Company number.. 00297142 Charity number.. 305999 The English Folk Dance and Song Society Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024
English Folk Dance and Song Society Contents For the year ended 31 March 2024 Reference and administrative information Directors, annual report Independent auditor's report Statement of financial attbvities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) Balance sheet Statement of cash flows.............................................................................................. Notes to the financial statements .32 .36 .37 .38 .39
English Folk Dance and Song Society Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2024 Company number 00297142 Charity number 305999 Registered office and operational address Cecil Sharp House 2 Regent's Park Road London NWI 7AY Web address www.efdss.org E-mail address info@efdss.org Trading Names English Folk Dance & Song Society folkshoponline President Eliza Carthy MBE Bankers HSBC 176 Camden High Street London NWI 8QL Solicitors BP Collins 32-38 Station Road Gerrards Cross SL9 8EL Auditors Sayer Vincent LLP 110 Golden Lane London. ECIY OTG
English Folk Dance and Song Society Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2024 TRUSTEEs/DIRECTORS and STAFF Trustees/Directors Lorna Aizlewood Fiona Butcher Alan Davey CBE Ed Fishwick Robyn Chicot Fiona Fraser Lucy Hooberman Laura Jones Nicola Kearey Ayub Khan MBE Angeline Morrison Martin Parker Arti Prashar Eleanor Telfer Andy Wooles Tony Garton Chair, retired November 2023 Chair, appointed November 2023 Vice-chair, re-appointed November 2023 Honorary Treasurer retired November 2023 resigned November 2023 retired November 2023 resigned November 2023 retired November 2023 Honorary Company Secretary General Purposes Committee Lorna Aizlewood retired November 2023 Fiona Butcher Trustee from November 2023 Ed Fishwick Chair Fiona Fraser Trustee to November 2023; Volunteer from November 2023 Martin Parker retired November 2023 Mike Heaney Volunteer Sherry Neyhus Volunteer Katy Spicer Staff Megan Chidlow Staff EFDSS Staff at 31 March 2024 Katy Spicer Chief Executive & Artistic Director. Zoe Nicol Artistic Programme Co-ordinator. Rachel Elliott Charlotte Turner Hannah Mears-young Jen Cox Jennie Higgins Kerry Fletcher Education Director Education Manager Programme Manager, National Youth Folk Ensemble Dance Development Manager. Education Administrator Folk Education Network Co-ordinatort Tiffany Hore Nick Wall Library & Archives Director. Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Librarian.
English Folk Dance and Song Society Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2024 Alex Burton Malcolm Barr-Hamilton Martin Nail Elaine Bradtke David Atkinson Librarian Archivist. Folk Song Subject Index. Cataloguert Editor. Folk Music Journalt Peter Craik Honor Wicks Tennessee Woodiel Josh Holliday Marketing & Communications Director Marketing Officer Marketing & Development Co-ordinator Web Developert Megan Chidlow James Turner Finance Director Finance Officer Lucy Grant Elizabeth Tobald Alexeen Fernandez Edward Hanley Patrick Carpenter Susannah Hall Jamie Orchard-Lisle Business Development & Operations Director Venue Operations Manager Venue Sales and Events Administrator Venue Sales and Events Administrator Caretaker. Garden Managert Technical Managert Edie Bailey Brian Concannon Esther Elliott Rachel Furness Sarah Stock Mimi Suzuki Romari Thomas Duty Managers. Edie Bailey Bethany Byrne Jowan Collier Esther Elliott Holly Hollis Ciaran Keogh Sue Lee Finnian Mattingly Christina Minton Theo Pedley Lucy Rushton Kathleen Simpson Yusra Supdarowa Romari Thomas Angela Venturini Event Assistants.
English Folk Dance and Song Society Reference and administrative details For the year ended 31 March 2024 Part-time t Free-lance RS7 Solutions Pink Foods IT Support Café and bar franchisee Membership at 31 March 2024 Number of individual members: 1934 {2042 at 31 March 2023}. Number of affiliated groups and organisations: 487 {560 at 31 March 2023)
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The Board presents its report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Reference and administrative information set out on page I forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in 1935, and registered as a charity in 1963. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which sets out the objectives and powers of the charitable company. Revised Articles of Association, incorporating slightly revised objectives and the substance of the original powers, were adopted on 13 November 2010. Further amendments have been adopted at later AGMS. Board Members are both Directors of the company limited by guarantee and Trustees of the EFDSS under charity law. They are therefore responsible for fulfilling the EFDSS'S responsibilities as the Trustee of Cecil Sharp House, under Trusts declared in 1930 and 1935. All Board Members give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 11 to the accounts. The Board of Directors The Board has up to 12 Directors elected by the Members and up to four additional Directors appointed by the Board. The Board selects it5 Chair from among the elected Directors and an Honorary Treasurer from the Board as a whole. At every AGM at least four (one thirdl of the elected Board places will be available for election. Retiring members are eligible for re-election and appointed Directors may seek election provided they have not had more than six continuous years in office. The Board may co-opt EFDSS members to fill casual vacancies. They hold office until the next AGM. The appointment of any Director by the Board is subject to Member approval at the next AGM. All incoming Directors receive a copy of the Board Policies Document setting out their role and responsibilities, explaining how the Board functions. current Strategies and policies, and recent meeting papers and minutes. The Board meets at least four times a year. It meets at least annually with the whole senior staff management team so that strategic issues can be given wider and fuller consideration.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 ORGANISATION AND DECISION MAKING How the Board functions The Board is, in law, ultimately responsible for all aspects of the performance of EFDSS but, in practice, most aspects of this responsibility are delegated to the Chief Executive and she in turn delegates them to the staff. The Board listens to and interacts with the staff, but does not, at any time, direct the staff other than the Chief Executive. The Board operates under a system of Policy Governance, set out in a single Board Policy Document defining: EFDSS, Objectives, and therefore those of the Chief Executive, who with her staff creates the Strategies to deliver those Objectives. The Chief Executive reports regularly to the Board on the achievement of those Objectives through the Business Plan and other documents. Limitations within which the Chief Executive must stay when achieving the Objectives, for example, not entering into debt and keeping a balanced budget. The way in which the relationship between the Board and the Chief Executive is managed, which includes a regular review of the Objectives. Throughout the year, new ideas are considered, and individual strategies reviewed and discussed by the Board and senior staff. The Board also keeps under review the rules by which it governs itself, for example, the standards of conduct for its members. The policy document is written to give the Chief Executive the maximum possible freedom to innovate and get on with her job without interference, while at the same time defining a clear strategic direction for EFDSS and ensuring that the Board does not neglect its duty to uphold high standards of organisational performance. The Board is supported by a single standing committee, the General Purposes Committee {GPC) that monitors the performance of EFDSS and provides advice to the Board. Additionally the Chief Executive and staff may appoint working or advisory groups to provide them with operational support and guidance. Managing risk In accordance with best practice, the GPC reviews and keeps up-dated the Register of Risks facing EFDSS. There are risks associated with financial operations, governance, and management; from environmental and other external factors. All are reviewed as to probability and impact so that actions can be taken to mitigate the most serious risks. It is not possible or desirable to run EFDSS without incurring risk and the Register of Risks allows Directors to identify and focus upon the most serious risks while at the same time delivering a service to meet EFDSS Objectives and the identified needs of all stakeholders. Not all risks can be mitigated but some are less likely to happen if the rest are effectively mitigated. The greatest attention is given to those high risks, that the Board can realistically control. Key risks identifi'ed are loss of key staff; inability to maximise income. financial management; loss of key stakeholders. These are mitigated through clear procedures on HR and financial
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 management and reporting which are regularly reviewed by the GPC. regular reviews of income generation sources (ie ticket sales, venue hire, fundraising); and ensuring grant agreements are fully met and good relationships are maintained with funders and other stakeholders. An additional risk has been added of inability to operate because of societal conditions (eg pandemics). Mitigation of such conditions are to pursue all emergency funding options; activate relevant premises and IT issue mitigations; utilise reserves. use scenario planning to revise business plans and increase ability to respond. Statement of policies EFDSS has Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding (children, young people and adults at risk), Volunteer, Health and Safety, Staff Handbook (employment policies) and Environmental policies in place to safeguard the staff, volunteers, and all users of Cecil Sharp House and EFDSS activities happening in other venues. Remuneration policy for key management personnel Remuneration for key management personnel will be reviewed annually by the Chief Executive and GPC, any proposal would be supported by sectoral benchmarking evidence. Public benefit statement As a registered charity, EFDSS is required to report how its activities in furtherance of its charitable purposes provide public benefit and to show that its Trustees act in regard to Charity Commission guidance in this matter. EFD5S has as its charitable purpose: The advancement of education. The advancement of the arts, culture and heritage. The promotion of equality and diversity. The Directors confirm that in setting strategies and developing policies they seek to ensure that EFDSS resources and services are available to all regardless of means or geographical location. The size of the membership does not reflect the much greater number who, directly and indirectly, benefit from EFDSS, work. In particular, its numerous outreach programmes and projects are designed to share the resources of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and its collections world-wide, and to encourage the wider public and particularly young people to share and enjoy a range of folk arts activities at Cecil Sharp House and elsewhere across England and sometimes beyond. OBJECTIVES and ACTIVITIES EFDSS has specific objectives focusing on promoting, preserding, and developing English folk dances, songs and music, and stories and drama with the mission to engage more people of all ages and abilities with the folk arts. This is achieved through national and sometimes international programmes of learning and participation, development of resources, and teacher and artists, development which currently include: Courses and classes for adults including instrumental, voice, choirs, dance, lectures, and conferences.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Programmes for children and young people (formal and informal educational settings), including our two youth ensembles - National Youth Folk Ensemble and London Youth Folk Ensemble - and Inclusive Folk programme for learning disable young people. Training and development activities (workshops, seminars, conferences, Continuing Professional Development activities, and online resources) to improve the understanding, teaching and delivery of the folk arts forthose working in formal and informal educational setknngs. Support and development of professional artists working in and with the folk arts through a year round programme of performance and showcase programmes, and creative development support through, for example, bursary programmes, residencies and creative commissions. Maintaining and increasing the collettions (physical and online) of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library to provide resources to support learning and creative projects, and to promote and encourage academic study through lectures and conferences. EFDSS delivers many of these activities with partner organisations working in arts, education and heritage organisations, health and wellbeing, and other sectors as appropriate. All activities are evaluated through the collection of quantitative and qualitative data from audiences, participants, tutors, peer assessors, funders, and partner organisations. Evaluation outcomes inform the development of future strategies and programmes of activities. Vision Statement Championing the folk arts at the heart of England's rich ond diverse culturol landscape Mission Statement Through the use of its resources (Cecil Sharp House, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, its professional staff, and members), EFDSS will maintain itself as a centre of excellence in the development of traditional folk song, dance. music, stories and drama by providing national and local outreach services and support to professional artists, teachers, researchers and others that enable and increase access to all and celebrate diversity and promote equality. 10
