THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
CONTENTS
| Orchestra information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Orchestra Committee Report | 4 |
| Orchestra Committee’s responsibilities | 5 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Income & Expenditure Account | 8 |
| Notes to the accounts | 9-10 |
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
ORCHESTRA INFORMATION
Music Director/Conductor Jonathan Mann Leader Emily Groom Chairman: Andrew Medhurst Honorary Secretary: Chris Woodrow Honorary Treasurer: Monique Blackford Orchestra Committee Members:- See Committee’s report Registered office 35 St Leonard’s Road, Bengeo, Hertford, Herts, SG14 3JW Charity Registration Number 270513 Bankers National Westminster Bank Plc 104 Fore Street Hertford Herts SG14 1YY
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
ORCHESTRA COMMITTEE’S REPORT
The Orchestra Committee presents their report and accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Principle Activities:
The principal activities of the Orchestra in the year under review are to promote live music by putting on concerts in the East Herts area including involving schools in Children’s and Christmas concerts, and to increase the standards of the local amateur musicians by engaging professional musicians to work and tutor.
Season Review :
A summary of the Orchestra’s results for the year is found on page 7 to the financial statement.
The Orchestra continues to obtain most of its income from concerts given for the general public and from subscriptions from its members, Friends and Patrons. The expenditure is related to the costs of putting on these concerts (rehearsal and performing costs)
The Orchestra returned to BEAM for two concerts in the season in Hertford (formerly Hertford Theatre).
The Orchestra had quite a few challenges with the May concert venue being cancelled with only a few months notice and a soloist falling ill at the last minute. The Committee rose to the challenge in securing a new venue and also getting a fabulous soloist at short notice.
Orchestra Committee Members:
The following people served on the Orchestra Committee during the year.
Chairman: Andrew Medhurst Katie Neilson Honorary Secretary: Chris Woodrow Richard Salthouse Honorary Treasurer: Monique Blackford Andrew Pummell Amie Boddy Sally Kee
Emily Groome (Leader) Jane Eldred (Librarian) Diana Salthouse (Orchestra Manager)
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
STATEMENT OF THE ORCHESTRA COMMITTEE’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Charity law requires the Orchestra Committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the Orchestra and of the surplus or deficit for that period. In preparing those statements, the Orchestra Committee is required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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prepare financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Orchestra will continue in its business.
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The Orchestra Committee is also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records as required by Part 8 of the Charities Act 2011, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Orchestra and which are sufficient to show and explain the Orchestra’s transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements are in accordance with the accounting and reporting framework provided by the Charities Act 2011.
It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Orchestra, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025 THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA I report lo the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of Hertford Symphony Orchestra for the year ended 31 July 2025, which are set out on pages 7 10 10. Responsibilities and basis of report: The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, and in carying out my exarnination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145151{bl of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe th81 in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records". or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contenl of accounts sel 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 onsidered 85 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 lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Date.. Relevant professional qualification or body.. ACCA Address.. Page 6
THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| BALANCE SHEET | £ 31.07.2025 |
£ 31.07.24 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Assets Stage piano, case & stand Less Depreciation Net Fixed Assets Current assets Debtors: amounts falling due within one year Debtors: amounts falling due after one year Refreshments stock Pre-Payment Venue Hire Petty Cash Robert Kiln Donation Reserve Treasurer's Current Account Total current assets LESS Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Purchase of refreshments Total Net Assets REPRESENTED BY: Accumulated Fund Brought Forward From Current Year Surplus/(Deficit) Accumulated Fund Carried Forward |
