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

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20[TH] APRIL 2021

Reg. Charity No: 1165993

T: 01904 373011

W: www.musicalconnections.org.uk

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS ............................................................................................................. 3 GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................................................... 4 Election of Charity Trustees ............................................................................................................ 4 Additional Governance Information and Organisational Structure .................................................... 4 Risk Management ........................................................................................................................... 5 BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY ................................................................................ 6 Background and Context ................................................................................................................. 6 Objectives ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Main Activities ................................................................................................................................. 6 2020/21 AT A GLANCE ....................................................................................................................... 9 MUSICAL CONNECTIONS’ MAGIC INGREDIENTS ......................................................................... 16 IN MORE DETAIL… ........................................................................................................................... 16 Creative, Skilled and Dedicated Musicians .................................................................................... 16 A Reliable, Supportive and Growing Volunteer Team .................................................................... 18 Solid Financial Management ......................................................................................................... 20 Ongoing Relationships with Intergenerational Partners ................................................................. 21 Steadfast and Supportive Board of Trustees ................................................................................. 22 Meaningful Partnerships with Other Local Agencies ...................................................................... 22 Clear Values and Objectives Shared By Everyone Involved .......................................................... 22 Digital Inclusion ............................................................................................................................. 23 RESUMPTION OF CORE ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................ 26 1. Incorporating digital/online activities alongside our ‘in person’ sessions .................................. 27 2. Continuing to recruit a diverse range of volunteers from different sources ............................... 27 3. Building on the strong sense of ‘family’ that we have created over the past year and increasing the voice of our members ........................................................................................................ 28 4. Implementing organisational development ............................................................................... 28 FINANCES ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Income and Expenditure ............................................................................................................... 29 Fundraising ................................................................................................................................... 34 Reserves Policy ............................................................................................................................ 35 APPENDIX: Independent Examination and Trustees Annual Report ................................................. 36

3

ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS

Type of Charity: Musical Connections is a CIO (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Charity Registration Number: 1165993

Date of Registration: 10[th] March 2016

Postal Address : PO Box 724, York, YO1 0HL

Trustees: Valerie Sutton (Chair) Jo Farrington (Treasurer) Chris Bartram Hazel Brown Richard Frost

Bank: NatWest City Centre Branch 1 Market Street York YO1 8SR Accountants: Outsource 29 Millfield Road York, YO23 1NH

Over the last year, our project team has consisted of a Project Director, who is also a musician, and 3 more self-employed musicians, supported by an active Board of Trustees.

4

GOVERNANCE

Election of Charity Trustees

Clause 10.1 of our constitution states that ‘apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees’. Clause 10.2 states: ‘In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO’.

Additional Governance Information and Organisational Structure

Musical Connections’ board of trustees is stable, experienced, and very active, bringing together a range of skills and expertise. Our Chair was previously Group Manager of Adult Services for City of York Council, and brings extensive experience in managing and delivering care for older people. She is ably supported by the rest of the trustee board, which includes a retired GP, a former marketing manager, a former senior music lecturer from York St John University and a retired chartered engineer, who is also one of our choir members, enriching the board with his experience as a project beneficiary. Together the board is well equipped to provide oversight and guidance for the project.

Our Project Director/Lead Musician has led the Musical Connections project since its inception and has over 14 years’ experience of leading participatory music in care and community settings. She leads a small team of self-employed musicians who are highly trained and experienced in working with vulnerable older people who have a range of needs, interests and abilities.

At the start of the financial year, our Community Involvement Officer left the team. Given the changed model which we were delivering during the pandemic, the team’s remaining members were able to take on community involvement responsibilities between them, to great effect. The Project Assistant, who joined us the previous year, also stepped up to take on additional responsibilities, which meant that the team was able to deliver to a very high standard throughout the pandemic. Skills and ideas developed in the face of the enormous challenges posed by the Covid-19 virus are now being incorporated into our project, enabling us to expand our provision and increase our sustainability.

5

Risk Management

The Board of Trustees considers that they have complied with their duties to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission, and work collectively to review risks, systems and procedures on a regular basis. One of our trustees has particular responsibility for Health and Safety and our Chair is the named person responsible for safeguarding.

6

BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY

Background and Context

Unsurprisingly, the work of Musical Connections during 2020-21 has been dominated by the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to Covid-19, the charity had been growing and evolving, increasing its impact and profile year on year, perhaps most notably in relation to social prescribing. As a consequence, we had become increasingly well-respected within the York community for our ability to deliver positive outcomes for the health and wellbeing of an increasing number of vulnerable and isolated older people.

With the advent of the pandemic, and the ensuing lockdown restrictions, we had no choice but to suspend all of our weekly music groups, choirs, and intergenerational activities. Understandably, many of our regular members were fearful of the virus and of their enforced isolation and asked us to stay in contact with them. With no possibility of supporting them faceto-face, we set about converting our work to a mix of social support and musical engagement, delivered both on- and off-line. The vast majority of our funders were fully supportive of these arrangements which, despite being very different to our usual model, enabled us to continue delivering on our charity’s objectives, as set out below.

Objectives

Main Activities

In place of our weekly music groups, choirs, and face-to-face intergenerational activities, we carried out a range of on- and off-line activities throughout the year, to help our members stay connected and to enable them to continue engaging in music. We:

7

o https://youtu.be/oAxB7zbItx4

8

9

2020/21 AT A GLANCE

During this period, we supported and involved 200 vulnerable older people who were previously regular members of our weekly music groups and choirs. We also involved around 15 students from both of York’s universities, as well as almost 200 children from 7 local primary and secondary schools.

Produced 3 virtual intergenerational concerts and 33 song videos

Delivered 85 online sessions and activities

Visited 110 members, volunteers, and sheltered housing tenants to sing on their doorsteps

Sent over 1,000 postcards, greetings cards and newsletters

Posted 290 CDs/DVDs to 36 members not online

10

IMPACT ON PARTICIPANT WELLBEING

97 beneficiaries completed feedback questionnaires during two tracking phases (October and March) over the course of the year. Their responses suggest that the work we have done to support them through this very difficult year has had a significant positive impact on their wellbeing, helping to reduce the effects of their enforced isolation and providing a sense of connection and purpose. In actual fact, despite the length of time that we have all been separated from each other, it seems that, for many, our musical community is stronger and closer than it was before.

97% said that they are very satisfied with the support and communication that they have received from Musical Connections:

‘When people ask how I am, I always tell them that I’ve got this amazing choir that I belong to who are always checking up on us - we know you’re there if we need you’

‘It's been great. They have provided every opportunity for contact with others and practical support as well as an opportunity to sing and have fun. I found the list of local shops which delivered food during lockdown particularly helpful and passed on the information to many other people’

‘VERY, VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE! Ever since I met you that day in the car park me life's changed! It was fate! I can't believe that happened! Without you guys, I’d be a sad, sad man.’

11

94% said that this had helped to improve or increase their social contact ( 65% said greatly ):

‘I'd only been a member of the choir for 6 weeks before lockdown, but it's been

amazing, and I've been able to get to know a group of people that I wouldn't have been able to make contact with. I didn't really

know anybody and now I feel I know a large group and know them very well too!’

87% said that the activities we have offered have helped them to continue to engage in music with others ( 55% said greatly ):

‘MC has enabled me to engage in different musical activities. Participating in the videos and concert has given me enjoyment and focus. My confidence has increased, and I have recorded myself singing and playing on my own – something that I have never done before’

12

Despite the restrictions, 82% said they now know the MC team better than before , and 79% said they know other MC members better than before :

definitely feel I know the team better than before, and hope they feel they know us better too.’

‘I feel like I've made some friends - real good friends! They are a dedicated and professional team who really care.’

‘I have loved getting to know the team more, and other members - MC feels like a big family’

Where people had had connections with other organisations, 88% said that MC had made greater efforts than any of them to keep people connected :

I've never known a group care so much - it's lovely to belong - I haven't had the same care from any other group’

‘If other organisations were to offer the same as MC the world would be a better place’

‘ Their efforts have been amazing. The only group which has been in touch regularly and the only group which has provided practical help as well as continuation of activities online should I have wanted to use them.’

13

98% of 84 members interviewed in Spring (this question wasn’t asked previously) said being involved with MC has reduced feelings of isolation ( 49% said greatly ):

‘MC do not allow you to feel isolated, they spread so much love and caring among them to us all and in ways that suit each person, not everyone is good with computers!’

‘If I'd never joined the group, I don't think I'd have gone anywhere or spoken to you during lockdown. I don't know a lot of people since I moved into this new place, but I can talk to you.’

A lot of people that are introverted or lonely, it gives them something to hang on to and look forward to going back to in the future. Someone that might not have any family, it might be the only person that they hear from... it's a necessary lifeline.’

100% of Spring respondents said our work had improved their sense of belonging to a community ( 60% said greatly ):

‘The girls have been amazing, always in good spirits smiling & laughing with everyone, it has been the mainstay of our mental health, to know they are always there for a chat & a regular fixture in the diary. Many a week the " ONLY" thing in our diary!!!!!!!!’

‘Musical Connections is my family, and I just can't thank each member of the team enough’

98% of Spring respondents said the work we have done has helped to improve their wellbeing ( 49% said greatly ):

‘It cheered us up and made Christmas more bearable. It has also greatly helped my husband’s ‘vulnerable’ isolation, as he has been busy - it was almost his only other visual contact with the outside world’

‘Without a shadow of a doubt this wonderful group of people have made me feel better when I have been down’

14

‘The visits from you and Abby were really helpful and especially for me, the principal carer, it bolstered my morale during the lockdown period and that's so important.’

Musicians and members alike now refer affectionately to ‘Our Musical Family’.

‘Musical Connections was my lifeline. The team leaders have been so good to me in many ways, music being the main. We are more of a close family.’

15

Please follow this link to watch a 7-minute Q&A with one of our members, Stan, in which he talks about how Musical Connections have helped him through the course of the pandemic: - https://youtu.be/G_3F Bolt9g

While we were unable to receive individual responses from the care-home residents who have accessed our online activities, the support worker who has helped them to participate gave the following feedback:

'The residents at Ebor Court love Musical Connections and have been enjoying the virtual sessions since the lockdown just as much as the face-to-face sessions pre-lockdown. They feel connected and a part of what is happening outside by being able to take part…Musical Connections have made more effort than others by far and have really strived to keep that connection going over the past few months. They were on it right from the beginning, and we look forward to the day when we can have them back in the home'

16

MUSICAL CONNECTIONS’ MAGIC INGREDIENTS

Achieving this level of impact despite the limitations of coronavirus restrictions, can be attributed to a combination of the following factors:

----- Start of picture text -----
Clear values and
objectives Our musicians
Local agency
Our volunteers
partnerships
Our Trustees Solid financial
management
Intergenerational
partnerships
----- End of picture text -----

IN MORE DEPTH:

Creative, Skilled and Dedicated Musicians

In normal circumstances, the relationships between session leaders and their group members are crucial to the impact of our work. During the coronavirus pandemic, this has been even more important. From the very start of the year, when members asked us to stay in touch with them, the musicians have done everything possible to sustain positive and meaningful relationships with their members. Through their regular, varied, and creative communications, these relationships have strengthened and deepened, to the point where we now refer to ourselves as ‘Our Musical Family’, and even produced a ‘family photo album’ which was sent out to members.

