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The Military Wives Choirs Foundation
Year Ended: 31 December 2021
Registered Charity Numbers: England and Wales (1148302) and Scotland (SCO45217) Registered Company Number: 08089745 (A Company Limited by Guarantee)
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The Military Wives Choirs Foundation
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
CONTENTS
| **1. ** | CHARITABLE COMPANY INFORMATION | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| **2. ** | TRUSTEES’ REPORT | 3 |
| 2a REPORT OF Chair of Trustees | 3 | |
| 2b Statement of Trustees Responsibilities | 7 | |
| **3. ** | INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT | 9 |
| **4. ** | STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES | 14 |
| **5. ** | STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION | 15 |
| **6. ** | NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS | 16 |
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Charitable Company Information
REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 08089745
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBERS
England and Wales: 1148302 Scotland: SCO45217
REGISTERED OFFICE
Queen Elizabeth House, 4 St Dunstan’s Hill, London, EC3R 8AD
PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
Auditor:
Moore Kingston Smith
9 Appold Street London, EC2A 2AP
Solicitors:
Withers LLP 16 Old Bailey London EC4M 7EG
Bankers:
Coutts & Co 440 The Strand London WC2R 0QS
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The Military Wives Choirs Foundation
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
CONSTITUTION
The Military Wives Choirs Foundation (‘the MWCF’) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 30 May 2012, and it is governed by its memorandum and articles. The Foundation was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in England and Wales on 25 July 2012 and as a charity with the Office of the Scottish Regulator on 5 November 2014.
TRUSTEES
The Trustees, who are also the Foundation’s Directors, are:
K Bushell J Cetti Vice Chair E Grant J Green B Johnson S Jordan (resigned 23 September 2021) B Morgan M Pedder Chair K Price Treasurer C Rowcliffe (appointed 22 July 2021) R Stringfellow Vice Chair
None of the directors had any interests in the Company
1. Report of the Chair of Trustees
1.1. Achievements and Performances
The pandemic continued to impact the behaviours of the choir network, which saw a mix of continuing virtual rehearsals with in-person rehearsals and some performances later in the year.
The single biggest achievement for the network was the continuation of all of the 73 choirs that entered lock-down. It is a testament to the energy of our choir committee volunteers that every choir was able to return to full rehearsal.
2021 saw a return of the Musical Directors workshop. Held in person, the network’s 73 freelance musical directors were able to access in person or virtually a masterclass in musical leadership, technical musical development and conducting. Led by our Artistic Director, Hilary Davan Wettan, the day received 99% positive feedback. The Board agreed that this opportunity is key to the organisational strategy and is now an agreed annual event to deliver musical excellence to the network.
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1.2. Wellbeing and Welfare Delivery
Research shows that singing in a choir delivers an opportunity to create fast social bonding and facilitate social cohesion.[1] It alleviates stress, contributes to an improvement in isolation, anxiety, and depression, and provides a supportive social network.
The central ethos of Sing, Share, Support has never been more in focus with choir members and central team members alike creating imaginative ways of adding value to network development by virtual means.
2021 saw a series of virtual training opportunities offered to all choir committee volunteers, culminating in a series of regionalised Committees Day that saw almost 200 volunteers meeting in 5 regional locations to increase their knowledge and skills in successfully managing a Military Wives Choir.
1.3. Network Development
As a result of significant funding received from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and the Arts Council for the second year in succession, the Choirs Support Team established a new 1.6FTE resource dedicated to fundraising and a further dedicated resource of 1 FTE to provide timely and targeted welfare and organisational development to the network of choir members.
This new dedicated support role is responsible for using our grant funding to ensure relevant training and wellbeing support is offered to the choir volunteers to empower them in their leadership roles
The Military Wives Choirs’ digital marketing, communications, and PR activity has continued to develop, with engagement growing year on year. Internally, the monthly choir members’ newsletter, One Voice, saw 11 issues delivered across the year and saw an increase of 15% engagement level in the year.
