SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY

Registered charity 257305 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as SOUTHAMPTON AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

The objects of the Society are to educate the public in the dramatic and operatic arts and to further the development of public appreciation in the said arts.This involves performing shows/concerts comprising musical productions, works from Gilbert and Sullivan, and light opera. Shows are staged twice yearly at MAST Mayflower Studios with concerts at various locations around the Southampton area

Objects

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THE DRAMATIC AND OPERATIC ARTS AND TO FURTHER THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND TASTE IN THE SAID ARTS

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED IN PRACTICE (SOUTHAMPTON)

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

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

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

Latest income

£36k

Latest spending

£53k

Registered

1970

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity concluded the financial year with a loss of £16,994, resulting in a decrease in total liquid assets from £22,512 to £5,518. The trustees report that the society faces challenges regarding its reliance on show-based income and audience reliability, though it is striving towards financial resilience.

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

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: Ticket sales (60% of income)

“Ticket sales represented roughly 70% of our total income across the period” — page 1

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor

“Our reliance on show-based income, keeping a healthy member base, and reliability of large audiences, will all be challenges the society needs to navigate in 2025/26.” — page 2

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

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.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Social media policy and procedures

Funders the charity credits

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

Alderwood Consulting — “A big thank you to Alderwood Consulting, The Stage” (source page)
The Stage — “A big thank you to Alderwood Consulting, The Stage” (source page)

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

Trustees · trustee networks

Dr Brigitte Lavoiechair
Cheylea Hopkinson
Christopher Pearce
James Westbrook
Joanne Frances Barnard

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

Operates in: Hampshire · Southampton City

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£36k	£53k
31/03/2024	£37k	£32k
31/03/2023	£23k	£26k
31/03/2022	£25k	£25k
31/03/2021	£2k	£5k

Common questions

Is SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity concluded the financial year with a loss of £16,994, resulting in a decrease in total liquid assets from £22,512 to £5,518. The trustees report that the society faces challenges regarding its reliance on show-based income and audience reliability, though it is striving towards financial resilience. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

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 THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND	1	£1k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY.

ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY income £26k
THE BURY ST EDMUNDS AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY income £72k
HERTFORD DRAMATIC AND OPERATIC SOCIETY income £107k
THE FOLKESTONE - HYTHE OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY income £341k
PORTSMOUTH CHORAL UNION income £48k
SOUTHPORT SPOTLIGHTS MUSICAL THEATRE SOCIETY income £117k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY	£36k	—	unclear	—	noted
ST AUSTELL AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY FY2025	£26k	—	unclear	—	noted
THE BURY ST EDMUNDS AMATEUR OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY FY2024	£72k	—	above	—	no doubt
HERTFORD DRAMATIC AND OPERATIC SOCIETY FY2025	£107k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE FOLKESTONE - HYTHE OPERATIC AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY FY2024	£341k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
PORTSMOUTH CHORAL UNION FY2025	£48k	—	above	—	no doubt

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