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2023-12-20-accounts

Companies House Registration Number: CE029481 Charity Registration Number: 1199365

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Period Ended 20 December 2023

for

United Strings of Europe CIO

(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Green Accountancy Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Windrush House Windrush Park Road Witney Oxfordshire OX29 7DX

United Strings of Europe CIO

Contents

Charity information 1
Report of the trustees 2-8
Independent examiner's report 9
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12-17

United Strings of Europe CIO

Reference and administrative details

Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation number in England and Wales

CE029481

Registered Charity number

1199365

Registered office

6 Newland Gardens London W13 9TR

Trustees

Emma Aylwin Maureen Ali Thomas Raymond Le Feuvre Pocock

Independent Examiner

Barry Coles FCCA Green Accountancy Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Windrush House Windrush Park Road Witney Oxfordshire OX29 7DX

Page 1

United Strings of Europe CIO

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 20 DECEMBER 2023

The Trustees of the United Strings of Europe CIO present their first annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity from 20 June 2022 to 20 December 2023.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Constitution of the CIO (United Strings of Europe), 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 (FRS 102).

Structure, governance and management

Founding of the CIO

The organisation converted its structure from that of a Community Interest Company (CIC) to that of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) as permitted under sections 228 to 244 of the Charities Act 2011. Following a successful application to the Charity Commission, the conversion took place 20 June 2022.

Nature of the governing document

United Strings of Europe is a CIO governed by its Constitution dated 25 May 2022. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Applications for membership must be approved by the trustees. At the time of 20 Dec 2023, there are three trustees, none of whom have any financial liability in the event of the charity winding up.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

New trustees are appointed by selection by the current Trustees of the charity by a simple majority vote. New trustees are selected on the basis that they will add expertise or knowledge to the board.

Organisational structure

The board of trustees is responsible for overseeing the operation of United Strings of Europe and ensuring that it is being run according to the principles of the constitution. The Artistic Director has been appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations and has delegated authority to take decisions on operational matters including finance, employment, sustainability, artistic direction, and programming.

Although it has not always been possible over the course of its first year of existence, the board of trustees has set out to meet quarterly, with the Artistic Director reporting to the board and attending portions of those meetings.

The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

Page 2

Thomas Pocock (chair) Emma Aylwin Maureen Ali

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the charity.

The charity's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).

The charity's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:

Public benefit

All of the charitable activities are undertaken for the benefit of the public. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Page 3

Objectives and activities

Objectives

As per the charity’s founding document, its objectives are specifically restricted to the following: the advancement of the art and the appreciation of music making and other associated arts for the public benefit, in particular by bringing music and arts to audiences by arranging public performances, audience participation, producing recordings, workshops, masterclasses, talks and otherwise.

The day-to-day activities of the charity are managed by musician and producer Julian Azkoul (Artistic Director) alongside performers, composers, the organisation’s concert agent, fundraisers and other professionals, as well as donor organisations and volunteers. The Artistic Director works in partnership with other actors from the arts world, such as the artistic directors and programmers of venues and festivals at which musicians engaged by the United Strings of Europe appear, and with media partners such as radio stations and the record label BIS Records (now a subsidiary of Apple Inc.). The organisation’s work is guided by the strategic direction set by the trustees.

Strategies for achieving objectives

United Strings of Europe CIO is based in London and while its principle artistic activity is in the UK, it also organises and takes part in performances overseas. Its digital output has a worldwide audience: this includes both commercial and non-commercial recordings, radio broadcasts, music videos, social media 'behind the scenes' insights, articles such as blog posts, and education and outreach work including international masterclasses, student and community workshops.

Activities undertaken to achieve objectives

In general, the Charity identifies three main areas of activity, through which it delivers its strategy. The strategies employed by the charity to further its objectives and aims of making world-class music and art more widely available are:

Page 4

Achievements and performance

Main achievements of the Charity

In the year under consideration, the United Strings of Europe produced major performances:

Finding Home - a collaboration with Maya Youssef (qanun)

Apollo Resurrected - combining strings and juggler-acrobats

Sanctuary and Solidarity - a collaboration with SANSARA choir and oud player Basel Saleh

INFINITY - residency at the Coronet Theatre for the UK premiere of a show with music by Philip Glass and text by Arturo Béjar

Vienna, the Inexorable Decline - string chamber music from the turn of the 20th Century

Inheriting the Earth - new arrangements of works by women composers with soprano Ruby Hughes Our Living Future - a collaboration with the BBC Singers

Page 5

Milestones

Over the course of the first financial year, the United Strings of Europe:

Page 6

Financial review

Financial review

During the year the charity was in receipt of income totaling £175,481, of which £28,100 were grants received. Expenditure incurred totaled £158,732 relating to charitable activities and raising funds. Reserves remaining at the end of the financial period were £7,753.

Going concern

The trustees are satisfied that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Reserves policy

It is the goal of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months of overheads. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks. The trustees are satisfied that the necessary fundraising and funding to maintain the required cash flow and cash flow forecast for the charity to be at the very least a going concern is in place and being monitored on a regular basis.

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities 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:

Page 7

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

18/10/2024

Approved by the trustees of the charity on …………………………… and signed on its behalf by:

Emma Aylwin

Trustee

Page 8

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of United Strings of Europe CIO

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the period ended 20 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charity are not required to be audited and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by the 2011 Act; or

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.

Barry Coles FCCA Green Accountancy Limited Chartered Certified Accountants Windrush House Windrush Park Road Witney Oxfordshire OX29 7DX

18/10/2024

Date: .............................................

Page 9

United Strings of Europe CIO

Statement of Financial Activities for the period ended 20 December 2023

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Incoming resources
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3.1
5,920
Charitable activities - income
3.2
141,461
Total Income
147,381
Resources expended
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
4.1
150
Charitable activities - expenditure
4.2
131,160
Other
322
Total expenditure
131,632
Net income/(expenditure)
15,749
Net movement in funds
15,749
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
(8,996)
Total funds carried forward
6,753
Restricted
funds
£
28,100
-
28,100
-
27,100
-
27,100
1,000
1,000
-
1,000
Total
2023
£
34,020
141,461
175,481
150
158,260
322
158,732
16,749
16,749
(8,996)
7,753
Total
2022
£
10,200
5,767
15,967
214
30,232
37
30,483
(14,516)
(14,516)
5,520
(8,996)

Continuing operations

All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.

Page 10

United Strings of Europe CIO

Charity Number 1199365

Balance Sheet as at 20 December 2023

CIO Number CE029481

Unrestricted
funds
Note
£
Current assets
Debtors
6
9,487
Cash at bank and in hand
7
14,385
Total current assets
23,872
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
8
6,079
Net current assets/(liabilities)
17,793
Total assets less current liabilities
17,793
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
9
11,040
Total net assets
6,753
Funds of the Charity
Unrestricted funds
10
6,753
Restricted income funds
10
Total funds
6,753
Restricted
funds
£
-
1,000
1,000
-
1,000
1,000
-
1,000
1,000
1,000
Total
2023
£
9,487
15,385
24,872
6,079
18,793
18,793
11,040
7,753
6,753
1,000
7,753
Total
2022
£
-
2,792
2,792
720
2,072
2,072
11,068
(8,996)
(8,896)
-
(8,896)

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on

18/10/2024

…......................................and were signed on its behalf by:

.............................................

Emma Aylwin Trustee

Page 11

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

1 Basis of preparing the financial statements

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:

• the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)',

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Due to conversion from a Community Interest Company (CIC) to Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) the prior year comparatives appear uncomparable on the basis of the extended reporting period and change in legal entity.

2 Accounting Policies

Income

Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

Income from interest, royalties and dividends

This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.

Grants and donations

Grants and donations are included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Page 12

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

Governance and support costs

Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, e.g. allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.

Taxation

The charity registered as a charity on 20 June 2022 and since that date has been exempt from corporation tax on its charitable trading activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

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.

Debtors

Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Liability recognition

Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.

