DROMORE AND DISTRICT MALE VoIc£ CHOIR Trustees, Annual Report For the year to 31st August 2022 Contsct Address: 14 Diamond Road Dromore Co Down BT25 1 PQ Email: dromoremalechoir mail.com Registered Charity No. 103224
Contents Section Subject .Introduction Governance .Trustees .Charitable Purpose . Public Benefits .Activities and Evidence of providing the Public Benefits ..Adult Men .General Public . Accounts .Potential Harm . Private Benefit Appendix 1............................................. .8alance Sheet
Dromore and District Male Voice Choir Registered Charity No. 103224 Trustees, Annual Report From 1st Saptember 2021 to 31st August 2022 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Unfortunately, this report must again record that the Choir has remained inactive during the period under review due to the continuing active presence of Covid in the local and surrounding area. However, a decision has been taken that Choir activities will resume in September 2022 and, at the time of writing, which is after that date, weekly practices have been reinstated and we look forward to a period of renewal, an increase in membership and the return of performing our music to others in furtherance of our Charitable Purpose and Public Benefit requirements. The Trustees believe that the report complies with the requirements of The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and takes account of the guidance provided by the Commission. 2.0 Governanco 2.1 DDMVC is governed under the terms of its Constitution which was reviewed, revised and signed by the Trustees on 23rd March 2015 3.0 Tru8tee8 3.1 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 Trustee during the monitoring period. 3.3 Again, due to the restrictions on movement and meetings necessitated by the Covid pandemic the Trustees have not physicalty met as a group during the period under review. As a number of Trustees do not have the technical equipment necessary for on-line meetings (Zoom, etc..), it has not been possible either to conduct this type of meeting. Contact with Trustees therefore has been restricted to telephone conversations between individuals. Meetings will resume after September 2022 when choir activity has resumed. 3.4 The Trustees confirm that they have taken account of the Charity Commission's public benefit requirement statutory guidance as set out in its publication PBR1.
4.0 Charitsble Purpose 4.1 The Choir's 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 performances, and by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance musical education" It falls within the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science sector of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 4.2 Its target groups are: i) Adult men of 18 years and above. ii) The general public. 6.0 Public Beneflts 5.1 The Public Benefits 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 activity and the provision to them of opportunities to develop their singing technique, musical skills and knowledge of the choral repertoire. iii) The promotion of public performances which raise artistic taste, enhance public knowledge and understanding of music and provide enjoyable and stimulating cultural experiences as a result of the high quality of the performances and the interesting range of music featured. iv) Improved community life through the appreciation of music. v) Raising, or helping to raise funds for other charitable causes by the performance of vocal music. 6.0 Activiti08 and Evidence of Providing the Public Benefits 6.1 Adult Men 6.1 .1 DDMVC is a traditional four-part harmony 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, ligion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability andlor musical ability. Arrangements are put in place as necessary to assist anyone with a physical disability to ensure
that they can play a full part in all choir activities. New members are warmly welcomed and indeed, actively sought after. 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 adult men during the year under review. 6.2 General Public 6.2.1 There were no singing engagements during the year. Again therefore and regrettably, solely due to Covid related issues, the Choir has been unable to meet its Public Benefit requirement to the general public 7.0 Accounts 7.1 Because of the lack of Choir activity, the year under review has seen little movement in the accounts, which have again been subject to independent examination by Ivan Shannon & Co. Accountants, of Ballynahinch, Co Down, prior to their submission to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. 7.1.1 The Choir has reiVed no income during the year under review except for £3.22 of Bank Interest. Expenditure has comprised just three items, £1.83 for postage in respect of sending copies of the Annual Report to Trustees for review, £72 in auditor's fees for having the accounts independently examined and Bank Fees of £28.41. 7.1.2 The overall result for the year therefore shows a financial loss of £99.02, resulting in a total cash credit fund of £3,168.43. A copy of the balance sheet is attached as Appendix 1 to this report. 7.3 DDMVC has no restricted funds, other funds, assets or investments other than the monies shown as cash funds at this year-end. 7.4 No Trustee or member receives or has received travel or out of pocket expenses in relation to choir activities. 8.0 Potential Hami 8.1 The Trustees are not aware of any harm or potential harm being caused as a consequence of DDMVC carrying out any of its public benefit activities. 9.0 Privats Benefit 9.1 The Trustees are aware that choir members may attain private benefit in terms of enhanced musical skills and knowledge and that this benefit may be transferable. However, acquiring this benefit is also the sucSsful outcome of one of the Choir's charitable purposes (see 5.1.11 above) and is essential to
enable the members to perform at the level of expertise necessary to provide a high-quality musical experience to the general public beneficiaries. This benefit is therefore, incidental. Signed: Albert Stewart (Chair) Date:
APPENDIX 1 Dromore & Dlstrlct Male Volce Cholr - Reglstered Charfty No. 103224 Recelpts and Payments Account- Year Endlng 31st August 2022 2021-2022 2020-2021 RECEIPTS Membership Fees Income from Perfomiances Gifts and Donations Annual Concert Sponsorship Admissions Refijnd of Artiste Fees - 2020 cancelled concert 250.00 Bank Interest 3.22 3.08 Total Recol 3.22 263.08 PAYMENTS Insurance Hire of Practice Hall Conductor & Accompanist Serlices Music Stationery & Postsge Miscellaneous 1.83 6.30 Christmas Dinner Room Costs Barbeque Venue Hire12018) Accountancy Fee8 Charitable Gills & Donatlon8 72.00 100.00 Annual Concert Venue Hire & Expenses Visiting Artistes Fee8 Miscellaneous costs Bank Fees 28.41 19.07 Total Pa ments 102.24 126.37 N•t of Recel ments 99.02 127.71 RECONCIUATION Cash at bank 3,149.31 19.12 3.246.50 20.95 Cash in hand Cash Funds at Year End Date: 3110812022