Independent Examiner's Report to the Trnstees of Ely Sinfonia I report to the charity trustees on my earnation of the accounts of Ely Sinfonia for the year ended 31 August 2024. Responsibilities and Basis of Report As the charity trustees of Ely Sinfoniai you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requIents of the Charities Act 2011 ('the ACV). I report in respect of my examination of Ely Sinfonia's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commi&sion under section 145(5Xb) of the 2011 Act. Independent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that NO material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in any material respectr. l. the accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 2. the accounts did not accord with the accountins rerds. or 3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requIents C[)nMing the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 21Th other than any requirement that the accounts sive a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no conrnS and have come across no other matter3 in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be aChed. 'I discussed with the TTrasurer some minor ways in which the accounting records could be amended to comply with usual presentation fOrnts and general sied. Name: Elizabeth Anne Bragg Relevant professional qualification(s) or membership of professional bodies (if any): ACA, retired Address: Homewards, Chapel Road. Weston Colville, Cambridge CB215NX Date: 27 June 2025
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Donations Donations - restricted Friends' subscriptions Non-specific grants received Membership subscriptions Tax Reclaimable Other income |
2024 2023 £ £ 210 1,238 - - 725 435 - - 4,550 3,450 333 438 492 - 6,310 5,561 |
|---|---|
Tax is recoverable on both Friends' subscriptions and Membership subscriptions as long as they are Gift-Aided.
The charity benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its volunteers, details of which are given in the annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
3 Income from charitable activities
| Paid engagements Fees charged to non-members Specific grants received Ticket sales Other concert income |
2024 2023 £ £ - - 1,475 960 - - 24,456 14,919 293 118 26,224 15,997 |
|---|---|
The orchestra's two major concerts during the year in Ely Cathedral were very popular and brought in substantially more income from ticket sales than in previous years. Membership subscriptions have increased, fees and other soiurces generally unchanghed.
4 Income from other trading activities
| Hire income Merchandise income Sponsorship |
2024 2023 £ £ - - 116 324 - - 116 324 |
|---|---|
Merchandise income has reduced with fewer local retailers offering our products.
5 Investment income
| Interest received | 2024 2023 £ £ 184.2 - 184.2 - |
|---|---|
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6 Expenditure on raising funds
| Friends expenses Fund raising |
2024 2023 £ £ - - - - - - |
|---|---|
The charity benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its volunteers, details of which are given in the annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic cost of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
7 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Soloists' fees Conductor's fees Leader's fee Players' fees Commissions of new music Coaching fees Hire/purchase of music Performing Rights Society Equipment Hire of venue - Ely Hire of venue - other Hire of staging - Ely Box-office - Ely Other ticket sale costs - Ely Publicity - Ely Publicity/printing/distribution - other Other concert costs - Ely Other concert costs - other VAT - Ely Making Music membership & insurance |
2024 2023 £ £ - 1,338 4,555 6,060 1,960 2,720 1,606 1,428 - - - - 2,353 953 - - 165 150 1,900 1,750 1,687 541 780 1,356 2,221 1,505 - - - 174 1,616 880 755 965 1,774 112 933 809 481 540 22,787 21,280 |
|---|---|
The costs of music, publicity, the hire of venues for rehearsal and concerts, and hire of staging have all increased significantly this year, and are unlikely to reduce in the future. Box Office fees are dependent upon volume of ticket sales.
8 Other expenditure
| Other costs Interest paid Other bank charges |
2024 2023 £ £ 218 55 - - 79 85 297 140 |
|---|---|
9 Analysis of governance and support costs
The Charity has not incurred any such expenses during the year.
10 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel
The charity does not have any employees.
11 Corporation Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
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Notes on the accounts
1 Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).
Ely Sinfonia meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
b) Reconciliation with previous Policies
No changes of accounting policy have been made in the year, and no restatements are required.
c) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, given the recent trend for yearly surpluses and the level of reserves held. The trustees will continue to take the cost of concerts into account in programming future events, to help ensure that the level of reserves is consistent with the objectives.
There are no changes in the charity's assumptions about the future, which remain as follows:
Trading income: on the basis of current trends, concert attendance levels will be maintained, while the prices of tickets will be continually reviewed
Other income: this is mostly fund raising, including the costs of orchestral subscriptions and friends subscriptions, which will be reviewed annually in the light of ongoing levels of reserves.
