BELL RESTORATION FUND
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31/12/15

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 2015 were:-

Mr M Bubb (Honorary Guild Treasurer)
Rev Canon B J Fry (Winchester Diocese area)
Mr D Mattingley (Portsmouth Diocese area)
Mrs V Nobbs (Guild Master)
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.

Review of the year and the future

Our income for 2015 has increased slightly on 2014 however the make up is very different to the prior year. Tower donations are up on 2014. Bank interest has decreased this is due TSB 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.

For 2016 there will be a significant decrease in income as the portion of Guild subscriptions allocated to the BRF is decreasing from £4 to £2.

The ever popular 200 Club run by Mark Esbester has donated a significant sum to the BRF. The amount received this year is the final amount on closure of the Club by Mark. The Trustees thank Mark for running this and over the years this has provided £17,000 to the BRF.

There were two grants approved during the year. £2,500 to Ecchinswell and £3,500 to Wherwell. The PCC of Monk Sherbourne did not require all of their grant and repaid £2,250 this year.

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:-

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
12th March 2016