Putney Choral Society –Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
1. Introduction
This is the annual report for 2024 for Putney Choral Society (“PCS”), a registered charity.
2. Objectives and activities
We are a choral society which rehearses regularly and gives public concerts. We are a nonauditioned group and welcome any member of the local community to join us. We regularly put on public performances with our amateur choir augmented by professional soloists and orchestra.
Our objective is to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music.
The trustees confirm that we have complied with our duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising our powers or duties.
3. Achievements during the year
We have sustained our commitment to developing the performance and enjoyment of choral music within our local community.
Our spring concert in May 2024 extended our repertoire with the performance of ‘Requiem for the Living’ by the American composer, Dan Forrest. This fine modern work was warmly received by the audience. Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and ‘Magnificat’ formed the second part of a successful programme. In December 2024 our winter concert, Rossini’s ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’, was a further addition to our repertoire and was also well received. Our small July concert for family and friends comprised a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan choruses.
During the year we have sought to further widen both our membership and our audiences through our website and social media. Open rehearsals at the start of the winter and spring terms have also attracted new members and will now be regular events. Participation in the programme for the borough of Wandsworth’s ‘Borough of Culture’ in July 2025 will extend awareness of the choir. Expanding and improving outreach, engagement and publicity for the choir is a high priority for the trustees in the coming year.
The professional musicians who prepare us and perform with us are essential to the life of the choir. As such they are a vital part of music in the community. The trustees give high priority to securing the income necessary to continue this partnership. It is a considerable challenge that we are determined to meet for the sake of the choir and for the place of music in the life of the community.
Putney Choral Society - Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
4. Financial review
We made a surplus of £2,866 on income of £33,674, which compares with 2023 when we made a loss of £84 on income of £27,238. However much of the surplus in 2024 was due to recognising £4,900 income from previous donations for a commissioned work, so excluding that one-off item we would have made a loss of about £2,000.
The policy of the choir is to aim to operate at break-even over the medium term (3-5 years). But within this there can be significant fluctuations from year to year. Our rolling average surplus/loss over the past five years is consistent with this target.
We also have a policy of holding reserves of at least £10,000 but not over £20,000 to allow us to sustain such fluctuations . At end 2024 our reserves stood at £15,712.
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Putney Choral Society - Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
5. Reference and administrative details
| Charityname | PutneyChoral Society |
|---|---|
| Charityregistration number | 1188032 |
| Registered address | Flat 10 Upton Court The Downs London SW20 8JB |
| Trustees | Geoffrey Chapman (treasurer) Tricia Davies Nearn Lesley Hazel Paula Jones (chair) Heather Owen Elizabeth Padua (secretary) Howard Railton Celia Simpson |
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Putney Choral Society –Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
1. Introduction
This is the annual report for 2024 for Putney Choral Society (“PCS”), a registered charity.
2. Objectives and activities
We are a choral society which rehearses regularly and gives public concerts. We are a nonauditioned group and welcome any member of the local community to join us. We regularly put on public performances with our amateur choir augmented by professional soloists and orchestra.
Our objective is to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music.
The trustees confirm that we have complied with our duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising our powers or duties.
3. Achievements during the year
We have sustained our commitment to developing the performance and enjoyment of choral music within our local community.
Our spring concert in May 2024 extended our repertoire with the performance of ‘Requiem for the Living’ by the American composer, Dan Forrest. This fine modern work was warmly received by the audience. Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and ‘Magnificat’ formed the second part of a successful programme. In December 2024 our winter concert, Rossini’s ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’, was a further addition to our repertoire and was also well received. Our small July concert for family and friends comprised a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan choruses.
During the year we have sought to further widen both our membership and our audiences through our website and social media. Open rehearsals at the start of the winter and spring terms have also attracted new members and will now be regular events. Participation in the programme for the borough of Wandsworth’s ‘Borough of Culture’ in July 2025 will extend awareness of the choir. Expanding and improving outreach, engagement and publicity for the choir is a high priority for the trustees in the coming year.
The professional musicians who prepare us and perform with us are essential to the life of the choir. As such they are a vital part of music in the community. The trustees give high priority to securing the income necessary to continue this partnership. It is a considerable challenge that we are determined to meet for the sake of the choir and for the place of music in the life of the community.
Putney Choral Society - Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
4. Financial review
We made a surplus of £2,866 on income of £33,674, which compares with 2023 when we made a loss of £84 on income of £27,238. However much of the surplus in 2024 was due to recognising £4,900 income from previous donations for a commissioned work, so excluding that one-off item we would have made a loss of about £2,000.
The policy of the choir is to aim to operate at break-even over the medium term (3-5 years). But within this there can be significant fluctuations from year to year. Our rolling average surplus/loss over the past five years is consistent with this target.
We also have a policy of holding reserves of at least £10,000 but not over £20,000 to allow us to sustain such fluctuations . At end 2024 our reserves stood at £15,712.
2
Putney Choral Society - Annual report for the year ended 31st December 2024
5. Reference and administrative details
| Charityname | PutneyChoral Society |
|---|---|
| Charityregistration number | 1188032 |
| Registered address | Flat 10 Upton Court The Downs London SW20 8JB |
| Trustees | Geoffrey Chapman (treasurer) Tricia Davies Nearn Lesley Hazel Paula Jones (chair) Heather Owen Elizabeth Padua (secretary) Howard Railton Celia Simpson |
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts .Spction A Independent Examiner's Report 1R•rt to the trustees Putney Choral Society On accounts forthe year ended 3111212025 Charity no (rf any) 1188032 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3111212024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 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 conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requiremen that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connectio 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. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 15111202*S Name: Jo Paice Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales Chartered Tax Advisor (non-practising) Address: 18 Bemish Road London SW15 1 DG IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinatifv of cha•y accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018