Expenditure: costs will rise with inflation. In particular, the major contract with Ely Cathedral for concerts held in the Cathedral will continue to be rolled over at rates commensurate with existing rates but subject to inflation.
d) Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, when any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, and when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, when any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, and when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have merely been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material (see note 7).
Income received in advance of a performance or provision of other specified service is deferred until any criteria for income recognition are met (see note 22).
Where income has related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the income is
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reported gross.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
e) Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.
f) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are funds that are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific artistic projects being undertaken by the charity.
g) Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, when it is probable that settlement will be required and when the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
Costs of raising funds - comprise the costs of commercial trading
Expenditure on charitable activities - includes the costs of performances, exhibitions and other educational activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs
Other expenditure - represents those items not falling into any other expenditure heading
Where expenditure has related income (as with fundraising or contract income) the expenditure is reported gross.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
h) Allocation of support costs
Support costs would be those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs would include any back office costs, finance, personnel and governance costs which support the charity's artistic programmes and activities. Any such costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources - e.g. allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent, and other costs by their usage.
i) Stock
The charity does not account for stock, as the value is not considered to be material: purchases relate to merchandise such as mugs and CDs, and the full cost is written off as an expense when incurred.
j) Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
k) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash.
l) Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a
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past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
m) Financial instruments
The trust only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
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12 Tangible fixed assets
The charity does not posess any tangible fixed assets.
13 Investments
The charity does not hold any investments, short- or long-term..
14 Stock
The charity does not hold any stock.
15 Debtors
| Debtors Accrued Income Prepayments |
2024 2023 £ £ 4,081 6,167 - 1,123 577 154 4,658 7,444 |
|---|---|
An overdue payment from Ely Cathedral accounts for the bulk of the Debtors account.
16 Cash at bank and in hand
| Bank account Deposit account 17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Accrued costs Deferred income See note 18 Other creditors |
0 0 £ £ 24,775 15,806 5,763 5,579 30,538 21,385 2024 2023 £ £ 26 576 - - 761 1,386 37 2,245 823 4,207 |
|---|---|
18 Deferred income
Deferred income comprises income received from Friends in advance of the start of the relevant financial year.
| Balance as at 1 September 2023 Amount released to income earned from charitable activities Amount deferred in year Balance as at 31 August 2024 |
£ 1,386 (1,386) 761 761 |
|---|---|
19 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
The charity does not have any creditors in this category.
20 Provisions for liabilities
The charity does not have any provisions.
21 The funds of the Charity
Outline summary of fund movements
| Unrestricted reserves Restricted funds Total |
Balances brought forward Incoming resources Resources expended Balances carried forward 31 Aug. 23 31 Aug. 24 24,122 32,829 (23,084) 33,868 500 5 - 505 24,622 32,834 (23,084) 34,373 1 |
|---|---|
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22 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
| Net movement in funds per SOFA Decrease (increase) in debtors Increase (decrease) in creditors Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year |
2024 2023 £ £ 9,751 307 2,786 (6,429) (3,384) 3,159 9,153 (2,963) 21,385 24,348 30,538 21,385 |
|---|---|
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Trustees' Annual Report for the period
From
Period start date Period end date 01 09 2023 31 08 2024
To
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name ELY SINFONIA
Other names charity is known by (none)
| Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
Registered charity number (if any) 1161642 Charity's principal address 19 Lower End Swaffham Prior Cambridge Postcode CB25 0HT ~~ee~~ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity | ||||||
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|||
| 1 | KatyBaker | Chair | The committee | |||
| 2 | Carol London | Secretary | The committee | |||
| 3 | Charlotte Dean | The committee | ||||
| 4 | David McLeish | The committee | ||||
| 5 | Rosamund Chalmers |
The committee | ||||
| 6 | John Chalmers | Treasurer | The committee | |||
| 7 | JennyCairns | The committee | ||||
| 8 | Richard Williamson | The committee | ||||
| 9 | ||||||
| 10 | ||||||
| 11 | ||||||
| 12 |
- 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 ~~=== ==~~ Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) Name Dates acted if not for whole year
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Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Artistic Director | Steve Bingham | 19 Home Piece Road, Wells-next-the-sea, NR23 1PX |
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) |
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Association How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by membership at the AGM Trustee selection methods
-
(eg. trust, association, company)
-
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
The constitution requires that there shall be not fewer than 8 trustees
