## **THE COBWEB ORCHESTRA** (A company limited by guarantee) Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31[st] March 2022 Charity number: 1118758 Company number: 6057812 Annual return 2021-22 The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 1 ## **THE COBWEB ORCHESTRA** ## **Report of the trustees for the year ended 31[st] March 2022** The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] March 2022. ## **Reference and Administrative Information** Registered Charity no: 1118758 Company registration no: 6057812 Registered office: Hawkrigg 89 Gilesgate Durham DH1 1HY Bankers: The Co-operative Bank plc. PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT ## **Directors and Trustees** The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees who, for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report, are collectively referred to as the trustees. The trustees serving during the financial year were as follows: Dr. M. H. Cave (Chair) Mrs. R. Tanner (Secretary) Mr. S. Baines (Treasurer) Dr. J. Derry-Greene Mr. J. Hoggett Dr. T. Mason Dr. E. Pearson Mr. R. Stamp Revd. W. Rigby Ms K Scott-Hughes Ten trustees were elected to serve from October 2021 - October 2022. Mr. J. Hoggett and Dr. T. Mason resigned at the AGM in October 2020 and Dr. Catherine Preston and Ms Susan Baker were elected. The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 2 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2022 which comply with current statutory requirements, with the company’s governing document and with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015). ## **Governing Document** The Cobweb Orchestra is a charity, which together with its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with its constitution adopted on April 6[th] 2007 by the members of the executive committee. The Trust is a limited company by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association with no share capital, being limited by guarantee. ## **Organisation** The board of trustees, which can have up to 12 members, administers the charity. The board currently meets every two months but more usually quarterly and there are sub-committees covering finance, human resources, publicity and fundraising, promotion and marketing. The board contracts services for administration and creative direction as well as hiring conductors and musicians as and when required. The organisation does not have any directly employed staff. ## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** The trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of the 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: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which 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. ## **Objectives and Activities** The objectives of the charity are: To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects. The Cobweb Orchestra began as a 10-week course with one group in one venue with a small number of players. In October 2006 the organisation started to consider independence from North Music Trust for various reasons. Before becoming independent from North Music Trust, there was a series of meetings to establish what the potential membership wanted from a new organisation. The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 3 The answer – much the same as has always been on offer. A working party, set up as a result of these early meetings, set out to achieve this objective. As a result of the consultation process The Cobweb Orchestra became a company limited by guarantee in January 2007 and achieved charitable status in March 2007. The Cobweb Orchestra has maintained its open access policy and this features strongly in its charitable objectives, which feature in its Memorandum and Articles. These objectives continue to be its guiding light. We now run nine regular orchestral groups across northern England, in Northumberland (Morpeth), Newcastle, County Durham (Dipton, Spennymoor and Ludworth), York and Cumbria (Dalston and Tebay). These groups are open-access, with no auditions or quotas and attendance is open to both the general public and members of the charity. In addition, we run events and concerts across the region, drawing together members of our regular groups with other musicians and arts organisations. These include study days, longer weekend workshops to consider larger works or chamber music and programmes focused on the development of members' skills, such as composing or conducting. ## **Achievements and Performance** This year began without in-person meetings because of Covid restrictions but gradually returned to its usual pattern of weekly meetings for its local groups and occasional weekend workshops in line with its usual practice. - Ongoing virtual events included the Cobweb Virtual orchestra which has performed several times, an online musical Book Club and a series of “Concert Parties” at which individuals play from their homes. Further new ideas, included online masterclasses and recitals from professional musicians - In May 2021 an “in person” event was held to test the limitations of social distancing on performance and to inform the creation of a rigorous Risk Assessment policy. It was hoped to be able to gradually return to our regular programme of meetings as members’ wishes and as government guidelines allowed. - Our nine local groups, across Northumberland, Tyneside, County Durham, Cumbria, Teesside and York gradually returned to meeting again, though some had to change venue in order to have enough space to conform to social distancing requirements - Joint meetings for weekend workshops met under the same constraints. These included two sessions in our delayed project to perform all the Haydn symphonies, an in-person masterclass with the flautist Amy Yule whom we had previously “met” online and in February a workshop on Dvorak’s 8[th] symphony. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charities Commission in exercising their powers and duties. ## **Financial Review** The income on total funds for the period amounted to £43,111 (2021: £28,370) against running costs of £47,165 (2021: £22,906), giving a total deficit of £4,054 (2021: surplus of £5,464). The total balance of unrestricted funds at the period end, including non-current assets, amounted to £33,459 (2021: £37,513) with a further £328 (2021: £328) held for restricted purposes. We aim under our reserves policy to hold around 20% - 25% of annual unrestricted expenditure in available reserves (net current assets in the balance sheet), to mitigate financial risks. At the balance sheet date, the available unrestricted reserves totalled £19,574 (2021: £23,013) which equated to around 42% (2021: 100%+) of unrestricted expenditure for the period. However, it The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 4 should be noted that, as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, expenditure for the period was vastly different to previous periods, and thus this ratio is not directly comparable. ## **Plans for the Future** We, as a board of trustees, continue to review our future calendar of events to ensure we offer a programme that will meet the needs of our members. We undertook a survey of our membership to ascertain the level of engagement we were likely to expect as activities returned to “normal” and are delighted to report that for the most part we are back to where we were pre-pandemic. We continue to work with our community venues to ensure safety and confidence for our members at all times. The trustees have been meeting monthly and then every 2 months (rather than quarterly) to keep a watching brief on the situation, both financial and vis-à-vis membership, and to support the sterling efforts of our Director (having appointed a new Artistic Director in May 2022 who began officially in October 2022) and Events Administrator without whom our smooth running would hardly be possible. ## **Risk Review** The trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and systems have been established to mitigate these risks. A Risk Assessment Policy, focused particularly on the issues around Covid-19, remains in place until we are confident that we are clear of any risk of relapse, which we operate in conjunction with the policies of the venues we hire, as we continue to return to in-person activities. ## **Exemptions** This report is prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Section 415A of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. This report was approved by the Trustees on 5 January 2023 And signed on their behalf by ________________________ Mrs. R. Tanner Secretary The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 5 Independent Examiners Report Report to the IwsteeslmembeTS of The Cobweb Orchestra onAccounts the year ended 31 March 2022, set out on the followng pages. Rèspectlve rèsponslbllltlas of the Charity and thg Independent Examlner As members of the Charity you are responsible forth8 preparation of the linanual ststement$'. you consider that the audit requiFernent of Regulation 3131 and Se￿lOn 144121 ol the Charities Act do not apply and that 8n independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the financial statements under s.145 of the 2011 Act., Folbw th8 proce¢Jur8s18id down in thg General Direction5 givgn by th8 Charities Commission, under section 14515llbl of lh8 2011 Act." and State whether any particuL8r matters h8ve come to my attention Basls of Examlner's statement My exarninats.on was carried out in accord8nc8 wlh General Directions given by the Charity Cornmissioners. An examination includes a mi8w of the ac(x)unling records kept by the ¢harity and a comparison ol the accounts presented with these records. It also Includes eon8ideration ot any unusual itwns or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations Irorr the trust888 conceming any such matters. The procedu￿5 undertaken do not provide all the evidence that woukj b8 required in an audit, and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on these a(xounts. Independerrt Examln8r's 8tatem•nt In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attentKJn 11 whlch give8 me reasonable Cause to beiieve that in any material respect. Ihe Tequirements-. to keep a(Lounting r8(xJrds in accordance with secbon 130 of the Act., and to prepare acix)unts which agree with thg accounting r8cords and comply wth the accounting requireTh8nts of the 2011 Act have b￿n ¢J)mprotnised.' and 21 to which, in my opinion, attentK)n should b8 drawn sn order to enab18 a prwr understanding of the a(xounts lo reached. Andrew Fren¢h Signed Date The CotKW80 OrchÈsir8 is reglstwed in England as a ?.Dmp8ny limited by guar8nte8. no. 8057812 and a5 a charity, rK>. 1118756 The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 |**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**Restricted Unrestricted**
**2021-22**
**funds**
**funds**
**Total funds**
Note
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
- 5,135 5,135
Charitable activities
2
- 37,970 37,970
Investments
2
- 6 6
**Total**
**- 43,111 43,111**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
3
- 475 475
Charitable activities
3
- 46,690 46,690
Governance
3
- - -
**Total**
**- 47,165 47,165**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**- (4,054) (4,054)**
**Transfers between funds**
- - -
**Other recognised gains / losses**
- - -
**Net movement in funds**
**- (4,054) (4,054)**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
328 37,513 37,841
**Total funds carried forward**
**328 33,459 33,787**|**2020-21**
**Total funds**
**£**
18,489
9,804
77
**28,370**
400
22,506
-
**22,906**
**5,464**
-
-
**5,464**
32,377
**37,841**| |---|---| The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 7 ## **BALANCE SHEET** |**Restricted Unrestricted**
**2021-22**
Note
**funds**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**Non-current assets**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
4
- 13,885 13,885
**Current assets**
Debtors
5
- 3,623 3,623
Cash at bank and in hand
328 38,976 39,304
**328**
**42,599**
**42,927**
**Creditors falling due within one year**
6
**-**
**(23,025)**
**(23,025)**
**Net current assets**
**328**
**19,574**
**19,902**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**328**
**33,459**
**33,787**
**Net assets**
**328**
**33,459**
**33,787**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
7
33,459
33,459
Restricted funds
7
328
328
**Total funds**
**328**
**33,459**
**33,787**|**2020-21**
**Total funds**
**£**
14,500
2,605
25,887| |---|---| ||**28,492**
