Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers Registered Charity Number 1173836 Annual Report and Financial Statement 1[st] August 2020 - 31[st] July 2021
Presented and approved for publication by the Rock ‘n’ Soul Trustees in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers CIO
st Annual Report and Financial Statement for Year Ending 31 July 2021
Objectives, aims and activities
Objectives
The Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers CIO was established as a registered charity (1173836) on 17th July 2017.
The objectives of the choir are:
1) 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 consider suitable, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals.
2) To further such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine, in particular through the making of donations.
Aims
The choir’s aims for the financial year 1[st] August 2020 – 31[st] July 2021 were as follows:
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Continue on-line rehearsals for choir members whilst COVID-19 government restrictions were in place, in order to continue the social aspect of the choir and help maintain a positive mental attitude.
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Learn new songs to enhance the existing repertoire and continue the learning process for choir members.
Activities
Activities which were undertaken by the charity to carry out its charitable purposes this year were limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In June 2020, a local video company offered to produce a ‘lockdown video’ for the choir, which was very successful in giving a focus for choir members and was used subsequently for fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association as part of the TIMFEST on-line video.
No concerts were scheduled during this financial year, although 2 further lockdown videos were produced by the choir for Christmas 2020, which were publicized on Facebook and the choir’s website.
Since choir rehearsals were not permitted to take place in person during most of the period, Zoom sessions were run on a weekly basis with the aim of continued rehearsing of the current repertoire, learning new songs, and providing a regular chance for the choir to socialise on-line.
Achievements and performance
Fundraising
The TIMFEST on-line video posted on Youtube and publicized on Facebook raised almost £600, and along with Gift Aid claimed on member donations, the choir was able to make a donation of £1200 to the choir’s nominated partner charity the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Continuing the learning process
Throughout the period of this report, the choir held on-line rehearsals on a weekly basis. The rehearsals helped to keep choir members connected with each other, and was also used to learn new songs, although this was difficult because of the constraints caused by internet latency which meant that it was impossible to sing in a synchronized manner.
Towards the end of the period, the choir began to hold weekly outdoor rehearsals in the grounds of the church. This allowed choir members to sing together once more whilst also minimising the need to introduce COVID-19 restrictions.
Structure, governance and management
The Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers choir was established as a CIO and registered charity (number 1173836) on 17th July 2017. The choir is governed by a Constitution which was adopted in February 2017 and amended in July 2017.
Trustees of Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers CIO (August 2020 – July 2021):
| Kathleen Heap | Chair |
|---|---|
| Georgina Allen | Secretary |
| Rosemary Lynam | Treasurer |
| David Gibbon | Musical Director |
| Alan Shepherd | Deputy Musical Director |
| Muriel Bell | Librarian |
| Timothy Plant | Charity Compliance |
| Anne Hicking | Committee Member |
| Stephen Davies | Committee Member |
| Clare Cooper | Committee Member |
The trustees are responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation, and make all the decisions required to do this. Decisions made outside the board of Trustees are group decisions voted on by the choir membership, and include choosing charity partners, changes to the constitution and other major decisions that affect the membership as a whole.
Trustees are nominated and voted into post by members of the choir, the appointment process taking place on an annual basis.
To the best of their knowledge, the Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance wherever relevant.
Retirement of Musical Director
In July 2021, David Gibbon the Musical Director of the choir decided to retire from his role, either immediately or by the end of 2021. Alan Shepherd the deputy MD agreed to take over the role in the short term and the committee agreed after some discussion that the transition should take place before indoor rehearsals recommenced in September 2021. David Gibbon also decided to stand down as a Trustee at the same time.
Reference and administrative details
Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers Principle Office address:
50 Alfreton Road Underwood Nottingham NG16 5GB
Banking Services
TSB Bank plc 80/82 Nottingham Road Eastwood Nottingham NG16 3NQ
National Association of Choirs
The Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers CIO is a member of the National Association of Choirs, which provides support in areas such as legal advice and best practice guidance.
Financial Summary
Income
The choir started its financial year with £2430.71 carried forward, which was a healthy balance, and higher than last year’s balance, due in large part to a very generous donation from a choir member. This has held the choir in good stead for a very strange year that followed.
The choir finished the year with £1976.41. The choir has maintained a good financial position because despite not meeting in person, members very willingly and generously made voluntary donations between October and November, when requested.
Charity collections amounted to £596.20, raised through the online TIMFEST event, and an additional £533.50 was claimed through Gift Aid.
Charity Collections and Donations:
Obviously it has been very difficult to raise money for our partner charity, due to lack of concerts. However as result of TIMFEST and claiming gift aid from members’ donations, the choir was able to send a cheque for £1200 to the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This was a great achievement in the circumstances and much appreciated by them.
Expenditure
Church – no expenditure due to no live rehearsals taking place.
Accompanist ’ s expenses – the choir committee was determined to keep paying Teresa the accompanist, who offered much help for choir Zoom meetings through recorded backing tracks, and practice tracks. In all, the choir was able to pay Teresa £980 over the year.
– Concert expenses no expenses
– Music The choir spent just under £303 on music this year, a figure kept low by using many of Alan Shepherd’s (deputy MD) arrangements.
Equipment – no new equipment was required and no requirement to have equipment PAT tested.
Other – Insurance, which was reduced as Public Liability insurance was not needed. NAC membership - again reduced. Zoom charges (though we only paid for a few months before reverting to the free service).
End of year balance - stands at £1961.41
Assets
The charity’s assets stand at £7059, including music and folders and equipment for concerts.
Voluntary contributions:
See ‘income’ above.
Concert fees:
None collected this year.
The choir generally charges between £100 and £150 per concert, but this has necessarily had to be flexible – for example, concerts for community groups are offered at discounted prices, as the choir sees it as important to support the local community as well as generating income.
Auditing the accounts:
Because of the choir’s relatively low turnover, with an income of less than £25,000, it is not necessary to submit a copy of an independent examiner’s report.
Financial checks for the choir are undertaken by a Finance sub-group which comprises of three trustees, and regular monthly checks take place to verify the accounts.
The TSB bank in Eastwood continues to offer the choir a very good banking service.
The Financial Statement for 2020-2021 is detailed in a separate document.
Document Approval
This document is approved on behalf of the Trustees board
Date: Date: Name: Name: Signature: Signature:
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