Our Strategic Aims (Sept 2003)

Object:
The object of the Society shall be to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals.

Musical
· To be a high profile musical ensemble within the community
· To consistently deliver the highest possible standard of musical performance
· To engage professional soloists and orchestras / musicians to accompany performances and therefore raise musical standards
· To offer a positive and creative environment in which opportunities exist to explore traditional repertoire in challenging ways
· To provide opportunities to learn and experience new music both as choir and audience members
· To perform exciting and innovative programmes

Membership and internal access
· To promote positive social interaction within the choir alongside a supporting and friendly environment in which to sing
· To promote membership of the choir to a diverse group of people
· To promote membership of the choir to a younger participant group.
· To have appropriate numbers within the choir to enable the successful performance of a variety of repertoire
· To develop and maintain regular participation in rehearsals

Audience and external access
· To develop a larger audience base
· To provide positive access to the choir and widen participation within the community
· To present enjoyable and educational musical performances to the community

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir Constitution.

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 21st October 2010
at Ashgate Croft School

1. Apologies:
Catherine Wyn Rogers (President), Philip Hanwell, Bill and Dorothy Hardwick, Joyce and Peter Davey, Susan Abbott, Rachel Abbott, Joan Dovener, Roger Plank, Angela Plank, Brenda Penney (holiday), Alison Sykes (holiday), David Lumb (holiday), Angela Ward, Dorothy Graham (holiday), Rosemary Robertshaw, Shirley Olynyk, Thelma Holling, Alison Wells, Michael Ladyman, Derek Pollard, Wally Tagg, David Mitchell, Andrew Heighton, Trish Duckett.

2. Present:
68 voting members

3. Appointment of Tellers:
The meeting agreed the appointment of Dodie Rutherford and Anne Kenworthy as tellers for the meeting

4. Minutes of the AGM 2009:
Signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Proposed by Tony Hallam
Seconded by Mike Little

5. Matters arising:
None

6. Chairman’s Annual Report:
The Chairman and Musical Director presented a joint report.

The full report is appended to these minutes and forms part of the annual financial statement to the Charity Commission. The Chairman highlighted a number of key points, namely:

Purpose of the Charity: the annual report is presented as required by the Charity Commission and focuses on both internal and external objectives.

The choir is now in a good position to confidently face the challenges of the next few years and the recession has had little impact.

The focus for 44th season is to continue to support the concert delivery team, i.e. concert manager, stage manager, the new publicity manager, to support the MD and to support the choir under the guidance of the newly elected chairman.

Value of Public Good – this reporting requirement of the Charity Commission
Explicit implementation of our Equal Opportunities policy and annual Choral Day, in particular, underline our objectives of bringing choral singing to the wider public.

Specific activities:
• Overall 750 people came to the 4 concerts, excluding Choral Day
• Participation in the Chesterfield Arts and Markets Festival, including free access to the pre concert rehearsal on the day.
• Choral Day: 79 participants.
• Committee members continue to provide free advice and guidance to other music making organisations when approached.
• Angela Walker, the committee secretary, is secretary of East Midlands Making Music committee, which benefits music groups across the region.
• The choir raised money for a local charity, Ashgate Hospice, from audience donations from the Choral Day free evening concert.
• The Christmas concert was part of the BBC ‘Sing Hallelujah’ promotion and half the proceeds from the raffle was donated to ‘Children in Need’.

Summary of Activities and Achievements during the year.
This year there had been increased input and support from the choir membership in support of the committee and they were all thanked for their efforts:
• Steven Roberts for excellent musical leadership
• Philip Hanwell and Joan Smith : two excellent accompanists
• The Front of House team, in particular Denis Ransby, who has found it necessary to relinquish the team leadership role. Team members have undertaken St. John Fist Aid training and full first aid procedures are in place for every concert.
• A number of choir members who have made individual contributions to a wide range of choir activities, both musical and social.
• The committee as a whole, with particular reference to Bob Parnham and Mark Jarvis; coming first again in the CAF On Line Award this year gave the choir a much needed £2,250. Angela Walker (Committee Secretary) collected the award at a presentation in London at the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales.
• Detailed job descriptions and named deputies for each post are now in place, to increase committee efficiency.
• The formal storage of electronic data has ensured that the data is now secure.

