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2025-05-31-accounts

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and

Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS)

Registered Charity, No: 1193199

Trustees’ Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31[st] May 2025

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

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Contents

1 Reference and Administraton Details.......................................................................................................4
1.1 Charity Name & Registraton..................................................................................................................4
1.2 Charity’s Address....................................................................................................................................4
1.3 Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity...................................................................................4
1.5 Bank Details............................................................................................................................................5
2 Structure, Governance & Management....................................................................................................5
2.1 Type of Governing Document.................................................................................................................5
2.2 Charitable Objects..................................................................................................................................5
2.3 Trustee Selecton Methods.....................................................................................................................5
3 Actvites...................................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Statutory Declaraton..............................................................................................................................7
4 Achievements & Performance..................................................................................................................7
4.1 Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Benefciaries...........................................................................7
4.2 How the Public Have Benefted.............................................................................................................7
4.3 Contributng to Actvites Run by Other Organisatons...........................................................................8
4.4 Trustee Development.............................................................................................................................8
4.5
Suicide preventon training/Safeguarding/child protecton.............................................................8
5 Financial Review.......................................................................................................................................8
5.2 Policy on Reserves..................................................................................................................................8
5.3 Principal Sources of Income and Expenditure........................................................................................8
5.4 Remuneraton of Trustees.....................................................................................................................10
5.5 Financial Status.....................................................................................................................................10
5.6 Statutory Statements on Liabilites.......................................................................................................10
6 Statement of Financial Actvity...............................................................................................................11
6.1 Financial actvity for year ended 31 May 2025.....................................................................................11
6.1.1
Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts 2024-2025...............................................11
7 Approval of the Board of Trustees..........................................................................................................13

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS):

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Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

Trustees Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity for the Year Ended 31st May 2025

1 Reference and Administration Details

1.1 Charity Name & Registration

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS)

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registration no: 1193199, registered with the Charity Commission on 22 January 2021.

1.2 Charity’s Address

20 Foxtail Crescent, Banbury, OX15 4SP

E-mail: banburyoperatcchairman@gmail.com

Website: htps://www.banburyoperatcsociety.co.uk

1.3 Names of the Trustees Who Manage the Charity

Role Appointed Resigned Mark Melzack Chair Jacqueline Slatter Treasurer Ben Coleman Safeguarding 02 March 2020 Sammy Briggs Secretary 06 Sept 2023 Les Pratt Independent Trustee 02 March 2020

1.4 Names of Advisors & Senior Members of Staff

None.

1.5 Bank Details

There are two bank accounts for BOS:

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS):

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Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

There is one bank account for YOBOS:

One bank account is in the charity name (opened August 2021):

2 Structure, Governance & Management

2.1 Type of Governing Document

Constitution – based on the Charity Commission’s model governing document for Association Charitable Incorporated Organisations.

2.2 Charitable Objects

As defined in the Charity’s Constitution (Governing Document):

The charity’s objects (“objects”) are:

for the public benefit in the area of Banbury, Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties using the medium of musical, operatic, and dramatic arts and performance-based activities and events to further the purposes:

1. the advancement of musical, operatic, and dramatic arts, and the education of the public in such arts in particular by the provision of opportunities to participate in said arts.

2. to advance in life and help young people through the provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve the conditions of life.

2.3 Trustee Selection Methods

There must be at least three charity trustees. The maximum number of trustees is five. In accordance with the Constitution, Trustees are appointed or re-appointed for a term of two years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.

With reference to clause 12 (Charity trustees), subclause 13 (Appointment of charity trustees) of the CIO’s constitution, the trustee selection methods are as follows:

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

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on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot;

In appointing Trustees due consideration is given to ensuring that the Trustees have, between them, the skills and experience necessary to manage the charity effectively and in accordance with charity law.

3 Activities

3.1 Statutory Declaration

The Trustees of Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS) confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

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4 Achievements & Performance

4.1 Outputs and Outcomes for the Charity’s Beneficiaries

In August 2024, YOBOS staged a production of ‘ School of Rock’ . The production team work with the cast in a summer school for 11 – 19 year olds for a period of one week. They perform in at the end of the week at Wykham School in 3 performances to a total audience of around xxx people. The school develop talent in both on and off stage (musical direction, stage management & technical roles), receiving critical acclaim for their work.

In March 2025, YOBOS ran a ‘Taster Day’ workshop for their next production of Les Miserables, planned for August 2025. The Taster Day attracted 60 young people to audition for parts and participate in rehearsals.

In October 2024, BOS performed concerts with the theme of ‘Kings & Queens’ over 5 performances. This was comprised of a selection of 20 popular pieces with the theme linked to royalty. The show mixed solo pieces, small groups and large ensemble musical/dance numbers with a cast of ## in all age ranges. The Banbury shows were followed by a performance in our German twin town of Hennef.

In April 2024, BOS performed ‘ Made in Dagenham’ over 5 performances at Wykham School with the cast supported with a group of musicians.

4.2 How the Public Have Benefitted

We entertained audiences with 3 shows, School of Rock, Kings & Queens and Made in Dagenham. We also hosted publicity days for every show at local shopping establishments around Banbury and performed in additional concerts to help publicise the shows. The group participated in Banbury Canal Day.

