OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2021-03-31-accounts

The Amber Trust Music for Blind Children

Music is not just a pastime, it’s a lifeline

----- Start of picture text -----
REPORT
AND
ACCOUNTS
for the year ended
31 March 2021
----- End of picture text -----

Registered Company Number 03117803

Contents

Contents
A Word from the Chair 1
About Amber 2-3
Benefciaries’ Stories 4-5
Amber's Music Services 6-7
Launches and New Collaborations 8
Fundraising, Events and Other News 9-11
Objectives and Achievements 12
Plans for the Future 13
Thank You 14
Summary of Financial Activities 15
Structure, Governance and Management 16-17
Financial Statements 18
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 18
Independent Examiner's Report 19
Statement of Financial Activities 20
Balance Sheet 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 23
Legal and Administrative Information 29

A Word from the Chair

The year began with The Amber Trust facing the unprecedented challenge of maintaining as many of our activities as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. Immediate steps were taken to review all Amber’s activities and, with the enthusiastic support of beneficiaries and their families, music teachers and practitioners, more than 50% of our charitable activities continued throughout the year either online, in gardens, or in person at home and in schools, as circumstances allowed. For many children, taking part in regular musical activities at a time when their lives were otherwise so restricted, was a particular joy, and the many messages, photos and videos we received were testament to the immense value of these musical opportunities.

Amber celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2020. While many events were adapted, postponed or cancelled, we were proud to hold our Annual Concert. It was different from previous years, but special in its own way, being recorded in a Covid-secure studio in London, watched by 200 people during the live-streaming and subsequently by others on more than 2,700 occasions. A high point was Ethan Loch playing his 25th Anniversary Amber Trust Waltz, commissioned by Amber and beautifully performed from his home in Scotland.

Despite the difficulties, Amber made considerable gains during the year. We now reach more families with a wider geographical spread and have introduced weekend family sessions, which encourage ‘Little Amber’ and ‘AmberPlus’ families to share their experiences with other families. We have formed new partnerships with other charities and, in future, will combine the benefits of in-person music-making with remote involvement for concerts and specialist training.

Amber has continued to develop its services. In partnership with the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) Trust, we launched Amber Sound Touch in June 2020 with a webinar given by Adam Ockelford, enabling this valuable teaching resource to become widely known amongst music teachers. Later in the year, again with the ISM Trust, we were delighted to launch ‘With Music in Mind’, our new service for families with children who have neurodegenerative disease as well as visual impairment.

Amber’s income for the year continued to grow, reaching almost £400,000. We were overwhelmed by individuals’ generosity throughout the year. But this record income was in large the result of a generous legacy from the Estate of the Late Margaret Sinclair Henderson Smyth, a legacy grant from the Carmen Butler-Charteris Charitable Trust, and major ongoing grants from The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, MariaMarina Foundation and The Linbury Trust. We are most grateful to them all whilst recognising the tremendous challenge Amber, like all other charities, faces in maintaining our income in the coming year.

We were sad to say goodbye to Anni Martin who, over four years, played a pivotal role in the development of Amber’s Music Services and as our first CEO. Our special thanks to Michael Finniston, who stepped down after 13 years as a Trustee, during which time he contributed a great deal to ensuring Amber’s financial growth and security. We are tremendously grateful to him and delighted that he will remain involved as an Ambassador to the Trust.

On behalf of all the trustees, my thanks go to everyone who has risen to the challenge of ensuring Amber’s continuing success during this extraordinary year.

J ulia Walport, Chair of Trustees

1

About Amber

The Amber Trust was founded in 1995 with the aim of providing blind and partially sighted children, including those with additional disabilities, the best possible chance to meet their musical needs and aspirations. Today, we seek to enhance the lives of as many of the 25,000 visually impaired children and young people in the UK as possible through music, and to promote the provision of high quality music for them all.

For some children, learning to play an instrument or to sing can add immeasurably to their lives. With the right encouragement, these children can develop their talents to remarkable ends, breaking down barriers, promoting social inclusion and helping them to fulfil their potential as individuals and musicians.

What we do

The Amber Trust’s core activity is providing Music Awards for individual blind and partially sighted children and young people. The Awards can fund:

discrimination brought about through people’s misunderstandings about disability. Moreover, since many blind children in the UK live in relative poverty, they can suffer a double disadvantage, because their families cannot afford to give them the musical experiences that can make such a difference to their lives.

To reach more blind and partially sighted children and young people, we recently introduced Amber’s direct music services: ‘Little Amber’ for families with a visually impaired child aged 0–5, ‘AmberPlus’ for those with complex needs aged 5–18 and, most recently, ‘With Music in Mind’, for those with neurodegenerative conditions. Each scheme has two elements. The first is freely available resources that can be viewed online or downloaded, and are open to all families and professionals in the UK and beyond. The second is the Little Amber, AmberPlus and With Music in Mind Music Awards Schemes, through which families receive musical resources and visits from specially trained music practitioners. Over the year, 160 children have been supported through these services.