Progress on Strategic Objectives:
• Musical: the 43rd season focus shows further consolidation of musical progress with the journey’s effort paying dividends in performance. Increased rehearsal attendance demonstrates the ongoing challenge and development of the choir. This year we were introduced to the well known and highly respected singing teacher Vivien Pike, who led two sessions, to support the committee’s focus on developing the choir.

Membership & internal access:
• Improved rehearsal attendances had had a positive impact on concert performance, with the implementation of the new Rehearsal Attendance Policy. Anyone missing 3 rehearsals must seek the Musical director’s permission to sing in the concert, which places the onus firmly on the individual to monitor own attendance. The policy is consistently applied to all and reiterated before each concert and is published on the choir notice board and on the website.
• Sub-committees continue to be effective: Risk Management, Data Protection, Safeguarding Children, Equal Opportunities policies all implemented and making a difference. All have been reviewed and any recommendations presented to this AGM
• The various sub committees have had various degrees of success. The Risk Management committee continues to work collaboratively and this focus on risk has led to more effective and efficient management and performance of the choir in all areas. The small Data Protection, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Children sub committees have monitored the policies and reviewed then this year. The Fund Raising committee did not become established this year and is a priority for the coming season.
• The annual choir social was ably hosted by Andrew Heighton and demonstrated the talent within the choir and willingness to entertain others.

• Audience and external access:
• The Front of House team have over performed yet again and two members have achieved a First Aid certificate. The Front of House Manager, Denis Ransby, has found it necessary to retire on health grounds and we thank him sincerely for his dedication and efficient team leadership.
• Audience numbers showed a moderate increase in line with usual year on year fluctuation, despite the recession. The committee has realised that little additional activity will increase ticket sales: the majority of sales still come from the choir. The feedback received from those who come to our concerts is that our concerts are of high quality and very enjoyable and audience are apparently higher than for similar organisations in the area. The autumn concert, which was our first participation in the Chesterfield Arts and Markets Festival was the particular highlight of the year.
• Choral Day – Miguel Cámara’s enthusiasm and marshalling of choir members resulted in a great event, although numbers were down this year. Soloists came from the body of the choir.
• We also now have a Facebook fan page and a Twitter page. We are also about to start selling tickets on-line in the coming season.

7. Musical Director’s Report
In addition to the joint report Steven started by reviewing the year’s concerts.

• The work ethos had improved over the year and we always give a good concert.
• The lack of a proper concert / performance venue in Chesterfield is a real hindrance to the repertoire that can be performed and audience experience.

• The music had spanned a variety and depth of repertoire and confidence as individuals and as a group has improved.

• The programme presented this year has been challenging and innovative within the budget available.

• The choir is held in high esteem within the community, an example of which was being asked to perform the finale concert of the Arts and Markets Festival again later this year, after a very successful first participation last year.

• The choir continues to enjoy good leadership and management through the sound committee structure and the skills and commitment of committee members.

8. Treasurer’s Report and Annual Financial Statement
The full report is appended to these minutes and will be forwarded to the Charity Commission.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation the Treasurer took the meeting through the Balance Sheet and Statement of Financial Activity.

The Balance Sheet shows a total of £16,801 cash and fixed assets in the Accumulated Fund. Cash in the bank is £9,048.

Fixed assets include only the new staging, which depreciates at 10% per annum over 10 years, the current residual value being £7,753.

Statement of Financial Activity

Total Income is £1068 up on the previous year, but includes investment income showing a big decrease of over £500, due to lower interest rates and the Friends Scheme income decreased by £240 (over 50%).

