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2024-03-31-accounts

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Annual Report of the Trustee Executive Committee of Rising Voices Wessex – 2023-2024

The Executive Committee of Rising Voices Wessex Community Choirs presents its annual report, covering the period from May 2023 to May 2024 and the accounting year ending March 2024.

Rising Voices Wessex supports adults affected by cancer, offering the benefits of making music singing in a community-style choir. It was initially launched on 8[th] January 2013 as a project funded by the by the Dorser Cancer Network to determine if there was local demand and whether singing in the choir proved beneficial. Initial assessment showed both to be the case, the choir continued.

Rising Voices Wessex became a registered charity in January 2016 and is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Community Action Network

Music communicates with individuals at times of difficulty offering benefits for many chronic medical conditions. Rising Voices Wessex , based in the Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole (BCP) conurbation, was established to support people in the community whose lives have been affected by cancer – whether as patients, those bereaved through cancer or carers. Rising Voices Wessex promotes the concept of living well “after cancer”.

Over the past 3 years Rising Voices Wessex has been on a “journey” of recovery following the effects of the Covid pandemic and its associated restrictions. These posed major musical and financial challenges. Choir membership dropped to less than 50% or prepandemic levels and income from donations at rehearsal attendance by 67%. Resources from the Lottery Grant awarded in 2019 have, in effect, proved to be crucial to the survival of Rising Voices Wessex through and following the pandemic.

During pandemic restrictions, the Trustee Board prioritised maintaining the choirs’ activity through Zoom and virtual events in order to sustain the empathetic and supportive network intrinsic to the choir. This provided valuable support during a very challenging time of increased anxiety and social isolation for many. Professional music direction was retained.

This did incur significant expenditure but both the choir members and Rising Voices Wessex as an organisation benefitted from this decision. Rising Voices Wessex remained “open” and was able to resume its normal activity directly after restrictions were lifted. Unfortunately, initial post-pandemic membership numbers were low, reflecting a general trend experienced by similar entities in that period. During 2023 it became clear that continuing with both the Bournemouth and Poole choirs was not viable in the short to

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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medium term. The decision was taken by the Trustee Board to suspend the Bournemouth choir and focus on rebuilding numbers through the Poole based choir at St John’s Church in Upper Parkstone. Bournemouth choir numbers were frequently in single figures which was both musically and financially unviable.

Understanding and support in respect of this change by the membership has generally been positive and regular attendance at Poole is now approaching 30 each week – for better financial viability a weekly attendance of 40 is desirable – and potentially achievable.

Rising Voices Wessex has performed at various charity events in the conurbation, especially those associated with cancer - further promoting singing for health and wellbeing as a means of living well with or after cancer. Importantly they also demonstrate the power of singing to build improved mental health. Public performances are a key objective and are important in the following respects:

Significant past performances that have boosted the choir’s profile and sense of achievement include:

Rising Voices Wessex has had a busy but effective year in 2023-24 as indicated by the summary of its events below.

Rising Voices Wessex events in 2023 – 2024

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

Highlights 2023 – 2024 include:

The Abbeyfield Concert at Romsey Abbey, Singing at the Christmas Fair in Rhinefield House, The Christmas Concert, The Big ABBA Singalong and Absolute Music Recording Studio.

Our professional music video is available on YouTube https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fgVgYbZfJKI and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RisingVoicesChoir/videos/932243648901371

Following nomination by UK Music, Rising Voices Wessex were honoured to receive an invite to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Creative Industries. Noeline Young and her daughter Hannah attended on behalf of the charity.

Rising Voices Wessex continues to appreciate the support and hospitality of St John’s Church, Parkstone, Poole for its weekly rehearsals. It is also appreciative of the equivalent support given by The New Church, Tuckton, Bournemouth where it met for rehearsals prior to the suspension of the Bournemouth choir from October 2023.

Musical Directors’ report 2023-24

This is my third year of directing Rising Voices Wessex and it has been an exciting one that has seen many changes, not least the amalgamation of the two choirs into one super choir! The stronger sound and the confidence gained from our members from having a strong core group has meant the choir is now growing again and we have welcomed quite a few new members in to the fold this year.

It has also been as always, a year of sad news, the loss of one of our founder members, Jean, was a shock to all of us and many members have faced health challenges. It is a testament to the care and commitment of our members that those who face such challenges

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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are supported and carried through their process and I have witnessed this happen time and time again.

Our outreach into the wider community continued this year as we welcomed Ian Roberts, one of most supportive local musicians, as a trustee. His expertise in business has already helped us make some very needed changes to our structure. We continue to work and invite the local musical community to work and support the Choir and this brings great benefit to all involved.

