# **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023**
**Charity name: Durham Choral Society**
**Charity registration number: 514557**
## **1. Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The objects of Durham Choral Society (DCS) are:**
● **the study and practice of choral music in order to educate the public in the knowledge**
**and appreciation of such music by the presentation of concerts and other activities.**
●
**to further such charitable purposes as the trustees in their absolute discretion shall**
**think fit, financially or otherwise but in particular by the making of small grants and**
**donations.**|
|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|**DCS is a membership organisation that carries out the following activities:**
● **Three choral concerts each year performed in local venues.**
● **Other singing opportunities as they arise e.g., Durham Vocal Festival, carol singing at**
**University Hospital of North Durham, joint concerts with other choirs.**
● **Weekly rehearsals for the above.**|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|● **All trustees have been provided with the guidance on public benefit.**
● **All decisions are taken to ensure that that the main activities as outlined in our**
**charitable objects can take place.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**DCS does not make grants per se but does make donations to local charities using the**
**profits from one concert annually. The charity(ies) are usually chosen via nominations from**
**members.**|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**n/a**|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**DCS is run by volunteers, without whom the choir could not operate.**
● **In 2022-23 there were 11 committee members and one co-opted member, all with**
**defined roles.**
● **In addition, there were eight volunteers from the membership who carry out specific**
**tasks and six other volunteers who helped out at concerts.**
● **The hours of volunteers are not recorded.**|
|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||**Achievements**
● **DCS celebrated its 60th anniversary during the year**
● **This was the first full year's activity following the hiatus caused by the Covid pandemic.**
● **DCS organised and promoted three concerts throughout the year along with 30 weekly**
**rehearsals.**
● **One concert was held at Elvet Methodist Church as planned (December 2022). This was**
**held jointly with Durham Music Youth Choirs.**
● **Profits from the December concert were donated to local charities as planned.**
● **Two concerts were held in Durham Cathedral as planned (January 2023 and May 2023).**
**The May concert was a joint concert with Leeds Philharmonic Chorus.**
● **We tried to revive our longstanding tradition of singing carols at the local hospital but**
**were advised by the hospital authorities that it would not be possible this year.**
● **DCS attracted 23 Friends of Durham Choral Society.**
● **DCS secured a new rehearsal venue at short notice over the summer of 2023.**|
## **Beneficiaries**
- **Members of the biggest non-auditioned choir in the Northeast Region – 125 paid up members during the year.**
- **Friends of Durham Choral Society – 23 during the year.**
- **Professional and semi-professional musicians – musical team, orchestra, soloists – a typical concert in Durham Cathedral has four professional soloists and full orchestra. The total was 89 during the year.**
- **Choirs with whom we did joint concerts including young singers in the Durham Music Trust choirs.**
- **Audiences – almost 1000 tickets were sold over all three concerts.**
- ● **Venues hired for concerts and rehearsals – Durham Cathedral, which also acts as ticketing agent, Elvet Methodist Church, Durham Johnston Comprehensive School**
- ● **Businesses acting as suppliers for DCS e.g., a local printer, staging and lighting contractor, providers of musical scores etc.**
## **Benefits**
- **As a non-auditioned choir, members have the opportunity to participate in performances of the “big choral works” in a prestigious venue.**
- ● **Participating in music making is well known to improve well-being in adults.** ● **Young singers participate in some concerts**
- **Economic benefits through holding and promoting concerts e.g. hiring venues, musicians and music, attracting audiences etc. with the knock on effect into local businesses such as cafes and shops.**
- **For audience members – we offer the opportunity to attend live classical choral events, which enrich the choice of events locally.**
