## **GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY Registered Charity No. 1168137** ## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS** **FOR THE PERIOD ENDING 30 June 2022** Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY # **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 June 2022** ## **Trustees in office during the period:** Margaret Adamson Secretary (until 30/11/2021) Jane Ayres Madeline Sebastian Burtenshaw-Snellgrove Secretary (from 17/01/2022) Jennifer Bury Concerts Manager Hamish Charters Marketing Manager Helen Colson Peter Holmes Contracts Manager Michael Hurst Treasurer Andrew Moodie Chairman Robert Riley Vice Chairman ## **Principal Address:** 6 Ardmore Close Gloucester GL4 0BL **Charitable Status:** Gloucester Choral Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. ## **Objectives and Activities** The objects of the Society are to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the Trustees see fit. These objectives have not changed during the year. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The Trustees have reviewed the public benefit nature of the Society and consider it meets the requirements of the Charities Act. In particular, the Society presents concerts, talks and workshops which are open to all and which inspire its audiences and benefit the community as a whole. Particular attention is given to engaging and involving the interest of young people, whether as members of the audience or through the Society’s Choral Apprentices scheme (for students aged between 14 & 18). The Society also offers reduced price tickets to its concerts for school children, students and under-25s. Sadly, due to the impact of Covid-19, the Choral Apprentices scheme has not been operating this season, although we intend to review the scheme and consider how best to re-engage with young people following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. 2 Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY As reported previously, the Trustees started a Choral Scholar scheme where one scholar is recruited per section and paid to improve the quality of sound in each voice part. Following a generally successful beginning to this programme in 2017-18, recruiting suitable applicants for 2018-19 was not successful and the Board chose not to appoint for that season. The organisation and expectations of the scheme remain under review, although this is on hold as a result of Covid-19. The Society engages artists and ensembles of the highest international standards, and supplies a crucial part of the musical provision at Gloucester Cathedral, where most of its concerts are performed. Tours overseas are organised periodically, with the opportunity to perform choral works by British composers to audiences who may be less familiar with the music. These tours are fully funded by the touring members. ## **Review of the Year** During the year under review, the Society promoted the following concerts: - Haydn’s The Creation – this was the first concert to be given by the Society since the country went into lockdown due to Covid-19 and was a thrilling return to performing live music in concert again. - Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in December 2021. - Carols for All – this was a free concert with a charity collection; in 2021, we collected for GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), a local charity offering support to those seeking asylum in Gloucestershire. - Fauré and Stanford – a concert centred around Fauré’s Requiem. - Ralph Vaughan Williams – a concert marking the 150th birthday of Ralph Vaughan Williams, with a selection of his well-known choral works and the delightful _The Lark Ascending_ . In addition to these concerts, GCS also started to offer Hire the Choir bookings again, as Covid-19 restrictions were eased; singing at funerals and private events. Our planned singing tour to Italy, which was postponed due to Covid-19, took place from the end of May until early June 2022. We were honoured to be the first visiting choir to sing mass at St Mark’s Basilica in Venice since the first Covid-19 lockdown. The repertoire of mainly British composers was very popular with the Italian congregations and audiences. ## **Financial Review** The Society experienced a surplus of £2,220 during the period, increasing reserves (now all unrestricted) to £56,502 as at 30th June 2022. Concert ticket sales have been less than before the pandemic, and we have twice used organ accompaniment in place of an orchestra. 3 Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY The Society has a policy “… to progressively build up reserves to around £50k, which sum represents about half of typical turnover”. This level of reserves has been reached, and the Trustees are confident that the current level of activity can therefore be maintained. The Trustees regularly review the Society’s reserves policy, and assess the principal risks associated with the promotion of its concerts and other activities. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Trustees are normally elected from within the membership of the Society at the Annual General Meeting for a period of one year, but may stand for re-election. Skills audits are conducted periodically across the membership to identify specific experience which might prove useful and beneficial for the Society. The constitution also enables non-singing members from outside the choir to be appointed as Trustees, who can thereby broaden the breadth of expertise available to the Society as a whole. The Trustees will ensure that any external Trustees appointed in this manner will be suitably and appropriately qualified. Where Trustees are required to work with the Society’s Choral Apprentices group, statutory DBS checks are carried out in accordance with the Society’s Child Protection Policy. The Society has no employees. It engages the services of its Musical Director and Accompanist, and such other artists, ensembles and orchestras as may be needed to fulfil its annual concert programme. The Society is managed by, and administered through, the Trustees who are elected annually. The Trustees are supported in this work by Committees as set down in the following chart: 4 Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY GCS Structure Chart 2021-2022 Each of the Committees is chaired by an elected Trustee. Membership of the Committees comprises members of the Society with particular interests or expertise, who provide their time voluntarily and without remuneration. The Trustees are dependent on the input from these members, and wish to record their gratitude for their invaluable and continuing contribution to the Society’s achievements. The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Signed ..................................... _Andrew Moodie – Chairman – on behalf of Gloucester Choral Society_ Dated 5 January 2023 . 