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