Making Music was expecting confirmation that Step 2 in the England roadmap would allow outdoor music rehearsals with more than six people from...
At Making Music, we have part furloughed the staff team from 18 January to 31 March, reducing staff capacity during that period by about one third.
After we took that decision and started telling people about it, I found out that many other organisations had been or are doing this – but they are not going public about it.
Why not, I wondered?
Is there some sort of feeling that using government support represents a failure? Is there a moral failing implied in taking up public subsidy? Or is it an unwillingness to let people know that you’ll be able to deliver less during this time, thus leaving staff on reduced hours desperately trying to complete their full-time workload?
It suddenly felt like I’d stumbled on a taboo, an elephant in the room, perhaps comparable to the fears around acknowledging issues with mental health: that it’s not done to admit you are struggling; best kept hidden, in case you get told it’s your own fault.
My point is this: we did not bring about a situation that means leisure-time music groups have not been able to operate for nearly a year. Making Music did not cause by its own actions the reduction in income that it is now experiencing as a consequence of this pandemic. So why shouldn’t we talk about it?
As a charity we have a duty to look to the long-term survival of the organisation, for the public benefit; and as an employer, we have a duty to staff to maintain their jobs for the future if we possibly can.
As a charity we have a duty to look to the long-term survival of the organisation, for the public benefit; and as an employer, we have a duty to staff to maintain their jobs for the future if we possibly can.
So it seems prudent to make use of a government scheme which is designed exactly for that: keeping jobs viable. And it also seems right to shout about the fact that we are working really hard as a charity to minimise costs and make sure Making Music is still around in the long run. Haven’t enough scandals shown us that charities need to embrace transparency and openness more readily?
I am really pleased to report that since telling our member groups about our furlough plans, we have been overwhelmed with messages of support, for which we are truly grateful.
Most groups are themselves small charities and have been juggling finances for the last year and so we really appreciate that they understand Making Music is doing all it can to ensure it can continue to offer fantastic support and inspiration to them post-pandemic, and forever more.
Barbara Eifler, Chief Executive
