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2025-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity Number: 1190010

OPERA ON LOCATION (CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OPERA ON LOCATION

CONTENTS Page
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Trustees’ Annual Report 4 - 7
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Opera on Location 8
Statement of Financial Activities 9
Balance Sheet 10
Notes to the Financial Statements 11 - 20

2

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Status

Opera on Location is governed by a constitution and is registered under the Charities Act 2011 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Registration Number: 1190010) from 19 June 2020.

Trustees

David Allen Sallianne Foster-Major Jim Steinke Kate Thompson (resigned 21 September 2025)

Charity Address

48 Kenwood Park Road Sheffield S7 1NF

Bankers

NatWest 5 Market Place Chesterfield S40 1TW

3

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objectives of Opera on Location are to advance public education, appreciation and understanding of the arts, particularly the art of opera in all its aspects, by the production and presentation of public operatic performances.

To reach its objectives, Opera on Location innovatively stage affordable high-quality opera in unconventional performance spaces sung in English by young performers in the early stages of their careers/professional singers requiring further stage experience.

Public benefit

The aims and benefits of Opera on Location are contained within the body of this Report. We have considered the key principles of the Charity Commission’s general guidance about public benefit and have concluded that Opera on Location meets all the requirements.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The year ended 31 March 2025 marked a period of exceptional artistic growth and ambition for Opera on Location, culminating in two large-scale projects that significantly expanded the charity’s reach, profile, and organisational capacity.

In August 2024, Opera on Location presented its most ambitious production to date with Verdi’s A Masked Ball , staged at SADACCA. This landmark project formed the centrepiece of the charity’s anniversary celebrations and represented a major milestone in the organisation’s development. The production successfully reached new audiences and communities, particularly those less likely to engage with traditional opera venues, aligning strongly with the charity’s mission of accessibility and inclusion.

The production featured a community chorus of over 20 singers, drawn from across the region and supported by professional practitioners, alongside a full professional orchestra of 17 players — the largest ensemble Opera on Location had assembled at that point. The cast comprised a highly accomplished group of professional singers, whose performances were widely praised. The scale, artistic quality, and community engagement of A Masked Ball made it a hugely successful project and a source of great pride for the organisation, demonstrating what Opera on Location can achieve at its most ambitious.

Building on this success, in March 2025 Opera on Location collaborated with Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra, Sheffield Music Hub, and Hallam Chorale Singers to present a semi-staged production of Bizet’s Carmen as part of the Classical Sheffield Festival. This large-scale collaboration was held at Canon Medical Arena, a basketball stadium repurposed as a performance venue, further demonstrating the charity’s commitment to innovative, site-specific opera.

The performance was attended by almost 1,000 people in a single afternoon, making it one of the most wellattended events in the charity’s history. The project was both artistically and logistically ambitious, and its success reflected Opera on Location’s growing reputation as a trusted partner for major regional collaborations and festivals.

Together, these projects represent a significant step forward for Opera on Location, evidencing increased organisational confidence, artistic excellence, and an ability to deliver complex productions at scale while remaining true to the charity’s founding values.

4

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OPERA ON LOCATION

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The year ended 31 March 2025 saw a deficit of £18,006 (2024: surplus of £17,584) for the charity, which was as a result of the spend down of restricted grants in respect of A Masked Ball , the performance of which took place in August 2024. Despite the overall deficit recognised in the year ended 31 March 2025, the Trustees are satisfied that unrestricted reserves continued to grow, totalling £8,206 at year-end (2024: £6,862).

Total income in the year ended 31 March 2025 amounted to £87,686 (2024: £32,165). This consisted of grant income of £55,235 (2024: £26,150), income from charitable activities of £30,277 (2024: £2,572), donations from individuals of £1,867 (2024: £3,117) and income from investments of £307 (2024: £326).

Total expenditure in the year ended 31 March 2025 amounted to £105,692 (2024: £14,581).

At 31 March 2025, the charity held total funds of £9,506 (2024: £27,512), consisting of £8,206 (2024: £6,862) of unrestricted funds and £1,300 (2024: £20,650) of restricted funds.

