REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1190703
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
for
Gothic Opera CIO
W R Frost & Co Riversdale Ashburton Road TOTNES Devon TQ9 5JU
Gothic Opera CIO
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 6 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 10 |
Gothic Opera CIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 2 August 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
Gothic Opera's objective as stated in the Charity's Governing Document is the advancement of opera by the provision of artistic projects including performances of rare works related to supernatural and/or gothic subjects'.
In support of our aims and objectives, we have
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Attracted new audiences to opera by setting up performances, both at and around Halloween
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Made our performances open and inclusive by maintaining affordable ticket costs
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Created a unique experience for the audience by using unusual, atmospheric and community venues which are not traditionally used for opera
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Supported the artistic community by employing and giving opportunities to a number of emerging artists
The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing their aims and objectives and planning future activities.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
In the period betwen August 2021 and August 2022, the work of the charity returned to the expected, with one fully staged production around Halloween as its main focus.
In the trading year, the charity achieved a range of successful activities:
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A fully staged production over five performances of La Nonne Sanglante (The Bloody Nun) at Hoxton Hall, London. This production was originally planned for Halloween 2020 but delayed because of COVID-19. The production won the Opera Production category at the Off West End Awards 2021 (awarded in February 2022). Additionally, two of Gothic Opera's singers in this production, Mae Heydorn and Jack Roberts, were finalists in the Performance category, also at the Off West End Awards 2021.
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A series of concerts in Kensal Green Cemetery, in collaboration with the London Month of the Dead. These concerts also provided further paid performance opportunities for singers cast in the Halloween 2021 production.
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A Valentine concert on the 20 March 2022 at Guy's Hospital Chapel, as part of the Gothic London Festival.
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Secured funding and built relationships with sponsoring Trusts and Foundations. These included the Fenton Arts Trust, who confirmed their support for the 2021 production after the postponement due to COVID-19, and the Golsoncott Foundation.
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A concert for the Fenton Arts Trust's Trustees annual dinner, in recognition of the ongoing support and strong relationship between the organisationsl.
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Delivery and growth of the Gothic Opera Friends scheme, which continued strongly throughout the year.
The trustees are satisfied that the charity worked towards and achieved its objectives - creating high-quality events that attracted new audiences to opera.
Page 1
Gothic Opera CIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Attached is the statement of financial activities, which provides more details on the income and expenditure of the charity.
The overall income in the reporting period is £96,706. This is constituted primarily of donations from private donors and Gothic Opera Friends, sponsorships from Trusts and Foundations, and ticket sales.
The overall expenditure in the reporting period is £67,031.
The charity ended with a substantial surplus thanks to a large private donation of £35,000 made in April 2022. These funds were part of the fundraising for the autumn 2022 production, The Halloween Double Bill.
We currently do not have a policy on reserves.
At the time of reporting, there are no funds materially in deficit, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the charity. At present, there are no uncertainties regarding the charity continuing as a 'Going Concern'. Regular donations have been secured and plans for the 2022/23 season are underway.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Gothic Opera was established as a limited company in May 2019. The company was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 3 August 2020. This is the second full trading year for the company as a charity.
The charity is governed by a Constitution, as amended on 20 February 2021.
The charity is required to have a minimum of three trustees and a maximum of 12. The Constitution of the Charity establishes a quorum of three trustees for meetings and for decision making.
During the reporting period, the charity was run by four trustees, all of whom were appointed when the charity was first established. The existing trustees have been identified by invitation only based on knowledge, experience and ability to contribute to the needs and objectives of the charity.
The Governing Document establishes that new trustees can be appointed by the Board of Trustees. Upon appointment, new trustees will be provided with a copy of the current version of the Constitution, a copy of the Charity's latest Trustees' Annual Report and the latest statement of accounts. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Charity trustees. The composition of the Board of Trustees is reviewed annually to ensure trustees are able to support the work of the charity in the most effective way.
