CATHEDRAL CONCERT SOCIETY
(T/A Ripon Concerts)
Annual report and financial statements
For the year ended
31 May 2024
Patron
Julius Drake
Charity No 1163277
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTENTS
| Trustees’ annual report .................................................................................................................... | 3 - 6 |
|---|---|
| Independent examiner’s report ......................................................................................................... | 7 |
| Statement of receipts and payments ................................................................................................. | 8 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities .................................................................................................... | 9 |
| Notes to the financial statements ...................................................................................................... | 10 - 11 |
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
The trustees present their report and financial statements together with the independent examiner’s report for the year ended 31 May 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
| Charity name | Cathedral Concert Society | (T/A Ripon Concerts) |
|---|---|---|
| Charity number | 1163277 | |
| Contact address | Little Orchard | |
| Mickley | ||
| Ripon | ||
| HG4 3JE | ||
| Website address | www.riponconcerts.co.uk | |
| Current trustees | Roger Higson | Chair |
| Jim Dalton | Appointed 19/02/2024 | |
| Judith Hooper | ||
| Rosemary Livingstone | Appointed 25/09/2023 | |
| Other trustees who | Michael Furse | Resigned 22/09/2023 |
| served during the year | Brian Kealy | Resigned 13/12/2023 |
| Anthony Ogus | Resigned 25/09/2023 | |
| Bankers | Unity Trust Bank plc | |
| 4 Brindley Place | ||
| Birmingham | ||
| B1 2JB | ||
| Independent examiner | Michael Brougham | |
| 3 Lyne Grove | ||
| Crossford | ||
| Dunfermline | ||
| KY12 8YB |
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
Cathedral Concert Society ("the Society") is a charitable incorporated organisation (“CIO”) granted charitable status by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 24 August 2015. It is governed by its constitution, which was last updated in September 2021.
Appointment of Trustees
Trustees are elected by the members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting, subject to there being a minimum of four and a maximum of nine trustees. The members of the Society or the existing trustees may appoint additional trustees at any time, subject to the maximum number not being exceeded.
At each Annual General Meeting, one third of the trustees shall retire from office but will be eligible for reelection.
OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the charity are:
-
to promote, develop, and maintain appreciation of, the art of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public professional concerts and recitals, and by such other ways as the Society through its committee shall determine from time to time.
-
to advance musical education by the provision of free or subsidised concerts to minors and their families.
In furtherance of these objects, but not otherwise, the Society provides six chamber concerts a year to its members and ticket purchasers. It not only engages experienced and acclaimed musicians but also encourages local and younger performers. Young people attend concerts at heavily discounted prices and children of school age attend free of charge.
Public Benefit
The six concerts in our season give the opportunity for the audience to experience high quality live chamber music locally.
For some people, this is a first time experience and even for seasoned concert goers there will be the opportunity to hear unfamiliar repertoire and new compositions.
In preparing this report, the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Six concerts were held during the season. Audience numbers were again lower than in pre-covid seasons. All concerts were of a high standard and well received by audiences, again appreciative of the opportunity to hear live music.
We began the season with an introductory talk at the AGM by musicologist Katy Hamilton, who set the scene musically and had interesting thoughts about possible ways forward for us.
Concert 1 - 09 October 2023
There was a disappointingly small audience for The Sacconi Quartet’s concert. They performed a programme of quartets by Mozart, Britten and Schumann with distinction. Britten’s 3[rd] quartet was especially moving. It was a shame that so few people missed an opportunity to hear playing of the highest quality played by one of the best string quartets in the UK.
Concert 2 - 13 November 2023
The Pelleas Ensemble (Oliver Wass, harp, Luba Tunnicliffe, viola and Henry Roberts, flute) gave a varied and entertaining concert of music by Claude Debussy, Barbara Strozzi, Richard Rodney Bennett, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Ethel Smyth and Sergei Prokofiev. Again, it was a smaller than expected audience.
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Concert 3 - 11 December 2023
Tango Calor (Mirek Salmon, Bandodeon, Daryl Kelly, Guitar and Indira Roman, voice) entertained an audience of Tango enthusiasts with some classics from the tango repertoire. They attracted a larger audience, which demonstrated the power of social media in marketing within a niche area.
Concert 4 - 08 January 2024
After Christmas it was the turn of young musicians from The Royal Northern College of Music to take the stage with an all-Beethoven concert, including both the Op 14 piano sonata and the arrangement of this work for string quartet, together with the mighty Waldstein sonata and string quartet Op 18, finishing with an amusing piano duet. It was joy to give such an enthusiastic group of young musicians a platform to demonstrate their skills and musicality.
Concert 5 - 12 February 2024
Wind players from Sheffield based Ensemble 360, performed an eclectic programme of works by Domenico Scarlatti, Samuel Barber, Luciano Berio, Franz Danzi, Valerie Coleman and Carl Nielsen. This was not at first sight the most accessible music but the audience appreciated the challenge.
Concert 6 - 11 March 2024
This concert was to have been a celebrity recital by Mezzo Soprano Alice Coote and pianist Julius Drake in memory of the late Brian Kealy, who was a founder trustee of the society. Unfortunately, Alice Coote was indisposed but her replacement, Beth Taylor, the young upcoming Scottish Mezzo Soprano gave an outstanding performance of songs by Brahms, Schubert, Sullivan and Harty, together with the version of Elgar’s Sea Pictures for piano. The audience were astounded by the richness of her voice and her vocal range. It was a welcome return to Ripon for our patron, Julius Drake.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overview
Income comes from membership subscriptions, ticket sales, advertising in concert programmes, and donations from individuals. Principal items of expenditure have been artists' fees, venue costs, piano hire and publicity material.
