Policy

Procedure

2.1 Membership of the Wigton Choral Society is open to anyone of suitable musical ability. In order to assess musical ability prospective members are invited to an audition with the Musical Director.

The Secretary shall invite prospective new members to attend an audition. As part of the invitation to audition, the Secretary shall ask for any special needs (e.g. wheelchair access) to be made known. If any special needs are made known the Society should accommodate these.

2.2 Practices.

The venues used for the Society’s practices shall be DDA compliant. This applies not only to the practice room itself, but ancillary facilities such as toilets.

Practices are normally held in the Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton which is DDA compliant. However if a practice is to be held in a different venue, the Secretary shall check to see whether these are DDA compliant. Any booking arrangements made in the Society’s behalf shall be conditional upon the facilities being DDA compliant. (for practices at St Mary’s Church – see 3.1 below).

2.3 Performances

The Society should make arrangements for choir members with any disability to be seated in an accessible location

The Musical Director shall make a seating plan taking into account any choir members with disabilities, and also assign other choir member(s) to give assistance as the need arises.

2.4 Music: Blind or Partially Sighted Members

The Society should make arrangements for the hire of music in Braille or other formats if the need arises.

The Secretary on completion of an audition and the person being accepted into membership of the Society, will establish whether there is a specific need for music in a non-standard format. If there is, the Librarian shall be notified of this. The Librarian should obtain music to suit the member’s need.

2.5 Subscriptions

Subscriptions are a major source of income for the Society. The membership fee is agreed each year at the Annual General Meeting of the Society. The Society shall make reductions in membership fee taking into account people’s ability to pay.

The following reductions should apply:

• People under the age of 25 in full time education shall pay no subscription.
• People of state pensionable age shall have a reduction in subscription as agreed each year at the AGM
• Other people (e.g. on Low Income Support) may apply in writing to the Treasurer for a reduction in fee. The Treasurer shall refer this to the officers of the Society, who may agree to a reduction as the situation merits.

Details of these subscriptions rate shall be given in the Society’s annual prospectus and on its Internet web site.

Policy

Procedure

3.1 Concerts organised by the Society at St Mary’s Church, Wigton.

This venue is disabled accessible, but does not have a disabled accessible toilet. The Society shall make arrangements which effectively make this venue DDA compliant.

There is a DDA compliant toilet close to the church, which opens with a ‘Radar’ key. The Society has access to such a key which shall be available on the nights of concerts and practices at St Mary’s.

The availability of this facility shall be advertised in concert programmes, and the door steward shall be in possession of the key.

3.2 Other venues used by the Society for its own concerts.

These shall be DDA compliant.

In the event that the Society using another venue for a concert, then an inspection of the venue should be made, and it shall be a condition of the hall booking that it is DDA compliant.

3.3 Church Services.

The Society performs at Evensong from time to time. The church building should be DDA compliant.

3.4 Concerts organised by others at which Wigton Choral Society performs, (other than as part of Cumbria Rural Choirs).

These venues should be DDA compliant.

The Secretary shall write to the organisation promoting the concert, informing them of our Equal Opportunities Policy and our wish that the venue should be DDA compliant.

3.5 Cumbria Rural Choirs

(This is not within the Society’s control)

The Rural Choirs intends having its own Equal Opportunities policy.

3.6 Concert Ticket Prices

Income from ticket sales is essential for the Society’s finances, and therefore the scope for giving discounts on ticket prices is limited.

Children and people in full-time education are given a reduction in price for concerts organised by the Society. Details of these reductions are published in the Society’s annual brochure, and on its Internet web site.

Policy

Procedure

4.1 Soloists, Instrumentalists, orchestras and musicians generally taking part in the Society’s concerts.

The Society shall engage musicians purely on the basis of musical ability and affordability with respect to the Society’s budget.

Copies of this policy should be made available to anyone who has a contractual undertaking with the Society.

This also applies to the Society’s Musical Director.

4.2 Suppliers and contractors

Anyone entering a supply arrangement with the Society shall be engaged on the basis of suitability for the job/task and affordability within the Society’s budget.

The person appointed as Concert Manager, or any other officer of the Society or committee member should keep records of what arrangements have been made with suppliers or contractors and on what basis such people were selected.

4.3 Financial contracts other than with musicians.

Anyone entering a contract with the Society of value more than £500 shall be subject to competitive tendering.

The Society’s Treasurer shall keep records of contracts placed, and the basis upon which the contractor was selected.