## **Trustees’ Annual Report for Financial Year ending 30 June 2023**
## **Legal and Administrative Information**
- Charity name Leicester Bach Choir Charity Commission registered number 501890 Financial year ending 30 June 2023 Charity’s principal address c/o Mrs Gail Hobbs 1 Eynsford Close Oadby LEICESTER LE2 2LN
- Independent examiner Mr Meirion Thomas John F Mould & Co. 19 – 20 Baxtergate Loughborough LEICESTERSHIRE LE11 1TG
- Governing document Constitution adopted 13 September 1972. Amended 7 September 1983, 28 August 1990, 2 September 1998, 2nd September 2009, 6th September 2017, 4th September 2019.
- Public Benefit To educate the public with a wide range of choral music through concert performances and choral workshops for a wider audience. We offer opportunities for all full-time students to join us for free and we charge minimal subscription rates for younger singers who are not students. We aim to involve children’s choirs whenever appropriate.
## **Trustees and Governance**
Trustees appointed by the members of the Leicester Bach Choir:
|Dr Jennifer Clegg|Chair|(from 14 Sept 2022)|
|---|---|---|
|Nicola Little|Vice Chair|(from 6 Sept 2017)|
|Gail Hobbs|Secretary|(from 7 Sept 2016)|
|Michael Randle|Treasurer|(from 22 Sept 2021)|
|Patricia Taylor|Friends Representative (from 2 Sept 2020)||
|Elizabeth Jennifer Casboult|Concert Manager|(from 5 Sept 2018)|
|Jacqueline Burden|General Trustee|(from 5 Sept 2018)|
|Angela Zemlak|General Trustee|(from 3 Sept 2014)|
|Paul Leonard-Williams|General Trustee|(from 2 Sept 2020)|
|Dr Jennifer Wilkinson|General Trustee|(from 14 Sept 2022)|
Nominations for specific committee posts / roles are submitted in advance of the Annual General Meeting in September each year. All the trustees were recruited from the choir membership except for the Concert Manager, whose post was originally advertised through local music networks, and the Treasurer, whose post was filled by a highly experienced and recommended volunteer from outside the choir, being a retired local Bank Manager and a former and present Treasurer for other local charities.
Voting to appoint all Trustees takes place at the AGM.
## **Achievements and activities**
2022-3 concerts acknowledged the significance of Vaughan Williams by performing key works to mark his 100[th] anniversary; and two textured concerts that wove contemporary choral works together with solo instrumental pieces. These involved familiar modern composers such as Ola Gjeilo & John Tavener, & introduced British composer Cecilia McDowall’s _Ave Maris Stella_ . Different concerts featured international soloists on violin, viola, cello, piano and organ, who gave for example, soaring performances of Vaughan Williams’ _Lark Ascending_ , movements from Bach’s cello suites and dazzling French impressionist piano music. Lithuanian Ērik Ešenvalds’ astonishing _In paradisum_ for choir, viola & cello in the summer concert received a standing ovation!
LBC continues to work with businesses and groups that are the framework of the city. We support one of Leicester’s largest churches, St James the Greater, by rehearsing as well as performing there; and on principle employ local people as web administrator, designer, printer, & photographer. With their support we embarked on a major programme of modernisation. Website & marketing materials were redesigned, ticketing was brought online, card reader payments were introduced, & we became an active presence on Facebook & Instagram. This attracted more old friends back alongside some noticeably younger audience members.
A _Come and Sing Verdi Requiem_ in January 2023 attracted around 120 participants from across the Midlands and further afield, many of whom were not current members of the Leicester Bach Choir and included some who had little previous experience of choral singing but reported having had a very rewarding and educational day. Alongside our concerts, this _Come and Sing_ venture continues to fulfil our charitable purpose of educating the wider public about choral music, as the participation, enthusiasm and support of large numbers of singers from outside the choir shows.
None of this would be possible without the innovative programming, professionalism and inspiration of our Music Director, Richard Laing, who has just completed his 20[th] season with us.
We continued to offer free membership to students, which was taken up, and also considerably reduced membership to other under 25s. The Friends and Patrons continue to support the choir through their subscriptions and enthusiastic support at the concerts.
## **Financial Review**
## **Treasurer’s report**
The 2022 -23 season was more like those pre-Covid, although audience numbers at concerts have still not recovered to earlier levels. Singers’ subscriptions of £11,172 were received, and Gift Aid of £2,012 was recovered for previous years. We also received a very welcome £890 in subscriptions from Friends and Patrons. Non-specific donations amounted to £3,810. Other income during the year, including a successful Come and Sing, amounted to £3,432.
