The fund is a registered charity with the registered number 264606
The registered address is:-
Mill Cottage
Mill Lane
Steep
Petersfield
Hants
GU32 2DJ
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 2014 were:-
Mr M Bubb (Honorary Guild Treasurer)
Rev Canon B J Fry (Winchester Diocese area)
Mr D Mattingley (Portsmouth Diocese area) - from 5th July 2014
Mrs V Nobbs (Guild Master)
M Powell (Portsmouth Diocese area) - to 5th July 2014
Mrs M Routh (Honorary Guild Secretary)
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 TSB 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 2014 has decreased significantly over 2013. Tower donations are down on 2013 however this is due to one tower overlooking their 2014 donation. This is being regularised in 2015. Bank interest has decreased this is due to the demerger of the TSB from Lloyds and the bank no longer offering fixed deposit accounts. Every effort is being made to obtain better rates elsewhere but that is proving difficult in the current economic climate.
The ever popular 200 Club run by Mark Esbester donates a significant sum to the BRF and the Trustees once again thank Mark for this.
There were a number of grants approved during the year. £3,000 to All Saints, Basingstoke, £4,000 to Houghton and £2,500 to Monk Sherbourne. The Trustees have been advised of two further applications for consideration early 2015.
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.
A reminder to those applying for grants that the initial application needs to be with the Guild Treasurer 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 Treasurer. It is very important that all of the documentation requested in the form is made available to the Trustees. If an application is sent by e-mail then it should also be sent through the postal system. All applications are acknowledged so if no acknowledgment is received within a couple of weeks then a chaser should be sent.
The Trustees believe that the reserves of the Charity are adequate to meet our immediate needs.
The Trustees acknowledge with thanks the donations from the following towers:-
| Catherington | £100 |
| Christchurch Priory | £100 |
| King’s Worthy | £50 |
| North Stoneham | £250 |
| Portsmouth Cathedral | £120 |
| Romsey Abbey | £100 |
| Shedfield | £50 |
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:
Mrs V Nobbs
Trustee
M Bubb
Trustee
7th March 2015