Southend
Choirs
Southend Boys, Choir and Southend Girls, ChoirTrust
Report of the Trustees for the year ending 31 August 2023
Registered Charity Number:
1161752
Principal address:
Rosemary Pennington- PO Box 6, Civic Centre,
Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex SS2 6ER
info@southendchoirs.or
www.southendchoirs.or
Jackie Mullan (Chair), Paul Sedgwick (Treasurer), Julie Cushion, Emer
McNeela, Chris Walker, Verina Weaver, Christine Wallen
CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue,
Kings Hill, West Malling ME19 4JQ
Email:
Website:
Trustees:
Bankers:
What the charity does
Southend Boys, and Girls, Choirs are amongst the leading youth choirs in the country, each choir
rehearsing and performing in its own right as well as in joint performances.
The formal objectives of the CIO are to:
a) promote, improve, develop and maintain public appreciation and education of choral music
and related activities in all aspects bythe presentation, of public concerts, recitals, broadcasts,
recordings or at the invitation of promoters and other artistic bodies. and
b) educate and enhance the skills and enjoyment of all members of the choirs through a range
of performances and musical opportunities, in the UK and abroad.
The Choirs recruit f rom all schools in the borough and beyond. There are no joining or subscription
feesfor choir membership, sothe Choirs draw on a verywide range of backgrounds, as well as a big
age range - singers mayenterour main choirs at 8, butour youngergroups Little Singers and Stepup
Choir provide an early introduction to the enjoymentof singingfrom asyoungas age 3. Members may
stay until university and beyond via our offshoot choirs- the Southend Young Men's Chorus for male
voices and the Chorus Sirenum for female voices. We work hard to promote a friendly, inclusive and
welcoming culture for members to feel accepted, safe and happy. Additionally, there is no entry
requirementto read music or to have had any previous music training. Consequently, the Choirs are
open to everyone and our membership is diverse.
Public benefits
The trustees consider the CIO'S activities benefit the public through the provision of high quality,
creative musical concerts and opportunities foryoung people, irrespectiveof theirfamilies, means, to
develop their musical skills and interests positively and to give regular performances for public
enjoyment.
Artivities during the year
Highlights this year
Storm the Pier: In September,34singerstook part in a day long workshopfromThe Come and
Sing Company, which culminated in a flash mob on Southend Pier. This was greatly enjoyed
by all who took part. This project was f unded by the Local Cultural Education Partnership.
Following the sad news of the late Queen's death, the Choirs were invited to sing at the city
vigil before the funeral. Later in the year they were also invited to take part in the city
celebration of King Charles coronation.
We have been able to offer our singers many varied opportunities overthe year. Alongside
performances in events such as the Holocaust Memorial Service and concerts in Southend
singers have also taken part in concerts at major Londonvenues such asthe RoyalAlbert Hall,
the Royal Festival Hall and the church of St Bartholemew the G reat. Some singers also took
part in f ilming for the major Netflix series, Bridgerton. In addition, 30 singers took part in a
short tour of the Netherlands performing in Amsterdam and Edam.
We awarded the third annual bursary, in association with the English Speaking Union, to
support local young musicians who are continuing their musical studies at a recognised
institution of higher education.
Financial Review
Each quarter the Trustees receive and consider a detailed statement of the CIO'S current financial
position. During the current year, the adequacy of reserves has been regularly monitored. The
Trustees considerthatthe financial position remains satisfactory followingthe period of recoveryfrom
the pandemicwhen the Choirs, activities and income had been limited. Trustees are actively looking
at ways to enhance the CIO'S fundraising efforts as we return to a full programme of activities (and
expenses), but remain firmly committed to there being no subscription or other charge for choir
membership. To this end we applied for grants from ROSCA, Essex County Council Cultural grants,
Richard Cherry Foundation and the Community Investment Fund. All applications were unsuccessful
in this instance, but we continue to make applications to appropriate funds. In addition, our Artistic
Directors have continued to request that they are paid at a significantly reduced rate.
Volunteers
Our volunteers are definitely 'key workers, for the Choirs, operation, whether they undertake direct
roles at choir activities or get involved behind the scenes in areas such as fundraising or publicity. They
are DBS checked to ensure safeguarding is atthe centre of choirwork, with the choirs, specific policies
on safeguarding and child protection regularly reviewed to reflect current guidance and any
government policy changes.Allvolunteers and helpers undertakespecificsafeguardingtraining- some
volunteers are also Southend Council registered chaperones, ensuring a high degree of regard forthe
welfare of the choristers when they are with the choirs. The Trust are hugely gratefulto the team of
volunteers that carry out the considerable work needed to run the Choirs.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Southend Boys, and Girls, Choirs registered with the Charity Commission in 2007 and
reconstituted in May 2015 as a Charitable Incorporated Association ('CIO'). This is a legal fom
enabling a charity to enter into contracts as a corporate body, ratherthan, with non-corporate status,
trustees bearing individual liability for any contracts they enter into on behalf of the charity.
Trustees are expectedto show an active interest in the work and benefits of the choirs, and nominees
for appointment are given full briefing about these before being considered. In making successor
appointments, Trustees have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience offered towards
achieving the effective administration of the CIO.
