## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 1 April 2023 Period start date To 31 March 2024 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Durham Sinfonia (aka Orchestra North East)** ## **Charity registration number: 1081465** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote and develop public education in
and
appreciation
of
music
by
the
presentation of public orchestral concerts.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The main activities of the Charity are:
(i)
self-promotion of concerts in
which the orchestra performs
high
quality
programmes
of
classical music; and
(ii)
engagement as a contracted
orchestra in classical music
concerts promoted by others.
The activities are all set within the
geographical area of the North East of
England. For each concert, the orchestra is
assembled by invitation. The musicians are
engaged on a volunteer basis for the self-
promoted concerts and, usually, on a fee
basis for the contracted engagements. To
ensure the concerts are of the highest
achievable standard guest professional
conductors, soloists and a few of the
principal orchestral musicians are engaged
on a fee basis.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees do have regard to the Charity
Commission guidance on Public Benefit.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference| |---|---| ||Para 1.38| |Policy on grant making|| Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Orchestra North East attracts players from a
wide geographic area to play ambitious
symphonic works, concertos, film music and
more popular repertoire. It also seeks to
perform and promote new works by living
composers and work with other local
musical societies and groups, including
young performers.
In the 2023-4 season the orchestra has
rehearsed
and
performed
three
programmes of music involving professional
conductors and concerto soloists, two at
Newcastle Cathedral and one at Durham
Gala Theatre. The orchestra was honoured
to provide an extraordinarily talented
teenage refugee from the Ukraine conflict
the opportunity to perform a concerto in
public.
It has also collaborated with Newcastle
Choral Society in a performance including a
work by the contemporary composer Ole
Gjeilo. All performances have been well
received by appreciative audiences.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|| |---|---|---| |||| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|| |---|---|---| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Charity has received concert income
from its three independent concerts,
donations, some with gift aid, and orchestra
tax relief through the associated Orchestra
North East Productions Ltd, a company set
up to allow claiming this government
benefit through HMRC.
Expenditure has been on the three
independent orchestral concerts, and
maintaining insurance cover and
membership of_Making Music_, an
organisation that provides guidance and
support to music groups._Making Music_
also assists with the claim of orchestra tax
relief, for a fee of 10% plus VAT.
Income from the choral concert was
£4,000, covering the costs of performers
and administration plus £480.
The three independent orchestral concerts
made a net loss of £12,104.61. (Orchestra
tax relief, claimed for the 2023-4 financial
year is £7,176.33, received in August 2024)
We have been fortunate in receiving
£11,000 in external donations from
charitable trusts and individuals this year.
This results in an overall improvement in
our finances by £483 over the year.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Charity’s policy on reserves is to
maintain funds at a sufficient level to cover
the costs of concert performances during a
planned year ahead of operations.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£25,061 as of 31st March 2024| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|There are no funds materially in deficit.| Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The Charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The principal sources of funds are:
(i)
concert ticket sales
(ii)
external hire fees (i.e. being paid
to play for other societies)
(iii)
donations from the membership
of the orchestra
(iv)
donations from other sources
(v)
sponsorship and grants
(vi)
Orchestra Tax Relief (claimed
through a Production Company –
Orchestra
North
East
Productions Limited).| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|The Charity does not have any investments
as such. Its only assets are the cash in hand
at bank, on which a small amount of interest
is earned each year through placing some
money in investment or savings accounts.| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The principal risk is loss of concert income,
which is managed by the financial planning
described above.| |Other||Proportionate
returns
on
pre-concert
expenditure are now achieved through
claimsforOrchestraTax Relief.| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|Constitution.| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Unincorporated association or society.| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Elected by membership at AGM.| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees||The Society is run in accordance with the
rules contained within its Constitution and
the membership of the Society is those| ||Para 1.51|currently playing in the orchestra at the time
of the AGM.