However, this has been offset by fundraising efforts which show an increase of £238. Most significantly, Voluntary income has increased by almost £2,000 over last year

• Voluntary income was made up from:
• membership fees, which are broadly the same as last year.
• CAF Award received: Joint first place awarded for the on-line accounts, with the chair of the judges being very complimentary about the quality of our on-line accounts.
• Grants: £850 from Chesterfield Borough Council in support of the Arts and Markets Festival finale concert
• Donations
• Tax and Gift Aid

The increase was largely accounted for by the increased income from CAF On-line Award (£2,250 in 2010 as opposed to £1,000 in 2009) and late repayment of income tax on Gift Aid by the Inland Revenue (£1,549) from the previous financial year. The current year’s payment has also been delayed beyond the end of the charity’s financial year and will be shown in next year’s accounts.

Activities for generating funds remained at the same level: the sale and hire of music, the book stall and the monthly raffle make a significant contribution to this. Regular fund raising provides an invaluable income and its importance must not be underestimated.

Charitable activities (concerts) gave a slightly reduced income: significant here is the sale of tickets and programmes, making 90% of the total income in this category, the remainder being made up of sale of refreshments, donations and the Christmas raffle. This year ticket sales income was slightly decreased and hence the overall income.

Resources expended: £24,936 over the year, with a net of £1,923 excess of expenditure over income. Concert costs were increased, mainly accounted for by the orchestra cost in autumn 2009.

Concert expenditure: a loss has been made on all concerts, except the Christmas concert, which made a small profit. A small profit was also made on the Choral Day, but much less than expected because of the fall in numbers attending. The Choral Day concert donation went to Ashgate Hospice. The June 2010 summer concert had been enhanced with additional musicians when it was apparent that there would be sufficient funds available to do this.

Concert statistics: more had been spent on concerts this year, planned around budget forecasts and in line with the Reserves Policy, which was outlined. Rehearsal venue costs had risen by £230. Concert administration costs were reduced and the bulk of concert expenditure was on musicians. Overall 48% of total choir expenditure is related to staging the concerts.

The Treasurer reported that the accounts had been independently examined and signed off by the appointed independent assessor.

This concluded the Treasurer’s presentation of the accounts.

Questions from the floor
Tony Hallam asked whether any grants were expected in the current financial year, to which the Treasurer responded that £300 had been promised by the Borough Council for participation again in this year’s Arts and Markets Festival Concert. For other grants which are investigated as they become known about it is very hard for the choir to meet the criteria. Arts funding had been cut by 30% in the current government Strategic Review, meaning that approximately 300 Arts Council funded groups will disappear.

Simon Reynolds asked whether the charity is getting the best rate of interest available to which the Treasurer responded that our current bankers, the Charities Aid Foundation, give the best interest rates.

Resolution 1: That the accounts be accepted.
Proposed by David Boyce, seconded by Peter Smith and unanimously approved by the voting members present at the meeting. The treasurer was thanked for his hard work throughout the year and for the excellent and clear presentation of the accounts.

Thanks were also recorded to Deborah Lord, for her support and time given voluntarily to independently review the accounts.

Resolution 2: Re-appointment of the Independent Examiner.
Proposed by Mark Jarvis, seconded by Denise Phelps and the voting members unanimously approved the reappointment of Deborah Lord as Independent Examiner for the coming year.

Budget forecast for the year
The Treasurer then conducted a quiz designed to demonstrate the changes to costs and income over the last ten years. He used this to draw attention to the challenges that the choir faces in coming years as it looks to put on concerts and engage professional musicians.

On current plans we should expect our cash reserves at the end of July 2011 to be £7,000 approximately. The forecast was discussed in detail and the central importance of increasing membership numbers, ticket sales and fundraising reiterated. Stuart Robinson offered to lead a fundraising sub committee.

There are a number of key assumptions on which the forecast is based:

• The membership fee proposal is based on current membership numbers and an increase in fees to be proposed to the AGM later.