Reserves Policy

It is the Trustees’ policy to maintain a level of free reserves which provides a stable base for their continuing activities, whilst at the same time ensuring excessive funds are not accumulated. As at 31 March 2025, the charity held free reserves of £8,206 (2024: £6,862). Opera on Location aims to hold unrestricted reserves of 6 to 12 months of annual expenditure, and so will continue to build its reserves to meet this target.

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Structure

Opera on Location is governed by a constitution and is registered under the Charities Act 2011 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Registration Number: 1190010) from 19 June 2020.

Governance

New trustees are appointed at duly convened meetings, on the approval of the current trustees. The Board of Trustees comprises a minimum of three trustees with no maximum limit. The trustees meet regularly to review the strategy and performance of the charity.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The principal risks facing the charity, as considered by the Trustees, include:

1. Not receiving external funding grants Opera on Location were extremely grateful for the funding received during the financial year. If, however, Opera on Location were to be unsuccessful in receiving external funding, the programme of activity would be altered to suit an achievable budget whilst trying to maintain our high production values.

2. Poor quality of performance and loss of audience Opera on Location has gained a fantastic reputation with each project adding to this. The Co-artistic Directors have processes in place when recruiting freelancers to ensure they are of the highest quality available. Opera on Location regularly collects audience feedback after performances to help monitor how productions have been received, this in some extent informs what aspects to expand on with future productions. Furthermore, Opera on Location invites external and peer reviewers to performances for an objective and critical eye.

3. Loss of key personnel Opera on Location is currently a small organisation and so loss of key personnel could have a detrimental impact on the charity. Any such loss of key personnel would be looked into immediately and an action plan drawn up to ensure that the charity would be able to continue to operate smoothly.

5

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OPERA ON LOCATION

FUTURE PLANS

Looking ahead, 2026 will see Opera on Location consolidate this period of growth while strategically preparing for its next major staged production. The organisation plans to present an extended Friends event, featuring a staged performance. This project will continue to nurture the charity’s loyal supporter base while allowing space for careful planning, fundraising, and partnership development.

This measured approach will enable Opera on Location to focus its resources on the preparation of a fully staged summer production, planned for 2027. This forthcoming project represents the next stage in the charity’s long-term artistic vision, combining large-scale site-specific work with high artistic standards and strong community engagement.

Through these plans, Opera on Location aims to balance sustainability with ambition, ensuring the organisation continues to grow responsibly while delivering high-quality, accessible opera to diverse audiences across the region.

6

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OPERA ON LOCATION

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions, disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 18 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

DAVID ALLEN Trustee

7

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF OPERA ON LOCATION

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Opera on Location ("the Charity") for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of Opera on Location you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the application Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do 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: Date: 28 January 2026

Faye Hazlehurst FMAAT FH Accountancy Services Anston Sheffield S25 4JU

8

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31 March 2025

Note
Income from:
Donations and grants
2
Charitable activities
3
Investments
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought
forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried
forward
Unrestricted
funds
Year ended 31
March 2025
£
3,867
30,277
307
Restricted
funds
Year ended 31
March 2025
£
53,235
-
-
53,235

3,700
73,394
77,094
(23,859)
4,509
(19,350)
20,650
(19,350)
1,300
Total
funds
Year ended 31
March 2025
£
57,102
30,277
307
87,686
5,552
100,140
105,692
(18,006)
-
(18,006)
27,512
(18,006)
9,506
Total
funds
Year ended 31
March 2024
£
29,267
2,572
326
32,165
1,964
12,617
34,451
1,852
26,746
28,598 14,581
5,853 17,584
-
(4,509)
1,344 17,584
9,928
17,584
6,862
1,344
8,206 27,512

The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of the financial statements.

Prior year comparatives by fund are detailed in the notes to the accounts.

9

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

BALANCE SHEET as at 31 March 2025

Note
Current assets
Stocks
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
10
Net current assets
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
12
Unrestricted funds
12
Total funds
2025
2025
£
£
274
23,017
8,706
31,997
(22,491)
9,506
9,506
1,300
8,206
9,506
2024
£
338
205
29,040
29,583
(2,071)
2024
£
27,512
31,997
(22,491)
27,512
20,650
6,862
27,512

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 18 January 2026.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by:

DAVID ALLEN Trustee

The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of the financial statements.