Alongside these programmes, we are pleased to be working in partnership with other charities, and we continue to develop relationships with special schools for visually impaired children with complex needs, by providing music workshops.

The Amber Trust receives no statutory funding; we rely entirely on fundraising and the generosity of our donors. At a time when many public services are declining or have disappeared altogether, The Amber Trust has never been needed more.

Amber knows that children with sight loss, including those with additional disabilities, are less likely than their sighted peers to receive music tuition. This often results from

In 2020/2021 we supported 594 blind and partially sighted children across the UK

2

3

Beneficiaries’ Stories

Lilly’s Story

Lilly is an exceptionally talented pianist and violinist who began playing the piano at the age of four and violin at the age of nine. Lilly is partially sighted with congenital glaucoma and has been supported by the Amber Trust since she first joined the Primary Royal Academy of Music in 2016. Now 16 years old, she has been attending the Junior RAM since 2017, where her passion and talent for music has thrived. Lilly holds an LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) diploma on the piano and in March 2020 she was awarded a DipABRSM (Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) with Distinction in violin. Her exam performance was described as showing a ‘strong technical command of the instrument … with expression, colour and character very much to the fore.’

Accomplished as both a soloist and an ensemble player, Lilly’s wish is to perform and teach professionally. Her love of music and her drive to reach these goals is evident in each performance she gives and in the numerous and impressive awards she continues to achieve. She won the 2020 Chamber Music Prize at the Junior Royal Academy of Music against 48 other entries, was a finalist in the 2020 Royal Academy of Music’s Piano Prize and won the 2020 Young Pianist of the Year Award at the Richmond Performing Arts Festival. She is also the proud recipient of a Julia and Hans Rausing Scholarship, one of four highly talented musicians supported by Amber who currently receive this award.

Lilly shares her talents at many of The Amber Trust’s concerts and events throughout the year. Her dedication to music is captured in the words of her violin teacher: ‘She is an outstanding student with a will to play, learn and enjoy to the highest standard.' It is a joy to support a musician such as Lilly, watching her grow and go from strength to strength each year.

Josie’s story

Josie, now eight years old, has a cerebral vision impairment as a result of a stroke at birth. Having been drawn to music from an early age, Josie began piano lessons at the age of six, when she received her first Amber Award. Her love of the instrument and her musicality were immediately apparent. Her teacher has described her as having a natural flair and passion for music, performance, and composition. Most recently, in 2020, Josie proudly received her ABRSM Pre-Prep certificate in piano, passing with flying colours. Despite the exam having to be rescheduled three times because of Covid-19, Josie persevered, continuing her lessons online and practising towards her goal. Josie’s love of playing and creativity shone through, with her examiner commenting, ‘You look happy and enthused at the piano, Josie, which shows that you enjoy playing, easily what matters the most. The tunes were lively, and you used them to tell a musical story, weaving all three together really well here … A fine start, Josie.'

As well as Josie’s eagerness to learn, her desire to use music to connect with others, particularly her family and friends, is inspiring. Her parents say ‘what we are most thrilled about is the way that playing the piano has helped her to bond with classmates. She started a new school this year where she knew no one. She quickly made a friend at school and when the new friend came for a playdate (the first time Josie has invited a classmate home), they spent time playing piano to each other.’

The Amber Trust is delighted to be able to support Josie’s music education. We are not only proud of her accomplishments over this past year, but are inspired by her infectious enthusiasm for music and her willingness to share this with others.

Abdallah’s story

The Amber Trust has been supporting Abdallah’s piano lessons since the age of 12. However, for Abdallah, blind as a result of retinopathy of prematurity, music has been important since infancy and he has been playing the piano since the age of six, having learnt entirely by ear. His mother says now he ‘can't live without it, he absolutely needs to play his piano multiple times in a day, even if it is for five minutes in each sitting.’ Abdallah, now 15, is a multi-instrumentalist and also enjoys playing the drums, and, over the past year, has been teaching himself the saxophone. Most recently, in 2020, as well as piano lessons, Amber began supporting Abdallah’s braille music lessons. Kate, Abdallah’s braille music teacher, explains:

'As a GCSE music student, Abdallah has the same need to read and write music as any of his sighted peers. Abdallah’s understanding of music is profound and innate. His passion is evident. Music pours from him the moment he is near a piano. But he needs that GCSE and deserves the A-level and the UCAS points a Grade 6 … piano exam would afford him. He has talent in abundance. But talent needs and deserves training, rigour, and the tools to bring it to its ultimate fruition. It’s not easy to have so much skill and be asked to go back to square one! Some would ask why you need to do it at all. My answer as a professional blind musician for whom braille scores are a daily part of my life is that anyone as willing to learn as Abdallah is, deserves to be challenged. '

Abdallah and Kate have taken on the extra challenge of working together online over this past year. However, as Kate has described, they have proceeded ‘patiently and determinedly’. We are thrilled to be able to support this next and important step in Abdallah’s music education, enabling him to continue reaching his potential, honing his talent, and pursuing what he loves.

