DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
EAST BERKSHIRE OPERATIC SOCIETY Registered Charity No. 1140993
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2023
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
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 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 Peter Hider Amy Cowie Kirsty McDougall (resigned March 2022) Ellie Tidy (appointed March 2022) Gillian Reid Robyn Parton Co-opted members of the committee (not Trustees): Andrew Cooper (Company Stage Manager) Kirsty McDougall (Child Liaison)
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 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.
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.
Otherwise, the charity has no restricted or endowed reserves.
Achievements and Performance
During the year, the Society staged three musical productions: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Wilde Theatre in November and two musical revues at the Pinewood Theatre Woman Up! In March and From Stage to Screen in September.
The financial results of these productions can be viewed on page 4.
We also ran a successful Summer School for the junior cast involved in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
In addition to our show productions, the Society held a number of social and fundraising events during the year including the Annual EBOS Quiz, Race Night, Mime Wars and the Christmas Party.
This year we also introduced a number of workshops organised by the members including Yoga, Tap, Fitsteps, Lyrical Dance and Singing. More workshops will be coming in 2024.
We were grateful for a number of donations received during the year. These ranged from small amounts added to Pinewood Theatre ticket bookings, front of house collection at the Wilde Theatre show, donations to the Society for members singing at events and several large one off donations.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
East Berkshire Operatic Society
Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
Running the Society
As reported last year, the leisure and hospitality sector was impacted significantly by the Covid pandemic and gradually through the year we have seen audience attendance return to pre-covid levels.
Membership subscriptions and support from Patrons are our life blood 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. It was good to see that the level of new and renewed memberships at all levels have returned to pre-Covid levels.
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 regularly hired to other local community groups involved in the Arts.
Whilst the Committee has been very careful to ensure that expenditure is kept to a minimum, the Society has suffered from an increase in costs of running the Society and maintaining our premises at Pinewood. In particular, the cost of electricity has almost doubled since last year.
Finally, after many years of negotiations with our landlord, Wokingham Without Parish Council and Wokingham Borough Council, the owner of the site, new 20 year leases for each of the clubs at Pinewood were signed in December 2023. The rent (subject to 5 yearly review) and services charges are broadly at the same level as we have been paying over the last few years.
On behalf of the Trustees
Amy Williams Secretary
Date: 14/03/2024
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
East Berkshire Operatic Society
Registered Charity No. 1140993
Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2023
| Income Productions Membership subscriptions Pinewood Social and fund raising activities Local government grant Donations & other income Expenditure Productions Pinewood Administration Social and fund raising activities Surplus/(Deficit) before depreciation Depreciation Surplus/(deficit) for the year Balance Sheet at 31 December 2023 |
£ 47,417 5,377 2,768 6,061 0 5,704 |
£ 67,327 57,774 9,553 (3,433) 6,120 |
£ £ 41,472 4,658 3,468 3,155 2,667 1,965 57,385 55,730 11,360 2,340 3,180 72,610 (15,225) (3,742) (18,967) 2022 |
£ £ 41,472 4,658 3,468 3,155 2,667 1,965 57,385 55,730 11,360 2,340 3,180 72,610 (15,225) (3,742) (18,967) 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40,318 12,287 3,242 1,927 |
55,730 11,360 2,340 3,180 |
|||
| (15,225) (3,742) |
||||
| (18,967) | ||||
| Fixed assets (see page 4) Leasehold improvements Society equipment Current assets Bank and cash Debtors Prepayments Current liabilities Creditors Hire deposits Deferred income Net current assets Net assets Represented by General reserve brought forward Surplus/(deficit) for the year General reserve carried forward |
14,770 948 |
15,718 20,121 35,839 35,839 |
17,887 1,264 |
19,151 10,568 |
| 16,487 0 4,799 |
7,642 1,000 3,077 |
|||
| 21,286 | 11,719 | |||
| 0 200 965 |
271 100 780 |
|||
| 1,165 | 1,151 | |||
| 29,719 6,120 |
48,686 (18,967) |
|||
| 29,719 | ||||
| 29,719 | ||||
Natalie Hayllor
James Lole
Chairman
Honorary Treasurer
Approved by the Trustees on 14/03/2024
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
East Berkshire Operatic Society
Registered Charity No. 1140993
Production Results for the year ended 31 December 2023
| Income Ticket sales Programme sales Programme advertising Summer school Sale of t-shirts Expenditure Theatre hire Royalties, Scripts and Scores Production team Orchestra Scenery & Transport Properties Lighting Sound Costumes Publicity Programme printing Cost of t-shirts Other show costs Ticket sales costs Surplus Income Ticket sales Programme sales Programme advertising Summer school Bar sales Sale of t-shirts Expenditure Theatre hire Royalties, Scripts and Scores Production team Orchestra Scenery & Transport Properties Lighting Sound Costumes Publicity Programme printing Cost of t-shirts Other show costs Ticket sales costs Surplus |
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
|
|---|---|---|
| Woman Up! | From Stage To Screen |
|
| 3,623 30 - - 548 - |
||
| 4,201 | ||
| - - 150 - 101 25 - - - 42 - - 26 233 |
||
| 577 | ||
| 3,624 |
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
Registered Charity No. 1140993 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023
East Berkshire Operatic Society
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 2023 Additions At 31 December 2023 Accumulated depreciation At 1 January 2023 Depreciation charge for the year (5% of cost) At 31 December 2023 Net Book Value At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022 Society equipment Net Book Value at 1 January 2023 Additions in the year Less: Depreciation charge for the year (25% of NBV) Net Book Value at 31 December 2023 |
£ 66,413 0 |
|---|---|
| 66,413 | |
| 48,526 3,117 |
|
| 51,643 | |
| 14,770 | |
| 17,886 | |
| 1,264 0 (316) |
|
| 948 |
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 2CD63449-DD76-4B7D-A53A-63EF591A456E
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 2023, 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: 14/03/2024
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