2,164 0 60 108 100 23,573 15,000 10,192 51197 372 0 60 |
319 69 250 3187 0 39 100 23573 15000 9292 51192 1058 21 39 1118 50074 50324 51621 -1297 50324 |
|
| Approved By: | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | A. Medhurst | 19.05.2026 |
| Trustee | C. Woodrow | 19.05.2026 |
| Treasurer | M. Blackford | 19.05.2026 |
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
Income and Expenditure Account
| 2024-2025 | 2024-2025 | 2023-2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | ||||
| INCOME | ||||||
| Ticket Sales | (4) | 20834 | 13,146 | |||
| HSO Subscriptions | 11832 | 12,328 | ||||
| FOHO Subscriptions | 841 | 1,284 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 2063 | 1,815 | ||||
| Refreshments | 793 | 961 | ||||
| Programme Sales | 229 | 293 | ||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 36591 | 29,827 | ||||
| LESS | ||||||
| DIRECT COSTS | ||||||
| Rehearsal Costs | (5) | 11126 | 10,826 | |||
| Concert Venue Hire | 4811 | 2,571 | ||||
| Professional Expenses | (6) | 16040 | 13,414 | |||
| Staging | 428 | 750 | ||||
| Posters | 1108 | 884 | ||||
| Concert Programmes | 1009 | 700 | ||||
| First Aid | 549 | 526 | ||||
| 35071 | 29,671 | |||||
| GROSS | ||||||
| SURPLUS/DEFICIT | 1520 | 156 | ||||
| Donations Received | (7) | 1195 | 1,011 | |||
| INDIRECT COSTS | ||||||
| Depreciation | 0 | 69 | ||||
| Brochures | 178 | 412 | ||||
| Advertising | 660 | 437 | ||||
| Performing Rights | 313 | 298 | ||||
| Miscellaneous Costs | 270 | 160 | ||||
| Insurance | 155 | 151 | ||||
| Purchases for Refreshments | 448 | 419 | ||||
| 2024 | 1,945 | |||||
| CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS/DEFICIT | 691 | -778 | ||||
| Write Off's | Debtors | 0 | Debtors | -936 | ||
| Creditors | 0 | Creditors | 418 | |||
| CURRENT YEAR SURPLUS/DEFICIT | 691 | -1297 |
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
Note 1 Accounting Policies
a) Basis of Accounting:
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require the methods and principles of The Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP), issued in March 2005 to be followed when accounts are prepared under the Charities Act 2011
SORP sets out the recommended practice for the purpose of preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and for preparing the accounts on the accruals basis.
b) Income:
Income represents ticket and programme sales, advertising sponsorship, subscriptions, grants, donations, Gift aid on donations and refreshment sales.
c) Cashflow statement:
The Orchestra Committee has taken advantage of the exemptions in Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 from producing a cashflow statement on the grounds that it is a small charity.
d) Depreciation:
Depreciation is provided on all fixed assets at the following rates to write off the assets over their useful economic lives:
Plant & Equipment 20% on written down value
e) Taxation
The Orchestra is not able to claim rebates on Value Added Tax.
Note 2 Income
The income and surplus/deficit are attributable to the principal activities of the Orchestra.
The Orchestra maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the principal activities of the Orchestra.
Restricted funds have been provided to the Orchestra for a specific purpose and it is the policy of the Orchestra Committee to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
Note 3 Reserve
The Orchestra has a policy of maintaining adequate reserves to accommodate a reasonable degree of unforeseen financial circumstances and to provide a sound financial basis for undertaking innovative activities, either independently or in conjunction with other societies. Such non-routine activities would normally carry a higher financial risk than the usual pattern of concerts in Hertford.
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THE HERTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
| Note 4 Ticket Sales November Christmas February (Children's) March May June/July Note 5 Rehearsal Costs Hall Hire Music Hire incl commissions Conductor Guest Conductor Leader Note 6 Professional Expenses Conductor Leader Soloist & Expenses Percussion Professionals Note 7 Income From Donations Unrestricted Funds Raffle Donations East Herts Lottery Conducting Workshop Easy Fundraising Restricted Funds Total Income From Donations |
2024-2025 £ 2,353 2,173 6,377 4,698 2,073 3,160 20,834 3,110 1,061 3,044 1,206 2,705 11,126 3865 1410 2840 4605 3440 16160 397 401 398 0 0 1195 0 0 1195 |
2023-2024 £ 2,940 2,693 0 2,099 2,117 3,297 |
|---|---|---|
| 13,146 | ||
| 3,023 1,328 3,378 480 2,618 |
||
| 10,826 | ||
| 3210 1150 1897 4027 3130 |
||
| 13414 | ||
| 368 0 418 200 26 |
||
| 1011 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 1011 |
4
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