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Spectra Ensemble
Trustees’ report for the year ended 5 April 2024
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024.
Reference and administrative details
Charity name: Spectra Ensemble Charity registration number: 1185940 Registered office address: 7 Blenheim Drive Oxford OX2 8DH Trustees: Ms Florence Carr Ms Giulia Sartori Conte Mr Jonathan Cross Mr Mark Galtrey Ms Cressida Peever (chair) Ms Susanna Stranders
Structure, governance and management
The charity is an Association Model CIO governed by articles of association adopted on 20 March 2019. Spectra Ensemble was registered as a charity on 22 October 2019.
Objectives and activities
The purpose of the charity, as set out in the governing document, is:
To promote and foster for the benefit of the public the understanding and appreciation of opera, as well as associated aural and visual arts, through the provision of public performances and related educational events.
Our activity generally consists of operatic performances and educational workshops through which we challenge traditional definitions of opera and open opera up to new audiences.
The charity trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.
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Achievements and performance
This has been a fallow year owing to difficulties around securing the rights to the opera which is our first choice for Spectra Ensemble’s next production. We had pencilled a slot at Arcola Theatre in summer 2023 and were developing our creative plans, but regretfully we decided to suspend our activity when, after several months, we had still not received an answer from the relevant estate about permissions. We opted to halt proceedings well in advance rather than damaging relationships with our partners by pulling out at short notice.
Understanding that communication difficulties with the estate are not uncommon, we have continued to work towards producing the show. As at 5 April 2024, we have managed to secure permission from the estate on the condition of working with a specific, pre-approved arranger for the proposed reduction, but we have not yet raised sufficient funds to mount a production.
This is the first time Spectra Ensemble has tried to produce copyright-protected work which it has not itself commissioned, and thus the project is a learning experience for our organisation.
Financial review
Spectra Ensemble holds restricted reserves of £4,000 and unrestricted reserves of £3,681 at the end of this financial year.
The restricted reserves consist of a donation towards our next production. The donor has indicated that he would be happy for us to apply those to a different production from the one originally intended, should the rights for our first choice not become available.
We continue in our ambition of holding unrestricted reserves equivalent to 10% of an average production budget, which would currently be around £4,500. A significant Gift Aid claim in 2023-24 has helped us work towards this goal and has also allowed us to pay off a long-standing debt to our Executive Director. We have also since the end of the financial year claimed Theatre Tax Relief on our 2022 production of The Boatswain’s Mate , which will help us to move towards our reserves target.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and 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 issued in October 2019.
This report was signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by
Mark Galtrey, Trustee 20 January 2025
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Spectra Ensemble
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2024 which comprise the trustees’ report, receipts and payments account, and statement of assets and liabilities.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
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Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Richard Nelson FCCA Breckman & Company Ltd Chartered Certified Accountants
49 South Molton Street London W1K 5LH
20 January 2025
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SPECTRA ENSEMBLE
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
| Unrestricted RECEIPTS funds £ Box office income from The Boatswain's Mate Donations 2,114 Grants Membership fees 180 Total 2,294 PAYMENTS Loan repayment 1,500 Production fees 53 Total 1,553 NET OF RECEIPTS 741 Cash funds brought forward 2,940 Cash funds carried forward 3,681 |
Restricted funds £ - - - 4,000 £ 4,000 £ |
Total £ - 2,114 - 180 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,294 1,500 53 |
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| 1,553 741 |
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| 6,940 | ||
| 7,681 |
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SPECTRA ENSEMBLE
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
| Unrestricted funds Assets £ Debtors - Bank 3,681 Cash - Total cash funds 3,681 Liabilities Creditors - Accruals (2,700) Total net assets 981 |
Restricted funds £ - 4,000 - 4,000 - - 4,000 £ |
2024 Total £ - 7,681 - 7,681 - (2,700) 4,981 |
|---|---|---|
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by
Mark Galtrey Trustee on 20 January 2025