CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 1 January 2023 To 31 December 2023 Charlty name: York Opera Charity registration number 700279 Objectives and Activities SORP rofwW• Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its goveming document Pwa 1.17 The presentstion of opera perfonmances in North Yorkshire... and to promote and encourage the love of opera in North Yorkshire During the year the company gave threo performances of Yhe Elixir of Love. (Donizetti} at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York and three perfomiances of Macbeth (Verdi) al the York Theatre Royal. The company also gave two Chrisknas concerts including William Lloyd Webberfs cantats "Bom a Ki The Trustees have reviewed the guidance on public issued (PB1) by the charity commission and is satisfied that it meets the requirements Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposas for the public benefit. in particular, the activities. projects or services identffied in the accounts. Pwa I.171 1.19 Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Chanty Commission on public benefit P•• 1.18 Addltlonal Inforniatlon (optlonal) You ma choose to indude further ststements where relevant about SORP releren The company does not give grants. although on occasion it may waive or reduce membership fees - especially for young musicians. Our aim is that no•one who wishes to sing opera is prevented from doin so because of membershi fees. Not applicable P•rn ljl Policy on grant making Parn 1.38 Policy on social imiestrnent including program related investment Almost all the activities of York Opera are undertaken by volunteers. This includes our Musical and Stage Directors, all our principals, and members of the chorus. In a(Joition, we have very aciive teams involved in the design and build of sets. and in the desi n and maki of costumes. P•rn 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers
Finally, we have active social and fvrKI- raising groups arKI volunteers are also involved in the business side of the fX)rn an Other Achievements and Perfonnance As described above. the company gave the perf0MnceS of "The Elixir of Love" {Donizetti) al the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. York and three perf0MnceS of Macbeth (Verdi) at the York Theatre Royal. The company also gave a Christrnas concert including William Lloyd Webberfs seldom perfonned cantats "Bom a KiThJ". Summary of the main achievements of the charity. identsfying the drffence the charity's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to Society as a whole. P** 120 Both Elixir and Mathth were perfonned with full orchestra in a professional theatre. We do rK)t require our chorus to audition - and this long held policy is core to our purpose of bringing people inlo opera. We do competitively auditi for prinapal roles and require a hh standard. We offer roles to recent graduates wishing to develop careers in music, and those wlx) wish lo deepen their musical knowledge and experience. In the year we also provided opportunities to new d1CtOrS - working under the ntOrShIp of more experienced directors. We sing in English and our goal is to bring well designed, directed arKI performed opera to York audiences in an accessible wa Addltlonal Infornwtlon ¢optlonal> You rna cho)ose to include fvrther statements where relevant about: We set ourselves a very thallenging programme for the year. requiring substsntial musical resources and complex staging and wardrobe. This was all achieved from our resources. The works were very well received and with reviewers commenting on the quality of music and the visually compelling sets. Achievements against objectives set P¥a 1.41 We are now also exploring outreath OPKK)rtuniues to scncds and ways In Vthlch we can fvrther enrage the musical lrfe of York.
