Annual report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023
Charity number 1201123
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Contents
Page number
Trustees’ report…………………..…………………..3 - 6 Independent examiner’s report……………….……….7 Statement of financial activities………..…….……….8 Balance Sheet……..……….……………..…………..……9 Notes to the accounts………………....………….10 - 12
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Thames Opera Company
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2023
Introduction
The Thames Opera Company is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present the second annual report and unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS102).
Section A Reference, administration and musical direction
A1 The name of the charity is The Thames Opera Company
A2 The legal registration details are:
Company registration number: 13055360 Charity Commission number: 1201123 Registered address: The Old Bakery The Green West Tilbury Essex RM18 8TU
A3 The Trustees who have managed the charity are:
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Name Appointed Resigned
John Stephen Copeland 18 October 2021 10 July 2023
Maureen Christina Foulkes 18 October 2021 7 August 2023
Irene Hamilton 18 October 2021
Allen Newton Jones 1 December 2020
Gary Tony Houghton 29 March 2021 10 July 2023
Daniela Claire Mcdonach 18 October 2021
Matthew David Smith 29 March 2021
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A4 Musical direction and support:
Artistic Director: Jeremy Haneman BMusEd MMus (Cantab) FRSA Music Director: Ashley Beauchamp Patron: Roderick Williams OBE
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Section B Structure, governance and management
B1 The charity is a company limited by guarantee regulated by Companies House. In the event that the company is wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
B2 The charity is governed by its Articles of Association.
B3 New Trustees are appointed by the existing Trustees. The charity seeks to recruit new Trustees who support its aims and who are able to contribute to the overall development of a sustainable organisation. All Trustees are directors of The Thames Opera Company.
Section C Objectives and activities
C1 The primary objectives of the charity are:
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the promotion of the arts for the benefit of the public through the presentation of dramatic and other arts, in particular opera;
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the advancement of education of the public in dramatic and other arts, predominantly in the Thames Gateway area; and
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to pursue our objects as shown above as a way of advancing inclusion within the community and to help alleviate social isolation by making the benefit of our art to the public.
The strategies we are using to meet this objective are:
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recruitment of members from the local community and surrounding areas;
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holding weekly rehearsals;
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appointing professional musical directors and assistants to give structure to the rehearsals;
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participating in creative workshops; and
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taking part in public performances.
C2 The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
D Achievements and performance
D1 During the year under review, we have made significant progress with limited resources. We have been busy during and post the pandemic to maintain our activities and projects.
Here is a brief summary of activities and highlights for this period:
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consolidated the management structure of the charity,
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raised profile by promoting the chorus via social media to recruit new members,
● participated in a live performance at St Stephen’s church in Gloucester Road, London as part of the Brandenburg Festival with professional soloists Luis Gomez and Anita Watson along with The Phoenix choir.
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● The Thames Opera Company was featured in a chapter of the book ‘On Belonging’ by Kim Samuel and the chorus sang at book launches both in The Sheldonian Theatre and the Divinity School, Oxford.
Thames Opera Company also held several performances including the Afrocarribean Food Fest, Colourscape art installation at High House Production Park, Purfleet, and Summer Festival at the Gateway Academy, Tilbury.
D2 We are only able to provide these services with the grateful support of our members, volunteers and donors. With special thanks to Ms Kim Samuel for her continuing philanthropic support.
E Financial review
E1 Our long-term policy on reserves is that we will aim to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to fund the charity’s running costs for six months and plans for future development.
At the year end the reserves totalled £50,968 all of which were unrestricted. Since the end of the financial year under review, the charity benefitted from a generous financial donation which has secured its ability to further its charitable objectives.
E2 The Trustees consider the results for the period to be satisfactory.
F Statement of Trustees’ and Directors’ responsibilities
F1 The Charities Act and the Companies Act require that the Trustees prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of charity as at the end of the financial year and of its surplus or deficit for that year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees/Directors are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
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presume that the charity will continue its operations;
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended
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practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
F2 The Trustees/Directors are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the regulations made under the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
F3 The Trustees/Directors are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees’ Report.
F4 These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small company’s regime.
G Declaration
G1 The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report.
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Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees
Matt Smith
Chair of the Trustees/Directors 13 September 2024
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Independent examiner’s report to the Directors of Thames Opera Company for the year ended 31 December 2023
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Independent examiner
The charity's Trustees (who are also its directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for an independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011); and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that:
• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
• the accounts do not accord with such records; or
• the accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 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; or
• the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102).
