The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
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Trustees Annual Report for the period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023
Section A - Reference & Administration Details
Charity name: The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Other names charity is known by: MFCS Registered charity number: 1109434 Charity’s principal address: 1 Ward Close Wadhurst
East Sussex TN5 6HU
Names of trustees who manage the charity:
| Trustee Name | Office | Dates Acted |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Bolger | Chair | All year |
| Vacant | Vice Chair | - |
| David Hollands | Treasurer | All year |
| Wil Crittenden | Membership Registrar | All year |
| Simon Tayler | Concert Manager | All year |
| Tony Trevillion | Website & online ticket sales support | All year |
| Sandie McAndrew | Member without portfolio | From September 2022 |
Names and addresses of advisors:
| Advisor | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | Lloyds TSB | Cliffe Lewes (309501) Branch, 8 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN27 2AD |
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Section B - Structure, Governance & Management
Type of governing document: Constitution adopted 25 November 2004
How the charity is constituted: Association consisting of over 80 members Trustee selection methods:
Trustees are appointed or re-appointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in February/March
Section C - Objectives & Activities
Objects of the charity: To educate the public in the art and science of music and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in music and to or for such other charitable purposes as the Committee may from time to time require
Main activities of the charity: Presentation of concerts and participation in music festivals.
Section D - Achievements & Performance
MFCS staged three concerts in 2022. On 27 March we performed Bach’s St John Passion under the direction of Jeremy Summerly and with the Mayfield Baroque Orchestra and young soloists from
the Royal College of Music. On 24 April, we opened the two week-long 2022 Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts with the world premier of O’Neill’s Cantata of St Dunstan, commissioned to Celebrate the Festival’s 50[th] Anniversary. We were directed by Jeremy Summerly and joined by the Chelsea Camerata and Royal Academy of Music graduate Angus McPhee. On 20 November we performed a programme by contemporary composers with Rutter’s Magnificat and Stopford’s Missa Deus Nobiscum, again directed by Jeremy Summerly with the London Primavera Orchestra and soloist Eloise Irving.
Wherever possible we choose to work with young professional orchestras and soloists from the London Conservatoires, giving them additional performing experience as they establish their careers. Mayfield Baroque is an instrumental collective of young professional players of period instruments, all of whom are based in and around London and Oxford. The group was formed in 2016 specifically to work with Mayfield Festival Choir and the choir of St Peter’s Oxford. Chelsea Camerata is a similar orchestra, often working with the choir of St Luke’s Chelsea.
With regard to our objectives of educating the public and developing appreciation of music we have sought to continue to develop both choir membership and audience size.
Despite impact of COVID, choir membership remains strong, with both the soprano and alto sections almost at full capacity. Potential singers are invited to attend two rehearsals before taking an informal voice assessment and joining. Through collaboration with Friends of Music in Mayfield, we have arranged for two free singing lessons to be available for those who want further guidance with their voice. To encourage young singers, no subscription is required for those under the age of 25.
Contd:
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
We have continued to develop our use of social media (particularly FaceBook and Instagram) to enhance our publicity campaigns, although audience numbers were still slightly lower than prepandemic levels. Online ticket sales now account for almost all sales to the public but we do still provide a local box office for those who prefer to select and buy tickets in person. For the choir’s stand alone concerts, the popular centre aisle tickets are priced at £25 and £20, but all the side and rear aisle tickets are £10. All tickets are half price for those under 18.
Jane Bolger - Chair
Section E - Financial Review
Charity’s policy on reserves: Surplus cash for the day to day running of the choir is held in the bank as unrestricted funds and placed on deposit whenever possible to earn gross interest. These funds are primarily held to meet any unforeseen expenditure and to cover any shortfall on concert ticket sales. A donation of £20,000 made in 2019 plus associated Gift Aid of £5,000 is held in a separate account as restricted funds for “special” projects in accordance with the donor’s wishes. See note 7 on Notes to the Accounts. Any funds materially in deficit: Not applicable. Principal source of funds: Concert ticket sales, subscriptions from members, Patrons, Gift Aid, Josephine Baker Trust
Section F - Other Optional Information
None.
Section G - Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signature(s):
Full name(s): Jane Bolger Position: Chair Date:
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts
Section A - Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/members of: The Mayfield Festival Choir Society
On accounts for the year ended: 31 December 2023
Registered charity number: 1109434
Set out on pages: 6, 7, and 8
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner:
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (“the Act”)) and that an independent examination is required.
It is my responsibility to
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examine the accounts (under Section 43 of the Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directives given by the Charity Commission (under Section 43(7)9b) of the Act), and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement:
- My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
contd.
