The fund is a registered charity with the registered number 264606
The registered address is:-
Manitoba
Le Villocq Lane
Castel
GUERNSEY
GY5 7SF
The fund is governed by rules approved by the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers (the Guild) in General Meeting.
The Trustees, all of whom have served throughout the year ended 31/12/03 are:-
On 1st January 2004 Mr S Castle was appointed a trustee in place of Mr R Cater who retired on 31st December 2003.
The Trustees of the fund are the Guild Master, the Honorary Guild Treasurer, the Honorary Guild Secretary and two additional Trustees one from each diocese, elected triennially by the Guild in General Meeting.
The independent examiner of the fund is Mr P Clarke ACIB.
The principal bankers are Lloyds Bank plc.
The activities of the Bell Restoration Fund are restricted to the area covered by the Anglican Dioceses of Winchester and Portsmouth. None of the Fund’s assets is a permanent endowment. There are no borrowing limits imposed in the governing rules. The Trustees have no specific investment powers.
The main aims of the Funds are to provide financial assistance by way of grants to Churches, within the area mentioned above, incurring expenditure on the provision, maintenance, improvement or acoustics of their bells and bell installations, or for the maintenance of the fabric of their towers and belfries, to enable their bells to be properly rung in full circle.
There has been a further decrease in our income. The profit donated from the sale of the Hampshire Bells CD was £500 this year compared with £1,000. Since the CD went on sale we have received £3,500. A magnificent amount for restoration. We have no control over interest rates, which are the lowest they have been for a considerable length of time.
Gift Aid can be used effectively by tax paying Guild members. A Gift Aid donation of £10 will give a further £2.82 to the BRF. A simple declaration on an envelope stating that “the amount enclosed is to be treated as a donation under Gift Aid” with your name and address is all that is needed. This should be sent direct to the Guild Treasurer (enclosed in an envelope). Alternatively if you wish to make a regular donation by standing order he has a form together with a bankers order that can be used.
A new scheme will be brought into effect by the Inland Revenue with this year’s self assessment tax returns. Within the return you will be able to nominate your favourite Charity to receive any tax you have over paid. All you need to do is quote the number specific to the Charity and the Inland Revenue treat this as a Gift Aid donation and will transfer that amount to the Charity plus tax at basic rate. The number for the Bell Restoration Fund is BAA66LG.
A further way of donating is through payroll giving. Not all firms offer this scheme so any one wishing to take advantage of this should discuss this with their payroll officer.
Another source of regular income over the years has been donations from individual towers. Quite a number of towers have contributed an amount equivalent to the fee they are paid for ringing at a wedding (or more!) each year and although not a large amount for each tower, the total can be significant when 10 or 20 towers contribute in this way. The number has fallen this year, so can the Trustees encourage your tower to consider this in 2004?
During the year grants to the value of £1,650 were approved. In addition it was discovered that the grant for Crawley was recorded in our books at £100 but in fact £200 had been approved. We paid out grants during the year of £5,200 and have £9,150 of grants approved but not yet paid. Of these it is expected that £650 will be paid during 2004 and the balance in 2005.
The Trustees believe that the reserves of the Charity are adequate to meet our immediate needs. This does not mean that fund raising should cease. Who knows what is round the corner?
The Trustees acknowledge with thanks the donations from the following towers:-
| Christchurch Priory | 200.00 |
| Lymington | 25.00 |
| North Stoneham | 98.00 |
| Ringwood | 40.00 |
| Winchester Cathedral | 300.00 |
The Trustees would like to thank all those who have donated time, energy and money towards the aims of the Bell Restoration Fund and especially to Mr R Cater for his work as trustee and secretary to the Trustees.
For and on behalf of the Trustees Rev Canon B J Fry and M Bubb 6th March 2004
A full copy of the accounts is available from the Honorary Guild Treasurer on request.