10

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Charity information

Opera on Location is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales. It was formed on 19 June 2020 and its charity number is 1190010. Its registered office address is 48 Kenwood Park Road, Sheffield, S7 1NF.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) (Charities SORP 2019) and with the Charities Act 2011.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

The functional currency of the charity is considered to be pound sterling because that is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the charity operates.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Going concern

Having reviewed the financial position of Opera on Location, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they adopt a going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Income

Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity becomes entitled to the income, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Grants are received for specific projects/costs and are recognised in accordance with their individual terms and conditions. Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, which is when any performance conditions attached are met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be reliably measured. Grant income will be deferred if received in advance of meeting performance conditions.

Donations represent amounts received in the year, including gift aid.

Expenditure

Expenditure comprises expenditure directly relating to the activities of the charity. Costs are either specifically identified or apportioned between expenditure headings for the purposes of charitable activities and costs of raising funds. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Charitable activities includes both direct costs and support costs relating to the activity.

Costs of raising funds are those costs incurred in attracting donations.

Allocation of support costs

Costs are directly attributable to specific activities.

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

11

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OPERA ON LOCATION

Debtors

Short term debtors are initially measured at transaction price, less any impairment.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash in hand and deposits held with banks.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

Fund accounting

Restricted funds comprise donations and grants earmarked by the donors, or the terms of the grant, for specific purposes and are detailed in the notes to the financial statements.

Unrestricted funds can be used at the discretion of the Trustees to further the charitable objectives.

Financial instruments

Opera on Location only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their amortised cost.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects current and future periods.

In the view of the Trustees, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets or liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustments to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.

Taxation

Opera on Location is a registered charity and as such is entitled to tax exemption on all its income and gains, properly applied for its charitable purposes.

12

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND GRANTS

Individual donations
Arts Council England
The Brelms Trust
Sheffield City Council
The Sheffield 1000
Individual donations
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Scops Arts Trust
The Marchus Trust
Church Burgesses
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation
Freshgate Foundation Trust
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
1,867
-
-
1,000
1,000
3,867
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
3,117
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,117
Restricted
funds
2025
£
-
44,035
4,200
5,000
-
53,235
Restricted
funds
2024
£
-

8,410
6,240
5,000
3,000
2,500
1,000
26,150
Total
funds
2025
£
1,867
44,035
4,200
6,000
1,000
57,102
Total
funds
2024
£
3,117
8,410
6,240
5,000
3,000
2,500
1,000
29,267

13

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Ticket sales
Performance fees
Ticket sales
4.
INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS
Bank interest
Bank interest
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
8,918
21,359
30,277
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
2,572
2,572
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
307
307
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
326
326
Restricted
funds
2025
£

-
-
-
Restricted
funds
2024
£

-
-
Restricted
funds
2025
£

-
-
Restricted
funds
2024
£

-
-
Total
funds
2025
£
8,918
21,359
30,277
Total
funds
2024
£
2,572
2,572
Total
funds
2025
£
307
307
Total
funds
2024
£
326
326

14

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

5. EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS

Website and marketing costs
Friends Scheme costs
Fundraiser fees
Website and marketing costs
Friends Scheme costs
Fundraiser fees
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
708
644
500
1,852
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
350
864
750
1,964
Restricted
funds
2025
£

-
-
3,700
3,700
Restricted
funds
2024
£

-
-
-
-
Total
funds
2025
£
708
644
4,200
5,552
Total
funds
2024
£
350
864
750
1,964

15

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

6. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Artists, performers and creative teams
Production costs
Website and marketing costs
Insurance
Ticket processing fees
General expenditure
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
22,500
2,757
-
-
-
1,489
26,746
Restricted
funds
2025
£
59,400
12,257
1,125
412
200
-
73,394
Total
funds
2025
£
81,900
15,014
1,125
412
200
1,489
100,140

General expenditure includes £700 (2024: £843) of support costs, including governance costs of £700 (2024: £478).

Artists, performers and creative teams
Production costs
Website and marketing costs
Insurance
Ticket processing fees
General expenditure
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
272
41
8
2
2
542
867
Restricted
funds
2024
£
9,816
1,470
315
89
60
-
11,750
Total
funds
2024
£
10,088
1,511
323
91
62
542
12,617

7. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The trustees were not remunerated as part of their roles as Trustee during the current year and previous period. No trustees (2024: none) were reimbursed expenditure in the year ended 31 March 2025.