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Fiona Butcher Chair's Report As this is my first Annual Report for EFDSS, having been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees/Directors in November 2023, 1 wish first to express huge thanks to my predecessor, Lorna Aizlewood, who steered the EFDSS ship for six years as Chair following a five-year stint as a Trustee. Despite this being the first year with a lower National Portfolio grant from Arts Council England (ACE), we have continued to deliver a vast array of events across England, working with children and young people, adults, teachers, artists and academics. Activities took place in Devon, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, London, Manchester, Norfolk, Somerset, Suffolk, Yorkshire, and Tyne and Wear. We saw the National Youth Folk Ensemble perform at Moor Music {Morecombe>, Saltburn Festival and Summer Sounds Festival in London, and the London Youth Folk Ensemble make its regular appearance at Folk by the Oak in the grounds of Hatfield House. Once again, we brought folk dance to the U.Dance Youth Dance Festival and delivered Inclusive Folk, a year- round programme of workshops for young people with disabilities. The creative development of artists working with folk music and dance continued to be delivered through the Alan James Creative Bursary programme and the Micro Grants programme. In addition, we supported performance showcases for early career and EFDSS Creative Bursary and Micro Grant artists at Sidmouth Folk Festival and Stage4Beverley. The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and Archive's annual conference focused on the theme of folk dance and tradition this year with "Folk Dance: Grappling with the Tradition" It also presented the annual Broadside Day with the Traditional Song Forum, and a programme of online lectures. The partnership with the Universities of East Anglia and Sheffield to explore the Gypsy and Traveller music in the archives continued with the creation of an online resource which was launched at the Strumpshaw Tree Fair in Norfolk. Of course, much of this work would not be possible without the support of members, donors and funders. We are very grateful to John Lyon's Charity (Inclusive Folkl; Scop Arts and Postlethwaite Music Fund (National Youth Folk Ensemble and Engagement Programmel; PRS Foundation (Artists, Development); Good Luck Charitable Trust; donors Conrad and Jennifer Bailey {Artists' Development); and all our members and donors. Although our regular ACE funding was reduced, we were successful in a bid to the ACE Transform Fund. Aimed at those organisations with reduced funding this fund is to support developments that will help transform business models. For EFDSS, the key use of this funding will be for capital works to increase space available for hires and EFDSS activities at Cecil Sharp House, work which we plan to complete in 2025.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The EFDSS Gold Badge, awarded to individuals who have given exceptional service to EFDSS and/or to the folk arts, was given to four people this year. Frank Lee has made an incalculable contribution to rapper sword as a dancer, musician, and sword maker, and was involved in establishing DERT (Dance England Rapper Tournament). Jo and Simon Harmer have long and distinguished careers in dance performance. education and research, and made an immeasurable contribution to the validity and depth of the step dancing tradition. Sean Goddard is a dancer, academic, and editor, chairing Keymer Folk Dance Club and producing Sussex Pie, the folk newsletter for Sussex. Congratulations to them all. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Trustee/Directors for all their work and for their support of me in my fi'rst months, and to thank those who retired from the board in November 2023- Lorna Aizlewood, Nicola Kearey, Arti Prashar, Andy Wooles, and Martin Parker. l also wish to thank our Chief Executive, Katy Spicer, and her team for their continued dedication and development of the organi5ation. Katy Spicer Chief Executive's Report As the Chair has noted, this has been the first year with a reduced grant from Arts Council England. It was extremely disappointing to receive the news in November 2023 of a 32Yo Cut in our National Portfolio Organisation grant. given the enormous developments we have made over past years to expand our work and engage with new audiences, young people and an increasingly diverse cohort of artists and arknst-educators and so deliver the ACE Strategy. Fortunately, our reasonable financial reserve5 meant the Trustees were willing to support a plan that did not require any immediate reduction in activities and staff. This support was enhanced by the successful bid to the ACE Transform Fund which is helping to fund core costs over a three-year period to March 2026 and a capital development at Cecil Sharp House to increase the number of spaces for hire and EFDSS activities to increase future income generation. So, rather than scaling back it has been business as usual with regular and new activities being delivered throughout the year. Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and Archive (VWMLI "Just incredible. Hugely helpful advice and suggestions from library, revelatory fi'ndings..... Incredible, could spend a lifetime here." Library user. 2023 VWML has a unique multimedia collection of books, periodicals, sound recordings, moving images, photographs, artefacts and archival materials. It has the largest number of folk-related manuscripts in England, providing invaluable insight into folk history and regional variation. 12
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The majority of the VWMLS staff time is spent responding to enquiries, cataloguing new acquisitions of archive collections and recently published books and CDS, indexingjournals, and processing book and record donations. Over the years VWML has been invited to work on projects with a number of universities including Shepherd University and West Chester University (USA), and the Universities of Oxford, Aberdeen, Sussex and Royal Holloway. This year the invitation came from the Universities of East Anglia and Sheffield to partner on the pioneering project Gypsy and Traveller Voices in UK Music Archives. The project, which is funded by the University of East Anglia's AHRC Impact Acceleration Account, aims to highlight the richness and importance of Gypsy and Traveller music collections, supporting the cultural wellbeing of some of the UK'S most marginalised communities. Romani Gypsy academic and poet Dr Jo Clement of Northumbria University created a resource to make the VWML'S Gypsy and Traveller collections more accessible, particularly for Gypsy and Traveller people seeking engagement with their cultural heritage. This resource was launched at the Strumpshaw Tree Fair in Norfolk in July 2023. In addition, VWML Director Tiffany Hore together with academic partner colleagues gave papers about the project at the Access Folk conference in Sheffield and the Folk Education Development Day in Norwich. Further funding was secured to make a short film in collaboration with Romani film collective Patrin Films, which will use a personal story to explore the Archive's Gypsy and Traveller collections. "Absolutely fascinating. I know of Gypsy and Traveller storytellers and history but little of the old songs and who sang them and where. Will definitely visit the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and delve further into the archives. Such a rich heritage and needs to be celebrated. Great work!" Feedback from Strumpshaw Tree Fair, 2023 The annual Broadside Day was held in February in partnership with the Traditional Song Forum, and our annual programme of Library Lectures continued to be presented digitally, thereby attracting people from across the world. This year's lectures were: Distant Cousins: Cornish Christmas Carols in South Australia presented by Kate Neale. Sticks, Bells and Baldrics: Ball de Bastons- a Catalan tradition evolving with the times presented by Stephen Rowley. Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of Scotland's Highland and Island Communities presented Frances Wilkins. Shaping and Controlling Tradition: Charles Villiers Stanford's Contributions to the Preservation and Reworking of Folk Melodies presented by Adèle Commins. The 2023 conference focussed on dance traditions. 'Folk Dance: Grappling with Tradition, sought to examine folk dance in its wide-ranging forms, asking speakers and delegates to consider the meaning of tradition, both historically and in the present. Over two days the presentations explored the history of folk dance, refashioning, re-enactment, reinvention, participation and performance, with live performances from Boss Morris and step dancer Simon Harmer. Topics explored specific dance forms including morris, stepping, Molly, sword and social dance, and dance traditions from specific parts of the UK.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Volume 12, Number 4 of the journal of the VWML, the Folk Music Journal, was published again in print and digitally. The Journal reviewed over 20 books and published the following articles: Return to the Appalachian Mountains: Maud Karpeles and Sidney Robertson Cowell's Song Collection Expedition 1950 by Catherine Herbert Kerst and Brian Peters. Mrs Fowler's Polesworth Morris Troupe: Mary Neal's Vision Achieved? by Joe Oldaker. Telling the Trust in Song: Subversion and Injustice in the Ballad of 'Green the Ganger, by lan Russell. Lace Songs and Culture Wars: A Nineteenth-century Flemish Village Soap Opera by David Hopkins. In early 2023, VWML contributed items from the archives to The Making Mischief Exhibition at Compton Verney, organised by the Museum of British Folklore. Items lent included Abbots Bromley horns, a hoodening horse, a set of morris dolls and various items of longsword and mumming costume. The exhibition opened in February and continued through to June. it was also shown at the UAL: London College of Fashion in summer 2024. To mark the centenary in 2024 of the death of Cecil Sharp, the VWML Director curated an exhibition of Sharp's Singers for Cecil Sharp House, photographs from our archives of some of th the many singers from whom Sharp collected songs in the early 20 century. Sharp was one of the few song collectors to take photographs of his singers and note down details about them, and in doing so he left us a valuable insight into the lives of his overwhelmingly working-class subjects what they wore, where they lived, and sometimes even glimpses of them as people. We selected images which we felt, when married to the story of their subject, achieved this the best. Whether agricultural labourer, gardener, glover, collar worker, sailor or miner, we see this as a celebration of the ordinary people who made the folk revival possible through their art., Tiffany Hore The exhibition runs until the end of 2024. Learning and Participation Once again the Education team delivered a huge number of activities from weekly classes to residential courses, for participants of all ages, as well as practitioners, and across England. Youth The National Youth Folk Ensemble was awarded National Youth Music Organisation (NYMOI status by the Department for Education and Arts Council England, becoming one of 15 NYMO'S alongside other youth music ensembles including the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Jazz Collective. This is a great recognition of the importance of folk music in the musical education of young people. The Ensemble also saw a change of Artistic Director as Sam Partridge delivered his final residencies and performances in April and August 2023, handing over the baton from the autumn to Jo Freya. The end of Sam's tenure saw the Ensemble give 14
