Trustees Annual Report & Accounts for the period to 31/03/22
Name of Charity – Rossendale Male Voice Choir Charity Register number – 1173088
Trustees serving as at 31/03/21 until 07/06/21 (AGM 2021)
Charles Crowley Peter Beetham Paul Heaton Paul Dickinson Kevin Downes Paul Lomax Fred Collinson
Trustees serving as from 07/06/21 to the AGM, held on 21/05/22
Chris Calvert Peter Beetham Paul Heaton Paul Lomax Mark Stapleton Graham Sellens Peter Ormerod
Trustees serving as from 21/05/22 until the next AGM :
Michael Black (Chair) ; Paul Lomax (Secretary) ; Mark Stapleton (Treasurer) ; Graham Sellens ; Tony Hodgetts ; Geoffrey Whitehead ; Peter Ormerod
The Trustees are pleased to present their 5[TH ] annual report to the Commission, having been accepted onto the Charities Register on the 17[th] May 2017. Moving ever closer to our 100[th ] Anniversary, the choir continues to foster a love of choral music, whilst carrying out major projects for the benefit of local charities in East Lancashire and beyond.
The serving Trustees for the financial period are listed above and also following our Annual General Meeting held on 21[st] May 2022 those Trustees that are now serving. This follows our written Constitution whereby we hold elections for Trustee positions to enable all our members to have the chance to contribute to the running of the Choir. Rossendale Male Voice Choir operates with a written Constitution following Charity Commission guidelines, along with a set of practical rules which assist in the day to day operations. These documents were designed specifically to manage our status as a charity, and are intended to demonstrate our intention to remain a fully inclusive organisation.
Plans for the coming year will continue to build on that foundation and cement the choir as a strong contributor to the local community.
Regular Trustees meetings are held, with full minutes recorded and made available to all members. No Trustee receives any payment for their duties, all operating on a voluntary basis. We are affiliated to the National Association of Choirs, and their help and support in all legal and structural matters is of great benefit.
Activities and Achievements in the year from April 2021 to March 2022
During the year to March 31[st ] 2022, due to the Covid Pandemic we have been unable to operate as “ normal “. With the exception of one concert, held at St Helens Town Hall in March 2022 alongside Haydock Male Voice Choir, all planned concerts and events sadly had to be cancelled or postponed. This was a great disappointment to the Choir in that
we have been unable to support other charities and community groups in the area as we would have wished.
We managed to carry on weekly rehearsals via a Zoom link during the height of the pandemic and thus maintained our members involvement and this has been well supported. As Covid restrictions gradually eased, we were able, while conducting regular risk assessments and maintaining the use of facemasks and social distancing.
Appearances and Concerts 2021 /2022
As mentioned above, due to the Pandemic and Covid restrictions we have severely limited in the number of live performances we have been able to hold this year
However, at the time of writing, the choir is looking forward to our third participation in the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival (CIMCF) over the early May bank holiday weekend, where we have been invited to perform in the opening Gala Concert in Truro Cathedral. In May 2022, we sing again at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester in a charity concert in aid of the East Lancashire Hospice. Performing with us on that occasion will be the 2[nd] Rossendale Scout Group Band and the world famous Black Dyke Band. Beyond that, we will be performing alongside a number of local artistes at a concert to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The choir has been back together practicing on a weekly basis and without restrictions since early 2022.
As we move closer to our Centenary in 2024 we have started planning for concerts and events for that year with several Work Groups under a Project Manager looking at Events, Concerts, Recruitment, Music, Fundraising and PR.
One of our goals moving forward towards our centenary year is to raise the profile of the choir within the local community and to promote the health benefits to men of choral singing. To this end, we plan to hold some informal and semi-formal performances within the local community over the summer months.
Financials
The impact of the Covid pandemic and related restrictions on physical rehearsals and performances also had another negative impact on our financial position.
Going forward, our accompanist for the past 50+ years, a great nephew of the choir’s founder, is to leave the choir. He has worked for the choir all this time without receiving any payment for his services. Going forward, we will need to hire an accompanist for the choir, which will obviously increase the choir’s fixed costs.