Expenditure for the year for rehearsal venue rental, Conductor’s and Accompanist’s fees, and other non-concert related items amounted to £16,349.
The Choir performed in 3 concerts during the year, with total income of £9,454 and expenditure of £9,483, leading to a loss of £29.
Happily, there was an increase in the Choir’s funds of £6,775, and we now have £19,170 available to us. It is still necessary for the Choir to increase its income and / or contain its expenditure during the coming seasons to ensure that good choral music can continue to be performed.
Mike Randle _Treasurer_
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
Gail Hobbs September 8[th] 2023
1.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **Registered Charity No. 501890**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023 (INCLUDING 1[ST] JULY 2023 CONCERT)**
## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE – UNRESTRICTED (INCLUDING DESIGNATED) FUNDS**
|Note
INCOME from:
Donations
Singing members subscriptions
2
Friends and patrons subscriptions
Other
2
Charitable activities
- Concert income
5
Come and Sing
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE on:
Raising funds
- Come & Sing
- other
Charitable activities
- Concert expenditure
5
Other
3
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/( EXPENDITURE) AND NET MOVEMENT
IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|2023
£
3,810
15,172
890
2,278
9,454
3,191
34,795
2,036
152
9,483
16,349
28,020
6,775
12,395
19,170|2022
£
133
11,437
1,140
441
5,204
3,032|
|---|---|---|
|||21,387|
|||1,929
-
7,307
14,341|
|||23,577|
|||( 2,190)
14,585|
|||12,395|
All activities of The Leicester Bach Choir are intended to be continuing.
The statement of financial activities reflects all gains and losses recognised in the year.
2.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **BALANCE SHEET – 30[th] JUNE 2023**
|CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors - gift aid tax recoverable
- concert income
- other ( income receivable and prepayments)
Cash at bank - Co-operative Bank Community Directplus account
Total current assets
LIABILITIES – falling due within one year
Creditors - concert expenses
- other
NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted income funds|2023
£
3,747
1,448
266
16,439
21,900
1,818
912
2,730
19,170
19,170|2022
£
2,048
-
765
10,282|
|---|---|---|
|||13,095|
|||-
700|
|||700|
|||12,395|
|||12,395|
Signed on behalf of the Managing Committee
M. Randle – Treasurer
11[th] September 2023
3.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023**
## 1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP): Accounting and reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern in the foreseeable future.
The Choir is an unincorporated charity, governed by its rules, registered in England and Wales as charity number 501890
|Singers subscriptions
Income tax recoverable
Other trading activities
General fund raising events
Music sales
3.
OTHER EXPENDITURE
Conductors fees – retainer and additional fees
St. James the Greater rehearsal room hire
Accompanists
Subscriptions and performing rights
Stationery, photocopying and postage
Website and advertising
Music purchases and hire
Bank charges|2023
£
11,461
3,711
15,172
1,895
383
2,278
9,291
1,634
2,800
400
379
1,782
-
63
16,349|2022
£
9,662
1,775|
|---|---|---|
|||11,437|
|||271
170|
|||441|
|||8,589
1,712
2,448
402
375
420
349
46
14,341|
## 4. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
No members of the management committee have received any remuneration for the year from the charity’s funds (2022 – nil).
There were no related party transactions during the year (2022 – none).
4.
**THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023**
|5. CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2022/23 SEASON
November December
Concert Concert
£
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
5,339
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
2,960
Posters, programmes & tickets
219
Venue, fees, lighting
Music hire
684
828
Event licence
21
Travel expenses
36
Refreshments
121
Flowers
28
4,897
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
442
CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2021/22 SEASON
November December
Concert Concert
£
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
1,663
850
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
1,825
391
Posters, programmes
125
-
Tickets
51
-
Venue, fees, lighting
Music hire
672
85
-
-
Event licence
-
-
2,758
391
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
(1,095)
459|Easter
Concert
£
2,087
600
163
814
407
21
60
30
-
2,095
( 8)
Easter
Concert
£
1,393
1,030
115
77
737
67
-
2,026
( 633)|Summer
Concert
£
2,028
950
371
690
347
21
40
73
-
2,491
( 463)
June
Concert
£
1,298
1,225
60
77
652
97
21
2,132
( 834)|Total
£
9,454|
|---|---|---|---|
||||4,510
752
2,188
1,582
63
136
224
28|
||||9,483
( 29)
Total
£
5,204|
||||4,471
300
205
2,031
249
21|
||||7,307
(2,103)|
5.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR (THE CHOIR)**
I report on the accounts of The Leicester Bach Choir for the year ended 30[th] June 2023 which are set out on pages 1 to 4.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
- accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## M. THOMAS FCA ICAEW
8 Angus Close Thurnby Leicester LE7 9QG
- 11[th] September 2023
1.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **Registered Charity No. 501890**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023 (INCLUDING 1[ST] JULY 2023 CONCERT)**
## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE – UNRESTRICTED (INCLUDING DESIGNATED) FUNDS**
|Note
INCOME from:
Donations
Singing members subscriptions
2
Friends and patrons subscriptions
Other
2
Charitable activities
- Concert income
5
Come and Sing
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE on:
Raising funds
- Come & Sing
- other
Charitable activities
- Concert expenditure
5
Other
3
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
NET INCOME/( EXPENDITURE) AND NET MOVEMENT
IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|2023
£
3,810
15,172
890
2,278
9,454
3,191
34,795
2,036
152
9,483
16,349
28,020
6,775
12,395
19,170|2022
£
133
11,437
1,140
441
5,204
3,032|
|---|---|---|
|||21,387|
|||1,929
-
7,307
14,341|
|||23,577|
|||( 2,190)
14,585|
|||12,395|
All activities of The Leicester Bach Choir are intended to be continuing.
