2021-08-31-accounts - Friends Of Staffordshire's Young Musicians

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date
From	01	09	2020	To	31 08	2021

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name FRIENDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE’S YOUNG MUSICIANS Other names charity is known by FOSYM

Registered charity number (if any) 1037650

Charity's principal address c/o 375 STONE ROAD

STAFFORD

Staffordshire Postcode ST16 1LD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
Steph Owen	Chair	Trustee from 17.06.2020 Chair from 01.01.2021
Marilyn Calvert	Secretary
Valerie Martin	Treasurer	Trustee from 17.06.2020 Treasurer from 07.10.2020
Maureen Compton		To 07.02.2021
Michael Price		Treasurer until 07.10.2020
CathyLamb
JennyMason
Andrew Worrall	Chair	Until 01.01.2021
John Callister			The Music Partnership

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

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Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
Music education	Paul Hughes	Entrust, Riverway, Stafford

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Association How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Appointed by Trustees and subject to re-election by members on a four Trustee selection methods year cycle (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about:	The charity has adopted a risk register. A declaration of pecuniary interest is noted at every trustee meeting. During the current year the charity has continued the process of revising its policies and procedures,
•policies and procedures	led by the secretary. To support this the Charity has a governance group
adopted for the induction and	comprising the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, which meets as required
training of trustees;	and reports to the Board of Trustees.
•the charity’s organisational structure and any wider	The Trustees operate under a Strategic plan for 2019-22.
network with which the charity works; •relationship with any related	The charity has no paid officers. It is managed by the trustees, reporting annually to members.
parties;	Members pay an annual, five year or lifetime membership subscription. In
•trustees’ consideration of	recognition of exceptional contributions to music education there is a
major risks and the system	category of honorary life members.
and procedures to manage	Young musicians who are FOSYM award or prize winners are invited to
them.	become five-year members at no cost.
	The charity works closely with The Music Partnership (The North West
	Midlands Music Education Hub) and Entrust Music Service Staffordshire.
	Entrust is a joint enterprise between Staffordshire County Council and
	Capita plc.
	The charity is a member of The Music Partnership and an amendment to
	the constitution at the AGM in October 2019 enables the charity to hold
	charitable funds on behalf of other partners.
	Andrew Worrall stepped down as Chair on December 31stand was
	thanked for his guidance, counsel and commitment throughout his tenure.
	All are delighted that he will continue in his role as trustee until the end of
	his term.
	StephOwen was elected ashis successorby the board oftrustees.

The charity has adopted a risk register. A declaration of pecuniary interest is noted at every trustee meeting. During the current year the charity has continued the process of revising its policies and procedures, led by the secretary. To support this the Charity has a governance group comprising the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, which meets as required and reports to the Board of Trustees. The Trustees operate under a Strategic plan for 2019-22. The charity has no paid officers. It is managed by the trustees, reporting annually to members. Members pay an annual, five year or lifetime membership subscription. In recognition of exceptional contributions to music education there is a category of honorary life members. Young musicians who are FOSYM award or prize winners are invited to become five-year members at no cost. The charity works closely with The Music Partnership (The North West Midlands Music Education Hub) and Entrust Music Service Staffordshire. Entrust is a joint enterprise between Staffordshire County Council and Capita plc. The charity is a member of The Music Partnership and an amendment to the constitution at the AGM in October 2019 enables the charity to hold charitable funds on behalf of other partners. Andrew Worrall stepped down as Chair on December 31[st] and was thanked for his guidance, counsel and commitment throughout his tenure. All are delighted that he will continue in his role as trustee until the end of his term. Steph Owen was elected as his successor by the board of trustees.

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The Chair of the charity is currently the independent, non-executive member of the Music Partnership Board (TMP). Mr Worrall is currently the independent chair of TMP The charity has four Patrons: Prof. Yvonne Howard (opera singer), Tasmin Little OBE (violinist), Douglas Boyd (Conductor) and Mrs Margaret E Hassall BEM (Staffordshire musician and teacher). The trustees recognise the value and importance of the charity’s members. Members provide a touchstone for the activities of the charity and hold the trustees and officers to account. Membership has remained largely stable during the year at about 50. Members’ subscriptions provide core funding for the charity. Volunteering to help at music education events and concerts is an important part of the charity’s work and volunteers are drawn from among the members.

All trustees are required to be members. All trustees are required to have a basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service check) and these have been facilitated for FOSYM by Entrust.

During the year Councillor Maureen Compton stood down as a trustee. The trustees are very grateful to Maureen for her contribution to music education in Staffordshire over many years, not only through FOSYM but as a cabinet member for education. She has been invaluable in maintaining the importance of music in education and in guiding the deliberations of the trustees and wise support to the Chair. During a period of significant development for FOSYM as a charity Maureen also served as treasurer. We wish her well for the future.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The objective of the charity is to advance the music education of children and young people resident in Staffordshire. (Note: our definition of young people is those under the age of nineteen.) Involvement in music has been shown to benefit young people in many ways including: • increased motivation • improved self-confidence • a more positive attitude to learning • enhanced aspirations • greater empowerment and responsibility.

We have focussed our activity on widening participation wherever we have seen an opportunity, as well as recognising excellence both in musical talent and commitment to music education.

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The key aspects of charity activity in this year have been:

Supporting Entrust and other members of TMP in sustaining music education during the pandemic. Specifically, the trustees allocated £20,000 of reserves to provide grants to Staffordshire schools in order to enable them to take advantage of the TMP music recovery plan. This initiative has been successful and welcomed by schools and music service staff.
The work with Entrust Music Services Staffordshire in funding grants to enable pupils in need to receive music tuition and ensemble membership. There is a robust but uncomplicated process for awarding and monitoring. The figures for the success of this are detailed in the Financial Review later in this report.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

An enormous amount of work has been undertaken to create and populate a brand new FOSYM website. All aims, policies and processes have been shared, along with celebratory content featuring the young musicians, in line with safeguarding protocols. It is hoped that the scope and accessibility of this website will enable FOSYM to reach out to support an increasing number of families and to raise awareness of our work more widely amongst the general public.
Working closely with the music hub and a fundraiser through ArtReach, a bid was submitted by FOSYM to enable TMP partners to engage in a one-year pilot, using innovative practice to assist both youngsters and professionals in emerging from lockdown. Sadly, the bid was unsuccessful, but the process of compiling the bid could form a basis for future practice.
The award of prizes and grants for talented and committed young musicians. These include the award of Lavey Fund and Trustees awards, and grants to youngsters attending auditions at Conservatoires for post-eighteen education. Because of the Covid pandemic the award of prizes was significantly curtailed but it is the trustees’ intention to resume previous practice as soon as practicable.
The restrictions imposed as a result of Covid19 have rendered the presence of our volunteer team at events impractical. In consultation with the hub, the future roles and organisation of adult volunteers at public music education events continue to be under review. FOSYM will respond to the future needs of the Music Service as these are clarified and arise.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in their grant making activities.
The Trustees’ preferred option is to support individual young musicians to take advantage of educational opportunities rather than to provide grants to other organisations or service providers though please note the covid recovery initiative mentioned above.

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on the work of FOSYM during the year. Trustee meetings have largely taken place remotely and a large number of activities which would have been supported by FOSYM have been cancelled. The Young Singer and Young Musician event was largely a virtual event with a restricted audience but the remarkable work of Entrust staff enabled an increased number of youngsters to be involved in early rounds via technology and created a wonderfully inclusive experience for them, which may form the basis for future competitions.

The charity has remained very active, continuing its programme of developing its ways of working, making more grants than ever before, and being responsive to the changing environment in which it has had to work.

Governance.

Outside the normal run of trustee meetings the governance groups and awards groups have met face to face in covid-safe environments to conduct business and, under the leadership of the new chair, Steph Owen, to consider the developmental needs of the charity and its future direction.

Volunteers.

MC has kept in personal contact with volunteers during the pandemic to help to retain interest in FOSYM and to ensure that a viable team remains when music becomes live once more.

The trustees were very sorry to hear of the death during the year of one of our most active and reliable volunteers, Mrs Eileen Cooke

Section D Achievements and performance: see C, above

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the Reserves are retained in an interest-bearing account provided by Stafford charity’s policy on reserves Railway Building Society.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

N/A

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Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Grants made:

5 Individual grants have been made totalling £782.00 Funding to The Pupil Progress Scheme remained at a similar level to last year at £3,761.33 supporting 23 students. Of the reserves dedicated for grants in supporting Staffordshire schools to access the TMP music recovery plan, FOSYM provided the collective sum of £6,616.15. £1,330.00 was awarded to students who participated in the Young Musician/Young Singer events held in this financial year.
Income: In addition to membership subscription which totalled £270.32, the charity has received several significant donations: £500.00 from Mr and Mrs G (Lavey Fund) £250.00 from Ms J Harding (£246.30 after PayPal fees) £200.00 from the Francis and Eric Ford Charity £50.00 from Ms J Gibson £49.50 from Staffordshire County Chorus

The charity is grateful for all donations and membership subscriptions received. Building Society interest was £208.83 The charity is holding £50,000.00 on behalf of The Music Partnership. This has been enabled as a result of the amendment to the charity’s constitution in 2019, enabling FOSYM to hold funds on behalf of partners in joint pursuit of the charity’s Objects. The Treasurer keeps the Trustees appraised of our financial situation at every Trustee meeting as well as providing expenditure projections. The accounts have been independently examined by Deans, Chartered Accountants, to whom we extend our grateful thanks. The approved documents are also made available to members at the AGM. The charity has introduced two new initiatives this year to further encourage donations in an easily accessible way. To this end a PayPal Donation link has been added to the charity’s website and three card readers have been purchased to make donation easier at events, thus attempting to reduce the collection of cash to a minimum.

Other management expenditure has been kept to an absolute minimum.

Banking: Following consultation with the Trustees, a new bank account with the Cooperative Bank has been effected in this financial year and all funds formerly held by the Yorkshire Bank have been transferred. The Yorkshire Bank is now closed. The new bank account provides online access to funds which has streamlined the operation of the charity’s finances.

Section G Declaration

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The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Steph Owen Full name(s) Steph Owen Chair Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 3 October 2021

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FRIENOS OF 5TAFFORDSHIRE'S YOUNG MUSICIANS Independent examiner's report to thè trustees of Friends of 5taffordshire's Young Musicians I report to the charily trustees on rny examinarion of the accounts ol the Charity lor the year ended 31 Av@ust 2021. Responsibilities and basis of report As Ihe charity's Irusrees, you are responsible lor the preparaiion of rhe accounts in accordance with the requiremenis ol ihe Chariiies Aci 2011 I'the Act'l. I report in respect ol rny examination of your charity's accounls carried our under seciion 145 01 the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by thè Charity Comrni55ion under section 145151 Ibl of the Aci. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I conlirtn that no matters have come to my atiention in connection with the examination giving nie cause ro believe that in any maierial respecr.. accounting record5 were not kepr in respect ol the Charity a5 required by section 130 01 the Acr., or the account5 do not accord with those Fecords," or the accounis do noi comply with the accounting requirements concernints the lorrn and content ol accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulaiion5 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and 131r view, which is not a matrer considered as part ol an independènt examination. I have no concern5 and have come across no other matters In connecrion wirh Ihe examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the account5 to be feached. Susan Whiting Deans Chartered Accouniants Gibson House Hurricane Court Hurricane Close 5tafford ST16 IGZ Date.. Page I

FRIENDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE'S YOUNG MUSICIANS ACCOUNTS Irorn I Septembor 2020 t& 31 Au8USt 2021 Registered Charity Number 1037650 Receipts and Payments At¢ount 2021 2020 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Income Membership subscriptions Dortations Sundry concertlevent income Young musicièn/sin8er cornpeiitions Building Society Interest Sundfy income (Lichfield ènd Rugeley Friendsl Partnership fund5 income 270.32 270.32 l.L32.82 io (K) 298.00 L,940.81 413.35 105.74 182.34 8. 155.08 l. l32 82 10.00 208.83 208.83 50,000.00 50,000.00 Total incorne 1,621.97 50.000.00 51.621.97 11.095.32 E¥penditUTe Awards youn8 mu5ici3n5/young singer Fees younLr mu51cianlyoung singer Young musicianlyoung Singer competllion e¥penses Trophies Administraiive cost5 Grants Lo individua15 and groups Pupil progress orant Covid-19 Support Total expenditure I.340.25 600.00 1.340.25 600.00 150.00 123.80 180.00 180.00 912.75 971.00 3,761.33 6,616.15 14.381.48 648.47 3,580.00 3,8L4.00 97l.DO 3.761 33 6,616.15 14.381.48 8.316.27 Toial lempendtture le55 ¢ncomel/ income less eMpend4ture I 12,759.51 so,000.oo 37.240.49 2,779.05

FRIENDS OF STAFFORDSHIRE'S YOUNG MUSICIANS ACCOUNTS fTOrn I SeptÈrnber 2020 to 31 August 2021 Registered Charity Number 1037650 31 August 2021 31 August 2020 Fulld5 UnTe5tricted Balance b/fwd Income Expenditure 80.183.90 1.62L.97 114,381.481 77.404.85 11.095.32 18,316.271 alance clfwd 67.424.39 80. I83.90 Restricted Balance blfwd Income 50.000.000 Expenditure Balance clfwd 50,000.000 Toial 117.424.39 80.183.90 Cash at Bank siafford R3i1way Building Society Yorkshire 8ank Co-Oper3tive Bank 112.811.92 7G.583.09 3.GOO.81 4,612.47 117.424.39 80,183.90 A £50.000 grant Wa5 providerj by Entrust to aSS151 with the recovery of rnu5ic education in Siaffordshire P05L the closure ol schools due 10 covid. Valerie Martin, Treasurer Date= IOZE