ANNUAL REPORT
All Set Project
2022-2023
Registered with the Charity Commission for N. Ireland NIC102212
38 Milltown Lane, Portadown BT62 1TB T - 028 38852469 / E - allset@btinternet.com / www.fasttrad.uk
CONTENTS
To our Stockholders Objectives & Activities_____________1 Achievements / FastTrad detail___________2 Pictures from events______________2-3 Evaluation Criteria_______________3 Looking ahead________________4 Financial Summary _____________5-6 Charity Detail ______________7
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To our Stockholders
The All Set project is an inspirational offering, enabling young people to work with renowned professional artists promoting the traditional arts. The project continues to grow each year, using the strength of developing community links with Mayfair Business Centre, District Councils, Arts Centres and other cultural organisations.
Our mission is ‘ to widen the access and participation in the traditional arts’. We are dedicated to promoting the traditional art forms of dance, music & song, via the outreach programme – Fasttrad.
Our commitment is ‘to build a reputation in developing the interest amongst our clients as a unique, reliable, professional and attractive service reaching out to all’.
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the objectives of the charity set out in the constitution.
‘The association endeavours to advance education, understanding and appreciation of Irish and Scottish traditional music and dance among people of all ages but in particularly the young in N. Ireland’.
Statement of Compliance
‘In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries’.
The All Set Project recognises the Arts Council N.I. as its principal funder and realises that other financial support may not be achievable without the full backing of the Arts Council. The All Set Project delivers a frontline service via its outreach programme – FastTrad. The All Set Project relies on grants and the income from fees to cover its operating costs. In setting the level of fees, the trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of the Fasttrad programme for those on low incomes, families plus pensioners.
Summary of our annual programme
From April to June 2022, we were delivering FastTrad classes from Mayfair Building however at short notice at end July, we were informed that these premises were no longer available to FastTrad. Thanks to Eamon McNeill, we were able to commence enquiries at Ashgrove Community Centre and from October, the FastTrad programme was delivered from the new premises from October 2022. All Set delivered a rural community project- Together with Trad via Arts Council’s Rural Engagement Arts Programme. Community Foundation supported a music & dance project via Ulster People’s College. A summer scheme took place in July 2022 with support from Esme Mitchell Foundation and Clearway Recycling-Portadown.
Achievements
| % involved no. activities no. ofparticipants | |
|---|---|
| Peoplewitha physical impairment | 1852 |
| Ethnicminorities | 285 3 |
| Deprived neighbourhoods | 55 85 52 |
| LGBT community | |
| Olderpeople (aged 65+) | 10 85 8 |
| Childrenand young people (aged 0-24) | 88.0 8575 |
| Offenders / ex-offenders | |
| Other(adults 25yrs-65yrs) | 13 85 12 |
FastTrad
The FastTrad outreach programme attracts a mixture of young and older students interested in learning a musical instrument. High quality tuition enabled both rural and urban communities to avail of weekly classes in tin whistle, flute, button accordion, guitar, mandolin, banjo, concertina, bodhran, harp, fiddle and pipes. The FastTrad programme engaged them physically, emotionally and intellectually.
Music instruction often presents financial barriers for low-income families; FastTrad classes are offered at an affordable rate encouraging all backgrounds to become involved. It also accommodates families who are unable to pay the term cost all at once enabling payment throughout the term.
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A number of students were able to attend classes during the year free of charge. FastTrad is dedicated to enriching lives through music education and performance.
Summer Scheme Performance – Aug. 2022 in Maghery Community Hall.
The positive effects of engagement in music enables personal and social development due to the enjoyable and rewarding experience of learning an instrument. The quality of the teaching is central to this. We would like to thank all of the artists who delivered the FastTrad music classes: Niamh McGrane, Sean Breen, Ian Carmichael, Mary Fox, Paul McKernan, Patricia Vallely, Gerard Thompson, Caroline McCann, Emer O’Hara, Jenifer Dicks, Colleen McGrane, Ailin Litter, Marty Breen plus the artists who delivered workshops & performances – Len Graham, Lee Lawson, Deirdre Fox, Brenda Casey, Sinead Murphy, Peter Grew, Antoin Fox, Ronan Carmichael, Cian McGrory, Nuala Kelly, Shauna O’Keefe, Keith Burton and the younger budding musicians – Meabh Vallely, Analise Whyte, Shauna Carmichael, Catriona Carmichael, Cara McKernan, Elsie Allen, Orla McAtamney and Clodagh Lavery.
