CIO 1154435
Trustees’ Report
1.1.21 – 31.12.21
Trustee’s Report
The Trustees present the Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies and comply with the charity’s constitution and applicable law.
Administration details
The principal address of the charity is currently The Vicarage, Wigley Bush Lane, South Weald, Brentwood CM14 5QP.
The Trustees – Elected at AGM
Chris Bradbury Chairman Marjolein Hillman Secretary Josephine Gordon Treasurer Annabel Malton Librarian Phil Holmes Website and Ticket Sales Julie Weight PR and Patron’s Secretary
Nick Alston officially stood down because of work commitments, but was co-opted to the committee as an ex officio member for the rest of 2021. He also offered to continue as concert manager during that time.
The management committee
The Trustees and Christopher Tinker (Conductor)
Accounts Adviser
Richard Eason
Structure, governance and management
The Stondon Singers were registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1 November 2013 and is governed by a constitution adopted with amendments on 9 September 2014. Trustees are elected at each Annual General Meeting to serve until the close of the next Annual General Meeting and are eligible for re-election.
Objectives
The objectives of The Stondon Singers are to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in the appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public choral concerts and by such other ways as members, through the Trustees, shall determine from time to time.
Activities
The Stondon Singers is a mixed chamber choir, currently resident at the Priory Church of St. Laurence, Blackmore. The choir enjoys considerable critical acclaim and performs several concerts a year. Although initially formed to sing the music of William Byrd, the choir of about 25 singers now performs a wide-ranging repertoire, whilst remaining committed to choral music of the Renaissance. The requirements for prospective new members are: good sight skills, sufficient confidence to hold a line with only a small number of singers and the opportunity to work on the music at home. There is an informal audition for all new members and voice reviews may be conducted from time to time for the whole choir. Weekly rehearsals take place in the Priory Church of St. Laurence, Blackmore, Essex CM4 0RN on Tuesday evenings, 7.45-10.00 p.m.
The success of The Stondon Singers is underpinned by a committed membership with a range of musical expertise, a professional Director of Music and the support of Patrons and Friends. The choir is accordingly able to undertake exciting and ambitious choral programmes.
Achievements and Performance
For the period covered by this report The Stondon Singers had planned to perform four concerts. The conductor and committee aimed to devise interesting programmes blending familiar works with those which are less well known.
Concerts
All concerts originally planned for 2020 that had to be cancelled because of the Covid pandemic were rescheduled for 2021.
19 February 2021, 12.30 pm, ‘Lunchtime concert’ , Chelmsford Cathedral (by invitation).
20 March 2021, 7.30 pm, ‘Mozart and Haydn’, St Thomas Church, Brentwood. With soloists and orchestra.
6 July 2021, 8.00 pm, ‘William Byrd Anniversary Concert’, Church of SS Peter & Paul, Stondon Massey.
9 November 2021, 8.00 pm, ‘The Best Beloved - modern American music’ , Church of St Michael and All Angels, Galleywood . With harpist Ruby Aspinall and organist Laurence Lyndon-Jones. 14 December 2021, 8.00 pm, ‘Christmas at Blackmore’, The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore. Organist Laurence Lyndon-Jones.
Chelmsford Cathedral cancelled its series of lunchtime concerts for the spring of 2021.
The March concert had to be cancelled again and it was agreed to postpone this programme indefinitely because of the uncertain situation surrounding the pandemic.
The William Byrd Concert took place outside, in the churchyard of St Laurence, Blackmore, with a small choir, in very wet conditions and in front of a very small audience. Nevertheless, it was good for the choir to have been able to work towards a performance again, after more than a year of cancellations and rehearsing online.
The remaining two concerts were presented indoors as one-hour recitals without interval, with socially distanced seating and a request for audience members to wear masks, in order to minimise risk of infection. Both concerts were very well received.