4

5

Amber’s Music Services

Amber’s direct music services are key to bringing music to visually impaired children and their families throughout the UK. These services include ‘Little Amber’, supporting families of blind and partially sighted children in the early years, including those with additional disabilities; ‘AmberPlus’, supporting families of blind and partially sighted children with complex needs, aged 5–19; ‘Music Makers’, supporting schools through workshops for children with a visual impairment who may have additional needs; and our most recent initiative, ‘With Music in Mind’, which supports families of blind and partially sighted children up to the age of 18 with a neurodegenerative disease.

We have also had great success organising live-streamed online monthly group sessions with the Cambridge sight loss charity CamSight, the UK wide deafblind charity Sense and the sight loss charity Vision Norfolk for Little Amber and AmberPlus families.

While Music Makers sessions were temporarily put on hold because of the pandemic, six schools were able to get their workshops started either online or in person by the end of the year. The wonderful work being done online also inspired us to hold monthly weekend online group sessions for all families on the Little Amber and Amber Plus schemes, connecting our children, families, and practitioners, in a new way.

This year, 343 families and their children have been reached through our direct music services, a testament to the dedication of our practitioners who worked hard to engage with them online when they could not see them in person.

Little Amber: George's Story

Four-year-old George has been with Little Amber since he was 18 months old. Born totally blind, with a condition known as bilateral anophthalmia (that is, having no eyes), sound has always been important to him. Amber practitioner, Sarah, works with the family each term, empowering them to embed music into George’s daily life, and he has started to develop into a brilliant young musician.

Mum, Laura, has been watching George’s progress with delight, saying: ‘More recently, we’ve noticed as he continues to develop, he’s now about to join in more

than just listen, and I absolutely love watching him and Sarah have a fully improvised mini-jam session, with made-up songs, playing instruments together!’

Sarah is thrilled to be working with George and his family, she told us: ‘George, and his mum Laura, are delightful to work with. Music is so central in their house, and George sings, plays and taps wherever he goes. His musical ability constantly surprises and delights me and makes me reflect constantly on what it is to be 'musical' and the concepts we teach. George has a natural gift for remembering music - like photographic memory, but in sound. I'm so excited to see what the future holds for George and feel very lucky to be on part of this journey with him.’

We love to hear that the children we support give as much joy as they receive from our Little Amber sessions. Thank you, George, Laura and, of course, Sarah, for making these lovely sessions have such an impact.

AmberPlus: Codi’s Story

‘Music saved Codi’s life’, says mum, Samantha, as she tells a story of Codi’s heart rate being brought down from dangerously high levels by listening to his favourite Ed Sheeran song. Music has had a significant impact on Codi; he is eleven years old and severely sight impaired, and has complex health needs, severe learning difficulties and autism. Despite this, he has exceptional musical abilities, which Dan, Codi’s AmberPlus practitioner, discovered on his first visit to the family’s home.

'I had spoken to his mother, who had said he absolutely loved music and had the ability to pick out melodies, but I don't think anything could have quite prepared me for this extraordinary young man!

I walked into their house and was suddenly hit with melody after melody played immaculately on the keyboard. It turns out Codi spent much of his time listening to his ECHO music player and picking out all the melodies he liked. He even had the ability to play them all in different keys! His enthusiasm was instantly infectious, as was his unbeatably wicked laugh!'

Through the AmberPlus scheme, Dan has worked with the family, visiting once a term, to help develop Codi’s musical abilities and wider communication. Together they have shed a light on Codi’s potential. He is now about to start one-to-one piano lessons, funded by an Amber Music Award. Dan is thrilled that Codi is going to get more musical support in the next stage of his musical journey, telling us, ‘I'm not sure I've ever met any person who lives for music quite as much as Codi. He truly is amazing.’

6

7

Launches and New Collaborations

Amber Sound Touch

Amber Sound Touch was launched in June 2020 in partnership with the Incorporated Society of Musicians Trust. Amber Sound Touch is a freely available comprehensive set of online training materials for teaching music to blind children, aimed at teachers, other professionals and parents. This innovative resource includes sections on working with children in the early years on instrumental and vocal tuition with visually impaired children with complex needs and with those who have neurodegenerative disease. Each section includes detailed written strategies, setting out the principles of teaching pupils with little or no sight, and inspiring videos that illustrate good practice in lessons and sessions with some of our beneficiaries.

This vital new resource tackles one of the main barriers that blind and partially sighted children face in pursuit of their musical aspirations: the lack of skills, knowledge, and confidence among teachers.

With Music in Mind

With Music in Mind is a pioneering new music service for children with a visual impairment associated with neurodegenerative disease and their families. The service was launched in November 2020, with a webinar by Professor Adam Ockelford, and in partnership with the ISM Trust, with over 150 attendees from across the globe. The service began in January 2021 and is currently supporting 14 children and families in England.

