The Godalming Operatic Society
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 for The Godalming Operatic Society
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Charity Information | 1 |
| Trustees' Report | 2-3 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7-8 |
| Show Income and Expenditure | 9 |
| Summer Project Income and Expenditure | 10 |
| General Income and Expenditure | 11 |
| Social Committee Account | 12 |
The Godalming Operatic Society
Trustees and Advisors
for the year ended 31st March 2025
VICE PRESIDENT: Linda Scanlon TRUSTEES: L Power Hon Chairman H Jennings Hon Secretary (appointed 03/06/2024 A Plummer Hon Treasurer K Bare Hon Business Manager C Howard S Lavender M Barker (appointed 03/06/2024) S Wing (appointed 03/06/2024) Z Avern (resigned 03/06/2024) M Bright (resigned 03/06/2024) J Parkinson (resigned 03/06/2024) T Dutton (resigned 03/06/2024)
REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 802888 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: A J Bennewith FCA, FCPA, FFA, FFTA, FIPA, DChA, FRSA A J Bennewith & Co Upper Ground Floor 18 Farnham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4XA BANKERS: Lloyds TSB Bank plc 49, High Street Godalming Surrey GU7 1AT PRINCIPAL OFFICE: Cherrytree Cottage Woodhouse Lane Holmbury St Mary Dorking RH5 6NN
Page 1
The Godalming Operatic Society
Trustees' Report
for the year ended 31st March 2025
The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).
Reference and administrative information
The charity is registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 802888. The trustees, executive officers, address of the charity and professional advisers are as listed on page 1.
Structure Governance and Management
Godalming Operatic Society was formed in 1924 and by a Deed dated 15 May 1989, was constituted as a registered charity. Its members are comprised of those who have paid the annual subscription or who have been elected honorary members at a General Meeting. All trustees are members themselves and form the General Committee. The General Committee have absolute discretion to reject an application for membership, or to exclude an existing member.
Trustee meetings and conduct
The chairman is in charge of the day to day running of the society. Decisions on day to day matters are proposed by the chairman and voted on by the trustees at trustee meetings but certain key decisions are decided by members vote at the annual general meeting or an extraordinary general meeting. The trustees consider that their combined experience is sufficient to allow them to properly conduct the charity’s affairs.
Appointment and recruitment of new Trustees
All trustees including new trustees are nominated and subsequently voted into office each year at the Annual General Meeting by the members. New trustees are taught their responsibilities at regularly held trustees meetings and receive a copy of the previous year’s annual report and accounts.
Objects and Activities
The charitable objectives of the Society are:
"to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts, to further the development of public appreciation and taste in the said arts and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) to promote public interest in and knowledge of the works of W S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan".
In furtherance of the Society’s objects and for the public benefit the Society presents a main show each year, normally at the end of February, featuring one of the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. Ticket prices are kept at a level sufficient to cover costs and concessions are offered to young people and wheelchair users.
The Trustees believe that it is important to perform the less well known G&S operas as well as the more popular ones. Thus the aim is to make a surplus on the more popular shows to cover a likely deficit on the less popular ones.
In addition to the main Winter show, the Society normally presents one or more performances on a smaller scale in the Summer months. Sometimes these are free to the Public or are performed for other charities and organisations.
Our members volunteer their services as performers for the public benefit without payment. Occasionally it is necessary to employ an outside professional to fulfil a specific role.
The trustees have had due regard to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities to undertake.
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
Achievements and Performance
The Society is proud to be celebrating its centenary, having been founded in 1924 with its first production in 1925. The first main event of this financial year was our Centenary Summer Concert, Here's a HowDe-Do , which was held in June 2024 and was judged a great success by members and audience alike. It returned a surplus of £945.
In September, the Society started rehearsals for The Yeomen of the Guard, which was the first production of the Society in 1925. The production took place in February 2025 to great acclaim. Although ticket sales were good, this was an expensive production to stage and we made a defecit of £5,217 on the show.
Fortunately, donations from Patrons of the Society, together with membership and show subscriptions in addition to bank interest, helped redress the balance and resulted in a healthy overall surplus for the year of £5,759.
We are honoured to have been asked to take our production of Yeomen to the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton in August. We have also been invited to perform a concert of G&S pieces on D'Oyly Carte Island in July.
