2024-07-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/08/2023 Period start date To 31/08/2024 Period end date

Charity name: Portsmouth Choral Union

Charity registration number: 266974

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The objects of the Society will be to advance and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	In 2023-2024 we were back to a full normal schedule of rehearsals and concerts, although we needed to be more mindful of costs than before the pandemic and cost- of-living crises. It was a year of collaboration, with a joint concert in London with the Medici choir in December 2023 and another one with the Consort of 12 in Chichester in July 2024. And we had several open rehearsals and a Come and Sing event to allow non-members to come and enjoy the experience of singing in a big choir with us.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making

Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The charity is entirely run by members on a voluntary basis. Many members regularly volunteer in roles in fundraising, behind- the-scenes organisation and helping with audiences and refreshments at events.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	We started 2023-2024 very aware that the choir was down on numbers of members and that this was impacting both performances and finances. As a result we had a big recruitment drive with open rehearsals at which anyone who wanted could come and try singing with us. This added several members to the normal recruitment process, as did our_Carmina_ Burana_Come-and-Sing event in St Jude’s Church, Southsea in January 2024. Our new format for this event, with an all- afternoon opportunity to learn and rehearse the piece followed by a communal tea and a short concert is proving very popular with members and visitors alike. Another decision for the year to was to be bold and choose to rehearse some popular works that are a bit more expensive to put on, again to attract singers but also to increase audiences. To this end our first concert of the year in early December was Verdi’s_Requiem, and we did it as a collaborative concert in Holy Trinity church, Sloane Square, London with the Medici Choir. The concert sold out and was much enjoyed by the choir and the audience. We followed it with Handel’s Messiah as a Christmas concert in our normal venue, St Mary’s Church in Portsmouth, with the full orchestra of Southern Pro Musica which also drew an appreciative audience. After Christmas we planned a slightly different format of two shorter spring

concerts with organ and soloists. The first was the modern St John Passion by Bob Chilcott, a work consciously referencing the great Bach St John Passion but with a modern style and sensibility. Solos from Nicholas Sharratt as the Evangelist and Johnny Herford as Christ told the story while the choir acted as crowd and the audience joined in with hymns woven into the piece’s structure in a truly involving work. Our second short concert was a selection of English anthems followed by Duruflé’s Requiem accompanied on the St Mary’s organ by our Deputy Music Director and Organist Ian Richardson. A proportion of the choir then undertook a tour of Brittany with the same programme, performing in the very different soundscape of Quimper cathedral. The tour, as all previous tours, was self-financed by payments from the attendees and did not use the choir’s charitable funds, although the retiring collection made at the concert was donated back to the choir. Our final concert of the year was another collaboration, this time Handel’s less wellknown Oratorio Saul , performed with the early-music orchestra the Consort of 12. The concert was part of the Chichester Festival and performed in St Paul’s church Chichester. The performance really came alive with the well-trained singing of the choir, the skilled accompaniment from the orchestra and the expert dramatic performances of the soloists. This sadly was our farewell performance with Ian Richardson who is leaving to take up a new post; luckily we have been able to secure the service of a new Deputy Music Director and accompanist who joins us in the autumn.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	In 2023-2024 we held five concerts and a Come and Sing that gave audiences chance to hear live classical music performances from eras raging from the Baroque to the 21stCentury. We also found ways to offer opportunities to guests to come and enjoy singing with us and collaborated with a London choir and an early-music orchestra. We worked hard to keep this close to our annual budget.

Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	The choir is heavily reliant on membership subscriptions and tickets sales. We also hold in-house fundraising events but find it hard to fundraise externally. We have managed to increase membership in 2023- 24 and are working hard to improve ticket sales.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Our policy is to try to hold one year’s running costs in reserve; due to rising costs this is becoming harder as our reserve only grows with investment income but we avoided having to use any of it in this year.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We aim to maintain the minimum of one season’s running costs in hand to act as a reserve against years when concerts are more expensive and against unforeseen events.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£ 50066.56 as of 25/06/2024
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	We continue to have lower audiences than before the pandemic, apparently a wider problem across the classical music world.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Member subscriptions and (normally) ticket sales provide the majority of our income. We also receive donations from members and supporters and from the Portsmouth Lottery. We also have a ‘Friends’ scheme of supporters; this was relaunched 2 years ago and is beginning to grow.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	We have one investment with a fund tailored for charitable investments.

