2022-11-30-annual-report - Lord Londonderry's Own CLB Flute Band

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Registered Charity CCNI: 103803

Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Flute Band Registered Charity CCNI: 103803 Trustees’ Annual Report for 01 December 2021 – 30 November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the charity is to promote the playing, understanding and appreciation of flute band music in its various forms; to provide training for band members by way of regular practise, private and public musical engagements and taking part in contests; to provide constructive social interaction for young people in a safe environment; and to foster good relationships and participation with other musical organisations within the surrounding area.

The direct benefits which flow from the purposes include:

The enrichment of the cultural lives of the public of Northern Ireland through high quality musical performances;
The accelerated development of novice/younger players and the increasing standard of musicianship attained by our members;
The provision of an opportunity for any member of the public to participate in art through music on a weekly basis, at little cost, within an area of social deprivation, lacking in facilities for social development and interaction of young people;
Good relationships being fostered with other musical organisations.

These benefits can be evidenced through feedback from the public and audience members who have listened to our performances. The high standard of musicianship was evidenced though success in group contest and solo & small ensemble competitions. Young members regularly achieved higher musical grade examinations than peers who had not studied music within a group environment. Good relationships were evidenced through inclusion of all elements of the community and our policy not to discriminate against age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or beliefs, political opinion, marriage and civil partnerships.

Co-operation with other musical groups could be evidenced through the inclusion of guest players from local bands, and many of our concerts were joint ventures with other organisations.

The charity’s beneficiaries are the members of the band and more widely the public who have the opportunity to attend public performances of the ensemble.

There were no detriments flowing from the purposes and only one private benefit was generated from these activities in the form of payment of expenses to a musical director. This was an incidental expense and necessary to ensure a prominent level of training was provided. No harm was incurred.

Constitution

The band is governed and managed by the Committee of Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Flute Band in accordance with the band’s constitution.

Trustees

The four trustees at the time of this report were Mr Ian McGimpsey, Mr John Boyce, Mrs Janet Elliott and Mrs Dorothy McGrath.

Easing of COVID Restrictions

As we transitioned into the next financial year from 1 December 2021, many of the COVID restrictions imposed by the UK Government had been significantly eased. However, large gatherings at churches and council buildings were still restricted and it was not until end March 2022 that what could be regarded as the full lifting was completed. Consequently, at the start of our financial year these limitations continued to impact our participation in some of the events in which the band normally participated as follows:

Providing musical entertainment for Christmas events at local churches, schools, nursing homes, and supermarkets.
Participating in the Own Choice Contest in February 2022 at Lisburn Civic Centre.

Main Activities of the year from 1 December 2021 to 30 November 2022

The first event for this financial year was the AGM held on 24 January 2022 to review the financial year’s business of the band from 1 December 2020 to 30 November 2021, and to elect Officers and Committee members for the incoming year. All Officers and the committee were re-elected with no change in an en-bloc proposal.

Despite the Lisburn Civic Centre not being available to host the Flute Band Association’s annual own choice contest in February, the event was postponed until 2 April 2022 when it was able to be held at an alternative venue which was the Memorial Hall, Londonderry. We won the Grade 2 section, playing Western Front (D J Marshall) and Sicilian Vespers (Giuseppi Verdi. Darren Canmore, our conductor took home the Interpretation Prize whilst our percussion section won the Percussion prize.

The Solo and Small Ensembles were held on Saturday, 23 April 2022 in Strean Presbyterian Church at which Lucie Canmore was placed 3[rd] in the Under 16 Concert section.

As Church social events had now begun to open up we were invited to play at the Donaghadee Parish Church Summer Fayre on Saturday 28 May.

In April and May our focus shifted to rehearsals for the FBA Entertainment Contest, which took place on Saturday 11 June in Bangor Academy. We won the Grade 2 section having delivered an exciting programme which featured the March – Western Front (D J Marshall), Oblivion (Astor Piazzola) a piece arranged by one of our own band members, Robert Jackson,

Irish Washerwoman (Leroy Anderson), Cavalleria Rusticana (Pietro Mascagni) and concluded with the Allegro from Orpheus in the Underworld (Jacques Offenbach).

During the summer the band participated in three parades, accompanying LOL 1919 to their annual Divine Church Service, followed by the 12 July Parade in Greyabbey. The band accompanied Broomhedge RBP to Bangor for the annual ‘last Saturday’ parade on 27 August.

Additionally, during the summer the band was delighted to be invited by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to perform at its first park engagement since lockdown at The Moat Park, Dundonald on Sunday 7 August.

The band had been scheduled to participate in a Suicide awareness concert in September, an event which had been organised by Billy Tate of the Newtownards Branch of Suicide Awareness. Unfortunately, due to the sad passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II this had to be cancelled.

We took part in the Killinchy Tattoo in September, with three other local bands as part of the Livingston Days Festival.

In September we began rehearsals for the NIBA Championships, which take place each October. The event was held on Saturday 15 October in the Marketplace Theatre, and we won the Grade 2 section having played the Finale from Symphony no 3 by Camille Saint- Saens which had been arranged by our piccolo player, Timothy Gunning.

For the first time we participated in the Churchill Flute Band’s Entertainment Contest on Saturday 19 November, again held at the Memorial Hall, Londonderry at which we performed the same programme as that in the June Entertainment Contest. We were not placed at this

event, however, Timothy Gunning was awarded the Piccolo prize for his performance on the day.

Adherence to Charities Commission NI Statutory Guidance

In the conduct of activities, the band had regard for the public benefit requirements as set out in the Charities Commission Statutory guidance.

Annual Accounts and Financial Review

The Annual General Meeting held via Zoom on Monday 23 January 2023 reviewed the financial year’s business of the band from 1 December 2021-30 November 2022 and to elect the Committee and Officers for the incoming year.

The band had chosen to present annual accounts in an Income and Expenditure format, as permitted by the Charities Commission regulations.

A set of independently reviewed accounts were presented to the Annual General Meeting which demonstrated the funds of the band to be sufficiently in surplus to allow for the activities of the band to continue without interruption.

The report showed annual running expenses continued to be effectively managed and due to the close monitoring of income, which included the successful application of grant funding, sizeable donations and expenditure, the band was able to invest in:

➢ Purchase of a new G-Treble flute to enhance our competitiveness at local competitions.
➢ Enhancing the ergonomic aspects of our band hall by undertaking a comprehensive makeover, which included painting the entire hall, upgrading the toilet facilities, installing new carpeting, and implementing state-of-the-art LED lighting. These improvements were made to ensure everyone could enjoy a more comfortable and conducive environment for our weekly rehearsals and various social gatherings.

At the end of the period (30/11/2022) the surplus funds of the band stood at £15,845.28.

The Auditor of the band’s accounts, Nicky Brady, presented her report confirming her examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under Section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Her inspection included a review of the charity’s accounting records and a comparison with the presented accounts. Her findings indicated no concerns regarding the management of the accounts and confirmed their compliance with generally accepted accounting standards.

We the undersigned, have pleasure in presenting the Trustees Report for year ended 30 November 2022.

Signed IAN MCGIMPSEY Trustee JOHN BOYCE Trustee JANET ELLIO Trustee DOROTHY MCGRATH Trustoe 23 January 2023