In September we look forward to starting rehearsals for Utopia Limited , one of Gilbert & Sullivan's lesser known operas, which we will be performing in February 2026.
Financial review
The Society had a net surplus of £5,759 from normal activities for the year ended 31 March 2025. As a result of the annual surplus, year-end reserves stood at £128,542.
Reserves policy
The Society has a policy of maintaining reserves at a level sufficient to cover expenditure on the following February show. Expenditure on a show can be upwards of £45,000 and the Trustees aim for ticket sales and related income on average to exceed expenditure, covering deficits on historically less popular shows with surpluses on more popular ones. The Trustees also aim to minimise costs and to optimally promote shows so as to maximise the surplus/minimise the deficit on each show. Reserves are monitored throughout the year by the Treasurer through the maintenance of bank records and the preparation of annual accounts prepared on an accruals basis. From time to time the members agree to repeat the February show in a festival later in the year. When this happens the reserves are reviewed to ensure that they are sufficient to cover festival costs and the cost of the subsequent February show.
Helen Jennings (Hon Secretary)
Date
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Godalming Operatic Society
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Godalming Operatic Society (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters 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
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do 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 confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A J Bennewith FCA, FCPA, FFA, FFTA, FIPA, DChA, FRSA Upper Ground Floor 18 Farnham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4XA
Date: .............................................
Page 4
The Godalming Operatic Society
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Notes INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds - Activities for generating funds 3 - Investment income 3 Incoming resources from charitable activities 2 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED - Costs of activities for generating funds 5 -Charitable activities 4 -Other 6 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 8 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
2025 2024 £ £ 2,205 1,730 4,541 4,075 70,668 50,732 77,414 56,537 1,982 729 66,422 52,659 3,251 3,071 71,655 56,459 5,759 78 122,783 122,705 128,542 122,783 Unrestricted funds |
2025 2024 £ £ 2,205 1,730 4,541 4,075 70,668 50,732 77,414 56,537 1,982 729 66,422 52,659 3,251 3,071 71,655 56,459 5,759 78 122,783 122,705 128,542 122,783 Unrestricted funds |
|---|---|---|
| 56,537 | ||
| 729 52,659 3,071 |
||
| 56,459 | ||
| 78 | ||
| 122,705 | ||
| 122,783 |
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| CURRENT ASSETS Stocks Orchestral scores (bound) Stamps held Sundry debtors and prepayments Short term investment Cash at bank: Current account (total £16,898) Current account (General) Current account (Social Committee ringfenced) Savings account CREDITORS:Amount due within one year Creditors and accruals NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS UNRESTRICTED FUNDS General Fund Total Unrestricted Funds |
£ £ £ £ 2,400 2,400 238 456 3,508 3,232 104,441 99,943 15,695 13,960 1,203 1,875 1,057 1,046 128,542 122,912 0 129 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 2025 2024 Unrestricted Funds |
£ £ £ £ 2,400 2,400 238 456 3,508 3,232 104,441 99,943 15,695 13,960 1,203 1,875 1,057 1,046 128,542 122,912 0 129 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 128,542 122,783 2025 2024 Unrestricted Funds |
|---|---|---|
| 122,783 | ||
| 122,783 | ||
| 122,783 |
These accounts were approved by the Trustees
L Power
H Jennings
A Plummer
Date
Page 6
The Godalming Operatic Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
a) Accounting convention
The financial statements are prepared on an accruals basis.
b) Incoming resources
Income from productions is included in the period in which the relevant show takes place; investment income is included as receivable; donations and legacies are included as received, subscription income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which it relates. Tax credits receivable in respect of Gift-aid donations are included with their respective incoming resource.
c ) Resources expended
Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis; inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and has been included in those cost categories. Costs associated with the production of shows are included under charitable activities. Other costs comprise those costs incurred in the running of the charity itself as an organisation.
