**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
This report is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Chari7es Act 2011 and covers the ac7vi7es of the Royal Sco@sh Country Dance Society Leeds Branch during the year ended 31 July 2023. In line with the provisions of the Chari7es Act the Branch is now registered as a charity in England and Wales (Chari7es Registra7on No: 1072452).
## **AdministraBon Details**
Bankers
Coopera7ve Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
## **Membership of the Management CommiFee/Trustees**
Trustees Evelyn Davidson (un7l 22 October 2023) Marion Walbank Sarah Wilcock (from 22 October 2023) Ray Williams (un7l 22 October 2023)
Management Commi[ee Alan Horsfall Catherine Livsey (un7l 22 October 2023) John Pugh Lesley Tompkins Jane Walford Nicola Waugh Jill Woodman
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
RSCDS Leeds Branch is governed by a cons7tu7on originally drawn up in 1997 and last updated in 2019. The commi[ee comprises 3 officers who act as trustees and 8 members who are elected annually.
## Responsibilities of the Trustees and Committee
The Commi[ee is responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accoun7ng Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoun7ng Prac7ce).
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and applica7on of resources of the Branch for that period. In preparing these financial statements the charity is required to:
- select suitable accoun7ng policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Chari7es SORP;
- make judgements and es7mates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accoun7ng standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed in the financial statements; and
- presume that the charity will con7nue to operate.
The Commi[ee is responsible for keeping proper accoun7ng records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any 7me the financial posi7on of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Chari7es Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regula7ons 2008. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preven7on and detec7on of fraud and other irregulari7es.
informa7on included on the charity’s website. Legisla7on in the United Kingdom governing the prepara7on and dissemina7on of financial statements may differ from legisla7on in other jurisdic7ons.
## **ObjecBves and AcBviBes for the Public Beneft**
To advance the educa7on of the public in the area of Leeds and its neighbourhood (the District) in tradi7onal Sco@sh Country Dancing (SCD), in par7cular by:
- **a.** suppor7ng the work of the Royal Sco@sh Country Dance Society;
- **b.** preserving and furthering the prac7ce of tradi7onal Sco@sh Country Dances
- **c.** providing, or assis7ng in providing instruc7on in the dancing of Sco@sh Country Dances; promo7ng the enjoyment and apprecia7on of Sco@sh Country Dancing and Music by any suitable means; and in furtherance of these objec7ves the Local Associa7on may do such other lawful things as shall effec7vely promote them.
Classes are adver7sed as for Fitness, Fun and Friendship in accordance with our Licence from RSCDS: to be consistent to the charitable objects of the Society: to promote Sco@sh country dancing as a social ac7vity with an emphasis on health, recrea7on and enjoyment
(currently 1) including short introductory courses and ‘taster’ sessions as well as:
- ! Monthly social dances with live music are held from September to June together with an Annual Ball.
- ! Annual workshops in SCD and Highland Dance as well as for SCD Musicians.
- ! An annual residen7al weekend at Malhamdale is taught by a visi7ng tutor with music by a visi7ng musician.
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
- ! The White Rose Fes7val is an Annual Fes7val of SCD open to all SC Dancers, locally, na7onally and interna7onally.
- ! Demonstra7ons and ‘taster sessions’ are provided for local organisa7ons and community events (eg Cubs/Brownies, local FE colleges, Picnics in the Park)
The Branch also provides financial, workshop and/or mentoring support for trainee/inexperienced SCD teachers.
The Branch Shop supplies tradi7onal and other appropriate dance shoes, CDs of dance music and official RSCDS books of dances to our own and other Branches of RSCDS (the Society)
## **Achievements and Performance**
## Anniversary Year
Calendar year 2022 was our 60th Anniversary year, and many of the events planned for summer and autumn 2022 celebrated that.
## Covid 19
Although we have returned to dancing aker the lockdowns of Covid, our numbers at classes, workshops and dances were not yet back to pre-Covid norms in the summer of 2022, but have increased during the year as confidence grew. We con7nue to encourage the use of hand-gel between dances and to ven7late the venues for classes and dances as much as possible. In view of the age of many of our regular dancers, we also advised tes7ng if possible before social events or if symptoma7c.
