## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1 September 2022 To 31 August 2023**
## **Charity name: Stafford Sinfonia**
## **Charity registration number: 1196465**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|THE OBJECT OF THE CIO IS TO
ADVANCE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND
MAINTAIN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN, AND
APPRECIATION OF, THE ART AND
SCIENCE OF MUSIC IN ALL ITS
ASPECTS BY ANY MEANS THE
TRUSTEES SEE FIT, INCLUDING
THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF
PUBLIC CONCERTS AND RECITALS.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Six public concerts of orchestral music held
on Staffordshire:
“Czech Mates”: 12 & 20 November 2022
“Christmas Concert”: 17 December 2022
“Spring Classics”: 11 March 2023
“Music She Wrote”: 24 June 2023 & 2 June
2023|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees have regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Stafford Sinfonia does not make grants. Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Stafford Sinfonia does not make social Para 1.38 investments. Policy on social investment including program related investment Stafford Sinfonia is supported by volunteers other than its trustees. Ten
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|individuals volunteered their time to support
Stafford Sinfonia during the reporting
period, undertaking tasks such as
preparing refreshments at concert intervals,
publicising concerts and assisting with box
office duties at events.|
|---|---|---|
|Other||N/A|
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|In its second season after the return to
activity after the COVID-19 pandemic,
Stafford Sinfonia has again made great
strides in serving its audiences in
Staffordshire with high-quality orchestral
music.
Pre-pandemic (2019 and prior), Sinfonia
presented three concerts per season
averaging around 350 audience members
between the three performances; in
2022-23, the orchestra presented four
programmes in six concerts to a combined
audience of over**700, double our**
**pre-pandemic audiences**. We have
expanded our relationship with
**Eccleshall’s Holy Trinity Church**and
begun a new relationship with**St John’s**
**Church in Stafford**who hosted a
Christmas concert in December 2022.
The artistic quality of the orchestra has
continued to rise, driven by ambitious
repertoire selection, member dedication
and recruitment of high-quality musicians to
its ranks. In November 2022, the orchestra
welcomed**Laurence Perkins**, leading
bassoon soloist and former principal of
Manchester Camerata, to perform the
Weber Bassoon Concerto in its 200th
anniversary year. Stafford Sinfonia Leader
**Simon Coombs**stepped forward to
perform Dvořák’s Romance in F minor for
violin and orchestra in November and in
March**Pip Green**performed
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Principal
Flautist**Kerensa Guest**took to the solo
spot for our summer concerts performing
Chaminade’s Concertino.
Stafford Sinfonia continues to champion the
music of female and black composers. In
March we performed **Joseph Bologne,**|
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
**Chevalier de Saint Georges** ’ Overture to The Anonymous Lover and in summer our “Music She Wrote” concerts showcased female composers with music by **Fanny Mendelssohn, Amy Beach, Cécile Chaminade and Emilie Mayer** - the first all-female-composed concert the Sinfonia has ever produced. Our Music Director Jack Lovell-Huckle led our concerts in November, December and March but was asked to assist CBSO Chief Conductor Kazuki Yamada on the CBSO’s tour of Japan in June-July 2023, so Stafford Sinfonia engaged rising young conductor Melvin Tay to conduct our ‘Music She Wrote’ concerts. Melvin is in high demand with professional orchestras across the UK including Manchester Camerata, BBC Philharmonic and Liverpool Philharmonic and led Sinfonia in two performances, developing the musicians of the orchestra and bringing a new perspective to our music-making. Jack returns for our concerts from November 2023 and remains committed to Stafford Sinfonia for the foreseeable future. The orchestra continued to grow its membership, with only one viola and one double-bass vacancy as of 31 August 2023. In April 2023, a new Stafford Sinfonia website was launched with integrated membership functionality leading to a number of new memberships. A new ‘front row’ seat option for concerts has also seen an increase in higher value ticket purchases whilst keeping the existing seating options and associated costs available for customers who Sinfonia appreciates are experiencing the effects of the cost of living crisis. Financially, overall income was up 34% compared with 2021-22, whilst costs were carefully controlled and in spite of increasing the number of events, only increased by 18% on 2021-22. This resulted in a surplus of £1,152.20 for the year. This surplus will be invested in engaging professional sectional tutors and high-quality soloists in future seasons and mitigating uncertain cost inflation such as venue hire which has increased significantly due to rising utility costs for the venues Sinfonia uses.
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
Greater income was achieved through the increase in the number of events and excellent ticket sales for the period resulted in a 58% increase in door sales compared with 2021-22, the large membership and a review of subscription rates from January 2023 resulted in a 21% increase in membership donations compared to 2021-22, and advertising revenues (which includes a sponsorship of our Spring Classics programme by Tim Toft Violins) resulted in a 62% increase on 2021-22.
## **Additional information (optional)**
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|
Having recorded a deficit in 2021-22, the
Trustees budgeted for a modest surplus in
2022-23. This has been achieved.|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Stafford Sinfonia continued its recruitment
campaign for playing members and
launched a new website which features an
integrated membership function which has
led to a number of new Friends of Stafford
Sinfonia in the period.|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Stafford Sinfonia does not make
investments.|
|Other||N/A|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Stafford Sinfonia is in a good financial
position, with sufficient reserves and an
operating surplus of £1,152.20 for the
period.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Stafford Sinfonia holds reserves to cover
the costs associated with a need to cancel
activity at short notice as happened in the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Trustees have
determined reserves should be set at 2
concerts’worth of lost income: £1,800.|
|Amount of reservesheld|Para 1.22|£2068.88|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A|
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
The trustees are satisfied that Stafford Sinfonia is a going concern, with sufficient operational funds and reserves to plan and deliver future activity.
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Earned income: concert tickets, programme
sales and programme advertising.
