The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 28 September 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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 published in October 2019".
The charity's objects are to advance the education of the public in the dramatic arts and increase public knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith.
The principal activity of the company is to facilitate the performance of the York Cycle of Mystery Plays in York Minster on an occasional basis, being an important part of the City’s medieval heritage, maintained in the public eye and regularly performed in a variety of settings.
The company was formed to facilitate the first Minster production to mark Millennium Year 2000 and was able to achieve a substantial financial surplus enabling it to invest in providing seedcorn funding for further productions. Investments are to provide funding for further productions of the Plays at future dates to be determined with the Chapter of York Minster.
The directors confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers of duties under the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The charity received income of £1,292 and spent £3,136 which resulted in a deficit of £1,844. The profit on the sale of the investment was £4,021 which left a net movement in funds of £2,177.
The directors have established a policy that surplus funds are held in suitable investments to provide funding assistance for the next production of the plays in York Minster.
The current free reserves are £87,142 (2023: £84,965).
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Currently, a future date for the next Mystery Plays production has not been agreed. The charity will continue to benefit from its capital income and growth to fund a future Mystery Play following the 10 year cycle, and to support the Mystery Plays Archive.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 11 March 1998, as amended by special resolution 19 May 2001, and registered charity. The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The Company may appoint directors by an ordinary resolution. The directors can also appoint directors as additional directors or to fill a casual vacancy subject to re-election at the next annual general meeting. The directors are not liable to retire by rotation.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of York Minster Mystery Plays for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of York Minster Mystery Plays (the charity) for the year ended 28 September 2024.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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 that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements 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
the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
York Minster Mystery Plays is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Club Chambers, Museum Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7DN.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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 published in October 2019".The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of investments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial assets are measured at transaction price including transaction costs. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities are recognised at transaction price. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price.
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
Companies house filing fee
Bank charges
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during either year.
There were
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Other creditors is amounts due to a director.
During the year there were no transactions with related parties (2023: a director paid £13 of governance costs on behalf of the charity and £1,596 was reimbursed). At the year end £16 was due to a director (2023: £16).