Welsh Singers Showcase
Trustees’ Annual Report for the Financial Year to 31 July 2021
Welsh Singers Showcase (WSS) is a charity (no. 1179521) governed by a board of Trustees. Its principal purpose is to promote young Welsh classical singers at the start of their careers. It achieves this by staging a competition at which the Welsh representative in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the leading operatic competition for young singers, is selected by a distinguished jury. Its operations are relatively modest with a competition which takes place every alternate year.
Like many other charities, WSS’ operations have been affected profoundly by the COVID 19 pandemic. As foreshadowed in last year’s annual report, our plans to stage the competition in June 2020 at St David’s Hall, Cardiff had to be revised many times and eventually we were able to hold a successful final round of the highest standard, without the presence of an audience. This competition was broadcast on S4C, the Welsh language public service broadcaster, on 19 May 2021 in a production by Rondo Media. The winner, the soprano Sarah Gilford, went on to represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in June 2021 with distinction, reaching the final round of the Song Prize.
Donations amounting to £2,000 were received during the year. Total expenditure was £13,181.
The Trustees are now actively planning, and fundraising for, the next competition, which will take place in October 2022.The activities described above were reported, discussed and approved at meetings of the Trustees. The Trustees would like to record their thanks to Mrs Sue Welch for dealing efficiently with the additional work arising from the multiple re-scheduling of the 2020 event to May 2021.
Policies
Safeguarding Vulnerable Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries of the Charity are young classical singers. The Trustees take all possible care to ensure the wellbeing of the participants in the showcase, both at the auditions and the main event itself. Special measures were put in place for the postponed 2020 showcase, which took place in March 2021 without the presence of an audience.
Conflicts of Interest
The Trustees are experienced individuals who are aware that any potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed. Inevitably, such conflicts arise from time to time and the Trustees ensure that the conflicted Trustee does not participate in the relevant decision.
Paying of Staff
The Charity does not have any staff. Mrs Sue Welch is paid for administering the Charity, which is disclosed under Administration in our financial accounts.
Reserves Policy
The Charity recognises the need to hold reserves in order to secure the sustainability of the competition. At the end of the last two year cycle of activity, the Charity held reserves of £1,433, being approximately 10% of the cost of the previous competition.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Dr Carol Bell, Chair
1 February 2022
WSS DRAFT A/C 01.08.20 - 31.07.21
| WSS DRAFT A/C 01.08.20 - 31.07.21 |
||
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| INCOME | ||
| Donations | ||
| J Smith | 500.00 | |
| Rondo Media | 1,500.00 | |
| Grants | - | |
| Other | - | |
| Total | 2,000.00 | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Administration | 3,599.66 | |
| Orchestra & Piano | 1,865.00 | |
| Awards | 6,739.94 | |
| Programme | 551.70 | |
| Misc | 424.76 | |
| Total | 13,181.06 | |
| Income less expenditure | - | 11,181.06 |
| Bank balance | ||
| Opening | 12,614.31 | |
| Closing | 1,433.25 | |
| 11,181.06 |