## ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
## For the year ended 31 July 2024
## THE READING BACH CHOIR
Registered Charity: 286414
## ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
The Reading Bach Choir is registered with the Charities Commission (No. 486414)
Contact Address:
14 Shooters Hill Pangbourne RG8 7DU
## Trustees:
Mrs A Ware Chair (resigned 5 March 2024) Mrs C Powell Chair (appointed 5 March 2024) Ms C Hitch Treasurer Mrs S Cruddace Secretary
Other Committee Members:
Mr B McGee Librarian Mrs R Howard Concert Manager Ms R Kershaw Fundraising Mrs K Munns Publicity and Friends Contact Mr C Nelson IT Mrs D Rowbottom Social secretary (retired as Social Secretary 10 October 2023, remained on Committee thereafter)
The constitution requires 1/3 of the Committee/Trustees to retire by rotation each year and seek reappointment at the Annual General Meeting. Mrs R Howard is retiring at this AGM. Mr B McGee and Mr C Nelson are standing down and offer themselves for reappointment.
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## OBJECTIVES AND MODE OF OPERATION
The objectives of the charity are the study and performance of choral works in order to promote and develop public appreciation of such works by means of public performance and other appropriate activities. There are three levels of membership: singing; non-singing; and honorary. Singing membership is open to anyone who can demonstrate an appropriate singing and musical ability. There are no such requirements for non-singing membership. Honorary members are appointed by the Trustees in recognition for outstanding contribution and service to the choir.
To meet the objectives, members study a range of choral music at weekly rehearsals under the direction of a professional music director and a professional accompanist. An important part of each rehearsal is the development of vocal technique and musical interpretation. The works studied are performed at concerts held during the year where the choir performs with professional musicians and achieves a very high standard of performance. A wide range of music from different periods and in different styles, which includes familiar, lesser known and unknown works, is incorporated into the programme.
Due to the costs of funding large scale concerts, the programmes are planned so generally one concert a year is performed with a professional orchestra and soloists, with the remaining concerts being performed acapella or with smaller or solo forces.
The choir continues to receive no grant from any public bodies.
Virtually all the choir's income is dedicated to supporting the objectives, with only £703 (2023 £465) of expenditure related to insurance and administrative costs and the choir’s website. The increase on the previous year is due to higher PRS payable £151 (2023 £63), Membership of Making Music £298 (2023 £200), Insurance premium £151 (2023 £99). Website costs remain unchanged.
## General Reserves and Trust Fund
The Committee considers that it is necessary to hold reserves to provide a level of financial certainty between the time when the season's programme is planned and financial commitments made, and the actual performance that generates income. By considering the planned expenditure against the anticipated income and assessing the associated risks of such, the Committee considers that minimum operating reserves of £10,000 are required.
## Review of Activities
What a thrilling year we have had, three such very different concerts, with songs ranging from 1605 right up to the UK premier of Louis Dejarlais. Our 40 voices blended beautifully in St. Andrew’s Church, Caversham for our a cappella Christmas concert; a Baroque/Renaissance delight of Schutz, Bach and Victoria. A new Romantic challenge presented itself for our Spring concert in St Thomas’ Church, Goring. We employed four superb young soloists. Their powerful voices, Reading Bach Choir, and accompanied by our Assistant Music Director on piano, filled the church with the glorious sound of Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Verdi and Dvorak.
The final concert of the year, at St. Andrew’s Church, Caversham, was entitled Music of the Americas, and we presented various styles of music from the continent spread over 4 centuries in seven languages. Attendance was good and we would love bigger audiences, even though we do publicise the concerts widely in the press and online.
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We also presented a popular carol concert at Christmas, which brought a bigger audience and we will repeat this annually. Daniel Mahoney, our Music Director, also led a workshop in January, exploring the choral Passion, and of the many attendees some went on to become choir members.
On behalf of the choir, I would like to thank Daniel wholeheartedly for his masterful programming and excellent teaching, giving us the opportunity to learn and perform to a high standard, a broad range of challenging and beautiful music. Thanks also to Nick Shaw, our Assistant Musical Director, who provides encouraging and essential support.