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 performances at Cecil Sharp House, Saltburn Festival and at the Summer Sounds Festival in London. Sam had led the Ensemble brilliantly for four years which included the COVID 19 lock down, maintaining the young people's enthusiasm and energy through over a year of online only residencies. Our first Programme Manager, Sarah Jones, also moved on after eight years in the post. Her successor, Hannah Mears-young joined us in summer 2023 bringing experience in youth arts practice. Unfortunately, due to serious illness, Jo had to lead from a distance for the first few months. Miranda Rutter, a long-term regular tutor for the Ensemble, stepped in as Jo's eyes and ears at the residencies in October and February. Fortunatelyjo was able to return in person in the Spring. Under her leadership, Cohort 8 gave theirfirst performance in February at More Music in Morecambe alongside professional band Blowzabella, of which Jo is a long-time member. It was a packed house and exuberantly appreciative audience. The Ensemble performed new works collaboratively composed and arranged with jazz musician Annie Whitehead, and with tabla player and Bhangra composer and producer Kuljit Bhamra. As ever, the young people worked with a wide range of guest music leaders throughout the year and were supported by a dedicated team of pastoral staff. The National Youth Folk Ensemble Engagement Programme delivered events across the country. In the summer half term, Open Day5 were delivered in Exeter, Manchester and London, offering free opportunities for young people to try folk music or develop their folk music playing. Folk Experience Days for young musicians took place in partnership with music education hubs in Bristol, Greater Manchester, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Suffolk, and with Yorkshire Young Musicians in Leeds. Members of the Ensemble's alumni were provided with opportunities to work as trainee workshop leaders to support these events. In addition we delivered folk music workshops for young people supported by the London Music Fund and with Ark Music's Fusion Ensemble as part of our developing partnership. We are grateful to the Postlethwaite Music Fund for funding bursaries for members of the Ensemble and Scops Arts Trust for their support of the Engagement Programme, which enables more young people of varied backgrounds to experience folk music. For some of these participants it was their first experience of playing folk music and led to them auditioning and gaining places in the Ensemble. London Youth Folk Ensemble (LYFE), our non-auditioned ensemble, attended by young people from London and beyond, led by Alexandra Patterson and Camilo Menjura (to July 2023) and Aaron Horlock (from September 2023), met throughout the year. They gave performances at Camden Music's Spring Festival and at Folk by the Oak Festival in Hatfield, once again being the opening act on the Acorn Stage. LYFE hosted our annual youth music event - The Takeover! July, inviting other groups of young musicians to join them in ceilidh dancing and a performance. This year the guest groups were Ark Music's Fusion Ensembles (composed of young musicians from the Ark multi-academy trust from London and elsewhere),. Roots Alive from Leeds; London's Centre for Young Musicians Folk Ensemble. and FolkActive from Southampton.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 "I've had a brilliant few 3 years with the National Youth Folk Ensemble and I hope when I leave someone else who will grow as much as I have, and have an equally influential experience through the Ensemble will take up my place. Someone who might never have accessed anything like this before, and can experience something completely new and mind blowing, which is partly why the experience has transformed me in my musicianship and as member of a group so fundamentally." Inclusive Folk, our workshop programme for learning disabled young people continued with funding from the John Lyon's Charity. Fortnightly workshops took place at Cecil Sharp House, and work took place with two SEND schools and colleges. In addition, in the Autumn term 2023, funding from Camden Spark (the Local Cultural Education Partnership) enabled us to work with younger children with SEND at Swiss Cottage Junior School. "Three students are now going on to do work experience related to performance/music industry - this contributed to their confidence and interest." Teacher, participating school This programme was evaluated by external evaluator Andrea Spain. She states - "Through the investment of the John Lyons Charity, and commitment of EFDSS, considerable knowledge and skill have been established within the Inclusive Folk team, as well as a valuable set of educational resources. Arts Council England data consistently shows that disabled young people are amongst those least likely to have access to group musical learning opportunities provided by Music Education Hubs and are significantly under-represented in their ensembles, for example. Inclusive Folk's experience of working with learning disabled young people has potential to be of significant value in the wider music education sector, complementing the expertise of organisations like Open Up Music, who specialise in accessible orchestras, and Drake Music, who specialise in accessible music technologies. ' July 2023 Education Director, Rachel Elliott, gave a presentation about Inclusive Folk at the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education in November 2023 and was invited to attend two roundtable discussions by John Lyon's Charity in relation to their Stand Up for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) initiative. In August 2023, we delivered Get Your Folk On! at Cecil Sharp House, a five day creative folk music and dance summer school for young people. Learnin Over the year we added five free learning resources to our online Resource Bank: Black British History and Folk Song by Angeline Morrison. Dancing Days: Using Folk Arts in Inclusive Settings by Emmie Ward and Roary Neat. Maypole Dancing by Mike Ruff. Folk Dance in the National Curriculum for PE Key Stages 1-3 (various contributors). resources 16
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Dance EFDSS once again partnered with One Dance UK on the U.Dance National Festival of youth dance. This year's festival took place in Newcastle and EFDS5 invited local youth folk groups Star and Shadow {rapper sword dance} and Glasshouse International's youth folk ensemble, Folkestra, to perform at the welcome event of the festival. In addition EFDSS Dance Development Manager and clog dancer, Laura Connolly, ran five creative clog dancing workshops attended by 134 young dancers. and a ceilidh for all the festival participants. Since running the first ceilidh in 2016 this has become a regular feature of the U.Dance National Festival weekend. Family Barn Dances at Cecil Sharp House continued throughout the year. These events are a great first entry point to folk dancing foryoung children and families and the May event included, of course, maypole dancing. We were able to fund another year of Mini Grants to support folk dance development activities across England. Seven projects were supported from North Yorkshire to Cornwall. Six grants of £200 - £500 were awarded with support in-kind given to the seventh. The projects were: Family Folk Jam, North Somerset, to run family friendly folk dance events. Folk 3D, Derby, to run daytime ceilidhs aimed at older people and families. Folk Dance with Lisa Heywood, to research accessibility to folk dance events and share findings to help improve access. Folk Factory (Soundpost), Sheffield, to develop a youth folk dance programme introducing young people to all forms for folk dance. Stegastomp, Warwickshire, to develop their programme of inclusive contra dances. Tatters Morris and Redruth Town Band, Cornwall, to support the purchase of an accessible maypole to enable the inclusion of young children and people with disabilities. Land of Iron Museum, North Yorkshire, to support the development of a folk dance education programme by providing some sets of wooden longswords We continued to support the work of our Associate Company Folk Dance Remixed (FDR) who took to the road over the summer with their outdoor shows, workshops and ceilidhs. This included the Summer Sounds Folk Day in August held at Coal Drop Yard, Kings Cross, a great afternoon of dance and music provided by FDR, the National Youth Folk Ensemble and Cecil Sharp House Choir. In the autumn we said goodbye to Laura Connolly who was appointed eight years ago to the then newly created post of Dance Development Manager and welcomed Jennifer Cox to the post who brings her extensive knowledge of all forms of folk dance including morris and ceilidh dance. Adult and Professional Learnin Our busy adult education programme at Cecil Sharp House continued with over 300 classes delivered throughout the year. Learners can choose from English country dance, morris dance, singing, fiddle, banjo, guitar, melodeon and ceilidh band, and there were over 7,500 17
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 attendances. We continued to deliver our Monday Folk Song Workshops online with guest tutors James Fagan, Angeline Morrison, and George Sansome leading one term each. Under the leadership of Rose Martin, Cecil Sharp House Choir led our Big Folky Singalong event to mark international Make Music Day on 21 June, and gave public performances at Cecil Sharp House, the Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square, and at Summer Sounds. The EFDSS Ceilidh Workshop Band, formed from participants attending our adult instrumental workshops and led by Ross Grant, played for dances at folk festivals in Sidmouth, Warwick, Broadstairs, Norwich and Shrewsbury. In January we ran an online one-day professional development event on Cultural Diversity in Folk Music for the tutors and staff involved in ouryouth programmes. It featured a panel of global majority artists led by Kuljit Bhamra with Germa Adan, Suntou Susso, Adriano Adewale and Raghad Haddad, and a session by I Speak Music (Surrey Music Hub). Three Folk Education Development Days were held during the year presented by our Folk Education Network which now has over 620 members in its dedicated Facebook group. They focussed on fostering a living tradition; folk and community (especially the Gypsy, Romani and Traveller communities); and youth dance. These events took us to Devon, partnering with Wren Music; Norwich partnering with the University of East Anglia; and a dance-specific day at Cecil Sharp House. Amongst the presenter5 and workshop leaders were representatives from Folk East; the National Youth Folklore Troupe of England; Friends, Families and Travellers; Wren Music; and Devon and Torbay Music Education Hub, together with presentations from educators, artist-educators and other specialists on their specific practices and projects. "A truly inspiring, humbling day in a safe space for everyone to share their work with like- minded people. We have all come away, grateful of our links to each other and with fresh ideas to move forwards." Alex Bartholomew and Lindsay Want, East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, November 2023. Artists, Development and Performance The professional performance programme at Cecil Sharp House continued to present a wide range of artists from early career to well-established, from traditional to experimental, and from far and near. The programme included regular favourites with our audiences- Martin Simpson, Spiers and Boden, Lady Maisery, Kathryn Tickell, and The Young'Uns- and recent recipients of EFDSS funding support including Jim Ghedi, Maddie Morris and duo Alden and Patterson. We hosted a second Indoor Festival presented by the Magpie Arc and to mark 20 years in the music business, Jim Moray curated a festival day which featured artists Kitty Macfarlane, Frankie Archer, Hibiki Ichikawa and Boss Morris. International artists Catrin Finch and Cimmaron returned to CSH, and we welcomed poet Blake Morrison with the Hosepipe Band for the first time at CSH in a beautiful evening of spoken word and folk music.
