CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From l July 2023 To 30 June 2024 Charity name: CANTUS FIRMUS TRUST Charity registration number. 1192862 Objectlves and Actlvities Summary of the purposes of the charity as s8t out in its goveming document Para 1.17 The object of the CIO is the advancement of the Christian faith includin& but not limited to. the development of understsndin& worship and mission for the benefit of indNidual Christians. groups of Christians, practitioners, enquirers and learners by means of the creative arts- includingi but not limited to. demonstrations of and opportunities to participate in high quality music, dan and drama- together with a550ciated education and training. and to support such educatlon and trdining by the provision of materials and the maklng of grants in locations throughout the United Kingdom. but principally in the counties of Essex and Suffolk. Most Cantus Fimius activities are in-person events and serlices. During the Covid pandemic lockdown5, the Trust tteated video resources for thurches and other organisations to use in their worship. and it maintsins the capabilÉty to create more in the future. Summary of the main activities in relation to tkb)se purposes for the public benefit, in particular. the activities, projects or seN( identified in the ac¢xnts. Pa 1.17 1.19 Most Cantus Fimus events and services are in partnership with Ic1 churches. Some of those events and sertes are to present Christfan music and understanding to people who would not usually hear them. Some others are to help introduce congregations land other peoplel to musical land other artistic} styles and materials that they are not familiar with and want to consider using. Some Cantus Fimius events are in partnershlp with InHarmony. 3 small organisation at St Edmundsbu Cathedral to develo music across
churches in Suffolk Also. some Cantus Firmus events are in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music, a charity to develop music within Christian worship across the UK and elsewhere. The Tw5tees continue to ensure that they have regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance when carrying out activitles to which it is relevant. Statement confinning whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission public benefft Pwa 1.18 Additlonal InfoMkl0n {optlonal) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP refw Cantus Firnius Trust has a prartice of making donations to indNiduals who have been heavily involved in preparing and presentln8 events and activities. The Artistic Director (who is not a trustee) makes proposals to the trustees on the amount of suth donations and the trustees take these proposals into account when making a decision. A trustee is able to propose to the other trustees a donation to a person, who rnav or may not be already kn¢)wn to the trustees. who is undertsking study or other activity whlch is consistent with the objerts of Cantus Firmus Tnjst and who is in need of financial support. and the trustees believe that suth study or activity will generally advance those objects. Any such donation is at the trustees, absolute discretion and they will tske into account the circumstances of the case and the amount of funding which Cantus Fimius Trust has available. A trustee may also propose a donatlon to an or8anisation whose aims are consistent with those of Cantus Firmus Trust; a similar set of decision crlteria wlll apply as noted above in relation to an individual. Pm 1.38 Policy on grant makiNJ Policy on sttial investment ir)cluding prcNJram related investment P1.38 Not applKable. The Trust relies very heavily on. and is very grateful for, the contribution of volunteers both for admlnlstrdtion. singin& accompanying. other performin , arranging and conductin music. During the reporting period. the trustees met in October 2024. January 2024 and May 2024. There was no Annual General Meeting of the CIO in this reporting period: the 2023 AGM was in June 2023 and the 2024AGM was in Jul 2024.. Contribution made by volunteers Pwa 1.38 Other
Achievements and Performance During 2023-24. Cantus Fim)us provided choirs and musical leadehip for services and events at churches who had asked for help exploring and navigating new ways forward for their music (choice of material and development of music teams). These included a harvest servi at prettyte Baptist Church Colchester Iwhich attrarted new people to the church). a CeIc Christianity themed service at Colchester Baptist Church and a clirnate change themed cOnrt at St Andrew's Church Ru5hmere. Summary ofthe main achievements of the charity. identifying the difference the charity's woth has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to Iety as a whole. Cantus Fimius rnn one Pilgrirnage of Song this year Ifrom villages to a large housing estate in Ipswich). in the format created and used by the Trust. "Singing pilgrims" spend a day walking betrween thurthes, with short themed muslcal seNices at each- experiencing aspects of pilgrimage and the effecti¥enes5 of services using well chosen, slmple music and liturgy. Cantus Firmus provided a large choir and orchestra for a perfomance of Messy Messlah in St Edmundsbury Cathedral in November 2023. mes Messiah is a portfolio of material developed by Cantus Firmus to introduce school students to the biblical Christmas story and give them an experience of large-scale, immersive music. It adapts Handel's Messiah with children s parts. performance scripts. opportunities for other art5 and school assemb material and is intended for further use in the future. The cathedral drew in c150 students from c8 loc31 primary schools and the audien filled the cathedral. In February 2024. Cantus Flnnus led workshop and service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.. to explain and demonstrate Taizé rnusic in worship, Nearly 200 people from across Suffolk and beyond participated, including ministeTs and church members, Wtth the intention of introduclng Taizé worship into their own churche A composition prize, funded by Cantus Flmius, was awanled to a promising student at London School of Theology. who plan5 to work in church MUSK leadership after graduating. The trust's events and activities are advertised widely to over 5(K) mailing list subscribers. to thurches and to the eneral ublic. Th
