Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers Registered Charity Number 1173836 Annual Report and Financial Statement 1[st] August 2022 - 31[st] July 2023
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 2023
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 2022 – 31[st] July 2023 were as follows:
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To promote good vocal health for members through warm ups with a focus on breathing and posture. This should lead to an overall improvement in the quality of singing attained by the choir as a whole.
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To encourage consistent attendance in rehearsals by developing a new, enjoyable repertoire and ensuring that rehearsals are fun and lively.
Activities
In the run-up to Christmas 2022, the Rock 'n' Soul Singers took part in a number of events:
The Underwood Christmas Lights switch-on, Yorkshire Building Society Nottingham Christmas Event, Underwood Miners Welfare Christmas Carol Singing and two Christmas concerts:
On 7th December 2022, the choir sang at the Methodist Church Hall to a large audience including the Mayor of Ripley, and on 10[th] December 2022, the choir took part in their first Christmas Concert since 2019. Although the concert date clashed with an England World Cup match, the concert was well attended and went down really well. Choir members thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The choir sang to the Elderberries Group at Greasley Parish Hall in February 2023. It was a great concert, we were really pleased with the sound we made. Rachel the MD injected lots of energy and enthusiasm into the performance.
On 29th April 2023, the choir held a concert at St Michael's Church Underwood to raise money for Maggie's Centre and the re-ordering of the church. We sang to a packed house who were very enthusiastic and appreciative. This is the first time we have sung with a drummer - Oliver who along with Teresa our accompanist, added extra dynamics to the performance.
On 20th May 2023 the choir held a joint concert with four other choirs from the National Association of Choirs (East Midlands). The other choirs taking part were Alfreton Male Voice Choir, Bestwood Male Voice Choir, Rolls-Royce Ladies Choir and The Sonara Singers. The concert provided a varied programme and was enjoyed by a packed audience. The concert gave us great experience in singing alongside other choirs.
On 8th July 2023, the choir sang at the annual Underwood Festival, from the back of a lorry. The weather was very wet and Rachel our MD had to stand in the rain to conduct us. Although the weather conditions were poor, we still managed to sing well and got good feedback from some of the few people who braved the rain.
Achievements and performance
Vocal Health
Rachel our MD has been working hard with the choir this year to ensure that warm-up sessions are varied and are used to promote better vocal health. Choir members are fully engaged with the warm ups, which are challenging but always fun. Rachel spends time preparing and delivering the warm-up sessions, and has attended workshops on the subject to increase her knowledge of effective sessions.
Attendance
Choir rehearsals are generally very well attended, the number of choir members has been close to the limit of 50 that was set by the committee to ensure manageability. During the summer months and school holidays there are slightly reduced numbers but overall, rehearsals are well attended. The choir repertoire has been reviewed and several new songs have been introduced. Rachel the MD ensures that the rehearsals are well structured so that not all the time is taken by learning new songs, ensuring that the sessions are enjoyable.
Summary
During this period, choir members have been getting used to working with a new Musical Director, Rachel Cropley who previously had not had much experience leading adult choirs. Things have gone remarkably well, and there has been a great deal of positive feedback from choir members and the audience about how much the choir are enjoying singing with Rachel at the helm.
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 (October 2022 – July 2023):
| Anne Hicking | Chair |
|---|---|
| Georgina Allen | Secretary |
| Yvonne Footitt | Treasurer |
| Clare Cooper | Librarian |
| Rosemary Lynam | Events & Members secretary |
| Timothy Plant | Charity Compliance |
| Helen Asbury | Committee Member |
| Trudy Webster | Committee Member |
| Muriel Bell | Committee Member |
| Petra Turton | 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.
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 the financial year with a healthy balance carried forward of £3438.27
Members’ contributions
Members’ contributions have stayed the same with the majority paying by BACS or cheque every 12 weeks. It was decided that from the beginning of March, 2022, members’ contributions of £3 per week would be payable every 12 weeks (£36). If any members were unable to do this, there was an option to pay £4 per week, on a weekly basis. This has remained the same this year. Total voluntary contributions from members totalled £6464.50.
