Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1/8/2024 Period start date To 31/7/2025 Period end date
Charity name: Altrincham Choral Society
Charity registration number: 500729
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The purposes of the society are to advance, improve, develop and maintain public education in, and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects including through the presentation of public concerts and recitals. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 | In pursuing the objectives of the Society as regards the public benefit, the choir aims to impact people’s lives in two ways. Firstly Singing Members participate in a creative, enjoyable and fulfilling educational and social activity, providing regular rehearsals and performances in four concerts each year, with the opportunity to develop vocal technique and extend knowledge of choral repertoire supported by the inspiring leadership of respected and professional musicians. The Committee of Trustees is conscious that the choir’s activities should be both affordable and open to all who successfully apply to be a Member. Full-time students and under 21s benefit from a reduced membership subscription rate, with reduced subscription arrangements available to any member with financial difficulties. (this can be privately discussed with the Membership Secretary, to be agreed in confidence by the Committee.) Secondly, for audiences, the choir presents exciting, innovative and high-quality performances at varied established local venues, offering a positive and educational cultural experience aiming to extend musical knowledge through diverse repertoire. Pricing of concert tickets is carefully considered to promote attendance by a wide audience. Tickets are competitively but affordably priced with significant concessions for accompanied children and are available through a variety of sources - venue box offices, online, via the choir website or in person via members of the Society. In support of the Society’s objectives the choir has regular Open Rehearsals and an annual Singing Day which offer opportunities for enthusiastic members of the public to experience how rehearsals operate and to sing a variety of repertoire. The choir also takes opportunities to sing in community events where possible and to support a local charity each year. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The committee (Trustees) have complied with the duty in section 4 of the charities act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Not applicable |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | All 108 members of the Choir support the aims of the society by giving their time and efforts to the rehearsals and public performances. Over the course of the year 30-40 members of the society and their friends and family volunteer their time to ensure the smooth running of rehearsals and concerts in the following roles; Main Committee - Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Minutes Secretary, 4 Voice Reps, Fundraiser, Membership Secretary, Concert Manager. Music Sub Committee - including choice of programmes, contracting of soloists and instrumentalists, liaising with local venues. Librarians - sourcing and hiring music for performances. Publicity Team including design and production of programmes, tickets and posters alongside management of social media and ticket sales. Other roles include Fire Officers, First Aid Officers, concert door ticket sales, coach organisers, presentation of flowers to soloists, looking after guests, serving interval refreshments. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Concerts 2024/25 Season “Ain’t Misbehavin” 16th November 2024, St Peter’s Church, Hale. Embracing the style of the 1920’s Music Hall, with songs from Cole Porter to Gershwin, alongside music to lift the spirit by Hess, Rutter (Feel the Spirit) and Gjeilo, accompanied by the wonderful Sospiri Wind Quintet, trumpet soloist Seb Williams and mezzo-soprano Sophie Clarke A Christmas Concert 24th December 2024 at St George’s Church, Altrincham. This new larger venue provided the opportunity for a wider audience to join in with a programme of traditional carols and hear new favourites by John Williams and Rutter amongst others. Donations for mince pies and fruit punch raised money for the local Hope Centre Charity. “Let us go in Peace” 25th March 2025, back at St George’s Church, Altrincham. A varied programme of quietly powerful and reflective music in the spirit of peace across the world, with guest accompanist Kathleen Hesford. Tracey Smurthwaite added colour and contrast with her beautiful flute playing. “Make a Joyful Noise” July 5th 2025, St Mary’s Church, Sale. Choral Gems by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Eric Whitacre, Saint- Saens and John Rutter amongst others – enhanced by solos from mezzo soprano returning guest Sophie Clarke. This concert benefitted from the support of Jean Oglesby CBE. 28th July 2025 - 45 members of the choir travelled to Durham Cathedral to perform a short lunchtime concert in this magnificent building experiencing the amazing acoustics. This was well received by supporting family members and also a large audience of cathedral visitors. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The planned concert programme was fulfilled and the repertoire successfully performed. The Committee continued to look at a range of options to find ongoing patrons and sponsorship to support the choir's activities. The Choir sustained a membership of over 100 throughout the year, but continues to actively seek Tenor and Bass voices to ensure a balanced choir and ensure a wide range of choral repertoire is accessible for performance. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| inancial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Overall, the Society had a small surplus of around £2000 on income of £40,000. The expenditure included approximately £1,500 from the Florence Matthews fund, deployed in accordance with the terms of that bequest. The reserves held are approximately equal to a year’s operating costs. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held in accordance with the terms of the Society’s Reserves Policy. That policy requires a minimum of 50% of annual General Fund expenditure to be held in Unrestricted Reserves. Reserves ensure that all current and future financial commitments can be met from existing funds. In turn, this ensures that in the unlikely event of winding up the charity, the Trustees will bear no financial liability. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | The Society had Current Unrestricted Assets of £35,000 at 31/07/2025. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The Trustees remain confident that the charity will continue as a going concern. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Para 1.47 | The two main sources of revenue are membership subscription and ticket sales, In addition the Society occasionally bene |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The Society does not rely significantly on revenue from investment returns. The Society’s funds are held across 3 bank accounts, providing a modest level of interest, and appropriate access terms. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The cost of staging high-calibre concerts is increasing at least as fast as the cost of living. The Society works hard to sustain or grow its membership level to secure increasing subscription income, whilst keeping rises to the subscription fee modest. Likewise, ticket pricing is kept under constant review to optimize revenue. The Society has started using one new local concert venue with a larger audience capacity, hence potentially increasing ticket revenue. Future plans include an intent to increase fundraising revenue. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: | ||
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated association |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Officers and Ordinary Committee Members are elected by and out of the Society’s membership at the AGM and shall normally be Trustees. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
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Policies and procedures Para 1.51
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider Para 1.51
network with which the
charity works
Relationship with any related Para 1.51
parties
Other
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Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Altrincham Choral Society |
| Other name the charity uses |
| Registered charity number | 500729 |
| Charity’s principal address | 15 Brunswick Road Manchester M20 4QB |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
| 1 | Andrew McWilliam |
Chair | Wef Oct 2024 AGM (previously Vice Chair, Bass Voice Rep and Trustee) |
|
| 2 | Neil Brougham | Vice Chair | Wef Oct 2024 AGM | |
| 3 | Imogen Gornall | Secretary | ||
| 4 | Eleanor Reeves |
Minutes Secretary / Voice Rep (Altos) |
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| 5 | Stephen Campbell |
Treasurer | ||
| 6 | Julia Williamson |
Membership Secretary |
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| 7 | Anthony Robinson |
Concert Manager |
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| 8 | Kath Whyte | Librarian | ||
| 9 | Melanie Owen | Voice Rep (Sopranos) |
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| 10 | Julian Mustoe | Voice Rep (Tenors) |
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| 11 | Timothy Lowe | Voice Rep (Basses) |
Wef Oct 2024 AGM | |
| 12 | ||||
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| 20 |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
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Signature(s)
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Full name(s)[Andrew John McWilliam ] ~~ee~~ Position (eg Chair Secretary, Chair, etc) ~~ee~~ Date 2[nd] March 2026 ~~|~~
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Chair
13/10/2025
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Altrincham Choral Society On accounts for the year 31[st] July 2025 Charity no 500729 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 7/ 2025.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 30 Jan 2026 Name: Andrew Biggs ~~—————~~ Relevant professional Former Chartered Accountant (now retired) qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 47 Wearside Drive, Durham DH1 1LE
1
October 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER