ST. GEORGE'S SINGERS. p0y￿r0N Registered Charity No. 508686 TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS TO 31 JULY 2024 Approval This Report and the annexed Accounts were approved by the Trustees as a body at the AGM on 22. October 2024 and are signed on their behalf by the Hon. Chair and the Hon. Treasurer who are authorised by the Trustees to do so. John Smith Laura Mummery Hon. Chair Hon. Treasurer ST. GEORGE'S SINGERS, POYNTON Registered Charity No. 508686 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS TO 31 JULY 2024 Independent Examiner's report on the accounts set out on pages 3 to 22. Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust") for the year ended 31/0712024. As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the ACY,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(bl of the Act. Independent examiner's ststemenL I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: Name." Steven Bluck Relevant professional qualification(s) or body: ICAEW Address: 63 Longley Lane. Northenden, Manchester, M224JD sr. GEORGE'S SINGERS. poYKfoN Registered Charlty No. 508686 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS TO 31 JULY 2024 The Trustees present their Annual Report and Accounts of the choir for the twelve months to 31 July 2024. Reference and Administrative Detsils The full name of the charity is St. George's Singers. Poynton. The Charity Commission registration no. is 508686. The principal ofFice address is: The Hon. Secretary, St. George's Singers Poynton, 2 Bosley Drive, Poynton, SK12 IUX. Committee members are subject to re*lection at the Annual Members Meeting. During the year the Committee members/ Trustees were: Name Trustee Position held Date effective John Smith Yes Hon. Chair Resigned xx October 2024 Anne Francis Yes Co-opted Appointed xx October 2024 Joanna Bluck Yes Hon. Deputy Chair All year Jacqueline Smith Yes Hon. Secretary All year Laura Shaw Yes Hon. Treasurer All year Paul Goss No Concert Secretary All year Gillian Banks No Soprano section representative All year Sue Mason No Alto section representative All year Mark Warrington Tenor section representative All year Paul Burfitt Bass section representative All year David Francis Yes Hon. Ticket Secretary All year Mary Hoult Hon. Publicity Officer All year Gwyneth Pailin Yes Hon. Librarian All year Susan Hodgson No Co-opted All year The choirfs Musical Director is Neil Taylor. The choirfs Accompanist is Peter Durrant (deputy Accompanist:_ Julia Mayalll Structure. Governance and Management The charity is constituted as an unincorporated association. Its governing document is a th Constitution unanimously adopted at a Special General Meeting held on 29 April 2014 and is capable of alteration by 3 two-thirds majority of Members present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meetin& provided that fourteen days, notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all Members. The persons legally responsible for the control and management of the charity as Trustees are all members of the Committee and are nominated from permanent Committee members. Objectives The Objectives of the charity are:_ En ment and Advoca To strive to instil and foster a love forthe choral arts and a passion for singing in our members and audience through high-quality performances, varied and innovative programming, and each memberfs full engagement in the rehearsal process. To help achieve this, the Choir is led by a professional Director of Music and supported by a professional Accompanist. Friendliness and SociabiSi To seek to achieve high standards of performance within an enjoyable, inclusive and friendly organisation. Members attend rehearsals for the challenges and rewards of singing as part of an ensemble, the enjoyment of the music and the support and friendship of those they sing with. Education and Develo ment-To maintain our reputation as an organisation dedicated to high choral and performance standards. To support this, we hold auditions for prospective members and regular re-auditions for existing members. Through partnerships with local school groups and music educators and colleges, we provide opportunities for young musicians. career development in performance as singers and instrumentalists. Communi ement-To strive to raise community awareness of a wide range of choral music and to engage with other organisations in support of choral performance within both the local (Poynton and South Manchester) and the wider community. Financial Stabilit To maintain financial viability, as a registered charity, with fundraising activities and expenditure appropriate to achieving