Entered on the Register of Charities on 10[th] June 2020
Registered Charity: 1189871
Charitable Incorporated Organisation - “ Lancaster & District Schools’ Singing Festival ”
Financial year: 1 July 2024 – 31[st] August 2025
2025 Trustee’s Annual Report & Accounts
Objectives of the Charity
To educate the public in the art and science of music and in particular in choral singing for school children through their participation in the Lancaster & District Schools’ Singing Festival, its affiliated choirs, competitions and related musical events.
Background to the Singing Festival Charity
The Lancaster & District Schools’ Singing Festival (LDSSF) started over 75 years ago, with a legacy bequeathal for the festival to use the Ashton Hall at Lancaster Town Hall for one week a year. In 2014 community music organisation, More Music engaged with the festival to develop the event alongside the Lancashire Music Hub as part of their on-going development of a countywide vocal strategy. The Hub began a rejuvenation of both the organisational and artistic elements of the festival using the existing committee of a local schoolteacher, a primary Head and a schools music coordinator alongside the Hub’s Singing Lead, the Strategy Co-ordinator, professional musicians and the team at More Music.
Over a period of five years, the festival team changed the LDSSF model to reflect current best practice: clarifying and streamlining committee roles; creating teacher training opportunities; providing digital resource packs; recording tracks and performing with a live band and school workshops. After the event schools provide feedback digitally, helping to shape the future of the festival; both in its musical content and organisation.
Since 2016, there has been a significant increase in the number of schools and children engaging with the festival. The schools involved represent the diverse geographical and social groups within our area; from small rural schools, to large, challenging, urban primaries. The festival also seeks to feature performances from local KS4 and KS5 soloists in the intervals, which gives the children an aspirational insight into the potential future development of their instrument or voice.
1
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KS1 | 569 | 502 | 572 | 634 | 470 | 590 | 475 | 763 |
| KS2 | 591 | 601 | 711 | 845 | 950 | 977 | 944 | 1139 |
| TOTAL | 1160 | 1103 | 1283 | 1479 | 1420 | 1567 | 1419 | 1902 |
2020 activities
Due to COVID pandemic the 2020 Lancaster & District Schools’ Singing Festival (LDSSF) was cancelled. Although it was not possible to hold a singing Festival in March, many of the schools and individual children from participating schools took part in a Virtual Big Sing in June 2020, with materials (warm-ups, rehearsal and instruction videos) made available for free on YouTube in advance.
2021 activities
Given the ongoing COVID restrictions in 2021 preventing large gatherings or singing events, the charity trustees worked closely with the Lancashire Music Hub, and supported their initiative to develop instructional videos, songs, warm-ups and vocal games on the LMS You Tube channel at no cost to schools or individuals. The trustees actively promoted the LMH “Jump Up and Join In” project to all the primary schools in their area.
2022 “Music in Me” project
The LDSSF organising committee worked with the LMH Singing Strategy Group to develop virtual “Big Sing” opportunities for 2022 as COVID guidance meant in-person large singing performances were still limited. The festival also continued to engage with the Lancaster Town Hall team to continue the legacy of using the Ashton Hall for the festival, and they booked dates for March 2023.
Schools were offered the chance to be involved with the “Music in Me 2022” project which provided each school with a selection of songs, warm-ups, teaching notes, curriculum links for both KS1 and KS2, and a workshop visit from Debbie Pilkington or Emma Williams.
2023 Singing Festival: 20 – 24 March
After a three-year break the singing festival returned to the Ashton Hall at Lancaster Town Hall, with over 1500 local school children from 37 primary schools participating in the concerts. The programmes included newly composed pieces, pops songs and songs from around the world. The theme for KS1 was “Wonderful World” and the theme for KS2 was “We’re All in This Together”.
The festival was bequeathed the use the Ashton Hall for one week a year to promote singing in schools over 70 years ago (2018 was the 70[th] year concert). The festival trustees engaged with Lancaster City Council and have secured a commitment from them that the festival may continue to use the Ashton Hall for one week a year with no hire fee, however, the festival is required to pay for the council staff fees for the week.