## Membership and Recruitment
In 2022/23 we had 100 Branch members, the highest for some years. This was largely due to recrui7ng new dancers through the autumn beginners’ course, which was taught by a team of volunteers from amongst our more experienced dancers. Other volunteers came as helpers to partner the new dancers, making both more sets and larger sets possible. This created a friendly, social and fun introduc7on to SCD.
## Communica7ons
These new dancers now also receive a special follow up email aker each class summarising the dances, steps and forma7ons they prac7sed, with links to videos of these. The main form of communica7on with our members and dancers is the monthly eUpdate newsle[er, with all the latest SCD news, a diary of Branch and other upcoming events, both local and further afield, and links to dance programmes, applica7on forms for workshops etc, 7ckets for events, and photos.
## Anniversary Newsle[er
One of the las7ng mementos of our anniversary year is the 60th Anniversary Issue of the Leeds Branch Dancers’ Newsle[er produced four 7mes a year from October 1996. This final issue was a
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
bumper, glossy edi7on in full colour with highlights from our history and photos of our past events, and of some of our founders. Copies of this were distributed to Branch members, a[endees at the Anniversary Ball and other interested par7es.
## Classes
A new 6-week Beginners’ Course was launched in the Monday akernoon slot at West Park URC, star7ng on 5th September 2022, with a view to enrolling and encouraging some new dancers who could then con7nue to an established regular class in mid October. It was not a Ceilidh class but did feature easier dances. Regular dancers at this class were encouraged to come along as helpers to dance with and support the newcomers. It proved a successful venture with several new dancers con7nuing and indeed nine becoming members of the Leeds Branch.
The advanced class in Leeds on Monday evenings and the Thursday akernoon class at Ilkley resumed in September and October respec7vely
As part of our return to a more normal dancing year, the popular Thursday evening class con7nued as normal without a break throughout the summer. Clearly there was a demand for summer dancing and we were delighted to welcome dancers from other local classes and groups at this class.
## RSCDS Patron
The sad news of the death of our patron, Queen Elizabeth II, was released just before the start of the Thursday evening class. As a tribute to Her Majesty, who always danced with evident enjoyment, Irene and Alan changed the programme to include the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, A Celebra7on through Sco@sh Music and Dance and The Castle of May and Orwell Lodge Strathspey from the Diamond Jubilee Book - a fi@ng way to celebrate the Queen's life.
## September Day School and Evening Dance
We were pleased to welcome Ramona Rank from Munich as teacher at the September Day School, which returned to a full day event. Events such as this emphasise the interna7onal networks of RSCDS dancing, music, and teaching. Ramona has taught day and weekend schools in Germany and Europe including the Paris Spring Fling and the Interna7onal Branch weekend in the Netherlands in 2019. The par7cipants were sadly fewer in number than we hoped for, but those a[ending thoroughly enjoyed the day, and felt they had learned a lot. This event was followed in the evening as usual by the Leeds Branch September social dance - all at our usual venue, St Chad’s. The evening programme included Orwell Lodge Strathspey as a tribute to Her Majesty and ended with God Save the King.
## Autumn Gathering and Society AGM
Our delegates to the Society’s AGM at the Autumn Gathering in Glasgow were again John Pugh and Marion Walbank. In addi7on, in recogni7on of our Anniversary year, we were invited to compile the programme for the Gathering Ball - a great honour as it is an interna7onal event.
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## Branch Anniversary Ball
This highly successful and glamorous event was almost the last of our Anniversary celebra7ons and definitely the high point for those who a[ended. In line with our Charitable Aims to bring affordable social Sco@sh dancing and music to the area, the Ball itself was highly subsidised by the Branch. It was held in the beau7ful Riley-Smith Hall in Tadcaster - a regular venue for Leeds Branch balls with a sprung floor to rival that of the Younger Hall, used for dances and classes at the Society’s Summer School in St Andrews - another interna7onal event. As with our 50th Anniversary Ball, this Ball featured a sit-down meal preceded by a wine recep7on and followed by a full programme of dancing to the music of the Ian Muir trio from Prestwick.
## Other dances
As well as the Ball, from September 2022 to June 2023 we held regular monthly social dances, with live music, at St Chad’s, now our regular dance venue. There were also a Christmas Tea Dance and Hogmanay Dance at West Park and an Ilkley Tea Dance at St Margaret’s, Ilkley in May - all with live music. These dances are all open to any dancers locally or from afar. We are delighted to welcome dancing visitors to Leeds, or to the UK, at these events.
## Workshops
As well as the September Day School, we again ran a Musicians’ Workshop in February 2023 at St Chad’s. The Workshop this year was focussed on developing the musicians’ wider skills and knowledge of Sco@sh music and dance, rather than preparing to play in a ‘big band’ for the evening dance, which was held the following week.
The Workshop was a[ended by many musicians from ‘out of town’, but the core group of 7 from our Branch meet monthly at the Chemic Tavern to rehearse, and aim to play monthly for the popular Thursday evening class, which makes for a very lively social mixing of Branch members and their
A further Workshop highlight was a day with Rod Downey for our dancers, this 7me at The Queen’s Hall, Roundhay. Par7cipants were drawn from as far apart as Broughty Ferry and Bristol. Rod was visi7ng from New Zealand and we were delighted that he accepted our invita7on to run a Workshop and to open our White Rose Fes7val whilst in Leeds. Rod is an interna7onally renowned academic and research mathema7cian, and in addi7on, a renowned dance devisor (that figures!) as well as dance teacher and sportsman. Having a dance devisor teach his own dances is a delight.
programme on Wellness. This was put together by the team running the beginners’ course and was a great success. Hopefully some will in future look to SCD as a recrea7onal ac7vity for Fitness, Fun, and Friendship as our flyers state.
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## Malhamdale Weekend
This residen7al workshop is s7ll a regular feature on our calendar, and as usual was fully booked well in advance of the event. It was again smoothly and efficiently organised by Alan Horsfall and Janet Brayson; sadly, it was to be Janet’s last. The tutor was Di Rooney, lead dance teacher of the Cheshire Branch, and a popular teacher at SCD events at home and abroad. The musician was a long-standing friend of the Branch, George Meikle, composer, musician, teacher and band leader from Dumfries. That a good 7me was had by all came as no surprise - and our sets are straighter as a result of Di’s teaching!
## White Rose Fes7val 2023
although this year the weather decreed it should all be indoors. Former Leeds Branch Chair, Claire Johnson, was MC for the day and the proceedings were opened by Rod Downey. The teams of both adults and children enjoyed an akernoon of dancing and demonstra7ons, which included Highland and step dances, followed by the evening dance, all to the music of Susan MacFadyen and her Dance Band from Falkirk. It was good to have a piper again to lead the Grand March and to play for the Highland dancing.The drive home through flooded roads and heavy rain just added to the excitement and challenge of the day!
## **Financial Review**
The Branch overall made a small surplus of £1,216 (2022: £4,478), with some event making small surpluses and others small losses.
Income increased to £61,288 (2022: £48,247) as dancing returned to normal aker Covid 19 restric7ons and costs correspondingly increased to £60,072 (2022: £43,769).
Reserves are s7ll in a healthy posi7on with total net assets of £46,297 (2022: £45,080) much of which is in the form of cash at bank and in hand of £39,938 (2022: £37,104)
This Annual Report was approved by the Trustees at their mee7ng on the 12 May 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Marion Walbank (Chair) ............................................................... Date ......................................
Sarah Wilcock (Secretary) ................................................................... Date .......................................
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Reportto the truste8sl
momber4 of
RSCDS Leeds Branch
On acGounts for the year
ended
31° July 2023
Charity no
{rfany
1072452
S•t out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the ab)ve
charityllhe Trust") for the year ended 3110712023
Responslblltles and
basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
I'lhe Acri.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I
have followed all the appli¢able D1CtionS given by the Charity Commission
under sectFon 145(Sl(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have
examinerfs 8tstement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect..
the accounting records We not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Chartties Act,. or
the accounts did not accord wlth the accounting records.. or
Ihe accounts did not comply wtih the applicable requirements
conceming the fomi and content of accourrts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concems 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 ofthe acunIS to be rehed.