1.4 Charity and Governance Development
A second year of significant level of grant funding being secured has ensured this small charity with a national and international reach has the structure and governance appropriate for future growth and development.
With working groups and sub committees now an established structure for the board operations, key strategic areas are now clearly defined as Welfare, Finance, Fundraising, Music Development and Governance.
Our existing Memorandum of Understanding with SSAFA continues to provide the platform to support the integrated workings of the two charities, and ongoing development of this valuable partnership continues.
1 The Ice-Breaker Effect, 2015, The Royal Society, Eiluned Pearce, Jacques Launay & Robin IM DunbarReview of Mental Health & Wellbeing Outcomes, 2018, European Journal of Public Health, Elyse Williams, Genevieve A Dingle, Stephen Clift.
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1.5. Strategic Development
The charity continues to promote its ethos within the following strategic goals
We will have a musical strategy that will provide an enriching experience for everyone.
We will foster an environment that is welcoming to women in the military community.
We will improve the quality and breadth of the welfare support offered to choir members.
To deliver our 2021–2023 strategy, we will be guided by three key principles:
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We will be a well-governed charity with a professional and suitably qualified Board of Trustees that understands and manages the risks faced by the Military Wives Choirs and leverages opportunities.
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We will understand and be able to demonstrate to our stakeholders the value that we add.
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We will manage our finances in a way that maximises the resources we have available to deliver our strategic goals.
1.6. Vision, Mission, and Values
Our mission is that the Military Wives Choirs will provide support, training, and opportunities for choirs and individuals that will sustain and develop our network and the women who sing in our choirs, because we believe we are stronger together.
Our Values
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Unspoken understanding
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Ongoing support
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Musical inclusivity
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Wellbeing through singing
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Diverse community
1.7. Structure, Governance, and Management
The Military Wives Choirs Foundation is a subsidiary charity of The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA). SSAFA is the sole legal member of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation.
The Military Wives Choirs Foundation has its own Board of Trustees and is considered an independent charity for the purposes of charity law.
1.8. Choir Governance
Each choir in our network is managed by a voluntary elected committee of choir members, each of whom are appointed by nomination and a choir vote at each choir’s Annual General Meeting. Each choir appoints, as a minimum, a Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
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Each choir maintains its own bank account, but all choirs are wholly part of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation and submit their annual accounts for scrutiny at the end of each financial year.
1.9. Trustees
During 2021, the nineth full year of operation for the Military Wives Choirs Foundation, the Board met 6 times.
The trustees are listed on page 2. As per our governing document, the Board shall comprise at least three trustees, but not more than 12 persons. A trustee can be appointed for a term of up to three years. A retiring trustee may be re-appointed for a further term of up to three years. Once a trustee has served two terms consecutively, he/she may only stand for re-election so long as they have taken a break of at least one year from membership of the Board of Trustees following their consecutive term.
Each member guarantees to pay £1 in the event of the winding up of the Military Wives Choirs Foundation.
1.10. Financial Review
A summary of the results for the Military Wives Choirs Foundation for the year is given on page 13 of the financial statements. 2021 delivered a second year of significant grant funding to the central charity that has seen a radical change of financial stability across the entire charity, leading to a total surplus of funds of £228,048. This is an exponential growth from the £23,254 total funds bought forward as at 1[st] January 2020.
Without key support from funders who understand the value of the choir network and the impacts choir membership has upon loneliness and isolation and the wellbeing of choir members, the charity could not have experienced such a reduction to their previous financial exposure.
It is with great thanks that we acknowledge the support of our key funders;
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Arts Council England
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ABF
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RNRMC
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RAFBF
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SSAFA
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The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
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The Army Central Fund
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The Veterans Foundation
1.11. Reserves Policy
The trustees have agreed a reserves policy that will ensure that free reserves are being utilised to best meet the charitable objectives of the Foundation.
