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2025-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 286733

MILTON GLEE CLUB REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

MILTON GLEE CLUB

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 7
Independent Examiner’s Report 8
Receipts and Payments 9 to 10
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12 to 14

MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2015 in the preparation of the trustees’ report. The financial statements are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and thus do not comply with the SORP.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity Number

286733

Principal Address

4, Firs Avenue, Waterlooville Hampshire PO8 8RR

Patrons

Dr. Chris Davis OBE

Vice Presidents

Brian North Lt Col. Jim Mason Captain Edward Whealing Lt Ray Woodfield (deceased 11 May 2025) Captain David Cole

Trustees

Robert Minnell Chairman Colin Adams Business and Finance Manager Linda Stimpson Treasurer Madge Hull Membership Secretary John Upton Secretary Choir Representatives: Marcus Saunders Bass and Deputy Chairman Michael Horner Tenor Susie Quinlan Alto Charlotte Mather Soprano Elaine Husselby Social Media and Marketing Adviser Clare Brown Social Secretary (appointed 14 June 2014) Siobhan Fell Social and Media (appointed 14 June 2024, resigned 14 January 2025)

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Committee members: non trustee and additional roles

IT Adviser Choir Liaison

Robert Minnell Lesley Hope

Non Committee position

Musical Director Accompanist Librarian Assistant librarian Assistant librarian

Mark Jefferson Ian Walker Rosemary England Angela Gray Alicia Briers-Gray

Independent Examiner

Gavin Whitter FCA CTA Gibson Whitter Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Larch House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP

Bankers

National Westminster Bank PLC

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

Milton Glee Club is an unincorporated charity, founded in 1948 and governed by its constitution. Amendments to the constitution were passed in 2015, with the last update being in June 2018.

The trustees deal with the day to day running of the charity and have meetings every two months. There are also various sub-committees dealing with publicity, fundraising and finance that meet whenever required.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Under the provisions of the constitution the trustee officers are obliged to stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. The chairman, deputy chairman, business and finance manager and musical director are appointed by the committee members.

Trustees are encouraged to become familiar with their legal obligations under charity law and acknowledge this upon appointment.

Risk Management

The committee is responsible for the management of risks faced by Milton Glee Club. Risks are identified and controls established throughout the year. Milton Glee Club is a member of Making Music (the National Federation of Music Societies), an organisation that supports and champions voluntary music.

There is a Young and Vulnerable Persons Safeguarding Policy and procedures are in place to deal with any problems that may arise. The Health and Safety Policy was updated during the year. A policy to deal with GDPR was agreed. Review of policies is undertaken on a regular basis.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Purposes and activities

The purposes of the charity are:

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Review of Public Benefit

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. Milton Glee Club currently relies on the income from concert tickets and fees to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, charges and concessions, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility for those on low incomes. There are reduced fees for students, married couples and those on low incomes.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Since our last AGM we have performed four concerts.

The first concert of the 2024/2025 season was a joint concert with the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir. The concert was part of a tour taken by the male voice choir. The concert itself was well attended and saw just over 100 voices raised in song. The Church of the Holy Spirit resounded to beautiful music sung by both choirs. Following the concert a social gathering was enjoyed by all as social singing lasted well into the early hours with both choirs enjoying the fellowship that music inspires.

Our next concert was a Summer Concert in July at Midhurst Parish Church. This was a concert given together with children from Midhurst CofE Primary School in aid of local charities. Once again everyone sang superbly. Several audience members stopped me both in the interval and after the concert to say how much they enjoyed the performance and how much they felt The MGC choir sang with passion and energy. I totally agree. This was a well-attended concert, with many audience members asking when the choir would be coming back.

Our next concert was our Winter concert at the Guildhall, Portsmouth with the Royal Marines Association Band. The choir once again raised our standard from previous concerts. The band were superb and accompanied our singing superbly well. They were also a joy to work with. It is worth noting the significantly larger audience numbers on previous concerts.