• Concert financial estimates were based on current sales. The choir will work with Derby Concert Band at Christmas 2010, which would hopefully bring in a wider audience.
John Smith raised a point about audience numbers, in that fewer concerts with orchestral accompaniment lead to diminishing returns. Even limited instrumental accompaniment transforms the whole presentation. He was willing to contribute financially to orchestral costs and thought that other members would do likewise. The Treasurer gave examples of a 40 piece orchestra costing £5,000 and a 60 piece orchestra £7,000 - £8,000.

9. Annual subscriptions
In light of the financial statement and the need to generate more funds from within the choir membership the committee proposed that the membership subscription rise by £10 per category, meaning that full membership be £105 and the concessionary rate £85. Students will retain free membership.

Resolution 3: That the membership fees for the coming year should be: full fee £105, concessionary £85 and students retain free membership. It was stressed that anyone with any difficulty in paying fees should have an individual confidential discussion with the treasurer and come to an agreement.
The voting members present voted unanimously to accept the resolution.

Resolution 4: that the Friends membership fee increase to £35, with a free ticket to each concert.
The voting members present voted unanimously to accept the resolution.

9. Election of Officers
The following were nominated for the 2010/ 2011 Season:

10. Life Membership
Joan Smith was awarded Life Membership for service to the choir over a number of years as deputy accompanist, provision of programme notes and being an ambassador for the choir wherever she travels. She was presented with a framed certificate to commemorate the award.

11. Any Other Business
i) Thanks 1:
Sheila McCree’s sister had asked that her thanks be passed on to choir members for support to Sheila as she had found rehearsal attendance increasingly difficult over the past year.

ii) Thanks 2:
Steven Roberts thanked retiring chairman Rachel Swann for effective and efficient management and leadership of the committee and choir over her period as chairman. The committee presented a gift to Rachel in recognition of the work she has done as chairman over the last five years.

12. Next Annual General Meeting
To be held on Thursday 17 November 2011, at 8.15 p.m. at Ashgate Croft School

Signed: _________________________________ Date: 17 November 2011

Peter Jones, Chairman

We Few, We Happy Few, We band of brothers (and sisters)
An article published in June 2006 in the magazine 'Reflections'

DATA PROTECTION POLICY

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir is a voluntary music making organisation open to all ages. It is a non profit making organisation and a registered charity. The object of the choir shall be to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals.

Mission Statement
The purpose of the choir is the study and practice of music in order to maintain a high standard of singing performance; to give members and audiences at concerts enjoyment of a broad range and, where possible, creative approach to music.

Policy Aims
The policy aims to articulate:
• the scope of the policy
• the rationale for recording and holding essential information about each choir member on a secure database;
• the responsibilities of the Data Manager and committee members who have access to the information;
• the responsibility of every choir member to keep their personal information up to date;
• compliance with the Data Protection Act (1998), updated October 2007, and the Privacy and electronic communications (EC Directive) Regulations (2003).

Scope of the Policy
The policy will apply to all manner of personal information, whether electronic or manual, held by any member about any other member of the choir. Specifically, the main source of information is the database held by the Data Manager, who is a committee member.

Rationale for Information Held
The name and personal contact details about each member are required in order to be able to make contact with the member on a day to day basis, and particularly in times of emergency, such as bad weather or rehearsal venue unavailable at short notice. This contact information should include name, address, telephone numbers, and e-mail address. Additional information such as birthday or wedding anniversary, may also be included if the member wishes. This information will be collected on a form to be completed at the first rehearsal attendance and passed to the Data Manager for inclusion on the Member Database. No other records will be held.

Sensitive data, defined in the Data Protection Act (1998) as data about the individual’s racial or ethnic origin, beliefs, health, sexual life and criminal convictions will NOT be required or recorded.

Responsibilities

Data Manager: Maintain accurate and up to date records that comply with the legal requirements, as detailed above.

Ensure that each member has given written permission for personal information to be added to the database.

Maintain security and password control, on a need to know basis only, for committee members.

Each time any information is added or changed, update the database and reissue to committee members who require a copy.

