COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY {Roglstered Charlty No 278894) ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 30 JUNE 2025
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY CONTENTS Page Annual report Rep of the independent examiner Statement of receipts and payments Statement of assets and Ikqbilities
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 The Commrttee wesents this and the financial statements of the sIety for the year erKled 30 June 2025, in )rdance with the Charities Act 2011. Eslabllshrnent and objects The Society is established as a registered charity under No. 278894. Its objects are to promote. improve, devek)p and maintain education in and appreciation of the art and science of musi¢ and in particJJlar of choral music. The Twstees have gNen due conSideratn to the Charity Commission's publlshed guidance on the Publi¢ Benefrt requirement under the Charities Ad 2011. The main activities undertaken to further the Society's purposes lor the public benefrt in the period vRre the promotK)n and perfomance of choral music as described wi Ihe review of developments, activrties and achievements sectm. Structure, governance and management The Society is govemed by its constrlutk)n ajopted on 10 October 1979, revised on 6 October 2010 and is managed by an Executive Commrttee consisting of elected Officers and other members. The Officers are elected annually by ballot at the Annual General Meeting. The Committee meets regularly during the ¢onc8rt season. The Officers during the year under review were as follows: President Ch8iman TreaSur Secretary Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member Committee Member '. GLYdon Kuphal Peter Bartlett (Trustee)" Jane Askew (Trustee)" Susan Diddams (Trusteel" Nigel Humphreys (Tfuslee)" Lindsay Wlson (Trustee)" Caroline Faiers Ray Wlson Nora w1MS Mary DavKJson ' denotes Trustee in post at the balance sheet date. The address for correspondence of the Charity is care of the Secretary at 146 Boume R¢)ad, Colcl*ster C02 8RS. Advlsers The Stxiety banks with Lloyds Bankfvig Group P. Sanskruli Purohit. acts independent examiner under the Charities Act.
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT - {contlnued) YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 CHAIRMAN'S REPORT 202&25 This year we are pleased to reflect on the 82nd Anniversary of Colchester Choral Society and once again I would like to thank all of our members and supporters for making this possible. Vve started our 2024-25 concert season wtth our November perfomance of Mendelssohn's Elijah which was well presented especially given the absences and reduced numbers able to attend rehearsals. Kate Symmonds-Joy our atto soloist thanked us for'an incredibly enjoyab Elijah, and thought the choir were superb, th a speu'al mention lo Ihose from the thoir vkno took on quartet wts. There were also many favourabie Comments from audience members and supporters. Our thanks again go to Carfa Hales. Districl Lea4 Tutor. assisted with Prov1n9 a Sing Up children's choir for the December Concert Here Comes Christmas. with Gillian Ward Russell on the organ arKI compered again by Liz Mullen of BBC Essex. A 'very well done, to the smaller choir who sang very well and the children who perfMned magnrfln1Iy. Our March cOnrt started wi an esFecially challenging vmy hth many and prolonged dffrules in oblaining music, something we naturally take for granted for each concert. Qur thanks go to our Librarian Mary for the detemmied and relentless efforts made lo ensure we were able to sing desprte Ihe procurement delays. For this concert of Italian Baroque Music by Monteverdi, Bononcvii, Carissimi & Vivaldi are pleased to congratulate all the members of the thoir who sang the solo parts with great confidence and assurance. resulting again in many favourabk crxnmenls from the audierte. For our Summer Concert ¥ travelled to Dedhan's Assembly Ro¢Jns to perfonm English romantic songs, French songs and Brrtish folk st)ngs. It was an incredibly hot day which made singing challenging, resutling in a perforrnan that was spirited and expressive. 11 was also lovely to listen to Catherine Wood's flute ptaying vthTrch added another dimension to our concert. And Ihe atmosbere and strabvberries and Cream very enjoyable. Cxher concerns that have been attended to by the Choir this year. and probably the most signrficanl, has been the launch of a new Ybsite. moving from Making Music. The committee have also identified a requirement for a slregy shrft to marketing. promotion of CCS. fund- raising & sponsorship. As part of this foNRrd planning a Concert check list has been created to reduce time on discussing standard arrangements and enable us to con$hJer the broader picture and the k)nger temi needs of the Society. The quote for retxanding and web design was approved from Paul Haises Design. The aims were to ensure clear concert details, markeling. Ghoir ethos, ticket purchase confirmations and infomation updates on the new YbsIte, and subsequently remove the need for paper tickels to be posted out. In effect a clean clear modem websrte which is now up and running - our special thanks go to Mary and Ray handled the bulk of this work with Paul. We also decided on a rrKYe relaxed apW0h to Cmcert dress with changing to black open necked shirts, with or wrthoui jackets. n lir wrth current national trends. We also have to report that the IndeFendent Financial ExaminatIc is no bnger a free audit and approval Servi going forward from Scnrtton Bland. This was provkled in memory of
