Charity registration number: 1161841
DRUNKEN CHORUS
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
| _____________ | _____________ |
|---|---|
| Contents | |
| Trustees' Report | 1 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 - 14 |
Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025
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The Board of Trustees are pleased to submit their report and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025.
Reference and Administrative Information
Drunken Chorus is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, established to promote, for public benefit, the advancement in, creation of, and engagement in the arts:
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Primarily in (but not limited to) London (including the outer boroughs);
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Particularly in (but not limited to) the fields of theatre, live art and film;
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Including specific provision for: emerging artists; young people; Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodivergent artists, audiences and participants; intersectional and marginalised communities; and others who may face multiple barriers to accessing arts activities.
These financial statements comply with current Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – Charities SORP (FRS 102), and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
Registered office
Turf Projects 46-47 Whitgift Centre CROYDON CR0 1UQ
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: Cathy Naden (Chair) Stephen Coltrane (Treasurer) Nicky Selwyn Sheila Elliott Dan Farrell (resigned 21 November 2024) Victoria Jane Brough Ream (resigned 10 July 2024)
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 (continued)
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Objects, Aims and Principal Activities
Drunken Chorus is committed to enabling as many people as possible to access high quality, engaging, challenging and boundary-pushing theatre and performance.
The charity aims to achieve this by:
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Presenting inclusive programmes of theatre, performance and live art in a range of settings, including festivals, venues and public spaces.
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Supporting emerging artists to create new work, through financial and in-kind support such as advice, mentoring and training opportunities, with an emphasis on Deaf, Disabled, Neurodivergent and other underrepresented artists.
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Creating original and accessible performance work for audiences throughout the UK and internationally.
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Supporting, promoting and encouraging access and inclusion across the arts sector.
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Programming the work of both emerging and established artists in informal and nontraditional spaces, such as public houses and outdoor locations.
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Designing and delivering creative programmes for marginalised and underrepresented communities, including Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent adults and young people, as well as other marginalised and/or intersectional communities. These may include workshops, performance projects, research and development activity, or other participatory formats.
Principal charitable activities
The principal charitable activity of Drunken Chorus is in seeking to meet the above aims.
Public Benefit
Drunken Chorus carries out activities in pursuance of its charitable aims. In setting its work programme, the Trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and ensure that the activities undertaken are in line with the Charity’s objectives and aims.
The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity’s activities throughout the year provided public benefit because:
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activities were designed to be accessible to the public, either through open participation, public sharing, or engagement with audiences;
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activities enabled the public, both through participation and as audiences, to engage with high-quality artistic work; and
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feedback from participants and audiences has consistently reflected the positive impact and quality of the Charity’s work.
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 (continued)
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Review of Achievements and Performance
Following a period of sustained growth in previous years, 2024/25 was a quieter year for the charity, during which the Trustees took a considered approach to activity and delivery.
During the year, Drunken Chorus focused on consolidation, reflection and planning, alongside a small amount of creative activity. This included the completion of a limited number of participatory DISCO DISCO sessions at the start of the year, providing continued creative opportunities for learning-disabled adults, as well as early-stage research and development work toward a new performance project, GREATEST HITS . In September 2024, a work-in-progress of the new piece was performed at Contact Theatre in Manchester, supporting development and future plans.
Alongside this activity, Drunken Chorus focused on strategic planning, drawing on learning from previous years of delivery to inform the charity’s future direction. This approach was taken to ensure that future activity is appropriately resourced, manageable, and aligned with the charity’s charitable objectives.
The Trustees are satisfied that, despite reduced levels of activity, the charity continued to operate in pursuit of its aims and to deliver public benefit during the year.
MANAGEMENT & STAFFING
The management team currently comprises two freelance Joint Artistic Directors, with additional executive and operational roles as follows:
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Chris Williams – Chief Executive Officer
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Sheena Holliday – Chief Operational Officer
Additional freelance staff are engaged on a project-by-project basis as required.
FUNDING
During the year ended 31 March 2025, the charity’s income primarily consisted of final payments from previously secured grant funding, received on completion of funded activity or at the end of agreed funding periods.
Drunken Chorus and the Trustees and executive team are grateful for the continued support of the charity’s funders and for their commitment to the charity’s work.
Financial Review
The statement of financial activities shows a net deficit of £7,843.60 for the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: deficit of £25,571).
Total funds held at the year end, taking into account funds brought forward at the beginning of the year, comprised unrestricted funds of £4,026.44 (2024: £10,445) and no restricted funds (2024: nil).
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 (continued)
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Structure, Governance and Management
Drunken Chorus is a registered charity.