The RBC 60th anniversary is approaching in 26/27, and the choir are already enthusiastically raising funds for a special concert by holding a successful Promises Auction.
None of this would be possible without the Reading Bach Choir Committee. They work hard behind the scenes to make our concerts and other activities happen, as do many other choir members who enthusiastically offer their support. Many thanks to them, and especially to our ex-Chair and to our Concert Manager, who are relocating elsewhere in the UK.
## Financial Review
## Overall
For the year, we made a surplus of £4,483 (2023: loss of £107).
## Subscriptions
Subscription fees for members for the year were raised to £255 (2023: £230). Subscriptions from members for the year were £11,214 (2023: £10,090) which includes Friends subs of £530 (2023: £255), with a further £2,630 income from Gift Aid on Subs and other donations (2023: £2,294).
Broadly speaking, the choir’s intention has always been for subscriptions (including Gift Aid) and refreshments during rehearsals to cover the cost of rehearsals. This has not been the case this year or last year as the cost of rehearsals was £16,170 (2023: £16,471) and subscriptions (including Gift Aid and refreshments) amounted to £14,568 (2023: £13,019), a difference of £1,602 (2023: £3,452).
## Concerts
The ‘Income & Expenditure’ for each of the three concerts (2023: four concerts) we put on this year is shown on page 9. The concerts alone made a surplus of £144 (2023: £142) but once ‘fundraising’ is set against this, it resulted in a surplus of £4,513 (2023: £4,776).
## Fundraising
Online fundraising generated £300 (2023: £227) through Easy Fundraising (Amazon Smile which contributed in 2023 ceased operation). There was a specific donation of £100 towards the costs of Concert 2. Other activities and donations, including a workshop and carol singing ‘concert’ raised a further £3,969 (2023: £4,407) and an Auction of Promises raised a further £2,608 which is earmarked for the choir’s 60[th] Anniversary year activities.
## Electronic payments
The use of electronic payments is increasing and we are able to take card payments using our Zettle card reader and can sell tickets via our website with customers paying by card. Both of these incur charges which amounted to £132 this year (2023: £184).
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## Committee
The position of Chair was handed from Anne Ware to myself in March as Anne is moving away from the area. She leaves with the choir’s heartfelt thanks for her many years of singing and in recent times her excellent leadership, including the very difficult Covid era.
At the October 2024 AGM, Rebecca Howard steps down from the Committee and her Concert Manager role as she too is moving away from the area. She also leaves with our thanks as has been a very valuable choir member, often singing beautiful solos, and in recent years an organised and effective Concert Manager.
We will greatly miss both Anne and Rebecca and wish them well in their new homes.
Daphne stepped down as Social Secretary in October but happily agreed to continue to be a Committee member, helping organise ad hoc activities such as the audition days.
I am happy that other Committee members are willing to continue in their roles.
Clare Powell Chair October 2024
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Reading Bach Choir
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Reading Bach Choir, Charity number 286414, for the year ended 31[st] July 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 11.
## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner**
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and state 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 Charity Commission. 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 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 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 examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination: I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act other than the 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.
