Registered Charity Number 1197538 9:Q Barts Choir St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society UNAUDITED REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2025
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Annual Report 2025 Registered Charity Number: 1197538 (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Registered address: 7 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR Trustees: Susan Shale, Chair Linda Harland, Secretary Graham Rowbotham, Treasurer Penelope Andrews Philip Murphy Frances Reynolds Richard Vaughan Susan Vickers Jenifer Young Independent Examiner: Anson Clark FCA Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Lloyds Bank plc 25 Gresham Street London EC2Y 7HN President: The Master of The Musicians, Company Conductor/Musical Director: Ivor Setterfield Assistant Conduttor: Jordan Theis Website: www.bartschoir.com
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Annual Report 2025 Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examiner's report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet Notes to the financial statements 9- 15
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31 December 2025 Report of the Trustees The Trustees submit their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Trustees confirm that the reported financial statements of the charity comply with the requirements of the Charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the provisions of "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" effective l January 2019 (Charities SORP FRS 102). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and what the charity does to achieve them The objectives of St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society ( the Choir ) are set out in its constitution and are: To promote, improve, develop and maintain education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and by such other ways as the Choir through its Committee shall determine from time to time. and To advance other charitable purposes by applying all or part of the profits of the said public concerts and other activities by making donations to such other registered charities, especially those of a medical nature, as the Committee may select from time to time. The Choir's members, who are not auditioned, form what is believed to be the largest regular amateur choir in London. The Choir's main purpose is to prepare for, promote and perform in public concerts. These concerts are usually held once a term. There are three terms in a calendar year. The Committee is keen to retain Choir members who enjoy singing in the main Choir but also wish to be involved in more challenging works. To this end the Choir runs a Chamber Choir, and, after a successful audition, members are offered the opportunity to join this choir. Participation in Chamber Choir concerts is conditional upon singing with the main Choir in at least one of their performances in the preceding, current or following terms. The Chamber Choir gave its first post-pandemic concert in June 2024. There was no concert in 2025, but plans are in hand for a concert by the Chamber Choir in 2026. The Choir selects a charity to work with to help fulfil the second charitable aim of our constitution. The objective of the relationship is to enable the chosen charity to extend its profile through the Choir and the Choir's performances, and to raise money at the Choir's events. We also aim to make direct donations to the charity where finances permit. The Choir's current charity is Barts Charity, a relationship which will last until June 2029. Significant activities/operations during 2025 Having re-established a full programme of rehearsals and concerts in 2022, the Choir was able to continue a regular level of activity in 2023 and again in 2024 and 2025. At the same time, we have sought successfully to rebuild Choir numbers back to the levels we had seen before the pandemic struck. This helps improve the Choir's finances through increased subscription income and the hope has been that in turn this would help drive greater audience turnout at our concerts and reduce the need for the Choir to subsidise events. Page I
St Bartholomews Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31 December 2025 Report of the Trustees The first concert of the year in April 2025 in the Royal Festival Hall focused around the ever-popular Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, the performance of which brought the audience to its feet. The Choir was supported by the Trafalgar Sinfonia and soloists. This was supplemented in the first half by Vaughan Williams's early choral work Toward the Unknown Region and his popular Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for string orchestra. The summer concert took us back to Cadogan Hall where for two nights we performed two standards of the choral repertory, Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Nelson Mass. We were supported by the Trafalgar Sinfonia and soloists who helped us give excellent performances. The winter concerts in Holy Trinity Sloane Square contained a varied programme of shorter pieces. The Charpentier Messe de Minuit was familiar to the Choir, but other pieces by Barber, Rutter, Dove, Forbes L'Estrange (who attended the first evening) and Esenvalds were new to us. We were particularly pleased that we were joined by Michael Higgins for a performance of his Christmas Fantasy for organ and brass quintet. The Choir and audience gave rousing renditions of well-known carols to complete the evening. 