THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021
REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AND WALES COMPANY NO. 06571713
THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
COMPANY NUMBER 06571713 (ENGLAND AND WALES) MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE J.P.A. BAKER S.E. CROOSE SECRETARY S.E. CROOSE REGISTERED OFFICE 90 UPPER ST GILES STREET NORWICH NORFOLK NR2 1LT REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1127925 REPORTING ACCOUNTANT ACCOUNTANCY 121 56 ST WILLIAMS WAY THORPE ST ANDREW NORWICH NR7 0AP
INDEPENDENT EXAMINIER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] March 2021, which are set out on pages 1 to 5.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43 (2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:-
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examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission
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under section 43 (7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and
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to 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 matter has come to my attention:
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1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities
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.
ACCOUNTANCY 121 56 ST WILLIAMS WAY NORWICH NR7 0AP
THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
The Directors present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2021.
PRINCIPAL The principal activity of the company is to advance the education of the public ACTIVITY in the arts and to promote health through involvement in health activity.
DIRECTORS The Directors who served during the year were:J.P.A. Baker S.E. Croose STATUS The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The company is a registered charity.
In preparing the above report, the Directors have taken advantage of special exemptions applicable to small companies. SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
…………………………… J.P.A. BAKER DIRECTOR Approved by the Board: 27[th] August 2021
Directors’ Report to 31 March 2021
Introduction
The Voice Project is an innovative new-music organisation based in Norwich, providing cultural opportunity in England, creating large-scale, site–responsive choral performances of new music for arts festivals and special events since 2008. We create several performances each year and work with open-access, non-auditioned choirs and a team of exceptional professional artists and production staff to produce award-winning work.
We work in partnership with key arts organisations, to produce work of a very high standard that engages communities and inspires audiences.
‘ The Voice Project is a unique arts organisation in the UK. Its practise is radically inventive, inclusive and memorable .’ William Galinsky, Director, Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2012 to 2017
We are based in the middle of a large rural county and, while working in other parts of the country and abroad, we have premiered every work in Norfolk and built a community of participants and audiences who have benefitted from the cultural engagement opportunities we have created. Many of our members are older and socially isolated and the pandemic has exacerbated that.
Our work is grounded in the ethos that participation in the arts contributes to the well-being of the individual and the community, and the opportunity to create secular work that addresses ‘big questions’ is a crucial part of our practice. Every project is built around an open-access choir of up to 150 singers.
Organisational Development
As a result of our Cultural Recovery Funding, we worked with consultants Winster Marsh to create The Voice Project: A new positioning , a major review/evaluative process to look at how we re-purpose, refine our systems, investigate new partnerships and make a new funding and business plan. This has enabled us to start to plan for the next 3 years. We have employed a new Project Co-Ordinator, Steph Potts, who has a huge amount of experience in Arts Management/Fundraising and PR, and drafted a fundraising strategy for 2021-23. Alex Darbyshire has been engaged as a Creative Ambassador to support new relationships with venues and professional networks. Steve Forster PR has been working with us on marketing and PR and Nathan Clarke has created a set of 10 promotional films for release over the next 6 months on social media.
Our financial management systems have worked to manage all the variations in income, expenditure and cash-flow effectively.
We continued to employ Greg Tebble, an independent financial consultant, on a freelance basis to supervise our accounting systems and ensure effective reporting to the Trustees
and funding bodies as well as statutory reporting to Companies House and The Charity Commission. Due to ill health Greg retired in June 2021 and very sadly passed away in August. He was a loyal, professional and generous supporter of the Voice Project and will be very much missed. Joseph Nemeth has taken over as financial consultant/accountant.
Policy Updates
In October of 2020 it was brought to our attention that a freelance member of our core team had behaved inappropriately towards a member of the public. Although this was not a work-related incident, we felt it necessary to stop working with this individual. The matter was carefully considered by the Directors and Board, reported to the Charity Commission, who advised us that no further action was needed in relation to this matter. We have revised and updated all our Safeguarding and Recruitment Policies to reflect the learning that we as an organisation engaged in as a result of this unfortunate incident.
