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2024-07-31-accounts

Reading Festival Chorus

Report and Accounts

For the year ended 31 July 2024

Registered Charity No 254201

Reading Festival Chorus

Index to the Report and Accounts

For the year ended 31 July 2024

Page
Report of the Committee of Management 2
Report of the Independent Examiner 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Accounts 10

Reading Festival Chorus Report of the Members of the Committee of Management

Objectives and Activities

The aims and objectives of the Chorus are to foster public knowledge and appreciation of choral music by means of giving members of the Chorus the opportunity to study and practise such music, and the public performance of such music.

Chorus held its usual three concerts in the year. The first concert was in Wesley Church on 25[th] November, and featured the Britten cantata St Nicolas and Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols. The soloist in both works was tenor Gareth Treseder. St Nicolas also featured boy choristers from Pembroke College, Oxford who formed the small choir and provided the soloist.

Our spring concert was “Lenten Reflections”, given in Douai Abbey on 16[th] March. The

programme – much of it sung unaccompanied – featured works extending in time from Tallis motets to Sanders ( The Reproaches ), and also included Brahms Warum ist das Licht gegeben? and Rheinberger Stabat Mater. Simon Dinsdale accompanied the latter on the organ, and also played a chorale prelude by JS Bach and an organ sonata by Rheinberger. Several members of the audience commented that we had achieved a particularly high standard of performance in this concert.

Our summer concert marked our first visit since 2007 to the

Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College. The concert, entitled “Sprig of Thyme” included the selection of folk-song arrangements by that name by Sir John Rutter, and also Britten’s Choral Dances from Gloriana, Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs, and Holst I Love my Love. Although the size of the audience was disappointing, choir members and others were able to enjoy a picnic before the concert in the pleasant grounds of the College.

We held our usual informal concert of carols and readings in Wesley Church Hall on 11[th] December. A collection was taken at the concert for Launchpad Reading, a charity which tackles homelessness.

The Trustees of the charity (ie the Committee of Management) confirm that they have had regard to the Charity

Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Chorus continues to make no charge for concert attendance by those aged under 18, and offers reduced subscriptions to students, those on state benefits and those aged 65 and over.

Page 2

Achievements and financial review

The financial statements have been prepared for the year ended 31 July 2024.

The Committee updated the current Chorus business plan to cover last year’s financial position. This plan includes a budget for each financial period which is developed as the programme of concerts is finalised.

Overall position

Overall our financial position improved over the year. Although Chorus was again unable to attract any Corporate Sponsors, the number of Friends remained fairly constant. Fundraising for the year increased substantially compared with 2022-23. Hire a Choir raised £650 (202223: nil). The Auction of Promises made a profit of £2,387 (including £240 from Prof Mike Fulford’s guided tour of the Silchester Exhibition). A raffle that was drawn at the July concert raised £242, and a sale of music scores donated by Jill Evans raised £172. In addition our investment income rose to £792 (2022-23: £411) as a result of the increase in interest rates, and placing more of our reserves on deposit.

Income from other sources remained broadly the same as in previous years. Our income from our three concerts was only slightly higher than in 2023, but our deficit on the concert account was lower £3,490 (2022-23: deficit of £6,861). The lower deficit is largely because we did not perform any concert with a large orchestra, and made less use of professional soloists.

As a result of our fundraising efforts, and the lower deficit on concerts, we ended the year with a surplus of £4,341 , compared with a deficit of £1,089 in 2022-23 . Our total reserves therefore increased from £19,828 at 1 August 2023 to £24,169 at 31 July 2024. Although this may seem a large amount, it must be borne in mind that our likely expenditure on the joint concert with Johanneskantorei Düsseldort in June 2025 of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius is budgeted to cost around £17,500, and overall the concert is likely to incur a deficit of around £13,500. Our other concerts in 2024-25 are also budgeted to make losses, albeit much smaller ones. The Chorus is fortunate in that its accumulated reserves mean that it remains viable in the longer term, and should go forward into 2025-26 with reserves, although probably only a little above our recommended minimum “safety net” of £10,000.

