**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 259306**
## Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## for
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Corke Accountancy Services 2 Upton Road Claughton Wirral CH41 0DF
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
||Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|1 to 3|
|Independent Examiner's Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7 to 12|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|13 to 14|
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2023. 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 Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
The objects of the Trust are for the promotion or furtherance of education in, and knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts of, opera, ballet, mime, drama, music and singing.
## **Significant activities**
The Trust stages shows of a near-professional standard. A concert party performs for community groups and concerts are performed for other charities.
Members receive training in stagecraft and singing and children are introduced to theatre performance.
The hall is made available for music and theatre examinations.
## **Public benefit**
The Trust is committed to enabling as many people as possible to participate in its activities either through involvement in its productions or as its audiences.
Since the Society was formed, they've produced over 200 shows and concerts which have been enjoyed by the local community. In maintaining high standards of production, the Society, its performing members and creative teams have won multiple awards, including those issued by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.
Throughout this period, members of all ages have benefitted from expert training in stagecraft and singing. It is well documented that taking part in groups such as choirs and dramatic societies improves participants' physical and mental well-being.
The Society engages with both local and national creative talent to ensure that the members and audience benefit from the involvement of professional artistic directors, musical directors and technical crew. Wider benefits to the local community are achieved through the public deriving much pleasure from the Trust's performances - which they're able to attend at professional venues at a far more accessible cost compared to shows produced by commercial entities.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
Productions within the financial year were Shrek and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, both at the Liverpool Empire.
Page 1
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
The financial transactions of the Trust continue to run satisfactorily and the position of the Trust is strong and well placed to meet its objectives. Throughout the year when planning its activities, the Trust takes in to consideration the capital reserves required to fulfil its obligations and to mitigate risk from external factors. Some of the Society's larger productions can incur costs of over £100,000, many of which need to be met before ticket income is received.
We made a net profit this year of £94,977. Highest annual revenue in the Charity's history
Total income from members' subscriptions was £14,087 - a much-needed boost from the £5,624 received in the previous financial year
The total expenditure for the year unrelated to specific shows (i.e. the running costs of the charity, along with money spent on building improvements and other purchases) was £31,176
Our net current assets (being the total amount held in our current and savings accounts, taking into consideration any amounts due to us or owed by us) were £213,478 at 31st May this year
## Notable Expenditure
You may recall that in the 2021-2022 period (which was impacted by COVID and saw us stage only St George's Hall productions), we refrained from any major building maintenance and improvement works for that year. Luckily, given strong ticket sales for Shrek and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we were able to fund various projects this year:
Extensive clear-out of the garage area and disposal of waste over the course of several months Refurbishment of the gents' toilets - including replacement urinals, extensive plumbing work to re-route pipework and remove unused sinks, painting of walls & ceiling and new hand dryers
Installation of LED lighting throughout all areas of the building (main hall to follow this year!) along with motion sensors to reduce electricity usage
Purchase of a PAT device so that electrical appliances can be tested for safety in-house Purchase of additional music stands
Replacement of water urn and dishwasher in the kitchen, plus installation of an electric hot water heater by the sink
Purchase of various tools for use with set building and maintenance, including a new bench saw Repair to the rear fire exit concrete step which had deteriorated Investment in accurate CAD plans of existing building layout
Purchase of low foggers - these produce a low-lying cloud of smoke on stage, as used in Shrek and Chitty. This will save continually hiring them for each major show
## **FUTURE PLANS**
Whilst it's likely to be several years before we're able to produce a show as financially successful as Shrek; we hope that with The Sounds of Christmas Movies concert and The Sound of Music, we'll have another strong financial year for 2023-2024 to help fund major building projects whilst retaining the cash buffer we require for producing large-scale Liverpool Empire shows.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Page 2
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The Trust is governed by its General Council who are voted in by a majority at each AGM - generally consisting of 11 trustees and up to 4 co-opted members. These roles include a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Other aspects of the day-to-day running of the charity are delegated to sub-committees who report back to the General Council at their monthly meetings. These include Fundraising, Production, Building and a Social Committee. Each sub-committee includes at least one trustee.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number**
259306
## **Principal address**
## **Trustees**
K Blackwell C Simmons M Hoile M Furness L Furness L Steventon D McAllister I Lockwood (resigned 22.9.22) I Beattie K Hoile (appointed 22.9.22) R Rose (appointed 22.9.22)
## **Independent Examiner**
Corke Accountancy Services 2 Upton Road Claughton Wirral CH41 0DF
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 28 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Trustee
Page 3
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 May 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAEW which is one of the listed bodies.
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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Rachel Corke FCA ICAEW Corke Accountancy Services 2 Upton Road Claughton Wirral CH41 0DF
28 March 2024
Page 4
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
1,334
**Charitable activities**
Members subscriptions and donations
16,363
Other trading activities
2
418,922
Investment income
3
283
**Total**
436,902
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
7,925
**Charitable activities**
Theatre Production
344,000
**Total**
351,925
**NET INCOME**
84,977
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
120,366
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
205,343|Restricted
fund
£
10,000
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
10,000
-
10,000|31.5.23
Total
funds
£
11,334
16,363
418,922
283
446,902
7,925
344,000
351,925
94,977
120,366
215,343|31.5.22
Total
funds
£
920
5,624
37,321
175|
|---|---|---|---|
||||44,040
1,411
36,670|
||||38,081|
||||5,959
114,407|
||||120,366|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Balance Sheet
## 31 May 2023
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
6
1,865
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
7
30
Debtors
8
30,723
Cash at bank and in hand
208,041
238,794
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
9
(35,316)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
203,478
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
205,343
**NET ASSETS**
205,343
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds:
Vocal Coaching
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
10,000
10,000
10,000|31.5.23
Total
funds
£
1,865
30
30,723
218,041
248,794
(35,316)
213,478
215,343
215,343
205,343
10,000
215,343|31.5.22
Total
funds
£
1,752
30
-
119,334
119,364
(750)
118,614
120,366
120,366
120,366
-
120,366|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 28 March 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:
Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, 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 Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **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.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings - 25% on reducing balance
## **Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from 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.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Hire purchase and leasing commitments**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
Page 7
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Fundraising events
Theatre ticket sales
Programmes and merchandise
Bar sales
**3.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest|31.5.23
£
8,853
392,456
13,861
3,752
418,922
31.5.23
£
283|31.5.22
£
2,072
33,860
440
949|
|---|---|---|
|||37,321|
|||31.5.22
£
175|
## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 May 2023 nor for the year ended 31 May 2022.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 May 2023 nor for the year ended 31 May 2022.
