## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

**From  1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024** 

**Charity name: Chess Valley Barbershop Singers** 

**Charity registration number:** 

## **1134927** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|Para 1.17|The objectives of the Charity are to further<br>the education and practice of singing in an a<br>cappella style in four-part harmony. As<br>members of the British Association of<br>Barbershop Singers, the choir/chorus sings<br>and performs in the Barbershop Harmony<br>style.|
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or services<br>identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and<br>1.19|The choir rehearses and sings in the local<br>community, including schools, care homes<br>and other areas with public access.|
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have<br>had regard to the guidance<br>issued by the Charity<br>Commission on public<br>benefit|Para 1.18|The Charity, through education and practice<br>of singing, continues to meet its charitable<br>objectives. The Trustees have complied with<br>their duty to have a due regard to<br>the guidance on public benefit, published by<br>the Charity Commission.|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The chorus will from time-to-time offer grants<br>or bursars in support of membership and for<br>attending BABS’ Harmony College for<br>education purposes.|
|Policy on social investment<br>including program related<br>investment|Para 1.38|The chorus holds open days and time-to-<br>harmonise educational courses. These serve<br>to allow members of the public access to<br>observe and take part in chorus rehearsal<br>activities, learning and improving skills in the<br>process.|
|Contribution made by<br>volunteers|Para 1.38|The organisation is entirely volunteer run,<br>with support from a range of skill-sets and<br>experience across the chorus.|





||Other||A proportion of funds is held in reserve to<br>support chorus members who may not have<br>the means to participate in all activities. This<br>fund is topped-up by donations from alumni<br>as well as other active chorus members.|
|---|---|---|---|



## **Achievements and Performance** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|After last year’s success breaking the 70%<br>barrier at national BABS sing convention,<br>this year we improved our overall score and<br>achieved 5thplace nationally in the singing<br>category.<br>The chorus entertains the public via singouts<br>and shows which it attends throughout the<br>year.|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|Achievements against<br>objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising<br>activities against objectives<br>set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance<br>against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||





## **Financial Review** 

|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s<br>financial position at the end<br>of the period|Para 1.21|The chorus continues to improve its fiscal<br>position, restoring a healthier reserve in<br>comparison with pre-covid and covid years.<br>It is also working on recruiting new members<br>to help improve the sustainability for<br>generations to come.|
|Statement explaining the<br>policy for holding reserves<br>stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The chorus aims to hold in reserve sufficient<br>funds equivalent to 1 year of turnover.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£22,649|
|Reasons for holding zero<br>reserves|Para 1.22|n/a|
|Details of fund materially in<br>deficit|Para 1.24|n/a|
|Explanation of any<br>uncertainties about the<br>charity continuing as a going<br>concern|Para 1.23|n/a|



## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|The charity’s principal<br>sources of funds (including<br>any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Primary sources of income include<br>membership subscriptions (paid by monthly<br>standing order), grants from supporting local<br>authorities and from BABS as well as<br>fundraising from sing-outs, shows and<br>donations from past and present<br>membership.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and<br>objectives including any<br>social investment policy<br>adopted|Para 1.46|The executive committee continue to focus<br>on restoration of a sound financial footing<br>and increasing subscription membership.|
|A description of the principal<br>risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Whilst an auditioned chorus, we aim to<br>reduce barriers to access and support<br>diversity and breadth of appeal to new<br>recruits.<br>Potential loss of membership is the principal<br>risk factor faced by the charity today.|
|Other|||





## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity has a constitution and guidelines<br>for is executive leadership team.|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|unincorporated|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|The charity executive leadership team are<br>non-beneficiary trustees in post for up to 5<br>consecutive years.|



## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction and<br>training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|The charity’s organisational<br>structure and any wider<br>network with which the<br>charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related<br>parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||



## **Reference and Administrative details** 

|Charity name|Chess Valley Barbershop Singers|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Knights of Harmony|
|Registered charity number|1134927|
|Charity’s principal address|c/o 71 Vicarage Road<br>Marsworth<br>TRING<br>Hertfordshire<br>HP23 4LU<br>07771376567<br>chairman@knightsofharmony.org.uk<br>www.knightsofharmony.org.uk|





**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20<br> <br> <br>|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20<br> <br> <br>|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Neil Kennedy|Chairperson|||||
|||Steve Freestone|Treasurer|||||
|||Sam Winwood|Music Director|||||
|||Peter Hawes|Vice Chair|||||
|||JeremyElphick|Secretary|||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
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|||||||||
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|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved<br>**Director name**<br>**n/a**||||||
|||**Director name**||||||
|||**n/a**||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||



Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 

|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|**n/a**|||
||||
||||
||||
||||
||||





## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** 

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity 

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects 

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets 

## **Additional information (optional)** 

## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of**<br>**adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|||
|**n/a**|||
||||
||||
||||



## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** 

The charity is volunteer run and has no employees 

## **Exemptions from disclosure** 

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details 

## **Other optional information** 



## **Declarations** 

**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** 

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

|**Signature(s)**<br>**Full name(s)**<br>**Position (eg Secretary,**<br>**Chair, etc)**<br>**Date**|||
|---|---|---|
||Neil Kennedy|Steve Freestone|
||<br>Chairperson|Treasurer|
||25/05/2024||
||25/05/2024||





Declaratlons
Th? trust•e• d¢¢lare that thoy hav• approv•d tho tru$to•s' r•port abov•.
Slgn•d on b•￿11 of th• ¢h•rWs Irust•••
Slgnature(sl
Full naThl¥l
Posltlon (eg Secretary.
Chalr. •tsl
Nel Kemedy
Steve Freeslono
2510512024

## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

**From  1[st] August 2023 to 31[st] July 2024** 

**Charity name: Chess Valley Barbershop Singers** 

**Charity registration number:** 

## **1134927** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|Para 1.17|The objectives of the Charity are to further<br>the education and practice of singing in an a<br>cappella style in four-part harmony. As<br>members of the British Association of<br>Barbershop Singers, the choir/chorus sings<br>and performs in the Barbershop Harmony<br>style.|
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or services<br>identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and<br>1.19|The choir rehearses and sings in the local<br>community, including schools, care homes<br>and other areas with public access.|
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have<br>had regard to the guidance<br>issued by the Charity<br>Commission on public<br>benefit|Para 1.18|The Charity, through education and practice<br>of singing, continues to meet its charitable<br>objectives. The Trustees have complied with<br>their duty to have a due regard to<br>the guidance on public benefit, published by<br>the Charity Commission.|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|The chorus will from time-to-time offer grants<br>or bursars in support of membership and for<br>attending BABS’ Harmony College for<br>education purposes.|
|Policy on social investment<br>including program related<br>investment|Para 1.38|The chorus holds open days and time-to-<br>harmonise educational courses. These serve<br>to allow members of the public access to<br>observe and take part in chorus rehearsal<br>activities, learning and improving skills in the<br>process.|
|Contribution made by<br>volunteers|Para 1.38|The organisation is entirely volunteer run,<br>with support from a range of skill-sets and<br>experience across the chorus.|





||Other||A proportion of funds is held in reserve to<br>support chorus members who may not have<br>the means to participate in all activities. This<br>fund is topped-up by donations from alumni<br>as well as other active chorus members.|
|---|---|---|---|



## **Achievements and Performance** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|After last year’s success breaking the 70%<br>barrier at national BABS sing convention,<br>this year we improved our overall score and<br>achieved 5thplace nationally in the singing<br>category.<br>The chorus entertains the public via singouts<br>and shows which it attends throughout the<br>year.|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|Achievements against<br>objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising<br>activities against objectives<br>set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance<br>against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||





## **Financial Review** 

|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s<br>financial position at the end<br>of the period|Para 1.21|The chorus continues to improve its fiscal<br>position, restoring a healthier reserve in<br>comparison with pre-covid and covid years.<br>It is also working on recruiting new members<br>to help improve the sustainability for<br>generations to come.|
|Statement explaining the<br>policy for holding reserves<br>stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The chorus aims to hold in reserve sufficient<br>funds equivalent to 1 year of turnover.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£22,649|
|Reasons for holding zero<br>reserves|Para 1.22|n/a|
|Details of fund materially in<br>deficit|Para 1.24|n/a|
|Explanation of any<br>uncertainties about the<br>charity continuing as a going<br>concern|Para 1.23|n/a|



## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|The charity’s principal<br>sources of funds (including<br>any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Primary sources of income include<br>membership subscriptions (paid by monthly<br>standing order), grants from supporting local<br>authorities and from BABS as well as<br>fundraising from sing-outs, shows and<br>donations from past and present<br>membership.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and<br>objectives including any<br>social investment policy<br>adopted|Para 1.46|The executive committee continue to focus<br>on restoration of a sound financial footing<br>and increasing subscription membership.|
|A description of the principal<br>risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Whilst an auditioned chorus, we aim to<br>reduce barriers to access and support<br>diversity and breadth of appeal to new<br>recruits.<br>Potential loss of membership is the principal<br>risk factor faced by the charity today.|
|Other|||





## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity has a constitution and guidelines<br>for is executive leadership team.|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|unincorporated|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|The charity executive leadership team are<br>non-beneficiary trustees in post for up to 5<br>consecutive years.|



## **Additional information (optional)** 

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction and<br>training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|The charity’s organisational<br>structure and any wider<br>network with which the<br>charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related<br>parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||



