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2025-08-31-accounts

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Charity Registration Number: 1057257

Company number: 3219012

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year ended 31 August 2025

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Company Information

Registered Office

56 Richmond Park Road Kingston upon Thames KT2 6AJ

Trustees

A M Abbitt F M Caine C E Cox M M Green A E Lindskog R Osterley C Vincent-Silk (appointed 4 March 2025)

C J Williams

President

Roxanna Panufnik

Vice Presidents

Lord Berkeley of Knighton Judith Bingham John Casken Stephen Connock MBE Dame Laura Cox DBE Brian Kay Cecilia McDowall John Rutter CBE Giles Swayne Gabriel Woolf

Music Director

Peter Broadbent MBE

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Trustees’ Report

The trustees present their report together with the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Constitution and governing document

The Joyful Company of Singers (1996) is a charity constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is exempt from the requirement to use the word “Limited” in its name. The governing document of the company is its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Organisational structure

The charity is organised so that the board of trustees, who also act as directors of the company, meets regularly to discuss and manage its affairs. One third of trustees have to be reappointed each year. The chair has overall responsibilty for the management of the charity, and day to day administration of subsidiary duties is accepted by other trustees. The separate areas of responsibility undertaken by the trustees are finance, external and internal communications, marketing and publicity. All musical issues, including the seeking and scheduling of future concerts, are the responsibility of the musical director, who liaises closely with the chair in these matters. The musical director is not a trustee but is appointed by the board of trustees. Project managers are volunteered from choir members, as is the librarian and care of the choir wardrobe.

Objectives and activities

The objects of the charity are to promote, advance, educate and improve the public taste in music, choral singing, opera and other arts. The charity has the general aim of contributing to the quality of life of audiences and the principal activities undertaken towards achieving these objectives are performances in concert halls, music and arts festivals and in venues throughout the UK and abroad and also through recordings of choral music and opera. There were no significant changes in objectives and aims during the year.

The trustees have reviewed the public benefit test as specified by the Charity Commission and are satisfied that the choir’s operations are carried out for the benefit of the public (by undertaking public performances and recordings for their benefit), that its activities produce no harm to the public, not put it at risk of harm, and that the performances and recordings do not involve financial reward to the choir’s membership.

Chair’s Report - JCS season 2024-25

The 2024-25 season started early, with a concert at Jewin Church marking the 250[th] Anniversary of a Welsh Church in the City of London, on September 7[th] . Jewin was our home base for many years, so we were happy to accept the invitation to perform a concert on this special occasion, and a new work was commissioned by the Elders of the Church from the composer Gareth Glyn. The text was provided by one of the Elders, Iwan Davies, and consisted of words (Welsh) which connected him and others to the church - it was an imaginative piece which drew warm applause from the audience. The premiere was preceded and followed by familiar works by Parry, Stanford and Holst, and finished with a medley of Welsh Folksongs arranged by Peter Broadbent for a similar occasion 30 years before.

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Chair’s Report - JCS season 2024-25 (continued)

The choir had already been rehearsing in July for the upcoming recording of works by one of our VicePresidents, John Casken. Some of the pieces had already been performed in concert and some were completely new to everyone. The recording sessions took place at St. John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood over two weekends in September and we managed to record a total of twelve tracks representing an hour and ten minutes’ music in the six sessions, with forty singers being involved in the meticulously planned schedule. This project was the brainchild of JCS alto Elaine Gould who managed and organised the recording and was executive producer of the resulting CD, with Vidda Lefeber as engineer and editor and the composer present at all sessions. Almost all the programme was unaccompanied, but we were joined by flautist Philippa Davies for The Knight’s Stone, and for Memorial by the soloists Rozanna Madylus (mezzo-soprano) and Marcus Farnsworth (baritone) with Owen Gunnel and Aaron Townsend (percussion). This was a big undertaking but relished by singers who rise to a challenge and commit to achieve the highest standards. The Trustees are very grateful for Elaine’s faith in the choir in inviting us to take the project on, and particularly for her generous financial support making a very positive impact on our financial position.