2025 was distinguished by a number of very successful smaller-scale performance activities, supplementary to the main termly concerts. In anticipation of later concerts Come and Sing events for the Mozart and Verdi requiems were held and proved to be very popular. For many of us the highlight of the year was a performance of Mozart's Requiem in Saint Sulpice in Paris. Despite limited rehearsal time, an unfamiliar venue and a sultry evening, the Choir gave a capable performance to a large and appreciative audience. Near the end of the year the Choir supported the annual Service of Remembrance organised by Barts NHS Trust in St Paul's Cathedral, which is always a rewarding experience. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position Subscription income from between 250 and 300 members joining the Choir variously for three terms throughout the year was sufficient to cover rehearsal costs and, together with generous donations received during the year, also more than covered all ongoing annual running costs. The financial performance of the three main concerts in 2025 showed a distinct improvement over 2024. Expenditure exceeded income by £6k (£37k in 2024), so the subsidy required from non-concert income and from reserves was only a very modest one. The financial performance of the smaller scale performance activities was, however, excellent and produced a surplus of £IOk. The year's non-concert income (principally members, subscriptions and associated Gift Aid) exceeded non- concert expenditure by nearly £35k. In last year's report we thought that the programme for 2025 with some of the most popular choral works in the repertoire would give us the opportunity to be in a more favourable position in 12 months, time. This has turned out to be the case with an overall surplus in 2025 of £41k. The key components of the results for 2025 are as follows: 2025 2024 Subscriptions to the main Choir less rehearsal costs Net results of concerts Donations received Surplus on sale of scores 24,043 (5,913) 5,084 634 15,965 (37,120) 2,231 (296) Page 2
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31 December 2025 Report of the Trustees Net result of other events Gift Aid Interest received Administrative and sundry costs Charitable donation 10,898 17,732 1,545 (10,620) (2,000) (2,501) 12,990 1,869 (12,723) 41,403 (19,585) The Choir's main sources of income are subscriptions from members and revenue from the sale of tickets for concerts the Choir promotes. Subscriptions are set taking into account the overall financial state of the Choir and not just left at a level to cover rehearsal costs. Until 2020, main Choir subscriptions increased annually in September, but no change was made in either 2020 or 2021. In December 2021, the Committee approved an increase effective l January 2022 and in subsequent years membership rates have been reviewed by Trustees, taking into account published CPI inflation rates. The current rate per term is £110 for full members (£100 if paid early). A concessionary rate is paid by members not in receipt of income from employment, new members may pay a much-reduced subscription for their first term to introduce them to the Choir and similarly young people under 25 and full-time students benefit from a reduced rate. Many members choose to round up their subscription payment to an even total or, indeed, make a larger separate donation. In 2025, members donated a total of £5,084 (2024 £2,231), for which the Trustees are most grateful. The figure for 2025 includes regular monthly contributions made by Choir members under the Patrons, Scheme which was introduced in October. Continued recruitment of new members, particularly younger singers, is vital for the future of the Choir and various initiatives are undertaken to encourage this. Subscription income is importantly supplemented by Gift Aid. The ability to collect Gift Aid payments online has greatly assisted cash flow and the increased level of Gift Aid received has also improved our position. Members claiming Gift Aid for their subscriptions are now able to claim for the full value of the subscription income. Total Gift Aid for 2025 was £17,732. Reserves policy A reserves policy was agreed at the June 2002 Committee meeting, in line with Charity Commission Guidance Notes. It was agreed that we should aim to hold in reserves an amount equivalent to a realistic proportion of the highest concert budget the Choir might consider undertaking, in order to provide working capital for concerts and to cover the risk that a concert was cancelled at a late stage and that insurance failed to cover the cancellation cost. The minimum reserve level is currently set at £50,000, but it