The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts

Page 13

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

3.1 Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
£
Funding from Trusts and Foundations
-
Individual donations
5,920
Total donations and legacies
5,920
Unrestricted
funds
Grants included in the above amounts:
£
Cockayne - London Community Foundation
-
Marchus Trust
-
Help Musicians
-
PRS Foundation
-
The Leche Trust
-
Total grants included in donations and legacies
-
3.2
Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted
funds
£
CD Royalties
2,502
CD Sales
170
Concert income
138,630
Other income
159
Total income from charitable activities
141,461
4.1
Raising funds
Unrestricted
funds
£
Fundraising costs
150
Total expenditure on raising funds
150
Restricted
funds
£
28,100
-
28,100
Restricted
funds
£
8,000
9,000
4,700
4,900
1,500
28,100
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Total
2023
£
28,100
5,920
34,020
Total
2023
£
8,000
9,000
4,700
4,900
1,500
28,100
Total
2023
£
2,502
170
138,630
159
141,461
Total
2023
£
150
150
Total
2022
£
4,700
5,500
10,200
Total
2022
£
-
4,700
-
-
-
4,700
Total
2022
£
-
-
5,425
342
5,767
Total
2022
£
214
214

Page 14

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

4.2 Charitable activities - expenditure

Promoting musical and cultural cooperation

----- Start of picture text -----
||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2023|2022| |£|£|£|£| |Musician fees|81,274|27,100|108,374|24,948| |Production costs|12,996|-|12,996|775| |-|-| |Commissions payable|11,481|11,481| |-| |Equipment and venue hire|3,804|3,804|1,760| |Advertising & Marketing|4,290|-|4,290|344| |Print, postage and stationery|144|-|144|-| |IT and software costs|875|-|875|-| |Entertainment|540|-|540|-| |Travel and subsistence|12,493|-|12,493|1,546| |Professional fees|55|-|55|-| |Accountancy and bookkeeping fees|2,452|-|2,452|859| |Independent examination|756|-|756|-| |Total expenditure on charitable activities|131,160|27,100|158,260|30,232| |Support costs| |All support costs are allocated to the single charitable activity of the charity and are included above.| |4.3|Governance costs included above|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |funds|funds|2023|2022| |£|£|£|£| |Accountancy and bookkeeping fees|2,452|-|2,452|859| |Independent examination|756|-|756|-| |Professional fees|55|-|55|-| |Total governance costs|3,263|-|3,263|859|

----- End of picture text -----

4.4 Trustee remuneration

None of the trustees were remunerated during the year or the previous year.

Page 15

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

4.5
Staff costs
Unrestricted
funds
£
Salaries - Employers NI
-
Total staff costs
-
There are no staff working for the charity in this period.
4.6
Staff numbers
Average headcount in the year:
Charitable activities
4.7
Related party transactions
There are no related party transactions that require disclosue.
5
Debtors
Unrestricted
funds
£
Prepayments
2,901
Accrued income
6,586
Total debtors
9,487
6
Cash at bank and in hand
Unrestricted
funds
£
Bank current account
14,339
Bank deposit account
46
Total cash at bank and in hand
14,385
7
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Unrestricted
funds
£
Accruals
6,079
Total creditors due within one year
6,079
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
1,000
-
1,000
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Total
2023
£
-
-
2023
-
Total
2023
£
2,901
6,586
9,487
Total
2023
£
15,339
46
15,385
Total
2023
£
6,079
6,079
Total
2022
£
37
37
2022
-
Total
2022
£
-
-
-
Total
2022
£
-
2,792
2,792
Total
2022
£
720
720

Page 16

United Strings of Europe CIO

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 20 December 2023

8
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Unrestricted
funds
£
Bank loans due after more than one year
11,040
Total creditors due within one year
11,040
9
Loans: analysis of the maturity of loans is given below:
Amounts falling due within one year on demand:
Bank loans
Amounts falling due within one year on demand
Amounts falling between one and two years:
Amounts falling due between two and five years:
10
Charity funds - current year
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Total
2023
£
11,040
11,040
2023
£
-
-
-
11,040
Total
2022
£
11,068
11,068
2022
£
-
-
-
11,068
At 20 June
2022
Net
movement
in funds
£
£
Unrestricted funds
(8,996)
15,749
Restricted funds
-
1,000
Total funds
(8,996)
16,749
At 20 June
2022
Incoming
resources
£
£
Restricted funds
Restricted for specific projects
-
28,100
Total Restricted funds
-
28,100
The restricted fund are grants received in the year and unspent at the end of
Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
Resources
expended
£
27,100
27,100
the year.
At 20
December
2023
£
6,753
1,000
7,753
At 20
December
2023
£
1,000
1,000

Page 17

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