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The Trad Night season continued with a range of artists including the renowned Copper Family and our partnerships with Thank Folk for Feminism for the Feminist Folk Clubs, and Queer Folk for the Queer Folk Ceilidh Parties developed further. Two successful Feminist Folk Club events featured Angeline Morrison, Nancy Kerr, Frankie Armstrong, Germa Aden, Fay Hield, Maz O'connor and Roary Skaista, and the four Ceilidhs all sold out. From the beginning of 2024 we decided to reduce the number of gigs to enable the Marketing Team to give greater focus on each gig and develop audiences as we were still experiencing audiences lower than pre- pandemic levels. With funding from PRS Foundation we ran a further year of the Alan James Bursary programme and bursaries. This year's awards went to Satnam Galsian and Maddie Morris; Tarren; The Rheingans Sisters; Rowan Sawday aka Disraeli. Femi Oriogon-williams; and Fernando Machado and Andreas Borges. Their projects included exploring traditional music of other continents alongside traditional music of England; lullabies and composing/writing new lullabies; folklore, folk tales and theatrical presentations; and gender in folk song. The outcome of two residencies were performed at CSH in summer 2024. "This project has given us the opportunity to work together, this is something we've talked about doing for a very long time but haven't had the capacity to do so it's been really wonderful to fi'nally get the opportunity thanks to thi5 funding. We've reflected a lot on how having this funding, has really helped legitimise the importance of works like this." Maddie Morris/Satnam Galsian, January 2024 Thanks to another generous donation from Conrad and Jennifer Bailey, we ran a fourth year of Micro Grants and supported Queer Folk (aka Sophie Crawford and George Sansome) to continue work begun with their Alan James Creative Bursary in 2022. The Micro Grants support folk artists in anyway that helps them develop their careers and their living as artists. Seven bursaries were awarded enabling arkn5ts to produce new EP5 and CDS; support touring costs; support marketing and PR costs; and to purchase equipmentto improve sound recording for an online project. The recipients were Kerry Andrew; Lady Nade; Grace Smith; Jim Causley; Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne; Lucy Huzzard and Hazel Thompson; and Loh Dubh. Our partnerships with Sidmouth Folk Festival in Devon, and Stage4Beverley in Yorkshire continued. Twelve artists were showcased on the EFDSS Presents stage at Sidmouth Folk Festival in August 2023 providing opportunities for early career artist5 and artists in receipt of EFDSS Bursary and Micro Grants- Johnny Campbell; Will Finn and Rosie Calvert; Heather Ferrier. Lizzy Hardingham. Owen Spafford and Louis Campbell. Amy Hollinrake,. Ellie Gowers. lona Lane; Maddie Morris. and Frankie Archer. Three musicians were supported to perform on the Horizon Stage at Stage4Beverley in February 2024-Jon Doran, Maius Mollis, and Maddy Morris - together with the Youthlincs, a youth folk dance and music group from Folklincs based in North Lincolnshire. 19
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Marketing. Communications and Development We continued our strategy of supporknng folk-positive articles in the mainstream press alongside more detailed features in local and specialist media. Notable outcomes were: Feature in BBC Travel, May 2023: "2Camden's Cecil Sharp House has been questioning the very notion of what traditional British music means in the multi-cultural 21st Century... Remixing maypole dancing is just one of the myriad ways that English folk culture is currently having a reboot, thanks to a new wave of switched-on folkies diversifying the scene. At the heart of this progressive movement is Cecil Sharp House, a music venue and folk arts centre that's home to the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and where Folk Dance Remixed perform regularly... Over the last few years, EFDSS has ramped up its outreach efforts to engage new audiences, mixing diverse cultural traditions to create new interpretations of "Englishness. Rolling Stone magazine, July 2023: "Less pale male and stale- how British folk is getknng a remix. Think that folk music is just old men warbling in a bar? Then think again. From Morris dancing at the BRIT Awards to queer sea shanties and punkzines about stone circles, ye olde England is getknng cool-as-folk with a new generation... In case you missed it, 2023 look5 set to be the year that British folk finally has a renaissance... Highnotes, the magazine of the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music IABRSM) interviewed Jo Freya as the newly appointed Artistic Director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Other activities featured in print were the Queer Folk Ceilidh Parties and our new Black History resource in themed features in Camden Journal, February 2024 and October 2023 respectively, and a significant feature on the Cecil Sharp House Choir was published in Folk London magazine in February 2024 Our venue came in for praise from Americana UK, October 2023:"Cecil Sharp House which is about as quintessential a venue as'folk, music can claim... It's a fine venue, one of the oldest Camden Town stalwarts." We also contributed to a New York Times feature in August 2023 which stated, "In England, Morris Dancing Is Loved, Mocked and Getting a Makeover.....lit] is opening up to younger dancers who approach it as a living tradition." As mentioned earlier, the gigs programme at CSH was reduced from 2024 enabling marketing staff greater time and resources to work on each event individually, targeting prospective audiences more effectively using improved data from past attendances. We are now benefiting from several years, worth of booking data from the specialist CRM system, enabling more effective marketing of gigs, classes and courses. We are already seeing the benefits of this with higher ticket sales. Investment has been made in training staff in the use of video equipment to enable high-quality video content to be produced easily and in-house. The result has been a promotional film of the"Get Your Folk Onl" summer school; documentation of the Folk Discovery R&D project; 20
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 films of our Alan James Creative bursary artists while in residence at CSH; and performance videos of National Youth Folk Ensemble and Cecil Sharp House Choir. In addition, in the moment filming has taken place of events at Cecil Sharp House and our events around the country for immediate use on social media channels. Three editions of our membership magazine, English Dance and Song {EDS) were produced and an increasing number of articles are reproduced online for all to read. Articles included a series of features on how to increase accessibility to folk events; regular youth articles; Romany Gypsy folk music in England, linked to the VWML project. features marking the centenary of Cecil Sharp's death; and attivities from member organisations and other folk organisations from around England. The development of the Starter Membership, launched in March 2023, continued and changes were made to other membership categories to enable EFDSS to increase its Gift Aid claim. Developments were made to help increase donations from US patrons by enabling their donations to be tax efficient for them in the USA. For the first time we fundraised through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, a fundraising programme run by the Reed Foundation that provides opportunities to help charities to fund raise for specific programmes and developments. Through this appeal, we raised over £17,000 specifically for our Artists Development programme to increase the diversity of the arkn5ts we support. Some of this funding will be used in 2024125 to support a new music commission project. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Integral to all that we do is improving Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion {EDI) within EFDSS and its activities, making Cecil Sharp House accessible and welcoming, promoting EDI practice to the wider folk sector, and increasing the diversity of the people we engage with. We continue to focus on three of the protected characteristics (Equality Act 2010) rather than try to deliver activities and developments that relate to all of them. That having been said our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policies and procedures ensure that we do not discriminate against any person on the ground of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, or socio- economic status. We focus on these characteristics for the following reasons:_ Gender and Sexuality-while there are some very prominent women artists in the folk sector, they are still outweighed by their male counterparts, in particular as instrumentalists which can limit development opportunities. To support and encourage the LGBTQIA+ community to have a voice in the folk arts sector whether as arknsts, educators or audiences/participants. Ethnicity- the English folk arts continually evolve to reflect the society around them. If they are to survive and thrive then the ethnicity of people involved (professionals and amateurs} needs to be diverse. 21
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Disability- we are committed to access to the arts for everyone and recognise that people with disabilities experience a disproporknonate array of barriers to this access. Developments and activities that have taken place in this year include: Partnerships with Queer Folk, Thank Folk for Feminism and supporting Folk Dance Remixed. Increased diversity of tutors for youth activities. Inclusive Folk Programme for young people with disabilities. Training and development for folk arts educators. Creative development support of global majority, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ artists. Educational resources to spotlight minority voices- Black History Month resource and Gypsy and Traveller Voices resource. Staff training and development on race and equality with sls360. In conclusion, despite a change in our funding model, it has been another busy and developmental year. I would like to thank all my colleagues whose determination and dedication have made this possible and to the trustees for their on-going support. A specific thanks must go to Lorna Aizlewood with whom it has been a pleasure to work with over the past 13 years in her role as a Trustee and then Chair; and a welcome to Fiona Butcher with whom I look forward to working for many years to come. The Year Ahead 2024-25 The VWML team spent a significant part of theirtime in 2023-24 preparing for the launch of a new website in April 2024, including a new archives and indexes search tool. This aims to safeguard the library's digital resources and improve user experience and accessibility. Further funding for the Gypsy and Traveller Voices project was secured in 2023 and as a result 2024 will see the making and launch of a short film in collaboration with Romani film collective Patrin Films. The aim is to take it to film festivals and into the community, widening the reach of the project. Tiffany Hore and colleagues will be speaking at an academic conference in Venice about this project and publishing a journal article in Music and Minorities. We were delighted to receive further support from the John Lyons Charitable Trust to fund our Inclusive Folk programme. The grant will enable an expanded programme to be delivered from September 2024 for the next five years. Funding from Camden Council's Cultural Education and Learning Support Fund enabled the delivery of our first Folk Unlimited Summer Course in August 2024. Another year of funding has been received from PRS Foundation which is supporting our Alan James Creative Bursary programme. This year we are partnering with Drake Music, Black Lives in Music and the Glasshouse International in Gateshead and have awarded five bursaries. 22