|**5.**
**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
Unrestricted
Restricted
fund
fund
£
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
920
-
**Charitable activities**
Members subscriptions and donations
5,624
-
Other trading activities
37,321
-
Investment income
175
-
**Total**
44,040
-
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
1,411
-
**Charitable activities**
Theatre Production
36,670
-
**Total**
38,081
-|Total
funds
£
920
5,624
37,321
175|
|---|---|
||44,040
1,411
36,670|
||38,081|
Page 8
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
|**5.**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
|||fund|fund|funds|
|||£|£|£|
||**NET INCOME**|5,959|-|5,959|
||**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**||||
||**Total funds brought forward**|114,407|-|114,407|
||**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**||||
||**FORWARD**|120,366|-|120,366|
|**6.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**||||
|||||Fixtures|
|||||and|
|||||fittings|
|||||£|
||**COST**||||
||At 1 June 2022|||33,639|
||Additions|||497|
||At 31 May 2023|||34,136|
||**DEPRECIATION**||||
||At 1 June 2022|||31,887|
||Charge for year|||384|
||At 31 May 2023|||32,271|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**||||
||At 31 May 2023|||1,865|
||At 31 May 2022|||1,752|
Page 9
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
|**7.**
**STOCKS**
Stocks
**8.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Prepayments and accrued income
**9.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**10.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.6.22
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
120,366
**Restricted funds**
Vocal Coaching
-
**TOTAL FUNDS**
120,366
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
436,902
**Restricted funds**
Vocal Coaching
10,000
**TOTAL FUNDS**
446,902|31.5.23
£
30
31.5.23
£
30,723
31.5.23
£
35,316
Net
movement
in funds
£
84,977
10,000
94,977
Resources
expended
£
(351,925)
-
(351,925)|31.5.22
£
30
31.5.22
£
-
31.5.22
£
750
At
31.5.23
£
205,343
10,000
215,343
Movement
in funds
£
84,977
10,000
94,977|
|---|---|---|
Page 10
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|||Net||
|---|---|---|---|
|||movement|At|
||At 1.6.21|in funds|31.5.22|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|114,407|5,959|120,366|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|114,407|5,959|120,366|
|Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:||||
||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
||resources|expended|in funds|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|44,040|(38,081)|5,959|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|44,040|(38,081)|5,959|
|A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:||||
|||Net||
|||movement|At|
||At 1.6.21|in funds|31.5.23|
||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||
|General fund|114,407|90,936|205,343|
|**Restricted funds**||||
|Vocal Coaching|-|10,000|10,000|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|114,407|100,936|215,343|
Page 11
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Vocal Coaching
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
480,942
10,000
490,942|Resources
expended
£
(390,006)
-
(390,006)|Movement
in funds
£
90,936
10,000
100,936|
|---|---|---|---|
## **11. OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS**
The building used by the charity is leased and 42 months notice is required to terminate the lease .
This equates to a financial obligation of £12,341.
## **12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 May 2023.
Page 12
|The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
**Other trading activities**
Fundraising events
Theatre ticket sales
Programmes and merchandise
Bar sales
**Investment income**
Deposit account interest
**Charitable activities**
Members' subscriptions and show
contributions
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Raising donations and legacies**
Fundraising costs
**Other trading activities**
Opening stock
Closing stock
**Charitable activities**
Insurance
Advertising
Theatre and production costs
Vocal coaching
Cost of bar sales
**Support costs**
**Management**
Other operating leases
Carried forward|31.5.23
£
11,334
8,853
392,456
13,861
3,752
418,922
283
16,363
446,902
7,925
30
(30)
-
1,205
19,205
295,687
1,260
2,264
319,621
3,526
3,526|31.5.22
£
920
2,072
33,860
440
949|
|---|---|---|
|||37,321
175
5,624|
|||44,040
1,411
-
-|
|||-
858
-
16,328
-
-|
|||17,186
3,526
3,526|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2023
|**Management**
Brought forward
Rates and water
Trustee's insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Advertising
Sundries
Burglar and fire alarm
NODA subscription
Repairs and maintenance
Fixtures and fittings
**Finance**
Bank charges
**Human resources**
Software licences
**Governance costs**
Accountancy and legal fees
Total resources expended
**Net income**|31.5.23
£
3,526
2,447
285
4,656
792
374
-
486
-
286
9,758
384
22,994
355
58
972
351,925
94,977|31.5.22
£
3,526
2,351
265
3,077
737
633
4,404
360
462
163
570
309|
|---|---|---|
|||16,857
1,101
206
1,320|
|||38,081|
|||5,959|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14