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set
Performance of fundraising Para 1.41 activities against objectives set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|●**DCS had a strong year financially, boosted by**
○**higher than average ticket sales for the May concert (joint with Leeds Philharmonic**
**Chorus).**
○**Leeds Philharmonic Chorus contributed towards costs for the May concert.**
○**Sponsorship and donations from members were welcomed for particular activities**
**such as soloists for concerts, the website, programme production, and more.**|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|● **It is the charity’s policy to hold reserves.**
● **Reserves are held to protect trustees from financial hardship should we have to cancel**
**a concert in our main venue (Durham Cathedral).**
● **Insurance is held through membership of Making Music but some costs arising from**
**cancellation are not covered.**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£12974 which represents 28% of turnover.**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**n/a**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/a**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**At the present time there are no financial concerns.**|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**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|**DCS’ three principal sources of funding during the year were:**
● **Membership subscriptions (45%)**
● **Ticket sales (31%)**
● **Donations/sponsorship from members and others (10%)**|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**N/a**|
|---|---|---|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**Our main risks are:**
● **Concert format becoming unsustainable – Durham Cathedral is the only local venue big**
**enough to hold the choir, full orchestra and audience. If costs rise too much, then we**
**will have nowhere to perform in Durham City and will have to look further afield or**
**change our business model.**
● **Cost of living affecting membership numbers.**
● **Securing enough trustees and volunteers from the membership to run DCS.**|
|Other||●**DCS reviewed its financial processes during the year and a draft financial policy will be**
**taken to the committee in 2023-24.**|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**DCS has a constitution.**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated association of members run by a committee.**|
|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|**The committee (including officers of DCS and other members) is elected by the**
**membership at the Annual General Meeting with terms of office specified in the**
**constitution.**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|● **All trustees are provided with guidance from the Charity Commission on the roles and**
**responsibilities of trustees on appointment.**
● **There is a committee handbook which outlines the duties of each committee role**
**which is shared with all committee members.**
● **The first committee meeting after the AGM is used as general induction.**
● **One-to-one sessions are held between the chair and new committee members to**
**discuss roles as required.**
● **Training and resources for trustees are offered by various organisations and**
**opportunities are circulated to the committee.**|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|●**DCS is affiliated to Making Music (Registered charity 249219)**|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|● **Two concerts in 2022-23 were held jointly with other choirs:**
`o` **Christmas concert involved Durham Music Youth and Training Choirs which are**
**organised by Durham Music Trust (Registered charity 1169848)**
`o` **May concert was a joint concert with Leeds Philharmonic Society (Registered**
**charity 1162999)**
● **The Christmas concert and occasional rehearsals are held at premises operated by**
**Durham City Methodists (Registered charity 1126844).**
● **Most rehearsals were held at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School (Registered**
**charity 516935)**|
|Other||●**The Musical Director, Assistant Conductor and Accompanist are freelance and receive**
**annual honoraria. The Assistant Accompanist is paid on a sessional basis.**|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|**Durham Choral Society**|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|**n/a**|
|Registered charity number|**514557**|
