2023-11-30-annual-report

Registered Charity CCNI: 103803

Lord Londonderry’s Own CLB Flute Band Registered Charity CCNI: 103803 Trustees’ Annual Report for 01 December 2022 – 30 November 2023

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.

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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.

Main Activities of the year from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023

With the complete abolition of COVID restrictions the band was delighted to be able to resume much of its pre-COVID Christmas commitments, the first being a welcome visit on 3 December 2022 to Donaghadee Parish Church where we performed festive music at the Christmas Fair. On 11 December we played for the staff, residents and their families at Bloomfield Nursing Home in which one of our member’s mother resided. On 18 & 22 December we performed Christmas carols and festive music at the Tesco Extra Store in Newtownards at which we raised funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association NI.

On 23 January 2023 we held our Annual General Meeting 2023 at which we 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. It was at this meeting that our dedicated and committed Chairman, Ian McGimpsey, who had served in this position for 25 years decided it was time to step down. He was given a standing ovation in recognition of his tireless and enduring hard work over this period and continues to assist in maintaining responsibility for ensuring all percussion equipment is taken to and from every engagement at which the band performs.

The Flute Band Association’s (FBA) annual Own Choice Contest made a very welcome return to the Lisburn Civic Centre on Saturday 25 February 2023 at which the band performed a Latin American piece ‘Fandango’ and the Overture Zampa, at which we achieved second place but were successful in winning the Percussion Prize.

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On Sunday 26 April we accompanied the Ards and Lower Ards Girls’ Brigade Companies at their Annual District Parade in Newtownards.

On Saturday 22 April we returned to Strean Presbyterian Church for the FBA’s annual Solos & Small Ensemble competition at which one of our junior band members, Lucie Canmore secured third place in the U16 Concert Flute solo.

On Sunday 4 June another welcome was the return of the Belfast City Council’s park engagements and in Ormeau Park, Belfast we entertained the public who thoroughly enjoyed the great variety of music that was performed.

This was to be followed within the next week on Saturday 10 June by the FBA Entertainment Contest. It took place in Shorts Social Club, Holywood Road, Belfast at which the band featured an exciting programme of music commencing with The March ‘Gibraltar’ by Lt Col Richard Waterer (arr Mark Douglas); Music from The Greatest Showman by John Debney, Joseph Trapanese, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (arr Tim Gunning); Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen (arr Paddy Bell); and ending with our Finale piece - Allegro from Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach (arr Mark Douglas). We played exceedingly well and our performance was rewarded by not only being awarded the highest placed Grade 2 band, but by being placed second in the overall performance which was a major achievement as we competed against those who would compete in the Championship Flute section at some of the major competitions held throughout the year. In addition we were second in the March Prize, won the percussion prize and it was our own Piccolo Player, Tim Gunning, who won the Arranger’s Prize for his fine arrangement of The Greatest Showman.

Over the summer the band participated in three parades, accompanying LOL 1919 to their annual Divine Church Service, followed by the 12 July Parade in Bangor. The band accompanied Broomhedge RBP to Dromore for the annual ‘last Saturday’ parade on 26 August. On 6 and 20 August the band performed two further concert engagements, again displaying its full repertoire at Moat Park, Dundonald and Lemon’s Wharf in Donaghadee, respectively.

Once the summer was over the band members knuckled down to rehearsals for the North of Ireland Bands’ Association Contest which was held on Saturday 21 October 2023 at which we performed Les Patineurs by G Meyerbeer (arr Mark Douglas). We were placed second for our performance but yet again won the percussion prize. This event was preceded by the band accompanying on parade, on this occasion, the Ards and Lower Ards companies of the Boys Brigade at their Annual District Parade in Newtownards on Sunday, 8 October 2023.

The NIBA Contest on 21 October 2023 was to be our last engagement for this reporting period.

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.

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Annual Accounts and Financial Review

The Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 20 January 2024 was combined with the band’s first Christmas Dinner night out since COVID restrictions had been lifted and so was held at Cloud 9 Restaurant, Newtownards to review the financial year’s business of the band from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023, and to elect Officers and Committee members 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:

• ➢ The purchase of a second new G-Treble flute to enhance our competitiveness at local competitions.

At the end of the period (30/11/2023) the surplus funds of the band stood at £13, 654.03.

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 2023.

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Signed IAN MCGIMPSEY Trustee JOHN BOYCE Trustee JANET ELLIO Trustee DOROTrIY MCGRATH Trustee 31 January 2024