A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	With outgoings continuing to rise and audiences still low we are having to work hard to maintain our reserves.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Written constitution dated 30thJanuary 2018
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated association
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	All Trustees are elected at our Annual General Meeting of members or by Extraordinary Vote of members following any mid-term resignations.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	All Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities under the law as Charity Trustees using guidance from the Charity Commission.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	We co-operate with other musical groups and other choral charities in the area to avoid clashes of concert dates as far as possible and to collaborate on selected projects
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	N/A
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Portsmouth Choral Union
Other name the charity uses	PCU
Registered charitynumber	266974
Charity’s principal address	21, Second Avenue, Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10 8HP

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Mrs Sylvia Mary Lock	Chair
	Mrs Jane Helliwell	DeputyChair
	Dr Andrea Hegedus	Treasurer
	Mrs Sonia Schofield	Registrar
	Mrs Lois Houston	Marketing and PublicityOfficer
	Dr Alison Barker	Secretary
	Julie Ann Smith	Ticket Manager	From 21stNovember 2023
	Carolyn Ann Keyzor	Soprano Representative
	Lesley Evelyn Chapman	Alto Representative	From 3rd October 2023
	Dr David Gweirydd Griffiths	Tenor Representative	From 3rdOctober 2023
	Mr James Sweasey	Bass Representative

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Alison Margaret Barker	Sylvia Mary Lock
	Secretary	Chair
	29/05/2025
	29/05/2025

Pottsmouth Chornl Unlon Asi•ts and U•blllll•i ust 2023 tr• 31•tJul 2024 1st Sectlort B SlatementofAs%ets•xl Llabllltles Bl Cash Funds CAF Cash Accounts CAF Gold Actount Cash ank 7 291.15 5 090.47 200.00 4 272.12 19411.27 200.00 ur BZOiherMone nts kn Advanr: StM8 700.00 800.00 83 In¥estrnentAssets M & G Charknnd 49 859.24 45 922.20 84Assets R¢taned forthe sown use ard urchased 13103120 a¢t audK>hub urd)ased 16110120 Ke 678.58 311.86 B5 Llabilltoes £crtsal- PRS & Recordln Actrual- Bookkee in Accrual-stora Creditor- Memberstravel funds 150.00 250.00 150.00 250.00 5.072.54 26,577.03 Tot4 ofAssets le&%Llabllltles 57.668.32 44.619.00 Slgnures nedb on8 or trM) trustees on behalf of all the INste89 natur Print Nar rDval Date q)oL 3 D/J-/£é-

Paftsm¢xth Choral Unlon R•c•lpts and pAymonts From 1•1 Av u8t 2023 to 31$t Jul 2024 Sertlon A Re¢el dp Al Re¢elpts Sub tion$ Sub donations Don8tk)ns 8nd S onsorsh Gfft Akd Fund RaK8in erchandiso Sales 100aub Eundin Ports￿OUth Lotte IncoTh from Recx)rd Income from Pro ratt￿$ Incom8 from Lt¢ra In￿me from F￿ nds Subs 22 875.54 452.99 2 882.27 4 177.48 0.00 1.48 430.00 325.04 621.50 24.56 17 875.50 280.00 530.20 S44.20 975.67 16.44 260.00 571.01 583.50 83.74 975.17 465.36 179.68 199.51 149.35 0.00 917.16 483.58 474.46 4 881.74 0.00 I￿nS Interest from InvestrrntslS8V Bank Interest 39 679.34 23 689.33 A2 Aget and In%stmentSaes ProfesSK)nal Fees Don8t)ns Hall Hre Story4 e ofsla 13 008.00 0.00 2 460.10 1 $00.00 1051.53 1132.68 675.00 0.00 11710.00 0.00 2 100.73 1 $00.00 Sundri8S Insurance Red scarves Subscri t*)n5 kcha es 1331.25 634.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 85.45 2 384.13 47.96 466.40 250.00 0.00 0.00 121.50 0.00 e5 Loss f￿M InVestment￿Sayin Admn and Stal>)ne Internal fundraisin Bookkee l Accountan Def￿11 from RecordRI Def￿1 from Pro ranvres Oefui from Tour Refunds Defidt from Concerts 273.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 6 408.01 11368.13 26 830.02 33 003.69 A4 Awtand In￿Stment Purchases Net of Recei tgPa nls 13 049.32 314.36 Balance BIFYKI frDm Previ)us Year 44 619.00 53 933.36 Fund Balance Ca￿d forlward 57 668.32 44 619.00

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independenl Examiner's Report Report to the trustèesl members of On accounts for the year ended si'° Socw Charity no {If any) 1669?F Set out on pages Ifeir.iJrii￿￿ir b> mic1￿ Iliv ri(iOP ivffi..brJry of Ailij 1SrJii316hi l ￿port to the trustees on my examinatK)n of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended si 07 Z<<y ResponsIbl￿tIeS and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in acc(xdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act"). I report in resped of my examination of the Trust's accounts carriad out under SeCt￿n 145 of the 2011 Ad and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Di￿GI￿)n$ given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act. I have completed my exarnination. I confimi that no material matters have coma to my attentiM (other than that disdosed below ') in connection with the examination which grrfes me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accountiThJ records were not kept in accordance v￿th section 130 of the Act the accounts do not acc(*d with the a¢¢ounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have concems and hav8 come across no other matters in conneciion wilh the examinaticn to which attention should be dravffl In order to enab￿ a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Hease delete the woffls fft the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgnod: Dato: Name: JOANKIQ Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon(s) or body (if any): leA& Address: Ig eeTÈ£S RofvD soL)TFFA fv4Pr<y4 Sa21 6& IER October 2018