CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Report to the trusteesl menibers of ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY On accounts for the year ended Charlty no (if any) 3110512024 1041943 Set out on pages I report to Ihe trustees on my examinallon of Ihe aGcounls of the above charity ("Ihe Trusl") for the year ended 3110512024 Responsibilities and basls of I'eport As Ihe charily's trustees, yoii are responsible for Ihe preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charitle5 Act 2011 ('Ihe Acl"). I report in respect of my examinalion of the Tr(Ist's accounts carried out uiider section 14Jf of the 2011 Acl aiid in carryii)g out my exainlnallon, I liave followed all the applicable Direcllons given by11)e Charily Coinmission under secllon 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examinalioii. I confirm Ihal no Inaterial Inatters have examiner's statement coine to my allentlon In coiinection wllh the examiiiatlon which gives me cause to believe that in, any Inaterial respecl: the accoiinting records were not kept iii accordance wllli section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accouiits dld not accord with the accounling records,, or the accounts did not comply wilh the applicable ieqiiireineiits concerning Ihe form and content of accouiils sel oul in Ihe Cliarities (Accounts and Reports) RegLilatioiis 2008 other Ihan any reqiiirement tliat the accounts glve a 'true and falr. view wl)Icli Is iiot a Inatler considered as part of an Independent exaininalion. I have no concerns and have come across no olher mallers in connection with the examination to which altenlion sliould be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accoiints lo be reaclied. Signed: Date: 8-10-2 Name: K<1 1 14 Klb, Relevant professlonal qualification{s) or body (If any): dlA Address: ous< I<L*y C¢(Sr guisn, IER Oct 2018
Only coinplete if the examiner iieeds lo highliglit material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of chaiity accounts.. dlreclions and guldance for examiners). Glve here brlef detalls of any Items that the examlner wlshes to dlsclos6. IA. IER Oct 2018
ASHFORD IKENT) CHORAL SOCIETY CHARITY NO. 1041943 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 01/06/23 TO 31/05/24 SECTION A- OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY TD promote, Improve, develop and malntaln publlc educatlon in and appreclation of the art and science of muslc In all its aspects by tlie presentatlon of public concerts and recitals; and for the general purw)ses of such charltable bodles or for such purposes as shall be exclusively charitable a5 the Executive Committee may decide from time to time. SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN RELAIION TO THESE OBIECTS: The triistees have consldered the Charity Commisslon's guldellnes on public beneflt and are satisfled that the Soclety meets the requlrements both In its oblectlves and In actuality. The Soclety Is proud of Its coi)trlbutlon to tlie cultural life of Ashford and tl)e surrounding area, of the opportunitles It offers to l)ear live music of a hlgh standard wltli f ull orchestra and of the inembershlp and ticket-prlcing policles whlch allow wide access to all menibers of soclety. The Society rehea I'ses weekly and perforrns three or four public concef ts In the year for the ticket-buying publlc. These tickets are heavily subsldlsed by the members through the membership subscrlptlon, through donations and through self- help f undralslng a¢tivitles. Oiie of the concerts each year Is a 'Carol Concert. at whlch a retlrlng collection is made for charitles. I n addition, a number of meinbers do carol-slnglng sesslons, the proceeds of which also go to tliarlties, Each year, followlng consultatlon wlth the full membershlp and subject to slgnlflcant fundlng, tl)e commlttee nomlnates two c17arltles to beneflt from these actlvitles. Members of the Soclety periodlcally make themselves available to sing at weddings and funerals at a stiitable rate of remuneratlon. Sllghtly more abstract (though there Is now Increasing research on thlsl are the physical, soclal ai)d therapeutlc benefits of slnging for the 110 members themselves, a good nuinber of whom are retired and mlght otherwlse experlen¢e soine of the Isolatlon or other problems assoclated with that age group. At the other end of the age spectrum, members under 25 andlor In full-tlme educatlon beneflt from the walvlng of the subscription; f Lirther, as a polnt of prlnclple, special arrangements are made for job-seekers and other hardshlp cases, whose subscrlption rate is negotiated Indivldually. Publ1¢ benef It Is signlf icantly enhanced by the open.access pollty: there Is no formal auditlon and ilo age Ilmlt (we liave had meinbers slnglhg well into their nineties). ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF ACTIVITIES: The Soclety coiild not operate without the hundreds of hours of work done by the offlcers, the members of the full Commlttee a nd by several otliers. Altho(Igh this is an organisation wlth a slgnif icant turnover. no remuneratlon is glven except to professlonal muslclans. General expenses and admlnistration amounted to just £753 in 2023-24. SECTION B- ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023-24 It Is the pollcy of the Sotlety to perform at the very highest standard possible and to thls end we employ a professional conductor, accompanlst, soloists and instrumentalists for rehearsals and concerts. In November 2023 we performed Rosslni Petite Messe Solennelle, tliere was a Carol Concert In December, and In April 2024 we performed a Concert of shorter pieces by Schubert, Mozart, Rheinberger and Durante.