5 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY Charity number: 1168137 Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of Gloucester Choral Society I report on the accounts of the Charity for the period ended 30, June 2022, which are set out in the attached Statement of Financial Activities ISOFAI, Balance Sheet, and Notes to the Accounts. The trustees of the Charity are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, but that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act,. To follow the procedures laid down in the Eeneral Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act,. and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Inde endent Examiner's Re ort My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directlons glven by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a omparison of the account5 presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual item5 Qr disclosure5 in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given a5 to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. Inde endent examiner5 Staternent In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Charities Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accountinE records- or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts & Reports l Regulations 2008. I have no concerns 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. Myn Cotterill 16 November 2022 Fellow of the A550ciation of Chartered and Certified Accountants GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY Charity number: 1168137 Statement of Financial Activities Notes Unrestricted Restrirted Total 2021r22 Toth] 2020121 In¢ome and endowments from: Donations and legaeles Membership subscriptions Dortatson5. patrons gnd friends income Incomc Tax recovery Lrgaci¢s Charitable activities Ticket rxeip Other charitable actLYLtLes Foreign Tour Othtr trading 8¢tiThities Bxnk interest Other 19.188 A689 4.826 19,188 6.689 4326 8.719 6.204 2.852 15,OlX) 20,780 .456 59,090 .250 42 20,780 IA56 $9,090 1350 42 420 105 113.320 113J20 33,305 ExpeTtditi]re on: Raising fund5 ChiritAble Ictiviti Concerts- Professional musicians 683 17.838 15.696 14.057 3,430 I7￿8 15.096 14,057 3A30 978 Concerts- other costs R¢hearsal costs Other charitable costs Young Singers Foreign iour AdrntniS￿11on Other 5,286 1,322 57.859 .537 57JS9 lJ37 1.0 1.134 Tolal 4.5 I11.(199 10,3?0 2,220 2J20 22,985 Transfers betwten funds none RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Tfptslfunds broughifofword Tolalfunds carriedJonv4rd 54.281 56.502 281 56 J02 31.297 54,281 These occounls were approvedby ihtr BoardofTru$iees athl were s¢gnedon 11$ beI￿lIfty.. Al￿￿￿eW Moodie (Chairman) Michael Hursi (Tre￿llrer) s /iz/)2 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY Charity number: 1168137 Year endin 30106r2022 Notes 2021 22 2020,21 Current assets Cash ￿ bank and in hend 58.455 59,450 Trnde debtors 2(K) PNMvments Accrued income 11,774 4.826 3,077 62,528 Total current assets 75255 75.255 62.528 Liabilities Tr￿e ¢reditors 10,245 542 Accnjals 5.972 tkferred income 175 Totsl current liabilities 16,216 -16.216 1.497 ,497 Tot81 Current assets less current liabilities 59,039 61,030 Pmvisions for liabiliti¢s SJ -1537 -6.749 Total net assets 54281 The funds of the charity Reslrieiedfunds Young Sing¢rs (segregated) Unreslrlcledfunds Gen¢ral Fund 30.497 31,662 584 Tour Fur]d (desig[￿ed) Sponsorship Fund (designated) L*gacy Fund (d¢signat¢d) 2.765 8,240 7.036 15.0¢)0 15.(X 56,502 56.502 54,281 54,281 Totsl charity funds 5&502 54281 Andrew Moodie (Chair) r/12/'zz Michael Hurs¢ (Treasurer) Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ending 30 June 2022** ## **1 Company information** Gloucester Choral Society (GCS) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO - registered number 1168137) which performs choral works and promotes a variety of musical events for the benefit of the community as a whole. It was incorporated on 8th July 2016, and inherited the assets and liabilities of the former unincorporated Gloucester Choral Society (registered number 900118). None of the trustees (nor any persons connected with them) received any remuneration, benefits or expenses from GCS during the period. There were no related party transactions during the period. There were no employees during the period. ## **2 Accounting policies** These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard (FRS 102) and the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities (SORP). At the time of approving the accounts, the Trustees' have a reasonable expectation that GCS has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these accounts. All the charity’s funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives. Income is recognised when GCS is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received. Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once GCS has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid is recognised at the time of the donation. Any income specifically relating to a project in a subsequent year is treated as deferred income. Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Any expenditure specifically relating to a project in a subsequent year is usually treated as accrued expenditure. ## **3 Comparison with previous accounting period** The impact of Covid-19 on the previous accounting period distorts any comparison. The current period includes a foreign tour which inflated gross income and expenditure. ## **4 Statement of Financial Activities** ## **4.1 Donations and Legacies** Donations includes some sponsorship money allocated to designated funds. - **4.2 Charitable Activities - Income** The figure for other charitable activities is mainly the sale of concert programmes. - **4.3 Other Trading Activities** This represents gross proceeds from fundraising activities. - **4.4 Charitable Activities - Expenditure** - The figure given for payments to professional musicians does not include rehearsals. The foreign tour was to Italy. ## **5 Balance Sheet** ## **5.1 Current Assets** 9 Charity number: 1168137 GLOUCESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ## **Cash at bank and in hand** |Cash|nil| |---|---| |CAF Bank current account|£2,613| |CAF Bank Gold Deposit|£55,841| **Accrued income** is Gift Aid tax that has been claimed but not received by year end. ## **5.2 Liabilities** **Trade creditors** are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. The amount is principally prepayments for next season. ## **5.3 Provisions** Performing Rights liabilities for concerts are not yet known accurately. There are also provisions for unclaimed refunds for a cancelled workshop before the pandemic. ## **5.4 Analysis of net assets between funds** GCS holds currently holds no restricted funds. There are designated funds for foreign tours, sponsorship and a legacy. |||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**||**Total **| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||General
Fund|Tour
Fund|Sponsorship
Fund|Legacy|Total
Funds| |Brought
forward|£31,661|£584|£7,036|£15,000|£54,281| |Carried
forward|£30,497|£2,765|£8,240|£15,000|£56,502| 10