ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Charity Registration Number: 1153396 (England and Wales)
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period
Starting: 1st September 2023
Ending: 31st August 2024
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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 Marianne Aston Francois Boucard (Treasurer) Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Timothy Johns Hugh Joslin Mark Roper (Chair) Katrina Wooltorton 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
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7 Trustees held office for the whole period from 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024: Hannah Ainsworth Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Hugh Joslin Mark Roper
2 Trustees retired during the period. Anne Johnson served from 1[st] September 2023 to 20[th] January 2024 Simon Archer severd from 1[st] September 2023 to 9[th] March 2024
2 Trustees were appointed during the period: Timothy Johns served from 12[th] March 2024 to 31[st] August 2024 Katrina Wooltorton served from 12[th] March 2024 to 31[st] August 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:
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Rufus Frowde, Artistic Director
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Guy Protheroe, Conductor Emeritus
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Richard Hills, Accompanist
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The period to 31[st] August 2024 was a year of change for ECC’s management. The ECC appointed Rufus Frowde as its new Artistic Director with full effect from 1[st] January 2024 after a few months of transition. He succeeded Guy Protheroe who held the same role for the previous 50 years. Guy was appointed as Conductor Emeritus and is therefore expected to continue to be involved with the ECC on a project basis. Ann Manly (Guy’s wife) also retired on 1[st] January 2024 from her role as ECC Manager which she had held for the previous 50 years.
The Trustees developed and implemented the following policies for the Charity:
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Social Media Policy
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Safeguarding Policy Statement
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Equal Opportunities Policy
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Data Protection Policy
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Health and Safety Policy
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Whistleblowing Policy
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Conflict of Interest Policy
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Complaints Policy
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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:
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welcoming a diverse choir membership and providing the singers with the environment and support to achieve musical excellence;
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performing a wide range of music styles to diverse audiences;
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promoting English music and rarely performed material;
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supporting living composers by performing their music and commissioning new works.
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 or sponsoring individual singing lessons.
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
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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.
Musical activities – Rehearsals
The ECC holds its weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays in the City of London in Holy Sepulchre, the National Musicians Church, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ.
Musical activities – Own productions
The ECC promoted 5 concerts in London or futher afield in England.
- 1) 23 November 2023 – Royal Chapel of the Savoy, London WC2R 0DA Songs of Mary. Conductors: Guy Protheroe & Rufus Frowde
Programme including:
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Bruckner: Virga Jesse
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Frowde: Adam lay ybounden
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Moody: Evangelismos
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Bach/Gounod: Ave Maria
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Gorecki: Totus tuus
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Stanford: Magnificat for double choir, Op 164
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Tavener: Mother of God, here I stand
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Britten: Hymn to the Virgin
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Traditional Provencal: Ave Maris Stella
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Sheppard: Verbum caro
2) 29 March 2024 – Holy Trinity Sloane Square, London SW1X 9BZ The Crucifixion. Conductor: Rufus Frowde.
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Programme including:
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- Bach/Frowde: O Vos Omnes
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Stainer: The Crucifixion
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3) 18 June 2024 – Greek Cathedral of St Sophia, Bayswater, London W2 4LQ In Memoriam Ivan Moody. Conductors: Guy Protheroe & Rufus Frowde
A tribute to Ivan Moody who passed away in January 2024, with music written by him or by others who influenced him. Ivan was a patron of the ECC, with a musical association that lasted over several decades and that materialised as a number of commissions by the ECC.
Programme including:
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Moody: Akathistos Hymn, Evangelismos, Isangeli, When Augustus Reigned, Te lucis ante terminum
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Tavener: O Thou Gentle Light, Song for Athene
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Tallis: Salvator Mundi
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Frowde: All prise to Thee (Tallis’ Canon)
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Elgar: Lux aeterna
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Tchaikovsky: Dostoyno yest, Khvalitye
4) 21 June 2024 – Birmingham Cathedral, B3 2QB Light Eternal. Conductor: Rufus Frowde.