Trustees held frequent meetings overthe currentyear (4 meetings in addition to the AGM). Trustees
had previously taken the decision to temporarily recruit 2 additional Trustees, as permitted by the
CIO'S Constitution in'exceptional circumstances" increasingthe complementto 9. This was reviewed
at the 2022 AGM and will be further reviewed at the 2023 AGM, aiming to return to the normal
complement of 7 as and when circumstances allow.
ned on behalf of Trustees:
Chair of Trustees
Date
## **Southend Boys' and Southend Girls' Choirs**
## **Summary of accounts for 01/09/22 -31/08/2023**
|**Balance B/F**
100 Club
Admin
Arts Council Project (unlocked)
Bursary
Concerts
A time to remember
Christmas Carol
Gt St Barts
Spring
Planet concert
Donations
Engagements
Carmina Burana RAH
Langbourn Ward Carol Service
Christmas at the Movies
St John's Smith Square
Claridges
Netflix
Writtle
Musicals SCC
Fees-R&R
General
Hall hire
music
sundries
website
sing & social
Grease
Jack Petchey
Lion King
Little Singers|**Expenditure**
550.00
£
135.00
£
650.00
£
500.00
£
-
£
350.00
£
2,110.12
£
23.00
£
-
£
2,010.00
£
850.00
£
6.00
£
900.00
£
600.00
£
3,224.30
£
755.85
£
450.00
£
4,325.04
£
1,000.00
£
203.78
£
2,808.94
£
2,357.03
£
80.00
£
1,119.25
£
4,339.27
£
525.00
£
1,268.00
£|**Income**
1,375.00
£
589.08
£
1,455.00
£
-
£
594.34
£
594.34
£
1,168.73
£
818.73
£
2,585.12
£
475.00
£
785.99
£
762.99
£
80.33
£
80.33
£
2,116.23
£
800.00
£
50.00
-£
450.00
£
444.00
£
1,000.00
£
100.00
£
1,200.00
£
600.00
£
6,593.15
£
3,368.85
£
4,185.99
£
3,430.14
£
725.00
£
275.00
£
150.00
£
150.00
£
1,000.00
-£
194.27
£
9.51
-£
838.42
£
1,970.52
-£
2,357.03
-£
144.00
£
64.00
£
1,725.00
£
3,600.00
£
585.50
£
-
£|**Total**
**50,349.83**
**£**
825.00
£
454.08
£
805.00
£
500.00
-£
2,731.39
£
106.23
£
8,317.99
£
4,325.04
-£
5,337.06
-£
605.75
£
739.27
-£
60.50
£
1,268.00
-£|
|---|---|---|---|
|Pier
1,877.56
£
2,412.45
£
Step Up Choir
1,547.00
£
-
£
Schools project (Mountains to Oceans)
5,987.25
£
7,000.00
£
Tour 2023
28,881.15
£
27,281.72
£
Tour Funds
1,143.26
£
260.00
£
Tuscany 2022
-
£
1,143.26
£
Uniform
Girls
142.00
£
800.00
£
658.00
£
Boys
15.00
£
149.00
£
134.00
£
Hoodies
271.00
£
396.00
£
125.00
£
**TOTAL**
71,004.80
£
72,383.58
£
**Brought forward**
**Balance in Bank**
**Cash**
**Ringfenced areas**
**B/F**
**2022-2023**
Arts Council (Unlocked)
783.55
-£
805.00
£
Bursary
4,000.00
£
500.00
-£
Chorus Sirenum
506.25
£
Jack Petchey
2,527.63
£
739.27
-£
Little Singers
980.00
£
1,268.00
-£
Tour 2023
1,599.43
-£
Tour Funds
10,596.88
£
883.26
-£
Tuscany 2022
1,143.26
-£
1,143.26
£
**Funds Available**|£
-£
£
-£
-£
£
£
£
£
**£**
**£**|534.89
1,547.00
1,012.75
1,599.43
883.26
1,143.26
917.00
1,378.78
50,349.83
**51,728.61**
**20.00**
**Balance**|
|---|---|---|
||£|21.45
|
||£
£
£
-£
-£
£
£
**£**|3,500.00
506.25
1,788.36
288.00
1,599.43
9,713.62
-
**38,106.36**
|
Tndpnendent Eyaminer's Report to the Trustpps of
The Southend Boys, Choii" and Southcnd Girls, Choir Trust
The ciiarity, s trustees considci" tliat an audit 1,% not I"equired for this ye(ll- undei- section 144 of the
Chai."ities Act 2011 (the Charities AL,t), and that an iiidependent exaniinatioii is needed. It is my
responbibility to:
examine the accounts undei- section 145 of tlie ChitIeS Act.
to follow the procediii.es laid down in the Genei"al Dii-ections given by the cliai.ity
Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. aiid
to state wlietlier particular Inatters haire come to Iny attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity
Commi,s,sion. An exainination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any
unu,8Udl iteTs or &isclosures in tjie "CCO',.s, and seeking ==Flanations from thc tl Llstknes Coll cei-niilg
iy such matters. The procedurcs widertaken do not provide ?11 thp evideDcp that viou!d be required
in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opiiiion on the accounts.
In tlie course of Iny exainination. no Inatter has come to my attention:
l. Which gives me reasonable cause to belieTr"e tliat, in an}T material respect, the trustees have not
met the I"equirements to ensure that
.propei" accountiiig records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act)" Ellid
accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the
accounting requirements of the Act. or
2. To whicli, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in ol.der to enable a proper understanding of
the accounts to be reaclied.
Siijnpd
Date
Laura Clegg M.A.A.
Independent Examiner