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Nelson & District Choral Society |
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The Nelson and District Choral Society is lucky to have Mr Hywel Davies as one of their members. With his background in Health and Safety, and at the behest of Making Music, Mr Davies wrote the Society's Equal Opportunities (EO) Policy, which was used by Making Music as an example for other choirs. As the Nelson and District Choral Society is a charity organisation it was thought that it would be right to have such a policy. In its creation, Mr Davies consulted at length with the Cardiff Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).
Making Music spoke to Mr Davies about the Positive About Equal Opportunities Award: |
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How does considering equal opportunities make a difference to your choir?
EO inspires consideration of disabled members. It is very important to promote the fact that choral groups are on the decline, maybe partly because they don't take enough notice of people's disabilities.
How do you think it benefits your choir?
We receive funding from Welsh Amateur Music and in the current climate it is likely that quite soon all recipients of funding from this body will be required to have an Equal Opportunities Policy.
The Nelson and District Choral Society have quite a number of disabled members and an awareness of their Equal Opportunities Policy inspires more consideration of them. For example, one of our members was sight impaired. She had a perfect pitch and a beautiful voice. We provided large copies of work and it did make a big difference to her and to the choir.
I wrote to Oxford University Press about a problem with sight impaired members reading scores and frail members holding heavy scores. The Equal Opportunities Policy and Award is mentioned at every AGM so members can amend it; which was suggested by the EOC in Cardiff when the policy was being prepared.
Does using the Equal Opportunity Award logo impact your choir's administrative activities?
The logo is used on the letterhead when submitting funding applications to Local Authorities, but has not helped in recruiting. There has been an unsuccessful recruiting drive for last three years.
Is there anything in particular you would say to a group to encourage them to apply for the award?
Members don't appreciate what goes on with music administration. You need an active committee that constantly reviews the relevant issues. Applying for and receiving this award ensures your committee remains aware, up-to-date and forward thinking.
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Content last updated:
4th July 2007 |
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 Making Music, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3NW |
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 Making Music Office, 020 7422 8280 |
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 info@makingmusic.org.uk |
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Liverpool Mozart Orchestra |
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Bishopwearmouth Choral Society |
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The process of receiving the EO award helped LMO develop a new procedure for finding and auditioning new members. |
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The choir made sure that their performance venue was accessible by replacing the staging to accommodate the elder members. |
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Sprotbrough Music Society |
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Aylesbury Festival Choir |
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This group is one of only two Promoting members among Making Music to receive the Positive About Equal Opportunities Award. |
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This choir considers equal opportunities to help them maintain a balance between achieving a high standard of performance and making music accessible. |
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