## **WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY**
## **ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2025**
**Reg. Charity No.: 263150**
Page 1
_**PRESIDENT Ian Partridge CBE MUSIC DIRECTOR Daniel Mahoney MA MMus BMus**_
## **ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 30 June 2025**
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 2025 the members in these roles were:
## Society Members
|Society Members|||
|---|---|---|
|Chair|+|Alex Youel|
|Vice-Chair|+|Ian Gleeson|
|General Secretary|+|Tracy Sherman|
|Treasurer|+|John Gale|
|Publicity Officer|+|Anna Lemmon|
|Concert Co-ordinator|+#|Paula Lambe|
|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||Daniel Mahoney|
- + 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.
- 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 2024/2025 season, two professional musicians, the Music Director and Rehearsal Accompanist, were hired on a renewable contract or ad hoc basis.
## **Advisers**
Bankers Santander & NS&I Independent Examiner Annette Cowley, BA FCA
Page 2
## **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 7th 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 collections at our Christmas concerts this year were in aid of The Wimbledon Guild and Faith in Action. Our audiences donated a total of £1,436.
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 2025**
The 2024/25 season was the first under the leadership and direction of our new Music Director Daniel Mahoney, who joined us in July 2024. Because of the need for advance planning, the content of his first year with us had been largely shaped by his predecessor Neil Ferris, who had designed the year’s programme before his departure. We are very lucky indeed to have been able to recruit such a talented, effective and knowledgeable musician in Daniel as his successor. It was appropriate therefore that the choir’s year began with a great party, wonderfully organised by choir members, to celebrate and thank Neil for his 15 years leading us.
It has become a tradition, and one which we are delighted to honour and continue, that members of Wimbledon Choral lead the community singing at the Remembrance Day service held at the War Memorial in Wimbledon Village. It was a sombre but moving occasion, attended by great crowds of local people and a host of civic dignitaries.
Our own first concert under Daniel’s direction followed just a week later, where we performed “Music of the Stars” on 16 November, at Holy Trinity Church in Sloane Square to a packed and appreciative audience. The programme featured works by Cecilia McDowall (a premiere in its original orchestration), Michael Higgins (his own arrangement of Elgar’s _Nimrod_ ), Elgar and, fittingly, Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was president of Wimbledon Choral from 1946 - 1958.
In December we had great fun singing Carols for Choir and Audience at St Paul’s in Southfields, where in recent years we have had to perform twice in one day in order to meet demand. The afternoon’s programme was designed with young families in mind, including an appearance from a delightful Fairy Godmother!
Events for 2025 kicked off with a well-attended “Come and Sing” for choral singers from near and far who wanted to learn about and perform Haydn’s _Mass in Time of War_ . We sang together, under Daniel’s knowledgeable guidance, in our regular rehearsal church of St Mark’s, Wimbledon.
Our spring concert at the Cadogan Hall on 5 April again featured Haydn, with his powerful _Nelson Mass_ , plus modern works by Dobrinka Tabakova (who joined us for the performance, with her family), _Centuries of Meditations,_ and an orchestral piece _Sea Sketches_ by Welsh composer Grace Williams.
On 10 May we welcomed no fewer than 17 local choirs to join us for Merton Singfest, jointly hosted by Wimbledon Choral and Merton Music Foundation. It was a splendid day of the greatest possible variety of joyous choral music-making, showcasing the talents of the youngest school children right up to the Wimbledon Oldies and everyone in between.
The summer concert on 14 June was a joint endeavour with Wimbledon High School’s Chamber Choir, in the school’s fine new auditorium. We sang together John Rutter’s _Mass of the Children_ and then the choir performed the world premiere of Russell Hepplewhite’s _from: Gravity Archives_ , newly commissioned from former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion as part of Hepplewhite’s Living Voices project. Russell joined us for the live performance, which both we and he much enjoyed. So much so that when it came to the end of season quiz night just two days later, one of the teams picked up on the text to become the highly competitive - but ultimately not winning - “Frolicsome Fat Bees”, which feature at the end of the song.
The year ended though on a sadder note as we said farewell to our accompanist, arranger and composer - and all-round magician of the piano - Michael Higgins, who has supported us for no fewer than 17 years of superb music-making. The quiz night questions ended with “Who is the finest pianist and composer in the land?” and there could be only one resounding answer. Thank you Michael and very best wishes for your future career in composing and music publishing.
Page 3
## **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
## **Reserves Policy**
The Trustees consider it prudent that the Society should maintain reserves sufficient to cover the costs for a whole season.
