NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR Registered Charity No 276390 TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
For the Year 1st AUGUST 2022 to 31st JULY 2023
The following information is given in accordance with the Charity Commissioners’ ‘Accounting by Charities – Statement of Recommended Practice’.
-
The full name of the Charity (the Choir) is ‘Northampton Bach Choir’.
-
The Choir is registered with the Charity Commission, its registration number being 276390.
-
The Choir’s Honorary President is Sir Peter Ellwood, DL, CBE.
-
The Choir is managed by a General Committee (the Committee), the appointment of whose members is governed by the constitution document.
The following were the Choir’s Committee during the year under review: Chairman Jonny Alms Secretary Sheila Moakes Concerts Manager David Tristram Treasurer Jackie Campbell Friends Secretary Judy Ellwood Membership Secretary Crawford Craig Librarian Iain Erskine Voice Part Rep. Maureen Trent Marketing Elianne Montero
The holders of the first four posts listed above are defined in the constitution as Officers, and they and the other members of the Committee are the Trustees of the Charity and are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee can number between 8 and 12. All members retire from office at the end of the AGM following that at which they were elected, but are eligible for re-election, with the exception of the Chairman, who cannot serve in the post for longer than five years at a time. The constitution provides for a number of Choir members to be co-opted to the committee as necessary. All members of the Committee are fully aware of their responsibilities as Trustees of the Charity.
-
The objectives of the Charity are the study and practice of choral music in order to foster the knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance. The Choir was established in 1936 and has a programme of, normally, 3 or 4 concerts each year, many of which are held at St Matthew’s Church in Northampton. Further information about the Choir’s history and current programme is available from any Committee member or on the Choir’s website at www.northamptonbachchoir.org.uk
-
The activities undertaken to further the charity’s purposes for the public benefit are listed above. The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe that the Charity is a public benefit.
-
The Choir’s members form the electorate from which the Committee is elected annually. The Choir consists of;
Voice Part 2022-2023 2021-22 2020-21
Soprano 45 45 44 Alto 41 44 40 Tenor 17 12 16 Bass 23 24 18 Total 126 123 118
Membership of the Choir is gained by expression of interest and a voice test.
-
Financial Review: Total income for the year was £52,409 compared to £65.024in 2022. The Charity made a deficit of £6,743 (2022: deficit of £7,165), decreasing total reserves as at 31 July 2023 to £57,425. All reserves held by the Charity are unrestricted.
-
Reserves Policy: The choir aims to hold cash reserves approximating to 6 months’ expenditure in
order to fund concerts and other events where a proportion of the income only arises close to the event itself. At 31 July 2023 the reserves were £57,425 and 50% of the estimated annual expenditure is £36,000. This policy will be reviewed annually but will also kept under continual review by the Charity’s Treasurer.
- The Choir’s bankers are:
The Co-operative Bank PLC, Skelmersdale, Lancs. WN8 6WT
Charities Aid Foundation, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA
Shawbrook Bank, Warley Hill Business Park, The Drive Great Warley, Brentwood, CM13 3BE
- The Choir’s Independent Examiner is;
DNG Dove Naish LLP, Eagle House, 28 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5AJ
-
The Choir neither owns or leases property and consequently has no registered address. However, correspondence should be sent to, and copies of the Report and Accounts may be obtained from the Secretary, Sheila Moakes, at:
-
38 Fishers Close, Little Billing, Northampton, NN3 9SR
-
The Treasurer’s Report and Accounts which follow should be regarded as part of the Charity’s Annual Report.
Signed:
Chairman
Treasurer
Northampton Bach Choir
Registered Charity No. 276390
Treasurer’s Report for the year 01/08/22 – 31/07/23
I now seem to have completed two years as Treasurer and have learnt a lot. I could not have carried out the tasks required of me without the help and support of my fellow Committee members and of members of the choir who have tirelessly collected payments, run fundraising events and generally helped out. Thank you all.
This year’s accounts were made considerably more of a challenge than they should have been as a result of having to change to a new accounting system (the old one was no longer available). Although a much better system than the old one, it is very different to use and that has kept me amused (and frustrated) for many hours this year. The good news is that it does now seem to be working in the way that it was intended and we have a set of accounts that our accountant is happy with, and are in a better position to deal with future income and expenditure.
I reported last year on the way we were (correctly) categorising the fundraising proceeds that arose from individual choir members’ fundraising activities as donations. This, and the increased focus on obtaining Gift Aid declarations, has meant that our Gift Aid rebate from HMRC was £5,667 for the year to 31 July 2023. This is up from £3,081 in the previous year – an increase of 84%.
As you will know, the Committee has agreed to raise the annual members’ subscriptions from £140 to £155. We had made the decision last year to not increase the subs to reduce the pressure on members due to the high cost of living but could not sustain that for a further year. As before, members are able to pay in instalments if this is easier.
The reason that we have to ask for income via members’ subscriptions is because ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of our rehearsal and concerts. Even with members’ and Friends’ subscriptions we still usually operate on an annual deficit. We are currently solvent as we have adequate reserves but this may not be sustainable in the long term. I have suggested that the Choir should seek external sponsorship (perhaps from major employers in the County) and/or grant funding for special projects. If successful, this would give us more flexibility to put on more expensive concerts and/or add to the activities that choir members can be involved in.
Concert account
The year has been a busy one for us all and has included four public concerts. The detailed accounts for each concert is given in the accounts attached, but in summary:
Mozart and Martines. This concert was held in the Cripps Theatre with an audience of 220. This concert made a loss of income over expenditure of -£3,405.
Fanfares and Carols. This was also in the Cripps Theatre and the audience numbered 261. This concert was with the Rushden Town Band and we made a profit of +£165.
Ethel Smyth. This concert was in St Matthew’s Church, with an audience of 249. We had to commission an arrangement of the score for our orchestration and the concert made a total loss of -£8,071.
Viva Italia. This was also in St Matthew’s Church with an audience of 201. This concert made a loss of -£4,215
Administration account
The non-concert expenditure was broadly similar to last year whereas the income showed a significant increase (from £27,853 to £34,081). The is mainly due to the way that external fundraising is now recorded in the accounts (as donations) and the larger Gift Aid rebate that we have had this year.
Other income and expenditure
This is predominantly income and expenditure for the two Cathedral Evensong trips and associated extra rehearsals. The bank charges appear to be up on the previous year but this now includes all charges from PayPal and the card machine (SumUp) for payments to the Choir. These methods of payment are not only more convenient for most members but also provide excellent records of who has paid what, which is not always possible using bank transfers, and represent good value for money.
Statement of Financial Activities
The choir made a deficit of income over expenditure of £6,195 in the financial year Aug 22-Jul 23. This is a slightly better position than in the previous year (deficit of £7,165).
Our reserves remain healthy at £57,973. We have £16,227 in a Shawbrook Bank CAF 90-day notice account for a combination of reasonable returns with a short notice period for access. This is backed by a further £32,904 in a Shawbrook 1 year fixed rate account. The CAF Gold savings account had to be closed during the year due to a policy change at the CAF Bank which required all deposit account holders to also have a current account. The Cooperative current account #2 has not been used this year. At the end of year, we had a total of £11,866 in the Cooperative current account.
Finally...
Members will have read the recent email from our Chairman announcing my resignation from the role of Treasurer. I have not done this lightly. As I alluded to at the beginning of this report, I have learnt a lot during my two years – I had to as I have no background in accounting. I employ an accountant to do my tax returns. The choir has a turn-over of about £120,000 and the Treasurer is responsible to HMRC and the Charity Commission for the accounts that are produced. I am grateful for the help that our firm of accountants has given us but that is a heavy responsibility and my imposter syndrome has got the better of me. I feel strongly that the Treasurer role is such an important one that it needs someone with at least some financial background or expertise. In addition, I still hold down a (very) full time job as a University Professor and as a consultant statistician and the demands of the day job are such that I cannot give as much time to the Treasurer role as I feel it needs. I do hope that a suitable member will step forward. For all of the personal negative aspects of the responsibility and time required that I have mentioned, it has been hugely rewarding and I am hugely grateful for all the help, encouragement and gratitude that I have received from choir members. Thank you.
Jackie Campbell, Treasurer
page 1
NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
Registered Charity No. 276390
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 01/08/22- 31/07/23
| 2022-23 £ Income from Charitable Activities Concerts Account (see page 2) 14,247 Administration Account (see page 3) 34,081 Other Income (see page 4) 4,472 Total 52,800 Expenditure on Charitable Activities Concerts Account (see page 2) 29,641 Administration Account (see page 3) 25,200 Other Expenditure (see page 4) 4,153 Total 58,994 Surplus/Deficit (6,195) All income and expenditure relates to unrestricted funds. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31/07/23 31/07/2023 £ Current Assets Co-operative Bank PLC Community a/c 11,866 Co-operative Bank PLC Community No.2 a/c - CAF Gold a/c - Shawbrook Bank 90 day notice 16,227 Shawbrook Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate 32,904 Paypal 548 Debtors & Prepayments (see page 4) 5,703 Total 67,248 Current Liabilities Creditors & Accruals (see page 4) 9,275 Total 9,275 Net Current Assets 57,973 Represented by: Balances b/fwd 64,168 Surplus for year (6,195) Balance c/fwd 57,973 |
2021-22 £ 35,298 27,853 1,874 |
|---|---|
| 65,024 47,226 24,474 489 |
|
| 72,189 (7,165) 31/07/2022 £ 2,763 408 15,003 12,000 32,676 98 3,081 |
|
| 66,028 1,860 |
|
| 1,860 | |
| 64,168 | |
| 71,333 (7,165) |
|
| 64,168 |
NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
page 2
CONCERTS ACCOUNTS 01/08/22 - 31/07/23
| INCOME Tickets Refreshments Sub total Programme Sales Other income Total EXPENDITURE Advertising/publicity Catering Director/Conductor Hire of Staging Hire of Venue Instrument/ Music Hire/ Music Purchase Miscellaneous Orchestra inc travel Posters/Leaflets/Photography Printing Programmes Soloists/Artists inc travel Tickets Refreshments Total Surplus / (Deficit) Concert Venue Attendees |
Total 12,649 1,125 13,775 472 - 14,247 182 300 1,100 3,174 3,959 3,723 - 11,330 378 179 766 4,400 59 91 29,641 (15,395) |
Jubilee Proms 132 132 132 - 132 869 Derngate |
Carols and Fanfares 2,045 191 2,236 2,236 500 847 500 112 80 32 2,071 165 Cripps Theatre 261 |
Mozart and Martines 3,789 145 3,934 249 4,183 |
Ethel Smyth 3,808 544 4,352 4,352 63 169 1,602 1,447 3,723 3,151 84 357 1,800 27 12,423 (8,071) St Matthew's 249 |
Viva Italia 2,876 245 3,121 223 3,344 79 131 1,572 818 3,296 72 241 1,350 7,559 (4,215) St Matthew's 201 |
2021-2022 £ 32,266 746 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,012 1,536 750 35,298 |
|||||||
| 40 600 847 4,383 182 27 168 1,250 91 7,588 |
652 330 2,400 2,507 7,485 1,208 1,440 14,645 678 519 1,573 3,216 9,621 952 47,226 |
||||||
| (3,405) | (11,929) | ||||||
| Cripps Theatre 220 |
page 3
NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
Registered Charity No. 276390
ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNT 01/08/22 - 31/07/23
| INCOME Deposit interest Donations / Fundraising Music Account Subscriptions - Choir Subscriptions - Friends Tax rebate on Gift Aid Total EXPENDITURE Accompanist Advertising/publicity Credit Card Machine Software subscriptions Independent Examination fee Accountancy Insurance Vocal tuition Miscellaneous Music Director/Conductor/Teacher Music Account Purchase/ Hire Postage Rehearsal Room Hire Website Total Surplus |
2022-23 £ 356 4,704 3,778 18,131 1,445 5,667 34,081 5,212 - - 58 600 780 508 - 1,108 7,906 2,482 170 5,831 545 25,200 8,881 |
2021-22 £ 316 1,472 3,385 18,229 1,371 3,081 |
|---|---|---|
| 27,853 3,770 40 832 - 636 420 295 405 747 8,004 4,003 - 4,856 465 |
||
| 24,474 3,379 |
NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
page 4
Registered Charity No. 276390
OTHER INCOME 01/08/22 - 31/07/23
| 2022-23 | 2021-22 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| CD Sales | - | 133 | |
| Choral Evensong | 4,472 | 1,486 | |
| Folders | - | 55 | |
| Other income | - | 200 | |
| Total | 4,472 | 1,874 | |
| OTHER EXPENDITURE 01/08/22 - 31/07/23 | |||
| £ | £ | ||
| Professional Musicians Non concert related | 500 | - | |
| Bank charges | 528 | 289 | |
| Fundraising | 42 | 200 | |
| Evensongs Conductor | 1,100 | - | |
| Evensongs Music costs | 139 | - | |
| Evensongs transport | 1,844 | - | |
| Total | 4,153 | 489 | |
| DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS AT 31/7/23 | |||
| £ | £ | ||
| HMRC (Gift Aid) | 5,667 | 3,081 | |
| Prepayments | 36 | - | |
| Total | 5,703 | 3,081 | |
| CREDITORS | AND ACCRUALS AT 31/7/23 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Independent Examiner fees | 1,200 | 1,020 | |
| Accrued concert expenses | 150 | 840 | |
| Deferred concert income | 7,925 | - | |
| Total | 9,275 | 1,860 |
page 5
NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
Registered Charity No. 276390
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The Charity is an unincorporated charity registered in England and Wales. The presentational currency of the Financial Statements is pounds sterling (£).
Income is included as it is received and expenditure is included as it is incurred.
The Charity is under the control of its Trustees, and is dependant for its existence as a going concern on the continuing support of its members both financially and in providing the vocal content of its concerts.
The amounts described in these accounts all fall within the description of 'Unrestricted' funds.
Financial Instruments - cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at banks and in hand and short term deposits with an original maturity date of three months or less.
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income under administrative expenses.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all of its financial liabilities.
No Trustees have been paid any remuneration or expenses except direct re-imbursement for expenditure incurred on the Choir's behalf and with its authority.
Donations received from trustees in the year amounted to £301 (2022: £232)
There were no further related party transactions in the current or previous year.
Chairman Secretary Date 31/05/2024
Page 6
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTON BACH CHOIR
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2023 which are set out on pages one to five, and on the Trustees’ Annual Report for the year.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set 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 considered as 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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our independent examination work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our independent examination work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Nicola Fox FCA DNG Dove Naish LLP Eagle House 28 Billing Road Northampton Northamptonshire NN1 5AJ
Date: 31 May 2024