Professional Studies 1: Working in the Creative Industries (SHR4C007R)

by

Rose,Callum (STUDENT)

Profession-Charity: Music and Me Scotland

For this assignment I will be exploring the practicalities and implications of starting a Charity called Music and Me Scotland (MaMS). The focus of this charity will be supplying music/music therapy to individuals with sensory loss.

Qualifications/experience/skills that are required to enter the profession

To set up a charity you need:

  • Experience with Sensory loss
  • Personal connections
  • Relevant teaching or support experience
  • Musical experience/understanding  
  • Understanding of legal and financial systems
  • Good Marketing and communication skills
  • Understanding of Leadership and Management
  • Knowledge of fundraising and grant writing
  • Advocacy/Policy understanding
  • Organisation and problem-solving skills
  • Community engagement

Experience with Sensory loss

When starting a charity focusing on Sensory needs (Visual impairment, Deaf, and Hard of hearing), it is essential to first have experience and awareness of sensory needs. This experience aids in ensuring that the approach being taken is beneficial, and that the needs of the targeted individuals are being met. Part of this experience may include- certification in sign language, or sensory impairment support. If not formal certification, previous working experience with sensory education will help when understanding how to effectively support participants e.g. knowing to make sure your face can be seen, clear speaking and signing, and reducing background noise when working with Deaf individuals (RNID, 2024).

Personal Connections

A charity is not a 1-person endeavour, it requires the effort of a team/community. Having these personal connections will help when it comes to sourcing expertise, getting further experience with needs, and gaining support for the charity. Support for the charity is essential, as to start a charity you need 3 trustees who will help manage and run the organisation (GOV.UK, nd).

Relevant teaching and support experience

MaMS is a charity which is focused on teaching/providing music. For the charity to be successful it is essential for the team to understand how to effectively teach and work with other people, so as to create a positive reputation and gain further recognition and support.

Musical experience/understanding

Similar to having relevant teaching experience, MaMS is a music charity. So, the teaching team knowing and understanding music is essential for it to be successful. Having additional knowledge of adaptive instruments like- the odd ball, tongue drum, bone conduction headphones etc (NORMANS EDUCATION, 2024), will aid in ensuring that sessions are fully accessible.

Understanding of legal and financial systems

Charities have to comply with numerous laws e.g. data protection, tax regulations, and non-profit laws etc. In Scotland understanding the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023, is essential for avoiding any possible legal repercussions. As well as understanding the legal, and financial obligations of the charity is essential for ethical business practice, as well as maintaining transparency and sustainability.

Good Marketing and communication skills

MaMS can only go as far as people are aware of it. So as part of maintaining relevancy and expanding the charity, it is integral to market so as to reach a wider audience and gain more support. As well as good communication skills so as to maintain any gained support.

Understanding of Leadership and management

As stated earlier, a Charity is not a 1-man operation. Due to this founding a charity means that working with other people and leading a team is an inevitability. This is why leadership and management skills are essential, as people have to be willing to listen and have trust that the charity can be successfully run.

Knowledge of Fundraising and Grant writing

Money will not be the focus of MaMS, but having financial resources will be essential for its success and sustainability. This is why knowledge of fundraising strategies, as well as being able to write successful grant applications e.g. applying for Business Support for Scotland (GOV.UK, nd), will be essential for being able to secure these financial resources.

Advocacy/Policy understanding

The formation of charities is typically because people want to create change. Understanding current deaf and blind policies like SAGoD (Deafblind Scotland, nd), and the advocacy efforts aimed at improving access can guide where the primary focuses of the charity should lie. As well as knowing how to influence changes in policy and create positive awareness.

Organisation and problem-solving skills

MaMS will start out small, at first only being able to support a few individuals. Being able to effectively organise will help with creating long term goals and how to achieve them, while problem solving will aid with fixing any complications that will arise when expanding.

Community engagement

There is no point in starting a charity if you don’t actually engage with the community. For MaMS, it would be engaging in local villages, and education. But more importantly engaging with Deaf communities and Visual impairment organisations, as these are the targeted communities, and a good reputation can only be developed by working with the people.

What are the duties and responsibilities of the profession

The responsibilities of MaMS will grow as the charity expands. But in the beginning the responsibilities and duties will be-

  • Program development, delivery, and evaluation
  • Community outreach
  • Staff management and PDP
  • Fundraising and Marketing
  • Managing equipment

Program development, delivery, and evaluation

For MaMS to be successful, meticulous session planning will be necessary. At first it will be creating a plan depending on the ability range of the participants. An important part of this will be taking into consideration- length of session, how many sessions have been arranged with the group, and what outcome we are wanting to achieve. Alongside looking at the session contents, looking at how the session will be delivered is equally important. This will be essential for developing the reputation of MaMS. Arguably the most important part of any session is reflection and evaluation. After every session we will consider whether the content was appropriate, what went well, and what needs to change. Doing all of this will help inform how the next sessions should be developed and delivered.

Community Outreach

MaMS can only work if there are people to work with, and the only way to gain participants is by contacting organisations and setting up meetings and sessions. Initially I would like MaMS to start in Morayshire (Highlands and Islands). This is because in rural Scotland there aren’t many opportunities for activities like this for people who have a sensory loss. So, the initial part of MaMS will be contacting and creating dialogue with local sensory services, creating interest and organising sessions, and knowing which schools it would be appropriate to work with. Eventually hoping to build a reputation like the Yorkshire based charity Music and the Deaf (2018).