SECTION C- FINANCIAL REVIEW, INCLUDING RESERVES POLICY The baslc flgures for the year ended 31/05124 are: INCOME EXPENDITURE OPERATING SURPLUS 40897 NET ASSETS AT YEAR-END (Current account + Deposit AccoLint + cash) 26413 14484 25715 Due to the financlal pressures from wior seasons and the continued increase ofcosts in all areas of operatlng as a Choral Socletyi it was declded that the annual subscription was to Increase substantlally In an ef fort to malntain the sustaina bll ity of the Soclety. The general reaction to thls move seems to be that membershlp nevertlieless represents extraordlnary value-for-money. Thls year the Society also recelved funding erants from the Kent Cominunity Foundation Award ai)d the Ashford Federatlon of the Arts, whlch have been allocated towards the November 2023 concert costs and the purchasliig of new carol muslc as capltal expenditure respectively. The Soclety operates a deposit account which 15 drawn upon for each major concert, The Trustees have decided that a separate reserves f und Is inappropriate. They ¢onsider that the So¢lety is vulnerable to f Iii¢tuatlon In recelpts and recent events have shown that money may be necessary for contlngeneies and rlsks. The trustees monltor the f Igures regularly and are prepared to set up a separate reserves f und should tl)e flnanclal climate Improve. SECTION D- STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Tlils orga nisatlon Is a Soclety governed by a Constitution {adopted 1994, ameiided 1997 and 2012). Trustees are electe d by aiid out of tlie Soclety's ii)embership at tlie Annual General Meetingi tliey hold offlce for one year and are ellglble for re-election. Full Committee Ineeting5 take place three times a year and the AGM follows one of the rehearsals everv October. The Muslc Dlrector, tl)e Asslstant Conductor and the Accompanist are Invited to attènd ExecLltlve Coinmittee Ineetlngs as noii-trLlStee ex off l¢lo members. SECTION E- REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS ASHFORD IKENTI CHORAL SOCIETY 1041943 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: Mr T Whorlow, 4 The Saddlers, Maln Road, Sellindge, Ashford TN25 6BZ TRUSTEES WHO MANAGE THE CHARITY: Domiiiic Urand Jane Mlller Vlrglnla Brown Timothy Whorlow Eleanor Bartram Peniiy Town Beryl Walker Mary Walte Emanuèle Malndron Rachel Cook Paul Bltcheno J ulia Blackwell Chalrman Vice-chalrman Secretary Treasurer Frlends Secretary Eletted by full membershlp of the Soclety at AGM 2021 Elected by full InembersliSp of tlie Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the Socièty at AGM 2023 Elected by full membership of the Soclety at AGM 2023 Elected by full menibershlp of the Soclety at AGM 2021 Elected by full membersliip of the Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021 Elected by full membership of the society at AGM 2021 Elected by full meinbership of the Society at AGM 2021 ADVISERS AND AGENTS: Mr Keith Ford HSBC plc Inde ondent Examlnei Bai)kers
SECTION F- EXEMPTIONS FROM DISCLOSURE This section 15 not a pplicable to our organ15ation. SECTION G - FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS This sectioi) Is not applleable to our organisation. SECTION H- OTHER OPTIONAL INFORMATION Or8anlsatlon for the season 2024-25 is well undeNay. A concert In November 2024 will feature CPE Bach's Magnlflcot & Mozart's Coronation Moss, there will be a Carol Concert In December; In March 2025 a concert of Vauglian Wllllams Flve Mysticalsongs arid other shorter pleces, and flnally a concert in May 2025 to perform Pouleiic Glorlo and Beetlioven Moss Anc. SECTION J- DECLARATION The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. 51gned on behalf of the charity's trustees: SIGNATURE FULL NAME POSITION DATE g/iol& END OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
ASHFORD CHORAL SOCIETY TREASURER'S REPORT { SUMMARY) TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024 INCOME NOV DEC MAR Flll IAY (APR 4,901.00 225.00 GENERAL TOTAL A 8,642.00 443.50 Ticket Income (gross) P¥ograinme Sales 1.1LlSiC Hlre 3.067.00 218.50 674.00 130.¢JO 224.60 525.00 879.60 14,421.00 1,862.00 1,128,25 420.00 14embers subscilptlons Frlends subscrlptlons Fundi'alsli)Q.' Rallle Fundralsliig.. Sale of Produce Fundraislng., eags Fiii)dralsing.' Other fLJndralsln9 actlvlties Advertisen)eiits 14,421.OD 1,862.00 1,128,25 420.00 190.00 190.00 1,193,00 345.00 2.800.00 3,002.26 S,230,04 40.00 300.11 40.896.76 1,193,00 345,00 300.00 Fu17dralslng.' Fees and Grants Glft Atd Doiiallons/bequests 011)ei- Incoiiie Bank and other Interest 2,500.00 3,002.26 5,184.04 40.oa 30,00 16.00 300.11 28,385.66 TOTAL 5,945,50 914.60 5,651.00 EXPENDITiIRE Sololsls, Fees & Expenses Peiloriners, Fees (excl sololsts) Coiiduclors, fees and expenses Accon)panlst Fees Hlre ol vocal scores Hlre ol orchestral parts Purchase of keyboard Venue Hlre NOV 2,OSO.00 780.00 500.00 450.00 91.50 DEC hlAR MAY APR 1,600,00 3,040.00 605,00 200.00 1,309. 79 97.49 GENERAL TOTAL A 3.650,00 3,820.00 4,612. 16 3.6S0.00 1,544,54 97.49 210.00 3.297.76 2,805.00 143.25 195.00 300.CK) 1,007.60 750.00 1,050.00 1,2LO.50 2,560.50 1,007.60 1,780.00 496.22 I,S24.00 382.00 140.OCI 753.11 Stagliig & Equlpinent Hlre of Inslruniei)Is 8ox Ollice Comn)1ssloi) J Tlcket fees uplroiit payinent for tlckets Pi Inllng prog¥ammes A(Ivertlslnglposters Adirlnlstratlon NACilnsurance PRS 8ank charges (HSBC & Sumvp) 660.00 370.00 496.?.2 1,524.eO 180.00 145.00 55.00 57.00 45.00 40.00 753.11 147.08 147,08 111.99 135.73 26.4 13,0? 111.99 135,73 8,862.43 TOTAL 6,129.10 507.00 10,914.49 QPEfiATING SVRPLUSIDEFICIT 183.60 407.60 5,263.49 19.523.23 14,483,74 Otlier Fiiiidralsln8 acilvltles.. Received GA Upllft Costs Surplus1 {Dellclt) Slnglng day 2023 457.60 J14.40 644.01 72.01 Qulz nlgl)t 2024 778.00 81.75 696.25 ACS Bags Ireceived $0 larl 190.00 634.43 In addillon to Ilie figures here, the society ralsed £1270 foi charity diiiing the year. Included ¥¥itl)In donatlons Is the very generous bequesi Irom Charles Dawe5' Estate Page 4
