The Huddersfield Philharmonic Society Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025
Registered company number 5758494 Registered charity number 1114413
Trustees’ Report
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, submit their report and the audited financial statements for the year to 31 July 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in 2005 in preparing the report and financial statements of the charity.
Reference and Administrative Details
The charity’s full name is The Huddersfield Philharmonic Society. Its registered address is
68 Thorpe Lane, Huddersfield, HD5 8UF.
Trustees who have served during the year, or subsequently: President Ruth Holmes General Secretary Debra Adams Orchestra Leader Eileen Butterworth Treasurer James Wilkinson Concert Manager David Robinson Membership Secretary Rooney Kelly Digital Publicity Manager Fionnuala Donnelly Schmidt Player Representative Peter Denton Player Representative Christopher Leyland (resigned September 2024) Player Representative Amelia Fisher (resigned October 2024) Principal Conductor Katherine Stonham Assistant Conductor Nicholas Simpson
Advisers
Bankers HSBC Bank plc, 2 Cloth Hall Street, Huddersfield HD1 2ES Solicitors Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, Ramsden Street, Huddersfield HD1 2TH Independent Examiner Malcolm Batty , 7 James Court, Huddersfield, HD4 6SA
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Structure, Governance and Management
Constitution
The constitution of the charity is its Memorandum and Articles of Association and the 2016 Rules.
The trustees are directors of the company and are recruited by nomination from the members pursuant to the articles and by vote at the general meeting. Additional trustees may be appointed by the Committee to fill a casual vacancy or otherwise. There are no formal policies for the induction of new trustees and training is done by way of discussion with existing or outgoing trustees.
The Society is managed by the Executive Committee which consists of the Trustees and meets about four times per year. The Executive Committee is elected annually at the AGM. Certain matters relating to concert programming, and financial and other strategy are delegated to sub-committees who report to the Executive Committee. The sub-committees have a majority of trustees on them.
Risk Management
The Executive Committee has identified and reviewed the major risks to which the Society is exposed and has established appropriate levels of reporting and control mechanisms to mitigate those risks.
Objectives and Activities
The Society's objects are the formation and maintenance of an orchestra or orchestras and other musical groups to promote the study, practice and performance of musical works of all types by way of concerts and any other methods of performance.
Achievements and Performance
While the players are volunteers, the orchestra is directed by a professional conductor while in rehearsal and performance. The orchestra is publicised widely including through its own website and volunteers are sought from all parts of the community to act as players or trustees.
Our new principal conductor, Katherine Stonham, was appointed in May 2022 after an open recruitment process and has already proved her worth in rehearsal and performance.
Financial Review
The financial position of the charity has shown a surplus for the year of £2,828 (2024: £4,716). The charity continues to try to ensure that the activities in each year are contained within its income and that unrestricted funds are maintained to comply with the charity’s policy on reserves.
Policy on reserves
It is the policy of the Society to maintain unrestricted funds at a level which equates to no less than six months’ unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management, administration and support costs.
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Investment policy
There are no restrictions on the Society’s powers to invest. The investment policy set by the Society is of a low to medium risk nature and takes account of the cash-flow requirements of the Society together with the desire to generate income from short term and longer term sources. The Society maintains accounts of monies on demand and on short term notice. The policy is reviewed from time to time, in terms of risk, as well as social, environmental and ethical considerations.
Plans for Future Periods
The charity continues to maintain an amateur orchestra in Huddersfield providing five subscriber concerts per year, and may take part in other musical events during the year.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees, who are also directors of the Society for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities under company law to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
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made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume 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 to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 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.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Ruth Holmes President
2025
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Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of the Huddersfield Philharmonic Society
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
As trustees of the charity, the members of the charity are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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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 accounts, and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention:
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which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
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to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; and
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr M Batty
2025
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Income and expenditure account
For the year ended 31 July 2025
| Income Operating costs Operating surplus for the year Investment interest received Surplus for the year Statement of total recognised gains and losses Total recognised gains for the year |
Total Total 2025 2024 £ £ 31,485 28,608 29,228 24,769 2,257 3,839 571 877 2,828 4,716 2,828 4,716 |
|---|---|
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Statement of financial activities
For the year ended 31 July 2025
| Note INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income: Gift Aid recovered Orchestra tax relief receivable Donations and grants received Investment income Incoming resources from charitable activities Rehearsal and concert revenue Total incoming resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable activities Rehearsal and concert expenses Support costs 6 Governance costs Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers Transfers between funds Net movement in funds |
General fund November concert December concert February concert May concert July concert Special reserve Total 2025 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 2,447 - - - - - - 2,447 4,447 - - - - - - 4,447 3,612 - - - - - - 3,612 554 - - - - - 296 850 11,059 - - - - - 296 11,355 6,818 2,778 623 5,684 2,270 2,528 - 20,701 17,877 2,778 623 5,684 2,270 2,528 296 32,056 1,500 4,511 2,627 5,565 6,289 5,738 - 26,230 2,999 - - - - - - 2,999 4,499 4,511 2,627 5,565 6,289 5,738 - 29,228 - - - - - - - - 4,499 4,511 2,627 5,565 6,289 5,738 - 29,228 13,378 (1,733) (2,004) 119 (4,019) (3,210) 296 2,828 - - - - - - - - 13,378 (1,733) (2,004) 119 (4,019) (3,210) 296 2,828 |
Total 2024 £ 812 6,258 2,820 877 |
|---|---|---|
| 10,767 18,718 |
||
| 29,485 | ||
| 22,387 2,381 |
||
| 24,768 - |
||
| 24,768 | ||
| 4,717 - |
||
| 4,717 |
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Statement of financial position
For the year ended 31 July 2025
Company number 5758494
| Note Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 2 Current assets Investments - unrestricted 3 Investments - designated Debtors 4 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors falling due within less than one year 5 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Reserves Accumulated fund - unrestricted 8 Special reserve - designated 8 |
2025 £ 560 6,182 6,637 9,815 19,013 41,647 (250) 41,397 41,957 35,320 6,637 41,957 |
2024 £ 810 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,907 6,341 5,368 20,703 |
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| 38,319 - |
||
| 38,319 | ||
| 39,129 | ||
| 32,788 6,341 |
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| 39,129 |
The charitable company was entitled to exemption from an audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the period in question in accordance with Section 476 of the Act.
The trustees/directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Signed on 2025 by:
Ruth Holmes (President)
James Wilkinson FCA (Treasurer)
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Notes to the financial statements
1. Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and FRS 102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards, and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)).
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis. The Trustees consider that there is no material uncertainty regarding the Charity’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern for the foreseeable future, and in any case for at least 12 months from the date of this report.
Fund accounting
Restricted funds comprise (a) income from endowments which is to be expended only on the restricted purposes intended by the donor and (b) revenue donations or grants for a specific activity intended by the donor.
Unrestricted funds are income funds which are to be spent on the Charity’s general purposes.
Designated funds are general funds set aside by the Trustees for use in the future. Designated funds remain unrestricted.
Incoming resources
Planned giving, collections and similar donations are recognised when received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the Charity is entitled to the use of the resources, their ultimate receipt is considered reasonably certain and the amounts due are reliably quantifiable.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT which is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its activities and services. It includes both costs than can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Fixed assets
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets is based on cost and is applied on a straight-line basis using asset lives of ten to twenty years.
Financial instruments
The Charity has no complex financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are recognised at settlement value.
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2. Tangible fixed assets
| Instruments Music stands and furniture Orchestral music £ £ £ Cost At 1 August 2024 6,918 804 496 Additions - - - Disposals - - - At 31 July 2025 6,918 804 496 Depreciation At 1 August 2024 6,248 664 496 Provided in the year 204 46 - Disposals - - - At 31 July 2025 6,452 710 496 Net book value At 1 August 2024 670 140 - At 31 July 2025 466 94 - 3. Investments 2025 £ COIF - general account (unrestricted fund) 6,182 COIF - special reserve (designated fund) 6,637 12,819 4. Debtors 2025 £ Prepayments - Accrued income - Orchestra tax relief and Gift Aid 9,815 9,815 5. Creditors due in less than one year 2025 £ Accruals 250 |
Total £ 8,218 - - 8,218 7,408 250 - |
|---|---|
| 7,658 810 |
|
| 560 | |
2024 £ 5,907 6,341 12,248 2024 £ - 5,368 5,368 2024 £ - |
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6. Support costs
| Subscription to Making Music Insurance Zoom subscription Website hosting Accountancy fees Depreciation Bank charges Printing, stationery and sundry costs 7. Governance costs Examination fee 8. Accumulated funds - unrestricted Balance at 1 August 2024 Surplus/(deficit) for the year Balance at 31 July 2025 |
2025 £ - 468 156 346 250 250 72 1,457 2,999 2025 £ - 32,788 2,532 35,320 |
2024 £ 298 151 - 407 300 250 76 900 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,381 | ||
| 2024 £ - 28,386 4,402 |
||
| 32,788 |
9. Special reserve - designated
Two double basses were sold during the period to 30 April 2007 £7,500 of the profit was set aside for any special purpose in the future
| Balance at 1 August 2024 Investment income received in the year Balance at 31 July 2025 |
2025 2024 £ £ 6,341 6,027 296 314 6,637 6,341 |
|---|---|
10. Related party transactions
None of the trustees received any remuneration in the year (2023: nil).
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