17

Alongside the musicians’ huge efforts to provide emotional and social support, lockdown restrictions necessitated a complete transformation of our musical offering, in order to enable members to continue participating. Out of necessity, the musicians began to develop new skills and mined their significant reserves of creativity to come up with one innovative idea after another. Despite the obvious challenges of the pandemic, it became apparent that it was an unexpected opportunity for the musicians to develop their skill set and to create new ways of working, which have, in many ways, transformed us as a charity.

‘The whole staff have worked very hard and with skill to help everyone feel involved and part of the activities, sometimes coming up with some novel ideas’

'Musical Connections has worked tirelessly and with skill to keep its members connected, and the positivity of the team and the opportunities to see others on the Zoom Choir has been hugely appreciated. The cheerfulness coming through from the team and others has been consistently refreshing.’

It must be emphasised that, in their dedication to the charity and its members, each musician put in a great deal of unpaid time and commitment to ensure that, in this new environment, the quality of their work was undiminished and, in actual fact, enhanced.

18

A Reliable, Supportive and Growing Volunteer Team

We have received incredible support from 22 volunteers this year:

----- Start of picture text -----
21
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
10 2
----- End of picture text -----

Helped with welfare calls and deliveries

Students got involved in our musical activities

Publicised our work on social media

In seeking to avoid lockdown fatigue amongst our existing team and with an eye on the need for ongoing support as we gradually resume our face-to-face work, we conducted a new volunteer recruitment campaign. This was incredibly successful – we were deluged with offers, and actually had to remove the adverts because we could not accommodate the number of people who approached us. Consequently, we welcomed 15 new volunteers to the team, many of whom intend to continue with us as we re-start our groups. It is clear that the contributions they have made to our work have also positively benefited them.

In questionnaires conducted with 14 volunteers, 13 said that volunteering had helped to improve their wellbeing during the pandemic:

‘It has made me feel valuable and needed in a time when my head was not in the best place.’

19

‘During the lockdown, it’s sometimes difficult to fill the day. Knowing I have guitar lessons and (Zoom) meetings midweek keeps me motivated to play guitar and it's nice to see the impact that the meetings have on the people involved’

ALL said it had given them a sense of purpose ( 11 said greatly ):

‘In a time where so many people are struggling, I have really appreciated chatting with the lady who I call and giving her someone new to talk with and having a laugh.’

‘From the comments I have received from members, I know my phone calls are appreciated - also when I shopped for a group member, they were very grateful.’

13 said it had given them increased social contact ( 9 said greatly ):

‘I've met lots of new people over Zoom, which has extended my social circle and been lovely. I'm a university student so it makes a nice change to talk to a different group of people, rather than just those on my course, and my family.’

ALL said they were very happy with the communication and support from the team:

‘Constant support and contact with Charlotte, Abigail. and Fiona! Wonderful regular emails of information and pictures! The ladies have been very engaging, and I can see the positivity and joy they bring to other members of MC.’

ALL said it had increased their sense of belonging to a community ( 11 said greatly ):

‘I have really enjoyed being part of a community and having chats with the members - everyone has been so welcoming and kind. It has helped with my confidence and has made me feel more connected during lockdown’

20

12 said it is very likely that they will continue to volunteer with us when things return to normal (2 said ‘possibly’).

Solid Financial Management

Over the course of the year, we lost £15,000 in anticipated income from participant donations at weekly sessions. At the same time, our beneficiaries needed an increased level of support from us. Against all odds, we managed to end the year in a reasonably strong position, thanks to three key reasons:

We began the financial year with a significant amount of funding already in place for the year ahead. However, given that this funding was intended to support our core face-to-face work, we had concerns that we would not be permitted to use it for Covid-19 response activities. We need not have worried – all of our funders were entirely supportive of a re-deployment of the funds, and some even contributed additional amounts as the year progressed. In addition, a number of new funding streams became available to support charities like ours, which were stepping up to provide additional support to their members during the coronavirus crisis. Not only that, but many of them reduced their reporting requirements, so as to make the evaluation process less onerous at a time when we were working so hard to meet the immediate needs of our beneficiaries.

It was enormously reassuring to experience such flexibility and support from these funders, several of whom, such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Two Ridings Community Foundation, and the National Lottery, went the extra mile in providing information and guidance intended to help us look towards an uncertain future with a greater degree of confidence than might have been expected.

In addition to the immense amount of work undertaken with funders, our members and community supporters stepped up to provide a level of contribution that we had never seen before. Aware of our loss of income in the face of everything we were doing, they rewarded us by making spontaneous donations and engaging with all of our online fundraising events.

21

Ongoing Relationships with Intergenerational Partners

Intergenerational activities have been a hugely important part of Musical Connections’ work for many years now, and this was something else that had to be adapted in the face of coronavirus. Thankfully, despite the significant pressures faced by local schools, several of them continued to involve themselves in our work, albeit at a reduced level. Several local schools contributed to our Christmas and Spring virtual concerts, while others made recordings to share with a carehome and for inclusion in our digital advent calendar. A pupil from Harrow School has been attending our online Zoom sessions and making calls to a couple of our members on a regular basis, and students from both of York’s universities also got involved in a range of activities i.e.:

We know that the work the students did with us was not only beneficial for our members but also for the students themselves, given that their university experience had been severely disrupted. Just like our members, it gave them a rare opportunity to make music with others, to connect with the wider community, and to feel a sense of purpose and positivity at a time when their options were so limited.