Funding
Our turnover almost doubled from the previous financial year. Three successful funding bids: Arts Council Emergency Fund, Cultural Recovery support, plus a successful Arts Council Project Grant, and the maintenance of previous years’ participants fees, ensured that the organisation was able to offer a comprehensive programme, provide work for our associate artists and core team, undertake some really important development work and upgrade equipment.
The challenge for the coming year will be to maintain this level of support and continue to find new sources of revenue.
Sponsorship/Charitable Giving/Support in Kind
We have had generous donations from individuals as well as support in kind from local partners Norwich Arts Centre and charitable support from the Leche Trust.
We have continued to offer a donation rate that participants can pay when signing up to a project and this has been a successful part of our fundraising strategy
The Programme
The Recording Choir
This Norwich/Brighton-based project was suspended due to the pandemic. At the time of writing the project has been re-launched online and will be completed by December 2021. Women’s Voices was also paused and will be delivered when we can safely return to in person singing.
Arc of the Sky April – October 2020
Arc of the Sky was planned to be a live performance project.
When lockdown happened in March 2020, the directors had to quickly adapt the project
Arc of the Sky Videography Nathan Clarke
into one that was suitable for the times. We reimagined the project as a film. The members of the choir adapted quickly to the demands of rehearsals held on Zoom and the Voice Project organisation was quick to help support the rapid digital learning required. Music was composed by Jonathan Baker, Sian Croose and Orlando Gough.
Visuals were filmed, collected and curated by Nathan Clarke and Sal Pittman.
The choir was instructed in how to use phones both for audio recording and filming themselves. They were taught how to upload the files via FTP so that the directors, filmmaker and art director could edit these and assemble them into a film which became the 27 minute Arc of the Sk. This premiered at St Mary’s Works, Norwich, with six COVID-19safe screenings, in October 2020. The film is now on YouTube and has been viewed over 4,000 times worldwide.
The funding enabled our organisation to survive, adapt and innovate as well as reach a much bigger, worldwide audience. It has encouraged participants to learn and practice new creative skills and generated enthusiasm and confidence for the next project, which we have just started. This will add creative writing and movement to the range of art forms that we are offering to participants as well as continuing to sing and perform new choral music. The Arc of the Sky film and soundtrack is a truly-collaborative artistic piece: a moving community-arts document charting the past six months - our relationship with nature and solitude and our connections to each other.
We believe that our project contributed significantly to the lives of all its participants, in both professional and community terms. Accounts of the huge impact Arc of the Sky had, from the regular inspiring and supportive contact it provided, the exploration and acquisition of new creative skills and the expression and production of meaningful art, assure us that this work is vital and its provision essential.
' It has reduced my sense of isolation and increased my access to creative arts, singing and keeping connected .' - (choir member)
We have continuity and evolution in our community; some people have been in every project, new members join each time, and online our choir is now nationwide, bringing people together from across the country to create together.
Each member of the group was invited to contribute original material, supported by expert Arc of the Sky Videography Nathan Clarke artists, but with a creative licence that was born out of the circumstances that we found ourselves in. The choir members became storytellers, filmmakers, designers. Feedback from many of the group confirmed that people realised creative potential they didn’t know they had, and the project encouraged them to continue to practice these new-found skills.
As a company, we are committed to continuing to provide innovative, life-enhancing creative adventures for our community, a community that expands, evolves and develops with each work of art we produce.
The Distance Between Us October 2020 – March 2021
The Distance Between Us is a film chronicle of Autumn/Winter 20/21 that engaged over 150 community participants from across the UK over 6 months. As a sequel to Arc of the Sky it focused on how we spent our time during the second lockdown period and included sessions with poet Esther Morgan and dancer/choreographer Dane Hurst, as part of the programme of activities we provided for the choir.
Image from The Distance Between Us
We have developed our online/digital offer as The Voice Project Open Voices offering skills classes and free daily warm-ups. Take-up is UK wide. Upgrading our equipment has enabled the production of professional content and to make the transition back to some in-person work when we can while maintaining the digital offer, as we livestream sessions when guidelines allow. In short, we have survived and thrived and are looking forward to continuing our work.
