## VIVACITY CHOIR Annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31 August 2024 Registered charity number 1183930 1 ## VIVACITY CHOIR ## Trustees' Annual Report for the period ended 31 August 2024 ## **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 John Raby Kay Russell (resigned 29 January 2024) 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 2 community. Our values are: 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 including “away days” 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 remained at just below 70. Two concerts were held: one in Wesley Hall, Crookes at Christmas and one in St Mark’s, Broomhill in the summer. The Christmas concert, which included a matinee, raised £2,044 for Sheffield Young Carers, a charity dedicated to supporting young carers The summer concert raised £825 for the Yorkshire Brain Tumour Charity, The choir took part in Fulwood Fete on 9[th] June with a short selection of songs. The Choir took part in an “Away Day” singing workshop in September 2023. There were a number of social events including an Open Mic event, a walk and pub lunch and a visit to watch West Side Story. During the year we were privileged to have the leadership of the Musical Director, Kate Van Der Riet and to have Julie Curtis as our pianist. The Musical Director is very conscious of the need for equality and diversity when choosing the repertoire and wants to ensure female arrangers and composers are included, as well as composers from different ethnic groups. ## **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. There was an surplus of receipts over payments of £4,937, resulting from increasing subscriptions at the beginning of the financial year, a decision that was made before the Associate Musical Director chose to resign. In addition there were outstanding payments at the year end of £1,543. Reserves held at the end of the year amount to about 9 months’ worth of on-going expenditure. This is in accordance with the stated policy. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are 4 satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these. ## **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 10 February 2025 and signed on its behalf by Andrew Brodie, Chairman 5 ## VIVACITY CHOIR ## Financial Statement for the Period Ended 31 August 2024 ## RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT |**Receipts**
Subscriptions
Concert income
Gift Aid
Charity donation returned
Grant received
Other events
Other income
**Payments**
Musical direction
Gifts and Donations
Music
Rent
Concert costs
Other events
Professional services
Subscriptions
Insurances
Other expenditure
Equipment
**Surplus of receipts over payments**
STATEMENT OF ASSETS ANDLIABILITIES
**Bank current account**|2024
2023
Total
funds
Total
funds
£
£
12,377
9,792
2,872
2,783
1,904
1,389
1,318
0
500
0
486
1,568
3
0| |---|---| ||19,460
15,532| ||6,639
9,019
2,185
1,955
1,927
2,176
1,335
1,200
1,095
1,426
504
1512
392
0
219
266
200
99
27
0
0
128| ||14,523
17,781| ||| ||**4,937**
**-2,249**| ||**11,122**
**7,058**| All funds are unrestricted. Approved by the Board of Trustees of Vivacity Choir on 10 February 2025 and signed on its behalf by Andrew Brodie, Chairman. 6