Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Walden
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Orchestral
Society
Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Trustees Annual Report and Financial
Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2024
Annual Report and Accounts

Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Charity No. 1028429
l. Purpose
Saffron Walden Orchestral Society's purpose is to provide performance opportunities for talented
musicians living or working in and around the district of Uttlesford, and to promote the appreciation
of music in the wider community through the presentation of public concerts and community based
projects. The society oversees the running of both the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra ISWSO)
and the Saffron Walden Children's Orchestra {SWCO}. The SWSO is a community orchestra formed of
both professional and amateur players based in and around Saffron Walden including North West
Essex, Suffolk, Cambridge and East Hertfordshire areas. The SWCO runs music courses for children
in the Uttlesford area.
2. Objects
The objects of the Society are to promote, 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 shall see fit,
including the presentation or performance of public concerts and recitals, the making of grants and
donations and in particular through the promotion management and administration of the Saffron
Walden Symphony Orchestra (previously known as the Uttlesforde Orchestra).
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3. Achievements and Performance Between l August 2023-31 July 2024
3.1 Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra
During the year the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra ISWSOI performed five concerts in Saffron
Hall, Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CBII 4UH. The dates and programmes for the concerts are
listed below.
Summary of Concerts during the Year
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Sunday 24 September 2023 at 3pm
Saffron Hall
Children's Concert- Stories from Stage and Screen with James Mayhew Illlustratorl
Rossini - The Thieving Magpie Overture
Humperdinck- Han5el and Gretel Overture
Delibes- Pizzicato for Sylvia
Ponchielli - Dance of the Hours from La Gioconda
Tchaikovsky- Swan Lake Suite
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Sunday 26 November 2023 at 3pm
Saffron Hall
A mountain themed concert
Mussorgsky- A Night on a Bare Mountain
Moeran -in the Mountain County
MacCunn-Land of the Mountain and the Flood
Hovhane5s Symphony No 50 "Mount St Helens"
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Sunday 11 February 2024 at 3pm
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Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Saffron Hall
Music from the Silver Screen
Barry- Dances with Wolves
Bernstein-The Magnificent Seven
Horner- Appollo 13
Rozsa- El Cid
5teiner- Gone with the Wind
Jarre- Dr Zhivago
Williams- ET
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Sunday 12 May 2024 at 3pm
Saffron Hall
Brahms- Academic Festival Overture
Glazunov- Concerto for Alto Saxophone {Soloist- Charlotte Treadawayl
Saint-Saens- Symphony No 3- Organ Symphony {Organist- Richard Carr)
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Saturday 29 June 2024 at 7.30 m
Saffron Hall
Joint concert with Saffron Walden Choral Society
Foulds-April
Saint-Saens- Le Rouet d'omphale
Parry- Blest Pair of Sirens
Parry- I was Glad
Poulenc- Stabat Mater (Soprano- Lucy Cox)
3.2 Saffron Walden Children's Orchestra
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Two courses were organised, the first was in the Easter School holidays19 11 April 2024) and the
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second was in the Summer school holidays129 July- I" August 20241. Thirty-seven children
enrolled for the Easter course which consisted of three mornings of orchestral playing with an end of
course concert in Saffron Hall. Thirty-two children attended the Summer course which consisted of
4 days of playing19:30-3:30}.
As with previous summer courses string, brass, and woodwind tutors were hired to lead sectionals.
The course also included a singing workshop led by Janet Wheeler and Sarah Cattley and art with
music led by James Mayhew, a well-known illustrator. The course finished with a concert in the
Saffron Hall to an audience of 60
As always, we are very grateful to student helpers, parent volunteers and members of the SWSO
who gave up their time to help on the courses.
3.3 SWSO Barker Bursary Competition
During the year the SWSO Barker Bursary Competition took place. This is funded through the
generosity of the Orchestra's President, Jumbo (Jeremy) Barker for whom this was an opportunity to
continue the work of his late father, George. In the early 1980s George Barker, founder of the
Uttlesforde Orchestra (that became the SWSO), established a bursary scheme connected to the
orchestra which ran successfully for several years, providing opportunities to many young people.
