NEWS UPDATE RE ORCHESTRA CLOSURE
JULY 2018
Dear Patrons and Supporters
You may have heard that the orchestra committee has had to make some decisions regarding the future of the orchestra. The number of members declined significantly over the last year due to other commitments such as sporting events representing the county, and we also had a few members leaving us for university this year.
Despite our best efforts we have been unable to recruit enough new members to function as an orchestra, and we felt this is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, our teachers are based in other areas and we do not receive referrals from local schools.
We were also faced with huge challenges and workload in terms of the new GDPR regulations, DBS requirements, child protection rules, trustee responsibilities and the day to day running and planning of fundraising events and concerts. We unfortunately do not have the numbers of staff or volunteers to manage all of these key issues, and with only a small number of members expected to continue in September it is no longer feasible to continue.
We have therefore taken the decision to close the orchestra in its current format.
The committee and teachers hope you understand this decision has not been taken lightly and we are all very upset that we cannot continue. The children have been a wonderful and talented group of musicians to work with, and some have been playing with the orchestra for over 7 years.
We are now in the process of winding down the orchestra and completing the necessary procedures to enable the charity to officially close. We have taken advice from the Charities Commission and in accordance with the RYO constitution document any funds or instruments remaining following the closure will be donated to local charities in order to further music education in the local area.
Many thanks again for your support.
Rochdale Youth Orchestra Committee