Other income
Income this year consists of a donation of £40, Gift Aid claims of £1501.75, ticket sales of £2147.66 and charity bucket collections of £744.51.
Expenditure
Rehearsal venue charges: £820, (£20 per week).
MD Rachel Cropley: £2570 - now up to £50 per week
Accompanist’s expenses: Teresa’s fees amounted to £1580 rising from £25 per week to £30 per week in March and now £40 per week. Concert expenses: £358 Music purchases: £1184 (mostly downloaded digital copies). Other expenses: £495 - including insurance £93, NAC membership - £53, PAT testing - £55, new stand-up banner £94, music folders £54.
Charity Donations: £3,400 to Maggie’s Cancer Support Unit (Nottingham).
The end of year balance stands at £3762 . This puts the choir in a good position for increased expenses in terms of church, MD and Accompanist costs, and future expenses, and is above the £1500 reserve set for this financial year. The reserve level will be reviewed upwards in the next financial period as this has remained the same for the last 3 years.
Assets
The choir holds assets of £7,100, consisting of £1500 estimated replacement costs of equipment and £5600 of purchased sheet music.
Financial Due Diligence
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 checks take place to verify the accounts.
The Financial Statement for 2022-2023 is detailed in a separate document.
Document Approval Document Approval
This document is approved on behalf of the Trustees board This document is approved on behalf of the Trustees board pate. Date: (S|2y pate: Date: 9/9( 2H Name: Name: Qrd0¢e CcoRe Name: Name: ROSEMARY Signature: Signature: signature, C20C Ce, Senature: kph ror
| ROCK 'N' SOUL SINGERS 1173836 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period 01/08/2022 To 31/07/2023 |
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| from | ||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds |
Last year | |||
| to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | |||
| A1 Receipts | ||||
| Members Donations 6,465 - - 6,465 - Grants and Donations 40 - - 40 - Charitable activities 2,148 - - 2,148 - Gift Aid 1,502 - - 1,502 - Charity Collections 745 - - 745 - Receipts for Uniforms 60 - - 60 - Other - - - - - - - - - - Sub total(Gross income for AR) 10,958 - - 10,958 - ~~=====-=~~ |
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| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total receipts 10,958 - - 10,958 - ~~—————~~ |
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| A3 Payments | ||||
| Accompanist 1,580 - - 1,580 - Musical Director 2,570 - - 2,570 - Rehearsal Venue 820 - - 820 - Sheet Music 1,184 - - 1,184 - Uniforms 228 - - 228 - Donations to Charity 3,400 - - 3,400 - Concert Expenses 358 - - 358 - Other 495 - - 495 - - - - - - Sub total 10,635 - - 10,635 - ~~Seeee—e~~ |
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| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Sheet music, equipment & uniforms - - - - - - - - Sub total - - - - - Total payments 10,635 - - 10,635 - ~~——===—~~ |
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| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
324 - - 324 - - - - - - 3,438 - - 3,438 - 3,762 - - 3,762 - ~~SSS~~ |
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| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~a~~ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | |||||
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | funds | funds | ||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| B1 Cash funds | 3,762 - - - - - - - - 3,762 - - OK OK OK Bank account +pettycash Total cash funds agree balances with receipts and payments ~~——————~~ |
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| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | |||||
| funds | funds | funds | funds | ||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
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| B3 Investment assets | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
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| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s | B4 Assets retained for the charity’s Sheet music |
Unrestricted | 300 | 300 | - | ||
| own use | Equipment | Unrestricted | - | - | - | ||
| Uniforms | Unrestricted | - | - | - | |||
| Assets introduced: | - | - | - | ||||
| Piano, amps, accessories | Unrestricted | 1,400 | 1,400 | - | |||
| Roller banners | Unrestricted | 100 | 100 | - | |||
| Music and folders | Unrestricted | 5,300 | 5,300 | - | |||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Total | 7,100 | 7,100 | - | ||||
| Fund to which | Amount due | When due | |||||
| Details | liability relates | (optional) | (optional) | ||||
| B5 Liabilities | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all Signature |
Print Name | Print Name | Date of approval |
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