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2023-12-31-accounts

(-h2rity number.. 11785C)() The Lute Society Rep()rt 2nd accnunts f()r the year ended _31 December 202_3

The Lute Society

Contents

Charity No. 1178599

Report of the trustees 1-3
Statement of financial activities 4
Balance sheet 5
Notes forming part of the accounts 6-11
Report of the independent examiner 12

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Report of the trustees

for the year ended 31 December 2023

The trustees present their report and accounts of the Lute Society (the “Society”) for the year ended 31 December 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of SORP (FRS 102) (“the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102”), FRS 102 itself, the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

In following SORP (FRS 102), the accounts have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 which require an earlier Charities SORP, since withdrawn. This departure is as advised by the Charity Commission and is only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’.

Objectives and activities

The objects of the Society are to advance the study of, and to educate the public in, the history, playing technique, music, construction and other aspects of the lute and related instruments.

To further these objectives the Society produces a quarterly magazine for members and an annual scholarly journal; publishes editions of sheet music for the lute; maintains a collection of lutes and related instruments available for hire; and holds regular public meetings, mostly in London, with presentations of research papers and performances of lute music.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.

Achievements and performance

Further details of the Society's activities, publications and lutes available for hire can be found on the Society's website at www.lutesociety.org.

Membership

Anyone interested in the lute, whether as a maker, player, student, musicologist, or for whatever reason, is welcome to become a member for a modest subscription. Concessionary subscriptions are available. There were 1,092 (2022: 1,183) subscribing members at the end of December, including 453 electronic-only members (2022: 452) who in return for a lower subscription receive the magazine and journal in electronic format.

UK
Europe
USA and Canada
Japan
Australia and New Zealand
Other countries
2023
466
302
232
43
40
9
1,092
2022
496
324
259
49
41
14
1,183

Magazine and journal

The quarterly magazine for members, Lute News , distributed to members by post or on-line, and the Lutezine, available to them on-line , include articles on subjects related to the lute, and a music supplement with sheet music not generally accessible otherwise. New members are sent an introductory New members’ pack with a selection of sheet music for the lute.

The annual scholarly journal, The Lute, is produced in arrears, and is sent to those who were members of the Society for the relevant year. The Society published the 2018 journal in 2023, and plans to issue the journal for 2019 and further journals in 2024.

1

The Lute Society

Report of the trustees (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2023

Charity No. 1178599

Publications

The Society publishes sheet music editions, working plans, and other publications relating to the lute and related instruments. Popular titles are pre-printed and held in stock, while others are printed to order. During the year, the Society published Cancionero de Uppsala (duets for vihuela arranged by Massimo Marchese and Ugo Nastrucci) and a new edition of Brian Wright’s arrangements of twelve German carols originally published by the German Lute Society. The Society reprinted four collections of lute music originally published by Lyre Editions. Work in progress includes editions of the works of Daniel Bacheler and François Dufault, and a facsimile edition of Playford’s Choice Ayres, Songs and Dialogues .

The Society also sells publications from other publishers who are no longer active including the Brian Jordan/Scolar Press editions of English Ayres and early guitar music from Chanterelle. The Society continues to promote modern lute music, and makes compositions by members available for downloading from its web page.

Hire of instruments

The Society's collection of lutes and similar instruments enables potential players to experiment before buying their own instrument. The more unusual instruments in the collection, including lutes of different sizes and tunings, enable groups to perform the particular works requiring these instruments, and the smaller lutes encourage children to take up the lute.

Three renaissance lutes valued at £4,300 in total were donated to the Society during the year: a seven-course lute donated by the Midland Early Music Forum, an eight-course lute converted from a Turkish oud by Ian Harwood and formerly owned by the late Ailsa Dixon, and a bass lute donated by Sam Brown.

Public meetings

The Society holds regular public meetings, normally at the Dutch Church in London, which include the presentation of papers, and live performances of music for the lute and similar instruments either in a formal concert setting or illustrating papers. Attendance at the meetings is free for members of the public but there is an admission fee for the main recital at the end of the day. Parts of the meetings are recorded so that members unable to attend can view them later on-line.

