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← Wedmore Opera

2025-09-30-accounts

Wedmore Opera

Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Report and Financial Statements

Year ending 30 September 2025

Charity Number 1061757

Page 1

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report and financial statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Contents Page
Trustees’ annual report 3
Statement of fnancial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the fnancial statements 10
Notes to the fnancial statements (Analysis of Charitable funds) 13
Notes to the fnancial statements (Analysis of Income)
 14
Notes to the fnancial statements (Analysis of Expenditure)
 15

Page 2

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 30 September 2025

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The Trustees of Wedmore Opera (“the Charity”) are pleased to present their annual report, together with the financial statements of the Charity for the period ended 30 September 2025.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the constitution, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice for charities preparing their accountants in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard, applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), effective 1 January 2019.

1. Objectives and activities

Wedmore Opera promotes its own opera productions and stages small-scale events in and with the community of Wedmore. Its objectives are to increase access to live music for participants in its productions and for audience members and to create opportunities for professional and semi-professional soloists in the early stages of their career. Quality and inclusivity are essential to achievement of these objectives. Founded in 1988, Wedmore Opera’s venues have included the village hall, the church and a hired theatre tent. There is usually a production every two years, with smallerscale, fundraising events in between.

2. Achievements and performance

In November 2024 the Trustees contracted Roland Melia to be Music Director for a production in October 2025. Guests at the Wedmore Opera Burns Night in the village hall, on 25 January 2025, were the first to hear that the next production would be Verdi’s La Traviata on 8, 10 and 11 October, with the venue to be decided. In March 2025, Harvey Evans was contracted as Stage Director for La Traviata.

Advertisements for soloists were posted on Audition Oracle and contracts were signed in June and July. We welcomed back two soloists, Anna Fitzgerald and Noémie Johns, who both sang in the 2023 production of The Marriage of Figaro. Harvey Evans and three of the soloists are graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and we were delighted to welcome, as associate designers two students who were part way through RWCMD’s Masters in Design for Performance.

Designer Kate Burnett, Harvey Evans and Roland Melia chose St Mary’s Church as their preferred venue. The church had decided to replace most of its pews with chairs to create a large, flexible space. This enabled the production to take place on a traverse stage, from the west door to the chancel and with four rows of seats on either side. While almost all of the preparatory work on the production took place in this financial year, the performances were after the year end and the full report, together with the financial results, belong to the 2025-26 annual report and accounts. We can report here that the production was very well received by the audience and the experience for the cast and production team was a positive one, providing solid foundations on which to build in 2025-26.

Page 3

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 30 September 2025

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We invested time in improving our communications this year. Following a sell-out Burns Night in January, in March we took part in the Wedmore Village Hall Open Day (as part of the national Village Halls Week) to celebrate, encourage and support volunteers and several new volunteers signed up that day. In July we held an open morning at St Mary’s Church to share the initial design for the performance and recruit volunteers. This resulted in a new volunteer to manage our social media communications (Facebook and Instagram) and our website; a new volunteer to design our posters and programme; and new front of house volunteers. In July we joined Making Music (The National Federation of Music Societies) and look forward to making the most of its services. More than 60 volunteers gave their time, skills and energy to Wedmore Opera during the year and we are grateful to every one of them.

3. Financial review

In 2024-25 Wedmore Opera had a total income of £9,080 (2024: £16,083). Of this 45% came in the form of donations from individual Friends and Patrons and a donation of £500 from the Wedmore Bluebird Café, which we applied for principally to subsidise tickets for audience members under the age of 25. Almost 49% was earned from the sale of tickets and refreshments at events. The balance of 6% was raised from the sale of raffle tickets at Burns Night.

The Statement of Financial Activities shows a surplus of £1,384 (2024: -£3,350). Total funds brought forward were £11,180, so total funds carried forward to 2025-26 were £12,564.

Reserves policy

The Charity has no employees or premises. Its only equipment is a keyboard. It has no fixed monthly outgoings. Its annual financial commitments are limited to corporate governance requirements and insurance. Its contracts with the Music Director and the Stage Director were for the production of La Traviata. Each production and event are individually costed and a contingency built in. The Trustees aim to maintain a reserve of £5,000.

Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. We have reviewed and considered the relevant information, including anticipated outgoings in 2025-26 and likely income and have concluded that we can continue to adopt the going concern basis for preparing the annual report and accounts.

4. Structure, governance and management

On 1 May 2025, Wedmore Opera Limited converted from being a charitable company, registered with the Charity Commission and Companies House, to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) called Wedmore Opera. It is registered with the Charity Commission and retains the same charity number as before.

Page 4

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 30 September 2025

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This change was made because a CIO is a more streamlined structure, requiring us to report only to the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission provided the template for our new governing document (‘a Foundation model constitution’). We reviewed and refreshed our rules and chose to have a maximum of seven Trustees at any one time and a minimum of three.

The Trustees meet face to face a minimum of four times a year and more often in the run-up to an event or production. They are in regular communication between meetings. Individual Trustees support different activities according to their skills, interests and capacity. Trustees receive no remuneration but may claim agreed expenses incurred in attending meetings or buying supplies for productions.

The same six Trustees served throughout the year to 30 September 2025. Hazel and Anstey and Sally Heslop will be retiring at the Annual General Meeting in November 2025. Hazel Anstey became a Trustee in December 2018 but provided the Board with administrative assistance for several years before that. She has sung in the chorus for many productions and been a constant source of support behind the scenes. Sally Heslop became a Trustee in January 2024 and has served as co-Chair since autumn 2024. She was a member of the chorus in the 2023 production of The Marriage of Figaro and produced the fundraising concert Beautiful Voices in the village hall in 2024. As Co- Chair she helped to steer the organisation through the process of becoming a CIO and provided the welcome fresh perspective of a new Trustee. We are hugely grateful to Hazel and Sally for their effort and generosity on behalf of Wedmore Opera.

A Wedmore-based Trustee with expertise in communications, the arts and charities is due to join the Board at the AGM and we will continue to look for others with skills and experience to strengthen the organisation and ensure its sustainability.

The charity had a single bank account with Lloyds Bank plc until May 2025. When it became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Lloyds required us to open a new bank account. This process was completed on 14th July 2025. Until the end of the financial year we maintained both bank accounts. Now that Friends and Patrons have been made aware of the new bank details, we will be closing the original account.

Risk

The Trustees are mindful of the risks there may be in pursuing their aims. Consideration is given to the risks associated with the Charity's operation and there are procedures in place to mitigate these risks. Trustee meetings review risks and procedures and ensure these are known by individuals with lead responsibility. The Charity has no investments.

Page 5

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 30 September 2025

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5. Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers

Charity name: Wedmore Opera Registered Charity Number: 1061757 Operational address: Walnut Tree Barn West End Wedmore Somerset BS28 4BN Trustees: Sally Heslop (Co-Chair) Phyllida Shaw (Co-Chair) Denis Jones (Treasurer) Hazel Anstey (Secretary) Anja De Pree Richard Kilburn Bankers: Lloyds Bank plc

6. Insurance

The Charity’s insurance policies cover Public Liability, Employer's Liability, Professional Indemnity, Trustee Liability and limited Portable Damage to Equipment.

Page 6

W edmore Opera Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 30 September 2025

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7. Statement of Trustee Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The Charity Trustees are required to prepared financial statements for each year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the Charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.

8. Respective responsibilities of trustees

The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the annual accounts. The Charity's Trustees consider that an audit and an independent examination are not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Charities Act") as the Charity’s Gross Income is less than £25,000 and Assets less than £3.26 million.

The Charity Commission requires a CIO to send within 10 months of its financial year end date an annual return, the Trustees’ annual report and accounts no matter what its income is (even nil). These documents must be submitted to the Charity Commission electronically as any hard copies received will not be accepted and will be destroyed.

This annual report was approved by the Trustees on 20 November and signed on their behalf by:

Phyllida Shaw, Trustee ……………………………………….

Page 7

W edmore Opera Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Total Funds £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Other income
Restricted income
Total income		 2025
2024
4,090
1,615
4,460
14,468
0
0
530
0
0
0
9,080
16,083
Expenditure
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure including depreciation
Total expenditure
Net movement in funds -
Net income/(expenditure) after depreciation.
7,696
19,433
0
0
7,696
19,433
1,384
(3,350)
Reconciliation of funds
Net movement in funds, net income/(expenditure),
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Note
1,384
(3,350)
11,180
14,530
12,564
11,180

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year and all income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements

Page 8

W edmore Opera Balance Sheet For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Notes Total Funds £ Total Funds £ Total Funds £
Assets 2025 2024
Current assets: Debtors 16 0 0 0
20		 20
Current assets: Cash at bank and in hand 12,564 12,564 12,564
11,204		 11,204
Total current assets 12,564 12,564 12,564
11,224		 11,224
Creditors:(amounts falling due within one year) 17 0 0 0
(44)
Net current assets 12,564 12,564 12,564
11,180		 11,180
Tangible fixed assets 15 0 0 0
0		 0
Net assets:total assets less current liabilities 18 12,564 12,564 12,564
11,180		 11,180
Total Charity funds:unrestricted funds 19 12,564 12,564 12,564
11,180		 11,180

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements

For the year ending 30 September 2025 the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit and an independent examination under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Charities Act”).

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions contained in the Act.

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 20th November 2025 and are signed on behalf of the Trustees by:

Phyllida Shaw, Trustee ……………………………………………………..

