Northern Aldborough Festival
(Charity Number 1107488)
Report of the Trustees
Year Ended 31 October 2022
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the receipts and payments accounts for the year ended 31 October 2022. The trustees who held office during the period are as follows:
Trustees: Sir A Lawson-Tancred M C Simpson Mrs J Graham Mrs C Nickols R Ogden N Brown A Kitchingman Mrs S Hollins (appointed 10 March 2022)
The CIO’s registered office:
The Festival Office Aldborough Manor Boroughbridge YO51 9EP
CHAIR'S REPORT
The 2022 Festival was something of a milestone in that, for the first time, the Festival produced its own fully staged opera – a dramitised version of Handel’s oratorio Theodora.. The production involved a cast and chorus of over 40 performers. The trustees were well aware that the production would inevitably lead to a financial loss as there was little chance of ticket sales and sponsorship meeting the costs of the production. In the event, the loss was a little more than anticipated but on a more positive note, the production was met with significant critical acclaim and valuable lessons were learned for the future. The 2022 Festival also offered a range of concerts featuring some wonderful artists amongst whom were Clare Hammond (pianist), Claire Martin, Julian Bliss, James Baillieu and Sir John Tomlinson. Our speaker was Alex Jones (Blur) and our Jazz component featured Sean Shibe with the Quatuor Van Kuijk.
Again, I should like to thank my fellow trustees, friends of the Northern Aldborough Festival and our sponsors and volunteers who help to make an increasingly well-known festival a memorable experience.
Sir A Lawson-Tancred Chair
OUR PURPOSES AND ACTIVITIES
The purposes of the charity are the advancement of the education of the public in the arts of music, drama, dance and the visual arts, the development of public appreciation of the arts by the provision of suitable artistic events within an annual festival particularly involving performances by young
musicians in the early stages of their professional careers and to further the social and cultural welfare of the community within the surrounding area.
In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance "public benefit: running a charity (PB2)". The festival relies on donations and sponsorship to cover its operating costs. Affordability and access to our programme are important to us and is reflected in our pricing policy.
The strategy used to achieve the CIO's aims and objectives is to present a broad range of musical and other artistic events within an annual festival, aimed at bringing the arts to the local community within North Yorkshire and further afield.
The concerts and stage performances
The programme achieves a mix of the arts to suit a range of public tastes with an emphasis on maintaining a popular programme which underpins the viability of the festival and to reach out to a new generation of potential visitors to the festival and the arts.
Our volunteers
The CIO relies on local voluntary help and we wish to thank our friends for their loyal support and service.
Achievements and performance
The annual festival in 2022 included a wide-ranging series of concerts, musical and other artistic events with an emphasis on public participation and providing an opportunity to showcase the abilities of young musicians.
Financial review
During the financial year, the CIO made a small deficit but had sufficient resources brought forward to manage. The principal funding sources of income were ticket sales of £42,740 and donations and sponsorship including Gift Aid refunds of £47,569. The support of our donors and sponsors continues to be essential to maintaining such a varied programme of music and other creative arts. Not all the performances are self-supporting and the performing arts rely on mixed funding to ensure a vibrant and varied programme.
Our pricing policy
Our pricing policy reflects the costs of performances reduced by the income from sponsorship to maintain prices as low as possible for each performance so as to enable all, whatever their means, to attend performances. Full price tickets vary between £10 and £45, with a typical average price of c. £25 with discounts for children. Additional discounts are made on an ad hoc basis to ensure a fuller house where relevant to encourage wider participation and new supporters.
Investment powers and policy
The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating the festival, have kept available funds in an interest-bearing deposit account.
Reserves policy and going concern
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The trustees are of the opinion that the level of reserves held is sufficient to enable the CIO to continue its current activities. The trustees will continue to review the reserves to ensure that the CIO is able to meet its financial obligations. The trustees are of the view that the CIO is a going concern. Cash reserves at 31 October 2022 were £61,713.
Plans for future festivals
The CIO's plans for the future are to continue to provide an annual festival of the arts for the education of the public of all ages and backgrounds. We continue to strengthen our links with our sponsors and supporters of The Friends of the Northern Aldborough Festival. We also seek to establish, or revive and renew partnerships with other arts organisations in the region.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document & Trustees
The charity converted from a company limited by guarantee to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on the 13[th] July 2022. It is registered with the Charity Commission. In the event of the CIO being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 each.
Appointment of trustees
Three trustees are elected annually by the members of the charitable incorporated organisation attending the Annual General Meeting and serve for a period of three years. When considering the appointment of new trustees, they have regard to the requirement for any specialist skills needed.
Trustee induction and training
New trustees undergo training on their legal obligations under charity law and the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, the board and decision-making processes and recent financial performance of the CIO. Trustees undergo training to facilitate the undertaking of their role.
