The Waynflete Singers
Registered charity number 285107
Trustees’ report and financial statements
Year ended 31 August 2025
Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ report | 1 |
| Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements | 3 |
| Report of the examiner to the trustees of the Society | 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes | 7 |
Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Trustees’ report
The trustees present their annual report and the examined financial statements of The Waynflete Singers (“the Society”) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Reference and Administrative details
The Society is a charity, registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales. The Society’s charity registration number is 285107. The Society can be contacted through the office of its Chairman, whose address is given below. The trustees have filed the Society’s Charity Commission Annual Return 2024.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Society has a constitution which provides that the Society shall be governed by a committee of persons elected from the ordinary members of the Society. The committee consists of three or four officers and up to seven further members.
The trustees of the Society are the officers. During the year they were as follows:
Daniel Benton (Chairman) Kate Spencer (Honorary Secretary) Kate Baker (Honorary Treasurer)
The management of the Society is entrusted to the committee, which meets at least three times a year. Ad hoc subcommittees that consist of committee members and co-opted members of the Society support the committee.
Objectives and Activities
The Society is established for the following charitable purposes namely:
a) the education of the public in the art and science of music; and
b) the promotion of choral singing and of the performance of choral and other musical works.
All the work done by the Society is achieved by volunteers. The vast majority of volunteers are either Members, or Gold, Silver or Bronze Friends of the Society. The Society has no employees. The musical director for most rehearsals and concerts is Andrew Lumsden and the rehearsal accompanist is normally George Castle.
Achievements and Performance
The Society believes that it has completely met its principal objectives.
This financial year the choir has given four public concerts.
On December 7th 2024 the choir gave a concert in Winchester Cathedral entitled "A Classical Christmas". The programme included Beethoven's Mass in C, Bach's Cantata 40 and a selection of Christmas music, including choir member Tim Cain's "Let us go now to Bethlehem". The orchestra was the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrew Lumsden, with soloists Eleanor Dennis, Catherine Carby, Ban Hulett and Alastair Miles.
On April 4th 2025 we performed the Verdi Requiem in a sold-out Winchester Cathedral, with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, again conducted by Andrew Lumsden. We were joined by members of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and this has helped to deepen further the co-operation between the choirs. The soloists were Elin Pritchard, Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, Andres Presno and Ashley Riches.
The choir went on tour to Bayeaux in Normandy from May 30th to June 1st 2025, singing a concert at Bayeux Cathedral, conducted by Andrew Lumsden and accompanied by organist George Castle, and a shorter concert at the American Cemetery.
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
The final concert of the year was “Music for a Summer's Evening” in Chandlers Ford Methodist Church on June 28th. George Castle accompanied the choir, under the direction of Andrew Lumsden, in a varied programme including Chilcott's Jazz Madrigals and the original Tudor madrigals upon which they are based.
At the beginning of each term, auditions were held for potential new members. This resulted in several new members joining the choir during the year - pleasingly this included new tenors and basses.
Financial Review
During the year there was a net concert loss of £40,799 (compared to a £32,994 loss for the year ended 31 August 2024). Subscriptions, gift aid and fund raising turned this into an overall loss for the year of £2,779 (compared to a loss of £1,317 for the previous year).
The Society’s net assets at 31 August 2025 stood at £84,216 (£86,995 at 31 August 2024). The majority of the Society’s gross assets is represented by cash of £85,131 (£81,846 at 31 August 2024), much of which is on deposit with COIF Charity Funds.
Trustees and other members of the Society may be reimbursed costs necessarily incurred but this didn’t happen during the year. No fees were paid to any officer or related person.
Reserves policy
The reserves (net assets) are held by the trustees in order to provide funds to meet concert expenditure not covered by income, to enable the Society to commission musical works for performance by the Society, and to engage in similar matters that are in accordance with the purposes for which the Society was founded.