Programme including:
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Esenvalds: Rivers of Light, Stars
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Whitacre: Lux Aurumque, Sleep
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Elgar/Cameron : Lux Aeterna (‘Nimrod’)
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Tchaikovsky: Dostoyno yest
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Moody: Te Lucis Ante Terminum
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Frowde: All prise to Thee (Tallis’ Canon)
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Tchaikovsky: Khvalitye Gospoda
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Vaughan Williams: The Cloud-Capped Towers
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Dove: Seek Him that maketh the seven stars
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5) 26 July 2024 – Hitchin Festival 2024, St Mary Hitchin, SG5 1HP Love Divine. Conductor: Rufus Frowde.
Works for choir, organ (Ian Farrington) and saxophone (Jonathan Radford). Programme including:
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Esenvalds: Rivers of Light, Stars
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Poston : Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
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Bach/Frowde: O Vos Omnes
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Frowde: Love Divine
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Farrington: Paganini Patterns
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Whitacre: Lux Aurumque
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Sisson: The Arundel Mass / Pied Beauty
Musical activities – Hired productions
In addition to the ECC’s own promotions detailed in the previous section (5 concerts), the choir was hired to perform a wide range of music styles in various venues (another 17 performances) in the year to 31 August 2024.
Those performances included:
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1) Royal Albert Hall: the ECC was engaged in 3 performances of live music during film screenings (Harry Potter, on 03 & 04 Nov 2023).
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2) 2 performances of A Dickensian Christmas (Raymond Gubbay Productions) in Cadogan Hall (22 Dec 2023) and in Bexhill (23 Dec 2023).
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3) Hampton Court Royal Chapel – Evensong on 02 March 2024.
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4) Church services: the ECC provided music for 8 Sunday services at St James Garlickhythe (24 Sep 2023, 29 Oct 2023, 26 Nov 2023, 28 Jan 2024, 25 Feb 2024, 28 Apr 2024, 26 May 2024, 30 Jun 2024)
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5) Carol singing for the Prince’s Trust at Garrison Chapel Chelsea (30 Nov 2023) and at the King’s Gallery (06 Dec 2023 and 11 Dec 2023).
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.
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 Royal Albert Hall Productions.
Section E – Financial Review
Financial position
The balance sheet of English Chamber Choir at 31 August 2024 shows total net assets of £19,436. The Trustees believe that the Charity has 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 £45,130 and a total expenditure of £42,759 hence a total net profit of £2,371.
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).
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In the year to 31 August 2024 the recurrent annual income was £10,643 and the annual fixed costs were £15,519 resulting in a shortfall of £4,876.
This year the shortfall was covered by the net profit generated by commercial engagements. However the Trustees are aware of the risk of relying on this commercial income and have identified the following risk factors:
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The income from hired performances could be delayed (including because of dispute or litigation or bankruptcy).
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The profitable commercial relationships could well dry up or disappear.
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.
Sources of funding
This year the sources of funding were performance fees from hired productions (54%), membership fees, donations and associated Gift Aid (31%), ticket sales from own productions (12%) and ancillary income (3%).
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 18 February 2025 and they have mandated the Treasurer to sign on their behalf:
Francois Boucard, Treasurer
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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 2023
End date: 31st August 2024
English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2024
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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Contents of the Financial Statements - Period Ended 31[st] August 2024
| 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 |
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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Company Information - Period Ended 31[st] August 2024
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 Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Timothy Johns Hugh Joslin Mark Roper Katrina Wooltorton 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
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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Report of the Directors - Period Ended 31[st] August 2024
The directors present their report and the unaudited financial statements of English Chamber Choir (the “Company” or the “ECC”) for the period ended 31[st] August 2024.
Directors
7 directors held office for the whole period from 1[st] September 2023 to 31[st] August 2024: Hannah Ainsworth
Marianne Aston Francois Boucard Martin Douglas Helen Gironi Hugh Joslin Mark Roper
2 directors retired during the period: Anne Johnson served from 1[st] September 2023 to 20[th] January 2024 Simon Archer served from 1[st] September 2023 to 9[th] March 2024 2 directors were appointed during the period: Timothy Johns served from 12[th] March 2024 to 31[st] August 2024 Katrina Wooltorton served from 12[th] March 2024 to 31[st] August 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.