## **Financial Matters**
With the exception of the professional musicians in the capacity of Music Director and Rehearsal Accompanist, the Society is dependent on the services of its membership and others as unpaid volunteers. Full details of the financial statement of accounts for this past financial year are filed with the Charity Commission with this Annual Report.
Our 2024-25 Concert Season was successful, although it is proving more difficult to attract audiences to fill our venues. As a result, the annual deficit from concerts was higher this year. An increase in membership and in fee rates resulted in higher receipts and other sources of income remained broadly the same. General expenditure was similar to that in previous years and we also paid the initial fee related to our new commission to be premiered in April 2026.
The overall financial result for the year was an excess of receipts over payments for the year. Our cash funds increased from £85,908 to £95,522 and our total assets from £111,167 to £115,031.
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees perform regular reviews of its operations and strategic objectives to ensure adherence to its principal charitable objects and financial controls. They are satisfied that there are sufficient systems and procedures in place to identify and address in a timely manner those risks that the Society may face from time to time. A constant potential risk throughout any season is that of having to cancel one or more concerts at short notice. Implementation of the Reserves Policy above together with subscription to Making Music’s insurance scheme is agreed by the Trustees as being of an adequate nature to minimise this particular risk.
## **Financial Controls**
The Trustees perform regular reviews of its financial controls to ensure compliance with the Charity Commission’s guidance of internal financial controls for charities. Controls include:
- Annual budgets are prepared and approved by the Trustees and full Committee.
- Performance is measured against the budget at regular intervals.
- Financial management information is discussed by the Executive and full Committee at regular meetings.
- As required by law, the Annual Accounts are subject to Independent Examination.
- There are no trading activities other than the direct sales of tickets for events in furtherance of the Society’s Objects
- The Society does not make grants to any third party.
- All payments from the Society’s bank accounts require two signatures from an approved list of signatories. This includes cheques, BACS payments and transfers between accounts.
- Expenses are reimbursed only in those cases where both (1) an individual has incurred those expenses in the course of carrying out the Society’s business and (2) prior agreement has been obtained from either the Society’s appointed Treasurer or Chair or both.
Signed – Alex Youel Chair for the year ended 30 June 2025 For and on behalf of the Trustees
4[th] September 2025
**WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT 30th JUNE 2025**
Page 4
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Wimbledon Choral Society**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 30th June 2025 set out on pages 5 and 6.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustrees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under s145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s145(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 which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed : Annette Cowley BA FCA Cowley & Co, _Chartered Accountants_ 210 Worple Road, London SW20 8RH
Dated: September, 2025 29
|**WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY**
**RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
**YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2025**
**Receipts**
Members subscriptions
Friends subscriptions
Donations
Tax recovered (gift aid)
Easyfundraising and similar receipts
Music hire to other choirs
Sale of folders (net)
Choir performance fees
Fundraising activities
Income from recordings
Refreshment income (net of expenses)
Interest received
Collections received
**Payments**
Rehearsal hall hire
Musicians fees
Recruitment costs
New Commission
Marketing & publicity
Website costs
Insurance
Making Music and other subscriptions
Administration & sundries
Librarian's expenses
Payments in advance (movement)
Card charges
Social activities (Net of income)
Collections paid
**Net ordinary receipts**
**Concert receipts**
Ticket sales
Programme sales
Refreshments
Music hire and purchase
Singfest income
**Concert payments**
Hire of venues
Staging
Agency commission
Musicians
Instrument tuning & hire
Music hire and purchase
Other concert costs
Program design & printing
