Report of the Trustees
For the year ending 31[st] August 2024
Objectives and Activities
At the start of this year our objects were:
1.For the public benefit, promote the education (including singing, music, and social training) of all young people centred in Warwickshire in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, including by working with Warwickshire Music, schools, and community organisations to ensure open access to all who aspire to choral singing.
2.To promote public appreciation of choral singing through its study and practice by young people in Warwickshire and its public performance. We confirm the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, and this has shaped our annual planning of concerts, singing competitions, concert tours, and other events.
On 29[th] November 2023, following SWOT analysis by the trustees and managers, a Special General Meeting was held. The trustees and membership resolved to start a CIO in the name of Warwickshire Youth Choirs in order for the organisation to become a legal entity and to better protect our trustees and volunteers.
The objects agreed at this meeting are:
The advancement of musical education for the public benefit among children and young people aged between 4 and 24 in Warwickshire and the surrounding area, in particular relating to choral music, through the provision of:
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a) Regular rehearsal and structured workshops designed to enable participation and progression with the aim of developing confidence in, and enjoyment of, singing
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b) Opportunities to perform in both informal and public settings.
These objects will apply to both our charities while we fully complete transfer to the CIO charity (which is planned for 2024-25).
Trustees give regard to the public benefit of any project development or change to our offer to ensure that it furthers our objectives and gives the best value for money to our members and our community.
Participation has been achieved through weekly choir opportunities for children aged 7+, monthly workshop opportunities for children aged 7+, song-writing workshops, summer term workshop opportunities for children aged 4-7, a Senior Choir offer in summer term, our first We Can Sing competition, co-delivery of a post SATS singing
event for 1200 children and via Warwickshire Sings – our schools programme, working with 40 primary schools this year, concluding in two celebration concert days in July. Partnerships with other local arts organisations are very important. This year we worked with Warwickshire Music, Coventry Music, Warwick Schools Foundation, Armonico Consort and Warwick, A Singing Town.
Progression has been achieved within every project through delivery of high-quality music education from expert staff. This year our artistic team trialled expanding our regular offering to both younger and older children, in order to better tailor our opportunities to the needs of the young people. Progression and aspiration has also been demonstrated through our structured performance opportunities, giving children and young people (CYP) the opportunity to experience performances by groups and individuals at different ages and stages of musical development.
Performance opportunities this year have been varied and plentiful. In autumn term we presented a Matilda themed concert featuring our Junior boys and girls choirs and our monthly workshop children who performed with live band. They concluded the term by singing Christmas and winter-themed music at Warwick Castle Light Trail.
In Spring we offered song-writing workshops and our first We Can Sing competition. This attracted over 50 entries from young people aged 7-21 who all submitted a video or audio audition tape. We presented a concert in March which included performances by the WYC choirs, performances of the completed songs from the song-writing workshops and semi-final performances from our competition. With live audience voting, this was an exciting occasion!
In Summer, we offered workshops for children aged 4-7 for the first time in addition to our normal monthly offer. We also added a regular Senior Choir opportunity for those aged 11+. Working in collaboration with Armonico Consort, the choirs travelled to the Royal Albert Hall to sing with thousands of other children from across the UK. Nearer to home, we delivered two celebration concerts concluding our Warwickshire Sings Programme, a three-year Arts Council funded project in partnership with Warwickshire Music. Across two days we had over 600 children performing in Warwick Hall, singing confidently in three parts, demonstrating the impact and value of singing-based music education opportunities for all children. The children also had the opportunity to experience live performances by a young talented cellist and by the staff team who shared with the children in a performance of Al Shlosha D’Varim. Our WYC summer celebration concert showcased our youngest children, workshop and regular choir members and our new senior choir, alongside the finalists of our We Can Sing competition. We were delighted to have two professional judges giving advice and encouragement to all the performers.
