LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1197192
DAINS AUDIT LTD Chartered Accountants St John’s Court Wiltell Road Lichfield Staffordshire WS14 9DS
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS
INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Annual Report | 3-6 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10-12 |
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
Reference and Administrative information
Honorary President:
Mr David Cliffe
The Trustees who served during the year are:-
Mrs Charlotte Groves Chairman Mr Mike Tighe Secretary Dr Paul Ecclestone-Brown Treasurer & Ticket Officer Mrs Robina Bettson Choir Representative Mrs Minna Andrews Minutes Secretary Mr John Skurr Music Officer Mr Nigel Lindsell Choir Representative & Vice Chairman Mr Stephen Bushill Membership Secretary Mrs Phillipa Allen-Simpson Publicity Officer to 27 Oct 2023
Principal Address:
Lichfield Cathedral Chorus c/o Paul Ecclestone-Brown 153 Leomansley View Lichfield WS13 8AU
Registered Charity Number: Independent Examiner:
1197192
M Gurney FCCA, DChA of Dains Audit Ltd St John’s Court Wiltell Road Lichfield WS14 9DS
Principal Bankers:
Cooperative Bank plc PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTINUED)
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 July 2024
The members of the Managing Committee present their report along with the Financial Statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 July 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 10 and comply with the Charity’s Constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland effective 1 January 2019.
Structure, Governance and Management
Charity Number 1197192 is governed by its constitution and was registered with the Charity Commission on 17 December 2021 as a CIO.
Under the constitution there must be at least three trustees and not more than twenty. Trustees are appointed at the AGM. The first Trustees of the CIO retired from office at the first AGM on 16th November 2022. Those willing to continue were reappointed unopposed. In subsequent AGMs one-third of the trustees shall retire from office as set out in the Constitution. The Trustees normally meet six times per year to consider the Charity’s affairs.
New Trustees are appointed from amongst the membership of the chorus.
Objects, Organisation and Activities
The Charity is established to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and foster 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 in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield and elsewhere and to further such charitable purpose or purposes as the charity trustees in their absolute discretion shall think fit, but in particular by the making of grants and donations.
Members of the chorus comprise:
a) Performing members, who take part in the performance of choral works; and b) Patrons.
All members pay the annual subscription. The rates for 2023/2024 were set as follows: Full subscription £156 Students £25 Patrons £25 minimum
Ben Lamb, the Director of Music at the Cathedral, is our Musical Director. Liam Condon, formerly Honorary Assistant Organist at the Cathedral and Organist at St Alphege Church, Solihull, is our Accompanist.
In the event of winding up of the Chorus any surplus assets shall be given or transferred to an organisation having similar objects to those of the Chorus.
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTINUED)
Achievements and Performances
Our first concert in November was an ambitious combination of Leonard Berstein’s exciting Chichester Psalms and Bob Chilcott’s 2019 composition, Christmas Oratorio. A disappointing size of audience and high music costs of performing less well-known music still in copyright meant that the performance ran at a loss of £2,747.
Our Christmas period was marked by three appearances of members of the choir. Two were financially risk free – singing carols at Shugborough Hall and at the Cathedral’s Illuminations. As a departure from the norm, at the Cathedral’s insistence, the Christmas Carols were put on as an event promoted by just the Chorus, rather than as a partnership between the Salvation Army, the Chorus and the Cathedral. The Cathedral charged the Chorus its charity rate for hire of the building. After long consideration, the Trustees decided not to charge for admission for the majority of the audience to preserve some of the community nature of a much-loved evening for many people in the area, however we were forced to charge for some reserved seating. The event ran at a loss of £2,037.
The spring term was dominated by a period of repertoire in which members rehearsed Bach’s enormous St Matthew’s Passion under the expert guidance of Ben and Liam.
Our Summer concert was truly a game of two halves in which the chorus performed Dvorak’s rowdy football chants in his Te Deum in a new performing edition with reduced orchestra prepared for the Chorus by Paul Ecclestone-Brown. The spirit of the concert was rapidly transformed by a beautiful performance of Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine , Pavane and Requiem ethereally accompanied by The Lichfield Camerata. The large orchestral forces required for the performance and a disappointingly small audience meant that a loss of £3,035 was made at this concert.
Financial Review
Costs have continued to increase significantly due to global inflationary pressures. The trustees have explored several ways of reducing cost and increasing revenue. We are looking for local corporate sponsorship, to ensure that we keep the price of concert tickets as affordable as possible, whilst being able to work with talented soloists and instrumental performers.
With the societal trend of Thursday night being the “new Friday night”, the cathedral is now increasingly finding it hard to make the space available for use by the Chorus for rehearsals as its own commercial needs mean that it has had to increase the marketing of its space as a commercial venue. This means that the trustees have created a relationship with Lichfield Methodist Church for more regular use of its church as a rehearsal venue. This has increased venue hire costs for the Chorus.
After much deliberation, the trustees decided to set subscriptions at £175 per year for the 2024/25 season. Members are now able to pay these as a one-off sum or by continued use of the increasingly popular direct debit arrangement. As always, members who feel that they are unable to pay the full fees are welcome to confidentially request a lower rate to the treasurer or the chairman.
The attached financial statements show the current state of the finances of the CIO organisation, which the Trustees consider to be sound. Free reserves at 31 July 2024 were £25,620 (£27,402 at 31 July 2023).
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTINUED)
This falls within the range agreed by the Trustees and is held to finance working capital requirements and cover any future shortfall in income.
Public Benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and have complied with their duties under the Charities Act 2011.