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The need to increase income generation remains pertinent particularly income that is not solely tied to a project. So in June we restructured our Marketing and Development department and introduced the part-time post of Philanthropy Director. Our former Marketing Director, Peter Craik has taken on this post with the full-time post of Marketing Director now filled by Sammie Squire. The aim of this move is to increase staffing resources to develop our income from ticket sales and individual giving via membership. donations and legacies. As mentioned earlier, the ACE Transform Fund is helping fund a capital development of Cecil Sharp House. This development will see a re-organisation of the lower ground floor to provide two additional spaces for hires and EFDSS activities to help increase income generation from hires and events, and a combined cafe and bar facility to provide a more efficient and effective service for customers. This project is also being supported by the Foyle Foundation. Ed Fishwick Treasurer's Report The charity has an overall deficit of £57,579 {2023: £57,810). The deficit reflerts depreciation on fixed assets being written off over a set number of years. The income of the charity is £1,548,519 (2023: £1,481,658). The increase represents the receipt of funding from the Arts Council Transform Programme, as well as continued success in the aim of increasing the letting income generated from spare space in Cecil Sharp House. The charity received legacies in the year totalling £93,275 (2023: £107,746) and this remains an extremely useful type of income during challenging times financially. Expenditure in 2024 was £1,605,925 (2023: £1,529,251). The increase represents ongoing increases in running a venue for hire, as well as VAT, which is irrecoverable to the charity, returning to normal levels after the offset of a release of a provision in 2023. Staffing costs have increased from 2024, due to both inflationary pressures and also reflecting the staffing levels needed for the range of activities of the charity for its own operations and as a venue. Reserves policy EFDSS holds the following types of reserves: Restricted reserves comprise funds available for expenditure in accordance with the donors, wishes. These include Cecil Sharp House, held as an asset intended to be used for purposes of English folk dance and song, and various grant funds and donations which were received for particular purposes and are unspent at the year end. Restricted reserves at 31 March 2024 £1,766,674 (2023: £1,680,609}. 23
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Designated reserves are funds set aside from unrestricted reserves at the discretion of the Trustees. As at 31 March 2024 EFDSS held designated resenies of £451,392 {2023: £583,360), this figure is made up of: £243,597 relating to fixed assets capitalised for major projects including refurbishing Kennedy Hall and replacing boilers. £151,487 for future planned capital projects such as refurbishing the café and bar area. £56,308 of funding intending for multi-year youth education projects. Free reserves are defined by the Charity Commission as funds that are freely available to spend on the charity's purposes and thus do not include restricted or designated funds, or any remaining funds tied to fixed assets. The free reserves held at 31 March 2024 were £399,974 (2023: £394,653). Trustees review EFDSS'S Reserves Policy and reserves levels annually as part of the planning process. The level of reserves is one of the factors taken into consideration in setting future expenditure levels. The Trustees have agreed a policy where free reserves should be maintained at a level of £400,000 representing: £250,000 which is an estimate of funds needed in the event of winding up. An additional £IOO,000 in order to allow for funding gaps in the year. A further estimate of £50,000 in terms of the impact of increasing inflation and extra costs which could rise in the coming year. This level is judged suitable considering the following factors: The uncertainty over income, as well as the impact on the charity from economic uncertainty. Ownership of a listed building, which can mean additional expenditure incurred in upkeep and maintenance. To allow for further emergency expenses in relation to any unexpected event. To allow longer term planning and more efficient use of resources. To ensure the organisation is able to commit to and fulfil its intentions in regard to future and multi-year projects funded by restricted and designated reserves. The Trustees are satisfied with the level of reserves held at the year end. The charity notes that the reduction in the confi'rmed funding from Arts Council England effective from April 2023 may impact reserves in the coming years, as we continue to work to raise replacement source5 for this income. Investment Surplus cash is invested in short term bank deposit accounts {each within the limits of the government's guarantee scheme) or on the Money Market, a facility provided by HM Treasury, for agreed short periods. The amount available for investment is judged according to expected financial obligations and cash flow forecasts. 24
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Incoming Resources Grants received and receivable in 2023-24 were as follows:_ Arts Council England (National PortFolio Organisation funding) Arts Council England (Transform Programme) Arts Council England (National Youth Music Organisations) PRS Foundation Talent Development Partnership grant Scop Arts Trust National Folk Music Fund Camden Spark Reed Foundation Postlethewaite Music Foundation 261,358 199,175 38,642 15,000 7,500, 2,167 2,000 1,560 1,000 *for multi-year funded programmes Fundraising EFDSS seeks out Trusts and Foundations where the aims and objectives of the latter match the aims and objectives of the EFDSS project that we are seeking funding for. EFDSS abides by the requirements of the grant giving body in terms of record keeping, reporknng and evaluation. Donations from individuals are sought on an ongoing basis to support the general running costs of EFDSS and also for specific projects and developments. Donations for specific projects and developments are recorded separately from general donations to ensure they are used for the specified activity. Any complaints about the use of donated funds would be dealt with in the first instance by the Chief Executive and if required by the Chair of the Board on behalf of the Trustee/Directors. Voluntary Income A variety of voluntary contributions has supported the work of EFDSS and, whenever it is possible, we have recovered Gift Aid to enhance those contributions. Voluntary income includes donations to EFDSS, and we thank all those members, affiliated and other organisations for their support of EFDSS, work. Donations were received from individuals, affiliated groups, and other organisations, including donations in memory of deceased members. Donations of more than £100 were received from the following affiliated groups: Lake District Folk and Acoustic Folk Dance Group Swanage and Langton Matravers 25
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Legacies received by 31 March 2024 Robert Tavener £76,000 Peter Brimelow £5,597 (residue of legacy received first in 2022/23) Derk Mulquin £6,816 (residue of legacy received first in 2022123) Peter Bridgman £4,862 (residue of legacy received first in 2022/23) Gift Aid EFDSS has been able to recover £14,122 of tax on donations through the Gift Aid Scheme. Statement of the Board's responsibilities The Directors (who are also the Trustees of EFDSS for the purposes of charity law) are responsible for preparing the Directors, report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Directors are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether the applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the fi'nancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the Directors are aware: there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; the Directors have taken all steps that they ought to have in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. 26
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable companws website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in otherjurisdictions. Members of EFDSS guarantee to contribute an amount, not exceeding £0.50 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2024 was 1934 (2004 at 31 March 2042). The Directors have no beneficial interest in the charitable company. Auditors Sayer Vincent was re-appointed as the Society's auditors during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity. The report of the Board of Directors has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies, regime. th Approved by the Board of Directors on 9 November 2024 and signed on their behalf by: Fiona Butcher, Chair of Trustees 27
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 FREELANCE PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH EFDSS DURING 2023-24 Youth, Adult, Family and Professional Development Activities: (Tutors, trainee tutors, pastoral staff, callers at family barn dances) Adriano Adewale Kuljit Bhamra Deborah Chalmers Clare Elton Jo Freya Barry Goodman Dave Gray Jack Healy Ed Hicks Aaron Horlock Tom Kimber Su-a Lee Rose Martin Sarah Matthews Camilo Menjura Bevan Morris Archie Churchill-moss Roary Neat Mary Panton Sam Patridge Alasdair Paul Katie Pearson Becky Price Andy Richards Mike Ruff Ben See Andrea Spain Yusra Supdarowa Tiny Taylor Emmie Ward Annie Whitehead Hazel Askew Bridle Bloor David Delarre James Fagan Nicholas Goode Ross Grant Rob Harbron Lisa Heywood Fred Holden Sarah Jones James Kitchman Nicola Lyons Sheena Masson Ellen McGovern Isaac Montagu Angeline Morrison Ben Moss Tom Newell Mahesh Parkar Alexandra Patterson Eliose Pearce Jane Pfaff Conor Reynolds Ruth Rose Miranda Rutter Grace Smith Dom stichbury Sam Sweeney Sarah Upjohn Ocea Weir Lewis Wood Library Lecturers: Adèle Commins Stephen Rowley Kate Neale Frances Wilkins Sound Engineers: Simon Alpin Graham Dominy Thibaut Remy Drew Coleman Barny Davis Steve Watson 28
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 SUPPORTED ARTISTS Alan James Creative Bursary Recipients: André Borges & Fernando Machado Rowan Sawday aka Disraeli Tarren Femi Oriogun-williams Satnam Galsian & Maddie Morris The Rheingans Sisters Micro Grant Recipients: Kerry Andrew aka You Are Wolf Lon Dubh Jim Moray Grace Smith Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne Lucy Huzzard & Hazel Thompson Lady Nade Associate Company: Folk Dance Remixed VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH EFDSS IN 2023-24 Front of House: Tim Stephens Library and Archive: Abbie Butfoy Martin Nail Peter Williams George Mowse Amy Palmer VWML Conference: Theresa Buckland Anusha Subramanyam Mike Heaney Folk Music Journal Editorial Board: Julia C Bishop Theresa Buckland Byron Dueck Tiffany Hore Alice Little Michael Pickering Steve Roud Derek Schofield (Reviews Editor) Malcolm Taylor OBE Elaine Bradtke Paul Cowdell Mike Heaney E Wyn James Chloe Middleton-metcalfe Sigrid Rieuwerts lan Russell MBE Matthew Simons Frances Wilkins Folk Song Subject Index: Jeremy Dale Eleanor Mehew Anne Gover Jake Ollett 29
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 English Country Dancing Class Musicians: lan Cutts Charlotte McDonaugh Jon Davison Get Your Folk On! Volunteer: Elye Cuthbertson Folk Education Development Day Speakers: Alex Bartholomew (East Anglian Traditional Music Trust - EATMT) Amy Wilson (Wren Music) Angeline Morrison (musician) Becky Marshall-Potter (Folk East) Ben van Weede {Devon Music Hub) Candy Sheridan {Gypsy Council, 5trumpshaw Tree Fair) Carol Robinson (Folk Friendzy) Chris Nickel (National Youth Folklore Troupe of England) David Brookhouse (Heritage Learning Manager, Cultural Services Lancashire County Council) Finn Collinson (musician) Georgia Shackleton (musician) Gloria Buckley (campaigner, Gypsy and Traveller community) Hazel Marsh (University of East Anglia) Jade Hunt (Horizon Community College) Jenny Read (Wren Music) Jon Dyer (Wren Music) Judith Palmer (African Heritage UK) Lindsay Want (East Anglian Traditional Music Trust) Lowenna Hosken {Kekezza) Marcus Patteson (Norfolk Community Arts- NORCA) Marilyn Tucker {Wren Music) Paul Wilson (Wren Music) Rebecka Lyons (Wren Music) Sarah Owen (Wren Music) Suzanna King (Friends, Families and Travellers) Speakers at Youth Folk Professional Development Day: Germa Adan Adriano Adewale Kuljit Bhamra Raghad Haddad, I Speak Music (Surrey Music Hub) Sara Khoorsi, I Speak Music Jim Pinchen, I Speak Music Suntou Susso Dance Mini Grant Recipients: Family Folk Jam Folk Dance with Lisa Heywood Folk Factory (Soundpost) Tatters Morris & Redruth Town Band Folk 3D Land of Iron Museum Stegastomp 30
