Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society _Registered Charity No. 801597_
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period ending 31 August 2024
## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
for the period from **1[st] September 2023** to **31[st] August 2024** Charity name: **Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society**
Charity registration number: **801597**
## **Objectives and Activities**
The objects of Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society (the choir) are the study and practice and the concert performance of choral works, and the furthering of interest in choral music generally, and in particular:
- To rehearse and perform choral music of all kinds;
- To extend the musical knowledge and technique of the choir by instruction and practice;
- To foster and develop friendly relations between choir members;
- To assist other charitable organisations.
These objects are met by activities planned by the trustees, with due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit:
- Weekly rehearsals, based on school terms, of defined programmes of music;
- Three public concerts each year of those programmes;
- Additional community events including ‘Come and Sing’ days and ‘Awaydays’;
- Fund-raising through singing, including Christmas carol singing.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The choir performed its normal three public concerts during the year to 31 August 2024:
- At our Christmas 2023 concert we performed works under a German theme, including Bach Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott and Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme; Mendelssohn Vom Himmel hoch and a selection of Carols at St Gabriel’s Church, Warwick Square.
- We returned to St Gabriel’s for the Spring 2024 concert, which comprised of Haydn Nelson Mass and Handel The ways of Zion do mourn;
- The Summer 2024 concert, at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common saw the choir perform an engaging selection of opera choruses and arias - Bizet Carmen; Borodin Prince Igor; Leoncavallo I Pagliacci; Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana; Wagner Tannhäuser and Verdi Il Trovatore, La Traviata & Nabucco
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society _Registered Charity No. 801597_ Trustees’ Annual Report for the period ending 31 August 2024
On 21[st] October, a subset of the choir provided the choral support for Evensong at Guildford Cathedral for a second year in this imposing venue.
We continued to support the Friends of Fulham Palace in the historic Tudor courtyard at the annual Christmas Fair with carol singing on December 2[nd] , before going on to sing at South Kensington Underground station on December 14[th] – where we raised a very satisfactory £492 for Shelter.
In February, the choir continued its extremely successful “Come & Sing” Days, open to all comers, singing Haydn Nelson Mass, with ticket sales to some 120 singers of whom some 50% were not choir members. This event raised £1,341 for Glass Door, a charity for the homeless.
In the Summer Term, the choir reintroduced its Away Day, this time at the Old Fair of Abinger, a village fair with Middle Ages pilgrim origins. The choir was one of three musical offerings in St James’ Church, and the good weather, friendly atmosphere and receptive audience made for an excellent day.
Average membership for the year improved to 84, an increase of 10% on the previous year with the opera choruses in the Summer Term delivering an exceptional boost. Concert income was similar to the previous year, although impacted by disappointing ticket sales for the Spring Term.
## **Financial Review**
The trustees review the finances, budgets and spend against budget to ensure that there is sufficient subscription income to cover both rehearsal costs and the shortfall of income against expenditure anticipated for the choir’s public concerts.
## _**Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period**_
The choir ended the period with total reserves of £17,677 (£16,752 in 2023) after showing a surplus of £925 (£1,187 surplus in 2023) on annual expenditure of £38,311. This compares with a budget forecast of a surplus of £401.
The main cause of the surplus was that Summer Term membership levels significantly exceeded the budget expectations. As a result, membership fees and associated Gift Aid for the year were £1,293 better than forecast. This, combined with lower-than-expected expenses, meant that our rehearsals showed a surplus of £7,358 instead of the planned £5,016 - £2,342 better than expected.
That rehearsal surplus was offset by two main factors.
1. Our concert finances showed a deficit of £5,434 - £947 more than planned – principally as a result of disappointing Spring Concert ticket sales.
2. Our community singing was in deficit by £68 instead of the budgeted £1,210 surplus. The Spring Term ‘Come & Sing’ Day surplus was less than expected, partly caused by expenses associated with the short notice change of venue. Our financial strength meant that we could reintroduce the Away Day and associated costs of £670, which had not been in our original budget.
Other expenses (including Making Music membership, insurance, card and ticket sales fees) amounted to £1,130, and we received bank interest of £199.
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
_Registered Charity No. 801597_ Trustees’ Annual Report for the period ending 31 August 2024
## _**Reserves policy**_
It is the trustees’ policy to maintain unrestricted reserves to cover possible shortfalls of income:
- the risk of unforeseen emergency or other unexpected need for funds - in the worst case, the income loss if we had to cancel, at short notice, a public concert with orchestral support;
- provision for future major works
This amount, for 2023-24, is assessed as being within the range of £9,500 to £11,500.
## _**Amount of reserves held**_
The unrestricted reserves at the end of the period were £17,677 (£16,752 in 2023).
The trustees recognise that this reserves position is in excess of the reserves policy target. The programme for 2023-24 was adjusted to reflect increased income levels and future years will address surplus reduction whilst not increasing fee / ticket prices above current levels.
## _**Principal sources of income**_
The choir does not actively raise funds from external grants and continued to raise income through two primary sources which contributed this year as follows:
- Membership income and associated Gift Aid Tax relief which together raised £24,029;
- Concert income – with ticket sales of £8,093 and refreshment income of £1,779.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The choir is an unincorporated association governed by its Constitution, dated 30[th] April 2007, which defines its objects, membership, administration and finance. This definition includes the
arrangements for the election of its officers (Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer) and other committee members, all of whom are trustees.