Educational and outreach activities

Benslow Music Trust held a four day educational course, the 'Lutefest', at Hitchin in Hertfordshire, in association with the Society, which was led by Lynda Sayce and included individual tuition for participants, and workshops and performances with singers, other instrumentalists and lute consorts. The ‘Lutefest’ will be repeated in 2024.

The Society encourages members to participate in a variety of lute related activities. Playing days to encourage players of all levels were held in Bristol and in Yorkshire. Several informal 'Flow my beers' evenings were held in pubs, with opportunities for lutenists to play. Members of the Society joined the European Lute Orchestra for their concert in Prato near Florence.

The Society also maintains links with related societies worldwide, and sent a representative to their meetings in Paris, Rome and Utrecht.

Volunteers

The Society is indebted to the considerable work done voluntarily by its members and others which include editing publications and getting them ready for publication, contributions to the magazine and journal, participation in public meetings, and serving on the committee.

2

The Lute Society

Report of the trustees (continued)

Charity No. 1178599

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Financial review

Funds at the end of the year were £173,362 (2022: £166,640) including £5,654 (2022: £17,123) in the general fund, £157,306 (2022: £149,160) in the instrument fund and £754 (2022: £357) in the student bursary fund.

Reserves policy

The reserves policy is to set the instrument fund equal to the value of instruments held in fixed assets, to set aside the Gillian Brown fund (see note 13) for special projects over five years, and to maintain the remaining reserves in a general fund at a level where income covers expenditure (excluding one-off costs) year on year. The financial risks of rising and falling demand are managed by matching expenditure on activities to the related income where possible.` The Society's cash surplus results in part from membership subscriptions received up to three years in advance and the backlog of annual journals for previous years not yet produced. The trustees consider this policy adequate to cover future contingencies as if additional cash is needed the Society can sell instruments.

Structure, governance and management

The Lute Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), charity no. 1178599, formed under a constitution dated 5 May 2018. It is the successor to the unincorporated Lute Society, which was formed in 1956 and became a registered charity on 24 January 2001, and which transferred its operations and assets to the CIO on 31 December 2018.

As trustees, the elected members of the committee examine the major risks which the Society faces when preparing and updating plans for future activities.

Principal office

3 Dolcey Way, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LE.

Charity trustees Officers and co-opted members of the committee (non-voting)
David van Edwards, President Secretary: Christopher Goodwin
Luke Emmet, Chair and website editor Publicity secretary: Hector Sequera
Nancy Carlin New CD listings, reviews editor: John Reeve
Sam Chapman
Richard Corran Other roles
Kevin Drake Lute hire administrators: Bridgewood & Neitzert
Martin Hudson Plans administrator: Bruce Brook
Peter Jones Microfilm librarian: John Reeve
Ciska Mertens (appointed 20 May 2023) Donald Gill librarian: Djilda Segerman
David Protheroe, Treasurer Magazine editor: Christopher Goodwin
Sarah Shepley Journal editor: Christopher Goodwin
Alain Verberkmoes Editorial sub-committee: Michael Lowe, Tim Crawford,
John Robinson, Peter Forrester, Matthew Spring,
David van Edwards, Christopher Page, Peter Holman
Honorary members
Anthony Bailes, John Robinson, Peter Lay, and Independent examiner
Dame Emma Kirkby CBE Michael Gray

Approved by the trustees on 13 April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Luke Emmet, Chair

3

The Lute Society

Statement of financial activities

Charity No. 1178599

for the year ended 31 December 2023

Note
Income
from donations and legacies
Donations of instruments
Donations to student bursary fund
Gillian Brown bequest
13
Other donations
from charitable activities
Membership subscriptions
Magazine and journal
3
Publications
4
Hire of instruments
5
Public meetings
6
other income
Bank interest
Total income
Expenditure
on charitable activities
Magazine and journal
3
Publications
4
Hire of instruments
5
Public meetings
6
Awards of student bursaries
Total expenditure
Net income for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds at 1 January
Total funds at 31 December
13, 14
Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
2023
£
4,300
900
-
1,213
6,413
39,231
255
17,070
14,643
1,742
72,941
1,117
80,471
42,429
15,438
7,468
7,911
503
73,749
6,722
166,640
173,362
Total funds
2022
£
4,300
-
-
1,213
-
900
-
-
4,300
900
-
1,213
5,400
410
9,648
1,079
5,513 900 16,537
39,231
255
17,070
14,643
1,742
-
-
-
-
-
39,231
255
17,070
14,643
1,742
39,832
140
18,225
14,928
2,723
72,941
1,117
79,571
42,429
15,438
7,468
7,911
-
73,246
6,325
166,283
172,608
-
-
900
-
-
-
-
503
503
397
357
754
75,848
175
92,560
47,581
15,977
7,572
8,638
389
80,157
12,403
154,237
166,640

4

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Balance sheet

at 31 December 2023

Note
Tangible fixed assets
8
Current assets
Stock
9
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash and cash equivalents
Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
11
Provisions for liabilities
12
Net assets
Funds
Unrestricted funds
Instrument fund
13
Gillian Brown fund
13
General fund
13
Restricted income funds
Student bursary fund
14
Total funds
Liabilities:amounts falling due after more than one year
31 December
2023
£
158,659
2,885
2,217
40,761
14,938
60,801
(22,711)
38,090
196,749
(4,028)
(19,359)
173,362
157,306
9,648
5,654
172,608
754
173,362
31 December
2022
£
152,080
3,836
1,824
10,059
53,772
69,491
(27,513)
41,978
194,058
(5,302)
(22,116)
166,640
149,160
-
17,123
166,283
357
166,640

The accounts on pages 4 to 11 were approved by the trustees on 13 April 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Luke Emmet, Chair

5

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

1. General

The Lute Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales under number 1178599. Its principal office is at 3 Dolcey Way, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LE.

2. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) second edition, FRS 102, the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Accounting convention

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the inclusion of donated assets at fair value in 1997 or at the date of acquisition if later. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Going concern

The trustees consider the Society is a going concern as there are no material uncertainties affecting its ability to continue and it is able to manage its costs in line with income.

Support costs

Support costs are apportioned to activities to present the costs of those activities fairly, in proportion to the related income, the purpose of the expenditure, or the secretary’s time on each activity.

Fixed assets

Fixed assets are recorded at cost or, if donated to the Society, at their fair value on the date of the gift. Depreciation is provided at 20% a year on cost for office equipment in order to write it off over its estimated useful life. No depreciation is provided on instruments for hire because of their high residual value. Fixed assets are regularly assessed for impairment, and written down if impaired.

Stock

Stock is recorded at the lower of cost of net realisable value. Because of the long periods over which stock for resale is held, ten years or more, and the uncertainty over future sales, net realisable value is generally taken as zero once a title reaches its break-even point. The effect of this is that stock for resale is written down by cumulative sales until the value of the stock reaches nil. Any further sales are credited directly to income.

Slow moving stock is assessed for impairment at the end of each year, and impairment losses are recognised or reversed accordingly.

Deferred income

Subscriptions paid in advance are carried forward in the balance sheet as deferred income. Deferred income is discounted by the time value of money, if material, over the period until it is expected to be settled.

Provisions

The costs of printing and distributing the annual journal and quarterly magazines are provided in the year to which the journal or magazine relates because members are entitled to receive a copy for each year that they belong. The provision is discounted by the time value of money over the period until it is expected to be settled, if material.

Instrument fund

The instrument fund is an unrestricted fund designated by the trustees to establish a collection of lute and related instruments. Donated instruments which the trustees intend to hold permanently for the benefit of the Society are credited to the instrument fund at the fair value on the date of donation. When an instrument is purchased, the amount of the purchase is transferred from the general fund to the instrument fund. Impairments or reversals are charged or credited to the instrument fund. Other income and expenditure relating to the instruments is included in the general fund.

6

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

2. Accounting policies (continued)

Student bursary fund

To encourage greater uptake of the instrument among music students, the society has set up a bursary fund to fund places on short courses such as the Society’s annual residential weekend at Benslow, for students who want to try the lute. It is classed as a restricted income fund, in that any money raised for the fund can only be used for this purpose.

Donated goods and services

Donated goods are recognised at fair value at the date of the donation. Donated services are measured at the value of the gift to the Society. No accounting value however is placed on the time contributed by volunteers because it is impractical to calculate reliably.

Cash flow statement

No cash flow statement has been presented as FRS102 exempts small entities from disclosing cash flows.

