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ois} CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report

Section A

Independent Examiner’s Report

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Report to the trustees/ ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY
members of
On accounts for the year 31/05/2025 Charity no 1041943
ended (if any)
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| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/05/2025.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act’).
| 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, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,:

e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act: or
e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records: or
e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning 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 fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

| 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 orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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Name: STUMT &. WivRLow
Relevant professional FCA
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address: | ‘{, CASSiSyS CUHK TERCA ACOWTAWTS
SOVTH Sted Offices SOVTH STOVK Badd
MERSHAM ASHEOOD ent Wis THE
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IER

October 2018

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 details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose.

IER

October 2018

ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY CHARITY NO. 1041943

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 01/06/24 TO 31/05/25

SECTION A — OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

OBJECTIVES OF THE CHARITY

To promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals; and for the general purposes of such charitable bodies or for such purposes as shall be exclusively charitable as the Executive Committee may decide from time to time.

SUMMARY OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN RELATION TO THESE OBJECTS:

The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidelines on public benefit and are satisfied that the Society meets the requirements both in its objectives and in actuality. The Society is proud of its contribution to the cultural life of Ashford and the surrounding area, of the opportunities it offers to hear live music of a high standard with full orchestra and of the membership and ticket-pricing policies which allow wide access to all members of society.

The Society rehearses weekly and performs three or four public concerts in the year for the ticket-buying public. These tickets are heavily subsidised by the members through the membership subscription, through donations and through selfhelp fundraising activities.

One of the concerts each year is a ‘Carol Concert’ at which a retiring collection is made for charities. In addition, a number of members do carol-singing sessions, the proceeds of which also go to charities. Each year, following consultation with the full membership and subject to significant funding, the committee nominates two charities to benefit from these activities. Members of the Society periodically make themselves available to sing at weddings and funerals at a suitable rate of remuneration.

Slightly more abstract (though there is now increasing research on this) are the physical, social and therapeutic benefits of singing for the 110 members themselves, a good number of whom are retired and might otherwise experience some of the isolation or other problems associated with that age group.

At the other end of the age spectrum, members under 25 and/or in full-time education benefit from the waiving of the subscription; further, as a point of principle, special arrangements are made for job-seekers and other hardship cases, whose subscription rate is negotiated individually. Public benefit is significantly enhanced by the open-access policy: there is no formal audition and no age limit (we have members singing well into their nineties).

ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF ACTIVITIES:

The Society could not operate without the hundreds of hours of work done by the officers, the members of the full Committee and by several others. Although this is an organisation with a significant turnover, no remuneration is given except to professional musicians. General expenses and administration amounted to £400.75 in 2024-25.

SECTION B — ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2024-25

It is the policy of the Society to perform at the very highest standard possible and to this end we employ a professional conductor, accompanist, soloists and instrumentalists for rehearsals and concerts. In November 2024 we performed CPE Bach Magnificat and Mozart Coronation Mass. There was a Carol Concert in December, in March 2025 we performed a concert of shorter English works; Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs and Stanford Songs of the Fleet, and finally we finished the year in May performing Beethoven Mass in C and Poulenc Gloria.

SECTION C — FINANCIAL REVIEW, INCLUDING RESERVES POLICY

The basic figures for the year ended 31/05/25 are:

INCOME	51605	NETASSETSATYEAR-END
EXPENDITURE	38112	(Current account+	39208
OPERATINGSURPLUS	13493	DepositAccount+cash)

Thanks to careful planning through the music director and committee, the Society has achieved a strong result for the financial year. The annual subscription to the society remained constant from the prior 2023/24 season, and represents around 30% of the income received for the year. The Society has also received funding grants from the Kent Community Foundation Award and the Ashford Federation of the Arts, which have been allocated towards the ‘Winter term costs’ in November & December 2024 and for the purchasing of new carol music as capital expenditure respectively. This year, the Society also decided to introduce the Orchestral Chair Partner Scheme, where individuals could sponsor an orchestral chair for the May concert. Unless the donor wished to remain anonymous, the sponsors were all acknowledged within the May concert programmes.

The Society operates a deposit account which is drawn upon for each major concert. The Trustees have decided that a separate reserves fund is inappropriate. They consider that the Society is vulnerable to fluctuation in receipts and recent events have shown that money may be necessary for contingencies and risks. The trustees monitor the figures regularly and are prepared to set up a separate reserves fund should the financial climate improve.

SECTION D — STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

This organisation is a Society governed by a Constitution (adopted 1994, amended 1997 and 2012). Trustees are elected by and out of the Society’s membership at the Annual General Meeting; they hold office for one year and are eligible for re-election. Full Committee meetings take place three times a year and the AGM follows one of the rehearsals every October. The Music Director, the Assistant Conductor and the Accompanist are invited to attend Executive Committee meetings as non-trustee ex officio members.

SECTION E — REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

ASHFORD (KENT) CHORAL SOCIETY 1041943

PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: Mr T Bartram-Whorlow, 4 The Saddlers, Main Road, Sellindge, Ashford TN25 6BZ

TRUSTEES WHO MANAGE THE CHARITY:

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[Jane Miller | ~—Vice-Chairman _| Elected by fullfull membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Timothy Elected by full membership ofthe Society at AGM 2021
Eleanor Bartram-Whorlow | Treasurer Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2023
Bartram-Whorlow Friends Secretary Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2023
[PennyTown | st~—<CSsSCS Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Beryl Walker | ti(‘sSCOy Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
[MaryWaite | t™~—<CSSCS Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Emanuéle Maindron | t~—‘<CsCOY Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Rachel Cook rr Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Paul Bitcheno | Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
Julia Blackwell | Elected by full membership of the Society at AGM 2021
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ADVISERS AND AGENTS:

SECTION F - EXEMPTIONS FROM DISCLOSURE

This section is not applicable to our organisation.

SECTION G - FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS

This section is not applicable to our organisation.

SECTION H — OTHER OPTIONAL INFORMATION

Organisation for the season 2025-26 is well underway. A concert in November 2025 will feature Handel Alexander’s Feast, with a Carol Concert following in December. For the May 2025 concert, the Society will be performing Duruflé Requiem, Rutter Gloria and Finzi Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice.

SECTION J — DECLARATION

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

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TIMOTHY RARTRAM-WHorlou
POSITION
Posmen tesver
DATE
ow| s/s
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END OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

ASHFORD CHORAL SOCIETY TREASURER'S REPORT ( SUMMARY) TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025

|Po
NCOME
| NOV | DEC | OMAR [MAY | GENERAL | TOTALA |
Frcket Income (gross)
+ 3,449.00| 506.00] 2,062.00] 5,767.00
———=~SOd
14,784.00|
ProgrammeSales
| 164.00|
|
19610]
127.00]
+‘ __487.10
MusicHire
290.00] 206.00]
166.00]
229.00}
891.00 |
Members subscriptions
14,613.00]
14,613.00 |
Friendssubscriptions
853.00]
1,853.00|
Fundraising: Raffle0
eee]
1,120.05] 1,120.05|
Fundraising:SaleofProduce J
380.00]
380.00|
Fundraising:Bags
eee]
=~ 10.00]
10.00|
Fundraising: Other fundraising activities |3137.85
[1,137.85 |
Fundraising: ChairPartnership Scheme
JJ
4625.00]
4,625.00
Advertisements
805.00]
805.00|
Fundraising:
FeesandGrants | 2,740.00] 450.00]
8,760.00| 4,950.00]
etad
SS
—~CSsés~—
|
3,020.24]
3 026 34|
Donations/bequests
5300.00]
5,300.00|
Otherincome
ees)
144.79]
144.79 |
Bank and otherInterest
lemme)
475.72]
475.72| |---| ||
EXPENDITURE
| NOV | DEC | OMAR
| MAY | GENERAL | TOTALA |
Soloists’Fees &Expenses
| 2,000.00]
|
400.00]
1,925.00}
4,325.00 |
Performers’Fees(exclsoloists)
| 4,670.00]
|
50.00]
7,657.00}
12,377.00 || |AccompanistFees
|
200.00]
220.00]
450.00}
|
3,810.00|
4,680.00 |
Hire ofvocalscores
|
281.50]
301,75]
183.00}
348.50fT
1114.75
Hire of orchestralparts] 25000] |_| e720]
——~«dY'
927.20
Purchase ofkeyboard
eee)
- || |Staging &Equipment
tooo
78.00
1488.00 |
Hire ofinstruments
50.00
750.00 |
Box Office Commission/Ticketfees
|
96.88PO
596.88
Upfront paymentfortickets
Pt
e200
1,462.00 || |Administration8
334.91
400.75 |
INAC/Insurance
eee
~———94.08]
94.08 |
PRS
=
69.41 |
269.41|| |PF
itastyear
83.60]
gorcof
5,263.49]
19,523.23]
14,483.74 || |Other Fundraising activities:
Received
GAUplift
Costs
Surplus / (Deficit)| |Singing day 2024
490.35
122.59
580.94
32.00| |Quiz Night 2025
645.00
97.50
547.50| |Chair Partner Scheme
4,625.00
802.50
Estimated
5,427.50| |Inadditiontothefigureshere,thesocietyraised£1350forcharityduringtheyear.|

