Trustees Annual Report
1 August 2024 – 31 July 2025
Document Control
Author : Chris Rees, Chair of the Trustees
Version : 1 – 17[th] February 2026
Introduction
This report covers the period between 1[st] August 2024 and 31[st] July 2025.
This is the fourth year of the operation of Carlton Operatic Society CIO. The Constitution of the CIO demands that an AGM takes place no later than 15 months after the previous AGM; the date of that previous AGM was 5[th] March 2025.
The annual accounts for the 2024-2025 season have been prepared, and have been independently examined; this report includes the examined accounts for discussion and approval at a general meeting, following which they will be submitted to the Charity Commission.
Reference and Administrative details
Name of the charity : Carlton Operatic Society
Other names which the charity uses : none
Charity registration number : 1194116
Address : 1 Poppy Mews, Hucknall, Nottingham, NG15 7EY
Trustees during report period : Christopher Rees (Chair & Business Manager), Anthony Lockett (Treasurer), Ella Greenwood (Administrator), Sarah Hill, Jennifer Chatten, Graham Ward, Helen Taylor (from 5[th] March 2025), Lindsey Jaycock (from 5[th] March 2025).
Structure, governance and management
Carlton Operatic Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, governed with an ‘association model’ constitution.
Trustees for the charity are elected by the membership at the annual general meeting (AGM), for a period of up to three years, and are responsible for the management of the Society. They receive no remuneration for their role as trustees. Further trustees can be appointed as necessary to the board by trustees between AGMs, subject to those appointed trustees resigning at the next AGM. Trustees need not be members of the charity prior to their appointment or election.
The charity has no employees.
Independent Examiners: Karen Braithwaite, Denhams Accountancy and Taxation Services, 32 Seathwaite Close, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6SF
NODA: The Society is affiliated with the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, NODA House, 58-60 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 2RZ.
17[th] February 2026
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Objectives and activities
The object of the CIO is to promote and improve general education in relation to all aspects of the art of drama and musical theatrical performance for the public benefit.
This was an unusual season for the charity. In February 2024 we were approached by Nottingham Operatic Society (NOS) to collaborate on an amateur production of “Les Misérables”. The terms of the collaboration were essentially that we donate our May 2025 week at the Theatre Royal, and our members would get preferential treatment to take part in the show. After a considerable amount of discussion within the trustees and with NOS, we agreed to the collaboration. Our chair, Chris Rees, served on the panel for the auditions for the show, and some members of the charity took part in the production. However, our involvement was extremely limited, and COS has not benefitted financially from the production (but were also not responsible for the costs of producing it).
A private cinema screening of our 2024 production of “Kipps” was held, along with a Christmas concert, and some social events, in order to keep the membership engaged.
The “downtime” was used to put the charity in a significantly stronger financial position, as our registration as a CIO in 2021 has meant that we now qualify for Theatre Tax Relief, and we were able to submit backdated claims for both “Shrek” (2022) and “Kinky Boots” (2023) prior to the claim deadline of 31[st] July 2024, and for “Kipps” (2024) following the closing of the accounts for 2023-2024. The resulting credits are reflected in these accounts.
Our production for the 2025-26 season, will be “Come From Away”. We anticipate that this will be a popular show for both members and audience members, and look forward to a busy and successful year.
The trustees of the Society have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity has undertaken this year.
Achievements and performance
The main achievement of the charity for the period in question has been the financial rebalancing of the charity. The successful applications for Theatre Tax Relief have dramatically improved the financial position of the charity, and will continue to provide support for such time as the government keeps the creative industries tax relief scheme in place.
A Christmas concert held in December 2024 was well received, although unfortunately bad weather on the evening of the performance (and tickets being sold on the door) reduced the size of the audience. The concert included a number of the children who had been involved in our previous 3 productions (Shrek, Kinky Boots and Kipps), and we donated a small sum to the Salvation Army who hosted the concert.
The collaborative production of Les Misérables with Nottingham Operatic Society provided for some of our members to be able to take part in a huge production – there were around 100 people in total in the cast, with a substantial number of those from COS.
Our production of Kipps in 2024 was also recognised at the 2025 NODA East Midlands Awards, winning Best Musical Production in Region 3, Outstanding Individual Performance, and the Hinks-Cole Trophy for overall Best Musical in the East Midlands. We had further nominations for Outstanding Individual Performance, Outstanding Youth Individual Performance, and Best Luxury Programme.
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Financial Review
During the 2024-25 period our expenditure totalled £3,370 and our income totalled £83,787.
We hold reserves of funds in order to ensure that we are able to continue to produce theatrical productions; we aim for those funds to be sufficient to allow for a very unsuccessful production to not reduce the funds available to the charity to the point at which it is not possible to produce further productions.