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT - (conllnued} YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 David Foster a previous choir member and Treasurer. Vlk thank them for their support over many years. INe have expressed tjjr concem to the Council over redevelopment F4ans for part of Brttannia car park behind St Botolph's and the potential implutions wilh the loss of this facility for concert goers. We are grateful to Matthew for organising a Fund-raising quiz in May. and have introduced a very successful post-concert social gathering at the Purple Dog ¢M the Vkdnesday following the cccerts. Finally I would like to conclude my report by thanking all of ¢)ur members for their commitment and efforts made to perfomi wrth such passion and skill and to continue to deliver a very high perfomance level. Flnanclal revlew These a¢¢ounts psent the reIPtS and payments forthe financial year ended 30 June 2025, alongside the 2024 comparatives, as well as a statement of assets and liabilities. Overall inrne from conwts, including sponsorshlp for the 2025 financial year was £9.256 {2024'. £7,793). We are grateful to the efforts of thoir members for their efforts in increasing audiene numbers for our COnrts, thich vffie above budget for both CAJr November and June concerts. Total costs of staging concerts li the year were £17.751 (2024: £19,161). Subscriptions income inthdes both choir memberfs subscriptions and subsuiptions from Ihe Friends of the Society. In addition to subscriptions income, we hre also incredibly grateful to receNe general donations lotaling £5.962 {2024'. £691). This included a signrficanl one-off donation from a SUPF)Orter of the Society. We we able to recover gift aid on eligible donations and 8 portion of our subscfiption fees. lch ce claimed will generate us an additional £2.747 in 2025 (2024. £1,250). Other income sources in 2025 include contributions by corporate patrons and fundraising and other receipts. Total income for the year was £31,346 {2024.' £22,008). The general costs of running the Society this year are consistent in their nature to last yeaf s costs and the increase is largely due lo inflatDnary cost in(xeases, though we made a saving in insurance costs due lo our lower income levels whith will not be repeated next year. The Society is incredibly grateful lo all rts members and friends gNe the time voluntarlly in order to help keep the SOCtY.5 costs to a minimum. Reserves pollcy The society aims to mainlain the accumulated fund at a mininum balan of £5,IXIO. This level of reserves, in conjunction wth the S(les Insuran policy, would ensure that the Society could cover any cOnrt abandonment $ts should the need arise.
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT - {contlnued) YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 Reserves at the end of June 2025 (total assets total liabilities) re £14,711, as a sU11 of the surplus in the year. Atthough this is above the minimum required reserves balan of £5,CQO. this surplus was only &hieved through the Supp of generous donors and the assistance of vartous frndS and membefs in fundraising activrties and the Committee *e mindful of the long term financial stabilty of the choir when considering future expenditure and membership subscription levels. Flnanclal statements The ststutory financial statements of the SOcty are attached. They comprise a statement of receipts and payments, setting out the cash receipts and payments for the year, both from concert activrties and trom the Society's general activrties. This analysis shows how dependent the Society is on the efforts of rts memters in provKJing funds to finance the deficit, which invariably arises in mounting concerts. The financial statements o)ndude with a statement of assets and liabilities summarising the Soaety's financial posrtion. Slgned on behalf of the Committee Mr Petsr Bartlett Chainnan 2 February 2026
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS, REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY I report to the tharity trustees on my examination of the ac£ounts of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025 are set out on pages 6 to 7. Responslbllllles and basls of report As the charws trustees you are respSIble forthe prepwion of the accwnts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Act.). I report in respect of my eXaminatic of the thwity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examinati¢)n I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission Ji nder Secti( 145(5)(bl of the Act. Independent examlnèfs statement I havè completed my examination. I CCrI that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examinati1 giving cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting rerdS vRre not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act.. or 2. the 8c£ounts do not Ntth those records: or I have no concerns and have CA)me across no other matters in nneCtIn wtth the examination to which attentn should be dralw in this rep)rt wi order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts lo be reached. SanskNtI Purcthit Date: Ch8rity Examiners 117a St. John's Hill, Sevenoaks TN13 3PE
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIE STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 2025 Total 2024 Total Recelpts Ticket and programme sales Subscriptions Music CD Sales and postage Taxation recovered Contributions by Corporate Patrons Donalions Fundraising Folder deposits and other receipts Bank interest 9.256 8.487 1,804 7, 793 8,6C 2.423 2.717 840 5,962 2,057 218 691 1,854 163 Total Income 31,348 22,CX18 Payments Orchestral fees Fees of artistes Venue hire Stage and instrument hire, transport and repairs Purchase of music and scores Printing of tickets, posters and prograrffies Advertising and other concert expenses Rehearsal fees Rehearsal venue hire Making Music subscrioion insurance Website and other general Costs 8.265 3.750 1.299 1,114 1.769 950 604 1,800 1,026 337 1,600 9, 360 3,3 2,011 516 2,482 900 592 1,800 1,485 538 Total payments 22,514 23,972 Not of recelptsl(payrnentsl 8.832 (1,964) Cash funds last yoar ond 6,762 8, 726 Cash lunds thls year end £15,594 £6, T62
COLCHESTER CHORAL SOCIEff STA TEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT THE END OF THE PERIOD YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025 2025 Current assets Accrued income Cash at barsk 4.200 15.594 Total current assets 19,794 Deduct Ilabllllles: Accrued costs 15,0831 Net assets £14,711 Represented by: Unrestrtcted lunds General fund 14.711 Accumulatsd fund at 30 June £14,711 Approved by the Commrtlee on 2 February 2026 arKI signed on its b8haK by.. Peter Bartlett Chainnan Susan Dlddams Secfetary