Included within donations is the very generous bequest from John Lowings' Estate, as well as a donation from the family of Charles Simkins

Page 4

Ashford (Kent) Choral Sociey Balance Sheet & Statement of Profit or Loss Year ended 31/05/25

Profit and Loss Statement
Forthe year to 31 May	May-25		May-24
Income
Grants	4,950.00		2,800.00
Ticket Income	11,784.00		8,642.00
Programme Sales	487.10		443.50
Music Hire	891.00		879.60
Members Subscriptions	14,613.00		14,421.00
Friends Subscriptions	1,853.00		1,862.00
Fundraising: Raffle	1,120.05		1,128.25
Fundraising: Sale of Produce	380.00		420.00
Fundraising: Bags	10.00		190.00
Fundraising: Other fundraising activities	1,137.85		1,193.00
Fundraising: Chair Partnership Scheme	4,625.00
Advertisements	805.00		345.00
Gift Aid	3,028.34		3,002.26
Donations / Bequests	5,300.00		5,230.04
Other	144.79		40.00
Bank and other Interest	475.72		300.11
Suspense & data to move out ofP&L
		51,604.85		40,896.76
Total Income	51,604.85		40,896.76
Expenses
Soloists’ Fees & Expenses	4,325.00		3,650.00
Performers’ Fees (excl soloists)	12,377.00		3,820.00
Conductors’ fees and expenses	5,455.00		4,612.76
Accompanist Fees	4,680.00		3,650.00
Hire of vocal scores	1,114.75		1,544.54
Hire of orchestral parts	927.20		97.49
Purchase of keyboard	-		-
Venue Hire	3,040.00		2,560.50
Staging & Equipment	1,488.00		1,007.60
Hire of instruments	750.00		1,780.00
Box Office Commission / Ticket fees	596.88		496.22
Upfront payment for tickets	1,462.00		1,524.00
Printing, Advertising & posters	957.09		382.00
Advertising/posters (now merged with printing)			140.00
Administration	400.75		753.11
NAC/Insurance	94.08		147.08
PRS	269.41		111.99
Bank charges (HSBC & Sumup)	174.79		135.73
		38,111.95		26,413.02
Total Expenses	38,111.95		26,413.02
	13,492.90		14,483.74

Page 5

Balance Sheet For the year to the year to year to to 31 May

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |For the year to the year to year to to|31|May|May-25|May-24| |Assets:| |Debtors| |-|72.00| |Other|Debtors|(Gift|aid)|2,986.96|3,002.26| |Prepayments|=|-| |Total|Assets|2,986.96|3,074.26| |Bank|balances:| |HSBC Current|a/c 0100|7513|9,124.34|4,421.40| |HSBC|Deposit|a/c 4302|3486|26,157.14|18,560.40| |Cash|in|Hand|929.17|18.65| |Float|100.00|100.00| |Total|Bank|balances|36,310.65|23,100.45| |Total Assets|39,297.61|26,174.71| |Current|liabilities| |Creditors|-|370.00| |Other|Creditors|-|-| |Accruals|-|-| |Deferred|Income|90.00|90.00| |Sub-total|90.00|460.00| |Net Assets|39,207.61|25,714.71| |Reserves|25,714.71|11,230.97| |Current|year earnings|13,492.90|14,483.74| |Total Reserves|39,207.61|[|25,714.71|

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Ls| |Notable|results| |November Concert|-|2,767.53|-|183.60| |December Concert|259.94|407.60| |March|Concert|-|1,194.44|-| |May Concert|-|4,147.93|-|5,263.49| |Other fundraising|activities:| |Bags,|produce &|Raffle|1,510.05|1,738.25| |Singing|day|(2025)|32.00|-|72.01| |Quiz|547.50|696.25|