**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 259306**
## Report of the Trustees and
## Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## 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 2024
||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 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2024. 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 The Sound of Music at the Liverpool Empire Theatre and The Sound of Christmas Movies at St George's Hall.
Page 1
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## **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 £180,000, many of which need to be met before ticket income is received.
## We made a net loss this year of £30,616.
Total income from members' subscriptions was £12,84 - a much-needed contribution towards the ongoing running costs and improvement costs for our headquarters and facilities.
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 £175,830 at 31st May this year,
## Notable Expenditure
We've had another year of extensive refurbishment of our headquarters which has incurred some signification expenditure:
- " Chilled water dispenser in the main hall
" Expenditure on second rehearsal space - including architect's fees and a proportion of the mezzanine cost which fell in to this financial year. Further costs will be included in the next financial year
" Installation of LED lighting in the main hall
" A full electrical inspection of the premises, with suggestions for remedial work which have since been completed
" A new fire detection system installed throughout the premises
" New portable staging to be used in the hall
" Significant amounts of set pieces to be used for upcoming shows
" A large projection screen, as used for The Sound of Music
" A new sewing machine and Cricut machine
" 3 Clearsonic acoustic drum screens
## **FUTURE PLANS**
Our future planned productions of Annie and Let The People Sing: Les Misérables Anniversary Performance should prove to be successful financially and allow us to retain 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.
## **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.
Page 2
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## **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 Beattie K Hoile R Rose
## **Independent Examiner**
Corke Accountancy Services 2 Upton Road Claughton Wirral CH41 0DF
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 27 March 2025 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 2024.
## **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**
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
Corke Accountancy Services 2 Upton Road Claughton Wirral CH41 0DF
27 March 2025
Page 4
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
|Notes
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**Charitable activities**
Members subscriptions and donations
Other trading activities
2
Investment income
3
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
**Charitable activities**
Theatre Production
**Total**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**Transfers between funds**
10
**Net movement in funds**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|Unrestricted
fund
£
-
12,848
233,855
418
247,121
2,456
273,972
276,428
(29,307)
1,260
(28,047)
205,343
177,296|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,309
1,309
(1,309)
(1,260)
(2,569)
10,000
7,431|31.5.24
Total
funds
£
-
12,848
233,855
418
247,121
2,456
275,281
277,737
(30,616)
-
(30,616)
215,343
184,727|31.5.23
Total
funds
£
11,334
16,363
418,922
283|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||446,902|
|||||7,925
344,000|
|||||351,925|
|||||94,977
-|
|||||94,977
120,366|
|||||215,343|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
## Balance Sheet
## 31 May 2024
|Notes
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
6
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
7
Debtors
8
Cash at bank and in hand
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
9
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds:
Vocal Coaching
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Unrestricted
fund
£
8,897
30
45,401
161,019
206,450
(38,051)
168,399
177,296
177,296|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
7,431
7,431
-
7,431
7,431
7,431|31.5.24
Total
funds
£
8,897
30
45,401
168,450
213,881
(38,051)
175,830
184,727
184,727
177,296
7,431
184,727|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|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 27 March 2025 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 2024
## **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.
Page 7
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **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.
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Fundraising events
Theatre ticket sales
Programmes and merchandise
Bar sales
**3.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest|31.5.24
£
7,505
212,519
7,204
6,627
233,855
31.5.24
£
418|31.5.23
£
8,853
392,456
13,861
3,752|
|---|---|---|
|||418,922|
|||31.5.23
£
283|
## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 May 2024 nor for the year ended 31 May 2023.
## **5. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**Charitable activities**
Members subscriptions and
donations
Other trading activities
Investment income
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds|Unrestricted
fund
£
1,334
16,363
418,922
283
436,902
7,925|Restricted
fund
£
10,000
-
-
-
10,000
-|Total
funds
£
11,334
16,363
418,922
283|
|---|---|---|---|
||||446,902|
||||7,925|
Page 8
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
|**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**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Restricted||Total|
|||fund|fund||funds|
|||£|£||£|
||**Charitable activities**|||||
||Theatre Production|344,000||-|344,000|
||**Total**|351,925||-|351,925|
||**NET INCOME**|84,977|10,000||94,977|
||**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**|||||
||Total funds brought forward|120,366||-|120,366|
||**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED**|||||
||**FORWARD**|205,343|10,000||215,343|
|**6.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**|||||
||||||Fixtures|
||||||and|
||||||fittings|
||||||£|
||**COST**|||||
||At 1 June 2023||||34,136|
||Additions||||7,498|
||At 31 May 2024||||41,634|
||**DEPRECIATION**|||||
||At 1 June 2023||||32,271|
||Charge for year||||466|
||At 31 May 2024||||32,737|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**|||||
||At 31 May 2024||||8,897|
||At 31 May 2023||||1,865|
Page 9
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
|**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**
Net
movement
At 1.6.23
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
205,343
(29,307)
**Restricted funds**
Vocal Coaching
10,000
(1,309)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
215,343
(30,616)
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
247,121
**Restricted funds**
Vocal Coaching
-
**TOTAL FUNDS**
247,121||
|---|---|
|||
Page 10
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## **10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
||||Net||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||movement|At|
|||At 1.6.22|in funds|31.5.23|
|||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund||120,366|84,977|205,343|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Vocal Coaching||-|10,000|10,000|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||120,366|94,977|215,343|
|Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:|||||
|||Incoming|Resources|Movement|
|||resources|expended|in funds|
|||£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund||436,902|(351,925)|84,977|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Vocal Coaching||10,000|-|10,000|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||446,902|(351,925)|94,977|
|A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:|||||
|||Net|Transfers||
|||movement|between|At|
||At 1.6.22
in funds||funds|31.5.24|
|||£
£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|120,366
55,670||1,260|177,296|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Vocal Coaching||-
8,691|(1,260)|7,431|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|120,366
64,361||-|184,727|
Page 11
continued...
The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
## **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
£
684,023
10,000
694,023|Resources
expended
£
(628,353)
(1,309)
(629,662)|Movement
in funds
£
55,670
8,691
64,361|
|---|---|---|---|
## **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 2024.
Page 12
|The Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 May 2024
**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**|31.5.24
£
-
7,505
212,519
7,204
6,627
233,855
418
12,848
247,121
2,456
30
(30)
-
1,351
12,148
201,750
1,309
5,386
221,944|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|
|---|---|---|
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 2024
|**Support costs**
**Management**
Other operating leases
Rates and water
Trustee's insurance
Light and heat
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Sundries
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 (expenditure)/income**|31.5.24
£
3,526
1,845
389
12,468
745
356
-
-
31,929
466
51,724
605
106
902
277,737
(30,616)|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|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 14