Christmas is always our biggest time of outreach for the Choir and we surpassed ourselves this year as we were in much demand in many shopping centres and care homes! The highlight was indeed the Christmas Concert which was perhaps a turning point for the Choir in terms of performance, the sound, balance and overall tightness of our delivery was obvious to all and I did wipe a tear or two of happiness at the sheer beauty of it.

Our recording at Absolute Music Studios, who have always been supportive of us, was a tremendously exciting experience for many who had never had the chance to record professionally and we had so much fun in the process.

This Easter saw us invited back to a local church, St Aldhelm's, as part of their lunch time recital series. The sheer professionalism of our performances was obvious to all. We have perfected a core repertoire of songs that communicate and carry the sentiment of our community and this always reached our audiences, but now the delivery has taken that to another level and the feedback we receive affirms the progress we have made.

And now we have the Eco Fair and Summer concert to prepare for. As a director, I can look forward to bringing new material and reworking the old with the trust and communication that takes time to establish, but is always a pleasure to work with when supportive and positive. I believe we have made an effort to maintain the positivity of our community and have overcome those situations that inevitably try to shake us and now we are bearing the fruit of our dedications!

Well done to all of those who continue to give their time and effort to keep the choir alive and kicking!

How Rising Voices Wessex makes a difference:

The charity’s overall strategy continually aims to try and capture the benefits of being part of the choir through the use of a simple questionnaire. Annual Survey Monkey questionnaires are utilised by Rising Voices Wessex to obtain feedback and an indication of how much members benefit from being part of the choir – full results from the survey are available on the website at https://www.risingvoices.org.uk/about-us/governance-documents

Key findings from the survey include the following quotes and observations from choir members taken from the March 2024 survey:

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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There were 24 respondents to the online March 2024 Annual Survey Results which show the benefits to both mental health and wellbeing from attending choirs and include the questions and responses below :

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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I feel that attending Rising Voices Wessex has improved my…

Since attending Rising Voices Wessex I no longer feel…

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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Management, Governance and Administration

As a registered charity Rising Voices Wessex is managed at a strategic level by a Board of Trustees drawn principally from the community. The Board encompasses a range of professional backgrounds - clinical, musical, finance and business – appropriate to the needs of the charity. The Chairman and other Trustees are appointed (and may be reappointed) at the Annual General Meeting.

The skill mix of Trustees is subject to review to enable succession planning and optimum balance of expertise. There are currently two unfilled Trustee vacancies which are advertised on the website and locally; the Trustees may also approach suitable skilled and qualified individuals to become Trustees - obtaining new Trustees with the right skills and understanding of the work of Rising Voices Wessex is a priority as the board looks to securing its long-term sustainability and ongoing development.

Executive Trustee Board members are:

Dr Alastair Smith (Trustee Chair) will be resigning as Chair following the 2024 AGM. Mrs Noeline Young (Trustee Vice-chair) has indicated her willingness to serve as Trustee Chair and to aid transition and engagement of new Trustees. The Trustee Board was delighted to co-opt and welcome Mr Ian Roberts, a local businessman and musician, to the board during 2023-24

Rising Voices Wessex aims to continue with a dynamic and active Trustee Board that ensures its continued status as a registered charity. The critical benefit to members of Rising Voices Wessex remaining as a charity is that singing is made available to those affected by cancer at minimal cost – there is no subscription required, accessibility thus is a critical part of the project. In this context Rising Voices Wessex remains on the lookout for suitable individuals with the necessary skills who would be able to take the charity forward.

Operational management and administration continue to be undertaken by a Steering Group that consists of two of the current Trustees with volunteer choir members, capitalizing on the range of skills that members can offer. The Steering Group meets monthly and reports to the board of Trustees. The Musical Director and Co-director are also part of the Steering Group.

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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Rising Voices Wessex aims to present a professional image that highlights its identity in public performance. Members wear black clothing with royal blue accessories for formal evening performances; for informal daytime events members wear Rising Voices Wessex badged polo shirts and fleeces.

Members pay a lower than cost price to Rising Voices Wessex for these garments; members on joining also receive a folder for music and song lyrics in the choirs’ repertoire.

Financial summary 2023-2024

Presently, overall donated income remains significantly reduced. As numbers at rehearsals start to increase this will provide income through the suggested donation for those attending of £5.00. A Benefactors’ scheme has been initiated which has also helped the financial position.

The successful National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities application from May 2021 has continued to provide critical support during and in the aftermath of the pandemic restrictions. The award is an ongoing contribution towards running costs over a five-year period – in this past year it has ensured the survival of Rising Voices Wessex in the critical post-Covid recovery period – across the board the profound effect of the Covid pandemic on normal social activities continues to be experienced. It this seems likely that recovery will be slow and steady process.

