BICESTER CHORAL & OPERATIC SOCIETY (BCOS) Income & Expenditure Account Year to 31st December 2024
BICESTER CHORAL & OPERATIC SOCIErY (BCOS) Income & Expenditure Account 5t Year to 31 December 2024 Income Subscriptions Ticket Sales Sponsorship/Grants/Donations Advertising Front of House Fundraising Gift Aid Interest from savings Other (Venue hire rebate) 7,486 12,069 3,690 520 4,614 499 2,050 167 222 Total Income 31,317 Expenditure Music Director Accompanist Professionals Fees (includes soloists, orchestra. sound engineer) Music Hire & Purchase Venue Hire Equipment & Repairs Properties & Sets Front of House Promotional Costume, Hair, Makeup Insurance & Fees (includes deposivrights for 2025 & 2026 shows) Gifts, Subsistence & Sundry items 7,723 1,473 3,058 45 4,434 1,536 1,866 1,566 937 578 3,830 686 27.732 Net Surplus £3,585
Trustees Trustees are elected each year at the AGM. The elected trustees for 2024 were: lan Muddle, Chairman Elizabeth Stiff, Vice-chairman Nikki Fine, Treasurer Emily Brown, Secretary Executive Committee Additional Executive Committee members for 2024 were: Laura Hudson Matthew Lawrance Sarah Messer Meg Tapp Alan Twigg Address Bicester Choral & Operatic Society c/0 Nikki Fine The Mole Hole Station Road Launton Oxon OX26 SDS Bankers RBS Edinburgh St Andrew Square Branch 36 St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2AD Policy on Reserve5 The Trustees have adopted a policy of maintaining a financial Reserve to ensure the Society does not become insolvent as a consequence of income in any year falling significantly below expenditure. In years when the Reserve exceeds the target figure the Society will be able to consider staging more adventurous works or using more expensive techniques and equipment which might be more likely to result in a loss, but which might be more artistically justified. In years when the Reserve falls below the target figure greater consideration will be given to conserving funds in order to increase the Reserve. The target figure for the Reserve has been set at £9,000 for 2025. The Society has no investments other than bank account balances and does not award grants. Nikki Fine (BCOS Treasurer)
BICESTER CHORAL & OPERATIC SOCIETY (BCOS) Registered No.1109779 ANNUAL REPORT for the year to st 31 December 2024 The Charity is governed by a constitution adopted by an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 16 March 2005. The objects of the Society are to educate the public in the choral, orchestral, dramatic and operatic arts, and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts. Activities and Achievements General: The Society had membership subscriptions from 65 individuals across the year, including several new members. Productions.. The Trustees are mindful of their duty to ensure that the charity's activities exist for the public benefit. They have considered Charity Commission guidance and are satisfied that the performance aims and achievements of the charity during the year, as outlined below, are consistent with this duty. The society presented five public performances in 2024. Avenue Q was performed over three nights in May to 80% capacity- Analysing this yearfs accounts will indicate a profit more than £1800. The true figure is a nominal loss of £20 as funds were paid out during 2023 re rights, set hire, props, and promo materials. Effectively breaking even over 3 days, on a production with costs of over £14K is a fantastic achievement, and thanks once again go to all who put in the effort to achieve this. In October the society presented a concert of the music of 21, Century Musicals. This event made a profit of £1085. The third event, Under the Mistletoe, made a profit of £1346. Both concerts were events requiring no profe55ional player5 or soloists, planned deliberately to generate surplus funds to cover 2025's autumn concert, where costs are expected to be -£3000 higher. Fund-Raising: Give As You Live continued to generate income, generating £273 income this year. The society's continued participation in the Cherwell Lottery generated £225 of additional income. The society once again benefited from a grant from Bicester Town Council of £750 towards the stage show, and £600 sponsorship from Bicester Village. In addition, for the first time, the society benefitted from a grant of £IOOO from Cherwell District council towards the stage show. Finally, the society received a kind donation of £IOOO from Andy Beaumont from his late fatherf5 estate. And¢s father was an active member of the society when the group was first formed back in the 1960s. Bank Account: Overall, the year's activities resulted in an increase in the Society's cash reserves of £3585.02 at year-end, the cash balance at year-end being £15,185.65. Thi5 year the Society took advantage of high interest rates and held funds on deposit over the year, generating £151 in interest income. The Trustees are conscious that the society is not a profit/loss-making organi5ation. The society made planned-for purchases of assets/equipment totalling approx. £1200, which included additional lighting-kit cables, mic-stands, glasses and storage. In addition, expenditure of approx. £1500 was made towards the 2025 stage show {£500 in relation to rights/hire, £200 in respect of the set hire, and £300 relating to promotional materials), and £500 towards the 2026 show (rights fees).
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BICESTER CHORAL AND OPERATIC SOCIETY I report on the profit and loss account of the society for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are attached hereto. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitls trustee5 consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: V examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act V to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5}{b) of the 2011 Act v 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 Commission. 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 records and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair Vie and the report is limited to those matter5 set out in the next statement. Independent examiners, statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: v to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and v to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act v have not been met. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A P Jeffrey (ACA), 6 New Road, Shotteswell, Banburyi OX17 IHT Date." 29101/2025