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1.12. Risk Management
The trustees have considered the key risks affecting the Military Wives Choirs Foundation and will continue to take steps to record these in a risk register that is reviewed by both the Governance Committee and the main board to ensure relevance and appropriate mitigating responses.
1.13. Public Benefit
The trustees are confident that they comply with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
1.14. Covid-19 and Going Concern
The Covid-19 crisis continued in 2021 limiting the Charity’s ability to fundraise through live performances. However, the Charity has attracted some significant fundraising in 2021 to ensure activities can continue as far as possible under the restrictions imposed by the virus.
The MWCF has a charitable donation arrangement in place whereby it receives an annual donation from a fellow group subsidiary SSAFA Forces Help Enterprises Limited, generated from trading arrangements that it carries out in respect of Military Wives Choirs activities. In addition, the Foundation’s choirs are mainly self-sufficient in their funding. The Foundation does not commit to spending without ensuring that has sufficient funds available. The parent charity, The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – Forces Help (SSAFA), for at least twelve months following the signing of these financial statements by the Trustees, has confirmed it will not demand repayment of amounts owed by the Foundation and will continue to support the charity to allow it to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Furthermore, since the year end the Trustees of SSAFA have undertaken to grant the Foundation up to £80,000 to enable it to continue to operate.
In light of this information, the trustees have reviewed the forecasts for a period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements and are satisfied that the charity will continue to be able to meet its liabilities and continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
On this basis the Trustees consider that the Foundation is a going concern. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
1.15. Small Company Exemption
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and the Directors have also taken advantage of the small company exemption not to prepare a Strategic Report.
1.16. Auditor
In accordance with Section 485 (4) of Companies Act 2006 a resolution to reappoint Moore Kingston Smith LLP will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
1.17. Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees (who are also directors of The Military Wives Choirs Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
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Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees confirm that:
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so far as each Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
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the Trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company’s auditor is aware of that information.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 24 May 2022
K Price 6/13/2022 M Pedder 6/8/2022 Trustee Trustee
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Military Wives Choirs Foundation (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 December 2021 and of the charitable company’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended), regulations 6 and 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
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In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) and the Charities Act 2011 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the charitable company has not kept adequate and sufficient accounting records, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the charitable company’s financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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• the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and from preparing a strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 3, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going
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concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under Section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Companies Act 2006 and Section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report to you in accordance with regulations made under those Acts.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
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Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
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Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the charitable company’s internal control.
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Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
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Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.
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Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
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We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the charitable company.
Our approach was as follows:
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We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the charitable company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (as amended), regulations 6 and 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), the Charities Act 2011, the Charity SORP, and UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council.
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We obtained an understanding of how the charitable company complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.
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We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.
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We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.
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Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
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Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006; and to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, and in respect of the consolidated financial statements, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members and trustees those matters which we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the charitable company, the charitable company’s members, as a body, and the charity’s trustees, as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinion we have formed.