**(5,151)**| ||**23,341**| ||**37,841**| ||**37,841**| ||37,513
328| ||**37,841**| For the financial year in question, the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2016 relating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime. __________________________ Mrs. R.Tanner _Secretary_ The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 8 1. AccountlrvJ pollcles 1.1 Accounting Convention Thes8 finan￿al stat8m8nts hav8 be8n pr8pared under Ihe historic costconvention and in accordance wilh FRS 102 leffective Jan 20151, the CornpaniesAct 2006 and Ihe requirornents of Ih Charib'85 SORP 2019. The tDJSte85 consid8r that th8 cornpany is 8 public b8nefit 8ntity. These accounts are therefDfe PTepared on a going-concem ba51S. 12 MatorLql uncertalnty over golng concorn Du8 to lh8 current Covid-19 outbreak, the orchestra has13ken the decision. in lin8 wilh governrn8nt advice, to coa5e its rnajor charitable activitie5 Ilhe running of orch85tra 6vent51 until such time as social distancing ￿aSure5 are lifted. Our ability to conkn'nuo to operate in Ihe long temi is Iherefore dependent upon the lenglh oftime Ihese measures are in force. The trustees considerthat sufficient resèrves aro in placè to COP0 wilh Ihe most likely scenarios for longth of ttrslricknons. Thèse accounts are the￿fore prepa￿d on a going-concem basis. However. due to the significant uncertainty in tsming of these ￿$￿¢tionS. which is outside the control of the orchestra. these conditions Pfesenta material unc4rtainty overthe orchèstras ability to continue as a going concem. 12 ChaNJe In a¢¢ounUNJ reference date During th8 year, the orchestra changed its accounting reference dat9 during the year from the 5 April to 31 K18rch, slightry short8ning Ihe currentaccounting period. 1 A Incoming r•sources All incorning resources ar8 induded on Ihe StAt8mont of Finan￿al Activiti85 wher the charity 15 18gally 8ntiI8d to th8 incorne and th8 amountcan b8 quantifi8d with rea50nabl8 accuracy. Def8￿ed incomo balance5 3ri58 wh8n participarJts in cha¥itabl8 activiti85, for 8xample r85id8ntial ev8nts, pay in advance. 1.5 Resourcos 8xp8nthd Expendibjre is accounted fDron an accruals ba515 and has been classified under headings Ihat aggregat8 all costs r81at8d to Ihe category. Where costs cannot b8 direcuy attribut8d to parbcular headings Ihay have baen alloeAted to actiwtios on a basis cL)n$i5tsntwith Ihe usè of rostsurcos. The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 1.6 Tangible ftxed a88et8 Tangible fixed assets cornprise the orche8trab rnu3ic library Isheet music, assoaated storage units and print'ng facilitiesl and instruments for use by Ihe orchestra. The initial carying value of donated assets is tsken to be the lower of replacement cost and recoverable amountat the dats it is received. The value in use is assunwd to be equal to the current replacement cost For the instrument bank and music library storage. depreciabon calculated on a 10% ieducing balance basis on cos( for ITr*lat8d equipmant, depreciation is calculated on a 20% r8ducbng balance basis on Sheet music is not dtrprtsciated. as its condition and value dèpands chiolly on tt)e extent of use ralhèr Ihan age. It is therefore 5ubj8Ctto an annu81 imp8irm8nt review. 1.7 Taxatityn The charity 15 8xemptfrom corporation tax on its charitable actiwties underth8 primary pU￿oS8 trading gxempbon. 1.8 Fund a¢¢ountlng Unre5tricte¢J funds can b• usod in accordancè with Iha tharilable objoetiv¥s at tha disttstion of Ihè trustees. Restricted fiJnd$ can only be used for parbcular restricted purposeswilhin Ihe objects of the charity. Resirictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for parbcular purposes. 1.9 Slgnincantjudgments and estlmate¥ The trustees do not consider there to be the need forany significantjudgments or estimates in applying these accounting policiès, given the simpliaty ofthe charitys operab"ons. therthan as reportad in the paragraph abov8 r8garding Material unc8rtaAntyovergoffng conc8m, th8r8 are no 8ssumption5 orother sources of estirnation uncertainty at the reporbng da¢e which may give rise to a significant risk of cau%ng material adjugbnentto the carrying value of assets and liabilits.os within the next reporb'ng period. 1.10 Donated goods and 80rv¥ces Trustees and members olthe charity o)ntribute as general volunteers to a numberof key areas of operab"ons. Thosè indude managing the music library and general administration ol membership and w88klygroups. Under 6.18 ofth8 2019 SORP, thes8 5ervic85 are not recognis8d in Ih858 accounts. The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 10 ## **2. Income** |**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Gift aid
**Charitable activities**
Event fees
Weekly subscriptions
Membership
Fund raising events
Other income
Grants
**Investment income**
Interest receivable
**Total incoming resources**|**2021-22**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
4,383
4,383
-
752
752
**-**
**5,135**
**5,135**
-
4,725
4,725
-
26,459
26,459
-
6,505
6,505
-
-
-
-
281
281
-
-
-
**-**
**37,970**
**37,970**
-
6
6
**-**
**43,111**
**43,111**|**2020-21**
**Total funds**
**£**
15,873
2,616| |---|---|---| |||**18,489**
3,459
409
5,116
800
20
-| |||**9,804**
77| |||**28,370**| The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 11 |**3. Resources expended**
**Expenditure on raising funds**
Promotional expenses
Repairs and renewals
IT & Website costs
Professional subscriptions
Fundraising trading: costs of goods sold
and other costs
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
Musicians' fees
Conductors fees
Venue hire
Events management
Hire of plant, machinery and music
Telecommunications
Postage and stationary
Travel expenses
Sundry expenses
Insurance
Depreciation of fixed assets
*
Impairments of fixed assets
**Other expenditure**
**
Accounting and bank fees
**Total resources expended**|**2021-22**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
14
14
-
-
-
-
35
35
-
426
426
-
-
-
**-**
**475**
**475**
-
1,430
1,430
-
31,805
31,805
-
4,385
4,385
-
7,036
7,036
-
-
-
-
140
140
-
180
180
-
706
706
-
13
13
-
163
163
-
832
832
-
-
-
**-**
**46,690**
**46,690**
-
-
-
**-**
**47,165**
**47,165**|**2020-21**
**Total funds**
**£**
-
-
35
365
-| |---|---|---| |||**400**
2,565
13,577
167
5,501
-
282
-
-
13
132
269
-| |||**22,506**
-| |||**22,906**| * See following page for explanation of credit entry ** Relates to the charity's independent examination of the accounts ## **Trustees' remuneration and expenses** Purchases made by trustees on behalf of the orchestra and reimbursed totalled £180, for 3 trustees (£510 in 202021 for 2 trustees). No travel expenses were claimed by trustees during 2021-22 or 2020-21. The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 12 |**4. Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Impairments / revaluations
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2021
Impairments / revaluations
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**Net book value**
**At 31 March 2021**
**At 31 March 2022**|**4. Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Impairments / revaluations
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2021
Impairments / revaluations
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
**Net book value**
**At 31 March 2021**
**At 31 March 2022**|**Music library**
**Instrument bank**
**£**
**£**
12,920
4,609
217
-