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Directors, annual report For the year ended 31 March 2024 Key partners arts. academic and heritage partners 2023-24 Key arts, academic and heritage partners: Access Folk (University of Sheffield) Archives and Documentation Centres ARK Music (Schools & Fusion Ensemble) Attitude is Everything Awards for Young Musicians Black Lives in Music Brass Bands England Compton Verney Cubitt Sessions Drake Music Dancing Dialogues Esperance Federation of Folk and Traditional Music Collections Folk Dance Remixed ICOMOS ICH Committee International Association of Music Libraries Kings Cross Summer Sounds Leeds Conservatoire London Music Fund Make Music Day UK More Music, Morecambe Museum of British Folklore Music Education Council Music Mark New Roots St Albans One Dance UK (U.Dance programme) Patrin Films People Dancing Permaculture London Queer Folk Saltburn Folk Festival Sidmouth Folk Festival Sound Roots Stage4Beverley Star Creative Heritage Thank Folk for Feminism Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland Traditional Song Forum University of East Anglia University of Sheffield Wren Music Yorkshire Young Musicians Music Education Hubs, Bridge organisation5, Local Cultural Education Partnerships Barnet Bristol Beacon Camden Camden Spark! Devon Leicester Greater Manchester Milton Keynes Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) Southwark Suffolk Tri-borough (London) 31
Independent auditor's report To the members of The English Folk Dance and Song Society Opinion We have audited the financial statements ofThe English Folk Dance and Song Society (the 'charitable company,) forthe year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reportingframework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reportingstandard applicable in the UKand Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom GeneraLLy Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion, the financiaL statements: Give a true and fairview of the state of the charitabLe company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, incLuding its income and expenditure for the yearthen ended Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom GeneralLy Accepted Accounting Practice Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing {UK) IISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities forthe audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent ofthe charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevantto our audit of the financial statements in the UK, incLuding the FRC'S Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis forour opinion. Conclusions relatingto going concern In auditingthe financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed. we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on The English Folk Dance and Song Society's abiLityto continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. Other Information The other information comprises the information included in the trustees. annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible forthe other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the 32
Independent auditor's report To the members of The English Folk Dance and Song Society financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, considerwhether the other information is materially inconsistentwith the financial statements or our knowLedge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materiaLly misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If. based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothingto report in this regard. Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: The information given in the trustees, annual reportforthe financial yearfor which the financial statements are prepared is consistentwith the financial statements; and The trustees, annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understandingof the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees, annual report. We have nothingto report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: Adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us: or The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns" or Certain disclosures of trustees. remuneration specified by Law are not made. or We have not received all the information and expLanations we require for our audit. or The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage ofthe small companies, exemptions in preparing the trustees, annuaL report and from the requirementto prepare a strategic report. Responsibilities of trustees As explained more fully in the statement of tiustees, responsibilities set out in the trustees, annuaL report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable companyfor the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fairview, and for such internaL control as the trustees determine is necessaryto enabLe the preparation of financiaL statements that are free from materiaL misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 33
Independent auditor's report To the members of The English Folk Dance and Song Society In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessingthe charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and usingthe going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's reportthat includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from f raud or error and are considered material if, individualLy or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud. are instances of non-compLiance with Laws and regulations. We design procedures in Line with our responsibiLities. outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities. including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below. Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, incLuding fraud and non-compliance with Laws and regulations. our procedures included the following: We enquired of management and the General Purposes Committee (GPC), which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerningthe charity's policies and procedures relatingto: Identifying, evaLuating. and compLying with laws and reguLations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance. Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alLeged fraud" The internal controLs established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non- compLiance with laws and regulations. We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. We obtained an understanding of the legaL and regulatoryframework thatthe charity operates in, focusing on those Laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financiaL statements or that had a fundamentaL effect on the operations of the charity from our professionaL and sector experience. We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the auditteam and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughoutthe audit. We reviewed any reports made to regulators. We reviewed the financial statement discLosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicabLe laws and regulations. 34
Independent auditor's report To the members of The English Folk Dance and Song Society We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. In addressingthe risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whetherthe judgements made in making accountingestimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect aLI irregularities, includingthose leadingto a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions refLected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compLiance. The risk is aLso greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud invoLves intentional concealment. forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. A further description of our responsibilities is avaiLable on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.or .uk/auditorsres onsibiLities. This description forms part of our auditor's report. Use of our report This report is made soleLyto the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 ofthe Companies Act 2006. Our auditwork has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fulLest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibilityto anyone otherthan the charitabLe company and the charitable company's members as a body. for our audit work, forthis report, or for the opinions we have formed. Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor) 13 December 2024 for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON. EC1Y OTG 35
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Soclety Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) For the ear ended 31 March 2024 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Note Income from.. Grants, donations and legacies Charitable activities.. Educational activities Performance programme Library and publications Membership Lettings Other income Investmenis 385,689 295,479 681.168 591,052 57,866 648,918 117.927 97,243 23,504 122.203 449.871 24,660 31,943 117.927 97.243 23.504 122,203 449,871 24.660 31.943 106,691 84,374 13,914 126.569 418,599 75,675 6,919 106,691 84,374 13,914 126,569 418,599 75,675 6,919 Total income 1,253,040 295,479 1.548.519 1,423,792 57,866 1,481,658 Expenditure on.. Raising funds Charitable activities.. Educational activities Practitioner trainingldevelopment Performance programme Library. archive, academic support Membership activities Lettings 37.211 2,973 40,184 38,723 502 39,225 449,348 65,780 235.548 188.341 75,032 359,998 96,592 28,057 16,994 20,424 3,692 25,935 545.940 93.837 252,542 208,765 78.724 385.933 497,612 73,068 244.825 197,382 72,818 326,565 36,272 16,739 2,868 8.585 623 12,669 533,884 89,807 247,693 205,967 73,441 339,234 Total expendlture Net (expendlture) / Income before net galns / (losses) on Investments 1,411,258 194,667 1.605.925 1,4SO,993 78,258 1,529,251 1158.218} 100,812 157,406) 127.2011 {20.3921 {47.593} Net Ilossesl on investments 1173) (173) 110.2171 {10,217} Net (expenditure) l income for the year (158,391) 100,812 (57.579) 137.4181 {20.3921 157,8101 Transfers between funds 14,746 114,746) 60,421 160,4211 Net movement in funds (143.645} 86,066 (57,579) 23.003 {80.8131 {57,810} Reconciliation of funds.. Total fund5 brought forward 1.097.212 1.680,609 2,777,821 1.074.209 1.761,422 2,835,631 Total fund5 carried forward 953.567 1.766,675 2.720.242 1.097.212 1 ,680.609 2,777,821 All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or1055e5 Other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disc105ed in Note 22a to the financial statements. 36
The English Folk Dance and Song Soclety Balance sheet Company no. 00297142 As at 31 March 2024 2024 2023 Note Fixed assets: Tangible assets Investments 1.792,456 1,909,471 7,118 1.792,456 1,916,589 Current assets: Stock Debtors Short-term investments Cash at bank and in hand 1,156 195.319 726.497 355,510 1,275 218,801 626,614 350.371 1.278.482 1,197,061 Liabilities: Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year (337.771) (327.257) Net current assets 940,711 869,804 Total assets less current liabilities 2,733,167 2,786,393 Creditors.. amounts falling due after one year (12.925) (8, 5 72) Total net assets 2,720,242 2,777,821 The funds of the charity: Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds.. Designated funds Revaluation reserve General funds 22a 1,766.675 1,680,609 451.392 79,350 422,825 583,360 79.350 434,502 Total unrestricted funds 953,567 1,097,212 Total charity funds 21a 2,720,242 2,777,821 Approved by Ihe irustees on 9ih November 2024 and signed on rheir behalf by Fiona Butcher Chair of Trustees 37
