2022-03-31-accounts - Music Relief Foundation

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Report for the trustees for the year ending 31 March 2022

The Trustees of Music Relief Foundation (MRF) Charity present their annual report and audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

OUR AIMS:

MRF seeks to nurture economically disadvantaged young people by:

Providing music-based recreational activities provided in the interest of social welfare. Providing support and activities which develop their skills to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

Promoting social inclusion and assisting those who are socially excluded to integrate into society.

We aim, through all our services, to provide a first-class provision to all young people and their families from within the grassroots communities from the ages of 5 and above. We seek to provide a structured environment that develops capabilities, competences and skills. We promote the creativity, achievements and activities of all our members and services.

We provide a safe environment where each individual can develop and fulfil their potential, building their self-confidence and inculcating a desire to contribute to the wider community. In so doing, we prepare everyone for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of later life.

OUR OBJECTIVES:

Our objectives are set to reflect our aims and the ethos of the MRF. It is important to us that we enhance the success of the charity.

This objective is, however, set in the context of the broader goals we set for the MRF.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.

Our key objectives for the year included:

to broaden our reach and extend the range of music services we provided.
to enhance and improve the co-strategic provision for all
to continue to develop the first-class service we provide
to increase the number of students within the music school
to ensure that the fees for families on free school meals remain low.
to increase the provision of classes by 80% for the September 2023 intake
to develop our ‘Schools Links’ programme of co-operation and joint working with local state junior and secondary schools
to play our part in the life of our local community through our community access and service programmes.

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Pupil numbers and fees

Developing and building joint governance with music as the core incorporating all our services that clearly define who we are and why we exist. Our music school registration and activities are carried out through our school coordinators. Student numbers have gradually been increasing with current numbers 120 students (adults and children).

Our fee has remained the same to ensure that our lessons are accessible by everyone, especially by those who are on low income.

Children on Free School Meal (FSM) - £17 a term Children not on FSM - £45 a term Adults and Pensioners not on low income - £65 a term Adults and Pensioners on low income- £40

Services:

MRF Music School

The music school was launched on the 1[st] of November 2021, with 30 students and 3 tutors, teaching guitars, keyboards and vocal lessons. We now have 120 current students, of which 109 are children and young people, 11 adults, with 70% of families registered as low- income.

Our terms are for ten weeks, one day a week and have students who been with us from the inception in 2021.

Our services have also increased to the offering of multiple keyboard and guitar lessons to accommodate new students, expanding our venue space to accommodate the growth in terms of the delivery in the Scouts centre on Saturday afternoons, samba drums, vocal and violin lessons.

We are currently working on the inclusion of interactive music sessions for 0–5-year-olds.

Our guitar tutor, is now preparing his Monday students who enrolled with us in 2021. To prepare for exams, grade 1 as he is registered with Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and has encouraged the charity to be registered with them as well.

Testimonials:

My son has been attending weekly guitar lessons for three terms so far, he looks forward to every lesson, and loves how friendly and engaging his teacher is. We have seen a huge improvement in his confidence, skill and musicality since attending, so I highly recommend MRF. Stacy (Mum)

My daughter attends the music school she really enjoys it. The guitar and keyboard teachers are great! This summer my daughter attended the summer club she said it was fantastic she wished it was on all the time! Bravo MRF a wonderful community initiative thank you for all you do. Natalie (Mum)

Other Services:

Fencing

In February 2022, 4 young people were trained by an instructor from British Fencing. Giving us the opportunity to have trained facilitators as well as creating another stream of income for the charity. This led to the delivery of fencing at The New School from

February to April. 2022.

Enriching Lives – Holiday Activity

Our holiday program was only delivered twice last year, 2022. In April for the Easter holidays for four days and in the Summer (July – August) for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Utilising both Scouts Hall and our venue at the leisure centre as the main base. The Easter break was not funded and therefore, parents whose children were not on free school meal (FSM), paid £20 pay day for their children to attend. Whilst those on FSM attended for free. In attendance were 40 children in total, 70% of them being on FSM. For the summer we had 76 attended and 6 additional children who came specifically for the band crash course. Bringing the total number of children who attended our summer scheme to 82 children.

More Than Able Leadership Program

This is our school intervention and prevention youth violence program. Prior to Covid we delivered the 8-weeks program at the Harris Academy South Norwood School. We were invited to come back to the school in May 2022, to deliver the session again at the Upper Norwood site.

Community coffee mornings

We held 4 coffee mornings from January to February 2022, with intentions of having a regular meetup for members of the community to attend and connect with statutory groups, gain support and network. However, without any funding, this was not sustainable but efforts have made to get funding and restart these sessions.

We have worked and continue to create a ‘Safe and Welcoming Space’ for everyone to come and feel welcomed. Be it service users, volunteers, trustees or staff

Community Service:

MRF participates in quarterly meetings organised by the Local Croydon Partnership, in which our CEO Magdalene Adenaike is the co-chair for the North East of the borough. These brings together statutory, voluntary groups and individuals together to look at the issues affecting the area. With a specific emphasis on youth violence as decided by both chairs (Magdalene & Nicole).

