The National Childrens Choir Of G B - Charities report - 22.2

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04293391 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1093292

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023

FOR

THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHOIR OF

GREAT BRITAIN

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

3

Independent Examiner's Report

4

Statement of Financial Activities

5

Balance Sheet

6

to

7

Notes to the Financial Statements

8

to

13

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. 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 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The company is a charitable company and exists to advance the musical education of children and young

persons in the United Kingdom through promotion of, and liaison with, regional choirs and provisions of

facilities and equipment for members of such choirs.

It also exists to advance the study and practice of Choral Music in order to foster public knowledge and

appreciation of such music by means of public performance.

The founder's vision was that talented young singers from throughout the United Kingdom would have the

opportunity to work together and enjoy making music under the guidance of inspired teachers.

Significant activities

This year we moved our residential courses to Bromsgrove School after many years at Shrewsbury School. This has proved to be a very positive move, with a smaller and therefore more manageable site, with excellent music facilities, and in a more accessible location. Our two courses culminated in a public concert to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, in front of an audience of 648 at Birmingham Town Hall. This was our first large public concert following the pandemic and our choirs performed beautifully.

We started work to develop our YouthVoice group. Our scholar led a feedback session with other choristers and came to the next Board meeting to report on what he found. Feedback was constructive and largely very positive, with some good suggestions for things to focus on in the coming year. It will now be a requirement that our scholar attends at least one board meeting a year to learn more about how the choir works and ensure that the children's voices are integrated into discussion.

We launched a new website, which better reflects our more modern organisation, and rebranded with a new logo.

We have started working on an exciting partnership with Soundabout, who run inclusive choirs across the country. We have a shared vision that music should be accessible to all and transcend barriers. As part of this, we hosted a group from Soundabout, who came to our Easter course to participate with our Blue Choir in a workshop led jointly by NCCGB and Soundabout. It was a wonderful and inspirational morning, which we intend to make an annual fixture. We feel this partnership offers an invaluable opportunity for our choirs to learn from one another and will be looking in future for further opportunities to work together to improve inclusion.

In November we won the PMLL (Printed Music Licensing Ltd) Choir of the Year Award. The prize included the opportunity for 20 of our Senior Choir to perform at the Music Publishers Association Christmas lunch at the London Hilton on 16th December.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The trustees recognise that the charity needs to maintain sufficient reserves to support the successful continuance of its activities. The trustees are seeking to increase the charity's income from donations and fundraising. This is in order to develop both the bursary scheme and the schools' workshop programme, both of which aim to help children to access choral training that they may not otherwise be able to benefit from.

The net inflow of funds for the year amounted to £8,374 (2022: outflow £8,115) and the fund balance at the end of the year stands at £208,172 (2022: £199,798).

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 25th September 2001 and registered as a charity on the 6th August 2002. It constitutes a limited company, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Under those Articles, the members of the board are elected to serve for a period of 3 years, subject to ratification at each AGM.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are sought and appointed from amongst those who have a particular interest,in advancing the musical education of the young and who bring appropriate attributes and experience to the Board of Trustees.

Organisational structure

The charity is administered by the Board of Trustees. The day to day operations of the charity are delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, Nicole O'Donnell.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. During the year the trustees have had due regard to guidance published by the Charities Commission on public benefit.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

04293391 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1093292

Registered office

Court House

Court Road

Bridgend

CF31 1BE

Trustees

Ms K C McCallum (resigned 8.3.23)

Ms E Bonnon (deceased 12.11.23)

Ms C J C McNeill (resigned 4.1.23)

Ms A C Carter

Ms J F Kemp (resigned 6.9.23)

Ms M A Weatherley MBE

Ms G Murphy (appointed 27.9.22)

H D N Smith (appointed 27.9.22)

Ms E Clery (appointed 24.5.23)

Miss M R McCallum (appointed 24.5.23)

T J Squires (appointed 6.9.23)

Company Secretary

Ms N L O'Donnell

Independent Examiner

Graham Paul Limited

Court House

Court Road

Bridgend

CF31 1BE

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 29 January 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Ms G Murphy - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The National Children's Choir of Great Britain ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 August 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the **ERROR - relevant professional body must be completed**, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4.

the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

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.

J E Payne ACA

Graham Paul Limited

Court House

Court Road

Bridgend

CF31 1BE

29 January 2024

2023

2022

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

3,690

370

Other trading activities

2

274,683

235,885

Investment income

3

2,492

158

Total

280,865

236,413

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

4

271,931

244,435

Other

60

93

Total

271,991

244,528

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

8,874

(8,115

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

199,798

207,913

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

208,672

199,798

2023

2022

Unrestricted

Total

fund

funds

Notes

£

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

10

1,375

-

Cash at bank

290,345

203,485

291,720

203,485

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

11

(83,048

)

(3,687

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

208,672

199,798

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

208,672

199,798

NET ASSETS

208,672

199,798

FUNDS

12

Unrestricted funds

208,672

199,798

TOTAL FUNDS

208,672

199,798

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 August 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 29 January 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

G Murphy - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, 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 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).

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 recognised 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 related to the 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.

Support costs

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include governance costs consisting of management wages, accountancy, legal and professional fees. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity.

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 within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of less than one year.

Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Debtors and creditors receivable/payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

2023

2022

£

£

Course Fees

271,296

233,512

Auditions

2,806

1,995

Sundry sales

581

378

274,683

235,885

3.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2023

2022

£

£

Deposit account interest

2,492

158

4.	RAISING FUNDS

Raising donations and legacies

2023

2022

£

£

Support costs

49,382

-

5.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

Management

costs

Totals

£

£

£

Raising donations and legacies

44,876

4,506

49,382

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

2023

2022

Raising

donations

and

Total

legacies

activities

£

£

Wages

43,792

43,602

Pensions

1,084

908

Accountancy fees

2,891

2,679

Legal and professional fees

1,615

1,742

49,382

48,931

6.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2023

2022

£

£

Independent Examination Fee

1,638

1,500

Independent Examiner other services

1,193

1,188

7.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.

8.	STAFF COSTS

2023

2022

£

£

Wages and salaries

103,025

94,224

Social security costs

4,531

-

Other pension costs

1,084

908

108,640

95,132

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2023

2022

Administration

1

1

Charitable activities

9

7

10

8

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

Key management personnel includes the Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits (including salary, employers national insurance, pension and benefits in kind) of the key management personnel of the charity were £44,874 (2022: £44,510).

9.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

fund

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

370

Other trading activities

235,885

Investment income

158

Total

236,413

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

244,435

Other

93

Total

244,528

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(8,115

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

207,913

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

199,798

10.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2023

2022

£

£

Prepayments and accrued income

1,375

-

11.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2023

2022

£

£

Other creditors

83,048

3,687

12.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1.9.22

in funds

31.8.23

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

199,798

8,874

208,672

TOTAL FUNDS

199,798

8,874

208,672

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

280,865

(271,991

)

8,874

TOTAL FUNDS

280,865

(271,991

)

8,874

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1.9.21

in funds

31.8.22

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

207,913

(8,115

)

199,798

TOTAL FUNDS

207,913

(8,115

)

199,798

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

236,413

(244,528

)

(8,115

)

TOTAL FUNDS

236,413

(244,528

)

(8,115

)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1.9.21

in funds

31.8.23

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

207,913

759

208,672

TOTAL FUNDS

207,913

759

208,672

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

517,278

(516,519

)

759

TOTAL FUNDS

517,278

(516,519

)

759

13.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 August 2023.