2024-07-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

Charity name: Southern Voices

Charity registration number: 1086868

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objects of the Choir shall be to educate the public in the arts and sciences, and in particular the art and science of choral music in all its aspects, by the presentation of concerts and recitals, and in such other ways as the Choir through its Executive Committee shall determine from time to time.
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	Southern Voices chamber choir performed the following concerts in the period: 11thNovember 2023, St Paul’s Church, Winchester – ‘Music for Remembrancetide’, featuring the Durufle_Requiem_alongside works by Finzi, Tavener and Part 16thDecember 2023, Chapel of St. Cross, Winchester – ‘Christmas with Southern Voices’ 23rdMarch 2024, Chapel of St. Cross, Winchester – ‘Spem in alium’, featuring Tallis’ 40-part motet alongside music by Byrd, Clemens non Papa, Gorecki, Whitacre and Paulus 4thMay 2024, St Paul’s Church, Winchester – ‘Come & Sing! With Southern Voices’, including the Chilcott_Little Jazz Madrigals_ and music for the English Choral tradition by Elgar, Wood and Finzi 13thJuly 2024, St Paul’s Church, Winchester – ‘Gala concert’, with the Bach Magnificat_and Vivaldi_Gloria
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity	Para 1.18	The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

Commission on public benefit

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	The 2023-2024 year was a highly successful year for Southern Voices, during which we delivered on our charitable objectives through the promotion of several sell-out concerts, bringing a wide range of music both new and familiar, from the 16th to the 21stcenturies, to an audience from Winchester and the surrounding areas. The year began with ‘Music for Remembrancetide’ in November 2023, where we were joined, in a moving programme, by cellist Nicola Heinrich, mezzo-soprano Claire Sutton-Williams, and organist Gavin Roberts, who used the remarkable technology of the Hauptwerk Organ, particularly effective in the_Requiem_ by Durufle. Our Christmas concert of carols for choir and audience was as popular as ever, and this year we were delighted to be able to use the concert to raise c.£500 for composer Jamie Hall’s ‘Choirs against cancer’ project on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Care, with Jamie’s carol_O nata lux_ being well received alongside many perennial favourites. 2024 was the 40thAnniversary of the founding of Southern Voices, and saw the choir successfully promote our activities through a major ‘SV40’ programme to celebrate the anniversary. This integrated theme for the season was supported through a significant enhancement to our branding, publicity and online presence, enabling us to bring our activities to an even greater audience. The first of our SV40 events brought together past as well as current members of the choir to perform Tallis’ remarkable Spem in alium, with the 40-part motet mirroring the year’s theme. The audience appreciated the extraordinary opportunity to hear this piece live, alongside other works from the 16thand 20thCenturies. This was followed in May with a ‘Come & Sing!’ event, focusing on the English Choral tradition over the last 120 years. We were delighted to welcome many additional

singers to this event, further supporting our charitable aims of engaging with as wide a group of people in the community as possible. The culmination of our SV40 season was our ‘Gala concert’ and reception in July, where we were thrilled to be joined by the instrumentalists of Endelienta Baroque and five wonderful vocal soloists for a celebratory programme featuring the Bach Magnificat and Vivaldi Gloria . This joyful occasion also saw the launch of our new Choral Scholars and Friends schemes, both of which we take forward into 2024-2025 with excitement for the next stages of Southern Voices’ development.

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The income for the year was £38,914 (Prior year: £14,310), and expenditure was £26,358 (Prior year: £15,215), resulting in an increase in funds for the year of £12,556 (Prior year: loss of £905). The primary increase in income came from donations and increased ticket sales, relating to the SV40 programme discussed above. The primary increase in costs incurred related to the additional artists’ fees incurred, including the orchestra for the July concert. Cash funds at the year end were £23,641(Prior year: £11,085), including £1,808 Restricted Funds. The Trustees are satisfied with the financial position at the end of the year, noting that as the charity adopts the receipts and payments basis of accounting, the cash funds include donations received in the year to be utilised on ongoing SV40 activities later in 2024.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The reserves policy is as follows. The minimum amount designated as the Operating Reserve will enable the choir to maintain ongoing operations and programmes for a period of 9 months, and the maximum amount as recommended by the Charity Commission should not exceed two years’ expenses. This enables the charity to continue its activities in line with its ongoing plans.

Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£23,641(Prior year: £11,085), including £1,808 Restricted Funds (Prior year: £Nil).
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document - Constitution	Para 1.25	Constitution, last updated October 2024
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions i.e. election to post	Para 1.25	Trustees are elected by the membership annually

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Southern Voices
Registered charity number	1086868
Charity’s principal address	Elm Cottage, Nether Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 8HA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Alison Spottiswoode	Chair	From 9 October 2023
	Brenda Sims		From 7 December 2023
	Sarah Cooney	Treasurer	From 9 October 2023
	Tobias Wright		From 9 October 2023
	David Reece		Wholeyear
	Charles Lawrie		Wholeyear
	Michelle Harden		To 9 October 2023
	Debbie Bowie	Chair	To 9 October 2023
	Anne Edwards	Secretary	To 14 October 2024
	Ashton Gray	Treasurer	To 9 October 2023

Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charlty's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s} Posltlon (eg Secretsryy Chair, etc) Date

South•rn Vol¢•• 1086868 IN(4kll ￿lIAtE5 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the porlod from 0110812023 3110712024 Section A Receipts and payments Unlestrlcted funds to r••r••t Restrf￿Qd funds Endowment funds to th• r••r••t £ Total funds L••t y••r lo th• nMrMI £ to tt• rn•r••t £ to Ilw nMra•t £ A1 Recel ts cket & ra[rn￿ $818S Ch￿r n￿nknr sub5Cri tK)ns C￿nations Gift Aid Choir nwJ5k hire n-COllC8rt choir Concert bar Incon Bank intèrest Llbra Inco￿• 11627 6.475 11,983 13,627 6.475 13,791 6,124 4,230 1.250 938 902 600 187 43 1.121 1.121 1.127 97 Sub total(Gm&s income forAR) A2 Assel and Investment •ales. 800 table . 37.11J6 38.914 14310 Sub total 37.106 1,808 3•.914 14,310 A3Pa monts Conductor reh88rn&11 Rehears81 room hlre Concert rwslc hlro Concert ¥en¢Je hl Conductor co￿￿rt fee8 ￿)￿ert publtrt rfntlrYJ CA)nc•rt 0rt1sts' 1998 l ofch88trn M6¢eI￿ne0U# l #d￿n an I pi8Th) hlrg & tunl ExFen8es c<)[￿ert pffJ9r8rr￿8 Prtnll lknklng Wsic ￿e￿￿e￿h1p & Ir￿Ur¥￿e )r￿ert r8fr8shrr¢nls I fl￿r3 G8n8ral athert181 )n-concert cholf rfonr•nce cosls P8rforTfvr5' ￿9h(S &Klel lees Box offlce 4Yeductlc￿5 Alcom I￿8￿¢# lor ¢(wurt8 835 839 317 275 200 118 36 21 118 72 42 118 42 Sub total 2Q358 13,215 A4 Asset and Investm•nt purchases, (soe table Sub totsl 26,358 26,358 15,215 Net of recelpts/(payments) A5 Trdnsfers belweon funds A6 Cash funds last year •nd Cash funds thls year end 10.748 1.808 12,556 905 11.085 21.833 11.990 1,808 23.641 11.085 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

UnrestTkted funds Roslrfctod funds Endowment funds Categories Detalls to n•are8t £ tr MrMt £ to n8aret £ B1 Cash funds CweratNe Bank QJThent A¢¢wnt 833 Bath Buiklry Savir¥Js Acwjnt 15.000 Total cash funds 21.833 1.8OB Unmtrlctod funds to r••r••t £ Re5trlcted funds Endowment funds to nMr••t £ Details to n•ar•t £ -- Z44# Cwr•rt vlu• Details 83 Invostmont assets r•nt valu Details b•lthy B4 Assets retalned for tho charlty's own use to t4¢h Ilablllty r•l•t•• Details lo￿OnI1) B5 Llabllitl•s SKJned by one or trustees on bgham of all Ihe twstees nature Prwit Narr Dats of approval rriSWQ CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2110312025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT to the TRUSTEES of SOUTHERN VOICES Charity number: 1086868

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Southern Voices (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] July 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’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.

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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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: Name: Victoria Williams Address: Ham Green Cottage, Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2PA Date: 13[th] March 2025