The substantial loss experienced during the year has led us to undertake a review of budgeting procedures. and we are exploring opportunities to change both timing and venues of our perfOrmanS. without reducing our (x)mmitrnent to musical qualty. Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set 1.41 We are actively reorientsting our sales and marketing approach towards social media and seeking opporttjnities to raise further venue from rants and s nsorshi Not applicable Investment performan against ¢)bjectives P•x• 1.41 Other
Financial Review Review of the charitls financial position at the erKI Para 1.21 In the year. York Opera made a loss of £6,362 and finished the year with net assets of £20,786. The loss would have been significantly higher but for a timdy and unbudgeted legacy. The Trustees have tsken steps to ensu that this loss is not eated in 2024. We hold sufficient funds to manage our very uneven cash tlows comknbly. (r membership fees a set to pay for everyday expenses such as rehearsal space and rent on our wardrobe and set stores. However, we do not typically receive ticket Income from the theatres until after we have had lo pay costs - especially those relating to orchestral expense and we keep reserves to manage this. Our reserv8s also allow us to manage unforeseen losses like that lch we suffered this ear. £20.786 nla Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held 122 Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Detsils of fund materially in defidt Explanation of any uncertaintles about the charity conts'nuir¥J as a going Ptn 1.22 P•r• 1.22 P•r• 1.24 nla P•M 1.23 nla Addltlonal informatlon (optlonal) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: The charity's prin(#pal SrceS of fvnds (induding any fundralsing) P¥• 1A7 Investment policy and objectives induding any social invesknent policy adopted P¥• 1.46 A description of the principal risks faciThJ the chaiity Parl 1.46 Other
Structure, Governance and Management Description of drityS trusts.. Type of govemiThJ d(Kument Not Applicable Para 1.25 Constitution How is the chanty constituted? Para 1.25 Unincorporated association c)rated Trustee selecti¢)n methods induding detsils of any consts'tutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entided to appoint one or mo trustees P¥• 125 Trustees induding officers (Chair. Treasurer, Stary) a elecled by members at the annual general meeting. Addltlonal Inforniatlon (optlonal) You rna (knse to include further statements where relevanl ab(xtr. Poliaes and procedures adopted for the induth'on and training of trustees P•rn 1.51 The charfty's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Pwa 1.61 RelatiChiP with any related parties P•r• 1.51 Olher Reference and Administrative details Chari name Other name the cha ' uses istered chari number Charity's principal address Yotho nla 700279 2 St Roberts Gardens. Knaresl)orough, North Yorkshire HG5 8EH
Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty Tru8t•e name Olfice (If any) Chair Secretsry Treasurer Name of person lor boty) entttled lan Thomson-smith David Hartley Adrian Cook Hamish Brown nla nla nla nla nla Hannah Cahill Margaret Soper Pauline Marshall Wendy Jackson nla nla nla la nla nla la rda 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 rate trustees- names of the directors at the date Ihe re DirKtor nam• nla rtwasa Name of trustees holding litle to propety be1Ing to the chaiity Trusts• nam• nla D•t•• rf not for v•hol•
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets nla held in Ihis capacity Name and objects of charity on whose behalf the assets are held arKI how Ihis falls within the custodian charitys objects nla Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets nla Addltlonal InfOrn10n (optlonal) Names and addresses of advlsers (Optlonal Irrforniatlon) Type of Namo Address adviser Name of chlof exocutlve or names of senlor staff m•mbars (Optional Inforn)ation) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke rsonnel details Other o tlonal information
Declarations The Irust•e$ declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Sign•d on bahalf of tho charltys trustees Slgnature(s) Full namels) Posltlon (09 Secretary, Chalr, Otc) It5)R,knJ CS2>( Chair Treasurer Date
YORK OPERA In¢om• 615.c•) Tkk•t S 4422.00 iJJ.so Ghl I9 OD) iio_ii 4J45.Cll I.5X Heheorul rM$hM•1 SttnLN Muskb 681.12 3.659.15 lJ,7n.51 ¢hestr PLthv 5W59 115.65 Tr•nswt i).thJ 9.ns. 244.10 l40. 3,6SS. 45.C •rs41 rthwlm•nii Pwr•mm• Trk•t SI¥ 786. S¢nery rtv• Stcrvx J.lfyJ.41 o. 7,737.41 IlA1 Tvl•l Ixp•ndlturn 7.511.95 ikeKe and IA32.XI JIO.27 Musk hkn OffhMtr• ?,610.) I,115. 592. Tket 946.xl ProkntknT••m Refr•sl¥fj•n Prf4rwrrt Pubkv Tr•nwt To¢ In¢•iN 461.20 Muskle 2.017.55 al.so Th••lr• 16391.74 LkeK• 21.Lb) PRS •lty•Dce T¢*•1 EmpiTrlkn• 115.99
59 Woodwarde Road, London SE22 8UN 7 JULY 2025 Independent examiner's report to the trustees of York Opera I report to the trustees on my 8xamination of the accounts of York Opera for the year ended 31 December 2023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charitytrustees ofthe Trust you are responsibleforthe preparation ofthe accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2Qll ('the Act'l.I ieport in respectof niy examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llb} of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matter8 have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concern"Ing the torm and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regu18tions 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a'true and fair 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 ex8mination to which attention should be dr8wn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Slephen Waters ACA Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Address: 59 Woodwarde Road, London SE22 8UN