Falling just after the year end, our next concert was the Passiontide Concert at the Church of the Resurrection, a wonderfully reflective concert which saw the choir undertake the Faure Requiem together with the Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott. A wide range of repertoire reflective of the Passiontide liturgical calendar.

Also in April, our last concert was another joint concert with the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir, although this time it was our turn to undertake a tour which saw us travel to Suffolk on the Saturday morning and stay overnight in Bury St Edmunds, performing at St John’s Church in aid of the St Nicholas Hospice. In my experience, choirs always give of their best when performing with other choirs and this was no different with the male voice choir. The combined sound from both choirs really did lift the roof and the comments from audience members and choristers from the male voice choir were both kind and extremely complimentary. Not just the concert but the afterglow afterwards had an important part to play as one of the choir commented after the event “It’s so wonderful that we have the social side of the choir back.”

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

I think we have learnt so very much this year together and moved on at a great pace. We have learnt a number of new repertoire pieces and will continue to learn new songs as we move into the new season and I continue to us my yearly allocated budget for new music. It is important as I choose new music that I hear the choir’s thoughts and ideas for new repertoire.

So, at the end of the present concert season I pay special thanks to those who work behind the scenes to make each concert a success – Michael and Marcus with staging and sound, the many soloists who step forward from the choir to add that something special to our concerts both vocally and instrumentally and, of course, the entire committee who work on behalf of the choir supporting and shaping the choir into the musical family that we all benefit from.

But, of course, we would not sound as superb as we do without the amazing pianistic skills of Ian. We are extremely lucky to have Ian as our accompanist. It is very rare to work with an accompanist who understands the choir, adds just what is needed and follows me as Musical Director superbly.

Portsmouth Lottery

This charity fundraising lottery was devised and supported by Portsmouth City Council. The Milton Glee Club has its own page on the website and can promote this lottery (and our choir) to friends, family and colleagues. This will be marketed and extended in the future as it is a good source of income to the club.

Social

The weekly raffle has raised funds for the social fund which is used for flowers, cards and gifts for members and their family. Thanks to those who run it. In addition, there have been several activities. A trip to a local pub at the end of the winter and summer sessions continues to be enjoyable.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

2024/2025 has been a good year of progress for the choir. Mark has settled into his MD role and now with a greater understanding of the choirs’ capabilities, adjusting the musical programme and direction to suit.

We enjoyed a Joint Concert with Marks’ old choir St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir, which was performed at a new Venue for us, Church of the Holy Spirit in Portsmouth. The evening was well attended and both choirs had a great time both at the concert and the after-show party. There are plans for a reciprocal visit to Bury St Edmunds in 2025.

Another new outing for the choir was a trip to Midhurst to perform there alongside the Midhurst Primary School Choir. Again, this was a well-supported event and there are plans to return in 2025. Christmas saw us back at the Guildhall with the RMA band and this year for the first time in a while we were in the black! Only a small profit but it shows we are on the right track. At this time, we do not have a Guildhall date booked for 2025 as we could not get any of the dates we wanted. We will still be performing with the RMA Band but our Christmas 2025 Concert will be at St Mary’s Church.

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

It will be interesting to see how this affects audience numbers, but we will be returning to the Guildhall in 2026.

Choir numbers have increased over the year. We are still short of men, but that is the same situation for all choirs in today’s climate. We continue to advertise and reach out to singers across the area who might be interested in joining us.

Looking forward to 2025, we have booked a Christmas Concert at St Marys with the RMA Band. We will be travelling to Bury St Edmunds to perform with the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir and we will be heading back to Midhurst for a joint concert with the school choir. We are still looking for other opportunities to perform in new areas and venues to get the choirs name more widely known that just Portsmouth. Planning is also underway to take the choir out to other areas to expand our supporter base and get our name out there.

My thanks to all of the committee members and other teams that have helped organise things throughout the year. Here is to a successful and enjoyable 2025/6.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial performance

There was a deficit for the year of £1,164 after all expenses and donations. Subscriptions are increasing but there are still a lower number of members than before the pandemic. There was an increase in the subscription for the year, however subscription fees still remain affordable, and measures are in place to assist members who are students, in hardship or unemployed.

