Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/09/2023 Period start date To 31/08/2024 Period end date
Charity name: Camden Choir
Charity registration number:283922
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by any means the Trustees see fit, including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Rehearsals for and performances of classical music concerts in autumn, spring and summer of 2023/24. The choir gave a Christmas carol concert for charity. All committee members and others give their time without remuneration to help with this activity. We run a bursary scheme to help members with limited means and finance a group of choral scholars who are developing their careers. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | We have regard to that guidance. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | We provide limited financial support to some members as above. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | See above |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Last season, we performed Handel's Judas Maccabeus in our November concert, to great acclaim, followed by Cecilia McDowall's Christus Natus Est in December. In the spring, after a term of really hard and focussed work, we sang Byrd’s Mass for Four Voices and Victoria's Missa Alma Redemptoris. We finished the season with such a treat: Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, as well as works by Finzi, Guerrero, Moeran, Tomkins, Tallis and Whitacre. The icing on the choral cake came thanks to our Choral Scholars: we were bowled over by their wonderful solos. The Choir Awayday, held in July after the end of the season, often has the feel of a celebration. We hope this year’s Awayday continued the tradition, albeit in the new surroundings of St Botolph without Bishopsgate. We welcomed new faces and were joined again by Dominic Brennan as co-conductor and by many members of the Hampstead Chamber Choir. We had other fundraising and social activities. Our financial position, already satisfactory, improved further, helped by a generous legacy. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising Para 1.41 activities against objectives set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We are pleased to report another successful season for the Choir. Our four concerts, one with orchestra, and all enjoyed by our audiences, came collectively within budget. We were delighted to receive generous donations and a legacy, totalling over £21.000.00, enabling us not only to continue |
|---|---|---|
| supporting our Choral Scholars, but also the flexibility to plan for the future, |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves by definition give a cushion against future fluctuations in income. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Some £50,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: | |||
| The charity’s principal | Donations, membership fees, gift aid | ||
| sources of funds (including | and sale of concert tickets. | ||
| any fundraising) | |||
| Para 1.47 |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Donations, membership fees, gift aid and sale of concert tickets. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated Association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Members at AGM under provisions of Constitution |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees
The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 structure and any wider network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Camden Choir |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 283922 |
| Charity’s principal address | 24 Springcroft Avenue East Finchley London N2 9JE |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alison Lamb | Chair | Camden choir members (under constitution) |
||
| Alexandra Carter | “ | |||
| Professor John Tosh |
“ | |||
| Joanna Cain | “ | |||
| Anne Satchwell | “ | |||
| AnthonyWills | “ | |||
| Peter Lattimer | Treasurer | “ | ||
| Dr Diana Briscoe | “ | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
~~a~~ Other optional information ~~a~~ Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) David Norgrove Position Choir member Date 21 May 2025
| INCOME Subscriptions term - 32/39/37 + 1x£30 Year - 13 Bursary tsfr - 1/1/ Music hire/purchase Friends (18) & benefactors (10) Gift aided donations Gift aid tax refund Non gift aided donations Reh interval refreshmts Bank Interest Autumn Concert 18 11 2023 Christmas concert 16 12 2023 Spring Concert 18 03 2024 Summer Concert 22 06 2024 Misc / collection for Unicef TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Rehearsal costs - halls Rehearsal costs - IE & substitutes Rehearsal costs - piano tuner Rehearsal costs - Choral Scholars Music Costs Autumn concert 18 11 2023 Christmas concert 16 12 2023 Spring Concert 16 03 2024 Summer Concert 22 06 2024 General & Recruitment Expenses Making Music - sub, insurance & PRS Bank charges Misc / paid collection to Unicef TOTAL EXPENSES Surplus/deficit for the period Reserves b/fwd 1 September 2023 Reserves Bursary Fund Reserves at 31 August 2024 CAF - current a/c CAF - deposit a/c Scottish Widows - deposit a/c Music & unused wine stocks Gift Aid tax refund Advance subs, refrs & mus payments Choir Weekend reserves 31 08 2023 |
2023/24 9,650.00 1,332.55 1,040.00 9,181.20 3,937.58 11,857.00 1,530.00 867.54 1,712.48 1,179.49 1,949.08 1,138.65 393.12 45,768.69 2,611.00 4,390.00 0.00 2,818.80 1,230.06 8,363.67 1,788.95 2,253.17 2,547.35 1,073.51 564.12 63.75 393.12 28,097.50 17,671.19 32,199.54 49,870.73 604.00 50,474.73 3,451.57 29,346.38 18,000.00 719.41 3,937.58 -2,663.90 -2,316.31 50,474.73 |
