W11 CHILDREN’S OPERA TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 5 April 2022
W11 CHILDREN’S OPERA TRUST
Annual Report for the year ended 5 April 2022
The W11 Children’s Opera Trust is constituted and governed by a Deed of Trust dated 7 April 1981, although the opera had then been in existence for ten years. A supplemental deed was added on 22 September 2008. It is a registered charity no. 282644. The trust is now known as the W11 Opera for Young People and its address is 39 Johnston Terrace London NW2 6QJ.
The Trustees during the year to 5 April 2022 were:
Felicity Toube Chairman Clara Andersson Treasurer Lindale Thompson Sloane Warren Pinar Erder Shadi Fahid
The Board of Trustees appoints the Trustees for a term not exceeding five years. Once this term is complete the Trustee may offer themself up for re-election. If re-elected they may continue for a further term with immediate effect.
The annual productions are co-ordinated by a voluntary management group, working together with the charity’s Administrator, who oversee the staging of the production. Through their extensive efforts, and those of a wide range of people, including the professional Music, Stage and Movement Directors, the Set, Costume and Lighting Designers, and, importantly, with the parents of performing children, the opera comes to life.
The principal object of the Trust is to produce opera performances by children, predominantly resident in West London although it enjoys a much broader catchment area. Over thirtyseven new works have been commissioned for this purpose, more than by any other UK company. All are available to schools and youth groups worldwide. Details of each opera can be found on the W11 Opera website.
In recent years, W11 Opera has also developed an extensive Outreach Programme, bringing workshops to local schools and libraries as well as holding free performances for groups of local senior citizens and school groups.
An important aspect of W11’s community involvement is our bursary programme. The availability of both full bursaries, and also of reduced subscription fees, ensures the participation of young people for whom the full subscription fee would be prohibitive. We continue to maintain our association with Avondale Extra, a local charity promoting extracurricular activities and special opportunities for pupils at Avondale Park Primary School. We also offer bursaries to deserving young people from other schools. The aim is to identify and
encourage young people who would not otherwise have this extra-curricular opportunity. This year, approximately 25% of our cast held bursary places.
The productions are funded by:
-
Income from ticket sales
-
Donations from individuals and charitable trusts
-
Subscriptions from members of the cast
-
Programme sales and advertising income
-
Fund-raising activities
-
Investment income
Normally performances take place in December, with rehearsals throughout the autumn term. The Music Director, other professional members of the production team and orchestral players are paid fees.
Following the success of our 2020 fully online production, and with continuing uncertainty regarding the pandemic, we commissioned a new opera with songs by Tim Yealland (words) and Russell Hepplewhite (music), in an original story and script by Artistic and Stage Director Susan Moore. As in 2020 most of the rehearsals took place online with our team, including Music Director Alastair Chilvers and Vocal Coach Susan Jiwey. In addition, we were able to run a number of in person cast activities every couple of weeks, culminating in a full in-person run through of the opera. All the cast’s self-recorded songs and zoom recorded dialogue was made into a film edited by Amy Banks and illustrated by Chris Glynn. It was available to view by the public via online showings in December, to which the public signed up in return for a donation. The cast involved 27 children aged 9 to 21.
Post-year end note: The productions for the last two years (2020 and 2021) were both online due to COVID restrictions, these allowed for participation by the young people but did not generate sufficient income to cover the costs. It is therefore planned not to put on a production in 2022 but rather have a fund-raising year to generate funds to support future productions. A portion (£25,000) of the designated funds, set up to cover the Trust’s commitments to future productions at the year end, has therefore been released, leaving a balance that better reflects the Trust's reduced financial commitment at the 5 April 2022.
Felicity Toube, (current Chairman) On behalf of the Trustees
W11 Children’s Opera Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report to The Trustees of W11 Children’s Opera Trust
I report on the accounts of W11 children’s Opera (the “Charity”) for the year ended 5 April 2022which are set out on the attached pages.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
As the Charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirements of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the “Act) do not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charities Commissioners under section 145 of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charities Commissioners. 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 a 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Act: and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records
-
have not been met
I draw attention to the Annual Report, forming part of these accounts, which explains the release of designated funds and the post year end activities of the Trust. Taking these matters into consideration, in my opinion, a proper understanding of the accounts may be reached.
C Armstrong
Caroline Armstrong MA(Cantab), ACA 21 Hartswood Road London W12 9NE
28 November 2022
W11 Chidren's Opera Trust Balance Sheet
5 April 2022
| As at | As at | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 April 2022 | 5 April 2021 | |||
| Net Assets: | see Note 1. | |||
| Cash at CAF Bank | £ | 812 |
£ | 5,899 |
| CAF Income Fund | £ | 15,180 |
£ | 33,246 |
| Accounts Receivable | £ | - |
£ | 993 |
| Total Assets | £ | 15,992 |
£ | 40,138 |
| Less Designated Funds** | £ | 15,000 |
£ | 40,000 |
| Total Assets (net of Designated Funds) | £ | 992 |
£ | 138 |
| Represented by: | ||||
| Accumulated Funds at 5 April 2022 (net of designated funds) | £ | 138 |
£ | 332 |
| Net surplus/deficit for year | -£ | 23,080 |
-£ | 1,727 |
| Change in Value of CAF Income Fund (+/- price per share) | -£ | 1,066 |
£ | 1,533 |
| Increase/ Decrease in Designated Funds | £ | 25,000 |
£ | - |
| Accumulated Funds (net of Designated Funds) 5 April 2022 | £ | 992 |
£ | 138 |
** Designated Funds are sized to cover those costs of future productions which have been committed to the year end including; venue hire, commission fee and fees for the Music Director and Production Team.
Chairman
Treasurer
- The brought forward reserves for 2021 have been amended to reflect a change to cash accounting from accruals accounting used in 2020
W11 Children's Opera Trust Profit Loss 6 April 2021 - 5 April 2022
| Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 /2022 | 2020 /2021 | |||
| INCOME: | ||||
| Donations | £ | 16,545.40 |
£ | 12,001.00 |
| Subscriptions | £ | 7,944.60 |
£ | 8,250.00 |
| Box Office | £ | - |
£ | - |
| Grant | £ | 1,000.00 |
£ | 5,000.00 |
| Business Sponsorship | £ | - |
£ | 2,000.00 |
| Tax Recoverable | £ | 4,517.03 |
£ | 2,952.00 |
| Miscellaneous | £ | 527.50 |
£ | 1,171.43 |
| Advertising Sales | £ | 200.00 |
£ | 800.00 |
| DVD and CD Sales | £ | 141.48 |
£ | 176.00 |
| Total Income | £ | 30,876.01 |
£ | 32,350.43 |
| EXPENSES: | ||||
| Set | £ | - |
£ | - |
| Music (Includes Commision) | £ | 8,010.00 |
£ | 4,100.00 |
| Venue / Rehearsal Space | £ | 2,210.85 |
£ | - |
| Production | £ | 4,975.21 |
£ | 4,555.23 |
| Direction / Choreography | £ | 11,500.00 |
£ | 5,800.00 |
| Administration Expense | £ | 22,880.42 |
£ | 19,079.92 |
| Media Production | £ | 4,379.15 |
£ | 42.00 |
| Community Events | £ | - |
£ | 500.00 |
| Events/Hospitality | £ | - |
£ | - |
| Total Expense | £ | 53,955.63 |
£ | 34,077.15 |
| Profit / Loss | -£ | 23,079.62 |
-£ | 1,726.72 |
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