2023-10-31-accounts

Summary	Summary	ofthe purposes of	ofthe purposes of	1)To advance education ofmembers and the public in
the charity		as set out	in its	the barbershop style of4-part harmony singing, through
governing		document		rehearsals, education courses, competition and shows
				2)Tofurther such charitable purposes (charitable under
				English law) as the Trustees, from time to time, think fit.
Summary		ofthe main		In pursuing our aims forthe public benefit, the chorus believes it
activities	in relation to those			impacts on people's lives in several ways. We involve people in a
purposes		for the public		creative, enjoyable and fulfilling educational activity, providing
benefit,	in	particular,	the	members with the opportunity to develop friendships, vocal
activities, projects or services identified in accounts.			the	technique and musical repertoire. Open "Come and Sing" courses also give this opportunity to non-members. For audiences, we present exciting, innovative and high quality
				performances providing a pleasant and entertaining cultural
				experience, but also educating them by extending their musical
				knowledge, especially in the genre ofBarbershop 4-part close
				harmony singing.
				There are no restrictions on membership of Harmony InSpires-
				anyone can become an Associate member, although Full
				Membership is restricted to women, who have passed a vocal
				assessment. In addition tothe public educational benefits to
				participants and audience members mentioned above, the
				Trustees are conscious that its activities must be affordable. The
				Trustees have the discretion to reduce membership subscription
				payments and financial support is offered in cases ofhardship to
				those wishing tojoin the chorus in competitions.
Statement		confirming		The trustees have complied with the duty in section 17(5)ofthe
whether	the trustees		have	Charities Act and the Charities (Accounts and Reports)
had regard to the guidance				Regulations 2008to have due regard to public benefit guidance
issued by		the Charity		published by the Charity Commission.
Commission on public
benefit

			The club is run	entirely	by volunteers.	without whose valuable
Contribution	made	by	contributions,	the Club	would not function. We are, in particular,
volunteers			indebted to our Musical Director who			provided her services for
			free, not only	running	rehearsals, but	spending many hours on
			preparation.

Achieve	men	ts	and Per	formance
				The Club holds weekly rehearsals at which members receive
				coaching and instruction from the Musical Director.
Summary	ofthe main			The chorus also received instruction from several external vocal
achievements identifying the charity's work		ofthe charity, difference the has made to		coaches. The aim, as always, isto improve singing technique and the preparation ofsongs for performance to a wider audience.
the circumstances ofits beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.				Performances: We brought Christmas music to the ETSY Christmas market in Oxford and gave a Christmas Concert at Michaels and All Angels in Abingdon, raising funds forthe	St.
				church. We were delighted to sing at the wedding ofa local
				couple in Marcham and joined with other choirs in shows in
				Oxford and Wantage, thus bringing our barbershop style to a
				wider audience.
				Competitions: Competing against other choruses is avery
				effective way offocussing on improvement.
				We sang at the Oxford Music Festival in Jan 2023, receiving
				Distinction in both the classes that we entered.
				In October, we competed against 24other choruses in the
				national LABBSConvention in Harrogate, in which 2songs were
				judged in the categories ofsinging, music and performance.	The
				feedback from the judges helps us focus on areas for
				improvement in the next year. We were very happy that the
				work we have done this year was rewarded by a significant
				improvement in our score. During the event, members were	able
				to learn more ofthe barbershop craft by watching other
				choruses and quartets.

Review ofthe charity's	Review ofthe charity's		Club Funds asat 31October 2023 amounted tof8,794,a
financial position at the end ofthe period			decrease off428 over the previous financial year. Member subscriptions were increased tof20per month from 1Jan
			2023to cover higher fixed costs for hall rental and MD
			expenses.
Statement explaining		the	The trustees consider that Harmony InSpires requires a reserve
policy for	holding reserves		fund to enable the club tooperate ifthere should be an
stating why they are held			unexpected drop in income or increase in expenditure. The
			main risks are considered to be:
			a) A drop in membership, causing a significant drop
			in subscription income
			b) An unforeseen emergency orother unexpected
			need for funds The trustees propose to maintain the
			reserves at a level, which would
			~ cover payment ofoutstanding hall hire bills and allow
			time to develop new sources ofincome orto cut back on
			expenditure
			~ cover possible troughs in cash flow
			As the club is funded largely by the members, the trustees also
			consider that there should be an upper limit tothe reserves
			held.
			Current upper and lower limits aref20,000and E5,000.
Additional	information	o	tional
			The charity's principal source offunds were:
			Member subscriptions (less LABBSsubscriptions) including	gift
The charity's principal			aid.
sources offunds (including			The majority ofincome is applied to the costs ofrunning the
any fundraising)			club. The primary expenses are hire ofrehearsal rooms, cost of
			music (arrangers fees, copyright, teach tracks), travel costs	for
			our Musical Director, software licence fees, fees for guest
			instructors and costumes and other props for performances.

Type of governing document	Constitution	date 11'"June 2014	date 11'"June 2014	(updated 8'" December	(updated 8'" December
	2021)
How is the charity	Charitable	incorporated	Organisation		(CIO)
constituted?
Trustee selection methods	Elected by	members or	appointed	by	Trustees
including details ofany
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees

		Harmony InSpires is a member ofthe national Ladies
The charity's structure and network with charity works	organisational any wider which the	Association ofBarbershop Singers (LABBS)which provides advice and guidance, educational opportunities for club members and directors and hosts competitions which lead to the promotion and improvement ofsinging in the Barbershop style.
		The charity isalso a member ofMaking Music.
		All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no
		remuneration orother benefits.

		Details	Details				Unrestricted funds	Unrestricted funds
							tonearest	8
B1Cash funds		TSSTreasurer's			Account
		Cash and Cheques to				be paid into bsnit
		Less unpresented			cheques
					Total cash funds		&,784
			(scree balances wilh			receipts snd psymenls
						ecccunt(s))
							Unrestricted
							funds
		Details					tonearest	8
B2Other monetary assets
		Details					Cost		Cumwt	value
B4Assets retained for the charity's	own use	6	sets Wenger	Choral		risers	10,188
		1	set Wenger Choral risers				1,788			403
		2	Wenger riser	trclliss			2,882			1,877
		1	set Wenger Choral risers				2,172			1,737
		CD2 monitor				(Dsp. 5years)	188			113
		N
BSLiabilities		Details					Fund to		Amount	due		When dus
											Paid
											Paid
Signed by one ortwo trustees on behalf of all	the trustees
			La'	Signature				Print	Name			Date of