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← English Chamber Choir

2023-08-31-accounts

ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Charity Registration Number: 1153396 (England and Wales)

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the period

Starting: 1st September 2022

Ending: 31st August 2023

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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Section A – Charity Reference and administration details

Charity Name: English Chamber Choir
Charity Registration Number: 1153396 (England and Wales)
Company Registration Number: 8198937 (England and Wales)
Registered Office: Flat 103 The Library Building
2A St Luke’s Avenue
London
England
SW4 7EB
Trustees Hannah Ainsworth
Simon Archer
Marianne Aston
Francois Boucard (Treasurer)
Martin Douglas
Helen Gironi
Anne Johnson
Hugh Joslin
Mark Roper (Chair)
Charity Registration Date: 14 August 2013
Bankers: NatWest
Tower Bridge Branch
PO Box 9765
201 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2ZH
Independent Examiner: Karen Bloomfield, FCA
63 Motspur Park
New Malden, Surrey
England
KT3 6PT
Website: www.englishchamberchoir.co.uk
Contact email: manager@englishchamberchoir.co.uk

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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9 Trustees held office for the whole period from 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023: Hannah Ainsworth Simon Archer Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Anne Johnson Hugh Joslin Mark Roper

No Trustee retired and no Trustee was appointed during the period.

Between the end of the period and the date of approval of this report, 1 Trustee retired (Anne Johnson, with effect on 20[th] January 2024).

Section B – Structure, governance and management

English Chamber Choir (the Charity, also the ECC) is a private company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, incorporated on 03 September 2012 in England and Wales with company number 8198937, which was granted charity status on 14 August 2013 by the Charity Commission of England and Wales with charity number 1153396.

The Charity started its activities on 01 September 2013 when a Transfer of Undertaking Deed transferred all assets and liabilities to the Charity from the English Chamber Choir Society, charity number 269245 in England and Wales, which was registered on 13 May 1975 and formally ceased to exist on 28 January 2014. This change of legal structure did not change the nature of the activity of the ECC, which is to run a London‐based chamber choir of about 50 singers called the English Chamber Choir which has been in existence since 1972.

The governing document for the Charity is the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 03 September 2012.

The organisation is governed by elected Trustees who are also directors of English Chamber Choir for the purpose of company law. The Trustees are elected by the choir’s membership at the Annual General Meeting. Trustees’ roles include Chair, Treasurer and officers without defined portfolio. The Trustees for the period are listed in section A.

The Board of Trustees holds meetings at least on a quarterly basis. The Trustees are volunteers and do not get any remuneration for their role.

The Charity has no employees. It uses the services of professional experts who work on a freelance basis, including:

The period to 31[st] August 2023 was a year of celebration for the 50[th] Anniversary of the ECC. Guy Protheroe had been the artistic director for almost the entirety of those 50 years. By the end of the period the Trustees were in the process of recruiting his successor.

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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The Trustees developed and implemented the following policies for the Charity:

  1. Social Media Policy

  2. Safeguarding Policy Statement

  3. Equal Opportunities Policy

  4. Data Protection Policy

  5. Health and Safety Policy

  6. Whistleblowing Policy

  7. Conflict of Interest Policy

  8. Complaints Policy

  9. Privacy Policy (protection of personal information)

Section C – Objectives and activities

Aim and objectives

As per the objects stated in the Articles of Association, English Chamber Choir aims to educate the public in the sciences and arts and in particular the art and science of music by the presentation of recitals and concerts and other activities, primarily by the English Chamber Choir.

The Charity’s main goals include:

Membership

The ECC is proud of its diverse SATB membership, which includes about 50 singers with all sorts of professional backgrounds and a wide range of ages, from students to pensioners. Our members are selected through auditions purely on musical criteria and we can provide further musical education by arranging individual singing lessons with a talented vocal coach who has a long association with the choir.

It is an ECC policy that no singer who demonstrates the required high standard of ability and commitment should be excluded on financial grounds. In consequence the choir provides financial assistance to those in hardship or not in full‐time employment by way of subsidising travel expenses for out of London engagements, or subsidising singing lessons, or providing discretionary concessions on the annual £276 membership fee.