Ashfoid (l(ei)t) Choral Sociey Balaiice Sheet & Statement of Proflt or L05$ Year elided 31105124 Profit ad Loss Statement For the year to 31 May May-24 May-23 Incoine Grants Tlcket Incoine Programnie Sales Music Hlre Members Subscrlptlons Friends Subscrlptions Fundraislng: Raffle Fundralslng: Sale of Produce Fundralslng,. Ba8S Fundraising.. Other fundraising actlvities Advertisements Glft Ald Donations / Bequests Other Bank and other Interest 2,800.00 8,642.00 443.50 879.60 14,421.00 1,862.00 1,128.25 420.00 190.00 11,132.09 555,88 S60.49 9,633.46 1,765.00 1,259.20 422.00 1,193.00 345.00 3.002.26 5,230.04 40.00 300.11 480.00 2,090.17 938.85 280.41 50.71 Suspense & data to move out of P&L 40,896.76 29,168.26 Total Income 40,896.76 29,168.26 Expeiises Soloists, Fees & Expenses Performers, Fees (excl sololstsl Conductors, fees and expenses Accompanlst Fees Hlre of vocal scores Hlre of orchestral parts Piirchase of keyboard Venue Hlre Staging & Equlpment Hlre of Instruments Box Office Commlssion / Tlcket fees Upfront payment for tlckets Printlng programmes Advertlslng/posters Admln5str3tlon NAC/ln5urance PRS Bank charges (HSBC & Sumupl 3,650.00 3,820.00 4,612.76 3,650.00 1,544.54 97.49 3,250.00 9,600.00 5,280,00 3,270.00 436.14 561.10 2,560.50 1,007.60 1,780.00 496,22 4,427.70 310.00 483.55 1,524.00 365.00 158,00 1,611.56 162.60 1,524.00 382.C(I 140.00 753.11 147.08 111.99 135.73 153.40 26,413.02 31,593.05 Total Expenses 26N13.02 31.593.05 14,483.74 2,424.79 Page 5
Balance Sheet For the year to 31 May May-24 May-23 Assets. Debtor5 otlier Debtors (Glft ald) Prepayments Total Assets 72.00 3,002.26 135.00 2,090.17 324.50 2,549.G7 31174.26 Baiik balances.. HSBC Current alc 0100 7513 HSBC Deposit a/c 4302 3486 Cash In Hand Float Total Bank balances 4.421.40 18,560.40 18.65 100.00 23,100.45 2,052.71 6,598.S9 loo.00 8,751.30 Total Assets 26,174.71 11,300.97 Current liabilities Creditors Other Credltors A¢cruals Deferred Income Siib.total Net Assets 370.00 70.00 90.00 460.00 25.714.71 70.00 11,230.97 Reserves Current yea r eariilngs Total Reserves 11,230.97 14,483.74 25,714.71 13,655.76 2,424.79 11,230,97 0.00 Notable results November Concert December C017cert Marcl) Concert May Concert IAprll thls yearl other fundralslng actlvities: Bags, produce & Raffle Slngliig day (20231 Qiilz (May 20241 183.60 407.60 4,185.36 2SS.05 124.15 6,246.90 5,263.49 1,738.25 72.01 1,681.20 696.25 This report is an accurate siimmary of tl)e financlal transactions for tlie year, as declared separately land In (Ilfferent format} to the Charity Commisslon. Signed by Independent Examlner: Date,. Page 6
Summary figures for past seasons Season 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 Income Expenditure 24,047 30,927 41,412 35.412 36,456 38,520 39,732 24,044 3,748 29,253 31,593 26,413 Deficit/Surplus 3,574 4,826 5,257 81 747 2,105 2,752 3,145 4,870 3,499 2,425 14,484 Assets at fye 20,838 16,011 10,753 10,673 9,787 11,892 9,140 12,285 17,155 13,656 11,231 25,715 27,621 26,100 36,154 35,331 35,709 40,625 36,980 27,189 8,617 25,754 29,168 40,897 2023-2024 Page 7