2023-07-31-accounts - Natural Voice Network

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Natural Voice Network Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Registered charity 1171644

Trustees annual report and Financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2023

Natural Voice Network CIO

Annual report of the trustees for the year ended 31 July 2023

The trustees present their annual report together with financial statements for the period under review. The trustees have adopted Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

The attached financial statements cover the year ended 31 July 2023.

Objectives and activities

The objects of the charity, as stated in its governing document, are the advancement of the art of natural voice singing with the public through the maintenance, development and improvement of the practice of natural voice and community song, and in particular the development of practitioners.

These objectives are achieved by:

providing opportunities for practitioners to share information, ideas, materials, skills and experiences
organising and supporting training events and conferences
publicising and promoting the work of the organisation and the activities of singing practitioners and choirs
seeking funding and acquiring resources to support the work of the charity and its members
promoting and developing good practice and high standards in the field of natural voice and community song, by encouraging members to undertake training and continuing professional development
producing publications which are a resource for practitioners and choirs

The trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.

Achievements and performance

During the year under review, the charity offered a wide range of support for those working with voice and song and participants in natural voice choirs.

We did this by:

Supporting the 650+ members to find training and support locally to them, using a monthly email that highlights all the training opportunities offered by members
Promoting natural voice singing by maintaining a regular newsletter including all the opportunities for singing, nationally and internationally
Arranging an In Person Annual Gathering of NVN practitioners , offering the opportunity for Networking, CPD through Workshops, re-booting of Regional Groups and song sharing
Arranging an online annual gathering of NVN practitioners with opportunities for networking as well as song learning, and workshops on a huge variety of themes
Launching the re-designed and vastly improved NVN website. This will:
⁃ Highlight the work of the Network
⁃ Enable members and non-members to find song leaders and singing groups in their area
⁃ Enable members to find resources for their professional development through the collections of articles, research reports, toolkits, blogs, podcasts, and other resource
Continuing the support to members in the Facebook members-only discussion forum where ideas and

questions can be shared and answered and good practice disseminated

Entering a partnership with Singing for Health and a loose association with Making Music
Developing connections with other relevant projects including being invited to judge on the Making Music Annual awards
Continuing to facilitate research by
⁃ a PhD student into natural voice singing
⁃ a Diploma student into the re-teaching of songs taught by ear
Using the anti-racism and cultural honouring (ARCH) levy to
⁃ Support the attendance at the AG 2023 of 3 non-NVN persons of the Global Majority
⁃ Support the Black Lives Matter Commissioning project whereby 8 composers of colour were invited to create new songs for sale and use worldwide
⁃ Support 3 projects with c£2000 through the April/May award process
Work of the ARCH steering group has been seen by them to have been completed now that the ARCH principles and ethos have been incorporated into the running of the organisation
Running an on-line study day on Gender Inclusion (‘Welcoming Trans and Non-Binary People to Your Singing Group’) which was open to partner and associated groups
Engaging as a Trustees Board in further work on inclusion and anti -racism, by taking part in a number of on-line training events regarding Equity, Difference and Inclusion, run by NCBI, and starting to read ‘Me and White Supremacy’ as a study text for our personal engagement, by using Whatsapp to share our personal responses to that text

Financial review

The principal funding source of the charity is membership subscriptions.

A summary of the charity’s financial transactions during the year is as follows:

	21-22		22-23
	£		£
	43141	Incoming resources	72992
	52682	Resources expended	82044
	_____		_____
£	(9541)	Net (defcit)	£ (9052)
	41736	Balance at start of year	32195
	_____		_____
£	32195	Balance at end of year	£ 23143
	_____		_____
	643	Membership at start of year	643
	674	Membership at end of year	667

Reserves

The charity aims to hold a level of reserves to continue its activities by covering operational costs and emergency expenditure, to manage cash flow and mitigate any downturn in income. The charity is also obliged

to pay advance deposits on venues for events and if an event did not take place, the charity might forfeit the deposits and be liable for other associated costs. The trustees have agreed that the charity’s bank account should not fall below a figure representing 50% of annual membership income. The trustees consider the current level of general reserves is necessary and appropriate taking into account continuing commitments.

