Opening the door to a lifetime of music
Music Matters in Oswestry and The Borderland. Annual Report 2023-24 Charity Commission Reg. 1188830
Object
The object of the “Music MOB” is
To advance education for the public benefit among children and young people up to the age of 18 living in Oswestry and the surrounding areas who are in full time state-funded education or being home educated by providing funding for instrumental, singing and music theory teaching, and enabling access to musical instruments and performance opportunities with the aim of enhancing the knowledge, experience, enjoyment, understanding and performance of music .
Introduction
This year we started teaching in Ellesmere Primary School and at the Marches Secondary School where we have agreed to support students already learning as they transition to secondary education.
There was some disruption to violin teaching in two schools following the retirement of our first teacher. There were regrettable delays in a new teacher starting so some students had lessons from three different teachers and did not receive the full number of lessons we aim to provide during the year.
Sue Turner our music coordinator and founding trustee stepped away at the end of the autumn term. Her knowledge of music and teaching and expert organisation of our teachers was greatly missed. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the huge contribution Sue made to the success of MusicMOB. Sue continued some direct teaching to students. We have not appointed a new coordinator. Claire Stocker and Paul Myres took over as Acting Coordinators for the rest of the year.
Fundraising Events : Beginners Concert for Parents and Funders, Oswestry Youth Music Festival Bucket Collection, Whjittington Car boot Sale, Folk concert at Hermon Arts Centre.
Several of our students participated in an Orchestra Experience Day at the Marches School in October. Nine students took part in 13 categories at the Oswestry youth Music Festival in March. One woodwind student achieved first place, one achieved a merit, and one was commended; two achieved joint second (one mark behind the winner). One violin student received a Commended and one achieved a first-place trophy. 2 singers received Merits.
We received 14
grants from both local and distant trusts or organisations totalling £18,254 and two donations from public organisations totalling £1757.
We are extremely grateful to all our donors and supporters.
FACTS & FIGURES
Trustees
Mike Coppock (Chair), Sue Turner (education lead until 22 December 2023), Sian Tasker (Publicity and Fundraising), Paul Myres (Treasurer and Governance), Claire Stocker (from April 2023) Secretary, Phillip Springett (from June 2024).
Schools involved
Holy Trinity C of E Primary Academy, Bryn Offa C of E Primary School, The Meadows Primary School, Weston Rhyn Primary School, Ellesmere Primary School, The Marches Secondary School.
Number of students
From April 2024 we were funding music tuition for 103 students.
Number of teachers. 8
Number of lessons provided. (20 -30 mins) 1038
Range of instruments .
Violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, drums, trumpet ,Cornet, trombone and tenor horn Voice tuition is also provided
Number of instruments now owned by MusicMOB. 166
Grants and Corporate donations received during the year
Walker Trust Shropshire County Council Shropshire Masonic Charitable Trust Hilton-Jones Trust Cambrian Rotary Ellesmere Town Council Ellesmere Community Care Mary Hignett Fund, Rotary club of Oswestry Upton blues Festival Fund Weston Rhyn Parish Council St Oswalds Church Oswestry Borderlands Rotary Firework Fund Albert and Eugenie Frost Trust Oswestry Lions Ellen Barnes Charitable Trust Charlotte Hartey Trust
Financial Procedures
We have a bank account with Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Bank which requires dual authorisation for all payments.
We aim to hold a reserve for two terms of teaching costs to provide assurance to the teachers and the students that we will not need to end teaching at short notice if income falls. We seek external funding for the year ahead to be assured we are a going concern for at least an academic year. Reserve funds are held in a higher interest account with the Charity Bank.
Assets
Jul24 Jul 23
166 Musical instruments (10% devaluation) £10,800 £12,000 10 new donated instruments at £30 each (average) £300 60 Music Stands @£8 £480 Not valued Various Music Accessories £400 Not valued Total £11,980 Cash in hand £40.00
Produced by Miles Paul Myres Hon Treasurer until end of August 2024
Independently reviewed by AB Accountants (see report below)
Approved at Trustee board meeting 13 January 2025
Signed as correct representation
Mike Coppock, Chair Phill Springett, Treasurer