2024 Singing Festival: 18 – 22 March “Olympic theme”
34 schools participated in the 2024 festival, with 11 participating in both KS1 and KS2 concerts. The team received very positive feedback on the festival – with teachers very much onboard with everything. There was no negative feedback from schools regarding the change in the registration fee payment and ticket prices. In addition to the usual schools
2
participating there were schools from Garstang and Cumbria who had registered via the LMH website. Indeed, the festival is now getting approached by schools on the Yorkshire border who wish to participate in the 2025 festival.
2025 Singing Festival: 24 – 28th March “Climate Change theme”
43 schools participated in the 2025 festival, with 17 taking part in both KS1 & KS2 concerts. The festival was full to capacity with just over 1900 children taking part throughout the week. The concerts featured songs ranging from traditional to contemporary, with an eco-themed programmed sponsored by Lancaster City Council’s Climate Change Team and Citizen’s Advice Bureau. The festival received very positive feedback from schools and parents. Registration fees and ticket prices remained unchanged from the previous year. Together with schools from Lancashire and the Cumbrian border, a school from on the Yorkshire border also participated in the festival. Lancaster City Council’s Climate Change team gave each child participating in the concerts a pack of wildflower seeds to sow at home or school.
Selection of feedback on the 2025 festival
"The Singing Festival has been an invaluable experience for our students," said Ian Gittins, Headteacher of Caton St Pauls C E Primary School "It has been amazing to see our children come together to create something so special. The impact on their confidence and enthusiasm for singing has been truly inspiring."
Gareth Farrington, a Westgate Primary School parent said “The kids all sounded amazing, and the energy was electric. We are already excited for next year.”
Dolphinholme School parent Tom Kidd added “In a world which we might perceive as divisive, this event is the antidote. It was heartwarming to see all the schools come together and sing their hearts out, conducted by the fabulous Emma Williams. I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a tear in my eye watching the joy on the children’s and parent’s faces.”
Financial Review
The trustees mindful of the economic environment considered their charging for schools and therefore registration fees and tickets remained the same as the previous year. Schools were again offered a £100 travel subsidy per Key Stage concert towards their coach costs.
Lancashire Music Hub (LMH) continued to provide financial support for the recording of the resources, however due to changing circumstances there was no funding provided for any Music Lead or Administration time. Moving forward the LMH’s financial support for the festival is to be withdrawn completely.
The festival is very fortunate to have received a generous donation from a local businessman for which we are very grateful. The donation will be paid split over two financial years (2024/25 and 2025/26). This donation ensures the festival has continuing financial security for the next few years.
The trustees are always looking for opportunities to leverage in-kind support from local professionals and in the previous year gained financial benefits from the design and development of a festival website at significantly reduced rates. Debbie Pilkington and Emma Williams also give freely of their time in arranging the festival and are only
3
remunerated for recordings, workshops and concert time. Trustees have been provided with the separate Income and Expenditure overview which forms the basis for the Annual Accounts return. The festival has the majority of its funds in a savings account £11,257, leaving £867.81 in the current account at the end of August 2025.
The year end date has been adjusted to 31[st] August to ensure all activities relating to the festival have been completed and in line with accounting period of the Income & Expenditure report.
Debbie Pilkington and Emma Williams are contracted by the festival on a self-employed basis to lead the KS1/KS2 workshops and concerts and Linda Frankland, who took over the administration role from Nicky Crossley in 2024, is also contracted on a self-employed basis for the festival’s administration duties.
Structure, governance and management
The LDSSF singing festival is run by a very small organising committee – 3 people (two of whom are trustees of the charity – Mrs Emma Williams, Mrs Debra Pilkington, Mr Paul Bowden and Mrs Linda Frankland. The focus of the committee is the development and delivery of a high standard singing festival which is inclusive for diverse geographical and social groups within our area.
In addition, the charity has four other trustees – Mrs Sarah Griffiths, Mr Nick Haughton, Mrs Elizabeth Wheildon and Mr Daniel Wood, who review the overall annual plans and provide valuable input.
All trustees and festival staff who have direct contact with children have the appropriate DBS clearance in place.
Administrative Information
Lancaster & District Schools’ Singing Festival is registered at Slyne-with-Hest, St. Lukes CE Primary School, Shady Lane, Slyne, Lancaster LA2 6JL.