At the end of the 2024-25 financial period we are in the best financial position we have been in for over a decade. Advance payments have been made for our 2026 and 2027 shows. Our pricing structure for both of these shows has been revised, and our intention is that our shows should be aiming to cover all costs from ticket receipts, using the theatre tax relief only as a bonus.
We intend to continue to grow the finances to reach a completely secure position, and the trustees are satisfied that the reserves currently held allow us to continue with our planned productions for the foreseeable future.
Exemptions from disclosure
Not applicable
Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others
None
Financial accounts
See accompanying PDF “Carlton Accounts to 31 07 25.pdf”
17[th] February 2026
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CARLTON OPERATIC SOCIETY UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Carlton Operatic Society Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Business Details | 1 |
| Approval | 2 |
| Profit and Loss Account | 3 |
| Balance Sheet | 4 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 5 |
Carlton Operatic Society Accounts Approval Statement For The Year Ended 31 July 2025
I approve these unaudited accounts which comprise a Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet and related notes. I acknowledge my responsibility for the accounts including the provision of all the information and explanations necessary for the completion.
Signed
Date
Page 2
Carlton Operatic Society Profit and Loss Account For The Year Ended 31 July 2025
| Turnover Sales Cost of Sales Show Expenses GROSS PROFIT Other Operating Income Other income - contributing to other operating income Other Income Bank interest receivable Expenditure Rent Computer software costs Insurance Advertising and marketing costs Telecommunications and data costs Professional fees Subscriptions Credit card charges Charitable donations Sundry expenses Other Operating and Exceptional Costs PY theatre tax credits NET PROFIT |
2025 £ £ 3,378 - 3,378 60 60 3,438 527 3,965 240 18 1,943 - - 93 260 - 70 746 3,370 595 (79,822) (79,822) 80,417 |
2024 £ £ 64,104 75,342 (11,238) - - (11,238) 319 (10,919) 2,110 - 2,213 5,962 43 50 245 1,446 - 5,245 17,314 (28,233) - - (28,233) |
2024 £ £ 64,104 75,342 (11,238) - - (11,238) 319 (10,919) 2,110 - 2,213 5,962 43 50 245 1,446 - 5,245 17,314 (28,233) - - (28,233) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (11,238) - |
|||
| 240 18 1,943 - - 93 260 - 70 746 |
2,110 - 2,213 5,962 43 50 245 1,446 - 5,245 |
||
| (11,238) | |||
| 319 | |||
| (10,919) 17,314 |
|||
| (79,822) | - | ||
| (28,233) - |
|||
| (28,233) |
Page 3
Carlton Operatic Society Balance Sheet As At 31 July 2025
| Notes |
2025 £ £ |
2025 £ £ |
2024 £ £ |
2024 £ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CURRENT ASSETS Trade debtors Cash at bank and in hand Prepayments and accrued income CURRENT LIABILITIES Bank loans under 1yr Trade creditors Other creditors NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS CAPITAL ACCOUNT Balance at 1 August 2024 Profit/(Loss) for the period/year Balance Carried Forward |
- 72,645 5,989 |
78,478 | 143 5,546 - |
(1,939) |
| 78,634 - - 156 |
5,689 3,000 4,628 - |
|||
| 156 | 7,628 | |||
| 78,478 | (1,939) | |||
| 78,478 | (1,939) | |||
| (1,939) 80,417 |
26,294 (28,233) |
|||
| 78,478 | (1,939) |
Page 4
Carlton Operatic Society Notes to the Accounts For The Year Ended 31 July 2025
1. Accounting Policy
These unaudited accounts have been completed in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice guidelines and provides sufficient and relevant information to enable completion of a tax return.
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the tntees1 membeTS ol L AALfobJ oPE4IK)f I c XE T Charlty no (rfany) On accounts for the year endèd 31 SdLY 2ozS 1194lib Set oul on pagos I report to the trusiees on my examinalion of the a(rounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust'l for the year entsj Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Tnt. you are responsible for the preparation basis of rèport of the ac£ounts in accxydance wtth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 nheA¢r). l pOrt in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sedb)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in lly1ng out my examination. I have folloEd the applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission uNler sedion 145(5Kb) of the A Independent I have ts)mpleted my examination. I nfIrM that no material matters have examinefs statement come to my attentitin (olher than that disclo1 ik)w ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to telieve that in, any material respect accounling rec(ds not kept in acc(¥dan *ryth section 130 of theAd with the examinalion to Ch attention shoukl be dravm in order to enable a proper understalIng of the ac£ounts to be rea(thd. . Please delete the words in the braGkets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: 13 Name: LJA Relevant professlonal quallfication(s) or body {if any): IA Address: 4Jts- IER October 2018