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.
Leigh Li
17 September 2024
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Thames Opera Company Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31st December 2023
| Restricted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | income | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Notes | income funds | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Income | |||||
| Donations from members | 9,216 | - | 9,216 | 11,579 | |
| Other donations | 51,621 | - | 51,621 | - | |
| Other income: gift aid claims | 1,840 | - | 1,840 | - | |
| Gross income in the reporting period | 62,677 | - | 62,677 | 11,579 | |
| Expenditure | |||||
| Charitable activities | 3 | 21,870 | - | 21,870 | 21,137 |
| Fundraising | - | - | - | - | |
| Other expenditure | 3 | 2,553 | - | 2,553 | 1,931 |
| Total expenditure in the reporting period | 24,423 | - | 24,423 | 23,068 | |
| Net surplus/(deficit) | 38,254 | - | 38,254 | (11,489) | |
| Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | |
| Total funds brought forward | 12,714 | - | 12,714 | 24,203 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 50,968 | - | 50,968 | 12,714 | |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these accounts
All income derives from continuing activities
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Thames Opera Company Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023
| Restricted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | income |
2023 | |||
| Note | funds | funds | Total | 2022 Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 4 | 537 | - | 537 | 805 |
| Current assets | |||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 48,351 | - | 48,351 | 11,909 | |
| Sundry debtors | 2,080 | - | 2,080 | - | |
| Net current assets | 50,431 | - | 50,431 | 11,909 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 50,968 | - | 50,968 | 12,714 | |
| Funds of the Charity | |||||
| Brought forward | 12,714 | - | 12,714 | - | |
| Surplus for the period | 38,254 | - | 38,254 | 12,714 | |
| Carried forward | 50,968 | - | 50,968 | 12,714 | |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 13 September 2024.
Allen Jones Trustee/Director
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Thames Opera Company Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Notes to the accounts
1 Basis of preparation
1.1 Basis of accounting
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)”;
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the Charities Act 2011; and
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the Companies Act 2006.
1.2 Company limited by guarantee
The charity is a company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital.
Each member of the company undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding £10 to the assets of the company if it should be wound up while he/she is a member for payment of the company's debts and liabilities contracted before he/she ceases to be a member and of the costs and charges of winding up and for the adjustments of the rights of the contributors themselves.
2 Accounting policies
2.1 Recognition of incoming resources
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:
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the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
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the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
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the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
2.2 Incoming resources with related expenditure
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.
2.3 Tax reclaims on donations and gifts
Any incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
2.4 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over their expected useful lives as follows: Musical instruments and equipment - 1/3rd of the brought forward net book value.
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Thames Opera Company Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Notes to the accounts (continued)
2 Accounting policies (continued)
2.5 Donated services and facilities
These are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. Any donations of services or assets are valued at the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain equivalent services or assets in the open market.
2.6 Volunteer help
The financial value of any voluntary help received is not included in the financial statements.
2.7 Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
2.8 Value added tax (VAT)
The charity is not registered for VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
3. Expenses
| Unrestricted income funds: Expenditure on Charitable Activities Musical direction costs Sheet music Transport Concert staging and administrative support Depreciation Rental of rehearsal space Total |
2023 2022 £ £ 15,110 13,770 768 131 1,555 1,327 764 - 268 402 3,405 5,507 21,870 21,137 |
|---|---|
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The Thames Opera Company Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Notes to the accounts (continued)
3. Expenses (continued)
| Unrestricted income funds: Other costs IT Costs Insurances Marketing and advertising Bank charges Sundry costs Total 4. Fixed Assets Additions at cost or valuation Musical instruments and equipment Depreciation brought forward Charge for the year Depreciation carried forward Net book value |
2023 2022 £ £ 1,373 1,391 543 195 112 - 78 - 447 345 2,553 1,931 1,810 1,810 (1,005) (603) (268) (402) (1,273) (1,005) 537 805 |
|---|---|
5. Trustees
The charity trustees were not paid and did not receive any financial benefits from the charity in their capacity as trustees, neither were they reimbursed expenses during the period.
No charity trustee received payment for professional supplied services supplied to the charity.
6. Employees
The charity has no employees.
7. Corporation Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
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