Membership and our rehearsal and administrative costs

The overall financial position does not, however, tell the full story. For many years members’ subscriptions have been calculated using the rule of thumb that they should cover rehearsal costs, plus our general administrative expenses. (See Note 13 to the Accounts). Subscriptions were increased this year by 9%, to cover a shortfall the previous year, and to cover an increase this year (albeit below inflation) in payments to our Musical Director and Accompanist. With hindsight a larger increase would have been appropriate, as subscriptions again failed to cover expenditure, to the extent of £680 (6.6%). (Compare Notes 5 and 13). This is largely because membership of the Chorus fell very slightly this year to 69 (from 74).

As we cannot assume that we will rebuild our membership figure this year, this will necessitate an increase in membership fees. Additionally the Committee feels that the opportunity should be taken to make good the below-inflation increases in recent years to the remuneration of our Musical Director and Accompanist. The proposal to increase members’ subscriptions takes account of both of these objectives.

To summarise

Although we have – thanks to our fundraising efforts – made a surplus overall this year, the Committee proceeds on the assumption that members raise funds in order to subsidise concerts, and thus to enable us to perform larger works requiring professional orchestral musicians and soloists. Fundraising is not intended to subsidise members’ subscriptions.

Page 3

Chart showing our income for the year:

----- Start of picture text -----
Where the resources came from
Fundraising income
£5,387 20% Sale & hire of music (total £27,691)
£2,043 7%
Investment income £792
3%
Refreshments at
rehearsals £314 1% Concert income Jun
Concert income Mar £1,579 6%
£2,024 7%
Income Tax Refunds
£2,223 8%
Concert income
5908 21%
Concert income Nov
Friends' subscriptions Members' subscriptions
£2,305 8%
£616 2% £9,554 35%
Donations £854 3%
Chart showing our expenditure for the year:
Where we spent resources
(total £27,691)
Refreshments at
rehearsals £56 0%
Purchase & hire of
music £1,966 7% Surplus for the year Concert expenditure
£4,341 16% Mar £1,425 5%
Concert
Music Director's fees
expenditure
£4,785 17%
£9,398 34%
£5,513 Cost of raising
funds £1,696 6% Concert expenditure Jun
£2,460 9%
£1,425 Administration
£2,460 Affiliation fees expenses £317 1%
Rehearsal costs £4,521 and insurance £611 2% Concert expenditure
17% Nov £5,513 20%
----- End of picture text -----

Total reserves therefore increased from £19,828 at 1 August 2023 to £24,169 at 31 July 2024.

Page 4

The Committee of Management considers the Chorus has sufficient assets to fulfil its obligations. The Committee has set out a Reserves policy which is available to members through the Chorus website. The Chorus did not need to use accumulated reserves to cover costs. The Committee will continue to programme concerts which ensure an appropriate level of reserves is maintained.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the second edition 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 Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019.

Structure, Governance and Management

Reading Festival Chorus is an unincorporated association governed by a written Constitution. This is made available through the Governance page of the Chorus website.

In accordance with this the Committee of Management is required to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Chorus and of the income and expenditure for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the members of the Committee of Management are required to:

The members of the Committee of Management are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Chorus and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with charity law and the requirements of the Constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Chorus and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Members of the Committee of Management are the Trustees of the charity. Committee members are selected by the members of the Chorus at the Annual General Meeting, through election where there are more applicants than posts.

A set of Chorus Policies is published for members and others in the Governance section of the Chorus website.

Page 5

Reference and administrative details

Reading Festival Chorus is registered at the Charity Commission with registration number 254201. The registered address is that of the Treasurer (currently 121 Church Road, Earley, Reading RG6 1HG).

The Chorus is pleased that the pianist John Lill CBE continues to be our Patron.

During this period (including the time between the end of the reporting period and the date these accounts were signed) the Trustees were:

----- Start of picture text -----
From To
Katherine Walkem (chair) Start of financial year Current
Jane Reed (vice-chair) Start of financial year Current
Margaret Cocks (secretary Start of financial year Current
Nicholas Roberts (treasurer) Start of financial year Current
Thomas Wall (publicity) Co-opted 24 January 2024 Current
Sally Hamilton (librarian) Start of financial year Current
Natalie McGuire (registrar) Start of financial year Current
Errol Carrington (concert Start of financial year AGM 16 October 2023
manager - staging)
Jane Bazley (concert manager - Start of financial year Current
artists)
Susan Mithen (concert manager – Start of financial year Current
front of house)
----- End of picture text -----

The Vice-Chair (Jane Reed) is also the Making Music representative.