'MEG have always loved being involved in Musical Connections normal sessions, so it has been great to still share the enjoyment of making music with their members when we can't be in person. Getting together on zoom was wonderful fun and it was lovely to meet even more MC members and actively see how much they appreciate all that MC do.'

‘I feel much more integrated into the community now. I’m a student, but volunteering has made me feel like York will really become my second home, and one things are back ‘in person’, I will be very welcomed in the city, by the people who live there.’

22

Steadfast and Supportive Board of Trustees

In the same way that the Musical Connections musicians and volunteers stepped up to meet the challenges of the pandemic, so did our Board of Trustees. It was immediately agreed that, for the foreseeable future, meetings would take place on Zoom and all of the trustees continued to make themselves fully available, both for additional meetings and for ongoing advice and support while the team navigated the day-to-day challenges of working in an alien environment.

Meaningful Partnerships with Other Local Agencies

During the crisis, we relied heavily on the support and guidance of York CVS. They championed the needs of local charities with vigour and determination, and worked closely with funders, acting as a conduit so that we had access to the most up-to-date information. They also provided understanding and reassurance and worked hard to capture our experiences so that they could advocate meaningfully on our behalf. It made an enormous difference to us to know that other people were working to help us remain afloat and optimistic about the future.

In terms of day-to-day project delivery, our partnership with York Medical Group continued to flourish. While an intended joint application to the National Lottery has had to be put on hold, we have nonetheless worked together in supporting their patients, and have been offered the use of the garden of one of their surgeries as an outdoor singing space.

Social prescribing link-workers from York Medical Group and other Primary Care Networks have referred people to us throughout the year, as have City of York Council’s Local Area CoOrdinators and other departments with community-linked responsibilities. We have stayed in touch with OCAY (Older Citizens Advocacy York), and Age UK York, and all of our venue providers have assured us that our slots will remain available for us until we can return – none of them have charged us rent in the interim.

Clear Values and Objectives Shared by Everyone Involved

When news of the virus began to emerge, it was clear that we would need to pull out all the stops to support our members, whose pre-existing isolation and vulnerability was thrown into even sharper relief when we realised that we would be facing lockdown restrictions indefinitely. However, given that this was a completely unprecedented scenario, thrust upon us with very little notice, we had no template to follow, and no agreed plans to fall back on. This posed a

23

threat to the stability of our team of musicians, trustees, and volunteers – we did not know whether we would all want to approach things in the same way, and whether we even had the resources to do so. Thankfully, it became apparent very quickly that, bar one musician who left the team in May, everyone on our team was strong, united, responsive, and prepared to take risks. The complete unfamiliarity of the situation left us very exposed but, we were all prepared to put in the effort, take a leap of faith, and allow for the implementation of untried and untested ideas.

Our flexibility and determination paid off. Our members received more support than they imagined possible, funders were prepared to contribute to what we were doing, and the team discovered and developed new skills and strengths which not only met a significant need during the pandemic, but which bode well for the future of our charity.

The shared values underpinning this success were:

Digital Inclusion

Prior to the advent of the pandemic, only about a fifth of our regular members were accessing the internet. In the past, several members had received tablets or iPads as presents from family members but had not bothered to use them as they felt it would be too difficult and they simply could not see the point. They were perfectly content to communicate and access information and entertainment in the ways they had been using all their life and didn’t believe that the internet had anything useful or interesting to offer them. This all changed when the virus struck – suddenly people could see that being online could give them access to the wider world despite lockdown restrictions.

24

We therefore set about helping our members to use the devices they had available to them, creating a ‘Zoom manual’ and giving advice over the phone, through windows or in gardens. As a consequence of this activity, the number of members able to access online activities more than doubled, to over 90 beneficiaries and volunteers.

Our online community went from strength to strength as the year wore on. Not only were members able to access our activities online, but we were able to communicate with them regularly and easily, and, through us, they were able to communicate with each other, despite GDPR precluding us from sharing contact details.

‘A massive thank you to Charlotte for helping us all become Zoom-ers. Life can be very lonely for some people, but now we have regular contact with the family that is Musical Connections’

‘MC have been a big help in what could have been a torrid 12 months. I could not have done so much without them explaining about Zoom and YouTube, and they have shown us how to record singing on a phone and to send videos in’

While this was an incredibly positive development, we were conscious that several of our members remained excluded from our flourishing online community. We therefore acquired 6 new tablets (one was donated, four were borrowed, and we purchased one). It was apparent that, without broadband, initial usage of the tablet would have to be restricted to downloaded material, but we thought this could be a good way to get people started, and the purchasing of WiFi could be explored further down the line.

25

2 tablets were given to people living independently in the community, and 4 were given to people living in City of York Council’s sheltered housing schemes. All were given instructions, and the people in the community received 1-1 support from our team. It was significantly harder to communicate with the sheltered housing tenants and, despite support from CYC’s Active Communities Officer, it was clear that more would be needed to facilitate the integration of the

tablets into people’s lives. We therefore plan to apply for funding to enable us to run face-to-face tablet training sessions, once restrictions are relaxed. We are also looking into the possibility of recruiting student volunteers to provide ongoing 1-1 support. It is clear that there are many advantages for vulnerable older people to be connected to the wider world via the internet, or even simply via downloaded material from an organisation such as ours (e.g., being able to view a concert or an event they are unable to attend because of ill health), and this will not change once the pandemic has passed.

