The UK Leading Bands Forum (UKLBF) recently held its latest on-line meeting of representatives where they discussed topics of interest and their proposed approach to them.

Share knowledge

These included their aim to continue to share knowledge and best practice with the collective agreement on what they said were, "...a number of issues affecting all members around funding, safeguarding and banding in the digital age."

The aim was to curate a series of events which they hoped, "can help bands navigate changes to flourish in the future."

Support and prize money

They also confirmed the ambition to, "better support future generations of musicians through various options of donations, workshops, and in-kind contributions".

In respect to contest prize money, a discussion highlighted how current levels and entrance fees of some contests were not aligned with the cost to bands for performing at the events themselves.

The UKLBF committed itself to "gathering relevant data around contest costs to advocate for fairer prize money and improved conditions at contests."

Player registration

Player registration issues at the British Open and Spring Festival Contests were also discussed, with concerns raised over what was referred to as, "...inconsistencies in player registration rules, especially involving players from overseas".

It was planned to seek further clarification on the matter.

Lack of parity

The Forum also stated that it would follow up with the British Open contest regarding adjudicator announcements, after it was felt that there was, "a lack of parity as this contest does not announce judges in advance as it does the Spring Festival, and in communications in 2024 to the UKLBF, the British Open said it would consider this point in 2025."

Parliament

Finally, the Forum stated that it "will explore ways to better engage with the Parliamentary Brass Band Group".

4BR understands that at present there is no All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Brass Bands despite a request being made with the support of the offices of John McDonnell MP for Hayes & Harlington in setting one up in July last year.

The next meeting will take place in May 2025.

The UKLBF committed itself to "gathering relevant data around contest costs to advocate for fairer prize money and improved conditions at contests."4BR

Membership

The members of the UK Leading Bands Forum are:
Aldbourne; Black Dyke Band; Brighouse & Rastrick; Carlton Main Frickley Colliery; Cory; EverReady; Flowers; Foden's; Friary Brass; Grimethorpe Colliery; GUS Band; Hammonds; KNDS Fairey; Leyland; Rothwell Temperance; the cooperation band; Tredegar; Whitburn.