Other Networks:

1). The charity is part of the UK BME ANTI-SLAVERY NETWORK (BASNET)

A network set up by the charity called AFRUCA, to bring to light the work of smaller organisations who are involved with working people who are trafficked, and in our case through our More Than Able provision. Looking at the issue of County Lines and its inclusion as a trafficking element.

This led to a fully funded 3-days residential capacity building programme hosted by BASNET in Manchester in November 2022. To which our CEO Magdalene Adenaike attended.

2). The charity is also a member of the Business Network International (BNI)

BNI is the largest and most successful business networking organisation with members and chapters in over 76 countries. Started in 1985, it has grown to become a worldwide network that attracts different businesses and individuals on a daily basis.

A membership networking forum supporting businesses and charities through referrals, donations and leads.

Summary of 2022

The theme for the year, 2022, was Expansion, and the charity saw the physical manifestation of this:

Ø The charity onboarded four employees onto the PAYE payroll system
Ø The charity engaged with six hundred children through our music school, holiday activities, school assemblies, workshops, mentoring and fencing.
Ø The charity hosted three main events - Gala Dinner, MRF Concert and MRF Awards
Ø The charity was interviewed and featured in The East London Lines and My London
Ø The charity took bold steps in making its intentions known to acquire Lord Napier.
Ø The charity expanded to offering more keyboard beginner lessons at the Scouts Centre on Beulah Road on Saturday afternoons. As well as Samba lessons, and wind and string instruments for beginners.
Ø The charity held its first-ever strategy meeting with staff members, trustees (Kofi), a music tutor (Ed), and a parent. This meeting proved very productive and resulted in the conception of the MRF Parents Association. A parental forum that will be active in supporting the charity.
Ø Dominic Buxton, a young volunteer who volunteered for the charity in August, ran the Queen Elizabeth Half Marathon in November.
Ø The charity continues to be mentored and supported by PwC
Ø The charity lost its bid writer Jeremy Ganga due to his untimely passing.
Ø Magdalene, Simone and Kelly each picked up the mantle of bid writing and applied for HAF funding for the Easter half term, funding towards Croydon Council's Borough of Culture and Arts Council to run a six months Thornton Heath Afrobeat Orchestra, and funding to City Bridge Trust.
Ø The charity became part of the Croydon Youth Consortium, organised by Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA)

Issues faced

Ø Insufficient volunteers
Ø High turnover of staff absences due to holidays, sicknesses and train strikes

CEO's reflection

2022 was indeed our year of Expansion. We saw an increased engagement from the community with our services, especially through the Music School and the Holiday program. Feedback, reviews and testimonials have been encouraging, with many parents becoming MRF ambassadors sharing the word about the charity with friends, families and neighbors.

The charity has matured in its approach to interacting with all its stakeholders, communicating its message clearly, concisely and effectively. Through its consistency over the years, the charity has built credibility with people becoming aware of the brand and identifying with it.

The charity held a community meeting in November 2022, engaging and informing the community about its plans for the purchase of the Lord Napier. The meeting was transparent and open, with people enquiring about our infrastructure and financial capabilities.

As I reflect back on 2022, I look at how MRF has evolved into a charity impacting lives and living a legacy. The onboarding of more volunteers and securing ongoing long-term funds will ensure the continued reach and sustainability of the charity.

Future Plans

2023 – Our Year of Legacy

A year filled with further Expansion of the music school, with more band rehearsals and performances, bringing the students together to practice and perform together and building on the performances of 2022, i.e., the concert in August, busking in October and Christmas performance.

A year that will involve more involvement in schools, in the form of getting more promotions and awareness in schools about our services, getting more schools to nominate their students for our award ceremony, delivering music lessons in schools as the leading providers of music lessons, working on building corporate partnerships to ensure we secure sponsorship ahead of our annual award ceremony.

Be guided by 'Our Focus' below to ensure that we are:

HEALTH – PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL AND HOLISTIC SERVICES TO IMPROVE THE WELLBEING OF OUR USERS.
PARTNERSHIPS – WORKING WITH CORPORATE, STATUTORY, COMMUNITY, AND SCHOOL PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES.
CAPACITY BUILDING – TRAIN AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES THAT DEVELOP TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT ARE BOTH SOFT AND HARD SKILLS.
ACCESSIBILITY – OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION
EDUCATION – CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND DEVELOP THROUGH MONITORING AND EVALUATION TO DEVELOP

TOOLKITS THAT SET CLEAR KPI'S TO ENSURE THE MEASURABILITY OF THE IMPACT OF ALL OUR SERVICES.

