CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Trustees, Annual Report for the period
From 1•t November 2023
To 31 •t October 2024
Charity name: HARMONY INSPIRES OXFORD BARBERSHOP CLUB
Charlty registration number: 1157497
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
goveming document
11 To advance education of rnembers and the public in
the barbershop Style of 4-part harmony singin& through
rehearsals, education courses, competttion and shows
21 To further such charitable purposes (charitable under
lish lawl as the Trustees. from time to time, think fit.
In pursuing our aims for the public benefit, the chorus believes it
impacts on people's lives in several ways. We involve people in a
creative, enjoyable and fulfilling educational activtty, providing
members with the opportunity to develop friendships, vocal
technique and musical repertoire. Our weekly Welcorne
Wednesday provides an open opportunty to come and join us
singing unaccompanied 4-part harmonv.
Summary ofthe main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit. in particular, the
activities. projects or
services identified in the
accounts.
For audiences, we present excitin& innovative and high-quality
performances providing a pleasant and entertaining cultural
experience, but also educating them by extending their musical
knowledge, especia51y in the genre of Barbershop 4-part close
harmony singing.
There are no restrictions on membership of Harmony Insplres -
anyone can become an Associate member, although Full
Membership is restricted to women, who have passed a vocal
assessment. In addition to the publlc educatlonal benefits to
participants and audien￿ members mentioned above, the
Trustees are conscious that its activitles must be affordable and
financial support is offered in cases of hardship to those wishing
to join the chorus in competitions.
Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit
The trustees have complied with the duty in section 1715) of the
Charities Act and the Charltles (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons
2008 to have due regard to public benefit guidan￿ published by
the Charty Commission.

Additional infornation {optional)
The club is run entirely by volunteer5. Without whose valuable
contributions. the Club would not function. We are. in partitular.
indebted to our Musical Director who provided her services for
free, not only running rehearsals, but spendin8 many hours on
preparation.
Contribution made by
volunteers
Achievements and Performance
The Club holds weekly ￿hearsalS at which members receive
coaching and instruction from the Musical Director.
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the drfference the
charity's work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefrts to society as a
whole.
During the year the chorus also received instruction from several
external vocal coaches. The aim, as always, is to irnprove singing
technique and the preparation of songs for performance to a
wider audlence.
Performances: Thls year the chorus performed In several
locations in and around Oxford and Abingdon. Of note were two
performancesforthe NHS, one In central Oxford and one In a local
hospital. Both performances brought the craft and joy of
barbershop 4-part harmony singing to local publlc sector workers
not only providing entertainment but simultaneously showing our
appreciation for our NHS workers. The Chorus also performed at
the Morchom Big Weekend, the village where we rehearse in the
community hall and at Witney In Pink, a communlty-based
fundralser for the Abingdon-based charity Agalnst Breast Cancerfs
vital research. In addition, the Chorus held a joint fundraising
concert for church In Abingdon and were privileged to be
performing alongside two other local cholrs at this event.
Competltlon5: In October 2024, Hannony Inspires competed
against 26 other choruses in the national LABBS Convention in
Bournemouth, in which 2 songs were judged in the categories of
singing, music and performance. This year the chorus were very
happy to be recognised and awarded The Mlllennlum Award for
the Most Improved Chorus of 2024.
During the event, members were able to learn more of the
barbershop craft by watching other choruses and quartets and
through attending fringe educational activities.
Competing against other choruses is a very effective way of
focussingon improvingoursingingskills and feedbackfromjudges
helps us focus and hone our skills in specrfic a￿35 that require
refinement.

Financial Review
Review of the charity's
financial position at the end
of the
eriod
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held
Club Funds as at 31 October 2024 amounted to £10,260, an
increase of £1,466 over the previous financial year.
The trustees consider that Harmony Inspires requires a reserve
fund to enable the club to operate if there should be an
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 emergenry or other unexpected
need forfunds The trustees propose to maintain the
reseNes at a level, which would:
cover payment of outstanding hall hire bills and allow
time to develop new sources of income or to cut back on
expenditure
cover possible troughs in cash flow
As the club is funded largely bythe members, the trustees abo
considerthat there should be an upper limit to the resenies
held.
Current upper and lower limlts are £20,OW and £5,000.
Addltjonal Inforniatlon
ional
The charity's principal source of funds were:
Member subscriptions (less LABBS subscriptions) including gift
aid.
Donation5 are also received through Easyfundraising and the
chorus receives donations for some performances.
The majorty of income is applled to the costs of running the
club. The primary expenses are hire of rehearsal rooms, cost of
music (arrangers fees. copyright, teach tracks), travel costs for
our Musical Director, software licence fees, fees for guest
instructors and costurnes and other
ro
sfor
erformances.
The charity's principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document
Constitution date iith June 2014 (updated 8 December 2021
and 15" Februa
2024)
Charitable Incorporated Organisation {ClO)
How is the charity
constiluted?
Trustee selection methods
including delails of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
Elected by members or.appointed by Trustees

