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2021-09-30-annual-report

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch

Annual Report and Statement of Accounts

For the year to 30[th] September 2021

Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103199

Annual Report for the year ended 30[th] September, 2021 Page No. Structure, Governance and Management………………………………………………..……1 Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships……………………………………………..……2 The RSPBANI Branch School…………………………………………………………………….......2 International Touring…………………………………………………………………………………....3 President’s Charity…………………………………………………………………………………………3 Meetings……………………………………………………………………………………………………....3 Financial Procedures……………………………………………………………………………………..3 RSPBANI Branch Reserves Policy…………………………………………………………..….……3 Reference and Administrative Detail…………………………………………………..…………7 Public Benefit Statement……………………………………………………………………..………..8 Chairman’s Summary…………………………………………………………………………..…........9

Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103199

Structure, Governance and Management

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch is a Branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band association and is governed by its own Constitution.

In order to service the whole of Northern Ireland, the Branch is divided up into four sections: Co. Antrim, Co. Down, Mid Ulster and Co. Fermanagh. The Sections are made up of bands operational in their respective areas and they operate with a full structure of Office Bearers. Section meetings are held regularly throughout the year and each has an Annual General Meeting. Each Section also appoints a representative who sits on the Branch Executive in order to maintain communication throughout the organisation.

All member bands operate with committees made up of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. This allows the channels of communication to remain open from playing members through to the Sections and Branch to the Executive Committee which manages the Branch and consists of all the appointed Trustees.

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Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) delivered no activities due to the pandemic.

The RSPBANI Branch had 45 pipe bands in membership in 2020.

The RSPBANI Branch Piping and Drumming School

The formal education programme delivers accredited qualifications the nurturing and encouraging of young people to mix inter generationally, with those from a different background etc.

The programmes delivered by the RSPBANI Saturday Schools are through a structured education programme, delivered by highly qualified vetted tutors, with graded exams offered at the end of each term in piping and drumming. These awards include:

The RSPBANI Branch School offers access to the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) recognised qualifications in Bagpipes and Snare Drumming. The qualifications in Bass/Tenor Drumming and Drum Majoring are currently recognised by the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB). The Piping and Snare Drum qualifications are available at different levels which reference directly their place in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Qualifications at Level 2 – 8 are available in Bagpipes and Level 3-6 are available for Snare Drumming.

Qualifications gained under SCQF can be referenced to the Qualifications most commonly studied for in Northern Ireland. The following table outlines the local equivalent qualifications. These qualifications are nationally recognised and can be added to the Student’s CV or Record of Achievement.

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Northern Ireland Equivalent
Level 4 Low grade GCSE pass (G-D) or NVQ Level 1
Level 5 High grade GCSE pass (C-A*) or NVQ Level 2
Level 6 GCE AS and A Level or NVQ Level 3
Level 7 Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Level 8 Higher National Diplomas (HND)

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The Branch School operated with limited numbers with tuition online

International Touring

No touring took place due to the pandemic.

Presidents Charity

No collections were made due to the pandemic.

Meetings

The following organisation meetings were held between 1[st] of October 2020 and the 30[th] of September 2021.

Financial Management and Reserves Policy

The Association has the following Financial Management and Procedures Policy

  1. Purpose

The RSPBANI Executive Committee will be able to ensure that the assets of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) are safely controlled and managed.

  1. Financial Policy

  2. (i) The RSPBANI Executive Committee is responsible for:

  3. Safeguarding the assets of the charity

  4. Preventing fraud

  5. Ensuring that adequate financial records are kept to meet Constitution requirements and any relevant legislation.

  6. Ensuring that Annual Accounts in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation are prepared

  7. (ii) To enable the RSPBANI Executive Committee to carry out these responsibilities, the Financial Procedures detailed below must be followed at all times by all RSPBANI Executive Committee members, staff and volunteers.

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(iii) A copy of this policy and procedures will be made available to RSPBANI Executive Committee members on their election to the Committee and it will also be made available to all relevant staff and volunteers.

  1. The Finance policy and procedures will be reviewed annually by the RSPBANI Executive Committee and revised as necessary.

  2. Financial Procedures

  3. (I) Organisational Information

Financial Year 1[st] October to 30th September

Ulster Bank 18 Bow Street Lisburn BT28 1BN Telephone: 028 9267 6223

Accountants

Heanen, Stanfield and McKee 30 Bachelor’s Walk

Lisburn BT28 1XN Phone: 028 9267 5836

(ii). Bank Accounts

All bank accounts must be in the RSPBANI name.

c. Changes to the accounts mandate may only be made by a decision of the Finance Committee, which must be minuted.

All cheques must be signed by two signatories.

f. The signatories are responsible for examining the cheque for accuracy and completeness.

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(iii) Signatories to the accounts:

Name: Role

Mr Kenneth Crothers - RSPBANI Treasurer

(iv) Budget

a) An annual budget, setting out the organisation’s financial plan for the year, will be prepared for approval by the Finance Committee and RSPBANI Executive Committee.

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(c) All documents relating to receipts and payments will be filed in the month they are input to the system.

