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2024-12-31-accounts

EAST BERKSHIRE OPERATIC SOCIETY Registered Charity No. 1140993

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2024

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

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 Ellie Tidy 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 four musical productions: "Gypsy" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at the Wilde Theatre, a musical revue "Sizzling Summer Nights" and "Spring Awakening" at the Pinewood Theatre.

We also ran a successful Summer School for the junior cast involved in Joseph.

The financial results of these productions can be viewed on page 4.

In addition to our show productions, the Society held a number of social and fundraising events during the year including the Annual EBOS Quiz, Elsie Crumpet's Bingo Bongo, and the Christmas Party.

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 collections at the Wilde Theatre shows, and donations to the Society from members and others.

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East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Trustees' Report for the year ended 31 December 2024 (continued)

Running the Society

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: 12 March 2025

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East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 2024

Income
Productions
Membership subscriptions
Pinewood
Social and fund raising activities
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 2024
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		 £
78,844
6,886
3,380
6,801
2,691
66,145
11,063
2,668
1,970
13,746
711
31,453
1,053
7,096
39,602
0
500
2,225
2,725
35,839
15,495		 £
98,602
81,846
16,756
(1,261)
15,495
14,457
36,877
51,334
51,334		 £
£
47,417
5,377
2,768
6,061
5,704
67,327
40,318
12,287
3,242
1,927
57,774
9,553
(3,433)
6,120
14,770
948
15,718
16,487
0
4,799
21,286
0
200
965
1,165
20,121
35,839
29,719
6,120
35,839
2023

Natalie Hayllor James Lole Chairman Honorary Treasurer Approved by the Trustees on 12 March 2025

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East Berkshire Operatic Society

Registered Charity No. 1140993 Production Results for the year ended 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Gypsy Joseph and the Wilde Total
Amazing
Technicaolor
Dreamcoat
Income
Ticket sales 25,493 39,390 64,883
Programme sales 518 768 1,286
Programme advertising 100 100 200
Summer school 5,460 5,460
Sale of t-shirts 611 1,259 1,870
26,722 46,977 73,699
Expenditure
Theatre hire 5,850 6,353 12,203
Royalties, Scripts and Scores 6,120 6,942 13,062
Production team 1,895 3,400 5,295
Orchestra 5,255 5,132 10,387
Scenery & Transport 1,067 3,664 4,731
Properties 114 23 137
Lighting 1,759 2,045 3,804
Sound - - -
Costumes 720 1,041 1,761
Publicity 464 538 1,002
Programme printing 435 621 1,056
Cost of t-shirts 534 1,493 2,027
Other show costs - 246 246
Ticket sales costs 2,788 4,141 6,929
27,001 35,639 62,640
(Deficit)/Surplus (279) 11,338 11,059
Sizzling Spring
Summer Nights Awakening Other Total Grand Total
Income
Ticket sales 1,917 3,228 5,145 70,028
- - -
Programme sales 1,286
Programme advertising - - - 200
Summer school - - - 5,460
Sale of t-shirts - - - 1,870
1,917 3,228 5,145 78,844
Expenditure
Theatre hire - - - 12,203
Royalties, Scripts and Scores - 950 950 14,012
Production team 330 - 330 5,625
Orchestra - 820 820 11,207
-
Scenery & Transport 1,010 1,010 5,741
Properties - 28 28 165
- - -
Lighting 3,804
Sound - 141 141 141
Costumes - - - 1,761
- - -
Publicity 1,002
- - -
Programme printing 1,056
Cost of t-shirts - - - 2,027
Other show costs - - - 246
Ticket sales costs - 226 226 7,155
330 3,175 3,505 66,145
Surplus 1,587 53 1,640 12,699
----- End of picture text -----

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East Berkshire Operatic Society Registered Charity No. 1140993 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

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 2024
Additions
At 31 December 2024
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2024
Depreciation charge for the year (5% of cost)
At 31 December 2024
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023
Society equipment
Net Book Value at 1 January 2024
Additions in the year
Less: Depreciation charge for the year (25% of NBV)
Net Book Value at 31 December 2024		 £
66,413
0
66,413
51,643
1,024
52,667
13,746
14,770
948
0
(237)
711

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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 2024, 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:

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:

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: 12 March 2025

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