Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 / 5 / 2023 Period start date To 30 / 4 / 2024 Period end date
Charity name: The Edge Musical Production Organisation
Charity registration number: 1107415
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Youth theatre company. |
| 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 |
Up to 50 youth theatre members ( 10 – 19 years of age ) put on one major musical show each year supported by professional orchestra, sound and lighting. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Yes |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not done |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | We have no investments |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | We rely on volunteers to run the group and help at shows. All trustees have advanced checks made by the local council and are registered “matrons of entertainment” |
| 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 | The main show staged in 2024 was Oklahoma, another resounding success. Many of the children go to theatre school and work on stage and screen professionally when adults ( see TEMPOTHEATRE website ) The 2025 show is Les Miserables |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Another great show staged |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We remain financially viable as per accounts |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | We do not invest |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We remain solvent |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We require at least £20,000 in the bank to start rehearsing a show as we cannot afford cancellation insurance after COVID |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £28,000 at present |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | - |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | - |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | In the long run increasing costs for theatre hire, show royalties and the cost of professional sound and lighting support may make amateur theatre of the highest quality impossible. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
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 | Ticket sales, fundraising concerts and donations from arts trusts and local Wilmslow Town Council |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | - |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Costs are rising |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Trust deed |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Association |
| 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 | Volunteers accepted by vote at the members AGM |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Edge Musical Production Organisation |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | TEMPO |
| Registered charity number | 1107415 |
| Charity’s principal address | 89 Moor Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 6BR |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alison Bisset | Chair | |||
| Trish Moulten | Treasurer | |||
| Rachel Darling | Ticket secretary | |||
| Sue Duffy | Props manager | |||
| Alastair Duffy | Set Engineer | |||
| Rob Bisset | Assistant Treasurer | |||
| Lynn Ashall | Sponsorship | |||
| Nicola Connor | Secretary | |||
| TiffanyHenry | Marketingmanager | |||
| Clare Jones | Communications and rehearsals secretary |
|||
| Amanda Butler- Smith |
fundraising | |||
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 held in this capacity |
None |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
We have no assets |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
- |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| None | ||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
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) Rob bisset Full name(s) R A L Bisset Position (eg Secretary, Assistant treasurer Chair, etc) Date 1 / 8 / 2024
TEMPO ACCOUNTS
1[st] May 2023 - 30[th] April 2024
TEMPO is a registered charity ( number 1107415 ) and is required to produce audited accounts each year and to file these on the Charity Commission website. You can see the accounts and the annual trustees reports for the last few years on the Charity Commission website using the above reference number. We are assessed by HM Revenue and Customs every five years and are not taxed when the group is in surplus as all the funds raised by TEMPO are used for group activities. TEMPO has no employees and the trustees / committee receive no salary or expenses. ( The music and artistic directors and choreographer receive an honorarium to cover travel and other costs as none lives in Cheshire, this is small relative to their attendance over the six months of rehearsals and show week ) We are indebted to the many volunteers who help the group particularly the backstage volunteers who bring their many theatre skills to help us during show week and during the fundraising concert. Without their help we would not be able to function.
The following accounts show that, as with everything else, the cost of putting on a show is increasing. Accounting is undertaken on a cash in hand basis as TEMPO has no major assets. We have numerous old costumes in storage but these have no material value as the cost of selling them would negate any derived income. Cash held in our two accounts over the last few years is shown to give you an idea of the stability of our finances at present.
The accounts show that, due to generous support and sponsorship, we have recovered from the major loss incurred in 2020 when covid caused a major reduction in ticket revenue just before lockdown.
Cash in bank at AGM current account savings account total 2015 Les Miserables £19,423 £5972 £25,395 2016 Starlight Express £24,474 £5,975 £30,449 2017 Fame £26,883 £5,977 £32,860 2018 Cats £20,870 £5,978 £26,848 2019 42[nd] Street £17,031 £5985 £23,016 2020 Guys & Dolls £8,733 £5,999 £14,732 2021 no show £8,599 £6,000 £14,600 2022 Chicago £18,191 £6,001 £24,192 2023 Footloose £22,428 £6,518 £28,946 2024 Oklahoma £19,994 £8,433 £28,427 Deficit for the last financial year £ 519
TEMPO group costs 2023 / 24. Expected 2025 cost
Guide hut / rehearsal rooms rental £2771 £1,500 Oklahoma licence / script hire / royalties £4693 £5500 Leisure centre / Evans theatre rental £4785 £6,300 Sound & Lighting £16,698 £17,500 Set rental and delivery £2,460 £4,000 Costume store rental £1,800 £2,000 Directors 3 x £1,000 £3,000 £4,500 Orchestra 12 @ £300 £3,600 £4,900 Music stand rental £480 £700 Les Miserables Licence £500 Chelford Hall rental £460 £300 Insurance £405 £500 Printing boards / banners £455 £450 Flyers £72 £80 Website £108 £120 Hoodies £585 £600 Miscellaneous £323 £400 Costumes £0 £0
Total £43,194.16
expected cost 2025 Total costs in 2022/23 = £38,969 £49,350
TEMPO group income 2023 / 2024 Ticket sales £20,286 Subs £6,196 Patrons £490 Adverts £250
Concert £2520 Hoodies £834 Bank Account Interest £460 Raffle £527 Programme £662 Rotary club £450 Evans arts trust £1000 Co-op £1734 Donations £5692 Miscellaneous £1573 ( electronic billing charge 1.28% )
Total Income £42,674
As you can see TEMPO remains in a robust financial position but faces a challenging future. As we pay 16% plus vat ( effectively 19% ) of our ticket revenue in royalties to the show’s copyright holder we lose nearly 1/5[th] of our ticket income in return for being allowed to put a show. Add to this a cost of around £1,000 for the rental of scripts and orchestra music ( we have no choice but to get these from the copyright holder at a charge of their choosing ) and you can see a show like Les Mis is expensive to put on. As Wilmslow does not have a proper theatre we are forced to use the Evans theatre and pay a fortune for suitable lighting and sound facilities, these costs are rising but if you look up at the ceiling during a show performance you will see between £200-400,000 worth of spotlights have been set up depending upon the show.
In conclusion, we very nearly broke even in the 2023 / 2024 financial year but as has been the case over the last twenty years this has only been due to the group receiving extremely generous donations. We have the necessary cash to proceed with the Les Miserables show ( we need 20K in the bank to start a new year, after covid cancellation insurance cover has become ridiculously expensive so we are no longer insured against cancellation ) so, for the next year at least, the finances appear sound.
Rob Bisset
TEMPO assistant treasurer.
May 2024
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