This service is the result of a three-year research project carried out by the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton in collaboration with The Amber Trust and supported by the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund.

With Music in Mind aims to transform the provision of music for visually impaired children and young people with neurodegenerative disease. One-to-one musical support is provided, initially in the form of weekly music lessons from a suitable teacher, if the child can benefit from them. At the point when traditional music lessons are no longer appropriate, the child is allocated a specially trained music practitioner. Practitioners work with the whole family devising and modelling activities with a view to supporting communication and language, memory, mobility, socialising and choice-making, and more generally promoting a sense of wellbeing as these faculties diminish.

We are incredibly grateful to The GC Gibson Charitable Trust for funding the development of this new and vital music service, and to The Linbury Trust for the generous grant which is enabling us to continue into the future.

Fundraising, Events and Other News

In what was Amber's 25th anniversary year, most planned events were postponed or cancelled as a result of the pandemic. We were tremendously grateful to the many beneficiaries and their families, teachers and music practitioners who shared pictures and videos from their online musical activities on Amber’s social media

platforms to help raise funds, and to all the volunteers and supporters who organised or took part in events in the community, in spite of the difficult circumstances. In this challenging year, we were overwhelmed to receive so much support.

25th Anniversary Year Concert

The Amber Trust’s 25th Anniversary Concert was live-streamed in September after it had been postponed in May because of the pandemic. The concert was a great success, raising over £5,000. It was viewed by nearly 200 people during the live streaming, with the recording on YouTube, being viewed 2,700 times in one week. With this new online format, audiences were able to see the musical talents of our beneficiaries up close, and performers in

turn were able to connect with viewers as they shared personal stories about their experience of music.

The eight performers were all pre-recorded in a Covid-secure environment. We are so grateful to John Paul Ekins for allowing us to record the performances in his studio, for accompanying some of the performances and for editing the film. We would like to thank all the young musicians and their families for their extraordinary commitment, working so hard to get to the studio for filming, observing social distancing, enabling us to record their performances under Covidsecure arrangements and, of course, for performing their pieces so brilliantly.

The highlight of the concert was Ethan Loch playing the beautiful piece we commissioned from him as part of our birthday celebrations: The Amber Trust 25th Anniversary Waltz. Lilly, featured in our beneficiaries' stories above, showed her

versatility, giving wonderful performances of Béla Bartók’s Six Romanian Folk Dances on the violin and Franz Liszt’s arrangement of Robert Schumann’s Widmung , in which she accompanied herself singing. Each year we also take the opportunity to introduce a new young beneficiary in the concert, and this year we were delighted to welcome Gracie to perform.

8

9

2.6 Challenge

On Sunday, 26 April 2020, when thousands of runners and spectators should have been arriving for the 40th London Marathon, people of all ages were running, cycling, hopping, skipping, cooking, cartwheeling, playing and singing, dressing up and having fun as part of the UK-wide ‘2.6 Challenge’. Amber decided to join in the activities with our own national 2.6 Challenge: play two melodies, pay £2.60 or more, nominate six people to do the same.

We were overwhelmed by the response – beneficiaries, friends, teachers, colleagues and supporters of all ages and abilities joined in the fun, and we raised an astonishing £6,000! We were so touched by the stories we received about how Amber’s 2.6 Challenge brought relief to many of us during the difficult lockdown months. It was a wonderful event that brought everyone together, supporting each other as well as Amber, and having fun! Thank you to all who took part.

Rainbow of Hope Virtual Concert

Another fantastic event that resulted from the first Covid lockdown was organised by long-standing supporter and fundraiser Poppy McGhee, who organised an impressive Rainbow of Hope Virtual Concert. Poppy arranged and introduced all the brilliant performers, including some of Amber’s beneficiaries, all of whom recorded their performances at home. The result was a wonderful online concert that had over 200 people tuning in to watch the live streaming. The concert raised over £2,000 – huge thanks to Poppy, and also to Minou Mai in Germany, who edited and streamed the film.

Christmas Carols

In December, some of our beneficiaries recorded their own versions of their favourite Christmas Carols for our Countdown to Christmas social media campaign, with many accompanied virtually on the piano by our incredible patron, Derek Paravicini. We were heartened to see the children we support sharing their love of music and good wishes with others.

The Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band also supported us by playing carols in the streets and care home gardens in Putney and Wimbledon, raising money for Amber while bringing music to the community.

Other news

Staff changes

As Amber has grown and supported more beneficiaries, the need for staff has become ever more critical, with our team expanding over this past year. Following Anni Martin’s departure as CEO we welcomed Dr Angela Voyajolu as Music Operations Manager and With Music in Mind Coordinator in November, and Ying Lin joined the team in January as Finance Officer. Dr Hannah Marsden’s role as Music Services Manager has been made permanent, ensuring the smooth delivery of the Little Amber and AmberPlus services. Elissa Turay, our Music Awards Administrator, continues to manage Amber’s grants to individual children for music lessons and instruments and provides essential day to day financial administration.

