Guidance

Since 2019, Making Music has worked with corporate member Printed Music Licence Limited (PMLL) - part of the Music Publishers Association - and Making Music members to create an amateur choir licence, launching this April. This licence allows leisure-time choirs to photocopy sheet music.

In response to queries from members about what to do about putting on events in support of Ukraine and about performing Russian music and engaging Russian performers, we have put together some guidance.

Showing support for Ukraine

Raise money to support aid efforts in Ukraine

This is something lots of groups are doing at their events. There are a few things to be aware of to make sure you are raising money so that you aren't moving away from your charity objectives, and that donations are used in the best way.

In this recording of our webinar (original event 18 March 2022), a panel of guest speakers discussed the challenges of recruiting and retaining volunteers, particularly in the context of the pandemic.

Volunteers are difficult to come by – increasing regulation, rising retirement ages, less regular working hours and less stable working lives have probably contributed to fewer people volunteering.

Gift Aid is a government tax relief that allows charities to claim an extra 25p for every £1 that an individual donates. There are rules within the Gift Aid legislation that also allow charities to claim Gift Aid on membership subscriptions, even though they are not donations. This guidance is about claiming Gift Aid on membership subscriptions.

These days, in most cases all it takes is a quick swipe of plastic to pay for something. With people increasingly expecting to pay by card, it can be extremely worthwhile for a leisure-time music group to take card payments. 

Whether payments are being made for member subscriptions, on the door ticket sales, donations or for merchandise such as CDs, a card reader and Point of Sale (POS) system can be very handy.

This guidance describes the current situation with regard to Gift Aid and the voluntary music sector. Please note that Gift Aid is available to UK recognised charities, regardless of whether or not they are also registered charities.

Making Music has partnered with the Singing for Health Network and other organisations to publish free downloadable guides on social prescribing for leaders of music groups across the UK, and for social prescribers (also known as link workers).

Our second meeting in the termly Climate Network series (original event 18 February 2022) saw contributions from Classical Declares Emergency and other speakers, providing inspiration and more ideas on what contribution music can make towards solving the issues associated with climate change - including a ‘repertoire corner’.

Our speakers discussed what contribution music can make towards solving the issues associated with climate change:

There are three types: we influence on your behalf; we offer practical and artistic support; and we connect you to each other and to relevant contacts.

In this recording of our webinar (original event 21 January 2022), a panel of guest speakers discussed population gender balance not being reflected in the music we play, sing and listen to, as per recent research. 

We welcomed:

• Elizabeth de Brito from The Daffodil Perspective, the world’s first gender-balanced, racially equitable classical music podcast

• Helen Sanderson, trustee for The F-list, founder of Guitar Circus and Head of Guitar Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama