LONDON YOUTH OPERA
Formerly known as W11 CHILDREN’S OPERA TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 5 April 2025
LONDON YOUTH OPERA
Annual Report for the year ended 5 April 2025
London Youth Opera is constituted and governed by a Deed of Trust dated 7 April 1981, although the opera had then been in existence since 1971. A supplemental deed was added on 23 June 2008. It is a registered charity no. 282644. The trust changed its name in 2022 and the name change was approved and registered with the charity commission July 2022. It has since been known as London Youth Opera and is the longest running youth opera company in the UK. Its address is 122 Cheyne Walk London SW10 0ES.
The Trustees during the year to 5 April 2025 were:
Clara Andersson Chairman Francesca Beausang Treasurer Shadi Fahid resigned 04.04.2025 Anne-Marie Gilis Debbie Joyce appointed 29.05.2024 Xanthe Steen Ian Taylor appointed 04.04.2025 Sloane Warren resigned 04.04.2025 Helen Wakeman-Jones Event advisor to the board
Commissioning team:
Donald Sturrock Chairman Alastair Chilvers Nicholas Kraemer Clara Andersson Board representative
The Board of Trustees appoints the Trustees for a term not exceeding five years. Once this term is complete the Trustee may offer themselves 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 Chairman, 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, eStage professional production team and, importantly, with the parents of performing children, the opera comes to life.
The principal object of the Trust is to produce opera productions performed by children aged 9-18, resident in greater London. All operas are new commissions or from the companies back-catalogue. Over forty 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 these operas can be found on the London Youth Opera website.
Over the last decade, London Youth Opera has developed an extensive Outreach Programme, bringing free workshops to state schools and other non fee paying schools. In 2023 we wanted to build on this and started up an internship program for A-level, B-tech and gap year students interested in working behind-the scenes. In 2024 we had an excellent candidate on her gap year who worked with the costume and props department. In 2025 we welcomed two A-level students a one gap year student to the programme who were all involved with multiple departments.
An important aspect of LYO’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 offer bursaries to deserving young people from across London. The aim is to identify and encourage young people who would not otherwise have this extra-curricular opportunity. In the 2024 production 39% of our cast had full bursaries, this is a significant increase from a historic average of 25% and in keeping with the level at 40% from last year’s production.
The productions are funded by:
-
Income from ticket sales
-
Donations from individuals and charitable trusts & foundations
-
Subscriptions from members of the cast
-
Programme sales and advertising income
-
Fund-raising activities
| The Trust & Foundations contributions for this year are: | The Trust & Foundations contributions for this year are: |
|---|---|
| The Backstage Trust | £ 20,000 |
| The Chalden Charitable Trust | £ 10,000 |
| The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust | £ 4,000 |
The LYO performances take place in December, with rehearsals throughout the autumn term. The Composing team, Music Director, Stage Director and all in the creative team, the production team and orchestral players are paid fees. They are all professionals working in the theatre and opera world full-time.
This year we produced our second in-person full-scale production since the re-launch after Covid, THE QUEST - music by Nathan Williamson and Libretto by Megg Nicol. Rehearsals took place in St James’ Church, and in Colville Primary School both in London W11. The performances were held at The Shaw Theatre , 100-110 Euston Road in London. The cast, all children aged 9 to 18, represented 17 London boroughs and 39% were supported by the trust with full bursaries. Alastair Chilvers was welcomed back as Music Director for his sixth season and Madeleine Allegra Brooks was appointed Stage Director for the production.
THE QUEST was nominated for an Ivors Classical Award 2025 - for Best Community and Participation Composition (in association with ABRSM) composer Nathan Williamson and librettist Megg Nicol.
We continued our collaboration with Odyssey Festival Orchestra this year and more than half of the musicians in our orchestra came from them. The Odyssey Festival Orchestra is a professional standard training orchestra for music graduates aged 18-30 who are masters students or recent conservator graduates.
The commission for the 2025 production was announced in December and will be a wonderful Gothic comedy about an undead girl with a magical singing voice that can wake the dead THE LITTLE ZOMBIE GIRL by the award winning due Composer Omar Shahryar and Librettist Ed Harris.
In March we did a successful fundraising campaign with the Big Give - Arts for Impact that set us off on a positive financial projector for the year. In addition we also have an anonymous supporter who pledge to underwrite the 2024 productions of £10,000.
Clara Andersson, (Chairman) On behalf of the Trustees
London Youth Opera Independent Examiner’s Report to The Trustees of London Youth Opera
I report on the accounts of London Youth Opera (formerly W11 Children’s Opera Trust) (the “Charity”) for the year ended 5 April 2025 which 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. Taking this into account, in my opinion, a proper understanding of the accounts may be reached.
Caroline Armstrong
Caroline Armstrong MA(Cantab), ACA 21 Hartswood Road London W12 9NE 2 February 2026
5 April 2025 A5at Asat 5 Aprll 2025 5 Aprll 2024 Cash atCAF Bank CAF Income Fund Attounts Rètewable 1623 £ 5,729 14.858 E 12,5rKJ Total Assets 17,481 £ 18,229 LÈSS DÈSI8nad Funds" 16,250 £ 17,50D Totsl A¥sets (net ol O?slgnated Funds 1,231 £ 729 Accumulaied Funds at 5 April 2024 Inetof designated fundsl Net Surplus/d2ficrt foryear Change In lue of CAF Income Fund (*/- prlce per5harel InErEaspI Dpcrea5e Desl8naied Funds 729 £ 1,752 £ 29 3,835 635 2,5 1.250 -£ Accumulated Funds Inel ol De51gnated Fund$) S Aprll 2025 1,231 £ 729 Chalrman Treasurfyr
5 April 2025
| Fiscal Year Fiscal Year |
|
| 2024/2025 2023/2024 |
|
| INCOME: | |
| Dona;ons £ 21,015.77 £ 27,531.42 |
|
| Subscrip;ons £ 13,018.51 £ 11,900.04 |
|
| Box Ofce net fees £ 11,861.07 £ 11,120.00 |
|
| Grant £ 34,000.00 £ 48,800.00 |
|
| Business Sponsorship £ 5,000.00 £ 5,000.00 |
|
| Tax Recoverable £ 6,086.14 £ 8,739.12 |
|
| Miscellaneous £ 379.98 £ 1,284.67 |
|
| Adver;sing Sales £ 1,000.00 £ 2,000.00 |
|
| DVD and CD Sales £ 985.54 £ 840.85 |
|
| Big Give March campaign £ 14,858.65 £ - |
|
| Pledge grant £ 10,000.00 £ - |
|
| Total Income £ 118,205.66 £ 117,216.10 |
|
| EXPENSES: | |
| Set £ 13,767.41 £ 11,972.92 |
|
| Music (Includes Commision) £ 26,636.00 £ 23,832.00 |
|
| Venue / Rehearsal Space £ 26,091.32 £ 24,445.20 |
|
| Produc;on £ 15,715.13 £ 23,311.53 |
|
| Direc;on / Choreography £ 14,738.90 £ 14,410.00 |
|
| Administra;on Expense £ 6,404.89 £ 6,104.20 |
|
| Media Produc;on £ 4,075.00 £ 1,642.80 |
|
| Publicity & Programmes £ 1,140.20 £ - |
|
| Events/Hospitality £ 595.25 £ 547.22 |
|
| Fundrasing £ 7,290.00 £ 7,115.04 |
|
| Total Expense £ 116,454.10 £ 113,380.91 |
|
| Proft / Loss £ 1,751.56 £ 3,835.19 |
|
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