ARMAGH PIPERS CLUB
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(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS?’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The trustees (who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law), present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025.
The trustees confirm that the Annual Report and Financial Statements ofthe company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company’s governing document and the provisions of the Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ Statement of Recommended Practice, applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (effective 1 January 2019).
Structure, Governance and Management The charity is operated as a Company Limited by Guarantee under Articles of Association adopted on 27 September 2013.
Its Board of between five and eleven Trustees, who are also the directors of the Company, is elected by and from the membership of the charity.
The Trustees and other volunteers are assisted by remunerated administrative support from the Company Secretary, and the education programme is delivered by a panel of24 hourly-paid freelance tutors.
At the Annual General Meeting held on 10 March 2025, seven of the serving directors (Bernadette Campbell, Brian Vallely, David Flanagan, Eithne Vallely, Judith McClenahan, Philip Rea and Ruth Acheson) were reelected, with Celine Daly and Thomas O’Hanlon also elected. Two directors resigned before the AGM (Thomas Smyth in February and Siobhan Scowcroft in March).
Objectives and activities
To further the charities purposes for the public benefit, the charity will apply its resources for the advancement of arts and culture, in particular the promotion of Irish traditional music and song, including the related music of Scotland, England, Wales, Brittany, Cape Breton and Asturias.
This will be achieved by delivering:
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(a) An Educational Program that will include all or any of the following:
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(i) weekly classes for the teaching of traditional music and song;
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(ii) publishing and making available books, recordings and other forms of educational media to support weekly classes;
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(iii) an Annual Concert and monthly Family Sessions to develop members’ confidence, performance skills and promote intergenerational learning;
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(iv) acoustic performances, recitals, master-class workshops and cultural exchanges to develop members' skills, technique and repertoire;
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(v) providing training and mentorship for tutors and students and prepare students for and facilitates formal music examinations;
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ARMAGH PIPERS CLUB
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
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(b) an Artistic Programme that will include all or any of the following:
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(i) the William Kennedy Weekend;
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(ii) uilleann pipe making workshops, providing education and tuition in pipe making and maintenance;
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(iii) promoting and presenting concerts, master-classes, sessions and other events;
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(iv) providing local musicians with work experience, career enhancement and professional engagement opportunities;
(v) developing links and working in partnership with other cultural organisations
The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
This is the ninth year of trading for Armagh Pipers Club as a company limited under guarantee and 2026 will mark its 60" year of operation.
The charity made a net inflow of funds during the year ended 31 July 2025 of £10,026.
In the year under review the charity saw a total enrolment in the education program of 205 students, and some 997 hours of teaching were delivered.
The William Kennedy Piping Festival returned in November 2024. This ended it’s 30-year run. A smaller event, the William Kennedy Weekend, is planned for November 2025.
During the year, three Fonn Friday concerts were organised featuring visiting artists, along with a carols concert, a Burns Night celebration, the Club's Annual Concert, five family sessions and events marking International Uilleann Piping Day and National Harp Day.
Financial Review
The balance on the general fund at 31 July 2025 was £45,272.
General Funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
The balance on the restricted fund at 31 July 2025 was £7,580.
In addition to income generated from tuition fees, the principal funding in the year under review was derived from grant aid from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Lottery funding.
An annual Service Level Agreement with Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council expired in April 2024 and a new open-ended SLA took effect from this date.
Details of all restricted funds are stated separately in these accounts.
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ARMAGH PIPERS CLUB
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025 —————————————————— eee
Going Concern
The trustees have reasonable expectations that the charity can continue its operations for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern principle in preparing the financial statements.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, to those relating to the operations and finances of the company and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to major risks,
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors and the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
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° Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; © Make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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© Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the trustees on 20 April 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
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John B Vallely
Trustee
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Date: 20 April 2026
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