## **Royal Free Singers** ## **Objects** The Society, a registered charity ( No. 292972), is governed by Rules of its Constitution which state: The object of the Society shall be to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts. ## **Address** The registered address of the Charity is: 4 Prince Consort Cottages Windsor SL4 1JA which is the address of the person currently acting as the Charity's correspondent with the Charity Commission. ## **Membership Affiliation** The Charity is affiliated to Making Music ## **Trustees** The trustees of the Charity are the members of the Committee which consists of 3 Officers and ordinary members, all of whom are elected by the Society at the Annual General Meeting held in November each year. All Trustees are volunteers who receive no payment for their service. The following were the Trustees during this year: Frances Stringer (Chair), Maria Crawford-Smith (Secretary), Mike O'Shaughnessy (Treasurer), Linda Ballhatchet (Concert Secretary),Peter Carey (Posters and Programmes), Helen Archibald ( Ticketing), Ros Middleton ( Marketing), Linda Chanan (Budgeting and membership contact), Gill Tucker ( Events), Robert Tavinor (Staging) ## **Management** The Society is administered and managed by the Committee of Trustees. There were eight Committee meetings during the year . The AGM was held in November 2022. . ## **Finance** The Charity's bank account is held with CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ Independent examination of the accounts has been carried out by Mrs Frances Watts. 35 Rampton Road, Willingham CB24 5JG For the financial year 1[st] August 2022 – 31[st] July 2023 the Income was £28,213, the Expenditure was £27,474 **Reserves Policy:** the Committee has agreed to maintain a Reserves fund to cover liabilities incurred in the unlikely event of concerts not taking place or not earning any income. The sum in the Reserve Fund is equal to the average annual expenditure for three main concerts. The Reserve Fund currently stands at £26,804. ## **The Charity’s Activities** The first rehearsal in September was an open evening, giving prospective choir members a chance to try us out, at no cost. This annual event has been particularly important post-COVID to attract new members. ## **Concerts** Autumn Concert: - Windsor Parish Church Brahms: Requiem Carol Concert at United Reform Church, Windsor An annual free-entry event. A retiring collection is made for a charity which the church is supporting. And into 2023…. Our 50[th] Anniversary year! Spring Concert: Windsor Parish Church Mendelsohn: Elijah with the Orchestra of London ## April : Weekend trip to Wells in Somerset About 50 choir members went on the coach trip. We spent Saturday morning in Wells then travelled to Wedmore where we gave a concert in the Church. On Sunday we returned to Windsor stopping in Avebury en route. Summer Concert: Windsor Parish Church SummerTime. An enthusiastic audience and choir enjoyed an uplifting program of music from Gershwin, Porter, etc, which was followed by Prosecco and Birthday cake served in the church garden, as part of our Anniversary celebrations. ## Social and fundraising events: During the year we have enjoyed social evenings and fundraising activities. These included:a New Year Party, Cake & Produce and book sales, Raffles, and the 100 Club. ## **Membership:** There were 95 members during the year, including 3 people with Life Membership. ## **Volunteers & Tasks:** In addition to the Committee, many members took an active part in the running of the organisation and related events. The tasks included Membership Secretary; Subscriptions Secretary; Music Librarian; Front of House team; Stage Manager and set up team; Friends of RFS secretary; Box Office team, Marketing Group - all unpaid volunteers. **Conductor and Accompanist:** Ben Gunner was our Conductor and Musical Director. John Chantrey was our accompanist. Occasionally, during the year, we had the services of locums, when required. All brought their considerable skills and enthusiasms. Frances Stringer, Chair, Royal Free Singers CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trust896 RoYrtL Frt& Sirf4ERS L)/MbJo On accounts for the year ended 31 2D13 Charity no (rf any) 291971 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my èxamination of the accounts of the above charty (Ihe Trusf) for tIN8 year ended Respon8lbllltle$ and ba3is of report As the ¢harity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 (°the Act'i. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under s8Ction 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charrty Commission urKler section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent trhe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examine￿3 statemont undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable listed body]l Delete [ J rfnd appl¢able. I have completed my examination. I confinn thal no matenal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respe￿. the a¢¢ounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chanties Ad.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply wrth the applicable requiremenls conceming th8 form and content of accounts set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Yrue and fairf view which is not a matter onsKlered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the ¥wYds in the brnckets rfthey do not 8ppIy. Slgned: Date: 291ii/x033 Name: RRfvLES W thTTS Rolevant professional qualifi¢ation{s) or body IER Oct 2018 (rf any): Address: 3r Rrt￿ PTDtsl C824 Si Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examinei needs lo highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef dotails of any Items that the examlnerwlshos to dlscloso. IER Oct 2018 ROYAL FREE SINGERS INCOME AND EXPENDrnJRE ACcOuP￿ FOR YEAR END￿ 3￿Riy 2023 9JBSCRiwfioNS FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL FREE SINGERS DONATIONS MUSIC S4LES N SUNDRY INCOME INCOME TAX RECOVERED BANK IKfEREST RECEf4ED 100 CLUB INCOME soctAL EVEMrs ALMJMN CONCERT INCOME SPRING CONCERT INCOME MMER CONCERT INCOME I31￿.00 770.20 255.10 315.35 2636.82 354.53 4￿).00 1927.63 4079.12 3074.08 28212.83 Conc•rt• REHEA￿ ROOM HIRE Lcaim CONDucfoRSIACCOMPANisrs ACCOMPANI CONDucfoRS HONORARIA ALryUMN CONCERT ￿pENsEs SPRtNG CONCERT EXPENSES SUMMER coN￿RT E 2624. 375.00 3150.00 2500.(K) 3785.63 10867.n 2708.fX) 26010.35 2202.48 Pr¢A1tI(LoM): PRINTING MD ￿AT1(￿￿ERy PUBucrrY GENERAL SUNDRY EXPENSES IN9JliAN￿ NFMS BANK QIARGES 448.31 393.36 1463.97 738.51 SURPLUS FOR YEAR PAGE i Royal Fra Sngers 27454.93 1849.70 41. CAFBANK QIRRENT AccouKr SUNDRY DEBTORS 29345.63 Currnnt Llabllltles RE￿￿rS IN ADVAN SUNDRY CREDrroRS 1541.86 2541.86 2W3.77 2W3.77 ACCUMULATED FUND PROF￿ LOSS AccouKr 26￿.26 .51 26803.77 PAGE 2 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trust896 RoYrtL Frt& Sirf4ERS L)/MbJo On accounts for the year ended 31 2D13 Charity no (rf any) 291971 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my èxamination of the accounts of the above charty (Ihe Trusf) for tIN8 year ended Respon8lbllltle$ and ba3is of report As the ¢harity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 (°the Act'i. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under s8Ction 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charrty Commission urKler section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent trhe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examine￿3 statemont undertake the examination by being a qualified member of linsert name of applicable listed body]l Delete [ J rfnd appl¢able. I have completed my examination. I confinn thal no matenal matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respe￿. the a¢¢ounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chanties Ad.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply wrth the applicable requiremenls conceming th8 form and content of accounts set out in the Charilies (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Yrue and fairf view which is not a matter onsKlered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the ¥wYds in the brnckets rfthey do not 8ppIy. Slgned: Date: 291ii/x033 Name: RRfvLES W thTTS Rolevant professional qualifi¢ation{s) or body IER Oct 2018 (rf any): Address: 3r Rrt￿ PTDtsl C824 Si Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examinei needs lo highlight material matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef dotails of any Items that the examlnerwlshos to dlscloso. IER Oct 2018 ROYAL FREE SINGERS INCOME AND EXPENDrnJRE ACcOuP￿ FOR YEAR END￿ 3￿Riy 2023 9JBSCRiwfioNS FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL FREE SINGERS DONATIONS MUSIC S4LES N SUNDRY INCOME INCOME TAX RECOVERED BANK IKfEREST RECEf4ED 100 CLUB INCOME soctAL EVEMrs ALMJMN CONCERT INCOME SPRING CONCERT INCOME MMER CONCERT INCOME I31￿.00 770.20 255.10 315.35 2636.82 354.53 4￿).00 1927.63 4079.12 3074.08 28212.83 Conc•rt• REHEA￿ ROOM HIRE Lcaim CONDucfoRSIACCOMPANisrs ACCOMPANI CONDucfoRS HONORARIA ALryUMN CONCERT ￿pENsEs SPRtNG CONCERT EXPENSES SUMMER coN￿RT E 2624. 375.00 3150.00 2500.(K) 3785.63 10867.n 2708.fX) 26010.35 2202.48 Pr¢A1tI(LoM): PRINTING MD ￿AT1(￿￿ERy PUBucrrY GENERAL SUNDRY EXPENSES IN9JliAN￿ NFMS BANK QIARGES 448.31 393.36 1463.97 738.51 SURPLUS FOR YEAR PAGE i Royal Fra Sngers 27454.93 1849.70 41. CAFBANK QIRRENT AccouKr SUNDRY DEBTORS 29345.63 Currnnt Llabllltles RE￿￿rS IN ADVAN SUNDRY CREDrroRS 1541.86 2541.86 2W3.77 2W3.77 ACCUMULATED FUND PROF￿ LOSS AccouKr 26￿.26 .51 26803.77 PAGE 2