2025-07-31-accounts

From

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period end date Day 01 Month 08 Year 2024 Day 31 Month 07 Year 2025 To

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

2024-2025

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1

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.

2024-2025

TAR

2

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.

2024-2025

TAR

3

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.

2024-2025

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Section D Achievements and performance

Treasurer’s Report 2024-2025 Summary of the main In the 2024-2025 financial year, OXOPS gave audiences a fairytale ending with our achievements winter production of Cinderella! at the New Theatre. With our summer production at the of the charity Oxford Playhouse, we put our mark on the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Jesus Christ during the year Superstar. Here is how our shows and other activities performed in 2024-2025: Cinderella Income: £ 63,006 Outgoing: £ 97,738 Profit/loss: £ 34,732 loss JCS Income: £ 56,417 (this includes income from 2025-26 FY) Outgoing: £ 74,694 (this includes outgoings from 2025-26 FY) Profit/loss: £ 18,277 loss Operations Income: £26,442 (Membership, Patrons, Gift Aid, other donations, interest) Outgoing: £3,126 (insurance, Zoom licence, NODA membership, account fees, replacing OXOPS photocopier, music stands purchase) Profit/loss: £23,316 profit Meaning the financial year ended DOWN £29,693. While 2023-24 was also a loss, it was a much smaller one (£1,169).

Both shows in 2024-25 faced challenges of increased costs and lower audience turnout. These shows were nonetheless fantastic productions enjoyed by audiences and great experiences for those involved. Huge thanks are due to the production teams of Cinderella and JCS to keep costs down where possible, and to Andrew Moore and Sarah Sykes for bringing in a big chunk of ticket sales for us via the Coach Scheme (special thanks also to Terry and Diana Pemberton-Piggott, and Peter Shaw, for all of their work on the Coach Scheme over the years).

Membership fees continue to be vital for the financial stability of the Society. £13, 905 was brought in by fees alone (last year’s figure was higher due to kids’ memberships for Oliver!), with £3,833 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. Give As You Live and other charitable donations continue to be a source of free money (£682 this financial year). A huge thank you is due to our generous patrons, who supported us to the tune of £1,055 this year. The Stephanie Williams Memorial Trust also generously supported our activities. In 2024-25, OXOPS also received a £5,000 bequest from the estate of Ann Southwell, which as discussed at last year’s AGM, will be used to provide development opportunities for members.

A HUGE thanks also to Chris Thiele for his independent examination of the accounts.

As it becomes harder to break even on shows, the committee are considering measures to correct for this, some of which will be voted on at this AGM. Nonetheless, we ended 2024-2025 with over £70k in the bank, and we are well-placed to produce Sound of Music and the OXOPS anniversary concert in 2025-26 and to consider exciting programming opportunities beyond.

Section E Financial review

2024-2025

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5

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 28/04/2026 28/04/2026

2024-2025

TAR

6

Charity no. 1187711

Paper3/2025

Oxford Operatic Society

Statement of Financial Position

Year 2024/25

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 / 2025 2023 / 2024
Balance Balance
FIXED ASSETS
Re-usable set parts 0 0
0 0
CURRENT ASSETS
CAF Gold 51,555 96,622
CAF Cash 3,000 3,000
Barclays 1,172 1,172
Shawbrook 10,315 10,244
Cash & Cash Equivalents 66,042 111,038
Prepayments (made in reporting year) 4,211 1,620
Debtors 254 72
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 70,507 112,729
TOTAL ASSETS 70,507 112,729
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accruals -7,856 4,466
Deferred Revenue 7,059 7,268
-797 11,733
TOTAL LIABILITIES -797 11,733
Reserves
Opening Balance 100,995 102,165
Profit / (Loss) for the Year -29,693 -1,169
71,303 100,995
TOTAL LIABILITIES & RESERVES 70,506 112,729
----- 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 2025 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 31/07/2025.

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.

Date: 20/11/2025 Signed: Name: Chris Thiele Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 38 Campion Way, Witney, OX28 1ES

Oct 2018

1

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 tough year was seen financially with 2 large scale theatre shows, with a material (£30k) loss which reduces those reserves.

As in prior years the committee will need to continue to monitor the cash reserves closely for the foreseeable future. The switch to one large show and one concert in the year ahead should hopefully decrease some of the cash risk in the short term.

Oct 2018

2

IER