26

RESUMPTION OF CORE ACTIVITIES

As we move through 2021, we are now planning for a resumption of our core activities. While the social contact and musical engagement we are currently offering is making a significant positive difference to our members’ lives while restrictions persist, we know that it is our faceto-face work that people are holding out for. In tracking questionnaires conducted with 104 participants at the start of the year (just after the first lockdown had started), we found that:

----- Start of picture text -----
100%
97% 97%
96% 96%
89%
88%
Happier and more Opportunity for Gives them a Increases Improves their Made new friends Improves their
positive about life increased contact sense of purpose confidence, self- overall satisfaction since joining MC overall wellbeing
with the esteem, alertness with life
community and activity
----- End of picture text -----

When we asked our members how they feel about returning to their group or choir, 99% said they would definitely be returning to face-to-face sessions :

‘I’ll be there like a shot!’

‘I’ll be on the front row!

‘I will definitely return to choir as soon as possible.’

‘Nothing is more certain; I just love Musical Connections. I just wish I had found it earlier!’

‘Am so looking forward to going back – I just want to be with you and have a laugh again’ ‘I’ll be queuing to get in!’

27

‘I’ll be fighting everyone to get through that door – it’s just wonderful, and I tell everyone that’

However, having been through the experience of the last year, we are convinced that we will not be returning to a world or, indeed, a project that looks exactly the same as it did before the pandemic. Covid-19 has been a challenge like no other, but it has also triggered new ideas and ways of working which have given us a vision of a future for Musical Connections which involves significant evolution for the charity. This vision involves:

1. Incorporating digital/online activities alongside our ‘in

person’ sessions

2. Continuing to recruit a diverse range of volunteers from

different sources

28

3. Building on the strong sense of ‘family’ that we have

created over the past year and increasing the voice of our

members

4. Implementing organisational development

29

FINANCES

Income and Expenditure

Table 1 highlights the overall receipts and payments for the 1[st] April 2020 up to the 31[st] March 2021, the brought forward balance at the end of 19/20 and the subsequent bank balance.

The total receipts up to 31[st] March were £57,806 and the total payments were £68,741, which leaves a deficit balance of £10,935 for the financial year. When added to the carried forward balance from 2019/20 (£63,280), this left Musical Connections with a total balance of £52,345 for the end of the financial year.

The total amount of receipts allocated to unrestricted funding was £16,016 and there were payments to the value of £10,733, thus leaving an unrestricted surplus of £5,283 at the end of 2020/21. When added to the balance brought forward at the end of 19/20 (£22,317), and accounting for some minor transfers of funds (£61), this leaves the charity with £27,539 of unrestricted funds.

The total amount of receipts allocated to restricted funding was £41,790 and there were payments to the value of £58,008, thus leaving a deficit of £16,218 in restricted grants to carry forward into the next financial year. When added to the grants balance brought forward at the end of 19/20 (£40,963) and allowing for a small number of transfers between funds this leaves Musical Connections with £24,806 in restricted funds to carry forward into 21/22. It should be noted that the deficit in restricted funds at the end of the year is due to several multi-year grants being receipted in the previous financial year and a few 12-month grants being paid in part-way through last financial year. This has meant that some grant-funded activities in 20/21 were paid against a carried forward balance from 19/20.

The total receipts received in 20/21 (£57,806) were mainly made up of grants received £42,290 (73%) followed by community fundraising (£6,540) and individual giving (£6,093) which together represented 22% of the total. The remaining 5% of receipts were made up as follows: donations 3% (£1,812), session fees and contributions 2% (£1,071).

The payments (£68,741) were mainly made up of the overall people costs (92%) at £63,407. The top five categories of payments and the % of the total they account for were as follows:

Community involvement activities – musicians’ fees - £37,578 (55%) Project management fees - £25,065 (36%) Equipment - £1,699 (2%)

30

Stationary and Covid-19 support postage costs - £1,236 (2%) Funding bids - £823 (1%)

Table 2 provides a breakdown of receipts and payments for unrestricted funds and each individual restricted fund. It also provides the current surplus for each fund, the amount brought forward from 19/20 and the funds carried forward at the end of the financial year. This table also shows there were several grants where payments were made against a brought forward balance from 19/20 rather than a receipt in 20/21 e.g., Garfield Weston Charitable Foundation.

Table 3 shows the statement of Musial Connections assets and liabilities at 31[st] March 2021.

31

T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31[s][t] March 2021

T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 1 – Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ending 31 s tMarch 2021
2020/21 2019/20
Unrestricted
funds

Restricted
funds
T otal
funds
T otal
funds
£ £ £ £
Receipts
Session fees & contributions 1,071 - 1,071 15,309
Grants 1,000 41,290 42,290 38,141
Donations from individuals 1,312 500 1,812 1,180
Donations from individuals 6,093 - 6,093 166
Communityfundraising 6,540 - 6,540 1,706
Events & training - - - 1,834
T otal receipts 16,016 41,790 57,806 58,336
Payments
Session costs – musicians - - - 28,202
Marketing& website - 433 433 1,104
Meetingcosts 352 - 352 755
Travel costs 52 263 315 5,579
Equipment 628 1,071 1,699 2,656
Insurance - 372 372 372
Project management costs 3,628 21,437 25,065 22,030
Stationery& office costs 52 1,184 1,236 134
Fundingbids & fundraising 823 - 823 1,850
Trainingcosts 60 - 60 1,612
Community involvement activities /
volunteer management – musicians		 4,444 33,134 37,578 -
Venue costs - 51 51 2,023
Volunteer costs 10 36 46 7,682
DBS checks 19 27 46 125
Independent examination - - - 300
Self-evaluation 352 - 352 930
Miscellaneous expenses 313 - 313 -
Totalpayments 10,733 58,008 68,741 75,354
Net of receipts/(payments) 5,283 -16,218 -10,935 -17,018
T ransfers between funds -61 61 - -
Balance brought forward 22,317 40,963 63,280 80,298
Balance carried forward 27,539 24,806 52,345 63,280