The first official concert of the series was given at St. Gabriel’s, Pimlico on St. Cecilia’s Day November 22[nd] and was supported by JCS alto Lorna Perry to celebrate a significant birthday by singing the mezzosoprano solo in Elgar’s The Music Makers with Gavin Roverts providing a splendidly orchestral support on the piano. The concert began with Parry’s I was glad followed by Herbert Howell’s Requiem , and Elegy for Fadima for double choir and piano by our President Roxanna Panufnik. This was a great celebration for the Patron Saint of music with Lorna in great voice and the choir enjoying the variety of demands made by the programme given to a most appreciative audience. The trustees are very grateful to Lorna for her generous financial support for this project.

Immediately following this concert, a project was organised by the JCS Partnerships group led in this case by JCS soprano Louisa Roberts in conjunction with the Charity 2Makeit, which works with prisoners to prepare for release and continues to work with them to help integrate back into normal life. We took a small ensemble to work alongside 2Makeit’s music maker Matt who had run regular sessions with a group of inmates at HMP High Down over the preceding 9 months. The skills the group demonstrated were impressive and the enthusiasm of them all was infectious. In the final concert the hall was full with over 75 prisoners and staff attending. In between classic rock band numbers performed by the prisoner music group, in which we joined as backing vocalists, the JCS sang a Beatles medley and finished with a Christmas medley two verses of Silent Night - which produced a hushed appreciation - and ended with We wish you a merry Christmas . We have since been updated about success stories of some of these prisoners following their release and are planning another project in 2026.

The annual Christmas programme took a familiar form with hymns and carols for the audience to join in and a wide variety of Christmas music for the choir. British composers featured were Sally Beamish, Zoe Dixon, Herbert Howells, Gabriel Jackson and H C Stewart, with John Rutter, Cecilia McDowall and Roxana Panufnik representing our presidential panel. Amongst others were Samual Barber whose Twelfth Night is a wonderful setting of a poem by Laurie Lee, followed by Andrea Gabrieli’s Magnificat , in which the choir divided into three groups arranged around the church creating a magnificent antiphonal effect.

The spring programme in March 2025 consisted of music by women composers including pieces by Judith Bingham OBE, Cecilia McDowall and Roxanna Panufnik, all award-winning composers and all closely associated with JCS as Vice-Presidents and President respectively. We had recorded Spring , a setting of a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, along with several other Panufnik pieces in 2003 and this performance was accompanied by organist Gavin Roberts. Judith Bingham was represented by Unpredictable but providential , a wonderfully quirky piece full of bird song, and Cecilia McDowall by the setting of the familiar text I know that my redeemer liveth . Other living composers were Kerry Andrew, Zoe Dixon and Joanna Marsh, whose setting of Julian of Norwich’s All shall be well , which we performed had recently won an Ivor Novello Award. The remainder of the programme included some well-known names: Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Ethel Smyth and Amy Beach, as well as Renaissance composer Raffaella Aleotti, Mary Hudson and Florence Ashton Marshall.

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Chair’s Report - JCS season 2024-25 (continued)

The final concert of the season at St. Gabriel’s was a programme of music by English composers ranging from Elgar to Gabriel Jackson in terms of history as well as celebrating the launch of the first of two Havergal Brian CDs by Toccata Classics. We also included music by all our male Vice-Presidents, John Rutter, Michael Berkeley, Giles Swayne and John Casken, along with Herbert Howells, Bryan Kelly and ex-Vice-President the late Jonathan Harvey. This was a formidable and complex programme which entailed considerable work for the singers and conductor in rehearsal. The project was complicated by the fact that conductor Peter Broadbent was admitted to hospital in the evening before the final rehearsal with a mild heart condition, leaving the Trustees to find a replacement who was prepared to take on the responsibility within hours. Fortunately Jeremy Jackman was available and kindly agreed to conduct the final rehearsal and most of the concert. It was also fortunate that the Vice-Chairman of the Havergal Brian Society composer John Pickard, who had edited all the works we recorded, was coming to the concert, as was John Casken, and they both agreed to conduct the appropriate pieces, so the concert went ahead as planned. Peter’s gratitude as that of the trustees was expressed with great relief to these fine musicians for their kindness and aplomb.