Donations: member musicians and Friends
of Stafford Sinfonia|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|Stafford Sinfonia does not make
investments.|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The main risk to the charity is an inability to
give concerts, or to hold rehearsals, due to
COVID-19 restrictions in future. The
trustees consider this a medium risk and
monitor the situation carefully.
A low risk is that the Music Director may
resign from Stafford Sinfonia. Such a
situation may lead to a fall in playing
standards. The Music Director has
occasionally been unavailable for
rehearsals but a suitable deputy has been
engaged (as happened in summer 2023,
when a very high quality deputy was
sourced in Melvin Tay).
A low risk is that of losing key musician
members, for example the leader or wind
principals. During the absence of activity
due to COVID-19, some musicians decided
not to re-join Sinfonia on its return. Sinfonia
has now recruited excellent musicians to all
positions and has implemented a deputy
list where, should a musician need to be
absent or resigns their position, deputy
musicians of a high standard are ready to
join the orchestra. This deputies scheme
has been very successful, allowing Stafford
Sinfonia to programme for larger forces
than its membership on occasion, as is
planned for the concert of Mahler’s Fourth
Symphony in the 2023-24 season.|
|Other||
N/A|
||||
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|As described in article 13 of Stafford
Sinfonia’s constitution (“Appointment of
Charity Trustees”):
a.
At every annual general meeting of
the members of the CIO, one-third
of the charity trustees shall retire
from office. If the number of charity
trustees is not three or a multiple of
three, then the number nearest to
one-third shall retire from office, but
if there is only one charity trustee,
he or she shall retire;
b.
The charity trustees to retire by
rotation shall be those who have
been longest in office since their last
appointment or reappointment. If
any trustees were last appointed or
reappointed on the same day those
to retire shall (unless they otherwise
agree among themselves) be
determined by lot;
c.
The vacancies so arising may be
filled by the decision of the
members at the annual general
meeting; any vacancies not filled at
the annual general meeting may be
filled as provided in sub-clause (e)
of this clause;
d.
The members or the charity trustees
may at any time decide to appoint a
new charity trustee, whether in
place of a charity trustee who has
retired or been removed in
accordance with clause 15
(Retirement and removal of charity
trustees), or as an additional charity
trustee, provided that the limit
specified in clause 12(c) (Charity
trustees) on the number of charity
trustees would not as a result be
exceeded;
e.
A person so appointed by the
members of the CIO shall retire in|
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
accordance with the provisions of sub-clauses (b) and (c) of this clause. A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|Trustees must read Stafford Sinfonia’s
constitution and affirm they are legally
permitted to act as a trustee of Stafford
Sinfonia.|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The members of Stafford Sinfonia appoint
the trustees. The trustees appoint the
Music Director. The members also appoint
among themselves officers as desired,
including publicity officer and librarian.|
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|The chair of Stafford Sinfonia is married to
the Music Director, who is a paid freelancer
who provides conducting services to the
CIO. The chair is not permitted to be
present when discussing the Music
Director’s contract, including whether the
Music Director’s contract may be extended,
the fees and expenses due to the Music
Director or whether to terminate the Music
Director’s contract.|
|Other||N/A|
||||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Stafford Sinfonia|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1196465|
|Charity’s principal address|22 Copeland Drive
Stone
ST15 8YP|
|||
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**
**Nam**
**e of**
**pers**
**on**
**(or**
**bod**
**y)**
**entit**
**led**
**to**
**app**
**oint**
**trust**
**ee**
**(if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||Sebastian
Lovell-Huckle|Chair|Whole year
N/A|
||Simon Coombs|Secretary|Wholeyear
N/A|
||Kerensa Guest|Treasurer|Wholeyear
N/A|
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. held in this capacity Name and objects of the Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Stafford Sinfonia does not hold funds on behalf of others. safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Jack Lovell-Huckle: Music Director
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
**N/A**
## **Other optional information**
**N/A**
## **Declarations**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)**
Kerensa Guest
**Full name(s)** Sebastian Lovell-Huckle **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair Treasurer **Chair, etc) Date** 20 November 2023
Stafford Sinfonia Trustees Report for the period 2022-23
## **Stafford Sinfonia Accounts 2022/2023**
||_(Accounts 2021/2022)_|_(Accounts 2021/2022)_|_(Accounts 2021/2022)_|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Money In**|Subs|£3,585.50|
£2,952.50|
||Door (inc programmes)|£5,366.10|£3,406.95|
||Advertising Revenue|£655.00|£405.00|
||Friends of the Sinfonia|£100.00|£105.00|
||Social Events|£0.00|£432.29|
||Donations|£258.65|£131.67|
||**Total Money In**|**£9,965.25**|**£7,433.41**|
|||||
|**Money Out**|Hire of Tillington School|£1,120.00|£1,160.00|
||MD's fees|£3,400.00|£3,141.10|
||Making Music Membership|£186.00|£141.00|
||Publicity|£173.94|£152.26|
||Hire of Venues|£1,575.00|£1,575.00|
||Payments to Players|£780.00|£730.00|
||Refreshments|£26.65|£17.48|
||Programme Printing|£135.44|£187.46|
||SumUp/Website Fees|£372.52||
||Social Events|£0.00|£355.00|
||Ticket Revenue Share|£1,025.00||
||Misc|£18.50|£29.99|
||**Total Money Out**|**£8,813.05**|**£7,489.29**|
|||||
|**Opening Bank**|**Balance 01/09/22**
**£2,866.87**|||
|||||
|**Closing Bank Balance 31/08/23**
**£4,019.07**||||
|||||
|**Surplus for Year**
**£1,152.20**||||
|||||
|**_Business Saver Account Balance_**
**_£2,068.88_**|||**_£2,054.47_**|