Charity number: 1185087
New Sussex Opera
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the period ended 28 February 2021
New Sussex Opera Contents Page For the period ended 28 February 2021
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 2 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 to 9 |
New Sussex Opera Report of the Trustees For the period ended 28 February 2021
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charity for the period ended 28 February 2021. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objectives of the CIO are to encourage, advance, develop and maintain public education in, appreciation of and involvement in operatic arts and the performing arts by promoting a series of public performances, exhibitions and other cultural events.
The trustees have considered the Charity Commision's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
Volunteers
In addition to the Trustees listed below, a number of volunteers assist with such activities as scenery painting and repair, transporting of scenery, props and other equipment to performance venues and stage management issues. In addition the chorus in each production consists entirely of volunteers.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Significant activities
The main activity of the CIO during the period in question was a collaboration with Opera della Luna of Offenbach's La Belle Hélène. This was the first such collaboration with another company undertaken by the CIO and involved fully staged performances in Lewes, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Hove and the Bloomsbury Theatre in London towards the end of 2019, with a further performance at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire in January 2020. The performances attracted very good reviews from both national and local press, including the comment "This is the way to treat Offenbach" from one national source. One of the benefits of the collaboration was that the CIO was able to save on scenery and costume costs as use was made of such items from an earlier production by Opera della Luna.
The CIO's Outreach programme presented 2 opera workshops to local schools on Gluck's Orfeo ed Eurydice as part of a planned series of 6 workshops, funded by a grant from D'Oyly Carte. These were enthusiastically received by the schools, the children and their parents.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Going concern
The CIO had planned to present a number of performances of Handel's Acis and Galatea in May and June 2020, using early instruments for the first time, arrangements for which were being put together in January and February. However, these plans had to be abandoned following the Covid outbreak. It was our intention to re-instate these plans in 2021 if at all possible, but the continuing Covid enforced restrictions made it clear that a further postponement until 2022 would be necessary.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
Trustees are appointed every year through election at the AGM. During the period covered by this report they met 3 times, with a sub-group convening on another occasion specifically to discuss production matters.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity New Sussex Opera Charity registration number 1185087 Principal address 5 De Warrenne Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1BP
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New Sussex Opera Report of the Trustees Continued For the period ended 28 February 2021
Trustees
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Independent examiners
Timothy Locke David James Ruth Loughton David Foster Harriet Anderson Frances Mortimer Neil Fraser-Smith Richard Pulham Andrew M Wells FMAAT 99 Western Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RS
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
............................................................................. 10 December 2021 David James
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New Sussex Opera Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the period ended 28 February 2021
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the period ended 28 February 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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 Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Andrew M Wells FMAAT
99 Western Road
Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RS
10 December 2021
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New Sussex Opera Statement of Financial Activities For the period ended 28 February 2021
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Other income 4 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 5/6 Total Net income Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 16,188 40,535 6,956 |
|---|---|
| 63,679 | |
| (48,264) | |
| (48,264) | |
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 |
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New Sussex Opera Statement of Financial Position As at 28 February 2021
| Notes Current assets 9 Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets The funds of the charity Unrestricted income funds 10 Total funds |
£ 2021 292 15,123 |
|---|---|
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 | |
| 15,415 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
David James Trustee 10 December 2021
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the period ended 28 February 2021
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.
New Sussex Opera meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Going concern
The financial statements are prepared, on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.
Statement of cash flows
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in SORP FRS 102 from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charity is small.
Funds
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes, and it is the policy of the board of trustees to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
There is no formal policy of transfer between funds or on the allocation of funds to designated funds, other than that described above
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure.
Taxation
As a registered charity, the company is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the company, and is therefore included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted funds Donations received Subscriptions received |
2021 £ 15,406 782 |
|---|---|
| 16,188 |
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the period ended 28 February 2021
3. Income from charitable activities
| Unrestricted funds Operatic performances Tickets and performances Sundry sales |
2021 £ 33,488 7,047 |
|---|---|
| 40,535 | |
| 40,535 |
4. Other income
| Unrestricted funds Theatre tax relief |
2021 £ 6,956 |
|---|---|
| 6,956 |
5. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted funds Operatic performances Support costs |
2021 £ 45,755 2,509 |
|---|---|
| 48,264 |
6. Costs of charitable activities by activity type
| Activities | Support | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | costs | ||
| directly | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Support costs | |||
| Operatic performances | 45,755 | 2,509 | 48,264 |
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the period ended 28 February 2021
7. Analysis of support costs
| Operatic performances Management Governance costs |
2021 £ 1,129 1,380 |
|---|---|
| 2,509 |
8. Net income/(expenditure) for the period
| This is stated after charging/(crediting): Accountancy fees ebtors Amounts due within one year: Prepayments and accrued income |
2021 £ 1,380 |
|---|---|
| 2021 £ 292 |
|
| 292 |
9. Debtors
10. Movement in funds
Unrestricted Funds
| Unrestricted Funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming | Outgoing | Balance at | |
| resources | resources | 28/02/2021 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| General | |||
| General | 63,679 | (48,264) | 15,415 |
| 63,679 | (48,264) | 15,415 |
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the period ended 28 February 2021
Purpose of unrestricted Funds
General
General funds are held for the general purposes of the charity.
11. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds General General |
Net current assets / (liabilities) Net Assets £ £ 15,415 15,415 |
| 15,415 15,415 |
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