Public benefits
The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance in deciding on the activities the choir undertakes. Activities for the public benefit can be demonstrated by: maintenance of a website
the provision of detailed programme notes for each concert and / or an explanation of the works by the conductor
discounted subscriptions for under 25s and tickets at reduced prices for children lending of music to other choirs
participating in events organised by Brentwood Arts Council providing a choir for weddings as requested
commissioning and performing the work of contemporary composers
Financial review
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the choir. Finances are discussed at all meetings. This
enables the Trustees to ascertain the financial position of the choir and to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities legislation. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The choir finances itself by membership contributions, payable on a termly or annual basis and agreed at an annual general meeting, and concert proceeds from sales of tickets and programmes. Other sources of income include:
Gift aid from donations and from members’ contributions Contributions from patrons One-off donations from individuals to sponsor a particular event or commission a work for the choir Advertising revenue Any surplus from workshops run by the choir Revenue from hiring out music to other choirs Revenue from weddings
The choir’s direct income funds the full cost of running the choir and makes a contribution towards covering the net cost of concerts in the event of a loss.
Income for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 totalled £ 5,168.65 Expenditure amounted to £4,961.76 Adjustments (cheques not yet cashed, refunds made subsequent year)totalled £-716.08 Deficit for the year was £627.03
On 31 December 2021 The Stondon Singers had a cash balance of £24,408.25 Held in the following accounts: National Westminster Bank £16,361.13 COIF Account £593.63 Virgin Charity Account £7,453.49 A summary of the accounts is shown in Appendix 1.
Reserves Policy
Reserves are held to help fund major concerts and to acquire and maintain assets.
Risk management
The Trustees have a responsibility to identify, assess and manage risks. They keep abreast of legislation which might affect charities through the Charities Commission website and through the “Making Music” organisation to which the choir is affiliated. They ensure that the choir complies with copyright and performing rights laws. The choir’s insurance is arranged through “Making Music”.
Policies
The choir has policies regarding: Vetting, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection. Policies are reviewed annually and current policies may be viewed on the choir’s website: www.stondonsingers.org.uk.
Future plans
19 March 2022, 7.30 pm, French Programme, Church of St Michael and All Angels, Galleywood . 5 July 2022, 8.00 pm, ‘William Byrd Anniversary Concert’, Church of SS Peter & Paul, Stondon Massey.
8 November 2022, 8.00 pm, Ralph Vaughan Williams , Church of St Michael and All Angels, Galleywood .
13 December 2022, 8.00 pm, ‘Christmas at Blackmore’, The Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore.
Approved by the Trustees
Stondon Sln8ers- Summary of Account5 11112021- 3111212021 CIO 1154435 Week Income 2021 2020 Wte 2021 2020 MernbÈtS'ttsntributions Palron5' dOtions ChDirtei1flEE GIftAld IS6732 6JOA) ' 4.322.50 Condwtor 630.00 Venue ).61 r)fflce expprbse5 1,113.48 5ub5lFee5lAd5lOther 10.00 2.510.fy) 2,975. zoo.00 5(M).00 17.53 49.93 4ai.66 369.78 L092.65 Musk HI 124.99 17.92 btotal 4N15.16 6.184.51 3.236.19 3,894.71 1.178.97 2,289.WJ Concert Income Conrtrt Ex ndlture 647.00 Conductor 150.IXJ Venue Is. OrEhlAct/5olD 600.M 204.(K) 245.fAI ProÉrarnmeAds Donètions 650. 750.LX) 68.40 135.th) 68.th) Interyal Drlnks ProyAmmes ProgrammE5 Music 23037 L1cEllCEP 96.60 btotal 743JO 165.00 I,ns.57 1,322.(M) U5 5avl ounts Intere5¢ COW Account ViryinAccaunt o.il 1.56 36.43 Total Income 5,16L65 6.387.50 Totsl Ex 4.961.76 5,216.71 Isur 2th89 1.170.79 Funds Held 12 Nètwest 16,361.13 16,164.23 593.63 593.52 7A53.49' 7,443.61 2V0&25 24,201.36 ustments Chegues¢a5hed DextyeJr Refunosmade nextye¥r ques Paid last ye?1 775M 58.9Z 243.40 ur Defidl 427.03 1.414.19 8ned P Holmes- Treasurer Sl8ned R Eason- Examiner l Ll41