Since COVID trustee meetings are held via zoom meetings with accordance with the festival’s governing document.
- The Charity Trustees are as follows:
Debra Pilkington Paul Bowden (Chair) Sarah Griffiths Elizabeth Wheildon Daneil Wood Nick Haughton
-
Administrator: Linda Frankland
-
Musical Advisor and KS2 conductor – Emma Williams
End of Report
31.03.26
4
2025 LANCASTER & DISTRICT SCHOOLS' SINGING FESTIVAL - iNCOME AND EXPENDITURE
| Festival bank account August 2024 (post 2024 festival project) | £2,961.76 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Access Account | £8,011.62 | ||
| £10,973.38 | |||
| EXPENDITURE | INCOME | ||
| School registration fees | £3,875.00 | ||
| Ticket sales(£4 per ticket) | £3,591.75 | ||
| Retiringcollection & Just Givingonline | £1,742.26 | ||
| Donation from CAB(printing) | £0.00 | ||
| Sponsorship (Three&Six Ltd) | £2,250.00 | ||
| Interest on IA account | £79.23 | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | £11,538.24 | ||
| EXPENDITURE | |||
| BAND FEES FOR FESTIVAL WEEK | |||
| Ben McCabe - 21 hours @ £35 | £735.00 | ||
| Martyn Stringer (1 day) | £184.90 | ||
| Paula Williams (2 days) | £280.00 | ||
| Brent Forbes (bass) - 21 hours @ £35 plus travel | £810.60 | ||
| Ian Gray (Keyboard) 2 days | £280.00 | £2,290.50 | |
| Festival concertprogrammesproduction | £253.20 | ||
| PA equipment(Ben Farmer equip& set up) | £300.00 | ||
| Sound engineers: | |||
| Hariet North | £0.00 | ||
| Saffie Maccon | £112.50 | ||
| Website hosting,Microsoft 365 Licence,Annual domain reg | £204.95 | ||
| Tiered seating£350 + VAT - LCC chargeback from R Leisure | £420.00 | ||
| LCC Staffingfor event | £812.64 | ||
| Lighting (workingwith Dukes Theatre) | £0.00 | ||
| DBS Clearances for Trustees(DP & LW) | £43.00 | ||
| PerformingRights Association | £100.80 | ||
| Flowers for NickyDonnelly | £39.98 | ||
| KS1: Debbie Pilkingtondelivery of 16 x 1 hr workshops and 2 x 3 hr concert rehersals @£33.00 per hour |
|||
| KS1: Debbie Pilkington travel: 110 miles at 45p per mile | |||
| Parkingfor Rehearsals(DP) | |||
| Concert expenses(DP): Flags,Confetti Cannons & Flowers | |||
| Expenses: Wine,Gift bags for band,Easter Eggs forperformers | £1,267.70 | ||
| Emma Williams:25 school visits @ £35/hour | £875.00 | ||
| KS2 Emma Williams travel 204 miles at 0.45p | £91.80 |
| Concert Week Mon/Tues am 2hrs Mon/Tues concert 2hrs Weds 5hrs Thurs 4hrs Fri 5hrs Total 18hrs@ £35/hr |
£630.00 | £1,612.10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Brown | £443.40 | ||
| Linda Franklandproject management for concert Preparation November 2024 - March 2025 Meetings, administration and set up of Ashton Hall 18.5 hours @ £15 |
£277.50 | ||
| Linda Frankland - Concert weekMonday 18th March - Friday 22nd March 28.5 hours @ £15 |
£427.50 | ||
| Linda Frankland - post concert week Administration of ticket returns from schools, collections and banking - 3 hours @ £15 |
£45.00 |
||
| Linda Frankland Parking during festival week - 3 x £4 and 2 x £3 | £18.00 | ||
| Sundries: Tea, Coffee, Milk, Bottles of Water, Buckets | £43.07 | £1,084.43 | |
| £8,985.20 | £11,538.24 | ||
| TOTAL | £0.00 | ||
| Festival bank account August 2025 closing Balance (post 2025 concert) |
|||
| Festival bank account August 2025 closing Balance (post 2025 concert) |
|||
| Current Account | £2,255.31 | ||
| Savings Account | £11,271.11 | ||
| TOTAL | 13,526.42 |