our objectives. Well Bein and Re utation - To contribute to the well-being of individual members, and the choir as a whole, through our supportive and thoughtful behaviour towards each other, respecting diversity, and maintaining high personal standards. Our reputation as a choir is important to us, and we expect members to be vigilant and mindful of this in all external interactions such as through social media, or through any contact wwth other organisations. ortin other or anisations or individuals - To further such charitable purpose or purposes as the Trustees in their absolute discretion shall think fit but in particular through the making of grants and donations. Artivities The choir generally organises a number of concerts each year at venues in Greater Manchester. including regularly at the prestigious Bridgewater Hall. Royal Northern College of Music {RNCMI and the Cathedral. ficket pricing is aimed at encouraging maximum public attendance, with student and children rates. One of these concerts. held annually in De￿rnber, is focussed on family participation and young musician participation. In addition, there is an annual Singing Day event to which all singers are invited and the choir participates in Poynton local community events. The choir also undertakes annual tours. In 2016117 it visited Costa Rica, in 2017118 North Wales, in 2018/19 Bruges, and in 2022/23 Bristol, with 3-5 public performances on each tour. The charity has also commissioned (and performed) original choral works from both estsblished conductors such as Will Todd (2012 Footprints) and Sasha Johnson Manning {2018 Warfs Embers). The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit when carrying out the activities of the choir. Achievements and Performance - Hon. Chairfs Review As I started working on my 8th annual report to the choir, with a blank page on my screen, I thought it would be interesting to look back at my previous reports, looking for highlights, patterns and themes. I would like to share some earlier comments with you, to remind us {and share with newer members) what we have done over the last few years 2016 - 2017 was our 60th anniversary season- We sang Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, at the RNCM with two of our favourite soloists, Elizabeth Watts and our President Marcus Farnsworth. Our June concert, to a packed Gorton Monastery, was Verdi's Requiem. Alan Swain, long term tenor and designer and builder of our concert staging, still in use today. retired at the end of the season. Membership continued strong at around the l(K) mark - but I noted in my report that revenues were falling and costs rising ... a theme that continued through the years! 2017 - 2018 was the season of- Rachmaninov Vespers at the Stoller Hall; Haydn Creation for our Singing day" Handel's Messiah at Norbury; the Choir Tour to North Wales and the Durufle Requiem. We joined Chethams School to sing Elgarfs The Music Makers. A substantial part of my 2018 report was dedicated to noting and thanking all of the people in the Choir who Make Things Happenl This, quite rightly, is a recurring theme through the years. A very large number of the many names I mentioned then would get the same honourable mention each year. 2018-2019 was the year of Mahler starting in September, for our first collaboration with Slaithwaite Philharmonic orchestra. singing Mahler 2 at Gorton, and finishing with a huge Mahler 8 at the Bridgewater Hall - Stephen Threlfall's swansong for Chethams. We carried out our first choir consultation to help preparation of our first 5-year plan - just as we are again this season. The very substantial filling to the Mahler sandwich, started with Sasha Johnson MannIn￿S evocative Wars Embers, and ended with Bach's b minor Mass at Gorton. My end of season report again included thanks to our many hard-working members, but particularly to Jo and Rhona for organising an absolutely delightful tour to Bruges, Ghent and Brussels which included- a particular masterstroke arranging for us to be the choir in the Church of the Holy Blood in Bruges for the opening service of the festival of the Holy Blood. Singing for a packed and appreciative congregation, clergy and the Officers of the Holy Blood (in their full regalia) was a hugely memorable occasion. Our 2019 - 2020 season began with a new collaboration, with the European Doctors Orchestra, singing Brahms Song of Destiny, at the Bridgewater Hall. Then we sang Mozart Requiem at the RNCM, and Rutterfs Requiem for our Singing Day. We should then have then moved, in March, to Bramhall for our first concert at St Michael and All Angels, singing