Signod:
//o/'L-
Name:
Relevant professional
quallficatlon{s) or body
(If any):
Address:
IER
Oct 2018
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## **Statement of Financial Ac/vi/es**
|**Note**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other
5
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
6
Other
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
173
35
60,921
48,192
194
20|
|---|---|
||**61,288**
**48,247**|
||-
60,072
43,769
-|
||**60,072**
**43,769**|
|||
||**1,216**
**4,478**|
||45,081
40,603|
||**46,297**
**45,081**|
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## **Statement of Financial Position**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets:**
Fixed assets
**Total fixed assets**
**Current assets:**
Debtors & Prepayments
Shop Stock
Cash at bank and in hand
**Total current assets**
**Liabilities:**
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
**Total net assets or liabilities**
**Total funds of the charity:**
Charity funds
Surplus for the year
**Total charity funds**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
320
426|
|---|---|
||**320**
**426**|
||456
5,492
6,653
6,739
39,938
37,104|
||**47,047**
**49,335**|
||1,070
4,681|
||**45,977**
**44,654**|
||-
-|
||**46,297**
**45,080**|
||45,081
40,603
1.216
4,478|
||**46,297**
**45,081**|
These accounts were approved by the Trustees at their meeting on the 12 May 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Marion Walbank (Chair) ............................................................... Date ......................................
Sarah Wilcock (Secretary) ................................................................... Date .......................................
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## **Notes on the financial statements**
## **1. Accounting basis**
Basis of prepara7on and assessment of going concern
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost conven7on with items recognised at cost or transac7on value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Prac7ce: Accoun7ng and Repor7ng by Chari7es preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Repor7ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (2019) and the Financial Repor7ng Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Chari7es Act 2011. The charity cons7tutes a public benefit en7ty as defined by FRS 102.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## a) Income
All the income is recognised once the charity has en7tlement to the income, and it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
## b) Expenditure
Liabili7es are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or construc7ve obliga7on commi@ng the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that se[lement will be required, and the amount of the obliga7on can be measured reliably.
## c) Fund accoun7ng
All funds are unrestricted.
## d) Fixed assets and deprecia7on
## e) Current assets
Amounts owing to the charity at the year-end date in respect of fees or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollec7ble.
## f) Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the se[lement amount due aker any trade discount
## g) Creditors
Creditors are recognised when the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount.
## j) Going Concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
statements. They have concluded that the budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves held for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
## **3. Donations and legacies**
|Donations
**Total**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
173
35|
|---|---|
||**173**
**35**|
## **4. Income from Charitable Activities**
|White Rose Festival
Malhamdale
Prepaid Ticket Fund
Class, Dance & Other
Fees
Subscriptions
Shop Sales
**Total**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
3,111
3,272
12,985
9,890
7,287
5,018
15,353
11,912
2,414
2,438
19,771
15,662|
|---|---|
||**60,921**
**48,192**|
## **5. Other Income**
|Other
**Total**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
194
20|
|---|---|
||**194**
**20**|
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452
**Royal Sco)sh Country Dance Society – Leeds Branch**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2023**
## **6. Expenditure on Charitable activities**
|White Rose Festival
Malhamdale
Prepaid Ticket Fund
Subscriptions
Hall Costs
Musician Cost
Teachers Costs
Catering Costs
Card Processing Costs
Education Expenses
Insurance
Publicity & Advertising
Shop Costs
Depreciation
Other Costs
Previous Year Adjustment
**Total**|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
2,618
2,635
12,913
9,522
7,381
5,208
2,055
1,194
8,318
7,432
3,530
2,135
2,661
2,436
1,696
-
117
533
172
-
179
179
658
127
17,898
12,373
107
641
-872
-7|
|---|---|
||**60,072**
**43,767**|
## **7. Trustees & Related Party Transactions**
Trustees did not receive any trustee expenses in the year (previous year £Nil). One member of the commi[ee received expenses for teaching in the year. There are no related par7es.
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Registered Charity Number: 1072452