## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 1.7.2024 Period start date To: 31.6.2025 Period end date**
## **Charity name: Ember Choral**
## **Charity registration number: 1162685**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The object of the charity is to promote,
improve, develop and maintain public
education in, and appreciation of, the art
and science of choral music in all its
aspects by the presentation of public choral
concerts and for such other purposes as
shall be exclusively charitable as the
Committee may from time to time decide.|
|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.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Provision of subsidised concerts of
traditional choral music to the general
public, usually, but not always, performed
with a small professional orchestra and
soloists.
Provision of the opportunity to join a non-
audition choir for anyone who wishes to
come and enjoy choral singing, regardless
of their ability.
|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|Trustees have discussed, and understand,
the principles of public benefit and how it
applies to our charity.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference **Not applicable** Para 1.38 Policy on grant-making **Not applicable** Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investments
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|We have no paid staff so rely on volunteers
to run our choir as Trustees and Committee
members, and other members to perform
important roles such as Librarian.|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|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.|Para 1.20|We had a very successful Xmas concert at Holy
Trinity, Claygate we performed the Vivaldi Gloria
and a Christmas programme, involving the
audience with favourite carols. Tickets were kept
to £15 and, due to excellent attendance (190
tickets sold) the concert only required a £120
subsidy from our reserves.
We also invited members to donate to a local
foodbank and this was very successful.
For our Spring mid-week concert we
performed two pieces by English composers,
Stanford and Vaughan-Williams. This was
well attended, selling 94 tickets.
Finally, for our summer concert we took on
Mendelssohn’s Elijah with an orchestra and
professional soloists. 172 tickets were sold and
feedback about the choir from the audience,
and the orchestra, was really positive.|
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## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising activities against objectives Para 1.41 set
Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Despite a £4,000 subsidy to put on Elijah at
an affordable price for the audience, we
managed to contain overall losses to £770,
well below the figure agreed in our budget.
Reserves remain at a good level and are
monitored carefully by the Treasurer and
Committee. The choir remains financially
stable.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Our policy is to hold a minimum of 6
months operating costs.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£13,600**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Three major factors influence our going
concern status.
1.
The number of members and the
annual fee they pay
2.
The financial cost of concerts
determined by the amount of
professional musicians involved, the
size of the audience, and the ticket
price.
3.
General increases in all our
expenses
This is all regularly reviewed and actions
taken to mitigate any major risks.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
Membership subscriptions
Ticket sales
Gift Aid|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|We hold most of our reserves in a 2-year
interest earning (4%) account.|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|Static membership
Increasing costs of orchestra and soloists|
Other
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:||Not applicable|
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document|Para 1.25|Memorandum & Articles of Association|
|How is the charity
constituted?|Para 1.25|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|Para 1.25|This is all set out in our Mem & Arts. New
officials are elected by the members at
each AGM.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relationship with any related parties Para 1.51 Other
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Ember Choral Society|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Ember Choral|
|Registered charity number|1162685|
|Charity’s principal address|35 Leigh Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2LF|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Linda Bridges||||
||Valerie Thompson|Treasurer|||
||Robert Cotterill||||
||Angela Springett||||
||John Alpass|Chairman|||
||Pat Price|Secretary|||
||Lesley Mitchell||||
||Jackie Allen|Vice President|||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held, and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
> **Signature(s)** Valerie Thompson
**Full name(s)** Valerie Thompson
**Position (eg Secretary,** Treasurer **Chair, etc)**
**Date**
29 July 2025