Since 2017 the ECC has been running a scholarship scheme designed for the recruitment of junior singers, essentially graduates who have just finished university. Under this scheme the new members don’t have to pay any membership fee and are offered complimentary singing lessons in their initial year, and exceptionally for subsequent periods at the Trustees’ discretion.

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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Musical activities – Rehearsals

After the Covid‐19 pandemic the ECC could not return to its former home in St Andrew’s by the Wardrobe in the City of London as it was not suitable for social distancing and was also being refurbished and changed ownership, so a temporary new home was found in St Philip’s Church, Earl’s Court Road, Kensington, W8 6QH. After a year of Covid recovery, it was deemed too far away from the main railway terminals, so the ECC relocated its weekly rehearsals again from September 2022 back to the City of London in Holy Sepulchre, the National Musicians Church, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ.

Musical activities – Own productions

This year was the 50[th] Anniversary of the choir. The ECC promoted 3 concerts in London to celebrate and showcase the diversity of the repertoire performed over the years, with each concert highlighting a particular strand of its repertoire.

Featuring two of the best‐loved works of Bach and Handel, performed together with the English Players on period instruments, with soloists Julia Doyle (soprano), Eleanor Minney (mezzo‐soprano), Graham Neal (tenor), Philip Tebb (bass).

2) 25 April 2023 – Cadogan Hall, London SW1X 9DQ Glories of the Eastern Church. Conductor: Guy Protheroe.

Programme including:

3) 17 June 2023 – St Mary Twickenham, TW1 3NJ Music for a Summer Evening. Conductor: Guy Protheroe .

An early evening sequence of music from anthems and arias to barbershop and Broadway. Before the cabaret section, the programme included:

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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Musical activities – Hired productions

In addition to the ECC’s own promotions detailed in the previous section (3 concerts), the choir was hired to perform a wide range of music styles in various venues (another 25 performances) in the year to 31 August 2023.

Those performances included:

Section D – Achievements and Performance

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

At each Board meeting the Trustees review the outcome of past activities and plan future projects with a view to deliver on the ECC’s stated charitable aims.

The Trustees are confident that the activities listed in section C for the period are in line with our charitable objectives, so there will be no material change in the nature of our activities in the next period.

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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Our own promotions are very much in line with our charitable aims of performing a wider and more unusual repertoire for the public but they are more challenging than commercial productions for attracting large audiences. Our experience is that nowadays it is extremely difficult to raise funds and donations with the aim of performing live choral music, so the way we found to successfully fund loss‐making activities is to also do more commercial and profitable activities. In consequence, the Trustees are very keen to maintain our association with organisations like the Belmont Ensemble and Royal Albert Hall Productions.

Section E – Financial Review

Financial position

The balance sheet of English Chamber Choir at 31 August 2023 shows total net assets of £17,065. The Trustees believe that the Charity has the adequate resources to continue in operational existence and meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future.

The statement of financial activities shows that during the period the Charity had a total income of £52,619 and a total expenditure of £44,796 hence a total net profit of £7,823.

Reserves policy

The Trustees note that the fixed costs of running the choir (including weekly rehearsal costs and annual administration costs) did not match the annual recurrent income (including the subscriptions by the choir members and the associated Gift Aid).

In the year to 31 August 2023 the recurrent annual income was £11,317 and the annual fixed costs were £12,919 resulting in a shortfall of £1,603.

In the few years prior to the pandemic this shortfall was well covered by the net profit generated by the more commercial engagements. However the Trustees are aware of the risk of relying on this commercial income and have identified the following risk factors:

The 2 years of pandemic evidenced that the risk that performance income could disappear is not theoretical as the ECC experienced it further to the closure of all performance venues.

The Trustees adopted the policy that the Charity should maintain financial reserves that should exceed the net costs of running the choir for at least one year. To this end the level of reserves is targeted at £10,000.