also regularly mentioned on BBC Radio Suffolk. All are welcome to attend and take part. Addltional InfomMtlon {optlonal) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant atxwL' Achievements against objectives set Perfomiance of fundraising activities against objectives set Investrnent perfomiance against objedives P*a 1.41 Par8 1.41 Par8 1.41
Financial Review Review of the charity's financial posit at the end of the period Pa 121 Accounts are maintsined on a 'ReIpts and Payments, basis. thjnations from supp)rters of £823 were received for general purposes. along Wlth participant donation5 to defray the costs of events of £4406. The charity is registered with HMRCfor Gift Aid and claimswere made on qualifying donations. Other income derives from organisations with whom we may partner when presenting an event. The total income was £9449. Expenditure of £9494 was incurred. which induded £2080 of administratlve sUPPOrt. The yearnd balan was £11220. of which £926 is in restricted funds. There was a deficit for the year of £45. (The full summary of the accountsls provided in the accompanying document.1 Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1Z2 CantU5 Firrnus Trust holds reserves for the following purposes: Maintenance of essentlal actlvlties Risk of project losses Take up of opportunitles Exceptlonal activities The trustees revlew thls policy annualty. They also dedde on the appropriate level of reserves on a year-by-year basi5, consistent WFth the above purposes. and consistent wlth the maln rlsks and (wportunities identlfied for the Trust. Amount of reserves hekl Pwa 122 JCKKI at stsrt of year £6993 at end of ar Not applicalle Reasons for holding z8ro reserves Details of fund materially in deficit Explanalion of any uncertainties about the charity ntinUIng as a goi P•4 122 P¥a 124 No fund is in deficit Pwa 123 No uncertainties with regard to the charity continuing as a going concem. Additional information (optional) You ma choose to indude fvrther statements where relevant about The principal sources of funding are donations and offerings a5cIated WFth events. with a small amount of regular donations from Para 1.47
The charitys principal sources of funds (induding any fundraising) supportets. Some income results from Gift Aid claimsto HMRC. Not applicable Investment policy and objectives including any social inveslment policy adopted Para 1.48 The three principal areas of risk identified in the Trust'5 work are.. A description of the principal risks facing the charity Para 1.46 l. Flnanclal: expendlture (most Ilkely on projectsl rnay exceed income: new opportunities may arise at short noti that can only be taken up with additional funding: assets may need replacing early because of faults. 2. Safety: the Trust s Ilve events have Inevltable safety hazards le.B. tripping hazards in staged productions and services. n>ad hazards in outdoor pil8rim38es of song} whith need to be assessed and mitigated. 3. Safeguarding: the Trust does not work with adults at risk. Some projects do involve under 18s- in nearly all cases the Involvement is vla a school or church, in which case the sthool or church supervises them. but on rare occasions it is necessary for the Trust to provlde supervlslon.
Structure. Governance and Management Description of charitys tnjsts.. Type of goveming document P• 125 The Charity is Bovemed by a Constitution approved by the Charity Commission when Cantus Firrnus Trust CIO was a proved. How is the charity constituted? Pam 125 ao ioraled Trust8e selection methods. including details of any constitLrtional prowsions e.g. elects'on to post or name of any person OT bc¥Jy entitbj to app)int one or rrvxe trustses PaTr 125 A5 spectfied the Constitution land apart from the first charity trustees) every trustee 15 appointed by a resolution passed at a properly con¥ened meeling of the tharity trustees. In selecting individua15 for appointment as charity trustees. the charity trustees have regard to the skllls. knowledge and experience needed for the effective governan and runnin8 of the ao. Addltional Infomiatlon (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant abouL' Pdicies and procedures After initial. infonnal discussions with the adopted for the induction arKI chairn)an. a prospective trustee attends a training of trustees trustees, meeting as an obserrfer. A DBS check Is carrled out, If appropriate. After appointment. he or she is provided with information about the trust's licies and methods of workin The trustees meet approximately three-monthlv to make strategic and financial decisions. There are two Steering Groups. one for Essex and one for Suffoll with at least one trustee in each, whose rnembers propose and manage events in their re5pertive counties. In the early Stages of planning each event, the steering groups prepare. for the trustees, consideration and approval. a budget and a summary of its stnKture and content. which shows how It aligns with the trust s ob"ectives. The Trust has close links with: Parn 1.51 The charity's organisatTronal structure and any wider network with which the charity works Relatlonship with any related parties Pwa 1.51 St Edrnundsbury Cathedral. which employ5 Richard Hubbard part time (the Trust's Arknstic Director) as St Edmundsbury and Ipswlth Muslc Development Director. London khool ofTheology. whith employed Richard Hubbard (the Trust's Artistic Dirertorl part-time during this reporting year. Several churthes in gjffolk and E55ex.
