2023-07-31-accounts - Oxford Operatic Society

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From

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day 01 Month 08 Year 2022 Day 31 Month 07 Year 2023

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Oxford Operatic Society

Other names charity is known by OXOPS

Registered charity number (if any) 1187711

Charity's principal address Courtfield House Milton Oxfordshire Postcode OX14 4EU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Nicola Jones	Chair
	Marilyn Moore	Secretary
	MollyGrace	Treasurer
	Benjamin Ashton	Development Officer
	Bella Brown	Social Secretary
	Jessica Sexon	MarketingOfficer
	Karen Mead	Membership Secretary

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

TAR

2022-2023

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution

(eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Elected by the membership Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

TAR

2022-2023

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	The objective of the Society is to educate the public in the musical and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts.
	The Society produces two items of opera, operetta or musical theatre each year in Oxford. This provides public benefit in a number of ways: - It gives local performers the opportunity to participate in shows in a professional theatre. - It gives audiences the chance to see Operas and Musicals of a high standard at a lower cost than would be possible with a professional cast. - We are able to keep alive shows that would not be considered economically viable by professional companies and to give audiences a chance to see shows that they would not otherwise be able to see. In order to help those who have difficulty traveling to the theatre we organise theatre packages, which include coach transport from many villages around Oxfordshire. This option is extremely popular, particularly with older audience members who find it difficult to travel into Oxford for the evening. We maintain links with local youth theatre companies thus encouraging the participation of younger members in opera, operetta and musicals.

Summary of the objects of the
charity set out in its
governing document
Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

The objective of the Society is to educate the public in the musical and
operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation and
taste in the said arts.

The Society produces two items of opera, operetta or musical theatre
each year in Oxford.
This provides public benefit in a number of ways:
- It gives local performers the opportunity to participate in shows in a
professional theatre.
- It gives audiences the chance to see Operas and Musicals of a high
standard at a lower cost than would be possible with a professional cast.
- We are able to keep alive shows that would not be considered
economically viable by professional companies and to give audiences a
chance to see shows that they would not otherwise be able to see.
In order to help those who have difficulty traveling to the theatre we
organise theatre packages, which include coach transport from many
villages around Oxfordshire. This option is extremely popular, particularly
with older audience members who find it difficult to travel into Oxford for
the evening.
We maintain links with local youth theatre companies thus encouraging
the participation of younger members in opera, operetta and musicals.

TAR

2022-2023

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

On occasion we offer small grants to individual members for attending theatre skills summer schools or other training opportunities. The award of such grants is decided by the committee.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

TAR

2022-2023

Section D Achievements and performance

Treasurer’s Report

Summary of the main In the 2022-2023 financial year, OXOPS transported audiences to Argentina with our achievements winter production of Evita at the Oxford Playhouse, and to a kingdom far, far away in our of the charity summer concert at the Old Fire Station, On the Steps of the Palace . We also began during the year planning our trip to London in Oliver! for the 2023-2024 season.

I am happy to say that theatregoers seemed to have an appetite for travelling along with us! Here is how our shows and other activities performed in 2022-2023: Evita Income: £ 82,891 Outgoing: £ 77,456 Profit/loss: £ 5,435 profit

On the Steps of the Palace (OFS Concert) Income: £ 4,185 Outgoing: £ 6,368 Profit/loss: £ 2,309 loss

Oliver!

Outgoing: £ 2,025 (score hire/license, set hire)

Operations Income: £25,808 (Membership, Patrons, Gift Aid, other donations, interest) Outgoing: £2,502 (insurance, Zoom licence, NODA membership, setting up costume storage, account fees) Profit/loss: £23,307 profit Meaning the financial year ended UP £27,120. This incredibly strong performance offsets the losses we experienced last year, which ended DOWN £15,511 (the 2021-2022 FY was a year where audiences still appeared reluctant to come back to theatres). Both 2022-2023 shows were wins for the society. Evita sold out nearly every performance; we sold 95% of available tickets. This is a huge accomplishment on the part of the creative team, the publicity team, and the cast. On the Steps was another triumph, selling out all shows. Given the small size of the venue, even a sellout run could not recoup all expenses associated with the production, but this was expected from the start. Huge thanks to the production teams of both Evita and On the Steps for working with the Committee to make sure we stayed within budget whilst putting on high-quality productions.

Membership fees continue to be vital for the financial stability of the Society (including giving us the financial cushion to provide unique opportunities like the OFS Concert). £20,380 was brought in by fees alone, with £5,000 on top from Gift Aid – for which a massive thank you has to go to Martyn Thomas for his hard work on this every year. A huge thank you to our generous patrons, who supported us to the tune of £2,185 this year. Thanks also to Chris Thiele for his independent examination of the accounts and to Guy Grimsley for help in the production and management of these accounts. Give As You Live and other charitable donations continue to be a source of free money (£710 this financial year).

2022-2023 stands in stark contrast to the year before. There was clearly a desire to return to the theatre, with audiences coming out in force and a large intake of new members to the society; this interest has helped replenish our coffers to a stronger position than we were pre-pandemic. We ended 2023-2023 with over £110k in the bank, and we are wellplaced to produce Oliver! and to consider exciting programming opportunities beyond.

TAR

2022-2023

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the

charity’s policy on reserves

The society aims to keep the cost of 50-100% of a production in reserve. Some shows are naturally more expensive and financially risky than others and therefore we plan shows 1-2 years ahead to ensure we keep within these boundaries. Also, as settlement is made post show, and expenses incurred before, we need to ensure that we have the reserves in place to deal with cash flow.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

Our primary sources of funds are ticket sales, membership fees, gift aid and patrons contributions.

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Marilyn Moore Full name(s) Molly Grace Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Treasurer Secretary etc) Date 28/06/2024 05/05/2024

Marilyn Moore

TAR

2022-2023

amended 18/12/2023

3/2023

Charity no. 1187711

Oxford Operatic Society

Statement of Financial Position

----- Start of picture text -----
Year 2022/23
2022 / 2023 2021 / 2022
Balance Balance
FIXED ASSETS
Re-usable set parts 0 0
0 0
CURRENT ASSETS
CAF Gold 94,096 65,315
CAF Cash 3,000 3,000
Barclays 1,102 1,062
PayPal 0 0
Shawbrook 10,172 10,107
Cash & Cash Equivalents 108,370 79,584
Prepayments 2,025 1,358
Debtors 40 1,091
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 110,435 82,033
TOTAL ASSETS 110,435 82,033
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accruals 852 1,813
Deferred Revenue 7,418 5,175
Uncleared Cheques 0 0
8,270 6,988
TOTAL LIABILITIES 8,270 6,988
Reserves
Opening Balance 75,044 90,456
Profit / (Loss) for the Year 27,120 -15,411
102,165 75,044
TOTAL LIABILITIES & RESERVES 110,434 82,032
----- End of picture text -----

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Oxford Operatic Society On accounts for the year 31 July 2023 Charity no 1187711 ended (if any) Set out on pages 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/07/2023.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did 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.

Signed: Name: Chris Thiele Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 38 Campion Way, Witney, OX28 1ES

Date: 19/12/2023

Oct 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

As for all amateur theatre groups performing in professional theatres, it remains challenging to break even on a production. Without significant cash reserves the society remains a poor selling show or two away from financial difficulty.

A positive year financially saw a £27k profit generated boosting the bank balance.

As in prior years the committee will need to continue to monitor the cash reserves closely for the foreseeable future.

Oct 2018

IER