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.|
|---|---|
|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.|
|---|---|
## **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.||
|---|---|---|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**||
|---|---|
|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.||
|---|---|---|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Type of governing document|Consttuton date 11thJune 2014 (updated 8thDecember 2021
and 15thFebruary2024)|
|---|---|
|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|
|---|---|
|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**
**==> picture [486 x 257] intentionally omitted <==**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
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
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **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