The management of the Society is placed in
the hands of a Committee consisting of the
following Officers: Chairman, Treasurer,
Secretary and not less than four other
members. The Officers and the other
Committee members are elected by and out
of the Society’s members at AGM. Provided
they are willing, the Officers and members
of the Committee are appointed as Trustees
of the Charity. Before and on appointment,
they are encouraged to study the guidance
for Trustees on the Charity Commission
website.| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|Please see above. A Production Company
has also been set up (Orchestra North East
Productions Limited, Company number
11280090), the directors of which (two
Trustees of the Charity) act under the terms
of a Trust Deed in accordance with the
wishes and interests of the Charity in
dealing with the pre-concert production
arrangements for Orchestra North East
concerts. This allows the Charity to secure
the benefits of Orchestra Tax relief in
relation to eligible pre-concert production
expenses. The Charity is a member of
_Making Music_, the main UK association for
voluntary music.| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|Please see above (re the Production
Company).| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Durham Sinfonia| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|Orchestra North East| |Registered charity number|1081465| |Charity’s principal address|4 Caseton Close,
WHITLEY BAY
NE25 9PL| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Michael
BORTHWICK|Chairman||At AGM (by orchestra
membership)| ||Peter CHESTER|||At AGM| ||Michael CAVE|||At AGM| ||Roger JAY|Treasurer|From December 2022|At AGM| ||Miranda Splitt|Secretary|From November 2023|At AGM| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the None charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for None safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## ~~OO~~ ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** Roger JAY **Full name(s)** Michael BORTHWICK ~~a~~ **Position (eg Secretary,** Chairman Treasurer **Chair, etc)** ~~po~~ **Date** September 2024 ~~PF~~ ## **Durham Sinfonia (t/a Orchestra North East) Charity no. 1081465** ## **Receipts and Payments Accounts** ||**Year ended 31**|**Year ended 31**| |---|---|---| ||**March**|**March**| ||**2023 (£)**|**2024 (£)**| |Receipts||| |Concerts|17,973|15,640| |Donations - members|1,202|394| |Donations - misc.|13,600|10,000| |Other income (Gift Aid / Orchestra Tax Relief)|1,530|4,944| |Interest|32|403| |**Total receipts**|**34,337**|**31,381**| |Payments||| |Concerts: direct payments by Orchestra North East|(7,489)|(3,841)| |Concerts: loans to Production Company|(16,105)|(26,304)| |Other costs|(407)|(753)| |**Total payments**|**(24,001)**|**(30,898)**| |||| |**Movement in funds**|**10,336**|**483**| |Opening cash balance|14,242|24,578| |Movement in funds|10,336|483| |**Closing cash balance**|**24,578**|**25,061**| |**Statement of assets and liabilities**||| ||**2023 (£)**|**2024 (£)**| |Assets||| |Cash balances|24,578|25,061| |**Total assets**|**24,578**|**25,061**| |Liabilities||| |Other liabilities|0|0| |**Total liabilities**|**0**|**0**| |||| |**Net assets**|**24,578**|**25,061**| R Jay, Treasurer M A Borthwick, Chairman Date: 7 September 2024 9 Archery Rise Durham DH1 4LA 7 September 2024 The Trustees of Durham Sinfonia c/o Dr Roger Jay Honorary Treasurer 4 Caseton Close Whitley Bay Tyne And Wear NE25 9PL Dear Roger, **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Durham Sinfonia, operating under the working name Orchestra North East, Charity no. 1081465, on the receipts and payments accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## _Responsibilities and basis of independent examiner's 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 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. My examination did not include the accounts of Orchestra North East Productions Limited (registered number: 11280090). ## _Independent examiner's statement_ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - 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. 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. Simon Newitt FCA, MA, BA (Hons.) 7 September 2024 9 Archery Rise Durham DH1 4LA ## **Durham Sinfonia (t/a Orchestra North East) Charity no. 1081465** ## **Receipts and Payments Accounts** ||**Year ended 31**|**Year ended 31**| |---|---|---| ||**March**|**March**| ||**2023 (£)**|**2024 (£)**| |Receipts||| |Concerts|17,973|15,640| |Donations - members|1,202|394| |Donations - misc.|13,600|10,000| |Other income (Gift Aid / Orchestra Tax Relief)|1,530|4,944| |Interest|32|403| |**Total receipts**|**34,337**|**31,381**| |Payments||| |Concerts: direct payments by Orchestra North East|(7,489)|(3,841)| |Concerts: loans to Production Company|(16,105)|(26,304)| |Other costs|(407)|(753)| |**Total payments**|**(24,001)**|**(30,898)**| |||| |**Movement in funds**|**10,336**|**483**| |Opening cash balance|14,242|24,578| |Movement in funds|10,336|483| |**Closing cash balance**|**24,578**|**25,061**| |**Statement of assets and liabilities**||| ||**2023 (£)**|**2024 (£)**| |Assets||| |Cash balances|24,578|25,061| |**Total assets**|**24,578**|**25,061**| |Liabilities||| |Other liabilities|0|0| |**Total liabilities**|**0**|**0**| |||| |**Net assets**|**24,578**|**25,061**| R Jay, Treasurer M A Borthwick, Chairman Date: 7 September 2024 9 Archery Rise Durham DH1 4LA 7 September 2024 The Trustees of Durham Sinfonia c/o Dr Roger Jay Honorary Treasurer 4 Caseton Close Whitley Bay Tyne And Wear NE25 9PL Dear Roger, **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Durham Sinfonia, operating under the working name Orchestra North East, Charity no. 1081465, on the receipts and payments accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## _Responsibilities and basis of independent examiner's 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 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. My examination did not include the accounts of Orchestra North East Productions Limited (registered number: 11280090). ## _Independent examiner's statement_ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - 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. 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. Simon Newitt FCA, MA, BA (Hons.) 7 September 2024 9 Archery Rise Durham DH1 4LA