Annual Reports & Accounts
For the year ended 31[st] May 2025
Sussex Chorus
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] May 2025
Contents:
| Director of Music’s Report | 2 |
|---|---|
| Chairman’s Report | 3 |
| Legal and Administrative Information | 4 |
| Report of the Trustees | 5 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 7 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 8 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 9 |
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Director of Music’s Reports
This year has been a truly uplifting chapter in the Sussex Chorus journey. I have been continually inspired by the commitment, joy, and musicianship shown by the choir throughout what has been a richly varied and artistically rewarding programme.
We opened the season with a performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Berlioz’s Te Deum - a bold and dramatic pairing that the choir tackled with great enthusiasm and flair. Our soloists and the Kent Sinfonia brought these works vividly to life, and the audience’s response was a testament to the power of live choral music.
In November, our rendition of Handel’s Messiah was particularly memorable. The energy and emotion the choir brought to this timeless work was palpable, and the sold-out audience, joined by four exceptional soloists, created an electric atmosphere at St Andrew’s.
The year culminated in our spring concert with Mozart’s Requiem and Howard Blake’s The Song of St Francis . Having Howard - our Vice-President and composer of the latter work - join us for the performance was both a privilege and a joy. The audience’s warm ovation was richly deserved.
Beyond the concert hall, it was a pleasure to sing carols at Sheffield Park where community spirit was in full voice.
As ever, I must extend sincere thanks to Jeremy Weaver, our brilliant accompanist, and to our committee and volunteers whose tireless work makes all this possible. We have grown in voice, numbers, and spirit, and I look forward with great anticipation to what we will achieve together in the coming year.
Stephen Anthony Brown Director of Music July 2025
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Chairman’s Report
The year started with a performance of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria which was composed at a very young age and was a precursor for all his tuneful operas. The other work was Berlioz’s Te Deum . As usual we had excellent soloists and the Kent Sinfonia. The concert was enthusiastically received by a good audience.
The choir started rehearsing Messiah in early September. We were able to attract several singers to join us for the concert. The enjoyment in singing this piece was very evident after rehearsals, culminating with a truly memorable performance, which was acclaimed by the soloists, our conductor and the audience. The choir could be very proud of itself.
The choir once again travelled to Sheffield Park Gardens to perform carols. It was a shame that the audience was limited by an administrative problem. We have been assured that this will not happen again in 2025. Those who attended the concert enjoyed it.
The year 2024 ended with members of the choir meeting up at the Woolpack Pub in Burgess Hill to sing carols. The landlord was very appreciative as were the customers. It was something that will take place in 2025 with the publican hopefully supplying a piano.
Our spring concert was the ever popular Mozart Requiem , accompanied by The Song of St Francis with its composer Howard Blake in the audience. I was delighted to read a letter to the editor of the Mid Sussex Times “congratulation to the choir on its performance of both works”.
There is no doubt we had a particularly successful season with attracting better audiences and larger membership. The attached accounts confirm that. However, it should be pointed out there was a marked decrease in fundraising income and of course our costs rose too. Our net income of £3,669 is down from £5,373.
We are truly fortunate to have Stephen Brown and Jeremy Weaver taking us through the works that we have opted to sing. We would not have had the opportunity to give such good concerts without their dedicated assistance (and humour!).
Sussex Chorus does not run itself! A big thank you to my fellow officers and committee for all their efforts in the past season. Paul Seddon retired as concert manager after our June concert and Helen Cooper replaced him. I would like to thank all the other members of the choirs who help us in so many different ways.
We have been so lucky to have had Christine Wilson as our Vice-Chairman for the past four years. I cannot thank her enough for her contribution and help to me over this time. She will be standing down at our AGM in September.
Onwards and upwards – we must continue to increase our audiences and our membership.
Andrew Fox Chairman July 2025
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] May 2025
Sussex Chorus Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Legal and Administrative Information
Trustees
Kate Barker Wendy Barnaby Helen Cooper Andrew Fox Chairman Hazel Furber Hon. Secretary Jeremy Jalie Hon. Treasurer Richard Moon Neil Peskett Margaret Rea Julia Roberts Paul Seddon David Tettersell Christine Wilson Vice-Chairman
Principal Office
c/o 5 St John’s Avenue, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 8HJ
Independent Examiner
Mr S. Brentnall
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd - 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Trustees Report for the Year ended 31[st] May 2025
The Trustees present their Report for the year ended 31[st] May 2025.
Object of the Charity
The Charity’s object is to provide, improve, develop, and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects.