## **Reference and Administrative details** 

|Charity name|Chess Valley Barbershop Singers|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Knights of Harmony|
|Registered charity number|1134927|
|Charity’s principal address|c/o 71 Vicarage Road<br>Marsworth<br>TRING<br>Hertfordshire<br>HP23 4LU<br>07771376567<br>chairman@knightsofharmony.org.uk<br>www.knightsofharmony.org.uk|





**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20<br> <br> <br>|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20<br> <br> <br>|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Neil Kennedy|Chairperson|||||
|||Steve Freestone|Treasurer|||||
|||Sam Winwood|Music Director|||||
|||Peter Hawes|Vice Chair|||||
|||JeremyElphick|Secretary|||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved<br>**Director name**<br>**n/a**||||||
|||**Director name**||||||
|||**n/a**||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||



Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 

|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|**n/a**|||
||||
||||
||||
||||
||||





## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** 

Description of the assets n/a held in this capacity 

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects 

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets 

## **Additional information (optional)** 

## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of**<br>**adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|||
|**n/a**|||
||||
||||
||||



## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** 

The charity is volunteer run and has no employees 

## **Exemptions from disclosure** 

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details 

## **Other optional information** 



## **Declarations** 

**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** 

**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** 

|**Signature(s)**<br>**Full name(s)**<br>**Position (eg Secretary,**<br>**Chair, etc)**<br>**Date**|||
|---|---|---|
||Neil Kennedy|Steve Freestone|
||<br>Chairperson|Treasurer|
||25/05/2024||
||25/05/2024||





Declaratlons
Th? trust•e• d¢¢lare that thoy hav• approv•d tho tru$to•s' r•port abov•.
Slgn•d on b•￿11 of th• ¢h•rWs Irust•••
Slgnature(sl
Full naThl¥l
Posltlon (eg Secretary.
Chalr. •tsl
Nel Kemedy
Steve Freeslono
2510512024

a) (o
(i ¢v ozs
J X(TJ
) a) c
t(no¢n UO
¢D (D ¢D > ¢D a)
¢DD>D (UE
(IJ C £ 0£ (D
J£J

CVBS Income & Expenditure for the period Aug 2023 to Jul 2024
General Income & Expenditure
Variance
Actual Year
23/24
Actual Year Actual Year 22/23 to
22/23
21/22
23/24
Income
Membership Dues
Grants
Saturday Knights Donations
Donations
Donations- other
13,327
250
12,435
1,100
40
11,685
1,800
710
892
850
40
656
4,300
265
1,959
255
1,281
185
1,303
4,045
210
Singout Fees
Annual Show
Annual Dinner
475
250
4,326
1,290
1,401
2,368
3,767
616
4,007
1,254
319
587
36
Other Dinners
1,401
505
AIL day rehearsals
Gift Aid
2,872
5,915
180
965
2,148
436
Uniform
Click online
16
47
16
32
Riser hire lees
Sundries
Bank interest
Grand draw
Football draw
300
200
100
45
27
18
1,320
480
34,724
1.323
245
1,537
376
19,394
Teas
Total Income
235
2,390
32,334
Expenditure
Hall Storage
Hall/Venue Hire
WeekendHaLIHire
Admin/Charges
Music
BABS Membership dues
Chorus Director
Annual Show
Annual Dinner
Other Dinners
Convention & Competition Costs
All Day Rehearsals
Retreat
Coaching
Uniform/CLothing
PR & Advertising
WebMMP
150
3,005
142
138
2,822
3,157
143
183
60
526
60
96
797
225
271
2,030
7,203
2,348
1,311
1,474
2,696
2,610
2,170
8,085
4,396
2,056
1,637
7,533
12
140
882
2,048
745
1,110
2,500
586
2,617
577
197
2,024
1,811
1,150
262
103
746
730
128
661
262
124
21
Donations
Sundries
Depreciation
Maintenance
Total Expenditure
189
181
75
762
466
480
26,255
466
296
480
43
26,299
19,389
Net Income
8,425
6,079
8,421

CVBS Balance Sheet at
31 Jul 2024
31 Jul 2023
Fixed Assets
4th Step Risers
Risers
Back Rail
Side Rail
Container
Net Book Value
1,307
3,005
131
1,494
134
149
474
415
475
542
5,332
2,793
Bank current account- CAF
22,649
16,762
Total at Bank
22,649
16,762
Creditors
Total Net Assets
27,981
19,556
Accumulated surplus fund
Balance at start ofyear (General)
Excess of Income over expenditure
Balance at End of Year
18,186
8,425
12,107
6,079
26,611
18,186
Round Table Fund
Balance at start of year
Excess of Income over expenditure
Balance at End of Year
1,370
1,370
1,370
1,370
Totalfunds end of year
27,981
19,556