Achievements and Performance
Community provision – Choirs, workshops and competition
This year coincided with the arrival of our new Artistic Director, Emma Cockbill. At the start of the year we had just 11 members registered in the Wednesday choirs and 15 children signed up for monthly workshops. By summer term we had over 50 children signed up for our aged 4-7 Youthies workshops, 18 girls and 6 boys in Junior Choir and 13 members transitioning to the new Senior Choir. Workshop membership was consistent at 15. This growth and development of our offer is wonderful to see and leads to a greater sense of community amongst the members. We also love the development of the progression model which this facilitates and look forward with interest to further developments. The We Can Sing competition was very valuable, giving opportunities for members, for community engagement, for raising the profile of WYC and singing in general amongst young people. It was a massive undertaking so we plan to make this a biennial event, with the next competition planned for Spring 2026. Feedback from members this year asked children and parents how well we support the development of their singing (median score of 10/10), how well we support confidence and self esteem (median score of 10/10) and how well we support their overall music education (median score of 10/10)
Warwickshire Sings
With 40 schools engaged, we delivered to over 2000 children each week working with a team of five freelance animateurs, all with excellent levels of skills and experience. The programme this year benefitted from the learning of the previous two years of delivery leading to a more structured curriculum with greater focus on composition and listening skills, greater depth of challenge in the music learning and more music by living composers. Most schools engaged in mid-year performances in a variety or formal and informal sharing sessions and more schools than ever wanted to attend celebration concerts at the end of the year. We believe this was due to the adjustment of the day timings, enabling schools to leave and return to school during the normal school day (with a lunchtime concert, which was well attended by parents /carers and family members). Feedback from the children engaged in the project was excellent. Children were asked to score how happy they felt about their singing at the start of the project (median score 6/10) and at the end of the project (median score 10/10). Teacher feedback gave a median score of 9/10 for how well the sessions engaged the children, and a median score of 10/10 for how well the activities, songs and teaching helped the children to develop skills and confidence with singing and musical knowledge.
Financial Review
Our Warwickshire Sing programme, funded by the Arts Council through Warwickshire Music from 2021-2024 concludes this year. As a result, the future of our schools-based
provision is uncertain. However, we have delivered to over 120 primary schools across Warwickshire during the three years and developed many strong relationships as a result. A number of schools willingly support the costs of their in-school delivery this year so we remain hopeful that schools will be able to continue to prioritise specialist singing-based music education in future years, despite the every-increasing financial challenges to school budgets.
Our choir and workshop delivery is mostly supported by subscription payments, donations and concert tickets. We are incredibly grateful for Warwick Schools Foundation for the benefit in kind that they provide us through use of their excellent facilities for regular rehearsals, workshops and concerts. Their support is essential to our success and ability to provide our low-cost inclusive offer.
Primary expenditures included contracts to musicians and administrators, bursaries, event-related costs and music. These expenditures are fundamental to the achievement of our charity objectives. However, the trustees did note the increased administration costs this year and have sought advice on the use of third-party specialist software to streamline administrative tasks whilst maintaining compliance.
At the end of the year, we report a small deficit. This balances the small surplus reported in 2022-23 and is due to changes in the timing of grant payments covering our Warwickshire Sings programme.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity. All trustees and volunteers are DBS checked and provide their time voluntarily without remuneration.
The role of volunteers is central to the success of our organisation and we are incredibly grateful to them.
Reference and Administrative Details
Name and Registration Number
Warwickshire Choristers (working name Warwickshire Youth Choirs) 1150219 Unincorporated membership charity
Principal Address
42 Kempson Ave Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B721HE
Trustees
Rachel Tompkins Annabel Precious Elizabeth Mitchell Lucy MacDonald
Independent Examiner
Michael Fairbotham BSc FCA
11 Simpkins Close, Leamington Spa, CV33 9GE
This report was approved by the trustees on 28[th] June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Rachel Tompkins
Rachel Tompkins
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ending 31[st] August 2024
| Unrestricted Funds Income and endowments from: |
Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2024 | Total 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations and legacies | 5,880 | 49,859 | 55,739 | 65,950 | A1 |
| Gift Aid | 1,327 | - | 1,327 | 12,406 | |
| Interest Received | 30 | - | 30 | 496 | |
| Charitable Activities | 10,754 | - | 10,574 | 8,331 | A2 |
| Total | 17,991 | 49,859 | 67,850 | 86,687 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Raisingfunds | 819 | - | 819 | 2,179 | B1 |
| Charitable Activities | 21,799 | 49,859 | 71,658 | 78,965 | B2 |
| Total | 22,618 | 49,859 | 72,477 | 81,144 | |
| Net Income/(Expenditure) | (4,626) | - | (4,626) | 5,543 | |
| Reconciliation of funds: | |||||
| Total funds brought forward |
12,492 | - | 12,492 | 6,949 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 7,866 | - | 7,866 | 12,492 |
Balance Sheet
For year ending 31[st] August 2024
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2024 Total | 2023 Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | - | - | - | - | |
| Current Assets | |||||
| Cash at bank and in hand1 | 8,561 | - | 8,561 | 2,648 | |
| Debtors2 | 1,721 | - | 1,721 | 14,877 | B2 |
| Total current assets | 10,283 | - | 10,283 | 17,525 | |
| Liabilities | |||||
| Creditors: falling due within oneyear3 |
2,417 | - | 2,417 | 5,033 | C1 |
| Net current assets | 7,866 | - | 7,866 | 12,492 | D |
This Balance Sheet was approved by the trustees on 24th October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Rachel Tompkins
Rachel Tompkins
Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies, all of which have been applied consistently throughout the year, are set out below. Where a change of accounting policy has occurred, the prior year figures have been adjusted to reflect the new treatment.