Music Relief Foundation Financial Activities April 2021 - March 2022

Income Income and endowments from Charitable activites Enriching Lives - Holiday program Music School School Total Charitable activites Donations and legacies Grants Total Donations and legacies Total Income and endowments from Total Income Total Expenditures Advertising/Promotional Reproduction & Distribution Total Advertising/Promotional Bank charges Charitable Activities Community events Enriching Lives - Holiday program Music School Purchase of new equipment Staff education and welfare Payroll Expenses Taxes Wages Total Payroll Expenses Volunteer Total Staff education and welfare Total Charitable Activities Insurances IT Software Website Total IT Office/General Administrative Expenses Marketing Catering Total Marketing Rent or Lease of Buildings Telephone, Internet Total Office/General Administrative Expenses Other Professional Services Payroll Expenses Taxes	Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds TOTAL
	0.00 10,893.27 10,893.27 4,165.00 620.00 4,785.00 37,663.36 37,663.36 3,354.19 3,354.19
	£ 45,182.55 £ 11,513.27 £ 56,695.82 1,500.00 797.93 2,297.93 17,399.59 5,261.43 22,661.02
	£ 18,899.59 £ 6,059.36 £ 24,958.95
	£ 64,082.14 £ 17,572.63 £ 81,654.77
	£ 64,082.14 £ 17,572.63 £ 81,654.77
	£ 64,082.14 £ 17,572.63 £ 81,654.77 4,110.27 4,110.27 46.65 46.65
	£ 0.00 £ 4,156.92 £ 4,156.92 -0.01 -0.01 0.00 2,291.85 2,291.85 7,885.00 575.05 8,460.05 5,860.76 1,800.00 7,660.76 0.00 0.00 2,126.18 2,126.18 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,555.00 3,555.00
	£ 0.00 £ 3,555.00 £ 3,555.00 1,292.88 1,292.88
	£ 0.00 £ 6,974.06 £ 6,974.06
	£ 13,745.76 £ 11,640.96 £ 25,386.72 845.43 845.43 158.99 158.99 240.00 240.00 554.97 554.97
	£ 0.00 £ 953.96 £ 953.96 2,452.87 2,452.87 2,486.36 2,486.36 150.10 150.10
	£ 0.00 £ 2,636.46 £ 2,636.46 50.25 50.25 1,604.03 1,604.03
	£ 0.00 £ 6,743.61 £ 6,743.61 3,480.00 2,290.82 5,770.82 0.00 0.00 0.00

Wages Total Payroll Expenses Printing, Postage and Stationery Purchases Travel and Accommodation Travel Total Travel and Accommodation Total Expenditures Net Operating Income Other Expenditures Unrealised Gain or Loss Total Other Expenditures Net Other Income Net Income/(Expenditure)	6,565.00 6,565.00
	£ 0.00 £ 6,565.00 £ 6,565.00 97.54 97.54 135.00 48.90 183.90 0.00 1,440.30 1,440.30
	£ 0.00 £ 1,440.30 £ 1,440.30
	£ 17,360.76 £ 34,783.43 £ 52,144.19
	£ 46,721.38 -£ 17,210.80 £ 29,510.58 0.00
	£ 0.00 £ 0.00 £ 0.00
	£ 0.00 £ 0.00 £ 0.00
	£ 46,721.38 -£ 17,210.80 £ 29,510.58

Monday, Jan 30, 2023 06:21:02 pm GMT0 - Accrual Basis

Music Relief Foundation Statement of Financial Position

As of March 31, 2022

Fixed Asset Tangible assets Office Equipment Cost Office Equipment Depreciation Total Tangible assets Total Fixed Asset Cash at bank and in hand Barclays Current 00874930 COMMUNITY (2361) Current Total Cash at bank and in hand Debtors Debtors Total Debtors Current Assets Magdalene Adenaike Total Current Assets Net current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade Creditors Creditors Total Trade Creditors Credit Cards Magdalene N. Adenaike Total Credit Cards Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets (liabilities) Charity funds Opening Balance Equity Retained Earnings Surplus/(Deficit) Total Charity funds	Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds TOTAL
	0 0 0
	£ 0 £ 0 £ 0
	£ 0 £ 0 £ 0 35,000 19,086 54,086 4,847 4,847 0 0
	£ 35,000 £ 23,933 £ 58,932 3,883 3,883
	£ 0 £ 3,883 £ 3,883 0 0
	£ 0 £ 0 £ 0
	£ 35,000 £ 27,816 £ 62,815 1,124 1,124
	£ 0 £ 1,124 £ 1,124 0 0
	£ 0 £ 0 £ 0
	£ 0 £ 1,124 £ 1,123
	£ 35,000 £ 26,692 £ 61,692
	£ 35,000 £ 26,692 £ 61,692
	£ 35,000 £ 26,692 £ 61,692 4,003 4,003 33,585 -5,406 28,178 46,721 -17,211 29,511
	£ 80,306 -£ 18,614 £ 61,692

Monday, Jan 30, 2023 06:16:42 pm GMT0 - Accrual Basis