(vii) Authorisation and Payment

(viii) Payroll

(ix) Insurance

b) An inventory of all physical assets of the organisation will be kept and regularly updated.

RSPBANI Reserves Policy:

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Reserves are the resources the organisation has or can make available to spend for any or all of its purposes once it has met its commitments and covered its other planned expenditure. RSPBANI needs reserves to meet its operational and programming costs for 6 months and to save towards achieving its long term corporate objectives of owing a centre of piping excellence.

RSPBANI requires restricted and unrestricted funds to meet its commitments so have created a policy for ensuring compliance. RSPBANI through its Finance Committee will agree the establishment and maintenance of reserves to meet its short-term commitments and long-term objectives. The reserves will be reviewed bi-annually through the Finance Committee and assurances reported to the Executive Committee of the RSPBANI.

The main source of income is generated through events run throughout the summer months. RSPBANI reserves are set out as follows:

Details
Unrestricted Funds;
Operational Costs - Wages (6 months) - £15,000
Office Rental & Insurance costs (6 months) - £4000
Other Recurring Costs - £2000
Programming Costs (advertising, promotions, equipment) - £10,000
Education Programme Investment - £14,000
Restricted / Designated Funds;
Capital Acquisition Savings / Premises - £40,000
Total Funds - £85,000

Reference and Administrative Detail Charity Name

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch

Charity Number

NIC103199

Address

Unit 34 Crescent Business park Ballinderry Road Lisburn Co Antrim BT28 2GN

Charity Trustees

Mr Ray Hall - Chairman Mrs Arlene Faulkner - Vice Chairman Ms Danielle McCartney - Secretary Mr Kenny Crothers - Treasurer/RSPBA Director Mrs Loraine Ronaldson - RSPBA Director Mr Dessie McLaughlin - Mid Ulster Section

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Rep Mr Wilby Hanna Mr Alistair McCleery Mr George Ussher Mr Adam Fawcett

Public Benefit Statement

Purpose Public Benefit Statement Comments
•
To
promote
and
encourage the culture and
advancement of Pipe Band
Music.

•
To
facilitate
and
encourage the teaching and
promotion
of
piping,
drumming and Drum Majoring
to the highest standard.
•
To
create
and
maintain a bond of Fellowship
with all Pipe Band Personnel.		 RSPBANI
promote
and
encourage the culture and
advancement of Pipe Band
Music
and
the
benefits
flowing from the purposes are
demonstrated through the
outcomes of staging pipe band
competitions throughout N.
Ireland
to
advance
the
standard of Pipe Band Music,
the provision of teaching
facilities,
the
bond
of
fellowship, the devising of
rules and the organising of the
All-Ireland
Championships
for
the
enjoyment and benefit of all
members and the general
public.

By
providing
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teaching
centres throughout N. Ireland
to enhance teaching learning
skills associated with each
discipline for the benefit of
members and the general
public.

A bond of fellowship is
maintained with all Pipe Band
Personnel through		 Due to the purposes of
RSPBANI it was important that
public benefit was clearly
demonstrated flowing from
the purposes. Each of the key
elements as appropriate to its
circumstances was addressed
by using the public benefit
toolkit.
The possibility of harm, for
example by physical injury
incurred by participation in
pipe
band
events
is
outweighed by the benefit
and significantly reduced by
the policies and procedures in
place to address such risks,
i.e. safeguarding and child
protection policy, health and
safety policy, code of conduct
for staff and volunteers.

Some
private
benefit
is
obtained by traders who sell
food
and
pipe
band
equipment
on
favourable
terms, but this is ancillary to
the main purpose and is

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•
To devise and operate
a proper system of local Pipe
Band Contest Rules.
•
To organise, facilitate,
regulate,
encourage
and
operate Pipe Band
Championships held within
Northern
Ireland
and
to
cooperate
in
similar
endeavours outside Northern
Ireland.

•
The enjoyment of the
rights and freedoms set forth
in
this Constitution shall be
secured
without
discrimination on any ground
such as sex, race, colour
language, religion, political or
other opinion, national or
social origin, association with
a national minority, property,
birth or other status.		 rights and freedoms set forth
friendships and fellowships
gained at competitions and
our education centres.

Local contest rules are put
forward at our AGM by notice
of motion and voted on for the
benefit of the membership
and general
public

RSPBANI organises 8 or 9 Pipe
Band
Championships
each
year
to
encourage
competition,
which
are
regulated by RSPBA rules.
The All Ireland
Championships is jointly run
alongside the Irish Pipe Band
Association and is alternated
yearly
between
the
two
countries. Members of both
associations and the general
public benefit from this.

RSPBANI
is
an
equal
opportunity organisation and
membership and all activities
and purposes are open to
benefit any member of
society		 greatly outweighed by the
gains in public benefit. No
harm
arises
from
these
purposes.

Chairman’s Summary

The RSPBANI Branch was largely inactive due to the pandemic in 2021.

As an organisation we value our membership bands and will continue to provide a governing structure where democracy is transparent right across the pipe band community.

The RSPBANI Branch has strong governance and has a sound financial standing.

RSPBANI Branch Chairman

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