## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 01/08/2022 Period start date To 31/07/2023 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Blue Light Symphony Orchestra** ## **Charity registration number:1184720** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document|Para 1.17|1. TO ADVANCE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP
AND
MAINTAIN
PUBLIC
EDUCATION
IN,
AND
APPRECIATION OF, THE ART AND
SCIENCE OF MUSIC IN ALL ITS
ASPECTS
BY
ANY
MEANS
THE
TRUSTEES
SEE
FIT,
INCLUDING
THROUGH
THE
PROVISION
OF
WORKSHOPS, IN PARTICULAR BUT
NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR PEOPLE
WHO ARE OR WHO HAVE BEEN
MEMBERS OF THE UK EMERGENCY
SERVICES TO ENABLE THEM TO
PLAY
MUSIC
AND
PUT
ON
CONCERTS.
2. TO FURTHER SUCH CHARITABLE
PURPOSE OR PURPOSES AS THE
TRUSTEES
IN
THEIR
ABSOLUTE
DISCRETION SHALL THINK FIT BUT
IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE
MAKING
OF
GRANTS
AND
DONATIONS
TO
ORGANISATIONS/CHARITIES
WHICH PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES
TO
UK
EMERGECY SERVICES WORKERS.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The financial year was the first full period not influenced by
the Coronavirus Pandemic and marked a return to relative
normalcy for workshops and activities.
Attendance at workshops increased, allowing the
organization to achieve its objectives in a more structured
manner.| |||We performed our first concert in Autumn 2022 at St John's
Smith Square, which was highly successful in terms of player
and guest attendance.
Throughout the year, we also conducted:
- 4 workshops
- Participation and performance at the Rail Industry Memorial
Day Covid memorial
- Attendance at Emergency Services shows
These events supported the organization's primary goal of
using Music Therapy to benefit individuals in the emergency
services.
Our financial position improved, achieving stability in
accumulated funds.
The organization was further strengthened by the appointment
of several new trustees, each bringing unique skills to
enhance operations and long-term strategy.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|All trustees have had regard to this guidance.| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:| |---|---|---| ||SORP reference|| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|We do not currently have a grant making policy because we
do not have enough assets to make grants, however we will
develop a grant making policy when we think we will be in a
position to award them.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|We do not currently make any investments| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Volunteers have contributed time to assist the charity.| |Other||N/A| ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Through our workshops, we have provided
opportunities for emergency workers to
come together and play music in a
supportive environment. Music has been
proven to increase mood and the effects
are felt long after the event itself. Studies
with support groups of veterans have found
that coming together in a group of people
who are of the same ‘in group’ and have
experienced similar trauma is extremely
beneficial. Playing music together allows
for expression of emotion in a safe way and
provides a short-cut to bonding. We know
through both the feedback we have had
and the fact that people come back to our
workshops again and again that they enjoy
them hugely.
Professions associated with a higher risk
for the development of Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) include the military,
fire fighters, first responder/ambulance
personnel and law enforcement officers
(Skogstad, 2013). In 2019, Police Care UK
reported that 1 in 5 serving police officers
were living with PTSD or anxiety disorders
triggered by exposure to one or multiple
traumatic events. Almost two-thirds of
officers reported experience of fatigue,
anxiety or sleep disturbances.
However, they continued to go to work as
per usual.
The main treatment options offered for
PTSD in the UK are Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement
Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR)
and/or medication, with the goals of
reducing symptoms, teaching strategies
and skills to deal with symptoms, and
restoring self-esteem. The use of music
therapy for PTSD, anxiety and trauma-
related stress within ex-military personnel
in the US is well documented (Libby et al.
2014), yet despite an equally high
incidence of PTSD symptoms reported in
blue-light emergency service personnel,
music therapy as a treatment modality
within these services has not been
explored, until now.| |---|---|---| We are a user led charity, which aims to improve the mental well-being of emergency workers through music. The charity is important because, as far as we can tell from our research, it is the only orchestra of it’s kind in the world which takes players from all emergency services to come together. We think that collaboration across the emergency services is vital and we aim to encourage it. Our work is highlighting the differences in approach and access to support across the emergency services. Wider society benefits from resilient and healthy emergency services personnel both from a point of view of the services they give to the public but also a reduction in days lost to mental illness. Days lost to mental health is an increasing issue in the emergency services in the UK as is suicide. The BLSO aims to help alleviate both these issues. ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Against our objective to hold 4
workshops, we held 4.
Against out objective to put on a
concert, we held this in October 2022.| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|We raised more money than the
previous year largely due to increase in
donations| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|N/A| |---|---|---| |Other||N/A| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|We are in asoundfinancial position and
able to afford the costs of delivering the
objectives of the charity.
Wecontinue tolook for further funding for
Music Therapy projects.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Wehold asensiblebalance for
future charitable events.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|N/A| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|we hold sufficient in reserves.| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|None| ## **Additional information (optional)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Income from workshops and events,
donations from third parties and grants
we have applied for.| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|N/A| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|N/A| |Other||N/A| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Foundation Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Selection and appointment is made by the
current trustees by way of written
expression of interest and interview.| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements||where relevant about:| |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|Trustees are provided with the Charity
Commission guidance to trustees.
Trustees are expected to complete trustee
training with NVCO.
Trustees are offered role specific training
as required. The charity will fund courses
on a case by case basis and will suggest
courses and seminars for trustees. We are
members of Making Music and the NVCO
who all provide free and paid for training
opportunities, guidance and advice.| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The charity is a CIO and is always seeking
to form partnerships with emergency
services organisations and charities.| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|We have formed a working partnership with
Chroma to develop our Music Therapy
projects.| |Other||N/A| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Blue Light Symphony Orchestra| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|None| |Registered charity number|1184720| Charity’s principal address Studio 1 305A Goldhawk Road LONDON W12 8EU ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Peter Valentine|Chair||| ||Ruiko Asaba|||| ||Simon Robinson||appointed 26/01/2023|| ||Dr Richard
GORROD|||| ||David Smith|Treasurer|appointed 29/01/2023|| ||Amanda Thorpe||appointed 25/01/2023|| ||Christopher Evans||appointed 15/12/2022|| ||
Graham Caley||appointed 1/7/2023
|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** No directors appointed Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |None||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Peter Valentine **Position (eg Secretary,** Chair **Chair, etc) Date** 16/05/2024 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity Name No (if any)
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01/08/2022 31/07/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Voluntary Receipts 1,850 - 1,850 343
Activities for generating funds 5,570 - - 5,570 3,064
Charitable Activities - - - - 47
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
7,420 - 7,420 3,464
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 7,420 - 7,420 -
A3 Payments
Costs of generating voluntary receipts - - - - 67
Fundraising costs 0 - - 0 0
Costs of charitable activities 5,362 430 - 5,792 4,221
Governance costs 0 - - 0 110
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total 5,362 430 - 5,792 4,398
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments 5,362 430 - 5.792 4,398
Net of receipts/(payments) 2,058 (430) - 1.628 934)
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 1,095 631 - 1,726 2,660
Cash funds this year end 3,153 201 - 3,354 1,726
**----- End of picture text -----**
16/05/2024 CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 |**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**the end of the period**|**the end of the period**|| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B1 Cash funds**|**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
Cash at bank
**Details**
Signature|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**3,153**
**3,153**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
OK
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**201**
201|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**| |||||**-**| |||||OK| |||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**| ||||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|| |||Print Name
S Valentine||Date of
approval
16/05/2024| 16/05/2024 CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2