## Charity’s principal address
**℅ Chair of Durham Choral Society 1 Burnside Witton Gilbert Durham DH7 6SE**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
||**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**|**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**|**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**|**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|Valerie Wooff|Chair|||
|2|Claire Horwell|Hon Secretary|||
|3|Susan Massey|Hon Treasurer|||
|4|PeggyBlakemore|MembershipSecretary|||
|5|Victoria Nower|Librarian|6 Nov 2022 – 31 Aug2023||
|6|Angela Douglas|Venue Liaison|1 Sep2022-30 Jun 2023||
|7|Fiona Gameson|Concert Administrator|||
|8|||||
|9|||||
## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
**n/a**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|**n/a**|||
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity **n/a**
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)**
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|||
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**|**Address**|
|**External**
**Examiner**|**Rebecca Davison**|c/o Clive Own LLP
Kepier House,
Belmont Business Park,
Durham,
DH1 1TW|
||||
||||
|**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**
|**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|||
|---|---|---|
||V A Wooff|S Massey|
||Chair|Treasurer|
||8 March 2024|8 March 2024|
|**Expenditure**
**Concert Expenditure**
Concert Halls
Orchestra
Soloists
Hire/Purchase/postage orch scores
Hire of lighting/staging
PRS payments
Printing of handbills
Printing of programmes
Publicity
**Rehearsal Expenses**
Rehearsal Rooms DJS bill
Rehearsal Fees(director/accompanists)
Officer Expenses
Making Music sub/insurance
Hire/Purchase/postage of vocal scores
Rehearsal CDs
Membership refund
**Sundry Expenses**
Dinner
Xmas charities
Charitable don Ann Crawford RIP
Hardship donations utilised
**Total Expenditure**
**Closing balances 31/8/23**
Cooperative Charity Acct
CCLA Charity deposit
Total funds at year end
Uncleared cheques|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2023**|||**2022**|||
||**Restricted funds**|**Un restricted**
**funds**|**Total**|**Restricted**
**funds**|**Un restricted**
**funds**|**Total**|
||-
£
7,181.28
£
**7,181.28**
**£**
-
£
9,090.00
£
**9,090.00**
**£**
-
£
3,300.00
£
**3,300.00**
**£**
-
£
474.98
£
**474.98**
**£**
-
£
3,917.40
£
**3,917.40**
**£**
-
£
55.00
£
**55.00**
**£**
-
£
147.82
£
**147.82**
**£**
-
£
860.37
£
**860.37**
**£**
-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**|||-
£
3,070.07
£
**3,070.07**
**£**
-
£
4,784.10
£
**4,784.10**
**£**
-
£
1,550.00
£
**1,550.00**
**£**
-
£
363.80
£
**363.80**
**£**
-
£
874.12
£
**874.12**
**£**
-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**
-
£
75.00
£
**75.00**
**£**
-
£
246.00
£
**246.00**
**£**
-
£
33.00
£
**33.00**
**£**|||
||-
£|25,026.85
£|**25,026.85**
**£**|-
£|10,996.09
£|**10,996.09**
**£**|
||-
£
6,287.25
£
**6,287.25**
**£**
-
£
6,080.00
£
**6,080.00**
**£**
-
£
110.99
£
**110.99**
**£**
-
£
390.00
£
**390.00**
**£**
-
£
407.32
£
**407.32**
**£**
-
£
166.90
£
**166.90**
**£**
-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**|||-
£
5,544.00
£
**5,544.00**
**£**
-
£
5,690.00
£
**5,690.00**
**£**
-
£
146.48
£
**146.48**
**£**
-
£
622.00
£
**622.00**
**£**
-
£
795.91
£
**795.91**
**£**
-
£
58.80
£
**58.80**
**£**
-
£
65.00
£
**65.00**
**£**|||
||-
£|13,442.46
£|**13,442.46**
**£**|-
£|12,922.19
£|**12,922.19**
**£**|
||-
£
1,178.90
£
**1,178.90**
**£**
-
£
675.00
£
**675.00**
**£**
-
£
50.00
£
**50.00**
**£**
275.00
£
-
£
**275.00**
**£**|||-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**
-
£
175.00
£
**175.00**
**£**
-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**
-
£
-
£
**-**
**£**|||
||275.00
£|1,903.90
£|**2,178.90**
**£**|-
£|175.00
£|**175.00**
**£**|
||||||||
||**275.00**
**£**|**40,373.21**
**£**|**40,648.21**
**£**|**-**
**£**|**24,093.28**
**£**|**24,093.28**
**£**|
||-
£
6,899.76
£
**6,899.76**
**£**
-
£
13,399.92
£
**13,399.92**
**£**|||-
£
2,415.87
£
**2,415.87**
**£**
-
£
12,974.78
£
**12,974.78**
**£**|||
||-
£|20,299.68
£|**20,299.68**
**£**|-
£|15,390.65
£|**15,390.65**
**£**|
||||||||
||-
£|20,299.68
£|**20,299.68**
**£**|-
£|15,390.65
£|**15,390.65**
**£**|
||275.00
£|60,672.89
£|**60,947.89**
**£**|-
£|39,483.93
£|**39,483.93**
**£**|
|**Income**
**Concert Income**
Tickets members Elvet
Ticket Cathedral
Tickets Door Elvet
Wegottickets Elvet
Programmes sales
Orch score refund
Leeds Phil Donation
Private sponsorship
**Rehearsal Income**
Member subscriptions
Tax reclaimed
Sale/ Hire of scores
Loan of Missa breva
Sale of CDs
**Sundry income**
Dinner
Sale of folders
Charity Collection
Sale of J Lewis CDs