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document
To promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and an appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of concerts, workshops or other such charitable activities as the charity may from time to time decide. These activities will be undertaken to the highest musical standards attainable by the participating players
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The trustees are aware of the guidance issued by the Charities Commission on public benefit, and have arranged activities that fulfil the public benefit requirement. These activities fall into two categories, being those open to members, and those open to the wider public. Both have the geographical restriction of an organisation based in the area local to Ely.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the Members’ activities provide opportunities for rehearsal, training and public benefit in relation to performance of orchestral music to a local audience, participation in an these objects (include within annual all-comers workshop, and occasional ‘sectional’ workshops. this section the statutory declaration that trustees have Membership is open to anyone from the local area with adequate musical had regard to the guidance ability to benefit from the orchestra’s activities. issued by the Charity Commission on public The annual Orchestral Workshop provides opportunities for non- benefit) members (for a fee of £20) to spend a day working with a professional conductor and members of the charity on a specific piece, generally a symphony from the well-established orchestral repertoire. This year’s event could not take place because of Covid restrictions.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
The charity benefits from unpaid work by volunteers in the following areas:
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Concert management on the day
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Liaison with Ely Cathedral
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Ushers at concerts
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Management of Friends membership
The charity does not account either for the value of the benefit of, or of any costs for, these volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
Ely Sinfonia had a productive year of music making, promoting music Summary of the main within the community through our concerts and educating players - both achievements of the charity orchestral members and community members through our annual during the year orchestral workshop. The orchestra led two specific initiatives this year was to broaden our community outreach. The first was associated with the orchestral concert held in September 2023 in Ely Cathedral. Members of the orchestra came together outside the cathedral to form a "flash mob" before the concert, performing Ravel's Bolero free to the Ely community. Ely community also contributed circa £500 in donations to Ely Foodbank on the day, having gathered to watch the orchestra. The second initiative of the year was the orchestral concert in Ely Cathedral in May 2024 where a programme comprising entirely film music was performed. This was selected because of the date of the concert - May the 4[th] - and with the knowledge that the programme would likely attract a greater range of audience members from the community, as well as challenging the orchestral players to perform a very different form of music. The orchestra achieved the goal, as the concert was sold out (over 800 tickets sold) with audience informal feedback confirming that many had never been to a orchestral concert before and were inspired to attend again in the future. To increase the likelihood of younger audience
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Section D Achievements and performance members attending, the orchestra joined forces with a local volunteer AmDram team who provided Star Wars themed representatives to act as stewards/ticket sellers on the day. There was a notable increase in younger audience members - from circa 8 up to early 20's, a target audience for community engagement given the value that music is known to have on development and education. Finally, the orchestra held its annual workshop in January 2024, which was at full capacity - with members of the orchestra sitting alongside less experienced musicians from the local and wider community who do not usually have the opportunity to play in an orchestra. This annual event is a key outreach programme to support our goals as a charity.
Section E Financial review
The charity retains sufficient reserves to pay all costs relating to the Brief statement of the rehearsal and performance of at least one major orchestral concert, charity’s policy on reserves including for example fees for venue hire, conductor, leader, soloists, instrument hire and specialist musicians, prior to receiving ticket sales Details of any funds materially None in deficit Further financial review details (Optional information)
The charity’s principal sources of funds are membership subscriptions You may choose to include and concert ticket sales. The charity’s aim is to be able to fund the costs additional information, where of all rehearsal work from subscriptions, and the costs of performance relevant about: from ticket sales.
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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including Performance costs relate to staging the events, including conductor, any fundraising); leader, any soloists, extra players, venue hire, facility fees, and box
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how expenditure has office. supported the key objectives Rehearsal costs include venue hire, and the fees of the leader and the
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of the charity; conductor plus any specialist coaching.
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investment policy and objectives including any The charity actively reviews the level of reserves to be appropriate to the ethical investment policy maintenance of activities supporting the key objectives. adopted.
Section F Other optional information
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Section G Declaration ~~a~~
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) ~~Ce~~ Full name(s) Katy Jane Louise Baker ~~ee~~ Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) ~~es~~ Date 19/6/2025 ~~PO~~
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