Although audience numbers have not reached pre-pandemic levels all concerts held during the year realised a surplus. The concert in Midhurst in July 2024 was under the flat charge model and the charge to the Midhurst Community Hub covered the costs, with the aid of a donation towards the bass player’s costs. Details are in the notes to the accounts.

Reserves Policy

The trustees consider that the charity needs to maintain a level of general reserves approximately equivalent to the costs of one year’s concerts. The committee considers that the reserves should be maintained at £8,000 as fewer concerts will be held at the Guildhall. In addition, the trustees keep a reserve to cover the costs of visiting groups and a London orchestra for any special concert that may be planned, these costs amount to approximately £11,000. The current level of reserves is sufficient to cover this.

Free reserves, shown within cash balances, amount to £19,455. The trustees review the level of free reserves annually to consider making donations to charities proposed by the choir, when the free reserves exceed the general and special reserves. There was a balance on the restricted reserve for the sponsored ticket scheme as at 31 March 2025 of £651 which will be used at future concerts and donations in respect of concert expenses of £60, which were settled after date.

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

The first venture in the next year is a trip at the end of April to Bury Sy Edmunds as guests of the SEMVC. A return visit to Midhurst is booked for June. The Christmas 2025 concert is not to be held at the Guildhall, though December 2026 has been provisionally booked there. The business plan to take us safely into the next 10 years has yet to be undertaken and it is to be hoped progress will be made in the next year. Promotion of the choir for a fixed fee for churches or charities will be continued with the dual aims of covering our costs for a concert and reaching new audiences.

DECLARATION

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Robert Minnell: Chairman

Date 11 July 2025

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MILTON GLEE CLUB FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 as set out on pages 9 to 14.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Gavin Whitter

Date: 17 July 2025

Gavin Whitter FCA CTA Gibson Whitter Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Larch House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds
Notes £ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Grants and Donations 2 1,064 164 1,228 976
Membership Subscriptions 9,422 - 9,422 7,394
Gift Aid - - - -
Concert Income 3 9,435 - 9,435 8,169
Music hire 69 - 69 42
Sale of music 110 - 110 -
Choir trip to Bury 5,854 - 5,854 -
Interest Received 4 253 - 253 161
______ _____ ______ ______
Total Receipts 26,207 164 26,371 16,742
PAYMENTS
Donations 5 375 - 375 1,402
Rehearsal Costs 6 7,999 - 7,999 6,344
Music Purchase and Arrangements 431 - 431 1,434
Concert Expenses 3 7,774 60 7,834 9,550
Administration 7 4,234 - 4,234 3,453
Choir trip to Bury 6,662 - 6,662 -
_ ____ ______ ______
Total Payments 27,475 60 27,535 22,183
Net (Deficit)/Surplus for the Year (1,268) 104 (1,164) (5,441)
Cash Funds as at 1 April 2024 20,723 607 21,330 26,771
_ ___ ______ ______
Cash Funds as at 31 March 2025 19,455 711 20,166 21,330

Comparative analysis by fund is shown on the following page.

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Comparative analysis:

2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds
Notes £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Grants and Donations 2 702 274 976
Membership Subscriptions 7,394 - 7,394
Gift Aid - - -
Concert Income 3 8,169 - 8,169
Music hire 42 - 42
Sale of music - - -
Choir trip to Bury - - -
Interest Received 4 161 - 161
______ _____ ______
Total Receipts 16,468 274 16,742
PAYMENTS
Donations 5 1,322 80 1,402
Rehearsal Costs 6 6,344 - 6,344
Music Purchase and Arrangements 1,434 - 1,434
Concert Expenses 3 9,440 110 9,550
Administration 7 3,453 - 3,453
_ ____ ______
Total Payments 21,993 190 22,183
Net (Deficit)/Surplus for the Year (5,525) 84 (5,441)
Cash Funds as at 1 April 2023 26,248 523 26,771
_ ___ ______
Cash Funds as at 31 March 2024 20,723 607 21,330

