Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 August 2023 To 31 July 2024
Charity name: The Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society Charity registration number: 273310
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To educate the public in the art and science of music and in particular the art of choral singing, through the presentation of public concerts and in such other ways as the Society shall determine from time to time by the decision of its Committee. |
| 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 |
The Society gave four concerts during the reporting period. Requiems by Durufle and Faure at the Assembly Hall Theatre in November; a Christmas concert featuring works by a local composer at St Mary’s, Goudhurst in December; Beethoven’s Mass in C and Handel Coronation Anthems at the AHT in April ’24 and a summer concert of jazz arrangements at Holmewood House School Theatre in June. In addition, in April the choir travelled to Wiesbaden in Germany ( the twin town of Tunbridge Wells’) where they were able to demonstrate our shared cultural bond with the community in Wiesbaden through participation in a repeat performance of the Beethoven/Handel concert in the Marktkirche with the Frankfurter Sinfoniker. . We were also able to resume our annual carol singing visit to Halliwell for the first time since the epidemic (having been cancelled last year due to extreme weather). . |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public |
Para 1.18 | Membership of the Society is open to anyone who is able to attend the weekly term time rehearsals. A membership subscription is payable with concessions made from time to |
| benefit | time for those who may not be able to pay the full fee. |
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| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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| SORP reference |
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| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The Society is run entirely by volunteers, principally through a dedicated and hard working Committee, with the active support of all its members. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | Choir numbers continued to steadily increase over the reporting period, welcoming many new as well as returning members. The choir tackled a broad range of musical styles this season, under the tutelage of our Musical director, Robyn Sevastos and accompanist Craig Hudson Their support, expertise, enthusiasm and musical leadership continues to be both appreciated and vital. The four concerts staged during the season were well received, as was the performance in Wiesbaden. Attendance numbers at the Assembly Hall concerts continued to improve. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | No extraordinary fundraising activities were undertaken during the reporting period with the weekly raffle raising in excess of £900. The choir trip to our twin town of Wiesbaden (following an invitation originally issued in 2019) was partially subsidised from reserves, by approx. £6,500. This equated to cost of coach travel and guest participation at a post- concert dinner. Attending members were responsible for meeting their own accommodation and incidental expenses. This subsidy made it possible for choir members to attend who would not otherwise have been able to afford to take part in the experience. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | For sound financial governance and to optimise improving interest rates a significant sum was moved from our current account to our deposit account . The increased revenue from such interest received is shown in the accounts. |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The Society's financial position at year end is healthy. We continue to hold an appropriate buffer of reserve funds which ensures we can maintain existing levels of activity without undue worry. Subscription income increased due to continued growth in membership numbers. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Society has never aimed to make a surplus from its activities but retains cash reserves in the interests of prudence. For instance, the Society has always recognised the financial risk of a series of poorly attended concerts. Not only did this philosophy allow us to quickly resume full operations post pandemic it allows artistic freedom in repertoire choice to confidently showcase choral works that are perhaps less well known to the general public. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £45,774 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
The Society has significant expenses in the provision of rehearsal venues, concert halls, music hire, professional soloists and instrumentalists for concerts and publicity. Our income derives from members' subscriptions, patrons' contribution, concert ticket sales, donations, legacies, occasional sponsorship and advertising. Members are also prepared to raise valuable income from regular raffles. Such expenditure is necessary if we are to put on the best possible performances in keeping with our object of entertaining and education the public and maintaining the tradition of high quality classical choral music in the local area. Subscription income increased as choir member numbers increased. This is turn |
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| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The Society has significant expenses in the provision of rehearsal venues, concert halls, music hire, professional soloists and instrumentalists for concerts and publicity. Our income derives from members' subscriptions, patrons' contribution, concert ticket sales, donations, legacies, occasional sponsorship and advertising. Members are also prepared to raise valuable income from regular raffles. Such expenditure is necessary if we are to put on the best possible performances in keeping with our object of entertaining and education the public and maintaining the tradition of high quality classical choral music in the local area. Subscription income increased as choir member numbers increased. This is turn |
| means we have been able to hold the subscription rates without increase (with concessions as detailed previously). |
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| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Revised constitution adopted 05 September 2011 as amended 24 October 2016. |
| 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 | The Society is run by an elected Committee of Officers and ordinary members, all of whom are Trustees by virtue of their membership of the Committee. Officers may serve for an indefinite period subject to re-election by the general membership at each Annual General Meeting. Ordinary members of the Committee are elected for a fixed term of three years. They may be re-elected after a period/gap of at least a year. Additional members may be co-opted to the Committee as necessary and subject to approval by the Society at the next available opportunity. The Musical Director and Rehearsal Accompanist may also attend Committee meetings as ex-officio non voting members. |
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 |
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| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Committee, all of whom are Trustees, is the governing body. Officers hold specific functions and a Management Sub- Committee leads much of the day to day work of programme planning, rehearsal organisation and other detailed operational issues. The Society is a long standing member of Making Music (formerly the National Federation of Music Societies) which provides advocacy, advice and support as well as insurance and collection of Performing Rights Society fees. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 273310 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o Michael Selway Edensor Linden Park Road Tunbridge Wells KENT TN2 5QL |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Selway | Chair | |||
| Clive Steward | Vice Chair | |||
| Ailsa McMahon | Treasurer | |||
| Janet Noble | General Secretary Minutes Secretary |
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| Sheila Jones | Concert Secretary | Stood down October 2023 | ||
| Laura Marshall JennySelway |
Concert Secretary (joint appt) |
Elected October 2023 | ||
| Jane Walters | MembershipSec. | |||
| Judith Henderson | Librarian | |||
| Isobel Lowe | PublicitySecretary | |||
| Nicolas Franck | Stood down January2024 | |||
| Catherine Palmer | Elected October 2023 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name NONE
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| NONE | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity None
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'8 trustees Signature{s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary. Chair. etc) Mi chael Selway chai r JAN£f r4(£Le Date 27/05/2025
ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS CHORAL SOCIETY
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| GENERAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE Income Subscriptions & donations Other income Expenditure Core expenditure on musical activities Other expenditure CONCERT ACCOUNTS Autumn Christmas Spring Summer OTHER EVENTS Wiesbaden trip - receipts Expenditure Net (deficit) Wine tasting net Net (deficit) on other events Overall surplus/(deficit) for the year Accumulated funds at beginning of year Accumulated funds at end of year General income surplus(see detail page 3) Net (deficit) on concerts(see detail page 4) |
31 JULY 2024 |
|---|---|
| 9,924 2,036 |
|
31 AJLY 2024 JI JUL Y X23 4•.lYO 4Q57S 5•7 &421 3d• 4Q• +d Fc Its. lQ.LOW
ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS CHORAL SOCIETY
GENERAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ANALYSIS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| 31 JULY 2024 £ £ £ INCOME Subscriptions & donations Patrons 1,208 Legacies, donations, sponsors 1,100 2,308 Members 15,551 17,859 Other income Gift Aid tax reclaim 2,160 Bank interest 1,003 Sale and hire of music & folders 216 Self help Raffles 919 CD and music sales 60 Easyfundraising/Amazon - 979 4,358 22,217 EXPENDITURE Core expenditure on musical activities (rehearsals) Musical director 5,280 Accompanist 2,380 Hall hire 2,264 9,924 Other expenditure Making Music (inc Insurance) 543 IT/Web hosting/Zoom 345 Committee, sundries 314 Purchase of drinks tokens, cups etc - Music library/storage 569 Purchase of music folders 203 Bank charges 62 2,036 (11,960) SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR 10,257 |
31 JULY 2023 | 31 JULY 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ 961 47 30 |
£ 1,907 365 40 1,038 |
£ 1,538 605 |
|
| 2,143 14,223 |
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| 16,366 3,350 |
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| 4,800 2,016 2,146 |
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| 19,716 (10,832) |
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| 8,962 | |||
| 433 328 305 109 630 - 65 |
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| 1,870 | |||
| 8,884 |
ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS CHORAL SOCIETY
CONCERT ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| INCOME Ticket sales Programme sales/advertising Music hire/sales EXPENDITURE Assembly Hall hire & related costs Hall hire & staging other Conductor Soloists vocal & instrumental Orchestra/band Organ hire Music hire/purchase Printing, publicity, drinks, gifts NET (DEFICIT) |
£ 5,255 392 224 5,871 4,121 - 620 750 1,465 590 227 348 8,121 (2,250) Autumn 2023 Fauré Duruflé |
£ 761 - 215 976 - 312 300 150 - - 136 455 1,353 (377) Christmas 2023 Goudhurst |
£ 4,330 373 416 5,119 3,850 - 620 1,350 2,760 340 545 520 9,985 (4,866) Spring 2024 Beethoven Handel |
£ 1,579 - 306 1,885 - 600 300 210 - - 342 437 1,889 (4) Summer 2024 Chilcott |
Total for Year |
Total previous year |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 11,925 765 1,161 |
£ 13,893 935 708 |
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| 13,851 | 15,536 | ||||||
| 7,971 912 1,840 2,460 4,225 930 1,250 1,760 |
7,913 862 1,670 2,025 4,655 - 1,245 1,803 |
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| 21,348 | 20,173 | ||||||
| (7,497) | (4,637) |
ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS CHORAL SOCIETY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
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31 JULY 2024
31.7.24 31.7.23
Debtors and Prepayments Note 1
£ £
Next season's costs paid in advance 118 224
118 224
Creditors and Accruals Note 2
£ £
Concert invoice paid after year end 340 -
340 -
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