TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
ULSTER COLLEGE OF MUSIC
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Draft Accounts
Charity Number NIC101695
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
ULSTER COLLEGE OF MUSIC
TRUSTEES REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| CONTENTS | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Members of the Management Committee and professional advisers1 | |
Trustees Annual Report, Structure, Governance, Management,2 |
|
| Public Benefit, Activities | |
| Donations, Achievements | 3 |
| Exam Results | 4 |
Student Numbers |
5 |
| Tutors and Administrators, Founding Principles | 6 |
| Maintenance, Signature | 7 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 8 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 9 |
| Balance Sheet | 10 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 11-18 |
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 1
ULSTER COLLEGE OF MUSIC
MEMBERS OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
Registered charity name Ulster College of Music Charity number NIC101695 Principal office 13 Windsor Avenue Belfast County Antrim BT9 6EE
THE TRUSTEES
The trustees who served the charity during the period were as follows: Ms Angela Alonso Dr Norman Cairns Mr Ashley Fulton Mrs Astrid King Mr David Preston, resigned from the committee at the AGM (19/03/2024) Mr Kevin McEnoy Mr Conor Maxwell Mr David Rutherford Ms Nicola Wilson Ms Kate Coyle, appointed 19/03/2024 Mr Sean Walsh, appointed 13/08/2024
Independent examiner
RBCA Limited Chartered Accountants Linenhall Exchange 26 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BG
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 2
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of members of the management committee and professional advisers on page 1 of the financial statements.
AGM 2024
The AGM was held on 19[th] March 2024. The committee elected at the AGM were: Ms Angela Alonso Mr Ashley Fulton Mr Conor Maxwell Dr Norman Cairns Mrs Astrid King Mr David Rutherford Ms Kate Coyle Mr Kevin McEnoy Ms Nicola Wilson
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The college is a registered charity and legally constituted as a Trust. The college is managed on a day to day basis by an administrator, an assistant administrator and a bookkeeper, who are in turn responsible to The Management Committee. This committee is made up of tutors, parents and students of the college.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
Ulster College of Music meets the Public Benefit as follows:
Advancement of education
The college's objectives are to promote the advancement of education through the promotion, development, maintenance and study, teaching and practice of music and dramatic art in Northern Ireland.
Advancement of the Arts and Culture
The Ulster College of Music meets this purpose by engaging students in musical activities and performing concerts to the public.
It is well established that students of the arts - of all ages - learn to think creatively and to solve problems. Musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. Playing an instrument requires students to work with others, developing valuable team skills which can be carried over into all aspects of their lives. Since learning an instrument takes time and effort, our students learn patience and perseverance. Feedback from students and their parents tells us that playing music leads to higher concentration levels, improved coordination, reduced stress levels and better social and listening skills. Musical performance is an important tool that leads to improved self-expression which, once again, transfers into all aspects of life. The College Trustees and Tutors believe that playing an instrument, singing or acting promotes confidence, self-esteem, improved mental health and leads to greater contentment.
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
2024 Page 3
Draft Accounts
DONATIONS
We received another generous donation of £2500 from Alastair Nelson. We have spent this on a new professional lever harp and a harp trolley.
Stefanie Bell included a legacy in her will to award the Derek Fleetwood Bell scholarship annually to a deserving student at the Ulster College of Music. We are very grateful to Stefanie Bell for her generosity and for the opportunities this will provide to future musicians.
The National Lottery Fund awarded us a grant of £4282.00 in October 2024 to run the Community Keyboard classes for two more years. We are very grateful for this funding.
Mary Higgins donated a piano as well as £300 for refurbishing it. We are very grateful to have this instrument for our new proposed teaching room next year.
In October 2024 we received £50.00 gift aid from HMRC
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The College provides music and drama lessons to people of all ages from all nationalities, social and religious backgrounds. We welcome students from all the equal opportunities groups based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, disability, religion or belief, pregnancy and marital status. We provide individual lessons, group tuition, children's classes and GCSE and A-level music. The Chamber Music Class is a truly inclusive group of musicians from primary school to pension age. Our Musical Fun Foundation Course starts with Mini Music for the youngest children and progresses to Musical Games for the school age children. Many adults enjoy taking up lessons for the first time to learn a new skill or take up an instrument once more which they had not played for a while. We conduct lessons at times that suit people's busy lives - including afternoons, evenings and weekends.
Our Easter Recital on 16[th] March 2024 was very well attended and raised £21.97 towards expenses.
The End of Year recital was held at St. Thomas Parish Church on 8th June 2024. Ticket sales raised £336. The costs of putting on the recital were £300.86 for piano tuning, accompanist’s fees and refreshments.
The three Christmas recitals on 14th December 2024 were very well received. Donations: £2.62. Expenses for refreshments and accompanist’s fees £166.67
Our annual carol concert at the Kennedy Centre on 21[st] December 2024 was very enjoyable and raised £159.22. Thank you to the Chamber Music Group and their families who helped with the collection box and jingle bells for making it such a successful event.
The Chamber Music Group performed in Glencraig Camphill Community on 23[rd] November 2024. Our soloists played very well and the audience enjoyed the concert. We received a donation of £300 to add to our refugee bursary fund.
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 4
EXAM RESULTS
The College enters students for ABRSM examinations, GCSE, AS and A level examinations and festivals throughout the year. The theory students have been entering for online exams individually, and feedback has been good.
Practical Exams Summary 2023
| Board | Period | Total number of Candidates (UCM & other) |
Results UCM | Results other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABRSM Private Visit atUCM |
March 2024 |
20 | Pass 5 Merit 4 Distinction 11 |
|
| ABRSM Private Visit at UCM |
June 2024 |
42 | Fail 1 Pass 12 Merit 19 Distinction3 |
Pass 3 Merit 4 |
| ABRSM Private Visit atUCM |
December 2024 |
35 | Pass 2 Merit 17 Distinction 13 |
Distinction 3 |
GCSE and A level results 2023
| SUBJECT | NUMBER OF CANDIDATES |
A* | A | B | C* | C | D | E | U |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE | 6 | 4 | 2 | ||||||
| AS LEVEL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| A2 LEVEL | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 5
Student Numbers 2025
| Lesson Numbers |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 02/03/ 2018 |
14/03/ 2019 |
07/02/ 2020 |
25/03/ 2021 |
10/02/ 2022 |
24/02/ 2023 |
26/02/ 2024 |
03/03/ 2025 |
| Piano | 102 | 81 | 78 | 74 | 105 | 99 | 115 | 147 |
| Voice | 31 | 36 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 33 |
| Woodwind | 37 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 37 | 33 | 30 | 32 |
| Brass | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 24 |
| Guitar/Harp | 29 | 36 | 32 | 28 | 40 | 40 | 49 | 46 |
| Strings/Violin Viola |
74 | 64 | 56 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 71 | 59 |
| Cello/Bass | 9 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 27 |
| Individual Theory |
4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Drama | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Musical Games Mini Music |
11 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
| Recorder | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Suzuki Violin | 12 | 15 | 21 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Group Theory |
14 | 15 | 26 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 15 |
| GCSE/As/ A level |
22 | 25 | 16 | 11 | 23 | 12 | 18 | 14 |
| Aural | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Chamber Music |
13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
| Traditional | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Percussion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Choir | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 10 | ||
| Sound Art Composition |
- | - | - | - | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 399 | 369 | 368 | 316 | 385 | 377 | 424 | 461 |
| Number of Students |
321 | 317 | 319 | 289 | 360 | 354 | 383 | 392 |
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 6
TUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
We engage services of highly qualified and experienced tutors from all over the world and make this expertise available and affordable to as many people as possible. We are very pleased that the following tutors have joined us:
Oksana Churikova started teaching piano in September 2024, Maebh Martin started teaching violin and viola in September 2024, Grainne Meyer started teaching harp in October 2024, Kristina Hedley joined as bassoon and clarinet tutor in January 2025 and Conor Masterson joined as violin tutor in February 2025.
We would like to thank the tutors who have left for their contribution to the College: Nathan Howe, clarinet, left in June 2024, Neil McErlean, violin, left in June 2024, Ruth Millar, harp, left in October 2024, David Preston, guitar, left in December 2024.
We would like to thank our administrators, Patricia Pepper and Emily Knowles and our bookkeeper, Paul Megarity for their wonderful work. They make the College a pleasant place to visit and work in, ensure excellent communication and keep on top of a very diverse range of duties.
We are very fortunate to have an excellent cleaner, Monika Konik, who has been keeping the College beautifully clean for over a decade.
FOUNDING PRICIPLES
The College's philosophy reflects that of its founder Daphne Bell MBE, Hon. FTCL LRAM LTCL - that music should be accessible to all and we work hard to achieve this. 4 bursaries are available to some families and students who may otherwise not be able to afford music lessons. One bursary is available for a refugee to allow them to restart their music education. We have been fortunate to get nearly continuous finding for the Community Keyboard Skills class for a few years. This allows free access to music to people from diverse backgrounds, including refugees.
The wellbeing of children and young people is of the greatest importance to all the tutors and staff as well as the trustees of the College and our designated child protection officer arranges Access NI checks and child protection training for tutors and staff. Our designated officer is Miss Sheila Kerr. All our tutors have attended child protection and fire safety training courses and we have designated fire wardens on every floor of the building.
MAINTENANCE
During the summer break and at other times volunteers helped with repairing window sills and surrounds, washing carpets, repairing toilets, cleaning PVC, replacing lights, decorating and carpeting Ulster Orchestra room after water damage as well as gardening and line painting in the car park. Thank you to all the volunteers for their time and hard work.
J.B. McCoy Building and Decorating Service was engaged to fit boards to level the floor in Ulster Orchestra room, fix the front door and fire escape door and paint the outside window sills. The cost was £2328.00.
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024
Page 7
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The College received a total income of £ 257,331 for the year 2024 from which there was a surplus of £ 31,007.
Reserve as 31[st] December 2024 totalled £199,092
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
The college will continue to focus on enhancing the range of music tuition to be offered to students. As the building is often fully booked we are planning to add an extra teaching room by converting the garage into a sound proof studio. Planning permission has been applied for.
We have booked J.B. McCoy to replace the roof, including fascia and soffit boards and fit snow guards over the front door for safety during the summer of 2025. We may fit solar panels at the same time, providing planning permission is granted.
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustee’s annual report was approved on 2[nd] April 2025 and signed on behalf of the trustees by:
Mrs Astrid King, trustee
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025 AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] DECEMBER 2024