The club held weekly rehearsals throughout the year, where members received coaching and instruction from the Musical Director. The aim of this coaching, as always, is to improve singing technique and the preparation of songs for performance to a wider audience.
Performances
During the year the chorus performed in several locations in and around Oxford and Abingdon. Highlights were the Lights of Love performance in December 2024 - an annual BBC remembrance service in Oxford for people who are gone but never forgotten and the Make a Difference Awards which provide communities with the chance to thank and recognise those who improve lives. The chorus also performed at the Big Marcham Weekend in May 2025 and held a Summer Concert Abingdon in July 2025.
Competitions
At the end of October 2025 Harmony Inspires competed in the national LABBS Convention in Harrogate. The chorus performed two songs that were judged across three categories: singing, music and performance. Competing against other choruses is a very effective way of focussing on improving skills in performance and singing. Feedback from judges also supports the chorus on areas that require improvement.
During the event, members were able to learn more about the craft of barbershop singing through watching other choruses and quartets and taking part in fringe educational activities.
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] November 2024 To 31[st] October 2025
Charity name: HARMONY INSPIRES OXFORD BARBERSHOP CLUB
Charity registration number: 1157497
Objectives and Activities
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
1) To advance education of members and the public in the barbershop style of 4-part harmony singing, through rehearsals, education courses, competition and shows 2) To further such charitable purposes (charitable under English law)as the Trustees,from time to time,think fit. |
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| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
ln 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 activity, providing members with the opportunity to develop friendships, vocal technique and musical repertoire. Our weekly Welcome Wednesday provides an open opportunity to come and join us singing unaccompanied 4-part harmony. 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 of Barbershop 4-part close harmony singing. There are no restrictions on membership of Harmony lnSpires - anyone can become an Associate member, although Full Membership is restricted to women, who have passed a vocal assessment. ln addition to the public educational benefits to participants and audience members mentioned above, the Trustees are conscious that its activities 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 17(5) of the Charities Act and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. |
Additional information (optional)
| Contribution made by volunteers |
The club is run entrely by volunteers. without whose valuable contributons, the Club would not functon. We are, in partcular, indebted to our Musical Director who provided her services for free, not only running rehearsals, but spending many hours on preparaton. |
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Achievements and Performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
The Club holds weekly rehearsals at which members receive coaching and instructon from the Musical Director. During the year the chorus also received instructon from several external vocal coaches. The aim, as always, is to improve singing technique and the preparaton of songs for performance to a wider audience. Performances: This year the chorus performed in several locatons in and around Oxford and Abingdon. Of note were two performances for the NHS, one in central Oxford and one in a local hospital. Both performances brought the craf and joy of barbershop 4-part harmony singing to local public sector workers not only providing entertainment but simultaneously showing our appreciaton for our NHS workers. The Chorus also performed at the Marcham Big Weekend , the village where we rehearse in the community hall and at Witney in Pink , a community-based fundraiser for the Abingdon-based charity Against Breast Cancer’s vital research. In additon, the Chorus held a joint fundraising concert for church in Abingdon and were privileged to be performing alongside two other local choirs at this event. Compettons: In October 2024, Harmony Inspires competed against 26 other choruses in the natonal LABBS Conventon 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 Millennium Award for the Most Improved Chorus of 2024. During the event, members were able to learn more of the barbershop craf by watching other choruses and quartets and through atending fringe educatonal actvites. Competng against other choruses is a very efectve way of focussing on improving our singing skills and feedback from judges helps us focus and hone our skills in specifc areas that require refnement. |
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Financial Review
| Financial Review | |
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| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Club Funds as at 31 October 2025 amounted to £11,651, an increase of£1,391over the previous fnancial year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
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 signifcant drop in subscripton income b) An unforeseen emergency or other unexpected need for funds The trustees propose to maintain the reserves at a level, which would: cover payment of outstanding hall hire bills and allow tme to develop new sources of income or to cut back on expenditure cover possible troughs in cash fow As the club is funded largely by the members, the trustees also consider that there should be an upper limit to the reserves held. Current upper and lower limits are £20,000 and £5,000. |
Additional information (optional)
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
The charity's principal source of funds were: Member subscriptons (less LABBS subscriptons) including gif aid. Donatons are also received through Easyfundraising and the chorus receives donatons for some performances. The majority of income is applied 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, sofware licence fees, fees for guest instructors and costumes and otherprops forperformances. |
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Structure, Governance and Management
| Type of governing document | Consttuton date 11thJune 2014 (updated 8thDecember 2021 and 15thFebruary2024) |
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| How is the charity constituted? |
Charitable Incorporated Organisaton (CIO) |
| Trustee selection methods including details 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 information (optional)
Harmony InSpires is a member of the national Ladies Association of Barbershop Singers (LABBS) which provides The charity’s organisational advice and guidance, educational opportunities for club structure and any wider members and directors and hosts competitions which lead to network with which the the promotion and improvement of singing in the Barbershop charity works style. The charity is also a member of Making Music. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | HARMONY INSPIRES OXFORD BARBERSHOP CLUB |
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| Other name the charity uses | HARMONY INSPIRES |
| Registered charity number | 1157497 |
| Charity’s principal address | 21 Robinson Road, Oxford, OX1 5LE |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Name of person (or
Dates acted if not for body) entitled to
Trustee name Office (if any)
whole year appoint trustee (if
any)
1 Constance Wallcraft Chair
Vice Chair
2 [Dawn Emmett]
3 [Fiona McLeod] Secretary
4 [Michele Steele] Chorus Manager
5 [Vanessa Chatterton] Membership Secretary
6 [Alison Berry] Treasurer
Public Relations Officer
7 [Caroline Green]
8
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary. Chair. etc) Date