The Trustees are also satisfied that the actual reserves are held in a physically segregated account (the NatWest Business Reserve account). Those reserves are in effect considered as non‐available cash for normal charitable activities. The Trustees keep that in mind when assessing the affordability of any new project, especially for projects that have high upfront costs like studio recordings.

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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Donation appeal – 50[th] Anniversary

The English Chamber Choir was founded in 1972 and the ECC intended to celebrate the 50[th] Anniversary of the choir in year 2022 with a number of events including a spectacular 50[th] Anniversary concert in Cadogan Hall in London on 24[th] October 2022 with professional orchestra and soloist singers.

The state of finances after 3 years of consecutive losses, essentially because of Covid lockdowns and the very slow recovery of audiences after the restrictions were lifted, did not allow to plan such celebrations without securing some funding first.

To this end the ECC launched an appeal for donations in Spring of 2022 specifically to support the 50[th] Anniversary celebrations. This funding was accounted under Restricted Funds because the spending could only be on 50[th] Anniversary events in accordance with the appeal literature. In aggregate for the 2 periods to 31 August 2022 and to 31 August 2023, the appeal raised a total of £13,363 including £11,250 direct donations plus £2,113 associated Gift Aid claimed from HMRC. The 23 donors were essentially current or former members of the choir, who decided to contribute financially to memorable events rather than the sad prospect of no special event being staged for this 50[th] Anniversary.

Sources of funding

This year the sources of funding were performance fees from hired productions (47%), membership fees, donations and associated Gift Aid (29%), ticket sales from own productions (23%) and ancillary income (1%).

Investment Policy

Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the board of Trustees of the Charity has the power to make investments however it sees fit in line with the furtherance of its objectives. Given the small size of available cash, the Trustees have not considered investments this year.

Section F – Declaration

The Trustees of English Chamber Choir declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above on 27 February 2024 and they have mandated the Treasurer to sign on their behalf:

==> picture [138 x 47] intentionally omitted <==

Francois Boucard, Treasurer

English Chamber Choir – Charity 1153396 Trustees’ Annual Report to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Company Limited by Guarantee

Company Registration Number: 8198937 (England and Wales) Charity Registration Number: 1153396 (England and Wales)

Report of the Directors and Unaudited Financial Statements

Period of accounts

Start date: 1st September 2022

End date: 31st August 2023

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Contents of the Financial Statements ‐ Period Ended 31[st] August 2023

Company Information page 3
Report of the Directors page 4
Statement of Financial Activities page 7
Balance Sheet page 8
Notes to the Financial Statements page 9

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Company Information ‐ Period Ended 31[st] August 2023

Company Registration Number: 8198937 (England and Wales) Charity Registration Number: 1153396 (England and Wales) Registered Office: Flat 103 The Library Building 2A St Luke’s Avenue London England SW4 7EB Directors Hannah Ainsworth Simon Archer Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Anne Johnson Hugh Joslin Mark Roper Date of Incorporation 3[rd] September 2012 Bankers: NatWest Tower Bridge Branch PO Box 9765 201 Tooley Street London SE1 2ZH Independent Examiner: Karen Bloomfield, FCA 63 Motspur Park New Malden, Surrey England KT3 6PT

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Report of the Directors ‐ Period Ended 31[st] August 2023

The directors present their report and the unaudited financial statements of English Chamber Choir (the Company) for the period ended 31[st] August 2023.

Directors

9 directors held office for the whole period from 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023: Hannah Ainsworth Simon Archer Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Anne Johnson Hugh Joslin Mark Roper

No director retired and no director was appointed during the period.

Between the end of the period and the date of approval of this report, 1 director retired (Anne Johnson, with effect on 20[th] January 2024).

Principal activity and review of the business

The Company is a private company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The Company has no employees.

The Company was incorporated on 03 September 2012 in order to run a chamber choir called the English Chamber Choir in replacement of the Society which had been running it since 1972 and was called the English Chamber Choir Society, charity number 269245 in England and Wales. The transfer of operations between the two entities was delayed until after the Company registered 8198937 was also granted charity status on 14 August 2013 by the Charity Commission of England and Wales with charity number 1153396. The Company started actual business further to the Transfer of Undertaking Deed signed between the English Chamber Choir Society and the Company on 01 September 2013.

