2024-07-31-accounts

`Twickenham Choral Society

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024

Twickenham Choral Society (Registered Charity number 284847, and operating as “Twickenham Choral”) exists for “the promotion for public education in the art and science of Choral and Orchestral Music by the presentation of public concerts and recitals” . It is governed by the Rules of the Society.

The Trustees have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

The Trustees believe that the organisation meets the public benefit requirements of the Charity Commission because the charitable objectives (as noted above) clearly demonstrate the public benefit in the public education in the art and science of Choral and Orchestral music;

• the organisation provides the opportunity for participants to develop their musical skills and vocal technique in performing a wide range of choral repertoire;

• the organisation presents public concerts to a high standard in the local area; and

• financial assistance is provided to those in hardship by offering reduced rates of both membership and concert tickets.

Membership

During the year ( 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024 ) the following served on the committee:

Chairman: Helen Coulson Concert Paul Hehir Manager: Treasurer: Tim Lidbetter Publicity Sarah Herrick *Secretary Gill Zettle Social Katrina Lidbetter Secretary: Sponsorship Margaret Crisell Membership Barbara Orr Librarian: Rosemary Fulljames Front of Mika Takami House:

* Trustees.

Conductor: Christopher Herrick Assistant Conductor: Dan King Smith

Other than the Conductor, who is a member of the committee ex officio , neither the trustees nor any other committee members receive any remuneration for their duties, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The committee met five times during the year.

There were a total of 104 members during the year (previous year 100) of whom 87 claimed Gift Aid from HMRC (previous year 86). Membership numbers, boosted by several former members who returned for Christopher Herrick’s final season, returned almost to pre-COVID levels (107 in 2019/20, having dropped to 90 in 2020/21).

Independent Examiners: Simon Bartlett and Alison Williams (see below).

Bankers

1. CAF Bank (Charities’ Aid Foundation), Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent;

2. Scottish Widows (account closed December 22[nd] )

It is our policy to invest surplus funds into our higher-earning CAF Gold account. The Scottish Widows notice account was closed as it no longer provided a better rate of interest than the CAF account.

Financial Review of the Year

The Financial Statements are presented in accordance with the Charities’ Statement of Recommended Practice.

Summary

The choir’s musical director Christopher Herrick retired in June 2024 after fifty years, which was marked by a special performance of the Verdi Requiem in the Cadogan Hall. A very strong field of candidates came forward to apply to be his successor, and a shortlist of five were selected by a subcommittee to be auditioned by the membership, from which Howard Ionascu was selected, and appointed in May 2024, to take up his post in September.

Accounting policies

Statement of compliance

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

Basis of preparation

Twickenham Choral Society meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Exemption from preparing a cashflow statement

As permitted by FRS 102, the choir has opted to exercise the exemption for smaller charities from preparing a cashflow statement.

Taxation and Gift Aid

The Choir is a registered charity and therefore exempt from taxation. The choir’s charitable aims include presenting public concerts, which are therefore considered to be in support of the choir’s charitable aims, and so members’ subscriptions and other donations are eligible for Gift Aid.

Until 2014 the choir used Richmond Adult College’s facilities as a rehearsal venue and in consequence was registered as an evening class of that college, with the Conductor paid as a member of the teaching staff. It was agreed with HMRC that part of the subscription was deemed to be paid in respect of musical tuition and therefore not eligible for Gift Aid. The remainder of the income from membership subscriptions was considered to be of the nature of a gift, made in order to further the choir’s charitable aims (in particular, supporting the presentation of public concerts) and recognised by HMRC on the same basis as a donation. Although the choir is no longer registered as an evening class, the nature of the rehearsals has not changed and so the tuition/donation split has been maintained.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, its probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregates similar costs to that category. Expenditure outstanding at the year end is measured at the transaction price and included within Creditors.

Expenditure on Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the choir in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Fixed Assets

Tangible fixed assets are held in the balance sheet at historic cost. From 2022 these are depreciated in the accounts at 10% of the purchase value per annum. Investment assets are held at fair value at the balance sheet date. Our retiring conductor has donated his collection of orchestral scores for the use of the choir, and these have been assigned a value in the accounts of £3000.

The choir holds no intangible assets.

Stock

The choir holds stocks of choral scores and folders. These are held in the accounts at cost.