Brahms, Britten and Copland, and then in June to Gorton for Gretchaninov and RVW- but Covid19 struck! Everything- almost- came to a halt. Our 2020-2021 season was the only one in our long history with no ITve rehearsals and no concerts. Many of us, as we all know, experienced very real difficulty and distress because of Covid. However, as a choir, we can celebrate the fact that we held together through it all. We had rehearsals every week with Neil, on Zoom, 5UPPOrted by an astonishing 28 recordings created by some of our own choir. We made an excellent 43-voice recording of Geistliches Lied. Neil led two Zoom Singing Days with Fauré Requiem - again supported by recordings made by members of the choir. Rosemary led meetings of the 'Listening Club,. Lorraine sent out weekly newsletters. Barbara kept in contact with the Friends of the choir. We held two Christmas and two end-of-season socials on Zoom. Importantly you, our members, kept up your membership and subscriptions, and therefore the finances of the choir, enabling us to support our professionals throughout. Back from Covid, for season 2021 - 2022." We restarted with the season with a gratifying 96 members! The season had a number of highlights for me - first and foremost, of course, us simply getting back to singing, rehearsing again in Poynton. albeit with post-covid restrictions (splitting the choir between church and hall to reduce numbers in the room, extra ventilation, masks). We really returned with a bang, with Stravinsws Symphony of Psalms for the Singing Day, St John Passion at the RNCM, and our first double booking with Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra- Be15hazzarfs Feast at both Huddersfield Town Hall and at Gorton Monastery. The Town Hall is not a particularly easy venue to perfom) in, but to my mind it is well worth persevering with it if we can, as a result, make full use of all that rehearsal time with a double concert. Our planned May tour was cancelled as the Queen took the bank holiday weekends for her own celebrations. 2022 - 2023 We recovered some of our Covid-lost concert programmes when we sang The Lark Ascending at Stockport, with the marvelous Annabel Drummond on the violin. We also eventually got to Bramhall, singing Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle. But the icing on the cake was Duke Ellington's Sacred Mass with the Cotton Tail orchestra at the Stoller Hall. We completed a very full season by joining with Cheetham's yet again to sing Belshazzarfs Feast for a third time, this time in the Bridgewater Hall for their end of year celebration concert. We also managed the much postponed tour at last, singing in three Cathedrals in Bristol and Gloucester. I can still feel echoes of the emotional impact of Sasha Johnson Mannings War5 Embers in Gloucester Cathedral. And so, to season 2023-2024. We began with our second collaboration with the European Doctors Orchestra, singing Mahler 3 at the Bridgewater Hall. In November enjoyed singing beautiful music by female composers in our first concert, and on our Singing Day with the Ethel Smyth mass. In March we found that the Church of the Holy Name is not the right place for Bach - although it was perfect for the Sanders. The icing on last season's cake though, had to be the Janacek and Poulenc in Manchester Cathedral with Slaithwaite Philharmonic. The music was impressive, the venue was perfect, and the audience excellent (including the Czech Deputy Consul General Mrs Jana Rezna). It was a wonderfu5 experience. And then, at the end of the season, we were able to again collaborate with Chethams at the Bridgwater Hall singing an exhilarating Herbstchor an Pan by Joseph Marx. The current season will. as always. be varied and exciting, with Bruckner, Cherubini {for both Singing Day and our May tour to Norwich), Handel, Widor and Vierne. Neil, and Pete, have taken us on an amazing range of musical journeys over the years. We take on this vast range of challenges, and have others organisations like the 51aithwaite PO, Chethams School and the EDO wanting to collaborate with us, because we know, as do they, that because of Neil's amazing skills as our MD, we can rise to any musical challenge. We are so very fortunate in our two amazing professionals. Thank you, Pete and Neil! This year also is another important milestone for the choir and one of our members. Connie has been a member of the choir for 50 years! The committee would like to make Connie a Life Friend of the choir, and l ask you now to agree with us by general acclamation! Financial Review As the result of a deficit of £590 for the twelve months to 31st July 2024, choir reser￿eS now stand at £20.6k {31" July 2023: £21.3k). The deficit was significantly adverse to budget and reflected the continued lower than anticipated concert income due to smaller audiences than expected, although higher than the prior year. The trustees have taken action to address the lower audience levels by focussing on St George's Stockport as the main venue for concerts in the expectation that this will lead to higher audience numbers through greater familiarity. Given the level of reserves, the Trustees are confident that the charity may continue as a going concern. Statement of Finance Activities Donations and legacies comprise subscription income, gift aid, income from Friends, and other donations, and was higher than the prior year due to a rise in subsriptions. Income from other trading activities consists of revenue from the l(M) club, music lending, refreshments, raffles and CD income, and was slightly higher than the prior year reflecting ongoing efforts to rdise funds. Income from charitable activities comprise concert income and was higher than the prior year, reflecting larger scale concerts in the year, notably the Summer concert in Manchester Cathedral. Expenditure on charitable activities include concert costs. professional fees, rehearsal venue costs and singing day expenditure. Balance Sheet The balance on the bank account at the end of July 2024 was £16.4k, with an additional £IOk held on deposit. Fixed assets are now fully depreciated. Prepayments comprise the cost of 23124 seasons brochures and deposits for concert and rehearsal venues paid in advance. Accruals and deferred income mainly consist of accruals for 23/24 costs not yet invoices, accrued PRS fees and the tour reserve. Statement on Reserves After due consideration of the requirements of the Charity Commission's 'Charities and Reserves, ICC19), the Trustees decided in 2015116 to set target normal reserve levels within the range minimum three months, to maximum nine months, average expenditure. The Six months, mid-point of this range would reflect the choirfs normal public performance programme- the higher nine months, level could enable the subsequent inclusion of higher-risk events e.g. Bridgewater Hall concert for which designated Reserves/fund-raising initiatives would probably be appropriate- the minimum three months, level would initiate remedial action, possibly including fund-raising and/or additional member contributions. On the basis of 2023124 actual expenditure, the 'scale midpoint, would amount to £21.9k. £20,000 is considered by the trustees to remain an acceptable target for the Policy 'scale mid-point,. In approving the above Reserve Policy the Trustees considered:_ l. Less than half of total income i.e. member subscriptions is effectively 'fixed' i.e. predictable in nature. 2. The remainder of our income derives principally from audience receipts at choir public performances and events. There are two main pressures i.e. uncertainties in relation to this income: audience numbers, with increasing competition from other regional choirs ticket prices, with a perceived inability to raise these for the foreseeable future 3. Compounding the above, many of the costs associated with the choir's public performance and events, particularly venue hire costs, soloist and orchestra fees are fixed well in advance of performance and continue to increase. the choir having an aim to hire such venues (and employ such soloists/musicians) compatible with its overall quality of public performance. 4. In addition, the choir engages in community and other public engagements e.g. Poynton-based music festival and national choral-singing participation initiatives, for which no remuneration is received. Statement of Financial control Financial control continues to be exercised by the inclusion of a Treasurerfs Report agenda item within each of the regular Committee meetings held throughout the year. These reports include comparisons of actual concert and non-concert financial perfom)ance against respective approved budgets. They also include the actual and forecast choir fund levels against budgets and forecasts to ensure proper control and full Committee/ Trustee financial accountability. Financial control is also exercised via the approval of two authorised signatories for all online payments in excess of £ICM), and for all cheque payments. Finally the accounts are kept up to date via monthly bank account reconciliations. CHARITY (OMMISSIO FOR ENGLAND AND WAL St George's Singers, Poynton Annual accounts for the period 1st August 2023 To Charity No 508686 31st July 2024 Section A Statement of financial