cco Connecting People T hrougtt Musc TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT For Year Ended 31 March 2023 Arrni AD¥ ALI CC)VMUNTIFS 4pr COMVJUfv41CATIOfvJ AccoLa Connecting People Through Music Trustee, Annual Re for Year Ended 31 March 2023
l. Perlod Covered by Trustee's Annual Report This is the Trustee's Annual Report of Accolade All Communities Art Communication (Accolade) for Year Ended 31 March 2023 and covers the financial period from 01 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 hereinafter referred to Accolade in this Report. 2. Governance. AdmlnlstratSon and Structure Accolade is governed by its constitution dated 21 April 2013 as well as its supporting policies namely, Safeguarding Poltcy, Equal Opportunities Policy. Volunteer Policy. and Financial Policy (introduced post March 2017). Copies of both the constitution and supporting policies are available on request in writing to the Charity Secretary at the registered address or alternatively by email to committee.accolade.acac mail.com. The constitution has been updated to reflect amendments adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on 15 October 2019 following advice sought from the Charity Commission. In May 2018, the organisation reviewed the branding first used in 2013, consulted the membership and has rebranded all correspondence and promotional literature using the logo seen on thi5 front of this Trustees report. Accolade is managed and administered by its Trustees who meet on a regular basis at committee meetings. Typically, committee meetings take place once a month but may be more frequent as and when required. The Committee has resumed in person meetings in accordance with any remaining COVID 19 restrictions. The Annual General Meeting took place on 4 October 2022. A Special General meeting took place on 6 September 2022. The Trustees are set out below. Where applicable resignations are listed. otherwise the Trustees were appointed at the AGM(s) and continued for the period covered by this Report: Janet McAllster- Stood down after 6 years on committee. Rosaleen Moore {Re*lected Chair October 2022) Colin Barr Re-elected as Committee member October 2022- Vice Chair and IT and Finance 5UPPOrt. Mary Cunningham - Stood down from committee after 6+ years. Sandra Parker- Stood down after 6 years on committee Phelim Convery- Relected as October 2022 Dora South- Elected at AGM. Joint Charity Secretary Josephine Campbell- Elected at AGM - Joint Charity Secretary Karen Rafferty- Elected at AGM Gerry Mulholland- Elected at AGM Anthony McShane- Elected at AGM
- Geographkal Scope. Charitable Punx. and Accolade Groups Accolade is registered as a charity in Northern Ireland based in Banbridge, Newry and the surrounding South Down area. Accolade is a community-based organisation which was formed to deliver arts-based programmes within an artistic, social. and educational context. In particular its charitable purposes through its variou5 artistic mediums include, for the public benefit, the promotion of equality and diversity (to include work with ethnic minorities and cross sections of the community). the advancement and improvement of arts and culture. the advancement of education, the promotion and preservation of physical and mental health, and the promotion of community harmony. Accolade's core groups include community choirs in Newry and until October, Banbridge, community orchestra. and a ukulele group in Newry.
- Special General Meeting- September 2022. A special generdl meeting was agreed in advance of the Annual General Meeting to: • share progress and challenges with members over the last 12 months followlng your request that groups continue. provide information about the role of a member of the management committee. discuss the possible change in structure seek input and support as to how the organisation could develop over the next 12 months and beyond. At the meeting held on 6 September 2022 the critical need for members to come fonmard to fill vacancies on the Management Committee and develop sub-committees to support the organisation was emphasised. The previous Management Committee's focus had been to deal with the immediate and short-term issues over the last year. A priority for the incoming committee was to determine the medium to long term future of Accolade and therefore the associated costs and appropriate funding streams to achieve this. To do this it will be necessary to review the current activities of Accolade in terms of its purpose, aims and objectives in the constitution. Thls sIuld involve the input of all Accolade members.
- Membership Current membership is 60. Steps were tsken to increase the level of membership. These included displaying notices about the meetings for the three groups and the times and venves of those meetings, in libraries in Banbridge. Newry. Warrenpoint: In churches and supermarkets like Tesco in each of these places and in Portadown and Craigavon. This information was put on fabook and
our website too. A three metre long banner was made to recruit new members to the orchestra, and was displayed on the railings at Tesco in Banbridge. after attempts to display it in the town were foiled by the council removing it. 6. Fundlng. Accolade continued to use unrestricted funds from April 2022 until the award of £10,000 following a successful application to the National Lottery Community Fund for a 12 month project entitled "Reconnecting People through Music. It was felt that with diminishing numbers and uncertainties about the future after covid, we would not be likely to get big lottery funding again and a funding application was made to the Arts Council. The amount granted was smaller than hoped for, £5000 was granted. This is Supplemented by the weekly donations from members and the donations received from such events as the Concert in Loughbrickland church, in Buttercrane and in the nursing homes. Funding covered facilitators, venue hire and monitoring and evaluation. 7. Actlvltles and Perforniances Soclal Event- June 2022 Thomas Davls Communlty Hub The Thomas Davis Community Hub was the venue for another night of fun and music attended by Accolade members family and friends. There was a programme of music featuring each of the groups and two pieces which the choir, orchestra and ukulele group played together. Once again, an open mic session proved what a tslented bunch of people we have with some unexpected performances including yodeling and poems. We all enjoyed supper provided by Courtneys and were pleased that there was an opportunity to record the evening for a promotlonal vldeo. Press coverage was good. Tom Moore was our compere/continuity artist for the evenin8. Suitsbly dressed and with some amusing and interestlng musical facts he ensured the evening flowed so well. Sadly, no further social events were managed throughout the year. Ukulele Group Progress The group was sorry to lose their leader in July 2022. This role had been undertaken by a member on a voluntary basis. An advertisement was placed for a new leader in August 2022 and a suitable appointment enabling the group to continue weekly sessions in September 2022. The group continues to meet on a weekly basis to develop new skills and learn new songs. After some difficulties in the group a decision was made to divide it into two groups to better suit the needs of players. Members of the group met to perform in nursing homes on several occasions where they were warmly welcomed and appreciated.
Community Cholrs- Newry and Banbrldge Progress Unfortunately our Choir leader also advised that she would need to stsnd down due to personal commitments . The appointment of a new choir leader was particularly challenging and ultimately a new leader was appointed for the Newry Choir only. It was agreed that the choir would meet on a weekly basis with Banbridge choir member5 welcome to attend. This did not work out for Banbridge members as the Newry choir met on a night that clashed with some other activities that the Banbridge members attended. Sadly we lost the Banbridge Choir as a result. The Newry Choir performed in Loughbrickland Church on 14th December and again together with the Ukuleles in Buttercrane on 15th December. Both successful and well appreciated performances. Community Orchestra . Progress The Management Committee were pleased that the orchestra was able to continue under the same leadership as the previous year. The membership and associated costs of the orchestra had been a concern for the committee. however, the past year has seen an improvement in the situation. The overall sound of the orchestra was greatly impacted by the loss of our founder members and some of their advanced muslc students and other experienced musicians i.e facilitators. With perseverance and hard work 4 new members were recruited to the orchestra to great advantage. The orchestra, under its new leader, and with still low numbers, did not feel ready for a Christmas performance. Bannside is still seen as a very accommodating venue for the weekly performances and any concerts. Collaboration with the other groups could be improved. Lack of communication has sometimes led to misunderstanding and possibly wrong conclusions. In view of this. and with Covid hopefully behind us, it was hoped that an occasional rehearsal night might be put aside for a social event where groups can mix and enhance relats'onships. This did not happen this year. 8. Challenges for 2022123 The Challenges for 2022123 Induded: • An absence of long-term funding.-.this challenge stbll remains. Malntaining and increasing membership....some new members have joined the choir and orchestra and we continue to work on this. The induction and training of new members of the Management Committee.....Kate Hamilton delivered training to the committee in May. The absence of a dedicated administrative post......thls still remains a challenge. • The recruitment of new leaders for both the Ukulele group and Choirs ... .much work went into finding new leaders forthe choir and ukuleles and this has been achieved. with the groups and leaders adjusting to the inevitably different styles of working. Encouraging smaller groups of members to perform at local events especially in care homes.... This happened on several occasions, but with sometimes fewer members than hoped for.
- Flnancial Position at Year Ended 31 March 2023 In summary. the financial position of Accolade at the end of the financial year was as follows: Cash at bank was £13.633 This amount consists of unrestricted funds i.e.. funds not attributed to specific funded projects (which is made up of voluntsry donatfions and membership fees). Unrestricted funds totalled £13,633 Restrlcted funds £0 In preparlng thls Report the Trustees have had due regard to thelr ststutory obllgatlons under the Charities Act and have had due regard to the 8uldance prepared by the Northern Ireland Charfty Commisslon on public benefflL The Trustee Report and Annual Accounts were adopted by the Management Commlttee on e.v ary Moore {Chalr) Dated: Josephlne Campbell (Jolnt Charity Secretary) Dora South (Jolnt Charlty Secretary)