Page 9

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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1 Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

2 Basis of accounting

2.1 Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant Note(s). The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice, applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) – Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. No cash flow statement has been included as the Charity is exempt from this requirement under FRS 102. Wedmore Opera meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

2.2 Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In making their assessment the trustees have reviewed and considered relevant information, including their annual budget and future cash flows. The trustees are of the view that the immediate future of the charity for the next 12 months is secure

3 Income

3.1 Recognition of income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the resources, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is more likely than not that the resources will be received and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

3.2 Offsetting

There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by FRS102 SORP or FRS102.

3.3 Grants and donations

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds and any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met and it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria of income recognition are met.

3.4 Volunteer help

The value of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ annual report.

3.5 Interest receivable

Interest on any funds that are held on deposit is included when payable by the bank.

Page 10

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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3.6 Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes. For this reporting period there are only Unrestricted funds.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

4 Expenditure and liabilities

4.1 Expenditure

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the Charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities

Fees payable to the independent examiner were not necessary as the Charity was entitled to exemption from audit and an independent examination of the financial statements.

All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis, as set out in the notes to the accounts.

4.2 Liability recognition

Liabilities are recognised when it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

4.3 Provisions for liabilities

A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date

4.4 Creditors

The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.

5 Assets

5.1 Debtors

Debtors include amounts owed to the Charity for the provision of goods and services or amounts the Charity has paid in advance (Prepayments} for the goods and services it will receive. Debtors also include amounts receivable on grant funding to which the Charity is entitled. Debtors must be measured at their recoverable amounts (the amount the Charity anticipates it will receive from a debt or the amount it has paid in advance for goods or services).

Page 11

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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5.2 Tangible fixed assets and Depreciation

Fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a 10% straight line basis. The Charity currently has no tangible fixed assets.

5.3 Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

6 Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

7 Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from involvement with the Charity or a related entity, were received by any of the trustees. Necessary expenses incurred on behalf of the Charity were reimbursed.

Related Party

There were no related parties and no related party transactions during the year.

Employees and Management

The Charity has no employees and management is by Trustees.

Page 12

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Analysis of Charitable funds

Analysis of Charitable funds
Financial Statements are shown for Total Funds as
there are no Restricted or Designated Funds		 Total Funds £
2025
2024
200
200
0
0
200
200
200
200
0
0
0
0
200
200
0
0
0
50
0
0
0
(44)
0
(44)
11,180
14,530
9,080
16,083
(7,696)
(19,433)
12,564
11,180
12,564
11,204
0
20
0
(44)
12,564
11,180
Page 13
Tangible fxed assets
Cost of fxed assets (equipment) at start of year
Acquisitions during the year
Cost of fxed assets (equipment) at the year end
Depreciation
Accumulated Depreciation at start of year
Charge for the year
Disposals during the year
Accumulated Depreciation at year end
Carrying amount of fxed assets at year end
Debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Creditors
Analysis of charitable funds
General funds (net assets) at start of year
Income
Expenditure
General funds (net assets) at year end
Analysis of net assets
Current assets (Bank)
Current assets (Debtors)
Creditors less than 1 year
Total net assets (unrestricted funds)

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Analysis of Income

Analysis of Income
Financial Statements are shown for Total Funds as
there are no Restricted or Designated Funds		 Total Funds £
2025
2024
Donations and legacies
Donations and sponsors
Friends and Patrons
Compensation and Grants
Donations Total
Charitable activities
Ticket Sales
Bar Sales
Advertising in programmes
Programme Sales
Charitable activities Total
Other trading activities
Chorus - Subscriptions
Other Trading
Other trading activities Total
Other income
Fundraiser, Rafe & other similar income
Other income Total
Total income
Expenditure:detailed on the following page
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other Expenditure, depreciation of
equipment
Total expenditure on charitable activities
Net Income (expenditure)after depreciation
500
0
3,590
1,615
0
0
4,090
1,615
4,139
12,230
321
817
0
1,050
0
371
4,460
14,468
0
0
0
0
0
0
530
0
530
0
9,080
16,083
7,696
19,433
0
0
7,696
19,433
1,384
(3,350)

Page 14

W edmore Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30 September 2025

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Analysis of Expenditure

Financial Statements are shown for Total Funds as
there are no Restricted or Designated Funds		 Total Funds £
2025
2024
0
0
153
292
3,369
250
279
631
771
1,120
20
2,486
1,736
14,508
1,232
43
0
0
7,560
19,330
34
13
102
90
0
0
0
0
136
103
7,696
19,433
0
0
0
0
7,696
19,433
General charitable activities and support costs
Repairs and renewals
Insurance
Music
Advertising and printing
Hire of hall, seating etc.
Stage and production expenses
Performance and producer expenses
Food
Bad debts
Total General charitable activities
Governance costs
Accountancy fees
Legal and other professional fees
Cost of Trustees’ meetings
Other ofce expenses
Total Governance costs
Total expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure including depreciation
Independent examiner fees
Total expenditure

Printed : Thursday, 20 November 2025

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