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 charitable company's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) 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 charitable company's objects are "to advance the education of the public in the study of the art of music with special reference to choral works". To meet this objective the members attend regular rehearsals which culminate with productions to the public. The administration is carried out by a Council of Management.
During the year the charity held an open rehearsal and put on three concerts.
We organised the following:-
September 2025 - An open rehearsal for anyone interested in singing Handel’s Messiah. This was free for non members.
November 2025 – Handel’s Messiah at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church and accompanied by a Baroque Band.
March 2026 – Vivaldi :Gloria and Da Vinci Requiem (Cecilia McDowell) at Chandlers Ford Methodist Church.
July 2025 –Elgar :Sea Pictures and Stanford: Songs of the Fleet at St James Road Methodist Church. This was an afternoon concert followed by tea and cakes provided by choir members.
The Celebration Choir only had one fund raising engagement this year when we led the singing at the Associated British Ports Carol Service. We were again able to support the Southampton Mayor (our Honorary President) by leading the singing at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
At the two concerts we organised we supported the mayors’ charities by means of bucket collections which raised around £850.
This year we invested in a card reader mainly for use at concerts and also in some more choir folders.
The Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Society's aims and objectives and in planning activities. The Society supports and encourages the musical talents of young people. This year we were again able to have a talented young pianist play at our July concert and we have awarded her the Alban Rees-Jones cup in memory of a former accompanist.
The Charitable Company's income totalled £26,148 (2025: £29,391). This includes Gift Aid of £2,583. Many choir members entitled to the concessionary subscription rate paid the full amount which helped finances. We received no grant income or large donations this year.
Reserves are needed to pay for upfront expenditure in booking rehearsal and concert venues, orchestras, for the hire of orchestral music, and to cover on-going concert expenses if ticket sales are insufficient to cover these costs. The charity's reserves policy is normally to maintain a target reserve in the region six months of the average resources expended over the last three years.
It was also agreed this year that better use of the savings account could be made by transferring money between it and the current account more often. Initially a second savings account was planned but as a charity the bank would not allow us to open a second savings account.
The unrestricted reserves at 31st July 2026 were £27,381 (2025: £30,582). The Society is actively encouraging new membership.
The monitoring and reviewing of the policies is the function of the Trustees with information provided by the Society's Executive Committee and the annual financial statements. The Trustees continue to monitor the Society's compliance with GDPR.
The charitable company is a company limited by guarantee and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The amount guaranteed by each member is a maximum of £1.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Other administrative details that form part of the Trustees' Report are set out on the Legal and Administrative page of the Annual Report.
The Directors operate as a Council of Management and act as Trustees of the Charity for the purposes of the Charities Act. The Council may appoint any member of the charitable company as a member of the Council under the terms of the Memorandum.
All Trustees are provided with the Charity Commission guidance booklet “The Essential Trustee: What you need to know (CC3)”, a copy of the constitution, a copy of the annual report and minutes for the previous year.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Southampton Choral Society (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 July 2026, which are set out on pages 4 to 12.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
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 charitable company as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
Adam Buse, FCA
Investment income
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Southampton Choral Society is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 13 Shanklin Cresent, Shirley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 7RB.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company's Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (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 issued in October 2019, UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and applicable charity and company law. The charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 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 charitable company 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.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charitable company has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Fundraising income is stated net of expenses for small events, as these are considered immaterial for disclosure purposes.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis, i.e. when a liability is incurred, and includes irrecoverable VAT.
Costs are allocated according to the nature of the cost. Where items belong in more than one category they have been apportioned appropriately.
Tangible assets costing more than £500 are capitalised.
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, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charitable company 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 charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
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 and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charitable company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
Creditors
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charitable company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.
In the application of the charitable company’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Gift aid
Members' subscriptions
Income from concerts and related activities
Investment income
All investment income for the current and prior year was unrestricted.
Concert expenses
Rehearsal expenses
Administration and sundry costs
Computer, stationery & sundry costs
Independent examination
No expense payments were made to trustees during the year (2025 - £nil).
No remuneration was paid to any trustees during the year (2025 - £nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Mayor's Charity - The Mayor of Southampton is an Honorary President of the Society. The Society supports the Mayor's chosen charities by having a ‘bucket collection’ at the end of each concert.
Chorali Fiscus - A grant provided by Chorali Fiscus towards the cost of the Mozart Requiem in Romsey Abbey.
There were no related party transactions during the year (2025- none).
No remuneration was paid to key management personnel during the year (2025- £nil).