retired Chartered Accountant IER Oct 2018
Address: 22 Guide Post Nether Heage Derbyshire DE56 2AQ Section 8 Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matenal matters of concern (see CC32, Independenl examinatson of charity accounts: directions and guidan for examiners). Glve hore brief detslls of any Items that the oxamlner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018