UK Harmony Brigade
Registered Charity 1176276
Report of Trustees for 2023-2024 (year ending 30 June 2024)
Objec�ve
The UK Harmony Brigade’s objec�ve is to further the educa�on of the general public in all aspects of close-harmony singing and singing in the Barbershop Harmony style.
To achieve this, we organise two annual events that are open to applica�ons from singers who wish to improve their learning, vocal and quartet-singing skills.
Structure
All trustees are unpaid volunteers, and addi�onal unpaid volunteers are recruited from a pool of past par�cipants to par�cipate in organisa�on and prepara�on of the event.
We open registra�on many months in advance of the annual singing events, promo�ng it through social media and contact with part par�cipants. Prospec�ve par�cipants apply for the limited places, and are screened to ensure a minimum of qualifica�ons for quartet singing.
Par�cipants receive a set of music and begin the task of learning this music. We provide guidance to new par�cipants to improve their learning, and we promote privately-organised rehearsals both on line and in person.
Finances
addi�on to the required fees that are designed to cover the costs of the event on a break-even basis, par�cipants are invited to contribute to a scholarship and hardship fund that allows us to offer places to young people or hardship cases at a reduced rate.
Costs
Our largest expenditures are for the accommoda�on and meal costs for par�cipants. Sourcing our music (purchase of sheet music and learning tracks) and obtaining copyright licenses is another significant cost. Overhead expenses make up the balance of our costs, such as website, insurance, prin�ng, sourcing of awards, and others.
Results
Our two UK Harmony Brigade events, held at the University of No�ngham in February and April 2024 were successful. Most par�cipants expressed a desire or willingness to a�end future brigade events.
as well as even�ng shows that was open to the public. The show helped mo�vate some members of the public to join us at future events, and par�cipants all benefi�ed from a challenging learning experience.
UK Harmony Brigade
Charity Number 1176276 UKHB Income and Expenditure 2024
| Year ended 30 June 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 Event | Apr 2024 Event | Total | |
| Income | |||
| Harmony Brigade Subsciptions | £7,600.00 | £4,320.00 | |
| Hotel accommodation | £25,628.10 | £12,235.00 | |
| Shirt sales | £330.00 | £0.00 | |
| Scholarship fund | £555.00 | £365.00 | |
| Other | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| £34,113.10 | £16,920.00 | ||
| £51,033.10 | |||
| Expenditure | |||
| Venue and accommodation | -£24,104.49 | -£11,178.64 | |
| Music | -£2,356.08 | -£620.05 | |
| Bank and payment charges | -£30.71 | £0.00 | |
| Insurance | -£280.62 | -£168.38 | |
| Shirts | -£295.26 | £0.00 | |
| Room hire | -£2,016.00 | -£1,880.00 | |
| Concert | £0.00 | £0.00 | |
| Scholarships | -£1,555.00 | -£80.00 | |
| Miscellaneous | -£522.80 | -£741.02 | |
| -£31,160.96 | -£14,668.09 | ||
| -£45,829.05 | |||
| Surplus/(Excess) | £2,952.14 | £2,251.91 | £5,204.05 |
| Balance Sheet | |||
| as at 30/06/2024 | |||
| Funds at Bank: | |||
| Metro Bank | £8,705.58 | ||
| Nationwide | £4,407.83 | ||
| PayPal | £4,503.24 | ||
| £17,616.65 | |||
| Breakdown of Reserves: | |||
| Brigade Reserve | £13,828.92 | £1,966.91 | £15,795.83 |
| Scholarship Fund | £1,535.82 | £285.00 | £1,820.82 |
| Hotel Fund | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| £15,364.74 | £2,251.91 | £17,616.65 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages |
UK Harmony Brigade | UK Harmony Brigade | UK Harmony Brigade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2024 | Charity no (if any) |
1176276 | |
| 1 and 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) |
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30 / 06 / 2024.
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
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Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
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examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did 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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Catherine Phillipson
Date: 19 Mar 2025
Name: Catherine Phillipson Relevant professional None qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 82 St Ann St, Salisbury, SP1 2DX
1
Oct 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). The charity uses three bank accounts:
| Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. |
The charity uses three bank accounts: • A Nationwide personal bank account belonging to the chairman and to which no other trustee has access. Transactions in this account are not regularly notified to the treasurer. • A MetroBank personal bank account belonging to the treasurer and to which no other trustee has access. • A Paypal account. Payments on each account can be authorised by the owner alone. The charity’s cash assets are split across the three accounts. I have recommended setting up a business account for the charity and discontinuing the use of both the personal accounts. This action has been completed before writing this note but after the end of the financial year covered by these accounts. |
|---|---|
2
Oct 2018
IER