activities estncte income funds Recommended categories by aclivity Unrestricted funds Endowment funds Prior year funds Total funds Incoming resources (Note 3) Incorne and endowments frorn: F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 Donatiors and legacAes Charitsb￿ activthe5 22,571 17,892 2,746 61 22,571 17,892 2.746 61 20,875 15,916 2,106 20 Othar trading 8thb.es Investsnents Sep8r8te material item of IFKX Other Totsl Resources expended (Note 4) Expgnditurg on. Raising funds Charita￿e acbwb.es 43,269 43,269 38,917 974 42.885 974 42,885 1,214 37,528 Separate material item of exr Other 22 38,763 Total 43,859 43,859 Net incomel(expenditure) before investm8nt gainsl(losses) Net gainslllossesl on investrnents 590 590 154 Net incomel{expenditure> Extraordinary items Transfers between funds other recognised gainsl(losses): Gains artd losses on revaluabon OffiX￿ assets for charitys own use Other gain￿{loSses) 590 590 154 Net movement in funds 590 590 154 Reconciliation of funds.. Total fuThJs brought frjward Total funds carried forward 21,256 20,666 21,256 20,666 21,102 21,256 Section B Balance sheet unYeStrl￿ income E[￿(r￿n0￿ Tolal thi5 Total last Fixed assets Tan9lbl¢ a$sots F01 F02 F03 F04 F05 (Note 5) Total fixadassets Current assets Debtors (Note 61 Cash at bank and in hand (Mote 9) Total cuffertassets 765 26.513 765 26,513 920 21.574 22.494 Creditors: amounts falllng wlthln one year (Note n 6,612 6.612 1.237 Net cuffent assetsl(liabilities) 21,256 Total assets less cuThent liats"libes 21.256 Provlslon5 for Ilabllltles Inoto 8) Totsl net assets orliabililies 20,666 20.666 21,256 Funds of the Charity Endowment funds {Note 27) Restrlcted Income funds (Ncts 27) Unrestrtcted funds Revaluation reserve 20.666 20.666 21.256 yo￿￿￿￿d$ 20,666 21.256 Signed by one Or1￿￿) trustees on behalf of the trustees Date of approval Print Name '1 l[ iijl Section C Notes to the accounts Icontl Nots2 2.2 INCOME Accounting pollcle8 This slandard listofaccount)ngkxkn has been apwbythe charityexw*tr(tsJse Wo-or W/a-. a dfftrent oradditi0n8l￿I￿cY has 1388n 8doM8d then is deta￿￿ ￿ th8 Ix)xb8k)w. Reeounl￿On of income T￿￿e are indud&l in Statemerrt of Finar¥Jal AiaMb8s ISOFAI 7A*)an.' • r( is rnote likely than that the trusteeswill [￿8￿8 th8 resL￿[￿", arKI Yes No Nla Yes No Nla r*￿rtIed by Ihe FRS 102 SORP (￿ FRS 102. Yes Nla Grants arKI donations art induded in SOFA 7AI)en ￿ gwal incy)me re(tsJnth) criieria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS102 SORP}. Grants and donaiions In the case Ofperfom￿r￿e re￿￿ grants. irKx)rre must onty be rerxyJnis&l tr> the extent Yes No Nla On￿ clxws then the wfOrMar￿ related c1)ndtr￿S are n*15 16 FRS 102 SORPI. Legacies are induded in thè SOFA receipt is wobablè. that is. wthen thèrè has téan grdnt of probate. the eXe(Yj￿ have estatAished thatthete are assets in the Lsgaci•s Yes No Nla or have t*en met. Yes Nla GrftA#l r￿￿atrAe is indu￿￿ in irKx)me when there ￿ a wdlKI d￿Jaration frorn the d(x*x. Tax rec181ms on donations Any Gfft AKI anKJunt recA)¥￿￿ on a d{￿ is to be part ofthat grfl and is and gifts treated as an add￿on to Ihe Same fijnd as th8 inibal dowbal)￿ unknlhe orthe term5 Yes Nla Contractual income and pwforn)anc• r•lated grdnts es No Nla This is ¢Jnty in thè SOFA orts thè tharity has wK18d Ihe rela￿ gct#Js or Yes Nla Donated goods exchangedl unless lo s$l￿t is likely to Th￿rOn Ihe cJ)ntract Debt¢￿ [IrKludirvJ tr￿e debtors aThJ Ic¢n5 recavatle) a￿ nEasured on inrfral reccgnrtKJn at Yes No Nla Debtors selllementamunt a11*ranytrade dLSCX)unts N amount &j¥a￿ay ty the chanty. Sutwuaty. The tharty ha5 has in¥estrnents hohjs lor resa* or kwNJino Ihwr aThJ (xsh and c2sh equtrva￿nts wilh 8 Ma￿nty date ￿$$ than one year. These indude Lxsh on dew￿rtand G3sh equivalents wrth a mabjrity date of less than c¥)e year hthj in¥e51￿￿rt wrpLE85 raltRt than to short term cash (￿nMthents as twfall due. Yes No Nla Yes Nla are valu&Y at fair value excetrt qualfy as fvancyal instruments. POUCIES ADOPTED ADDITIONAL TO OR DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ABOVE Deferred income comprises re5tdual amounts from past thoir tou￿ lo be ulilised as a feserve against future Choir tours. together 7hrylh in(x)me or donats.ons in adVar￿ and rdatiro to )lJbJre events. Ill 11 11 11 111111 111111 111111 111111 111111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 11111 -11 i_lii 111 1111 111 1111 111 pii 111 Section C Notes to the 3CCOUnts Note 4 Anaty818 of •Xp8nds￿r* year LastY￿r A￿ty515 Expondilure on raisi Incutred seekuw >> 11 11 11 11 11 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 111 11 pipii piiii uj >> IJ4DJ o o J> 11111111 1111 11111111 rs 111