REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 05880790 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1116684/ 1209176
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
for
North London Sinfonia Ltd
North London Sinfonia Ltd
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 | |
| Balance Sheet | 5 | |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 | to 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
North London Sinfonia Ltd
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the 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)
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objects of the Orchestra shall be:
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To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education, 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.
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To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion shall think but in particular through the making of grants and donations.
Public benefit
The company holds concerts which the general public are able to attend.
STRATEGIC REPORT
Achievement and performance
The North London Sinfonia has returned to giving three concerts over the course of the year. It is a community orchestra which does not require prospective members to audition and has a regular membership of approximately 30 amateur musicians of varying abilities and ages. It rehearses at the Trinity church, Nether St, North Finchley N12 7NN, preparing for public concert performances at the end of three ten week-long terms each year. Over the years, audience attendance figures have remained steady between 60-100 persons for each concert.
During the latest financial year ended 31 July 2025, the orchestra gave three public performances as given below:
Saturday 14[th] December 2024, at Palmers Green United Reformed Church Beethoven: Lenore Overture No. 1 Stanford: Clarinet Concerto – soloist Alexander McDonald Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 “Scottish”
Saturday 5th April 2025, at Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church. Mozart: Overture, Le nozze di Figaro
Agócsi: ‘Madrugada de Fanal’ Concerto for Guitar and Cello – soloists János Agócsi, Guitar & Evva Mizerska, Cello Haydn: Overture, Il ritorno di Tobia
Martinu: Sinfonietta ‘La Jolla’
Saturday 12th July, at Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Overture in C Major Florence Price: Violin Concerto No.1 – soloist Aaliyah Booker Ethel Smyth: Serenade in D Major
To provide the best possible public performances at all public concerts, the orchestra pays for the services of about ten freelance musicians, most of whom are music students either at the Royal Academy of Music, or Trinity Music College, Greenwich.
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
STRATEGIC REPORT
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Orchestra has to maintain its legal identity either as a limited company or as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in order to claim Gift Aid and consequently has legal obligations to make returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission. Professional fees are paid in order to fulfil these obligations.
The Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 21[st] October 2024 to elect new officers to the Committee and agree the resolution to close the old orchestra charity and the establishment of the newly created Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
The orchestra has no financial assets other than its three timpani, and its financial reserves are entirely dependent upon member subscriptions and donations, Gift Aid claimed from members who have completed Gift Aid declaration forms.
The orchestra does not own any land or buildings and therefore has to pay current local market rentals for rehearsals and concert venues. These venues are local churches, and their layout and seating capacities can create potential constraints on income derived from audiences. Orchestral concerts need publicity and whilst on-line social media is relatively cheap, hard copy posters and flyers can only be produced by paying for commercial printing services.
North London Sinfonia subscribes to the Making Music charity that provides necessary property insurance, public liability insurance and useful advice services.
The Orchestra insures its timpani with an annual insurance against accidental damage (including fire damage); theft or accidental loss and hire costs for replacement timpani whilst within the orchestra's rehearsal venue, and for removal and use of the timpani outside of the premises. The orchestra has taken out insurance with Making Music for the cover of the timpani.
In order to comply with GDPR, the orchestra is required to check what data it possesses about its members, and to remove it when it is no longer required.
In order to maintain up-to-date records for Gift aid, the orchestra requests all tax-paying members to complete a fresh Gift aid declaration during the Spring term. The previous year's GA forms ought to be destroyed as the fresh declaration is received.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is controlled by it governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The Orchestra's constitution provides that the management committee members act as its Trustees and are thus appointed at Annual General Meetings.
Organisational structure
The orchestra contracts with its conductor and two leaders to prepare its member for public performances at the end of three ten-week terms every year.
The Orchestra has a management committee elected annually at the Annual General Meeting
Chair: Donal Flynn (until Oct 2024), Charlotte Sinclair-Wander (from Oct 2024) Secretary: vacant Treasurer: Charlotte Sinclair-Wander (until Oct 2024), Kirsty Bright (from Oct 2024) Conductor: Owen Leech Music Librarian: vacant Communications: Tim Read (until Oct 2024), Philip Naniewski (from Oct 2024) Strategy: Andrew Rixon Concert Organiser: John Stephen Corcoran/ Filipa Evans
All except the conductor give their time voluntarily without benefits or recompense. The committee meets after each concert to review them, and plan and agree future concert programmes. The Chair and Treasurer enjoy delegated powers between committee meetings.