32

Table 2 – Unrestricted and Restricted Funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance Incom e Resources Transfer of Balance
b/fwd received expended funds c/fwd
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted 22,317 16,016 10,733 -61 27,539
Restricted
Garfield Weston 9,999 - 10,000 1 -
Shears Foundation 5,000 - 5,000 - -
Coop Local Community 28 - 28 - -
Feoffees of St Michael 5,000 - 5,004 4 -
Step Change 5,000 - 5,000 - -
D’Oyly Carte 3,000 - 3,039 39 -
Derwenthorpe Community Fund 293 - - - 293
York Common Good Trust 1,000 - 1,000 - -
Charles Hayward Foundation 3,000 - 3,002 2 -
Inman Charity 2,000 - 2,001 1 -
Wharfedale Foundation 2,000 - - - 2,000
Micklegate Ward -357 2,000 1,643 - -
Joseph Rowntree Foundation 5,000 - 5,005 5 -
Yorkshire Building Society - 1,800 1,800 - -
Two Ridings C19 Community Fund - 2,000 2,000 - -
Masonic Charitable Foundation - 3,594 799 - 2,795
Westfield Ward Grant - 100 108 8 -
National Lottery Community Foundation - 6,228 6,228 - -
Jack Brunton Charitable Trust - 2,000 - - 2,000
HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust - 500 - - 500
Brelms Trust CIO - 1,000 1,001 1 -
Ashley Family Foundation - 5,000 - - 5,000
Heworth Ward - 1,000 1,000 - -
Shears Foundation (2) - 2,500 2,500 - -
- - -
Liz and Terry Bramall 5,000 5,000
Cultural Wellbeing (CYC) - 1,850 1,850 - -
Ways to Wellbeing York CVS - 2,218 - - 2,218
Whitwam Family Charitable Trust - 5,000 - - 5,000
Total Restricted 40 ,963 41 ,790 58 ,008 61 24 ,806
Total Funds 63 ,280 57 ,806 68 ,741 - 52 ,345
----- End of picture text -----

33

T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31[s][t] March 2021

T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 s tMarch 2021 T able 3 – Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 s tMarch 2021
2020/21 2019/20
Unrestricted
funds

Restricted
funds
T otal funds		 T otal funds
£ £ £ £
Assets
Current bank account 27,534 24,806 52,340 63,195
Pettycash 5 - 5 85
27,539 24,806 52,345 63,280
Assets retained for charity’s own use Fund Cost Current Value
Details £ £
3 x keyboard Unrestricted 300 150
1 x keyboard Life Less Lonely 155 50
Large amp Unrestricted 150 50
Portable amp Robert McAlpine 160 50
Portable amp Life Less Lonely 149 50
3 x iPod touch Freemasons 597 150
Loopstation Unrestricted 135 20
Chime bars Freemasons 260 100
Chime bars Unrestricted 260 100
Chime bars Micklegate Ward 127 100
Projector & case Unrestricted 612 200
Portable speaker Unrestricted 160 50
2 x banner stand Unrestricted 400 -
2 x camera Unrestricted 379 100
Notebook Freemasons 299 150
2 x tablet Unrestricted 200 160
2021 2020
Unrestricted
funds

Restricted
funds
T otal funds		 T otal funds
Liabilities £ £ £ £
Independent examination fee 300 - 300 300
300 - 300 300

34

Fundraising

We had to adjust our fundraising strategy this year, because of the loss of income from weekly session donations and care-home session fees. To compensate for this deficit, we applied for and received a significant amount of ‘Covid-response’ funding.

In addition:

Moving forwards, we will be continuing all the above activities, although we anticipate that community and online fundraising will reduce for two reasons:

We would like to express our thanks to the following funders, who have supported us over the last year:

The Ashley Family Foundation The Brelms Trust CIO Charles Hayward Foundation City of York Council

(Micklegate, Westfield and Heworth Wards, and Cultural Wellbeing Fund)

Derwenthorpe Community Fund

D’Oyly Carte

35

The Feoffees of St Michael’s Spurriergate

Garfield Weston Foundation

HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust The Hobson Charity Inman Charity Jack Brunton Charitable Trust The Joseph Rowntree Foundation Masonic Charitable Foundation

National Lottery’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund The Shears Foundation Two Ridings Community Foundation Wharfedale Foundation Whitwam Family Charitable Foundation York Common Good Trust York CVS Ways to Wellbeing Yorkshire Building Society

Reserves Policy

Musical Connections’ Reserves Policy, approved by the Trustees in July 2021, states that the charity should hold a maximum of £40k in reserves. This level of reserves was set after careful consideration of all the potential reasons reserves would be needed e.g. to aid cash flow, contingency planning to mitigate against unexpected expenditure, to commit designated funds to expenditure not covered by annual income and finally the closure of the charity. After due consideration of all these potential calls on reserves, it was determined that Musical Connections would need to hold a range of reserves between £9.5k and £40k. The trustees took the decision that they needed to protect the beneficiaries in the event of having to cease its operation and therefore the figure of £40k was agreed, as being 50% of the current operational costs of running the project with an additional 10% to go towards paying for any professional services that may need to be employed to aid closure. This level of reserves would protect the charity’s beneficiaries, who are mainly socially isolated and vulnerable adults, and enable it to wind down its operation in a sustainable way, rather than abruptly withdraw its services, which would have a detrimental impact on their quality of life. At the end of 2020/21, the level of reserves held was £27,539.