Mark Tomsett Retired ACMA 7 Avalon Road Earley Reading RG6 7NS
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
|**Notes**
**Concert Income**
Ticket sales
2
Programme sales
2
Refreshments
2
Total
**Non-concert Income**
Subscriptions
4
Gift Aid
4
Fund Raising
3
Grants and donations
3
Refreshments
4
Interest
4
Workshop
4
Other
4
Total
**TOTAL INCOME**
**Concert expenditure**
Professionals (MD & accompanist)
2
Venue
2
Tickets & programmes
2
Publicity
2
Refreshments
2
Other
2
Total|**2024**
**£**
4,439
477
411
5,327
10,684
2,630
5,714
1,402
725
554
2,025
576
24,310
**29,637**
3,435
910
425
225
223
5,218|**2023**
**£**
6,249
591
369|
|---|---|---|
|||7,209
9,835
2,294
3,638
575
635
305
2,135
742|
|||20,159|
|||**27,368**
5,300
960
569
238|
|||7,067|
||||
|**Non-concert expenditure**
Professionals (MD & Assistant MD)
4
Venue
4
Subscriptions & insurance
4
Refreshments
4
Workshop
4
Fundraising
4
Website
4
Payment Processing Charges
4
Donation Out
4
Auditions
4
Other
4
Music
4/7
Total|13,555
2,555
600
479
1,539
66
103
131
636
67
205
19,936|14,080
2,302
362
550
931
528
103
184
1,100
13
255|
|||20,408|
||||
|**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR**|**25,154**
**4,483**|**27,475**|
|||**(107)**|
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## MOVEMENT OF RESERVES AND FUNDS
|**Movement of Reserves and Funds**
Balance as at 31 July 23
Surplus for the Year
**Balance as at 31 July 24**
**Summary of Net Assets by Fund**
Summary of Net Assets by Fund|**General**
**£**
7,642
4,483
**12,125**
**General**
**£**
12,125|**Trust Fund**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
10,000
17,642
4,483
**10,000**
**22,125**
**Trust Fund**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
10,000
22,125|
|---|---|---|
## BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 JULY 2024
|**Notes**
**Fixed Assets**
Sheet Music and glasses
8
**Current Assets**
Debtors - due from Revenue
9
Other debtors and prepayments
9
Stock
9
Cash at Bank
Cash in Trust Fund Account
Cash in Hand
Total current assets
**Current Liabilities**
Interest-free loan
Deferred Income
Creditors
10
Total current Liabilities
**Net current Assets**
**Net Assets**
**Represented by**
Trust fund
General Reserves
**Total**|**Year Ended**
**31/07/2024**
**£**
**373**
2,590
153
66
9,206
11,208
60
**23,283**
600
0
931
**1,531**
**21,752**
**22,125**
**Year Ended**
**31/07/2023**
**£**
10,000
12,125
**22,125**|**Year Ended**
Movement
**31/07/2023**
in Year
**£**
£
**489**
**(116)**
2,273
317
0
153
0
66
5,366
3,840
10,654
554
60
0
**18,353**
4,930
600
0
0
0
600
331
**1,200**
331
**17,153**
4,599
**17,642**
4,483
**Year Ended**
Movement
**31/07/2023**
in Year
**£**
£
10,000
0
7,642
4,483
**17,642**
4,483|
|---|---|---|
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
## **1. Basis of Preparation**
The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention, on the accrual basis and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Account by Charities.
Depreciation is charged on Music owned by the choir in accordance with its estimated useful life based on the number of times it is hired out in the year. It is estimated that music has hiring value for up to 5 hires by which time successive marking and rubbing out will impact sufficient numbers of copies to significantly reduce its economic value.
Depreciation is also charged on the glasses purchased for refreshments in concerts, fundraising and social events. A life of 15 years has been assigned to the glasses and breakages will be written off in the year they occur.
## **2. Income and Expenditure on Concerts**
There were 3 concerts (2023: 4) during the Financial Year covered by these accounts.
|**Income**
Tickets etc
**Expenditure**
Professionals
Orchestra/solists/additional voices
Venue
Printing and Publicity
Refreshments
Other
Total
**Gross Surplus/(Deficit)**
**Specific Fundraising**
**General Fundraising**
**Net Surplus**|**2023**
**Concert 1**
**Concert 2**
**Concert 3 Grand Total**
1,803
1,965
1,558
**5,327**
7,209
550
550
550
**1,650**
2,000
0
1,785
0
**1,785**
3,300
280
350
280
**910**
960
196
182
237
**615**
569
77
75
72
**223**
238
**0**
0
1,103
2,941
1,139
**5,183**
7,067
700
(976)
419
**144**
142
0
100
0
**100**
0
908
2,422
938
**4,269**
4,634
**908**
**2,522**
**938**
**4,369**
4,634
**1,608**
**1,546**
**1,357**
**4,513**
4,776
**2024**|
|---|---|
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## **3. Income and Expenditure on Fundraising**
|Sales
Donations and grants
Online Fundraising
Raffle/Tombola
Weddings/Funerals
Workshops
Clarinet Concert
Carol Singing
Auction of Promises
Other
**Total Fundraising**|**Income Expense**
**Net**
Income
Expense
Net
**£**
**£**
**£**
£
£
£
**230**
**230**
365
**365**
**1,027**
**1,027**
575
**575**
**300**
**300**
227
**227**
**1,056**
**(11)**
**1,045**
1,125
**1,125**
**550**
**550**
**0**
**2,617**
**(1,623)**
**994**
2,135
(931)
**1,204**
**0**
1,520
(528)
**992**
**222**
**222**
106
**106**
**2,608**
**2,608**
**0**
40
**40**
**8,611**
**(1,634)**
**6,977**
6,093
(1,459)
4,634
**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
## **4. Income and Expenditure on Rehearsals and Other Items**
||**2024**|||2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Rehearsals**|**Other**|**Total**|Total|
|**Income**|**£**|**£**|**£**|£|
|Subscriptions1|11,214||11,214|10,090|
|Giftaid|2,630||2,630|2,294|
|Interest||554|554|305|
|Refreshments|724||724|635|
|Summer Party||561|561|736|
|Workshop|||||
|Other||15|15|6|
|Total|14,568|1,130|15,698|14,066|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Insurance and PRS||600|600|362|
|Professionals|13,555||13,555|14,080|
|Refreshments/Summer Party|61|419|480|550|
|Venue|2,554||2,554|2,268|
|Workshop||||35|
|Re-auditions for choir||636|636|1,100|
|Payment Processing Charges||131|131|184|
|Other||38|38|13|
|Website||103|103|103|
|Total|16,170|1,927|18,097|18,694|
|**Gross Surplus/(Deficit)**|**(1,602)**|**(797)**|**(2,399)**|**(4,628)**|
1 Includes Members and Friends Subscriptions
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## **5. Summary of Net Assets by Fund**
## **Trust Fund**
The Trust Fund was established in 1985 with the purpose of providing the Choir with a secure financial base. The income generated from the Fund would be available to be used to further the objectives of the Choir in relation to assisting with concert or any other specific project that would further the choir’s objectives. The Fund was initially created from donations and interest-free loans. Since it was created the interest received on the account has been accumulated into the fund to give the current balance. The remaining balance of interest free loans made to the Fund is included in the balance sheet as a liability.
The trustees consider that the fund is an expendable endowment and so the income generated is applied towards achieving the choir’s objectives.
## **6. Trustees’ Remuneration and Expenses**
No remuneration out of the funds of the charity was paid or is payable to any trustee or to any persons known to be connected with any of them.
A total of £1,251 (2023: £3,137) was reimbursed to 5 (2023: 4) trustees or committee members. These payments were for administrative, refreshments and music expenses incurred on behalf of the choir.
## **7. Music**
The only expenditure on music during the year (other than for concerts/rehearsals) was the depreciation of the music held as fixed assets (see Note 8 below).
## **8. Fixed Assets**
Depreciation of £113 (2023: £253) was charged for the year on music.
The choir owns glasses for refreshments at concerts and fundraising or social events. 72 glasses were originally purchased at a cost of £48. 2 breakages occurred last year and 1 this year which are written off in the year they occur net of depreciation already charged. Depreciation of £3.08 (2023 £3.20) was charged for the year on the remaining glasses.
## **9. Current Assets**
HMRC Debtor for gift aid is £2,590 (2023: £2,273).
There is a small other debtor balance relating to unpaid subscriptions £153 (2023: £nil).
The stock of wine left from 2023 concerts is valued at £65.97 (2023 nil).
## **10. Creditors**
The main elements of Creditors are accrued venue costs which are now either settled or under investigation.
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