BIRMINGHAM LADIES BARBERSHOP HARMONY CLUB
Chairs Report to AGM 2023
Since becoming Chairperson in November 2022 I have had a busy and, at times, challenging year in office. It has been a very steep learning curve and has been both enjoyable and stressful in equal measure. Both Sandra Moss (Secretary) and Sue Breakwell (Treasurer) have been exceedingly helpful and I personally thank them both for their expertise and support throughout.
My priority throughout this year has been to serve the chorus as a whole, and I hope that any actions taken by the Executive Committee have done just that, following the imposed hiatus that the Covid pandemic created for the ongoing improvement and development of the chorus. The Executive committee have reviewed and updated the majority of previous policies and procedures throughout the year on a rolling programme, and introduced new policies in line with LABBS where necessary. The new Equality Opportunities and Diversity Policy is to be ratified at this meeting and will form a vital part of our fundamental mission moving forward.
Our mission statement as a chorus with charitable status states that the chorus should “advance, improve and develop public education in, and the appreciation of, the art of barbershop harmony” and to this end there have been a number of public performances throughout the year that have allowed us to do that, culminating in a show at Beeches Road Evangelical Church alongside Malevox and Anvil Chorus. I would like to give my personal thanks to our chorus member, Theresa Watson, for her and her team at the church for helping to organise much of this opportunity. £716 was raised on the night, with £120 being donated to the Church.
During the past year, whilst musical knowledge and vocal skills of all chorus members has been steadily improving, there have been several opportunities to introduce external coaches to boost skills more rapidly. An external retreat at a hotel in Nottinghamshire with members of Soundhouse quartet gave the chorus the opportunity to improve vocal quality and introduce newly designed choreography to begin work on the competition package, whilst at the same time improving social interaction of new and existing chorus members. Further coaching took place with Sally McLean visiting the chorus for coaching days in March, August and September. Along with flying visits from Steve Scott, international vocal coach, and Hannah Barber, choreography and vocal coach, all coaching has made a significant impact on vocal skill, moving the chorus to a higher level of expertise. It is our aim that this improvement is to continue as the chorus becomes even more expert in the art of four part acapella singing.
The chorus has gained a number of valued new members during the year by holding singing courses. These courses are to continue as they are proving to be a valuable source of new voices. New member packs are currently being reviewed and updated by Karen Bowen, who has taken on this task in her new role as Vice Chair. This is intended to explain and illustrate the level of financial and time commitment required by all members, how to acquire repertoire songs and how to learn them effectively, riser handling and who to contact with regard to any concerns – in fact, anything a new member wishes to know.
Regular attendance has been quite challenging at times, particularly in the run up to convention. Whilst we fully understand that illness, life in general outside chorus, holidays etc can cause difficulties at times, further strategies are to be explored and introduced in the coming year to try to overcome this.
The Website is in the process of being updated and redesigned, making it more user friendly and vibrant – both for the public and for all members to use more effectively. The process is being overseen by Seema Parekh and Anna Westwood, who are working alongside John Eardley, who designed the original website.
Finally, I would like to add my thanks to a number of people who have gone above and beyond their normal remit in the run up to the Harrogate Convention.
Extra choreography coaching was spearheaded by Hannah Barber, and followed through at chorus rehearsals by Elaine Mobsby, virtually up to the performance at convention. This certainly helped a great deal to produce a polished performance on the day.
The Dress Committee, headed by Mandy Gilliland did a superb job designing and producing costumes for convention on a very tight budget, and also preparing and arranging for the logo to be added to the new hoodies. They made a huge splash of colour at Convention! I would like to give her and the dress team my thanks for all their hard work.
Although I have already given thanks to Sandy Moss and Sue Breakwell, I would also like to thank everyone who work tirelessly behind the scenes and on the risers of course, to make the chorus a vibrant and welcoming place to come and sing – from Rob, our MD and those who arrange the pieces we sing, to Olive – founder member and timekeeper extraordinaire.
Second City Sound will always hold a special place in my heart as I move on to different challenges with new friends in the Central England Concert Band, Sax Cats and my saxophone.
In the words of our beloved friend and fellow sister no longer with us : To Infinity and Beyond!
Diane would be very proud of what you have achieved so far and what you will achieve in future.
Sheila Kendrick Retiring Chair Second City Sound
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Ladies Recei |
Ladies Recei |
BarbeGhop and |
accounts | accounts | CCl6a | CCl6a | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
11t112022 | To | 't0t31t2023 | |||||||||||
| Section ARece | and | yments | ||||||||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted tunds |
Endowment funds |
Total | funds | Last year | |||||||||
| to lheHrest € |
to theMest€ | 1clhe nearest€ | to then€Est€ | tothe nearcst€ | ||||||||||
| A1 | ||||||||||||||
| 7,712 | 7,f 12 | 6.260 | ||||||||||||
| 1,815 | 1,8't5 | 1,630 | ||||||||||||
| 100 | 100 | 300 | ||||||||||||
| 785 | 785 | |||||||||||||
| 3,169 | 3.169 | 1,287 | ||||||||||||
| ,t_183 | 1,163 | ,t8 | ||||||||||||
| 26,9,t5 | 26.g,Li | 6.218 | ||||||||||||
| AR) | itl,689 | {1,689 | 14,737 | |||||||||||
| fseeteble)- | ||||||||||||||
| Total receipts | I | lr,esg | Il-r8-,?3-71 | |||||||||||
| 5.263 7,157 189 |
t |
I |
5J63 7,157 rss |
|||||||||||
| 751 | I | 787 | 396 | |||||||||||
| 3-007 | 3.007 | |||||||||||||
| outs | 2,298 725 68 155 20,1t2 110 |
68 155 20.112 110 2,298 |
2,672 I ssa r--.._ r- |
.2,22s f53 |
||||||||||
| Sub | 39,871 | 39,871 | 2i | |||||||||||
| total | ||||||||||||||
| Totalpayments | 39,871 | |||||||||||||
| Netofreceipts/(p | ayments) | E | 1,818 | 5,916 | ||||||||||
| A5 AO |
Transfersbetureenfunds Cashfundslast year end |
9,038 | rc1 | 14,954 | ||||||||||
| Cashfundsthis | year | end | 10,85€ | 9,038 | ||||||||||
| SectionBStatement of | assets and | liabilitiesat | the end | of | -l theperiod |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BIRMINGHAM LADIES BARBERSHOP HARMONY CLUB
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Birmingham Ladies Barbershop Harmony Club ( the Charity) for the year ended 31 October 2023, which are set out on page 1.
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Regulation 31 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity's trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the statement I have made.
Responsibilities and basis for report
As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of the 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; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities.
I have no concerns and 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.
Nicholas Simkins FCA
6 August 2024
Butts Farm Great Haywood Staffordshire ST18 0TF