2024-06-30-accounts - Oxford Opera Trust CIO

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REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE OXFORD OPERA TRUST CIO, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Oxford Opera Trust CIO trading as Oxford Opera and Oxford Opera Company Charity registered number

1193079

Registered office

Suite 1, 268 Belsize Road, London, NW6 4BT

Trustees

Dr C Coetzee, Trustee S A Walsh, Trustee and Treasurer R Lee MA MSc, Trustee C A Ryan FCA BFP, Trustee and Chairman S Wagner, Trustee

Accountants

SPX Oxford Ltd is a company registered in England & Wales, Number 8216874. Peace House, Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD

Trustees’ Annual Report

Reporting Period: 1st July 2023 – 30th June 2024

1. Introduction

The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Oxford Opera Trust CIO for the period 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024. This report outlines the charity’s activities, achievements, and future plans, and has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011

2. Objectives and Activities

a. Charitable Objectives

The main objectives of the charity are:

To promote public operatic performances.
To foster musical education in young people through youth programmes and outreach.

In setting objectives and planning activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, particularly “Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)”.

b. Activities Undertaken

Oxford Opera has pursued its charitable objectives through:

Public performances of operatic works.
Expanding our Education and Outreach department, offering creative workshops in schools and public venues.
Collaborations with local institutions to make opera more accessible.

3. Achievements and Performance

a. Review of Activities – Period 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024

Main Production – La Traviata

Our headline production for 2023 was Verdi’s La Traviata , performed at The Olivier Hall (St Edward’s School) on 30th September and 1st October. This was our first performance outside the Oxford Playhouse since 2019. It was directed by Cecilia Stinton, with the Oxford Opera Orchestra under the baton of Music Director John Warner.

A special 60-minute family matinee version featured the professional chorus in cover roles, designed to introduce younger audiences to opera. Despite its artistic success and glowing performances—particularly from our three soloists debuting in their roles—the move away from our usual venue resulted in lower ticket sales than expected, particularly for the family performance.

Education & Outreach Department

Under the leadership of our newly appointed Education Manager, Catie Simpson, the department has flourished:

Total reach : 737 children engaged across Oxfordshire through school and public workshops.
Workshops :
Opera in a Day : Delivered over the summer, children created their own versions of Hansel and Gretel , Carmen , and The Magic Flute .
Introduction to Opera : Designed for Reception and KS1 children, piloted in schools including St John Fisher, Littlemore.
Tamino’s Adventure : A continuing favourite, based on The Magic Flute , now adapted to different school sizes and needs.
Residency : A 10-week project led by Katie Blackwell with KS3 students at Oxford High School led to the creation and performance of an original opera ( Geraldine: The Opera ), written and performed by students.

All participating children now receive Oxford Opera branded certificates—boosting confidence, celebrating achievement, and building brand recognition.

New Collaborations and Partnerships

Museum of Oxford (MOX) : In February 2024 we co-hosted How Grim Were the Grimms? , a sold-out workshop. MOX has now confirmed multiple follow-up dates and new workshop development for 2024, including Stories and Songs and Storms .
CATS (Cotswold Arts Through Schools) : Their financial sponsorship enabled delivery of free workshops and our new CPD programme for teachers, focused on Creative Practice Development. Future bookings have already resulted from these initiatives.
Other outreach : We’re in active discussions with Cherwell Theatre Company and The Oxford Playhouse about further partnership opportunities.

New Facilitators

The expansion of our facilitator team means we can now offer an even broader range of sessions. Our core team includes specialists from opera, theatre, education, and youth engagement, including Katie Blackwell, Carol Jones, Nia Williams, Tom Bennett, and Guy Brigg MBE.

Planned Developments

Launch of an Oxford Opera Youth Company with regular sessions and performance opportunities.
Delivery of CPD courses for teachers to help improve drama/music teaching and school productions.

b. Fundraising Activities

Funding for Oxford Opera Trust CIO came from:

Private donations (including a significant gift that secured the charity’s short-tomedium term plans).
Ticket sales.
Grants from charitable foundations and Oxford City Council.