Carolynne Cox

Chair of JCS Board

Financial Review

Treasurer’s Report - JCS season 2024-25

Financially as well as artistically this year was another very successful year for the Joyful Company. We managed to make a surplus of just over £ 2,000 for the second year running, which on a turnover of around £ 30,000 is a good result. This has increased our reserves to £ 14,841, which is a healthy position for us to be in as a small amateur choir.

However it should be noted that this result has been obtained as a result of some very substantial donations (and our ability to claim Gift Aid on them) which funded the tour to Northumberland and all of the costs of one of our concerts as well as some other smaller costs. Nevertheless it is encouraging that we have been able to have such a musically satisfying year without depleting our reserves,

My grateful thanks go to Peter da Costa for his work in putting the end of year accounts together with such attention to detail and care. Also to the Trustees who are conscious of the need to keep our finances tightly controlled; and of course to Peter Broadbent who manages to programme excellent seasons in spite of the inevitable financial constraints that a small choir such as ours is subject to.

Robin Osterley Treasurer

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Reserves policy and risk management

The trustees have agreed a reserves policy to reflect the financial situation of the choir and the need to keep some reserves in the event of an unexpected closedown of its operations. At the end of the financial year reserves stood at £ 14,841, compared to a turnover of around £ 32,700, which is a healthy state of affairs for a choir of this nature and size, whose projects can be variable in terms of their profitability or otherwise. The trustees have agreed that a minimum of £ 6,000 should be kept in reserves, based on the following considerations:

Given that the choir has very few unbreakable commitments which would need to be met in the event of a closedown, this level was agreed by the trustees, who will now consider what might be an appropriate use of any excess reserves in line with the choir’s charitable and artisitic objectives. Future planning will also consider the overall profitability of the choir and the need not to make significant operating losses which could quickly diminish the reserves.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of the Joyful Compamy of Singers (1996) for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate acounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Trustees and members of the company

The trustees at the date of this Report are shown on page 1. All served throughout the year to 31 August 2025 except for those noted as being appointed or having resigned during the year.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute, if the company is wound up during the time he or she is a member, or within one year afterwards, an amount not exceeding £1. If the company is dissolved or wound up its Memorandum provides that any surplus funds shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the charity. The surplus funds shall be transferred to other charities which have similar objectives.

Auditors

The company has taken advantage of the statutory exemptions from audit requirements provided for small companies and has therefore not appointed auditors for the current financial period.

By Order of the Board - 11 May 2026

Carolynne Cox - Chair

Robin Osterley - Treasurer

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees on the accounts set out on pages 8 and 9

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the company (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that:

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.

Signed:

Date: 19 April 2026

Name: Peter Michael Walker da Costa FCA

Address: 56 Richmond Park Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6AJ.

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Notes
Unrestricted
£
INCOMING RESOURCES:
1.2
Income from musical events
2
3,791
Donations and associates’ subscriptions
3
10,027
Interest received
117
Total Incoming Resources
13,935
RESOURCES EXPENDED:
Charitable expenditure
4
10,541
Management and administration costs
5
1,125
Total resources expended
11,666
Net resources incoming for the year
2,269
Opening balance - 1 September 2024
12,524
Closing balance - 31 August 2025
£ 14,793		 Restricted
£
1,722
17,067
-
18,789
18,867
-
18,867
(78)
126

£ 48 £		 Total
2025
£
5,513
27,094
117
32,724
29,408
1,125
30,533

2,191
12,650

14,841 £
Total
2024
£
10,319
10,555
49
20,923
17,970
900
18,870
2,053
10,597
12,650