Neil Finlayson (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor
9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP
Date: 6/13/2022
Moore Kingston Smith LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Funds | 2021 | 2020 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| INCOME | ||||||||
| Voluntary income: | ||||||||
| Donations and contributions Grants receivable |
5 5 |
50,700 80,000 |
- 222,332 |
50,700 302,332 |
85,969 375,046 |
|||
| ------------- | ---------- | ---------- | ------------ | |||||
| Total voluntary income | 130,700 | 222,332 | 353,032 | 461,015 | ||||
| Income from charitable activities: | ||||||||
| Subscriptions Performancerelated income |
131,683 10,933 |
- | 131,683 10,933 |
139,771 18,126 |
||||
| Other charitable income | 42 | - | 42 | 78 | ||||
| -------- | -------- | -- -------- | -------- | |||||
| Total income from charitable activities | 142,658 | - | 142,658 | 157,975 | ||||
| ------------- | ------------- | ----------- | ------------ | |||||
| Other income – CJRS Grant | - | - | - | 10,116 | ||||
| Total income | 273,358 | 222,332 | 495,690 | 629,106 | ||||
| ------------- | ------------- | ----------- | ------------ | |||||
| EXPENDITURE | ||||||||
| Costs of raising funds | ||||||||
| Fundraising and promotion | 2,181 | 2,659 | 4,840 | 7,925 | ||||
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------ | |||||
| Charitable activities | ||||||||
| Choir welfare, support and development | 6 | 193,380 | 280,274 | 473,654 | 433,682 | |||
| ------------ | ------------- | ------------ | ------------ | |||||
| Total charitable activities | 193,380 | 280,274 | 473,654 | 433,682 | ||||
| ------------ | ------------- | ----------- | ------------ | |||||
| Total expenditure | 195,561 | 282,933 | 478,494 | 441,607 | ||||
| ------------- | ------------- | --------- | ------------ | |||||
| Net income/(expenditure) | 77,796 | (60,601) | 17,195 | 187,499 | ||||
| ------------- | ------------- | ----------- | ----------- | |||||
| Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2021 |
1,316 | 209,537 | 210,853 | 23,254 | ||||
| Total funds carried December 2021 |
forward | at | 31 | 13 | 79,112 | 148,936 | 228,048 | 210,853 |
| ------------- | ------------- | ----------- | ----------- |
All amounts relate to continuing activities. The company has no gains or losses other than the result for the year. The accompanying accounting policies and notes on pages 16 to 22 form an integral part of these financial statements.
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MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Registered Company Number 08089745 AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021
| FIXED ASSETS Tangible fixed assets CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at Bank and in Hand Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities NET ASSETS THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY: Unrestricted income funds Restricted income funds TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS |
Notes 10 11 12 13 13 |
2021 £ 1,400 1,609 505,224 506,833 (280,185) 226,648 228,048 228,048 79,112 148,936 228,048 |
2020 £ 1,600 - 489,720 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 489,720 (280,467) |
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| 209,253 | |||
| 210,853 | |||
| 210,853 | |||
| 1,316 209,537 |
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| 210,853 |
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with section 44 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to the members of the company.
The notes on pages 16 to 22 form part of these accounts.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on May 24 2022 and signed on May 24 2022 by:
K Price 6/13/2022 Trustee
M Pedder 6/8/2022 Trustee
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1 COMPANY INFORMATION
The company was incorporated on 30 May 2012 as a company limited by guarantee.
The key objective of the MWCF is to relieve the need, suffering and distress of members and former members of the armed forces, their partners, spouses and other family members, principally through the formation, support and development of choirs (predominantly military wives choirs). We are first and foremost a welfare organisation.
2 BASIS OF PREPARATION
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 – 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' ('FRS 102'), the Charities SORP (FRS 102) and with the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis.
The company as a qualifying entity is exempt from producing a cash flow statement in accordance with FRS 102 1.12(b). The company is controlled by its ultimate parent undertaking, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - Forces Help, a charity incorporated under Royal Charter, whose publicly available accounts include a consolidated cash flow statement.
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are presented in Sterling (£).
Going Concern
The MWCF has a charitable donation arrangement in place whereby it receives an annual donation from a fellow group subsidiary SSAFA Forces Help Enterprises Limited, generated from trading arrangements that it carries out in respect of Military Wives Choirs activities. In addition, the Foundation’s choirs are mainly self-sufficient in their funding. The Foundation does not commit to spending without ensuring that has sufficient funds available. The parent charity, The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – Forces Help (SSAFA), for at least twelve months following the signing of these financial statements by the Trustees, has confirmed it will not demand repayment of amounts owed by the Foundation and will continue to support the charity to allow it to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Furthermore, since the year end the Trustees of SSAFA have undertaken to grant the Foundation up to £80,000 to enable it to continue to operate.
In light of this information, the trustees have reviewed the forecasts for a period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements and are satisfied that the charity will continue to be able to meet its liabilities and continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
On this basis the Trustees consider that the Foundation is a going concern. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
3 SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
Preparation of the financial statements requires management to make significant judgements and estimates. Income includes voluntary donations from performances and the Charity recognises these in the period in which the event occurs even if the amounts are not paid until the following year.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
4 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and any key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of these financial statements are as follows:
4.1 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost and depreciated in equal instalments from the year of purchase. Music equipment is depreciated over 5 years except for pianos which are depreciated over 10 years. Additions valued at less than £2,000 are written off in the year of purchase.
4.2 Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the MWCF is legally entitled to the income, there is probability of receipt and it can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants receivable are recognised when the foundation has an entitlement to the funds, the amounts can be quantified reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received. Voluntary subscriptions from members are recognised when paid.
Government grants relating to revenue are recognised in income on a systematic basis over the periods in which the entity recognises the associated costs for which the grant is intended to compensate. This includes £ nil ( 2020:£10,116) of Government assistance under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) relating to staff who were furloughed due to Covid-19.
4.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised in the year in which it is incurred and includes attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Expenditure is recognised when the MWCF has entered into a legal or constructive obligation. Support costs are those functions which assist the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. These include back office costs, finance, costs incurred by the Choirs and governance costs.
4.4 Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.
4.5 Creditors
Short term trade creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
4.6 Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are those freely available for use in pursuance of the MWCF’s general objects of the charity.
Restricted funds are funds to be used only for the purposes specified by the donor.
4.7 Gift Aid
The Company has adopted a policy of recognising donations from fellow group undertakings when received.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
4.8 Pension costs
The Company operates a defined contribution scheme. Contributions to the Company’s pension scheme are charged to profit and loss in the period to which they relate.
5 DONATIONS AND GRANTS
| Donations and contributions Donation from fellow subsidiary Donations collected by Choirs Other donations |
2021 2020 £ £ 3,049 - 42,507 40,651 5,144 45,318 |
|---|---|
| 50,700 85,969 |
All donations and contributions in both years are unrestricted.
| Grants receivable Restricted grants Unrestricted grants |
222,332 268,520 80,000 106,526 |
|---|---|
| 302,332 375,046 |
.
6 CHARITY WELFARE, SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
| Supporting choirs with their development Fees – Directors, Artists and Music Other music and performance costs Website development, IT and hosting costs Recruitment Salaries (recharged – Note 9) Travel, meeting costs and other expenses Legal and professional fees Depreciation and loss on disposals Support costs Governance costs (see Note 7) |
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2021 2020 £ £ 29,383 34,578 63,961 67,515 76,436 34,655 111,091 96,549 43,025 5,022 48,047 54,202 7,566 1,048 8,614 8,791 2,562 - 2,562 - 10,672 199,569 210,241 164,313 1,066 2,829 3,895 1,995 4,284 200 279 4,563 200 600 200 9,686 8,500 1,769 525 11,455 9,025 28,775 10,742 |
|---|---|
| 193,380 280,274 473,654 433,682 |
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
7 GOVERNANCE COSTS
| Audit fees Trustees’ expenses |
2021 £ 8,500 525 9,025 |
2020 £ 10,060 682 |
|---|---|---|
| 10,742 |
Trustee expenses relate to reimbursement and costs in respect of attendance of Trustees’ meetings for 2 Trustees during the year (2020:11 Trustees).
8 NET EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR
Net expenditure for the year is after charging:
| Audit fees Depreciation |
2021 2020 £ £ 8,500 200 10,060 200 |
|---|---|
9 STAFF COSTS AND TRUSTEES REMUNERATION
None of the trustees received any emoluments in respect of services to the MWCF. All staff are employed by SSAFA.
| Wages and salaries National Insurance Employers Pension costs Staff numbers |
2021 2020 £ £ 186,974 12,542 10,275 137,800 18,096 8,417 |
|---|---|
| 210,241 164,313 |
|
| 6 4 |
There were no higher-paid staff in either 2021 or 2020 receiving emoluments of £60,000 per annum or more.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
10 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Cost Brought forward at 1 January 2021 Carried forward at 31 December 2021 Depreciation Brought forward at 1 January 2021 Charge for the year Carried forward at 31 December 2021 Net Book Value at 31 December 2021 Net Book Value at 31 December 2020 1 DEBTORS Other debtors |
Equipment £ Piano £ Total £ 2,460 2,000 4,460 2,460 2,000 4,460 2,460 400 2,860 - 200 200 2,460 6,400 3,060 - 1,600 1,400 - 1,600 1,600 2021 2020 £ £ 1,609 - 1,609 - |
Equipment £ Piano £ Total £ 2,460 2,000 4,460 2,460 2,000 4,460 2,460 400 2,860 - 200 200 2,460 6,400 3,060 - 1,600 1,400 - 1,600 1,600 2021 2020 £ £ 1,609 - 1,609 - |
|---|---|---|
| 1,609 - |
11 DEBTORS
12 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Amounts due to parent undertaking Amounts due to fellow group companies Accruals and deferred income |
2021 2020 £ £ 293 - 261,497 264,497 4,532 13,863 2,093 13,887 |
|---|---|
| 280,185 280,467 |
Amounts due to the parent undertaking are repayable on demand and interest-free.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
13 ANALYSIS OF RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Government funding Other restricted grants Total restricted funds Government funding Other restricted grants Total restricted funds |
At 1 Jan 2021 Income Expenditure At 31 Dec 2021 £ £ £ - 121,186 (13,519) 107,667 209,537 101,146 (269,414) 41,269 |
|---|---|
| 209,537 222,332 (282,933) 148,936 |
|
| At 1 Jan 2020 Income Expenditure At 31 Dec 2020 £ £ £ - 60,000 (60,000) - 40,423 208,520 (39,406) 209,537 |
|
| 40,423 268,520 (99,406) 209,537 |
There are no endowment funds. Other restricted funds include funds from benevolent funds to enable training, support and develop regional choirs through the pandemic and to support the Regional Voices Group, the organisation’s representative body.
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THE MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS FOUNDATION NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
14 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total funds Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total funds |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2021 Total Funds £ £ £ 1,400 - 1,400 357,897 148,936 506,833 (280,185) - (280,185) |
|---|---|
| 79,112 148,936 228,048 |
|
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2020 Total Funds £ £ £ 1,600 - 1,600 280,183 209,537 489,720 (280,467) - (280,467) |
|
| 1,316 209,537 210,853 |
15 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The debt due to SSAFA at 31 December 2021 was £261,497 (2020: £264,497). This arose due to costs paid out primarily in earlier years for the MWCF. Any new costs incurred in respect of the MWCF will be repaid to SSAFA on a timely basis. No interest is charged and the loan is repayable on demand. SSAFA granted the charity £80,000 during the year (2020£100,000).
Staff costs of £210,241 (2020 - £164,313) were paid by SSAFA and reimbursed by the MWCF.
An amount of £4,532 was owed to SSAFA Forces Help Enterprises Limited (a fellow subsidiary) to the MWCF at 31 December 2021 (2020: £2,093). This arises where the MWCF has incurred expenses relating to trading activities undertaken by SSAFA Forces Help Enterprises Limited.
There were no other related party transactions during the year.
16 ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY
The MWCF is controlled by SSAFA which is the sole member of the MWCF. SSAFA is a charity registered in England and Wales (charity number: 210760) and Scotland (charity number: SCO45217). Copies of the financial statements of SSAFA may be obtained from: The Secretary, SSAFA, Queen Elizabeth House, 4 St Dunstan’s Hill, London, EC3R 8AD.
17 FUTURE COMMITMENTS
The MWCF had no formal agreed commitments or contractual obligations, or contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2021 (2020: Nil).
18 CORPORATION TAXATION
The MWCF is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within Section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxes and Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objectives.
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