The statement of financial activities reflects all gains and losses recognised in the year.
2.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **BALANCE SHEET – 30[th] JUNE 2023**
|CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors - gift aid tax recoverable
- concert income
- other ( income receivable and prepayments)
Cash at bank - Co-operative Bank Community Directplus account
Total current assets
LIABILITIES – falling due within one year
Creditors - concert expenses
- other
NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted income funds|2023
£
3,747
1,448
266
16,439
21,900
1,818
912
2,730
19,170
19,170|2022
£
2,048
-
765
10,282|
|---|---|---|
|||13,095|
|||-
700|
|||700|
|||12,395|
|||12,395|
Signed on behalf of the Managing Committee
M. Randle – Treasurer
11[th] September 2023
3.
## **THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023**
## 1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP): Accounting and reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern in the foreseeable future.
The Choir is an unincorporated charity, governed by its rules, registered in England and Wales as charity number 501890
|Singers subscriptions
Income tax recoverable
Other trading activities
General fund raising events
Music sales
3.
OTHER EXPENDITURE
Conductors fees – retainer and additional fees
St. James the Greater rehearsal room hire
Accompanists
Subscriptions and performing rights
Stationery, photocopying and postage
Website and advertising
Music purchases and hire
Bank charges|2023
£
11,461
3,711
15,172
1,895
383
2,278
9,291
1,634
2,800
400
379
1,782
-
63
16,349|2022
£
9,662
1,775|
|---|---|---|
|||11,437|
|||271
170|
|||441|
|||8,589
1,712
2,448
402
375
420
349
46
14,341|
## 4. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
No members of the management committee have received any remuneration for the year from the charity’s funds (2022 – nil).
There were no related party transactions during the year (2022 – none).
4.
**THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR**
## **NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS – YEAR ENDED 30[th] JUNE 2023**
|5. CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2022/23 SEASON
November December
Concert Concert
£
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
5,339
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
2,960
Posters, programmes & tickets
219
Venue, fees, lighting
Music hire
684
828
Event licence
21
Travel expenses
36
Refreshments
121
Flowers
28
4,897
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
442
CONCERT ACTIVITIES – 2021/22 SEASON
November December
Concert Concert
£
£
INCOME
Tickets, programmes,
refreshments sales
1,663
850
EXPENDITURE
Soloists and musicians
1,825
391
Posters, programmes
125
-
Tickets
51
-
Venue, fees, lighting
Music hire
672
85
-
-
Event licence
-
-
2,758
391
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) ON EVENTS
(1,095)
459|Easter
Concert
£
2,087
600
163
814
407
21
60
30
-
2,095
( 8)
Easter
Concert
£
1,393
1,030
115
77
737
67
-
2,026
( 633)|Summer
Concert
£
2,028
950
371
690
347
21
40
73
-
2,491
( 463)
June
Concert
£
1,298
1,225
60
77
652
97
21
2,132
( 834)|Total
£
9,454|
|---|---|---|---|
||||4,510
752
2,188
1,582
63
136
224
28|
||||9,483
( 29)
Total
£
5,204|
||||4,471
300
205
2,031
249
21|
||||7,307
(2,103)|
5.
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE LEICESTER BACH CHOIR (THE CHOIR)**
I report on the accounts of The Leicester Bach Choir for the year ended 30[th] June 2023 which are set out on pages 1 to 4.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
- accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- 2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## M. THOMAS FCA ICAEW
8 Angus Close Thurnby Leicester LE7 9QG
- 11[th] September 2023