The award, the Barker Bursary, has been designed to offer the same opportunities as the original
scheme, and a continued connection with the Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra.
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Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Two bursaries were awarded, the senior bursary of £3000 to Sakura Fish, a violinist living in Bishop's
Stortford, and the junior bursary of £2000 to Ariana Wilson, a trumpet player from Saffron Walden.
Ariana gave a solo performance at the summer concert of the Saffron Walden Children's Orchestra.
We are scheduling a performance for Sakura Fish.
Funding for the second year of the bursary has been made available in the financial year of 2024-25.
Applications have been received from 12 candidates. Auditions are taking place in September 2024.
4. Financial Review
4.1 Overview of current financial position
In the year to 31st July 2024 IFY241 the SWOS made a profit of £10,398.991FY23: £5,205.49), which
was added to the unrestricted funds of the Charity.
At the year-end the SWOS had net assets of £57,290.41 {FY23'. £46,891.42) comprising current assets
of £57,350.41, of which £50,838.32 IFY23 £48,324.70) was cash at bank, and liabilities of £60.00. The
liabilities principally relate to FY25 members subscriptions paid in the year.
The Committee aims for the SWOS to maintain reserves sufficient to meet one yearfs worth of
concert production costs, assuming five-six concerts per year plus two SWCO courses. Based on the
costs incurred in FY24, the trustees would hope to have reserves at the year-end of around £35,000.
The Committee is satisfied that the level of reserves held by the Charity is acceptable and no action
15 required.
The Financial Statements for FY24 have been prepared on an accruals ba515 and are included on
pages 7 and 8. The accounts show that the Charity remains a viable going concern and the trustees
have no reason to believe that the SWOS cannot operate on this basis for the foreseeable future.
4.2 Sources of income
The SWOS has four primary sources of funds, as set out below:
Subscriptions paid by the SWSO playing members, including the fee5 paid for the SWCO
courses.
Ticket sales;
Sponsorship and donations (including the donations that fund the Barker Bursary
Competition); and
Gift Aid recovered on the subscriptions and donations.
Ticket sales are a very important part of the Charity's income and, as such, the Committee Members
continue to focus on ways to maximise thi5 revenue stream.
4.3 Expenditure
In 2019, in order to take advantage of the Orchestral Tax Relief scheme, the Saffron Walden
Orchestral Society created a production company called SWSO Productions Limited (SWSOP), which
is contracted each year by the Charity to produce that season's concerts. All the expenses of
preparing for and performing the concerts themselves are paid by the SWSOP.
SWSOP is a limited company (Registered Number.. 123513551. The share capital of the company is
held on trust for the Charity by its shareholders such that they will deal with the shares and exercise
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Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
all rights which may arise from holding them in accordance with the direction5 of any one or more
authorised representatives of the Charity.
In FY24, the Charity paid to SWSOP an amount of £24,683.25 IFY23.. £21,865.82), being the
commission due to SWSOP for production of the concerts. In total for FY24, such costs amounted to
£29,225.14 meaning that the benefit of the OTR scheme enjoyed by the Charity was £4,541.90.
As part of the contractual agreement between the Charity and SWSOP, the Charity has agreed to
provide the cash flow to meet the costs of production, which it does by way of an interest free loan
to the SWSOP. At the end of each year, this loan is partially repaid by set-off of the commission
payable by the Charity. At 31 July 2024, the balance outstanding due to the Charity was £6,512.09
{FY23: £6,892.72).
4.4 Review of Financial Statements
The financial statements are not audited but are examined by an independent examiner. Her report
can be found on page 9.
5. Structure, Governance and Management
The Saffron Walden Orchestral Society {SWOS1 is a membership organisation. Membership is open
to any person interested in furthering the objects of the Society and has been approved by
Committee and paid their annual subscription. The management of the SWOS is overseen by a
Committee consisting of four officers namely a Chairperson, Vice-chair Per50n, a Secretary and a
Treasurer, and up to four other persons. This group is known as the Committee Members, and
individuals are Trustees of the Charity. The Committee Members are elected by the Society's
member5 entitled to a vote at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee is also able to co-opt up
to three additional Committee Members (who need not be members of the Society) provided that
the Committee is not comprised of more than one third co-opted Committee Members. Co-opted
Committee Members hold office until the next Annual General Meeting and may be eligible for re-
election by Committee Members.
