WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2023
Reg. Charity No.: 263150
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PRESIDENT Ian Partridge CBE MUSIC DIRECTOR Neil Ferris BMus (Hons) ARCM MMus
ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 30 June 2023
Registered Charity Number 263150 www.wimbledon-choral.org.uk
Objects
The Objects of the Society are to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music by the presentation of public concerts and other activities involving or relating to choral music.
Governance & Administration
Wimbledon Choral Society is a charity, registered with the Charity Commissioners (No. 263150) and operates under the same name within the rules of a revised Constitution adopted on 24 September 2001 and approved by the Charity Commissioners. The principal address of the charity is 13 Augustus Court, Augustus Road, SW19 6NA.
The charity is administered by a Committee as defined by the Constitution comprising of an Executive Group of Trustees, who are registered with the Charity Commission, plus other Society members making up the full Committee. All the Committee roles are occupied by Society members only and all members are eligible for any of the roles. No member of the Committee, Trustee or otherwise, is paid for his or her role. For the season ended 30 June 2023 the members in these roles were:
| Society Members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chair | + | Sarah Hendry |
| Vice-Chair | + | Isla Smith |
| General Secretary | + | Tracy Sherman |
| Treasurer | + | John Gale |
| Publicity Officer | + | Anna Lemmon |
| Concert Co-ordinator | +# | Helen Edwards |
| Sponsorship Officer | # | unfilled |
| Membership Secretary | Laura Stewart | |
| Librarian | John Britton | |
| Voice Representatives | * | Thérèse Kennedy-Laing, Sharon Smith |
| * | Angela Wake, Sarah Harris | |
| * | Martyn Wake | |
| * | Jeremy Collis, Peter Hickson | |
| Ex Officio Appointment | ||
| Music Director | Neil Ferris |
-
Trustees of the Society and Members of the Executive Group.
-
These posts are appointed or co-opted by the Committee as permitted by the Constitution and are, therefore, not elected at the Annual General Meeting.
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Voice Representatives are elected for a two-year period, half of them retiring/standing for re-election each year.
Employees
The Society has no employees. During the 2022/2023 season, two professional musicians, the Music Director and Rehearsal Accompanist, were hired on a renewable contract or ad hoc basis.
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Advisers
Bankers Santander & NS&I Independent Examiner Annette Cowley, BA FCA
Public Benefit
Mindful of the guidance on public benefit by the Charity Commission in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011, our aim is always to perform a varied repertoire in a range of venues and provide the widest possible access to our events in terms of ticket prices charged. We work hard to keep up the profile of the Society in our community, despite the limited number of venues suitable for large scale performances locally.
We collaborated once again with Merton Music Foundation to put on the 5th Merton Singfest in May, with a record number of local choirs taking part including many primary school and children’s choirs. The annual event has become a popular fixture in the Borough music calendar.
The local charity collection at our Christmas concerts this year was in aid of St Raphael’s Hospice, with our audiences donating £1,462.
The Society values diversity and membership is open to all; but as with many similar organisations, subject to applicants undergoing a voice test to ensure their vocal ability meets the standard required. The standard is agreed between the Society’s Committee and the Music Director.
Reduced membership subscriptions are available for full-time students, those under the age of 26 and those who are registered as unemployed.
Events for the year ended 30 June 2023
It was a pleasure, after a series of disrupted seasons, to put on a full and varied programme. Our three major concerts were linked under the theme: A Triptych of Passions, exploring a number of different ways the story of the final days of Jesus Christ on earth are told in music. This rich vein spanned familiar choral music and less well-known works by contemporary composers. In our Reflections on Gratitude and Remembrance concert at Cadogan Hall in November, alongside Alison Willis’ very recent ‘Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum’ and Bob Chilcott’s ‘Passion Hymns’, we performed Howard Goodall’s poignant ‘Cantata of Gratitude and Remembrance’ evoking the sacrifices and selflessness seen during the Covid pandemic. Bach’s ‘St John Passion’, accompanied by Florilegium at Southwark Cathedral in March, was the central part of the triptych. And Will Todd and the Will Todd Ensemble, with soprano Shaneeka Simon, joined us for an uplifting third concert back at Southwark in June, performing Will’s ‘Passion Music’ and ‘Jazz Missa Brevis’. All three concerts received highly enthusiastic responses from our audiences.
Our Christmas concerts at last allowed us to perform the long postponed live premiere of Michael Higgins’ brilliant ‘Christmas Fantasy’, commissioned by the choir during lockdown in 2020. And we were delighted to premiere a setting by choir member Peter Burton of John Clare’s poem ‘Little Trotty Wagtail’, specially composed for us, at the Merton Singfest in May.
The other highlight of the season was the release on the Signum Classics label of our recording of Cecilia McDowall’s ‘Da Vinci Requiem’, commissioned by the choir. The reviews of the album and the choir’s performance have been universally excellent.
Responsibilities of the Trustees in relation to the Financial Statements
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable it to ensure that financial statements comply with the applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Society Representatives
Gift Aid Officer: John Gale
Page J Reserves Policy The Tnjstees conswjer it Fn1th81the SW Str¥1 maintsin reseryes yfftient lo ccNer ts ¢x)sts for a whole season. Flnanclal Matters Wrlh the eXpn crf the FK0fessKa rrthrons in capaoty cl mu Dreckff and Rel)earsal Accompanist, the sClety is deJen1 on Ihe Serys of its membership aTrJ others as unpaKJ YU1ee. FUM detai15 of the financial Ststeftt of acccwnts thi% pasl financial year are fied with Charty Commissw tmth this Annual RepKMt. The 2022.23 Crywt seas wa5 ow first full 'nornal' 5ea5ry1 fl[ year5, last one that f(x 2018-19. The costs of on concerts ha5 inevTtalty incfeased over this perTrcMJ a1 for that reason, rnemteh1p subPt$ were rad f(x the first bme Sin 2019. We had p4ann&J an amtM'li(yJs prCrarn fDr the year, but a disappointsrYJ al the Cakgan Hall in November 2022 taken together wtih a 5KJnffiL2nt InLTease in c%)sts In rela1K to cx)ncfts al Southwark Cathedral. resulted On again in 5ignfftant losses on the prowsion of Ca)ert5 Cther'rwi.Standard' sts for the year Inded final settlement of (NJr re(xxdirvJ c05ts arxl the Wr¢h of sICkS of our CD. Sale5 of CDS In the year largdy covered tr Ix)st of thr pxxthase and we manla"n st(. frryn which we wuukl hope to receive income in curTent and future yeats. of payments over receipts for the year. Our cash furK15 reduced Irom £69.608 to £65.757 and our lolal assets frum £84.819 to £80.945. Risk Management to its wnopal charitatle objects and finala1 contrcls. They a satsfied Ihal there are suffiuent systems and kyowjus in tla to Kjenbfy and addsS in a bmely mannw Ihose risks that Ihe Soryety may face fr7 bme to time. A constsnl wtentsl risk trwhwt any season is that of having lo can1 one or ne concwts at sh(xt rK)IKe. [mFlennts1 of Reserves Polw atve l(NJether wrth subscn"ptKn lo Maknng Musr s inSUrar by the Tntstees as n9 of an ajequate natwe lo ffmnimise Ihis partvjlar nsk. Financlal Controls Tnjstees perf(Km rgJulw revEws of ts fin>al [¥tr(S to ensure 1h Ihe Charity Annual affj prepared aThJ apwov&J by ts Tntslees aThJ CKMnmittee. Perfonare ts measLKed &pirEt je1 at regular Intervals. Financial man&Jement 1nfommtffl Is dBcussed by ExeculNe aryj CrynrThttee at regAar meebrys. As required ty law. ts Annual Acoxmts subiecl to Ilet Examinakn. There tr•JiThJ ottw tron d#1 ss of bckets for events in furthwanco the Scttty's C)Jects The Swety does nol make grants to ary thrd pwty. All payTrients from Scrjety's bank accounts require sh3natuS from an appmved list ot snatOrIes. Th indudes (eques. BACS payments arvj transkn behveen accounts. Expenses are reimtsjrsed only in those cases tthere tx)th 11 l an Indivmlual has If[red those exrenses in the c([Se of carrying out the S(Kty's iwness and (21 p( •Jre8menl has been rtJtaird erthw tr* SW'S apwntwj Treasurer w Chair or both. &gr . Sarah HerKky Chair the year endirwJ 30 JUM 2023 For ar on behalf of the Trusteès /} September 2023
WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIErY INDEPEP4DENT EXAMINER'S REPORT 30th JUNE 2023 Page 4 I repcrt to the trustees my e¥nIn rfthe CntS the yew endal 30th June 2023 set tyJt P&3es 5 and 6. RespOnbIlItIeS and basls ol rewt the chwity trustres d the Trust. yw we responsok tr the preprtI d the ¥coJnts cordance vAth the Chaitie5 Act 2011 (Yhe Act-) I rep¢yt in reSpt my clthe Trusts C(ntS cmd wt undw 5145 clthe P£t d in cry9 wt my I have fcknoj the applr&>k by the Charty cmISs undw s145(5)Ib) cthe Act. I cynpktgJ my exarnn&K. I (fim) th& no matffol mattLYS cune to my (ne(t wth the gNe me cSe to bth th& WF. mat re5pert: . cltIng recdS were nrt kept in ¥ccrdance wth sectKffi 130 { the kt: ( - the CntS do n¢A t(¥d wth the &cwntng reccyds. I ha¥e no crmcerns and c¢Jiie xrr65 no crthtr m&ttrs in ccfflne£tth the exwnknat to whKh &tentth shcwkl be drè•Yn to en&)le a undvstandlng rf the accwnts to be rhed. Sned . Annttte Cow FCA & Co. Acc{nt?tS 2 10 Wrxple Roaj. L(ffidcffi SW20 8RH - gd IyckQg( &D23
| WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2023 Receipts Members subscriptions Friends subscriptions Donations Tax recovered (gift aid) Easyfundraising and similar receipts Music hire to other choirs Sale of folders (net) Fundraising activities (Quiz) Sale of CDs Refreshment income (net of expenses) Interest received Christmas Concert collection Payments Rehearsal hall hire Musicians fees DaVinci Recording costs Purchase of CDs Marketing & publicity Website costs Insurance Making Music and other subscriptions Administration & sundries Librarian's expenses Card charges Christmas Concert collection Net ordinary (payments) / receipts Concert receipts Ticket sales Received in relation to prior year Programme sales Agency commission Music hire and purchase Singfest income Concert payments Hire of venues Staging Musicians Instrument tuning & hire Music hire and purchase Other concert costs Program design & printing Advertising expenditure Royalties Singfest costs Singfest - WCS costs Net concert (payments) / receipts Net (payments) / receipts for year Cash funds at 1st July 2022 (2021) Cash funds at 30th June 2023 (2022) |
Page 5 2023 2023 2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Actual Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ £ 30,730 30,730 25,415 1,660 1,660 1,525 2,742 2,742 1,620 5,091 5,091 4,287 442 442 465 2,416 2,416 1,362 (98) (98) 42 482 482 - 4,465 4,465 - 288 288 - 97 97 8 80 80 1,929 |
|---|---|
| 48,315 80 48,395 36,653 |
|
| 5,499 5,499 5,055 13,465 13,465 13,675 3,440 3,440 40,745 5,850 5,850 - 152 152 275 383 383 319 158 158 150 365 365 365 269 269 247 574 574 277 82 82 - 80 80 4,722 |
|
| 30,237 80 30,317 65,830 |
|
| 18,078 - 18,078 (29,177) |
|
| 37,790 37,790 28,586 225 225 - 2,156 2,156 2,389 (1,723) (1,723) (1,000) 7,734 7,734 1,261 1,042 1,042 719 |
|
| 47,224 - 47,224 31,955 |
|
| 16,661 16,661 18,220 5,957 5,957 3,271 29,207 29,207 30,686 1,355 1,355 1,193 7,772 7,772 1,105 450 450 - 2,344 2,344 2,805 3,894 3,894 3,116 606 606 674 882 882 775 25 25 79 |
|
| 69,153 - 69,153 61,924 |
|
| (21,929) - (21,929) (29,969) |
|
| (3,851) - (3,851) (59,146) 69,608 - 69,608 128,754 |
|
| £ 65,757 £ - £ 65,757 £ 69,608 |
WZMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY srATEM ENT OF ASSEfs APID LIA8lLmis AT 31Xh JUNE 2023 Page 6 Unrestr(ted tstrKted Fund5 Funds 2023 2023 Trt Funds 2023 Trtal Funds 2022 Cash Funds Bank currnit e{ntS Bank depc6rt cTrtS Cash in hand 17,486 48.271 17.486 48.271 11.395 58.173 40 Other amwnts ry+ved to the sLrkXy 196 196 M&G Charrfund Unrts 15.234 15.234 15.211 Llabllitles Amcrfjnts ¢h¥ed by the (242) (242) £80945 £80945 £84819 Approv&l by the Cthnmttee 13 Septb 2023 sgn&i ts behay by S Hendry. Charman