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

BALANCE SHEET at 31 August 2025

Notes
FIXED ASSETS:
Tangible assets
1.3 & 8
CURRENT ASSETS:
Debtors
6
Cash at bank and in hand
CREDITORS: amounts falling
due within one year
7
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
RESERVES		 Unrestricted
£

-
-

5,171
11,999
17,170
(2,377)
14,793
£ 14,793
£ 14,793		 Unrestricted
£

-
-

5,171
11,999
17,170
(2,377)
14,793
£ 14,793
£ 14,793
£
£

For the financial year ended 31 August 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477of the Companies Act 2006 and no notice has been deposited under section 476 for the members to obtain an audit of its accounts. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The financial statements were approved by the Board on 11 May 2026 and signed on its behalf:

Carolynne Cox - Chair Robin Osterley - Treasurer

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES :

1.1 BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102) issued in October 2019 (Charities SORP (FRS102)) applicable UK accounting standards and the Companies Act 2006.

1.2 INCOMING RESOURCES

Incoming resources comprise amounts receivable for the year from musical events performed by the charity and amounts received from donations, fees and subscriptions from associates.

1.3 DEPRECIATION

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset evenly over its useful life.

1.4 MUSIC LIBRARY

The value of the company’s accumulated library of sheet music is not included in these accounts, such expenditure being written off in full in the year in which it is incurred. The trustees estimate the replacement value of the music library for insurance purposes at approximately £ 30,000. The music library has little second-hand value and consequently no value has been brought into the accounts.

1.5 CONCERT CLOTHING

Following replacement of the choir’s ladies’ jackets in a prior year a total of £ 4,018 was capitalised and depreciated on a straight line basis over five years. The asset is now fully written off.

1.7 CASH FLOW STATEMENT

The company is a small company as defined by the Companies Act 2006 and has taken advantage of the exemption conferred by Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities not to prepare a cash flow statement.

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)

2 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fees, tickets and expenses 3,790 1,722 5,512 9,436
Income from CD and music sales - - - 883
£ 3,790 £ 1,722 £ 5,512 £ 10,319
3 DONATIONS AND ASSOCIATES’ SUBSCRIPTIONS
Donations 1,038 21,347 22,385 7,224
Donation to fund composer’s commission fees - - - 2,000
Associate members’ subscriptions 3,667 - 3,667 1,380
£ 4,705 £ 21,347 £ 26,052 £ 10,604
4 CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE
Recording costs - 7,246 7,246 -
Composer’s commission fees - - - 1,300
Musicians’ fees and concert expenses 1,305 4,900 6,205 2,458
Conductor’s fees and expenses 3,821 3,039 6,860 5,772
Hire of halls for rehearsals and performances 2,761 3,107 5,868 4,632
Cost of music hire and purchase 801 274 1,075 917
Storage costs 293 - 293 924
Advertising and promotion 310 102 412 757
Website maintenance and internet 502 - 502 84
Subscriptions - - - 213
Stock written down - - - 500
General expenses 748 199 947 413
£ 10,541 £ 18,867 £ 29,408 £ 17,970
5 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS
Choir administrator 1,125 - 1,125 900
Postage and telephone - - - -
£ 1,125 £ - £ 1,125 £ 900

THE JOYFUL COMPANY OF SINGERS (1996)

Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2025

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS(continued)
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
6
DEBTORS
Trade debtors and prepayments
£ 5,171
£ -
7
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
Accruals and deferred income
£ 2,377
£ -
8
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - Choir Jackets
COST
At 31 August 2024 and 2025
4,018
-
DEPRECIATION
At 31 August 2024 and 2025
4,018
-
NET BOOK VALUE -31 August 2025
£ -
£ -		 Total
2025
£
£ 5,171
£ 2,377
4,018
4,018
£ -		 Total
2024
£
£ 900
£ 900
4,018
4,018
£ -