Future Plans
We are planning a return to live activity with workshops and rehearsals in late January 2022. Based on what is happening elsewhere and conversations with some past participants we know many people want to get back to live events, although there are concerns about staying safe. By postponing live activity until 2022 we hope that the situation will have improved and evidence will show that it is safe to sing together and attend large events. If necessary we can switch to online events as we have done previously, and postpone live events .
Plans include:
Live performances of Arc of the Sky at Blythburgh Church, Suffolk and Alfriston Church, Sussex in June/July 2022
Winter 2022 project in partnership with The Halls, Norwich and All Saints, Brighton Open Voices - workshops and courses
Participants and Audience
Working online has offered us the possibility of extending our reach, nationally and internationally, and has brought us opportunities and connections that we would previously miss. As we return to in-person activity over the next few months, we aim to maintain these and expand the scope of our projects.
As the Voice Project evolves, singers have the opportunity to contribute and develop a whole range of skills and are becoming more involved in the creative process.
Conclusion
Despite the challenges we, and everyone, have faced in the past 18 months, we are really proud of the work we have produced and the connection we have maintained with our creative team, community of singers and audience members and supporters. We have fundraised successfully, worked with new artists, committed to increasing the diversity of the organisation and developed an exciting programme for the future.
Sian Croose and Jonathan Baker, Directors October 2021
THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
Balance Sheet - 31[st] March 2021
| Notes | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | |||||||
| Tangible Assets | 2 | 5,090 | - | ||||
| Current Assets | |||||||
| Debtors and Prepayment | 359 | 796 | |||||
| Cash at Bank and in Hand | Cash at Bank and in Hand | 39,094 | 5,956 | ||||
| ______ | ______ | ||||||
| 39,453 | 6,752 | ||||||
| --------- | --------- | ||||||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due | Creditors: Amounts falling due | ||||||
| within one year | |||||||
| Creditors and Deferred Income | 30,616 | 5,150 | |||||
| --------- | --------- | ||||||
| Net Current Assets | 8,837 | 1,602 | |||||
| ______ | ______ | ||||||
| Net Assets | £ 13,927 | £ 13,927 | £ 1,602 | ||||
| ______ | ______ | ||||||
| Financed by:- | |||||||
| Profit and Loss Account | 10 | £ 13,927 | £ 13,927 | £ 1,602 | |||
| ______ | ______ |
For the year ending 31[st] March 2021 the company was entitled to an exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ Responsibilities:
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
The Directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors:
……………………….
JPA Baker Director
Approved by the Board: 27[th] August 2021
The Notes on pages 3 to 5 form part of these Accounts
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THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
| Notes | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | ||||
| Income and Expenditure | ||||||
| Incoming Resources | ||||||
| Event Income | 1,104 | - | 1,104 | 56,239 | ||
| Participant Fees | 24,786 | - | 24,786 | - | ||
| Grant and Sponsorships | 1d | 77,505 | - | 77,505 | 4,499 | |
| Trusts and Foundations | 4,200 | - | 4,200 | - | ||
| Donations | 9,248 | - | 9,248 | - | ||
| Online Courses | 7,755 | - | 7,755 | - | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| Total Incoming Resources | 124,598 | - | 124,598 | 60,738 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| Resources Used | ||||||
| Direct Charitable Expenditure | ||||||
| Artist Fees and Casual Labour | 23,377 | - | 23,377 | 21,898 | ||
| Commission Fees | 12,500 | - | 12,500 | - | ||
| Project Facilitation | 20,116 | - | 20,116 | 4,842 | ||
| Directors’ Fees | 16,950 | - | 16,950 | - | ||
| Production, Film & Stage Management | 6,000 | - | 6,000 | - | ||
| Fundraising | 1,000 | - | 1,000 | - | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| 79,943 | - | 79,943 | 26,740 | |||
| ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | |||
| Other Expenditure | ||||||
| Administration and | ||||||
| Management | 3 | 30,633 | - | 30,633 | 33,863 | |
| Depreciation | 2 | 1,697 | - | 1,697 | - | |
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| 32,330 | - | 32,330 | 33,863 | |||
| ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | ----------- | |||
| Total Resources Used | 112,273 | - | 112,273 | 60,603 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| Net Incoming Resources | 12,325 | - | 12,325 | 135 |
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| Balances brought forward as at | ||||||
| 1st April 2020 | 1,602 | - | 1,602 | 1,467 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ | |||
| Balances carried forward as at | ||||||
| 31st March 2021 | £ 13,927 | - | £ 13,927 | £ 1,602 | ||
| _ | _ | _ | _ |
The Notes on pages 3 to 5 form part of these Accounts
2
THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
1. Accounting Policies
- (a) Basis of Accounting
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost accounting convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities and incorporate the results of the principal activity which is described in the Directors' Report and which is continuing.