The Society ideally needs to be financially confident to make future commitments in order to secure good soloists and orchestras. In the light of this, the trustees feel that it is prudent to maintain financial reserves of at least £70,000. The funds are currently above that minimum.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risk and uncertainty facing the Society is the number of tickets that will be sold for any particular concert. The choir does as much as possible to promote concerts in the local community and close surrounds, with advertising leaflets, newspaper advertisements and banners where applicable and also provides inviting and informative programmes to sell (also advertising future concerts) to add to the funds.
Investment policy
The trustees consider that they should keep sufficient funds in order to ensure that the Society remains solvent at all times. This means that the trustees should be able to meet immediate demands from creditors even if a concert being sponsored by the Society generates income that is substantially below that which could be reasonably projected at the time of commitment to non-refundable associated expenditure. Consequently, the funds are held in bank and money market accounts that are thought to be exposed to minimal risk and which allow easy access while offering competitive interest rates.
Plans for future periods
The Society plans to continue giving high-quality performances of choral music in Winchester, and hopefully elsewhere in the UK and in Europe. It will continue to attempt to encourage younger people to become permanent singing members of the choir.
Next season will include performances of Messiah and Dream of Gerontius in Winchester a summer concert in Southampton.
We will continue to look to renew and expand the membership of the choir, continuing to focus on building our tenor and bass sections to the same strength as our sopranos and altos.
Examination of Accounts
The Society continues to remain below the size threshold at which the Charities Act 2006 requires an audit. Consequently the trustees submit the financial statements for examination. Ms C Cunningham has examined the accounts for this year.
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Signed on behalf of the trustees by
Daniel Benton Date 7 November 2025
Chairman of the Society
Oak House Park Lane Ropley SO24 0BE
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
• observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Waynflete Singers
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Waynflete Singers (“the Society”) for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Society you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Society’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Society as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Christine Cunningham
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies: FCCA
Address: Coverdale, Smiths Lane, Shirrell Heath SO32 2JP
Date:
Page 4
Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Note 1 Incoming resources Donations and similar income 2 Income from activities furthering the Society’s objects 3 Investment income 4 Other incoming resources 5 Total incoming resources Resources expended Cost of generating funds 6 Expenditure on charitable activities 7 Management and administration 8 Total resources expended Net incoming / (outgoing) resources Profits / (Losses) on revaluation and disposals of investment assets Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
£ 38,747 49,985 2,839 1,294 |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 92,866 (95,645) |
£ 34,970 49,880 2,774 521 |
2024 £ 88,145 (89,462) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (640) (93,285) (1,720) |
(62) (88,039) (1,361) |
|||
| (2,779) 0 |
(1,317) 0 |
|||
| (2,779) 86,995 |
(1,317) 88,312 |
|||
| 84,216 | 86,995 |
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Balance sheet at 31 August 2024
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets Investments Current assets Debtors 9 Stock Accruals and prepayments 10 Cash at bank and in hand 11 Total current assets Creditors due within one year 12 Advance receipts13 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Provisions for liabilities and charges 14 Net assets Represented by Reserves brought forward Profit and loss account Trustees’ funds |
£ 0 0 |
2025 £ 0 84,216 |
£ 0 0 |
2024 £ 0 86,995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 257 (1,286) 85,131 |
5,303 49 847 81,846 |
|||
| 84,216 0 0 |
88,045 0 (1,050) |
|||
84,216 0 |
86,995 0 |
|||
| 84,216 | 86,995 | |||
| 86,995 (2,779) |
88,312 (1,317) |
|||
| 84,216 | 86,995 |
These financial statements were approved by the trustees on
Signed Date 7 November 2025
Kate Baker, Honorary Treasurer
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
Notes
(forming part of the financial statements
1 Accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Society’s financial statements.
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with “Accounting and reporting by charities: statement of recommended practice (SORP 2005)”, UK accounting standards and the Charities Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis, using historic cost except for investments, which have been included at market value.
