Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
B.K. September 20/05/22 From 1[st] August 2020 (Period start date) to 31[st] August 2021 (Period end date)
Charity name: Orchestra for the Earth
Charity registration number: 1180771
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the CIO are: 1) To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of the arts, and in particular but not exclusively the art of music, by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts, recitals, lectures, workshops, open rehearsals and exhibitions. 2) To advance education for the public benefit in the subjects of protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment worldwide (including conservation of the natural environment and the promotion of sustainable development) in particular by the organisation and provision of public events and lectures. 3) To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion shall think fit but in particular through the making of grants and donations. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this was OFE’s busiest year to date. The orchestra innovated several online projects during the lockdown periods and beyond, as well as a varied series of live performances when possible and the annual Alpine Tour. In September OFE partnered with renewable energy firm Good Energy to make apublicity video about Earth Overshoot Day, filmed on- site at Delabole Wind Farm in Cornwall. This was the first time members of the orchestra had played together live since the start of the pandemic. The video attracted wide media attention, including features on Sky News and Classic FM. Many online projects were in collaboration with the Self-Isolation Choir, an online choir formed in April 2020. One of the highlights of these was afull online performance of the finale of Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony in November 2020, recorded by OFE and hundreds of singers from around the world to raise funds for Birdlife Austria. In June 2021 OFE played its first concert with live audience since the start of the pandemic, hosted by theWaterloo Festivalfor an evening exploring Bach and his relation to the natural world. Award-winning author Horatio |
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| Clare read extracts from his book on Bach, illustrated by musical performances by a group of OFE musicians playing on period instruments and the mezzo-soprano Gabriella Noble. July 2021 was a particularly busy month, starting with the annualAlpine Tour. Given the ongoing covid travel and public gathering restrictions alone, the tour was a huge achievement, and OFE was in fact the first orchestra to leave the UK since the onset of the pandemic. It was an opportunity to return to the festivals in Austria and Italy where OFE has increasingly strong relationships, as well as a debut appearance at the Richard Strauss Festival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and the inaugural Mahler Forum in Klagenfurt, Austria, performing with world-renown baritone Thomas Hampson. In Toblach, Italy, OFE also initiated a new outdoor children’s event based at Mahler’s composing hut, featuring a group cycle ride through the mountains, an open-air concert, and tree-planting. Later in July, OFE was hosted at the International Festival Milton Keyneson a spectacular open-air stage for a concert raising awareness for the campaign Trees of Music. The month also saw OFE’sfirst studio recording,working with composer Sarah Class on her new album Resonate. One track was commissioned by HRH the Prince of Wales for his Terra Carta initiative, and another was for a campaign by the World Land Trust, which subsequently raised over £1.3m. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees remain certain that OFE’s environmental activism through music provides clear and evident public benefit. OFE remains a leading ambassador for inspiring environmental engagement and education through world class musical performances, and making a real and tangible public impact in that regard. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | OFE has, to date, not made any grants. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Musicians and John Warner are compensated in line with Musicians’ Union rates. However, it must also be acknowledged that Warner also volunteers his time (in an unremunerated capacity) in terms of administrative time and effort supporting directly the OFE’s causes and objects. |
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Not applicable Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | This year was a strong year for OFE in terms of fundraising for environmental charities. The fact that lockdowns forced performances to go online actually allowed the orchestra to widen its reach, increasing fundraising potential. For example, the online performance of Mahler 2 with the Self-Isolation Choir raised £563 for Birdlife Austria and the one of Beethoven 9 raised over £1k for Rewilding Europe. Our studio recording with Sarah Class for the World Land Trust supported a campaign that raised over £1.3m. Equally important as fundraising is raising awareness, and this year also saw the orchestra expanding its reach significantly. Our online performances reached tens of thousands of viewers right across the world, from the US to Sri Lanka to Singapore, far exceeding the reach of former years. Our online performances always incorporated introduction videos for the chosen cause, presented by high-profile figures such as Christiana Figueres (former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate), Frans Schepers (CEO, Rewilding Europe), and our Founding Patron, Marina Mahler. Working with young people is also an important focus of the orchestra, and this year saw the start of a new outreach programme at one of the Alpine Tour locations: Toblach, Italy. OFE worked with local community leaders to curate an event for children that combined outdoor pursuits and music-making, engaging them with the cultural as well as natural heritage of the area. At another tour project in Klagenfurt, Austria, OFE was joined by members of the local music conservatoire, giving young musicians the chance to play alongside professionals. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The trustees of the OFE consider the activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| of the period August 2020 – 2021 to be wholly | ||