| 2. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Annual show Income Summer production income Members annual subscriptions Tax recoverable Donations Sundry income 3. ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING FUNDS Social Committee Interval raffles Investment income Book sales 4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Show expenditure Summer production expenditure |
2025 £ 50,957 8,135 2,265 2,235 6,846 230 70,668 2025 £ 1,300 595 4,541 310 6,746 2025 £ 56,174 10,248 66,422 |
2024 £ 37,796 3,472 2,172 1,996 5,264 32 |
|---|---|---|
| 50,732 | ||
| 2024 £ 434 1,296 4,075 0 |
||
| 5,805 | ||
| 2024 £ 49,347 3,312 |
||
| 52,659 |
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 5. COST OF ACTIVITIES FOR GENERATING FUNDS Social Committee 6. OTHER Insurance Subscriptions Venue hire Stationery & comms Independent Examiner Bank charges Publicity Gifts & Gratuities Sundries |
2025 £ 1,982 1,982 2025 £ 1,807 295 40 132 480 26 312 73 86 3,251 |
2024 £ 729 |
|---|---|---|
| 729 | ||
| 2024 £ 1,530 280 40 0 480 22 25 0 694 |
||
| 3,071 |
7. TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
None of the Trustees received any remuneration in the year.
Expenses totalling £4,881 (2024: 2,427) were reimbursed to four (2024: six) of the trustees for sundry expenses during the year.
| 8. NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net surplus/(deficit) from annual shows Net surplus/(deficit) from summer productions Net surplus/(deficit) on general activities Net surplus/(deficit) on Social Committee Brought forward funds Carried forward funds |
2025 2024 £ £ (5,217) (10,541) 1,172 946 10,486 9,968 (682) (295) 5,759 78 122,783 122,705 128,542 122,783 |
|---|---|
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Income and Expenditure from Annual Shows for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
| INCOME Ticket sales Show subscriptions Programme sales Programme advertising DVD sales Interval raffles Sundry income EXPENDITURE Costumes and wardrobe Scenery and props Lighting Hire of halls Stage Director Musical Director Accompanist Orchestra Publicity Programme printing Communications Ticket commission Video recording DVD purchases Music stand hire Bank charges Piano hire and tuning Gifts & gratuities Scores Catering Sundries SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) |
Yeomen 2025 £ 44,976 2,940 2,341 700 0 0 0 50,957 2,958 6,004 1,481 14,973 3,350 2,850 2,405 15,625 1,554 634 76 2,394 960 0 386 81 80 44 70 183 66 56,174 (5,217) |
Patience 2024 £ 32,660 2,145 1,494 435 1,042 1,010 20 |
|---|---|---|
| 38,806 | ||
| 3,611 3,390 960 13,421 1,800 2,750 1,995 13,875 1,239 1,101 453 2,780 0 980 372 52 75 0 119 301 73 |
||
| 49,347 | ||
| (10,541) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Income and Expenditure from Summer Productions for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
| INCOME Ticket sales Programme sales Programme advertising Show Subs Raffle Bar Donations EXPENDITURE Orchestra Hire of Halls Scenery & Props Costumes & Wardrobe Musical Director Accompanist Programme printing Score Hire /printing Catering Bank Charges Publicity Stationery/comms Ticket commission Gifts / gratuities SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) |
2025 £ 6087 363 250 1435 595 0 2,690 11,420 2,950 2,193 336 0 1,410 1,605 258 488 10 26 454 104 399 15 10,248 1,172 |
2024 £ 2,478 0 0 875 286 119 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,258 | ||
| 0 863 72 75 715 980 0 0 0 17 146 299 145 0 |
||
| 3,312 | ||
| 946 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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The Godalming Operatic Society
General Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
| INCOME Members annual subscriptions Patrons annual subscriptions Donations Interest received Tax recoverable Book sales DVD sales Sundry income EXPENDITURE Insurance Subscriptions Stationery & comms Publicity Venue hire Scenery & props Bank charges Independent Examiner Gifts & gratuities Sundries SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) |
2025 £ 2,265 3,860 296 4,541 2,235 310 0 230 13,737 1,807 295 132 312 40 0 26 480 73 86 3,251 10,486 |
2024 £ 2,172 4,403 361 4,075 1,996 0 22 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 13,039 | ||
| 1,530 280 0 25 40 348 22 480 0 346 |
||
| 3,071 | ||
| 9,968 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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The Godalming Operatic Society
Social Committee Account for the Year Ended 31st March 2025
| INCOME Event income Sundry income EXPENDITURE Venue hire Performer's fee Bank Charges Catering Gifts & gratuities Sundry expenditure SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) |
2025 £ 1,171 129 1,300 515 360 2 820 138 147 1,982 (682) |
2024 £ 434 |
|---|---|---|
| 434 | ||
| 165 0 14 390 160 0 |
||
| 729 | ||
| (295) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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