Under Financial Reporting Standard 1 (Revised 1996) the Society is exempt from the requirement to prepare a cash flow statement on the grounds of its size.
The Society has no restricted income funds, nor does it have any endowment funds.
Incoming resources
Incoming resources are accounted for when the charity has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount is measurable. When income is received in advance of a performance it is deferred and accounted for on the balance sheet as ‘Advanced receipts’ until the charity is entitled to that income.
2 Donations and similar income
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Donations | 2,000 | 0 |
| Sponsorship | 2,500 | 5,165 |
| Subscriptions | 27,217 | 24,503 |
| Gift Aid | 7,030 | 5,303 |
| Total | 38,747 | 34,971 |
3 Income from activities furthering the Society’s objects
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Ticket sales | 43,775 | 45,779 |
| Travel Income | 0 | 0 |
| Programme sales | 1,419 | 1,593 |
| Programme advertising | 1,000 | 625 |
| Music hire/sales | 3,791 | 1,882 |
| Total | 49,985 | 49,879 |
| 4 | Investment income | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| This year | Last year | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Interest | 2,839 | 2,774 | |
| Total | 2,839 | 2,774 |
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
5 Other incoming resources
| 5 | Other incoming resources | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| This year | Last year | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| General | fund raising | 1,294 | 521 |
| Total | 1,294 | 521 | |
| 6 | Cost of generating funds | ||
| This year | Last year | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Fundraising expenses | (640) | (62) | |
| Total | (640) | (62) | |
| 7 | Expenditure on charitable activities |
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Orchestra | (29,124) | (30,350) |
| Conductor and soloists | (16,716) | (19,671) |
| Extra voices | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment Hire | (1,912) |
(540) |
| Concert venue hire | (14,325) | (15,433) |
| Concert Publicity | (905) | (717) |
| Ticket commission | (6,481) | (5,665) |
| Performing Rights Society | (4,426) | 0 |
| Programme printing | (1,924) | (1,455) |
| Music costs | (4,421) | (2,189) |
| Rehearsal hall hire | (2,191) | (2,209) |
| Donations to Charities | 0 | 0 |
| Chorus master | (5,610) | (4,410) |
| Accompanist | (4,253) | (3,393) |
| Travel | 0 | (0) |
| Miscellaneous | (997) |
(2,008) |
| Total | (93,285) | _(_88,039) |
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
8 Management and administration
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Auditions | (650) | (360) |
| Printing, postage, etc | (55) | (37) |
| General publicity | 0 | 0 |
| Insurance | (81) | (79) |
| AGM | (114) | (108) |
| Miscellaneous | (739) | (777) |
| Total | (1,639) | (1,361) |
| 9 Debtors |
||
| Debtors(due within one year) | This year | Last year |
| £ | £ | |
| 114 | 5,303 | |
| Total | 5,303 | 5,303 |
| 10 Accruals and Prepayments |
||
| This year | Last year | |
| Advance payments | £ | £ |
| Music for Autumn term | 0 | 247 |
| Venue hire deposit | 0 |
600 |
| PRS accrual | (1,286) | |
| Total | (1,286) | 847 |
| 11 Cash | ||
|---|---|---|
| This year | Last year | |
| £ | £ | |
| Barclays current account | 1,678 | 5,564 |
| Barclays deposit account | 18,861 | 28,864 |
| COIF deposit account | 49,593 | 47,418 |
| Co-op saving account | 15,000 | 0 |
| Total | 85,131 | 81,846 |
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Trustees’ report and financial statements Year ended 31 August 2025
| 12 | Creditors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Creditors | (due within one year) | This year | Last year |
| £ | £ | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 |
13 Advance receipts ( all advance receipts are receivable within one year of the balance sheet date}
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Advance receipts | 0 | (1,050) |
| 0 | (1,050) |
14 Other provisions for liabilities and charges
| This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Total | 0 | 0 |
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