| Achievements against | fulfilling of the objectives of OFE, as set out in | |
| objectives set | Para 1.41 | the constitution. |
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| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The trustees of the OFE consider the activities of the period August 2020 – 2021 to be wholly fulfilling of the objectives of OFE, as set out in the constitution. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable – OFE holds no investments at present. |
| Other | Not applicable |
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Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The trustees are pleased to report healthy finances at the close of August 2021 (please refer to accounts below for full detail). Net assets for 2020/21 ended £24,229.32. OFE trustees are extremely proud of the charity’s growth and expect to continue scaling in a similar vein against the charity’s aims and objects. The trustees would like to give special credit to John Warner, Artistic Director, for his high-impact role directly raising funds and spear-heading events which have themselves brought in substantial charitable capital. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The successes of OFE’s charitable activities during the period Aug 20–Aug 21 have led to an increase in working capital to pursue OFE’s charitable objects. As such it is the view of the trustees that the reserves policy should increase to £5,000 (an estimate figure benchmarked against expected outlay for musicians’ fees for a small chamber orchestra concert). |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable – it is the view of the trustees that holding reserves is a critical part of OFE’s financial security and planning. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable – OFE is pleased to report no deficit across the accounts. |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | Not applicable – OFE looks forward to continuing its charitable endeavours in line with its objects long into the future. |
Financials
| Profit & Loss | 2019/20(£) | 2020/21(£) |
|---|---|---|
| Income | ||
| Donations | 623.03 | 8,229.90 |
| Tickets | (30.00) | 80.89 |
| Gift Aid | 353.97 | 1,197.95 |
| OTR | - | 3,682.60 |
| Events | 5,750.00 | 56,782.07 |
| Total Income | 6,697.00 | 69,973.41 |
| Expenses | ||
| Artists | (5,135.00) | (45,646.81) |
| Equipment | (165.00) | (50.00) |
| Travel | - | (4,746.45) |
| Venue | - | - |
| Loan | - | - |
| Insurance | (137.00) | (493.12) |
| Performance Rights | 108.17 | - |
| Medical | - | (1,491.00) |
| Rehearsals | - | (252.00) |
| Marketing | (145.50) | (145.50) |
| Music Hire | - | (31.72) |
| Total Expenses | (5,474.33) | (52,856.60) |
| Profit /(Loss) | 1,222.67 | 17,116.81 |
- 2019/20 accounts were previously submitted as profit of 1,222.58 (£0.09p lower) due to rounding difference.
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Examiner’s unqualified report (for a non-company charity preparing receipts and payments accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Orchestra for the Earth (1180771)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Orchestra for the Earth (1180771) for the year August 2020 – August 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the 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.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Signed:
Name: Ju-Vern See
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): Address:
Date:
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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The CIO’s principal sources of funds include box-office sales (in-person and online), private donations, trust grants, local authority funding, and hire fees (where the orchestra is hired for events that align with the CIO’s core objects). Any funds raised over this period have either gone directly into event costs, assigned to future events, or contributed to continuing to build the CIO’s reserves. As a CIO, Orchestra for the Earth (OFE) holds a business (charity) bank account with Lloyds Bank and one secondary bank account with Wise for overseas transactions as they occur, to ensure more economically prudent FX rates and fees. OFE also holds a PayPal account for processing some donations. OFE maintains a cash box for in-person box office needs (e.g. supplying change etc.). This includes GBP and other foreign currencies. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | CIO funds are not invested at this time, and given the short term needs of the CIO’s funds no plans are made to invest any of the CIO’s funds. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | • COVID-19 remains a risk to the charity’s events roster. However OFE is pleased to have built a strong set of virtual events which we are certain would be continuable if needed. • Reputational risks – the trustees continue to pro-actively manage the optics of the OFE’s environmental charitable objects in context of its need to travel to take up opportunities that benefit OFE’s causes. The OFE will prioritize environmentally conscious travel. • Financial Risk – whilst the trustees have full confidence in OFE’s prudent financial management, trustees are aware of the need to be pro-actively on top of the accounts – and the updated reserves (£5000) reflects this. • Single person dependency risk – whilst the board of trustees does not predict any changes in John Warner’s high impact role as artistic director, the trustees will remain in close contact with Warner on his priorities for OFE • Legal risks – currently OFE does not have any professional legal expertise on the board, trustees are in conversation on whether legal expertise would be a compelling addition to the board profiles. • Operational risks – day to day operations and end to end administration is headed by John |