Reference and AdministratAve details Chari name Other name the cha uses Registered chari number Charity's principal address Cantus Firmus Trust N/A 1192862 49 Marlborough Road Ipswich Suffolk IP45AX Names of the cha . trustees vtho mana the chari Nam• of porson lor body) •ntitled to appolnt trustee Olllce (If ary) Deborah Ruth Cook Andrew Philip Charles Davies David Freestone Chalr Howard Roy Gardner David John Gunton Treasurer Andrew James Gosden Owen Anthony Thurtle Geoffrey Weaver te trustees- names of the directors al the date the Dlr•ctor n•m• wasa roved None Name of trustees holding tide to propety beknging to the dRrity Tru8t•• n•mo None Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets held in this capacty Name and objects of the charity on vthose behalf the assets are held and how Ihis falls within the custodian chari Details of arTarrfJements safe custody arKI segregation of such assets from the chari 's own assets Not applicable
Additional inforniation (optional) Names and addressos of advisors (Optional Infornll0n} of adviser Name Address Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optlonal Information) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non41sc1cjre of ke nel details Other o tional inforniation Declarations The trustees daclare that they have approved the truste88' r•port above. Slgnad on behalf of th• charws tte¢S Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary. Chalr, et¢) Ltr loir
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES can Firn7us Tnjst 1192862 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period d end Qat8 18tJu 2023 30th JuTr8 2024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrèstricted fund¥ Restricted lund Endowrnent tunts Total funds Last year lo the rrESt £ tothe thea51£ lothe DoarÈ&t£ 10th8 noaro8t£ toth• rareSt£ Al Rèceipts Donatsons (private- wn-specffjcl Donatn$ Iprivab- evt-r&atedI Dation lChurd)ÈSl1th8tor$} Gift Aicl recDvered Ticket$ales Sundries Imeals ai events) Inwesi and on-line refi&ThJ8 822 822 4406 2055 1784 32 32 Sub total (Gmss income for AR) 9449 9449 A2 Asset and InStm*nt sales, l¥ee table). Lightlnglsound 4uipment Sub total Total ts¢eipts 9449 A3Pa ents Surwrt servw Iweb hc6bry. in5urarte, bank ¢h8rge8. etcl Computer hardware min supwrt t)onabon$ Rotyh hiie and trav Music hire Equipment Consufflables Prinbnglpostage 531 531 3720 1744 114 3720 1744 752 509 752 Sub total 9494 A4 Assét and investment purchas&¥. see table) Sub total Total payments 9494 Net of reeeipts/(payments) AS Transfèts between funds A6 Cash funds last yèar end Cash funds this year end 10338 1029 92 11 264 92 11 219
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestriet•d funds Re¥trl¢ted funds to neare5t£ Endowment fvnd8 Categorfes D•lall8 to noar•st£ B1 Ca8h funds Gwwal {at k) 10 294 c in h¥vJ aryfirth lat 928 Total cash funds 10294 926 Unrestrtcted funds Restrlet•d funds to nearest£ Endowm•nt funds to rnorest£ D•tslls to r•èarw£ Fuhd tO7hkh 9et Cuntnt va Detsils t lopts.ona B3 Investment assets . zga> Fund to whi¢h Dètalls Cost loptbma Cutyent ¥8lu8 ionil B4 Ass•ts r•tsined ft)r the charity's own use Fund tOThich knou#t d Whpn due DetaS1s B5 Llabllltios SvJned by one orts¥o trustees on tehalf of all the Irustee5 Dale of roval Signature Print Name D J Gunton Trustee 8Ad Treasurer 24 Ocl¢*)er 2024