Additional infomiatlon
tional
Harmony Inspires is a member of the national Ladies
Association of Barbershop Singers (L4BBS) which provides
advice and guidance, educational opportunities for club
Members and directors and hosts competitions which lead to
the promotion and improvement of singing in the Barbershop
style.
The charity is also a member of Making Music.
All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no
remuneration or other benefits.
The charity's organisational
structure and any wider
network wilh which the
charity works
Reference and Administrative details
Chari
name
Other name the char"
uses
Re
istered charit
number
Charity's principal address
HARMONY INSPIRES OXFORD BARBERSHOP CLUB
HARMONY INSPIRES
1157497
21 Robinson Road, Oxford, OX15LE
Nam88 of the charlty trustees who manage the charity
Name of person (or
body) entltlod to
appolnt trustso (If
an
Trustee name
Offlce (If any)
Datss •ctod If not for
whole yoar
Constance Wallcraft
Deborah Brooks
Chair
Vice Chair
From 23 Jan 2023
6 Dec 2023 to 30 Jul
2024
Fiona McLeod
Secretary
Chorus Manager
Membership Secretary
Treasurer
Public Relations Officer
Trustee
Michele Steele
Vanessa Chatterton
Caroline Simmonds
Rachel Buglass
Alison Berry
To 8 Jul 2024
From 8 Jul 2024
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above.
Slgned on behalf of the charity's trustees
Signature{s)
Full name{s)
Positlon (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc)
C14AI(
Date

Hamionylnsplr
1157497
Receipts and payments accounts
Fwthe perlod frLvn
To
014knZJ
31-Od-24
Section A Receipts and paymeiits
Totsl funds
Labt year
loth•noar#t £ tsth•nMmt£
A1 Re¢¢lpl•
Subscrl tlon$- membe
Gift r8d8imed on membw 8ubscri
LABBS grant8
Easy Fundraisino
ftaffle r•f(•thmth
Porfumpth¢
10.
i.t42
202rk2W21
100
525
R•funltsa￿ com
DonAIWI
Sub tot•l(Gross inGome forAR}
A2 A*••t And Invo•tM•nt •41••
16,111
14332
Sub lotsl
13.JJl
A3Pa
gnt•
118tlon féa lo LABBS
R8hear5al room ren181
PertOrnon¢o CO8t8
Conv¢niion cotsia
Mugle feéJ and leamln
melerl
Co8chl
f¢x m•mber*." léés énd
WebsS10, Zoom leea HI
Gllls and Oonaiion
Vdcebox 8dwrt$
Purchaw ol co$lum88. b
Flrsl ald k51 and acddeni book
Trus18? aw¥d
Purth81è of roledvo rl8W
Recrnllm￿l co818
MDex
Event8
Hllrdihlpfun¢
72$
n2
212
619
271
134
1•4
121
110
14711
Sub tot*1
13.6•2
A4 A•••t and Inv•8tmwrt
ur¢haM•.
•tsb
Sub tot•1
13,692
13.781
Net of rncelptrfp•yments)
A6 Trnn•f•rn b•tw••n fund•
A8 Calh fund• la•t yoar •nd
8,794
10.2
9.22J

Section B Statement of assets and Itabilities at the end of the period
Unre¥lrf¢ted
tohbxrert£
81 C*¥h fund¥
5,147
Total ¢•sh funds
10,260
Details
B2 Other mon•t•ry •8••t•
B4 A•Mts r•t•ln•d for th• ¢h•rW• own u
1•.169
223
172
ID•p. S ￿•1•)
78
85 Llabllltl••
Det811*
P•ld
Slon•d by•n• c*tY•) truit••son olal th•tiu•t••
Signaiurv
Prtnt Na
Dat• of
C.thL6ci2AFr