Covid-19

Overall, while this has been a difficult year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Amber’s staff, teachers and practitioners have been integral in allowing us to continue to reach a large number of children, young people and families. Some unexpected benefits have arisen, such as linking pupils with a braille music teacher who lives geographically remote from them. Similar links have also been made for some of our Little Amber and AmberPlus practitioners and children, allowing sessions to begin which might otherwise have been delayed.

We have also learned new ways of working, which will continue beyond the Covid era. As we return to in-person training days for music practitioners, we will include the option to attend online for those living further afield, and record the training sessions so that they will be available for new practitioners. Informal online practitioner meetings will also be offered during the year, providing a welcome connection for our practitioners to share skills and discuss their work. Monthly group online Little Amber and AmberPlus sessions will continue, further empowering parents to integrate music into their children’s daily lives and allowing them to connect with other families.

10

11

Objectives and Achievements for the Year

Plans for the Future

12

13

Thank You

Volunteers contribute to Amber’s activities in many ways and their resourceful support during this challenging year has been especially valuable. We are particularly grateful once more to Alison Ashworth for preparing the year-end financial accounts and for her advice throughout the year; to Mary Thompson, who generously painted two lovely pictures for us to create The Amber Trust’s 2020 Christmas Cards, and to Gina and Alan Miller for providing the design and production of our Annual Report and other literature. We are particularly indebted to Sweta Narsale for her huge contribution in generously managing Amber's social media pages. Our thanks also for the support of and resources from Barnett Waddingham LLP as part of their CSR programme.

Many others donated or raised money for Amber organising virtual and live music and other events and taking part in sporting activities including: Angie and Poppy McGhee, Angie Watts Botto, Anthony and Katherine Pinching, Brid Mhic Dhiarmada, Cecily Morrison, Alison and David Loch, Helen Wright, Hon Mrs John Hogg, John Paul Ekins, Luviannar Zheng, Mary and Jane Phillips, Maggie and Peter Chambers, Maurice and Aya Pitcher, Michela Cocolin, Minou Mai, Roger and Jane Burdock, Simon and Elizabeth Bailey, Soni and David Bomford; Ardvreck School, Crieff; The Auchterader and District Rotary Club Youth Concert; Bristol Rovers Community Trust; Coventry County Court Christmas Quiz; In the Spirit of the Law; Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band.

Our special thanks for the generous legacy:

From the Estate of the Late Margaret Sinclair Henderson Smyth.

Grants from Trusts and Foundations are vital in enabling Amber to reach as many visually impaired children as possible. For their invaluable support this year, we thank:

We also thank those who have given generously but prefer no public acknowledgement

Summar of Financial Activities y

Charitable Activities

During the year to 31 March 2021 the charity raised £394,507, of which £187,174 was restricted to particular projects. Investment income was £5,370. £260,598 was spent on charitable activities and raising funds (with £190,601 pledged but not yet paid at the year end) and £6,075 on governance. Expenditure on charitable activities was approximately £60,000 lower than budgeted pre-pandemic, despite measures taken to maintain as many activities as possible. Discretion has been given to extend the time for which Music Awards can be used. Roll-out of the With Music in Mind programme was delayed during the lockdown period, but is now underway. We expect outstanding payments for the Music Makers programme (2020–2021) to be made during the summer term. It is anticipated that charitable expenditure during 2021– 2022 will return to pre Covid-19 levels, and may even exceed it.

Investment performance

The investments held by the charity at 31 March 2021 increased in value by £73,001 compared to the start of the year, reversing the reduction in value arising from uncertainty in financial markets at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the year, the charity sold investments realising a profit on sale of £12,857. The market value of investments at the year end of £293,574 represents an increase in value of £113,019 when compared to the book cost of £180,555. At 31 March 2021 the charity also held cash with the charity’s bankers and stockbrokers of £395,468 with sales proceeds and investment income to be received shortly after the year end of £1,379.

Internal and external factors

In common with many charities, Amber continues to be affected by uncertainties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic. There are no other significant internal or external factors currently affecting the charity.

Investment and Reserves Policy

The charity is reliant on income from friends of Amber Charitable Trusts and its fundraising activities. This income is erratic so it is the policy of the directors to maintain a general reserve sufficient to cover the cost of between 18 months’ and 2 years’ charitable expenditure to ensure the charity can meet its commitments to its beneficiaries even if there is a dramatic fall in the charity’s income. The directors have no plans to build up any permanent endowment. At 31 March 2021 the charity held £95,355 in restricted funds, and £59,651 in designated funds, to be used for specific projects (see note 11 of the Financial Statements). The remaining funds are available for distribution and expenses necessarily incurred in furtherance of the charity’s objectives.

Principal funding sources

The charity’s funds are derived from its fundraising activities and investment income.

