## **Ipswich Choral Society**
## Trustees’ Annual Report 2024-25
Charity registered number: 278866
Registered address:
39 Sidegate Avenue Ipswich IP4 4JH
Trustees
Philip Powditch Chair Michael Robertson Vice chair Pamela Sutton Secretary Linda Scott Treasurer (Up to 21/5/2024) Lionel Mackay Treasurer (From 21/5/2024) Fenella Andrews Jacqui Cant (From 21/5/2024) Kate Dixon (Up to 21/5/2024) Maureen Fell Philip Hall (From 21/5/2024) Paul Kearney (From 21/5/2024) Graham Popple (Up to 3/10/2024) Joanne Rogers (Up to 15/11/2024) James Skellorn Alan Way (Up to 21/5/2024)
Structure
The Society is managed by a committee which is elected annually by the members at the AGM. The duties of the committee include:
Appointment of the Music Director Planning of rehearsals and concerts Setting subscriptions
## **Activities and Objectives**
The purposes of Ipswich Choral Society are to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects through the presentation and/or performance of concerts and associated activities, subject to any legal restrictions that from time to time may be in force.
## **Public benefit**
In pursuing our aims for public benefit, the choir believes it impacts on people's lives in two ways. First, for participants (young and old), we involve people in a creative, enjoyable and fulfilling educational activity, providing them with an opportunity to develop vocal technique and musical repertoire.
1
Second, for audiences, we present exciting, innovative and high-quality performances which should always be a pleasurable cultural experience but will sometimes challenge them and educate them by extending their musical knowledge.
In addition to the public educational benefits to participants and audiences mentioned above, the trustees are conscious that its activities must be affordable, so both membership subscriptions and audience ticket prices are regularly reviewed so as to be sustainable. Any member with financial difficulties can privately discuss a special reduced subscription arrangement with the Treasurer.
## **Achievements and performance**
2024 saw the choir reach a significant milestone of becoming only the second choral society in the country to be continuously formed for 200 years. (Halifax Choral Society being the other one, seven years older than Ipswich Choral Society). This provided the opportunity choir members and the people of Ipswich to learn about the heritage of music and arts in the town at various events held throughout the year.
During the year three main public concerts were performed:
**April 2024** Haydn’s Creation, in collaboration with Halifax Choral Society at Snape Maltings Concert Hall offering members of both choirs the opportunity to work together. A different approach to learn the material is used when collaborating with another choir, broadening the experience of the members of both choirs. The audience was also given the opportunity to hear two longestablished well-respected choirs and a professional orchestra at the concert.
**June 2024** . An outdoor concert in Christchurch Park, Ipswich, celebrating the 550[th] anniversary of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s birth in Ipswich. The music for the concert consisted of three
commissioned pieces composed by local composers, giving choir members the chance to learn and perform brand new music that had never been sung before, along with other period work from Wolsey’s lifetime.
A few days after the concert the choir took part in a parade through the town, helping local school children sing music from the period of Wolsey’s birth culminating in a concert held on Ipswich Cornhill.
All this was made possible through a collaboration with The Wolsey 550 project put together especially for the anniversary comprising of many local organisation’s working together.
**December 2024** The choir performed Handel’s Messiah in the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, this time in collaboration with Ipswich Chamber Choir, providing the chance for singers and audience alike to be a part of one of the best loved choral work.
**Community events:** The choir performed at Ipswich Music Day, and sang during the laying of wreaths at the civic service of remembrance organised by Ipswich Borough Council and the Royal British Legion. The choir also sang Christmas carols at Christchurch Mansion.
## **Financial review**
The turnover for the year was significantly higher than 2023-24, with receipts of £79,742 (2023-24 £28,722) and expenses of £80,755 (2023-24 £19,426). This was due mainly to:
2
- The concerts at Snape in April and Ipswich Corn Exchange in December;
- A legacy of £10,000;
- Participation in the celebration of the 550th anniversary of Cardinal Wolsey, for which we received a grant of £3,000.
## **Operating income and expenses**
Operating income increased from £18,931 to £26,466. This was partly due to a continued increase in the membership, and increased bank interest receipts. There were one-off contributions due to interest and Gift Aid receipts being brought forward; on a like-for-like basis the total operating income would have been £22,698.
Operating expenses increased from £13,548 to £14,597. As a result of Robin Walker’s resignation in the summer there were reductions in the payments to the conductor and accompanist, offset by increased costs of music and other expenses.
## **Concerts**
Although held in the previous year, the majority of the income (£3,565) and expenses (£1,874) for the Christmas 2023 concert was booked during the 2024-25 financial year contributing a surplus of £1,691.
Income during the year for the Snape concert was £13,910; expenses were £33,909 resulting in a deficit of £19,999. The small surplus from 2023-24 reduced the overall deficit to £18,506
The Messiah concert in December generated income of £7,520; however expenses totalling £11,759 resulted in a loss of £4,239.
The year also included payments (£10,239) and receipts (£6,834) for accommodation for choir members and guests for the St Matthew Passion concert to be held in Halifax in April 2025.
Overall the loss during the year was £26,141.
## **Wolsey 550**
A grant of £3,000 was received to enable us to perform a concert in Christchurch Park in the summer as part of the celebration. The programme included three pieces of music commissioned for this occasion. This resulted in a small surplus of £291, which is held in a restricted fund.
## **Fund raising and donations**
Fund raising events contributed a surplus of £1,523 and donations a further £1,648. We also received a generous legacy of £10,000 from June Catling. A retiring collection at the Messiah concert raised £316 for Music In Our Bones, our sponsored charity.
## **Other events**
As part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary a dinner was held attended by representatives for Ipswich Borough Council, our president and vice presidents and former conductors. Payments from choir members contributed £4,151 towards the total cost of £5,612.
## **Overview**
The General Fund had a modest deficit during the year of £1,304. This would have been significantly larger without the one-off contributions of:
3
The legacy l£lO.(KJOI
Interest income accrued during the previous year {£1,0941
A Gift Aid claim on the current year's income1£2.675)
Total funds held. including the small surplus in the Wolsey 550 restricted fund. reduced from
£74,060 to £73.047. Reserves are the result of accumulated surpluses. The trustee5 policy 15 to
maintain a balance of 50% of the average expenditu of the last 3 year5. in addition to any
designated or restricted funds.
Funds held as a custodian trustee
None.
Approved by the Committee on 20th October 2025
Phil Powditch
Chair
## **Ipswich Choral Society Receipts and payments accounts Year ending 28 February 2025**
|**2023-24**
**Operating receipts**
15,099
Subscriptions
2,580
Gift Aid
585
Guest singers (Workshops)
5
Music sales
327
Interest received
336
Other income
**18,931**
**Concert receipts**
4,581
Ticket sales
80
Programme sales and adverts
1,200
Donations
-
Travel & accomodation
**5,861**
**Donations and fund raising**
140
Donations
-
Grants
3,625
Fund raising - ICS
165
Fund raising - Other charities
-
Legacies
**3,931**
**Non-operating income**
**-**
**Member events**
**28,722**
**Total income**
9,296
Net surplus/(deficit) for year
**RECEIPTS**|16,305
6,337
-
540
3,174
110
**26,466**
24,404
291
300
6,834
**31,828**
1,648
-
2,332
316
10,000
**14,296**
**4,151**
**76,742**
(1,304)
**General**
**Fund**
**2024-25**|-
-
1
-
-
-
2
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
3
**-**
4
-
3
3,000
-
4
-
5
-
6
**3,000**
**3,000**
291
7
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**2024-25**
Notes|**2023-24**
**Operating costs**
2,488
Hall hire
7,197
Conductor
1,993
Accompanist
278
Music hire & purchase
264
Printing & publicity
1,288
Administration
42
Other expenses
**13,548**
**Concert expenses**
1,143
Hall hire
1,199
Conductor
485
Musicians
-
Music commissions
652
Printing & publicity
-
Travel & accomodation
108
Other expenses
**3,586**
**Fund raising expenses**
366
ICS
985
Charity donations
**1,351**
**Non-operating expenses**
**940**
**Member events**
**19,426**
**Total expenses**
**PAYMENTS**|3,290
5,631
1,748
1,328
152
1,377
1,072
**14,597**
7,545
1,121
33,589
-
1,301
10,239
4,174
**57,969**
809
-
**809**
**4,672**
**78,046**
**General**
**Fund**
**2024-25**|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
-
735
-
1,375
-
-
599
**2,709**
-
-
**-**
-
**2,709**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**2024-25**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Registered Charity No 278866
1
|**2023-24**
64,764
Funds brought forward
**74,060**
**Funds carried forward**
**74,060**
**Total General and Restricted Funds**|74,060
**72,756**
**General**
**Fund**
**2024-25**|-
**291**
**73,047**
**Restricted**
**Fund**
**2024-25**|**2023-24**
**Cash held at year end**
156
Cash
14
18,551
Current account
2,205
55,353
Savings accounts
50,184
-
1 year bond
20,644
**74,060**
**73,047**
Lionel Mackay
5th April 2025
**Total**
**Funds**
**2024-25**|
|---|---|---|---|
2
## **Notes to the accounts**
- 1 Gift Aid claims in 2024-25 have been brought forward; like for like figures, claiming Gift Aid on the previous year's subscriptions, are:
- 2023-24 £2,580 2024-25 £3,663
- 2 Bank interest is now received during the year in which it is earned; interest received in 202425 includes interest earned in 2023-24. Life for like figures are:
- 2023-24 £1,094 2024-25 £2,080
- 3 Concert travel and accomodation relates to the St Matthew Passion concert in Halifax on April 12th 2025.
- 4 An analysis of income and expenses for concerts during the last 2 years is shown on the following pages
- 5 Fund raising for other charities is for Music In Our Bones.
- 6 Legacy income represents a legacy from June Catling.
- 7 Member events' under non-op[erating income and expenses relates to the 200th Anniversary dinner in September 2024.
- 8 The figures for 2023-24 have been adjusted from the 2023-24 statement to align with categories used in the 2024-25 accounts.
3
## **Concert income and expenses**
|01/03/2023 -|01/03/2024 -||
|---|---|---|
|||Total|
|29/02/2024|28/02/2025||
|**Christmas 2023**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**||||
|Programme advertisements|80|-|80|
|Ticket sales|1,654|3,565|5,219|
|**Income - TOTAL**|**1,734**|**3,565**|**5,299**|
|**Expenses**||||
|Conductor|646|-|646|
|Hall hire|-|1,829|1,829|
|Musicians|160|-|160|
|Other expenses|37|45|82|
|Printing|113|-|113|
|Publicity|185|-|185|
|**Expenses - TOTAL**|**1,141**|**1,874**|**3,015**|
|**TOTAL INCOME - EXPENSES**|**593**|**1,691**|**2,284**|
|**Snape Creation**||||
|**Income**||||
|Donations|1,200|300|1,500|
|Programme sales|-|291|291|
|Ticket sales|1,628|13,319|14,947|
|**Income - TOTAL**|**2,828**|**13,910**|**16,738**|
|**Expenses**||||
|Accompanist|-|53|53|
|Conductor|-|1,121|1,121|
|Hall hire|1,143|3,579|4,721|
|Musicians|-|25,790|25,790|
|Other expenses|-|2,570|2,570|
|Printing|192|613|805|
|Publicity|-|164|164|
|Admin - Transaction fees|-|19|19|
|**Expenses - TOTAL**|**1,335**|**33,909**|**35,244**|
|**TOTAL INCOME - EXPENSES**|**1,493**|**(19,999)**|**(18,506)**|
4
01/03/2023 - 01/03/2024 - Total 29/02/2024 28/02/2025
## **Messiah 2024**
|**Messiah 2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**||||
|Ticket sales|||7,520|
|**Income - TOTAL**|||**7,520**|
|**Expenses**||||
|Hall hire||2,138|2,138|
|Musicians||7,746|7,746|
|Other expenses||1,028|1,028|
|Printing||153|153|
|Publicity||371|371|
|Accompanist||60|60|
|Admin - Transaction fees||17|17|
|Music hire & purchase||246|246|
|**Expenses - TOTAL**||**11,759**|**11,759**|
|**TOTAL INCOME - EXPENSES**||**(4,239)**|**(4,239)**|
|**OVERALL TOTAL INCOME - EXPENSES**|**2,086**|**(22,547)**|**(20,460)**|
5
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examinerfs Report
Report to the trustees
Ipswch Choral Society
On accounts for the year
ended
Charity no
lif any)
28 February 2025
278866
Set out on pages
1to2
I report to the Imstees on my examination of the accounts of the aly)ve
charty 1.the Trust") for the year ended 28 February 2025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the chartty's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of Ihe Charities Act 2011
{llhe Acr)
I rewrt in resF of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)Ib) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. l eonfimi that no material matters have
examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gtves me
cause to believe that in, any material respect..
the accounting records were nol kept in accordance wth section 130
of the Charrties Act". or
the accounts did not accord wth the accounting records-, or
the accounts did not comply wtth the applicable requirements
ConmIng the fom and content 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
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no cOnmS 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 understaryjing of the ae¢ounts to be reached.
Sign.
Date:
45
Name:
sa Taylor
Relevant professional
qualification{sl or body
(rfany):
ACA
Address:
Baytree House, manning1 Road
Stutton
Ipswich IP9 2SR
IER
Oct 2018
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**Oct 2018**
**IER**