The Company continued to operate its bank accounts with NatWest during the period, there was no opening and no closing of any account during the period.

As per the objects specified in its Articles of Association, the Company’s principal activity is to educate the public in the art and science of music by the presentation of recitals and concerts and other activities primarily by the English Chamber Choir. The activities of the Company in the period were similar to those in the previous period and the Directors do not anticipate any change in the nature of these activities going forward.

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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Results and financial position

The results for the year are shown in the statement of financial activities on page 7. The net profit for the period was £7,823.

The balance sheet as detailed on page 8 shows surplus carried forward of £17,065. The Directors believe that the Company has the adequate resources to continue in operational existence and meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future.

Responsibilities of the directors in respect of the Financial Statements

The Directors (who are also the trustees of English Chamber Choir for the purposes of charity law) are responsible for preparing the directors’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Directors 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 the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

The Directors 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 charitable 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 Directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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Independent examiner

The Directors (also Trustees for the purposes of charity law) have not required the Company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. They also consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination was needed.

The Trustees appointed Karen Bloomfield, FCA, to perform this independent examination. A separate Independent Examiner’s Report on the accounts was prepared for filing with the Charity Commission.

Karen Bloomfield, FCA

63 Motspur Park, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 6PT

This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 February 2024 and signed on behalf of the Board by:

==> picture [137 x 47] intentionally omitted <==

Francois Boucard Director

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Statement of Financial Activities ‐ Period Ended 31[st] August 2023.

Notes
Income
Income and endowments
from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments
6
Other
7
Total Income
Expenditure
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
8
Other
9
Total Expenditure
Net Income/(Expenditure)
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds Carried Forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£
£
12,417
3,112
36,618
0
331
0
105
0
36
0		 Endowment
funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
0
15,529
19,694
0
36,618
14,630
0
331
287
0
105
6
0
36
606
49,507
3,112		 0
52,619
35,223
0
0
(38,593)
(3,112)
(3,091)
0		 0
0
0
0
(41,705)
(39,348)
0
(3,091)
(2,916)
(41,684)
(3,112)		 0
(44,796)
(42,264)
7,823
0
9,242
0		 0
7,823
(7,041)
0
9,242
16,283
17,065
0		 0
17,065
9,242

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.

All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities.

The notes in the next pages form part of these financial statements.

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Balance Sheet – As at 31[st] August 2023.

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
Current Assets
Stocks
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand
13
Creditors: Amounts falling due
Within One Year
12
Net Current Assets/(Liabilities)
Total Assets Less Current
Liabilities
Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)
Funds
Endowment funds
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds
Total Funds		 At 31 August 2023
£
£
0
0
0
17,065
17,065
0
17,065
17,065
17,065
0
0
17,065
17,065		 At 31 August 2023
£
£
0
0
0
17,065
17,065
0
17,065
17,065
17,065
0
0
17,065
17,065		 At 31
£
0
670
18,496		 August 2022
£
0
9,242
17,065
0		 19,166
(9,924)
17,065 9,242
17,065 9,242
0
0
17,065		 0
0
9,242
17,065 9,242

The notes in the next pages form part of these financial statements.

The directors are satisfied that the Company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477(2) and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476(1) of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 27 February 2024 and signed on behalf of the Board by:

Francois Boucard Director

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR

Notes to the Financial Statements ‐ Period Ended 31[st] August 2023.

1. Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:

‐ the Companies Act 2006 and The Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008

‐ the Charities Act 2011

‐ the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (SORP FRS 102) issued in October 2019.

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and methods of accounting) since last year.

(b) Cash Flow Statement

The directors have taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No 1 (revised) from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charity is small.