Kate Thompson, a Trustee of the charity, was paid £1,600 (2024: £nil) in the year ended 31 March 2025, for her services as a fundraising consultant. No amounts were outstanding at 31 March 2025.

There were no further related party transactions during the current year.

16

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

8. STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS

No staff have been employed during the current year and previous period.

9. DEBTORS

Due within one year
Prepayments and accrued income
10.
CREDITORS
Due within one year
Accruals and deferred income
2025
£
23,017
23,017
2025
£
22,491
22,491
2024
£
205
205
2024
£
2,071
2,071

11. INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION AND ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES

The cost of the Independent Examination and accountancy services was £700 (2024: £460).

17

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

12. FUNDS

Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
A Masked Ball production
– Arts Council England
Pipeline funding –
Sheffield City Council
A Masked Ball production
– The Brelms Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
Postcode Neighbourhood
Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
Scops Arts Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
The Marchus Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
Freshgate Foundation Trust
Total of funds
Balance at 1
April 2024
£
6,862
-
-
-
8,410
6,240
5,000
1,000
20,650
27,512
Income
£
34,451
44,035
5,000
4,200
-
-
-
-
53,235
87,686
Expenditure
£
(28,598)
(48,544)
(3,700)
(4,200)
(8,410)
(6,240)
(5,000)
(1,000)
(77,094)
(105,692)

Transfers
in/(out)
£
(4,509)
4,509
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,509
-
Balance at 31
March 2025
£
8,206
-
1,300
-
-
-
-
-
1,300
9,506

18

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

12. FUNDS (CONTINUED)

Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
_A Masked Ball_production –
Postcode Neighbourhood
Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
Scops Arts Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
The Marchus Trust
_A Masked Ball_production –
Freshgate Foundation Trust
Educational workshops –
Church Burgesses
Educational workshops –
Sheffield Town Trust
Educational workshops –
Sheffield Grammar
School Exhibition
Foundation
Educational workshops –
Sheffield Bluecoat and
Mount Pleasant
Educational Foundation
Educational workshops –
The Sarah Nulty Power of
Music Foundation
2023 Summer concert –
Earl Fitzwilliam
Charitable Trust
2023 Summer concert –
Sheffield Town Trust
Total of funds
Balance at 1
April 2023
£
3,678
-
-
-
-
-
2,665
-
750
500
2,000
335
6,250
9,928
Income
£
6,015
8,410
6,240
5,000
1,000
3,000
-
2,500
-
-
-
-
26,150
32,166
Expenditure
£
(2,831)
-
-
-
-
(3,000)
(2,665)
(2,500)
(750)
(500)
(2,000)
(335)
(11,750)
(14,581)
Transfers
in/(out)
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
Balance at 31
March 2024
£
6,862
8,410
6,240
5,000
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,650
27,512

Verismo production

Monies were received from a number of organisations, including Arts Council England to fund the Verismo production.

19

OPERA ON LOCATION

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

12. FUNDS (CONTINUED)

Pipeline funding

Monies were received from Sheffield City Council in the year ended 31 March 2025.

Educational workshops

Monies were received from a number of organisations in the year ended 31 March 2024 to fund educational workshops.

2023 Summer concert

Monies were received from a number of organisations in the year ended 31 March 2023 to fund the Summer concert performed in the year ended 31 March 2024.

Transfers during the year ended 31 March 2025

A transfer from unrestricted to restricted funds was recognised to cover the shortfall in restricted funds in respect of A Masked Ball .

13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Current assets
Total
Current assets
Total
Unrestricted
funds
2025
£
8,206
Restricted
funds
2025
£

1,300
Total
funds
2025
£
9,506
8,206 1,300 9,506
Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
6,862
Restricted
funds
2024
£

20,650
Total
funds
2024
£
27,512
6,862 20,650 27,512

14. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

Cash at bank and in hand At 1 April
2024
£
29,040
Cash flows
£
(20,334)
At 31 March
2025
£
8,706
29,040 (20,334) 8,706

20