EAST BERKSHIRE OPERATIC SOCIETY Registered Charity No. 1140993
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021.
East Berkshire Operatic Society ("the Society") is an association governed by its Constitution. Founded in 1952 it was granted charity status on 2 February 2011. The members of the executive committee are Trustees of the Charity and are appointed by the members annually. The Trustees during the year under review and to the date of this report were:
Natalie Hayllor (Chairman) James Lole (Treasurer) Amy Williams (Secretary) Duncan Bruce (Website and Deputy Stage Manager) Peter Hider (Facilities Manager) Amy Cowie (Social Secretary) Kirsty McDougall (Child Liaison Officer) Ashleigh Wells (Membership Secretary) Gillian Reid (Marketing Manager)
In addition, Andrew Cooper (Company Stage Manager) was a co-opted member of the committee (but not a Trustee) during the year.
Objectives and Activities
As stated in the Society's constitution, the objects of the Society are: "to educate the public in dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts. Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable, according to the laws of England and Wales, as the trustees may from time to time determine."
The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and consider the Society’s activities all fall within the objectives of the Society.
During the year, the country gradually saw the lifting of lockdown and other social distancing guidance issued by the UK Government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and, as a result, the Society was able to return to presenting shows to the public.
Policy on Reserves
The Society's general reserves, accumulated from prior years' surplus of income over expenditure are retained and utilised in the activities of the Society and the maintenance of its premises for the benefit of the members and the wider local community.
From time to time, the committee may allocate funds towards a specific project for the improvement of the Society's premises or facilities. Where the project extends beyond the accounting period these funds are maintained as a separate designated fund.
The charity has no restricted or endowed reserves.
Achievements and Performance
In March, we compiled a presentation of well known musical numbers re-imagined from the perspective characters locked down at home, titled "Musicals Miscast III". All of the cast filmed their own performances at home which were then edited into an online streaming event which generated an £1,100 surplus for the Society.
In September we re-commenced shows at our own Pinewood Theatre with a production of "[title of show]" followed by a Christmas review "Swingle Bells" in December. Both shows were profitable generating a combined surplus of £1,051.
1
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2021 (continued)
In November we returned to the Wilde Theatre for a review "Back to the 5678" featuring numbers from the various shows we had planned, but were unable, to present in 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately, perhaps owing to the public continuing to be wary of attending theatres, ticket sales were disappointing resulting in a deficit of £7,070. However the Committee felt it was important for us to stage this show to make a bold statement to our audiences that "EBOS is back!"
As a Society in the hospitality and leisure sector we were eligible for several phases of government grants administered by Wokingham Borough Council. In total we received £16,907 up to May 2021. As the purpose of the grants was to support organisations whose leisure activities were unable to operate during the pandemic, this income enabled us to continue to run the premises at Pinewood and to stage our comeback show (as mentioned above) despite it running at a deficit.
Membership subscriptions and support from Patrons continued to contribute much needed income towards the running costs of the Society and the upkeep of the Society's clubhouse and theatre at Pinewood in Wokingham. However, owing to the partial programme of shows being staged, the level of membership continued to be at a reduced level from our normal pre-Covid levels.
At the start of the year, several of our members organised a sponsored walk from "Bracknell to Broadway". Although this was walking the equivalent from Bracknell to Ealing Broadway and not 42nd Street itself, the event generated just over £1,900 in fundraising income for the Society. We were also able to hold our annual Quiz Night online during the year and in December we hosted our Christmas party at South Hill Park.
The Pinewood Theatre, which is the home of the Society, operates as the social hub and rehearsal space for members. It is also a fully licenced theatre for the Society to present several of its own shows each year and is used by other local community groups involved in the Arts.
At the start of the year, the Committee identified that the sound system for the theatre and auditorium was in need of replacement and upgrade. The total cost of the equipment for this totalled £4,132 which was substantially funded by a generous donation of £4,000 from a Society member.
The Society continues to have 9 life members. In 2021 there were 42 paid up members and 9 EBOS Patrons (2020: 44 and 7 respectively).
Future developments
We hope that the effects of the pandemic are firmly behind us now and we have a full programme of shows and social activities planned for 2022.