3. Magazine and journal

Magazine and journal
Income from advertising in magazine
Expenditure
Quarterly magazine printing
Annual journal printing
New members’ packs reprinting
Design software
Postage and packing
Apportionment of support costs (note 7)
Net expenditure on magazine and journal
Publications
Income from sales of publications
Expenditure
Printing to order
Cost of sales from stock (note 9)
Postage and packing
Apportionment of support costs (note 7)
Net income on publications
Hire of instruments
Income from hire of instruments
Expenditure
Repairs and maintenance
Instrument administration
Apportionment of support costs (note 7)
Net income from hire of instruments
2023
255
10,721
724
-
596
13,664
16,724
42,429
42,174
17,070
5,220
1,238
5,164
3,816
15,438
1,632
14,643
2,427
3,280
1,761
7,468
7,175
2022
140
13,057
2,700
1,592
596
14,000
15,636
47,581
47,441
18,225
4,961
1,178
5,531
4,307
15,977
2,248
14,928
2,960
2,702
1,910
7,572
7,356

4. Publications

5. Hire of instruments

7

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

6. Public meetings
Income from concert tickets and refreshments
Expenditure
Performers and lecturers
Hire of venue
Secretary’s travel to public meetings
Public liability insurance
Apportionment of support costs (note 7)
Net expenditure on public meetings
7. Support costs
Secretary's fee
Office costs
Bank charges
Publicity
Travel in respect of office move
General travelling expenses
Depreciation of office equipment (note 8)
Apportionment of support costs to charitable activities
Magazine and journal (note 3)
Publications (note 4)
Hire of instruments (note 5)
Public meetings (note 6)
2023
1,742
3,120
2,604
484
96
1,607
7,911
6,169
19,691
1,845
1,439
419
-
399
115
23,908
16,724
3,816
1,761
1,607
23,908
2022
2,723
3,734
2,653
453
96
1,702
8,638
5,915
18,516
1,733
1,619
-
849
709
129
23,555
restated
15,636
4,307
1,910
1,702
23,555

The apportionment of costs is based on the secretary’s time or, for bank charges, on the relevant income. Some costs which used to be included in support costs are now directly attributed to the relevant activity. Comparative figures have been restated accordingly. There was no impact on fund balances or on net income.

The independent examiner received no remuneration (2022: £nil).

8

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

8. Tangible fixed assets
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2023
Acquisitions
Disposals
Donations
At 31 December 2023
Accumulated depreciation and impairments
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
9. Stock
Held for resale
Consumables
There were no capital commitments (2022: £nil).
Instruments
for hire
153,656
1,200
-
4,300
159,156
1,850
-
1,850
157,306
151,806
Office
equipment
Total
4,192
157,848
1,194
2,394
(2,726)
(2,726)
-
4,300
2,660
161,816
3,918
5,768
115
115
(2,726)
(2,726)
1,307
3,157
1,353
158,659
274
152,080
31 December
2023
2,595
290
2,885
31 December
2022
3,416
420
3,836

Stock held for resale includes facsimiles, modern editions of lute music, working drawings and CDs. Other publications printed to order are not included in stock. The stock of consumables comprises postage stamps for future mailings.

Movement of stock
At 1 January
Acquired
Postage of magazine and journal
Postage of publications
Publications sold from stock (note 4)
General postage
At 31 December
Held for resale

3,416
417
-
-
(1,238)
-
2,595
Consumables
420
10,059
(5,159)
(4,933)
-
(97)
290
2023
Total
3,836
10,476
(5,159)
(4,933)
(1,238)
(97)
2,885
2022
Total
4,734
9,477
(4,996)
(4,021)
(1,178)
(180)
3,836

