## The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch
Trustees Annual Report Charity Commission
## For the year to 30[th] September 2023
> Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103199
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|**NO**|**ITEM**|**PAGE**|
|---|---|---|
|1.0|Structure, Governance and Management|Page 3|
|2.0|Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships|Page 4|
|3.0|Membership|Page 4|
|4.0|The Pipe Band College NI - School Committee|Page 4|
|5.0|International Touring|Page 5|
|6.0|President’s Charity|Page 5|
|7.0|Meetings|Page 5|
|8.0|Financial Management|Page 5|
|9.0|Financial Policy & Procedures|Page 5|
|10.0|Financial Year|Page 6|
|11.0|Bank|Page 6|
|12.0|Accountants|Page 6|
|13.0|Bank Accounts|Page 6|
|14.0|Signatories to the RSPBANI Accounts|Page 7|
|15.0|Budget|Page 7|
|16.0|Financial Reports|Page 7|
|17.0|Accounting and other Financial Records|Page 7|
|18.0|Authorisation and Payment|Page 7|
|19.0|Payroll|Page 8|
|20.0|Insurance|Page 8|
|21.0|RSPBANI Reserves Policy|Page 8|
|22.0|Reference and Administrative Detail|Page 9|
|23.0|Charity Trustees|Page 9|
|24.0|Public Benefit Statement|Page 10|
Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC103199
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## **1.0 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: County Antrim, County Down, Mid Ulster and County Fermanagh. The Sections are made up of bands operational in their respective areas and each Section operate with a full structure of Office Bearers. Section Meetings are held 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.
Each Section operate with a Committee 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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## **2.0 Pipe Band & Drum Major Championships:**
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) delivered the following events during 2023:
- 18 February 2023 - 2022 All Ireland Solos & JAC Solos - Lisnargarvey High School, Lisburn (originally planned for September 2022 but postponed due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II)
- 22 April 2023 - Ulster Solos Piping & Drumming - Lisnargarvey High School, Lisburn
- 3 June 2023 - Mid Ulster Section Championships - Cookstown High School, Cookstown
- 17 June 2023 - Lisburn & Castlereagh Championships - Moira Demesne, Moira
- 1 July 2023 - All Ireland Championships - Ballymena Academy, Ballymena
- 22 July 2023 - Ards & North Down Championships - Newtownards Airfield, Newtownards
- 5 August 2023 - Heart O’Down Championships - Slieve Donard Park, Newcastle
- 12 August 2023 - Ulster Championships - Antrim Stadium Playing Fields, Antrim
- 2 September 2023 - UK Solo Drumming Championships - Greystone Primary School, Antrim
## **3.0 Membership:**
The RSPBANI Branch had 43 pipe bands in membership in 2023.
## **4.0 The Pipe Band College NI (PBCNI) - School Committee:**
The formal education programme delivers accredited qualifications and continues the nurturing and encouraging of young people to mix inter generationally, with those from a different background etc.
The programmes are delivered by the RSPBANI Pipe Band College on Saturday mornings, 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:
- Foundation Certificate
- SCQF Levels 2-8 for Piping and Snare
- PDQB Levels 2-6 for Tenor and Bass
The Pipe Band College NI 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 2-6 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.
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||||
|---|---|---|
|**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)||
The Pipe Band College NI operated in 5 venues across Northern Ireland including Banbridge, Broughshane, Enniskillen, Derry~Londonderry and Cookstown.
## **5.0 International Touring:**
No touring took place in 2023.
## **6.0 Presidents Charity:**
Our Presidents Charity 2023 had collections by three different charities at our various events throughout the season namely Brainwaves NI, Leukaemia & Lymphoma, and Guide Dogs NI.
## **7.0 Meetings:**
The following organisation meetings were held between 1[st] of October 2022 and the 30[th] of September 2023.
- Annual General Meeting
- 11 Executive Meetings
- 4 Branch Meetings
- 2 Finance Committee Meetings
- 2 Pipe Band College NI Meetings – School Committee
- 2 Contest Committee Meetings
- 2 Marketing & Communications Meetings
## **8.0 Financial Management:**
The Association has the following Financial Management and Procedures Policy:
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.
## **9.0 Financial Policy & Procedures:**
The RSPBANI Executive Committee is responsible for:
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- Safeguarding the assets of the charity.
- Preventing fraud.
- Ensuring that adequate financial records are kept to meet Constitution requirements and any relevant legislation.
- Ensuring that Annual Accounts in accordance with the governing document and relevant legislation are prepared:
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.
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.
