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 2008 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.
During the year we received the final amount from the estate of the late Richard Green. A total received of £24,287. Our other income increased during 2008 primarily from increased investment income. This will not continue into 2009 as interest rates tumbled in the latter part of 2008. The ever popular W&P 200 club continues to provide a significant amount to our income and the Trustees thank Mark Esbester for running this.
The Guild is close to recouping the initial costs of the printing of The Church Bells of the Channel Islands. There may soon be surpluses which 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. A deposit account was opened alongside our current account to move surplus funds pending transfer to the main deposit account.
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 bankers 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 £8,950 were approved. We paid out grants during the year of £14,350 and have £18,450 of grants approved but not yet paid. Of these it is expected that £16,950 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 2008 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 |
| Christchurch Priory | £100 |
| Kings Worthy | £5 |
| North Stoneham | £100 |
| Portsmouth Cathedral | £60 |
| Ringwood | £50 |
| Shedfield | £50 |
| Wickham | £25 |
| 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)
14th March 2009
A detailed copy of the accounts are available from the Treasurer