Thames Head Singers
(THS)
Report of the Trustees
and
Unaudited Financial Statements
For the period 4[th] January to 31[st] December 2024
Charity Number: 1206395
Thames Head Singers
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
Contents
Report of the Trustees ............................................................................................................................ 3 Statement of Financial Activities ............................................................................................................ 9 Statement of Financial Position ............................................................................................................ 10 Notes to the Financial Statements........................................................................................................ 11
Thames Head Singers
Report of the Trustees
For the period ended 31[st] December 2024
The trustees present their first report of the charity. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 4[th] January 2024. The first trustees were the committee members of the predecessor organisation (also called Thames Head Singers) which was an unincorporated body recognised as a charity by HMRC but not registered with the Charity Commission.
The old Thames Head Singers wound itself up and transferred its activities and funds to the CIO at the end of the Spring term 2024. The funds transferred amounted to £7,533.
The Trustees, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charity for the period from the charity’s registration on 4[th] January 2024 to the year end of the charity on 31[st] December 2024. There are no comparative figures as this is the first Report and Financial Statements produced by the trustees.
The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective1 January 2019).
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity Thames Head Singers Charity registration number 1206395 Principal address Butt House Butt Green Painswick GL6 6QS Trustees
The trustees and officers serving during the period and since the period end were as follows:
Cate Masheder (Chair – Appointed 4[th] January 2024)
Martyn Smith (Treasurer – Appointed 4[th] January 2024)
Kevin Ashby (Appointed 4[th] January 2024, resigned 2[nd] September 2024)
Jane Vockins (Appointed 2[nd] September 2024)
Jane Gandy (Appointed 6[th] November 2024)
Paul Baxter (Appointed 6[th] November 2024)
Musical Director Andrew Hopwood Rehearsal Accompanist Peter Tims Bank Co-operative Bank Plc, Box 250, Delf House, Southway Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The charity’s activities are governed by a Board of Trustees which meets as and when required to administer the business of the charity. Other than on initial appointment at the formation of the charity, trustees are appointed for a period of three years.
The main activities of the charity are in the following areas:
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Concert performances – THS arranges and performs concerts. It usually arranges three or four per year. These are usually held in churches near Stroud. There is usually a piano accompanist or organist, and sometimes an orchestra. Sometimes there are soloists from outside of the choir.
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Other performances – THS sometimes does performances other than choral concerts. These vary in format.
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Other public activities – THS has had a history of singing evensong and other services at cathedrals and churches, though it did not do any in this period. THS occasionally arranges “Come and Sing” events. These provide an opportunity for choir members and members of the public to spend a day with a musical director and an accompanist learning a piece of music and, at the end of the day, performing it in a free concert.
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Rehearsals – All of the other activities are supported by rehearsals. These take place weekly during school term-times on Tuesday evenings, usually at Brimscombe Primary School.
Governing document and Charity Objects
THS is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation using the “Association” model constitution.
The charity’s principal object is to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and 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.
Responsibilities of the Trustees
The Trustees have a responsibility to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees should follow best practice and:
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select suitable accounting policies and then 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 the going concern basis unless it is not appropriate to assume that the charity will continue on that basis
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Accounts and Reports Regulations. Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Trustee Recruitment, Training and Assessment
ln selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.
The trustees are currently working on a Trustee Welcome Pack and a Trustee Handbook.
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Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
ACTIVITIES
Concert performances
During this period there were three concert performances. The first was a Summer Concert in June at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton. In November we sang Fauré’s Requiem (and Cantique de Jean Racine) at St Lawrence, Stroud. The third was a Christmas Concert again at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, at which we had a talk from Stroud’s Trinity Rooms Community Hub and a retiring collection for them. All three concerts were well-attended and considered successful.
Other activities
In March THS held a Come and Sing day instead of a Spring Concert. The focus was Stainer’s Crucifixion and the event took place in Painswick, with morning rehearsals at the Painswick Centre and afternoon rehearsals and the performance at St Mary’s church.
In November a group of singers from the choir performed a few pieces at the launch of the Painswick Goodwill Evening. In December a group of singers sang carols at Gloucester Services on the M5 to raise money for Read With Me. We also had the pleasure of singing at a wedding in Frampton on Severn during that month.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity aims to fund its non-performance activities with membership subscriptions and at least to break even on its performances across the year. In 2024 it produced a financial surplus of £1,134 during the period.
Non-performance costs amounted to £7,654 and non-performance income to £7,588, giving a deficit of £66, very close to the breakeven target.