Develop and maintain a system to ensure an annual review of individual information held with each member.

Non active members’ details will be archived in another section of the database 12 months after the last rehearsal attended.

Maintain a Friends’ and Life Member database. When there is 3 years non renewal of Friends’ fee, the record will be archived.

Maintain a Choral Day Database of individual contact details, similar to the Membership Database, for which the individual has given written permission to be contacted about future Choral Days. For other events there will be an opt–in clause. The database will be updated annually and after three consecutive years missed, the record will be archived.

If a Member, Life Member or Friend dies, their details will be immediately archived.

Committee: All committee members who have access to this information will keep it secure on home computers (password protected) and delete out of date copy as soon as the new one is received.

The database is also password protected. The password will be issued to committee members and will be regularly changed

Individual Members:

Each new member will complete a Personal Details form at first attendance, after which music will be issued. This form will be passed immediately to the Data Manager, who will destroy it after entering the details on the Membership Database.

The individual member has the responsibility to give only that information that they are prepared to have stored.

All members have the responsibility to notify the Data Manager immediately of any change of personal details.

Information about all members will be respected and not divulged to a third party.

References

European Community Directive (2003). The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.

Making Music (2007). Information Sheet no.32, Data Protection.

Office of Public Sector Information (1998) Data Protection Act.

Policy implementation date: May 2008
Policy review date: September 2010
Reviewed: 21 September 2010

Signed on behalf of the Committee:

_______________________________________ Date:
Rachel Swann, Chairman

Safeguarding Children Policy

Terminology:

Child Protection is Reactive: looking to recognise abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action for such misconduct ot cease.

Safeguarding Children is Proactive: looking at keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from a much wider range of potential harm

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir is a voluntary music making organisation open to all ages. It is a non profit making organisation and a registered charity.

Mission Statement

The purpose of the choir is the study and practice of music in order to maintain a high standard of singing performance; to give members and audiences at concerts enjoyment of a broad range and, where possible, creative approach to music.
The choir seeks inclusion of young people as members and/or guest performers and to provide an open and friendly environment where they feel appropriately safe and protected.

ALL CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE, VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

The Child Protection Policy Statement

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir has a duty of care to safeguard all participating children from harm.

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir will ensure the safety and protection of all participating children through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by the NSPCC

The Policy
The purpose of the policy is to safeguard any young person participating in the organisations activities and to this end ensure that:

The welfare of the child is paramount.

All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse/inappropriate conduct.

?All suspicions and allegations of misconduct of any nature will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

?All members have a responsibility to report concerns to the Named Person.

?At concerts children in the audience are expected to be in the care of a responsible adult

Good practice guidelines

All members should be encouraged to promote the wellbeing and safeguarding of young persons. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.

Good practice means:
Always working in an open environment avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication.
Treating all young people equally with respect and dignity.
Always putting the welfare of each young person first.
Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with young people.
Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust and empowering young people to share in decision making.
Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to given guidelines.
Named Person keeping up to date with child protection issues.
Involving parents/carers wherever possible, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in activities.
Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
Requesting written parental consent if young people require transport to group organised events.
Requesting written parental consent to the use of photographic/filming equipment at events.
Named Person to monitor parental consent form when given to new member. It should be returned completed at the following meeting. For Choral Day: relevant forms should be returned completed prior to event or on the day where the child is not accompanied by a responsible adult.
Named Person to follow up any concerns raised about abusive and/or inappropriate conduct including bullying.
Consideration should be given to the kind of support that children, parents and members may need following any incident.
Consideration should be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.

Responding to allegations or suspicions
It is not the responsibility of any member to decide whether or not child abuse or misconduct has taken place.

Procedure
Detailed and contemporaneous records are to be completed regarding any protection issues.
Any suspicion/concern that a child has been the recipient of abuse or inappropriate conduct should be reported to the Named Person, who will take such steps as considered necessary under the guidelines to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk. This may involve a referral to social services and or police.
The Named Person may refer the concern to the social services to seek advice regarding the continuing participation of activities by the relevant parties.
The Named Person shall keep records as appropriate of any child protection issues.
The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.
The Named Person will deal with any media enquiries.
If the Named Person is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the Chair of Trustees of Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir.

