THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Registered Charity No. 509915
Annual Report & Financial Statements
st
For the period I September 2023 to 31 August 2024

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the period I" September 2023 to 31st August 2024
Contents
Page
Legal & Administrative Information
Trustee's Annual Report
4t05
Statement of Financial Activities
Balance Sheet
Notes to the accounts
Show Income & Expenditure Accounts
9tolO
Trustee's Declaration
11
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 2

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Legal and Admlnlstrative Information
GOVERNING OFFICERS
Name
Posltlon
Mrj M Fairfoot
Mr M Porter
Mrs B Booth IFCCAI
Mr A Thomson
Mrs G M Ellis
President
Chairman
Honorary Treasurer
Honorary Production Manager
Honorary Secretary
COMMIThEE MEMBERS
Miss K O'sullivan
Mrsj D Page
Mr P Hopkins
Mrs Sefton
Vice Chairman
Method of appolntment
The Society was governed by the above Officers, who are elected annually at the AGM, together with
committee members, who are elected for three years, two of whom retire annually.
Correspondence address
Bankers
Mfs Beverley Booth (FCCAI
3 Stratton Park
Brighouse
HD6 3SN
Santander
Park Row
Leeds
Tel:. 0800 030 4321
Governing document
The Leeds Amateur Operatic Society (LAOS) is a constituted organisation governed by the Rules of
Membership dated 2020. It is registered with the Charity Commission number 509915. Rules revised
1966, amended Ottober 1967, October 1976 and October 2005.
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 3

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Trustee's report for the perlod I" September 2023 to 31" August 2024
OBJECTS AND POLICIES
The objects of the Society are to fosterthe public knowledge and appreciation of Music and Drama by
means of public performances by voluntary but subscription paying members and to donate part of
its production surplus to charitable purposes as the Trustees shall from time to time determine.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The activities of the Society during the year involved one main production in March 2024, Legally
Bonde the Musical, staged once more in the spectacular Leeds Grand Theatre.
The production proved to be anotherfinancial successfor the society. Legally Blonde returned a profit
of £31,568 attracting an audience of more than six thousand across the seven performances. with 59¥.
of the theatre capacity sold compared to 52% for Kinky Boots in 2023. The Society were delighted to
welcome some new member5 in principal roles and some as company members, which enabled the
Society to maintain high standards and enabling the objects of the Society to be achieved.
Aligned with the objects of the Society and the theme of the Legally Blonde production, the Trustees
approved the payment of a charitable donation of £3,000 to the Sutton Trust, Leeds.
After an unprecedented period in the SoCie￿s financial history, post Covid we saw 2023 production
costs for Kinky Boots notably increasing by +22%, in comparison to those incurred previously by our
pre-pandemic productions. The Society have been able to manage the 2024 increase in production
costs largely in line with inflationary pressures year on year, with an increase of +5.5%. The Leeds
Grand theatre rental costs were held flat year on year. We envisage the pressure on production costs
to continue to follow an upward trajectory at least in the short term, due to ongoing inflationary and
economic pressures.
Ticket prices across the top tier pricin8 bands A and B were increased, to mitigate the increased
production costs. Pricing for the lower tiers Band C to F were held flat year on year. Ticket sales
revenue and the performances of Legally Blonde were strong and propelled the ticket sales revenue
for the Society to exceed £190,000 for the first time in the Society history. Thi5 was a +8% inC￿aSe
compared to Kinky Boots in 2023 and +33% increase compared to the pre-pandemic production of
West side Story in 2019. The Societvs bank balances remain healthy at £162,443 which the trustees
consider adequate to meet the essential workin8 capital to fund the investment in future productions.
We will continue to build on our financial position and we are looking ahead with excitement to our
next major production, Les Misérables: Let the People Sin& to be performed at the Leeds Grand
Theatre in April 2025. We have incurred £872 planning costs in 2024 associated with this production.
Several committee member changes were made at the AGM in December 2023. Nicola Brook, Sian
Crossley and Christine Rowlands resigned from their roles and were replaced by Kirsty O'sullivan and
Steve Sefton. We thank the retiring committee members fortheir contributions and dedication to the
Society.
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 4

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Trustee's report for the period lrt September 2023 to 31" August 2024 (continued)
TRUSTEE5 RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial accounts
for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the
incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity
for the year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistentlv.
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
Prepare the accounts on a going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the
financial accounts comply with the applicable laws and regulations. They are a150 responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and
detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 5