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
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.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
05880790 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1116684/ 1209176
Registered office
25 Beechdale London N21 3QE
Trustees
Charlotte Sinclair-Wander Kirsty Bright John Stephen Corcoran Andrew Rixon Timothy Read
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of North London Sinfonia Ltd for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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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 inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They 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.
Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on 12[th] September 2025 and signed on the board's behalf by:
........................................................................
C M G Sinclair-Wander - Trustee
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| fund | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |||
| Donations and legacies | 10,787 | 11,680 | |
| Other trading activities | 2 | 3,546 | 3,393 |
| Other income | - | - | |
| Total | 14,333 | 15,073 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||
| Raising funds | 13,736 | 14,832 | |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | 597 | 242 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 8,376 | 8,134 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 8,973 | 8,376 |
The notes form part of these financial
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Balance Sheet 31 July 2025
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| fund | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Tangible assets | 5 | 6,895 | 6,895 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors | 6 | 3,646 | 2,730 |
| Cash at bank | 1,060 | 463 | |
| 4,706 | 3,193 | ||
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 7 | (685) | (740 ) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 4,021 | 2,453 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||
| LIABILITIES | 10,916 | 9,348 | |
| NET ASSETS | 10,916 | 9,348 | |
| FUNDS | 8 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 10,916 | 9,348 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 10,916 | 9,348 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
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(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
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(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 12[th] September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. C M G Sinclair-Wander - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, 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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will 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 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.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable 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.
2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
| OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Concert income | 3,546 | 3,393 |
3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2025 nor for the year ended 31 July 2024.
Trustees' expenses
£Nil expenses were paid to the trustees during the year (2024: £0).
continued...
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
4. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|
| fund | ||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | £ | |
| Donations and legacies | 11,680 | |
| Other trading activities | 3,393 | |
| Other income | - | |
| Total | 15,073 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON | ||
| Raising funds | 14,832 | |
| NET INCOME | 242 | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 8,134 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 8,376 | |
| 5. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |
| Plant and | ||
| COST | machinery | |
| £ | ||
| At 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025 | 8,487 | |
| DEPRECIATION | ||
| At 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025 | 1,592 | |
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||
| At 31 July 2025 | 6,895 | |
| At 31 July 2024 | 6,895 |
The three timpani sets were valued in January 2016 by an expert instrument repairer for insurance purposes and the instruments have been revalued accordingly in the accounts.
These instruments have not been depreciated on the basis that their value has not reduced.
continued...
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
6. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Trade debtors | 1,371 | 850 | ||
| Other debtors | 2,275 | 1,880 | ||
| 3,646 | 2,730 | |||
| 7. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE | YEAR | ||
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accruals and deferred income | 685 | 740 | ||
| 8. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 1/8/24 | in funds | 31/7/25 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 9,348 | 1,568 | 10,916 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 9,348 | 1,568 | 10,916 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 14,333 | (13,736) | 597 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 14,333 | (13,736) | 597 | |
| Comparatives for movement in funds | ||||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 1/8/23 | in funds | 31/7/24 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 8,314 | 1,034 | 9,348 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 8,314 | 1,034 | 9,348 |
continued...
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 15,073 | (14,832) | 242 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 15,073 | (14,832) | 242 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Net | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| movement | At | ||
| At 1/8/23 | in funds | 31/7/25 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 8,314 | 2,602 | 10,916 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 8,314 | 2,602 | 10,916 |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 29,406 | (28,568) | 839 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 29,406 | (28,568) | 839 |
9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2025.
10. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY
There is no ultimate controlling party.
continued...
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 July 2025
11. LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
The company is limited by guarantee, so there is no share capital.
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North London Sinfonia Ltd
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 July |
||
|---|---|---|
| 31/7/25 | 31/7/24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Donations | 3,075 | 5,052 |
| Gift aid | 1,530 | 854 |
| Subscriptions | 6,182 | 5,775 |
| 10,787 | 11,680 | |
| Other trading activities | ||
| Concert income | 3,546 | 3,393 |
| Other income | ||
| Other income | - | - |
| Total incoming resources | 14,333 | 15,073 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Support costs | ||
| Other | ||
| Insurance and copyright | 337 | 323 |
| Postage and stationery | 149 | 250 |
| Sundries | 208 | 205 |
| Freelancers | 9,618 | 10,513 |
| Hall hire | 2,798 | 2,057 |
| Sheet music hire | 509 | 488 |
| Computer costs | 117 | 95 |
| 13,736 | 13,932 | |
| Governance costs | ||
| Accountancy | - | 900 |
| Legal fees | - | - |
| - | 900 | |
| Total resources expended | 13,736 | 14,832 |
| Net (expenditure)/income | 597 | 242 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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