(c) Fund Accounting

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(d) Income

Recognition of income These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when: - the charity becomes entitled to the resources; - it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; - the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Offsetting There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income or expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102. Grants and donations Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met. In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met. Legacies Legacies are included in the SOFA when receipt is probable, that is, when there has been grant of probate, the executors have established that there are sufficient assets in the estate and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity or have been met. Tax reclaims on Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid donations and gifts declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise. Contractual income and This is only included in the SoFA once the charity has provided performance related the related goods or services or met the performance related grants conditions Income from interest, This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and royalties and dividends the amount receivable can be measured reliably. Income from Membership subscriptions received in the nature of a gift are membership recognised in Donations and Legacies. subscriptions Membership subscriptions which give a member the right to buy services or other benefits are recognised as income earned from the provision of goods and services as income from charitable activities.

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(e) Expenditure and liabilities

Liability recognition Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that
there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the
charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation
can be measured with reasonable certainty.
Governance and Support costs have been allocated between governance costs
support costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs
involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance
with regulation and good practice.
Support costs include central functions and have been
allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with
the use of resources, e.g. allocating property costs by floor
areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other
costs by their usage.
Creditors The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement
amounts less any trade discounts.
Provisions for liabilities A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost and
then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the
amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.
Basic Financial The charity accounts for basic financial instruments on initial
Instruments recognition as per paragraph 10.7 FRS 102 SORP. Subsequent
measurement is as per paragraphs 11.17 to 11.19 FRS 102
SORP.
(f) Assets
Tangible fixed assets All fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated
for use by charity depreciation. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the
cost of each asset over the useful economic life of that asset,
which in all cases is estimated at 3 years.
Stocks and work in Stocks held for sale as part of non‐charitable trade are
progress measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
Goods and services provided as part of a charitable activity are
measured at net realisable value based on the service potential
provided by items of stock.
Work in progress is valued at cost less any foreseeable loss that
is likely to occur on the contract.
Debtors Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are
measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any
trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity.
Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other
consideration expected to be received.

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2. Company Limited by Guarantee

The company is limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, the liability of members is limited to £1.

3. Income – Donations and Legacies

Donations
Grants
Legacies
Gift Aid
Membership subscriptions		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
£
£
1,100
2,350
0
3,450
9,001
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2,071
762
0
2,833
2,933
9,246
0
0
9,246
7,760
12,417
3,112
0
15,529
19,694

The English Chamber Choir was founded in 1972 and the Company celebrated the 50[th] Anniversary of the choir in year 2022 with a number of events including a spectacular 50[th] Anniversary concert in Cadogan Hall in London on 24[th] October 2022 with professional orchestra and soloist singers. In order to fund those expensive events the Company launched an appeal for donations in Spring 2022. Most donations in the context of that appeal took place in the year to 31[st] August 2022, but some were also received in the early part of this financial cycle. The donations in relation to the 50[th] Anniversary appeal as well as the associated Gift Aid claimed on them are accounted under Restricted Funds because they can be spent only on 50[th] Anniversary events.

4. Income ‐ Charitable Activities

Performance fees
Ticket sales
Advertising sales		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
£
£
24,600
0
0
24,600
13,069
12,018
0
0
12,018
1,561
0
0
0
0
0
36,618
0
0
36,618
14,630

A material component of performance fees comprises the contracts with the Royal Albert Hall (£19,700 in year 2023; £5,096 in year 2022).

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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5. Income – Other trading activities

Merchandising income
Rental of music scores
Fundraising events		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricte
d Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
0
0
0
331
0
0
0
0
0
331
0
0		 Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
0
0
331
287
0
0
331
287

6. Income ‐ Investments

Bank interest income
7. Income ‐ Other
Other income		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
£
£
105
0
0
105
6
105
0
0
105
6
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
£
£
36
0
0
36
606
36
0
0
36
606

8. Expenditure ‐ Charitable Activities

Hire of halls
Professional fees ‐ rehearsals
Professional fees ‐ concerts
Professional fees ‐ support
Music hire / purchase
Marketing and publicity		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
£
£
£
8,166
3,112
0
11,278
11,163
6,115
0
0
6,115
7,865
20,189
0
0
20,189
17,603
2,418
0
0
2,418
1,815
394
0
0
394
619
1,311
0
0
1,311
283
38,593
3,112
0
41,705
39,348

The expenses reported under Restricted Funds are in relation to the 50[th] Anniversary appeal (see note 3). They include the hire of Cadogan Hall on 25[th] April 2023 for the final concert in the 50[th] Anniversary series.