will be reviewed annually in the light of increasing costs. At the end of the year, the Choir had resources (unrestricted funds) of £119,045 (2024: £76,642). The Choir aims to keep as much as possible of its assets liquid, held either on current account or short-term deposit, to enable it to operate efficiently and meet all liabilities as and when they fall due, since it may need to access funds with limited or no notice. Charitable donations In both 2024 and 2025 the Choir's supported charity was Barts Charity, the fundraising entity of Barts NHS Trust. The Choir's support for the charity takes a number of forms. Bake sales throughout 2025 raised £577. Choir members, participation in Hike for Health raised £2,290. In addition, Barts Charity collectors at the Page 3
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31 December 2025 Report of the Trustees concerts at Cadogan Hall collected donations of £733 from audiences. For the Royal Festival Hall event (where charity collectors are not allowed) a £1 supplement was added to the price of the programme for donation to the Charity; this raised £477. Having reviewed the financial outcome of all of the Choir's performance activities in 2025, the Choir donated a further £2,000 directly to the charity. The total amount raised for Barts Charity in 2025 was £6,077. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document Since 17 January 2022 the Choir, St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society, has been a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) entered onto the Charity Commission's Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1197538. Prior to incorporation, the Choir had been, since 1977, an unincorporated association, registered with the Charity Commission, Number 273180. The Choir is also known as Barts Choir and, when the Chamber Choir is performing, as Barts Chamber Choir" It is governed by its Constitution, which dates from 2022 and which lays down that the Choir's policies and management shall be in the hands of a committee elected by and from the Choir's members. The committee has had due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Members of the committee are also the Trustees of the charity. Policies for recruiting, inducting and training new Committee members When a vacancy arises or exists on the committee, the remaining committee members assess the skills which should be sought in a replacement with the aim of maintaining a balance of talents. New committee members are given an induction pack, which includes a copy of the constitution, the latest accounts, relevant policies and the latest committee minutes. New committee members are referred to information about their responsibilities on the Charity Commission website and sign the required declaration. A handover is arranged with the departing committee member wherever appropriate. Training is given to committee members as and when appropriate. The Trustees who served during the year to 31 December 2025 and their current roles are: Susan Shale Linda Harland Graham Rowbotham Penelope Andrews Philip Murphy Frances Reynolds Richard Vaughan Susan Vickers Karen Wheeler Jenifer Young Chair Secretary Treasurer elected 8 September 2025 resigned 8 September 2025 elected 8 September 2025 Risk assessment The main riskthe Choir has always faced is the late cancellation of one of our concerts. As members of Making Music, we participate in an insurance scheme which provides some cover against this eventuality. The Page 4
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31 December 2025 Report of the Trustees Committee regards this cover as adequate, but it is under continuous review. The other significant operational risk is that the membership dwindles as this would impact the Choir's ability to sell tickets for concerts as well as on levels of subscription income and Gift Aid income. The Committee seeks to ensure that this does not happen by continued efforts to recruit new members and to make the rehearsals and concerts enjoyable events. Approved by order of the board of Trustees on 20 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by: Susan Shale, Chair of Trustees Page 5
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Annual Report 2025 Independent Examiner's Report I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society for the year ended 31 December 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 in any material respect that: l accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Charities Act. or 2 the accounts did not accord with those records. or 3 the accounts did 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. Signed: Acia Date: 8 May 2026 Anson Clark FCA 11 Dean Bank Lane Edinburgh EH3 5BS Page 6
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Yearended 31st December 2025 Statement of Financial Activities Note Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds TOTAL 2025 TOTAL 2024 Income and endowmentsfrom Donations, grants and legacies Investment income 93,379 1,545 93,379 1,545 76,992 1,869 Charitable activities Choral Music 184,226 184,226 105,814 Total income 279,150 279,150 184,675 Expenditure on Charitable activities Choral Music 237,747 237,747 204,260 Total expenditure 237,747 237,747 204,260 Net income / (expenditure) 41,403 41,403 19,585 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Transfer between funds 77,242 400 506 (400) 77,748 97,333 Total funds carried forward 12 119,045 106 119,151 77,748 Page7