Governance
Responsible governance of the charity is exercised through the Board of Trustees (‘the Board’). The Board is made up of independent lay members who are responsible for the conduct of the charity and for ensuring that it satisfies all legal and contractual obligations. Trustees are volunteers and are not remunerated for their time.
The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the charity and is ultimately accountable for how effectively the charity meets its defined aims through direct charitable activity. The Board contracts staff who support the Trustees with strategic planning and operational activities. The Board meets regularly throughout the year, and financial and management information is provided quarterly to support effective oversight.
Trustee Recruitment, Induction and Training
The Board of Trustees has the power to appoint additional Trustees as it considers appropriate to ensure that a suitable range of skills and experience is represented. Trustees fulfil their duties without any term limitations. Each new Trustee receives an induction into the work of the charity and its financial procedures.
A Trustee shall cease to hold office if he or she:
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Is disqualified from acting as a Trustee by virtue of sections 178 and 179 of the Charities Act 2011 or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision;
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Is no longer able to fulfil their duties due to medical reasons;
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Is absent without the permission of the Trustees from all meetings held within a period of six months; or
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Notifies the Trustees of their wish to resign.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The charity undertakes periodic reviews of key areas of risk, including insurance cover, health and safety policies, financial affairs, personnel practices and ICT systems. In relation to these matters, and apart from issues outside the charity’s control, the Trustees consider that the risks to which the charity is subject have been mitigated to a satisfactory level.
The charity closely manages its finances. A budget is approved before the beginning of each financial year, and all expenditure is monitored against budget.
Reserves policy
The charity has established a reserves policy, which is intended to ensure financial stability and resilience in line with the charity’s scale of activity and operating model. The policy aims to maintain reserves sufficient to cover approximately six months of core operational costs.
Reserves are held to provide stability in the event of unforeseen costs or emergencies, fluctuations in income or grant funding, the need to incur expenditure in advance of funding being received, or any decision to wind down the charity. Reserve levels are calculated
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 (continued)
_____________ based on core running costs, including (but not limited to) public and employers’ liability insurance, website and email hosting, banking fees, legal costs, expenses for trustee meetings, staff training and DBS checks. As a small charity, there are no fixed premises and no salaried staff, and therefore such costs are not included when calculating reserve levels.
During the year, the Trustees reviewed the reserves policy to reflect the charity’s reduced level of activity and operating costs. Following this review, the Trustees approved a revised minimum reserves level of £2,000, which they consider appropriate and proportionate to the charity’s current cost base. The reserves policy is reviewed every six months by the Trustees.
Plan for future periods
As a number of multi-year funding programmes came to an end, the charity used 2024/25 as a period to reflect on its creative work and operating model. During this time, the Trustees and management considered learning from previous years of delivery in order to inform future planning.
Looking ahead, the charity intends to continue developing its programme of work in a way that is sustainable, appropriately resourced and aligned with its charitable objectives. Any future activity or strategic direction will remain within the scope of the charity’s original aims and purposes.
Approved by the Board 10 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
.........................................
Cathy Naden (Chair)
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st March 2025 (continued)
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Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period.
In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper and adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 are set out on pages 7 to 14.
Financial responsibilities of the trustees
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees have determined that an audit is not required for the year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is also not required, as the charity’s gross income for the year was below £25,000.
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025
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| Income from: Note Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Total income Expenditure on: 5 Raising funds Charitable activities Total expenditure Net income (expenditure) 6 Transfers between funds Other recognised gains/(losses) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Restricted £ 9,992 - 9,992 - 9,992 9,992 - - - - - - |
Unrestricted £ - 750 750 - 7,169 7,169 (6,419) - - (6,419) 10,445 4,026 |
2025 Total £ 9,992 750 10,742 - 17,161 17,161 (6,419) - - (6,419) 10,445 4,026 |
Restricted £ 209,408 - 209,408 2,569 239,309 241,878 (32,470) - - (32,470) 32,470 - |
Unrestricted £ 5,250 1,832 7,082 - 183 183 6,899 - - 6,899 3,546 10,445 |
2024 Total £ 214,658 1,832 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216,490 | ||||||
| 2,569 239,492 |
||||||
| 242,061 | ||||||
| (25,571) | ||||||
| - - |
||||||
| (25,571) | ||||||
| 36,016 | ||||||
| 10,445 |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025 (continued)
| Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st (continued) |
March 2025 |
|---|---|
| ________ Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets Current assets Debtors Cash at bank Total current assets Current liabilities amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets Non-current liabilities amounts falling due after more than one year Net assets10 Funds 11 Restricted Unrestricted: General Total funds |
_____ 2025 2024 £ £ - - - - 4,026 11,870 4,026 11,870 - 1,425 4,026 10,445 - - 4,026 10,445 - - 4,026 10,445 |
| 4,026 10,445 |
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025 (continued)
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1. Accounting policies
a. General information
Drunken Chorus is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission (charity registration number 1161841).