Member Donations
Friends Donations
Subsidised memb Donations
Fundraising Sale
**Interest**
HSBC deposit
CCLA Charities
**Total Income**
**Opening balances 1/9/22**
Cooperative Charity Acc**t**
CCLA Charities Deposit
HSBC current
HSBC deposit
memb C/F
HSBC A/C 2|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|**Account Balance for Durham Choral Society 2022 - 2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2023**|||**2022**|||
||**Restricted funds**|**Un restricted**
**funds**|**Total**|**Restricted**
**funds**|**Un restricted**
**funds**|**Total**|
||-
£
685.00
£
685.00
£
-
£
12,436.95
£
12,436.95
£
-
£
445.00
£
445.00
£
-
£
460.00
£
460.00
£
-
£
886.80
£
886.80
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
3,000.00
£
3,000.00
£
-
£
1,125.00
£
1,125.00
£
-
£
-
£|||-
£
20.00
£
20.00
£
-
£
3,426.98
£
3,426.98
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
303.00
£
303.00
£
-
£
141.50
£
141.50
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£|||
||-
£|19,038.75
£|19,038.75
£|-
£|3,891.48
£|3,891.48
£|
||-
£
20,607.00
£
20,607.00
£
-
£
1,416.50
£
1,416.50
£
-
£
1,317.95
£
1,317.95
£
-
£
225.00
£
225.00
£
-
£
215.50
£
215.50
£|||-
£
6,425.00
£
6,425.00
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
179.52
£
179.52
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
74.00
£
74.00
£|||
||-
£|23,781.95
£|23,781.95
£|-
£|6,678.52
£|6,678.52
£|
||-
£
1,175.00
£
1,175.00
£
-
£
78.40
£
78.40
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
83.00
£
83.00
£
-
£
655.00
£
655.00
£
275.00
£
-
£
275.00
£
-
£
45.00
£
45.00
£|||-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
77.00
£
77.00
£
-
£
175.00
£
175.00
£
-
£
60.00
£
60.00
£
-
£
1,415.00
£
1,415.00
£|||
||275.00
£|2,036.40
£|2,311.40
£|-
£|1,727.00
£|1,727.00
£|
||-
£
425.14
£
425.14
£|||-
£
0.03
£
0.03
£
-
£
43.89
£
43.89
£|||
||-
£|425.14
£|425.14
£|-
£|43.92
£|43.92
£|
||||||||
||**275.00**
**£**|**45,282.24**
**£**|**45,557.24**
**£**|**-**
**£**|**12,340.92**
**£**|**12,340.92**
**£**|
||**-**
**£**
2,415.87
£
2,415.87
£
-
£
12,974.78
£
12,974.78
£|||-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
12,930.89
£
12,930.89
£
-
£
5,121.79
£
5,121.79
£
-
£
1,272.29
£
1,272.29
£
-
£
7,809.49
£
7,809.49
£
-
£
8.55
£
8.55
£|||
||-
£|15,390.65
£|15,390.65
£|-
£|27,143.01
£|27,143.01
£|
||||||||
||275.00
£|60,672.89
£|60,947.89
£|-
£|39,483.93
£|39,483.93
£|
_**Notes to the Accounts**_
## **Movement in funds**
|**Movement in funds**||
|---|---|
|_Unrestricted funds_
General fund
_Restricted funds_
Subsidised membership Fund|**Balance at 01**
**September**
**2022**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**Expended**
**Balance at 31**
**August 2023**
£ 15,390.65 £ 45,282.24 £ 40,373.21 £ 20,299.68
-
£
275.00
£
275.00
£
£ -|
||-
£
275.00
£
275.00
£
-
£|
The Subsidised Membership fund accrued £275 in donations.
Three members availed themselves of this fund, 2 for the full year and 1 for half the year. Each paid £35 so £105 was paid to cover £430 worth of subscriptions. The deficit was £325 which was nearly covered by the donations. There are no funds at present in this hardship fund as of September 2023.
Inde
endent Examinerfs Re
ort
To the Trustees of DURHAM CHORAL SOCIETY:.
I report on the account for Durham Choral Society for the financial year September 202,.
August 2023. which is set out on the Account Balance Sheet attached.
Respertive responsibilities of trustees and examlner
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation.. you consider that the
audit requirements of Section 43121 of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) do not opply. It is
my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions
given by the Charity Commissioners under section 4317)Ibl of the Act, whether
particular matter5 have come to my attention.
Basls of independent examinees report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissioners. 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 procedure
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and
consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examlnerfs statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to rny attention:
which 8ive5 me reasonable Cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act.. an¢J
to prepare account5 whKh accord with the accountin8 records, and to
comply with the accountin8 requirement5 of the Act
have not been met; or
121
to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a
proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Si8ned
Date
c Labcr
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