The All Set Project Evaluation Criteria
The All Set Project delivered successful programmes adhering to its annual marketing plan.
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All Set aims for artistic excellence, providing the means to promote, support and achieve it in a way that benefits the public
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Significant public benefit and broad accessibility based on a sound understanding of all served by the project is clear, measured, and documented. All Set is responsive to the needs of both local and regional communities, actively involving communities in project planning and development, broadening accessibility by identifying and removing barriers, building broader and more diverse audiences with deeper arts experience, encouraging the arts as an integral part of community life.
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Adequate and appropriate planning, including governance, management and human resources as they relate to the project, ensuring accountability.
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Appropriateness of the project budget. All Set ensures sound finances are in place, full accountability for programmes, and a credible and responsible project budget that shows appropriate allocation of resources and appropriate compensation to artists.
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Commitment to traditional arts education and to providing opportunities for meaningful arts learning. All Set delivers specific arts education activities and efforts are consistently made to educate audiences and patrons about the artistic activities All Set provides.
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Commitment to raising public understanding and appreciation of the traditional arts and artists and advocating support. All Set is committed to educating the public, and public bodies, on the value of the traditional arts.
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Leadership in meeting funding priorities and developing and sharing models and best practices. All Set will endeavour to accomplish significant highlights and to share the success of achievements.
Review of the past year and LOOKING AHEAD
We are a small, highly skilled and enthusiastic team, which has an excellent track record in innovative programmes and overseeing delivery. We enforce the Arts Council’s belief that ‘art has the ability to reach across boundaries, inspiring, teaching and bringing people together’. The Board of Trustees in its supportive role oversees the running of the organisation. All Set Project would like to thank the volunteers who assist at events throughout the year.
We believe that sharing music with others enhances lives by offering people the best experience and means to express their musical passions. FastTrad is playing a part in enriching lives with the art of music. We endeavour to attract new students over the next few years and develop the interest of traditional music to a wider
We had a change of premises from October 2022. With assistance from local councillor- Eamon McNeill, the FastTrad programme is delivered from the Ashgrove Community Centre. This venue is very secure going forward and ABC Council are extremely supportive of the FastTrad programme. We thank the staff for their continued support.
Alongside FastTrad, a rural arts project took place with assistance from the Community Fund via Ulster Peoples College. Rural engagement arts programme funding enabled elderly residents of Maghery & Birches areas to have access to a monthly programme of musical entertainment including Burns & St Patrick’s events. Younger musicians were also involved alongside FastTrad tutors. The focus will be on the promotion of FastTrad and we will continue to operate in a safe environment for all students and artists. FastTrad will continue to operate on Mon-Wed at Ashgrove Community Centre and on Thurs. at Maghery Community Hall. New funding will be sought for rural music programmes and we will continue to expand FastTrad in Portadown and hinterland areas over the next few years. We will seek funding for future summer schemes and other projects which can involve our young people enabling them to gain self-confidence and self-esteem through music plus enable older adults to socialize through music.
A special thanks to all the personnel involved in the delivery of FastTrad and the other music programmes. We are very positive and optimistic of the many future opportunities for the organisation and we will assist in making these possible.