Organisation
The board of trustees administers the CIO and meet most months of the year. The trustees appoint an Artistic Director, currently Robert Ogden, and an Administrator to manage the day to day operations of the charity. The administrator attends board meetings but has no voting rights.
Related parties and co-operation with other organisations
The Artistic Director received a fee of £8,000 from his work for the CIO and his family company sponsored one performance in the festival. There are no related third parties and no other related party transactions have been reported.
The CIO has informal links with other local artistic providers.
Pay policy for senior staff
The trustees consider the board, who are the CIO's trustees, including the Artistic Director and the Administrator comprise the key management personnel of the CIO in charge of directing, controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis. All trustees give their time freely other than the Artistic Director as referred to above.
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RISK MANAGEMENT
The trustees have a risk management strategy that comprises an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces and the establishment and implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise. This work has identified that maintaining longer-term financial sustainability is the major financial risk for the charity which has led to the development of a strategic plan to allow for the diversification of funding. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for the authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of consultants, volunteers and visitors. These procedures are reviewed annually to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the CIO.
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial 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 application of resources of the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE TO OUR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees' annual report:
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there is no relevant information, being information needed by the independent examiner in connection with their preparing their report, of which the CIO’s independent examiner is unaware, and
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the trustees, having made enquiries of fellow trustees and the CIO's independent examiner that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she is obliged to take as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.
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BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Sir A Lawson-Tancred - Chair Date: 31 August 2023
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a Forthe period from 0111112021 3111012022 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds tothe nwr¢s¢ Restricted funds to th¢ n8arest£ Endowment funds tothe ne¥rKte Total funds L3St year tothe neJre¥t£ A1 Recel Ticket Sales Donabon5. sponsorstrips and Donation5 rewablefiom Friends Grft sid Programme Sales Programme adv8rlisamgmnis InvEslment incotne 42,74 39 6.253 1.675 42,740 39,641 6.252 1.675 700 89 700 ross Incom or ARJ 91,582 91,582 A2 Asset a see table . Fixtures and fittin Investrnent sa 600 600 SOD 600 92,182 92.182 A3Pa ments Perfo(mers' fees and expense Insiiumeniand musKusts Spon$orho$ptahly Venu6COSts 46913 3.059 1,351 24221 8,152 1.069 6.961 19,496 897 8$5 842 2M50 630 755 46,913 3.059 24,221 8,152 1.069 6.961 19.496 897 Mark&n adtninistratDr Adverttsing and mèrkèting Programme and Brcthurecosts Directors and administrators (ees VUtEersC0St5 Printing. Pastsge andtelephllne Insutance. PRS fÈÈ8Snd subgcriptionÈ 8ank aThd credrt urd cnarg¢$ Websiteand IT Sundry expEn5es 695 È42 2.450 63 755 Sub total 117Ag1 117A91 A4 thet and investment Icee Men FtureS artd fftE$ 237 1,016 1,253 23Y Sub total 1.253 118,744 118.744 Net of receipts/{payments) AS Transfers between funds A6 Cash fund5 last year end Cash funds thls year end 26,562 26,562 88,27S 61,713 88,27S 61,713 CCXX R1 at£ounts Issi 30108r2023
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrictod funds to nearest£ Restricted funds to ne4re5t£ Endowment funds to neare£ CaiAsari-s B1 Cash funds Cash at bank 61,669 Petty Cash Total cash funds 61.713 Unrestricted funds ta Thr•St£ Restricted funds to Dearest£ Endowment funds ta#iarost£ Details B2 Other monetsry assets 472 Gfft sAd dEblar 5,946 Fundtowhich Currentvalu¢ Details CosLlopliOnatJ 83 Investment assèts Fud towhlch assét belo Unre5tritted D8tails Offe equipment Cost loptsonall eurrgotv8luè onal 84 Assèts r8tain8d for the chartty's own use i*uw$andffttin Unrestri&ed 25,740 Fund to which Amountdue When dut Detai15 Acctua¥ BS Liabilities Unr8stri¢t8 T[e creditars Signed byone ortwo trustees on behaff of 41 the trustees Datè of roval Print Name fttu Ldu¥frJ. 3108.1 CCXX R2 accounts Issi 3010812023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of NORTHERN ALDBOROUGH FESTIVAL On accounts for the year ended 31 OCTOBER 2022 Charity no (if any) 1107488 Set out on pages 1 to2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('the Trust") for the year ended 3111012022. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities A 2011 ('the Acr}. 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi 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.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Independent examiner's statement Signed: Date: 31.08.2023 Name: JOSEPH BAKER Relevant professional qualifi¢ation(s) or body lif any): THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES Address: 15117 NORTH PARK ROAD, HARROGATE, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG1 5PD IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of conrn (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). NONE Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018