On behalf of the Trustees
Amy Williams
Secretary
Date: 22 March 2022
2
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Income Productions Membership subscriptions Pinewood Social and fund raising activities Local government grant Donations & other income Expenditure Productions Cancelled productions costs Pinewood Administration Social and fund raising activities Surplus/(Deficit) before depreciation Depreciation Surplus/(deficit) for the year Balance Sheet at 31 December 2021 |
£ 15,318 1,791 789 3,590 16,907 4,659 |
£ £ £ 0 2,542 1,865 656 1,334 11 43,054 6,408 0 1,212 9,943 1,572 420 34,651 13,147 8,403 (6,739) (3,691) (3,575) 4,712 (10,314) 2020 |
£ £ £ 0 2,542 1,865 656 1,334 11 43,054 6,408 0 1,212 9,943 1,572 420 34,651 13,147 8,403 (6,739) (3,691) (3,575) 4,712 (10,314) 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20,237 570 10,084 1,897 1,863 |
|||
| (6,739) (3,575) |
|||
| (10,314) | |||
| Fixed assets (see page 4) Leasehold improvements Society equipment Current assets Bank and cash Prepayments Current liabilities Hire deposits Deferred income Net current assets Net assets Represented by General reserve brought forward Surplus/(deficit) for the year General reserve carried forward |
21,208 1,111 |
20,397 1,383 22,319 18,132 4,314 22,446 200 52 252 26,367 48,686 54,288 (10,314) 48,686 |
21,780 22,194 |
| 22,705 4,497 |
|||
| 27,202 | |||
| 200 635 |
|||
| 835 | |||
| 43,974 4,712 |
|||
| 43,974 | |||
| 43,974 | |||
Natalie Hayllor
James Lole
Chairman
Honorary Treasurer
Approved by the Trustees on 22 March 2022
3
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Production Results
| Income Ticket sales Sale of t-shirts Expenditure Theatre Hire Royalties, scripts, scores Production Team Orchestra Scenery& Transport Lighting Costumes Other show costs Ticket sales costs Surplus/(Deficit) |
Income Ticket sales Sale of t-shirts Expenditure Theatre Hire Royalties, scripts, scores Production Team Orchestra Scenery& Transport Lighting Costumes Other show costs Ticket sales costs Surplus/(Deficit) |
Back to Musicals [title of Swingle the 5678 Miscast III show] Bells Wilde Theatre Online 11,154 1,185 2,264 588 127 - - - 11,281 1,185 2,264 588 5,652 - - - 249 - 1,090 - 2,300 - 452 - 3,650 - - - 1,555 - - 82 1,570 - - - 1,245 - - - 660 - - - 1,470 85 143 34 18,351 85 1,685 116 (7,070) 1,100 579 472 Pinewood Theatre |
Total 15,191 127 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15,318 5,652 1,339 2,752 3,650 1,637 1,570 1,245 660 1,732 |
|||
| Scenery& Transport | |||
| Lighting | |||
| Costumes Other show costs Ticket sales costs Surplus/(Deficit) |
|||
| 20,237 | |||
| (4,919) |
4
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021
Accounting Policies
The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with guidance issued by the Charity Commission subject to the following exceptions.
Debtors are recognised for income receivable from activities undertaken by the Society in the year and which have been received subsequent to the end of the year.
Creditors are recognised where the Society has an obligation and the relevant charges have been agreed and communicated by the counterparty but remain unpaid at the year end.
All of the Society's reserves represent unrestricted funds with the exception of amounts designated by the committee for specific capital projects.
Pinewood Development and Tangible Fixed Assets
| Leasehold improvements Cost At 1 January 2021 Additions (Sound equipment upgrade) At 31 December 2021 Accumulated depreciation At 1 January 2021 Depreciation charge for the year (5% of cost) At 31 December 2021 Net Book Value At 31 December 2021 At 31 December 2020 Society equipment Net Book Value at 1 January 2021 Additions in the year Less: Depreciation charge for the year (25% of NBV) Net Book Value at 31 December 2021 |
£ 62,281 4,132 |
|---|---|
| 66,413 | |
| 41,884 3,321 |
|
| 45,205 | |
| 21,208 | |
| 20,397 | |
| 1,383 98 (370) |
|
| 1,111 |
5
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of East Berkshire Operatic Society ('the Society')
I report on the accounts of the Society for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 3 to 5.
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 s144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under s145 of the 2011 Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under s145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
-
to 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 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 give me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with s130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Gerard McCormack
Wokingham, Berkshire
Date: 22 March 2022
6