Trustees Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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➢ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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➢ observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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➢ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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➢ state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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➢ prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf
……………………………………………..
Charlotte Groves Date:27 June 2025
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 12.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mark Gurney FCCA, DChA
of Dains Audit Ltd St. John’s Court Wiltell Road Lichfield Staffordshire WS14 9DS
Date: 27 June 2025
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| Note Income from: Subscriptions and donations 2 Concert income 3 Income from social events Library income Bank interest and investment income Total Income Expenditure on: General running expenditure 4 Concert expenditure 5 Expenditure on social events Library expenditure Scholarship expense Grants to Lichfield Cathedral Total Expenditure Net (Expenditure)/Income Unrealised Gain/(Loss) on investment revaluation 8 Net movement in funds Fund Balance brought forward Fund Balance carried forward |
2024 2023 £ £ |
|---|---|
| 18,233 15,017 8,888 16,061 141 191 1,246 1,120 695 626 |
|
| 29,203 33,015 |
|
| 9,879 9,830 16,452 14,734 125 157 249 916 (300) 450 4,762 6,762 |
|
| 31,167 32,849 |
|
| (1,964) 166 1,393 (332) |
|
| (571) (166) 29,402 29,568 |
|
| 28,831 29,402 |
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS BALANCE SHEET 31 JULY 2024
| Note FIXED ASSETS Music 7 Listed Investment 8 CURRENT ASSETS CBF Deposit Account Cooperative Bank Cash at hand Debtors 9 CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditors 10 NET ASSETS FUNDS Income Fund |
2024 £ £ 3,211 19,929 23,140 3,512 405 202 3,731 7,850 (2,159) 5,691 28,831 28,831 |
2024 £ £ 3,211 19,929 23,140 3,512 405 202 3,731 7,850 (2,159) 5,691 28,831 28,831 |
2023 £ £ 2,000 18,536 20,536 2,815 8,360 212 2,226 13,613 (4,747) 8,866 29,402 29,402 |
2023 £ £ 2,000 18,536 20,536 2,815 8,360 212 2,226 13,613 (4,747) 8,866 29,402 29,402 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,140 5,691 |
20,536 8,866 |
|||
| 7,850 | 13,613 | |||
| (2,159) | (4,747) | |||
| 28,831 | 29,402 | |||
| 28,831 | 29,402 |
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
These Accounts were approved by the Trustees on 27 June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
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____ ____
Paul Ecclestone-Brown Charlotte Groves
Date: 27 June 2025 Date: 27 June 2025
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES General
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland effective 1 January 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011 and applicable regulations.
These Accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value, with the exception of the music, which is included at valuation 31 July 1994 and increased with a purchase of music in August 2023 and investments which are shown at market value.
These accounts have been prepared on the accruals basis.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.
| 2. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS 2024 £ Subscriptions 15,217 Tax repayable on Gift Aid income 2,002 Patrons & Donations 1,014 18,233 3. CONCERT INCOME 2024 Concert income: £ Winter 3,310 Carol Concert 1,240 Spring - Summer 4,338 8,888 4. GENERAL RUNNING EXPENDITURE 2024 £ Conductors and Accompanist 7,722 Rent of Room 593 Sundry Administration Expenditure 79 Adverts, Brochures and Website 540 Making Music Membership 675 Independent Examiner’s Fee 270 9,879 |
2023 £ 10,335 1,714 2,968 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15,017 | ||
| 2023 £ 5,424 548 4,694 5,395 |
||
| 16,061 | ||
| 2023 £ 7,873 314 302 247 544 550 |
||
| 9,830 |
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTINUED)
5. CONCERT EXPENDITURE
| Concert income: Preceding years Winter Carol Concert Spring Summer |
2024 £ (255) 6,057 3,277 - 7,373 16,452 |
2023 £ (200) 8,147 240 4,227 2,320 |
|---|---|---|
| 14,734 |
6. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
No Trustee or any person connected with them has received or is due to receive any remuneration or expenses for the year directly or indirectly from the Charity’s funds.
No expenditure was made in relation to related parties.
| 7. MUSIC Previously valued 31stJuly 1994 (Valued for insurance purposes £6,000 at 31 Jul 2024) Value at 1 August – year commencement Additions to library Value at 31 July – year end of holding 8. LISTEDINVESTMENTS 857.46 CBF Investment Fund Income Shares Market Value at 1 August – year commencement Increase/(Decrease) in Value of holding Market Value at 31 July – year end of holding Historic Cost 9`. DEBTORS Gift aid recoverable Direct Debit - subs Prepayment – 2023 Carols Deposit |
2024 £ 2,000 1,211 3,211 2024 £ 18,536 1,393 19,929 9,573 2024 £ 3,716 15 - 3,731 |
2023 £ 2,000 - |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 | ||||
| 2023 £ 18,868 (332) |
||||
| 18,536 | ||||
| 9,573 | ||||
| 2023 £ 1,713 - 513 |
||||
| 2,226 |
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LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL CHORUS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTINUED)
10. CREDITORS
| CREDITORS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Concert expenditure - performing rights levy payable Concert expenditure Grant to Lichfield Cathedral Independent examiner Scholarship payment |
2024 £ 32 807 - 1,320 - 2,159 |
2023 £ 1,016 - 2,381 1,050 300 |
| 4,747 |
11 CHARITY MERGER
The unincorporated charity Lichfield Cathedral Chorus, registered charity number 509833, transferred its assets to Lichfield Cathedral Chorus, a charitable incorporated organisation, registered charity number 1197192 on 5 May 2022.
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