These accounts present a true and fair view. The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).
Basis of Preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments at market value, and are in accordance with trust law, applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice, “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”, issues in March 2005.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of any of the objectives of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The designated fund for reserves at year ending 31[st] August 2024 is £7,500 which amounts to approximately three months operating income. Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area of for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area of purpose and restriction means that the funds can only be used for specific projects or activities.
Incoming Resources
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Resources Expended
Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds. Governance costs include those incurred in the governance by the trustees of the charity’s assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements of operating the charity.
Donated Goods and volunteer and other donated services
The charity did not receive any donated goods. The trustees acknowledge the importance of volunteers to support the projects and governance of the charity. The value of general volunteering is not incorporated in these financial statements. Where
services are provided to the charity as a donation that would normally be purchased from our suppliers, this contribution is included in the financial statements at an estimate based on the value of the contribution to the charity had the charity purchased them. In this accounting period, we valued the gift of venue hire for our regular rehearsals (26 weeks at £90 per week), for 9 workshops (@£90) and for three concert at £300), sums that trustees had agreed could be spent for a suitable venue. These are included in A2 and B2 in the SoFA.
Trustee Renumeration and Benefits None of the trustees have been paid any renumeration or has received any other benefits from an employment with their charity or any related entity.
Trustee Expenses No trustees were paid expenses other than reimbursement of product bought on behalf on Warwickshire Youth Choirs at our request.
Related Party transactions
There were no related party transactions during this reporting period.
Financial Service Fees
We are really grateful for Michael Fairbothom for independently Examining the charity accounts and for waving his fee. No fees for financial services were incurred in this reporting period.
Ex-Gratia Payments
There were no ex-gratia payments made during the reporting period.
Staff Costs and Employee Benefits
All our staff are part-time freelance contractors. No social security or pension costs were incurred during the reporting period. A total of eight part-time staff were contracted during the period. The total costs of staff was £61,443. No employees received benefits of more than £60,000
Key Management Personnel
Payments to senior management in the reporting period was £13,500
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
Income and Endowments
| Income and Endowments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donations and Legacies | 2024 | 2023 |
| Donations | 50,789 | 65,950 |
| Gift Aid | 1,327 | 12,406 |
| Benefit in Kind | 4,950 | - |
| Charitable Activities | ||
| Events | 4,289 | 306 |
| Subscriptions | 6,466 | 7,529 |
| Interest Received | 30 | 496 |
| Total | 67,850 | 86,687 |
| Expenditure | ||
| Raising donations and legacies | 2024 | 2023 |
| FundraisingCosts | - | 1500 |
| Other | 819 | 679 |
| Charitable activities | ||
| Musician Fees | 46,618 | 67,315 |
| CPD / Training | 406 | - |
| Event Costs | 8,952 | 43 |
| Website and other costs | 235 | - |
| Administration | 14,825 | 11,377 |
| Bank charges | 60 | 64 |
| Governance costs | 361 | 166 |
| DBS checks | 200 | |
| Total expenditure | 71,657 | 78,965 |
| NET(EXPENDITURE)/INCOME | (4,626) | 5,543 |