Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date 1 8 2024 31 7 2025
From
To
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Ilkley Choral Society
Other names charity is known by
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Registered charity number (if any) 1020875
Charity's principal address 16 Branwell Avenue Guiseley Leeds Postcode LS20 9FD
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Heeley | Chair | Resigned Jan 1 2025 | |||
| SallySumpner | Chair/Secretary | Appointed chair Jan 1 2025 | |||
| John Bray | President | ||||
| Tom Hanney | Treasurer | ||||
| Penny Coulthard | IT | ||||
| Helen Cobley | Catering | ||||
| Rosie Carne | Publicityand social | ||||
| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | |||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year | ||||
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser | Name Address |
Name Address |
Name Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | |||
| Section B Structure, governance and management | |||
| Description of the charity’s trusts Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Constitution How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Unincorporated association Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by) There must be at least three charity trustees. In accordance with the Constitution, Trustees are appointed or re- appointed for a term of four years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. The Chair is usually, but not necessarily, elected by members. In appointing Trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the Trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law. |
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| Constitution | |||
| Unincorporated association | |||
| There must be at least three charity trustees. In accordance with the Constitution, Trustees are appointed or re- appointed for a term of four years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. The Chair is usually, but not necessarily, elected by members. In appointing Trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the Trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law. |
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
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Section C Objectives and activities
1. Aims
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To foster musical excellence, and expand the general public’s understanding and appreciation of musical diversity. We want the tradition of choral singing to continue within our community and we present regular concerts and events to assist in this.
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- To encourage new memberships through a range of musical activities, helping to maintain the numbers for the long term future of the choir.
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
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To develop teamwork, communication and collaboration amongst members through singing.
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To provide a sense of purpose and belonging that contributes to well-being, and has a positive effect on mental health and mood.
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- To enhance and foster the notion of community, building friendships and providing a space for strong social connection and personal growth through the experience of singing together.
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Main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to the above objectives:
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
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Enjoyable weekly singing rehearsals, requiring no audition, and led by professional musicians.
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- Participation in at least two main concerts each year, often with an orchestra and usually with professional soloists.
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- The participation in at least two further concerts each year organised by the ‘sister choir’.
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- Participation in seasonal events ie carol singing in care homes, singing around local pubs for local charities, carol singing at local church events.
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- Participation in additional and occasional local concerts.
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- Attending coffee mornings arranged during seasonal breaks from the choir to offer friendship and support.
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- Participation in and assisting in the organisation of additional musical events ie Come and Sing.
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- Taking opportunities for attending further musical events in the local area, organised by other choirs.
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Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
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Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
Aim 1.
At concerts we usually sell between 250 and 350 tickets, which is capacity in our main concert venue. This would appear to demonstrate that we have an appeal to the public, expanding their understanding and appreciation of the diverse works we perform eg Carmina Burana / The Messiah.
We have had extremely positive reviews for our concerts this year, and the latest Come and Sing event attracted around 100 singers, some of whom travelled over 100 miles to attend.
Aim 2.
During this concert period, we have attracted 9 new members, representing approximately 13% of the choir, and certainly helping to secure the future of the choir. This has been done by holding special events, by compiling popular / interesting programmes, by using social media to attract audiences, and by word of mouth.
Aims 3, 4 and 5.
Choir members often collaborate socially with the added intention of rehearsing parts of the choir music. Singing in a voice part ie soprano / bass etc, brings people together and brings about a special feeling of working as a team.
Meeting each week supports friendship building and combats feelings of loneliness and isolation, and is hugely supportive through bereavement or similar life changes.
Successful concerts bring about a joyfulness that has a huge impact on mood and well-being, and helps to support a more positive mental health outlook.
Breaks in the choir rehearsal schedule, ie Summer, Easter, are lengthy if members do not socialise elsewhere during those times. We organise coffee mornings for members to meet up and chat, often to people in a different voice part that they do not usually sit near to. These mornings are valued and appreciated and help to make the choir a community that fosters friendship building and strong social connection.
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Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
The charity’s reserves are £14,500. We hold reserves sufficient to pay for one year of our financial commitments. This includes rehearsal costs as well as some concert fees which can be agreed well in advance such as instrumentalists or room bookings.
These reserves are necessary to confidently meet our key objectives: we can absorb revenue shortfalls due to, say, a fall in membership numbers or sponsorship income, or lower than expected ticket sales for a concert, without needing to compromise on the resources we commit to future concerts and events.
They also ensure our financial stability should we need to react to unexpected events. If we need to cancel a concert or there is a pandemic event, we can meet our operating costs and any agreed fees; and we have contingencies to respond if our regular professional musicians become ill or resign their position.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.
Further financial review details (Optional information)
The net income for the year was £26,646.19. Our main sources of You may choose to include funding are members’ subs (49% of revenue) followed by concert ticket additional information, where sales (36%). Sponsorship and donations make up almost 9% of revenues relevant about: and the remainder comes from smaller fundraising activities (raffles, bring the charity’s principal and buy sales) and interest on reserves. sources of funds (including any fundraising);
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The net expenditure for the year was £25,435.16. Our expenditure is split
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how expenditure has roughly 50/50 between rehearsal costs (including any outgoings required to run the choir such as insurances, the costs to maintain a web and
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supported the key objectives social media presence) and concerts, i.e., the expenses associated with
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of the charity; putting on public performances. These expenses include room hire, fees
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investment policy and for performers, score hire and any catering costs. All our expenditure objectives including any therefore supports our key objective which is to promote and develop ethical investment policy public appreciation of great works of music by delivering to them adopted. performances and participation events to a high standard.
Section F Other optional information
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Section G Declaration
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 ** |
E S Sumpner | |
|---|---|---|
| Sally Sumpner | ||
| Chair / Secretary | ||
| March 21st 2026 |
January 2025
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Ilkley Choral Society Annual Accounts 2024/25
Income
Expenditure
| Banking | 679.37 | Banking | 149.21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coleridge/Stanford Concert | 256.00 | ||
| Come & Sing 2025 | 20.00 | ||
| Dvorak Concert | 3730.88 | Dvorak Concert | 6673.98 |
| Messiah Concert | 6571.78 | Messiah Concert | 5776.12 |
| Mozart Concert 2024 | 164.00 | Mozart Concert 2024 | 74.00 |
| Rehearsals | 13720.16 | Rehearsals | 12433.35 |
| Smyth Concert 2023 | 72.50 | ||
| Sponsorship | 1760.00 | Proft | 1211.03 |
| 26646.19 | 26646.19 | ||
| Balances | |||
| Bank as at 01.08.24 | 4283.34 | Bank as at 31.07.25 | 5456.69 |
| Cash in hand as at 01.08.24 | 41.67 | Cash in Hand | 79.35 |
| Proft | 1211.03 | ||
| 5536.04 | 5536.04 | ||
| Reserves | |||
| B/F 01.08.24 | 14500.00 | C/F 31.07.25 | 14500.00 |
Independent Examinaton:
I have examined the accounts and find them to be correct
Frank Taylor 17-May-25