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Warner to date – whilst trustees have full faith in Warner’s abilities and deliveries to date, the board is actively discussing with Warner what help and support is needed to ensure OFE can scale effectively. N/A Other
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Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | All trustees appointed at the time of incorporation remain in position. Future potential trustees will be appointed and elected by the board: as evidenced in our appointment to the board of Ben Moxham, our newest trustee, on the 16thAugust 2021. Unanimous vote in favour of appointing Ben secured. As per policy, Ben entered into his trial trustee period. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | As exhibited in August 2021 with the appointment of Ben Moxham to our board, the founding trustees successfully followed OFE’s policy on new trustee appointment. Ben’s expertise is clear, and individual interviews and meetings, plus a formal unanimous vote confirmed this excellent fit for OFE’s board. Ben is Managing Partner of Camberwell Energy. He has more than 15 years professional experience working at the frontier of the low- carbon transition in roles across business, government and finance. He also has volunteer experience with musical groups, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ensemble Plus Ultra from 2016-20 (and Trustee for four years prior) and as Development Adviser to No Borders Orchestra from 2014-19. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | OFE is governed by the board of trustees with close engagement with John Warner, Artistic Director, who handles day-to-day operations, events, fund raising. The trustees and Warner continue to partner well together, and are together assessing whether in due course additional help and support would be a valuable thing to augment OFE’s scalability in day to day operations, along with any extra trustee appointments to augment further board expertise. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The trustees partner closely with the Founder and Artistic Director, John Warner, in all aspects of the charity’s administration and aims/goals. It is the trustees’ unanimous view that Warner continues to be the best person for the job given his expertise, commitment and personal alignment to the CIO’s objects. |
| Other | N/A |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | As exhibited in August 2021 with the appointment of Ben Moxham to our board, the founding trustees successfully followed OFE’s policy on new trustee appointment. Ben’s expertise is clear, and individual interviews and meetings, plus a formal unanimous vote confirmed this excellent fit for OFE’s board. Ben is Managing Partner of Camberwell Energy. He has more than 15 years professional experience working at the frontier of the low- carbon transition in roles across business, government and finance. He also has volunteer experience with musical groups, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Ensemble Plus Ultra from 2016-20 (and Trustee for four years prior) and as Development Adviser to No Borders Orchestra from 2014-19. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | OFE is governed by the board of trustees with close engagement with John Warner, Artistic Director, who handles day-to-day operations, events, fund raising. The trustees and Warner continue to partner well together, and are together assessing whether in due course additional help and support would be a valuable thing to augment OFE’s scalability in day to day operations, along with any extra trustee appointments to augment further board expertise. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The trustees partner closely with the Founder and Artistic Director, John Warner, in all aspects of the charity’s administration and aims/goals. It is the trustees’ unanimous view that Warner continues to be the best person for the job given his expertise, commitment and personal alignment to the CIO’s objects. |
| Other | N/A |
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Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Orchestra for the Earth |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | OFE |
| Registered charity number | 1180771 |
| Charity’s principal address | 33 Nethercote Road, Tackley, OX5 3AW. |
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alycia Jewes | Chair | N/A | ||
| Ben Kimberley | Trustee | N/A | ||
| Benjamin Cartlidge | Trustee | N/A | ||
| Miranda Davies | Trustee | N/A | ||
| Phoebe Potter | Trustee | N/A | ||
| Thea Waxman | Trustee | N/A | ||
| Ben Moxham | At time of writing: Trial Trustee (from 16th August 2021) |
At time of writing: Trial Trustee (from 16thAugust 2021) |
Current Trustees voted Ben to the board unanimously on the 16thAugust 2021, beginning his trial trusteeperiod. |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|
|---|---|---|
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| Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others | Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others | Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others |
|---|---|---|
| Description of the assets held | Not applicable | |
| in this capacity | ||
| Name and objects of the charity | Not applicable | |
| on whose behalf the assets are | ||
| held and how this falls within | ||
| the custodian charity’s objects | ||
| Details of arrangements for | Not applicable | |
| safe custody and segregation | ||
| of such assets from the | ||
| charity’s own assets |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
John Warner (Founder & Artistic Director)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Ben G.J. Kimberley Full name(s) Ben Kimberley
Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc) Date 7th May 2022
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