Bolton Barbershop Harmony Club
Trustees’ annual report
In 2022/23, Bolton Barbershop Harmony Club (BBHC) expanded its outreach to an Irish audience, while continuing to drive up performance standards in the UK, once again performing at and winning the British Association of Barbershop Singers open chorus contest.
October 2022 saw the club’s main chorus, Cottontown, travel to Killarney for the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers convention, where they appeared as invited guests to showcase the best of British Barbershop.
April’s retreat weekend for Cottontown included coaching from Joe Cerutti, Director of Outreach for the international Barbershop Harmony Society, and one of the foremost educators in his field. In addition to vocal and performance coaching, club management refreshed the club goals developed with Joe in 2019 (the delivery of which was postponed by covid). There is a clear desire to focus on audiences that are new to the barbershop genre, in order to increase engagement and participation.
Additional coaching and development in late 2022 was received from David Wright, internationally recognised arranger and barbershop historian.
In May 2023, the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) annual convention in Bournemouth saw the Cottontown Chorus perform the final output of that coaching, with the chorus being crowned as UK champions for the 8[th] time.
In addition BBHC continues to support and promote UK arrangers and in house talent, with 3 new arrangements from UK arrangers performed by Cottontown for the first time.
Financial Report:
The year ending 31st August 2022 showed a negligible deficit of just over £100. However, the cashflow forecast at the time showed that the year ending 31st August 2023 would be more costly. In reality, 2022-23 saw a surplus of over £3,700 after the receipt of a £10,000 bequest dedicated to the advancement of the charity’s objectives. This however cannot be used for general funding. This atypical income skewed the true picture of our everyday operations which otherwise showed a deficit of £6,300.
The deficit has arisen from a combination of lower than expected appearance income, combined with asset depreciation and payments for a defibrillator. Plans are in place to address this in 2023-24.
The portable defibrillator and associated training is an important new addition to the safety of the chorus, in which several members have had heart attacks, or have heart conditions which could require an urgent intervention.
Bolton Barbershop Harmony Club
Registered Charity Number 1099928
Analysis of Income & Expenditure
for the year ending 31 August 2023
| Income & Endowments | £ |
|---|---|
| Donations | 11,024.00 |
| Tax reclaimed | 3,811.94 |
| Membership subscriptions | 15,267.00 |
| Appearance fees | 630.00 |
| Bank Interest | 143.02 |
| Net contribution to Away Weekend | 52.25 |
| BABS championship award | 500.00 |
| Barclays compensation | 150.00 |
| TOTAL INCOME & ENDOWMENTS | 31,578.21 |
| Expenditure | £ |
| Music costs | 272.10 |
| External coaching & education | 2,846.90 |
| Venue hire | 4,743.32 |
| BABS membership | 3,386.87 |
| Mileage claims | 1,979.55 |
| Awards & gifts | 423.75 |
| Hospitality | 10.85 |
| Postage | 5.55 |
| Carriage | 140.00 |
| Advertising | 39.61 |
| Professional fees | 455.00 |
| Internet (Website & Zoom) | 609.23 |
| Trailer upkeep & insurance | 111.69 |
| Chorus MD coaching | 6,496.00 |
| IABS | 3,364.43 |
| Domestic convention | 750.00 |
| Wardrobe | 718.39 |
| Defibrillator | 303.38 |
| Depreciation (risers) | 1,200.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 27,856.62 |
| Total Income & Endowments | 31,578.21 |
| Less: Total Expenditure | 27,856.62 |
| Net surplus transferred to balance sheet | 3,721.59 |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the tnthsl mèmbers of fy) cr OA SAR6££s HOP trlARAofrlq CUB On aounts for Ihe ended 31 A UCIL)esf 23 Charity no (If any) 10999 18 Set ¢xrt on pages I rwt to the trustees on my examinats.on of the accounts of tha above d)arity Trusf) for the year ended Responslbllftl•s and As the charity trustees of the TrusL YDU are resprmsible for the preparation ba•18 of rnport of the accounts in acuxdance the wuirements d the Charities Ad 2011 (Ihe A). I rewrt in respect ol my examinati( of the Tnjst's accounts carried oul under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed trie awlicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sedion 145(SXb) ol the Ad. I my examinatM)n. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (other than ihat disdosed below ') in connection v4ith the examination whld) gives me Cause to believe that in, any material respect: accountir¥J rec(xds were not kepl In aCC(dan ith sectlon 130 of theAc*( the ac(xJunls do not accord the ac(x)unting records Independent •xamlneVs statement I have no concems and have Come aO$S no other mallers in connection ryth the exarninalion to whith attention should be dravm in order to enable a prcper urKlerstanding of the accounts to be reathed. . Please delete the words in Ihe brnckets Ifthey do not 8ppty. Slqned". Name: Relevant professlonal qualificatlon(s) or body Ilf any): AAr LeJJeL ) Adqlross: LQ IER October 2018