Structure, governance and management

Natural Voice Network is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) with voting members other than its trustees, formed on 16 February 2017. It is a registered charity in England and Wales (number 1171644) and operates under a constitution adopted upon incorporation.

The charity’s principal address is 10 St. Albans Road, Sheffield, S10 4DP.

The charity is managed by trustees appointed at the AGM by the members. Additional trustees may be coopted between AGMs by existing trustees, but must be confirmed in office at the subsequent AGM. The constitution limits the term of individual trustees to periods of four consecutive years. The trustees meet several times a year and are in regular contact remotely.

Trustees who served during the during the year under review were:

	Co-opted	Elected	Stood down
Frances Andre		09.01.21	14.01.23
Jessica Baker		09.01.21
Rebecca Ballard (treasurer)	01.07.19	11.01.20	14.01.23
Tembre de Carteret		14.01.23
James Dawes		09.01.22
Siobhan Donnelly		09.01.22
Lisa Doscher	30.09.22	14.01.23
Satnam Galsian		09.01.22
Rose Hodgson		14.01.23
Neal Jolly (treasurer)	08.06.22	14.01.23
Kirsty Martin		09.01.21	08.06.22
Chris Samuel		09.01.21	14.01.23
Roxane Smith		11.01.20
Kate Valentine		14.01.23

No remuneration or waiving of subscriptions were given to trustees. Details of expenses reimbursed

The trustees declare that they have approved the above report

Neal Jolly Trustee

Date: 27 November 2023

Natural Voice Network CIO Statement of financial activities for the year ended

31 July 2023

	21-22
				note
	£		£
		Incoming resources
		Charitable activities:
	29649	Membership subscriptions	30123	1
	8405	Events	37478	2
	1687	Publications	2146	3
	1365	Workshops	60
	2035	ARCH levy	3185	5
	___		___
£	43141		72992
	___		___
		Resources expended
		Charitable activities:
	41049	General charitable activities	31782	4
	10188	Events	43363	2
	745	Publications	1036	3
	700	Workshops	500
		Event bursaries including annual gathering	1774
		ARCH grants	3589	5
	___		___
£	52682		82044
	___		___
£	(9541)	Net movement in funds (defcit)	£ (9052)
	41736	Balance at 1 August 2022	32195
	___		___
£	32195	Balance at 31 July 2023	£ 23143
	___		___

Natural Voice Network CIO Balance sheet 31 July 2023

			Balance sheet 31 July 2023
		21-22
						note
	£	£		£	£
			Current assets
	2064		Stocks		1644
	6485		Debtors & prepayments		3396	6
	41446		Cash at bank		36313
	_				_
	49995				41353
			Creditors: amounts falling due within one		year
		17210	Amounts received in advance	17322		7
		590	Creditors & accruals	888
	17800	______		______	18210
	_				_
£	32195		Total net assets		£ 23143
	_				_
			Funds of the charity
	2035		Restricted funds		1631	5
	30160		Unrestricted funds		21512
	_				_
£	32195				£ 23143
	_				_

Approved by the trustees on 27 November 2023 Signed on their behalf by

Neal Jolly Trustee/Treasurer

Natural Voice Network CIO Accounting policies Year ended 31 July 2022

Summary of significant accounting policies

a) General information and basis of preparation

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2015 as updated through Update Bulletin 1, published on 2 February 2016, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP).

The charity does not include a cash flow statement as it is applying FRS 102 Section 1A.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies are consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

b) Funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised or allocated by the charity for particular purposes.

c) Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Membership subscriptions are apportioned to each accounting year with the amount relating to the subsequent year shown as received in advance (note 6).

d) Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Where deposits are paid for services to be delivered after the year end, and at the time of accounts preparation have been delivered or there is reasonable expectation that the services will be delivered, these are allocated to the subsequent year and are therefore included as prepayments (note 5).

