The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Registered Charity No. 1116255
Trustees Report on the Annual Accounts
Attached please find the Annual Income & Expenditure Summary for the year ended 31[st] July 2025. In the year we exceeded £25,000 in revenue and have therefore produced these accounts for Independent Examination. A copy of the examiners’ report is attached, which was a clean report with no reportable matters found.
After a couple of years of rebalancing the finances the year just finished is considered to have been one in which we can conclude our finances are currently on solid ground. We had a very successful big show in November 2024 with the US quartet The Newfangled Four, which in addition to a number of other smaller events contributes to give us financial flexibility to spend on matters which will help improve the chorus even further. That said we do have some challenges coming at us, particularly regarding a likely decrease in total member subscriptions to be collected in the next 12 months, due to the expected and natural loss of some established members over the last few months. We have recruited some new members. Recruitment of new members continues to be a high priority.
We have £28,789 in the bank at the year-end versus £21,837 this time last year. We have a reserves policy which is continually reviewed by the Trustees and management team. Our reserves remain healthy. In addition to the reserves policy we have a number of other policies in place as recommended by the Charities Commission. These are reviewed regularly.
Our excess of income over expenditure in the year was £6,607 versus a prior year excess of £2,226. The primary reasons for being nearly £4,400 above the prior year level are positive variances on items such as THE Show with the Newfangled Four, Bank Interest & Other Income on higher bank balances and Gift Aid through larger donations. Furthermore we have not needed to pay Musical Director expenses in the year. We do not expect this level of excess income to continue in the next year as we look to spend the generated income and reserves, plus the savings made on MD expenses, on recruitment, music and coaching costs.
With the actions of previous years (in particular disposing of the van) we have re-established a level of manageable overhead expense and this is forecast to continue subject to any unforeseen increase in costs.
In conclusion regarding the financial performance for the year 2024/25 the Trustees have approved the annual accounts, and place on record their thanks to the Chair, Treasurer, other members of the management team, The Musical Director, the music team and all members and supporters of The Great Western Chorus.
The Trustees 7[th] September 2025
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July
| The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July |
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July |
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July |
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July |
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol Annual Accounts - Income & Expenditure Summary Year Ended 31st July |
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| Registered Charity No. 1116255 | ||||
| Income Membership Subscriptions 100 Club Income Donations Shows/Sing Outs Prizes, Grants, Fund raising Misc Income (incl van sale) Bank Interest Gift Aid Uniform - Deposits and Sale Merchandise Total Income Expenditure BABS Subs MD Expenses 100 Club Prizes Show & Sing Out Costs Retreat & Convention net costs Van Costs Website Marketing & Recruitment Coaching Musical Education Rehearsal Venue Uniform Music & TTs Other admin charges Total Expenditure Net Income Bank Balance Brought forward from Prior Year Net Income/(Deficit) Current Year Balance at Bank carried forward |
24/25 £8,565.00 £2,495.50 £1,213.50 £12,876.85 £650.00 £450.00 £570.59 £1,921.27 £0.00 £0.00 £28,742.71 (£1,945.00) £0.00 (£748.00) (£8,595.86) (£529.50) (£268.09) (£209.47) (£1,122.33) (£3,027.72) £0.00 (£4,302.60) (£225.00) (£779.91) (£382.61) (£22,136.09) £6,606.62 £22,182.57 £6,606.62 £28,789.19 |
23/24 £7,872.46 £2,703.82 £3,120.44 £1,405.16 £600.00 £2,050.57 £663.00 £1,706.71 £1,880.00 £10.00 £22,012.16 (£1,767.50) (£236.00) (£811.00) (£4,566.07) (£227.19) (£952.96) (£184.39) (£131.32) (£2,117.57) £0.00 (£4,030.00) (£4,020.90) (£542.16) (£198.77) (£19,785.83) £2,226.33 £19,956.24 £2,226.33 £22,182.57 |
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To the Trustees of the Great Western Chorus of Bristol (“Charity”) no. 1116255
| report on the attached accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31% July 2025.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”), but an independent examination is required because the income of the Charity in the current year is above £25,000. The Trustees have therefore recommended that independent examination is performed for the current year.
It is my responsibility to:
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e Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; e Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and to
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e State whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of Independent Examiner's Report
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 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 view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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e The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of 2011 Act;
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e The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a “true and fair view” which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
| have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature:
Date: mi September 2025
Name: LOCAL THES GUSH Address: Tepe PeS Lowan\ad Wx