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During the period the Company appointed Rufus Frowde as its new Artistic Director with full effect from 1[st] January 2024 after a few months of transition. He succeeded Guy Protheroe who held the same role for the previous 50 years. Guy was appointed as Conductor Emeritus and is therefore expected to continue to be involved with the ECC on a project basis. Ann Manly (Guy’s wife) also retired on 1[st] January 2024 from her role as ECC Manager which she had held for the previous 50 years.
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 £2,371.
The balance sheet as detailed on page 8 shows surplus carried forward of £19,436. The Directors believe that the Company has 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:
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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 judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
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.
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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 18 February 2025 and signed on behalf of the Board by:
Francois Boucard Director
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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Statement of Financial Activities - Period Ended 31[st] August 2024.
| 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 Endowment funds Total Funds Year 2024 Total Funds Year 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 14,165 0 0 14,165 15,529 29,569 0 0 29,569 36,618 422 0 0 422 331 274 0 0 274 105 700 0 0 700 36 |
|---|---|
| 45,130 0 0 45,130 52,619 |
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| 0 0 0 0 0 (38,251) 0 0 (38,251) (41,705) (4,508) 0 0 (4,508) (3,091) |
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| (42,759) 0 0 (42,759) (44,796) |
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| 2,371 0 0 2,371 7,823 17,065 0 0 17,065 9,242 |
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| 19,436 0 0 19,436 17,065 |
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.
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ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR
Balance Sheet – As at 31[st] August 2024.
| At 31 August 2024 | At 31 August 2024 | At 31 August 2023 | At 31 August 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 0 | 0 | |||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Stocks | 0 | 0 | |||
| Debtors | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 13 | 19,886 | 17,065 | ||
| 19,886 | 17,065 | ||||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due | 12 | (450) | 0 | ||
| Within One Year | |||||
| Net Current Assets/(Liabilities) | 19,436 | 17,065 | |||
| Total Assets Less Current | 19,436 | 17,065 | |||
| Liabilities | |||||
| Total Net Assets/(Liabilities) | 19,436 | 17,065 | |||
| Funds | |||||
| Endowment funds | 0 | 0 | |||
| Restricted income funds | 0 | 0 | |||
| Unrestricted income funds | 19,436 | 17,065 | |||
| Total Funds | 19,436 | 17,065 |
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
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(i) ensuring that the Company keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and
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(ii) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirement of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act with respect to financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 18 February 2025 and signed on behalf of the Board by:
Francois Boucard Director
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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:
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the Companies Act 2006 and The Small Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008
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the Charities Act 2011
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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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Endowment funds are those funds which the charity must hold and retain and not spend as income. The income arising is used for charitable purposes and capital gains are retained within the fund.
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Restricted funds are those funds which must be spent as income on the particular purposes specified by the donor or specifically identified in appeal literature.
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Unrestricted funds are those funds that can be spent at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
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Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
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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 2024 Total Funds Year 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 3,521 0 0 3,521 3,450 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,655 0 0 1,655 2,833 8,989 0 0 8,989 9,246 |
|---|---|
| 14,165 0 0 14,165 15,529 |
4. Income - Charitable Activities
| Performance fees Ticket sales Advertising sales |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds Year 2024 Total Funds Year 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 24,200 0 0 24,200 24,600 5,369 0 0 5,369 12,018 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 29,569 0 0 29,569 36,618 |
A material component of performance fees comprises the contracts with the Royal Albert Hall (£15,750 in year 2024; £19,700 in year 2023).