In 2023 - 2024 Rising Voices Wessex has received generous grant support from the Hendy Foundation, towards the costs of the Big ABBA Singalong to which other choirs and the public were invited to take part. There was also a grant, from Dorset Community Foundation to support promotion and publicity for the choir and valuable support from Palm Print and the Douch family in supporting its concerts.

Following initial funding in 2012 by the Dorset Cancer Network, Rising Voices Wessex has sought and received ongoing financial support from various other sources, these include:

Financial Review

Income: We saw an increase in income in the year, from £28.6k in 22-23 to £31.0k in 23-24. The principal reason for this was an increase in grant income in addition to amounts received from the National Lottery (£12.5k), securing c.£5.5k of additional grant income. Other income relating to choir contributions, regular donations and other activities was c.£13.0k.

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

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Expenditure: Expenditure was £26.4k in 23-24, a reduction of £2.8k from 22-23. The primary reason was a reduction in function and support costs. The bulk of expenditure was incurred on professional fees being £18.9k, the cost of venues of £3.3k, storage of £1.1k and admin and other costs of £3.1k.

We expect expenditure to remain at similar levels in 24-25.

The net trading position was a surplus of £4.6k reflecting an operational shortfall of £7.9k, offset by Lottery grant income of £12.5k. In 24-25 we forecast that the operational shortfall will be a deficit of £16.5k before Lottery income of £12k.

Cash: The cash position at 31 March 2024 was £20.5k, an increase of £4.6k from £15.9k in March 2023. With known and anticipated income in 24-25, the charity has sufficient resources to continue operations for more than 12 months.

Thanks, and acknowledgments:

Thanks are due to all those who continue to support the choirs – many have done so since its foundation; the additional commitment of members ‘old and new’ is so important to the ongoing existence of the choir. Help with fundraising, running raffles, support at venues for events and making cakes are all examples of the terrific support given by members.

Thanks also to those involved in the administration of the day to day running of the choirs by the Steering Group.

The Trustees thank Musical Director, Wendy Morrow, and co-director, Mark Anstead, for their musical and technical support.

Thanks, are also due to Lucia Sanchis and Paul Querol. Lucia has stepped back from the role of administrator as she and her husband Paul have started a new business enterprise. Their support and contribution to Rising Voices Wessex has been invaluable . We thank them and wish them every success in their new business.

Signed: 4[th] June 2024

Chair of the Trustee - Dr Alastair Smith

Vice Chair of the Trustees – Mrs Noeline Young

Rising Voices Wessex Annual Report 2024. Registered Charity 1165053

Charity Name No (if any) Rising Voices Wessex 1165053 Receipts and payments accounts

For the period Period start date from 01-Apr-23

Period end date 31-Mar-24

To

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds

Total funds Last year

Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds		 Total funds Last year
A1 Receipts to the nearest £
4,827
5,200
18,060
2,894
-
30,981
-
-
-
30,981
18,872
3,267
727
2,383
1,161
-
26,411
-
-
-
26,411
4,570
-
15,889
20,459		 to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 to the nearest £
4,827
5,200
18,060
2,894
-
-
-
-
30,981
-
-
-
30,981
18,872
3,267
727
2,383
-
1,161
-
-
-
26,411
-
-
-
26,411
4,570
-
15,889
20,459		 to the nearest £
Choir contributions 4,827 11,654
Other donations 5,200 3,386
Grants 18,060 13,500
Oher activities 2,894 66
-
-
-
- -
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 30,981 28,606
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
-
 -
~~Sub total~~ - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
28,606
Professional Costs 18,872 18,214
Premises Expenses(Venues) 3,267 2,135
Stationery& Printing 727 214
Admin Expenses 2,383 3,533
Function Expenses(BS) 4,143
Premises Costs(Storage) 1,161 1,006
Purchase of Merchandise -
-
- -
**Sub total ** 26,411 29,245
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
-
-
**Sub total ** - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
29,245
4,570 - - 4,570 - 639
- - - - -
15,889 - - 15,889 16,528
20,459 - - 20,459 15,889

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

31/01/2025

1

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities		 Details
Current account
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details
Details
Details
Details
Signature		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
20,459
-
-
-
-
-
20,459
-
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

31/01/2025

2

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru8t8es Rising Voices Wessex Community Choirs On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charlty no Ilf any) 1165053 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust") for the year ended 3110312024. 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 ACV). I report in respect of my examination of Ihe Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(b} of Ihe 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 gives me ause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounls did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I hav8 no GOn￿rnS and have come across no other matters 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 reached. Slgned: Date: 1(3 Name: Rèlevant professional qualificatlonls} or body (if any): hcch 1£027£l Address: IER Oct 2018

Section 8 Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. diredions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018