ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY

Registered charity 253877 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as RCS

To promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of music in all its aspects by:a) providing opportunities for members of the Medway and local communities to enjoy choral music through participation and involvementb) the performance of public concerts and recitals and by such other means as the Society through its Committee shall determine

Objects

OBJECTS. THE OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY SHALL BE TO ADVANCE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN, AND APPRECIATION OF, THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MUSIC IN ALL ITS ASPECTS BY ANY MEANS THE TRUSTEES SEE FIT, INCLUDING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC CONCERTS AND RECITALS.

Area of benefit: ROCHESTER

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Medway, South East, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£32k

Latest spending

£36k

Registered

1967

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure deficit of £4,382 for the year, with total income of £31,952 against expenditure of £36,334. However, the trustees confirm that actual free reserves of £25,158 are adequate for current needs, exceeding their stated minimum policy target of £20,000. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to attention that would cause concern about the accounts or accounting records.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/07/2025

Volunteers: 55

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/07/2024

Volunteers: 17
Government income: £9,500 — contracts £450 (1), grants £9,050 (1); 23% of the £41,901 total gross income on the same return

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Arts Council England — “We are supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.” (source page)
National Lottery — “We are supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook

Trustees · trustee networks

SANDRA PAINEchair
JOCELYNE WILSON
Jon Smith
Jonathan Ashton Gardiner
Julie Hopkins
Kevin Wane Elliott
Mary Ruth Burslem
SARAH ANDERSON

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Medway

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/07/2025	£32k	£36k
31/07/2024	£42k	£39k
31/07/2023	£49k	£55k
31/07/2022	£23k	£34k
31/07/2021	£7k	£6k

Common questions

Is ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net expenditure deficit of £4,382 for the year, with total income of £31,952 against expenditure of £36,334. However, the trustees confirm that actual free reserves of £25,158 are adequate for current needs, exceeding their stated minimum policy target of £20,000. The independent examiner confirmed that no material matters came to attention that would cause concern about the accounts or accounting records. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund	23/01/2006	£5k	"With Help From A Lottery Grant Rochester Choral Society Will Organise A Series Of Events To Increase Interest And Involvement In Musical Her"
The National Lottery Community Fund	18/01/2006	£5k	Mozart in Medway

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
THE LIZ AND TERRY BRAMALL FOUNDATION	1	£31k
THE HAMPSTEAD CHURCH MUSIC TRUST	1	£2k
CONGLETON INCLOSURE TRUST	1	£1k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with ROMSEY CHORAL SOCIETY.

ROMSEY CHORAL SOCIETY income £37k
BEDFORD CHORAL SOCIETY income £35k
TEDDINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY income £45k
WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY income £117k
CONGLETON CHORAL SOCIETY income £42k
YORKSHIRE PHILHARMONIC CHOIR LIMITED income £60k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY	£32k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
ROMSEY CHORAL SOCIETY FY2025	£37k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
BEDFORD CHORAL SOCIETY FY2025	£35k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
TEDDINGTON CHORAL SOCIETY FY2025	£45k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
WIMBLEDON CHORAL SOCIETY FY2026	£117k	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt
CONGLETON CHORAL SOCIETY FY2025	£42k	—	0	unclear	—	noted

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.