9

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

10. Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Secretary's fee
11. Liabilities: amounts falling due after more than one year
Deferred income: subscriptions received in advance
between one and two years ahead
between two and three years ahead
between three and four years ahead
12. Provisions for liabilities
Provisions for journal and magazine printing and distribution:
expected to be produced in the following year
expected to be produced in the year after
Movement in provisions
At 1 January
Increase in provision
Utilised in the year
At 31 December
13. Unrestricted funds
Movement in year
Instrument
At 1 January
151,806
Net income for the year
4,300
Funds transfer: instruments purchased
1,200
Designation of Gillian Brown fund
-
At 31 December
157,306
Deferred income: subscriptions and hire income received
in advance for the following year
10. Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Secretary's fee
11. Liabilities: amounts falling due after more than one year
Deferred income: subscriptions received in advance
between one and two years ahead
between two and three years ahead
between three and four years ahead
12. Provisions for liabilities
Provisions for journal and magazine printing and distribution:
expected to be produced in the following year
expected to be produced in the year after
Movement in provisions
At 1 January
Increase in provision
Utilised in the year
At 31 December
13. Unrestricted funds
Movement in year
Instrument
At 1 January
151,806
Net income for the year
4,300
Funds transfer: instruments purchased
1,200
Designation of Gillian Brown fund
-
At 31 December
157,306
Deferred income: subscriptions and hire income received
in advance for the following year
10. Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Secretary's fee
11. Liabilities: amounts falling due after more than one year
Deferred income: subscriptions received in advance
between one and two years ahead
between two and three years ahead
between three and four years ahead
12. Provisions for liabilities
Provisions for journal and magazine printing and distribution:
expected to be produced in the following year
expected to be produced in the year after
Movement in provisions
At 1 January
Increase in provision
Utilised in the year
At 31 December
13. Unrestricted funds
Movement in year
Instrument
At 1 January
151,806
Net income for the year
4,300
Funds transfer: instruments purchased
1,200
Designation of Gillian Brown fund
-
At 31 December
157,306
Deferred income: subscriptions and hire income received
in advance for the following year
Journal
15,100
2,700
(3,100)
14,700
Gillian Brown
-
-
-
9,648
9,648
31 December
2023
5,223
4,691
12,797
22,711
3,955
73
-
4,028
12,959
6,400
19,359
2023
Magazine
Total
7,016
22,116
4,659
7,359
(7,016)
(10,116)
4,659
19,359
2023
General
Total
14,477
166,283
2,025
6,325
(1,200)
-
(9,648)
-
5,654
172,608
31 December
2022
9,290
3,106
15,117
27,513
4,695
607
-
5,302
8,900
13,216
22,116
2022
Total
18,763
9,716
(6,363)
22,116
2022
Total
153,901
12,382
-
-
157,306 166,283

Instrument fund

Donations of instruments are allocated to the instrument fund. All other unrestricted income and expenditure is allocated to the general fund.

Gillian Brown fund

Former member Gillian Brown bequeathed £9,648 to the Society in 2022. In 2023 the Trustees designated the bequest as an unrestricted fund to be spent over the next five years on strategic initiatives to extend the Society’s impact.

10

The Lute Society

Charity No. 1178599

Notes forming part of the accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2023

14. Restricted fund

. Restricted fund
Student bursary fund
At 1 January
Donations received
Awards of student bursaries
At 31 December
2023
357
900
(503)
754
2022
336
410
(389)
357

The student bursary fund encourages greater uptake of the instrument among music students by providing places on short courses, such as the annual residential weekend at Benslow, for students who want to try the lute. It is classed as a restricted fund because money raised for the fund can only be used for this purpose.

15. Related party transactions

Trustees or parties connected to them received £1,284 (2022: £1,539) in total for specialist services provided to the Society. These were reasonable amounts for the services provided and were pre-agreed by the Society having regard to Charity Commission guidance in respect of the remuneration of trustees. Two trustees claimed expenses of £161 in total (2022: three trustees £306).

Specialist services provided by trustees

Specialist services provided by trustees
Service provided
Repairs to lutes for hire
Lecture and recital fees
Royalties on working drawings
Purchases of books for resale
Total services
Trustee or connected party
Luke Emmet, trustee
Matthew Spring, trustee
David van Edwards, trustee
Smokehouse Press, connected to David von Edwards, trustee
2023
1,274
-
10

-
1,284
2022
1,310
200
10
19
1,539

No other trustee or person connected with a trustee has been paid remuneration or received other benefits from the Society.

11

Charity No. 1178599

Report of the Independent Examiner to the trustees of The Lute Society on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023

I have examined the accounts on pages 4 to 11.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Your attention is to drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared the accounts in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) second edition in preference to the earlier Charities SORP issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has been withdrawn.

I understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, and (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act, have not been met; or

  2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Michael Gray

15 Chesterfield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1LN

13 April 2024

12