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Statement of Financial Actlvlties for the period I" September 2023 to 31" Au8llSt 2024
(includlng summary income and expenditu￿ account)
2024
Total funds
2023
Total funds
Incoming resources
Donations
Interest Received
Members Subscriptions & Show Fees
Other Revenue
Programme Sales
Ticket Sales
Total Incoming resources
675
1,530
5,074
1,124
3,387
192,326
204,116
730
599
4,481
1,787
3,255
177,449
188,301
Resources expended
Audit & Accountancy Fees
Charitable Donations
Consulting Fees
Costume5
Depreciation
Insurance & Subscriptions
IT Software & Consumables
Marketing, Publicity & Pro8rammes
Musical Director
Orchestra
Producerfs Fee
Room Hire
Royalties
Scenery. Props, Sound & Lighting
Stage Manager's Fee
Stationery
Sundry Expenses
Theatre Rent
Total resources expended
Net incomlng resources
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carrled forward
521
3,000
1,395
2,315
749
1,126
73
15,902
6,530
9,055
6,050
2,769
38,480
26,150
3,450
619
500
2,895
5,650
374
733
253
16,056
6,112
6,824
5,500
2,248
34,527
25,425
1,750
4,468
52,270
174,303
29,813
138,702
168,515
2,589
52,082
{164,137)
24,164
114,538
138,702
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 6

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Balance sheet as at 31" August 2024
2024
2023
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Total fixed assets
1,499
1,499
748
748
Current assets
Debtors
Prepayments
Cash at bank- 271
Cash at bank-480
Total current assets
5,123
2,948
161,364 133,553
1,079
2,008
167,566 138.509
Current liabilities: amounts falling due withln one year
550
555
Net current assets
167,016 137,954
Total Assets less Current Liablllties
168,515 138,702
Funds
Unrestricted funds before
Add surplus
138,702 114,538
29,813 24,164
Less deficit
Total funds
168,515 138.702
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 7

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
St
Notes to the accounts for the period I" September 2023 to 31 August 2024
Accounting pollcles
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial
statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice:
Accounting and Reporting by Charities {SORP 2005}, the Companies Act 2006 and Financial Reporting
Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities ISOFA) when the charity
becomes entitled to the resources, the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources
and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement
to the resources. Where grants are related to performance and specific deliverables, they are
accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
Expenditure and liabilities
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised a5 soon
as there is a legal or constructive obSigation committing the charity to pay out the resources.
Taxation
As a charity, the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and
capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those item5 to which it
relates.
Tangible flxed assets
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of
acquisition. Gifted assets are shown at the value to the charity on receipt. Depreciation is provided on
all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their
expected useful economic lives as follows: Project and office equipment- 15%; Computing equipment
-25%
Fund accountlng
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general
objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subject to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the
terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 8

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
Produrtlon Income & Expenditure Account
2024
2023
Incoming resources
Donations
Show Fees & Sponsorship
Programme Sales
ricket Sales
325
3,601
3,255
177,449
184.630
2.778
3,387
192,326
198,491
Expenditure
Costumes
Insurance
Marketing, Publicity & Program Printing
Musical Director
Orchestra
Producerfs Fee
Room Hire
Royalties
Scenery, Props, Lighting & Sound
Stage Managerfs Fee
Sundry Expenses
Theatre Rent
2,315
5,650
55
16,056
6,112
6,824
5,500
2,097
34,527
25,425
1,750
2,134
52,082
{158,212)
15,902
6,530
9,055
6,050
2,464
38,480
26,150
3,450
4,257
52,270
166,923
Surplus/(Deficit)
31.568
26,418
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 9

THE LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
General Expenses
2024
2023
Incoming resources
Donations
Interest Received
Other Revenue
Members Subscriptions
675
1.530
76
3,345
5,626
404
599
121
2,547
3,671
Expenditure
Audit & Accountancy Fees
Charitable Donations
Consultancy
Depreciation
Insurance & Subscriptions
Room Hire
Stationery & IT
Sundry Expenses/Reimburse Officials
521
3,000
619
500
2,895
374
678
749
1,126
120
151
73
253
455
(5,925)
919
(6,508)
Surplus/{Deficit)
(882)
(2,254)
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 10

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees:
Signature(s)
Full name{s) . GILLIAN ELLIS
Posltion . Honorary Secretary
th
Date . 12 January 2025
Report and Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 11

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF LEEDS AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
We report on the accounts of Leeds Amateur Operatic Society for the year ended 31 August 2024
Respectlve responslbllltl•$ of truste¢s and examlner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees conslder
that an audit is not required for this year {under sections 144 and 145 of the Charities Act 2011
(the 2011 Act)> and that an indep6ndent examination is needed.
It is our responsibility to:
examine the accounts (under section 146(3) of the 2011 Act):
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission
(under section 145(5) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basls of independent examlnerfs report
Our examination was carried out in acconlance with the General Directions given by Ihe Charity
Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charlty and
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 evidenc8 that would be required in an audit.
and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent axaminerfs statement
In connectlon with our examination, no matter has come to our attention..
(1)
which gives us reasonable cause to belleve that in. any material respect, the requirements:
to keep accountlng records in accordancè with section 130.and 131 of the 2011 Act. and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
accoun
'ng requlremenls of the 2011 Act have not been met., or
to which, in
ur opinion, attention should b8 drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding
of the acco
ts to be reached.
(2)
C W Dlx Llmrt•d
Accountants & Buslness Advlsors
4 Silkwood Court
Wakefield
WF5 9TP
Report and Financial Statement5
For the Year Ended 31 August 2024
Page 12