Review of Activities
Sussex Chorus produced three (3) concerts of its own and took part in two Christmas Carol concerts organised by the National Trust during FYE 2025. In June 2024 we undertook a concert of music by Berlioz and Puccini that culminated in the Messa di Gloria at St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill. We were thrilled to be joined by three wonderful soloists, Eleanor Neate, Daniel Joy, and Peter Edge who performed the solo sections of the Puccini with gusto. In November 2024 we performed Handel’s Messiah to a sold-out audience at St Andrew’s, capitalising on the piece’s relevance in the run-up to the Christmas season. We were delighted to be joined by four fantastic soloists (Zita Syme, Angharad Lyddon, Alex Aldren, and Ashley Mercer). In March 2025 we performed a concert of Mozart’s Requiem supported by Howard Blake’s Song of St Francis in the first half. This piece was originally composed for the chorus in 1976 and we were thrilled to have the composer, our Vice-President, in attendance. Howard and the choir enjoyed a particularly warm applause at the end of the piece and a letter in the Mid-Sussex Times described the concert as “superb”. We were joined by the wonderful Kent Sinfonia and four soloists who helped bring the evening to life – Zita Syme, Angharad Lyddon, Alex Aldren, and Florian Bonneau. The choir has continued to be supported through grants and donations from local organisations totalling £6,603, including generous gifts from the estate of Dorothy Keogh (a former member), the King-Farlow Charity, Neil and Chris Peskett, Adelphi Holdings, Burgess Hill Town Council, the MVM Charitable Trust, and Barclays PLC.
Trustees and Management
During the year, the Charity was managed by the Trustees listed below:
Appointed 16 September 2024
Kate Barker Appointed 16 September 2024 Wendy Barnaby Helen Cooper Andrew Fox – Chairman Hazel Furber – Hon. Secretary Jeremy Jalie – Hon. Treasurer Richard Moon Neil Peskett Margaret Rea Julia Roberts Appointed 16 September 2024 Paul Seddon David Tettersell Christine Wilson – Vice Chairman
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Public Benefit
The Charity operates for the benefit of the public by the presentation of public choral concerts and recitals and by any other ways as far as the Society thinks fit.
Financial Review
The financial activities are detailed in the Accounts on page 8 and 9. Receipts for the year were £34,885 (FYE 2024: £35,230) and payments were £31,216 (FYE 2024: £29,857) generating a surplus of £3,669 (FYE 2024: £5,373). The choir’s funds at 31[st] May 2025 amounted to £24,533 (FYE 2024: £20,864). The charity’s policy is to maintain cash reserves of at least £10,000 to cover the cost of mounting at least one concert in the following season (normally a summer concert in June). However, we are increasingly relying on fundraising and grant income to support the ambitious programme we undertake and therefore holding a larger reserve is sensible as it protects us from a fluctuations in this income source. We are extremely grateful to several members who undertake fundraising and grant applications on our behalf to sustain this vital income stream. Overall, the results reflect a good year where Sussex Chorus broadly maintained its income and expenditure and continued to make a small surplus. The choir’s committee continually monitors the financial health of the choir and undertakes careful budgeting to ensure the financial position remains secure. It is grateful to the Music Director who also supports endeavours to keep concert costs tightly controlled.
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Andrew Fox – Chairman
For and on behalf of the Trustees of Sussex Chorus 8 July 2025
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES of SUSSEX CHORUS [Registered Charity No. 271678]
I report on the accounts of Sussex Chorus for the year ended 31[st] May 2025 which are set out on pages 8 and 9.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:-
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I 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.
28 July 2025
……………………………………………
Steve Brentnall 1 Meadow View Cottages Town Littleworth LEWES BN8 4TH
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Receipts and Payments Accounts
For the year ended 31[st] May 2025
| INCOME RECEIPTS Receipts from Charitable Activities Concert receipts Subscriptions Income tax recovered under Gift Aid Fundraising income Music hire and sales Friends Investment Income Bank interest Total receipts DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE Concert expenses Rehearsal fees – accompanist and conductor Rehearsal fees – room hire Publicity Music purchase/hire Administration and retirement gifts Sundry costs OTHER EXPENDITURE Making music subscription and other subscriptions Total payments NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) FOR THE YEAR Bank balances at 1stJune Bank balances at 31st May |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ £ £ 8,902 - 8,902 8,160 15,073 - 15,073 12,594 2,623 - 2,623 2,925 6,603 - 6,603 10,135 423 - 423 426 759 - 759 635 502 - 502 355 34,885 - 34,885 35,230 17,687 - 17,687 15,715 5,676 - 5,676 7,152 2,215 - 2,215 2,138 2,995 - 2,995 2,436 658 - 658 283 545 - 545 524 740 - 740 1,028 700 - 700 581 31,216 - 31,216 29,857 3,669 5,373 20,864 15,491 24,533 20,864 |
|---|---|
| 34,885 - |
|
| 17,687 - 5,676 - 2,215 - 2,995 - 658 - 545 - 740 - 700 - |
|
| 31,216 - |
|
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Sussex Chorus
Registered charity (in England & Wales) no: 271678
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
At 31[st] May 2025
| MONETARY ASSETS Bank balances: CAF Cash account CAF Gold account Bank balances |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ £ £ 1,000 - 1,000 1,000 23,533 - 23,533 19,864 24,533 - 24,533 20,864 |
|---|---|
| 24,533 - |
Notes to the Financial Statements
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The financial statements have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis in accordance with section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.
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There are no staff employed by Sussex Chorus.
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Restricted Funds – Sussex Chorus received no restricted donations or held any restricted funds in FYE 31[st] May 25.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
…………………………………………………………………
Andrew Fox – Chairman
For and on behalf of the Trustees of Sussex Chorus 8 July 2025
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