b. Going concern
The trustees confirm that at the time of approving the financial statements, there are no material uncertainties regarding the Charity’s ability to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. In arriving at this conclusion, the Trustees have taken account of current and anticipated financial performance in the current economic conditions, its business plan and its reserves position. For this reason, the going concern basis continues to be adopted in the preparation of the Charity’s financial statements.
c. Basis for preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes and 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 (FRS102) (effective 1st January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102), and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The principal accounting policies that have been applied to all years presented in these financial statements are set out below. The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Trustees to exercise their judgement in the process of applying the accounting policies. Use of available information and application of judgement are inherent in the formation of estimates. Actual outcomes in the future could differ from such estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in Note 2.
d. Fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £2,000 or more are initially recorded at cost.
e. Financial instruments
The only financial instruments held by the charity are debtors and creditors. These are categorised as ‘basic’ in accordance with Section 11 of FRS 102 and are initially recognised at transaction price. These are subsequently measured at their transaction price less any impairment.
f. Income
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income: Donations and grants are split between restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with the terms of the grant or donation; Donations and gifts are recognised in the statement of financial activities when receivable.
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025 (continued)
_____________ Income from government and other grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.
g. Expenditure
Expenditure is included in the statement of financial activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT that cannot be recovered. It is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to pay for it. Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and has been included in those cost categories. Certain other costs, which are attributable to more than one activity, are apportioned across cost categories on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff or resources used on those activities.
2. Critical judgements and estimates
No critical judgements have been made by management in applying the charity’s accounting policies.
3. Donations and Legacies
| Croydon Council Arts Council England Garfield Weston Foundation City Bridge Foundation Didymus Charity The Arts Society Shanly Foundation Total |
Restricted Unrestricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ - 7,867 - - - - - 7,867 - 182,898 - 10,000 2,125 - - - - - - - 2,125 - - - 9,260 10,000 1,500 1,000 |
|---|---|
| 9,992 - 9,992 214,658 |
There were no unfulfilled conditions or other contingencies attaching to these grants.
4. Income from Charitable Activities
| Earned Income Total |
Restricted Unrestricted 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ £ - 750 750 - |
|---|---|
| - 750 750 - |
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Drunken Chorus
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025 (continued)
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| . Net income/(expenditure) for the year This is stated after charging / crediting: Depreciation Independent Examination 5. Expenditure Raising funds Charitable activities £ Staff costs - 12,480 Technical / Production costs - - Venue Hire - - Marketing costs - 417 Training and Workshop costs - 1,800 Artistic Programmes costs - 280 Materials and Consumables - - Admin / Overheads - - Independent Examination fee - - Access costs - 35 - 15,012 Allocation of support costs 357 3,217 Total expenditure 357 18,229 |
Support Costs £ - - - - - - - 3,574 - - 3,574 (3,574) - |
2025 £ - - 2025 Total £ 12,480 - - 417 1,800 280 - 3,574 - 35 18,586 - 18,586 |
2024 Total £ 83,506 18,765 9,402 9,659 4,163 76,615 1,110 7,996 1,425 29,420 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 242,061 | ||||
| - | ||||
| 242,061 | ||||
| 2024 £ - 1,425 |
6. Net income/(expenditure) for the year
No expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year.
7. Staff Costs
The charity did not employ any staff on payroll during the year (2024: none). All services were provided by freelance staff.
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Drunken Chorus (Charity Reg. No: 1161841)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 31st March 2025 (continued)
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8. Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
9. Creditors: amounts due within one year
| Creditors: amounts due within one year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trade Creditors Accruals and provisions |
2025 £ - - **- ** |
2024 £ - 1,425 |
| 1,425 |
10. Analysis of net assets between funds
| . Analysis of net assets between funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Net assets at the end of the year |
Restricted Funds £ - - **- ** |
Unrestricted funds £ - 4,026 4,026 |
Total funds £ - 4,026 |
| 4,026 |
11. Movements in Funds
| Unrestricted funds: General funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Arts Council England City Bridge Foundation Total restricted funds Total funds |
At the start of the year Incoming resources Outgoing resources At the end of the year £ £ £ 10,445 750 (7,169) 4,026 |
|---|---|
| 10,445 750 (7,169) 4,026 |
|
| - 7,867 (7,867) - - 2,125 (2,125) - |
|
| - 9,992 (9,992) - |
|
| 10,445 10,742 (17,161) 4,026 |
Purposes of funds
General / Unrestricted funds : these are available for use at the Trustees ' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds : these are donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
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