AYLESBURY OPERA
REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1192416 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS REPORTING PERIOD: 1 AUGUST 2024 – 31 JULY 2025
AYLESBURY OPERA Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts For The Year Ended 31 July 2025
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 3 |
| Annual Accounts 2024-25 | 5 |
| Notes to the Annual Accounts | 7 |
TRUSTEES REPORT 2024-25
Trustees
Jennie Bruce Philip Hayes Gillian Liddell Neil Henderson Nick Heritage Eileen Robinson Fenella Vieceli
Legal Status
Aylesbury Opera is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’), charity number 1192416.
Aylesbury Opera became a CIO in November 2020, having previously been an unincorporated entity (with charity status from August 2015). The society was formed in 1979 and, until February 2016, was known as ‘Aylesbury Opera Group’.
Aylesbury Opera Productions Limited (company number 15461295) was incorporated on 2[nd] February 2024, a 100% subsidiary of Aylesbury Opera.
Governing Document
The governing document is the ‘Aylesbury Opera Constitution’ (October 2023).
Objectives and Activities
The declared objects of the company are:
‘The advancement of the arts through the presentation of opera to the highest possible standard to the local community, and to advance the education of the public in opera and young performers in the early stages of their careers.’
Public Benefit
We have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
Structure, governance and management
Under the charity’s constitution, at each AGM a third of elected trustees retire and are eligible for re- election up to a fixed number of three-year terms.
TRUSTEES REPORT 2024-25
Operation
The company has no paid staff or premises. All other administrative work is carried out by the trustees, all volunteers. The trustees meet regularly to address the short- and medium-term activities of the group, which revolves around its ongoing programme of mounting live concerts and staged productions. The trustees work closely with the Musical Director and Stage Director, both professionals engaged in a freelance capacity, in delivering the group’s programme of public performances.
Activities in the year
Our 2024-25 programme comprised three public events.
We performed Donizetti’s comic opera The Elixir of Love at Holy Trinity, Bledlow on 19[th] October 2024. This was with a strong cast and chorus, accompanied by orchestra. We had a packed house, and the church was keen to have us back for a future performance.
Adrian Thompson, our new Patron, led an opera masterclass on 18[th] January 2025 at Aylesbury Music Centre. Adrian put five young singers through their paces in a constructive and supportive atmosphere with piano accompaniment from Sam Laughton, enjoyed by an appreciative audience.
Our main production this year was a staging of Poulenc’s opera Dialogues of the Carmelites at the DEMBE Theatre, Tring on 28[th] , 29[th] and 30[th] March 2025, led by Stage Director Emma Large and Musical Director Sam Laughton. This featured professional soloists and orchestra and was very well received.
Financial review
A surplus of £12,006 arose during the year (2024: surplus of £8,930).
Unrestricted funds increased from £13,136 at 1 August 2024 to £25,142 at 31 July 2025.
Principal funding sources for year (see notes 3 and 4) were donations received and ticket sales.
Reserves policy
The trustees aim to maintain the charity’s unrestricted reserves at a level equivalent to three months’ running costs
Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
10th November 2025 Philip Hayes ............................................... Date …………………………………………..
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 July 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies 3 Charitable activities 4 Total EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities 5 Total NET INCOME TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
10,923 Unrestricted Funds £ 12,852 10,077 22,929 10,923 12,006 13,136 25,142 |
4,050 Restricted Funds £ 4,050 - 4,050 4,050 - - - |
14,973 Total funds 2025 £ 16,902 10,077 26,979 14,973 12,006 13,136 |
Total funds 2024 £ 19,250 11,077 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,327 21,397 |
|||||
| 21,397 | |||||
| 8,930 4,206 |
|||||
| 25,142 | 13,136 |
| Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2025 Notes CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 7 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL NET ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted funds 8 TOTAL FUNDS |
Unrestricted & total funds 2025 £ 26,855 4,787 31,642 6,500 25,142 25,142 25,142 25.142 |
Total funds 2024 £ 7,338 6,298 13,636 500 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 13,136 | |||
| 13,136 | |||
| 13,136 | |||
| 13,136 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18[th ] August 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
P Hayes
P Hayes
P Hayes (Aug 19, 2025 09:23 GMT)
Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 July 2025
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Aylesbury Opera is a charitable incorporated organization (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales (charity number 1192416). The registered address is Pentewal, Shootacre Lane, Princes Risborough, HP27 9EH.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s constitution, the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Trustees have reviewed and considered relevant information in making their assessment. Based on these assessments, the Trustees have concluded that they can continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
Public benefit entity
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
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.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
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.
Charitable activities are support costs and costs relating to the governance of the company apportioned to charitable activities.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Employees
There were no employees during the period.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. The charity is not registered for VAT.
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.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price.
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2025
3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| Membership subscriptions Donations Gift aid Theatre Tax Relief (2023-24) Grants |
Unrestricted funds £ 1,940 7,024 2,238 - 1,600 12,852 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - 4,050 4,050 |
Total 2025 £ 1,940 7,024 2,238 - 5,650 16,902 |
2024 £ 1,930 - 480 7,740 9,975 16,370 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4[INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES]
| Ticket sales Programme advertising Programme and raffle proceeds Workshops Fundraising CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Production costs |
Unrestricted funds £ 12,997 |
Restricted funds £ 8,400 |
2025 £ 8.082 60 826 320 249 10,077 Total 2025 £ 21,397 |
2024 £ 9,921 60 136 380 - |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,077 | |||||
| 2024 £ 21,397 |
5 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Notes to the Financial Statements – Continued for the year ended 31 July 2025
| 6 DEBTORS Prepayments and accrued income Short term loan to Aylesbury Opera Productions Ltd Other debtors 7 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals and deferred income 8 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 01/08/2024 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 13,136 Restricted funds Scops Arts Trust - Dacorum Borough Council - William Harding’s Charity - Carrington Foundation - - North West Chilterns Community Board Total funds 13,136 |
6 DEBTORS Prepayments and accrued income Short term loan to Aylesbury Opera Productions Ltd Other debtors 7 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals and deferred income 8 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 01/08/2024 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 13,136 Restricted funds Scops Arts Trust - Dacorum Borough Council - William Harding’s Charity - Carrington Foundation - - North West Chilterns Community Board Total funds 13,136 |
Income £ 22,929 1,500 750 300 500 1,000 26,979 |
2025 £ - 26,855 - 26,855 2025 £ 6,500 6,500 Expenditure £ 10,923 1,500 750 300 500 1,000 14,973 |
2024 £ - 7,338 - 7,338 2024 £ 500 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 At 31/07/2025 £ 25,142 - - - - - |
|||||
| Total funds | 25,142 |
9 TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES
There were no transactions with trustees in the year (2024, none)