Trustees Report for Cheltenham Choral Society for year ending 30th April 2025
Purposes of the Society
Cheltenham Choral Society, which is registered charity number 287756, was founded in 1938. The constitution of the Society states its purpose is to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts.
Committee Members
The committee members are the trustees of the society and are elected by the members at the AGM.
During the year 1st May2024 - 30th April 2025, the members of the Committee were:Alison Kerr (Chair) Nikki Stephens (Hon.Sec) Maggie Berriman (Hon Treasurer), Margaret Cox, Christine Smith, Sue Mildinhall, Cara Nichols, Helen Crequer, Margaret Lovett, Angela Whitcomb, Alex Young
Report of Activities
The year started with a performance of Haydn Maria Teresa Mass and Mozart Requiem at Tewkesbury Abbey. This was a joint concert with Charlton Kings Choral Society and Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra. This was an extra concert in this year as the timing pushed our Spring concert from the 23/24 season into this season. It was an exciting concert enjoyed by a large audience
In July, we performed a lunchtime concert of various choral pieces at Malvern Priory. This was a free concert but donations were invited.
In November we gave a performance at St Philip & St James’ Church Cheltenham of Songs of the Sea and Songs of the Fleet by Stanford and Five Part Songs by Holst. We were delighted to be able to welcome our new President, Catherine Wyn-Rogers. She performed King David by Herbert Howells and we presented her with the President’s medallion.
On Remembrance Sunday, we once again supported the Cheltenham community by leading the singing for the Remembrance Day Parade at Cheltenham War Memorial. During the laying of the wreaths, we sang an arrangement of Abide With Me with the Cheltenham Silver Band. This event has become an important part of our calendar and our input is much appreciated.
In December, we sang carols at Waitrose which was well received by the public. We collected money for our chosen Christmas Charity which this year was Wiggly (wigglycharity.org). We held our annual Carol Concert, Carols by Candlelight, at Holy Apostles Church, Cheltenham. We were joined by the choir of St Mary’s Junior School, Prestbury and the young singers of the Beauregard Academy. As always, the children and young people sang delightfully, and one of our sopranos, Cara Nichols, sang a beautiful solo . Wiggly had a stall, talked about their charity and took a bucket collection at the end of the concert.
Just before Christmas, a group of just over 20 members sang for a private party, which was very warmly appreciated.
In February, we once again enjoyed a musical quiz evening with fish’n’chip supper which was a fun evening and thanks go to Cara and Anton for organising it.
In April, our spring concert was a Performance for Passiontide. We sang Mozart Ave Verum Corpus, Schubert Stabat Mater in G minor, Sanders The Reproaches and Stainer The Crucifixion. This was a moving concert to end our 24/25 year and A Capella singing of The Reproaches was particularly heartfelt and emotional.
The Choir goes from strength to strength under the leadership of Thomas Mottershead. Choir membership has increased and he has challenged us, encouraged us and believed in us. Our unaccompanied singing is more assured and members have the confidence to sing out allowing good dynamic contrast.
Finances
The attached financial statements show the current state of the Society’s finances. The accounts were independently examined by David Black CA (ESB Accountancy) 9, Monica Drive Cheltenham Glos GL50 4NQ
The trustees declare they have approved the trustees report above.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Alison Kerr (Chair)
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| Concert Summary foryear ending 30 April 2025 INCOME EXPENDITURE BALANCE Saturday, 25th May 2024. Haydn & Mozart, Tewkesbury Abbey. Joint Ticket &programme sales 8139.29 Hire of venue £2235.28 Thomas Mo?ershead & John Wright(incl. organ score) £1065.61 Alison Howell & Fiona Brown £550.00 Orchestral scores £50.00 Soloists £1265.00 Orchestra £3760.00 PrinRngfiers Rckets etc £98.27 PrinRng programmes £151.56 AdverRsing £340.00 Banner £35.67 GiXs £73.40 Total income for both choirs 8139.29 Total loss for both choirs £9624.79 -1485.5 Loss to CCS -£742.75 6th July 2025, Malvern Priory Recital Hire of music £438.28 Venue FOC but donaRongiven £100.00 Coach Wckets £467.20 MD £205.00 DonaWons £441.54 Accompanist A Howell £205.00 Hire of coach £440.00 Hire of music &postage £20.00 PrinRngmusic books £352.00 PrinRngfiers £24.48 Programme leafets £30.00 GiX to driver £50.00 GiXs soloist £10.00 Refund bus Rcket £10.00 PRS £28.14 £1347.02 £1474.62 -£127.60 9th November 2024. Stamford & Holst, All Saints Church, Cheltenham Sale Tickets &programmes 1698.09 Hire of venue £692.80 Hire of music £340.00 MD T Mo?ershead £500.00 Spirax-Sarcogrant £167.00 Accompanist A Howell £400.00 AdverWsing £50.00 Tenor £275.00 Sale of wine to members £33.00 Music hire inclpostage £335.00 Bumper singers £400.00 PrinRngfiers andposters £50.18 PrinRng programmes £53.18 Banner £24.95 Advert Local Answer £35.00 Refreshments £68.00 GiXs £38.98 2288.09 £2873.09 -585 18th December 2024. Carols by Candlelight, Holy Apostles Church, Sale of Tickets &programmes 1815.69 Hire of venue £575.00 Spirax-Sarcogrant £167.00 MD T Mo?ershead £320.00 Accompanist A Howell £225.00 PrinRngfiers &posters £69.07 PrinRng programmes £89.11 PrinRngCarol sheets £10.00 Banner £36.11 Wine &glass hire £133.43 Mincepies £18.00 DonaRon to Wigglyforproprovision of mincepies £10.00 GiXs £17.45 Candles £22.00 1982.69 £1525.17 457.52 12th April 2025 Sander’s The Reproaches, Schubert, Mozart, Stainer’s Sale of Wckets &programmes 2345.68 Hire of venue incl. organ hire and alcohol license £897.60 Hire of music 331.58 MD T Mo?ershead £500.00 Grant Spriax-Sarco £167.00 Accompanist A Howell £350.00 Grant Cheltenham Arts Council £250.00 Soloists incl bumper tenor £650.00 DdonaWon for refreshments £132.43 Music hire incl searches andprinRng £290.00 DonaWon £20.00 AdverRsingGlos Jobs £15.00 PrinRng posters & fiers £68.54 PrinRng programmes & hymn sheets £126.88 Banner £23.87 Refreshments £56.20 GiXs £43.99 3246.69 £3022.08 224.61 CONCERT BALANCE FOR YEAR ENDING 30 APRIL 2025 -773.22 1 |
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| Fundraising 2024/25 | ||||||||
| Expenditure | Income | |||||||
| Sale of CCS gree=ng cards | £16.00 | £16.00 | ||||||
| Carol singing 9th Dec 24 Waitrose (to be shared with Wiggly) | ||||||||
| Collec+on on day cash | £323.45 | |||||||
| Collec+on on day SumUp | £79.68 | |||||||
| Mince pies M Cox | £6.00 | |||||||
| 50% Dona+on to Wiggly Charity | £193.56 | |||||||
| £199.56 | £403.13 | £203.57 | ||||||
Table 1
| Cheltenham Choral Society | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charity Number 287756 |
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Bank Reconciliation 2024/2025 |
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| Cash Book | |||||||||
| b/f 30.04.2024 | £18,616.93 | ||||||||
| Total for A/c’s 1 & 2 | Receipts | £32,578.67 | |||||||
| Total for A/c’s 1 & 2 | Payments | -£27,349.77 | |||||||
| Balance @ | £23,845.83 | ||||||||
| Bank | |||||||||
| Balance Deposit account at 30.4.25 | £17,308.88 | ||||||||
Balance On-line account at 30.4.25 |
£7114.95 | ||||||||
| Total Bank | £24,423.83 | ||||||||
| Less BACS not processed | -578.00 | ||||||||
Joint bank balances |
£23,845.83 | ||||||||
| Cash book balance | £23,845.83 | ||||||||
| Notes to accounts | |||||||||
| Weekly Activities | |||||||||
Members’subscriptions |
Growing membership numbers have boosted income signifcantly, enhanced by the subsequent increas | e in Gift Aid | |||||||
Concerts |
Five concerts this year, three last year. PRS-refund was as a result of an error on my part . |
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| Fundraising activities and donations | |||||||||
Donations |
We beneftted from a one-of£1,000 donation this year. | ||||||||
| Gift Aid | The Gift Aid claim for 2022/23 paid late, therefore two claims paid in one year. |
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| Grants | We received grants of £250 from Cheltenham Arts Council and £500 from the Spirax-Sarco Charitable T |
rust | |||||||
| Music hire | The increased surplus on music hire is partly as a result of the Tewkesbury concert crossing two fnancial years. |
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| Administration | |||||||||
| Printing | Cost of printing the CCS Archive book. Income should show as £198 (included under Promotional materials) | ||||||||
| Administration | Examination of Accounts, Web fees and music meeting |
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| Promotional materials | Banners, CCS name Boards, folders and pencils, Carol Books, button holes |
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| Other | Hire of stall in Promenade for Cheltenham Arts Council 2024 and 2025 |
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1
Cheltenham Choral Society THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY I report to the ch8rty's trustees on my examination of the account5 of Cheltenham Choral Society for the year ended 30 Apnl 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity Irustees of the SOcty, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in acco(dance with the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 {"the Act->. The charity's trustees consider thal an audit Is not required for this year under section 14412) of the Charrties Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) a4 that an Indopcndcnt examination is required. I report in respect of my examinatM)n of the Charty's accounts camed out ijnder section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examinatK>n I liave followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(511b} of the Act. Independent Examiner's Statement I have complete(I my examination. I Confi that no matenal mattcrs have come lo my attenti in connection wrth the examination giving me cause to belteve Ihat In any material respect.. 1 . AccountifVJ iecords were not kepl in respect ol the SOcty as required by section 130 af the Act., or 2. The accounts do rtrot accord with these records", ar 3. The accounts do not comply wrth the applicable requirements Conrning the ft)rm and contents of accounts sei Out in the Charrties (Accounts and Rnportsl Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement Ihat the accounts give a true and fair view whicth B not a mattel consKJere(J as part of an independent examinatK)n. I confirm I11 there are no other malters to which your attents'on should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of accounts to be reached. David S Black CA For ESB Accounlancy Reporting Accountants 9 Monica Drive Cheltenham GL50 4NQ Dated: 9 June 202S