14

15

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Instrument

The Amber Trust was established by a Trust Deed dated 9 June 1994 and was incorporated as a private limited company registered with Companies House on 25 October 1995. The Trust’s Memorandum and Articles of Association were amended by special resolution on 5 December 2017 to bring the Trust's governing documents in line with current company and charity law and good practice.

Public Benefit Statement

The directors consider that the charity’s activities, as set out in its Objectives and Achievements for the Year are for the public benefit. The directors confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Related parties

Recruitment and Appointment of New Directors

The power to appoint new directors of the charitable company is vested in the directors, who are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. Under the requirements of the Articles of Association, one third of the directors are required to retire from office each year and are eligible for reappointment. Elizabeth-Renshaw-Ames and Angelica Bomford took up their appointments as directors on 11 May 2020. Adam Ockelford and Simon Vincent will retire this year by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-appointment. Michael Finniston retired as a director on 31 December 2020. In looking for new directors, the directors will bear in mind the experience and qualifications of the existing directors and possible candidates. The successful candidates are appointed by a meeting of the existing directors.

Induction and Training of New Directors

The directors share responsibility for the induction and training of all new directors of the charity. New directors will be provided with copies of:

• The Articles of Association • The latest accounts of the charity • The Trustees Handbook

New directors are asked to read and familiarise themselves with Charity Commission guidance notes CC3 – The Essential Trustee. In addition, directors are encouraged to read Charity Commission and other newsletters and to attend courses designed to keep them abreast of their duties and responsibilities.

Organisational Structure

The directors of the charitable company are the same as its company law members. The directors manage the charity generally and, together with the Chief Executive Officer, ensure that the charity delivers its aims and objectives and take responsibility for the charity’s performance and strategy. Day-to-day activities are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, who reports to the trustees. Annabel Martin resigned as Chief Executive effective 2nd December 2020. In the interim, the Chair, supported by the Music Operations Manager, assumed responsibility for the day-to-day activities. Stephen Hough is Company Secretary and Julia Walport Chair.

Wider Network

The charity is not part of a wider network.

The charity works closely with the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton to fund specific projects. Adam Ockelford, a director of The Amber Trust, is Professor of Music and Director of the Applied Music Research Centre. Professor Ockelford received no personal benefit from the grants. The charity has no subsidiaries.

Risk Management

The directors have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. At each directors' meeting the significant risks of the charity are discussed, including a report on any Safeguarding issues presented by the charity's Designated Safeguarding Lead. Where appropriate, risks are reported on and discussed in subsequent meetings. The directors have reviewed the risks to which the charity is exposed, including the risks associated with the impact of Covid-19 and consider that they have established sufficient systems and procedures to mitigate those risks.

Amber’s President

Amber's President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, continues to be a great support to Amber, and her involvement is invaluable in ensuring that Amber's important work with blind and partially sighted children maintains a high profile. We are grateful to Her Royal Highness for supporting Amber during the Covid 19 epidemic and for generously providing a forward for the 25th Anniversary Concert programme.

Directors

The following directors held office during the year:

Julia Walport (Chair) Adam Ockelford
Fiona Costa Simon Vincent
Michael Finniston (retired 31 December 2020) Will Walker-Arnott
Stephen Hough Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames (appointed 11 May 2020)
Angelica Bomford (appointed 11 May 2020)

The directors who held office at the end of the financial period have no beneficial interest in the Company. All new directors are elected on the collective agreement of its present directors.

16

17

Financial Statements

Independent Examiner

The accountants, Messrs Burgess Hodgson, have indicated their willingness to continue in office and a resolution concerning their appointment will be proposed in due course at the appropriate juncture.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small entities.

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities in Respect of the Accounts

Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing those accounts the directors are required to:

Inde endent Examiner's Re ort p p

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Amber Trust Charitable Company

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021, which comprise the statement of financial activities, statement of financial position and the related notes.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company 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 your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AND SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Lady Julia Walport

Independent examiner's statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

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 accounts to be reached.

Chair

6th October 2021

Mark Laughton FCCA, Independent Examiner

Burgess Hodgson LLP, Chartered Accountants, Camburgh House, 27 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3DN

18

19

The Amber Trust – Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2021 including income and expenditure account

Notes 2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2020
£
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Incoming resources:
Donations 3 189,499 187,174 376,673 291,501
Income from fundraising events 3 17,834 - 17,834 32,653
Investments 5,370 - 5,370 5,250
Total incoming resources 212,703 187,174 399,877 329,404
Resources expended:
Charitable activities 4a) 39,424 172,304 211,728 285,407
Raising funds 4a) 48,870 - 48,870 50,406
Governance costs 4b) 6,075 - 6,075 3,128
Total resources expended 94,369 172,304 266,673 338,941
Net incoming/(outgoing)
resources for the year		 118,334 14,870 133,204 (9,537)
Other recognised gains/(losses)
Gains/(losses) on investment assets 6 67,491 - 67,491 (19,041)
Net movement in funds 185,825 14,870 200,695 (28,578)
Funds brought forward at 1 April 213,640 80,485 294,125 322,703
Funds carried forward at
31 March		 399,465 95,355 494,820 294,125

