DROMORE AND DISTRiGr MALE Voic£ CHOIR Trustee's Annual Report For the year to 31st August 2021 Contact Address: 14 Diamond Road Dromore Co Down BT25 1PQ Email: dromoremalechoir mail.com Registered Charity No. 103224
Contents Sectlon Subjact .Introdu¢tion Govemance ..Trust8es ..Charitable Purp08e . Putlic Benefits .Activities and Evidence of providing the Public Benefits ..Adult Men .General Public ..Accounts .Potential Harm . Private Benefrt Appendix 1..... .Balance Sheet
Dromore and District Male Voice Choir Registered Charfty No. 103224 Tru8t••8' Annual Report From 1•t September 2020 to 31•1 August 2021 1.0 Introducllon 1.1 This, the Trustees, fifth annual report to the Charty Commission for Northern Ireland has been agreed by the Twstees but not fromally presented to choir members as the Choir has not met as a body nor taken part in any activities since March 2020 due to the continuing restrictions on movement and gatherings necessitated by the Covid pandernic. It will however be shared with members as and when the Choir is able to meet again. The Trustees believe that the report complies with the requirements of The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northem Ireland) 2015 and takes account of the guKlance provided by the Commission. 2.0 Gov•manc• 2.1 DDMVC is govemed under the terms of its Constitution which was reviewed, revised and signed by the Trustees on 23rd March 2015 3.0 Trusts08 There has been no change in the Trustees since the last report. They remain as: Mr Albert Stewart (Chair) Mr Noel Meeke (Vice Chair) Mr James Smyth (Secretary) Mr Eric Conn Mr John Lilley Mr Keith Ward Mr George Wilson 3.2 No other individual served as a Tnjstee during the rnonrtoring period. 3.3 Again, due to the restrictions on movement and meetings necessitated by the Covid pandemic the Trustees have not physically met as a group during Ihe period under review. As a number of Trustees do not have the technical equipment neSSary for on-line meetings (Zoom. etc..), it has not been possible either to conduct this type of meeting. Meetings will resume when Government and medical advice confirm that it is safe to do so. 3.4 The Trustees confim that they have had regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit requirement ststutory guidance as set out in its publication PBR1.
4.0 Charftabl• Purp8 4.1 The Choirfs stated Charitable Purpose is: 'To promote, improve, develop and maintain public (hereinafter called the 'beneficiaries') education and appreciation of, the art of music and. in particular, choral music, through the presentation of public perfOrManS. and by associating the slatutory authorities, cornmunty and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance musical education.. It falls wthin Ihe advancement of the arts, curtu, heritage or science sector of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 4.2 Its tsrget groups are: i) Adult rnen of 18 year8 and above. ii) The general public. 6.0 Publlc B•noflts 5.1 The Public Benefrts DDMVC seeks to provide are.. i) A welcome to men of all adult ages and from a wide range of backgrounds and musical capabilities. ii) The enablement of members to participate in a creative, fulfilling, educational and sociable activty and the provision to them of opportunities to develop their singing teChnue, musical skills and knowledge of the choral repertoire. iii) The promotion of public performancts which raise artistic taste, enhance public knowledge and understanding of music and provide enjoyable and stimulating cultural experiences as a resuh of the high qualty of the performances and the interesting range of music featured. iv) Improved communty lrfe through the appreciation of music. v) Raising, or helping to raise funds for other charitable causes by the perfomiance of vocal music. 6.0 Actlvltl•s and Evid•nc? of Providing the Publlc Benefits 6.1 Adult Men 6.1.1 DDMVC is a traditional four-part hamony male voice choir with a wide-ranging repertoire of both sacred and secular music. Membership is open to all men of 18 years and above. without restriction on upper age, background. religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilty andlor musical abilrty. Arrangements are put in pla to assist anyone with a physical disabilty to ensure that they can play a full part in all choir ath'vrties. New members are wamly welcomed and indeed, actively sought after.
6.1.2 During this year, another member, Mr Robin English, sadly died. Robin will be gatlY missed and our thoughts and prayers remain with his frdmily and with the families of all our friends who have passed in rent years. 6.1.3 As already stated (see 1.1 above), the Choir has not met as a body nor taken part in any activity, including practices since March 2020. In this respect therefore the Choir has been unable to meet its Public Benefit requirement to aduft men during the year under review. 6.2 Genoral Publlc 6.2.1 There were no singing engagements during the year and our hopes that the annual concert planned for 20th March 2020 and cancelled because of the spread of Covid infection could be postponed until later in 2020 did not materialise due to the continuing rise in and spread of the pandemic. Again, therefore and regrettably, solely due to Covid related restrictions, the Choir was unable to meet its Public Benefft requirement to the general public 7.0 Accounts 7.1 Because of the lack of Choir actNty. thts year has seen little movement in the accounts, which have again been subject to independent examination by Ivan Shannon & Co. Accountants of 8allynahinch prior to their submission to the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland. 7.1.1 Income has been limrted to the refund of the £250 artiste's fee paKI in advance for the 2020 concert and a small amount of bank interest. The £50 booking fee paid to Dromore Cathedral for use of the COnrt hall has not yet been redaimed. 7.1.2 Expenditure comprised a payment of £100 to Cancer Research in memory of John Gordon who sadly died in August 2020, the postage costs of sending copies of the Annual Report to Trustees for review and bank fees of £19.07. It should be noted that we have been infomed by Danske Bank that their account management fees are to increase from £1.50 to £2.50 per month from October 2021 and interest rates are to f811 to 0.00% from the same date. 7.1.3 In consuiiation with our Insuran brokers and taking account of the potential lack of activities during this financial year and in order to protect tts funds, the Choir's insurance policies were placed in abeyance. No premiums have therefore been paKI. The brokers confirm that the insUranS can be reinststed without penalty, vthen the Choir becomes acttve On again, 7.1.4 The overall result for the year therefore shows a small increase of £127.71 in the credrt balan and a total cash fund of £3,267.45. 7.2 The Choir remains immensely grateful to the sponsors of the cancelled 2020 cOnrt who have not requested the retum of their sponsorship monies even though the concert did not proceed. We are also grateful to our accountant Ivan Shannon who waived his fee for carrying out the independent examination of the 2019-2020 accounts prior to their subrnission to the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland.
7.3 DDMVC has no restricted fvnds, other funds, assets or investments other than the monbes shown as cash funds at this year*nd. 7.4 No Trustee or member receives or has received travel or out of pocket expenses in relation lo choir activities. Potsntial Hami 8.1 The Trustees are not awa of any hami or potential hami being caused as a consequence of DDMVC carrying out any of its public benefit activities. 9.0 Pr5vato 8•nofit The Trustees are aware that choir members may attain prNate benefit in temis of enhanced musical skills and knowledge and that this benefit may be transferable. HovVer, acquiring this benefrt is also the successful outcome of one of the Choir's charitable purposes (see 5.1.11 atx)ve) and is essential to enable the members to perfonn at the level of expertise necessary to provide a highquality musical experience to the general public beneficiaries. This benefrt is therefore, incidental. Signed: Albert Stewart (Chair) Date..
APPENDIX 1 Dromore & 018trlct Malg Vokfj Cholr- R•glster•d Charlty No. 103224 R•c•lpts and Paymonts Account- Y1 Endlng 31st August 2021 2022021 2019-2020 RECEIPT3 Membernhlp Fee8 Income from PerfornarKes Glfts and D¢)nati¢$ Annual Concert SFon8(Mhip Admissions 11JO.00 420.00 Rdund of Artiste F. 220 Ca•11•d corKert Bank Interest 250.IJO 4.10 Totsl Rocol 263.08 PAYMENTS In8uranc8 318 37 300.00 Hire of Pradice Hall Conductor & Ac¢ompanl8t Sorvk8 Music 1,840.00 Stionery & Postage Miscéllaneous 5.60 13.98 Chrl8tma8 Dlnner Room Co8ts 8•rbeque Venue Hire 12018) A¢¢ountsnw Fee8 Ch8ri18bl8 Gifts & OM•tion• 100.00 80.00 100.00 100.00 Annual Concert Venue Hire & Expense8 8rtlng Arti8teJ Fees Mi8c•llangou8 ¢05ts Bank Fee8 50.00 250.00 14.00 19.07 28.10 Totsl Pa m•nts 125.37 3 078.06 N•t of Rrfol 127.71 2 013.95 RECONCIUATION Cash at bank Cash in hand 3.246.50 20.95 3.072.49 87.25 Calh Fund¥ at Y•r End 3 139.74 Dt•: 29th S•ptember 2021