Grants payable to third parties are within the charitable objectives. Where unconditional grants are offered, this is accrued as soon as the recipient is notified of the grant, as this gives rise to a reasonable expectation that the recipient will receive the grant. Where grants are conditional to performance then the grant is only accounted for when payment becomes due, but is noted as a capital commitment if significant.

e) Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for twelve months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

Natural Voice Network CIO Notes to Accounts

for the year ended 31 July 2023

21-22

1 Membership income

				Number of members:
				31 July 2021		643
				31 July 2022		674
				31 July 2023		667
	£	£			£	£
	29474			Membership subscriptions		29962
	175			E-mail services		161
	__					__
£	29649				£	30123
	__					__
				Subscriptions are allocated to each accounting year with the amount
				relating to the subsequent year shown as received in advance (note 7).
			2	Events
				*Annual gathering*
	8405			Fees received from participants		37478
				Less: expenses:
				Venue hire	31383
				Event organiser	4313
				Organising committee accommodation	834
				Organising committee travel	30
		650		Tutor fees, travel & accommodation	2251
		7241		Recording, videography, streaming	1710
				Sundry expenses and offce costs	305
		207		Payment processing fees	707
	8098	__			__	41533
	__					__
	£ 307			Operating defcit for year	£	(4055)
				Additional expenditure:
		2090		Administration charge	1560
				Accommodation for administrator	270
	2090	__			__	1830
	_					_
£	(1783)			Defcit after additional expenditure	£	(5885)
	_					_
				*Total*
	8405			Income		37478
	10188			Expenditure		43363
	__					__
£	(1783)			Defcit for year	£	(5885)
	__					__

Natural Voice Network CIO Notes to Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023

				Natural Voice Network CIO Notes to Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023
		21-22
	£	£			£	£
			3	Publications
				*To Grace the Earth*
	350			Sales		690
				Less : expenditure
	7			Payment processing fees		14
	__					__
	£ 343			Surplus for year		£ 676
	__					__
				*This Room Sings*
	1337			Sales		1456
				Less : expenditure
		427		Production costs	659
		141		Administration charge	168
		144		Postage and packing	169
		26		Payment processing fees	26
	738	__			__	1022
	__					__
	£ 599			Surplus for year		£ 434
	__					__
				*Total*
	1687			Income		2146
	745			Expenditure		1036
	__					__
	£ 942			Surplus for year		£ 1110
	__					__
			4a	Resources expended on general charitable	activities
	7535			Contractor costs: administration		8764
	2317			Contractor costs: bookkeeping		2317
	144			General travel and related expenses		302
	510			Trustees' expenses (see note below)		1946
				Accommodation for trustees at annual gathering		2430
	315			Room hire		428
	82			Trustee training		1791
	6911			Members' insurance scheme		7503
	1632			Website management & hosting		168
	19746			Website development		2948
	199			Offce costs		225
	590			Independent accounts examination		625
	656			Payment processing fees		1017
	362			Software costs		835
	50			Subscriptions		83
				Consultancy fees – ARCH levy		400
	__					__
£	41049					£ 31782
	__					__

Natural Voice Network CIO Notes to Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023

21-22

£ £

4b Trustees' expenses

Trustees are reimbursed for expenses incurred in the course of carrying out their duties: travel based on a mileage rate of 45ppm or fares incurred, other expenses based on invoices produced.

	450	Travel	1088
	60	Subsistence	444
		Accommodation	414
510	__		__	1946
				__

No remuneration or waiving of subscriptions were given. Attendance at a the annual gathering (accommodation cost £2430) is provided to enable attendance at the AGM and trustees meeting and facilitate interaction with members.

	Restricted Funds
	Anti Racism & Cultural Honouring
	Balance brought forward	2035
2035	Membership levy	3185
	Less: grants made	(3589)
__		_
£ 2035		£ 1631
__		_

	6	Debtors and prepayments
5960		Annual gathering	2993
53		Insurance
472		Subscriptions	403
__			__
£ 6485			£ 3396
__			__
	7	Amounts received in advance
£ 17210		Membership subscriptions allocated to subsequent year	£ 17322
__			__

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Natural Voice Network CIO for the year ended 31 July 2023

Respective responsibilities of treasurer and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed. An audit is not required by the charity’s constitution.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the 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 as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

I confirm that in the course of my examination, no matters have come to my attention that give 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; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set 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 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.

Christopher Lee Cider Mill Cottage, Haw Bridge, Tirley, Gloucester, GL19 4HJ 1 December 2023