Creditors/Debtors

Debtors are measured at their recoverable amount at the balance sheet date, that is, the transaction value less any impairment required. The debtors represent sponsorship for the June concert that have been invoiced but have not yet paid. Conversely, several sponsors have already paid for advertisements in the programme for the concert planned for December 2024, and they are recorded as creditors.

Activities

Public Benefit

In planning the choir’s activities, the Trustees have considered Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, including the relationship between public benefit and fee charging. We rely primarily on the income from ticket sales and membership subscriptions to cover our operating costs. In setting the levels of subscriptions and ticket prices, the Trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of the choir and its concerts for those on low incomes.

We encourage singers to join us whatever their means. We offer reduced or free subscriptions for younger members and registered disabled.

For concerts, we offer a range of ticket prices to suit different incomes.

Concerts

Three concerts were staged during the accounting year

9[th] December 2023 – Landmark Centre, Teddington - Brahms Requiem , Rheinberger Mass in E flat

23[rd] March 2024 - Landmark Centre, Teddington – Bach St John Passion

22[nd] June 2024 – Cadogan Hall, Chelsea - Verdi Requiem The financing of the Verdi concert was made possible by a generous bequest from the late Trevor Sutton.

Rehearsals

There were 36 Thursday evening rehearsals during the year.

Finance

Income and Expenditure

Total income for the year (£66,494) and expenditure (£74,004) resulted in a net deficit of £7,510. This compares with a surplus of £5,904 (income £63,480 and expenditure £57,576 respectively) in the previous year.

This deficit includes the use of a bequest of £10,461, (including interest), from the late Trevor Sutton, received in July 2022, which had been allocated to fund the Cadogan Hall concert. Net of this special item, there was a surplus of £2,633

Comparisons with previous years are difficult because of the extra spending on Centenary activities in 2022, and on our retiring Musical Director’s final concert in 2024, and because 2019/20 and 2020/21 were untypical because of COVID restrictions.

Legacy Fund

A Legacy Fund, to support new commissions, was launched at the Centenary Gala Concert in May 2022. This was funded from a surplus from the Choir’s Centenary fund (set up in 2011 to support special events in the 2022 Centenary Year), and subsequent donations. The value of the Legacy Fund at 31/7/24 is £4,514

Reserves

The Unrestricted funds currently stand at £47,318 (£45,277 at 31/7/23). It should be noted that this includes a notional figure for “fixed assets” of £3,805.

In line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission, the choir’s policy is to hold adequate funds in reserves to be able to cover the majority of a typical year’s gross expenditure should the need arise. Larger reserves may be appropriate to cover special projects.

We need to look back to the years 2017/18 and 18/19 to find a “typical” year, when average annual expenditure was in the region of £40,000 - taking into account inflation since 2019, that is equivalent to about £45,000 now

( More recent years have been untypical - 2019/20 and 2020/21 recorded unusually low expenditure because of COVID restrictions, and there was additional expenditure in 2021/22 and 2022/23 covered by the Centenary Fund, and in 2024 covered by the Sutton bequest.)

Going concern

The Treasurer and other Trustees monitor the choir’s financial position on a regular basis and consider whether any material uncertainties may have arisen which may call into question the status of the choir as a going concern. The Trustees have assessed that there are currently no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Independent Examinerg Report to members of the Trvid(enham Choral Society. We are giving our report on the atwunts of the Twickenham Choral Sockety for the year ended 31 July 2024 which are set out on the following pages. Respe¢tive responsibilities of trust￿ and examiner The Trustee5 of the Twickenham Choral Souety are responsible for the preparation of the accounts,. they consider that the audit requirement of section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) doe5 not apply, and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is our responsibility hs Independent Examiners to= examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act to follow the procedure5 laid down in theBeneral DirertionsgNen bythe Charity Commissioners under section 1451Sllbl of the 2011 Act. Basi5 of independent examlners. report Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records and a compartson of the accounts wlth those records. It also includes considering any unusual iterns or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a.true and fair view- and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiners, Statement In tonnection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention.. lil which Bives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respe¢t the requirements have not been met- To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Aci,. and To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirement5 of the 2011 Act, or 121 to which. in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Simon Bartletl ACA 21 Jubilee Avenue, Whitton. TW2 6JA Alison William5 ACA 20 Balmoral Road, Kingston upon Thames, Kri 2TY Dated'.W9n4