The Committee Members for 2023124 were:
Dr Helen Glenister, Chair
Ryan Weaver. Vice Chair
Philippa Hopewell, Secretary
Jeremy Lewin, Treasurer
Steve Conner
Robert Furber
Chris Haskins
Dr Charlanne Ward
Richard Hull, Co-opted Member and Conductor/Director of Music
Dr Sarah James, Co-opted Member and Leader.
In furtherance of the objects of the Society all arrangements for concerts, recitals and other events,
the making of grants and donations, and the promotion, management and administration of the
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Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
orchestrals) is the responsibility of the Committee which may exercise the following powers for such
purposes:
To raise funds and to invite donations and contributions provided that in so doing the
Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to
any relevant requirements of the law
To engage or employ such musicians, experts, consultants, staff or contractor5 as may be
necessary
To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities and to exchange
information and advice with them
To appoint and constitute such sub or advisory committees as the Committee may think fit
To buy, take on lease, rent, exchange or hire any premises or property necessary for the
achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it for use
To do all such other lawful things as may be necessary or desirable for the achievement of the
objects.
The Committee met on five occasions during 2023124 to manage the busine55 of the Society.
6. Reference and Administration Details
Charity Name
Registered Charity Number
Charity's Principal Address
Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
1028429
2 Chantry Road
Bishop's Stortford
Herts
CM23 25F
enquiries@saffron5ymphony.org
www.saffronsyphony.org
Email
Website
7. Declarations
The Committee Members (Trustees) declare that they have approved the Trustees report
Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees
Signature
Full name (s)
Position
Date
Dr Helen Glenister
Chair
Kjo
Annual Report and Accounts

Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Profit & Loss Account
For the year ended 31 July 2024
2024
2023
Income
Subscriptions
Barker Bursary donation and gift aid
Children's Orchestra income
Sponsorship. grants and donations
Concert income
3,770.00
3,850.00
6,250.00
7,345.00
3.950.00
16,299.00
1,112.50
171.56
6,620.00
3.892.00
24.902.73
1,097.50
610.61
Gift Aid
Other income
Totolincome
40.892.84
38,978.06
Expenses
Commissions paid
Barker Bursary costs
Children's Orchestra costs
24,683.25
21.865.82
6.072.00
5,574.75
260.00
5,668.60
142.00
Other costs
Total expenses
30,493.85
33,772.57
Profit/(Loss} for the year
10,398.99
5,205.49
Notes:
Commissions paid is the amount paid to SWSOP for production of the season's concerts and the
SWCO courses.
Annual Report and Account5

Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Balance Sheet
For the year ended 31 July 2024
2024
2023
Current Assets
Debtors and Prepayments
Cash at bank and in hand
50,838.32
6,512.09
48,324.70
6,892.72
Fina ncial Assets
Totol CurrentAssets
57.350.41
55,217.42
Liabilities
Creditors a nd accruals
60.00
8,326.00
Total Current Liobilities
60.00
8,326.00
57,290.41
46,891.42
Represented by:
Retained surplus brought forward
Profit & Loss for the year
46,891.42
10,398.99
41,685.94
5,205.49
57,290.41
46,891.42
Annual Report and Accounts

Saffron Walden Orchestral Society
Independent Examiners report to the Trustees of Saffron Walden Orchestral
Society
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31" July 2024.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's trustees
consider that an audit is not required for thi5 year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the
2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed instead. It is my responsibility to..
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5){bl of the 2011 Act; and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examinerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It also includes consideration of any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees
concerning any such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would
be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a
true and fairf, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examinerfs statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accounting record5 in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
b. to prepare accounts that accord with the accounting records and comply with the
accounting requirements of the 2011 Act;
have not been met," or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name: Nicky Creighton
Relevant Professional Quaification or Body: FCCA, CTA
Address: 39 Hawthorne Close, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Herts CM22 6SD
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Date: 12 November 2025
Annual Report and Accounts