-
-

-
-

2012-13|**Music library**
**Instrument bank**
**£**
**£**
12,920
4,609
217
-

-
-

-
-

2012-13|**Total**
**£**
17,529
217
-
-
**17,746**
3,029
-
832
-
**3,861**
**14,500**
**13,885**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||||**13,137**
**4,609**
338
2,691
-
-
640
192

-
-
|| ||||**978**
**2,883**|| ||||**12,582**
**1,918**|| |||||| ||||**12,159**
**1,726**|| |||||| |||||| |**5. Trade and other receivables**||||| |**6. Trade and other payables**|**2021-22**
**£**
Aged Debtors
1,763
Gift aid claims
371
Prepaid expenses
1,489
Accrued income
-
**3,623**
**2021-22**
**£**
Deferred income
13,150
Trade payables and accruals
9,875
**23,025**|||**2020-21**
**£**
240
761
1,618
41
**2,660**
**2020-21**
**£**
2,180
7,262
**9,442**| |**7. Movement in funds**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds – Leigh
Fairlie Legacy
Restricted funds – other
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds – CDCF
Ludworth grant
Restricted funds – other|**At 1 April**
**2021**
**Income**
37,513 43,111
- -
328 -||**Expenditure**
**Fund**
**transfers**
(47,165) -
- -
- -|**At 31 March**
**2022**
33,459
-
328
**33,787**
**At 31 March**
**2021**
37,513
-
328
**37,841**| ||**37,841 43,111**||**(47,165) -**|| ||**At 1 April**
**2020**
**Income**
32,049 28,370
- -
328 -||**Expenditure**
**Fund**
**transfers**
(22,906) -
- -
- -|| ||**32,377 28,370**||**(22,906) -**|| |||||| |||||| The Cobweb Orchestra is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee, no. 6057812 and as a charity, no. 1118758 13