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Balance Sheet Notes 2025 2024 Fixed assets Tangible assets 800 1,600 Current assets Stocks Debtors Cash at bank 4,709 29,163 95,616 129,488 8,059 27,444 42,400 77,903 10 Creditors- amounts falling duewithin oneyear (11,137) (1,755) Net current assets 118,351 76,148 Net assets 119,151 77,748 Funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 12 119,045 106 77,242 506 Total funds 119,151 77,748 The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 20 July 2026 and weresigned on its behalf by: Susan Shale-chair of Trustees Graham Rowbotham-Trustee & Treasurer Page8
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notesto the financial statements Accounting policies Basis of preparing the financial statements Thefinancial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with thecharities SORP (FRS 102)'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicableto charities preparingtheir accounts in accordancewith the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019),, Financial Reportingstandard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Charities Act 2011. Thefinancial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Thefinancial statements are presented in sterlingwhich is thefunctional currency of the charity. The principal address of thecharity and nature of thecharity's operations aregiven in the Report of theTrustees. Financial reporting standard 102- reduced disclosure exemptions The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosureexemptions in preparingthesefinancial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reportingstandard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland,: the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows. Income Total income as shown in thestatement of Financial Activities istheturnover of the charity. It represents thevalue of concert ticket sales, members, subscriptions, sales of music and donations receivable in the ordinary course of activities. Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts to the charity is included in full in thestatement of Financial Activities when received. Membership subscriptions becomeduethreetimes per year, at the beginning of each term. Thetax recovered on these subscriptions undertheGift Aid scheme is included in theaccounts in theyear to which it relates. Incomefrom thesale of concert tickets and programmes is included in thefinancial statements in theyear in which the event took place. Investment income is included in thefinancial statements in theyear in which it is earned. Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon asthere is a legal or constructive obligation committingthecharity to that expenditure, it is probablethat a transfer of economic benefitswill be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Charitable expenditure includes the costs of concerts and other eventswhich took placeduringtheyear. Governance costs includethe cost of the independent examination of the accounts. Concerts and other fund-raising events Each event is separately identified and all relevant income and expenditure allocated thereto. Page9
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notes to the financial statements (continued) Accounting policies (continued) Donationsto charity Thesociety makes donations to its chosen charity for theyear based on an assessment of the overall financial position at theyearend. Tangible fixed assets All fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided at thefollowing annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Equipment-straight line over 3 years Stocks Stocks arevalued at the lower of cost and net realisablevalue, after making due allowancefor obsolete and slow moving items. Taxation The charity is exempt from tax on its charitableactivities. Fund accounting Unrestricted funds can be used in accordancewith the charitable objectives at thediscretion of thetrustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the natureand purposeof each fund is included in the notes to thefinancial statements. Foreign currencies Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies aretranslated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balancesheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies aretranslated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of transaction. Exchange differences are taken into account in arriving at the operating result. Irrecoverable VAT The charity is not registered for VATand as such all VATIS irrecoverable. VATIS included with the coststo which it relates. Debtors and creditors receivable/ payable within one year Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within oneyear are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arisingfrom impairment are recognised in expenditure. Page 10