36

APPENDIX

Independent Examination and Trustees Annual Report

37 Musical Connections (Charlty Numbèr: 11659931 Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2021 Charity accounts preparation & independent examination service

38 Musical Connections l(hartty14¥mben I16￿3} Contents Index Page Report of the trustees Independent examlner's report Recelpts & payments accounts Statement of assets and Ilabilities Notes to the accounts

39 Trustees. Annual Report FtOM'. T¢K Ch•rfty•fu4 To . UndnQth thoithoydbjnl mrtl tyJL . Set Jp • pthwiw4J GP&

40 |Achl•v•ffl•nts •1￿ wrfwm•n Sumrn•ry olth• m•kn xhl•Y•rn•rf•rfth• ¢h¥ty. lJ•n¥Milh• Th￿t01h• At. pro¥•d it) wlthothw wO&lhtwdor LynrnLY |Hnndl T•¥￿W £e6.741 kning A doftrt Ldart•ol£lO.935knTtr• bm Hwever, when delkit # wJdÈdttsw t4nxd bknlrum 201W201£632801.

41 by annual ￿CoMe ckwTe AfiErQL (dal Ihese rewv88. it &•Ith￿￿t￿lIrnD1L1 Quthlvof Il•. ouni ￿T•l•r￿m h•hl bet4C. 1 thD bm• 50% th• aid lty% NIA The ia$i Thnaffluol ¢0)nt￿l9 ftsYtr4ngfts LDokiuwithJnW 2￿21 S(OOty, Ctrrt.19CtyNnwAty Fvrrfj. Wnt FouThJ•Don, TwDF&dkng¥ Ctynmurty F￿J￿r￿ kl••(Ac Chwtsri•FtyJndDitsi. Cjwty. ¥ixk G￿d Tnthl. LC￿•ryc0rnrn￿ty Fur￿. Jo( T￿L ￿ W 1965OwWb Tw Tr• Br•trA InJltCIO. Fm T￿•￿9￿•mIng d•i•ll• con•iiiyUon•l IR•f•Mnt• nd dmlnl•trloh d•tl lull CMh•nrn•1￿ ehthylA C￿r￿S prfn*l adth Ythk Y01

42 N4m••ofth•trUli•M who rn rnJit•• n•m Val Jo FAthngtoD chr￿ B•rtram FI￿1 N•m• ofiiu•tsM holdl Imlpto TN•ty• n NIA Fund• ¢uodlanlMt￿ on bthaKol4th 41A this ca on •nd hrwthMl4hlthin V culi0dl￿ ch irJng•m•n JyJnd wt•g•cAn cl * rwtr• thyrW8 WA NIA N•m•• •nd •d••M• ol NIA NIA Ind•pl￿d•￿t ex•Mlnw YOI 7PR NIA ID•c1W￿4n Slgnld Full N4Thx P¢•ttboTr TreasuFeF D•1•

43 Independent emaminees report to the trustees of Musical Connectlon5 I report on the accounts of.. Musical Conntttions for the year ended.. 31st March 2021 which are set out on pages 6 to 9. Responslblllties and basls of report A5 the chJrity tTUStees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts In accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commi$5ion under section 145ISllbl of the Act. Independent examlner's staterneftt I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materral matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe thai in any material respect.. i accountin8 records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act., or 2 the accounts do not accord with those re¢ord5 I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connection with the examination to whlch attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper vnderstanding of the accounts to be reached. 26111 12 Karen Wood IACMAI Outsource independent examination service The Hlscox Buildin8 Peasholme Green York YOI 7PR Date:

44 Muslcal Connections (Charity Number.. 11659931 Receipts & payments accounts for the year ending: 3tst March 2021 2021 Total funds 2020 Total funds Unrestrirted funds Restricted funds Receipts Session fees & contributions Grants Donations from organisation5 Donations from individuals Cornmunity fundraisin8 Events & training Total recelpts 1,071 1,071 42,290 1,812 6,093 6.540 15,309 38,141 1,180 166 1,706 1,834 41.290 500 1,312 6,093 6.540 Payments Session costs- musicians Marketin8 & Website Meeting COSts Travel costs Equipment Insurance Project management Costs Stationery & office costs Fundin8 bids & fundralsing Training Costs Community involvement activitieslvolunteer management- musicians Venue cost5 Volunteer costs DBS checks Independent examination Self evaluation Miscellaneous expenses Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Transfers between funds 28,202 1,104 75S 5,579 2,656 372 22,030 134 1,850 1,612 433 433 352 315 1,699 372 25,065 1,236 823 60 352 52 628 263 1.071 372 21,437 1.184 3.628 52 823 33,134 37,578 51 36 27 51 46 46 2,023 7,682 125 300 930 io 19 352 313 352 313 5.283 116,2181 {10,935) 117,0181 1611 61 Balance brought forward Balance carried forward 22.317 40,963 63,280 80,298 63,280

45 (Charity Numtr'. 11659931 Statement of assets and Ilabllhles at: 3151 Mar¢h 2021 2021 Totsl fvnd¥ ioio Total nds lynds fvnds Assets Currtrf bank •¢ttyJnt Petty Cash 27,534 24.806 52,340 63,195 85 52 Current value ASf•ts r•1•$n￿ lor th•rtVs iiwri 11 Fur Cost D•tsl 3 x KeybDard I x Keyboard Lir8e amp Portable amp ortable amp 3 x Ipod touch L¢)op station Chlme bèrs Chlme bèr5 Chlme bars Projector & case Portable 5peHker 2 x banner stand 2 x camer Notebook 2 x tablet Unrestricted Lrfe Less Lone Unrestricied Robert McAlplne fe Less to￿ Freemisons Vnre5tricted Freemasons Unresiricied Mi£kle8ate Ward Unrestricted Unrestri¢Ted Unrestricted Unrestricted Freem•50n5 Vnrestricted 150 155 150 160 149 597 135 260 260 127 612 160 150 20 Ico 2C 379 299 2LA) Ic 150 160 2021 Total fuThls 2020 Total fvnds fund5 Llabllltles Independent exèmnatkn fee 3DJ 3Tr) 3(K)

46 IChbTitV Number." 116S9931 Il•t•st•the K(ountsfar l. ol K(ounts TheTFustÈÈs have taken thanweofso£ith 144111 olthp(harttksAd 2011yEp¥ed acc￿￿¢1￿1¢￿pts Ind Whirnfundswereoniinaltywnw lry1xetof￿ rf firtw5knndlv1l￿￿￿1rn11ILl ￿ re4th0￿d tOSUk¥MCo¥td. nam• GIrt￿Id Wosion ShEJrs FoundI￿oft A>y&r￿n1 ww¥thc¢4e tasts AyanittrwdsC¢Y¢C05tstr¢JelwrfwThvJil ¥tMb15 5trewth•n DWe•mMu￿ty ¢wp Loul Cornfi￿￿ F•oN•x of St MICh￿l Step Ch•w (Wy C¥rte Grnnt towardx ir•Tr500rtCOSts Awint liorn RiLr45 to del￿r'st￿ C￿n￿vI￿1 Ytyk, prolect Tv¢v•id5 yu￿510￿￿￿￿tItyrnu￿￿ nHkirysessIO￿ t￿￿r$I •cthltlp5 IN F4W• Ih Y¢rk ¥enthNpe Cthi)ThJntty Fwd Forhli•dl• vwrtforThe PdllNTt41 Yvkcommon Gtsvd Tru5r A￿￿ttE￿1rd1<ore(QSts Choiles Hayward Soundion Gl￿FIrnIctyJrt Inmin(har Ay•ntto help Lfjc•thueouroktywsi1w••ndwl￿I onthe numtrolwDple Wharfod•le F(wnd•tbn MlckltiattW•rd Jmeph Aowntiee TOfvndtheGeTherats0r￿ iThH•nrw. york wojert Aw•ni io yJr•ort lhe%￿k￿thjwQYwPJf &rswwHowe. A￿ft1 towitds Lart fQ5ts. fo(u5yry¥ecffically de1iyenry<ornn￿r1tylCtlv511eSt￿ pttytnl ¢V isgl•liorL•lwe sotthl are£otxXi¢w•enyt51 C¢nLthu￿f4c10r Ypthshlre Bu1￿1n8 Sttjth Covbd rttponsElundi Two C19CommurltyFwW response lundi ChaIttabkFoL￿4Ion Second yeatola 3.￿rYiN101￿US¥mVath inddrtl•#tyJrwryk Thpy•nt comEswMh Westhtldwird GraDI A w•ni W•td5(0¥Sd.19 F#lSt¥t costs FUndkni1tfy￿ Fund towwWtU5to ffido addt1t￿ll Foundatltsn Ja(k 8runtDn ch0￿10b￿TTWf Airlni ity¥¥dscMts HDH Wllls 196schants￿•TlLrt1 BtylrnsTrwst CIO Funlni to¥jards￿hIty10r First inst•lmetyt of a 3yaryanrr•deliverwp must•iiits¥•nd Intewern￿oMl 4ctMtieS lof1501atod pldei wwein Vo Flrst InstsimEntDfi 2.￿ar￿an¢ ttrwxOst¢¥co5ufor'Cornmithesln Hamdrtv, .. Ctylid iewsefuThJirtO&upMwt mernbersolThe RdlwTonesthrwththep•ndemk 1 SUFWrtorow Cthld respo￿arti￿￿S A￿￿lsupp￿try3 postti￿orEsum0￿O1￿UrC¢xe attml To WI￿des0￿4 and<utt¥ol erwment fu¥￿N￿ra￿AeWd ￿￿ted wWelnYork As￿e¥ FarnllyFoundaii Heworth Ward shears Foundatb2n 2 Ui& leFryOr*nwdl CLttural Wdlbeiw ILrya

47 22.317 16M16 10.733 27,539 fj¥rfield Weston 5hear5 F<￿nd￿t￿n Coop LKal Commu Feoffee5of St Mic Stepchary D'(W¥ Carte DerwenlhO￿e CommwryyFur Yolk C￿MOn Good Trust iortsj 293 Z93 Chèritv Wh•rfodale Foundi¢knn Mickleiateward Joseph Rowntree Found•t Yorkshire 8uilOin850(itty Two Riding5 C19 CEffimunfty Fw Mè%oniC Charitab Four￿)1 Wtstlleld Ward Grant Natlortèl LOlt•ry 135 L64) 6.228 6.218 Jack Brunton Chadtst4•TNtt HOHWills 196Slb•rttaNeTnirt 8relm5 Twst CIO Ahl¢v Family Found•tbv Heworth W•rd Shears Found•iion I Lli & Ttiryerèmwdl Cuhu¢èl Wellbtht)i ICYCI W•ystg Well￿1￿¥Y￿k WhltW4m Famityth•riiaWeTIiryi 2.118 2.218 Totsl 6J2W 57 741 siJ•s Fuhd5havE bEtn transfttrtd IMupethied rutrtcwdfvh l of •cNuDtsforth• •r•thd•d: Jtst Marth ThE roport¥nd aLCDunts ¥pore apy￿a ita nltn8of thT￿￿tesh*ld PoslUmle& C￿lre1c