Performance income was £6,198 and costs were £4,998, giving a surplus of £1,200. This was a betterthan-expected outcome, driven largely by the success of the Fauré Requiem.
Reserves Policy
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Restricted Funds are those that require to be expended on specific projects. THS does not currently have any restricted funds.
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Unrestricted Funds have no restriction on their uses. All of THS’s funds are currently unrestricted.
Particulars of Any Outstanding Guarantee Given by the Charity
The Trustees declare that the charity has given no guarantee where potential liability is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets & liabilities.
Particulars of Any Outstanding Debt
The Trustees declare that the charity has no outstanding debts which are secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the charity at the date of the statement of assets & liabilities.
Major Risks
One of the main risks is the financial risk in putting on concert performances. THS has a Management Committee, which includes the trustees, the Musical Director and others. This committee focuses on delivering high-quality performances that deliver at least a break-even financial performance. THS
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maintains a surplus that is adequate to meet the deficit that might arise if a performance failed to break even.
Other main risks include an inability to recruit sufficient singers and a failure to develop a suitable performance programme.
STATUTORY DECLARATION ON PUBLIC BENEFIT
The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 22[nd] September 2025 and signed on its behalf by
Cate Masheder (Chair)
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Thames Head Singers Statement of Financial Activities
For the period ended 31[st] December 2024
| Notes Income from: Donations 2 Charitable activities 3 Investments 4 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 5 Total Net income / (expenditure) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward All funds are unrestricted. |
2024 £ 353 13,376 57 |
|---|---|
| 13,786 | |
| 12,652 | |
| 12,652 | |
| 1,134 7,533 |
|
| 8,667 | |
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Thames Head Singers
Statement of Financial Position
For the period ended 31st December 2024
| Notes Fixed assets 8 Current assets Stock 9 Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities Creditors - amounts falling due within one year Total assets less current liabilities The funds of the charity Unrestricted funds Total funds |
2024 £ 1,434 |
|---|---|
| 537 1,087 5,744 |
|
| 7,368 | |
| 135 | |
| 8,667 | |
| 8,667 8,667 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Cate Masheder Martyn Smith Chair Treasurer 22[nd] September 2025 22[nd] September 2025
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Thames Head Singers Notes to the Financial Statements
For the period ended 31st December 2024
1 Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and 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 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.
Thames Head Singers meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Fixed assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
| ves on the following bases: | |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 20% Straight line |
| Music | 10% Straight line |
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure:
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
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Thames Head Singers
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the period ended 31st December 2024
| 2. Income from donations From Lucky Severn Lottery Total 3. Income from charitable activities Membership subscriptions Performances and events Other income Total 4. Investment income Bank interest Total 5. Costs of charitable activities by activity Routine rehearsal costs Overhead costs Event costs 6. Net income / (expenditure) for the year This is stated after charging: Depreciation on music Depreciation on equipment |
2024 £ 353 |
|---|---|
| 353 | |
| 6,878 6,448 50 |
|
| 13,376 | |
| 57 | |
| 57 | |
| 5,968 1,868 4,815 |
|
| 12,651 | |
| 353 112 |
7. Comparative figures
As these are the first financial statements for the charity there are no comparatives.
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Thames Head Singers
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the period ended 31st December 2024
8. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost or valuation As at 4th January 2024 Additions Disposals As at 31st December 2024 Depreciation As at 4th January 2024 Charge for year Eliminated on disposals As at 31st December 2024 Net book value at 31st December 2024 9. Stock Books for sale Catering stock Total 10. Debtors Prepayments Other debtors Total |
Music Equipment £ £ 2,518 601 266 194 |
Total £ 3,119 459 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,784 795 |
3,579 | |
| 1,471 208 353 113 |
1,680 465 0 |
|
| 1,824 321 |
2,145 | |
| 960 474 |
1,434 | |
| 121 416 |
||
| 537 | ||
| 557 530 |
||
| 1,087 |
11. Trustee remuneration
No trustee received any remuneration from the charity.
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Thames Head Singers
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
For the period ended 31st December 2024
| Income Membership subscriptions Ticket sales Other performance income Donations Interest income Other income Expenditure Running costs Musical direction and rehearsal accompaniment Rehearsal venues Music Other running costs Performance costs Venue hire Accompaniment and soloists Marketing and promotion Other performance costs Total expenditure Surplus / (deficit) |
2024 £ 6,878 5,485 713 353 57 300 |
|---|---|
| 13,786 | |
| 5,570 398 535 1,300 |
|
| 7,803 | |
| 1,380 1,110 774 1,585 |
|
| 4,849 | |
| 12,652 | |
| 1,134 |
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