Advertising expenditure
Royalties
Singfest costs
**Net concert payments**
**Net receipts (payments) for year**
**Cash funds at 1st July 2024 (2023)**
**Cash funds at 30th June 2025 (2024)**|Page 5
2025
2025
2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Actual
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
39,218
39,218
35,557
1,490
1,490
1,740
1,006
1,006
3,927
14,454
14,454
-
278
278
202
2,268
2,268
2,529
(42)
(42)
60
-
-
1,450
483
483
(135)
38
38
310
538
538
394
834
834
499
-
2,445
2,445
2,740|
|---|---|
||60,565
2,445
63,010
49,273|
||5,222
5,222
6,172
14,060
14,060
12,820
-
-
1,241
10,000
10,000
-
1,506
1,506
495
640
640
907
157
157
151
520
520
392
190
190
50
448
448
646
(440)
(440)
692
748
748
89
1,736
1,736
-
-
2,445
2,445
2,740|
||34,787
2,445
37,232
26,395|
|||
||25,778
-
25,778
22,878|
||40,266
40,266
52,854
2,540
2,540
2,982
731
731
-
7,897
7,897
6,431
1,087
1,087
1,491|
||52,521
-
52,521
63,758|
||12,685
12,685
14,090
4,704
4,704
5,639
1,222
1,222
2,396
32,526
32,526
28,165
725
725
705
7,799
7,799
8,335
300
300
514
2,768
2,768
2,715
2,645
2,645
2,508
1,640
1,640
1,048
1,671
1,671
370|
||68,685
-
68,685
66,485|
|||
||(16,164)
-
(16,164)
(2,727)|
||9,614
-
9,614
20,151
85,908
-
85,908
65,757|
||£ 95,522
£ -
£ 95,522
£ 85,908|
Page 6
## **WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 30th JUNE 2025**
|**WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY**
**STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
**AT 30th JUNE 2025**|Page 6|
|---|---|
|**Cash Funds**
Bank current account
Bank deposit accounts
**Other Monetary Assets**
Gift Aid recoverable
Other amounts owed to the society
**Investment Assets**
M&G Charifund Units
**Liabilities**
Amounts owed by the society
**Total Assets of the Society**|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2025
2025
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
25,955
-
25,955
17,138
69,567
-
69,567
68,770|
||95,522
-
95,522
85,908|
||-
-
-
7,017
252
-
252
765|
||252
-
252
7,782|
||19,257
-
19,257
17,477
-
-
-
-|
||£ 115,031
£ - £ 115,031 £ 111,167|
Approved by the Committee on 4th September 2025 and signed on its behalf by
A Youel - Chairman J Gale - Treasurer
Page 7
**WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY ADDITIONAL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (for the benefit of members only) YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE 2025**
## 1 **Basis of Accounting**
The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
Our society is classified as a small charity because gross receipts do not exceed £250,000.
## 2 **Concert income and expenditure**
|Ticket sales
Program sales
Refreshment sales
Music hire and purchase
Total income
Venue hire
Staging
Musicians
Instrument hire & tuning
Music hire and purchase
Agency Commission
Program design & printing
Advertising expenditure
PRS Royalties
Sundry concert expenditure
Total expenditure
Net (deficit)/surplus on each concert|MOTS
Christmas
Come
Haydn
Rutter
Total
HTSS
St Pauls
& Sing
Cadogan
WHS
for
Haydn
year
8,785
5,455
2,541
17,240
6,245
40,266
747
-
-
1,089
704
2,540
-
177
554
-
-
731
2,435
1,129
2,360
1,973
7,897|
|---|---|
||11,967
6,761
3,095
20,689
8,922
51,434|
||2,439
888
324
6,870
2,164
12,685
903
550
-
3,251
-
4,704
9,796
2,125
1,975
15,105
3,525
32,526
-
95
-
630
-
725
2,274
1,550
313
1,955
1,707
7,799
429
265
118
101
309
1,222
785
143
-
1,025
815
2,768
380
60
-
2,058
147
2,645
_343_
_213_
_-_
560
_244_
1,360
150
150
-
-
-
300|
||17,499
6,039
2,730
31,555
8,911
66,734|
||(5,532)
722
365
(10,866)
11
(15,300)|
Figures in italics are estimates of costs yet to be paid.
The above figures have been adjusted to take account of payments and receipts in prior periods e.g. venue deposits and costs settled after the year end.
HTSS = Holy Trinity Sloane Square WHS = Wimbledon High School
- 3 **Unrestricted Funds**
|**nrestricted Funds**||
|---|---|
|General fund
Funds specifically allocated (see below)
Commissioning & recording Fund
Singfest surplus available for future years
Surplus on previous overseas tours
Surplus on previous social events|At
Non- cash
At
1-Jul-24
Receipts Payments movements
30-Jun-25
99,795
111,594
101,157
-5,058
105,174
11,372
1,492
3,007
9,857|
||111,167
113,086
104,164
-5,058
115,031|
||7,287
365
7,652
1,911
1,087
1,671
1,327
878
-
-
878
1,296
40
1,336
-|
||11,372
1,492
3,007
-
9,857|
Non-cash movements include amounts such as Gift Aid which has yet to be received from HMRC and the movement on our M&G investment.
## 4 **Charitable collections**
Collections were taken at our Christmas concerts raising the sums of £449 for _Wimbledon Guild_ and £987 for _Faith in Action_
Donations received in cash were passed directly to the charities concerned and did not pass through the Society's bank account.