## **The Rowantree Choir** ## **Legal and Administrative Details** ## **For the period ended 31 December 202 5** |**Address for correspondence**|67 Orchard Crescent| |---|---| ||ENFIELD EN1 3NS| |**Governing Document**|Constitution 31 January 1989| ||Amended 20 June 2017| |**Charity Registration Number**|801087| |**Trustees**|Jenny Johnson| ||Adrian Saull| ||Susan Humphries| ||Pauline Martindale| ||Reem El-Sharouni| ||Pauline Weatherley| ||Pam Bremner| ||Jonathan Rathbone| ||Liz Woolf| ||Sandra Leah| ||Helen Ennis| |**Bankers**|CAF Bank Ltd| ## **2025 Chair’s Report for the AGM** The year 2025 did in many ways repeat the now ‘familiar Rowantree pattern’ in that we performed 3 concerts around Easter, Summer and Christmas terms, details of which follow. However, the year also involved some changes as both Chair, Jenny Johnson and Deputy Chair, Adrian Saull announced their decisions to retire at the end of the year, so members were invited to volunteer, or suggest others to take over and plan for Rowantree’s future. Membership numbers remained fairly stable. Some older members retired for various reasons, but we were pleased to welcome several new members who have all joined in enthusiastically and helped make rehearsals lively. Choir activities began in January 2025 with work on the Mozart Requiem and Mozart Vespers for a concert in early April which was well received by our audience. We moved into the summer term and focussed on a varied selection of music arranged by our Musical Director on the theme of ‘Summer’. It was perhaps apt that by the time of the concert in July we were in the middle of a heatwave and singers and audience had to find some innovative ways to keep cool. Despite this the performance at Enfield Baptist Church was appreciated by a large audience including our loyal friends and families as well as others who were new to the Rowantree experience. In the Autumn term we looked towards Christmas and reprised ‘Mr Fezziwig’s Christmas Party’ (written for us by Jonathan Rathbone and Paul Whitnall and premiered in 2007) as well as a selection of traditional Christmas music with soloist Paul Sheehan and the Sylvan orchestra. A bumper audience enjoyed the end result, many commenting that they thought it was ‘the best ever’, so we ended the year very much on a high. As well as these full concerts, we also arranged to sing a ‘pop up’ concert at Chase Farm Hospital. Thanks to Jane Newcombe and Adrian Saull for enabling this to happen. Another planned ‘pop up’ in the Enfield Shopping Precinct in the run up to Christmas had sadly to be cancelled at the last minute because of the awful weather forecast (quite the opposite of the summer heat) – but maybe we can try again. ## **Committee Activities** During 2025 the Committee continued to consolidate the changes introduced in the previous year to restore finances and boost membership, as well as trying to recruit someone to take over as Chair. By the end of the year, we were glad to report that we had managed to recruit a new Chair, Helen Ennis (the Choir Librarian). This of course created a vacancy for Librarian which we are pleased to say will be filled jointly by Caroline Hinch and Tricia O’Gorman. **Communication** with members was largely via the Website (for rehearsal schedules and practice tacks produced by the MD). We tried to reduce the need for regular emails, encouraging all members to look at the website for uptodate information. Social Media (via Facebook and Instagram) produced by Jane James continued to keep the wider world informed of the Choir’s activities. Concert flyers and posters were produced and distributed by members for each event and a portable banner giving details of the choir was displayed prominently at every concert. ## **Other Activities** In addition to our music, we held a most enjoyable Summer Party (hosted by our accompanist Judith Crawford and her husband James) which rounded the term off in a delightful way. Our charitable efforts included a ‘Christmas Jumper’ evening and a raffle at the Christmas concert which jointly raised nearly £500. This was donated to two local charities suggested by members – ‘Help for Hunger’ and ’Cooking Champions. ## **Thanks** Thanks are due to everyone on the Committee for all their hard work and also to other choir members who volunteer to help whenever the need arises. In particular thanks must go to Sue Humphries as Treasurer, who has had to deal with the many challenges created by CAF Bank adopting a new IT system which had a number of teething problems: also our Concert Team who have faced a number of challenges during the year but have efficiently ensured that each concert has actually happened in the right place and at the right time. Thanks also to our volunteer ‘Front of House’ Team who turn up cheerfully and deal with whatever needs doing. Thanks are also due to Judith Crawford our loyal accompanist. Finally, of course we thank Jonathan Rathbone our MD, who makes rehearsals fun and manages to turn our often unpromising initial efforts into musical triumphs! As the saying goes ‘We always finish well!’ Jenny Johnson – Chair of Rowantree Choir Committee - 2025 ## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** ## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report** **Report to the trustees** The Rowantree Choir **On accounts for the year** 31 December 2025 **ended** **Charity no** 801087 **(if any)** **Set out on pages** This page only I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31/12/2025** . **Responsibilities and basis of report** 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 Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s 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)(b) of the Act. **Independent examiner's** [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the **statement** examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. _Delete_ [ ] _if not applicable._ I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) 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 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 examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. - _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ **Signed:** **Date:** 20/04/2026 1 Phil Bremner **Name:** ## **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body:** **Address:** Association of Certified Chartered Accountants 3 Ridler Road Enfield. EN1 3RB 2 The Rowantree Choir= Financial Statement 2025 Noles 31 De¢embÈr 2025 31 December 2024 (Reslatedl Cash Funds CAF Cash Account CAF Gotd Awwnt 3.161 17.642 4,775 14,193 1&968 Funds BIF Surplus 18.968 13.842 5,125 18,968 Note 1 Change of accounting procedure.. From l January 2025 the a(￿Unts have been prepared on a Cash bass. This replaces the Accrual ba￿S used by the previous bcm)kk￿per. This has meani that comparig)n5 of trKxJme artd experKlrture between 2024 arKI 3)25 trLaS be￿ ad￿l￿E￿I to ￿Ing it in line wth ihe Cash Basis accountirg practi￿. Cash basis: records %then rrv)ney chaThJes hands and is SUTt&l for small. simple businesses and charities. Aecrual basis records income a￿1 eX￿n$￿S is for in wh￿h thèy arè èaynèd or incurred and is required for larger businesses The Rowantree Choir: Financial Statement 2025 Note 31 lJe¢ember 2024 {Restatedl ncome Members SubscripiKNIS Co[￿rt r￿k81 S*s Gift Aid 21.2 8,140 21,445 7,(B3 3.487 Interest Donations 555 36.116 3&180 Expenditure Prolessional Fees Rehearsals Cor￿rtS Events AdministratKin Bank Charges 24,493 2.018 7,352 15,205 2.794 1,831 144 30.055 34281 Net Surplus 5,125 Note 2 Includes se￿￿ ptowded by the Direthor and aC￿)Ir￿janIst for rehearsals. cowns and ad IK* porformances, atKI covers MUSH￿1 arraTwJements. on-line rehearsal tracks. printing ol music and programmes. Hire of prernises and music sLxJres. Hire of venve, slaging, accompanwry muscian. orchestra aThJ gjknsts. Website and runnin costs, includi pa￿0[￿1 support. Note 3 Nots4 Note 5 CHAIR- JENNIFER JOHNSON TREASURER - SUSAN HUMPHRIES