VIVACITY CHOIR
Annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31 August 2023
Registered charity number 1183930
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VIVACITY CHOIR
Trustees' Annual Report for the period ended 31 August 2023
Trustees
Martyn Askew (resigned 1 March 2023) Catherine Ball (appointed 1 March 2023) Andrew Brodie Bridget Egan Susan Norris (appointed 1 March 2023) Elizabeth Palazon Kay Russell John Raby Julie Westerman
Registered Address 68, Queenswood Drive Sheffield S6 1RJ
Structure, Governance and Management
Vivacity Choir was first established in 2008. A constitution was prepared that was in effect until 17 June 2019, when Vivacity Choir was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, number 1183930, under a new constitution dated 7 June 2019.
The trustees administer the charity and meet during the year. The members are responsible for appointing the trustees or for confirming the appointment of a trustee by the trustees in the event of a vacancy. There must be a minimum of five trustees but there is no maximum number. Day to day matters are delegated to a Committee, of which some trustees are members, which reports to the trustees.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the charity.
Objectives
The objects of Vivacity 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 see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals.
(2) to advance such Charitable Purposes (according to the law of the England and Wales) as the Trustees see fit from time to time.
Activities
The Mission Statement of Vivacity Choir is as follows:
We aim to have fun, sing well, share our passion for music and contribute to the community. Our values are:
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Being welcoming, friendly and accessible Valuing and respecting each individual Teamwork and mutual support Variety in musical style Continuous improvement
The Choir’s core activity is the meeting each Monday night when members are introduced to new material and practice together, preparing for upcoming events. These and additional meetings may also be the forum for developing the members’ singing and musical ability. Concerts are given, normally one in the summer and one at Christmas, with a variety of other performances. Social events are also held but it would be rare for such events not to include singing in some form.
Achievements
During the year the number of members in the Choir increased to just below 70. Two concerts were held: one in St Mark’s, Broomhill at Christmas and one in St Luke’s, Lodgemoor in the summer. The Christmas concert, which included a matinee, raised £1,073 for St Luke’s Hospice and British Heart Foundation. The summer concert raised £400 for Sheffield Young Carers, a charity dedicated to supporting young carers And young people affected by drug/alcohol issues in their family. The choir took part in a performance of “A Sprig of Thyme”, a collection of folk songs, with a number of other choirs, in March in the Victoria Hall and also had a short performance in Fulwood Fete. A Ceilidh was held in December and a couple of karaoke sessions at the Punchbowl in Crookes.
During the year we were privileged to have the leadership of the Musical Director, Kate Van Der Riet and the Associate Musical Director, Caroline Hallam.
Financial Review
The trustees maintain a level of reserves sufficient to cover any large items of expenditure that may occur and to manage any fluctuations in the incidence of receipts and payments. In accordance with this policy, reserves held at the end of the year amount to about 5 months’ worth of on-going expenditure. In view of our additional expenditure on an Associate Musical Director, which led to a deficit of £2,249 over the year, a decision was made to increase members’ subscriptions, for the first time in many years, immediately after the year end.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these.
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Public Benefit
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in carrying out the purposes of the charity. It should be noted that, in accordance with our mission statement, the choir is open to all and no audition or previous choir experience is required.
Approved by the Trustees of Vivacity Choir on 29 February 2024 and signed on its behalf by Andrew Brodie, Chairman
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VIVACITY CHOIR
Financial Statement for the Period Ended 31 August 2023
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| Receipts Subscriptions Concert income Other events Gift Aid Payments Musical direction Music Rent Concert costs Gifts and Donations Other events Equipment Subscriptions Insurances Excess of payments over receipts STATEMENT OF ASSETS ANDLIABILITIES Bank current account |
2023 2022 Total funds Total funds £ £ 9,792 8,064 2,783 2,275 1,568 - 1,389 2,215 |
|---|---|
| 15,532 12,554 |
|
| 9,019 6,735 2,176 2,314 1,200 1,410 1,426 1,215 1,955 500 1,512 60 128 290 266 230 99 95 |
|
| 17,781 12,849 |
|
| -2,249 -295 |
|
| 7,058 9,307 |
All funds are unrestricted.
Approved by the Board of Trustees of Vivacity Choir on 29 February 2024 and signed on its behalf by Andrew Brodie, Chairman.
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