Connor Moore Chair
Signed: Connor Moore ……………. 13[th] January 2024
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Financial Summary
Al Set Cross Cultural Project Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 31 March 2023 This schedule does not form part of the statutory accounts
| £ | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Income | 73,454 | 67,548 |
| Costs | (54,676) | (36,455) |
| Gross Surplus | 18,778 | 31,093 |
| Administrative expenses | (16,584) | (17,457) |
| Operating Surplus | 2,194 | 13,636 |
| Interest receivable | - | 15 |
| Surplus | 2.194 | 136.51 |
| Profit And Loss Account - Income Analysis | ||
| For the year ended 31 March 2023 |
| 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| Income | Arts Council Lottery Fund -Restricted Funding | 33,192.00 |
| Arts Council Rural Engagement -Restricted Funding | 8,982.00 | |
| Community Foundation | 2,000.00 | |
| Council Funding - Restricted Funding | 642.00 | |
| ESME Mitchell Fund | 2,000.00 | |
| Fast Trad Enrolments | 22,143.00 | |
| Halifax Foundation - Restricted Funding |
4,094.00 | |
| Miscellaneous | 250.00 | |
| STEPS | 150.00 | |
| Total Income | 73,453.00 |
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Al Set Cross Cultural Project
Profit And Loss Account -Expenses Analysis
For the year ended 31 March 2023
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Expenses | |
| Accountancy fees | 834.00 |
| Advertising and PR | 320.00 |
| Artist Fees -Community Foundation | 2,000.00 |
| Artist Fes -Rural Grant Programme | 4,040.00 |
| Artist Fes National Lottery Fund | 9,981.00 |
| Artists Fes -FastTrad | 18,045.00 |
| Bank charges | 136.00 |
| ESME Mitchel Trust | 2,030.00 |
| Instruments | 675.00 |
| Insurance | 620.00 |
| *Light and heat | 1,906.00 |
| Manager Fees | 18,579.00 |
| Rent | 3131.00 |
| Stationery and printing | 186.00 |
| Subscriptions | 29.00 |
| Sundry | 683.00 |
| Telephone and fax | 507.00 |
| Wages and salaries | 7,489.00 |
| Workshops | 3,880.00 |
| Total Expenses | 71,259.00 |
- Substantial electricity refund ni 2022 / 2023 year
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Charity Detail
Registered with the Charity Commission for N. Ireland NIC 102212 in June. 2015
Trustees
The following persons served as board members and trustees during the year Apr 2022-Mar 2023:
List of Office Bearers & Board Members
Chair - Connor Moore re-elected Dec. 2022 – member since Oct. 2019 Secretary - Naoimi Allen re-elected Dec. 2021 – member since June 2017 Treasurer - Dorothy McGarrity re-elected Dec. 2022 – member since Apr. 2019
Board Members
Ashley Farrell re-elected Dec. 2021 – member since June 2016 Siobhan Quinn re-elected Dec. 2021 – member since June 2013 Aileen Litter re-elected Dec. 2021 - member since Oct 2018 Danielle McKernan elected Dec. 2021- new member – Dec. 2021 Jen Sheils elected Dec. 2022 – new member – Dec. 2022
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Description
Type of governing document...................... Constitution re-adopted 18[th] Dec. 2014
How the charity is constituted.................... Accepted as a Charity by HM revenue & customs (June 2015)
Trustee selection methods......................... Proposed by a full member & seconded by another at AGM or when required at Board Meetings. A 3yr rotation in place.
Policies & Procedures adopted for induction & training
Child Protection Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy, Health & Safety, Code of Good Practice & Good Conduct, Financial Procedures Policy, Procurement Policy, Safeguarding of Children & Young People Policy, Covid Policy.
Organisational Structure and any wider network with which the charity works
The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees - Chair, Secretary, Treasurer plus Members. A financial sub-committee is also in place. An admin. officer is responsible for the day to day operation of the charity undertaking 10 hrs/wk.
The artistic delivery of all programmes is determined by the charity and is the responsibility of the project manager. The project manager has over 20 years’ experience plus is a specialist in traditional dance & music plus facilitation, teaching & performance. Artists on the Approved List of Artists are hired to provide their services as required. The charity delivers:
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a. Fasttrad outreach programme in Portadown providing music tuition at weekly classes
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b. Music performances within the local communities plus at All-Ireland Fleadhs
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c. Workshops covering song, dance and music
Public Benefit Statement
The charity trustees have compiled with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties.