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Connecting People T hrougtt Mus*c
TRUSTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT
For Year Ended 31 March 2023
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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- Re￿lected 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

3. 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.
4. 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 sI￿uld involve the input of all Accolade members.
5. 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 fa￿book 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.

9. 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)