The Finance policy and procedures will be reviewed annually by the RSPBANI Executive Committee and revised as necessary.
## **10.0 Financial Year:**
Financial Year 1[st] October to 30th September
## **11.0 Bank:**
Danske Bank, 62 - 66 Bow Street, Lisburn BT28 1YS Tel: 028 9004 5160
## **12.0 Accountants:**
Heanen, Stanfield and McKee, 30 Bachelors Walk, Lisburn BT28 1XN Tel: 028 9267 5836
## 13.0 **Bank Accounts:**
- All bank accounts must be in the RSPBANI name.
- New accounts may only be opened by a decision of the Finance Committee and approved by the RSPBANI Executive Committee. Decisions must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
- Changes to the accounts mandate may only be made by a decision of the Finance Committee, which must be minuted.
- Two people should be involved in counting cash income.
- All cheques must be signed by two signatories.
- The signatories are responsible for examining the cheque for accuracy and completeness.
- The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring accuracy and completeness prior to transmission.
- The signatories are responsible for examining the payment documentation (invoices etc.) prior to signing the cheque or authorising an Internet Transfer.
- Blank cheques must never be signed.
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## 14.0 **Signatories to the RSPBANI accounts:**
RSPBANI Treasurer: Mr Kenneth Crothers Hon President RSPBA: Mr George Ussher
## **15.0 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.
- (B) The draft budget will be prepared by the following three personnel:
- RSPBANI Chairman
- RSPBANI Finance Committee Chairman
- RSPBANI Treasurer
## 16.0 **Financial Reports** :
- A financial report will be prepared for every RSPBANI Executive meeting.
- The financial report will show Bank balances of General Account.
- The report will be prepared by the Treasurer.
## 17.0 **Accounting and other financial records** :
- (A) RSPBANI maintains an accounting system which records:
- Cheques and cash received and banked.
- Cheque payments, Internet Banking Transfers and other amounts paid from the bank accounts.
- (B) Every transaction will be entered into the appropriate book and will include:
- The date of the transaction.
- The name of the person money was received from or paid to and the full amount.
- A brief description of why the money was received or paid.
- An analysis of each amount under its relevant budget heading, where applicable.
- (C) All documents relating to receipts and payments will be filed in the month they are input to the system.
## 18.0 **Authorisation and Payment:**
- The Treasurer must approve the purchase of any item over £200.
- No RSPBANI Executive member or RSPBANI employee may authorise payment to themselves, their partner, or relatives.
- Invoices (or other receipts) should be matched and checked before payment is authorised. All goods received must be signed for; if unchecked they must be checked for completeness before payment.
- Before cheque or internet payment is made, it must be suitably authorised.
- • Two signatories must sign cheques.
- For Internet Bank Transfer the two signatories must sign the Authorisation form.
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- Once payment has been made, the invoice (or other receipt) should be marked “Paid”, together with the cheque number and date.
- All payments must be entered in the accounting system.
## **19.0 Payroll:**
- (A) All employees (including sessional and part time employees) must be asked to complete the relevant PAYE form/s before they receive any payment.
- (B) All staff changes and changes to terms and conditions of employment must be authorised and minutes kept by the RSPBANI Executive.
- (C) Payroll and all calculations will be made by suitably qualified independent person.
## **20.0 Insurance:**
- (A) Appropriate Insurance policies will be maintained to cover:
- Employers Liability
- Public Liability
- Contents
- (B) An inventory of all physical assets of the organisation will be kept and regularly updated.
## **21.0 RSPBANI Reserves Policy:**
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 owning 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)|- £4,000|
|Other Recurring Costs|- £2,000|
|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**|
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## **22.0 Reference and Administrative Detail Charity Name, Charity Number and Address:**
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch NIC103199
Unit 34 Crescent Business Park, Ballinderry Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim BT28 2GN
## **23.0 Charity Trustees:**
Chairman: Vice Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer: County Fermanagh Section Rep: Mid Ulster Section Rep: County Down Section Rep: County Antrim Section Rep: Finance Committee Chairman: Contest Committee Chairman: Marketing & Comms Chairman: Pipe Band College NI - School Chairman:
Mr Alastair Patterson Mr Alistair McCleery Ms Danielle McCartney Mr Kenny Crothers Mr Ray Hall MBE Mr Trevor Wilson Mr Wilby Hanna Mr Alistair McCleery Mr Winston Pinkerton Ms Danielle McCartney Mrs Patricia Pedlow Mr Winston Pollock
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**24.0 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.
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.|
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 5 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
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 the society.|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 greatly
outweighed by the gains in
public benefit. No harm arises
from these purposes.|
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