Rock ‘n’ Soul Singers Registered Charity Number 1173836 Annual Report and Financial Statement 1[st] August 2023 - 31[st] July 2024 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 2024** ## **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 2023 – 31[st] July 2024 were as follows: 1. To consolidate good vocal technique through regular warm-ups and rehearsal strategies, encouraging members to apply healthy singing practices across a wide range of repertoire. 2. To strengthen ensemble confidence by revisiting familiar repertoire with SATB arrangements and introducing new material, encouraging singers to listen and respond across all four parts. ## **Activities** This year the choir took part in the following performances: Opening act for Selstock Beer and Music festival and TIMFEST local fundraiser in August A joint concert with Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir in October Entertaining the residents and staff at Amberley Care Home in November, and then at Edward House Care Home in December Performing at the Selston Christmas Lights event A very successful Christmas concert at Selston Parish Hall in December A performance for the Elderberries over-60s group in April Our standout Spring Concert at Underwood Church in April - the choir sang to a very enthusiastic packed crowd along with Rachel our MD, Teresa our accompanist, Oliver the drummer and newlyrecruited Ben on electric guitar. A joint concert with Bestwood Male Voice Choir in May The Selston Beacon lighting in June as part of the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings - windy but fun! A special collaboration with the Bramcote C of E School Choir in June, which was very inspiring in its encouragement of the next generation of singers ## **Achievements and performance** ## **Vocal Health** Rachel our MD has continued 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 further workshops on the subject to increase her knowledge of effective sessions. ## **Member’s confidence** Rachel has introduced a number of new pieces which include four parts, and revisited a number of songs in the existing repertoire, adding in the bass section which was not previously included. The choir is now comfortable with performing all sections to produce a well-balanced sound. ## **Summary** During this period, Rachel Cropley our Musical Director has consolidated her position and proved to be a wonderful asset to the choir. Despite her previous limited experience in leading adult choirs, she has become an inspiration to choir members with her enthusiasm and musical knowledge. This has resulted in improved performances and greater enjoyment for choir members. The fact that the choir has been requested to perform again at annual events and invited to sing in joint concerts with a number of other very experienced choirs indicates that the Rock 'n' Soul Singers choir is popular with audiences and is respected by their peers. ## **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 2023 – July 2024): |Maria Beal|Chair| |---|---| |Helen Asbury|Secretary| |Yvonne Footitt|Treasurer| |Clare Cooper|Librarian| |Rosemary Lynam|Events & Members secretary| |Timothy Plant|Legal Compliance| |Trudy Webster|Charity Liaison| |Trevor Woolley|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** The previous year’s balance was **£3762** ## **Income** ## **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 £6611. ## **Other income** Gift Aid - £1126.53 Grants & Donations - £268.87 Charitable activities & Collections - £3378.16 Receipts for uniforms - £78.00 Other income from the sale of music & uniforms - £31.99 ## **Total Income - £11,495** ## **Expenditure** Rehearsal venue charges - £860, (£20 per week). MD Rachel Cropley - £3060 Accompanist’s expenses - Teresa’s fees amounted to £ 2360 Concert expenses - £422 Music purchases - £670 (mostly downloaded digital copies). Other expenses - Insurance including Public Liability £ 101, printing expenses £25, NAC Membership £10, Laptop purchase £419 Charity Donations - Maggie’s Cancer Support Unit (Nottingham) - £2100, St Michael’s Church Underwood - £350, Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes - £660. This totals **£3,110** in charity donations. ## **Total Expenditure - £11,413** The end of year balance stands at **£3844** . This puts the choir in a good position to cover any increased expenses in terms of rehearsal venue, MD and Accompanist costs, and future equipment purchases, and is in line with the maximum (£4,000) and minimum (£3,450) thresholds of reserves set for this financial year. ## **Assets** The choir holds assets of £7,070, consisting of £2070 estimated replacement costs of equipment and £5000 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 2023-2024 is detailed in a separate document.** ## Document Approval **Document Approval** **This document is approved on behalf of the Trustees board** Date: Date: 30/ol-/25 _— Date: 3o0| u LS Name: Name: Name: bosenary Lynam Name OMAR -AR BEALL arakht 44.2 Signature: Signature: Signature: a aac ‘ signature: PL CHARITY COMM15510N FOR ENGLAND AND WALES ROCK'N. SOUL SINGERS 1173836 Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a For the period Period start dale 0110812023 To Period end dale 3110712024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds ReslTiCt funds Endowmènt funds Total lunds Last year toth• nMrwt£ tothe rv•ar••t £ A1 Recelpts 811 289 1.127 J2 Sub tot41(Gmss incon7e for AR) A2 Assèt and invèstmènt saks, (see table). Sub total Total roc•lpts 11,495 11.495 A3Pa ments Ac££th￿n￿lI ReheaTral Ven 670 670 Unrfcrfrr 377 Jn 3.110 3.110 694 Sub total 11A13 11A13 A4 Asset and investment urchasès stt tab Sheet music, aouiprnnt & nrfomis Sub total 11.413 11,413 Not of rne•lp￿1P•Yfft•ntsj A3 Transfers bgtween fuTrds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash lund8 th14 year end 3.782 3,782 Section B Statement ot assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted ftsnds Restricted nds Endowment funds to nMrtst£ Categorie Detatls to nMr•¥l £ 81 Cash funds Total cash fund8 OK Restricted funds OK Endovrtnent funds to nMr•¥t £ Unrestricted lunds to Th￿rest£ to nwre5t£ B2 Other monetary assèts Cunen¢ vax B3 Investment assets Cost eurrent vah asset 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use JOJ Ew¥yr* UnrfcrfTh 1,331 125 to *l*h 85 Liabillties Signed by one or trust¢e5 on behalf of 811 the trustees riature Print N8me Date of approval