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Independent examiner’s statement:
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that
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proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with Section 41 of the Act),
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accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act;
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2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature:
Date:
Name: John Buddle
Relevant professional qualification: Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers
Address:
Walnut Tree House, High Street Mayfield East Sussex TN20 6AB
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Statement of Financial Activities
Charity name: The Mayfield Festival Choir Society
Registered charity number:
1109434
For the period: 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
Income & Expenditure
| INCOME Notes |
INCOME Notes |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket sales | 4 | 12258 | -- | -- | 12258 | 8550 |
| Programme adverts & sales | 1203 | -- | -- | 1203 | 1265 | |
Josephine Baker Trust |
990 | -- | -- | 990 | 600 | |
| Sale/hire of choir music | 352 | -- | -- | 352 | 414 | |
| Subscriptions–members | 3 | 8560 | -- | -- | 8560 | 8090 |
| Subscriptions–patrons | 3 | 2610 | -- | -- | 2610 | 4745 |
| Donations received | 58 | -- | -- | 58 | 100 | |
| Gift Aid | 2321 | -- | -- | 2321 | 2415 | |
| Social events | 1720 | 1140 | -- | 2860 | 295 | |
| Bank interest | 215 | -- | -- | 215 | 13 | |
| Total income: | 30287 | 1140 | 0 | 31427 | 26487 | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||
| Professional fees | 5 | 8568 | - | - | 8568 | 9891 |
| Publicity & advertising incl. www | 1396 | - | - | 1396 | 1368 | |
Programmes & covers |
1249 | - | - | 1249 | 1068 | |
Use of church facilities & Red X |
2302 | - | - | 2302 | 2806 | |
| Purchase/hire of music | 322 | - | - | 322 | 583 | |
| Equipment-staging | 270 | - | - | 270 | 462 | |
Making Music sub’s & Insurance |
678 | - | - | 678 | 390 | |
Social events |
190 | - | - | 190 | 236 | |
| Committee expenses | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Donations | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |
| Orchestra | 11552 | - | - | 11552 | 12300 | |
| Soloists | 2380 | - | - | 2380 | 3148 | |
| Southwark Cathedral concert | 0 | 10232 | - | 10232 | 0 | |
| Total expenditure: | 28907 | 10232 | 0 | 39139 | 32252 | |
| Net surplus(deficit) for the year | ||||||
| 1380 | (9092) | 0 | (7712) | (5765) |
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Balance Sheet (as at 31 December 2023)
| CURRENT ASSETS Notes |
CURRENT ASSETS Notes |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ Restricted Funds 2023 £ Endowment Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2023 £ Total Funds 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current accounts | 980 | 15908 | 0 | 16888 | 26120 | |
| Savings accounts | 22737 | 0 | 0 | 22737 | 21217 | |
Sundry assets and (liabilities) |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 23717 | 15908 | 0 | 39625 | 47337 |
| CURRENT FUNDS | CURRENT FUNDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance as at 31.12.22 | 22337 | 25000 | 0 | 47337 | 53102 | |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | 1380 | (9092) | 0 | (7712) | (5765) | |
| Balance as at 31.12.23 | 23717 | 15908 | 0 | 39625 | 47337 |
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signature Name Date of Approval |
Signature Name Date of Approval |
Signature Name Date of Approval |
Signature Name Date of Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Mayfield Festival Choir Society Registered Charity No. 1109434
Notes to the Accounts
- 1) These Accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance Accounting Policies
with applicable accounting standards and the Charity Commissioners’ Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).
2) Trustees’ Remuneration and Expenses
No elected or co-opted Committee member receives any income. Reimbursement for actual expenses incurred is made to Committee members.
3) Subscriptions and Membership
There were 84 singing members during 2023 paying a subscription of £105 each. Non-singing membership consisted of 12 gold patrons and 11 silver patrons.
| 4) Concert Ticket Sales May concert* November concert |
2022 £ 3718 4833 8551 |
2023 £ 6399 5860 |
|---|---|---|
| 12259 |
*The Mayfield Festival occurs every two years.
5) Professional Fees
The Society does not employ any individual on a contract of employment. Payments are made to the musical director and rehearsal accompanist in respect of their services and to professional musicians in respect of performances at concerts.
| Musical director and rehearsal accompanist Orchestra Soloists gross |
2022 £ 9891 12300 3148 25339 |
2023 £ 8335 11552 2380 |
|---|---|---|
| 22267 |
| (6)Sundry Assets & Liabilities | 2022 £ 0 0 |
2023 £ 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 |
D
onations
In 2019 the choir received a very generous donation of £20,000. The donor does not wish
the gift to be used for the day-to-day costs of running the choir. Suggested projects include workshops, commissioning of new music, a recording project, supporting visits/outings etc. The funds are held in a separate, restricted account.
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