Staff management and PDP

Initially the MaMS team would be small. Built only from myself and a few other musicians, especially while we are only localised in Morayshire. As for managing the staff, it would be having meetings to ensure that the whole team agrees on the content, as well as being comfortable on how to teach it. Introducing PDP to the team is important to develop their skills, so everyone has the necessary skillset to effectively support the needs of the participants.

Fundraising and Marketing

To sustain MaMS, having some form income will be needed, as OSCR states “Fundraising is a key contact between charities and the public” (nd). A possible fundraising event could be- Hosting a gig at Elgin town hall and using the profits to help fund the charity. Fundraising events like this will also serve as good marketing, as it will help us gain support from the community, but also gain awareness of what we are doing.

Managing Equipment

MaMS as a music-based charity, will require musical instruments e.g. hand drums, guitars, electric keyboards etc. While making sure we have instruments in stock, making sure they are fit for purpose is also important. So, re-stringing the guitars and tuning them, making sure the keyboards work, and drums are tuned and heads aren’t damaged.

What are the main Financial and legal issues that impact this profession

As a Charity MaMS will have to abide by a multitude of laws and financial regulations, some of the most prominent ones are-

Charity registration and compliance

MaMS is a non-profit organisation; this will serve as the legal structure and will have to be declared, as this affects how we are governed and how funds can be raised and spent. We will also have to ensure that the charity is legally governed by having at least 3 trustees, as well as having all the correct governing documents which will have the charities bylaws and governing order (GOV.UK, nd).

Data protection

Since MaMS will be delivering sessions to people with Sensory loss, we will have to abide by General Data Protection Regulation laws (legislation.gov.uk, 2018). These will influence how data is gained, protected, as well as ensuring that strict data management procedures are implemented to retain data protection.

Health and safety and Safeguarding regulations

MaMS will work with a vary of age ranges and abilities, so it is imperative that we have airtight Safeguarding procedures and training. This is crucial for keeping our participants safe as well as our staff. Health and safety regulations will have to be adhered to ensure safety of the participant, this can be done through risk assessments, making sure staff have relevant PVG’s (Protecting Vulnerable Groups via Disclosure Scotland), trained first aider, and proper equipment. This will all have to be done in guidance with the current child protection guidelines (Scottish Government, 2023)

Fundraising and Donation regulations

MaMS will have to adhere to ethical fundraising practices, as well as having transparency with the use of all collected funds (OSCR, nd). This will ensure trust of the community is maintained and legal repercussions are avoided.

Potential Marketing/Promotional aspects of the charity

During the startup of MaMS, outreach will be the main form of promotion. Opening dialogue, and providing example session plans with local sensory education services, while also discussing the main objectives of the charity. Once the services have displayed interest, it will be discussing logistics, accessibility issues, and how these sessions can be facilitated. Whether that be hiring a venue, or providing MaMS with details of relevant schools which are suitable for our services.

Personal and intellectual challenges presented and ways to handle them

MaMS will encounter many challenges especially when expanding, but at the start the biggest challenges will be-

  • Procuring instruments/equipment
  • Travelling with equipment
  • Planning sessions appropriate for ability
  • Teaching multiple instruments
  • Finding space to host sessions

Procuring Instruments/Equipment

Collecting funds and donations for MaMS will be difficult at the beginning. So, in the early stages MaMS will have to self-source equipment, such as – Hand drums, shakers, guitars, ukuleles, and keyboards. As MaMS reputation develops, there will be more fundraising opportunities, allowing for access for more equipment. But while starting out I will source foundational materials gradually.

Travelling with equipment

MaMS will start in Rural Scotland, and the only way to travel with all the equipment will be with a car. So, for the success of MaMS it will be required that I have a full driving licence beforehand.

Planning sessions appropriate for ability

From previous working experience in a school, I have created session plans to accommodate a various range of ability, as well as having experience with Deaf friends and family. But for MaMS success, it will be imperative converse with reliable secondary sources, to ensure that the sessions are appropriate as well as accessible.

Teaching multiple instruments

As a drummer, currently I’m only comfortable teaching drums. At the beginning of MaMS journey I will be the only teacher. So, it’s important while I am at Leeds Conservatoire to familiarise myself with other instruments, and be confident enough to teach them at a foundational level.

Finding space to host sessions

MaMS will need space to hold sessions. The easiest solution to this, is using Sensory services to find out which schools have individuals with sensory loss. Then offering our services within school time, saving on funds by not having to pay for space.

Career progression/development opportunities

In the early stages of MaMS, I will be doing most of the roles- Marketing, teaching, fundraising, and community outreach. During expansion, MaMS will aspire to create job opportunities for adults with sensory loss. This is especially important while electing trustees, as the trustees should be reliable consultants. As it is imperative that the choices of the charity reflect that of the needs of the community. Steadily building a team with a multitude of sensory loss is integral, because as a charity it’s important to supply individuals with applicable role models, as this will be help develop “social capital” within Deaf and visually impaired communities (Cawthon et al, 2016).

References