Third Carrickfergus Band Secretary: Morris Cameron 14, Hillview Gardens Carrickfergus BT38 8YE Webslte: www.thlrdcarrfckband.co.uk Email: 1nfo@thlrdcarrickband.co.uk Trustees Annual Re ort for eriod endin 31st Janua 2024 istered Chari NIC 107508 The Third Carrickfergus Band incorporates the activities of two bands, the Third Carrickfergus Band, and the Third Carrickfergus Youth Band. Both bands are governed by the Third Carrickfergus Band Constitution/Rules and other critical governance documentation and managed by committees/trustees containing band members elected at Annual General Meetings. Despite a very challenging environment locally in terns of brass bands we have managed to improve our playing strength personnel wise and maintain a very gyood attendance at rehearsals and engagements. It has, however, been more challenging from a Youth Band perspective, as attracting younger players has been particularly difficult, but we have continued to attract older and more experienced players to counter this, which continues to change the dynamic of the gFroup. Paradoxically this has enabled us to improve musically with the younger members benefiting from the experience and ability of these new members. Consequently, both bands are now in a very strong position and continue to grow both in numbers and musically. We no longyer use the tern] Youth Band however, and now refer to this band as the Third Carrickfergus Training Band to more accurately reflect the spread ot. ages and abilities. This has not detracted from our efforts on youth development, and we continue to look for opportunities to generate interest amongst the younger cohort. The Senior Band has had another full cycle of contests, managing to be consistent and competitive throughout the year in all competitions and continues to be recoLinized amongst the very top brass bands in the country. We have also completed a very t.ull and engaging calendar of public concerts and civic events, the highlight being a joint concert with our Youth Band with Liuest soloists Glyn and Helen Williams from the world-renowned Cory Band from Wales. We also started a new collaboration with the wonderful vocal group Concordia from Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church which we hope will turn into a regular event at Christmas. This fits perfectly with our desire to build relationships with other local arts/music groups and support our local community g70ing fonvard. Members from both our Senior and Youth Bands continue to support the Summer Schools in both Arn]agh and Fern]anagh as they strive to develop brass playing throughout the province. Both these events have been vital in providing a pipeline of young brass players for the movement and the organizers are to be commended for their efforts in such a challenging environment creatively and financially. Finally, we again would like to thank all our wonderful members, sponsors and supporters as we had another incredible year financially managing to pay off the balance of the loan to purchase our new band hall. This exceeded all our expectations and is a testament to the strength of our organization that we are now the proud owners of our band hall and surrounding land, debt free and have already started on an instrument replenishment fund to ensure we continue to grow and serve the public.
Public Benefit Statement The direct benefit that flows from the purpose is that by playing and learning brass band music the cultural lives of our members and the general community across N. Ireland who hear us will be enhanced due to participating or listening to high quality live musical perforn]ance. The direct benefit that flows from the purpose is the consistent and continuous education and development of our members to achieve a high level of musical attainment with the promotion of high levels of self-esteem and in particular the targeted and accelerated development of our newer, younger, and less experienced members. We pride ourselves on being an integral part of the local community and the direct benefit that flows from the purpose is the promotion of Carrickfergus as an area that cherishes the Arts and produces high class musicians and ensembles with perfomiances and events of artistic value. As part of our community Spirit the direct benefit that flows from the purpose is with the sharing of players, music, instruments, and facilities with other bands in the locale and to reach out, connect and build relationships with other types of musical groups and organisations (choirs, schools, churches etc.) in the community. The direct benefit that flows from the purpose is the enrichment of the lives of our members with camaraderie, education and entertainment whilst supporting their physical and mental health needs. Furtherniore, community life is enriched through our members being part of the local community and our many public perforn]ances. The benefits of the purpose are demonstrated by the higyh levels of attendance at rehearsals and the attraction of new players to the group. Feedback from the general public, audience numbers at public perforniances are further indicators of the public benefit. The benefits of the purpose can be evidenced by our progression within the local brass band gyrading7 system to the highest level. Individual progression can be demonstrated with internal promotion within and between the sections of both bands. The benefits of the purpose are demonstrated with the number of concerts we perforni throughout the province and the regular participation in contests. The Purpose is demonstrated with the inclusive nature of our organisation and our policy not to discriminate on any basis. The joint concerts we have with other local groups. The Purpose is demonstrated by the number of members who have graduated as music teachers or gone on to a professional career in music. There is no hami arising from any of our puryoses. The charity's beneficiaries the firstly the members of the band (both Youth and Senior), the families who indirectly benefit from their development and finally the gyeneral public who follow and listen to the band in public performances. The only private benefits flowing from our purposes are firstly the payment of expenses to our musical director and occasionally travel and professional t.ees to a professional band trainer. We also offer a small bursary to Youth members going on to pursue a career as a professional musician. These costs are incidental and necessary to ensure the full benefit of our purposes are derived. Summa of Public Benefits We bring together members of the community from all levels of society for a collective musical experience. Our purpose is to provide a facility for any person to play or learn to play a brass or percussion instrument to the best of their abilities and to pass on our knowledge and experience to the next generations of musicians to keep the tradition of brass bands alive in our community. We offer support from a group of volunteers who give their time freely on either a one-to-one basis or as part of a group.
Administrative Details Governin Document Third Carrickfergus Band Constitution and Rules adopted in January 2016 Chari Address 70, Woodburn Rd, Carrickfergus Co. Antrim BT38 8PS Chari Trustees Chairperson: Vice Chairperson: Secretary: Treasurer: Librarian: Equipment Officer: Committee Member: Will Johnston Niamh Burgess Morris Cameron Roy Bennett Peter Graham Ryan McFaul Suzanne Alexander Summa The band comprises of Trustees as indicated in detail on the Charities Commission NI website and summarised above and are the Executive Committee of the band as elected at the Annual General Meeting. Declaration The Trustees of the Third Carrickfergus Band declare that they have approved the Trustees Report. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the band, s constitution and have been independently reviewed by a qualified person in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Commission Nl and are available to view on the Charities Commission NI website. Morris Cameron