Charity number: 1185087
New Sussex Opera
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 28 February 2023
New Sussex Opera Contents Page For the year ended 28 February 2023
| 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 year ended 28 February 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charity for the year ended 28 February 2023. 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 CIO presented tours of two operas and also a series of concerts.
The first was Handel's Acis and Galatea - NSO's first Handel and also the first to use an orchestra with period instruments. During May and June 2022 there were staged performances in Eastbourne, Lewes and Hove.
The second was a comic opera by Jacques Offenbach not performed in the UK for over 140 years - Belle Lurette, written at the same time as The Tales of Hoffmann, just before Offenbach died. This was enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike. Musically, Belle Lurette is superb NSO's production more than does Offenbach justice - and it is great fun - Operetta Research Center. Sadly audiences were considerably smaller than in recent years, partly because numbers have not fully recovered post Covid, but also because of the cost of living crisis including soaring fuel costs. Consequently income did not match expenditure, and after the run ended there was a fund raising appeal to members and supporters which made it possible to pay all outstanding invoices.
The concerts, with the title Passion at the Opera, were held in Lewes, Petworth and Pevensey. They were held in comparatively small venues, but produced a small financial surplus.
Plans were made for another in-house production in June 2023 - a reduced scale version of Gounod's Faust, with performances in Eastbourne, Lewes, Hove and a new venue for NSO in Chichester. Further ahead, a production is planned for Spring 2024, a tour visiting Eastbourne, Lewes, Hove, London and, for the first time, Winchester. The work is likely to be The Dragon of Wantley by Lampe, a send-up of opera seria and Handel.
Once again it was not possible to continue the Outreach programme of workshops, but it is hoped to resume these in the future when it becomes easier to take such workshops into local schools.
New Sussex Opera is a member of Brighton and Hove Arts Council and also a founder member of Opera UK.
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 year ended 28 February 2023
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 Frances Mortimer Richard Pulham Caroline Clarke ACA 99 Western Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RS
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
............................................................................. David James
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New Sussex Opera Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the year ended 28 February 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 28 February 2023.
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.
Caroline Clarke ACA 99 Western Road
Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RS
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New Sussex Opera Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 28 February 2023
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Other income Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4/5 Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 26,768 26,595 21,457 74,820 (67,497) (67,497) 7,323 2,818 10,141 |
2022 £ 19,545 28,390 - |
|---|---|---|
| 47,935 | ||
| (60,532) | ||
| (60,532) | ||
| (12,597) 15,415 |
||
| 2,818 |
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New Sussex Opera Statement of Financial Position As at 28 February 2023
| Notes | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 10 | 16,375 | 896 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,766 | 4,352 | |
| 18,141 | 5,248 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | (8,000) | (2,430) | |
| Net current assets | 10,141 | 2,818 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 10,141 | 2,818 | |
| Net assets | 10,141 | 2,818 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Unrestricted income funds | 11 | 10,141 | 2,818 |
| Total funds | 10,141 | 2,818 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
David James Trustee
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 28 February 2023
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.
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 28 February 2023
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted funds Donations received Subscriptions received ncome from charitable activities Unrestricted funds Operatic performances Tickets and performances Sundry sales osts of charitable activities by fund type Unrestricted funds Operatic performances Support costs osts of charitable activities by activity type Support costs Activities undertaken directly £ £ Support costs Operatic performances 2,628 64,869 |
2023 £ 26,768 - 26,768 2023 £ 24,612 1,983 26,595 26,595 2023 £ 64,869 2,628 67,497 2023 £ 67,497 |
2022 £ 18,695 850 |
|---|---|---|
| 19,545 | ||
| 2022 £ 22,217 6,173 |
||
| 28,390 | ||
| 28,390 | ||
| 2022 £ 58,513 2,019 |
||
| 60,532 | ||
| 2022 £ 60,532 |
3. Income from charitable activities
4. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
5. Costs of charitable activities by activity type
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 28 February 2023
| 6. Analysis of support costs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Operatic performances | ||||
| Management | 2,268 | 1,419 | ||
| Governance costs | 360 | 600 | ||
| 2,628 | 2,019 | |||
| 7. Net income/(expenditure) for the year | ||||
| This is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accountancy fees | 360 | 600 | ||
| 9. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities | ||||
| The comparative year values on the Statement of Financial Activites are for unrestricted | funds. | |||
| 10. Debtors | ||||
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Amounts due within one year: | ||||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 16,375 | 896 | ||
| 16,375 | 896 | |||
| 11. Movement in funds | ||||
| Unrestricted Funds | ||||
| Balance at | Incoming | Outgoing | Balance at | |
| 01/03/2022 | resources | resources | 28/02/2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General | ||||
| General | 2,818 | 74,820 | (67,497) | 10,141 |
| 2,818 | 74,820 | (67,497) | 10,141 |
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New Sussex Opera Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 28 February 2023
Unrestricted Funds - Previous year
| Balance at 01/03/2021 £ General 15,415 General 15,415 Purpose of unrestricted Funds General General funds are held for the general purposes of the charity. 12. Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds General General Previous year Unrestricted funds General General |
Incoming resources £ 47,935 47,935 |
Outgoing resources Balance at 28/02/2022 £ £ (60,532) 2,818 (60,532) 2,818 Net current assets / (liabilities) Net Assets £ £ 10,141 10,141 |
Balance at 28/02/2022 £ 2,818 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,818 | ||||
| 10,141 10,141 |
||||
| Net current assets / (liabilities) Net Assets £ £ 2,818 2,818 |
||||
| 2,818 2,818 |
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