Our aim has always been to try to cover our operating costs with regular income from membership subscriptions, additional ticket sales at individual concerts and regular donations from members. This year, our falling audience numbers, together with the unexpectedly high cost of the sixth concert, resulted in a significant operating deficit and use of our reserves established by The Liz and Terry Brammall Foundation and the Mayor of Harrogate’s Ball fund.
The following is a summary of our Receipts and Payments for the year.
| Operating receipts Operating payments Net payments for the year |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ 16,785 17,436 (27,174) (21,818) |
|
| (10,389) (4,382) |
Reserves Policy
Given that membership fees, ticket sales and donations from members are unlikely to cover the costs of concerts, the trustees consider that it is appropriate to hold sufficient reserves to underpin a complete season of concerts. Free reserves at the year-end were as follows:
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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
| Total funds as at 31/05/2024 Less: Term deposits held to generate funds Free reserves as at 31/05/2024 |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ 38,598 49,407 - (29,017) |
|
| 38,598 20,390 |
FUTURE PLANS
The future of the society was very much in balance following the AGM on 25 September and again after Brian Kealy’s untimely death on 20 December 2023. It was decided however that with two new trustees, some indication of further external support from volunteers and sufficient financial reserves that a 2024-25 season of concerts could be planned. A series of six concerts has been booked.
The longer-term viability of the society is sadly still not secure. More trustees are needed. We need to attract larger audiences and reduce costs. Our reserves are only sufficient to guarantee a further two seasons.
We have decided to move the concerts from Monday evenings to Sunday afternoons in recognition that many of our core audience find nighttime driving difficult. It is hoped that this change will also attract younger generations who are still working or at school and find it difficult to go out on weekday evenings.
We intend to make renewed efforts to secure sponsorship for the concerts, engage less expensive musicians and contain marketing costs by increasing the use of social media to promote concerts. The cost of producing the concert programmes is also under review.
Meanwhile the society aims to continue promoting high quality chamber music concerts in Ripon.
APPROVAL
This report, which has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, was approved by the trustees on 19 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Roger Higson
Roger Higson
Chair
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Cathedral Concert Society
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 11.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act).
You are satisfied that the charity is not required by charity law to have its accounts audited and you have chosen to have an independent examination instead of an audit.
It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner's Statement
Having completed by examination, I confirm that no matter came to my attention giving me cause to believe in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I confirm there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Michael Brougham
Michael Brougham, MCBI FCIE
3 Lyne Grove Crossford Dunfermline KY12 8YB 22 August 2024
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STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
| Receipts Donations Trading receipts / Concerts Investment income / Bank interest Payments Trading payments / Concerts Administration Governance costs Net receipts/(payments) Balance as at 01 June 2023 Balance as at 31 May 2024 |
Note | 2024 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 8 9 10 11 |
£ £ 1,580 1,315 14,676 15,591 529 530 |
|
| 16,785 17,436 |
||
| 23,991 17,266 2,383 4,552 800 - |
||
| 27,174 21,818 |
||
| (10,389) (4,382) 49,267 53,649 |
||
| 38,878 49,267 |
All funds are unrestricted.
The Notes on pages 10 to 11 form an integral part of these accounts.
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 MAY 2024
| Bank & cash Balances Bank term deposits Bank deposit account Bank current account Cash in hand PayPal account Debtors Trade debtors Accrued income (Gift Aid) Liabilities Trade creditors |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ - 29,017 35,596 17,827 3,282 1,071 - 1,106 - 246 |
|
| 38,878 49,267 |
|
| - 700 270 140 |
|
| 270 840 |
|
| 550 700 |
All funds are unrestricted.
The Notes on pages 10 to 11 form an integral part of these accounts.
These accounts, which have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, were approved by the trustees on 19 August 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Roger Higson
Roger Higson
Chair
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
1. Basis of Preparation
These accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
2. Fund Accounting
-
(a) Unrestricted funds are those that can be expended at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the objects of the charity.
-
(b) Restricted funds are those that may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor, or when funds are raised for specific purposes.
Currently all of the charity’s funds are unrestricted.
3. Taxation
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(a) The charity is not liable to corporation tax or capital gains tax on its charitable activities.
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(b) The charity is not registered for VAT, thus all costs are shown inclusive of VAT charged.
4. Trustee remuneration and benefits
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(a) No remuneration was paid to trustees during the year, or in the previous year.
-
(b) The charity's insurance policy includes trustee indemnity insurance cover for all of its trustees. No other benefits were received by the trustees during the year, or in the previous year.
5. Trustee expenses
No expenses were reimbursed to the trustees during the year or in the previous year.
6. Related party transactions
There were no related party transactions during the year, or in the previous year.
7. Donations
| Donations Gift Aid |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ 1,580 1,315 - - |
|
| 1,580 1,315 |
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. Trading receipts (Concerts)
| Concert subscriptions/membership Other ticket sales Advertising Programmes Refreshments and CD sales Trading payments (Concerts) Performers' fees and expenses Venue hire Piano hire Programmes Refreshments and hospitality |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ 6,900 8,600 5,144 4,325 1,640 1,500 443 586 549 580 |
|
| 14,676 15,591 |
|
| 2024 2023 |
|
| £ £ 16,618 10,904 2,731 2,652 1,900 1,815 2,415 1,767 327 128 |
|
| 23,991 17,266 |
9. Trading payments (Concerts)
10. Administration
| Advertising and publicity Bank and payment platform charges Insurance Postage and stationery Social media Website Governance costs Donation in lieu of independent examiner's fee (2 years) |
2024 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ £ 125 500 228 228 323 418 90 - 1,215 1,000 402 2,406 |
|
| 2,383 4,552 |
|
| 2024 2023 |
|
| £ £ 800 - |
|
| 800 - |
11. Governance costs
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