Danesborough Chorus
Charity Number 1188026
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 August 2024
Activities during the year
During the season the choir has continued to perform music to the high standard to which it aspires. The trustees have complied with Charity Commission guidance concerning the requirement for the choir as a charity to provide a public benefit.
We performed on three occasions. In November 2023 we gave a performance of Rutter’s Gloria and Paul Patterson’s Magnificat , the latter a challenging work which, nonetheless, drew praise from the composer who honoured us with his presence and expressed delight that his work was being performed. In March we performed Bach’s St John Passion . Having been added to their list of approved choral societies by the Josephine Baker Trust, we were able to engage young soloists from the Royal College and the Royal Academy of Music for this performance. Thanks must go to David Roberts for his efforts in researching and securing this opportunity. Our summer concert featuring Will Todd’s Mass in Blue was a huge success, eliciting cheers and a standing ovation from the audience.
Other events this season have included the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Christingle service at St Mary’s, Woburn; an event which has become a welcome fixture in the Danesborough calendar.
We also provided a small choir to lead the singing at the Christmas lights switch-on at the Frank Moran Centre in Bletchley.
This season we hosted our first Come and Sing event in Woburn Sands. The work chosen for this event, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana , proved to be a huge draw. The event was well attended by members and non-members alike with participants coming from as far afield as Northumberland. We received very complimentary feedback from participants. Ian Smith, our musical director, was singled out for his energy and infectious enthusiasm and Tim Grant-Jones, our accompanist, was complimented on his excellent playing.
We were engaged to sing at a number of weddings and funerals. Bookings for such events exceeded expectation and contributed welcome funds to choir coffers.
Day-to-day running
We are very fortunate to have many members who assist in our day-to-day operation. Without these helpers, concerts would not run as smoothly as they do and the enjoyment in
belonging to the choir would be considerably reduced. Having many members performing these various functions means that no-one has to be overcommitted. As with all these tasks, we do need to have new members joining the band of volunteers as some inevitably do retire, and so we appeal to those among you, whatever your skills, to see if you can assist in some small way.
After many years’ service, Jenny Harris will be stepping down from her role as website manager and a replacement will be required. We are also seeking a deputy to shadow David Roberts in his role as graphic design and production manager.
As a committee we have met four times this year. Danesborough Chorus continues to face financial challenges and these are influencing programming decisions. We have been looking for works with reduced orchestration or alternative accompaniment to keep costs low in this area.
Committee attention has also been given to creating policy documents covering Finance, Bullying & Harassment, Social Media, Conflicts of Interest and Complaints as well as a Code of Conduct for choir members.
In addition to the Programming, Policies and Communications Sub-committees, we have this year set up a Fundraising Sub-committee. The Fundraising Sub-committee has proved enormously successful and thanks must go to its members, Imogen Allen, Jan Liddie, Maria Seaton, Ian Colling and David Pilgrim. The social events they organised, included a quiz night, an immensely popular curry night and a Friends’ reception at the summer concert. The curry night in particular raised significant revenue.
Choir membership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and we are operating below our optimal membership of 100. Recruiting new members and in particular attracting a younger demographic continues to be a challenge. This impacts on income from membership fees (and associated Gift Aid) as well as tickets sales, as members tend to sell to family and friends.
This year Jacqui Dankworth relinquished her role as President of Danesborough Chorus. We thank her for her years of service to the choir. We were delighted when Peter Hoare accepted the invitation to become our new president.
Sadly, Neville’s Funeral Service decided not to renew their sponsorship of the choir but we are very grateful to them for their past support. The Fundraising Sub-committee has been pursuing other potential avenues for sponsorship.
Administrative Information
Danesborough Chorus is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered in February 2020. Its objects, set out in the constitution, are to educate the public in the arts and sciences and in particular in the art and science of Music. It achieves this by presenting concerts and other activities as set out in this report in the counties of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The address for communications is 45 The Quantocks, Flitwick, Bedfordshire, MK45 1TG.
The trustees who have served during the year are: Peter Snelling (Treasurer); Ian Smith (Musical Director); Siân Rees (Secretary); David Roberts, Imogen Allen and Nick Wood. Jan Liddie and Maria Seaton have served as co-opted members.
The position of Chair became vacant at the 2023 AGM when Tessa Cox, our then Chair, stood down in accordance with our constitution. In the absence of any nominations for the position, Peter Snelling and Siân Rees have been Acting Co-chairs this season.
The trustees are elected at the charity’s AGM with a further two places being available for co-option of members by the Committee. Ordinary members may only serve for a maximum continuous period of three years.
Finance
The annual accounts are attached to this report.
The choir has reserves which are necessary for the performance of concerts which have to be financed before the concerts take place. Reserves, considered necessary, need to be sufficient to cover the average cost of a season’s concerts. Concerts generally run at a loss which is covered by members’ subscriptions and other revenues but we cannot put on a concert without having adequate reserves to cover the costs of performances. Having begun the season with a budgeted deficit of £2000, we ended the season with a surplus of just over £3000, in large part due to the efforts of the Fundraising Sub-committee and the finalisation of Gift Aid for the 2021/2022 and the 2022/2023 seasons for which Imogen Allen and Peter Snelling deserve our thanks. Our reserves now stand at £29,000.
DANESBOROUGH CHORUS
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
| Current Assets Debtors and Prepayments Music Stock Bank Petty Cash Current Liabilities Creditors and Accruals Net Assets Represented by Funds General Fund Staging Fund Friends Reserve |
12 Mths ended 31.8.24 £ £ 4112.75 866.85 30191.93 0.00 35171.53 1324.56 1324.56 33846.97 29607.11 590.00 3649.86 33846.97 |
12 Mths ended 31.8.23 £ £ 5985.00 1192.27 23657.69 0.00 30834.96 332.45 332.45 30502.51 26262.65 590.00 3649.86 30502.51 |
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P J SNELLING TREASURER 1st October 2024
on behalf of the Trustees
The notes on the attached pages form part of the accounts
Registered CIO No 1188026
Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of DANESBOROUGH CHORUS On accounts for the year ended 31 AUGUST 2024 Charlty no (If any) 1188026 Set out on pages Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The responsibilities of charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section trustees and examiner 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act} and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility lo.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 1451Sllb) of the Charities Ad, and to stale whether pa"CUlar matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the examiner's statement 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 the trustees Conrning any such matters. The prOdureS undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in ars 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. Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come lo my attention which gives examiner's statement me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements-. lo keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Ac(. and lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met,. or to which, in my opinitin, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 2olq- Namo: JAMES LEGG ACMA Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any>: Address: 28 Grasmere Way Leighton Buzzard LU7 2QN IER March 2012