Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
The Hackney Singers (the Choir) is a charitable trust registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registered Charity Number 294564).
Charitable Objectives
The objectives of the society are to promote, 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 and recitals and by other ways as determined by the Society through its Committee. The Choir is governed by its constitution, which is available on the Choir’s website at www.hackneysingers.org.uk.
Management of the Choir
The Choir is managed by a committee. The members of the committee are the Trustees of the charity and are elected by the Members of the Choir at the AGM. The Committee may co-opt new Committee members (but no more than 25% of the elected Committee). The Committee engages a Music Team to facilitate the charitable objectives. There were no payments to any of the trustees or their commercial interests.
How we meet our Charitable Objectives
The trustees of the Hackney Singers have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
The Choir involves members in a creative, fulfilling and enjoyable educational activity. The choir provides a musical education that they haven’t previously had access to, including the opportunity to develop vocal technique and performance skills and explore a wide repertoire. It also creates a strong community, with members developing social networks that bring benefits both by attending rehearsals and through other social activities made possible by the relationships built through the choir.
The choir presents exciting and varied concerts to the largely local public. The repertoire is chosen to introduce the audience to a wide variety of choral music which will extend their musical knowledge, educate them and sometimes challenge them.
The choir raises money for local charities at our concerts and street collections.
The choir accepts any member who is willing to work towards and can maintain a high standard. The need to maintain a balance of voices to ensure a positive experience for both members and audiences means that we might have to restrict new members.
Membership fees are affordable and we have low rates for those who find the full rate unaffordable. We offer concessionary prices on tickets.
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Music Team
Dan Ludford-Thomas – Musical Director
Andrew Storey – Assistant Musical Director
Trustees and Committee members during the year ended 31 August 2023
Chair - Megan Gray (stood down April 2023) Gary Greene – (interim Chair from April 2023) Secretary - Jessica Glynn TreasurerGary Greene (stood down April 2023) Yvonne Sired (from April 2023) Sheila Ebbutt (from August 2023) Committee - Cathie O’Driscoll – Rehearsal Manager Jonathan Koestle-Cate – Asst Concert Manager Carole Sired - Administrator Yvonne Sired – Asst Treasurer Jane Gibson – Membership Tony Price - Librarian Sally Williams – Concert Manager
The following people are members of the Managing Committee but are not Trustees.
Martin Stevenson (Bass Coordinator) Judy Spours (Tenor Coordinator) Anne-Barbara Brennels (Alto Coordinator)
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Activities for the year ended 31 August 2023
Membership
The drop in membership over the covid period meant that we started the year with only 118 members. The planned concert of the Verdi Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall in April 2023 was a significant attraction and we ended the year with 145 members. This level of membership allows us a good level of income and a larger choice of repertoire. During the year we held 44 rehearsal sessions.
Events
In October 2022 we presented music by Cecilia McDowall and Lili Boulanger at St Matthias Church Stoke Newington. The concert was programmed to spotlight 2 modern female composers. This was not guaranteed to be a popular concert but turned out to be enthusiastically received by a large audience of 185 at the lovely St Matthias church. The loss of £6.5k was within budget.
Our regular Christmas Concert took place at St Peter’s de Beauvoir - The choir’s annual concert of Christmas carols and a few popular classics at St Peter’s de Beauvoir. This is a regular event enjoyed by the many parishioners, the choir and friends of the choir members. £1,170 was raised which was donated to Hackney Night Shelter.
17 December 2022 – Carol Singing in Broadway Market raised £438 which was donated to the Hackney Migrant Centre.
12 April 2023 – Verdi Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall. This biennial event is presented jointly with Lewisham Choral society. It was a sell-out attended by 2,500 and was an outstanding artistic success. The Hackney Singers share of the profit was £9,789. The profit from these concerts subsidises most of the choir’s other activities.
29 July – Stokebourne Festival at St Matthias church. This was an informal concert presenting a sample of the choir’s music followed by barbecue. The choir presented a programme picked from some old and some new works.
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Financial Review
The formal accounts are attached.
We started the year with £ 23,614 in the bank and ended with £ 37,764.
Income = £46,827
Payments = £33,428
Reserves policy
The policy of the choir is to maintain sufficient reserves to cover 6 months running costs of the choir. This is estimated to be about £15,000.
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Outlook
The high level of membership (145) and its associated income coupled with a better-thanexpected profit from the performance of the Verdi Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall has left the choir in a strong financial position. Positive action to maintain membership levels combined with a popular concert in 2025 will be essential to continue to subsidise its presentations.
The success of the operation of the choir’s rehearsals and performances is completely dependent on the outstanding work of Dan Ludford-Thomas and Andrew Storey. There work is supported by the hard work and enthusiasm of all committee members. Our grateful thanks goes to all of them.
Signed:
Sheila Ebbutt Treasurer Gary Greene Chair 1[st] December 2023
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Receipts and Payments Account Year for year ending 31 August 2023
| Receipts and Payments Account Year foryear ending 31 August 2023 | Receipts and Payments Account Year foryear ending 31 August 2023 | Receipts and Payments Account Year foryear ending 31 August 2023 | Receipts and Payments Account Year foryear ending 31 August 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | 2022-23 | 2021-2022 | |
| MembershipFees | £ 23,498 | £17,787 |
|
| Gift Aid refund from HMRC | £ 4,617 | £4,681 |
|
| Donations | £ 2,097 | £2,336 |
|
| Membership receipts and Donations | £ 30,212 | £24,805 |
|
| Receipts from tradingactivities | |||
| Charitable trading | |||
| Concert Income | £ 13,959 | £9,127 |
|
| Non-charitable trading | £ - | £1,070 |
|
| Advertising in programmes etc |
£ 2,020 | £2,011 |
|
| Tradingreceipts | £ 15,979 | £12,208 |
|
| Other receipts | £ 636 | £534 |
|
| Bank interest | £ - | £0 |
|
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £ 46,827 | £37,547 |
|
| Payments | |||
| Musicpurchase & hire | £ 2,570 | £3,931 |
|
| Rehearsal costs | £ 15,485 | £17,610 |
|
| Concert costs | £ 11,028 | £15,419 |
|
| Publicity& fundraisingcosts | £ - | £82 |
|
| Management and administration |
£ 1,109 | £836 |
|
| Otherpayments | |||
| Costs of goods for resale (inc bar costs) |
£ - | £733 |
|
| Disbursement of funds | £ - | £0 |
|
| Donations | £ 1,609 | £1,057 |
|
| Subs refund | £ 902 | £300 |
|
| Other | £ 724 | £378 |
|
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | £ 33,428 | £40,347 |
|
| NET ANNUAL SURPLUS/-SHORTFALL | £ 13,399 | -£2,801 |
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] September 2022 to 31[st] August 2023
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 August 2023
| Cash Funds | 2022-23 | 2021-22 |
| Community Current Account | ||
| Total Cash at bank | £ 37,764 | £ 23,614 |
| Other Assets | ||
| Cash | £0 | £0 |
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HACKNEY SINGERS
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Hackney Singers (the Charity) for the year ended 31 August 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the Charity 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 Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicableDirections 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
J P Foxwell FCCA FCIE independent-examiner.net 39 Enfield Road, Poole, BH15 3LJ
Date: 11 December 2023
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