The fund is a registered charity with the registered number 264606
The registered address is:-
10 Wallington Drive
Chandlers Ford
Eastleigh
SO53 1TR
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 during 2007 were:-
The independent examiner of the fund is Mr P Clarke ACIB.
The principal bankers are LloydsTSB 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.
Our income for 2007 was boosted by a receipt of £18,055 from the estate of the late Richard Green. If this is taken into account this year and the donations in memory of Les Tremeer last year there has again been an increase in our income primarily though in our investment income. During 2007 the Guild published the long awaited The Church Bells of the Channel Islands. Once the initial outlay has been recouped the resulting surplus will be transferred to the BRF.
The funds continue to be invested in the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England Deposit Fund which pays interest at a rate higher than can be obtained elsewhere for the sums involved and the instant accessibility. The Winchester Diocesan Loan Fund account was closed early 2007 and the balance transferred to the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England.
Gift Aid is a useful way of giving to the BRF tax efficiently by tax paying Guild members. A Gift Aid donation of £10 will give a further £2.50 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 banker’s order that can be used. We are pleased to see a number of new Guild members completing Gift Aid forms. Out of a Guild of over 1,300 we have fewer than 20 members donating in this way.
A few years ago the Inland Revenue introduced a new method of giving to your favourite Charity. Within your self-assessment return you are 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 that 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 pay roll giving. Not all firms offer this scheme so any one wishing to take advantage of this should discuss this with their payroll officer.
During the year grants to the value of £20,850 were approved. An adjustment of £500 was made in the accounts for an error in the grants disclosed as approved for 2006. We paid out grants during the year of £13,000 and have £23,850 of grants approved but not yet paid. Of these it is expected that £10,350 will be paid during 2008 and the balance in either 2009 or later.
A reminder to those applying for grants that the initial application needs to be with the Guild Secretary at least 2 months before the Trustees meet. Trustees meet three times a year, before each of the Executive meetings and before the Guild AGM. Grants can only be approved at either the Executive meeting or AGM. Any approved at the Executive meetings are required to be ratified at the next Guild AGM. The forms required are to be found on the Guild’s website or can be obtained in paper form from the Guild Secretary. It is very important that all of the documentation requested in the form is made available to the Trustees. We have again had instances when not all information has been available and we have been unable to make decisions as to the allocation of a grant.
The Trustees believe that the reserves of the Charity are adequate to meet our immediate needs. We had in March 2007 a further meeting with the Belfry Stewardship Committee when we discussed the ongoing bell stock survey being undertaken in the Guild area.
The Trustees acknowledge with thanks the donations from the following towers:-
| Alverstoke | £50 |
| Catherington | £150 |
| The Clatfords | £50 |
| Christchurch Priory | £100 |
| Hambledon | £50 |
| Portsmouth Cathedral | £60 |
| Ringwood | £50 |
| Shedfield | £50 |
| Winchester Cathedral | £300 |
The Trustees would like to thank all those who have donated time, energy and money towards the aims of the Bell Restoration Fund.
For and on behalf of the Trustees: M Bubb (Trustee) D A Strong (Trustee) 8th March 2008
A full copy of the accounts are available from the Guild Treasurer