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Statement of cash flows For the ear ended 31 March 2024 Note 2024 2023 Cash flows from operatlng actlvltles Net income for the reporting period las per the statement of financial activities) Depreciation charges Losses on investments Dividends. interest and rent from investments Decrease in stocks Decreasel(increase) in debtors I ncrease Ildecrease) in creditors (57,406) (47,593) 134.824 173 (31.943) 130,209 10,217 (6,919) 23.482 14.867 1119,941) (705) Net cash provided byl (used in) operating activities 84,116 134,675) Cash flows from Investlng actlvltles: Dividends. interest and renis from investments Proceeds from the sale of fixed asset investments Losses on investments Purchase of fixed assets Proceeds from the sale of current asset investments Purchase of current asset investments Movement in short term investments 31,943 7.977 (173) (17.809) 197,808 <280.000) (18,723) 6.919 (10.217) (66,295) (44.701) Net cash (used in) investing activitie5 (78.977) (114,295) Change In cash and cash equlvalents In the year 5,139 (148,970) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 350,371 499.341 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 355.510 350,371 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt Other non- cash changes At31 March 2024 At l April 2023 Cash flows Cash at bank and in hand 350.371 5,139 355.510 a Total cash and cash equivalents 350,371 5,139 355,510 38
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 l Accounting policies a) Statutory Informatlon The English Folk Dance and Song Society is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address and principal place of busine55 is 2 Regent's Park Road, London. NWI 7AY. b) Basls of preparatlon The fi nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities-. Statement of Recomrnended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) (Charities SORP FRS 1021. The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note. In applyi ng Ihe financial reporting framework, rhe trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of signif icant accounting estimaies. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those esii mates. Any significant estimates and judgements affeciing these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below. Public benefit entity The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. d) Golng concern The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial Statement5. The trustees have made this a55e55ment in respect to a period of one year from the date of approval of these financial statements. The trustees of the charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to coniinue as a going concern. The trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting e) period. Income Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds. any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. Income from government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance condiiions attached 10 the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. For legacie5. entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either= the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executorls) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granti ng of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met. then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. Income received in advance of the provision of a Specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. Interest recelvable Interest on funds held on deposlt is included when receivable and the amount can be rneasured reliably by the charity., this is normally upon notification of the inierest paid or payable by the bank. g) Fund accountlng Resrricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to he fund Unrestricte5 funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. 39
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 l Accountlng pollcles Icontlnued) h) Expendlture and Irrecoverable VAT Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or con5trurtive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it Is probable that settlement will be required and the arnount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings= Costs of raisi ng funds relate to the costs incurred by the Society in generating grant and donation income. as well as the cost of any other activities with a fundraising purpose. Any surplus on lettings income is applied to the Society's charitable work. Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering events. educational and other activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated 5UPPOrt COStS. Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. Allocation of support costs Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function. is apportioned on the following basis which are an estimate. based on staff time, of the amount attri butable to each activity. Where information about the aims, objectives and projects of the charity is provided to potential beneficiaries, the costs associated with this publicity are allocated to charitable expenditure. Where such information about the aims, objectives and projerts of the charity is also provided to potential donors, activity costs are apportioned between fundraising and charitable activities on the basis of area of literature occupied by each activity. Su pport and governance cost5 are apportioned to charitable activities. The direct administrative costs of each programme are included within the programme. Overhead costs, including costs of overall direction and administration are absorbed in membershipladmin. The premises costs of running Cecil Sharp House are absorbed i n CSH activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity'5 activitie5. l) Tanglble flxed assets Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £ 1,000. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the ba515 of the use of the related assets in those artivities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its usefu I l ife. Where fixed assets have been revalued, any excess between the revalued amount and the historic cost of the asset will be shown as a revaluation reserve in the balance sheet. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows". Freehold land and buildings- Cecil Sharp House Fixtures. fittings, plant and equipment Computers and equipment Works of art 50 years l O years 3-5 years is not depreciated 40
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 l Accountlng pollcles (contlnued) The works of art capitalised in the balance sheet are shown at deemed cost under the transitional rules for the introduction of FRSI 02. The works of art have not been depreciated. The board members believe the estimated life of these assets to be very long and the estimated residual value of the assets are close 10 the carrying amounts. The Board considers these assets to be heritage assets. that reliable cost information is not available and that conventional valuation approaches lack sufficient reliability. The Society holds the volumes, manuscripts, archives and exhibits collectively known as the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. The library is held by the Society for the purpose of furthering the principal objects of the Society. The core of the collection was Cecil Sharp's library and this has been augmented by collections and other donations ever since. In addition the Society holds the Joan Sharp collection on extended loan. Resources arising from the library as well as resources expended on the library have been i ncluded in the statement of financial activities. The Board considers these asset5 to be heritage a55etS, that reliable cost information is not available and that convention valuation approaches lack sufficient reliability. These assets have not been capitalised. i) Fixed asset investments Fixed asset investments are initially measured at the transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at Ihe reporting dale. Changes in fair value are recognised in nei income l {expenditurel for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred. The charity does not acquire complex financial instruments. k) Stocks Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. In general. cost is determined on a first in first out basis and includes transport and handling costs. Net realisable value is the price at which siocks can be sold i n the normal course of business after allowing for the costs of realisation. Provision is made where necessary for obsolete, slow moving and defective stocks. Donated items of stock, held for distribution or resale, are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market. l) Debtors Trade and other debiors are recognised at the seitlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. m) Short term deposits Short term deposits includes cash balances that are invested in accounts with a maturity date of between 3 and 12 months. n) Cash at bank and in hand Cash at ban k and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the dare of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. o) Creditors and provision5 Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event Ihat will probably result in the fransfer of funds to a third party and the amounf due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. p) Financial instruments The charity only has fi nancial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic fi nancial instruments. Basic financial i nstruments are initially recognised at transacrion value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. q) Pensions The Society operates a contribution based pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Society in independently administered funds. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable under the scheme by the Society to the fund5. The Society ha5 no liability under the 5cheme5 Other than for the payment of those contributions.
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 2 Income from grants. donatlons and legacles 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Arts Council Funding Arts Council Funding Transform Arts Council Funding - National Youth Music Organisations Other grants Practitioner development Other grants Educational activities Other grants Library Legacies Donations Gift Aid 261,358 261.358 199.175 38,642 439,996 439,996 199.175 38.642 15,000 10.500 2.167 15.000 10,500 2.167 93,275 46,929 14.122 15,000 35,000 2,250 15,000 35,000 2,250 107,746 44,261 4,665 93.275 18,510 12.546 107,746 38,645 4,665 28.419 .576 5,616 385.689 295.479 681,168 591,052 57,866 648,918 3 Income from charltable activitles 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restrirted Restricted Educational activities Performance programme Library and publications Membership 117.927 97.243 23.504 122.203 117,927 97.243 23,504 122,203 106.691 84,374 13,914 126.569 106,691 84,374 13,914 126,569 Total i ncome from charitable activities 360.877 360,877 331,547 331,547 4 Income from other trading activities 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restritted Restricted Lettings income Other trading income 433,781 16.090 433.781 16,090 403,401 15,198 403,401 15,198 449.871 449,871 418,599 418,599 5 Other Income 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Orchestra Tax Relief 24.660 24.660 75.675 75,675 24,660 24.660 75,675 75,675 6 Income from investments 2024 Total Unrestricted 2023 Total Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Interest receivable Dividends 31.747 196 31,747 196 5,459 1,460 5,459 1,460 31.943 31,943 6,919 6,919 42