The Trustees have prioritised diversification of income streams. Current efforts focus on:

Developing new supporter relationships.
Securing new grant funding and corporate partnerships.
Strengthening engagement with our loyal local audience base.

The Trustees are grateful to all donors and supporters, including those who have contributed significantly this year.

Oxford Opera Trust CIO continues to champion its identity as “a company for the City, with the City at its Heart—producing world-class opera, with accessibility and opportunity for all.”

4. Financial Review

a. Going Concern

The Trustees are pleased to report that, as predicted in the 2022–2023 report, the charity’s financial footing has stabilised. Income exceeded expenditure during this period, designed to facilitate a more stable administrative team for the following year and ambitious planning for future projects, including a mainstage production at the Oxford Playhouse in 2025 and education initiatives needing more funds including the launch of the weekly Youth Company at the Old Fire Station, Oxford.

The Trustees are satisfied that the charity remains a going concern and will continue to adopt this basis for the preparation of financial statements.

Further detail on the financial position is provided in the accompanying accounts.

5. The Board

During the period, one new Trustee was appointed to the Board. No other changes occurred in the composition of the Board.

The Board also agreed that minutes would be taken by the newly appointed Trustee and shared with the Secretary for drafting and approval.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 29 April 2025 Signed:

Cliff Ryan, Chair of Trustees

	Charity Name Oxford Opera Trust CIO	Charity Name Oxford Opera Trust CIO	Charity Name Oxford Opera Trust CIO	Charity Name Oxford Opera Trust CIO	CC16a
	For the period from	Period start date 01/07/2023	To

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 80 485 - 35 000 9 784 8 175 - - 2 981 441 - 136 865 - - 136 865	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Endowment funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £
Donations -grant	-	1 300 - - - - - - - - - - 1 300	-	1 300 80 485 - 35 000 9 784 8 175 - - 2 981 441 - 138 165	400
Donations - individual	80 485		-		98 817
Donations - corporate	-		-		500
Gift Aid	35 000		-		21 227
Box office sales	9 784		-		-
Education and outreach	8 175		-		9 540
Other events	-		-		6 350
Other income	-		-		81
Fundraising	2 981		-		-
Interest	441		-		1
	-		-		-
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	136 865		-		136 916

A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
		- - -	-	- - -
	-		-		-
*Sub total*	-		-		-
*Total receipts* A3 Payments				138 165
		1 300	-		136 916

Project costs	64 053	- - 1 300 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 300	-	64 053 27 088 16 719 4 425 2 689 1 370 1 200 684 -	675
Admin Team	27 088		-		-
Education/Outreach	15 419		-		13 084
Consultancy/Professional fees	4 425		-		22 060
Office costs	2 689		-		37
MarketingEducation	1 370		-		1 981
Marketing	1 200		-		2 389
Insurance	684		-		577
Magic Flute	-		-		630
Other events	-		-	-	4 019
Gala	-		-	-	14 428
Office space	-		-	-	278
Just Giving costs	-		-	-	72
IT website server/emails	-		-	-	1 130

**Sub total **	116 928		-	118 228	61 360
	- - - 116 928 19 938 - 76 439 96 377
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	-	- - -	-	- - -
	-		-
**Sub total **	-		-		-
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*				118 228
		1 300	-		61 360

	19 938	-	-	19 938	75 556
	-	- -	-	- 76 439	-
	76 439		-		-
	96 377	-	-	96 377	75 556

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B1 Cash funds	Signature Details Details Bank account - current Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Bank account - deposit Details	Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Unrestricted funds to nearest £
		1 833	-
		94 544	-
		-	-
		96 377	-
		OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		-	-
		Fund to which asset belongs
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
		Fund to which asset belongs
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
		Fund to which liability relates
			-
			-
			-
			-
			-
		Cliff Ryan

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Oxford Opera Trust CIO members of On accounts for the 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 Charity no 1193079 period (if any)

Set out on pages 1-4 of Receipts and Payments accounts

Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my examiner's statement attention (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn 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.

Date: 30 April 2025

Signed: Name: Sheila Parry Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any):

December 2018

IER

Address: Peace House, Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

December 2018

IER