A financial statement for the year is attached. It does contain some prepaid costs and provisions for the CIMCF and Bridgewater Hall events.
As can be seen from the financial statement, we do endeavour to keep members’ subscriptions at the lowest possible level (currently £16 per month). We believe that the income from subscriptions will be able to cover our fixed costs, based upon a choir membership of 50 paying members.
To that end we provide a uniform, free of charge and subsidise such things as transport to concerts and accommodation when travelling to distant Festivals.
Conclusion
The year to March 31[st ] 2022 has been one, where the choir sought,
-
During the pandemic restrictions, to remain viable
-
Post pandemic restrictions, to return, insofar as it proves possible, to what was perceived as “pre-pandemic normality”.
Although no choir members succumbed to Covid, we did see the passing of some members from other causes. Since the resumption of practices and performance, we have seen several new members joining the choir. No existing members have left for reasons other than infirmity / old age.
We look forward to an exciting year in 2022-2023, with many more performances and a big push towards public awareness of the choir in the run up to our centenary year in 2024.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they approved the report and accounts for the year ended 31[st ] March 2022, at their AGM on 21[st] May 2022
Signed
Chris Calvert, Chairman of RMVC on behalf of the Trustees.
Attachments One (Financial Summary)
Rossendale Male Voice Choir
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended March 31, 2022. 2019 2020 2021
2022
| £ £ £ Receipts £ 7049 7572.00 7758.00 Subscriptions 8084.00 24442 4259.00 0.00 Concerts, festivals 14920.00 0 0.00 0.00 Accompanist collection 809.00 765 1150.00 300.00 Donations 1572.00 2935 193.22 0.00 Sundry receipts 0.00 1176 24.00 0.00 Uniform & hats 80.00 618 172.40 0.00 Rafe (inc. Bonus Ball) 0.00 0.00 Refreshments 140.92 927 1409.10 200.00 Supermarket collection 1278.57 1386 1532.50 2468.07 Gift Aid 0.00 39298 17412.22 11706.57 Total Receipts 26,884.49 Payments 361 360.83 360.83 Insurance 360.83 63 0.00 19.23 Secretary postage, stationery 83.46 2020 1440.00 440.00 Rent 520.00 0 53.00 25.00 Subscription – NAC 40.00 180 60.00 0.00 Piano and equipment maintenance 65.00 357 515.41 160.51 Music 312.66 1503 645.87 0.00 Uniforms & hats 236.70 19504 10449.94 0.00 Concert and festival expenses 5134.50 4020 4685.00 5031.29 Musical Director fees 2467.56 530 65.00 550.00 Accompanist (Michael) 1000.00 126 3305.50 750.00 Charitable donations 0.00 87 160.00 226.20 Website 110.57 303 63.20 191.99 Gifts 346.33 0 0.00 0.00 Logo 149.00 |
|
|---|---|
0.00 Archives & badges & Tascam
336.28
Refreshments
140.92 ___602 0.00 0.00 Other 0.00 29777 21803.75 8539.75 Total payments 11,303.81
9521 (4391.53) 3166.82 Surplus (Deficiency) for the year 15,580.68
9481 19002.75 14611.22 Choir funds available April 1[st] 2021 17,778.04 9521 (4391.53) 3166.82 Surplus (Deficiency) for the year 15,580.68
1900214611.22 17778.04 Choir funds available March 31[st] 2022 33,358.72
Balances held 1900214611.22 17778.04 TSB 33,358.72 0 0 0 Cash held by treasurer 0.00 9481 19002 17778.04 33,358.72
I have examined the receipts and payments account, together with supporting documentation, of Rossendale Male Voice Choir, as set out in the above Statement, relating to the year ending 31[st] March 2022. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Rossendale Male Voice Choir
I have examined the receipts and payments account, together with supporting documentation, of Rossendale Male Voice Choir, as set out in the Accounts Report, relating to the year ending 31[st] March 2022. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. David Clegg Acre Mill Baptist Church Stacksteads 1[st] May 2022