Budget 23/24 8,000.00 1,200.00 1,200.00 500.00 2,000.00 200.00 1,500.00 100.00 2,300.00 1,380.00 1,700.00 1,380.00 0.00 21,460.00 2,948.00 4,025.00 80.00 0.00 1,200.00 10,240.00 2,125.00 2,155.00 2,755.00 900.00 400.00 0.00 500.00 27,328.00 -5,868.00 |
22/23 8,095.00 1,608.38 1,420.00 613.00 1,763.05 210.00 1,145.50 247.22 1,222.29 2,017.34 1,664.38 1,306.75 0.00 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21,312.91 | ||||||
| 2,947.00 3,870.00 0.00 0.00 1,411.59 3,465.10 2,159.92 2,903.25 1,790.70 965.42 508.00 66.50 0.00 |
||||||
| 20,087.48 | ||||||
| 1,225.43 30,974.11 32,199.54 265.00 |
||||||
| 32,464.54 | ||||||
| 4,015.57 13,264.35 18,000.00 1,020.61 1,763.05 -3,080.00 -2,519.04 |
||||||
| 32,464.54 |
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CC CONCERTS REPORT 2023/2024
| 18-Nov-23 | 18-Nov-23 | 16-Dec-23 | 18-Mar-24 | 18-Mar-24 | 22-Jun-24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMVPH Handel - Jud-Macc | SMVPH Xmas concert | SMVPH | -Renaissance music | SMVPH Poetry & Motion | ||||
| actual | budget | actual | budget | actual | budget | actual |
budget | |
| Ticket sales | 1,455.48 | 2,000.00 | 899.49 | 1,200.00 |
1,835.38 | 1,500.00 |
909.65 | 1,200.00 |
| Programme sales | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Refreshments / prog adv | 257.00 | 300.00 | 280.00 | 180.00 |
113.70 | 200.00 | 229.00 | 180.00 |
| Grants and other receipts | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 1,712.48 | 2,300.00 | 1,179.49 | 1,380.00 |
1,949.08 | 1,700.00 |
1,138.65 | 1,380.00 |
| Orchestra | 3,841.09 | 5,500.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Soloists | 1,800.00 | 1,800.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 450.00 |
| Conductor | 750.00 | 750.00 | 750.00 | 750.00 |
750.00 | 750.00 | 900.00 | 750.00 |
| Organists / Pianists | 450.00 | 450.00 | 450.00 | 450.00 |
450.00 | 450.00 | 635.00 | 635.00 |
| Choral Scholars x 3 | 320.20 | 340.00 | 212.40 | 340.00 |
321.20 | 340.00 | 321.20 | 340.00 |
| Advertising | 26.40 | 40.00 | 16.70 | 40.00 | 29.00 | 40.00 | 29.40 | 40.00 |
| Venue hire (SMVPH) | 231.00 | 220.00 | 196.50 | 195.00 |
199.50 | 195.00 | 201.00 | 180.00 |
| Printing - programmes | 105.49 | 100.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 87.99 | 110.00 | 95.00 | 110.00 |
| Printing posters & leaflets | 42.33 | 70.00 | 38.85 | 70.00 | 41.89 | 70.00 | 38.88 | 70.00 |
| Music costs - performers | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Organ /piano hire | 30.00 | 600.00 | 30.00 | 60.00 | 30.00 | 30.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 |
| Staging costs / piano tuner | 80.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 80.00 | 0.00 | 80.00 | 0.00 |
| Gifts | 101.50 | 70.00 | 30.00 | 0.00 | 34.00 | 30.00 | 55.00 | 30.00 |
| Van hire | 158.00 | 140.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 150.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Refreshment expenses | 66.00 | 30.00 | 64.50 | 120.00 | 79.59 | 90.00 | 81.87 | 90.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 361.66 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 8,363.67 | 10,160.00 | 1,788.95 | 2,125.00 |
2,253.17 | 2,155.00 |
2,547.35 | 2,805.00 |
| DEFICIT | -6,651.19 | -7,860.00 | -609.46 | -745.00 |
-304.09 | -455.00 |
-1,408.70 | -1,425.00 |
| Sponsorship | nil | nil | nil | nil | nil | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| NET DEFICIT | -6,651.19 | -7,860.00 | -609.46 | -745.00 |
-304.09 | -455.00 |
-1,408.70 | -1,425.00 |
3
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2024
1) Bursary Fund
In November 2012 a new fund was set up by specific donations totaling £1,000 to replace the London Borough of Camden Bursary. This bursary is restricted to the support of singers with limited means. They no longer need to be residents of London Borough of Camden. It is treated as a special reserve to be used for individual bursaries. Bursaries were granted to an individual totaling £161.00 to cover subscriptions, music and refreshments during the 2023/24 season. A donation for £500.00 was agreed to be used to further fund the Bursary Scheme. This makes the special reserve being £604.00 as of 31[st] August 2024.
2) Assets - Staging and Lighting Rig
The lighting rig has been depreciated and written off over several years. The staging was written off in the year of purchase. The current policy is to treat the cost of any equipment with a value of under £1,000 as an expense in the year of purchase.
3) Camden Choir Musical Weekend / Away-day
From 2014 to 2021 there was a specially designated account with CAF Bank to cover past Musical Weekends. A decision was taken to close this account to avoid extra bank charges. £1,850.73 was transferred on 2 September 2021, just after the start of the 2021/22 financial year. It was later decided to have an Awayday, rather than a full Weekend.
The finances continued to be managed separately, though receipts and payments were within the main Camden Choir bank account, the Choir continuing to have a supervisory and safeguarding role. The Musical Weekend / Away-day figures, current reserves having decreased to £2,316.31 due to a small loss in July singing day in St Botolph’s, are presented in a separate account.
4
CAMDEN CHOIR
Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August 2024
Report to the Members of the Camden Choir
I have examined the attached financial statements on pages 2 - 4 from the books and records of the Camden Choir and from the information and explanations given to me.
In my opinion the accounts give a true and fair view of the Choir’s affairs as at 31[st] August 2024 and of the surplus for the year.
Jing Lu FCCA Honorary Independent Examiner
21[st] April 2025
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