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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9. Expenditure ‐ Other

Premises costs
Independent examiner’s
fees
Accountancy fees
Tax advisory fees
Depreciation
Bank charges
Technology
Miscellaneous purchases		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Endowment
Funds
£
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
83
0
0
719
0
0
2,289
0
0		 Total Funds
Year 2023
Total Funds
Year 2022
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
83
82
719
788
2,289
2,046
3,091
0
0		 3,091
2,916

10. Staff Costs and Emoluments, Directors’ Remuneration

10.1 – Staff costs

The Company had no employees during the financial year (2022: nil). All professionals involved in the charitable activities and supporting activities supplied their services on a freelance basis.

10.2 – Directors’ remuneration and benefits

No Director received any remuneration during the year (2022: nil) and no Director had any personal interest in any contract entered into by the Company during the year (2022: nil).

10.3 – Transactions with Directors

Expenses paid on behalf of the Company were reimbursed to the following directors:

Name Position Amount Amount Nature of transactions
Year 2023 Year 2022
(£) (£)
Martin Douglas Director 255 223 Music hire/purchase, postage
Mark Roper Director 144 536 Technology, library storage boxes

10.4 – Transactions with other related parties

Related parties in addition to the Company Directors are defined in SORP FRS 102 as:

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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make decisions, or budget holders who have power to spend significant amounts of the charity’s resources.

The Directors concluded that Ann Manly is a related party of ECC in her capacity as contractor for management and administrative services. Those services are contracted through the unincorporated partnership GC & AS Protheroe over which she has significant control, hence the following disclosure of all transactions with that entity:

Name Position Amount Amount Nature of transactions
Year 2023 Year 2022
(£) (£)
GC & AS Protheroe Contractor 22,393 2,821 Fixing contracts for professional musicians
GC & AS Protheroe Contractor 7,180 7,458 Professional fees: musical director
GC & AS Protheroe Contractor 2,419 1,815 Professional fees: administrator
GC & AS Protheroe Contractor 1,115 552 Expense reimbursements for printing,
refreshments,travel costs

11. Debtors and prepayments

Tax receivable
Performance debtors
Membership debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 At 31 August 2023
At 31 August 2022
£
£
0
0
0
670
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
670

12. Creditors and accruals

Professional fees creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 At 31 August 2023
At 31 August 2022
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
9,924
0
9,924

The accruals in year 2022 are in relation to contracts entered into for the 50[th] Anniversary concert on 24[th] October 2022 (see note 3) for the hire of Cadogan Hall and the hire of an orchestra and soloist singers, with settlement expected shortly after the concert.

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13. Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand
Short term deposits
Short term cash investments (less
than 3 months maturity date)		 At 31 August 2023
At 31 August 2022
£
£
17,065
18,496
0
0
0
0
17,065
18,496

14. Basic Financial Instruments

Basic Financial Instruments including debtors, creditors and cash, were entered at fair value at inception and there has been no impairment since.

15. Taxation

As a charity, the Company is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 466 to 493 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 (CTA 2010) to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Company.

16. Going concern

The financial statements are prepared with the assumption that the Company is a going concern. The Company will continue for the foreseeable future and it is not the intention to, nor is there the need to, liquidate the company or cease its activities.

The Company has the adequate resources to continue in operational existence and meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future

English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2023

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

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Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR members of

On accounts for the year 31 AUGUST 2023 Charity no 1153396 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-16 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

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 section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities 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 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.

1

December 2017

IER

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 24 February 2024

Signed: Name: Karen Bloomfield Relevant professional FCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 63 Motspur Park New Malden Surrey KT3 6PT

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

2

December 2017

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

3

December 2017

IER