Sing out Sutton Trustee Report 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
Charity Particulars:
Charity Trustees:
Christine Lindsay (chair from 28 November 2022) Stephen Williams Rosemarie Smith Jan Lewis Philip Butlin, Treasurer Sarah Kane
Key Personnel:
Victoria Hodges, Director
Banking:
Cooperative Business Banking
Charity Registration:
1201167
Operating address:
108 Montpelier Road Purley CR8 2QB
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
SING OUT SUTTON
Trustees Report
For the year ended 31/3/25
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Constitution and Objectives
Sing out Sutton is a wellbeing singing charity which facilitates regular fun, friendly and supportive singing sessions accessible to all adults in the borough of Sutton. The choir upholds the belief that singing has powerful physical, psychosocial and emotional wellbeing benefits. It holds weekly singing sessions for two groups: Thursday evening choir at Chiltern Church and Singing for Breathing at Wallington Library. It also hosts singing workshops and performances to members of the public to promote singing for wellbeing.
The charity is governed by the Sing out Sutton constitution, drawn up in November 2022, which has the following objectives: to promote, improve, develop and maintain physical and mental wellbeing through singing in the London borough of Sutton, and occasionally beyond. To promote public education in, and appreciation of the art and science of singing to the public through concerts, workshops and other events as the trustees shall determine from time to time.
Public Benefit
Sing out Sutton’s public benefit entails provision of wellbeing support through musicmaking for the choir participants, and provision of entertainment, education and promotion of wellbeing benefits of singing to the choir’s audiences.
Structure, Governance and Management
During the period of April 2024 – March 2025 Sing out Sutton was governed by three trustees.
It operates under a CIO constitution and employs a director on a freelance basis. Trustees hold office for three years and are eligible for re-election.
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
Achievements and Performances
Note from the founder/director
This year has been one of strengthening our roots in the community as well as increasing our reach. With the inception of the Singing for Breathing group, initially starting as a fortnightly pilot project then expanding to a regular weekly offering, we have reinforced our mission to promote singing as a vital asset to wellbeing, especially for those with lung conditions. Our objectives have been fulfilled in a variety of ways, highlights of which are detailed below.
Vicki Hodges
General achievements
Between 1[st] April 2024 and 31[st] March 2025 we:
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Held 45 Thursday evening rehearsals , with attendance averaging at 71 each week – a 34% increase on last year
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Registered 54 new people at Thursday evening choir (meaning 244 people in total have registered at Sing out Sutton since it started)
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Ran 7 Singing for Breathing taster sessions at Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes, in collaboration with NHS Sutton Health and Care
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Launched Singing for Breathing on 17[th] September 2024
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Held 13 Singing for Breathing rehearsals , with average attendance at 22 each week
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Registered 70 people at Singing for Breathing across the 13 weeks
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Ran our first Everyone can Sing! event , which proved incredibly popular and sold out a week beforehand
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Introduced 4 new songs to our repertoire
2024 Highlights
April
Performed at Tennyson Grange Care Home
Performed at Wallington Older People’s Wellbeing Day
Performed for the Mayor of Sutton charity in a joint concert with Norwood Wind Ensemble
May
Performed at the Banham Marsden March
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
Had 8 new joiners during one rehearsal, the greatest number of new joiners in this period
June
Held our largest Thursday evening rehearsal with 85 people in the room
Performed at Wallington Music Festival
Held our 3[rd] Birthday party gig with live band at the Sound Lounge
July
Performed at the Belmont Festival
August
Performed for Home-Start Sutton’s Anniversary celebrations
Won a grant from Arts Network Sutton to hold an Everyone can Sing! Workshop Day
September
Performed for Sutton Housing Society’s residents in Griffiths Close
Launched Singing for Breathing pilot project
Held the first Everyone can Sing! Workshop day
October
Sang for the Maggie’s Centre charity Fire Walk at Sutton United Football Club
November
Performed at Wallington Older People’s Wellbeing Day
Recorded a musical Christmas Message for Surrey Police Awards
December
Performed at Maggie’s Centre Carol Service
Sang for the residents of Warrengate Nursing Home
Performed for Sutton Housing Partnership’s residents Christmas party at Hill House
Held a Christmas Party social event
Walked for Cheam and Sutton Rotary’s Santa Float Collection
2025 Highlights
January
Attended Cheam and Sutton rotary presentation evening where we were presented a cheque for £900
February
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
Held a variety evening social event where we raised £691.60
March
Performed for Sutton Quakers afternoon tea Introduced welcome desk volunteers to Thursday evening choir
Ran a Ladies Who Lunch singing taster session Sang at a choir member’s funeral (Robin Bevan)
Singing at Wallington Older People’s Wellbeing Day, April 2024
Everyone can Sing! Workshop day, September 2024
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
Financial Review
Income during the year totalled £18,078. The charity’s expenditure totalled £15,843. The aim of Sing out Sutton is to balance costs against voluntary contributions along with maintaining adequate reserves.
Fundraising
All fundraising activities are managed internally without involvement of commercial partners. The charity complies with relevant codes of practice and has received no complaints.
Reserves Policy
The charity maintains reserves to cover operational costs. Current reserves exceed the target amount of 3 months’ operational costs.
Plans for Future Periods
Alongside continued regular choir rehearsals and gigs, the following projects have been proposed:
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Options to expand to a daytime choir
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Continuing large and small-scale Everyone can Sing! Events for the public to engage in Singing for Wellbeing
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4[th] Birthday Fundraising concert with live Jazz Band accompanying the songs, joining up both Thursday evening choir and Singing for Breathing
Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and maintaining financial integrity through preparing accurate financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s current trustees,
Stephen Williams Rosemarie Smith Christine Lindsay Chair of Trustees Jan Lewis Philip Butlin Sarah Kane
SING OUT SUTTON | www.singoutsutton.co.uk | 1201167
Sing Out Sutton Registered Charity No. 1201167
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31 March 2025
| £ Receipts Donations - Rehearsals 16,013 Donations - Gigs 429 Donations - Events 1,125 Donations - Singingfor Breathing 45 Grants 66 Other income 400 Total 18,078 Unrestricted funds |
£ Receipts Donations - Rehearsals 16,013 Donations - Gigs 429 Donations - Events 1,125 Donations - Singingfor Breathing 45 Grants 66 Other income 400 Total 18,078 Unrestricted funds |
2024/ £ - - - - - - - Restricted funds |
|---|---|---|
| Donations - Rehearsals | 16,013 | - |
| Donations - Gigs | 429 | - |
| Donations - Events | 1,125 | - |
| Donations - Singingfor Breathing | 45 | - |
| Grants | 66 | - |
| Other income | 400 | - |
| **Total ** | 18,078 | - |
| Payments Professional Services - Rehearsal Fees 6,300 Professional Services - GigFees 1,925 Professional Services - Admin Fee 500 Prof Services - Everyone Can Sing! 775 Prof Services - Singingfor Breathing 932 Choir Leader cover 85 SongArrangements and tracks 157 Hall Hire 3,350 Advertising, Promotion and Fundraising 487 Insurances 96 Uniform and Badges 663 Refreshments 33 Office expenses 229 Printing, Postage and Stationery 291 Travel and Accommodation 20 Charitable donations Other costs Total 15,843 Net receipts/(payments) 2,235 Cash funds last year end 11,308 Cash funds this year end 13,543 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 March 2025
£
| Cash at Bank | 13,543 |
|---|---|
| Other assets | - |
| Total Assets | 13,543 |
| Liabilities | - |
| Net Assets | 13,543 |
/25
Endowment Total funds funds £ £
Period 28 November 2022 to 31 March 2024
Total funds
£
| - | 16,013 | 21,288 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 429 | 575 | ||
| - | 1,125 | - | ||
| - | 45 | - | ||
| - | 66 | - | ||
| - | 400 | 1,551 | ||
| - | 18,078 | 23,414 |
| - | 6,300 | 6,715 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | 1,925 | 2,950 | ||||||||
| - | 500 | 500 | ||||||||
| - | 775 | - | ||||||||
| - | 932 | - | ||||||||
| - | 85 | 210 | ||||||||
| - | 157 | 254 | ||||||||
| - | 3,350 | 5,012 | ||||||||
| - | 487 | - | ||||||||
| - | 96 | - | ||||||||
| - | 663 | 54 | ||||||||
| - | 33 | 64 | ||||||||
| - | 229 | 383 | ||||||||
| - | 291 | 1,100 | ||||||||
| - | 20 | - | ||||||||
| - | - | 430 | ||||||||
| - | - | 584 | ||||||||
| - | 15,843 | 18,256 | ||||||||
| - | 2,235 | 5,158 | ||||||||
| - | 11,308 | 6,150 | ||||||||
| - | 13,543 | 11,308 |
2024
£
11,308
11,308 - 11,308