Examiner

The Committee of Management consider that neither an audit nor an examination of the accounts is required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), but that according to our Constitution an independent examination is required. Mr William Ellison was re-appointed at the AGM as the independent examiner for the year ended 31 July 2024.

Signed on behalf of the members of the Committee of Management

(sgd) Nicholas T M Roberts

Nicholas Roberts – Treasurer Approved by the Committee of Management on 6 September 2024

Page 6

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON MY EXAMINATION OF THE ACCOUNTS OF READING FESTIVAL CHORUS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Reading Festival Chorus (“the Charity”) for the year ended 31 July 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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.

Signed: (sgd) W M Ellison Date: 14 October 2024

Name: William Mark Ellison

Address: 73 Balmore Drive Caversham Reading RG4 8NN

Page 7

Reading Festival Chorus For the Year Ended 31 July 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

INCOME FROM:
Voluntary income
Membership Subscriptions
Friends' Subscriptions
Corporate memberships
Donations
Gift Aid
Charitable activities
Concert tickets and other income
Members tuition fees
Sundry income
Other activities
Fundraising activities
Sale & Hire of Music
Refreshments at rehearsals
Investment income
TOTAL INCOME:
EXPENDITURE ON:
Costs of raising voluntary income
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Administration Expenses
Affiliation Fees and Insurance
Concert payments
Rehearsals
Music Director fees
Other
Purchase & Hire of music
Refreshments at rehearsals
TOTAL EXPENDITURE:
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Designated
Total
£
£
£
9,554
9,554
616
616
0
0
854
854
2,223
2,223
5,908
5,908
0
0
0
0
5,387
5,387
2,043
2,043
314
314
792
792
27,691
0
27,691
(1,696)
(1,696)
(317)
(317)
(611)
(611)
(9,398)
(9,398)
(4,521)
(4,521)
(4,785)
(4,785)
(1,966)
(1,966)
(56)
(56)
(23,350)
0
(23,350)
4,341
0
4,341
19,828
0
19,828
24,169
0
24,169		 2023
Further
Total
details
£
9,536
5
606
0
1,151
6
2,560
7
5,779
8
0
5
0
1,488
9
1,996
10
92
411
14
23,619
(294)
9
(253)
11
(409)
(12,640)
8
(4,548)
(4,738)
12
(1,826)
10
0
(24,708)
(1,089)
20,917
19,828

Page 8

Reading Festival Chorus BALANCE SHEET as at 31 July 2024

CURRENT ASSETS:
Debtors & Prepayments
Investments
COIF Deposit Account
Cash at bank and in hand
Barclays Current Account
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS:
LIABILITIES:
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES:
TOTAL NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY:
Unrestricted Funds
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS
Katherine Walkem - Chair		 2024
2023
Further
details
£
£
782
0
15
18,138
14,347
14
5,764
6,440
24,684
20,787
(515)
(959)
(515)
(959)
24,169
19,828
(24,169)
(19,828)
(24,169)
(19,828)
Nicholas Roberts - Treasurer

The Examiner's Report is on Page 6

Page 9

Reading Festival Chorus

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 July 2024

1. Basis of Accounting

3. Expenditure

4. Taxation

Reading Festival Chorus is not liable to either Corporation Tax or Income Tax on its activities by virtue of its status as a registered charity. The Chorus is not registered for VAT and the amounts shown are inclusive of VAT paid.

5
Membership subscriptions		 2024 2023
Number of members paying subscriptions (pro rata) 67.33 (69 individuals) 74
Voluntary income
Membership fees received
 9,554 9,536
Friends' subscriptions received
 616 606

The tuition element of members' subs was formerly recorded but is no longer relevant for Gift Aid purposes

6
Donations		 2024 2023
General donations
 108 592
Transfers from members 65+ paying full rate subs
 746 601
£ 854 £ 1,193
Donations to support a particular concert, and interval donations, are included in the appropriate concert
account.
Donations to support a fundraising event are included with that event.
Donations includes receipts from a number of the Trustees.
7
Gift Aid		 2024 2023
Income tax refunded
£		 2,223 £ 2,560
(The figure for 2023 included retrospective claims totalling £514)

Page 10

Reading Festival Chorus

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 July 2024

otes to the Accounts
or the year ended 31 July 2024		 otes to the Accounts
or the year ended 31 July 2024
8
Concert Income and Expenditure
Concert
Concert
Concert
Total
2024
25-Nov-
23
16-Mar-
24
13-Jul-
24
£
£
£
£
INCOME:
Charitable activities
Ticket Sales
2,111
2,024
1,394
5,529
Programme sales
0
0
0
0
Programme adverts
0
0
0
0
Sponsorship/Donations
50
0
0
50
Sale of
Refreshments
0
0
0
0
Interval donations
144
0
185
329
TOTAL INCOME:
2,305
2,024
1,579
5,908
EXPENDITURE:
Charitable activities
Conductors' Fees
725
613
613
1,951
Orchestra/Accompanist
3,751
300
300
4,351
Soloists
573
0
350
923
Music Hire
0
0
0
0
Venue Hire
250
300
930
1,480
Staging and
Lighting
0
0
0
0
Piano Hire
0
0
0
0
Programme costs
135
135
90
360
Publicity costs
54
77
69
200
Miscellaneous
0
0
0
0
Refreshment costs
25
0
108
133
TOTAL EXPENDITURE:
5,513
1,425
2,460
9,398
SURPLUS / (DEFICIT)
(3,208)
599
(881)
(3,490)
9
Fundraising
2024
2024
Income
Expenditure
£
£
Raffles & Quizzes (Raffle at July 2024 concert)
242
0
Bring & Buy Sales
0
0
Hire a Choir
650
0
100 Club
348
(174)
Jill Evans music sale
172
0
Social event
0
0
Income from sponsored events
0
0
Auction (incl Silchester Exhibition tour)
3,909
(1,522)
Easyfundraising, AmazonSmile, etc
66
0
TOTAL
£ 5,387
£ (1,696)
£		 Total
2023
£
4,966
187
10
0
504
112
£
5,779
1,552
5,819
750
172
1,399
1,105
588
265
154
653
183
£
12,640
£
(6,861)
2024
2023
Surplus
Surplus
£
£
242
497
0
144
650
0
174
204
172
0
0
0
0
0
2,387
0
66
349
2024
2024
Income
Expenditure
£
£
242
0
0
0
650
0
348
(174)
172
0
0
0
0
0
3,909
(1,522)
66
0
£ 5,387
£ (1,696)
£		 3,691
£
1,194

Page 11

Reading Festival Chorus

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 July 2024

10
Sale and hire of music
Income from sale and hire of music
Expenditure on purchase and hire of music
Net surplus/(deficit)		 2024
2,043
(1,966)
£ 77		 2023
1,996
(1,826)
£ 170

Music purchased by RFC for use by members is charged immediately against income. Thus the expenditure on music includes any additions to the library.

This category also includes the purchase and sale of concert folders, where a small stock of folders is kept by the Chorus.

11 Administration expenses

Trustees are entitled to claim reasonable expenses for travel to committee meetings. However no payments were made in the year. See also note 6

Trustee expenses paid £0 Number of trustees paid expenses 0

A number of trustees were reimbursed for expenditure made on behalf of the Chorus (eg for music hire, printing, etc).

Details can be made available upon request.

12
Remuneration to trustees
2023
Professional fees - stand in for MD at rehearsals
nil
(This needs to be recorded to be reported to the Charity Commission)
13
Cost of rehearsals
2024
Rehearsal hall hire costs
1,815
Accompanist costs
2,706
sub-total
4,521
Music director's rehearsal fees
4,785
£ 9,306
Costs to be met from members' subs include above PLUS
Administration expenses
£ 317
Afflilation fees and insurance
£ 611
TOTAL
£ 10,234		 2023
£ 197
2023
1,818
2,730
4,548
4,738
£ 9,286
£ 253
£ 409
£ 9,948

14

Bank accounts

Cash reserves of the Chorus are held in our account at COIF Charities Deposit Fund. This investment generated £792 interest (2023: £411).

15 Debtors and Prepayments

Debtors and Prepayments includes £484 deposit paid on Great Hall of University for June 2025 concert

Page 12