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|-|
|Registered charity number|801597|
|Charity’s principal address|64 Seymour Avenue
Epsom
Surrey
KT17 2RR|
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
Registered Charity No. 801597
Trustees, Annual Report for the period ending 31 August 2024
Names ofthe charity trustee.s iuho manage the charity
Trustee name
Office (if any)
Dates acted if not for whole year
Chairman
Susan Hill
Carol Quinn
Vice-chairman and
Librarian
Robert Quinn
Lucy Williams
Griselda Kellie-smith
Patrick Pierron
Treasurer
Secretary
Concert Manager
Sara Borthwick
Penelope Coate
Sarah Jarvis
There was no person lor body) entitled to appoint trustees.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the charivs trustees:
Slgnature(sl
Full Names
Susan Hill
Robert Quinn
Posltlon
Chairman
Treasurer
Date
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CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs report
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b•sli ol rnp¢xt acc4xmts In TAc(*dw with th Charitss Acl 2011 (Ihe .
under $8cth)n 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I
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**31 Aug 2024**
**Total funds**|**£**
**31 Aug 2023**
**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|
|**Income and endowments from:**
**Donations and legacies**
2
**Charitable activities**
Rehearsals
3
Concerts
4
Community engagement
5
**Investments**(deposit interest received)
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
**Charitable activities**
Rehearsals
6
Concerts
7
Community engagement
8
**Other**
9
**Total**
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**|24,106
2,307
9,992
2,632
199
**39,236**
19,055
15,426
2,700
1,130
**38,311**
**925**
925
16,752
**17,677**|19,550
2,810
10,022
3,126
68
**35,576**
19,028
12,693
1,531
1,137
**34,389**
**1,187**
1,187
15,565
**16,752**|
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
_Registered Charity No. 801597_
Financial Statements for the period ending 31 August 2024
## **Balance Sheet**
at 31 August 2024
|**Notes**|**£**
**31 Aug 2024**
**Total funds**|**£**
**31 Aug 2023**
**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|
|**Fixed Assets**
Tangible assets
10
**Current Assets**
Cash at bank
Prepayment of expenses
Stocks held
**Total Current Assets**
**Liabilities**
**Amounts falling due within 1 year:**
Accrued expenses payable
**Total Liabilities**
**_Total Net Assets_**|-
16,028
1,555
189
17,772
95
95
**17,677**|8
16,175
392
279
16,846
102
102
**16,752**|
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
_Registered Charity No. 801597_
Financial Statements for the period ending 31 August 2024
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
for the year ended 31 August 2024
## 1. **Accounting policies**
## **Basis for preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - second edition: 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and 'FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements have been prepared, on an activity basis, under the historic cost convention.
## **Going concern**
At the time of approving the accounts, the Trustees are of the view that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern and the accounts continue to be prepared on that basis.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are expressed as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost relating to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Depreciation is provided at the annual rate shown below in order to write off the asset over its estimated useful life.
Kitchen equipment - 20% on cost
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from Corporation Tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes in accordance within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
There were no restricted funds held by the charity during the year ending 31st August 2024, nor for the year ending 31st August 2023.
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Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
## _Registered Charity No. 801597_
Financial Statements for the period ending 31 August 2024
|2.
**Donations and legacies**
Membership subscriptions
Donations
Gift aid tax rebate
3.
**Rehearsals income**
Sales and hire out of music scores
Rehearsal tea income
Social evening income
4.
**Concerts income**
Concert ticket sales
Concert refreshment income
Other Concert income
5.
**Community engagement income**
(_Come and sing days, scratch concerts and other public events_)
Community engagement ticket sales
6.
**Rehearsals expenditure**
Rehearsal venue hire
Music Director's and Accompanist's fees
Music scores purchased and hired in
Rehearsal & social evening refreshments and other expenses
7.
**Concerts expenditure**
Concert venue hire
Concert equipment hire
Concert conductor and accompanist
Concert soloists
Concert musicians
Concert programme & ticket production
Concert refreshment expenditure
Other concert expenses|31 Aug 2024
£
20,185
77
3,844
24,106
31 Aug 2024
£
2,232
-
75
2,307
31 Aug 2024
£
8,093
1,779
120
9,992
31 Aug 2024
£
2,632
2,632
31 Aug 2024
£
6,147
10,315
2,128
465
19,055
31 Aug 2024
£
1,809
1,530
2,160
2,650
4,645
1,393
397
842
15,426|31 Aug 2023
£
16,340
87
3,123
19,550
31 Aug 2023
£
1,624
1,034
152
2,810
31 Aug 2023
£
8,386
1,468
168
10,022
31 Aug 2023
£
3,126
3,126
31 Aug 2023
£
6,210
10,280
1,687
851
19,028
31 Aug 2023
£
1,390
1,818
2,250
1,325
3,470
1,167
441
832
12,693|
|---|---|---|
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## Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society
## _Registered Charity No. 801597_
Financial Statements for the period ending 31 August 2024
|8.
**Community engagement expenditure**
(_Come and sing days, scratch concerts and other public events_)
Other singing, venue hire
Other singing, conductor
Other singing, accompanist
Other singing, soloists
Other singing, other expenses
9.
**Other expenditure**
Insurance
Technology costs
Making Music membership
Bank / Card Processing fees
Depreciation
Other expenditure
10.
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 September 2023
Additions
At 31 August 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 September 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 August 2024
**Net Book Value**
At 31 August 2024|31 Aug 2024
31 Aug 2023
£
£
250
250
925
620
533
348
590
270
402
43
2,700
1,531
31 Aug 2024
31 Aug 2023
£
£
151
143
113
55
392
365
395
401
8
24
71
149
1,130
1,137
Kitchen Equipment
£
120
-
120
112
8
120
-|
|---|---|
## 11. **Trustees and related parties**
None of trustees or any persons connected with them received any remuneration, expenses or other benefits from the charity during the year ending 31 August 2024, nor for the year ending 31 August 2023.
## 12. **Employees**
The charity has no employees.
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