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The English Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 Net income l (expenditure) for the year This is stated after charging / (crediting): 2024 2023 Depreciation Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT)= Audit Other services 134.824 130.209 11.600 10,800 2,425 Analysls of staff costs and the cost of key management personnel Staff costs were as follows.. 2024 2023 Salaries and wages Redundancy and termination costs Social security costs Employer's contribution to pension schemes 697.574 12.366 55.707 14.165 657.283 53.617 13.498 779,812 724,398 No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year (2023.. nil). The redundancy and termination costs were settled and paid at the balance sheet date. The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £274.548 (2023.. £271.457). l O Staff numbers The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was.. 2024 FfE 2023 FTE 2024 No. 2023 Fundraising Educational activities Practitioner trai ning Idevelopment Performance programme Library, archive. academic sUPPOrt Membership activities Com mercial lettings Support and governance 10.3 20.7 22.2 35.0 35.0 45
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 Related party transactlons There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of bu5ines5 and no restricted donations from related parties. Donations from trustee5 in the year were £1,703 12023.. £260). The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment wirh the charity in rhe year 12023.. £nill. In the year to 31 March 2024 Angeline Morrison was paid= £1 ,050 for creating resources for 'Black History & English Folk,, £506 for a performance at Cecil Sharp House in concert as an artist and £1 ,050 for leading Monday Folk Singers sessions. In the year to 31 March 2023, Angeline Morrison was paid= £750 for creating a resource 'Black History & English Folk,, £1 ,883 for a performance at Cecil Sharp House in concert as an artist and £15 0 for participation in a plan ned Songwriters Circle event which was cancelled. In the year ending 31 March 2023 the band Stick in the Wheel were paid £2,600 for the continuation of the 'Perspectives on Tradition. project. Nicola Kearey is a member of the band. Trustees, expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £298 12023.. £64) incurred by 4 (202 3.. 2) members relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees. 12 Taxatlon The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. 13 Tangible fixed assets Freehold land and buildings Plant and machinery Moveable equipment Works of art Total Cost At the start of the year Additions in year 1.880.000 1.257,107 4,063 214.680 13.746 79,350 3.431,137 17,809 At the end of the year 1.880.000 .261.170 228.426 79,350 3,448,946 Depreciation At the start of the year Charge for the year 413.392 19.952 952.907 99.088 155.367 15.784 1,521,666 134,824 At the end of the year Net book value At the end of the year 433,344 .051,995 171 151 1,656,490 1,446,656 209,175 57,275 79,350 1,792,456 At the start of the year 1,466.608 304,200 59.313 79,350 1,909,471 Freehold land and buildings= this comprises Cecil Sharp House. This property was capitalised as a fixed asset for the first time in the year to 31 March 2002 based on a valuation carried out as at 31 March 2002. Under the transitional rules of FRSI 02 this is now the deemed cost. 46
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Soclety Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 14 Listed investments 2024 2023 Fair value at the start of the year Net gain on change in fair value Net gain on disposal Disposal proceeds 7,118 6,437 681 859 (7,977) 7.118 Fair value at the end of the year 7,118 15 Stock 2024 2023 Publications and CDS for resale 1.156 1,275 1.156 1.275 16 Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors Other debtors Orchestra Tax Relief Prepayments and accrued income 81,253 5.782 8.000 100.284 68.546 2.606 75.675 71,974 195.319 218,801 17 Creditors- amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Trade creditors Taxation and social security Other creditors Accruals Deferred income (note 18) 86.995 14.939 19,557 47,331 168,949 58,386 14,867 14,995 79,159 159,850 337.771 327,257 47
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 18 Deferred income Deferred income comprises.. deposits received for future room bookings, membership subscriptions relating to future periods & tickets bought in advance for future performances. 2024 2023 Balance at the beginning of the year Amount released to income in the year Amount deferred in the year 159,850 (156,711) 165,810 137,107 1131,268) 1 $4,01 Balance at the end of the year 168,949 159.850 19 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 2024 2023 Life members, subscriptions 12.925 8,572 12.925 8.572 20 Pension scheme Defined contribution schemes The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independenrly administered fund. The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £14,165 1202 3.. £13,498). 21 a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year) General unrestricted Designated Restricted Total funds Tangible fixed assets Net current assets Long term liabilities 102,204 412,896 (12,925) 243,596 207.796 1,446,656 320,019 1,792,456 940,711 (12,925) Net assets at 31 March 2024 502.175 451,392 1,766.675 2,720,242 21 b Analysls of net assets between funds (prlor year) General unrestricted Designated Restricted Total funds Tangi ble fixed assets Investments Net current assets Long term liabilities 112,081 7.118 403.225 (8, 572) 330.782 1.466,608 1,909,471 7,118 869,804 (8.572) 252.578 214,001 Net assets at 31 March 2023 513.852 583,360 1,680,609 2,777,821 48
The English Folk Dance and Song Society Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 22a Movements in funds (current year) At l April 2023 Income & gains Expenditure & losses At 31 March 2024 Transfers Restricted funds: Cecil Sharp House Cecil Sharp House - legacy funding Bismarks Narional Folk Music Fund Library Project Development Fund Malcolm Taylor Bursary Fund Educational projects - NYFE Educational projects - other Dance projects Scops Arts Trust Big Give appeal Arts Council England - National Youth Music Organisations Arts Council England Transform progamme Weston Culture Fund John Lyon's Charity Arristic development fund PRS Foundation 1.466.608 22.000 142 105.276 43.777 889 290 947 700 2.767 (19.952) 1,446,656 22,000 142 103,943 44,248 889 390 6,591 1,780 2,599 11,263 2.167 471 (3.500) I,ioo 7,644 1,080 7.500 17.200 38.642 (1,0001 (2.0001 (7,668) (5,937) (38,642) 199.175 (84,487) 114,688 16,989 13.738 6.486 (3,243) (13,7381 15001 (14,0001 (13,746) 5.500 15.000 11,486 (I ,000) Total restrlcted funds 1,680,609 295,479 1194,667) 114,746) 1,766,675 Unrestrlcted funds: Designated funds.. Capital projects funded by legacies CSH l ifts Kennedy Hall renovation CSH boilers CSH streaming equipment Education programme Instru ment replacement 151.487 32.522 139.766 103.510 54.984 100,092 999 151,487 (32,522) (41,725) (12,939) (13,746) (138,350) 98,041 90,571 54,984 55,310 999 13,746 93,568 Total designated funds 583.360 93.568 1239.282) 13,746 451,392 Revaluation reserve 79.350 434.502 79,350 422,825 General funds 1.159.299 (1.171.976) 1.000 Total unrestricted funds 1,097,212 1.252,867 (1,411,258) 14,746 953,567 Total funds 2.777,821 1.548.346 (1,605,925) 2,720,242 The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below. Fu nd transfers out of restricted funds reflect the fund's balance having been spent to purchase fixed assets, or contributing in part to charity programme costs. Fund transfers in and out of unrestricted funds represent changes needed to show the agreed designated funds balances at year end date. 49
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Soclety Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 22b Movements in funds (prior year) At l April 2022 Income & gains Expenditure & losses At l Aprll 2023 Transfers Restricted funds: Cecil Sharp House Cecil Sharp House - legacy funding Bismarks Manley Morris (Filming) Legacy National Folk Music Fund Library Project Development Fund Malcolm Taylor Bursary Fund Library Research projects Educational projects NYFE Educational projects - other Dance projects Scops Arts Trust Weston Culture Fund John Lyon's Charity Artlsfic developmenr fund PRS Foundation 1.486.560 22.000 142 2.211 105.276 43.988 889 (19,952) 1,466,608 22,000 142 (2.211) 105,276 43,777 889 1.056 (1.2671 2.250 700 160 700 7.500 (2.250) 247 130 947 290 700 2,767 16,989 13,738 6,486 (4,73 3) (5,966) (25,879) (3,000) (13,000) 81.376 12,117 6.486 (58,421) 27.500 3,000 15,000 (2,000) Total restricted funds 1.761.422 57,866 (78,2581 (60,421) 1,680,609 Unrestrlcted funds: Designated funds= Capital projects funded by legacies CSH lifts Kennedy Hall renovation CSH boilers CSH streaming equipment Education programme Instrument replacement 124,362 76,941 181,491 108,574 27,125 151,487 32,522 139,766 103,510 54,984 100,092 999 (44,419) (41,725) (12,939) 7,875 54,984 58,653 999 219,463 (178,024) Total designated funds 551.020 219.463 1277.107) 89,984 583,360 Revaluation reserve 79,350 79,350 434,502 General funds 443.839 1,194,112 (1,173,886) (29,563) Total unrestricted funds 1.074.209 1.413.575 (1.450,993) 60.421 1,097,212 Total funds 2,835,631 ,471,441 (1,529,251) 2,777,821 50
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Soclety Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 22c Movements In funds {contlnued) Purposes of restricted funds Cecll Sharp House: This fund represents the balance sheet value of Cecil Sharp House, held upon trust to be used in perpetuity for the purposes of English folk dance and song. Cecil Sharp House legacy funding: Legacy restricted to the maintenance and upkeep of Cecil Sharp House. Bismarks: Accumulated royalties to be used in the production of a second Bismarks recording. Manley Morrls {Fllmlng) Legacy Fund: bequest to create a film record of Manley Morris. Artistic Development fund: to support artist development projects, includes bursaries awarded under Micro Grants Programme. National Folk Music Fund (NFMF): to fund the refurbishment of the main library space and support staffing and other developments. Library Project Development Fund: Monies donated for specific library projects, mainly conseNation. Malcolm Taylor Bursary Fund: The bursary was created from individual donations to mark the departure of the former Li brary Director following 3 5 years of service. It will be awarded to amateur folk organisations to assist them with maintaining or creating an archive of their organisations activities. Library research projects= funds received to collaborate on research projects with partners. Educational projects: funds received to collaborate on research projects with partners. Scops Arts Trust: funds received to support National Youth Folk Ensemble Engagement Programme. PRS Foundation: Talent Development Partnership Programme. to work with creators ar the frontline of talent development in folk music. Includes bursaries awarded under Alan James Creative Bursaries programme. Weston Culture Fund.. to support artists. a creative commission and the purchase and installation of streaming equipment at Cecil Sharp House. John Lyon's Charlty: to support the development of the Inclusive Folk Programme - folk education activities with and for young people with disabilities. Purposes of deslgnated funds Capital Projects= Funds set aside for major capital projects. CSH Lift: This fund represents the net book value of the new lift in Cecil Sharp House. Depreciation is being charged ro rhe fund over the useful life of the lift. Kennedy Hall Renovation: This fund represents the net book value of the capitalised improvements to Kennedy Hall made out of the Shape the Future capital fund. CSH Boilers: This fund represents the net book value of the new boilers in Cecil Sharp House. CSH Streaming Equipment- This fund represents the net book value of the streaming equipment purchased for use in Cecil Sharp House supported by Weston Culture Fund. Educatlon Programme: To fund assist the development of the Education strategy and delivery. Instrument Replacement= Net income from instrument hire will be used to purchase replacementlfurther instruments. 51
The Engllsh Folk Dance and Song Soclety Notes to the flnanclal statements For the ear ended 31 March 2024 23 Operating lease commitments payable as a lessee The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods= Equipment 2024 2023 Less than one year One to five years More than five years 4,152 8.600 4.152 11.512 1.240 16,904 12.752 24 Legal status of the charity The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £O.SO. 52