Gothic Opera relies on the work of its three Founders - Alice Usher, Charlotte Osborn and Beatrice de Larragoiti - for the running of its operations. All staff and creatives employed by Gothic Opera, including its Founders, have freelance self-employment status and are employed as required and on a project basis.
Three of Gothic Opera's trustees have declared themselves as related to the Company Founders.
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Edoardo Cesarino is the husband of Alice Usher
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David Usher is a parent of Alice Usher
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Louis de Charbonniere is a relative of Beatrice de Larragoiti
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1190703
Principal address
Unit F2 Beehive Yard Bath BA1 5BT
Page 2
Gothic Opera CIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
Trustees
E Cesarino Dr L Hirst Dr D M Usher L de Charbonniere
Independent Examiner
R J Lewis ACA W R Frost & Co Riversdale Ashburton Road TOTNES Devon TQ9 5JU
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 23 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
E Cesarino - Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Gothic Opera CIO
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Gothic Opera CIO
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Gothic Opera CIO (the Trust) for the year ended 2 August 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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.
R J Lewis ACA
W R Frost & Co Riversdale Ashburton Road TOTNES Devon TQ9 5JU
30 May 2023
Page 4
Gothic Opera CIO
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
| 2022 Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 96,706 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 432 Charitable activities Artistic Projects 66,599 Total 67,031 NET INCOME 29,675 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 1,527 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 31,202 |
2021 Total funds £ 50,572 |
|---|---|
| 1,382 47,663 |
|
| 49,045 | |
| 1,527 - |
|
| 1,527 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Gothic Opera CIO
Balance Sheet
2 August 2022
| 2022 Unrestricted fund Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 4 2,531 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 5 29,412 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 6 (741) NET CURRENT ASSETS 28,671 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 31,202 NET ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 31,202 FUNDS 7 Unrestricted funds 31,202 TOTAL FUNDS 31,202 |
2021 Total funds £ 160 2,057 (690) 1,367 1,527 1,527 1,527 1,527 |
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 24 May 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:
D M Usher - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
Gothic Opera CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Equipment - 20% on cost
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 2 August 2022 nor for the year ended 2 August 2021.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 2 August 2022 nor for the year ended 2 August 2021.
continued...
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Gothic Opera CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
| 3. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | |||
| fund | |||
| £ | |||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |||
| Donations and legacies | 50,572 | ||
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||
| Raising funds | 1,382 | ||
| Charitable activities | |||
| Artistic Projects | 47,663 | ||
| Total | 49,045 | ||
| NET INCOME | 1,527 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 1,527 | ||
| 4. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | ||
| Equipment | |||
| £ | |||
| COST | |||
| At 3 August 2021 | 200 | ||
| Additions | 2,566 | ||
| At 2 August 2022 | 2,766 | ||
| DEPRECIATION | |||
| At 3 August 2021 | 40 | ||
| Charge for year | 195 | ||
| At 2 August 2022 | 235 | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||
| At 2 August 2022 | 2,531 | ||
| At 2 August 2021 | 160 | ||
| 5. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||
| 2022 | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Other debtors | 29,412 | 2,057 |
continued...
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Gothic Opera CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
6. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 6. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE | YEAR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Other creditors | 741 | 690 | ||
| 7. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 3.8.21 | in funds | 2.8.22 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 1,527 | 29,675 | 31,202 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 1,527 | 29,675 | 31,202 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 96,706 | (67,031) | 29,675 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 96,706 | (67,031) | 29,675 | |
| Comparatives for movement in funds | ||||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| in funds | 2.8.21 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 1,527 | 1,527 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 1,527 | 1,527 | ||
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 50,572 | (49,045) | 1,527 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 50,572 | (49,045) | 1,527 |
continued...
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Gothic Opera CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 2 August 2022
7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Net movement At 3.8.20 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund - 31,202 TOTAL FUNDS - 31,202 |
At 2.8.22 £ 31,202 |
|---|---|
| 31,202 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 147,278 | (116,076) | 31,202 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 147,278 | (116,076) | 31,202 |
8. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 2 August 2022.
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