4.3 Contributing to Activities Run by Other Organisations

We have had a close relationship with other amateur musical theatre groups in the area. We share props, and costumes, hire out sound, sets and light equipment and help them promote their shows by posting ticket links on our socials.

4.4 Trustee Development

Trustees are encouraged to participate in development opportunities as and when appropriate.

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

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4.5 Suicide prevention training/Safeguarding/child protection

The Youth Officer for Banbury Operatic Society and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society undertook continued safeguarding and child protection training in his professional capacity as a teacher that he was then able to apply to his role for the charity.

5 Financial Review

5.1 Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit

The Charity has no funds which are materially in deficit.

5.2 Policy on Reserves

The Charity’s policy on reserves is to generate and maintain a balance which is sufficient:

For these purposes the Charity will endeavour to generate and maintain reserves of £15,000 over the next three to five years. This figure will cover the running costs of both societies for a year where income may be limited, as we have experienced this year, as well as allowing for unforeseen expenditure. This reserve will be held in the joint charity bank account.

5.3 Principal Sources of Income and Expenditure

The financial year 2024-2025 was a successful year for both BOS and YOBOS, with both groups of the charity bringing popular productions to the people of Banbury and beyond.

BOS’s first show of the year was Kings & Queens in October 2024, which made an in-year profit of £2,247 (and an operational profit of £2,278). This was followed in April 2025 by Made in Dagenham. This popular West End musical turned in an in-year profit of £448 although it was not profitable due to higher than expected production costs.

The main source of fundraising income for BOS continued to be our 100 Club which generated a profit of £475 for this period. Easyfundraising shopping scheme generated £438 of income which is paid directly into our charity bank account.

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS):

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Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

The administration costs for the year are a deficit of £2,526 and these are covered through fundraising, membership, show fees, ticket and front of house sales. The major expenses of running BOS in this period were, as usual, the costs associated with maintaining our extensive storage facility (£2,600), our insurance and licences (e.g. for radio mics) (£1,820).

Overall, BOS ended the year with a slight decrease of £1,685 in its bank accounts compared with the start of the year, and plans to improve its financial health in the short-term future are in progress.

For YOBOS, the main event of the year was the show ‘School of Rock’, the annual summer school production. Three performances were staged to predominantly full houses, and made a profit of £2,553. Income of £8,810 was also received from the Taster Day for the 2025 production of Les Miserables (School Edition).

The expenses associated with running YOBOS are shown as Administration costs, separate from the main show expenses. However, it should be noted that, primarily, it is the income from the main YOBOS show of that year that is expected to cover these running costs as well as the show costs. A small amount of additional income is received from BOS e.g. where assets that also belong to YOBOS are hired out, but YOBOS are also expected to contribute to the running costs such as society insurances.

In the financial period being reported on, YOBOS also spent £992 on Administration costs. YOBOS ended the year with a healthy increase of £6061 in its Lloyds account and remains in an extremely healthy financial state.

The Natwest charity account also receives the income for SumUp, which we use to take card payments at our events, although the income is then transferred to the main Lloyds account of BOS or YOBOS for the relevant event.

BOS/YOBOS closed their Scottish Widows account and transferred the funds to the Lloyds Bank into a savings account with a higher rate of interest.

The financial summaries for the BOS, YOBOS, and the joint charity, bank accounts are shown on the following pages, along with report of the independent examination of these accounts.

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements.

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5.4 Remuneration of Trustees

All Trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or other material benefits from their services to the Charity, unless an honorarium is agreed by The Executive Committee, as per clause 26 “Financial Arrangements”, sub-clause 7 in the CIO’s constitution, which states: “The Executive Committee reserves the right to offer an honorarium to any person offering their skilled services to the CIO for a large extent. An honorarium is defined as an ex-gratia payment which is clearly less than the rate which would otherwise reasonably be payable for professional provision of such services. Such an honorarium may be offered to a trustee or member of the CIO, subject to the provisions of clause 6 of the constitution.” Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by trustees in furthering the purposes of the Charity are reimbursed at cost so that no Trustee is out of pocket.

5.5 Financial Status

Though modest, Banbury Operatic Society’s (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society’s (YOBOS) current resources from unrestricted donations are more than sufficient to meet its outgoings for at least next year. All the indications are that this will remain the case for the foreseeable future.

5.6 Statutory Statements on Liabilities

The Trustees declare that:

The charity has given no guarantees where potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of this statement ( e.g.: any outstanding/ongoing contract or legal undertaking to buy or provide specific services).

The charity has no debt outstanding at the date of this statement which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the CIO ( e.g.: a mortgage on property owned by the charity).

6 Statement of Financial Activity

6.1 Financial activity for year ended 31 May 2025

7 Approval of the Board of Trustees

The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Annual Report & Statement of Financial Activity.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Date:

Name (& role if appropriate) Mark Melzack, Chair of Trustees

Banbury Operatic Society (BOS) and Youth of Banbury Operatic Society (YOBOS): Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements