Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO 31 AUGUST 2024
Contents
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| About Chiltern Arts | 2 |
| Chair’s Report | 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 - 10 |
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
Address 9 Townsend Gate Berkhamsted HP4 2FZ Trustees who served during the year David Peter Lillycrop (Chair) Sophia Ahrel Anne Bolton Rev’d Canon Rosie Harper Alexander Taylor George Vass Creative Director Naomi Taylor Objects of Chiltern Arts To advance the education of the public in the arts in all its branches, particularly music, literature and visual arts. To promote the arts for the benefit of the public, particularly, but not exclusively, by the establishment of an annual series of events (a Festival) that aims to advance excellence in the arts as specified above.
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
Chair’s Report
Chiltern Arts demonstrated again this year that it has found its own unique place on the festival spectrum. While bringing the finest artists to some of the loveliest settings imaginable across our hilly patch is what we have always done, the programmes on offer have taken a fascinating turn. Increasingly, they have featured words, used either to enhance or explain music, or sometimes to take centre stage. While every Chiltern Arts festival has been built around an identified theme, this year the diversity of events has allowed the theme to be explored in ways not previously attempted.
A good start point was Shostakovich: Life, Friendship & Letters , performed by the incomparable Carducci Quartet and reader Anton Lesser. This combination worked wonderfully for Beethoven in 2023, and if anything this year’s performance outdid its predecessor. Just as effective was an evening of James Runcie reading from his book The Great Passion , the story of Bach’s young pupil Stefan Silbermann, illuminated through the music of the time played by gifted violinist Fenella Humphreys.
The spoken word with music featured once again in the City Soundscapes concert, in Henley. The brilliant saxophonist Huw Wiggin, with Noriko Ogawa on piano and Oliver Wass on harp, did wonderful things with Bach, Gershwin and contemporary composer Phibbs among others, and for the first time the trio collaborated with our very own Naomi Taylor who read a series of poems selected to complement the music surrounding them. Also in Henley, the Brompton String Quartet set their programme of Mozart and Haydn in context with a sensitive account of the pair’s friendship, inviting us to imagine we were Wolfgang hearing Joseph for the first time. Back in Risborough we enjoyed the story of Felix’s sister on the big screen, in Fanny: The Other Mendelssohn.
As ever, the festival provided the best of sung words too. I Fagiolini ’s closing concert of Italian masterpieces proved that the works of composers like Monteverdi and Benevoli are as magical today as they were four centuries ago. A few days previously, in Henley, The Gesualdo Six had enchanted us with sacred music from a yet earlier century before joining our Festival Chorus – formed for the occasion under Gesualdo Six’s director, Owain Park – in a memorable performance of Fauré’s Requiem.
Our second event afloat – Alive and Gigging with poet Roger McGough – brought the spoken word front and centre, as did Cathi Rae’s poetry workshop and performance, the latter proving an unexpectedly cathartic experience for some. The Whiteleaf Woodland Walk combined informative reflections on the natural environment with absorbing readings of texts by Robert Macfarlane and poems such as Maya Angelou’s When Great Trees Fall. Broadcaster and author Stephen Johnson joined us in Princes Risborough to relate how Shostakovich changed his – Stephen’s – mind, a fascinating exploration of music and neurodiversity.
Three more courses for the feast were provided by our young artist ‘Take Note’ performers for 2024. Natrio Ensemble’s three trumpets enlivened our afternoon with a song-and-dance-themed concert: a fine way to hear Piazzolla’s Libertango. Bledlow’s gorgeous Holy Trinity church provided a fitting setting for a recital of French Baroque music by Samuel Ng and Kristiina Watt. Lastly, and only just in time, the remarkable Alinde Wind Quintet flew in from Prague for their Year of Czech Music concert in Hughenden.
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
While the Festival was, therefore, an outstanding success, and one achieved only as a result of the combined efforts of our tiny in-house team, our indefatigable band of volunteers, and the group of trustees it is my honour to chair, we continue to face financial challenges at every turn. A cursory look at this year’s Statement of Financial Activities may give a different and misleading impression: the Net Income shown, while striking, is largely the result of a partial waiver of a long-term loan extended to the charity by a trustee at foundation. We are grateful to him for this most generous act, but as our Balance Sheet reveals, we remain overall significantly in debt and are thus – in common with many in our sector – dependent on philanthropy and sponsorship for our survival and development. Happily, as the growing support for our ListenUp youth initiative is showing, Chiltern Arts under Naomi Taylor’s leadership has many exciting ideas to bring forward, and we remain optimistic that we will find more partners to join us on our journey.
David Lillycrop
Date:
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Chiltern Arts
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Chiltern Arts (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 August 2024 which comprise the summary of receipts and payments and the statement of assets and liabilities.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no audit opinion on the accounts and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed: Kolert Pugram
Date:
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
Statement of Financial Activities for the year to August 31st 2024
| Notes Income from Donations & Sponsorships Donation from loan waiver 5 Charitable activities Concerts Grants Membership Fees Gift Aid 8 Other trading activities 2 Interest earned Total Income Expenditure on Charitable Activities Concert Costs Outreach Publicity Consultants & Expenses Insurance Sundries Total Expenditure Net Income / (Expenditure) |
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 £ 8,340 27,500 26,176 10,795 5,566 9,699 52,236 450 123 573 88,649 36,790 536 4,428 4,781 744 4,876 52,155 36,494 |
1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 (As restated) £ 23,444 29,378 6,400 5,458 |
|---|---|---|
| 41,236 | ||
| 0 0 |
||
| 0 | ||
| 64,679 | ||
| 49,646 6,883 7,118 722 2,545 |
||
| 66,915 | ||
| (2,235) |
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
| Balance Sheet as at | 31st Aug 2024 | 31st Aug 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| (As restated) | |||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at Bank | 23,189 | 14,195 | |
| Cash in Hand | 250 | 250 | |
| 23,439 | 14,445 | ||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 23,439 | 14,445 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 23,439 | 14,445 | |
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due after more than one year | 5 | (52,500) | (80,000) |
| NET ASSETS / (LIABILITIES) | (29,061) | (65,555) | |
| FUNDS | |||
| Unrestricted funds b/f | (65,555) | (63,320) | |
| Surplus for Year | 36,494 | (2,235) | |
| TOTAL FUNDS at year end | (29,061) | (65,555) |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on and were signed on its behalf by:
……………………………………………….. ED25A4E739E74F4...
Anne Bolton - Trustee
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
Notes to the Financial Statements for the 12 month period to 31 August 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charities (Accounts and Reports) regulations 2008 and Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
Going Concern
The accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis as the trustees consider that there are sufficient cash resources for the charity’s operations to continue beyond the next 12 months. As will be seen from note 5 the substantial loan is on generous terms with an expected repayment date in excess of 5 years.
Income and expenditure
The Charity’s accounts are prepared on a cash basis. There are no significant debts or credits at the year end.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Plant and machinery
25% of cost
All tangible fixed assets are completely depreciated at the balance sheet date.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The Charity has one employee who earned less than the pensionable threshold. Consequently, the Trustees do not provide a workplace pension scheme.
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596
12 months to 31 August 2024
2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
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3. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
No fees were paid to a Trustee during the period. (2023 £nil)
4. STAFF COSTS
The charity had one employee during the period (2023: 1) who has waived her right to salary and benefits.
5. LOANS
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!"#$&' !"#$&' ()+,-./ ()+,-.( 0+1$"1&#&"23 627222 627222 2 2 =L?7/22@ 2 2 /L7/22 627222 |
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The lender has confirmed their intention not to call for repayment, in whole or in part, before October 2031. If their intention should change at any time, they will endeavour to give the Charity at least 12 months’ notice thereof. The loan is interest free.
During the year, £27,500 of the loan was waived by the lender and converted to a donation.
Prior Year Adjustment
It has been noted that the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2019 overstated a loan that was outstanding; the overstatement was repeated in successive sets of accounts thereafter, including those for the year ended 31 August 2023. The loan amount outstanding on those dates and throughout the intervening period was £80,000, not £90,000 as previously stated. In addition, the brought forward reserves in the prior year is now correctly
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Chiltern Arts REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1171596 12 months to 31 August 2024
restated as (£63,320), not (£73,320). The corrected amount appears in the Balance Sheet on page 7 of these accounts in the 31 August 2023 column.
6. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
| Alexander Taylor David Lillycrop |
Year to 31-Aug-24 27,500 5,000 32,500 |
Year to 31-Aug-23 15,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 |
7. GRANTS
Grants totalling £10,795 (2023 £6,400) were received during the period, from the following organisations:
Foyle Foundation Henley-on-Thames Town Council Marlow Town Council The Carrington Charitable Trust Princes Risborough Town Council
In addition, support was received during the year from
Worshipful Company of Musicians Fine & Country Hobbs of Henley Chiltern Railways
8. GIFT AID
Gift aid has been identified separately in the year ending August 2024. Whilst received in previous years, it was included in the donations income.
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