(b) Cash Flow
The accounts do not include a cash flow statement because the company, as a small reporting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under Financial Reporting Standard 1 "Cash Flow Statements".
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(c) Depreciation
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Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost of all tangible fixed assets, over their estimated useful lives at the following annual rate:-
Office Equipment 25% reducing balance
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(d) Grants and Sponsorships Grants and Sponsorships are credited to the Profit and Loss account in accordance with the accruals concept.
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(e) Unrestricted Funds
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These are funds available to the charity for its general purposes, and use of such funds remains at the discretion of the charity’s management committee.
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(f) Restricted Funds
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These are funds subject to the conditions proposed by the donor or by the specific terms of the appeal under which the funds are realised.
2. Tangible Assets
| Tangible Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | ||
| Equipment | Total | |
| Cost - 31.03.2020 | 1,711 | 1,711 |
| Additions | 6,787 | - |
| _____ | _____ | |
| Cost - 31.03.2021 | 8,498 | 1,711 |
| -------- | -------- | |
| Depreciation - 31.03.2020 | 1,711 | 1,711 |
| Charge in the year to 31.03.2021 | 1,697 | - |
| _____ | _____ | |
| Depreciation - 31.03.2021 | 3,408 | 1,711 |
| -------- | -------- | |
| Net Book Value - 31.03.2020 | - | - |
| Net Book Value - 31.03.2021 | 5,090 | 5,090 |
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THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
3. Administration and Management
| Administration and Management | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Room and Venue Hire | 314 | 6,434 |
| Coordinator and Administrator Fees | 13,934 | 8,718 |
| Bookkeeping & Accounting Fees | 1,800 | 1,650 |
| Organisational Development | 4,825 | 9,600 |
| Insurance | 435 | 456 |
| Travelling, Accommodation and Subsistence | 30 | 3,243 |
| Marketing & Promotion | 5,550 | 2,016 |
| Web Maintenance and IT Costs | 1,764 | - |
| Hire of Equipment | 486 | - |
| Sundry | 1,063 | 683 |
| Stationery, Postage and Office Consumables | 432 | 1,063 |
| _ | _ | |
| £ 30,633 | £ 33,863 | |
| _ | _ | |
| Surplus on Ordinary Activities is stated after Charging:- | ||
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation - Owned Assets | 1,697 | - |
| Directors’ Remuneration | - | - |
| _____ | _____ |
4. Surplus on Ordinary Activities is stated after Charging:-
5. Taxation
The company is a registered charity and is not subject to Corporation Tax.
- Creditors Due within one year
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Deferred Income | - | 3,925 |
| Creditors | 30,616 | 1,225 |
7. Contingent Liabilities
There were no Contingent Liabilities
8. Capital Commitments
At the end of the financial period the Directors have neither contracted for nor authorised the commitment of any capital expenditure.
4
THE VOICE PROJECT LIMITED
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2021
9. Company Status
The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.
10. Profit and Loss Account
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Balance at 1stApril 2020 | 1,602 | - | 1,602 | 1,467 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | 7,315 | 5,010 | 12,325 | - |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | |
| Balance at 31stMarch 2021 | £ 8,917 | £ 5,010 | £ 13,927 | £ 1,467 |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
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