5. Income – Other trading activities
| Merchandising income Rental of music scores Fundraising events |
Unrestricted Funds Restricte d Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds Year 2024 Total Funds Year 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 20 0 0 20 0 402 0 0 402 331 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 422 0 0 422 331 |
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6. Income - Investments
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Year 2024 | Year 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank interest income | 274 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 105 |
| 274 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 105 | |
| 7. Income - Other | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Year 2024 | Year 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Other income | 700 | 0 | 0 | 700 | 36 |
| 700 | 0 | 0 | 700 | 36 | |
| 8. Expenditure - Charitable Activities | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted |
Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds |
Funds | Year 2024 | Year 2023 | |
| £ | £ |
£ | £ | £ | |
| Hire of halls | 8,672 | 0 | 0 | 8,672 | 11,278 |
| Professional fees - rehearsals | 7,685 | 0 | 0 | 7,685 | 6,115 |
| Professional fees - concerts | 17,273 | 0 |
0 | 17,273 | 20,189 |
| Professional fees - support | 2,665 | 0 |
0 | 2,665 | 2,418 |
| Music hire / purchase | 868 | 0 |
0 | 868 | 394 |
| Marketing and publicity | 1,088 | 0 |
0 | 1,088 | 1,311 |
| 38,251 | 0 | 0 | 38,251 | 41,705 |
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 Total Funds Year 2024 Total Funds Year 2023 £ £ £ £ £ 1,265 0 0 1,265 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 0 0 92 83 1,154 0 0 1,154 719 1,997 0 0 1,997 2,289 |
|---|---|
| 4,508 0 0 4,508 3,091 |
English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2024
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The premises costs represent the hire of a self-storage box to host the ECC library for a few months in wait for a permanent arrangement.
10. Staff Costs and Emoluments, Directors’ Remuneration
10.1 – Staff costs
The Company had no employees during the financial year (2023: 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 (2023: nil) and no Director had any personal interest in any contract entered into by the Company during the year (2023: 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 2024 | Year 2023 | |||
| (£) | (£) | |||
| Martin Douglas | Director | 1,356 | 255 | Music hire/purchase, postage, self-storage box |
| Mark Roper | Director | 361 | 144 | Technology, printing |
| Simon Archer | Director | 33 | 0 | Refreshments |
10.4 – Transactions with other related parties
Related parties in addition to the Company Directors are defined in SORP FRS 102 as:
-
An individual with authority and responsibility for planning, directing or controlling the activities of the entity, either directly or indirectly (the key management personnel).
-
An officer, agent or employee of the charity who has authority and responsibility for the charity as key management personnel. This includes senior staff members who 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.
It is noted that Ann Manly stopped being contracted for management services on 1[st] January 2024, therefore no disclosure in relation to her will be necessary from the next financial statements.
English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2024
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| Name | Position | Amount | Amount | Nature of transactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2024 | Year 2023 | |||
| (£) | (£) | |||
| GC & AS Protheroe | Contractor | 8,828 | 22,393 | Fixing contracts for professional musicians |
| GC & AS Protheroe | Contractor | 3,600 | 7,180 | Professional fees: musical director |
| GC & AS Protheroe | Contractor | 2,665 | 2,419 | Professional fees: administrator |
| GC & AS Protheroe | Contractor | 568 | 1,115 | 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 2024 At 31 August 2023 £ £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 0 0 |
12. Creditors and accruals
| Professional fees creditors Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
At 31 August 2024 At 31 August 2023 £ £ 0 0 450 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 450 0 |
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 2024 At 31 August 2023 £ £ 19,886 17,065 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 19,886 17,065 |
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.
English Chamber Choir – Company 8198937, Charity 1153396 Financial Statements to 31[st] August 2024
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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.
The Company is not registered for VAT because its VAT taxable turnover is below the threshold set by HMRC.
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 2024
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of ENGLISH CHAMBER CHOIR On accounts for the year 31 AUGUST 2024 Charity no 1153396 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1- 16
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed .
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
-
• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement 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:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Date: 18 February 2025
Signed:
Name: Karen Bloomfield
Relevant professional Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address: 63 Motspur Park New Malden Surrey KT3 6PT ~~rs~~ Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material ma5ers of concern (see CC32, Independent examina<on of charity accounts: direc<ons 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