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

2025
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Cash Funds
£
£
Cash at bank
and in hand
19,455
711
Other Monetary
Assets
Gift Aid Claims
(including
interest)
1,966
58
Assets retained
for the charity’s
own use at
valuation
£
£
Music
19,005
-
Piano
2,500
-
Liabilities
£
£
Independent
examination
492
-
Subscription
refund
425
-
Rehearsal costs
-
-
Administrative
costs
69
-
Concert costs-
accompanist
40
60
Sponsored ticket
scheme,
restricted
balance
-
651		 2024
Total
Funds
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
£
£
£
20,166
20,723
607
2,024
1,008
43
£
£
£
19,005
20,685
-
2,500
2,500
-
£
£
£
492
468
-
425
-
-
-
100
-
69
20
-
100
65
60
651
-
547		 Total
Funds
£
21,330
1,051
£
20,685
2,500
£
468
-
100
20
125
547

Approved:

Robert Minnell: Chairman

Date: 11 July 2025

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Concerts

Concert income and expenditure is analysed by concert.

Music

The cost of purchasing and commissioning of new music for the year has been added to the insurance value brought forward at 1 April 2010. A depreciation of 10% has been calculated to write off old pieces, which are destroyed at the end of their useful life. Piano

This is included at the lower of insurance valuation or replacement cost.

2. GRANTS AND DONATIONS

2025 2024 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted Restricted
Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Portsmouth Lottery - 104 - 104
Other Donations 1,064 60 702 170
1,064 164 702 274

3. CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

February May July December c/fwd Total
2024 2024 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Concert Income - 1,230 450 7,672 9,352 8,169
Concert Expenditure
Venue Hire - 175 - 3,073 3,248 4,255
Bands/Guests/Accompanists 125 300 290 2,376 3,091 3,266
Advertising - - - 480 480 450
Publicity and
Programmes - 13 - 379 392 724
Performing Rights Society
charges - 44 - 322 366 333
Other concert expenses - 73 -
184		 257 522
125 605 290 6,814 7,834 9,550

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

CONCERT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE - CONTINUED

b/fwd Future Total Total
2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Concert Income 9,352 83 9,435 8,169
Concert Expenditure
Venue Hire 3,248 - 3,248 4,255
Bands/Guests/Accompanists 3,091 - 3,091 3,266
Advertising 480 - 480 450
Publicity and
Programmes 392 - 392 724
Performing Rights Society
charges 366 - 366 333
Other concert expenses 257 - 257 522
7,834 - 7,834 9,550

Restricted donations amounting to £60 (see note 2) related to costs of guest artistes and accompanists and have been analysed accordingly on page 8.

4. INTEREST RECEIVED

2025 2024 2024
£ £
Deposit Account 253 161
On Gift Aid Claims - -
253 161
.
DONATIONS
2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Mortimer Award – Portsmouth
Music Festival 375 - 745
 -
Church of the Resurrection – share
of concert - - 367 -
St James’s Milton – share of concert - - 210 -
375 - 1,322 80

5. DONATIONS

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MILTON GLEE CLUB

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

6. REHEARSAL COSTS

Room Hire
Accompanist’s Expenses
Conductor’s Fees and Expenses
Substitute director costs
Piano tuning
Other choir expenses
.
ADMINISTRATION COSTS
Insurance
Making Music Subscription
Zoom subscription
New website costs
Website costs
Stripe fees
Sundry expenses
Advertising and promotional photos
Stationery
Storage
Independent Examination		 2025
£
1,597
1,980
4,000
270
75
77
7,999
2025
£
289
230
220
295
20
37
150
30
-
2,471
492
4,234		 2024
£
1,099
1,870
3,340
-
-
35
6,344
2024
£
283
219
245
-
130
31
89
30
47
1,911
468
3,453		 6,344

7. ADMINISTRATION COSTS

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