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notes to the financial statements (continued) Donations, grants and legacies 2025 Unrestricted 2025 Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total Main choir subscriptions GiftAid Patronsscheme Donations Grants-vaughan Williams Foundation 70,563 17,732 3,050 2,034 70,563 17,732 3,050 2,034 60,154 12,990 2,231 1,617 Total donations, grants and legacies 93,379 93,379 76,992 Donations and legacies comprise membership subscriptions and thetax recovered under the Gift Aid scheme, together with donations received during theyear which were not made in relation to a particular event. Investment income 2025 2025 2025 Total 2024 Total Unrestricted Restricted Bank interest 1,545 1,545 1,869 1,545 1,545 1,869 Income from charitable activities 2025 Unrestricted 2025 Restricted 2025 2024 Total Total Activity Sales of music and other goods Main choir concerts Other functions Choral music Choral music Choral music 14,992 140,143 29,091 14,992 140,143 29,091 13,269 85,845 6,700 184,226 184,226 105,814 Music sales Thechoir buys its music scoresfrom appropriatesources and obtains a modest discount to the list price. It isthen ableto sell music to members at a discounted rate. It is also ableto savethe postagecoststhat memberswould incur with online purchases. Pagell
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notesto the financial statements (continued) Charitable activities Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Total 2024 Total Cost of main choir concerts Rehearsal costs Website and IT Other events Accountancy Subscriptions, Insurance and other costs Bank charges Cost of music and other goods sold Charitable donation Depreciation Marketing & advertisi ng 146,056 46,520 2,522 18,192 780 146,056 46,520 2,522 18,192 780 123,965 44,191 2,572 8,231 683 6,450 69 6,450 69 4,305 60 14,358 2,000 800 14,358 2,000 800 13,565 4,467 2,221 237,747 237,747 204,260 6 Trustees, remuneration and benefits Noneof thetrustees received any remuneration or benefitsfor theyear ended 31st December 2025, nor for theyear ended 31st December 2024. Trustees, expenses None of thetrustees received payment for any expenses for theyear ended 31st December 2025, nor for theyear ended 31st December 2024. Net income / (expenditure) 2025 2024 Net income/ (expenditure) is stated after charging/ (crediting): Fees paid to Independent Examiner Depreciation - owned assets 300 275 4,467 800 Page12
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notesto the financial statements (continued) Tangible fixed assets Equipment Cost At 1st January 2025 Additions At 31st December 2025 13,969 13,969 Depreciation At 1st January 2025 Charge for theyear At 31st December 2025 12,369 800 13,169 Net bookvalue At 31st December 2025 800 At 31st December 2024 1,600 Stocks 2025 2024 Stocks 4,709 8,059 Stocks represent the cost of stocks of music in hand at the year end date. 10 Debtors: amountsfalling due within one year 2025 2024 Prepayments Accrued income 23,337 5,826 22,839 4,605 29,163 27,444 Page 13
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notesto the financial statements (continued) 11 Creditors: amountsfalling due within one year 2025 2024 Trade creditors Accruals Deferred income 10,787 350 1,755 11,137 1,755 Deferred income comprises prepayments by members for purchase of Verdi scores at theend of December 2025. 12 Movement infunds-currentyear 01-Jan 2025 Incoming resources Resources expended Transfe rs 31-Dec 2025 Unrestricted Funds General fund 77,242 279,150 (237,747) 400 119,045 Restricted Funds Restricted Fund 506 (400) 106 Total funds 77,748 279,150 (237,747) 119,151 Restricted Fund A balance of £506 of a grant of £1,500 awarded by thewalton Trust to enablethechoir to offer bursariesto young peopleto join the choir, train and sing at a major concert was carried forward to 2025. Of this balance bursaries totalling £400 were offered to young singers during theyear. Page 14
St Bartholomew's Hospital Choral Society Year ended 31st December 2025 Notesto the financial statements (continued) Movement in funds- Prior Year 01-Jan Incoming resources Resources expended Transfe rs 31-Dec 2024 2024 Unrestricted Funds General fund 95,833 183,058 (202,249) 600 77,242 Restricted Funds Restricted Fund 1,500 1,617 (2,011) (600) 506 Total funds 97,333 184,675 (204,260) 77,748 13 Contingent liabilities At the end of theyear therewere no capital commitments, contingent liabilities or other financial commitmentsfor which full provision has not been made in thesefinancial statements (2024: £nil). 14 Related party disclosures During the year the charity received donations and subscriptions from trustees and related parties of trustees to the sum of £2,034 (2024: £2,231). Thesedonations and subscriptionswere received without conditions attached. 15 Analysis of net assets between funds 2025 2025 Restricted funds 2025 Total funds 2024 Total funds Unrestricted funds Tangible fixed assets Net current assets 800 800 1,600 76,148 77,748 118,245 119,045 106 106 118,351 119,151 Page 15