Confidentiality
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only.

This could include the following people:
the Named Person
the parents of the person who is alleged to have been the recipient of misconduct
the person making the allegation
social services
police
the alleged perpetrator (and parents if the alleged perpetrator is a child).

Records should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (eg that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).

The Named Person currently undertaking this duty on behalf of Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir is DENISE PHELPS, who is suitably qualified to hold this position.

Declaration

On behalf Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir, we, the undersigned, will oversee the implementation of the Child Protection Policy and take all necessary steps to ensure it is adhered to.

Signed:

Name: (Named Person) Name:

Position within: Position within: Chair of Trustees

Date: Date:

The copyright for the content of the Child Protection Policy is owned by NSPCC (Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Guidance)

Implementation date: October 2008

Review date: September 2010

Reviewed: 21 September 2010

Equality Policy


CHESTERFIELD PHILHARMONIC CHOIR HAS A COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AND SEEKS TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION BY RECOGNISING THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir is a voluntary music making organisation open to all ages. It is a non profit making organisation and a registered charity. The object of the society shall be to promote, improve, develop and maintain public education in and appreciation of the art and science of choral music in all aspects by the presentation of public concerts and recitals. The society may have the following classes of membership: Singing, Non-Singing, Life, Honorary and Friends. Members may hold more than one class of membership at the same time.

Mission Statement

The purpose of the choir is the study and practice of music in order to maintain a high standard of singing performance; to give members and audiences at concerts enjoyment of a broad range and, where possible, creative approach to music.

Policy aims
The choir aims to create an open and friendly atmosphere where there is mutual respect and where no individual feels isolated or uncomfortable participating in its activities. This applies to members of the society, performing guests and potential audience.

The Policy
The purpose of the policy is to ensure that any participation of activities shall be open to all persons. No individual shall be refused on the grounds of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, race, religious beliefs or financial standing.
The Equality Policy Statement
Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir whilst recognising that the primary responsibility for the eradication of discrimination and promotion of equality lies beyond its control, it is the responsibility of all members of the society to promote equality and avoid unlawful discrimination.

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir seeks, to the best it is able, to eliminate discrimination and promote positive relationships and understanding between all persons participating in its activities. Harassment will not be tolerated and neither behaviour nor language will be offensive.

Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir will endeavour to ensure the policy will apply to all persons who have contact with the society both within the membership, including the Committee and all external organisations, including guest performers and potential audience.

Objectives

1) The membership shall be given the opportunity to ensure the Committee be made up of a fair and balanced representation.

2) Publicity material shall present appropriate and positive messages to promote widening participation.

3) Assistance to be tailored to each individual, where required, to facilitate participation in weekly rehearsals, including financial and physical help.

4) Assistance to be tailored to each individual, where required, to facilitate participation in concerts, choral days and other social activities, to both performers and audience.

Signed on behalf of the choir

___________________________________ Date: _________________
Chairman

Implementation date: October 2008
Review date: September 2010
Reviewed: 21September 2010

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have developed and implemented a Reserves Policy which was reviewed in 2005-06. The policy seeks:

The policy sets a minimum reserve level of £3000 at the end of the financial year. This may be adjusted higher if an expensive concert is planned early in the following season. Prior to any concert or major expense the reserve level should be sufficient to cover the costs of the concert or activity without income from ticket sales. Trustees have agreed actions to maintain reserve levels, which include regular in year reviews of budget forecasts; no expenditure to be agreed without the agreement of the Treasurer; revision of concert programmes if reserves cannot be sustained; and income from members to be encouraged early in the financial year.

The policy will be reviewed again fully in 2008-09.

HSE Manual Handling Leaflet

Rehearsal Attendance Policy