The Amber Trust – Balance sheet as at 31 March 2021

Notes 2021
£		 2020
£
Current assets:
Debtors 7 1,379 1,051
Investments 293,574 220,573
Cash at bank and in hand 395,468 265,635
690,421 487,259
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 8 (195,601) (193,134)
Net current assets 494,820 294,125
The funds of the charity:
Unrestricted - undesignated funds 11 339,814 212,640
Unrestricted - designated funds 11 59,651 1,000
399,465 213,640
Restricted funds 11 95,355 80,485
Total charity funds 494,820 294,125

All of the company’s activities are classed as continuing and there are no other recognised gains and losses other than the net movement of funds for the financial periods presented.

20

21

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021

The trustees are satisfied that the charity is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 447, and no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

I. ensuring that the charity keeps proper accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act; and

II. preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.

1. Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102 1A for smaller entities and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

2. Accounting policies

a) Income

Donations are recognised as income when received. If paid under covenant or gift aid, the related tax recoverable is recognised when the original donation is received.

Other income is recognised when received.

b) Expenditure

These statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 1A for smaller entities.

These accounts were approved by the board of directors on 6th October 2021.

Signed on behalf of the board

Charitable activities are those activities undertaken to achieve the charity’s objectives. Expenditure on charitable activities is recognised when the Charity’s Music Awards Committee has agreed a grant to a beneficiary or when payment is due.

Expenditure on raising funds comprises costs incurred in generating voluntary income, including fundraising events.

Governance costs are incurred on constitutional and statutory requirements.

Lady Julia Walport Chair

6th October 2021

Support costs have been allocated to charitable activities and fundraising activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

c) Funds

The charity’s funds have been classified as unrestricted and restricted. Unrestricted funds may be used at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the charity’s objectives and aims. Where the trustees have set aside a part of the unrestricted fund to be used for specific projects, this fund is described as ‘designated’. Restricted funds may be used only in accordance with the donor’s wishes.

d) Investment valuation

Investments are valued at their year end market values.

e) Taxation

No provision has been made for either income tax or corporation tax, the company being exempt as a registered charity. The Amber Trust is not registered for Value Added Tax.

22

23

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 continued

3. Incoming resources

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 continued

4. Resources expended

a) Analysis of total resources expended

2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2020
£
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Donations:
From Trusts and Foundations 89,840 187,174 277,014 261,180
From individual donors 12,262 - 12,262 13,048
Legacies 83,297 - 83,297 14,376
Gift Aid recovery 4,100 - 4,100 2,897
189,499 187,174 376,673 291,501
Income from fundraising events:
Major fundraising event 8,845 - 8,845 9,373
Community fundraising 8,989 - 8,989 23,280
17,834 - 17,834 32,653
Investments 5,370 - 5,370 5,250
212,703 187,174 399,877 329,404
2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2021
£		 2020
£
Direct activity Support costs Total Total
Charitable activities:
Expenditure on programmes:
Amber 88,247 11,996 100,243 153,408
Little Amber 8,603 11,235 19,838 36,999
AmberPlus 15,702 9,831 25,533 38,776
Music Makers Programme 18,088 2,366 20,454 10,074
With Music in Mind 12,813 8,452 21,265 -
143,453 43,880 187,333 239,257
Investment fees 2,216 - 2,216 2,150
Development of resources 22,179 - 22,179 44,000
167,848 43,880 211,728 285,407
Cost of raising funds:
Fundraising and events 1,717 47,153 48,870 50,406
Governance - 6,075 6,075 3,128
Total resources expended 169,565 97,108 266,673 338,941
4.b) Analysis of total support costs
2021
£		 2020
£
Charitable
activities		 Cost of
raising funds		 Governance Total Total
Music programmes administration 43,880 - - 43,880 45,583
Ofce costs - 42,899 - 42,899 34,464
Travel and subsistence - - - - 4,563
Website + systems development - 4,254 - 4,254 2,856
Legal fees - - 5,295 5,295 2,353
Independent examiner fees - - 780 780 775
43,880 47,153 6,075 97,108 90,594

24

25

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 continued

c) Wages and Salaries

Total support costs include the following amounts in respect of staff costs:

2021
£		 2020
£
Wages and salaries 56,637 44,227
Social security costs 1,045 1,086
Pension costs 1,655 1,327
59,337 46,640

Average headcount during the year was 2 (2020 2).

5. Directors’ fees and expenses

No remuneration, benefits or expenses were paid to the Directors during the year.

6. Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses

a) Realised gains and losses

2021
£		 2020
£
Proft/(loss) on sale of investments 12,857 6,804

b) Unrealised gains and losses

2021
£		 2020
£
Value of investments at beginning of year 220,573 235,989
Less: value of investments sold (15,513) (7,645)
Add: cost of investments purchased 33,880 18,074
Adjusted value at beginning of year 238,940 246,418
Market value of investments at end of year 293,574 220,573
Unrealised gain/(loss) 54,634 (25,845)

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 continued

8. Creditors – amounts falling due within one year

2021
£		 2020
£
Grants approved but unpaid at end of year 190,601 193,134
Other creditors 5,000 -
195,601 193,134

9. Capital

The company is limited by guarantee and has no share capital. Each member has a liability limited to £1 for payment of the company’s debts if the company is wound up or dissolved.

10. Related party transactions

Adam Ockelford, a director of The Amber Trust, is Professor of Music and Director of the Applied Music Research Centre at the University of Roehampton. The University has undertaken research and development projects for The Amber Trust, payments for which are negotiated and approved by other Trustees of the Trust. Professor Ockelford receives no personal benefit from these payments.

There have been no other related party transactions in the year.

11. Funds

An analysis of the company’s assets at 31 March 2021 by fund is provided in the table below:

Restricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Total
£ Undesignated Designated
Current assets 185,851 444,919 59,651 690,421
Creditors amounts falling due
within one year		 (90,496) (105,105) - (195,601)
Net assets 95,355 339,814 59,651 494,820

7. Debtors

2021
£		 2020
£
Investment income 1,379 1,051

26

27

The Amber Trust – Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 continued

Movements on restricted and unrestricted designated funds are analysed in the table below:

£ At 1 April 2020 Income Expenditure At 31 March 2021
Restricted funds source
MariaMarina Foundation 2,882 50,000 (45,863) 7,019
The GC Gibson Charitable Trust 16,679 - (11,478) 5,201
Sisters of the HolyCross Charitable Trust 2,878 - (1,710) 1,168
The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust 17,378 65,000 (37,143) 45,235
The D'OylyCarte Charitable Trust 547 3,000 (3,547) -
Global's Make Some Noise 7,795 43,674 (31,201) 20,268
Sir William Wells 546 - (546) -
Vision Foundation 6,780 - (6,780) -
Societyof the HolyChild Jesus CIO 25,000 - (19,503) 5,497
St James Place Foundation - 2,500 (2,500) -
The LinburyTrust - 23,000 (12,033) 10,967
80,485 187,174 (172,304) 95,355
Designated funds 1,000 59,000 (349) 59,651

The awards from the MariaMarina Foundation are being used to fund development of the charity’s infrastructure; music awards; and the Little Amber programme.

Funds from The GC Gibson Charitable Trust are being used to provide resources for children with Batten disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The award from the Sisters of the Holy Cross Charitable Trust is being used to fund expenditure on the Little Amber programme. Funds from The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust are being used to fund the Julia and Hans Rausing Scholarships; the Little Amber programme; workshops; and music awards.

The awards from The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust were used to partly fund the Music Makers programme.

The award from Global’s Make Some Noise is being used to fund the AmberPlus programme and partly fund the Music Makers programme. The award from Sir William Wells was used to fund expenditure on the 2020 concert.

The award from Vision Foundation was used to fund the Music Makers programme in London.

The award from the Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO is being used to fund expenditure on the Little Amber programme. The award from St James Place Foundation was used to partly fund the Music Makers programme.

The award from The Linbury Trust is being used to fund the With Music in Mind programme.

Le al and Administrative Information g

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

President

Roderic Hill, Jools Holland OBE, James Lisney, Derek Paravicini, Nic Paravicini DL, Lady Eleanor Shearing, Gavin Tait

Patrons

Julia Walport (Chair), Angela Bomford, Fiona Costa, Michael Finniston, Adam Ockelford, Steven Hough, Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames, Simon Vincent, Will Walker-Arnott

Directors and Trustees

Email

contact@ambertrust.org

Website

www.ambertrust.org

Registered Address 64a Princes Way, London, SW19 6JF

Charity Registration Number 1050503

Company Registration Number 3117803

Company limited by guarantee

Status

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA

Independent Examiner

Burgess Hodgson Chartered Accountants, 27 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3DN

Solicitors

Bates Wells, 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1BE

Investment Advisers

Rathbone Investment Management Ltd, Fiennes House, 32 Southgate Street, Winchester, SO23 9EH

Specific donations amounting to £59,651 have been designated by the trustees to fund the AmberPlus programmes (legacy grant from the Carmen Butler-Charteris Charitable Trust); musical instruments through the Music Awards scheme (legacy grant from the DM Thomas Foundation for Young People); and a concert planned for 2021.

12. Controlling party

The directors are the ultimate controlling party.

Designed and produced by Nick Roberts

29

The Amber Trust Music for Blind Children

The Amber Trust

64a Princes Way, London SW19 6JF Registered Charity No: 1050503 • Company No: 3117803

@theambertrust the-amber-trust theambertrust theambertrust

www.ambertrust.org contact@ambertrust.org facebook.com/theambertrust ;